Benny Gantz says Israel knows how many hostages in Gaza are still alive
Benny Gantz, who quit Israel’s war cabinet last week, said that Israel knows how many hostages in Gaza are still alive.
“We know [a] very close number,” he said when asked about whether Israel knows.
In his first interview since resigning, Gantz also said the government knew the fate of the Bibas family, who were among those taken hostage on October 7. He said the public would find out “in due time.”
Remember: The Israeli military released a video purporting to show the family alive inside Gaza on October 7. Hamas said they had been killed in an Israeli air strike in November.
Gantz also spoke about being on the war cabinet.
“When October 7 happened we were all on the same page and worked in sync. But with time things have changed. Decisions have been delayed because of pressure from (Israeli Finance Minister) Smotrich and others. I didn’t just quit but tried to warn and correct their path. Once I realized that that was impossible, I left,” he said. “The battle in the south is going to be long. We will be in this for years. Israel has to take a new path. [The] challenges are huge. We can face them only if Israel chooses new leadership.”
As for the future governance of Gaza, Gantz said it “cannot be Hamas and it cannot be Israel.” He added that Israel will continue its military hold on some territories in Gaza “but it will not govern Gaza.”
The two biggest supporters of the Gaza genocide refuse to see the obvious path to a ceasefire (and the obvious obstacle)
Biden on ceasefire push: ‘I don’t have final answers for you’
The US president again blamed Hamas for the fact that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is not yet in place during a news conference at the Group of Seven summit in Italy.
“I’ve laid out an approach that has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, by the G7, by the Israelis, and the biggest hang-up so far is Hamas refusing to sign on – even though they have submitted something similar”, he told reporters.
“Whether or not it comes to fruition remains to be seen, we’re going to continue to push. I don’t have a final answer for you.”
Germany’s Scholz demands all parties accept Biden’s ceasefire plan
The German chancellor says Biden’s plan outlines how a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli captives held there can be achieved, “and the situation in the Middle East can become more peaceful,” he posted on X.
“Everyone involved should support the plan, especially Hamas – that is our demand.”
.@POTUS's peace plan shows how Hamas hostages can be released and a ceasefire can be achieved - and the situation in the Middle East can become more peaceful.
Everyone involved should support the plan, especially Hamas - that is our demand.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) June 13, 2024
Biden says Hamas' refusal to sign ceasefire is the possible deal's "biggest hangup
President Joe Biden said that the success of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is being hindered by Hamas’ refusal to sign onto the potential deal.
“The bottom line is that we’ve made an agreement, I’ve laid out an approach that has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, by the G7, by the Israelis,” Biden said at a press conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit in Italy.
“And the biggest hang up so far is Hamas refusing to sign on, even though they have submitted something similar. Whether or not it comes fruition remains to be seen. We’re going to continue to push,” he added.
The biggest hangup is your continued lies about Israel endorsing (or even thinking about) a permanent ceasefire.
Pressuring Hamas into total surrender isn't working. After 76 years and sacrificing so much, Palestinians aren't willing to go back to occupation and daily raids as in the West Bank. It's becoming an all or nothing situation. The PA has little support left.
As in the official motto of the U.S. state of New Hampshire, "Live free or die".
Poll shows rise in support by Palestinians for armed struggle
Support for armed struggle as the best means to end Israeli occupation and achieve statehood rose among Palestinians, according to an opinion poll in the last three months.
The poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) showed support for armed struggle climbed by eight percentage points to 54 percent of those surveyed in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Support for Hamas rose by six percentage points to 40 percent. Fatah, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, had 20 percent backing. The polling was carried out some eight months since the start of the Gaza war in October.
Walid Ladadweh, head of the Survey Research Unit at PSR, said that the increase in support for Hamas and armed action, while not significant compared with the previous poll, was a reaction to Israel’s destruction and killing in Gaza.
He also said the poll reflected dissatisfaction with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority led by Abbas, who has long sought to negotiate the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and rejects armed struggle.
