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Far-right Israeli minister warns Netanyahu against ceasefire deal
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against agreeing to a ceasefire deal with Hamas in a video released from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Ben-Gvir, known for his provocative comments, posted the video after storming Islam’s third holiest site in East Jerusalem.
The far-right leader said Netanyahu must not make a “surrender” accord with Hamas to bring back captives held in Gaza since October 7. “I have come to the most important place for Jewish people to pray for the hostages, that they come home, but not through an accord of surrender, without giving in,” Ben-Gvir said in the video quickly condemned by Palestinian politicians and Jordan.
Under the status quo arrangements, non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site in East Jerusalem, but are not allowed to pray. However, Israel settlers and far-right leaders have been increasingly defying the ban, something Palestinians consider provocation, fearing that Israel intends to take over the site.
Netanyahu opposes hospital for Gaza children in Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the establishment of a hospital for children from Gaza on Israeli territory, his office says.
The comments come a day after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a field hospital would be set up as “a short-term solution” after the closure of the Rafah border crossing prevented the ability of sick children to receive healthcare abroad.
The move aimed “to address the humanitarian needs until a permanent mechanism is established to evacuate and treat ill children”, said Gallant. But Netanyahu said the project hadn’t received his approval and, therefore, it “will not be established”.
Israel seized and closed what was the only crossing available for the sick to leave the besieged enclave in May, further exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian crisis.
Netanyahu says control over Rafah border ‘critical’
Earlier Netanyahu concluded a visit to the Rafah crossing, where he met Israeli troops.
The prime minister used the occasion to stress that control over the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor – the 14km (8.7-mile) long strip of land that represents the entirety of the border area between Gaza and Egypt – is “critical.”
He added that maintaining control of this area “helps us to stand firm on our just demands” on the release of Hamas-held captives and “does not delay a deal. It advances it.” He again pledged to achieve “complete victory” in Gaza.
The Philadelphi Corridor, the border area between Gaza and Egypt, is supposed to be demilitarised and under the control of the Egyptians and Palestinians on their respective sides.
Hamas and Egypt have opposed the idea of a joint control of the border by Israel and the United States, while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that the Israeli presence is going to be permanent and aimed at stopping the smuggling of weapons from Egypt into Gaza.
Israel extends law restricting foreign media
Israel’s parliament has extended a temporary law that allows the country to shut down foreign media outlets it considers a threat to Israel’s security.
In a marathon session, the Knesset gave final approval to extend the emergency law until November 30.
Israeli officials used the new law on May 5 to close Qatar-based Al Jazeera within Israel, confiscating its equipment, banning its broadcasts and blocking its websites.
Under the law, Israel’s Communications Ministry also briefly seized AP broadcasting equipment from southern Israel after accusing it of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera. The government returned the equipment to AP several hours later.
A bill that would make the emergency legislation permanent is currently making its way through parliament. The draft said a permanent bill is needed because Israel “has faced serious security threats since its establishment and is expected to continue to face them in the future, possibly even more severely”.
Critics have called the measure undemocratic and a threat to press freedom.
