LIVE
CONFLICTSISRAEL
Israel-Hamas war: Gantz to meet Harris, Blinken on US visit
Published 7 hours agoPublished 7 hours agolast updated 5 hours agolast updated 5 hours ago
Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz is set to meet top US officials in Washington, reportedly without the permission of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. DW has the latest.
https://p.dw.com/p/4d7kL
Benny Gantz und Antony Blinken shake hands, November 30, 2023.
Israel’s wartime unity has cracked, with divisions within the government over the path forward in GazaImage: Chuck Kennedy/U.S State/Planet Pix/ZUMA/picture alliance
Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz visits Washington, reportedly defying Netanyahu
US VP Kamala Harris urges “immediate cease-fire” in Gaza for at least next six weeks
White House official Amos Hochstein to visit Lebanon to prevent escalation
Skip next section Senior White House adviser to visit Beirut in bid to de-escalate Israel-Hezbollah tensions
5 hours ago5 hours ago
Senior White House adviser to visit Beirut in bid to de-escalate Israel-Hezbollah tensions
Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to US President Joe Biden, will visit Beirut on Monday for talks to de-escalate tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border daily since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7.
Israel launched its operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the Palestinian militant group attacked Israeli communities and killed more than 1,100 people.
Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, has said it will not halt its fire until there is a cease-fire in Gaza but would observe a truce if one is reached.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed to step up attacks on Hezbollah, even if a cease-fire is reached with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, until the militant group withdraws from the border area. Hezbollah is also backed by Iran. The fighting has killed civilians in both Lebanon and Israel.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are designated terrorist organizations by Israel, the US and Germany, among others.
How Hezbollah secures its power inside Lebanon
04:10
https://p.dw.com/p/4d7kO
Copy link
Skip next section US VP Harris calls for ‘immediate cease-fire’ for at least six weeks
7 hours ago7 hours ago
US VP Harris calls for ‘immediate cease-fire’ for at least six weeks
US Vice President Kamala Harris called for an “immediate cease-fire” in a speech at an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama.
“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table,” Harris said. Her remarks were met with cheers and applause.
“People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane, and our common humanity compels us to act… The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses,” she added.
In Egypt, talks were underway on Saturday and Sunday toward a truce before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week. The Hamas militant group which runs Gaza reportedly sent a delegation for the new round of talks.
Israel did not send a delegation because the government was waiting to learn which hostages are alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each, according to Israeli media.
“Hamas claims it wants a cease-fire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal,” Harris said.
Egypt and Qatar serve as intermediaries between Hamas and Israel, which do not talk to each other directly. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by many countries, including Israel, Germany and the US.
https://p.dw.com/p/4d7kN
Copy link
Skip next section Israeli War Cabinet member Gantz to hold talks in Washington without Netanyahu’s blessing
7 hours ago7 hours ago
Israeli War Cabinet member Gantz to hold talks in Washington without Netanyahu’s blessing
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet, will meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday, according to his National Unity Party.
Gantz’s trip to Washington D.C. will include a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, according to the itinerary released by his party. Gantz began his trip Sunday by sitting down with officials from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Gantz’s trip to the American capital comes as friction between the US and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rises over ways to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and a postwar plan for the enclave.
But Gantz’s trip, nearly five months into the Israel-Hamas war, also appears to be one without Netanyahu’s authorization, the Associated Press reported citing an unnamed official, signaling further divisions within the Israeli government.
Netanyahu’s government faces anger over the fact that more than 100 hostages remain held in Gaza. Divisions have appeared in the Israeli government over what it could take to release the hostages.
An official from Netanyahu’s far-right Likud party said Netanyahu had a “tough talk” with Gantz, a centrist political rival, and told him the country has “just one prime minister,” according to the Associated Press agency.
rm/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)
