Asharq Al Awsat In the days since a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip, Israel has launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank and suspected Jewish settlers have rampaged through two Palestinian towns.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, and Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. Escalations in one area frequently spill over, raising further concerns that the second and far more difficult phase of the Gaza ceasefire — which has yet to be negotiated — may never come.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomes IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi’s announcement that he intends to resign on March 6 and praises him for his decades of service, including his “great military

Israel's top general resigned on Tuesday, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas' surprise attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel meanwhile launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least eight people, according to Palestinian officials.

Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said four Israeli hostages will be freed on Saturday in exchange for a second group of Palestinian prisoners after Sunday's swap.

"The State of Israel will be able to return to the war on day 43" if talks fail during the first phase of the ceasefire, the Israeli finance minister told

US President Donald Trump said Monday he was “not confident” the Gaza ceasefire would last, despite claiming credit for brokering the agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatens to dismantle the government if it proceeds with the second phase of the ceasefire deal.

Religious Zionism staying in government ‘to make sure the war doesn’t end’ appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Finance minister said to convene with bereaved families, relatives of hostages, and strategists to formulate pressure tactics for stopping ceasefire-hostage deal after 1st stage

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