Israel-Hamas war latest: Netanyahu addresses Congress, vows to achieve ‘total victory’
Published 1:00 am Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. (Special to the American Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress in Washington on Wednesday as he sought to bolster the United States’ support for his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups.
Netanyahu has signaled that a cease-fire deal could be taking shape after nine months of war, but during his fiery speech to Congress, he vowed to press forward with Israel’s war until he achieves “total victory.” Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered near the U.S. Capitol to denounce the war.
Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military’s latest order to leave parts of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis say they are sleeping in the streets. The Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war.
Officials from Egypt, Israel, the United States and Qatar had been expected to meet in Doha on Thursday with the aim of resuming talks for a proposed three-phase cease-fire to end the war between Israel and Hamas and free the remaining hostages. But an Israeli official said Israel’s negotiating team was delayed and would likely be dispatched next week.
Here’s the latest:
Israel recovers 5 hostage bodies from Gaza
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said Thursday it has recovered the bodies of five Israeli hostages, in the area of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, that were abducted by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.
It identified the hostages as Maya Goren, and four soldiers it says died in battle: Sgt. Oren Goldin, Staff Sgt. Tomer Ahimas, Sgt. Maj. Ravid Aryeh Katz and Sgt. Kiril Brodski. It says all five were believed to have been killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas raid that triggered the war, and their bodies were held hostage.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the hardest-hit communities during Hamas’ assault, said Wednesday that it was informed that the body of Goren, 56, was returned to Israel after a rescue mission, without providing additional details. Israeli authorities had said in late 2023 that she was dead.
Israel has now pronounced dead more than a third of the roughly 110 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.
Australia sanctions 7 Israelis and a West Bank-based youth group over settler violence
SYDNEY — Australia is imposing financial sanctions and travel bans against seven Israeli citizens and financial sanctions against a West Bank-based youth group over their alleged involvement in settler violence in the occupied territory.
The sanctions announced Thursday are against Hilltop Youth and its leader Meir Ettinger, 32. Other targeted individuals are Yinon Levi, 31, Zvi Bar Yosef, 31, Neria Ben Pazi, 30, Elisha Yered, 23, David Chai Chasdai, 29, and Einan Tanjil, 22.
Australia accuses them of violent attacks on Palestinians. These include beatings, sexual assault and torture of Palestinians resulting in serious injuries and deaths, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government imposed the sanctions “because it’s the right thing to do.” He added that settlements in the West Bank impeded a two-state solution and were illegal under international law.
The sanctions follow a U.S. decision to sanction entities and individuals connected to acts of violence against civilians in the West Bank.
Wong said Australia called on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and it cease ongoing settlement activity.
Families of 8 American hostages ‘profoundly disappointed’ by Netanyahu’s speech
WASHINGTON — The families of the eight American hostages being held in Gaza say they’re “profoundly disappointed” that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not guarantee in his speech to Congress that the hostages would be coming home.
In a joint statement, the families said that Netanyahu on Wednesday “failed to present any new solutions or a new path forward” and “failed to commit to the hostage deal that is now on the table even though Israel’s senior defense and intelligence officials have called on him to do so.”
They called on him to get the deal done “before it is too late.”
Eight Americans are believed to be held by Hamas, including three who were killed.