Hamas
Addressing the world’s most sophisticated anti-Israel organization—the United Nations—the Israeli prime minister fought back against calls for Palestinian statehood, saying “Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats.”
“We are intensifying pressure on the Hamas terrorist organization and advancing according to a structured and systematic plan,” said IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
Rome dispatched the first warship on Wednesday, hours after flotilla organizers claimed the protest ships were targeted by drones.
In Gaza City, IDF troops dismantled military infrastructure, including positions used to launch ambushes against Israeli forces.
U.S. Mideast envoy Witkoff expressed confidence that “in the coming days, we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough.”
The slain man was identified as Staff Sgt. Chalachew Shimon Demalash.
This is “further proof of Hamas’s cynical and systematic modus operandi of exploiting civilian infrastructure as manned terror command posts.”
The top U.S. diplomat added that there still existed a “window of opportunity” to pursue a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement.
“We want to bring the hostages home and return to normal life,” said the U.S. president.
“Hamas has repeatedly rejected reasonable offers to make peace, and we can’t forget October 7,” the U.S. president told the U.N. General Assembly.
The “flotilla, organized by Hamas, is intended to serve Hamas,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein added.
The secretary of state dismissed media reports that Washington had received a letter from Hamas requesting a 60-day ceasefire.
