Two wounded by Lebanon anti-tank fire; PM: 'Intense' part of Gaza fighting almost over (2024)

A top U.S. military officer warned on Sunday that an Israeli military offensive into Lebanon would risk an Iranian response in defense of the powerful Hezbollah militant group there, triggering a broader war that could put U.S. forces in the region in danger.

Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran "would be more inclined to support Hezbollah."

He added that Tehran supports Hamas militants in Gaza, but would give greater backing to Hezbollah "particularly if they felt that Hezbollah was being significantly threatened."

Brown also said the U.S. won't likely be able to help Israel defend itself against a broader Hezbollah war as well as it helped Israel fight off an Iranian barrage of missiles and drones in April.

Sources familiar with hostage and cease-fire talks believe that Netanyahu's remarks in an interview with Channel 14 in favor of a partial deal that would see the release of only some Israeli hostages could sabotage the prospects of a deal.

According to one of them, "Netanyahu made it clear today that he is not interested in the release of all the hostages – the demand he himself makes to Hamas – and is not willing to provide the compensation that Hamas demands. In such a situation, Sinwar has no incentive to advance a deal."

The source went on to say, "Sinwar and the U.S. administration hope to use the deal as a lever for a cease-fire and an end to the war. Hamas sees the deal as a means to secure the future of the organization's senior officials."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Israel's Channel 14 that he is willing to make a partial deal with Hamas, during which some of the hostages held in Gaza would be released, but that he is committed to carry on with the fighting after the humanitarian pause.

His remarks contradict the Israeli proposal that U.S. President Joe Biden presented at the end of May.

Netanyahu went on to say that he will not agree to any agreement between the parties that involves Hamas' survival as the ruling party in the Gaza Strip.

According to the proposal presented by Biden, women, the elderly and the wounded will be released during the first six weeks, while at the same time Israel and Hamas will negotiate to advance the deal to its second phase, which includes a complete end to the war. In the second phase, Biden stated, Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza in exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including soldiers. Only then will the temporary cease-fire become permanent.

The third phase, according to the Israeli proposal, will include a significant rehabilitation plan for Gaza and the return of all the other hostages' bodies. Biden emphasized in his speech that Israelis should know that the plans do not put their security at risk, since Hamas has been defeated.

Netanyahu also said in the interview that "the intense phase of fighting Hamas is nearly over." He added that the ground operation in Rafah is expected to conclude soon.

Regarding the attempted assassination of top Hamas leader Raad Saad in Gaza, the prime minister stated that Israel is still unsure of the outcome of the effort.

Police closed the roads leading to Channel 14 offices prior to the interview, as several dozen anti-government protesters waited for Netanyahu outside with Israeli flags in hand.

Here's what you missed from day 261 of the war:

■ The Israeli government approved voting on extending the temporary order that raises the exemption age from reserve duty by one year.

■ British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Hezbollah has been accumulating large quantities of Iranian weapons, missiles, and bombs at the central civilian airport in Beirut, according to testimony that exposes corruption at the airport.

■ The High Court of Justice ordered the state to give a formal update that will detail the conditions in which prisoners are held in Sde Teiman detention center in southern Israel.

■ State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman visited some of the communities that were attacked by Hamas on October 7, as part of his office's probe.

■ Gunmen opened fire at a synagogue, an Orthodox church and a police post in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan, and two police officers were killed, news agencies quoted the Russian Interior Ministry as saying.

■ In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U.S. criticism, a U.S. official said: "We have made our position clear on this repeatedly, and we aren't going to keep responding to the prime minister's political statements.

■ Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Tree of Life campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - the site of the deadliest antisemitic hate crime in American history - which took place on Sunday.

WASHINGTON — Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Tree of Life campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - the site of the deadliest antisemitic hate crime in American history - which took place on Sunday.

At the ceremony, Emhoff made a speech, saying: "I felt it was important to come and send a message to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, to the country, and to the world, that we must never forget what the poison of antisemitism can do."

"President Biden and Vice President Harris are fighting back against this hatred and bigotry. They are working to unite our country, not divide us," he added.