Welcome and Opening Summary
Welcome to our latest live blog on the Israel-Gaza war and the wider Middle East crisis. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu states that any Gaza ceasefire deal must allow Israel to resume fighting until its objectives are met. Hamas seeks a permanent ceasefire guarantee from mediators, while Netanyahu vows to continue until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are destroyed. The plan, agreed upon by Israel and welcomed by President Biden, aims to end the war and free about 120 Israeli hostages in Gaza. In other updates, the Israeli government is accused of sabotaging a ceasefire proposal, protests pressure the government, and tragic incidents continue in Gaza with multiple casualties reported. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing conflict, including Lebanon’s involvement and recent airstrikes.