Middle East Conflict: State Comptroller To Investigate Israeli Army's Oct. 7 Failures

Netanyahu blasts ICC for contemplating warrants on Israeli leaders, military officials

The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) for "contemplating issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli government and military officials as war criminals."

He said he expects the "free world" to stand against the "outrageous assault" the ICC is pinning on Israel's right to defend itself. He also said the ICC was, in the first place, established to prevent horrors that involved genocide such as the Holocaust.

Rocket sirens sound in northern Israel

Rocket sirens sounded in northern Israel Wednesday afternoon, local outlets reported, as Iran-backed Hezbollah continues to target communities near the Israel-Lebanon border.

Israeli State Comptroller to begin probe into IDF's Oc. 7 failures

Englman on Wednesday announced his office will look into the Israeli army's failures during Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.

"My public and ethical duty as state comptroller is to carry out a comprehensive investigation of the biggest failure in the history of the state," he said, as per The Times of Israel. He also urged the prime minister and IDF chief to order their offices to cooperate, revealing that he has not received responses from Netanyahu and Israeli army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi after he sent letters to them asking for their cooperation.

Hamas askes mediators for clarity on return of northern Gaza residents: Report

Hamas has asked ceasefire deal mediators Egypt and Qatar regarding the provisions of the current truce proposal that discuss the unconditional return of northern Gaza residents to their homes, the Associated Press reported Wednesday, citing an official with close ties to the talks.

The Palestinian terror group also reportedly asked mediators to ensure that phase two of the truce agreement will include talks on the gradual and later on, complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory.

US reportedly mulls providing refuge for some Palestinians

Federal documents reportedly showed that the Biden government is looking into the possibility of providing a permanent refuge for some Palestinians, depending on their qualifications.

Among the proposals being considered is one that could grant access to refugee Palestinians who have entered Egypt after fleeing Gaza. Ultimately, the plan depends largely on cooperation with the Egyptian government.

Read the full story here.

Jordan says Israeli settlers attacked aid convoys

Jordan's foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned the alleged "attack by extremist Israeli settlers" on two Jordanian humanitarian aid convoys en route to the Gaza Strip. The trucks carried food, flour and other humanitarian supplies, the ministry said.

The ministry also called out the Israeli government for its "failure" to protect the Jordanian aid convoys, saying it was a violation of its legal obligations being the occupying power.

There are other ways to defeat Hamas battalions in Rafah: Blinken to Netanyahu

The U.S. Secretary of State told Netanyahu that instead of an expansive ground invasion of Rafah, there are better ways to defeat Hamas battalions in the overcrowded city, Axios political reporter Barak Ravid wrote on X Wednesday, citing a senior U.S. official, as per a Google translation.

Washington has repeatedly said it is opposed to a raid of the southern Gaza city without an effective and implementable plan for civilian protection.

Hamas chief's sister released, but on house arrest: Local media

Sabah Abdel Salam Haniyeh, the sister of Hamas chief Haniyeh, was freed from prison Wednesday but remains on house arrest after he indictment last week, local media reported.

Haniyeh's sister, an Israeli citizen, was arrested on April 1 over her alleged terror incitement and support of the Palestinian militant group led by her brother. She is also accused of having been in communication with Hamas operatives.

LA mayor sends police to UCLA amid clashes during Gaza-related protests

Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday night said Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) personnel have arrived at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) following violent clashes among protesters.

Videos posted on social media showed both pro- and anti-Israel demonstrators engaging in physical altercations. "The violence unfolding this evening at UCLA is absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable," Bass wrote on X.

Hamas and Fatah showed willingness to reconcile: China

Palestinian faction Fatah and militant group Hamas held talks in Beijing, China recently following an invitation by the Chinese government, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday.

Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters that representatives of the two factions "recently came to Beijing to have in-depth and candid dialogue on promoting Palestinian reconciliation." The two sides "fully expressed their political will of realizing reconciliation through dialogue and consultation," Lin added.

Hamas expelled Fatah in 2007 following a brief war and since then, the factions have not been able to adequately talk things out. Hamas has since thanked Beijing for its "supportive stance on the Palestinian cause."

Fatah has yet to make an official statement regarding the visit to Beijing.

Hamas and Fatah showed willingness to reconcile: China

Palestinian faction Fatah and militant group Hamas held talks in Beijing, China recently following an invitation by the Chinese government, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday.

Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters that representatives of the two factions "recently came to Beijing to have in-depth and candid dialogue on promoting Palestinian reconciliation." The two sides "fully expressed their political will of realizing reconciliation through dialogue and consultation," Lin added.

Hamas expelled Fatah in 2007 following a brief war and since then, the factions have not been able to adequately talk things out. Hamas has since thanked Beijing for its "supportive stance on the Palestinian cause."

Fatah has yet to make an official statement regarding the visit to Beijing.

Hezbollah claims attacks on IDF troops in northern Israel

Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanon-based militant organization allied with Hamas, claimed Wednesday that it attacked "buildings" where Israeli soldiers were positioned in the northern Israeli town of Metula earlier this week.

The exact number of buildings targeted is unclear and the IDF has yet to deny or confirm the report. Fire exchanges near the Israel-Lebanon border intensified last week as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that half of the terror group's southern Lebanon brigade commanders have been eliminated by the Israeli army.

US forces destroy Houthi USV

CENTCOM forces on Tuesday destroyed an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) "in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen," the U.S. military said Wednesday.

U.S. forces deployed in the area have been intercepting drones and missiles launched from Houthi-held areas of Yemen and have also targeted Houthi assets within the country amid the rebel militia's continuing attacks toward merchant shipping lanes.

Netanyahu tells Blinken Hamas' demands regarding army pullout will lead to Rafah raid: Report

The Israeli prime minister told Blinken Wednesday that if Hamas continues to demand that the IDF withdraw its troops from Gaza, there will be no ceasefire deal and the ground incursion into overcrowded Rafah will take place, local Walla reported, citing senior Israeli and American officials.

Netanyahu reportedly reiterated that Israel will not agree to Hamas' demand regarding an Israeli commitment to completely pulling out its troops from the enclave during the second phase of a truce agreement, as per a Google translation.

Blinken, on the other hand, once again noted that Washington is opposed to a Rafah invasion without a clear plan to protect civilians in the area, considering how more than a million Palestinians are known to have squeezed into the southern city.

Hamas 'only reason' there's no ceasefire yet

Hamas is the "only reason" a ceasefire couldn't' be achieved yet in Gaza, Blinken said Wednesday after he met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

"There's a proposal on the table, and as we've said, 'no delays, no excuses.' The time is now – long past due to bring the hostages home to their families," he said.

The U.S. has repeatedly urged Hamas to accept the Israeli-proposed ceasefire plan that could free some 130 hostages still being held in Gaza and could also secure more aid for starving Palestinians.