Israel rejects Hamas’s call to end Gaza war

Palestinian families flee Khan Yunis on the coastal road leading to Rafah on Monday. Pic/AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday night rejected Hamas's terms for surrender. According to Hebrew media reports, Hamas offered to release all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war, the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, and international guarantees that it would continue to rule Gaza afterward.

"If we agree to this, our soldiers have fallen in vain. If we agree to this, we will not be able to guarantee the security of our citizens. We will not be able to return the evacuees safely to their homes, and the next October 7 will only be a matter of time," Netanyahu said.

Armed Hamas squad struck

Israeli aircraft struck an armed Hamas squad in central Gaza that was about to attack soldiers, the Israel Defence Forces said on Monday morning. Separately, Israeli forces in northern Gaza eliminated a terror cell that had fired on them. Soldiers returned fire, killing one of the terrorists. The troops then directed an aircraft that struck and killed the remaining terrorists. Afterwards, an Israeli fighter jet struck the military compound in which the terrorist cell had operated.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. The number of men, women, children, soldiers and foreigners held captive in Gaza by Hamas is now believed to be 136. Other people remain unaccounted for as Israeli authorities continue to identify bodies and search for human remains.

Frozen funds to go to Norway
Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan to transfer frozen funds earmarked for the Palestinian Authority to Norway amid a battle over Ramallah's financial support for the Gaza Strip. Under the terms of an agreement endorsed by Norway and the US, Norway will not transfer the funds to Ramallah.

Won't recognise Israel: Saudi diplomat
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says the kingdom will not normalise relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza's reconstruction without a credible pathway to a Palestinian state. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's remarks were some of the most direct yet from Saudi officials.

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