Israeli PM Netanyahu says war against Hamas will not stop after ceasefire

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will continue its war against Hamas, even if a temporary cease-fire is reached with the Islamic militant group to release hostages.
In comments Tuesday ahead of an expected Cabinet vote on a cease-fire proposal, Netanyahu vowed to press ahead.
“We are at war, and we will continue the war,” he said. “We will continue until we achieve all our goals.”

Drone strike on pro-Iran group in Iraq kills one

BAGHDAD: A drone strike hit a vehicle belonging to a pro-Iran group in Iraq on Tuesday, killing one of its occupants, security sources said.

The vehicle was part of a convoy traveling along the motorway through Abu Ghraib, 30 km west of Baghdad, the security sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Red Cross president meets with Hamas chief on Gaza war humanitarian issues

GENEVA: The Red Cross said Monday that its president had traveled to Qatar to meet with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh “to advance humanitarian issues related to the armed conflict in Israel and Gaza.”
“President Mirjana Spoljaric met with (Ismail) Haniyeh, Chair of Hamas’ Political Bureau, and separately with authorities of the state of Qatar,” the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement.

Families of Israeli child hostages make plea on World Children’s Day

TEL AVIV: The families of Israeli children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza pleaded Monday for international voices to demand their release at a protest outside the UN children’s fund in Tel Aviv.
Several hundred demonstrators joined the protest on World Children’s Day, more than six weeks after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 others hostage.

Hezbollah attacks Israeli troops with drones, artillery, missiles

BEIRUT: Hostilities carried out by Hezbollah against Israeli military outposts significantly escalated on Monday, with the group resorting to more developed destructive weapons.

Amid the qualitative military escalation on the southern front, Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov told Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib that “what was happening in the south is very dangerous and must be stopped.”

The Russian diplomat said, “Both parties mainly discussed the unfolding events in the region, especially in Gaza.”