In response to the activation of a Hamas explosive device that wounded our forces today prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz instructed the elimination of the terrorist Raed Saed, head of Hamas' force buildup, the premier and the defence minister said in a joint statement. The Israeli military described Saed as one of the architects of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.
As the chapter closes on Yasser Abu Shabab, 32, the Popular Forces militia leader who appeared in Rafah during the war and was widely viewed as a collaborator with Israel, Ghassan al-Duhaini has been named his successor. Soon after Abu Shabab was killed last Thursday, reportedly during a family dispute mediation, al-Duhaini, who was said to be injured in the same altercation, appeared in a video online dressed in military fatigues and walking among masked fighters under his command.
The start of Qatar's relationship with Hamas goes back more than 10 years, he said, adding that opening the group's office in the country came at the request of the US, aiming to enhance communications with the armed group. When they [Hamas] moved their office back in 2012 here [Qatar], it was used only for communication and to facilitate ceasefires and aid to Gaza, Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the foreign minister, said. Qatar has also hosted the Taliban's political office since 2013, during the group's war with the US and the former Afghan government. The office was also established at Washington's request to create a venue for potential peace negotiations.
"We are not a protectorate of the United States. Israel is the one that will decide on its security," Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office as he headed into the meeting.
Right now, you just talked about Israelis killing some Palestinians, but Hamas is killing Palestinians within Gaza. And they have not returned the bodies that they promised to return, including two Americans, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, whose families we have interviewed over these months, observed MacCallum before asking, So what is your response to what Hamas is doing now?
Among the deceased hostages whose bodies have yet to be returned are two Americans, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. Hamas promised to return all 28 under the deal but stressed during the negotiations that it didn't know many of their exact locations. The group has said some are trapped under rubble, and it could take months to find all of them.
