Netanyahu denies rumors of rift with Trump
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed speculation that he and US President Donald Trump have fallen out.
Rumors of a rift between the two staunch allies surfaced after Trump visited three Gulf states — his first major foreign tour since he returned to the White House in January — but did not stop in Israel.
That perceived omission led some observers to speculate on whether Trump was growing impatient over the war in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has intensified its military campaign in recent weeks.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Trump signed massive business and investment deals.
Shortly before the visit, Trump ended a bombing campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which has continued firing missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.
Having made no prior public comments on the situation, Netanyahu told reporters Wednesday night that he had spoken to Trump, who had reassured the Israeli prime minister that he had “complete commitment” to Netanyahu and to Israel.
Netanyahu also said he had spoken separately to US Vice President JD Vance, who had told him not to “pay attention to all these fake news stories about this rupture between” the US and Israeli governments.
Netanyahu says Israel has ‘crushed’ West Bank refugee camps
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the military has demolished refugee camps in the occupied West Bank during a monthslong operation targeting Palestinian militants.
“We entered the refugee camps simultaneously and crushed them,” Netanyahu said at a press conference in Jerusalem, referring to the large-scale military operation that began on January 21.
UN says no aid has reached Gaza despite eased blockade
The United Nations has said that no humanitarian aid has yet been distributed in the Gaza Strip, two days after Israel officially lifted an 11-week blockade and began allowing limited deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
“So far … none of the supplies have been able to leave the Kerem Shalom loading area,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. He explained that Israeli authorities had only permitted access to areas inside Gaza that the UN considered insecure and at high risk of looting due to prolonged deprivation.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/netanyahu-israel-will-control-all-gaza-by-end-of-offensive/live-72619109
