Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday called on the United States to stop “withholding” weapons and ammunition for Israel so that Israel can “finish the job a lot faster.” The prime minister stressed that Israel is “fighting for its life” and against Iran and other “common enemies.” In the video address, Netanyahu shared that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided assurances that Washington is working “day and night” to remove “these bottlenecks” during their last meeting. “I certainly hope that is the case,” the Israeli prime minister added. An anonymous Israeli negotiator previously stated that at least tens of hostages remain alive “with certainty” in the Gaza Strip.
Gantz: Time running out for diplomatic solution to Lebanon border
Israel’s National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz told United States President Joe Biden’s Senior Adviser for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein that the “time is running out” to resolve the tensions with Hezbollah on his country’s border with Lebanon through diplomatic means. Following the two officials’ meeting, Gantz’s office stated he informed Hochstein that he is committed to “removing the threat Hezbollah poses to the citizens of northern Israel, regardless of developments on the war in Gaza” and insisted he will support “any responsible and effective political or military decision on the matter from outside the government.” Gantz left the Israeli government earlier this month, claiming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “preventing us from approaching true victory” in the conflict with Hamas, and called on Netanyahu to schedule an election.