190-697: Following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war , the United States began to send warships and military aircraft into the Eastern Mediterranean and began sending Israel more military supplies . The Joe Biden administration stated that Israel would receive "whatever it needs" to support its offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip . After an initial period of Western support for
380-539: A Data for Progress poll, in collaboration with Zeteo , released on May 8, 2024, 83% of Democrats, 56% of Republicans, and 70% of all likely voters supported the United States calling for a permanent ceasefire a de-escalation of violence in Gaza; 56% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans, and 39% of all likely voters believed that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, with 22% of Democrats, 19% of Republicans, and 23% of all likely voters being uncertain regarding
570-518: A Palestinian nationalist Islamist movement. They formed in 1987, and are the largest Islamist movement in the Palestinian territories. It maintains an uncompromising stance on the "complete liberation of Palestine", often using political violence to achieve its goals. Recent statements suggest a shift in focus toward ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and establishing
760-437: A Reuters / Ipsos poll released on November 15, 2023, 32% of respondents said that the U.S. should support Israel, 39% said that the U.S. should be a neutral mediator, 4% said that the U.S. should support Palestinians, and 15% said the U.S. shouldn't be involved at all. In a Gallup poll released on November 30, 2023, 50% of the U.S. respondents approved of Israel's military action in Gaza, and 45% disapproved. In November 2023,
950-405: A coma , observed Mashal's symptoms to be consistent with an opioid overdose . They administered the antidote, which saved Mashal's life. According to Ronen Bergman based on internal IDF sources, Mashal's antidote only secured the release of the two Mossad Kidon agents that were carrying out the assassination attempt. At least six other Mossad agents involved in the operations were holed up in
1140-423: A rotation agreement between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz . This collapsed in 2020, leading to a March 2021 election . In June 2021, Netanyahu was removed from the premiership, before returning after the 2022 election . Netanyahu's coalition pursued judicial reform , which was met with protests in early 2023 . In October 2023, Israel suffered a large-scale attack by Hamas -led Palestinian groups, triggering
1330-586: A 3-5 year reconstruction plan for the region, backed by the United States, Europe, and international institutions". The survey also found a 53% sum total majority support for withdrawing military aid from Israel if it rejected the ceasefire proposal, including 70% of Democrats, 51% of Independents, 53% of swing voters, and 35% of Republicans, with 36% being against it. According to a Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll released on August 6, 2024, and conducted online between June 21 and July 1, 55% of all sum total respondents oppose using US troops to defend Israel if it
1520-520: A Data for Progress poll released on June 12, 2024, 64% of all likely voters, including 86% of Democrats, 64% of Independents, 62% of swing voters, and 43% of Republicans supported Joe Biden's proposed ceasefire deal in Gaza, with the specifics: "A complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The release of Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza and starting
1710-656: A Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders . Hamas has been responsible for numerous suicide bombings and rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians. Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK have designated Hamas a "terrorist organisation". In 2010 it attempted to derail the peace talks between Israel and the PA. In 2017, it adopted a new charter , removing antisemitic language and shifting focus from Jews to Zionists. Scholars differ on Hamas' objectives, with some saying it seeks
1900-502: A Palestinian state within 1967 borders while others believe Hamas still seeks the destruction of Israel . Before the attack, Saudi Arabia warned Israel of an "explosion" as a result of the continued occupation, Egypt had warned of a catastrophe unless there was political progress, and Palestinian Authority officials gave similar warnings. Less than two months before the attacks, King Abdullah II of Jordan lamented that Palestinians had "no civil rights; no freedom of mobility". Over
2090-793: A Palestinian state." In 1978, Netanyahu returned to Israel. Between 1978 and 1980, he ran the Jonathan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute, a non-governmental organization devoted to the study of terrorism; the Institute held a number of international conferences focused on the discussion of international terrorism. From 1980 to 1982, he was director of marketing for Rim Industries in Jerusalem. During this period Netanyahu made his first connections with several Israeli politicians, including Minister Moshe Arens . Arens appointed him as his Deputy Chief of Mission at
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#17327754921202280-534: A Pittsburgh SWAT unit allowed his speeches to continue downtown at the hall and the Duquesne Club as well as suburban Robert Morris University . On 12 September 2002, Netanyahu testified (under oath as a private citizen) before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding the nuclear threat posed by the Iraqi régime: "There is no question whatsoever that Saddam
2470-473: A U.S. congressional subcommittee meeting. In January 2024, a letter was signed by more than a dozen Biden campaign staffers calling for condition of US support to Israel and a ceasefire. Paul told The Guardian that the administration is witnessing "pretty extraordinary levels of dissent". On 2 February 2024, a group of 800 U.S. and European officials signed an open letter stating their governments' policies were weakening their nations' "moral standing". Following
2660-521: A bit why he sounds as if he's speaking from both sides of his mouth." In late-March 2024, Tamer Qarmout, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies , stated, "You don't see the US using its real leverage to stop Israel or correct its behaviours." While Republican support for Israel remains strong, many Democrats are debating making future U.S. military aid conditional on Israel's behavior in
2850-399: A bloated public sector and excessive regulations were largely responsible for stifling economic growth. His plan involved a move toward more liberalized markets , although it was not without its critics. He instituted a program to end welfare dependency by requiring people to apply for jobs or training, reduced the size of the public sector, froze government spending for three years, and capped
3040-470: A call to arms, with Deif calling on "Muslims everywhere to launch an attack". In the evening Hamas launched another barrage of about 150 rockets towards Israel, with explosions reported in Yavne , Givatayim , Bat Yam , Beit Dagan , Tel Aviv, and Rishon Lezion. Simultaneously, around 6,000 Palestinian militants and civilians infiltrated Israel from Gaza breaching the border in 119 places. The infiltration
3230-505: A ceasefire. American political scientist Ian Bremmer stated that the Biden administration 's position unconditionally supporting the Israeli invasion of Gaza has left Joe Biden as isolated on the world stage as Russian president Vladimir Putin has been since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Jeffrey Sachs , a professor of economics at Columbia University , also stated that
3420-588: A civil war. Netanyahu refused, and the incident quickly grew in political significance. With Israeli-Jordanian relations rapidly deteriorating, King Hussein threatened to void the historic 1994 peace between the two countries should Mashal die. U.S President Bill Clinton intervened and compelled Netanyahu to turn over the antidote. The head of Mossad, Danny Yatom , flew to Jordan, with Netanyahu's consent, bringing an antidote to treat Mashal. The doctors at King Hussein Medical Center , where Mashal lay in
3610-485: A coordinated, month-long operation to invade and occupy Israeli towns, cities, and kibbutzim, including attacking Ashkelon by sea and reaching Kiryat Gat , 20 miles into Israel. The scale of weapons, supplies, and plans indicated, according to Israel, that Hamas intended to inflict mass casualties on Israeli civilians and military forces over an extended period. Western and Middle Eastern security officials gathered evidence suggesting that Hamas intended to invade as far as
3800-590: A day, as well as helps distribute aid now to all Palestinians in need. Aid needs to be restored now to help the displaced millions in Gaza." Chuy Garcia (D-IL) stated that the "decision to freeze UNRWA funding" should be reversed. On February 11, 2024, Congresswoman Cori Bush criticized Israel's impending invasion of Rafah , stating, "Almost half of Gaza's population has taken refuge in Rafah. There's nowhere else to go." Congressman Ro Khanna also criticized Biden's response to Israel's planned attack on Rafah , stating, "This
3990-407: A device to Mashal's left ear that transmitted a fast-acting poison. Mashal's bodyguards were suspicious prior to the attack and were able to chase the agents down and capture them. Other agents were also found and captured. In an interview, he described the attack as "a loud noise in my ear ... like a boom, like an electric shock." Initially, he thought the agents had failed to hurt him but later in
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#17327754921204180-506: A double-load while simultaneously taking courses at Harvard University , completing his bachelor's degree in architecture in two and a half years, despite taking a break to fight in the Yom Kippur War. Professor Leon B. Groisser at MIT recalled: "He did superbly. He was very bright. Organized. Strong. Powerful. He knew what he wanted to do and how to get it done." At that time he changed his name to Benjamin " Ben " Nitai (Nitai,
4370-655: A former State Department official, stated to The New Yorker , "Do I think that Joe Biden has the same depth of feeling and empathy for the Palestinians of Gaza as he does for the Israelis? No, he doesn’t". In April 2024, the Foreign Ministry of Turkey accused the U.S. of having a "double-standard policy on human rights". Barry Trachtenberg , a professor at Wake Forest University , criticized Western support of Israeli military actions, stating, "What we’re seeing
4560-401: A highly representative sample of 500 registered Democratic and Independent voters, found that between 74.1% and 82.8% of the respondents supported an immediate and permanent ceasefire, depending on the state, and that between 19.2% and 24.2% of the respondents are less likely to vote for Biden in the 2024 United States presidential election because of his handling of the war in Gaza. Over 40% of
4750-534: A leaked letter, Department of Justice attorneys requested Attorney General Merrick Garland to "investigate potential violations of U.S. law by Israel’s government, military, and citizenry, and hold the perpetrators to account." Human rights organizations and UN officials have heavily criticized the Biden administration for vetoing multiple UN resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire and for continuing to send arms to Israel. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said
4940-544: A letter to the Biden Administration, urging tougher accountability regarding press access to the Gaza Strip. On November 2, 2023, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) became the first U.S. senator to call for a permanent ceasefire. He was followed by Jeff Merkley (D-OR) later that same month. On December 23, 2023, US senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), stated, "There's a big gap between what the United States says
5130-469: A positive view of Israel. In a Center for Economic and Policy Research poll released on March 5, 2024, 52% of U.S. citizens supported ending arms transfers to Israel. 62% of Democrats supported halting arms sales, while 14% disagreed, whereas 30% of Republicans supported the measure, and 55% opposed it. In a Gallup poll released on March 27, 2024, 55% of the responders disapproved of Israel's military action in Gaza, 36% approved, and 9% had no opinion. In
5320-469: A reference to both Mount Nitai and to the eponymous Jewish sage Nittai of Arbela , was a pen name often used by his father for articles). Years later, in an interview with the media, Netanyahu clarified that he decided to do so to make it easier for Americans to pronounce his name. This fact has been used by his political rivals to accuse him indirectly of a lack of Israeli national identity and loyalty. In 1976, Netanyahu's older brother Yonatan Netanyahu
5510-572: A response, Netanyahu authorized the assassination of Hamas leader Khaled Meshal in Jordan. On 25 September 1997, Mossad agents acting under orders from Netanyahu and his security cabinet attempted to assassinate him. The agents entered Jordan on fake Canadian passports and disguised as tourists. Two of them waited at the entrance of the Hamas offices in Jordan's capital Amman, and, as Mashal walked into his office, one of them came up from behind and held
5700-529: A role in his defeat in the 1999 Israeli general election . After being defeated by Ehud Barak in the 1999 Israeli prime ministerial election , Netanyahu temporarily retired from politics. He subsequently served as a senior consultant with Israeli communications equipment manufacturer BATM Advanced Communications for two years. With the fall of the Barak government in late 2000, Netanyahu expressed his desire to return to politics. By law, Barak's resignation
5890-593: A speech by Chuck Schumer calling for new elections after the war, Likud released a statement, saying, "Senator Schumer is expected to respect Israel's elected government and not undermine it. This is always true and even more so in wartime." 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel Israeli defensive failure [REDACTED] Palestinian Joint Operations Room [REDACTED] Israel Defense Forces Per Israel: Israel Defense Forces On 7 October 2023, Hamas and several other Palestinian nationalist militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from
United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war - Misplaced Pages Continue
6080-537: A speech on February 13, Senator Chris Van Hollen accused the Israeli government of committing war crimes in Gaza, stating, "Kids in Gaza are now dying from the deliberate withholding of food. That is a war crime. It is a textbook war crime. And that makes those who orchestrate it war criminals." On March 9, Senator Bernie Sanders criticized members of Congress, stating, "It is absurd to criticise Netanyahu's war in one breath and provide another $ 10bn to continue that war in
6270-593: A street in Amman . The plot was exposed and two agents were arrested by the Jordanian police while three others hid in the Israeli embassy which was then surrounded by troops. An angry King Hussein demanded Israel to give out the antidote and threatened to annul the peace treaty. Netanyahu relented to the demands after pressure by US President Bill Clinton and ordered the release of 61 Jordanian and Palestinian prisoners including Sheikh Ahmad Yassin . The incident sent
6460-621: A surprise move, Sharon offered the Foreign Ministry to Silvan Shalom and offered Netanyahu the Finance Ministry . Some pundits speculated that Sharon made the move because he deemed Netanyahu a political threat given his demonstrated effectiveness as foreign minister, and that by placing him in the Finance Ministry during a time of economic uncertainty, he could diminish Netanyahu's popularity. Netanyahu accepted
6650-513: A team-leader in the unit. He was wounded in combat on multiple occasions. He was involved in many other missions, including the 1968 Israeli raid on Lebanon and the rescue of the hijacked Sabena Flight 571 in May 1972, in which he was shot in the shoulder. He was discharged from active service in 1972 but remained in the Sayeret Matkal reserves. Following his discharge, he left to study in
6840-406: A trip to Israel and released a joint statement, saying, "We are deeply worried that Prime Minister Netanyahu is moving toward the total destruction of Gaza and has demonstrated an utter disregard for Palestinian lives". Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) stated in May 2024, "We are way past the red line. We cannot continue supporting this." In October 2024, a group of several dozen House Democrats signed
7030-639: A video of its fighters training to blast through the border. After the attack, the IDF said that Hamas had extensively studied the military bases and settlements near the border. The Wall Street Journal has accused Iran of being behind the attack. U.S. officials and Iran have denied this. The IDF has reported seizing over 10,000 weapons following the attack. The arsenal included RPGs, mines, sniper rifles, drones, thermobaric rockets, and other advanced weapons. According to Israeli sources, documents and maps seized from Hamas militants indicated that Hamas intended
7220-476: A vote on January 17, 2024, on a resolution requiring the State Department to explore whether U.S. weapons were being used to violate international humanitarian law. On February 7, 2024, U.S. senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) stated he would support an amendment requiring weapons sold internationally to be used in compliance with U.S. law, international humanitarian law , and the laws of armed conflict. In
7410-778: A warning, although Michael McCaul , Chairman of the US House Foreign Relations Committee , said that warnings were given three days before the attack. For two years, Hamas used hardwired phone lines within Gaza's tunnel network, nicknamed the " Gaza metro ", to covertly communicate, evade Israeli intelligence, and plan Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In the months preceding the attack, Hamas publicly released videos of its militants preparing to attack Israel. A video released in December 2022 showed Hamas training to take hostages, while another video showed Hamas practicing paragliding. On 12 September, Hamas posted
7600-549: A year before the attack. The document described operational plans and targets, including the size and location of Israeli forces, and raised questions in Israel about how Hamas learned these details. The document provided a plan that included a large-scale rocket assault before an invasion, drones to knock out the surveillance cameras and automated guns that Israel has stationed along the border, and gunmen invading Israel, including with paragliders. The Times reported, "Hamas followed
7790-652: A youth center, to "kill as many people as possible", and to take hostages for use in future negotiations. The UN's Pramila Patten and Commission of Inquiry concluded in their reports that the authenticity of these alleged instruction documents claimed to have been retrieved from Hamas militants could not be substantiated. Some of the militants wore body cameras to record the acts, presumably for propaganda purposes. According to news reports, Hamas militants were taking Captagon —a highly addictive stimulant made in Syria and reportedly used by terrorist organization throughout
United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war - Misplaced Pages Continue
7980-477: Is attacked by a neighbouring country, whereas 41% support it. Some Israeli government members believed that Biden's support for Israel was not strong enough. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal , Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir stated, "Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas. If Trump
8170-589: Is essential, and what the Netanyahu government is prepared to do. And when you see these big gaps, the United States looks feckless." US senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) criticized Biden's emergency sale of weapons to Israel on December 30, 2023, stating, "Why should the Admin bypass Congress on arms sales to any nation? Bypassing Congress = keeping the American public in the dark." U.S. senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) forced
8360-571: Is not the time for vague generalities about doing more to protect civilian life." On February 28, U.S. congresswoman Madeleine Dean (D-PA) called for an end to the war and condemned Netanyahu, stating, "Prime Minister Netanyahu's dishonesty – his broken promises to use precision strikes to protect civilians and his false claims that safe zones have been created and enforced – is unacceptable". A group of two dozen House members demanded Biden and Blinken take steps to ensure journalists' safety in Gaza, stating: "Not enough steps have been taken to safeguard
8550-641: Is on his hands." In response to late-February 2024 reports that Biden again planned to veto a UN resolution for a ceasefire, the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights stated, "Our government is beyond evil." During the Michigan Democratic primary , Biden received less than a quarter of the vote in predominantly Arab areas in Dearborn . In 2024, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud declined an invitation to meet with Biden campaign officials prior to
8740-551: Is predominantly Ashkenazi , he has said that a DNA test revealed him to have some Sephardic ancestry. He claims descent from the Vilna Gaon . Netanyahu was the second of three children. He was initially raised and educated in Jerusalem , where he attended Henrietta Szold Elementary School. A copy of his evaluation from his 6th grade teacher Ruth Rubenstein indicated that Netanyahu was courteous, polite, and helpful; that he
8930-452: Is seeking and is working and is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons – no question whatsoever", he said. "And there is no question that once he acquires it, history shifts immediately." In his testimony, Netanyahu also said, "If you take out Saddam, Saddam's regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region." After the 2003 Israeli legislative election , in what many observers regarded as
9120-613: Is the path forward." Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett wrote on January 24: "After all America has done for him, if Netanyahu 'needs to be able to say no' to us, we need to say no to him and do so now!" On January 24, a group of five Congressmembers requested the Government Accountability Office to review whether arms transferred to Israel were being used to violate international law. Mark Pocan (D-WI) criticized Biden's decision to suspend funding to UNRWA , stating on January 29: "UNRWA feeds 1.2 million people
9310-569: Is this clear double-standard where when it’s in the interests of the United States and Western allies, they’ll invoke international law. When it’s not in their interests, they’ll clearly violate international law". In July 2024, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez spoke at the NATO summit in Washington D.C., urging the West to stop its "double standards" between Gaza and Ukraine. After Israel killed
9500-520: The 1996 election , becoming the youngest person in the history of the position and the first Israeli prime minister to be born in the State of Israel ( Yitzhak Rabin was born in Jerusalem, under the British Mandate of Palestine, prior to the 1948 founding of the Israeli state). Netanyahu's victory over the pre-election favorite Shimon Peres surprised many. The main catalyst in the downfall of
9690-517: The 2024 United States presidential election , due to the Biden administration's stance on the Israel-Hamas war. On Super Tuesday , nearly 20% of voters in Minnesota voted uncommitted in protest of Biden's Gaza policies. In March 2024, a coalition of Muslim and Palestinian organizations from Chicago refused a meeting with the Biden campaign, stating, "There is no point in more meetings". In
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#17327754921209880-548: The 7 October attacks . The attacks initiated the ongoing Israel–Hamas war . The attacks began early on 7 October with a barrage of at least 4,300 rockets launched into Israel and vehicle-transported and powered paraglider incursions into Israel. Hamas fighters breached the Gaza–Israel barrier , attacking military bases and massacring civilians in 21 communities, including Be'eri , Kfar Aza , Nir Oz , Netiv Haasara , and Alumim . According to an IDF report that revised
10070-528: The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies showed 94 percent of respondents in sixteen Middle East countries had a negative view of U.S. policy in the war and 76 percent had a diminished view of the country due to its policies. In a social media post, the Palestine UN mission criticized the US secretary of state for not acknowledging the tens of thousands of killed Palestinians in his post marking
10260-662: The Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel , the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . The attack coincided with the Jewish religious holiday Simchat Torah . Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups named the attacks Operation Al-Aqsa Flood , while in Israel they are referred to as Black Saturday or the Simchat Torah Massacre , and internationally as
10450-497: The Gaza–Israel barrier . On 29 September, Qatar , the UN, and Egypt mediated an agreement between Israeli and Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip to reopen closed crossing points and deescalate tensions; the total number of Gazans with work permits in Israel stood at 17,000. Egypt said it warned Israel days before the attack that "an explosion of the situation [was] coming, and very soon, and it would be big." Israel denied receiving such
10640-953: The Israel Defense Forces and served in the Sayeret Matkal special forces as a captain before being honorably discharged. After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Netanyahu worked for the Boston Consulting Group and moved back to Israel in 1978 to found the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute . Between 1984 and 1988 Netanyahu was Israel's ambassador to the United Nations . Netanyahu rose to prominence after election as chair of Likud in 1993 , becoming leader of
10830-452: The Israel Defense Forces . He trained as a combat soldier and served for five years in a special forces unit of the IDF, Sayeret Matkal . He took part in numerous cross-border raids during the 1967–70 War of Attrition , including the March 1968 Battle of Karameh , when the IDF attacked Jordan to capture PLO leader Yasser Arafat but were repulsed with heavy casualties, rising to become
11020-579: The Israeli Labor Party left the coalition and vacated the position of foreign minister, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appointed Netanyahu as foreign minister. Netanyahu challenged Sharon for the leadership of the Likud party in the 2002 Likud leadership election , but failed to oust him. On 9 September 2002, a scheduled speech by Netanyahu at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
11210-552: The Israel–Hamas war . Due to the failure to anticipate the attack, Netanyahu has been criticized for presiding over Israel's biggest intelligence failure in 50 years, and has faced protests calling for his removal. Netanyahu's government has been accused of genocide , culminating in the South Africa v. Israel case before the International Court of Justice in December 2023. In May 2024, Karim Khan ,
11400-651: The Maoist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), confirmed their participation in the operation through their military spokesman Abu Khaled , saying it had lost three fighters in combat with the IDF. The PFLP (a Palestinian Marxist–Leninist / Secular Nationalist political party) and the Lions' Den group (a nonpartisan militant group based in the West Bank ) voiced support for
11590-689: The Washington Post to describe American rhetoric as a "good cop-bad cop approach". Aaron David Miller of the CEIP said that the Biden administration deserved credit for the humanitarian pause negotiations, but that it had "tethered" itself to Israeli war aims that cannot be achieved without bringing "grievous harm to the civilian population". Ali Harb described the contradictions between media reports about Biden's "frustration" with Netanyahu, and his continued military support for Israel, stating, "The US keeps calling for minimising civilian casualties, but
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#173277549212011780-538: The World Central Kitchen drone strikes on 1 April 2024, internal dissent within the Biden administration on the issue of weapons sales to Israel increased. During a February 2024 meeting between U.S. diplomats, humanitarian workers, and USAID director Samantha Power , staff were reportedly "visibly upset" with the administration's policy, with some wearing keffiyehs in protest and others breaking down into tears. By 7 January 2024, two officials from
11970-461: The debate club , chess club , and soccer . He and his brother Yonatan grew dissatisfied with what they saw as the superficial way of life they encountered in the area, including the prevalent youth counterculture movement and the liberal sensibilities of the Reform synagogue, Temple Judea of Philadelphia , that the family attended. I have great respect for the unit. This is a unit that changes
12160-517: The prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021. He is chair of the Likud party. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history, having served a total of over 17 years. Born to secular Jewish parents, Netanyahu was raised in West Jerusalem and the United States. He returned to Israel in 1967 to join
12350-704: The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), announced his intention to apply for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, along with members of his cabinet and Hamas leadership, for war crimes and crimes against humanity as part of the ICC investigation in Palestine . The ICC issued an arrest warrant on 21 November of the same year for Netanyahu along with former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas militant Mohammed Deif , whom Israel presumes dead after an airstrike . Netanyahu
12540-663: The security forces . 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded while attending the Nova music festival . At least 14 Israeli civilians were killed by the IDF's use of the Hannibal Directive . About 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip , alive or dead, and including 30 children, with the stated goal to force Israel to exchange them for imprisoned Palestinians , including women and children. Dozens of cases of rape and sexual assault reportedly occurred, but Hamas officials denied
12730-405: The 100 days since the start of the war. On 4 February 2024, Irish MEP Mick Wallace accused the United States of lacking respect for other cultures or international law after it initiated a bombing campaign against Yemen. Following a US veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Zhang Jun , China's ambassador to the UN, stated it was "nothing different from giving
12920-567: The 13-month-old war. U.S. lawmakers have long viewed Israel as an ally to help protect U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East. Maintaining Israel's regional military hegemony, according to Al-Jazeera, is a central element of U.S. Middle East policy. This has been achieved with U.S. financial aid and an increase in Israel's military arsenal. On the question of why Joe Biden is reluctant to freeze arms transfers or impose conditions on future supplies, Guardian journalist, Robert Tait writes that
13110-769: The 1996 Israeli election were marred by a series of Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. After the Shin Bet assassinated Hamas military leader Yahya Ayyash on 5 January 1996, Mohammed Deif , now commander of the Qassam Brigades , organized a mass-casualty bombing campaign inside Israel as retaliation, including the Dizengoff Center suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and the two Jaffa Road bus bombings in Jerusalem. These operations were, in their scale, scope and sophistication, different and larger than any attacks of
13300-415: The 7 October attack, alongside those at the communities of Netiv HaAsara , Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, and Holit . At 6:30 a.m., around sunrise, rockets were noticed in the sky. Around 7:00 a.m., a siren warned of an incoming rocket attack, prompting festival-goers to flee. Subsequently, armed militants, dressed in military attire and using motorcycles, trucks and powered paragliders, surrounded
13490-480: The American peace activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank, another American activist who was shot by Israeli forces wrote an editorial in Time magazine, stating, "Earlier this year, President Joe Biden said that 'if you harm an American, we will respond.' Yet the Biden Administration has not even condemned my attack." The families of Americans killed by Israel also stated that the Department of Justice had failed to investigate their relatives' deaths. According to
13680-485: The Ansariya ambush. Netanyahu called it "one of the worst tragedies that has ever occurred to us". These major Israeli failures against Hamas and Hezbollah under Netanyahu's first premiership and their results in the subsequent releases of imprisoned Palestinian and Lebanese leaders from Israeli jails are thought to have dealt a blow to Netanyahu's rhetoric of a "tough stance" towards enemies of Israel, and to have played
13870-482: The Biden administration—Josh Paul and Tariq Habash, working on arms sale at the State Department and policy adviser at the Department of Education respectively—had resigned in opposition to US support to Israel's war efforts. In March 2024, another State Department staffer working on human rights, Anelle Sheline, resigned over the administration's support to the war, in particular its bypassing of Congress to authorize
14060-711: The Gaza Strip. Around 50 civilians were killed in the Kfar Aza massacre , 108 in the Be'eri massacre , and 15 people in the Netiv HaAsara massacre . Militants killed 16 or 17 Thai and Nepalese employees during the Kibbutz Alumim massacre . Other militants carried out an amphibious landing in Zikim . Palestinian sources claim that the local Israeli army base was stormed. The IDF said it had killed two attackers on
14250-633: The Golan Heights , and brokered the Abraham Accords , normalization agreements between Israel and the Arab world . Netanyahu has faced criticism over expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank , deemed illegal under international law . In 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, bribery and fraud , and relinquished all ministerial posts, except prime minister. The 2018–2022 Israeli political crisis led to
14440-462: The Golan Heights, no discussion of the case of Jerusalem, no negotiations under any preconditions. In 1997, Netanyahu authorized a Mossad operation to assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Jordan , just three years after the two countries had signed a peace treaty . The Mossad team, covering as five Canadian tourists, entered Jordan on 27 September 1997 and injected poison into Mashal's ears in
14630-596: The Hamas-led attack, 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot near kibbutz Re'im . At least 40 hostages were also taken. This mass killing had the largest number of casualties out of a number of massacres targeting Israeli civilians in communities adjacent to Gaza that were part of
14820-465: The IDF two days to wrest back full control of it. While the exact number of Israelis killed is unknown, as of 15 October 2023, 52 were listed as dead and another 20 or more were missing. On the morning of the attack, around 70 Hamas militants carried out a massacre at Be'eri, an Israeli kibbutz near the Gaza Strip. At least 130 people were killed in the attack, including women (such as peace activist Vivian Silver ), children, and infants, claiming
15010-479: The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., while Arens was ambassador to the United States, a position he held from 1982 until 1984. During the 1982 Lebanon War , he was called up for reserve duty in Sayeret Matkal and requested to be released from service, preferring to remain in the US and serve as a spokesperson for Israel in the wake of harsh international criticism of the war. He presented Israel's case to
15200-485: The Israeli Prime Minister's Office. Following the defeat of the Likud party in the 1992 Israeli legislative elections the Likud party held a party leadership election in 1993 , and Netanyahu was victorious, defeating Benny Begin , son of the late prime minister Menachem Begin , and veteran politician David Levy (Sharon initially sought Likud party leadership as well, but quickly withdrew when it
15390-585: The Israeli cabinet voted 17 to 5 to approve the initial phase of withdrawal from Gaza . Following the withdrawal of Sharon from the Likud, Netanyahu was one of several candidates who vied for the Likud leadership. His most recent attempt prior to this was in September 2005 when he had tried to hold early primaries for the position of the head of the Likud party, while the party held the office of prime minister – thus effectively pushing Ariel Sharon out of office. The party rejected this initiative. Netanyahu retook
15580-481: The Israeli economy started booming and unemployment fell significantly, Netanyahu was widely credited by commentators as having performed an 'economic miracle' by the end of his tenure. However, opponents in the Labor party (and even a few within his own Likud) viewed Netanyahu's policies as "Thatcherite" attacks on the venerated Israeli social safety net. Ultimately, unemployment declined while economic growth soared,
15770-403: The Israeli embassy. King Hussein would only release them if Israel released Ahmed Yassin and a large number of other Palestinian prisoners. King Hussein needed the demands to be "enough to enable the king to be able to publicly defend the release of the hit team." In a 2008 interview, Mashal said of the attempt on his life: "[It] made me more positive about life. I became more courageous in
15960-601: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, whereas 33% approved. In a Economist / YouGov poll released on January 24, 2024, 35% of U.S. adults agreed that Israel's military campaign against Palestinians amounts to genocide , 36% disagreed, and 29% were undecided. Among U.S. citizens aged 18–29, 49% of those surveyed agreed that Israel is committing genocide, with 24% disagreeing, and 27% uncertain. In an Associated Press -NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released on February 2, 2024, 50% of U.S. adults said that
16150-849: The Jewish Election Institute found that 74% of Jewish American registered voters approved of the Biden administration's handling of the war. In a Data for Progress poll released on December 5, 2023, 61% of likely voters, including a majority of Democrats (76%) and Independents (57%) and a plurality of Republicans (49%), supported the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza; 83% of Democrats, 74% of Independents, and 63% of Republicans supported sending food, water, and medical supplies to people in Gaza; 77% of Democrats, 63% of Independents, and 55% of Republicans supported ensuring that people in Gaza have reliable access to fuel and electricity; and 63% of voters, including 65% of those under age 45, agreed with
16340-502: The Likud campaign slogan was, "Netanyahu – making a safe peace ". However, although Netanyahu won the election for prime minister, Peres's Israeli Labor Party received more seats in the Knesset elections . Netanyahu had to rely on a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and UTJ in order to form a government. A spate of suicide bombings reinforced the Likud position for security. Hamas claimed responsibility for most of
16530-525: The Middle East—during the attacks. The morning of the attack, an Israeli military spokesman said that the militants from Gaza had entered Israel through at least seven locations and invaded four small rural Israeli communities, the border city of Sderot, and two military bases from both land and sea. Israeli media reported that seven communities came under Hamas control, including Nahal Oz , Kfar Aza , Magen , Be'eri , and Sufa . The Erez Crossing
16720-770: The Oslo Accords, Prime Minister Netanyahu continued their implementation, but his Premiership saw a marked slow-down in the peace process. In 1996, Netanyahu and Jerusalem 's mayor Ehud Olmert decided to open an exit in the Arab Quarter for the Western Wall Tunnel , which prior prime minister Shimon Peres had instructed to be put on hold for the sake of peace. This sparked three days of rioting by Palestinians, resulting in dozens of both Israelis and Palestinians being killed. Netanyahu first met Palestinian President Arafat on 4 September 1996. Prior to
16910-428: The Palestinian death toll keeps growing. The Biden administration repeatedly emphasises the two-state solution; Israeli leaders continue to explicitly say they oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state." In March 2024, Al Jazeera English senior analyst Marwan Bishara assessed a perceived shift in Biden's tone toward the war, stating, "Biden is underlining a change of tone, not a change of policy. And that explains
17100-440: The Palestinian people — and is not in the long term American interest." Although the U.S. has asked Israel to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid, State Secretary Antony Blinken acknowledged that there is "a gap" between these appeals and "the actual results that we’re seeing on the ground". The United States has not used its leverage over Israel—its weapons transfers and diplomatic support—to ensure civilian safety, leading
17290-705: The US government assessed that members of Russia's forces in Ukraine had committed war crimes. The U.S. State Department said there is no need to launch any formal domestic investigation into whether Israel has committed war crimes, even though the weapons it uses are supplied by the US. In a speech to the European Parliament, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell , said water cuts are a violation of international law regardless of where they occur, whether in Ukraine or Gaza. In an interview, Aaron David Miller ,
17480-416: The US had sent Israel over 100 weapons shipments since the war began. As the war went on, US–Israel relations began to become strained. The US government became more critical of Israel and its stance slowly began to change as Palestinian civilian casualties rose and opposition grew. In February, the Biden administration issued a national security directive requiring written assurances from Israel that it
17670-399: The US is concerned that pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu could push him towards a common goal with Republicans in a year leading to the election. Josh Paul, who resigned over sending arms to Israel, has described Biden policy in favor of "the status quo of the occupation" and a "shortsighted, destructive, unjust" policy that "will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and
17860-439: The US was complicit in war crimes, and Amnesty International's Secretary General said that the veto showed that the US "displays a callous disregard for civilian suffering in the face of a staggering death toll". Doctors Without Borders said that the veto "stands in sharp contrast to the values it professes to uphold," and that the US was providing "diplomatic cover for the ongoing atrocities in Gaza". Human Rights Watch said that
18050-629: The United States but returned in October 1973 to serve in the Yom Kippur War . He took part in special forces raids along the Suez Canal against Egyptian forces before leading a commando attack deep inside Syrian territory, the details of which remain classified today. Netanyahu returned to the United States in late 1972 to study architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After briefly returning to Israel to fight in
18240-525: The United States was being isolated on the world stage due to its support for Israel. In March 2024, U.S. senator Bernie Sanders wrote the U.S. was "virtually alone in the world" in continuing to defend Israel's actions as the Palestinian death toll has sparked widespread outrage and protests . According to some analyses, the US-led ceasefire talks are simply buying more time for Israel's war in Gaza to continue. Following US request to Qatar to expel Hamas from
18430-541: The United States' support for Israel's action in Gaza. Amongst the Muslim and Arab American communities, there was strong backlash to US support of Israel, with some vowing to abstain from supporting Biden in the 2024 presidential election. Palestinian-Americans with family in Gaza were reportedly "pleading with the U.S. government to evacuate their family members". Some, including former-Congressman Justin Amash , reported
18620-482: The United States, making it the greatest recipient in history. Following Israel's victory over surrounding Arab forces in the 1967 Six-Day War and its subsequent occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, military assistance to the country surged significantly. The Iron Dome , which became operational in 2011, was created with the help of the United States, which is responsible for providing components for
18810-436: The West Bank and Gaza. According to Steven A. Cook , for the United States, a more normal bilateral relationship with Israel is likely to reduce the moral costs of military aid. In an op-ed, Elias Khoury argued that the United States's support of Israel "has eroded its international authority and claim to uphold the international rules-based system". Amidst criticism that Biden's blanket support for Israel's actions had weakened
19000-654: The West Bank, had the initial attack been more successful. The National Resistance Center of Ukraine alleged that the Russian Wagner Group trained Hamas militants ahead of the attack, specifically on attack methods and using drones to drop explosives. The National Resistance Center, citing intelligence from Belarusian partisans , said that Wagner mercenaries provided Hamas with drones during exercises in Africa . According to The New York Times , Israeli officials had obtained detailed attack plans more than
19190-602: The Yom Kippur War, he returned to the United States and, under the name Ben Nitay , completed a bachelor's degree in architecture in February 1975 and earned a master's degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1976. Concurrently, he was studying towards a doctorate in political science, until his studies were broken off by the death of his brother in the Entebbe raid . At MIT, Netanyahu studied
19380-534: The activities of the Hamas military leadership. Simulated exercises of Hamas attacks found the Gaza division's response lacking. Cultural conformity was fostered among officers and dissent discouraged. Officers often silenced subordinates to maintain their positions, contributing to a toxic atmosphere where questioning higher-ups' decisions about Hamas was met with apprehension, resulting in most junior officers giving up. At around 6:30 a.m. Israel Summer Time (UTC+3) on Saturday, 7 October 2023, Hamas announced
19570-555: The assault, saying, "I utterly refute that the scenario is imaginary". An Israeli colonel ignored her concerns. According to Haaretz , Israel's domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet , and IDF military commanders discussed a possible threat to the Nova music festival near kibbutz Re'im just hours before the attack, but the festival's organizers were not warned. According to a BBC investigation, surveillance reports suggested that Hamas
19760-459: The attackers. Approximately 90 militants infiltrated kibbutz Ein HaShlosha , killing four civilians, looting, shooting, and burning houses. An 80-year-old Argentinian woman died after her home was set on fire and she was unable to escape. A standoff between the attackers and the residents' security team lasted six hours. The leader of the security team, who was in his sixties, was killed in
19950-583: The attacks. Images and videos appeared to show heavily armed and masked militants dressed in black fatigues riding pickup trucks and opening fire in Sderot, killing dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers and setting homes on fire. Other videos appeared to show Israelis taken prisoner, a burning Israeli tank, and militants driving Israeli military vehicles. Israeli first responders reportedly recovered documents from killed militants' bodies with instructions to attack civilians, including elementary schools and
20140-427: The beach and destroyed four vessels, including two rubber boats. Militants also attacked a military base outside Nahal Oz , leaving 66 soldiers dead and taking seven hostage. An IDF fire investigation found that the militants had "ignited substances... that contain toxic gasses which can cause suffocation within minutes, or even less" both at the base and in civilian locations. Table Footnotes: As part of
20330-415: The blueprint with shocking precision." According to The Times , the document was widely circulated among Israeli military and intelligence leadership, who largely dismissed the plan as beyond Hamas's capabilities, though it was unclear whether the political leadership was informed. In July 2023, a member of the Israeli signals intelligence unit alerted her superiors that Hamas was conducting preparations for
20520-649: The bombings. As prime minister, Netanyahu raised many questions about many central premises of the Oslo Accords . One of his main points was disagreement with the Oslo premise that the negotiations should proceed in stages, meaning that concessions should be made to Palestinians before any resolution was reached on major issues, such as the status of Jerusalem , and the amending of the Palestinian National Charter . Oslo supporters had claimed that
20710-410: The border of Gaza . The event drew around 100 participants. Hamas militants attacked the festival, killing 17 Israelis . Some were fatally shot at the festival site, while others were killed as they attempted to escape to nearby kibbutzim. Most survivors hid under small bushes until Israel Defense Forces rescued them a few hours later. At 10 a.m., less than five hours after the attacks began, fighting
20900-450: The border. Israel said it found explosives hidden in a shipment and halted all exports from Gaza; Hamas denied Israel's claims. Reuters quoted Palestinians who said that the several-day ban affected thousands of families. In response to the ban, Hamas put its forces on high alert and conducted military exercises with other groups, including openly practicing storming Israeli settlements. Hamas also allowed Palestinians to resume protests at
21090-660: The budget deficit at 1%. The taxation system was streamlined and taxes were cut, with the top individual tax rate reduced from 64% to 44% and the corporate tax rate from 36% to 18%. A host of state assets worth billions of dollars were privatized, including banks, oil refineries, the El Al national airline, and Zim Integrated Shipping Services . The retirement ages for both men and women were raised, and currency exchange laws were further liberalized. Commercial banks were forced to spin off their long-term savings. In addition, Netanyahu attacked monopolies and cartels to increase competition. As
21280-509: The company between 1976 and 1978. At the Boston Consulting Group, he was a colleague of Mitt Romney , with whom he formed a lasting friendship. Romney described Netanyahu at the time as "a strong personality with a distinct point of view", and said, "We can almost speak in shorthand ... [w]e share common experiences and have a perspective and underpinning which is similar." Netanyahu said that their "easy communication"
21470-574: The country, according to the BBC, this is the result of the Biden administration's less influence over Israel, which led them to believe that the best way to force some sort of deal was by putting pressure on Hamas. The Islamic world and much of the Global South accused the United States and its allies of a double standard in condemning an illegal occupation in Ukraine while standing firmly behind Israel. Western leaders, pressed for weeks to say whether
21660-623: The country, open foreign bank accounts, hold foreign currency, and invest freely in other countries. Throughout his term, Netanyahu was opposed by the political left wing in Israel and lost support from the right because of his concessions to the Palestinians in Hebron and elsewhere, and due to his negotiations with Arafat generally. Netanyahu lost favor with the Israeli public after a long chain of scandals involving his marriage and corruption charges. In 1997, police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted on corruption charges for influence-peddling. He
21850-493: The course of 2023, there were clashes between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in May 2023, increased settler attacks had displaced hundreds of Palestinians, and clashes around the Al-Aqsa Mosque , a contested holy site in Jerusalem. Tensions between Israel and Hamas rose in September 2023, and The Washington Post wrote that the two were "on the brink of war". On 13 September, five Palestinians were killed at
22040-446: The day he developed a severe headache and began vomiting. He was rushed to a Jordanian hospital where his condition rapidly deteriorated. Immediately after the incident, Jordan's King Hussein demanded that Netanyahu turn over the antidote for the poison, threatening to sever diplomatic relations and to try the detained Mossad agents. King Hussein feared that the death of a Hamas leader would trigger riots in his kingdom, perhaps even
22230-416: The death of family members from Israeli airstrikes. American citizens stuck in Gaza also criticized the United States government's response to the conflict. In a meeting with Biden's campaign chair Julie Chávez Rodriguez , the publisher of Arab American News reportedly told her, "If this man wants our vote, he has to do more than Jesus Christ – bring a lot more dead back to life. Thousands of people's blood
22420-568: The debt-to-GDP ratio dropped to one of the lowest in the world, and foreign investment reached record highs. Netanyahu threatened to resign from office in 2004 unless the Gaza pullout plan was put to a referendum. He later modified the ultimatum and voted for the program in the Knesset, indicating immediately thereafter that he would resign unless a referendum was held within 14 days. He submitted his resignation letter on 7 August 2005, shortly before
22610-482: The estimate on the number of attackers, 6,000 Gazans breached the border in 119 locations into Israel, including 3,800 from the " elite Nukhba forces " and 2,200 civilians and other militants. Additionally, the IDF report estimated 1,000 Gazans fired rockets from the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of participants on Hamas's side to 7,000. In total, 1,139 people were killed: 695 Israeli civilians (including 38 children), 71 foreign nationals, and 373 members of
22800-516: The face of death. My faith became stronger that a man does not die until his time comes. That is, I will die when God decides, not when Mossad decides. It also made me more resolute in fulfilling my responsibilities." On the same day that Hamas bombed the Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem, Hezbollah executed a well-planned ambush on the IDF's naval specia forces Shayetet 13 in Ansariya, South Lebanon, killing 12 Israeli commandos. On 25 May 1998,
22990-446: The father of future U.S. President Donald Trump . Prior to the 1988 Israeli legislative election , Netanyahu returned to Israel and joined the Likud party. In the Likud's internal elections, Netanyahu was placed fifth on the party list. Later on he was elected as a Knesset member of the 12th Knesset, and was appointed as a deputy of the foreign minister Moshe Arens , and later on David Levy . Netanyahu and Levy did not cooperate and
23180-401: The festival grounds and indiscriminately fired on people attempting to escape. Attendees seeking refuge nearby, in bomb shelters, bushes, and orchards, were killed while in hiding. Those who reached the road and parking lot were trapped in a traffic jam as militants fired at vehicles. The militants executed some wounded people at point-blank range as they crouched on the ground. The details of
23370-403: The firefight. A 63-year-old grandmother was also among those killed in the attack. A 39-year-old Israeli-Chilean woman was shot eight times. Thirty survivors were discovered in the kibbutz three days after the massacre, 14 of whom were Thai nationals. Psyduck was a small trance music festival that took place in the open fields near kibbutz Nir Oz , about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from
23560-676: The forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza were "reprehensible". Tlaib and Congressman Cori Bush (D-MO) released a joint statement on January 12 in support of the South Africa International Court of Justice case , stating, "The US must stop trying to discredit and undermine this case and the international legal system it claims to support." Congressmembers Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Val Hoyle (D-OR) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) condemned Biden's 2024 missile strikes in Yemen on January 12, stating that only Congress has
23750-506: The front gate of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. , declaring that he would "no longer be complicit in genocide ". In May 2024, US Army Major Harrison Mann resigned in protest of Biden's Gaza policies. In June 2024, an Air Force engineer resigned in protest of the United States' "complicit[ity] in the genocide in Gaza". Later the same month, two U.S. Air Force enlistees stated they were seeking conscientious objector status due to
23940-606: The green light to the continued slaughter". On October 29, 2023, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), accused Israel of committing genocide , saying, "President Biden, not all America is with you on this one, and you need to wake up and understand. We are literally watching people commit genocide." Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) stated on December 27, 2023, that U.S. policy in Israel had failed. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) stated on January 3, 2024, that Israeli officials' statements calling for
24130-482: The hostages' whereabouts and conditions are not publicly known. The massacre at the festival has been described as the largest terror attack in Israel's history and the worst Israeli civilian massacre ever. During the Hamas-led attack, around 70 Hamas militants attacked Kfar Aza, a kibbutz about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from the border with the Gaza Strip, massacring residents and abducting several hostages . The kibbutz had more than 700 residents, and it took
24320-563: The house but one. A squad of Hamas militants that arrived in a van attacked the moshav of Yakhini . There were seven casualties in the moshav, including a border police officer. An IDF major in the Maglan unit was also injured. The community leader's was on holiday in Thailand at the time, and remotely directed the moshav's 18-person protection team's response. YAMAM and Sayeret Matkal IDF units eventually arrived and killed all
24510-551: The involvement of their fighters. The governments of 44 countries denounced the attack and described it as terrorism , while some Arab and Muslim-majority countries blamed Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause of the attack. Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation, the blockade of the Gaza Strip , the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements , rising Israeli settler violence , and recent escalations. The day
24700-471: The issue; and 55% of Democrats, 36% of Republicans, and 46% of all likely voters said that they disapprove of college campuses limiting students' rights and abilities to protest against Israel's military operations , whereas 32% of Democrats, 49% of Republicans, and 40% of all likely voters approved of doing so. A YouGov poll released on May 21, 2024, and conducted in the key swing states Arizona , Michigan , Minnesota , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin , with
24890-494: The latter was a wave of suicide bombings shortly before the elections; on 3 and 4 March 1996 , Palestinians carried out two suicide bombings , killing 32 Israelis, with Peres seemingly unable to stop the attacks. During the campaign, Netanyahu stressed that progress in the peace process would be based on the Palestinian National Authority fulfilling its obligations – mainly fighting terrorism – and
25080-577: The launch of 4,300 projectiles from Gaza, killing twelve and injuring dozens, most of them from the Bedouin community. Explosions were reported in areas surrounding Gaza and in the Sharon Plain , including Gedera , Herzliyya , Beersheba Tel Aviv , and Ashkelon. Air raid sirens were activated in Beer Sheva , Jerusalem , Rehovot , Rishon Lezion , and Palmachim Airbase . Hamas issued
25270-509: The leadership on 20 December 2005, with 47% of the primary vote, to 32% for Silvan Shalom and 15% for Moshe Feiglin . In the March 2006 Knesset elections , Likud took the third place behind Kadima and Labor and Netanyahu served as Leader of the Opposition. On 14 August 2007, Netanyahu was reelected as chairman of the Likud and its candidate for the post of prime minister with 73% of
25460-480: The lives of 10% of the community's residents. Dozens of homes were also burned down. Several newspapers called the massacre an act of terrorism; some compared the brutality of the atrocities to that of ISIS . Hostages were taken, leading to a standoff with the IDF. According to survivors, there were also deaths from friendly fire; an Israeli tank fired on a house known to contain around 40 Hamas fighters and 14 hostages, among them two children, killing all hostages in
25650-438: The lives of the civilian population in Gaza, including journalists". On February 29, Congressman Jim McGovern called for the U.S. to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza , stating, "Massive humanitarian support is needed to save innocent lives." A group of six U.S. House representatives – Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Sean Casten (D-IL), Madeleine Dean, Becca Balint (D-VT), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and Mark Takano (D-CA) – returned from
25840-475: The loss of thousands of mostly civilian lives could be a violation of international law, spoke only tentatively, adding that they could not judge: "We're not going to get dragged into all this judge-and-jury role," US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. By comparison, a year earlier the United States Department of State had officially announced that, based on available information,
26030-442: The media during the war and established a highly efficient public relations system in the Israeli embassy. Between 1984 and 1988, Netanyahu served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations . Netanyahu was influenced by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson , with whom he formed a relationship during the 1980s. He referred to Schneerson as "the most influential man of our time". At this time Netanyahu became friends with Fred Trump ,
26220-492: The meeting, the two leaders spoke by telephone. The meetings would continue through Autumn 1996. On their first meeting, Netanyahu said: "I would like to emphasize that we have to take into account the needs and the requirements of both sides on the basis of reciprocity and the assurance of the security and well-being of both Israelis and Palestinian alike." Arafat said: "We are determined to work with Mr. Netanyahu and with his government." The talks culminated on 14 January 1997, in
26410-428: The military response from Israel in the Gaza Strip had gone too far, whereas 31% said that it had "been about right", and 15% thought that it had "not gone far enough". As of February 25, 2024, over 70 cities in the United States have voted for a ceasefire. In a Gallup poll released on March 4, 2024, positive opinions of Israel had dropped from 64% to 38% amongst young people aged 18 to 34. Overall, 58% of Americans had
26600-425: The multi-stage approach would build goodwill among Palestinians and would propel them to seek reconciliation when these major issues were raised in later stages. Netanyahu said that these concessions only gave encouragement to extremist elements, without receiving any tangible gestures in return. He called for tangible gestures of Palestinian goodwill in return for Israeli concessions. Despite his stated differences with
26790-492: The murder of Ayyash. According to Mike Kelly , Hamas operative Hassan Salameh, who planned three of the attacks, was trained in Iran . In 2000, families of American victims of the attacks filed a lawsuit against Tlass, Kanaan and Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ali Fallahian . According to Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman , Deif's campaign of massive retaliation and the failure of Israeli intelligence services to prevent it,
26980-410: The nascent Israeli-Jordanian relations plummeting. During his term, Netanyahu also began a process of economic liberalization, taking steps towards a free-market economy. Under his watch, the government began selling its shares in banks and major state-run companies. Netanyahu also greatly eased Israel's strict foreign exchange controls , enabling Israelis to take an unrestricted amount of money out of
27170-503: The new appointment. Sharon and Netanyahu came to an agreement that Netanyahu would have complete freedom as finance minister and have Sharon back all of his reforms, in exchange for Netanyahu's silence over Sharon's management of Israel's military and foreign affairs. As finance minister, Netanyahu undertook an economic plan in order to restore Israel's economy from its low point during the Second Intifada . Netanyahu claimed that
27360-522: The next." On April 29, Senator Van Hollen of Maryland there was "serious doubt on the integrity of the process in the Biden administration for reviewing whether the Netanyahu government is complying with international law in Gaza". In May 2024, Bernie Sanders asked how the U.S. would be able to criticize other countries' human rights abuses if it ignored the "crimes against humanity" committed in Gaza. In June 2024, Senator Chris Van Hollen urged sanctions against Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich during
27550-413: The offensive, Israel and the United States became increasingly isolated amid growing worldwide calls for a ceasefire , with the US vetoing three United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. International rights groups have condemned the U.S. for providing military and diplomatic support to Israel that they say risks complicity in Israeli war crimes . By March 7, 2024,
27740-416: The operation and declared maximum alertness and general mobilization among their troops. Nine individuals employed by UNRWA were accused by Israel of participation, and after a months-long internal investigation, were fired for possible involvement. Deif said more than 5,000 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel in a span of 20 minutes at the start of the operation. Israeli sources reported
27930-400: The operation, that they had drawn the line, and that it was to end "the last occupation on Earth". Shortly thereafter, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh made a similar announcement in a televised address. In addition to Hamas, several Palestinian militant groups voiced support for the operation and participated in it to some extent. The National Resistance Brigades , the armed wing of
28120-459: The opposition . In the 1996 general election , Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister elected directly by popular vote, and its youngest. Netanyahu was defeated in the 1999 election and retired from politics, entering the private sector. He returned and served as minister of foreign affairs and finance , initiating economic reforms , before resigning over the Gaza disengagement plan . Netanyahu returned to lead Likud in 2005 and
28310-513: The past, and it has been alleged that both Syria and Iran had helped in their planning and financing. According to a report, Syrian Minister of Defense Mustafa Tlass instructed Ghazi Kanaan , the commander of Syrian forces in Lebanon , to establish links between Hezbollah and Hamas fighters, who were then trained both in Lebanon and in Iran and participated in the retaliatory operations for
28500-577: The peace process, which was the short-term goal of the attacks anyway. In 1997 Ali Fallahian, the iranian Intelligence Minister, authorized a new Hamas bombing campaign to further disrupt the peace process, and Hamas leader Khaled Meshal , then living in Amman , Jordan, picked Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, an expert bomb-maker in the West Bank , to construct the bombs, and sent five suicide bombers to detonate them simultaneously in Jerusalem on 30 July 1997 ( Mahane Yehuda market bombings ) and 4 September 1997 ( Ben Yehuda street bombings) ), killing 21 Israelis. As
28690-483: The peace process," in the words of the deputy head of the Shin Bet, Yisrael Hasson . Curiously enough, though, after the election, the attacks stopped for almost a year. Some said this was because of Arafat 's campaign against Hamas, and the arrest of many members of its military wing. Others believed that Hamas no longer had any reason to carry out suicide attacks, because Netanyahu had already almost completely stopped
28880-418: The polled voters in each state stated that the combination of imposing a lasting ceasefire and conditioning aid to Israel would make them more likely to vote for Biden. A CBS News poll released on June 9, 2024, found that 61 percent of all Americans think that the United States should not send weapons and supplies to Israel, including 77 percent of Democrats and nearly 40 percent of Republicans. According to
29070-475: The power to approve a war. A January 19 letter from 60 Democratic Congressmembers urged U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken to firmly condemn the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. A group of a dozen Jewish Congressmembers issued a statement on January 19 condemning Netanyahu's opposition to a Palestinian state, which read, "We strongly disagree with the Prime Minister. A two-state solution
29260-480: The reality of our lives even though its actions are a secret. Although it is a small unit, it influences all branches of the military ... My service in the unit strengthened my understanding of the risks involved behind approving operations and the risks that fighters are taking on. It is tangible and not theoretical for me. Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sayeret Matkal ( Maariv 2007) After graduating from high school in 1967, Netanyahu returned to Israel to enlist in
29450-425: The recent war against Hamas. The Biden administration said on November 12 that Israel has successfully increased the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and will continue to receive arms transfers from US. The United States had threatened a month ago if the situation had not improved, it would halt arm transfer to Israel. The relief groups are of the opinion that conditions are now worse than they were at any point during
29640-537: The region, prepared to give Israel whatever it needs. Civil rights groups such as the Center for Constitutional Rights meanwhile called on the government to address the underlying issues that have led to the recent violence, such as Israel's 56-year illegal possession of the Palestinian lands and its 16-year blockade of Gaza as well as "the apartheid regime throughout historic Palestine". Since Israel's founding in 1948, it has received $ 158 billion in military aid from
29830-411: The remains of Itamar Ilyah as well as body parts of at least two other soldiers who died in the Ansariya ambush were exchanged for 65 Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 40 Hizbullah fighters and Lebanese soldiers captured by Israel. Among those returned to Lebanon, were the remains of Hadi Nasrallah, the son of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah , who was killed in a clash with IDF a week after
30020-706: The rivalry between the two only intensified afterwards. During the Gulf War in early 1991, the English-fluent Netanyahu emerged as the principal spokesman for Israel in media interviews on CNN and other news outlets. During the Madrid Conference of 1991 Netanyahu was a member of the Israeli delegation headed by Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir . After the Madrid Conference Netanyahu was appointed as Deputy Minister in
30210-530: The sale of weapons to Israel. In April 2024, the U.S. State Department Arabic spokesperson resigned in protest of the administration's Gaza policy. In May 2024, Lily Greenberg Call , the special assistant to the Interior Department's chief of staff, resigned in protest of Biden's Gaza policies. On 30 May, a senior State Department official resigned, stating U.S. statements that Israel was not blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza were false. In June 2024,
30400-485: The same day, a massacre unfolded at an outdoor music festival near Re'im , resulting in at least 360 dead and many others missing. Witnesses recounted militants on motorcycles opening fire on fleeing participants, who were already dispersing due to rocket fire that had wounded some attendees; some were also taken hostage. Militants killed civilians at Nir Oz , Be'eri, and Netiv HaAsara , where they took hostages and set fire to homes, as well as in kibbutzim around
30590-688: The signing of the Hebron Protocol . The signing of the Hebron Protocol with the Palestinian Authority resulted in the redeployment of Israeli forces in Hebron and the turnover of civilian authority in much of the area to the control of the Palestinian Authority . Eventually, the lack of progress of the peace process led to new negotiations which produced the Wye River Memorandum in 1998 which detailed
30780-508: The start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Qassam commander Mohammed Deif gave a speech mentioning Israel's 16-year blockade of Gaza , Israeli incursions in West Bank cities, violence at Al-Aqsa mosque, Israeli settler violence with the army's support, the confiscation of property and demolition of homes, arbitrarily detaining Palestinians for years until "they wither from cancer and disease", Israel's neglect for international law, American-Western support, and international silence. He then described
30970-448: The start of the Israeli operation, more than 39,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, of whom 52% of identified were women and children. Several thousand more are missing and presumed trapped under rubble. Israel placed Gaza under a complete blockade, including the prevention of fuel and water from entering the Gaza Strip. The United States described Hamas' preemptive attack as "unprovoked," and started sending warships and warplanes into
31160-552: The statement that “The U.S. should hold its ally Israel to a high standard and only provide military aid to Israel if they meet our standards for human rights." In a New York Times / Siena College poll released on December 19, 2023, 44 percent of voters said that Israel should stop its military campaign to protect against civilian casualties, and 39 percent said that Israel should continue its military campaign even if it means that civilian casualties in Gaza mount. 57% of voters said that they disapproved of President Biden's handling of
31350-510: The steps to be taken by the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority to implement the earlier Interim Agreement of 1995. It was signed by Netanyahu and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat , and on 17 November 1998, Israel's 120 member parliament, the Knesset , approved the Wye River Memorandum by a vote of 75–19. In a nod to the 1967 Khartoum conference , Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized a policy of "three no(s)": no withdrawal from
31540-518: The supposed rules-based order , Lara Friedman of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, wrote, "The costs of these new rules of war will be paid with the blood of civilians worldwide for generations to come, and the U.S. responsibility for enabling, defending, and normalizing these new rules, and their horrific, dehumanizing consequences will not be forgotten." Israel and the United States have become increasingly isolated amid growing global calls for
31730-456: The system, including allocating more than $ 1.5 billion for missile defense for Israel in 2022. As part of a record $ 38 billion agreement over ten years negotiated under former US President Barack Obama in 2016, US military aid to Israel exceeded $ 3.8 billion in 2023. Of the $ 3.8 billion in military aid given to Israel this year, half a billion was for Israel's missile defense. Washington has announced that it will replenish Israel's ammunition used in
31920-470: The transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel. In total, the United States spent $ 17.9 billion on military aid to Israel from October 2023 to October 2024, a record for a single year, as estimated by the Costs of War Project at Brown University . After Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,139 Israelis, Israel began a campaign against Gaza. Since
32110-546: The twelve public Biden administration resignees signed a joint statement calling Biden's Gaza policy "a failure and a threat to U.S. national security". In July 2024, a political appointee in the Department of the Interior resigned in protest of Biden's Gaza policies. On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell , a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force , died after setting himself on fire outside
32300-506: The veto and the military support "risks complicity in war crimes". Following the veto, a UN General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire garnered overwhelming support, with 153 countries voting for the resolution to 10 opposed. Turkey's president called for reform of the UN Security Council system that allows for the five permanent members to veto resolutions supported by the overwhelming majority of countries. Polling by
32490-480: Was "responsible and punctual"; and that he was friendly, disciplined, cheerful, brave, active, and obedient. Between 1956 and 1958, and again from 1963 to 1967, his family lived in the United States in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania , a suburb of Philadelphia, while father Benzion Netanyahu taught at Dropsie College . Benjamin attended and graduated from Cheltenham High School and was active in
32680-497: Was a result of "B.C.G.'s intellectually rigorous boot camp". In 1978, Netanyahu appeared on Boston local television, under the name "Ben Nitai", where he argued: "The real core of the conflict is the unfortunate Arab refusal to accept the State of Israel ... For 20 years the Arabs had both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , and if self-determination, as they now say, is the core of the conflict, they could have easily established
32870-490: Was accused of appointing an attorney general who would reduce the charges but prosecutors ruled that there was insufficient evidence to go to trial. In 1999, Netanyahu faced another scandal when the Israel Police recommended that he be tried for corruption for $ 100,000 in free services from a government contractor; Israel's attorney general did not prosecute, citing difficulties with evidence. The months leading up to
33060-517: Was attacked but no residents were harmed. Inbal Rabin-Lieberman , the 25-year-old security coordinator, alongside her uncle Ami, led a guard detail that killed multiple militants attempting to infiltrate a nearby chicken farm. They successfully deterred the rest of the invading militants from entering the community. Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician, serving as
33250-786: Was born in 1949 in Tel Aviv . His mother, Tzila Segal (1912–2000), was born in Petah Tikva in the Ottoman Empire's Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem , and his father, Warsaw -born Benzion Netanyahu ( né Mileikowsky; 1910–2012), was a historian specializing in the Jewish Golden age of Spain . His paternal grandfather, Nathan Mileikowsky , was a rabbi and Zionist writer. When Netanyahu's father immigrated to Mandatory Palestine , he hebraized his surname from "Mileikowsky" to "Netanyahu", meaning "God has given." While his family
33440-456: Was canceled after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters overwhelmed security and smashed through a glass window. Netanyahu was not present at the protest, having remained at his hotel throughout the duration. He later accused the activists of supporting terrorism and "mad zealotry". Weeks later on 1 October 2002 around 200 protesters met Netanyahu outside his Heinz Hall appearance in Pittsburgh although Pittsburgh Police , Israeli security and
33630-403: Was evident that he was attracting minimal support). Shamir retired from politics shortly after the Likud's defeat in the 1992 elections. Following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin at the end of a rally in support of the Oslo Accords , Rabin 's temporary successor Shimon Peres decided to call early elections in order to give the government a mandate to advance the peace process. Netanyahu
33820-405: Was executed using trucks, pickup trucks , motorcycles, bulldozers, speedboats, and powered paragliders . The Sderot police station was reported to have come under Hamas control, with militants killing 30 Israelis, including policemen and civilians. Early in the attack they deliberately destroyed the computer systems at the police station. This disabled communication and delayed the response to
34010-414: Was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different." Israel's Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich stated Biden was involved in an anti-Semitic lie for issuing sanctions against violent West Bank settlers. Following comments by Biden in March 2024 that Israel's killing of civilians was "hurting Israel more than helping", the Israeli prime minister Netanyahu stated this was "false" and "wrong". After
34200-441: Was killed. Yonatan was serving as the commander of Benjamin's former unit, the Sayeret Matkal, and died during the counter-terrorism hostage-rescue mission Operation Thunderbolt in which his unit rescued more than 100 mostly Israeli hostages hijacked by terrorists and flown to the Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Netanyahu was headhunted to be an economic consultant for the Boston Consulting Group in Boston, Massachusetts, working at
34390-422: Was labeled the bloodiest in Israel's history and the "deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust " by many figures and media outlets in the West, including US president Joe Biden . Some have called the attack a genocidal massacre against Israelis. Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories , including the Gaza Strip, since the Six-Day War in 1967. The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), are
34580-469: Was leader of the opposition between 2006 and 2009. After the 2009 legislative election , Netanyahu formed a coalition with other right-wing parties and became prime minister again. He led Likud to victory in the 2013 and 2015 elections . Netanyahu made his closeness to Donald Trump , a friend since the 1980s, central to his appeal from 2016. During Trump's first presidency , the US recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel , Israeli sovereignty over
34770-406: Was one of the factors that led to the defeat of Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Israeli Labor Party in the 1996 Israeli general election and the victory of the right-wing Likud party of Netanyahu, who opposed the Oslo peace process : The wave of terror in February and March 1996 was a case study in how suicide attacks could alter the course of history. At the beginning of February, Peres
34960-468: Was planning a significant operation against Israel, but senior IDF officers repeatedly ignored the warnings. A Ha'aretz investigation found that incompetence in the IDF's higher ranks, including refusal to acknowledge Hamas's preparations for the attacks, was a major cause of the October attacks. The IDF had reduced funding and manpower dedicated to observing Hamas, focusing primarily on rocket sites and ignoring Hamas training and troop movements as well as
35150-400: Was reported at Re'im military base, headquarters of the Gaza Division . It was later reported that Hamas took control of the base and took several Israeli soldiers captive before the IDF regained control later in the day. The base was reportedly the location of IDF drone and surveillance operations. Hamas reportedly posted video of dead Israeli soldiers it had killed at the base. Nir Am
35340-424: Was reported to have come under Hamas control, enabling militants to enter Israel from Gaza. Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said there were 21 active high-confrontation locations in southern Israel. The New York Times reported that an Israeli intelligence document prepared weeks after the attack found that Hamas had breached the border fence in over 30 separate locations. Starting at 6.30 a.m.
35530-426: Was supposed to lead to elections for the prime minister position only. Netanyahu insisted that general elections should be held, claiming that otherwise it would be impossible to have a stable government. Netanyahu decided eventually not to run for the prime minister position, a move which facilitated the surprising rise to power of Ariel Sharon , who at the time was considered less popular than Netanyahu. In 2002, after
35720-423: Was the Likud's candidate for prime minister in the 1996 Israeli legislative election which took place on 29 May 1996 and were the first Israeli elections in which Israelis elected their prime minister directly. Netanyahu hired American Republican political operative Arthur Finkelstein to run his campaign, and although the American style of sound bites and sharp attacks elicited harsh criticism, Netanyahu won
35910-418: Was up twenty points in the polls over his opposition, the conservative hawk Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu. By the middle of March, Netanyahu had closed the gap significantly, and Peres led by only five percentage points. On May 29, Netanyahu won by 1 percent of the vote. This was all due to the terror attacks, which Peres simply couldn't stop. Yahya Ayyash's disciples had ensured the right wing's victory and "derailed
36100-408: Was using US-supplied weapons in line with international law. In March, the US began calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire linked to the release of hostages, and Israel berated the US for allowing a ceasefire resolution to pass at the UN Security Council. The US also voiced its opposition to much of Israel's post-war plan for Gaza. Still, on March 29, 2024, the Biden administration authorized
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