International
Netanyahu says he is prepared for a “partial agreement” with Hamas but “not to stop the war” in Gaza
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has assured that he is “prepared for a partial agreement” with Hamas to achieve the return of part of the hostages who continue to be kidnapped in Gaza, but insisted that he will not end the war until he destroys the Islamist group.
“We are obliged to continue fighting after a pause to achieve our goal of destroying Hamas,” he defended last night on the program “Los patriotas”, of the right-wing channel Channel 14, in his first interview in a Hebrew media since October 7.
Shortly after its broadcast, the Prime Minister’s Office sent a statement clarifying that “it is Hamas who opposes the agreement, not Israel,” in the face of the criticisms of Netanyahu for his statements.
“The prime minister has made it clear that we will not leave Gaza until the return of the 120 hostages, alive and dead,” the statement said.
In response, Hamas published a text insisting that any agreement must include “a clear statement of a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip” as an “inevitability to block Netanyahu’s attempts to evade, deceive and perpetuate aggression.”
The Islamist organization assured that Netanyahu’s statements “are a clear confirmation of his rejection of the recent Security Council resolution and President Biden’s proposals.”
The resolution, approved on June 10, supported the proposed truce of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, on which Israel and Hamas are negotiating in recent weeks under the mediation of the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
This draft American agreement raises, in its first phase, a temporary ceasefire in which there would be a partial exchange of hostages (women, elderly and wounded), in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, Hamas and Israel always clash on the same red line: the definitive ceasefire, an indispensable condition for Islamists and something unacceptable for Netanyahu, whose war objectives first go through the destruction of their military and government capabilities.
About the course of the offensive, the prime minister said in the interview that “the high-intensity scenario of the war will end” and will occur “very soon.”
The relatives of the hostages reacted on Monday to the statements in favor of Netanyahu’s partial exchange, criticizing that “ending the fight in Gaza without releasing the hostages would be a national failure and a distancing from the war objectives.”
In addition, the Israeli anti-government movement of the Black Flags called a march in Jerusalem on Thursday at 19:00 (16:00 GMT) against the prime minister, who is blamed for financing Hamas, provoking October 7 and not taking the hostages out of Gaza.
This same group blocked an entrance road to Tel Aviv this morning, justifying that “the hostages are abandoned in Gaza, the north on fire and another war about to begin” while Netanyahu’s Executive “abandons” the citizenry.
Another group, Changing Direction, protested on Monday in front of the headquarters of Hitadrut, the Federal Labor Generation of Israel, to call for early elections and a general strike in the country.
Of the 251 kidnapped on October 7, 116 captives remain in the enclave, at least 40 of them dead according to Israel – more than 70 according to Hamas -; while there are four other hostages for years, two of them dead.
Since the war began, Israel and Hamas only achieved a one-week truce agreement at the end of November, which allowed 105 hostages to be released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
International
Police investigate deaths of Rob Reiner and wife as apparent homicide
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the deaths of Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rob Reinerand his wife as an “apparent homicide,” amid a wave of tributes to the director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally.
According to U.S. media reports on Sunday, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles mansion with what appeared to be stab wounds.
Several political figures shared messages of condolence following the reported deaths of the director of A Few Good Menand his wife.
While the LAPD did not officially confirm the identities of the victims, it stated that homicide detectives were dispatched to the Reiner residence.
“At this time, no additional details are available and the investigation into an apparent homicide is ongoing,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that no arrests have been made and that no individuals are currently being questioned as suspects.
“I’m not going to confirm whether anyone is being questioned at this moment or not. We are going to try to speak with as many family members as we can,” Hamilton said.
CNN reported that a family spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Reiner and his wife.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harrisissued statements expressing their condolences.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
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