International
Far-right Israeli minister will leave the Netanyahu government if his country does not resume the war after the truce
Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced on Thursday that his party will leave the coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he does not commit to resume the war in Gaza “immediately after” the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement announced this Wednesday.
“The faction supports the demands of the party’s chairman, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to guarantee Israel’s return to war to destroy Hamas (…) immediately after the conclusion of the first phase of the agreement, as a condition for the party to remain in the governing coalition,” the far-right party Religious Zionism said today in a statement.
According to the draft agreement to which Efe had access and details provided by Israeli officers, in the first phase of the 42-day agreement, Hamas will gradually release, and in exchange for more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners, 33 hostages (alive and dead) giving priority to women still captives – also the military ones -, people over 50 years of age, those under nineteen and the sick.
It is the second phase that must initiate “a sustainable calm” in the Strip and the total abandonment of Israeli troops from the Palestinian enclave as a requirement for Hamas to release the rest of the civilians and the male military so that finally, in a third phase, it exchanges the lifeless bodies of hostages already dead.
This morning, Netanyahu’s Office accused Hamas of not wanting to comply with what was already agreed on May 27, in the draft announced then by US President Joe Biden, and of wanting to exchange “mass murderers” for hostages, despite an explicit clause that vetoes it.
Hamas, for its part, assured that it is “committed to the ceasefire agreement, announced by the mediators” and that it is Israel that is trying to “create tension at a critical moment,” in addition to asking the US government to force it to comply with the agreement.
An Israeli official confirmed today to EFE that the negotiating delegation, headed by the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, is still in Doha finalizing the details of the ceasefire agreement, announced yesterday by Qatar and which should come into force this Sunday.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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