Things escalate on Israel’s Northern Border…..
Hamas wants to Keep running Gaza with a Israeli withdrawal….
Even US Sec of State Blinken says Hamas’s requests Demands are un-acceptable….
Here’s what we know:
Israel and Hezbollah traded fire on Thursday with tensions rising further after Israel assassinated one of the powerful Lebanese militia’s senior commanders this week.
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For the second straight day, escalating violence raged across the Israel-Lebanon border.
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Israeli finance minister diverts Palestinian funds to terrorism victims.
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U.S. strikes targets in Yemen as Houthis step up attacks on shipping.
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Palestinian residents and media report heavy bombardments in the Rafah area.
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The Biden administration says there is not a clear timetable to come to a deal….
The Biden/UN Deal is NOT workable….
The escalation comes at a fraught time for Israel as it faces mounting global pressure to wind down its war in the Gaza Strip, with negotiations for a cease-fire appearing to reach a fork in the road. Hamas submitted a response Tuesday to a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal; the response asked for reassurances about an end to the war, according to an official with knowledge of the talks. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing diplomatic effort.
The official said Hamas’s response contained “amendments to the Israeli proposal, including a timeline for a permanent cease-fire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.”
Blinken said Hamas proposed “numerous changes” to the planannounced by President Biden late last month.
“Some of the changes are workable, some are not,” Blinken said in remarks in Doha alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar and the United States have mediated negotiations between Hamas and Israel as the parties work toward a deal that could facilitate the release of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and end Israel’s war there….
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Jun 13, 2024 – ISW Press
Hamas is requiring Israel to meet its maximalist demands sooner than stipulated in the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal. Hamas has seemingly not shortened the timeline on which it would release Israeli hostages, however. Hamas issued new demands on June 11 in response to the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the new demands as going beyond Hamas’ previous negotiating position and questioned whether Hamas is acting in good faith in the talks. The new demands involve Israel committing immediately to a permanent ceasefire, accelerating the timeline for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, and making greater concessions on the release of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas also reportedly requested that Israeli forces withdraw sooner from the Gaza Strip. These changes would help Hamas secure most of its maximalist demands in the first phase of the proposed ceasefire deal and dilutes the second and third phases.