The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, arrived on Saturday, February 15 in Israel, the first stage of a tour in the Middle East which will also lead him to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This Sunday, he met Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, the day after the exchange of three hostages in Hamas. Florida’s ex-somenator will highlight President Donald Trump’s proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip, devastated by more than 15 months of war.
Info to remember
⇒ Marco Rubio in Israel in the aftermath of an exchange of prisoners for hostages
⇒ a cargo of American heavy weapons arriving in Israel in the night
⇒ A former Israeli negotiator deplores “missed opportunities” to release hostages
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Israel
Marco Rubio meets this Sunday, February 16, the Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday 16, February 16, in the aftermath of the exchange of three hostages in Hamas detained in the Gaza Strip for 369 Palestinian prisoners. Marco Rubio, of which this is the first trip to the Middle East since he took office, must discuss the proposal of President Donald Trump to take control of the Gaza Strip and to move its inhabitants to the ‘Egypt and Jordan.
Benyamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, to appreciate Donald Trump’s “total support” to the coming decisions of Israel about the Gaza Strip. “It is now up to Israel to decide what they want to do,” wrote Donald Trump on his social social network, “the United States will support the decision they will take”.
A cargo of American heavy weapons arriving in Israel in the night
A cargo of American heavy weapons arrived in Israel overnight, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday. “A cargo of heavy bombs recently made available by the United States government was received and discharged overnight in Israel, the ministry said in a statement, in reference to the MK-84 heavy bombs recently authorized by the Administration of the President of the President of the President Donald Trump.
This delivery “represents an important asset for the (Israeli) army and constitutes additional proof of the solid alliance between Israel and the United States,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, quoted in the press release.
A former Israeli negotiator deplores “missed opportunities” to release hostages
Israel missed, twice in 2024, the opportunity to sign an agreement for the release of hostages in Gaza, said a former Israeli negotiator in an interview broadcast on Saturday evening, to which the government immediately opposed a denial. “In my eyes, we missed two opportunities to sign an agreement […] In March and July “2024, the Israeli television general of the Reserve Brigade Brigadier Anen Setter, former member of the Smarting Team for the Liberation of the hostages, in the channel.
In this exclusive interview, the first of an Israeli negotiator, Oren Setter, who resigned in October, affirms that Israel “did not do everything he could to bring back the hostages as quickly as possible. “Affirmations [de M. Setter] According to which an agreement could have been reached earlier are devoid of any basis, “the Prime Minister’s office reacted in a statement.
Attack on a UN convoy to Beirut: more than 25 arrests
The Lebanese authorities announced on Saturday more than 25 arrests, the day after an attack on a UN convoy in Beirut who injured two peacekeepers, including a UN force officer in Lebanon. The attack occurred on Friday while supporters of Hezbollah pro-Iranian blocked the country’s international airport for the second consecutive night, protesting the Beirut ban by two flights from Tehran.
Gaza: Hamas says that an Israeli air strike killed two Palestinian police officers
The Ministry of the Interior of the Hamas Government in Gaza said that an Israeli air strike had cost two police officers in the south of the Gaza Strip. “Two police officers were killed and a third was seriously injured by an Israeli strike that targeted them while they were deployed to secure the delivery of humanitarian aid in the Al-Shawka area, to the “East of Rafah,” said the press release, calling on the international community to enforce the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into force on January 19.