Israel-Gaza updates: Gantz rejects Netanyahu's request, resigns

He said Netanyahu is "preventing us from progressing towards a true victory."

Last Updated: June 4, 2024, 4:02 PM EDT

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, negotiations are apparently stalled to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, and Israeli forces continue to launch incursions in the southern Gazan town of Rafah ahead of a possible large-scale invasion.

Jun 04, 2024, 4:02 PM EDT

IDF says things are at a breaking point in the north

The Israel Defense Forces say things have reached a breaking point along its border with Lebanon, where there has been an exchange of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah for months.

"We are approaching the point where a decision will have to be made, and the IDF is prepared and very ready for this decision. We have been striking here for eight months and Hezbollah is paying a very, very high price," Herzi Halevi, a spokesperson for the IDF, said Tuesday.

"Hezbollah has increased its attacks in recent days and we are prepared after a very good process of training up to the level of a General Staff exercise to move to an offensive in the north. Strong defense, readiness for an offensive, we are approaching a decision point," the IDF said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Jun 04, 2024, 4:02 PM EDT

Current cease-fire proposal has majority support in parliament, Israeli opposition leader says

The current cease-fire proposal has majority support in the Knesset, Israeli parliament, according to Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid.

"There is a large and clear majority in the government, the Knesset and the public in favor of a deal," Lapid said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Jun 04, 2024, 3:38 PM EDT

Hezbollah responds to Ben Gvir's call for war, saying it's ready

Hezbollah has responded to far-right Israeli Minister Ben Gvir's calls for war, with the group saying it's ready.

"If 'Israel' wants to wage an all-out war, we are ready for it. Any Israeli expansion of the war on Lebanon will be met with devastation, destruction and displacement in Israel," Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah Sheikh Naeem Qassem told Al Jazeera Tuesday.

"Our decision is not to expand the war, but we will fight it if it is imposed on us," he said.

An Israeli firefighter puts out flames in a field after rockets launched from southern Lebanon landed on the outskirts of Kiryat Shmona, on June 4, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

He also claimed that President Joe Biden's cease-fire proposal is a political move ahead of the election.

"There is no serious American decision to stop the 'Israeli' war on Gaza," Qassem said.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta

Jun 04, 2024, 2:08 PM EDT

Hamas says it won’t accept deal without permanent cease-fire, complete withdrawal from Gaza

Hamas will not accept a Gaza truce deal without clear commitment from Israel to a permanent cease-fire and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Hamas official Osama Hamdan said Tuesday.

"We have communicated our position to the mediators that we cannot agree to a deal unless there is a clear position from the Israeli occupation it is committed to a permanent cease-fire and a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” Hamdan said during a press conference in Beirut.

Hamdan said he does not believe Israel will commit to a cease-fire and called on Israel to submit a clear position of its readiness for a permanent cease-fire and complete withdrawal from Gaza.

"We cannot agree to a deal that does not secure, guarantee and confirm a permanent cease-fire, comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the completion of a serious and real exchange deal," Hamdan said.

"We asked the mediators to obtain a clear position from the Israeli occupation regarding its commitment to a permanent cease-fire and a comprehensive withdrawal," he added.

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy

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