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

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

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.


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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.

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


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


Hamas responds unfavorably to current cease-fire proposal

Hamas officials are not responding favorably to President Joe Biden's speech Friday and what they call the current proposal on the table.

A Hamas leader said no Hamas delegation has gone to Cairo, and the group is not accepting the offer given to them by mediators, the leader told Al-Mayadeen, a Lebanese news channel.

"We do not want to start from scratch, and our basic condition now is official Israeli approval of the previous paper, otherwise there will be no rounds and discussions," the leader said to Al-Mayadeen.

Separately, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the group frowns upon Washington and the West's calls for it to accept Biden's proposal on Gaza "as if it is Hamas who is hampering the deal," he said Tuesday.

Israel is not serious about reaching a deal in Gaza and is still maneuvering under the U.S.'s cover, Abu Zuhri said to Hamas media.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta


Qatar says Israel and Hamas should have clear positions for Gaza cease-fire

Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was "too early" to reach a cease-fire deal and that there should be a clear position from both sides on the U.S. truce proposal.

"We are waiting for a clear Israeli position that represent the entire Israeli government," Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday. "Any talk of reaching a deal needs a clear position from both sides towards ideas put on the table."

The deal should offer a road map for a permanent cease-fire and an end to the war, he said.

"It is too early thus far. We do not have clear positions from both sides," he said, adding that mediators remain hopeful as they push ahead with efforts to reach a deal but are "not always optimistic."

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy


18 arrested as Jerusalem Day flag march leaves trail of violence

At least 18 suspects were arrested on suspicion of "violent crimes, assault and threats and disorderly conduct at the annual march to mark Jerusalem Day," according to Israeli Police.

The march of flags continues into the Old City and the Western Wall as thousands of Jerusalem District police officers, police reinforcements, MGB fighters and volunteers work in the various missions and sectors. The Israeli Police said it is working throughout Jerusalem to secure the tens of thousands of participants, maintain order and direct traffic on Jerusalem Day.

The march left a trail of violence as it kicked off in the early afternoon of Wednesday. Predominantly right-wing Israeli ultra-nationalists attended, many very young, marching through Muslim areas of Jerusalem’s Old City and attacking local business owners and journalists.

Among those arrested were suspects of different ages involved in “various incidents of violence in the Old City, possession of a knife and threats towards police officers,” police said.

Some of the roads that were blocked were opened to traffic and the police continue to work to maintain security and order.

Al-Asima journalist Saif Al Qawasmi said he was attacked on duty and beaten on his head and hand, video shows.

Hareetz journalist Nir Hasson also said he was attacked by a group of Israeli nationalist youths and posted videos showing the violent scenes.

These protesters were consistently chanting racist slurs throughout their march and attacking people as filmed by witnesses and reported by an ABC News team on the ground.

The massive group of far-right Israelis marched into Jerusalem’s old city chanting, “Death to Arabs!” “May your village burn!” and “The nation is alive!"

Tensions were already high for this event, which draws thousands of people and all Palestinian shops were closed by the Israeli police.

-ABC News' Marcus Moore, Nasser Atta, Jordana Miller and Camila Alcini