JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said Wednesday that it killed an Islamic Jihad militant in southern Gaza, the first such reported death since the start of a ceasefire with Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
In a statement, the military said Israeli troops in southern Gaza “identified several armed suspects who posed a threat” and “operated to thwart the threat and eliminate” a militant from Hamas ally Islamic Jihad.
It also said that in several areas of the Gaza Strip, its soldiers “fired warning shots” toward “masked suspects” approaching Israeli troops.
The military added it was abiding by the terms of the ceasefire that began on Sunday.
“The (Israeli military) is determined to fully maintain the terms of the agreement in order to return the hostages,” it said.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, which is intended to last 42 days, Israeli forces are withdrawing from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip.
The military warned Palestinians to “avoid approaching the troops.”
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Israel military says killed Islamic Jihad militant during Gaza truce
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Israel military says killed Islamic Jihad militant during Gaza truce
- The military said Israeli troops in southern Gaza “identified several armed suspects who posed a threat” and “operated to thwart the threat and eliminate” a militant
- It also said that in several areas of the Gaza Strip, its soldiers “fired warning shots“
Netanyahu mocks corruption trial as ‘Bugs Bunny’ farce
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the ongoing corruption case against him as a “Bugs Bunny trial” and defended his controversial pardon request in a video published on social media.
The three-minute video, released late Thursday, came a week after Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, arguing that his prosecution was dividing the nation.
US President Donald Trump also sent a letter last month to Herzog with the same request.
In the video shared online late Thursday, Netanyahu denounced the proceedings a “political trial” designed to force him from office, reiterating his longstanding denial of any wrongdoing.
The charges include two cases in which Netanyahu allegedly negotiated favorable media coverage from Israeli news outlets, and a third involving accusations he accepted more than $260,000 in luxury gifts — including cigars, jewelry, and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favors.
A fourth corruption charge was previously dismissed.
In the video, Netanyahu held up a Bugs Bunny puppet, mocking prosecutors for allegedly citing a cartoon doll he received as a gift for his son 29 years ago as evidence against him.
“From now on, this trial will be known as the Bugs Bunny trial,” he declared.
Netanyahu further dismissed the cigar gifts as presents “from a friend” and claimed his alleged attempts to secure favorable coverage from “a second-rate Internet site” instead resulted in “the most hateful, antagonistic, negative press coverage you can imagine in Israel.”
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.
The proceedings, which began in 2019, have recently required him to testify three times weekly — a schedule he argues prevents him from effectively governing.
“This farce is costing the country dearly,” he said. “I can’t deal with that... So I asked for a pardon.”
The cases have exposed sharp divisions in Israeli society.
On Monday, before Netanyahu’s latest court appearance, rival groups of protesters gathered outside the Tel Aviv courthouse — some chanting in support of the prime minister, others opposing him, including demonstrators wearing bright orange prison-style jumpsuits to imply that he should be imprisoned.
The three-minute video, released late Thursday, came a week after Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, arguing that his prosecution was dividing the nation.
US President Donald Trump also sent a letter last month to Herzog with the same request.
In the video shared online late Thursday, Netanyahu denounced the proceedings a “political trial” designed to force him from office, reiterating his longstanding denial of any wrongdoing.
The charges include two cases in which Netanyahu allegedly negotiated favorable media coverage from Israeli news outlets, and a third involving accusations he accepted more than $260,000 in luxury gifts — including cigars, jewelry, and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favors.
A fourth corruption charge was previously dismissed.
In the video, Netanyahu held up a Bugs Bunny puppet, mocking prosecutors for allegedly citing a cartoon doll he received as a gift for his son 29 years ago as evidence against him.
“From now on, this trial will be known as the Bugs Bunny trial,” he declared.
Netanyahu further dismissed the cigar gifts as presents “from a friend” and claimed his alleged attempts to secure favorable coverage from “a second-rate Internet site” instead resulted in “the most hateful, antagonistic, negative press coverage you can imagine in Israel.”
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.
The proceedings, which began in 2019, have recently required him to testify three times weekly — a schedule he argues prevents him from effectively governing.
“This farce is costing the country dearly,” he said. “I can’t deal with that... So I asked for a pardon.”
The cases have exposed sharp divisions in Israeli society.
On Monday, before Netanyahu’s latest court appearance, rival groups of protesters gathered outside the Tel Aviv courthouse — some chanting in support of the prime minister, others opposing him, including demonstrators wearing bright orange prison-style jumpsuits to imply that he should be imprisoned.
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