Two people were reportedly killed in an airstrike on a vehicle in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, against Hezbollah, supposedly by Israel. The alleged strike comes after the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet held overnight discussions instructing the negotiating team to continue efforts to secure the release of hostages held by the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip.
Prospects for reviving the hostage negotiations have prompted renewed engagement by Egyptian mediators. A Cairo source revealed that "Israeli technical delegations visit Cairo on a weekly basis," as Egypt "takes the pulse" on resuming talks with relevant parties.
Former United States presidential candidate Nikki Haley is slated to arrive in Israel next week on a solidarity visit touring the Gaza border communities that were devastated in the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught and meeting security officials.
Weighing in on the crises, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to urgently increase humanitarian aid to Gaza through all available crossings. Austin reiterated US opposition to the International Criminal Court prosecutor's "outrageous" request for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.
