Israel Faces Second Stage Crack in Coalition
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World
February 17, 2025 08:36
israel, gaza, syria, us - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu assures Cabinet approval needed before starting negotiations for the second stage of ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Government Tension:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to overthrow the government, that negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire agreement will not start without Cabinet approval. Smotrich demanded Cabinet approval as a condition to stay in the coalition government. The tension arises from the upcoming deadline of the first stage of the ceasefire agreement on March 2.
US Support for Israel:
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Israel, expressed continued support from the Trump administration. Rubio stated that the world would be a safer place if there were more countries like Israel in the Middle East.
Counterterrorism Operation in Syria:
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported the killing of a high-level finance and logistics official of the Al-Qaeda affiliated Hurras al-Din terrorist group in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria. This operation is part of CENTCOM's ongoing efforts to disrupt and neutralize terrorist activities in the region.
Humanitarian Aid Struggles in Gaza:
The Gaza government announced that only 30% of the designated humanitarian aid trucks entered the region in the past two days, falling short of the required amount. This situation highlights the challenges in ensuring necessary aid reaches the Gaza Strip as agreed upon in the ceasefire agreement.