By New York Post (World News) | Created at 2025-01-23 23:45:07 | Updated at 2025-01-24 03:42:27
4 hours ago
Israeli forces raided a terror cell in the West Bank while diplomats began pushing back on its cease-fire deal with Hezbollah to the north – two shows of force after the cease-fire in Gaza halted the fight against Hamas.
At least 10 terrorists were killed when the Israel Defense Forces raided the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank Tuesday – including two people it said were responsible for the murder of three Israeli civilians, the Times of Israel reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was part of Israel’s plan to secure the safety of its citizens following the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks.
“This is an additional step in achieving the objective that we have set — bolstering security in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The IDF rolled into Jenin with hundreds of troops backed by armored vehicles and air support, and went house-to-house routing out a group of terrorists called the “Jenin Battalion,” another of the numerous Iran-backed terror cells – including Hamas — across the region that Israel is fighting to neutralize.
In Lebanon, Israel is pushing back against the terms of its cease-fire with Hezbollah. The Lebanese terror group started attacking Israel just one day after the Oct. 7 terror attacks — but agreed to a cease-fire in November following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and its assassination of the group’s top leaders.
Israel is now lobbying to extend that deadline to withdraw from Lebanon — originally the end of January — by 30 days, arguing that Hezbollah has violated the terms of the cease-fire hundreds of times with weapons movements and attempted attacks on Israeli troops and territory.
Israel has also said Lebanese government forces have not filled in behind the IDF’s withdrawal fast enough, leaving a power vacuum along Israel’s norther border that Hezbollah could fill in.
“Israel is committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement, but will not compromise on its security,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said.
The terms of the cease-fire called on Israel to withdraw all troops from Lebanon, and Hezbollah to pull back 18 miles from the border. Changes to the deal can only be approved through the US, France and international mediators.
President Trump’s new administration is reportedly not in favor of approving the extension, but Israel’s ambassador to the US told local outlets he’s optimistic the two nations would “reach an understanding” and the 30 days would be given, the Times of Israel reported.
In Gaza, a cease-fire began between Israel and Hamas on Sunday that is supposed to last for 42 days as 33 Israeli hostages are returned in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The deal is set to play out in three phases, with the remaining hostages being released following further negotiations.
Three hostages were released on the first day of the ceasefire, and four more are due to be released Saturday.
President Trump has voiced doubts that Hamas will see through deal through to its final phase.
