Middle East Crisis

Political Situation in Israel
Analysis: Netanyahu imitates Trump - they have the same goal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are following a similar pattern to achieve a strikingly similar goal. The New York Times' Mark Mazzetti and Patrick Kingsley write in an analysis after the former ordered the head of the country's internal security service to be fired.

The goal, according to the authors, is to “castrate” the judiciary and dismantle institutions that limit the powers of leaders. They point out that the dismissal, which was temporarily halted by the Supreme Court, is not the only example.

“Netanyahu, like Trump, is trying to limit domestic review institutions and law enforcement agencies.”

Alon Pinkas draws the same conclusions in an analysis in Haaretz, and he also writes that the decision to fire the security chief is not an isolated incident. Netanyahu is imitating Trump, writes Pinkas, who believes he sees a change in the prime minister’s rhetoric. According to Pinkas, Netanyahu now speaks of the “deep state” and dismisses negative news as fake.

“It’s a message to Trump: Look at me, I’m strong and I create chaos just like you.”

HD Pauses Netanyahu's Plan to Fire Shin Bet Chief

Israel's Supreme Court has temporarily halted the firing of Ronen Bar, head of the country's internal security service Shin Bet, Israeli media reports.

The announcement comes after several opposition parties and other organizations filed motions to halt the firing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet voted to fire Bar on Thursday. The court now has until April 8 to review all the motions and issue a ruling on their position.

Gaza War
Katz Threatens Permanent Occupation of Parts of Gaza

If the Hamas terror group does not return the hostages, Israel will permanently occupy parts of the Gaza Strip, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Katz said he had instructed the military to take over more parts of Gaza, evacuate people and expand the so-called security zones to “protect Israel and IDF soldiers.”

“If the hostages are not released, Israel will continue to seize more and more territory in Gaza for permanent control,” he said.

Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza on Tuesday night, breaking a ceasefire that had been in place since January 19.

Many killed and injured in new attacks in Gaza

At least 85 Palestinians have been killed and about a dozen injured in new Israeli attacks on Gaza during the night of Friday, reports the AP, referring to Hamas-controlled health authorities.

This brings the total number of deaths since Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza overnight on Tuesday to almost 600.

On Thursday, Israel closed the main road connecting the southern and northern parts of Gaza. Palestinians are prohibited from entering northern Gaza and those who want to leave the northern parts can only do so on foot. At the same time, Israel has expanded its ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

The death toll from Gaza is difficult to verify because Israel does not allow independent media to enter Gaza. But the UN and other bodies have considered the statistics from Gaza's health authorities reliable.

Victims in Gaza
Flour only lasts six days: “I have no food”

The UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, Unrwa, says that there is only enough flour in Gaza for the next six days.

– We can stretch it out by giving people less, but we are talking about days, not weeks, says spokesperson Sam Rose, reports Reuters.

Israel stopped the delivery of emergency aid to Gaza three weeks ago, which worsened an already catastrophic situation for the population.

– My son cries all night because he is hungry, and I have no food to give him, says Gazan Riam, according to Haaretz.

According to the Unrwa spokesperson, this is the longest period since October 7, 2023 that emergency aid to Gaza has been stopped.