Hamas welcomes Trump's statement on Gaza residents
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem welcomes Trump's statement that no one will be expelled from the Gaza Strip: Force Israel to implement all the terms of the ceasefire.
News writer based in North America
Elad was born in Haifa, Israel, and currently resides in Canada.
News by Elad Benari
Judge rules:
Judge rules: Columbia anti-Israel protester to remain in detention
Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student who was responsible for anti-Israel protests on campus, will remain in detention in Louisiana until at least next week.
Egypt's Sisi reaffirms support for Palestinian state, rejects displacement
Egyptian President says the only way to resolve the ongoing conflict is through the establishment of a Palestinian state, firmly rejects any efforts to displace Palestinian Arabs from their homeland.
Iran’s President to Trump:
Iran’s President to Trump: No negotiations, do whatever the hell you want
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his country will not negotiate with the United States under pressure, delivers a blunt message to Trump: Do whatever the hell you want.
White House:
White House: Columbia University refuses to assist in identifying pro-Hamas students
White House Press Secretary says the DHS has compiled a list of individuals at Columbia believed to be in violation of Trump’s executive order aimed at combating antisemitism, but the university is refusing to help identify them.
Houthis announce:
Houthis announce: We will resume attacks on Israeli ships
Houthi rebels in Yemen announce that they will attack any ship that violates the group's ban on Israeli vessels passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
Big Ben protester pleads not guilty, remanded in custody
29-year-old who climbed up London’s iconic “Big Ben” clock tower with a PLO flag appears in court. His lawyer says he intends to plead not guilty to charges of causing a risk or serious harm to the public.
UN Security Council to hold urgent meeting on Iran’s nuclear expansion
United Nations Security Council to convene behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s increasing stockpile of highly enriched uranium, in a discussion called by six of the council’s 15 member states.
Rubio to Saudi Crown Prince:
Rubio to Saudi Crown Prince: There should be no role for Hamas in Gaza
Secretary of State meets Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah, reiterates US position that Hamas must have no role in postwar Gaza.
Campus antisemitism:
Judge halts deportation of organizer of Columbia University anti-Israel protests
Federal judge in New York temporarily blocks the deportation of activist Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in Columbia’s student-led protests against Israel, who will remain in detention until a hearing on Wednesday.
London:
Man charged after scaling Big Ben in London with PLO flag
29-year-old who scaled Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower with a PLO flag charged with causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site.
Iran open to talks on nukes - but only on militarization
Iran signals it may be open to negotiations with the United States, but not if discussions deal with dismantlement of its nuclear program.
Rubio clarifies:
Rubio clarifies: We will be revoking the visas of Hamas supporters
Secretary of State weighs in on the Trump administration’s crackdown on supporters of Hamas after a Palestinian Arab student was arrested over anti-Israel protests at Columbia University.
State Department:
US State Dept. says Egyptian Gaza plan falls short of Trump’s expectations
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce comments on the Egyptian-led initiative for Gaza: It does not fulfill the requirements, the nature, of what President Trump was asking for.
US Treasury Secretary:
US Treasury Secretary: ‘Making Iran broke again’ at heart of US sanctions strategy
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vows that the US will shut down Iran’s oil sector and drone manufacturing capabilities.
France backs Arab plan for Gaza but demands Hamas' exclusion
French foreign ministry spokesman says Egyptian proposal for Gaza is "a serious and credible basis" but stresses that "the plan must entirely exclude Hamas from governing Gaza."
Trump on Hamas:
Trump on Hamas: Somebody's going to have to get a lot rougher
Trump asked whether the US and Israel could take military action against Hamas if the group doesn't release hostages: "You're going to find out. I put out a statement, it's sort of self-explanatory, I think, but somebody's going to have to get a lot rougher than they're getting."
Iraqi official confirms efforts to locate kidnapped Israeli-Russian scholar
Iraq's national security adviser confirms that authorities are actively working to locate Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Israeli-Russian academic who was abducted in Baghdad nearly two years ago.
Over arms smuggling
US slaps sanctions on Houthi officials over arms smuggling, Russian ties
The sanctions come a day after the State Department announced it had officially implemented the designation of the Houthi movement as a "foreign terrorist organization".
Asks for int'l support
Syria pledges to eliminate chemical weapons, seeks international support
Syria’s Foreign Minister says the country is committed to eliminating any remaining chemical weapons following the fall of the Assad regime, appeals to the international community for assistance in this effort.
NYPD detains pro-Palestinian Arab protesters at Barnard College
At least six individuals detained as NYPD officers enter Barnard College's campus to disperse an anti-Israel protest inside the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning.
Trump warns Hamas:
Trump warns Hamas: Release all the hostages now or it is over for you
President Trump issues ultimatum to Hamas after meeting recently freed hostages: You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. This is your last warning!
Houthis claim:
Houthis claim to have downed US drone over Yemen
Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim they successfully intercepted a US MQ-9 reconnaissance drone which was “violating Yemeni airspace and conducting hostile operations”.
UN chief urges Israel to allow aid into Gaza without delay
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again criticizes Israel, this time over its decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip: Humanitarian aid is not negotiable.
White House:
White House welcomes Arab input on Gaza reconstruction, stresses Hamas must go
White House says it welcomes “input” from Arab nations who backed an Egyptian plan to reconstruct the Gaza Strip but stresses: President Trump has been clear that Hamas cannot continue to govern Gaza.
US officially labels Houthis as terror group
Secretary of State Rubio announces that the United States has officially implemented the designation of the Houthi movement as a "foreign terrorist organization", following President Trump's executive order on the issue, which was signed in January.
Iran’s VP Zarif steps down amid pressure from hard-liners
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s former Foreign Minister and current Vice President, tenders his resignation following mounting pressure from hard-liners.
Columbia University:
Barnard College expels student for pro-Palestinian Arab protest at Columbia
Barnard College expels student who took part in anti-Israel protest encampment at Columbia University in April of 2024.
State Department:
State Department: Witkoff to head to Middle East amid ceasefire deadlock
State Department spokesperson says that Trump’s Middle East envoy plans to return to the region in the coming days to work out a way to continue the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
At emergency Arab summit
Egypt to present Gaza reconstruction plan at emergency Arab summit in Cairo
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty says Egypt's plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which seeks to counter Trump's Gaza plan, will be presented at an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday.
To strengthen ties
Argentina's President to visit Israel on March 23, in order to strengthen ties
Argentina's President Javier Milei has been an avid supporter of the state of Israel and announced that he intends to move Argentina’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Qatar condemns Israel’s halting humanitarian aid to Gaza
Qatar condemns Israel’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it a violation of international law and the ceasefire agreement.
History in the NBA:
Avdija makes history with first Israeli NBA triple-double
Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija scores 30 points and adds 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Portland Trail Blazers’ road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, becomes the first Israeli player to record a triple double in the NBA.
EU:
EU: Hamas must accept ceasefire, Israel must allow humanitarian aid
European Union condemns Hamas for rejecting an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, but also criticizes Israel’s move to block humanitarian aid.
Iran slams Sa’ar’s threats as ‘outrageous’, vows to strengthen defenses
Iran's Foreign Ministry condemns Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar's comments that a "military option" might be necessary to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program.
Starmer 'concerned' by BBC’s flawed Gaza documentary
British Prime Minister says he is "concerned" by BBC documentary on Gaza which featured the son of a Hamas official.
Trump on Gaza ceasefire:
Trump on Gaza ceasefire: We have some pretty good talks going
Trump asked about a possible extension of the ceasefire in Gaza: We're working very hard in the Middle East and Gaza. I think we're going to come up with some pretty good solutions.
'Unacceptable'
Egypt again rejects Lapid’s proposal on Gaza: It is unacceptable
Egypt again dismisses opposition leader's proposal suggesting that it take control of Gaza: Any proposals that circumvent the constants of the Egyptian and Arab stance are rejected and unacceptable.
IAEA report:
IAEA report: Iran ramping up production of near weapons-grade uranium
UN nuclear watchdog says Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% has reached 274.8 kilograms, notes the accumulation "is of serious concern".
ICC cancels arrest warrant for eliminated Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif
International Criminal Court announces it has canceled the arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif following confirmation of his death in an Israeli air strike last year.
