Elad Benari

Elad Benari

News writer based in North America

Elad was born in Haifa, Israel, and currently resides in Canada.

News by Elad Benari

Rubio:

Rubio: Arrest of Columbia anti-Israel activist not about free speech, but visa violations

Secretary of State rejects criticism that the arrest of pro-Palestinian Arab activist Mahmoud Khalil contradicts the Trump administration’s commitment to free speech: This is about people that don't have a right to be in the United States to begin with.

Rubio: Arrest of Columbia anti-Israel activist not about free speech, but visa violations

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.

Hamas welcomes Trump's statement on Gaza residents

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.

Judge rules: Columbia anti-Israel protester to remain in detention

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.

Egypt's Sisi reaffirms support for Palestinian state, rejects displacement

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.

Iran’s President to Trump: No negotiations, 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.

White House: Columbia University refuses to assist in identifying pro-Hamas students

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.

Houthis announce: We will resume attacks on Israeli ships

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.

Big Ben protester pleads not guilty, remanded in custody

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.

UN Security Council to hold urgent meeting on Iran’s nuclear expansion

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.

Rubio to Saudi Crown Prince: There should be no role for Hamas in 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.

Judge halts deportation of organizer of Columbia University anti-Israel protests

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.

Man charged after scaling Big Ben in London with PLO flag

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.

Iran open to talks on nukes - but only on militarization

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.

Rubio clarifies: We will be revoking the visas of Hamas supporters

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 State Dept. says Egyptian Gaza plan falls short of Trump’s expectations

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.

US Treasury Secretary: ‘Making Iran broke again’ at heart of US sanctions strategy

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."

France backs Arab plan for Gaza but demands Hamas' exclusion

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."

Trump on Hamas: Somebody's going to have to get a lot rougher

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.

Iraqi official confirms efforts to locate kidnapped Israeli-Russian scholar

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".

US slaps sanctions on Houthi officials over arms smuggling, Russian ties

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.

Syria pledges to eliminate chemical weapons, seeks international support

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.

NYPD detains pro-Palestinian Arab protesters at Barnard College

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!

Trump warns Hamas: Release all the hostages now or it is over for you

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”.

Houthis claim to have downed US drone over Yemen

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.

UN chief urges Israel to allow aid into Gaza without delay

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.

White House welcomes Arab input on Gaza reconstruction, stresses Hamas must go

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.

US officially labels Houthis as terror group

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.

Iran’s VP Zarif steps down amid 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.

Barnard College expels student for pro-Palestinian Arab protest at Columbia

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.

State Department: Witkoff to head to Middle East amid ceasefire deadlock

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.

Egypt to present Gaza reconstruction plan at emergency Arab summit in Cairo

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.

Argentina's President to visit Israel on March 23, in order to strengthen ties

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.

Qatar condemns Israel’s halting humanitarian aid to Gaza

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.

Avdija makes history with first Israeli NBA triple-double

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.

EU: Hamas must accept ceasefire, Israel must allow 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.

Iran slams Sa’ar’s threats as ‘outrageous’, vows to strengthen defenses

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.

Starmer 'concerned' by BBC’s flawed Gaza documentary

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.

Trump on Gaza ceasefire: We have some pretty good talks going

'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.

Egypt again rejects Lapid’s proposal on Gaza: It is 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".

IAEA report: Iran ramping up production of near weapons-grade uranium