Israeli military says it is expanding West Bank operation
Israeli security forces have killed a number of militants and detained several wanted people in Nur Shams in the West Bank, said a military spokesperson who announced the expansion of a military operation, dubbed “Iron Wall” in the occupied territory.
Israeli security forces have expanded a military operation in the West Bank, dubbed “Iron Wall” to Nur Shams, said a military spokesperson, announcing the expansion of a military operation in the occupied territory.
Israeli military, police and intelligence services launched the counter-terrorism operation in Jenin on January 21, described by officials as a “large-scale and significant military operation”.
The Israeli military on Sunday said several militants were killed and a number of wanted suspect detained in Nur Shams.
Saudi Arabia rejects Netanyahu’s remarks on displacing Palestinians
Saudi Arabia has affirmed its categorical rejection of remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu about displacing Palestinians from their land, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Israeli officials have suggested the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory. Netanyahu appeared to be joking on Thursday when he responded to an interviewer on pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 who mistakenly said “Saudi state” instead of “Palestinian state”, before correcting himself.
While the Saudi statement mentioned Netanyahu’s name, it did not directly refer to the comments about establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi territory.
Egypt and Jordan also condemned the Israeli suggestions, with Cairo deeming the idea as a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty”.
The kingdom said it valued “brotherly” states’ rejection of Netanyahu’s remarks.
“This occupying extremist mindset does not comprehend what the Palestinian territory means for the brotherly people of Palestine and its conscientious, historical and legal association with that land,” it said.
Thai hostages freed from Gaza arrive in Bangkok
Five Thai workers released after being held hostage for over a year in Gaza arrived in Bangkok early this morning.
Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, were freed on January 30 as part of an exchange arrangement.
They were embraced by family members, some of whom cried, in the arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi airport. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sagniampongsa and the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv were both at the airport to welcome home the freed hostages.
Hamas militants kidnapped 31 Thai nationals during the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel, making them the largest group of foreigners held captive. Many of the Thai agricultural workers lived in compounds on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, and Hamas militants overran those places first.
They were the second batch of Thai hostages released since the war broke out. During an earlier ceasefire in November 2023, 23 Thai nationals were released in a deal negotiated between Thailand and Hamas, with assistance from Qatar and Iran.
A total of 46 Thais have been killed during the conflict, including two Thai citizens who were killed during the October 7, 2023 attack and their bodies taken into Gaza, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
There was no immediate information available about Nattapong Pingsa, who is the last Thai hostage left in Gaza, nor the two Thai workers whose bodies were taken into Gaza.
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