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Israel pounds Iran proxies in Lebanon as US assists with Hamas hostage negotiations in Gaza

The Israeli military continued to pound Hezbollah and Iran's other proxy terrorist groups in Lebanon on Sunday as media reports suggested there may be a tentative hostage release agreement with Hamas. Israel has allowed shipments of fueld and aid into Gaza, restarting some phone and internet communications.

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01:13 AM, November 20, 2023
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Iran-backed Houthi rebels accused of hijacking ship linked to Israeli billionaire in Red Sea

A cargo ship linked to an Israeli billionaire was allegedly seized by Iran-backed rebels in the Red Sea on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it "strongly condemns the Iranian attack against an international vessel."

"The ship, which is owned by a British company and is operated by a Japanese firm, was hijacked with Iran guidance by the Yemenite Houthi militia," Netanyahu's office said in a statement. "Onboard the vessel are 25 crew members of various nationalities, including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican. No Israelis are onboard. This is another act of Iranian terrorism and constitutes a leap forward in Iran's aggression against the citizens of the free world, with international consequences regarding the security of the global shipping lanes."

Israel Defense Forces also wrote on X, "The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence. The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship."

While Israeli officials insisted the vessell was British-owned and Japanese-operated, ownership details for the Bahamian-flagged Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier, in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Abraham "Rami" Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel, according to The Associated Press.

Posted by Landon Mion
05:18 AM, November 20, 2023

Jon Lovitz knocks 'idiot' John Oliver panicking over US aid to Israel

Actor and comedian Jon Lovitz blasted "idiot" John Oliver, continuing his criticism of the HBO host's rant about America's financial aid to Israel during the Jewish State's ongoing war with Hamas.

"He was just presenting a ridiculous, in my opinion, a ridiculous argument, and also stating the obvious at the same time, saying, 'Look at America. They're aligned with Israel.' And he's trying to say 'It's American ammunition, so America is killing innocent Palestinians.' That was his real point. He didn't come out and say it, but he basically did. He goes 'they're implicated in that,' Lovitz told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

On last week's installment of "Last Week Tonight," Oliver lectured viewers on how the U.S. has "emphatically picked a side" between Israel and Hamas, pointing to the $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel.

"And you can make geopolitical arguments for why that is or isn't a valid thing to do, but it means we're heavily implicated in everything you've just seen", Oliver told viewers.

Lovitz went viral with his rebuke of the British TV star on X.

"Yes. The United States is aligned with Israel, our Democratic ally, not Hamas, a terrorist organization who broke a two-year cease-fire, murdered at least 1,200 innocent civilians, and took 240 civilian hostages back with them," Lovitz wrote, adding "God bless America."

Fox News' Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Posted by Landon Mion
05:13 AM, November 20, 2023

School board member resigns amid firestorm over calling Israeli military a 'terrorist organization'

A Pennsylvania school board member has resigned after she referred to Israel's military as a "terrorist organization" and faced backlash from those within the community.

Dr. Jamina Clay, who was elected in 2021 to the Colonial Board of School Directors, announced her resignation in a post to Facebook – the same social media platform she used to make controversial remarks about the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"As you are all aware of- I recently made a post on my facebook page where I intended to draw attention to the conflict in the middle east. Upon reflection and after having conversation with loved ones and friends, I understand that my choice of words may have caused harm to many, and the impact did not match my intent. The post has been removed," Clay wrote in a post to Facebook Thursday. "Because of the pain that my post has caused, I have resigned from my seat on the Colonial School Board effective immediately."

"I understand that the district needs to heal from the painful words that I chose, and it is best to do that in my absence," she added to the post announcing her resignation. "The board is prepared to move forward and I hope that with me no longer occupying the seat, the community is able to do so as well."

Despite her resignation from the school board, Clay said she will "continue serving as the Assistant Superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia overseeing ten schools."

Fox News' Kyle Morris contributed to this report.

Posted by Landon Mion
05:06 AM, November 20, 2023

Jailed Egyptian aid worker freed by Trump admin defends terrorist group: 'I don't condemn Hamas'

An Egyptian American woman freed from an Egyptian jail with help from the Trump administration in 2017 recently took to social media to praise Hamas and called it "morally abhorrent" to condemn them in the wake of their terrorist attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200.

"I don’t condemn HAMAS and never will," Aya Hijazi posted on X on Nov. 7, a month after Hamas massacred more than 1,200 Israelis. "I don’t condemn Palestinians who exhausted every peaceful way on earth to end their occupation and save their lives."

"I condemn anyone who asks the world to condemn HAMAS," Hijazi added.

"You are morally abhorrent with reverse standards. One for the Whites and ones for everyone else. And your standards of occupation, land theft, besiegement and mass murder don’t apply to me."

Trump and his aides engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to secure Hijazi’s freedom in 2017 after attempts by the previous Obama administration failed. Hijazi, who was 30 years old at the time, was released after spending three years in Egyptian prison on human trafficking charges and was alleged to have ties to the radical Islamist group Muslim Brotherhood.

Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Posted by Landon Mion
04:36 AM, November 20, 2023

GOP lawmakers press TikTok CEO on 'deluge of pro-Hamas content' on platform

A group of House Republicans is demanding more transparency  from TikTok about how content is amplified and how much insight China has into those processes as accusations mount against the social platform that it’s boosting antisemitic videos.

"On October 7, the Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas, brutally attacked Israel and killed more than 1,400 people. Since this terrorist attack, disinformation related to the conflict has run rampant on your platform, stoking antisemitism, support, and sympathy for Hamas," they wrote to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

The letter is being led by Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. It comes just days after TikTok was under fire for facilitating a surge in viral videos expressing support for Usama bin Laden’s 2002 "Letter to America" written in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

TikTok said the content "clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism," and that it would be removing the content. However, the company defended itself: "The number of videos on TikTok is small and reports of it trending on our platform are inaccurate. This is not unique to TikTok and has appeared across multiple platforms and the media."

Carter cited reports that content flagged as pro-Palestinian was far more widely viewed than videos supporting Israel.

"Many of the younger generations are turning to TikTok rather than search engines and other verifiable sources for their news. You have led these generations to believe that TikTok is an ‘unfiltered’ news source," the GOP lawmakers wrote.

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

Posted by Landon Mion
09:21 PM, November 19, 2023

Israeli PM Netanyahu calls out Iran for funding terrorism: 'Crazed, murderous glee'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on Sunday's episode of "Life, Liberty and Levin" to discuss the latest updates with the Israeli-Hamas war.

During the interview, Netanyahu called out the Iranian government for funding terrorist activities towards Israel.

"My position that any money goes that goes to Iran basically advances Iran's war machine," Netanyahu said. "And I look what Iran is doing in the region and everywhere it's implanted itself, everywhere it controls its proxies....They've brought misery and bloodshed to those countries."

"The crazed, murderous glee of murdering human beings, beheading human beings, burning human beings, massacring human beings. That's what Iran stands for," he added.

Netanyahu said that he also recognized "resolve and courage" coming from Americans on the topic of fighting terrorism, despite pro-Hamas sentiment in parts of the U.S.

"But some [Americans] are misguided and some are woefully misguided by a media that broadcasts essentially Hamas claims...They're saying blame Israel, not Hamas," the Israeli leader explained. "Blame the allies, not the new Nazis. Blame America in this case and not bin Laden for the casualties [of the War on Terror]."

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
06:51 PM, November 19, 2023

Macron calls for 'immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire' between Israel, Hamas

French President Emmanuel Macron called for an "immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire" in a post on X Sunday night.

The French leader stressed the seriousness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and said that France is "doing everything" possible to achieve an end in fighting.

"Regarding humanitarian flights, three rotations of an A400M aircraft have already been carried out to Al Arish in Egypt," Macron's statement explained. "Over 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid for civilian populations have been delivered."

"I have decided to charter a new aircraft from the Air Force that will transport over 10 tonnes of medical supplies early next week," the statement added. "It will include two mobile medical units to treat approximately 500 severely injured individuals each."

The politician also noted that France is willing to take care of a select number of children injured in Gaza.

"Regarding the injured or ill children in Gaza in need of urgent care, France is mobilizing all available means, especially air transport, so that they can receive treatment in France if it is useful and necessary," he said. "Arrangements are made to receive up to 50 patients in our hospitals."

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
05:51 PM, November 19, 2023

Israel-Hamas war: IDF says hostage Noa Marciano was murdered inside Al-Shifa Hospital

IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari released new details about the death of an Israeli hostage during a press conference on Sunday.

IDF servicemember Noa Marciano, 19, was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

"Noa was taken into Gaza alive, she was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza City next to the Shifa Hospital," Hagari said. "During ongoing combat, in the vicinity of where she was held captive, Noa’s Hamas captor was killed and Noa was injured."

Hagari said that Noah's injuries were "not life-threatening" and said that Hamas terrorists murdered her inside the Al-Shifa Hospital after she was wounded.

"Hamas terrorists took Noa into Shifa hospital where she was murdered quickly," he continued. "Hamas murdered Noa inside Shifa hospital. Our thoughts are with Noa’s family. We send our heartfelt condolences to Noa’s family. We did not reach Noa in time."

"This has only made the IDF more determined to do everything, everything in our power, to bring all our hostages home," Hagari added.

Fox News Digital's Dana Karni contributed to this report.

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
04:27 PM, November 19, 2023

NSC leader claims US 'closer' than ever to hostage deal despite ongoing Hamas standoff

The U.S. is "closer than we have been in quite some time" to broker a deal with Israel and Hamas to release hostages being held in Gaza, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Sunday. 

"I believe we are closer than we have been in quite some time, maybe closer than we have been since the beginning of this process, to getting this deal done. And we are following this minute by minute, hour by hour, and have been for a number of weeks," Finer said Sunday on NBC’s "Meet the Press." 

Finer was responding to questions regarding Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani telling reporters Sunday that negotiations for hostage releases have improved, and only "very minor" logistical hurdles stood in the way. 

Read the full article about the Israel-Hamas war by Emma Colton

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
04:21 PM, November 19, 2023

Christie insists antisemitism in US not a 'rise' but 'unmasking': 'It's been there'

GOP presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie insisted on Sunday that antisemitism in the United States is not on the rise, arguing that it has been there all along.

Christie, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," responded to the controversy surrounding X owner Elon Musk and antisemitism espoused on TikTok and by American college professors since Hamas terrorists launched their October 7 attack against civilians, killing about 1,200 people and dragging some 240 more into Gaza as hostages. 

"I think that what we're seeing in this country, Kristen, and with Iran, with the incredible unmasking of antisemitism, I don't want to say it's a rise. I think it's been there," Christie told host Kristen Welker. "And I think what we're seeing now, due to what's happening in Israel at the moment, is that unmasking of that, we're seeing it all over college campuses."

Read the full article about Chris Christie by Danielle Wallace

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
02:59 PM, November 19, 2023

Netanyahu slams Palestinian officials who accused Israel of carrying out Oct. 7 massacre

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called out Palestinian officials who reportedly denied that Hamas attacked and killed civilians at the Re'im music festival massacre on October 7.

"Today, the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah said something utterly preposterous," Netanyahu said in a video on X on Sunday. "It denied that it was Hamas that carried out the horrible massacre at the nature festival near Gaza. It actually accused Israel of carrying out that massacre. This is a complete reversal of truth"

Netanyahu criticized Mahmood Abbas, who also goes by Abu Mazin, of denying both the Holocaust and the anti-Israeli attacks by Hamas.

"My goal is that the day after we destroy Hamas, any future civil administration in Gaza does not deny the massacre, does not educate its children to become terrorists, does not pay for terrorists and does not tell its children that their ultimate goal in life is to see the destruction and dissolution of the State of Israel," Netanyahu's statement added. "That's not acceptable and that is not the way to achieve peace."

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
02:46 PM, November 19, 2023

Israel-Hamas war: IDF releases video showing hostages taken to Al-Shifa Hospital on Oct. 7

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released new video reportedly showing hostages being taken into Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza on October 7.

The CCTV video appears to show a group of men taking an injured man into the hospital. The group, which included armed men, appeared to run through the hospital's lobby.

Another shot of the footage shows a bleeding man in a stretcher being taken into a different room. The group of men huddled around him.

"In the documentation exposed with the assistance of the ISA, Hamas terrorists can be seen on Saturday, October 7th, forcibly transporting hostages, a Nepalese civilian and a Thai civilian, who were kidnapped from Israeli territory," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on X. "These findings prove that the Hamas terrorist organization used the Shifa Hospital complex on the day of the massacre as terrorist infrastructure."

"These findings add to previous evidence presented regarding Hamas’ use of the hospital area as infrastructure for its terrorist activities in a systematic and ongoing manner," he added.

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
02:43 PM, November 19, 2023

IDF honors Israeli staff sergeant who died in Gaza: 'His heroism continues even after his death'

In a social media post on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) honored a fallen soldier who donated his organs to save the lives of others.

Staff Sergeant Yehonatan Yitzchak Samo z"l passed away during the Israeli offensive into Gaza. The IDF said that his heroism "continues even after his death."

"SSTG Yehonatan Yitzchak Samo z"l fell on the battlefield in Gaza," the IDF's post read. "After his death, his organs were donated, and saved the lives 6 people—between them an 8-month old baby."

"Yehonatan is only one of many soldiers who have saved lives through organ donation," the tribute added. "May he rest in peace."

Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
01:34 PM, November 19, 2023

IDF is responding after Hezbollah fired rockets and anti-tank missiles into Northern Israel

Israeli Defense Forces are responding to continued missile launches by Hezbollah terrorists into northern Israel on Sunday.

The Israeli military has launched attacks on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon throughout the weekend. The Iran-backed terrorist group has continued to ramp up its attacks, launching rockets and anti-tank missiles at a growing pace.

The U.S. has sought to deter Iran and its proxies from joining the war against Israel, but with little success.

In a social media post on X, the IDF said that a Hezbollah military compound, a military post and other infrastructure were targeted.

"Several anti-tank missiles and mortar shell launches toward northern Israel were identified," the IDF's statement said. "The launches were not intercepted according to protocol."

"Interceptors were launched toward a suspicious target. The IDF is striking the origins of the fire," the statement added.

Fox News Digital's Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
01:13 PM, November 19, 2023

United Nations slammed for silence over Hamas rapes, mutilation and murder of Israeli women

Women’s rights groups and officials in Israel who have been working tirelessly for the past six weeks to document cases of rape and gender-based atrocities carried out by Hamas terrorists during their mass, brutal terror attack in Israel on Oct. 7., say the United Nations is ignoring them.

They have also shared much of this evidence, some of it horrifyingly graphic and all of it extremely intimate, with the United Nations and groups that protect and empower women.

The response: Silence.

"We’ve sent letters and shared graphic documentation," Sarah Weiss Maudi, a senior diplomat and legal adviser in Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Fox News Digital. "Their silence is so deafening that it’s sickening."

Fox News' Ruth Marks Eglash contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
12:51 PM, November 19, 2023

IDF reveals footage of Hamas tunnel underneath Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital

Israeli Defense Forces revealed footage of an extensive tunnel they say stretches underneath Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital on Sunday.

The footage comes after weeks of Israeli and U.S. intelligence stating that Hamas had placed its headquarters in tunnels underneath the hospital complex.

"IDF and ISA forces revealed a significant 55-meter-long terrorist tunnel, 10 meters underneath the Shifa Hospital complex during an intelligence-based operation," the IDF wrote in a statement. "The tunnel entrance contains various defense mechanisms, such as a blast-proof door and a firing hole, in an attempt by Hamas to block Israeli forces from entering.

"For weeks we've been telling the world about Hamas' cynical use of the residents of the Gaza and patients of Shifa Hospital as human shields," the statement continued.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
12:33 PM, November 19, 2023

Top Democrat champions hostage deal ahead of Thanksgiving, though staunchly rejects ceasefire

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., championed news of a possible deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas ahead of Thanksgiving, but rejected calls for a cease-fire in Gaza. 

Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made clear that there is a difference between a cease-fire in Gaza and humanitarian pauses. 

"Well, let's draw a distinction here," Coons told "Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream, "between a cease-fire – some folks are calling for a cease-fire and protests across Europe and in our country, by which they mean Israel should stop fighting Hamas, should end their campaign in Gaza – or a pause that has been negotiated between Israel and Hamas to allow the release of hostages, Israeli and American and other nationality hostages, and allow them food and fuel and medicine to get into Gaza. A negotiated brief pause in the fighting, I think would be a good thing, and I would strongly support. A cease-fire, meaning an end to Israel's campaign against Hamas. I don't support and neither does the president." 

"News of a potential hostage deal, Shannon, is great news just before Thanksgiving for the 10 American families whose loved ones are being held hostage and the more than 230 others. I've met with those families, Shannon, in Tel Aviv, and in Washington, and it's heartbreaking to be with parents who don't know how their children are doing and who believe they are being held in tunnels… beneath Gaza," he said. "This is a good development today." 

The Washington Post first reported Saturday that the United States, Israel and Hamas had reached a tentative agreement to release an initial 50 or more hostages in smaller groups every 24 hours. The release could begin within the next several days, according to reports.

Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
12:14 PM, November 19, 2023

Israel is 'doing everything they can' to avoid civilian deaths in Gaza, Chris Christie says

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Israel is doing everything it can to avoid civilian casualties in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Christie made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' The 2024 Republican presidential candidate said he is "absolutely" confident that the Israeli Defense Forces are following international law in the conflict as well.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
11:55 AM, November 19, 2023

Best way to protect Gaza civilians is to eliminate Hamas: Mike Pompeo

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacted to polling that shows 73% of Americans are worried about an Islamic terrorist attack on U.S. soil on ‘FOX News Sunday.’

Pompeo said the best way to prevent an attack in the U.S.--and to protect civilians in Gaza--is for Israel to speedily defeat Hamas in Gaza. The former Trump administration official stated that if Hamas is not destroyed, more attacks like the October 7 massacre are a certainty.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
11:25 AM, November 19, 2023

Netanyahu war cabinet stifles revolt from far right over sending Gazans fuel without hostage deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly trying to quell an uprising from far-right members of his government over his concession to send about two trucks of fuel per day into Gaza before securing the release of hundreds of hostages still held by Hamas. 

Nentanyhu, facing mounting pressure from President Biden and the West, reportedly agreed on Friday to send 60,000 liters of fuel, or about two trucks per day, into Gaza in order to prevent the sewer system from collapsing and deter further humanitarian crises, according to Politico. That represents just about 3.5% of the amount of fuel allowed into Gaza before the war.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a right-wing leader, has deemed allowing fuel into Gaza "a grave mistake." He argued Netanyahu's war cabinet, which consists of three people, including the prime minister himself, should be expanded so that all seven parties in the coalition government have a seat. 

Without daily fuel deliveries, some argue the sewer system in Gaza would break down and risk the spread of infectious disease, endangering both civilians and Israeli troops. "If plague were to break out, we’d have to stop the war," National Security Council chairman Tzachi Hanegbi told reporters Friday.

But Itamar Ben Gvir, the minister overseeing Israel’s police, contended that "so long as our hostages don’t even get a visit from the Red Cross, there’s no sense in giving the enemy humanitarian gifts," according to Politico. Allowing fuel, Gvir said, "broadcasts weakness, gives oxygen to the enemy and allows [Hamas Gaza leader Yahya] Sinwar to sit comfortably in his air-conditioned bunker, watch the news and continue to manipulate Israeli society and the families of the abductees."

Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
11:00 AM, November 19, 2023

White House responds to Pentagon doubts over Biden's actions to 'deter' Iran

The White House National Security Council pushed back on reports of division within the Defense Department of President Biden's efforts to deter Iran from widening Israel's war against Hamas on Sunday.

The Washington Post reported on grumblings at the Pentagon over the appearent ineffectiveness of U.S. policy toward Iran. Iran's proxy terrorist groups have attacked U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria roughly 60 times since October 17, leading many to question what exactly Biden is deterring.

“There’s no clear definition of what we are trying to deter,” one defense official told the Post. “Are we trying to deter future Iranian attacks like this? Well, that’s clearly not working.”

Watson responded in a Sunday statement, arguing that Biden has taken significant actions to deter Iran from joining the war in Israel.

"President Biden has shown he will never hesitate to take action to protect U.S. forces. He has directed the U.S. military to conduct precision air strikes in response to recent attacks against U.S. forces who are in Iraq and Syria to help defeat ISIS, and he is fully prepared to take further measures as needed at any given moment to protect our people," she said.

Fox News' Sarah Tobianski contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
10:33 AM, November 19, 2023

Evangelical Reverend Franklin Graham meets with Netanyahu in Israel

Evangelical leader Franklin Graham met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

Graham, the president of Samaritan's Purse, joined Fox News on Sunday to discuss his visit. He was the first evangelical leader to visit Israel since war broke out on October 7.

Graham said he spent time praying with Netanyahu during the visit and said the leader is "laser focused" on ending the conflict and freeing the hostages.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
09:54 AM, November 19, 2023

US believes 'vast majority' of Hamas hostages are 'most likely' alive

The U.S. believes the vast majority of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 are still alive.

Deputy National Security Adviser John Finer made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on ABC's 'This Week.' He said hostage negotiations between the U.S., Israel, Qatar and Hamas were ongoing and extremely sensitive.

Finer said that while the U.S. could not confirm the condition of the hostages, at least a large majority of them are still believed to be alive.

"The United States government does not speak directly with them. But we do believe that a significant number and most likely the majority and even the vast majority of hostages are alive," Finer said. "We are certainly operating under that assumption, and we are going to work to get as many of them out. Certainly, including, by the way, a number of Americans who we believe are held hostage as we can. But we do not have perfect clarity. We are not on the ground."

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
09:23 AM, November 19, 2023

Israel says Iran-backed terrorists have hijacked an international ship in the Red Sea: 'Not Israeli'

Israeli officials warned of a "grave incidient" after Iran-backed terrorists in Yemen hijacked an international cargo vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday.

The Houthi terrorist group had claimed to have captured an "Israeli" ship, but Israel says none of the crew on board are Israeli. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says the ship is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese company.

"The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence.The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship," The IDF said in a statement.

Israel says the ship's crew includes 25 crew members of various nationalities, including Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Filipinos and Mexicans.

"We strongly condemn the Iranian attack against an international ship," the PM's office said.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
08:53 AM, November 19, 2023

Schools’ anti-Israel agendas can be ‘terrifying for families': Lisa Liss

New York City mom Lisa Liss joined ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to discuss the rising anti-Israel agenda within public schools on Sunday.

Liss decried the ongoing surge antisemitism across the U.S. and the world. Several Jewish schools have invested funds into ramping up their security in the wake of Hamas' Oct. Massacre in Israel.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
08:15 AM, November 19, 2023

LA Times editorial board demands Biden admin push for a 'cease-fire' in the Israel-Hamas war

The Los Angeles Times editorial board is arguing for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, following weeks of fighting after Hamas launched the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.

The editorial board claimed that it "has become impossible to distinguish between Israel’s decidedly non-surgical operation against Hamas militants in Gaza and the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians."

"It is time for a cease-fire," the board wrote. "It is time for the Biden administration to assert strong and sustained pressure on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to stop attacks that have reportedly already killed more than 11,000 Gazans. The world cannot stand by to witness more slaughter of civilians."

"Remaining mindful of America’s mistakes, it is incumbent upon the Biden administration now to avoid complicity with Israel’s," the board wrote. "We are past the time to excuse the horror in Gaza. Biden has to press Netanyahu hard to stop the mass, indiscriminate killing. That starts with a call for a cease-fire."

The board conceded that while Hamas is a "radical militant organization" that also is in control of the Gaza government, "Hamas’ atrocities do not justify atrocities in kind." 

Fox News' Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
07:47 AM, November 19, 2023

Musk says X users calling for 'genocide of any group' face suspension after antisemitism allegations

Tech billionaire Elon Musk promised to suspend anyone advocating for the "genocide of any group" from his X platform after being accused of amplifying an antisemitic trope earlier in the week.

"At risk of stating the obvious, anyone advocating the genocide of *any* group will be suspended from this platform," Musk wrote in a post on X. 

"As I said earlier this week,  ‘decolonization’, ‘from the river to the sea’ and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide. Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension," Musk wrote.

Musk faced some backlash earlier in the week over an exchange on X.

Charles Weber, who identifies himself as a Jewish conservative, wrote to his 14,800 followers, "To the cowards hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and posting ‘Hitler was right’: You got something you want to say? Why dont you say it to our faces…" 

Fox Business' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
07:26 AM, November 19, 2023

Over a million Palestinians in Gaza are displaced, why are Arab countries not opening their doors?

At a summit of leaders from more than 50 Arab and Muslim states held last weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Israel’s military response in Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre was fiercely condemned. 

But what was missing from the gathering’s final statement was any immediate solution for the 2.3 million civilians of the Palestinian enclave, more than half of whom are now internally displaced after nearly six weeks of fighting.

While the final resolution called for an immediate end to "the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza" and made offers of humanitarian and financial aid to the Palestinians, not one country came forward with a viable solution, even temporarily, for the 1.5 million civilians who, according to the latest U.N. figures, are now internally displaced in the southern section of the Strip. 

As the death toll in Gaza rises, thousands of civilians continue to flee the conflict and head southward, where the Israeli military has said it is safer and where truckloads of food, water, and medicine arrive daily via the Rafah Crossing with Egypt. The U.N. estimates 250,000 fled in the past week alone.

Some have questioned why nearby Arab countries, who have provided temporary shelter in the past to civilians from other regional conflicts, appear unwilling to even discuss sheltering the refugees from Gaza.

"Arab states have historically been divided with regard to their stance on the Palestinian people and numerous other significant issues," Ahed Al-Hindi, a senior fellow at the Center for Peace Communications, told Fox News Digital. "Although these states project solidarity with the Palestinian people, they hold divergent views on the most effective course of action."

Fox News' Ruth Marks Eglash contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
07:07 AM, November 19, 2023

Israeli forces uncover explosives laboratory in overnight West Bank raid

Israeli secuirity and special forces conducted multiple overnight raids in the West Bank on Sunday, arresting 38 people and interrogating dozens more.

The raids targeted alleged terrorist activity in the Jenin and Balata refugee camps. The IDF says it confiscated 10 firearms and located "a number of warehouses containing improvised explosive devices," as well as a labratory for making explosives, according to spokesman Daniel Hagari.

"Since the beginning of the war, approximately 1,800 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, approximately 1,100 of whom are affiliated with Hamas," Israeli forces said in a statement.

Israel has conducted a slew of operations in the West Bank in tandem with its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
06:46 AM, November 19, 2023

Israeli president marks 'terrifying surge of antisemitism' in global message to Jews

Israeli President Isaac Herzog made a global message to Jews on Sunday, warning them of increasing antisemitism, but nevertheless stating that Israel "is thriving in spite of it all."

Herzog's statement came on the heels of his virtual appearance at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C. last week, where tens of thousands of pro-Israel demonstrators gathered.

“This is not only a war between Israel and Hamas. Israel may be fighting on the ground, but it is fighting the battle of the entire civilized world. We are determined to stand up to this evil," Herzog said. “In the wake of the massacres, we have seen a terrifying surge of antisemitism throughout the world. This fact has exposed the close link between antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment."

"Sisters and brothers, outside my window here in Jerusalem, I see an Israel that is thriving in spite of it all. As I speak, our sons and daughters in uniform are on the frontlines fighting to protect us. Israelis of every background are showing up for each other in remarkable ways. Jewish communities across the world are mobilizing with unprecedented energy. I receive offers of support and solidarity from every corner of the globe. Kol Yisrael Areyvim Ze LaZe. Israel is here for you, and you are here for Israel," he added.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
06:40 AM, November 19, 2023

AIDS conspiracies to antisemitism: Inside Bin Laden's deranged letter picking up new support online

Usama bin Laden, the Islamic jihadist who organized the 9/11 attacks against Americans over 20 years ago, has been back in the headlines this week after his "Letter to America" picked up attention on social media amid Israel's war against Hamas.

But those promoting it appear to be glossing over the deranged conspiracy theories and threats that the terror honcho pushes in the diatribe.

The two-decades-old piece of jihadist propaganda was wiped from The Guardian’s website earlier this week due to a surge in attention — "without full context" — it was getting after some influencers on TikTok began talking about it. Some users said it changed their worldviews. Others went as far as to say they realized bin Laden "was right." 

Part of bin Laden's letter blamed America for supporting the "Israeli oppression of the Palestinians" and "the occupation" in the Holy Land. 

After the trend gained some traction on TikTok, with 274 videos posted under the hashtag from Tuesday to Wednesday, a compilation of videos was uploaded again to X and gained over 35 million views, surpassing the 1.85 million views originally gained on TikTok. 

Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
06:27 AM, November 19, 2023

Democrat Socialist members of Congress have not condemned violent anti-Israel protest targeting DNC

Members of Congress belonging to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have not condemned the violent anti-Israel protest that targeted the headquarters of their own party in Washington, D.C., this week.

The offices of representatives Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Greg Casar, D-Texas; and Cori Bush, D-Mo., did not respond to Fox News Digital's multiple requests for comment concerning the violence that erupted Wednesday when pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war rioted outside the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

None have released a public statement addressing the violence, other than Bush sharing a statement on X from left-wing group IfNotNow Movement blasting House Speaker Mike Johnson for his criticism of the protest.

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) responded to what they said were 150 people "illegally and violently protesting" near the DNC headquarters building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The ensuing clash led to a number of injuries to police and protesters and led to the evacuation of multiple Democratic members of Congress and candidates attending a reception inside the building at the time.

USCP confirmed on X that six officers were injured during the clash, which included injuries ranging from minor cuts and pepper spray burns and punches from protesters.

Fox News' Brandon Gillespie and Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
06:22 AM, November 19, 2023

Israel reveals names of 3 IDF 'martyrs' killed in war against Hamas

Israeli Defense Forces identified three of its soldiers who have been killed in the fighting against Hamas on Sunday, saying their families had been notified.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari identified the soldiers as Yakir Biton, 34; Rani Tahan, 40, and Chen Yahalom, 35. Hagari did not detail how the soldiers had been killed, but the IDF has been engaged in dense urban warfare agaisnt Hamas in Gaza for multiple weeks.

Footage of the fighting shows Israeli forces firing tanks and shoulder-launched rockets at Hamas-occupied buildings as they work to dismantle the terrorist organization.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom
06:14 AM, November 19, 2023

IDF says it is attacking Lebanon after aerial target crossed from the country

The Israeli Defense Forces said an aerial target that crossed from Lebanon was intercepted and that it will now strike Lebanon.

"An aerial target that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory was intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array," the IDF wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"In response, the IDF is striking in Lebanon," the post added.

Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

Coverage for this event has ended.