After attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the international shipping company Maersk orders its ships to avoid the Red Sea.
A Maersk ship was attacked by several Houthi missiles while transiting the Red Sea last week, but none hit. The Houthi rebels are an Iran-backed terrorist organization that has declared support for Hamas.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
3:59 p.m., December 17, 2023
Israel-Hamas war: Israeli official says Hamas views hostages as bargaining chip[s]'
IDF international spokesman Maj. Doron Spielman appeared on “Fox News Live” on Sunday to discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
During the interview, Spielman said that Hamas viewed the Gaza hostages as “bargaining pieces.”[s].”
“We cannot rely on the goodwill of Hamas,” Spielman said. “Hamas is an evil terror machine that took these people hostage in the first place.”
“And the only way to get them back to the negotiating table is if they feel like their backs are against the wall and they can't go anywhere because these people are nothing more to them than a bargaining chip,” he said further.
The spokesman emphasized that Israel is doing “everything.” [it] “can” bring back hostages.
“We will do everything we can, not only to bring their children home, but also to destroy Hamas so that the next wave of families don't have to deal with this in the future. We will not create hostages in the future,” Spielman added.
Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
3:44 p.m., December 17, 2023
Israel-Hamas War: Israel establishes over 800 new civilian emergency security units
According to Israeli media, Israeli officials have created over 800 new “civilian emergency security squads” as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.
According to Tazpit Press Service (TPS), the large number of squads have been deployed across Israel since the war began on October 7.
The mission of the squads, according to TPS, is to “serve as an operational reserve force that can be quickly activated to support law enforcement during various security incidents and emergency situations.”
The Israel News Agency said the police volunteers “will be provided with training, rifles and combat equipment for operational needs.”
Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
3:10 p.m., December 17, 2023
Israel-Hamas War: IDF soldier walks through Hamas damage at Erez crossing
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted a video on X of a lieutenant walking around damage caused by Hamas terrorists.
“The horrors left by Hamas near and around the Erez border crossing,” the IDF said on Sunday. She added that they had found a “tunnel big enough for cars.”
The lieutenant, whose name is Masha, was circling the Erez border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
“This is the main entry point from Gaza to Israel and the first attack point on October 7,” Masha explained. “Hamas terrorists fired rocket-propelled grenades at the gate directly behind me and entered the base, where they massacred soldiers and officers.”
“This building is part of a complex that took care of the humanitarian passage of Gaza citizens to Israel before the start of the war,” she added. “Now there’s nothing left of it.”
Posted by Andrea Vacchiano
1:20 p.m., December 17, 2023
Families are increasing calls for their loved ones to be returned home after IDF accidentally killed three hostages
Fox News senior foreign correspondent Greg Palkot reported the IDF's admission that it mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza City on Sunday.
Thousands of Israeli citizens gathered in Tel Aviv this weekend to protest the incident, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the country to continue its war against Hamas.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
12:56 p.m., December 17, 2023
It's 'shocking' that Claudine Gay is still Harvard's president: Jason Chaffetz
Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz and political strategist Lucy Caldwell discussed how Harvard President Claudine Gay held on to her job after her testimony about anti-Semitism.
Chaffetz expressed shock that she was able to remain in her role despite refusing to explain that calling for genocide against Jews would violate Harvard's anti-bullying and harassment policies. Gay also faced accusations of plagiarism.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
12:29 p.m., December 17, 2023
Trump says the wars between Ukraine and Israel “did not happen” under his rule.
Former President Trump, the current GOP front-runner for the 2024 presidential election, said rising inflation and conflicts in Ukraine and Israel “wouldn't have happened” under his rule and blasted Democratic President Biden during a campaign rally in New Hampshire on Saturday as the two headed to a meeting for their anticipated 2024 return match.
The former president referred to an interview with Hungarian Prime Minister Vikor Orban in which Orban praised Trump's foreign policy.
“He didn't start a new war and… it would have been the greatest thing.” “Our world would have been a completely different place now,” Trump quoted Orban as saying.
“He said it would have turned out completely differently. And there would be no way that Russia – and he's right – there's no way that Russia would have invaded Ukraine. It would not be possible for the Russians to do that if President Trump were president.” would not have happened. And guess what? It did not happen. And do you know what wouldn't have happened otherwise? The attack on Israel would not have happened and there would have been no inflation.”
Trump also told the crowd that Biden puts America last when it comes to global interests.
Read the full article from Fox News' Danielle Wallace
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
12:04 p.m., December 17, 2023
The daughter of suspected Hamas hostages says people are “mistaking the real problem” in the fight for reunification.
It has been 71 days since Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israel that left about 1,200 people dead and about 240 people, including several Americans, kidnapped.
Although more than 100 hostages have been freed from Hamas custody in recent weeks, eight Americans remain missing and are believed to have been captured by the terrorist group during the massacre in early October.
The two Americans who disappeared that devastating day and have not been heard from since include Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai, a couple in their 70s who lived in southern Israel's Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border. The couple was out for a morning walk when chaos broke out on October 7th.
The couple's daughter, Iris Weinstein Haggai, spoke to Fox News Digital about the pain she has suffered since her parents' disappearance. She has not received any information about her parents' condition.
Read the full article from Fox News' Kyle Morris
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
11:40 a.m., December 17, 2023
Israel's Most Wanted: 'Butcher of Khan Younis,' Other Hamas Terrorists Now Targeted by IDF
Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas leader in Gaza, his younger brother Muhammed and two other senior military commanders of the Iran-backed Islamist terror group – Rafa'a Salameh and Mohammad Deif – are considered the worst killers from the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.
They are all now Israel's most wanted terrorists.
As the IDF prepares for its fiercest battle yet against Hamas, the army dropped leaflets over Gaza's second city on Thursday urging residents of the Hamas stronghold to pass on information about the whereabouts of the four men and them made an offer of a significant financial reward – around $1 million in total – to anyone brave enough to come forward.
All four terrorists were born and raised in Khan Younis, a city about two miles east of the Mediterranean Sea, and Sinwar, already nicknamed “the Butcher of Khan Younis” due to his violent and cruel torture methods against his enemies, according to The Israeli and Palestinian widely considered to be the mastermind of the massacre of Israeli civilians carried out by thousands of Hamas terrorists on October 7, which sparked the current war.
Read the full article by Fox News' Ruth Marks Eglash
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
11:20 a.m., December 17, 2023
IDF soldier injured in knife attack in West Bank
An Israeli soldier was moderately injured in a knife attack by an unknown terrorist on Sunday.
The knife attack occurred near the West Bank village of Ranthis, which has been a hotbed of pro-Hamas activity since Israel's retaliatory campaign began in the Gaza Strip. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the soldier opened fire on the wounded attacker but missed.
However, other IDF personnel pursued the attacker and arrested him.
“The IDF troops initially provided the soldier with medical care [at the scene] and he was referred to a hospital for medical treatment. “His family has been informed,” Hagari said.
At least 120 Israeli soldiers have been killed so far in the country's war against Hamas. According to the IDF, at least 20 of these were the result of friendly fire or accidents.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
10:26 a.m., December 17, 2023
IDF discovers largest Hamas terror tunnel to date, just meters from Gaza-Israel border
The Israel Defense Forces say they discovered the largest Hamas “terror tunnel” ever discovered this weekend.
According to the IDF, the tunnel system reaches up to 50 meters deep and is just 400 meters from the Erez border crossing, the largest border crossing between Israel and Gaza. IDF troops continue to explore the tunnels, but they say the system of branching paths extends well over 2.5 miles.
Hamas covered the construction of the system with a huge tent area, preventing clear surveillance by Israeli aircraft before the October 7 massacre. Israel highlighted footage showing Hamas terrorists blowing through the Erez border crossing on the morning of the attack.
Israel says the project was overseen by Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
10:04 a.m., December 17, 2023
US CENTCOM commander meets with IDF leaders in Tel Aviv
US CENTCOM commander General Michael Erik Kurilla traveled to Israel this weekend to meet with IDF commanders in Tel Aviv ahead of a visit by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Kurilla met with the IDF Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Hertzi Halevi; Director of the Israeli Security Service. Ronen Bar and other senior military officials. The visit comes as President Biden's administration has encouraged Israel to pursue a new strategy in the war against Hamas.
“General Kurilla and the Israeli leadership discussed strategic issues, the current security situation, humanitarian assistance and damage control efforts to civilians,” the Pentagon wrote in a statement.
Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
9:37 a.m., December 17, 2023
Fox News Poll: Voters divided over what the U.S. should do about conflicts abroad
As President Joe Biden and congressional Republicans debate the spending package to help Israel and Ukraine, a new Fox News poll finds voters are divided over the U.S. role in the wars should play in the two countries.
As for Israel, 30% say the U.S. supports it too much, while 27% say it isn't enough. The largest number, 38%, think U.S. support is about right.
Since November, there has been a 6 percentage point increase in respondents who believe the US does not support them enough, and this increase is entirely due to Republicans (+11 points).
Overall, a majority of 61% support the Israelis, but that is down from 66% in November and 68% in October, at the start of the war.
This decline in support is primarily due to Democrats (-8 points), non-white voters (-8) and women (-6). Just under half of Democrats (48%) support the Israelis, while a third (33%) support the Palestinians. Just over three-quarters (76%) of Republicans support Israelis.
Still, the decline does not translate into support for the Palestinians, as the 23% more supportive of them remained stable compared to the previous month. Instead, more respondents are unsure (6%) or support neither side (10%).
Read the full poll recap from Fox News' Victoria Balara
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
9:08 a.m., December 17, 2023
Israel reports extensively on airstrikes and tank attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari released footage of IDF airstrikes and tank attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group, has repeatedly attacked Israel on its northern border since the Hamas massacre on October 7.
“An Air Force aircraft and an attack helicopter attacked several terrorist infrastructures and a military structure of the terrorist organization Hezbollah on the territory of Lebanon some time ago,” Hagari wrote, according to a translation.
“In addition, today (Sunday) a remotely piloted aircraft attacked a terrorist cell identified in Lebanese territory. “In addition, a plane and a tank attacked weapons and observation equipment belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah,” he added.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
8:36 a.m., December 17, 2023
Iran “gives in” when faced with displays of American strength: Nathan Sales
Former special envoy Nathan Sales was on “Fox News Live” discussing the latest news from the Israel-Hamas war, as a U.S. warship reportedly shot down 14 Houthi drones this weekend.
Sales argued that President Biden's administration needs to get “serious” about deterring Iran, as its terrorist proxies have attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria nearly 100 times since mid-October.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
7:50 a.m., December 17, 2023
Prime Minister Netanyahu calls on Israel to press on despite troops accidentally killing hostages
Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst joined “Fox & Friends Weekend” to discuss how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging Israel to continue the war against Hamas after the IDF accidentally killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza has.
Yingst says there could be a “new phase” of the conflict in the new year as President Biden’s administration pushes Israel to dramatically limit its airstrikes and artillery operations in Gaza after December.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
7:31 a.m., December 17, 2023
The Israeli military releases footage of a “nursery room” linked to the Hamas tunnel system
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari released footage on Sunday showing IDF troops uncovering a Hamas tunnel system connected to a child's bedroom in the basement of a Gaza home.
“During activities in Jabalya, the Nahal Brigade located an operational tunnel shaft in a child's room in the basement of a building. This shaft contained built-in stairs and was destroyed by the brigade’s engineering forces,” Hagari wrote.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
7:15 a.m., December 17, 2023
Jewish Americans of all ages are being forced to make a “choice” about whether to embrace their heritage amid rising anti-Semitism
Following the Palestinian terror group Hamas' deadly terrorist attack on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7 and the Jewish nation's retaliation, there has been a rise in anti-Semitism in America and around the world.
Now young American Jews must decide whether to publicly declare their heritage.
While many Jewish Americans have been galvanized by public anti-Semitism, it's a different decision when it comes to young children.
A young Jewish woman from Seattle, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital she wears a Star of David “every day.” But since the attack, she and her husband have been afraid to allow their daughters to identify as Jewish at school.
“My husband and I decided to put a sign on our window that said ‘I stand with Israel,’ even though his parents, who are Israeli, begged us to take it down because they were afraid,” the woman said .
Read the full article from Fox News Houston Keene
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
6:45 a.m., December 17, 2023
Hamas is orchestrating a plan to trap the region in a “never-ending cycle of bloodshed”: Hegseth
While the October 7, 2023 attacks shocked the world, Israelis and the people of the region are no strangers to the conflict with Hamas.
“This was a well-organized plan hatched over the years by Gaza's elected leaders with the sole intention of keeping the region locked in a never-ending cycle of bloodshed,” FOX News' Pete Hegseth said in a trailer for FOX Nation “Battle in the Holy Land: Israel at War.”
The three-part series, now streaming on FOX Nation, not only examines the recent conflict between the warring nations, but also illuminates the complex history and religious ties that have embroiled the region in conflict for centuries.
“You cannot understand the battle without first understanding the history and religious connections to this sacred land,” Hegseth said.
Read the full article from Fox News' Madeline Coggins
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
6:26 a.m., December 17, 2023
Hamas' brutality and ceasefire push were “part of their plan from the start”: David Schoen
Former Trump lawyer David Schoen says Western figures calling for a ceasefire in Gaza are “playing into the hands of Hamas.”
Appearing on Fox News alongside host Mark Levin, Schoen argued that it was always Hamas' plan to seek a ceasefire extension following its atrocities in Israel on October 7.
“This has been part of their plan from the start – to attack with atrocities, rape, torture, murder and mutilation and then push for a ceasefire.”
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
6:13 a.m., December 17, 2023
A Georgia teacher is accused of threatening to behead a Muslim girl because he called his Israeli flag offensive
A Georgia middle school teacher was arrested after he allegedly threatened to cut off the head of a Muslim student who confronted him about an Israeli flag in his classroom.
Benjamin Reese, 51, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Warner Robbins Middle School, was arrested Dec. 8 on charges of making terroristic threats and cruelty to children, jail records show. He was released on bail two days later, but bail conditions require him to stay away from the school and the student who threatened him.
According to an incident report, a girl approached Reese in a hallway and told him she found the Israeli flag in his classroom offensive because Israelis were killing Palestinians. The student said Reese told her he was Jewish and had relatives in Israel, accused her of anti-Semitism and began making threats against her.
Several witnesses reported hearing Reese shouting threats, including one in which he said he would cut off the girl's head.
“You damn piece of shit! I'll kick your ass! I should cut your damn head off!” He reportedly screamed.
Some students said they also heard Reese say he was going to “slit her damn throat and drag her outside and cut her head off.”
When a deputy asked Reese if he had threatened students, he denied the allegations, the report said. He said he told a student who was offended by the flag that she was anti-Semitic, but denied saying anything racist to her.
Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report
Posted by Anders Hagstrom
6:09 a.m., December 17, 2023
Israel-Hamas war: Official says slain hostages misidentified as uniformed Hamas terrorists
Israeli official Mark Regev appeared on “Fox News Live” on Saturday to discuss the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war, including the IDF's accidental killing of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Regev, who serves as a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the three hostages killed were “clear.”[ly]“misidentified as a threat.
“We have to get to the bottom of what happened thoroughly, because of course we want to do our best to ensure that something like this never happens again,” Regev explained. “It is clear that our forces misidentified these three individuals. They were identified as a threat, as Hamas terrorists.”
The Israeli official cited the fact that Hamas fighters tend not to wear uniforms as a possible reason for mistaking the hostages for terrorists.
“Hamas terrorists don’t necessarily wear uniforms,” he said. “They routinely wear civilian clothing. There were numerous examples of them trying to trick our soldiers by speaking Hebrew and so on.”
“And then, in the middle of the battle and under the pressure of the battle, the soldiers on the ground obviously, as I said, misidentified them and tragically killed them,” Regev added.
Fox News' Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report
Posted by Anders Hagstrom