Gallant holds first set of meetings after arriving in Washington

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant holds an initial set of meetings after arriving in Washington for a stateside visit set to focus on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the intensive cross-border fighting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Gallant first meets with the heads of AIPAC, saying the US “is the most important ally of Israel — and more central than ever before,” before meeting with GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Thank you to @AIPAC leaders Howard Kohr and Arne Christenson for an important discussion at the start of my visit to Washington. Committed to ensuring a strong U.S.- Israel alliance.

The United States is the most important ally of Israel – and more central than ever before. pic.twitter.com/Ar9sCAkQAJ

— יואב גלנט – Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) June 23, 2024

Hostage families accuse Netanyahu of ‘walking back’ proposed ceasefire deal

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum slams Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his remarks during an interview about a hostage-for-ceasefire deal, accusing him of withdrawing his support for a proposal being pushed by the US.

“We strongly condemn the prime minister’s statement in which he walked back from the Israeli proposal. This means he is abandoning 120 hostages and harms the moral duty of the state of Israel to its citizens,” the group says in a statement.

Russian news agencies raise police death toll in Dagestan to over 15

More than 15 police officers were killed in a series of attacks in the southern Russian region of Dagestan, Russian news agencies quote the head of the region as saying.

There are also civilian casualties, the agencies reports.

Clashes erupt between Israel backers, pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrating outside LA synagogue

Clashes have broken out between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Los Angeles after a group of the latter held a protest outside the Adas Torah synagogue.

Video shows police and others attempting to intervene between the sides, before declaring it an unlawfully assemble.

Things escalating quickly, updating as quickly as possible. Another large violent event happens as several police officers go into the crowd. LAPD and Magen Am and a few protesters chasing one pro-Palestinian demonstrator. Another scuffle occurs nearby.

Pico-Robertson, LA, CA pic.twitter.com/eRBGmqIwl5

— acatwithnews (@ACatWithNews) June 23, 2024

Police clear the area in front of the synagogue though scuffles continue to break out in the surrounding area.

Things still going on with random moments of violence. I haven’t seen an officer in probably an hour, maybe more.

The dueling Palestine/Israel protest now on Doheny and Olympic in LA. pic.twitter.com/OQfxTKphyW

— acatwithnews (@ACatWithNews) June 23, 2024

Hamas: Netanyahu’s remarks on hostage-ceasefire deal show he opposes offer backed by Biden

Hamas issues a statement charging that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments about a hostage-for-ceasefire deal amount to a rejection of the Israeli proposal unveiled by US President Joe Biden.

Hamas reiterates its demand that any agreement include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war sparked by its October 7 attack, which Netanyahu rejected this evening, vowing Israel would continue fighting until the terror group is destroyed and all the hostages it holds are returned.