"They will not recognize us and we will not recognize them, but there is a chance to promote it and they already know that they will not be rid of us," the prime minister said during his visit to Portugal. To resume conflicts on the Gaza border tomorrow
PM Benjamin Netanyahu // Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that there are long-term ceasefire contacts with Hamas. "We are working on it right now. There is a possibility and maybe an opportunity to promote it. They will not recognize us and we will not recognize them but there is a chance to promote it and they already know that they will not be rid of us," Netanyahu told reporters accompanying his trip to Portugal.
In Portugal, it was decided that the US and Israel would advance a mutual defense alliance in the coming months. This was agreed at a meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Netanyahu said that a defense alliance with the US would not damage the IDF's freedom of action "I know there are those who oppose the idea but every step will be made in coordination with the defense establishment and the IDF. There will be no violation of freedom of action and this already exists in US defense agreements with other countries, such as Japan UK and France."
Prime Minister Sharon noted that he knew Blue Ben Benny Gantz was opposed to the Defense Alliance, but said he believed that agreements could be reached in the event of a unity government. Netanyahu also said he and Pompeo discussed 12 issues related to Israeli security and six of them were related to Iran.
Earlier today, Netanyahu met Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Kuscha. The two discussed strengthening ties between the two countries. It should be noted that Israel continues to use Portugal's Air Force Base in the Azores for logistical purposes in cases of Israeli Air Force flights to the US and back. This is the base where US Air Force planes landed while leading emergency supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War.
The IDF is preparing to resume clashes in Gaza
The IDF is preparing for the resumption of weekly order violations near the Gaza perimeter fence. The army believes that Hamas is preparing to lead its own clashes with military forces near the border.
Concerns come after three weeks of relative calm, with small and isolated clashes last week during which a young Palestinian was killed. In the IDF, it was decided to respond with restraint if there were no approaches to fence and violence, to the extent that it would be violent that the IDF would launch sniper fire.
In the IDF, Hamas sent a message that if there were Palestinian casualties, Hamas was responsible. Army sources said the IDF is also preparing to resume rocket fire on the south with iron dome batteries.
According to a statement published in Arab media on Monday, the "Return Marches" called on the Palestinian masses to participate in Friday's activity, titled "The march continues."
The announcement followed a meeting Monday morning. The committee also invited local and foreign media outlets to survey the demonstrations. The committee "saluted the killings of the Palestinian people" and wished a quick recovery for the wounded.