Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday asserted that Hezbollah will not cease its assaults on Israel because Hamas is obstructing a potential hostage deal. Speaking to CNBC, Herzog explained that ongoing negotiations to free hostages held by Hamas have been repeatedly rejected by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, resulting in Hezbollah continuing its attacks. “[Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah decided that he wants to keep on going in the war because we are trying to negotiate a hostage deal, and [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, in the dungeons of Gaza, says no and again, no and again, no,” Herzog told CNBC. Herzog stressed that resolving the conflict requires not only securing the return of hostages but also neutralizing the threat posed by Hezbollah from Israel’s northern border.

Speaking at an IDF intelligence base on Tuesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Hezbollah, warning that any home in Lebanon harboring weapons will be destroyed. “We will continue striking Hezbollah. Whoever has a missile in the living room and a rocket in the garage will no longer have a home,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the base, where he received an intelligence briefing from Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder, head of IDF Intelligence, and Brig.-Gen. Yossi Sariel, commander of Unit 8200. Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s conflict is not with the Lebanese people but with Hezbollah, urging citizens to distance themselves from the terror group. “Our war is not with you. Our war is with Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said.

Television anchor Chris Cuomo ripped into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her remarks condemning Israel’s use of explosive devices hidden in pagers to target Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and “clearly and unequivocally violat[ing] international humanitarian law.” On his primetime show on the NewsNation cable channel, Cuomo fired back at the progressive Democrat, questioning why she focused on Israel’s actions without acknowledging Hezbollah’s role as a terrorist organization. “Why don’t you mention the pagers were on members of a terrorist organization that is committed to destroying Israel?” Cuomo asked.

Sen. John Fetterman voiced strong support for Israel’s handling of terror groups in a Sunday interview with NBC News, distancing himself from criticism leveled by Sen. Bernie Sanders regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions in the region. During the interview on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker played a clip of Sanders accusing Netanyahu of escalating tensions with neighboring hostile groups to maintain his hold on power. Sanders had said, “Every time a deal appears close, Netanyahu moves the goalposts, introducing new demands and torpedoing the deal. It is clear to me that Netanyahu is prolonging the war in order to cling to power.” When asked if he agreed with Sanders’s assessment, Fetterman firmly disagreed.

Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy has ordered an immediate investigation after video footage surfaced showing police officers using batons to brutally beat Chareidi protesters in Beit Shemesh. The demonstrators were protesting against an event being held at a local community center. In a statement, Levy said, “If it turns out during the inspection that the police officers acted illegally, they will be dealt with severely.” The incident, which took place earlier this evening, has sparked outrage after the footage showed officers forcefully dispersing the protesters. The investigation will determine whether the officers involved acted within the bounds of the law or used excessive force during the protest.

In a tense exchange on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sidestepped questions from host Jake Tapper about whether Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s comments accusing Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel of bias were anti-Semitic. The controversy arose after Nessel charged nearly a dozen individuals involved in pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan. The charges included attempted ethnic intimidation and assaulting or obstructing a police officer. Rep.

The IDF has officially named its military offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon “Northern Arrows,” according to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. The announcement comes after a major escalation in hostilities over the past 24 hours, with the IDF launching extensive airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon. According to military reports, more than 1,300 sites linked to the Iran-backed terror group have been hit in the ongoing operation. One of the airstrikes targeted senior Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki in Beirut. If his death is confirmed, it would leave Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah increasingly isolated, as Israel has systematically eliminated much of the group’s leadership over the past 11 months.

Former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has described the mass detonation of Hezbollah communication devices, widely attributed to Israel, as “a form of terrorism.” “The ability to be able to place an explosive in technology that is very prevalent these days and turn it into a war of terror. This is something new,” Panetta told CBS. “When you have terror going into the supply chain, it makes people ask the question, ‘What the hell is next?’ This is a tactic that has repercussions, and we really don’t know what those repercussions are going to be,” Panetta continued. The former CIA chief suggested that the current dynamics in the region are being dominated by “the forces of war,” and warned of the unpredictability of future developments.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – “I have a message for the people of Lebanon: Israel’s war is not with you. It’s with Hezbollah. For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields. It placed rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garage. Those rockets and missiles are aimed directly at our cities, directly at our citizens. To defend our people against Hezbollah strikes, we must take out those weapons. Starting this morning, the IDF has warned you to get out of harm’s way. I urge you – take this warning seriously. Don’t let Hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones. Don’t let Hezbollah endanger Lebanon. Please, get out of harm’s way now. Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes.”

The Israel Defense Forces IDF has released new footage showing secondary explosions following an airstrike on a building in Jabal al-Botm, southern Lebanon. According to the IDF, the building was used by Hezbollah to store weapons, including rockets and missiles. This strike was part of a broader campaign in which the IDF has hit over 300 targets across Lebanon today, focusing on homes and civilian buildings that Hezbollah allegedly uses for weapon storage. The IDF has repeatedly warned civilians to evacuate areas where Hezbollah has placed weapons. The military issued a specific warning to residents of Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, giving them two hours to leave homes used by the Iran-backed group before airstrikes begin. “This is for your safety and protection,” said Col.