Meanwhile, the UN’s human rights chief has said the “apocalyptic” situation in the region could cause “atrocity crimes” to be committed. Hamas leader’s house encircled by Israeli troops, Netanyahu says. Israeli forces are surrounding the house of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, according to Benjamin Netanyahu. “Yesterday I said that our forces could reach anywhere in the Gaza Strip. Today they are encircling Sinwar’s house,” the Israeli prime minister said. “His house may not be his fortress and he can escape but it’s only a matter of time before we get him.” (Photo: Hamas leader Sinwar).

Who is Sinwar?

Yahya Sinwar has led Hamas since 2017, having joined its ranks in the early 1980s. Believed to be the architect of the 7 October attacks, he is Israel’s most wanted, according to Mr Netanyahu. The 61-year-old’s nicknames include “the face of evil”, “butcher of Khan Younis”, and “man of 12” – in reference to 12 suspected informers he is believed to have killed. US and Israel hold talks on timeline for operations in Gaza – The US has discussed with Israel its timeline for military operations in Gaza, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said.

The US official said a discussion had been had with Israel “about timetables” and “how this falls into a longer-term strategy for addressing this issue that goes beyond just military means”. He told Reuters: “We have talked to them about timetables.  “I don’t want to share that because Israel has already kind of telegraphed precisely the location of its ground operation and I don’t want to be the one telegraphing timetables. “I will just say that we’ve talked through with them what they’re thinking in terms of the duration and how this falls into a longer-term strategy for addressing this issue that goes beyond just military means.”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says coordination with Russia helps ‘remove tensions in Middle East’ – We reported earlier that Vladimir Putin had arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on oil, Gaza and Ukraine (see post at 4.59pm). Now, Prince Mohammed has praised the joint coordination between the two countries “that helped remove tensions in Middle East,” the Saudi state news agency SPA reports.

“We share many interests and many files that we are working on together for the benefit of Russia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and the world as well,” the agency quoted the crown prince as saying. The Kremlin had said earlier that as well as oil, Mr Putin will talk about the war between Israel and Hamas, the situation in Syria and Yemen, and issues such as ensuring stability in the Gulf.

Courtesy: Sky News