Egypt Daily News – Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s policy toward Egypt, stating that hostility toward Cairo is undermining the prospects for peace between the two countries.
In a new post on his official X account on Tuesday evening, Lapid stated that Netanyahu’s repeated statements regarding alleged Qatari funding, along with an ongoing campaign against Egypt, could jeopardize the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. Lapid warned that the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Egypt is a result of this alleged Qatari-funded campaign by the Israeli government against Cairo. He added that this concerning visit is a consequence of a policy that threatens the longstanding peace accords.
Meanwhile, several Palestinians were killed and others injured in ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip early Wednesday. Palestinian media reported that at least 18 Palestinians, including 14 children, were killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis.
Earlier today, the Israeli army confirmed that a number of its soldiers were killed or wounded in battles with Hamas in northern Gaza. Israeli media reported on Monday a serious security incident involving Israeli forces in Jabalia, northern Gaza.
According to the reports, an Israeli Humvee was hit by an anti-tank missile in Jabalia, killing 3 soldiers and injuring 2 others. The first attempt to evacuate the wounded by helicopter reportedly failed due to heavy fire, and three military helicopters were deployed in an ongoing effort to retrieve the injured soldiers.
Israeli sources described the security incident in Jabalia as ongoing and severe, noting that evacuation efforts had failed so far because of intense fighting.
Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, after nearly a two-month pause that began with the ceasefire agreement with Hamas on January 19. The pause ended due to failed negotiations to extend the first phase or move into the second phase of the agreement.
