Netanyahu: Israel Nearing End Phase Of Eliminating Hamas

Wires carrying comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that Israel is, "nearing the end of phase of eliminating Hamas military capabilities," and will "continue to destroy the remnants of Hamas military."

• Speaking at an event at the Brookings Institution a short time ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "I think the [ceasefire/hostage exchange] proposal that President Biden put forward is achievable, doable, which doesn't mean it will be…done, but it can be, it should be."
• Blinken said that Hamas remains the primary obstacle to a ceasefire, stating that Qatari and Egyptian mediators are working to resolve "new conditions imposed by Hamas." Blinken said: "The question that I can't answer for you is, will [Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar] get to yes?"
• The comments come as tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border remain heightened. The NYT reports that a Hezbollah drone strike, "injured 18 soldiers on Sunday, one severely. In a statement, the military said that the Israeli Air Force had struck two “Hezbollah terror targets” in southern Lebanon."
• Shaun Tandon at AFP notes that Blinken repeated, "that he doesn't think any side wants a war in Lebanon. Says that includes Iran "in part because it wants to make sure that Hezbollah is not destroyed" and can use the group as a card in any conflict with Israel."