Israel, Gaza ceasefire: Benjamin Netanyahu says he believes US President Donald Trump can help seal truce
Facing growing pressure to bring an end to the nearly 22-month-long war, the Israeli Prime Minister is set to meet with Mr Trump on Monday (local time).
While boarding his flight to Washington, Mr Netanyahu told reporters that Israeli negotiators in Doha were under clear instructions to achieve an agreement under conditions that Israel has accepted.
'I believe the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance these results,' he said, adding that he was determined to ensure the return of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
'There are 20 hostages that are alive, 30 dead. I am determined, we are determined, to bring them all back. And we will also be determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,' Mr Netanyahu said.
It will be Mr Netanyahu's third visit to the White House since Mr Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.
Public pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire and end the war, a move opposed by some hardline members of his religious-nationalist coalition.
Others including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have expressed support.
A person familiar with the negotiations shared with the Associated Press a copy of the latest ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators to Hamas, and its veracity was confirmed by two other people familiar with the document.
The document outlines plans for a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would hand over 10 living and 18 dead hostages, Israeli forces would withdraw to a buffer zone along the Gaza Strip's borders with Israel and Egypt, and significant amounts of aid would be brought in.
The document says the aid would be distributed by United Nations agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
It does not specify what would happen to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the US organisation that has distributed food aid since May.
As in previous ceasefire agreements, Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities would be released in exchange for the hostages but the number is not yet agreed upon.
The proposal stops short of guaranteeing a permanent end to the war - a condition demanded by Hamas - but says negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would take place during the 60 days.
During that time, 'President Trump guarantees Israel's adherence' to halting military operations, the document says, adding that Trump 'will personally announce the ceasefire agreement'.
The personal guarantee by Trump appeared to be an attempt to reassure Hamas that Israel would not unilaterally resume fighting as it did in March during a previous ceasefire, when talks to extend it appeared to stall.
Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a US-backed Gaza Strip ceasefire proposal in a 'positive spirit,' a few days after Mr Trump said Israel had agreed 'to the necessary conditions to finalise' a 60-day truce.
Mr Netanyahu's office said in a statement that changes sought by Hamas to the ceasefire proposal were 'not acceptable to Israel'.
However, his office said the delegation would still fly to Qatar to 'continue efforts to secure the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel agreed to'.
Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the militant group has so far refused to discuss.
Mr Netanyahu said he believed he and Mr Trump would also build on the outcome of the 12-day air war with Iran last month and seek to further ensure that Iranian authorities never have a nuclear weapon.
He said recent Middle East developments had created an opportunity to widen the circle of peace.
On Saturday evening, crowds gathered at a public square in Tel Aviv near the defence ministry headquarters to call for a ceasefire deal and the return of about 50 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
The demonstrators waved Israeli flags, chanted and carried posters with photos of the hostages.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Gaza's health ministry says Israel's retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians.
- with AP, Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
30 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Disruption and chaos': Donald Trump blasts Elon Musk's new political party, says tech billionaire has gone ‘off the rails'
Donald Trump has hit out at former friend and political ally Elon Musk after the tech billionaire announced the creation of a new political party over the weekend. Musk announced the creation of The America Party on Sunday, telling X users it would challenge America's two-party system and 'give you back your freedom'. President Trump responded to the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Monday, claiming the man he had praised as a 'genius' and held joint interviews with earlier this year had gone 'off the rails'. 'I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,' the US President said. 'He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States - the system seems not designed for them.' Trump has experience with third parties, having briefly flirted with a run for the Reform Party in 2000. However President Trump said Musk's announcement would cause 'chaos'. 'The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds!' the US President said. 'Republicans, on the other hand, are a smooth running 'machine,' that just passed the biggest Bill of its kind in the History of our Country.' Musk endorsed Trump for President after the then-Republican candidate narrowly survived an assassination attempt, before going on to donate $250 million to his presidential campaign. However the pair have fallen out over the passage of Trump's 'big beautiful bill'. Musk has attacked the legislation, which adds an additional $US3.25 trillion to the deficit. But President Trump said on Monday that the legislation was a 'Great Bill' and Musk only opposed it because it eliminates the electric vehicle mandate. 'Unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time,' he said. 'I have been strongly opposed to that from the very beginning. People are now allowed to buy whatever they want - Gasoline Powered, Hybrids (which are doing very well), or New Technologies as they come about - No more EV Mandate. 'I have campaigned on this for two years and, quite honestly, when Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate - It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had. He said he had no problems with that - I was very surprised! The US President also said Musk had asked the president to appoint his friend to run NASA. 'Elon asked that one of his close friends run NASA and, while I thought his friend was very good, I was surprised to learn that he was a blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before. Elon probably was, also,' Trump said. 'I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon's corporate life. My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!'
The Advertiser
30 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Israeli air strikes on Yemen ports target Houthi rebels
Israel's military has launched airstrikes targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks early on Monday came after an attack on Sunday targeting a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said it appeared bomb-carrying drone boats hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites amid an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was travelling to Washington to meet with Trump. The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. "These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies," the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. "Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities," the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed its air defence forces "effectively confronted" the Israelis without offering evidence. The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries from the attack. The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100km southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. Private maritime security firm Ambrey issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been "attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea". Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could mark a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The Magic Seas met "the established Houthi target profile", the firm said without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted. Israel's military has launched airstrikes targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks early on Monday came after an attack on Sunday targeting a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said it appeared bomb-carrying drone boats hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites amid an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was travelling to Washington to meet with Trump. The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. "These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies," the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. "Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities," the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed its air defence forces "effectively confronted" the Israelis without offering evidence. The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries from the attack. The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100km southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. Private maritime security firm Ambrey issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been "attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea". Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could mark a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The Magic Seas met "the established Houthi target profile", the firm said without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted. Israel's military has launched airstrikes targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks early on Monday came after an attack on Sunday targeting a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said it appeared bomb-carrying drone boats hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites amid an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was travelling to Washington to meet with Trump. The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. "These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies," the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. "Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities," the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed its air defence forces "effectively confronted" the Israelis without offering evidence. The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries from the attack. The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100km southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. Private maritime security firm Ambrey issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been "attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea". Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could mark a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The Magic Seas met "the established Houthi target profile", the firm said without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted. Israel's military has launched airstrikes targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks early on Monday came after an attack on Sunday targeting a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said it appeared bomb-carrying drone boats hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites amid an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was travelling to Washington to meet with Trump. The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. "These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies," the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. "Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities," the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed its air defence forces "effectively confronted" the Israelis without offering evidence. The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries from the attack. The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100km southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. Private maritime security firm Ambrey issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been "attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea". Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could mark a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The Magic Seas met "the established Houthi target profile", the firm said without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted.
The Advertiser
30 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Fresh vow to stop anti-Semitism with new taskforce
A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue.
