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Israel Says it Killed Hamas Naval Operative

A picture taken from near the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 28, 2023, shows smoke raising during an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
A picture taken from near the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 28, 2023, shows smoke raising during an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
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Israel Says it Killed Hamas Naval Operative

A picture taken from near the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 28, 2023, shows smoke raising during an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
A picture taken from near the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 28, 2023, shows smoke raising during an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP

Israel’s military announced Saturday it had struck and killed a top Hamas naval operative, Ratib Abu Tzahiban, who it says orchestrated an attempted naval attack in Israel on Oct. 24.

It was unclear if the military was referring to an episode when a group of Hamas divers were repelled after trying to infiltrate Israel on a beach north of Gaza.

Israel has announced an expanded ground operation after knocking out communications and creating a near-blackout of information in the Gaza Strip with increased bombardment and artillery fire.

Israel is signaling a move closer to an all-out invasion of Gaza meant to crush Hamas after its bloody rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

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White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration.
Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed.

On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”