Lieberman Accuses Israeli Govt of Granting Immunity to Hamas Leaders

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaking with Israeli army officers during a special Gaza evaluation meeting. (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaking with Israeli army officers during a special Gaza evaluation meeting. (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
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Lieberman Accuses Israeli Govt of Granting Immunity to Hamas Leaders

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaking with Israeli army officers during a special Gaza evaluation meeting. (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaking with Israeli army officers during a special Gaza evaluation meeting. (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)

The ex-Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, continued his sharp criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its method of making political decisions, especially in the cabinet.

He accused the government on Sunday of giving immunity to Hamas leaders.

“It simply makes no sense that after Hamas launches some 500 rockets at Israeli communities outside Gaza, at the south of the country, the heads of Hamas effectively get immunity from the Israeli security cabinet,” he said.

According to Lieberman, the financial aid from Qatar that Israel allowed to be transferred to the group “is purely $15 million of terrorism-funding.”

“We are currently feeding a monster, which, if we don’t stop its rearmament and force-building, in a year we will get a twin to Hezbollah – with all that entails,” he stressed.

Hezbollah is seen as the Jewish state’s main rival in the region with an arsenal of over 100,000 mortar shells, rockets, and missiles.

Lieberman resigned last week over the cabinet's decision to accept a ceasefire ending two days of fighting with Palestinian militants in Gaza.



Syrian Forces Enter Sweida after Deadly Clashes

Syrian government forces deploy at Mazraa village on the outskirts of the city of Sweida, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrian government forces deploy at Mazraa village on the outskirts of the city of Sweida, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
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Syrian Forces Enter Sweida after Deadly Clashes

Syrian government forces deploy at Mazraa village on the outskirts of the city of Sweida, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrian government forces deploy at Mazraa village on the outskirts of the city of Sweida, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian government forces entered the city of Sweida on Tuesday, the interior ministry said, aiming to end clashes that have killed nearly 100 people.

The southern city had been under the control of armed factions from the Druze minority, whose religious leaders said they had approved the deployment of Damascus' troops and called on fighters to hand over their weapons.

A curfew was to be imposed on the southern city in a bid to halt the violence, which erupted at the weekend and has since spread across Sweida governorate.

Government forces said they intervened to separate Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters but ended up taking control of several Druze areas around Sweida, an AFP correspondent reported.

Military columns were seen advancing toward Sweida on Tuesday morning, with heavy artillery deployed nearby.

The defense ministry said later that they had entered the city, and urged people to "stay home and report any movements of outlaw groups".

An AFP correspondent heard explosions and gunshots as soldiers moved into Sweida.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported 99 people killed since the fighting erupted on Sunday -- 60 Druze, including four civilians, 18 Bedouin fighters, 14 security personnel and seven unidentified people in military uniforms.

The defense ministry reported 18 deaths among the ranks of the armed forces.