Middle East updates: Hezbollah fires '200 rockets' at Israel

US President Joe Biden has reiterated his "ironclad commitment" to the security of Israel, including in the face of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone on Thursday, the White House said in a statement. 

The two leaders discussed a Hamas response to a cease-fire proposal that would also see the release of Israeli hostages. The US president welcomed Netanyahu's decision to send negotiators in what he said was an effort to "close out" a cease-fire deal in Gaza.

Biden had unveiled the deal in late May, but it has yet to be formally approved by both parties.

"President Biden reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel’s security including in the face of threats from Iranian-backed terrorist groups such as Lebanese Hezbollah," the White House statement read.

Netanyahu thanked Biden for his "continued and steadfast support for Israel's security."

Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost every day since the war in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas terror attacks on October 7. The recent escalations have raised international fears of direct confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah-backer Iran.

Israel has approved over the past two days some 5,295 new housing units in dozens of settlements, an Israeli watchdog said, adding that retrospective approval was also granted to three wildcat settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.

The organization, Peace Now, said on Thursday that the Higher Planning Council's decision involves expanding settlements "deep within the West Bank."

It called the approval for the three outposts – Mahane Gadi, Givat Han and Kedem Arava – a new stage in the "annexation" of the territory.

On Wednesday, the anti-settlement watchdog said the Israeli government had approved the largest seizure of land – nearly 12.7 square kilometers (almost 5 square miles) in the West Bank's Jordan Valley – since the 1993 Oslo Accords that established Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank.

The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. The United Nations and the International Court of Justice have classified Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory as illegal under international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending a delegation to resume Gaza cease-fire talks that could see the Palestinian militant group Hamas release more Israeli hostages.

An Israeli official was cited by the Associated Press news agency as saying Netanyahu had authorized a team to resume talks. No date or location for such talks has been revealed.

The decision comes one day after Israel said it received a response from Hamas to a US-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist group in Israel, the US, Germany and other countries.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it launched more than 200 rockets into Israel in one of its largest cross-border barrages.

According to Israel's military, 17 alerts were sounded across northern Israel over 90 minutes on Thursday.

Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli military positions "as part of the response" to the killing of one of its senior leaders a day earlier. It was the second time Israel killed a Hezbollah field leader in less than a month. 

Israeli media reported, citing the army, that Hezbollah fired 160 rockets and 15 drones, many of which were shot down by Israeli air defenses.

Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost every day since the war in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas terror attacks on October 7. The recent escalations have raised international fears of direct confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah-backer Iran.

Hezbollah has said that it would hold off fire if Israel agrees to a truce with Hamas in Gaza. 

fb/sms (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

Israel's Cabinet is due to meet on Thursday to discuss the latest response from Hamas to a US-backed cease-fire proposal in Gaza. 

The Israeli government said on Wednesday it was "evaluating the remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators." 

The statement, released by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on behalf of the Mossad intelligence agency, provided no further details. 

Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been pushing for months for a cease-fire and a deal for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Hamas has insisted on a permanent cease-fire, while Israel said it would only accept temporary pauses until it eradicates the Islamist militant group, a goal that Netanyahu recently said was within reach.