Hezbollah Strikes and Israeli Retaliation Escalate Tensions

Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have rejected a U.S. proposal for a hostage release deal, calling it an "absolute defeat" and threatening to quit Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. This has sparked protests from hostages' families demanding the acceptance of the deal, while opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the government's handling of the situation. Concurrently, tensions remain high with ongoing conflicts involving Hezbollah and Hamas, and international scrutiny over Israel's actions in Gaza.