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<p>Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister&nbsp;Hossein Amirabdollahian&nbsp;died in a helicopter crash in&nbsp;mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iranian media reported on Monday&nbsp;(May 20). Iran's Mehr news agency&nbsp;confirmed the deaths, reporting that "all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister&nbsp;were martyred."</p>

<p>Later,&nbsp;Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri also confirmed the deaths.&nbsp;</p>

<p>State TV reported that images from the crash site showed that the helicopter&nbsp;slammed into a mountain peak. Raisi,&nbsp;Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and other Iranian officials were onboard the&nbsp;US-made Bell 212 helicopter.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-helicopter-crash-live-updates-no-survivors-found-at-sight-of-wreckage-723258"><strong>Click here to follow all updates on the helicopter crash that killed Ebrahim Raisi</strong></a></p>

<p>Raisi, 63, became Iran's president&nbsp;in 2021&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;term so far was marked by tightening&nbsp;of&nbsp;morality laws,&nbsp;a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, and an intensification in nuclear talks with world powers.</p>

<h2><strong>A timeline of what led to the tragic crash:</strong></h2>

<p><strong>&gt;&nbsp;</strong>Ebrahim Raisi<strong>&nbsp;</strong>was inaugurating a joint dam project&nbsp;with Azerbaijan on Sunday on the shared border before he and others boarded a helicopter that made a hard landing in heavy fog on the return journey.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong>&nbsp;Raisi's convoy included&nbsp;three helicopters. Two of these helicopters&nbsp;landed safely in the northwestern city of Tabriz.&nbsp;However, the&nbsp;helicopter&nbsp;that was carrying the 63-year-old crashed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong>&nbsp;Iranian media reported that the helicopter crashed&nbsp;in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province amid poor weather conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ebrahim-raisi-dies-in-helicopter-crash-all-about-vietnam-war-era-chopper-carrying-the-iran-president-723304">Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash: All about Vietnam war-era chopper carrying the Iran president</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong>&nbsp;Speaking to the news agency Reuters, an Iranian official had said that the lives of Raisi and&nbsp;Amirabdollahian were at risk following the crash.</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong>&nbsp;Iranian media&nbsp;shared multiple images of what appeared to be the&nbsp;wreckage of the helicopter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong>&nbsp;A total of&nbsp;73 rescue teams were dispatched for the search and rescue operations. However, the poor weather conditions were hampering their efforts.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Iran President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian killed in chopper crash</strong></p>

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<p><strong>&gt;&nbsp;</strong>Early Monday,&nbsp;Iran's Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand said rescue teams had located the helicopter and were heading towards the site.&nbsp;Iranian media, meanwhile, said that&nbsp;there were no signs of life among the passengers.</p>

<p><strong>&gt;&nbsp;</strong>Later in the day, state media confirmed that Raisi,&nbsp;Amirabdollahian, and all other passengers onboard the aircraft died.&nbsp;This development&nbsp;was also confirmed&nbsp;by Iran's&nbsp;Deputy President for Executive Affairs&nbsp;Mohsen&nbsp;Mansouri.</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong>&nbsp;Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's&nbsp;vice president,&nbsp;&nbsp;is expected to become interim president following the death of Raisi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iranian media reported on Monday (May 20).

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iranian media reported on Monday (May 20). Iran's Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, reporting that "all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred." Later, Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri also confirmed the deaths. State TV reported that images from the crash site showed that the helicopter slammed into a mountain peak. Raisi, Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and other Iranian officials were onboard the US-made Bell 212 helicopter. Click here to follow all updates on the helicopter crash that killed Ebrahim Raisi Raisi, 63, became Iran's president in 2021 and his term so far was marked by tightening of morality laws, a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, and an intensification in nuclear talks with world powers. A timeline of what led to the tragic crash: > Ebrahim Raisi was inaugurating a joint dam project with Azerbaijan on Sunday on the shared border before he and others boarded a helicopter that made a hard landing in heavy fog on the return journey. > Raisi's convoy included three helicopters. Two of these helicopters landed safely in the northwestern city of Tabriz. However, the helicopter that was carrying the 63-year-old crashed. > Iranian media reported that the helicopter crashed in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province amid poor weather conditions. Also read | Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash: All about Vietnam war-era chopper carrying the Iran president > Speaking to the news agency Reuters, an Iranian official had said that the lives of Raisi and Amirabdollahian were at risk following the crash. > Iranian media shared multiple images of what appeared to be the wreckage of the helicopter. > A total of 73 rescue teams were dispatched for the search and rescue operations. However, the poor weather conditions were hampering their efforts. Also watch | Iran President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian killed in chopper crash × > Early Monday, Iran's Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand said rescue teams had located the helicopter and were heading towards the site. Iranian media, meanwhile, said that there were no signs of life among the passengers. > Later in the day, state media confirmed that Raisi, Amirabdollahian, and all other passengers onboard the aircraft died. This development was also confirmed by Iran's Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri. > Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's vice president, is expected to become interim president following the death of Raisi. (With inputs from agencies)

Ebrahim Raisi helicopter crash: A timeline of how the Iranian president died

<p>Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister&nbsp;Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous northwestern region, according to media reports on Monday (May 20). However, there is no official confirmation on the matter. Earlier, rescue teams located the helicopter&nbsp;but no signs of life had been detected.</p>

<p>India is voting in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday. Voting is taking place in 49 constituencies across eight states and Union Territories (UTs).&nbsp;On Sunday, electoral officials were seen queued at polling material distribution centres to prepare for the phase.</p>

<p>In other news from around the world, the Joe Biden-led US administration appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to link the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip with&nbsp;"political strategy" of the Palestinian territory.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-helicopter-crash-live-updates-no-survivors-found-at-sight-of-wreckage-723258"><strong>Iran president Ebrahim Raisi helicopter crash LIVE updates: Raisi reported dead</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/05/20/432526-the-battle-for-kyiv1.png?imwidth=400" /></p>

<p>Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister&nbsp;Hossein Amir-Abdollahian are reported to be dead in the helicopter crash.&nbsp;Article 131 of the Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president assumes the role of acting president in case the Iranian president dies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-phase-5-live-voting-updates-723174">Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 5 LIVE: Polling begins in 49 constituencies across 8 states, UTs</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/05/19/432482-lok-sabha-ealections-2024.png?imwidth=400" /></p>

<p>Voting is taking place for the&nbsp;fifth phase of the general elections in 49 constituencies in six states and two UTs of India.&nbsp;The fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections will decide the electoral fate of several prominent leaders like former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani</p>

<p><br />
<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-nsa-appeals-netanyahu-to-link-gaza-war-with-political-strategy-for-enclaves-future-723261">US NSA appeals Netanyahu to link Gaza war with 'political strategy' for enclave's future</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/05/20/432524-untitled-design-95.png?imwidth=400" /></p>

<p>United States President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to link the ongoing Gaza war with a "political strategy" for the future of the territory.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lai-ching-te-swears-in-as-taiwans-new-president-723253">Lai Ching-te sworn in as Taiwan's new president, US attends ceremony</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/05/20/432518-taiwans-new-president-lai-ching-te.png?imwidth=400" /></p>

<p>Lai Ching-te on Monday (May 20) was sworn in as Taiwan's new president.&nbsp;Thousands of people congregated in front of the&nbsp;Presidential Office Building in Taipei to witness the inauguration ceremony.&nbsp;After taking office, Lai, who is seen as a moderate figure, called on China to 'cease political and military intimidation'.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;AI-boom leaves mega Indian software stocks in the dust</strong></p>

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous northwestern region, according to media reports on Monday (May 20).

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous northwestern region, according to media reports on Monday (May 20). However, there is no official confirmation on the matter. Earlier, rescue teams located the helicopter but no signs of life had been detected. India is voting in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday. Voting is taking place in 49 constituencies across eight states and Union Territories (UTs). On Sunday, electoral officials were seen queued at polling material distribution centres to prepare for the phase. In other news from around the world, the Joe Biden-led US administration appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to link the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip with "political strategy" of the Palestinian territory. Click on the headlines to read more: Iran president Ebrahim Raisi helicopter crash LIVE updates: Raisi reported dead Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian are reported to be dead in the helicopter crash. Article 131 of the Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president assumes the role of acting president in case the Iranian president dies. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 5 LIVE: Polling begins in 49 constituencies across 8 states, UTs Voting is taking place for the fifth phase of the general elections in 49 constituencies in six states and two UTs of India. The fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections will decide the electoral fate of several prominent leaders like former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani US NSA appeals Netanyahu to link Gaza war with 'political strategy' for enclave's future United States President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to link the ongoing Gaza war with a "political strategy" for the future of the territory. Lai Ching-te sworn in as Taiwan's new president, US attends ceremony Lai Ching-te on Monday (May 20) was sworn in as Taiwan's new president. Thousands of people congregated in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei to witness the inauguration ceremony. After taking office, Lai, who is seen as a moderate figure, called on China to 'cease political and military intimidation'. Watch | AI-boom leaves mega Indian software stocks in the dust ×

Morning brief: Iranian president Raisi dies in helicopter crash; phase 5 of Lok Sabha polls, & more

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<p>It was a big win for WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange after the London High Court ruled on Monday (May 20) that the US assurances over his case were unsatisfactory and he would get a full appeal hearing, the news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a short ruling, two senior judges of the high court&nbsp;said the US&nbsp;submissions were not sufficient and said they would allow the appeal to go ahead.</p>

<p>In March,&nbsp;the court&nbsp;provisionally gave&nbsp;Assange, 52, permission to appeal on three grounds. But it gave the US&nbsp;the opportunity to provide satisfactory assurances that it would not seek the death penalty and would allow him to seek to rely on a First Amendment right to free speech in a trial.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-has-talked-about-suicide-amid-very-dark-times-in-prison-says-wife-stella-693263">Julian Assange has talked about suicide amid 'very dark times in prison', says wife Stella</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier in the day,&nbsp;Assange's&nbsp;wife Stella arrived at the London High Court ahead of the judgment. Addressing a press conference, Stella said she hoped the court would do the right&nbsp;thing,&nbsp;and pass a judgment in her&nbsp;husband's&nbsp;favour.</p>

<p>"We hope&nbsp;that the&nbsp;courts do the right thing today and find in&nbsp;Julian’s&nbsp;favour. But if they&nbsp;don’t, we will take an emergency injunction, we&nbsp;will seek an emergency injunction from the European Court of Human Rights,"&nbsp;Stella said.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Julian Assange?</strong></h2>

<p>Born in 1971, Julian Assange is an Australian editor and activist. He launched WikiLeaks in 2006.</p>

<p>WikiLeaks gained prominence in April 2010 when it published a classified video showing a 2007 US&nbsp;helicopter attack that killed a dozen people in&nbsp;Iraq's&nbsp;capital&nbsp;Baghdad. The website has released thousands of classified US military documents on the war in&nbsp;Afghanistan,&nbsp;and hundreds of thousands of US secret files on the Iraq war.</p>

<p>Assange had been battling extradition from the United Kingdom (UK) to the US,&nbsp;where he&nbsp;is wanted&nbsp;on criminal charges over the release of confidential&nbsp;American military records and diplomatic cables.</p>

<h2><strong>What&nbsp;would've&nbsp;happened&nbsp;if&nbsp;Assange&nbsp;was extradited?</strong></h2>

<p>If&nbsp;Assange&nbsp;was&nbsp;extradited, the 52-year-old&nbsp;would have faced a sentence of up to 175 years in a maximum security prison.</p>

<p>Assange was first arrested in the UK in 2010&nbsp;on a Swedish warrant over sex crime allegations that&nbsp;were later dropped. Since then,&nbsp;he has been under house arrest, holed up in&nbsp;Ecuador's&nbsp;embassy in London for seven years&nbsp;and, since 2019, held in the Belmarsh top security jail, while awaiting a ruling on his extradition.</p>

<p>If the high court judges had ruled that the extradition could go ahead,&nbsp;Assange's&nbsp;legal avenues in the UK would have been exhausted&nbsp;and&nbsp;his lawyers would&nbsp;turn to the European Court of Human Rights for an emergency injunction blocking deportation pending a full hearing by that court, Reuters reported.</p>

<p>But in this case, the judges rejected the US assurances, and Assange has permission to&nbsp;appeal his extradition case&nbsp;and&nbsp;the appeal might not be heard&nbsp;until next year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


It was a big win for WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange after the London High Court ruled on Monday (May 20) that the US assurances over his case were unsatisfactory and he would get a full appeal hearing, the news agency Reuters reported.

It was a big win for WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange after the London High Court ruled on Monday (May 20) that the US assurances over his case were unsatisfactory and he would get a full appeal hearing, the news agency Reuters reported. In a short ruling, two senior judges of the high court said the US submissions were not sufficient and said they would allow the appeal to go ahead. In March, the court provisionally gave Assange, 52, permission to appeal on three grounds. But it gave the US the opportunity to provide satisfactory assurances that it would not seek the death penalty and would allow him to seek to rely on a First Amendment right to free speech in a trial. Also read | Julian Assange has talked about suicide amid 'very dark times in prison', says wife Stella Earlier in the day, Assange's wife Stella arrived at the London High Court ahead of the judgment. Addressing a press conference, Stella said she hoped the court would do the right thing, and pass a judgment in her husband's favour. "We hope that the courts do the right thing today and find in Julian’s favour. But if they don’t, we will take an emergency injunction, we will seek an emergency injunction from the European Court of Human Rights," Stella said. Who is Julian Assange? Born in 1971, Julian Assange is an Australian editor and activist. He launched WikiLeaks in 2006. WikiLeaks gained prominence in April 2010 when it published a classified video showing a 2007 US helicopter attack that killed a dozen people in Iraq's capital Baghdad. The website has released thousands of classified US military documents on the war in Afghanistan, and hundreds of thousands of US secret files on the Iraq war. Assange had been battling extradition from the United Kingdom (UK) to the US, where he is wanted on criminal charges over the release of confidential American military records and diplomatic cables. What would've happened if Assange was extradited? If Assange was extradited, the 52-year-old would have faced a sentence of up to 175 years in a maximum security prison. Assange was first arrested in the UK in 2010 on a Swedish warrant over sex crime allegations that were later dropped. Since then, he has been under house arrest, holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London for seven years and, since 2019, held in the Belmarsh top security jail, while awaiting a ruling on his extradition. If the high court judges had ruled that the extradition could go ahead, Assange's legal avenues in the UK would have been exhausted and his lawyers would turn to the European Court of Human Rights for an emergency injunction blocking deportation pending a full hearing by that court, Reuters reported. But in this case, the judges rejected the US assurances, and Assange has permission to appeal his extradition case and the appeal might not be heard until next year. (With inputs from agencies)

Big win for Julian Assange: WikiLeaks’ founder given permission to appeal against US extradition

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<p>Israel on Monday (May 20) denied any involvement in the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, an Israeli official, who chose to remain anonymous, said,&nbsp;"It&nbsp;wasn't&nbsp;us."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raisi,&nbsp;Iran's&nbsp;Foreign Minister&nbsp;Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other Iranian officials&nbsp;were killed&nbsp;in a helicopter crash&nbsp;in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border. Raisi,&nbsp;a hardliner seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was 63 years old at&nbsp;the time of&nbsp;his death.</p>

<h2><strong>No official response from Israel yet</strong></h2>

<p>The Israeli government has officially not commented on&nbsp;Raisi's&nbsp;death yet. This comment by the Israeli official to Reuters comes as both countries are in a proxy war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-helicopter-crash-live-updates-no-survivors-found-at-sight-of-wreckage-723258">Click here to follow all updates on the death of Ebrahim Raisi</a></strong></p>

<p>In April, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed&nbsp;Iranian generals and five officers. The two countries have waged a&nbsp;shadow war of covert operations and cyberattacks for years, but the exchange of fire in April was their first direct military confrontation, the news agency Associated Press reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For a long time, Israel has viewed Iran as its greatest threat because of&nbsp;Tehran's&nbsp;controversial nuclear program,&nbsp;its ballistic missiles and its support for armed groups&nbsp;including&nbsp;the Palestinian militant group Hamas.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Conspiracy circulates online over&nbsp;Raisi's&nbsp;death</strong></h2>

<p>Following the announcement of the deaths of Raisi,&nbsp;Amirabdollahian, and other passengers and crew onboard the helicopter, a conspiracy theory started circulating online that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was behind the crash.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ebrahim-raisi-no-more-pm-modi-russias-putin-other-world-leaders-remember-late-iranian-president-723437">Ebrahim Raisi no more: PM Modi, Russia's Putin, other world leaders remember late Iranian president</a></strong></p>

<p>In a post on X, media personality Ari Hoffman clarified that this was fake news.</p>

<p>"Hamas Telegram has picked up a joke that&nbsp;Raisi's&nbsp;pilot was a Mossad agent called Eli Copter and is pushing it as fact. These are the same geniuses that the mainstream media has been getting casualty numbers from for&nbsp;7&nbsp;months and publishing them without verification,"&nbsp;Hoffman said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My French is pretty terrible but it sounds like this French anchor picked up the false report from Hamas that a Mossad agent named “Eli Copter” was likely involved in the helicopter crash which killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi<br />
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The media is so eager to blame Israel for… <a href="https://t.co/HHSIg9SFlJ">https://t.co/HHSIg9SFlJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/bC9zunJt33">pic.twitter.com/bC9zunJt33</a></p>
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/1792432166812676600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"My French is pretty terrible&nbsp;but&nbsp;it sounds like this French anchor picked up the false report from Hamas that a Mossad agent named&nbsp;“Eli Copter”&nbsp;was likely involved in the helicopter crash which killed&nbsp;Iran’s&nbsp;President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;The&nbsp;media is so eager to blame Israel for everything they continue to push fake news,"&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Decoding Raisi's two-blade medium helicopter's capabilities</strong></p>

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<p>Hillel Fuld,&nbsp;a columnist, also confirmed on X that this is rumour.</p>

<p>"You LITERALLY cannot make this stuff up. Tons of people made the joke that the helicopter pilot was a Mossad agent called Eli Copter. Tons of Israel-haters&nbsp;including&nbsp;actual TV&nbsp;stations&nbsp;are reporting it like&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;a fact,"&nbsp;Fuld said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israel on Monday (May 20) denied any involvement in the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, an Israeli official, who chose to remain anonymous, said, "It wasn't us.

Israel on Monday (May 20) denied any involvement in the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, an Israeli official, who chose to remain anonymous, said, "It wasn't us." Raisi, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other Iranian officials were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border. Raisi, a hardliner seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was 63 years old at the time of his death. No official response from Israel yet The Israeli government has officially not commented on Raisi's death yet. This comment by the Israeli official to Reuters comes as both countries are in a proxy war. Click here to follow all updates on the death of Ebrahim Raisi In April, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed Iranian generals and five officers. The two countries have waged a shadow war of covert operations and cyberattacks for years, but the exchange of fire in April was their first direct military confrontation, the news agency Associated Press reported. For a long time, Israel has viewed Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehran's controversial nuclear program, its ballistic missiles and its support for armed groups including the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Conspiracy circulates online over Raisi's death Following the announcement of the deaths of Raisi, Amirabdollahian, and other passengers and crew onboard the helicopter, a conspiracy theory started circulating online that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was behind the crash. Also read | Ebrahim Raisi no more: PM Modi, Russia's Putin, other world leaders remember late Iranian president In a post on X, media personality Ari Hoffman clarified that this was fake news. "Hamas Telegram has picked up a joke that Raisi's pilot was a Mossad agent called Eli Copter and is pushing it as fact. These are the same geniuses that the mainstream media has been getting casualty numbers from for 7 months and publishing them without verification," Hoffman said. My French is pretty terrible but it sounds like this French anchor picked up the false report from Hamas that a Mossad agent named “Eli Copter” was likely involved in the helicopter crash which killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi The media is so eager to blame Israel for… https://t.co/HHSIg9SFlJ pic.twitter.com/bC9zunJt33 — Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) May 20, 2024 × "My French is pretty terrible but it sounds like this French anchor picked up the false report from Hamas that a Mossad agent named “Eli Copter” was likely involved in the helicopter crash which killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi The media is so eager to blame Israel for everything they continue to push fake news," he added. Also watch | Decoding Raisi's two-blade medium helicopter's capabilities × Hillel Fuld, a columnist, also confirmed on X that this is rumour. "You LITERALLY cannot make this stuff up. Tons of people made the joke that the helicopter pilot was a Mossad agent called Eli Copter. Tons of Israel-haters including actual TV stations are reporting it like it’s a fact," Fuld said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ebrahim Raisi death: It wasn't us, says Israel on Iran president's chopper crash

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<p>The Islamic State (ISIS) on Sunday (May 19) claimed responsibility&nbsp;for the attack targeting tourists in Afghanistan's Bamiyan&nbsp;that killed six and injured many others. In a statement on Telegram, ISIS said that its fighters shot at Christian tourists and their Shiite companions with machine guns. Six people-&nbsp;three Spaniards and three Afghans- were killed.</p>

<p>The tourist group&nbsp;was fired on while shopping in a market in Bamiyan. ISIS fighters attacked&nbsp;a "bus of tourists who are citizens of coalition countries", referring to a US-led coalition that battled the terrorist group&nbsp;in the Middle East.</p>

<p>"The attack comes in line with the directives of the leaders of the Islamic State to target nationals of coalition countries wherever they may be," it further said in the Telegram post.</p>

<h2><strong>Taliban arrest seven&nbsp;suspects</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, Taliban officials said that they had arrested seven suspects in the aftermath of the attack.</p>

<p>One of the suspects was wounded, Taliban's Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qani said,&nbsp;adding that&nbsp;an investigation was on and the Islamic Emirate was seriously looking into the matter.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-tourist-attack-tourists-wounded-in-shooting-are-stable-says-hospital-723044">Afghanistan tourist attack: Injured in shooting are stable, says hospital</a></strong></p>

<p>This attack&nbsp;is believed&nbsp;to be the first deadly assault on foreign tourists since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The injured belong to&nbsp;Spain, Lithuania, Norway, Australia and&nbsp;Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Injured are in stable condition:&nbsp;Hospital</strong></h2>

<p>All the injured tourists in the attack were in a stable condition, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday&nbsp;citing&nbsp;the hospital&nbsp;they were taken&nbsp;to.<br />
<br />
The tourist group had 13 travellers, including six Spanish nationals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Spanish diplomats had travelled to&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;and had been working to repatriate the bodies of the dead and transfer the&nbsp;wounded,&nbsp;in coordination with a European Union (EU) delegation in Kabul.</p>

<p>The number of bombings and suicide attacks in Afghanistan has reduced since the Taliban took over. However, ISIS and a number of other armed groups remain a threat.</p>

<p>More and more foreign travellers are visiting Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, with&nbsp;official figures stating that&nbsp;more than 5,000 foreign tourists visited the country.</p>

<p>But&nbsp;Western nations advise against all travel to the country, warning of elevated risks of kidnappings and attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Islamic State (ISIS) on Sunday (May 19) claimed responsibility for the attack targeting tourists in Afghanistan's Bamiyan that killed six and injured many others.

The Islamic State (ISIS) on Sunday (May 19) claimed responsibility for the attack targeting tourists in Afghanistan's Bamiyan that killed six and injured many others. In a statement on Telegram, ISIS said that its fighters shot at Christian tourists and their Shiite companions with machine guns. Six people- three Spaniards and three Afghans- were killed. The tourist group was fired on while shopping in a market in Bamiyan. ISIS fighters attacked a "bus of tourists who are citizens of coalition countries", referring to a US-led coalition that battled the terrorist group in the Middle East. "The attack comes in line with the directives of the leaders of the Islamic State to target nationals of coalition countries wherever they may be," it further said in the Telegram post. Taliban arrest seven suspects Earlier, Taliban officials said that they had arrested seven suspects in the aftermath of the attack. One of the suspects was wounded, Taliban's Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qani said, adding that an investigation was on and the Islamic Emirate was seriously looking into the matter. Also read | Afghanistan tourist attack: Injured in shooting are stable, says hospital This attack is believed to be the first deadly assault on foreign tourists since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The injured belong to Spain, Lithuania, Norway, Australia and Afghanistan. Injured are in stable condition: Hospital All the injured tourists in the attack were in a stable condition, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday citing the hospital they were taken to. The tourist group had 13 travellers, including six Spanish nationals. Spanish diplomats had travelled to Afghanistan and had been working to repatriate the bodies of the dead and transfer the wounded, in coordination with a European Union (EU) delegation in Kabul. The number of bombings and suicide attacks in Afghanistan has reduced since the Taliban took over. However, ISIS and a number of other armed groups remain a threat. More and more foreign travellers are visiting Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, with official figures stating that more than 5,000 foreign tourists visited the country. But Western nations advise against all travel to the country, warning of elevated risks of kidnappings and attacks. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan tourist attack: ISIS claims responsibility for shooting that killed six

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<p>The Slovak government said on Sunday (May 19) that the man who shot Prime Minister&nbsp;Robert&nbsp;Fico&nbsp;might not have been just a "lone wolf" as previously believed. Addressing a press conference, Interior Minister&nbsp;Matus Sutaj Estok said&nbsp;that an&nbsp;additional investigation team&nbsp;was formed&nbsp;"because there is also a version that the suspect was operating in a certain group of people who might have incited and supported each other in this crime."</p>

<p>"These are all operational information that we have, and one of the most serious pieces of information that confirms all of this is that I think, two hours after committing this crime,&nbsp;the suspect had all his Facebook and communication history deleted.&nbsp;It wasn't deleted by him&nbsp;nor by&nbsp;his wife,"&nbsp; Interior Minister&nbsp;Estok said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slovak-pm-robert-ficos-life-no-longer-in-danger-after-assassination-attempt-723105">Slovak PM Robert Fico’s life no longer in danger four days after assassination attempt</a></strong></p>

<p>"...our goal is to be much more intense in prevention, to be able to remove the pitfalls that such a situation can bring, and to return Slovakia to the peace and quiet we have spoken about so often," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>An attack that shook Slovakia</strong></h2>

<p>On Wednesday (May 15), Prime Minister Fico, 59, was shot five times&nbsp;at point-blank range after he attended a government meeting in Slovakia's Handlova. Fico&nbsp;was subsequently hospitalised.</p>

<p>On Saturday, government officials said that the prime minister remained in serious condition and was still facing risks of complications. Fico&nbsp;underwent a two-hour operation at the&nbsp;F.D. Roosevelt University Hospital&nbsp;on Friday that improved prospects of his recovery.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Slovak PM Robert Fico shooting: Suspect a former shopping mall guard</strong></p>

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<p>Around 100 supporters of the PM&nbsp;some&nbsp;carrying flowers, gathered outside the hospital on Saturday.</p>

<h2><strong>The attacker</strong></h2>

<p>The attacker&nbsp;was identified&nbsp;as&nbsp;Juraj C. The Slovak Specialised Criminal Court ruled on Saturday that Juraj, 71 would remain in custody after he&nbsp;was charged&nbsp;with attempted murder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Juraj&nbsp;was detained on the spot after the attack. He was a former security guard at a shopping mall and the author of three&nbsp;collections of poetry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This shooting was the&nbsp;first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years and has drawn international&nbsp;condemnation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Slovak government said on Sunday (May 19) that the man who shot Prime Minister Robert Fico might not have been just a "lone wolf" as previously believed. Addressing a press conference, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said that an additional investigation team was formed "because there is also a version that the suspect was operating in a certain group of people who might have incited and supported each other in this crime.

The Slovak government said on Sunday (May 19) that the man who shot Prime Minister Robert Fico might not have been just a "lone wolf" as previously believed. Addressing a press conference, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said that an additional investigation team was formed "because there is also a version that the suspect was operating in a certain group of people who might have incited and supported each other in this crime." "These are all operational information that we have, and one of the most serious pieces of information that confirms all of this is that I think, two hours after committing this crime, the suspect had all his Facebook and communication history deleted. It wasn't deleted by him nor by his wife," Interior Minister Estok said. Also read | Slovak PM Robert Fico’s life no longer in danger four days after assassination attempt "...our goal is to be much more intense in prevention, to be able to remove the pitfalls that such a situation can bring, and to return Slovakia to the peace and quiet we have spoken about so often," he added. An attack that shook Slovakia On Wednesday (May 15), Prime Minister Fico, 59, was shot five times at point-blank range after he attended a government meeting in Slovakia's Handlova. Fico was subsequently hospitalised. On Saturday, government officials said that the prime minister remained in serious condition and was still facing risks of complications. Fico underwent a two-hour operation at the F.D. Roosevelt University Hospital on Friday that improved prospects of his recovery. Also watch | Slovak PM Robert Fico shooting: Suspect a former shopping mall guard × Around 100 supporters of the PM some carrying flowers, gathered outside the hospital on Saturday. The attacker The attacker was identified as Juraj C. The Slovak Specialised Criminal Court ruled on Saturday that Juraj, 71 would remain in custody after he was charged with attempted murder. Juraj was detained on the spot after the attack. He was a former security guard at a shopping mall and the author of three collections of poetry. This shooting was the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years and has drawn international condemnation. (With inputs from agencies)

Attack on Slovak PM Fico: Govt says shooter 'may not have been lone wolf'

All images: Pexels, Shutterstock (Representative images)

Sixty-six million years ago, dinosaurs were killed by an asteroid, which ended their reign of 180 million years. So what did the last day for dinosaurs on Earth look like?

On the last day, a bright light in the sky kept getting closer and closer. The asteroid was flying towards the Gulf of Mexico. 

An Explosion Way Powerful than Atomic Bombs

The asteroid caused an explosion more powerful than 10 billion atomic bombs. According to astronomy YouTuber Astrokobi, Earth was superhot and molten debris rained down on the planet.

Everything within 250 miles of the impact spot was instantly vapourised. 

What Happened the Day Dinosaurs Died?

Cillian Murphy to Star in Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later

Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy will be starring in Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later. The Irishman previously led the ensemble cast of the franchise-starting 28 Days Later.

'Murphy Will be Back in a Surprising Way'

In an interview with Deadline, Sony Motion Pictures Group chairperson Tom Rothman confirmed that Murphy will be returning as Jim for 28 Years Later. But the extent of his role is not yet known. Rothman also said that Murphy would be back in a surprising way. 

The cast of 28 Years Later is star-studded, including the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

28 Days Later, released in 2002, was one of Murphy's breakout roles. The film has a rating of 7.5 points out of 10 on IMDb and 87 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Things to Know about NASA's Twin Polar Satellites

NASA recently announced that twin shoebox-size climate satellites will soon be studying two of the most remote regions on Earth: the Arctic and Antarctic. The mission will measure the amount of heat the planet emits into space from these polar regions.

The mission will boost our understanding of how much heat Earth’s polar regions radiate out to space and how that influences our climate, NASA said.

Each of PREFIRE’s cube satellites, or CubeSats, will use a thermal infrared spectrometer to measure the heat, in the form of far-infrared energy, radiated into space by Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

Data Would Help Improve Polar, Global Climate Models

The CubeSats would provide new details on how Earth’s atmosphere and ice influence the amount of heat being radiated out to space from the Arctic and Antarctic. The data from the twin satellites would also help improve polar and global climate models.

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<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos</strong></em></p>

<p>Ukraine claimed on Saturday (May 18) that Russian shelling&nbsp;targeted civilians in two cities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv. A report by the news agency Reuters said that Ukrainian prosecutors&nbsp;were investigating&nbsp;a Russian air strike on a residential area of the regional capital Kharkiv in which six civilians&nbsp;were wounded, including a 13-year-old girl, 16-year-old male and an eight-year-old&nbsp;as a potential war crime</p>

<p>Prosecutors said that about 70 kilometres to&nbsp;the northeast in Vovchansk,&nbsp;Russian shelling killed a 60-year-old woman and injured three other civilians.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-captured-another-village-in-kharkiv-region-ukraine-struggles-on-eastern-front-722910">Russia claims to have captured another village in Kharkiv region, Ukraine struggles on eastern front</a></strong></p>

<p>Since the war began in late February 2022, Russia has denied deliberately targeting civilians&nbsp;but&nbsp;thousands have been killed and injured.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Ukrainian forces on surer footing'</strong></h2>

<p>The above developments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video address that the military was on&nbsp;surer footing, particularly in Kharkiv.</p>

<p>"The occupier (Russia) is losing its infantry and equipment, a tangible loss, even though, just as in 2022, it was counting on a quick advance on our land," President Zelensky added.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Future of war: Will private military contractors take over? | WION Decodes</strong></p>

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<p>Zelensky also said his forces repelled an assault farther south in the eastern Donetsk region around Chasiv Yar, a city seen as a&nbsp;key&nbsp;target in the Russian offensive.</p>

<p>"Our soldiers destroyed more than 20 units of the occupier's armoured vehicles," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia shoots down&nbsp;Tochka-U missile fired by&nbsp;Ukraine</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, across&nbsp;the border in Russia's Belgorod region, Moscow's defence ministry said on Saturday that its forces shot down a Tochka-U missile fired by Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later in the day,&nbsp;Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a Ukrainian drone attack injured a woman and a man in the village of Petrovka.&nbsp; They&nbsp;were&nbsp;treated&nbsp;for shrapnel injuries, Gladkov&nbsp;said&nbsp;in a post on Telegram.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos Ukraine claimed on Saturday (May 18) that Russian shelling targeted civilians in two cities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos Ukraine claimed on Saturday (May 18) that Russian shelling targeted civilians in two cities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv. A report by the news agency Reuters said that Ukrainian prosecutors were investigating a Russian air strike on a residential area of the regional capital Kharkiv in which six civilians were wounded, including a 13-year-old girl, 16-year-old male and an eight-year-old as a potential war crime Prosecutors said that about 70 kilometres to the northeast in Vovchansk, Russian shelling killed a 60-year-old woman and injured three other civilians. Also read | Russia claims to have captured another village in Kharkiv region, Ukraine struggles on eastern front Since the war began in late February 2022, Russia has denied deliberately targeting civilians but thousands have been killed and injured. 'Ukrainian forces on surer footing' The above developments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video address that the military was on surer footing, particularly in Kharkiv. "The occupier (Russia) is losing its infantry and equipment, a tangible loss, even though, just as in 2022, it was counting on a quick advance on our land," President Zelensky added. Also watch | Future of war: Will private military contractors take over? | WION Decodes × Zelensky also said his forces repelled an assault farther south in the eastern Donetsk region around Chasiv Yar, a city seen as a key target in the Russian offensive. "Our soldiers destroyed more than 20 units of the occupier's armoured vehicles," he added. Russia shoots down Tochka-U missile fired by Ukraine Meanwhile, across the border in Russia's Belgorod region, Moscow's defence ministry said on Saturday that its forces shot down a Tochka-U missile fired by Ukraine. Later in the day, Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a Ukrainian drone attack injured a woman and a man in the village of Petrovka. They were treated for shrapnel injuries, Gladkov said in a post on Telegram. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Russian shelling targets civilians in two cities in Kharkiv, claims Kyiv

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<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has responded to the&nbsp;ultimatum&nbsp;set by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. On Saturday (May 18), Gantz&nbsp;demanded&nbsp;that Prime Minister Netanyahu commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Addressing a press conference, Gantz said he wanted the war cabinet&nbsp;to form a six-point plan by June 8. If the expectations are not met,&nbsp;he said, he will withdraw his centrist party from the conservative premier's broadened emergency coalition.</p>

<h2><strong>'Whitewashed words'</strong></h2>

<p>Hitting back at Gantz, Netanyahu's office said that while the country's heroic soldiers were fighting to destroy Hamas battalions in Rafah, the war cabinet minister chose to&nbsp;set&nbsp;an ultimatum&nbsp;to the prime minister&nbsp;instead of giving&nbsp;an ultimatum&nbsp;to the Palestinian militant group.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-army-says-body-of-one-hostage-retrieved-from-gaza-722913">IDF retrieves body of fourth hostage in Gaza; Gantz gives ultimatum to Netanyahu, sets June 8 deadline</a></strong></p>

<p>"The conditions set by Benny Gantz are whitewashed words that clearly mean ending the war and a defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact, and establishing a Palestinian state," the office said, Israel National News reported late Saturday.</p>

<p>"Our soldiers did not fall in vain and certainly not for the sake of replacing 'Hamasstan' with 'Fatahstan," the office added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It further posed three questions to Gantz- whether&nbsp;was he&nbsp;willing to complete the operation in&nbsp;Rafah;&nbsp;does he oppose&nbsp;civilian control of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, even without&nbsp;Mahmoud&nbsp;Abbas;&nbsp;and whether&nbsp;was he&nbsp;willing to accept a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank as part of the normalisation process with Saudi Arabia?</p>

<h2><strong>'If PM listened to Gantz...'</strong></h2>

<p>In response to the questions, Gantz's office said that if Netanyahu had listened to Gantz, "we would have entered Rafah months ago and completed the mission."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Benny Gantz vs Benjamin Netanyahu: Who's best for Israeli PM?</strong></p>

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<p>"The Palestinian Authority will not be able to govern Gaza, other&nbsp;Palestinian factions might – but only if we create backing from moderate Arab countries and American support. It would be advisable for the PM to focus on this and not sabotage these efforts," Gantz's office said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As Gantz said in a speech – there is no intention to establish a Palestinian state, and this is not the demand of the Saudis. Gantz, unlike Netanyahu, did not return Hebron nor announce support for a two-state solution," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has responded to the ultimatum set by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. On Saturday (May 18), Gantz demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has responded to the ultimatum set by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. On Saturday (May 18), Gantz demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas. Addressing a press conference, Gantz said he wanted the war cabinet to form a six-point plan by June 8. If the expectations are not met, he said, he will withdraw his centrist party from the conservative premier's broadened emergency coalition. 'Whitewashed words' Hitting back at Gantz, Netanyahu's office said that while the country's heroic soldiers were fighting to destroy Hamas battalions in Rafah, the war cabinet minister chose to set an ultimatum to the prime minister instead of giving an ultimatum to the Palestinian militant group. Also read | IDF retrieves body of fourth hostage in Gaza; Gantz gives ultimatum to Netanyahu, sets June 8 deadline "The conditions set by Benny Gantz are whitewashed words that clearly mean ending the war and a defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact, and establishing a Palestinian state," the office said, Israel National News reported late Saturday. "Our soldiers did not fall in vain and certainly not for the sake of replacing 'Hamasstan' with 'Fatahstan," the office added. It further posed three questions to Gantz- whether was he willing to complete the operation in Rafah; does he oppose civilian control of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, even without Mahmoud Abbas; and whether was he willing to accept a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank as part of the normalisation process with Saudi Arabia? 'If PM listened to Gantz...' In response to the questions, Gantz's office said that if Netanyahu had listened to Gantz, "we would have entered Rafah months ago and completed the mission." Also watch | Benny Gantz vs Benjamin Netanyahu: Who's best for Israeli PM? × "The Palestinian Authority will not be able to govern Gaza, other Palestinian factions might – but only if we create backing from moderate Arab countries and American support. It would be advisable for the PM to focus on this and not sabotage these efforts," Gantz's office said. "As Gantz said in a speech – there is no intention to establish a Palestinian state, and this is not the demand of the Saudis. Gantz, unlike Netanyahu, did not return Hebron nor announce support for a two-state solution," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Whitewashed words: Netanyahu's office hits back at Gantz's 'ultimatum'

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