GAZA - An Israeli strike killed the head of the Hamas-led national security forces, Jehad Mheisen, and members of his family in their house, a Hamas-aligned news agency said on Thursday.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived at Ben Gurion Airport before he traveled to meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

During his visit, Sunak will offer his condolences to Israel, but will warn about further escalating the tensions in the region.

"Above all, I'm here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak said when he arrived.

Sunak had originally said he would visit other countries in the region, and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will travel to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar.

Sunak's trip comes one day after US President Joe Biden traveled to the country, where he spoke with Netanyahu and shared the US' commitment to helping Israel through the war.

Nestle announced it has "temporarily shut down" one of its production plants in Israel as a "precaution," becoming the first consumer products giant to make a decision on its operation in the country since the start of the conflict.

"Our focus is on keeping our colleagues and employees safe. I have no comment on the development of the business," Chief Executive Mark Schneider said on an earnings call Thursday. "We've taken necessary precautions."

Nestle's decision comes as other similar companies have remained silent on the war.

Companies received criticism when they decided to continue certain operations in Russia after it launched its attack on Ukraine in Feb. 2022.

With Post wires

BEIJING — China supports Egypt's efforts to open humanitarian corridors, and is willing to strengthen coordination with Egypt and Arab countries to promote an early, comprehensive and lasting solution for the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Chinese state media said on Thursday.

China appreciates Egypt's role in cooling the situation, and stressed that the most urgent task is for a ceasefire and stopping the war as soon as possible, President Xi Jinping said in talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday morning.

Xi also said China is willing to work with Egypt to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, agricultural technology, and renewable energy while expanding high-quality imports from Egypt.

President Joe Biden returned to Washington, D.C. after he visited Israel in a sign of "solidarity" with the Israeli people.

Biden arrived and gave a salute as he deboarded Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

"President Biden is on his way back to the United States after traveling to Israel to stand in solidarity with the Israeli people, show our nation’s steadfast support following Hamas’s appalling terrorist attacks, and discuss humanitarian needs in Gaza," the White House said before he landed.

Biden is expected to deliver remarks on Israel's war against Hamas terrorists in an address to the nation on Thursday.

The address is set to air at 8 p.m.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the speech will “discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine.”

A longtime State Department official resigned Wednesday over President Biden’s decision to provide lethal arms to Israel as it wages war on Hamas terrorists. 

Josh Paul, a now former senior official in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, publicly announced his resignation in a letter posted on his LinkedIn page, arguing that supplying Israel with lethal weaponry and ammunition is “impulsive” and “immensely disappointing.” 

“I made myself a promise that I would stay for as long as I felt the harm I might do could be outweighed by the good I could do,” Paul, who worked in the State Department division ​​overseeing arms sales, wrote in his note. “In my 11 years I have made more moral compromises than I can recall, each heavily, but each with my promise to myself in mind, and intact.”

“I am leaving today because I believe that in our current course with regards to the continued – indeed, expanded and expedited – provision of lethal arms to Israel – I have reached the end of that bargain,” he wrote. 

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Former Texas Rangers star Ian Kinsler wore a Team Israel baseball jersey when he threw out the first pitch ahead of ALCS Game 3 between the Rangers and Houston Astros on Wednesday at Globe Life Field. 

Kinsler, who is Jewish, is now a special assistant to Rangers general manager Chris Young.

The show of support comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which launched an unprecedented surprise attack on the country on Oct. 7, leaving more than 1,400 Israelis dead. 

Kinsler threw the pitch to ex-Texas pitcher Derek Holland, who wore a traditional Rangers jersey with his former No. 45 on it. 

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Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested on Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens, according to Eyewitness News.

The Queens rally was one of the largest pro-Palestinian protests in New York City.

The protesters criticized President Joe Biden and Gov. Kathy Hochul, who took trips to Israel Wednesday to show their support.

"As people who live in the United States, we subsidize the murder of Palestinian children with our tax dollars," organizer Nerdeem Kiswani told Eyewitness News.

The protesters said that the $100 million the Biden administration gave to humanitarian efforts in Palestinian territories were pointless if the U.S. continues to support Israel.

"They want us to look away and wash the blood off of their hands by providing so-called humanitarian aid that we would not need if they didn't pay for the bombs that were dropped on the people of Gaza in the first place," Kiswani added.

The bodies of an Israeli father and his 16-year-old disabled daughter were finally found 12 days after they were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists who attacked a music festival, Israel confirmed.

Erick Peretz and his daughter Ruth – who was wheelchair-bound with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy — were located by volunteers on Wednesday at the site of the Supernova Sukkot Gathering near the Re’im Kibbutz, where at least 260 Israelis were massacred, according to officials and local reports.

They were “brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists,” Israel wrote on its official X account.

“[My father] was really happy, and everything was fine,” his older daughter Yaarit Peretz, 26, told Israeli outlet Ynet on Monday.

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told reporters during a joint press conference in Cairo with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that any effort to force the relocation of Palestinian refugees to Egypt will be rejected.

Sisi said that Palestinians should be moved to the Negev desert in Israel "until the militants are dealt with."

“What is happening now in Gaza is an attempt to force civilian residents to take refuge and migrate to Egypt, which should not be accepted,” Sisi said.

“Egypt rejects any attempt to resolve the Palestinian issue by military means or through the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, which would come at the expense of the countries of the region,” he added.

The president encouraged Egyptians to “go out and protest in their millions ... if called upon to do so” if refugees are pushed toward the Sinai Peninsula, the only border of Gaza Israel does not control.

A hate-filled brute punched a woman in the face in a Manhattan subway station over the weekend and told her he socked her because “you are Jewish,” according to police.

The stranger walked up and clobbered the 29-year-old woman inside the 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue subway station 7-train passageway at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, cops said.

The shocked victim asked her attacker why he randomly slugged her when she did nothing to provoke him and he reportedly said his reason was “you are Jewish” and ran off, police said.

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