AMICHAI STEIN

The United States has sent more than 60 invitations to heads of state to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, with only some countries confirming that their leaders will join.

The prime minister's expected trip comes amid public disagreement between Jerusalem and Washington over the make-up of Gaza's Board of Peace.

"If a person were truly an intelligence asset of a foreign government, they’re just going to say ‘no.’ So, what was the motivation? Were they trying to intimidate him?" Keyak asks.

Netanyahu on Sunday convened several ministers within the senior defense echelon to discuss recent developments in the region. Israeli officials believe that a "US strike on Iran is still an option."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to take the matter up with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the release added. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that "all options remain on the table" regarding US military action in Iran.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistani outlet Dawn reported that Trump had informed Tehran that the US would not strike the country.

This comes despite the return of all the hostages held in Gaza being a key tenet of the first phase of the ceasefire. The remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili remain in captivity.

Alinejad described a grim ritual familiar to Iranians living abroad: zooming in on photographs of the dead, searching for the faces of family members. "This is deliberate cruelty," she said.

Israel’s Security Cabinet met to discuss Phase II of the Gaza peace plan amid ongoing Iranian protests. The progression hinges on Hamas disarming and returning the remains of the final hostage.