The drums of war are pounding on the doorstep of Gaza City. Residents of the largest city in northern Gaza, packed with locals and refugees, fear the hours are ticking down before a looming Israeli offensive.

(Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had directed the immediate initiation of negotiations for the release of all hostages in Gaza and the conclusion of the war there on terms acceptable to Israel.

Israel’s central bank left interest rates unchanged for a 13th consecutive time, as policymakers weigh a slowdown in the economy against ongoing uncertainty from the country’s nearly two-year war in Gaza.

President Trump praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel for bombing Iranian nuclear sites, and credited himself as well.

Trump’s comments on “The Mark Levin Show” on Tuesday might be his most stunning yet. He explicitly labeled himself a “war hero” because of his decisions on the use of military force. “[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is] a war hero because we work together.

Donald Trump, who never served in the military, has decided that he should be seen as a "war hero," which is problematic for all sorts of reasons.