Israel and Hamas at War – Day 540

Air raid sirens blared across central Israel on Thursday afternoon as two ballistic missiles were launched from Yemen, triggering interceptor fire. The Israeli military confirmed that both projectiles were destroyed before entering Israeli airspace.

Sirens were heard in multiple cities, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Rishon Lezion, causing millions of Israelis to rush to shelters. As a precaution, Ben Gurion Airport temporarily halted takeoffs and landings, forcing some incoming flights to hold over the Mediterranean before receiving clearance to land.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack. Spokesperson Yahya Saree said one missile targeted Ben Gurion Airport and another was aimed at a military site in Tel Aviv. “This is only the beginning” of the campaign, Saree said.

The group also claimed to have carried out more attacks on the US aircraft carrier USS Truman.

The Israeli military said Monday it mistakenly targeted a building used by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Rafah, southern Gaza, due to a misidentification. Troops opened fire after spotting individuals inside the structure whom they believed posed a threat, the military said. It later confirmed the individuals were misidentified and that soldiers were unaware the site was connected to the ICRC.

The ICRC reported earlier that its Rafah office, which had been clearly marked and its location shared with all parties, was struck by an explosive. “Fortunately, no staff were injured in this incident, but this has a direct impact on the ICRC’s ability to operate. The ICRC strongly decries the attack against its premises,” the organization said.

The Red Cross runs a field hospital and other humanitarian facilities in Gaza. The ICRC also reported losing contact with Palestinian medics Sunday and noted casualties among aid workers last week.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for launching rockets at Tel Aviv early Thursday. The attack marks the group’s first confirmed response since Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza.

“Hamas bombed Tel Aviv with a barrage of M90 rockets in response to the Zionist massacres against civilians,” the Al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, three long-range rockets were launched from the southern Gaza Strip at central Israel. One rocket was successfully intercepted by air defenses, while the remaining two landed in open areas. Authorities reported no immediate injuries from the strike, which represents the first Hamas rocket attack on central Israel since October 7, 2024 — the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ initial onslaught on Israeli soil.

Five staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were killed in recent days amid intensifying Israeli bombardments on Gaza, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced Thursday. Their deaths bring the total number of UNRWA staff killed since the outbreak of violence to 284.

“In the past few days another five UNRWA staff have been confirmed killed, bringing the death toll to 284. They were teachers, doctors, and nurses: serving the most vulnerable,” Lazzarini said in a statement posted on X. He added that with Israel’s ongoing ground operation and continuous bombings by land and sea, “the worst is yet to come.”

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned attacks on UN personnel after a United Nations Office for Project Services staff member was killed when two UN guesthouses in Deir al-Balah were hit by strikes.

Egypt, Kuwait, and Bahrain cautioned on Tuesday that Israel’s renewed military operations in Gaza endanger regional stability and violate international law. The warning came during separate phone calls between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, according to the Egyptian presidency.

El-Sisi and Sheikh Mishal condemned Israel’s resumption of airstrikes, which have killed hundreds, including women and children. Both leaders stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

El-Sisi and King Hamad urged the international community to stop what they called Israel’s “brutal aggression” and adhere to the Arab summit’s Gaza reconstruction plan. They rejected any attempts to displace Palestinians, stating that lasting peace depends on establishing a Palestinian state.

Hamas stated on Wednesday that it remains open to negotiations, despite Israel launching its heaviest airstrikes on Gaza since a ceasefire began on January 19. The Palestinian group insists that Israel should implement existing agreements rather than seeking new ones.

“Hamas has not closed the door on negotiations, but we insist there is no need for new agreements,” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP from Cairo. The group has blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reigniting the conflict, accusing Israel of blocking humanitarian aid and refusing to advance to the next phase of the ceasefire deal.

The truce, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, was intended to proceed to a second phase in early March, requiring an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and the establishment of a longer-term ceasefire. However, the agreement broke down after Hamas rejected Israel’s demand to extend the first phase and release more hostages.

On Tuesday, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes, killing over 400 people, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. Netanyahu defended the operation, stating that Hamas had refused US-brokered proposals and that “from now on, negotiations will take place only under fire.”

Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou said the group is still engaging with mediators but accused Israel of escalating the conflict for political reasons. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that officials from the Trump administration were briefed on the strikes beforehand and expressed support.

Three recently freed Israeli hostages took to social media on Tuesday, voicing alarm and pleading for renewed negotiations instead of continued military strikes on Gaza. Each expressed fears for friends and relatives still held underground by Hamas, saying that ramping up the offensive imperils the hostages left behind.

Yarden Bibas wrote in English about reliving the terror he felt while trapped in a Hamas tunnel, hearing bombardments all around him. His wife, Shiri, along with their children Ariel and Kfir, were abducted alive but later killed in captivity. “The military pressure endangers the hostages, while an agreement brings them home,” Bibas wrote, sharing a photo of himself with longtime friends David and Ariel Cunio—both still in Hamas custody.

Eliya Cohen said he was unable to stay still after learning that Israel had resumed strikes. He described the dire conditions endured by his brother, hostage Alon Ohel, who remains underground, shackled with bicycle chains, and rationed a single piece of moldy pita bread and two spoons of fava beans per day. “If there is any understanding [of the hostages’ plight], how to explain this abandonment?” Cohen wrote.

Omer Wenkert, who was freed alongside others, echoed these concerns. “Until the last hostage is released, I am still there!” he said, emphasizing his unbreakable connection to those who remain captive. Wenkert cautioned that decisions to intensify the military campaign could have devastating consequences for those still underground in Gaza.

Saudi media is reporting that the spokesperson of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror movement was killed in Gaza today in an Israeli strike. According to reports, Naji Abu Saif, also known as Abu Hamza, was killed along with his wife and children when an Israeli air strike targeted his house.

Senior PIJ member Hassan al-Naam Abu Ali was also reportedly killed today in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.

Leading up the renewed Israeli offensive, the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee warned that both PIJ and Hamas had rebuilt their military strength. The committee reported that PIJ had more than 5,000 fighters.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed since the new Israeli offensive began less than 24 hours ago. Israel has vowed to continue strikes until Hamas agrees to reenter negotiations with Israel about a hostage release deal.

Egypt and Qatar are reportedly working on a new ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, the Washington Post reported Tuesday afternoon. An Egyptian official told the newspaper that Egypt was working to “start arranging quick meetings in Cairo for entering the next phase and exchange hostages and prisoners in order to achieve peace.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Egypt and the Arab League both condemned Israel’s renewed air strikes on Gaza, which have killed at least 400, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the renewed strikes represent “a dangerous escalation that threatens to have severe consequences for the stability of the region.”

The head of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, called on the international community “to pressure Israel to immediately halt its military operations and return to ceasefire negotiations to reach a comprehensive agreement that includes prisoner exchanges and a complete end to the war.”

Israel’s military launched airstrikes on southern Syria on Monday, targeting sites it described as military facilities and command centers. Syrian state media reported that two civilians were killed and 19 others were injured in the attack near the city of Daraa.

“The presence of military assets in southern Syria poses a threat to the state of Israel,” the Israeli military said, vowing to take action against perceived threats. The military added that the strikes hit locations containing weapons and vehicles linked to Syria’s previous government.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attack struck a former military site used by forces aligned with Syria’s new authorities.

Since the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria. Israel remains wary of the new interim government and has occupied parts of southern Syria to prevent Iranian and Hezbollah entrenchment.

Israel has identified a rise in Hamas activity that suggests the group is preparing for another large-scale attack similar to October 7, according to a Channel 12 report cleared for publication on Monday by military censors. The report also notes a sharp increase in Hamas attempts to target Israeli communities near Gaza and Israeli forces inside the enclave.

Defense Minister Israel Katz recently told residents near the border, “Hamas has sustained a heavy blow, but has not been defeated. There are ongoing efforts for its recovery,” the report noted.

The warning follows statements from opposition lawmakers including Gadi Eisenkot, the Israeli military’s former chief of staff, who reported that Hamas has rebuilt its military strength to over 25,000 fighters, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad has more than 5,000.

The resurgence of these groups has raised concerns among Israeli officials about future security threats.

Activists with the Mishmeret 101 group are protesting outside of the prime minister’s residence on Monday afternoon, calling for the government to prioritize the immediate release of all 59 hostages still held in Gaza. The group is made of mothers of those held hostage and other supporters who hold silent protests while clad all in white.

“Unless something urgent happens, there will be no one to save,” Dalia Kushnir, whose brothers-in-law Iair and Eitan Horn were taken captive on October 7, 2023, said in a press release. Iair was released from Gaza last month, but Eitan is still held hostage. Kushnir said that testimony from her brother-in-law made clear that the situation for those still held in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating.

“The delegation returned from Doha without an agreement, and now suddenly the most urgent thing is to fire the head of the Shin Bet,” Kushnir continued. “We are sitting at home trembling with fear. Every day is harder.”

Israeli drone strikes in Gaza on Monday killed at least five people, according to an Al Jazeera report. The Israeli military confirmed that three individuals were targeted in central Gaza while allegedly attempting to plant an explosive device near Israeli troops.

Later on Monday, an Israeli drone strike in central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp killed two more people and injured two others, Al Jazeera reported. The Israeli military also stated that additional alleged terrorists who were planting explosives near Israeli forces in Rafah were hit.

In recent days, the Israeli military has targeted numerous Gazans allegedly working to place explosives near the Israeli-controlled Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip.

On Saturday, Israeli air attacks killed at least nine people, including, Palestinian sources said, three local journalists. That attack marked the highest number of casualties in a single day since Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in January.

The Israeli military announced on Monday that it struck two Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon’s Yohmor al-Shaqif. The military said that the two were “serving as observation operatives and directing terrorist operations.”

The Lebanese Health Ministry said that one person was killed and three were injured in the strike.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that two people riding on a motorbike in Yohmor al-Shaqif, Nabatieh Governorate, were struck by a guided missile. The motorbike was directly hit, and a nearby van was hit by shrapnel and went up in flames, the agency said. It added that a nearby supermarket was also damaged in the airstrike.

Yesterday, gunfire apparently from Lebanon struck an empty car in the northern Israel moshav of Avivim. Following that event, the Israeli military said that it would continue to strike southern Lebanon “in order to remove any threat to the state of Israel.”

Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted a series of airstrikes on Palestinian Islamic Jihad command centers in the Syrian capital of Damascus late Monday night, the Israel Defense Forces said.

In a statement, the IDF described the targeted facilities as central hubs for planning and executing terrorist activities. “The IDF will not allow terrorist organizations to entrench themselves in Syrian territory and operate against the State of Israel,” the statement read, warning of a strong response to any future entrenchment attempts.

The military also released footage purportedly showing the strikes, though details about casualties or damage were not immediately available. PIJ has not yet issued a response.

Israeli officials have sharply condemned a United Nations report alleging “genocidal” attacks on women’s reproductive health in Gaza and a systematic use of sexual violence as a tool in war, describing it as “one of the worst cases of blood libel the world has ever seen.”

In a statement shared on social media, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the accusations are comparable to “the most damaging antisemitic conspiracy theories throughout history.” The term “blood libel” traditionally refers to medieval-era accusations claiming Jews used Christian blood for ritual purposes—false charges that often provoked violence against Jewish communities.

The ministry’s statement further asserted that the report “accuses the victims of the crimes committed against them,” pointing blame at Hamas for “horrendous sexual crimes.” Calling the UN an “antisemitic organization,” the ministry dismissed the document outright and urged international bodies to condemn Hamas rather than focus criticism on Israel.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Daniel Meron told The Times of Israel that this “blood libel” is the latest in a pattern of one-sided or unverified claims against Israel. “Instead of fabricating accusations,” Meron said, “it is time for the UN to explicitly condemn Hamas for its actions and to expose in its discussions the horrific sexual violence committed against Israelis on October 7 and afterward.”

#PressRelease Israel categorically rejects the unfounded allegations made by the Commission of Inquiry pic.twitter.com/R5RvIrEpdU

— Israel in UN/Geneva🇮🇱🇺🇳 | #BringThemHome (@IsraelinGeneva) March 12, 2025

A group of 50 families with relatives held hostage in Gaza filed a petition to the High Court of Justice on Tuesday, urging the reversal of Israel’s decision to cut off electricity to a water desalination plant in the Gaza Strip. The petitioners argue that cutting power puts the lives of the hostages, who are unable to protect themselves, in immediate danger.

“This is a decision that directly and immediately endangers the lives of the hostages,” the families said in a written statement accompanying the petition. They also contend that Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who ordered the electricity cutoff, acted without the necessary legal authority.

The families are requesting that the High Court take rapid action through an interim order, compelling the government to restore electricity and thus resume operations at the desalination facility. A ruling in the families’ favor could require Israeli authorities to overturn the decision quickly, given the urgency of the hostages’ circumstances.

Israeli officials have not yet responded to the petition. However, the decision to shut down power to Gaza—a move taken amid ongoing tensions—has been widely criticized by human rights organizations, who argue that civilians are disproportionately affected. The High Court is expected to review the petition in the coming days.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday accused the Hamas organization of sending a four-year-old boy toward an Israeli military post in the Gaza Strip, in what the army described as a deliberate act to exploit a child for potential tactical gain.

According to an IDF statement released on social media, soldiers spotted the young child walking in a restricted security zone bordering the Palestinian enclave. After troops moved to intercept, they say the boy claimed he had been sent by Hamas to approach the post.

“Hamas does not hesitate to use any means to cynically use and exploit civilians and children to advance its terrorism,” the IDF statement read.

The army said the boy was ultimately returned to safety in coordination with international organizations, but did not provide further details about how the handover was managed. There was no immediate response from Hamas regarding the IDF’s accusation.

Yesterday, IDF soldiers identified a 4-year-old child moving towards a post in the security zone. The boy was returned to Gaza by IDF forces and in coordination with international organizations.

In a conversation with the soldiers, the child said that he was sent to the post by… pic.twitter.com/tfrpfLVZSO

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 12, 2025

A UN panel in Geneva heard testimony today from Palestinians who alleged mistreatment by Israeli forces and settlers during the war in Gaza. Witnesses described physical abuse, starvation, and being stripped naked while detained.

The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, led by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, was created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 to investigate human rights abuses. Its findings could be used in war crimes investigations.

Israel has refused to cooperate, calling the commission biased. It denies mistreating detainees and disputes allegations of abuse.

A Palestinian nurse testified that after being detained he was beaten in the genitals, attacked by dogs, and caged. Another detainee said he lost about 65 pounds in Israeli custody.

The UN panel’s hearings continue Wednesday. According to the UN, tomorrow’s hearing will focus on “deliberate attacks on sexual and reproductive health care facilities and the impact of collapsed health care infrastructure on women and girls.”

The Israeli military reported carrying out a strike today on a suspect conducting surveillance on Israeli troops in southern Gaza and another on individuals allegedly planting a bomb in the central part of the enclave. The military said that the targets had posed a threat to Israeli security.

According to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry, four people were killed and 14 people were wounded by Israeli strikes in the past day. Palestinian media said that areas in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah were all struck.

Fighting has continued across Gaza since a temporary ceasefire expired on March 1. Israeli officials headed to Doha yesterday for continued negotiations, but so far no deal has been reached.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have strongly condemned Israel’s decision to cut electricity to the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to intervene. The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its “condemnation in the strongest terms,” while Qatar described the action as a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

The power cuts come as Israel seeks to increase pressure on Hamas to free the remaining hostages and agree to a ceasefire deal. The move has drawn criticism from Arab nations, who argue that such measures worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israel’s negotiating team is expected to arrive today in Qatar for renewed discussions about a ceasefire-hostage release deal with Hamas. Leading up to the negotiations, a Hamas representative was quoted in Arabic news sources saying that the group was prepared to be flexible regarding a deal.

Sky News Arabic cited a Hamas representative involved in the negotiations who said that Hamas was willing to release 10 Israeli hostages in exchange for a two-month ceasefire. The representative also said that Hamas was prepared to release Israel-American hostage Edan Alexander without a public ceremony as a show of good faith.

Including Alexander, 24 living hostages and 35 bodies are thought to remain in Gaza.

The previous ceasefire went into effect on January 19, 2025 and was set to expire on March 1. In the days since then, Israel has not returned to fighting in the Gaza Strip in earnest, although it has cut off electricity and humanitarian aid to the enclave.

The number of registered disabled veterans in Israel has grown by 16,000 since October 7, 2023, according to a Defense Ministry report presented Sunday to a committee in the Knesset. The ministry noted that the number had grown from 62,000 to 78,000 since the war began, with most disabled soldiers being reservists and around half being below age 30. The ministry expects the number of disabled veterans to rise as more cases of post-trauma emerge.

The discussion took place in the Special Committee for Foreign Workers and addressed the question of bringing in more foreign caregivers to provide support for disabled veterans. Committee chair Etty Atiya of the Likud party called to cut red tape around access to foreign caregivers and to pass a law regarding their employment instead of the current temporary order.

“I intend to turn to the director general of the Population and Immigration Authority personally on this issue, in order to advance a quick and stable solution,” Atiya said.

Families of hostages and other protesters spent a second night outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv Sunday night, urging the government to secure the release of 59 captives still held in Gaza. The demonstrators, who have maintained a round-the-clock vigil, are pressing for an agreement to bring their loved ones home.

With the protesters outside, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met inside the Defense Ministry building with senior cabinet members to discuss renewed negotiations in Qatar that are set to begin today. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is pressing Israel to make a deal that would immediately release all the hostages, warning that any delay might condemn those still in Gaza to never return.

Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of additional protesters gathered outside the Defense Ministry, with some lighting a bonfire. That disruption briefly disrupted traffic in Tel Aviv.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Sunday that the Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, is establishing a “migration administration” tasked with managing what officials describe as the voluntary relocation of Palestinian residents from the Gaza Strip.

Addressing members of the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus, Smotrich underscored that funding for the initiative would be secured, referring to the logistical scope of the plan as “complex” but stressing that “the budget will not be an obstacle.”

Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock, a member of Smotrich’s far-right Religious Zionism party, echoed the call for relocation, maintaining that Gaza’s security threat to Israel cannot be resolved “except through a voluntary migration plan.” This outlook aligns with statements Smotrich made last month on Channel 12’s “Meet the Press,” in which he claimed Israel is “actively in touch with Washington” to coordinate the transfer of Gazan residents abroad under a plan originally proposed by US President Donald Trump.

The Israeli military carried out extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon late Friday, targeting weapons and rocket launchers that it said posed an immediate threat to Israel. Israel’s military said the operation, the largest since a ceasefire agreement took effect in November 2024, was meant to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing military infrastructure.

The strikes hit locations in Wadi Zibqin and areas near Ayta al-Jabal and Beit Yahoun. Lebanese media reported that around 30 strikes were conducted.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued targeting Hezbollah operatives, including a recent drone strike that killed senior Hezbollah arms smuggler Mohammed Mahdi Ali Shaheen in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Another airstrike last week killed Hezbollah member Maher Nasr al-Din near the Syria-Lebanon border.

Hamas condemned US President Donald Trump’s latest threats on Thursday, saying they undermine the Gaza ceasefire agreement and encourage Israel to avoid its commitments.

“There is an agreement that was signed, and Washington was the mediator in it,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement, claiming that Israel has failed to uphold the second phase of the deal. He called on the US to pressure Israel into negotiations.

President Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas on his Truth Social account Wednesday, stating, “Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.” He pledged full military support for Israel if Hamas fails to comply.

The White House confirmed ongoing US-Hamas negotiations regarding hostages in Gaza, with recent talks held in Qatar. The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, began in January and has resulted in hostage and prisoner releases.

Newly appointed UNIFIL Sector West Commander Nicola Mandolesi urged Lebanon and Israel on Monday to avoid actions that could threaten the region’s stability. Speaking in southern Lebanon during a meeting with the mufti of Tyre and Jabal Amel, Judge Sheikh Hassan Abdallah, Mandolesi stressed the importance of fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

“The full implementation of Resolution 1701 is of utmost importance, and we call on all parties to refrain from any actions that could jeopardize the fragile stability currently in place,” he said, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Mandolesi reaffirmed UNIFIL’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese army through joint patrols, operational coordination, and knowledge-sharing, emphasizing efforts to restore security and assist in the return of displaced residents.

The mufti praised UNIFIL’s role in maintaining stability and condemned recent attacks on Beirut airport and UN peacekeepers, stating, “Any attack on them is an attack on the Lebanese people.”

A suspected terror attack in Haifa has left one man, aged around 70, dead and four others injured, according to Magen David Adom. The incident, which took place near a bus station, involved two attackers—one who opened fire and another who carried out a stabbing attack.

Medics reported that the 70-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while a teenage boy and a man and woman in their 30s suffered serious wounds. Additionally, a woman aged around 70 was treated in moderate condition. All of the injured were transported to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for urgent care.

Security forces neutralized both attackers on site, and an image circulating on social media appears to show two men lying prone near the bus station entrance. Authorities are currently investigating the incident and have increased security measures in the area.

Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, insisted on Wednesday that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas must continue.

Speaking before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk described Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the group’s indiscriminate rocket fire since then as war crimes, but he said that Israel’s response was not justified by those crimes. “Nothing justifies the appalling manner in which Israel has conducted its military operations in Gaza, which consistently breached international law,” he said.

Türk called for accountability from both groups, condemning widespread human rights violations.

Addressing recent moves to defund UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees, and US sanctions against the International Criminal Court, Türk warned that undermining international institutions “harms us all.” He urged all parties to commit to justice, accountability, and a long-term resolution to prevent further violence.

Already strained relations between Israel and the UN have been especially tense since October 7, 2023, following revelations that UNRWA employees participated in the attacks and amid allegations of double standards for the Jewish state.

At least seven infants have died from hypothermia in Gaza over the past two weeks as cold weather and inadequate shelter put newborns at risk, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has significantly increased the flow of aid supplies into Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, but doctors warn that the current rate of aid still leaves infants at risk.

Saeed Salah, medical director of the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society Hospital in Gaza City, said several infants suffering from hypothermia had been admitted in recent days, with some dying within hours. In Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital reported additional cases, including the death of a two-month-old girl whose family found her unresponsive in their tent.

A recent storm brought temperatures as low as 50 Fahrenheit along with rain and wind, conditions that were made more dangerous by the infrastructure crisis in Gaza, which includes power outages and destroyed hospitals.

President Donald Trump is facing sharp criticism after posting an AI-generated video on social media on Tuesday that reimagines war-torn Gaza as a lavish beachfront resort branded with his name. The video, which features Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sunbathing in Gaza, depicts a transformed city with palm trees, luxury buildings, and a towering golden statue of Trump.

Speaking to The New York Times, the Hamas-run government media office in Gaza decried the video. “We strongly condemn, in the harshest terms, the disgraceful video published by US President Donald Trump, which contains unethical scenes that violate the customs, morals, and traditions of our Palestinian people,” Ismail al-Thawabta, the office’s director, said.

The video’s origins are unclear, but versions have circulated online for weeks. It follows Trump’s recent proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and relocate the enclave’s Palestinians, an idea widely condemned by Arab nations and international experts.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has directed diplomats to open channels of communication with far-right political parties in Sweden, France, and Spain, according to Walla, which cited senior Foreign Ministry officials. A Ministry spokesperson confirmed the report to The Times of Israel.

The decision marks a notable shift from previous practice, as the French National Rally, Sweden Democrats, and Spanish Vox had long been shunned by the Foreign Ministry, President’s Residence, and Prime Minister’s Office due to concerns over antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and fascist associations. Despite these controversies, rogue ministers and legislators have recently met with officials from these parties without government approval.

“We do not agree with the entire platform of these parties or with every statement made by their leaders, but we believe that it is possible to have a dialogue with them,” one senior diplomat said to Walla.

According to reports, staff work on the initiative began under Sa’ar’s predecessor, Israel Katz. Upon taking office, Sa’ar evaluated the parties based on several criteria, including their support for Israel, their attitude toward local Jewish communities, community sentiments toward the parties, and whether they had addressed their antisemitic legacies. Sa’ar has decided to maintain a policy of non-engagement with far-right parties in Austria and Germany, specifically the Austrian Freedom Party and the German AfD.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed early today that it has deployed tanks to the West Bank as part of an expanded counter-terrorism operation in the Jenin area. This marks the first time since the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield that IDF tanks have been active in the West Bank.

According to military sources, troops from the Nahal Infantry Brigade and the Duvdevan Commando Unit began operations this morning in several villages near Jenin. In parallel, a platoon from the 188th Armored Brigade is preparing to enter Jenin. Palestinian media have circulated images showing three tanks in the area.

The deployment is a component of Operation Iron Wall, a major offensive launched by the IDF in the northern West Bank on January 21.

The Israeli Defense Forces accused Hamas of brutally murdering two young children, Ariel Bibas (4) and Kfir Bibas (10 months), after their kidnapping on October 7, 2023. IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that forensic findings and intelligence confirm the children were killed with their bare hands—contradicting claims they died in an airstrike.

According to Hagari, the children were taken hostage along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, and were murdered in Gaza no later than November 2023.

“The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys — they killed them with their bare hands,” he said, adding that Hamas, instead of returning Shiri, sent the body of an unidentified woman, a move the IDF condemned as a blatant lie and a further example of the group’s barbarity.

The IDF demanded that Shiri Bibas be returned to Israel immediately.

In a suspected coordinated terror bombing, three empty buses exploded simultaneously in separate parking lots in Bat Yam, a Tel Aviv suburb. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Police confirmed that the explosions occurred at different parking lots, raising alarms over a potential terror plot. The Bat Yam Municipality noted that “miraculously, the buses arrived at the parking lots a moment before the explosion,” suggesting that timing may have played a critical role in avoiding any injuries.

The investigation is being led by Shin Bet, and authorities have ordered all buses throughout the Tel Aviv metropolitan area to undergo thorough vehicle searches. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and collecting witness statements to determine who is responsible and whether additional threats exist.

Shortly after the identification process began for the four bodies handed over this morning by Hamas, the family of hostage Oded Lifshitz confirmed that their loved one is among them. Lifshitz, 83, a lifelong peace activist and one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was abducted from his home on October 7, 2023. His wife, Yocheved, was abducted separately and later released 16 days after the incident.

In a statement published by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the Lifshitz family expressed deep sorrow upon receiving the news:

“We received with sorrow the official and bitter news about the identification of the body of our beloved Oded. 503 agonizing days of uncertainty have come to an end. We hoped and prayed so much for the ending to be different. Now we can mourn the husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who we have been missing since October 7. Our family’s rehabilitation will start now and won’t end until the last hostage is returned.”

The United Nations rights chief has condemned the public display of hostage bodies in Gaza as “abhorrent” and a clear violation of international law. On Thursday, Hamas handed over the remains of four hostages to the Red Cross in a ceremony that has sparked international criticism.

During the event, the bodies were arranged on a stage, surrounded by armed Hamas gunmen clad in black and camouflage. Among those transferred were the bodies of Israeli infant Kfir Bibas and his 4‑year‑old brother Airel—two of the youngest captives taken during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack—as well as their mother, Shiri Bibas, and a fourth hostage, Oded Lifschitz. The handover took place under a ceasefire agreement reached last month amid the ongoing Israel‑Hamas conflict.

UN rights chief Volker Turk stressed that “under international law, any handover of the remains of the deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families.” His statement was issued following scenes that included a terrorist standing beside a poster reading, “The Return of the War = The Return of your Prisoners in Coffins.”

Israel announced on Monday the creation of a new government directorate aimed at facilitating the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza, according to the Defense Ministry. The initiative, ordered by Defense Minister Israel Katz, will coordinate efforts across multiple government ministries and security agencies.

According to an official statement, the directorate will be “dedicated to facilitating” emigration for Gazans seeking to leave, offering “extensive assistance”, including logistical support for departure via land, sea, and air.

The decision was made following a meeting of senior Israeli security officials earlier in the day.

The move mirrors a recent plan by US President Donald Trump, who proposed transferring Gaza’s Palestinian population to neighboring countries, barring them from returning. Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have expressed support for the initiative, while Palestinian and Arab leaders strongly oppose it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out the possibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) taking control of Gaza after the war, rejecting reports that Hamas was open to transferring governance to the PA.

“As I promised—the day after the war in Gaza, there will be no Hamas and no Palestinian Authority,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

He reaffirmed his backing of US President Donald Trump’s vision for Gaza, which involves relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries. The plan has been widely opposed by Arab leaders.

“I am committed to President Trump’s plan for creating a different Gaza,” Netanyahu stated.

Israel has long opposed Palestinian sovereignty in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Israel intends to keep troops stationed at five military outposts in southern Lebanon beyond the agreed withdrawal deadline, an Israeli government official said Monday. The official, speaking anonymously to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, said the outposts were located at key strategic locations overlooking Lebanese villages and Israeli border communities. The decision was reportedly coordinated with US officials.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Israeli forces carried out multiple strikes in Lebanon on Monday, including an airstrike in Sidon that killed a Hamas military commander.

Under the ceasefire agreement that ended 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces were expected to withdraw entirely by late January. The deadline was extended to February 18, but Israel has not set a new date for a full pullout.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed concern about the delayed withdrawal, stating that Lebanon would respond with a unified national position. He emphasized that Lebanon could not withstand another war and said the Lebanese army was prepared to take control of the affected areas.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for discussions with Egyptian officials regarding the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached with Israel in January.

According to a statement from Hamas, the delegation is led by Dr. Khalil al-Hayya, the head of the group in Gaza. The representatives are meeting with Egyptian officials to review the ceasefire’s progress and address issues related to prisoner exchanges.

The statement noted that the delegation is working with “technical committees and mediating brothers” to ensure the terms of the agreement are upheld.

Egypt has played a central role in mediating between Hamas and Israel, with previous negotiations focusing on humanitarian aid access to Gaza and the release of detainees on both sides. While the ceasefire has brought temporary calm, ongoing talks will determine whether the agreement will be extended or if further adjustments are needed.

Yarden Bibas, recently released from Gaza as part of a hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas, spoke out for the first time since his freedom. In a statement distributed by the Hostages Families Forum, Bibas recounted his ordeal, writing:  “On October 7th, 2023, I was kidnapped from Israel. On February 1st, 2025, I returned to a different country. I knew that the people of Israel unite in times of disaster, but I never knew to what extent.”

He expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported him and his family during his 485 days in captivity, specifically thanking the Israeli Defense Forces: “To the IDF soldiers, in one sentence — you are heroes, each and every one of you. Thank you.”

Bibas was taken captive when Hamas terrorists raided his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. In a courageous attempt to protect his loved ones, he left his family’s safe room, an act that led to his abduction while his wife, Shiri, and young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were kidnapped separately.

In November 2023, Hamas claimed that Shiri and the boys had been killed in captivity—a claim that Israel has not confirmed, though it has expressed “grave concern” for their fate. Under the current ceasefire, Shiri and the boys are set for release, but Hamas has yet to comment on their status.

“Sadly, my family hasn’t returned to me yet. They are still there. My light is still there, and as long as they’re there, everything here is dark. Thanks to you, I was brought back — help me bring the light back to my life,” Bibas pleaded. In his statement, he directly addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Bring my family back. Bring my friends back. Bring everyone home.”

Israel has officially informed the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that it will withdraw its participation, following the lead of the United States, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced.

In a letter to UNHRC President Jorg Lauber, which he also posted on social media, Sa’ar said the decision was made due to what he described as the council’s “ongoing and unrelenting institutional bias against Israel” since its founding in 2006.

Sa’ar accused the UNHRC of shielding human rights violators while disproportionately targeting Israel for scrutiny and condemnation. He further claimed the council promotes antisemitic rhetoric, denies Israel’s right to exist, and emboldens terrorism.

I informed the UNHRC that Israel will no longer participate in it. The "human rights" council has consistently enabled countries that abuse human rights to evade scrutiny, while obsessively pursuing Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. Joining @POTUS President Trump's… pic.twitter.com/wMYHte2dv0

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) February 6, 2025

Two Israeli soldiers, Sgt. First Class (res.) Nadav Cohen, 21, from Beit Hanan, and Staff Sgt. Nachman Refael Ben Ami, 20, from Eilat, were killed when a military crane collapsed in northern Gaza on Wednesday night, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and local reports. Both soldiers served in the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion. Eight other soldiers were injured, including one in serious condition.

Israel’s state broadcaster, Kan TV News, attributed the collapse to stormy weather, stating that the crane fell onto a tent occupied by Golani Brigade troops. The incident took place inside an IDF compound near the Gaza border, where Israeli forces remain stationed despite the ceasefire.

The IDF has launched an investigation into the accident, focusing on whether troops had taken appropriate precautions given the severe weather conditions. Kan TV reported that soldiers were expected to secure or lower the crane ahead of strong winds.

The type of crane involved in the collapse is typically used to deploy surveillance equipment and communication antennas. It features a hydraulic arm that can extend to heights of several dozen meters.

Former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner was reportedly a key figure behind US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the United States to take over Gaza and remove its Palestinian population, according to a report from Puck News.

Citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter, the report claims Kushner helped craft the remarks Trump made alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where Trump announced his vision for a US-controlled Gaza. According to the report, Netanyahu had not requested that Trump pursue such a plan beforehand.

Trump’s proposal, which calls for removing Palestinians from the war-torn enclave before redeveloping it, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over forced displacement. Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, has already rejected any effort to resettle Palestinians outside their homeland, reaffirming that Palestinian statehood remains a prerequisite for any normalization of ties with Israel.

Far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben Gvir has indicated that his Otzma Yehudit party is increasingly likely to return to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, citing US President Donald Trump’s call for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza.

“I haven’t sewn a new ministerial suit yet, but there is no doubt that the chances of Otzma Yehudit returning to the government have increased,” Ben Gvir told Galey Israel Radio on Wednesday.

His comments came after Trump, hosting Netanyahu at the White House, reiterated his controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from the war-torn enclave, calling Gaza a “demolition site” and suggesting that they “have no alternative” but to leave. Trump also expressed his desire for the United States to “take over” and “own” Gaza following more than 15 months of Israeli bombardment.

“The ball is now in the hands of the prime minister,” Ben Gvir said. “As soon as we start and there is an intention to implement it—I’m back.”

Ben Gvir has long pushed for what he calls “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza, combined with renewed Israeli settlement in the territory. While Trump clarified that he does not support Israeli settlements in Gaza, Ben Gvir dismissed such concerns, arguing that now is the time to move forward with resettlement plans.

A coalition of West Bank settlement leaders and organizations is urging the Israeli government to annex all settlements in the territory and halt the release of Palestinian security prisoners, following a shooting attack earlier today and amid the ongoing hostage-prisoner release deal between Israel and Hamas.

The Yesha Council, an umbrella group representing settlement municipal authorities, released a statement asserting, “The Israeli government has a duty to decisively defeat Arab terrorism and to announce the application of Israeli sovereignty [in the West Bank], which will prevent the establishment of a terror state in the heart of the country.”

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council in the northern West Bank, echoed this call for strong government action, drawing comparisons to the Israel Defense Forces’ campaigns against Hamas in Gaza. “I call on the prime minister and the defense minister to give instructions for the targeted elimination of all terror heads, and to stop any thought of releasing terrorists to Judea and Samaria,” Dagan said, using the biblical term for the West Bank.

At least eight people were wounded in a shooting attack this morning at an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir. Emergency responders from Rescuers Without Borders report that two individuals are in critical condition, while five others sustained moderate to light injuries.

According to security officials, the Palestinian gunman responsible for the attack managed to enter a military compound adjacent to the checkpoint, which includes lookout posts and several other structures. An exchange of gunfire ensued inside the site, resulting in the gunman’s death.

The IDF has launched an investigation into how the attacker gained access to the compound and whether additional security measures are needed.

Israeli opposition leader Avigdor Liberman has endorsed US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate some of Gaza’s residents to neighboring Jordan and Egypt, either temporarily or permanently. Speaking ahead of his Yisrael Beitenu party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Liberman stated, “I want to thank the US president for his initiative to transfer the population of Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula.”

The proposal, however, faces significant diplomatic obstacles. Both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Jordan’s King Abdullah have rejected Trump’s plan, casting doubt on its future implementation.

This is not the first time Liberman has supported a population transfer strategy. He has previously advocated for shifting the jurisdiction of certain Arab Israeli towns to a future Palestinian state, arguing that many of the residents never truly wished to be part of the Jewish state.

Addressing the issue of regional normalization, Liberman also commented on the potential for closer ties with Saudi Arabia. “I’m in favor of normalization with Saudi Arabia, but not at the price they are demanding,” he remarked, referring to the requirement for establishing a Palestinian state and providing assistance with a civilian nuclear program.

Hamas accused Israel on Sunday of stalling efforts to provide humanitarian aid and rebuild Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement in place. Hazem Qassem, a spokesperson for the group, stated that Israel has failed to uphold several humanitarian commitments outlined in the deal.

“The occupation is still procrastinating in implementing the relief and reconstruction process outlined in the ceasefire agreement, failing to fully commit to several humanitarian areas,” Qassem said in a press release.

He criticized Israel for not allowing medical supplies into Gaza despite the extensive damage to the health care system. He also noted that fuel deliveries have fallen short of the agreed amounts.

Qassem urged mediators to pressure Israel to permit the entry of aid, including shelter materials, food, fuel, and heavy machinery while ensuring compliance with the ceasefire terms.

The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, began on January 19. The initial 42-day phase includes a prisoner exchange, with ongoing negotiations for later stages.

An Israeli aircraft fired on what the military described as a suspicious vehicle moving toward northern Gaza outside the designated inspection route established by the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the decision to strike was taken after the vehicle was detected deviating from the approved path, heightening concerns over border security.

“The IDF is prepared for any scenario and will continue to take any necessary actions to thwart any immediate threat to IDF soldiers,” a military spokesperson said in a brief statement. No further details were provided regarding the outcome of the strike or whether there were any casualties.

The Israel Police, alongside the cybercrimes unit of the State Attorney’s Office, has opened a criminal investigation against Sara Netanyahu over allegations that she sought to intimidate a witness and interfere in the corruption case involving her husband, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The investigation was launched on December 26 following a request for information from Democrat MK Naama Lazimi.

According to the State Attorney’s Office, the inquiry was spurred by a report from Channel 12’s “Uvda” program. The report alleges that Sara Netanyahu instructed Hanni Bleiweiss, her husband’s late aide, to coordinate protests and launch an online campaign aimed at discrediting Hadas Klein, a crucial witness in one of the trials against the prime minister.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman confirmed the investigation, citing suspicions of witness harassment and obstruction of justice. “Receiving the official announcement from the Attorney General’s Office regarding the opening of a criminal investigation against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s wife is important for parliamentary oversight, the justice system, and the rule of law,” said MK Lazimi.

Lazimi also stressed that the case was particularly significant given Sara Netanyahu’s past, noting that she was convicted in 2019 in a plea bargain for misusing state funds—allegedly spending around $50,000 on catered meals despite having a full-time chef at the Prime Minister’s Residence.

A mosque in the Bedouin village of Arab al-Mleihat, northwest of the West Bank city of Jericho, was allegedly set on fire overnight, according to Palestinian media reports.

Hassan Mleihat, an official with the Al-Baydar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, told The Times of Israel that a group of Israeli settlers poured flammable liquid inside the mosque during the early hours of the morning and set it ablaze. The building was completely destroyed, but no casualties were reported.

The incident is the latest in what Mleihat claims is a pattern of harassment targeting the remote Bedouin hamlet over the past three years. Last September, 50 goats were reportedly poisoned in the village. Mleihat emphasized that the location of the community makes it difficult for fire trucks and rescue services to respond to such incidents.

The accusation against settlers has not been substantiated with evidence, and the Israel Police has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Following the release of three Israeli hostages earlier today, Israel has begun the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were serving lengthy or even life sentences for serious crimes. 

Around noon, 32 freed prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah after leaving Ofer prison on a Red Cross bus. Eight additional prisoners are set to be deported to neighboring countries, and the remainder will be brought back to Gaza. According to Palestinian media, the 111 prisoners from Gaza who are set to be released today were all detained following October 7, 2023. 

Today marks the fourth exchange of prisoners and hostages in the ceasefire deal that took effect on January 19. In the first phase of the deal, around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are set to be released in exchange for the release of 33 hostages from Hamas captivity.

The release of three Israeli hostages from Gaza is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to a senior security official. The individuals set for release are Ofer Calderon, 54, Keith Siegel, 65, and Yarden Bibas, 35.

The hostages will reportedly be released from two separate locations in Gaza. However, officials stress that the timing of the operation remains subject to change due to logistical and security considerations.

Footage emerging from Gaza shows Hamas operatives setting up stages in Khan Yunis and the Gaza port area, similar to previous handover events where hostages were presented before being transferred to the International Red Cross.

This release follows ongoing negotiations under a ceasefire agreement, with Israel and international mediators working to secure the return of additional captives. Hamas still holds numerous hostages, and discussions remain underway for further exchanges.

Three Israeli hostages—Ofer Calderon, Keith Siegel, and Yarden Bibas—are set to be released from Gaza on Saturday, according to Israeli officials. The families have been notified, and Israel has accepted Hamas’s list of those to be freed.

Keith Siegel, 65, a US citizen originally from North Carolina, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Aviva Siegel, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7, 2023 attack. Aviva was released in November 2023 as part of a previous hostage deal.

Ofer Calderon, 54, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his children, Erez and Sahar, who were freed in the last ceasefire. His return will mark the reunion of the family after months of captivity.

Yarden Bibas, 35, was taken separately from his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Hamas has claimed that Shiri and the boys were killed in captivity, but Israel has not officially confirmed their deaths, only expressing grave concerns for their fate. Yarden was reportedly wounded during his abduction.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad has made preparations for the release later this morning of two Israeli civilian hostages, the terrorist group’s spokesperson said. The group also released a propaganda video of an embrace between the two hostages, Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Mozes, 80. 

This comes after the Israeli hostage Agam Berger was handed over to the Red Cross in the northern Gazan city of Jabalia after 15 months in Hamas captivity. Hamas is expected to separately release five Thai nationals this morning. In exchange, Israel is slated to free 110 Palestinian prisoners.

Today’s release will mark the third exchange since the ceasefire took effect on January 19. As one of the last female civilians remaining in Gaza, Yehoud was expected to be released in last Saturday’s exchange. Contrary to the terms of the deal, three female soldiers were released instead. In response, Israel blocked the reentry of Palestinians into northern Gaza, and Hamas quickly announced it would return Yehoud to Israel ahead of the next scheduled release.

An Israeli airstrike on the northern West Bank town of Tammun late Wednesday night left 10 Palestinians dead and several others injured, according to reports from the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military confirmed that it struck a terrorist cell in the town and said that the attack was guided by intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet internal security agency. 

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the victims range in age from 18 to 36. 

Over the past week, Israeli military and security forces have been carrying out significant operations in the West Bank, including in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm. The Israeli military has said that it destroyed over 130 explosive devices and arrested over 60 wanted terrorists over the past few days.

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, has arrived in Israel after visiting Saudi Arabia, as negotiations continue over the next phases of the hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

According to Israel’s Kan broadcaster, Witkoff met with Saudi and Palestinian officials in Riyadh to discuss governance plans for the Gaza Strip following the war. His discussions are part of broader efforts to shape the region’s postwar political landscape and secure agreements regarding the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

Witkoff reportedly flew directly from Riyadh to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport this morning on his private jet, reinforcing the urgency of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Axios reported that the US envoy is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials this afternoon to advance negotiations. The visit follows growing international pressure to establish a long-term framework for security and governance in Gaza after the war.

Hamas is expected to provide Israel with the name of a third hostage to be freed from Gaza tomorrow, alongside civilian Arbel Yehoud and soldier Agam Berger, as part of the ongoing hostage-ceasefire deal.

Reports suggest that 65-year-old Keith Siegel, a US citizen, may be among those released this week, though confirmation is still pending. It remains unclear whether Siegel will be released tomorrow or on Saturday when an additional three hostages are set to be freed.

In exchange, Israel will release Palestinian security prisoners—30 for each civilian and 50 for Berger, including 30 terrorists serving life sentences.

The additional batch of hostages being released this week follows the resolution of a dispute over the implementation of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced today during a visit to the Syrian side of Mount Hermon that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will maintain their presence in the area indefinitely to safeguard Israeli security.

“The IDF will remain at the summit of the Hermon and the security zone indefinitely to ensure the security of the communities of the Golan Heights and the north, and all the residents of Israel,” Katz said, referring to the buffer zone Israel seized following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime last month.

During his visit, Katz conducted a security assessment with senior officers at an IDF post on the Mount Hermon summit and addressed troops stationed there.

The buffer zone on the Syrian side of the border was initially described by Israel as a temporary measure to prevent hostile elements from exploiting the ongoing instability in Syria. However, today’s remarks suggest a long-term strategy to fortify the area amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Israeli military estimates that only tens of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from most of the Netzarim Corridor and opened roads connecting the south to the north as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

While Hamas has claimed that “over 300,000 displaced” residents returned to northern Gaza, IDF assessments suggest the figure is significantly lower. According to The Times of Israel, military sources believe the true number remains in the tens of thousands.

Since the war began, civilians in Gaza were urged to evacuate from the north to avoid combat zones, with many resettling in tent camps established in southern Gaza. Now, as restrictions ease, displaced residents are cautiously making their way back to the north. However, the extent of destruction in northern Gaza poses significant challenges. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, leaving civilians with few places to reside.

Israel has ordered the suspension of commercial flights to Paphos Airport in Cyprus due to unspecified security concerns, Cypriot officials confirmed on Monday. The decision, made by Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet, was issued late Sunday, according to reports from Israel.

“The Republic of Cyprus is aware of the change in scheduling, for security reasons, of Israeli companies from and to Paphos Airport,” a Cypriot official told Reuters. “Flights [from Israel] are continuing normally to Larnaca,” the official added, referencing Cyprus’s largest international airport.

Paphos, a smaller airport located on the western coast of Cyprus, primarily caters to charter traffic. It is adjacent to a military base slated for an upgrade by the United States. According to its winter flight schedule, the airport receives up to 10 flights per week from Tel Aviv and 7 from Haifa.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday to testify in his ongoing criminal trial for the first time in nearly a month, following prostate removal surgery in late December. The court had previously postponed Netanyahu’s testimony for three weeks to accommodate his recovery but rejected a request to further reduce his testimony obligations.

Netanyahu’s attorney, Amit Hadad, sought to limit the prime minister’s testimony to a single day this week, citing “postoperative medical developments.” However, the court ruled there was no medical basis to reduce the number of days, instead shortening Netanyahu’s daily testimony hours and allowing for extended breaks.

Taking the stand, Netanyahu expressed regret over the court’s decision, stating that his recovery has been slower than expected. “I had surgery less than a month ago. The normal recovery process is six weeks,” Netanyahu told the court. “In my case, the recovery did not go according to my doctors’ expectations and wishes because I was swept away… to deal with a flood of needs related to the release of the hostages and the events in Lebanon and elsewhere.”

Ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir condemned the images of tens of thousands of Palestinians returning to northern Gaza via the Netzarim Corridor, calling the scenes “another humiliating part” of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release deal.

“This is not what ‘total victory’ looks like — this is what total surrender looks like,” Ben Gvir wrote on X on Monday, expressing sharp opposition to the agreement brokered between Israel and Hamas.

The far-right politician, who resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in protest of the deal, criticized the ceasefire for allowing displaced Palestinians to return north, an area heavily targeted during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

“Heroic IDF soldiers did not fight and give their lives in the Strip only for Palestinians to return north,” he wrote, calling for the immediate resumption of hostilities. “We must return to war — and destroy!”

פתיחת ציר נצרים הבוקר והכנסת עשרות אלפי עזתים לצפון הרצועה הם תמונות הניצחון של חמאס וחלק משפיל נוסף בעסקה המופקרת. כך לא נראה ״ניצחון מוחלט״ – כך נראית כניעה מוחלטת.

חיילי צה"ל הגיבורים לא נלחמו ומסרו נפשם ברצועה כדי לאפשר את התמונות האלה.

חייבים לחזור למלחמה – ולהשמיד!

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 27, 2025

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad official announced that mediators have reached an agreement for the release of civilian hostage Arbel Yehud, with her release expected before the next round of hostages are freed on Saturday. Yehud, believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, has been at the center of ongoing negotiations amid Israel’s insistence on her inclusion in the hostage deal.

The spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that “talks are ongoing” to finalize Yehud’s release, a move seen as critical to preserving the fragile ceasefire agreement currently in place.

Israel has accused Hamas of violating the terms of the ceasefire by excluding Yehud, a civilian, from Thursday’s hostage release. In response, Israeli authorities withheld another key element of the agreement by refusing to open the coastal road in the Netzarim Corridor, which would allow Gazans to return to the northern part of the Strip.

Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat stated Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that while Israel desires peace in Gaza, its participation in reconstruction efforts hinges on Hamas’ commitment to lasting peace and preventing future attacks. Barkat emphasized that rebuilding Gaza into a commercially viable region, similar to Dubai, would only be possible if Hamas prioritizes peaceful relations with Israel.

Barkat’s comments come after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect Sunday, shifting focus toward achieving a lasting peace after 15 months of conflict that has severely damaged Gaza.

Barkat indicated Israel has not yet decided whether to contribute financially to Gaza’s reconstruction. However, he said Israel would permit other nations, such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to rebuild in a way that “doesn’t threaten Israel.” He also stated that the change in the US administration has significantly improved Israel’s position. He suggested this shift could facilitate stronger ties between Israel and additional Arab nations through agreements similar to the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain. Finally, he addressed trade relations with Turkey, saying there has been “no progress” in restarting those ties.

An initial Israel Defense Forces (IDF) investigation into last night’s settler attacks on two West Bank Palestinian villages has revealed that dozens of assailants were involved, with violence also directed at security forces.

The investigation found that “dozens of Israeli civilians, some of them masked, arrived at night in the al-Funduq area… set fire to property and caused damage.” The assailants also targeted the adjacent village of Jinsafut. Upon receiving reports, soldiers and police were dispatched to the scene, where the attackers reportedly threw stones and attacked security forces.

The head of the IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, condemned the violence, stating, “Any violent riot harms security, and the IDF will not allow it.”

Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, whose body was recovered from Gaza over the weekend, will be laid to rest on Monday in his hometown of Poriya Ilit. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m., following the return of his remains more than a decade after he was killed and captured by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge.

In preparation for the funeral, Route 7677, which leads to the northern Israeli community, will be closed to traffic in both directions between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to Channel 13 reports.

Shaul was a soldier in the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion and was killed during the 2014 Gaza war. He and his unit entered Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood in an M-113 armored personnel carrier, which became trapped in the area’s narrow streets. During efforts to extricate the vehicle, Hamas operatives launched anti-tank missiles, striking the APC and killing seven soldiers, including Shaul. His body was captured and taken from the scene.

The Houthis in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile launched at Israel this morning, asserting that the missile targeted the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.

In a statement, the Houthis declared, “The missile reached its target with high accuracy, thanks to Allah, and the interception systems failed to intercept it.” However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the missile was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

Fragments of the downed missile reportedly landed in towns near Jerusalem but caused no injuries or damage. There were no direct impacts, and the Defense Ministry, located at the IDF headquarters in central Tel Aviv, remained unaffected.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has reached an understanding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the recently signed hostage-ceasefire agreement with Hamas, according to Hebrew media reports.

The deal, brokered in Doha, has sparked internal divisions within Netanyahu’s coalition. Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, reportedly agreed to remain in the government despite his opposition to the agreement. According to reports from Channel 12 News and Walla, Smotrich’s demands include assurances that the Israel Defense Forces will resume operations against Hamas after the temporary ceasefire and that control over humanitarian aid to Gaza will remain tightly managed.

Smotrich and his party plan to vote against the ceasefire deal in the cabinet but will not quit the coalition. This arrangement stands in contrast to far-right Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, who announced last night that his party would leave the government if the agreement is approved.

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party has requested a telephone vote by the Israeli cabinet to approve the hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas, finalized in Doha late Thursday night. In a letter to cabinet secretary Yossi Fuchs, Arbel emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Every hour and every minute is important — both for the hostages themselves and for their families who yearn for certainty after over a year in captivity.”

The current plan schedules a full cabinet meeting for Saturday night, but Arbel’s proposal aims to expedite the process to ensure the deal can be implemented on Sunday, as urged by mediators. Moving the vote forward would also allow opponents the 24 hours needed to petition the High Court of Justice.

Arbel argued that a decision before the Sabbath would provide clarity for families of the 98 hostages currently held in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 36 confirmed dead by the Israeli Defense Forces. The agreement’s first phase involves the release of 33 “humanitarian” hostages—children, women, female soldiers, the elderly, and the sick—over 42 days.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the current timeline, noting the need to respect religious observances. However, questions remain as to why the religious principle of violating the Sabbath to save lives (pikuach nefesh) does not apply in this case.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s far-right Religious Zionism party has reiterated its opposition to the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, conditioning its continued membership in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on assurances that the war will end with Hamas’ military defeat.

The party issued a statement demanding a guarantee from Netanyahu to resume military operations after the first phase of the deal. “This is the condition for the party to remain in the government and coalition,” the statement declared, calling for a focus on achieving “decisive victory” and securing the release of all hostages.

Hebrew media reports indicate that Smotrich has sought a written assurance from Netanyahu, which could complicate the deal’s second phase. This phase includes Hamas releasing remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot told Kan radio that “in all likelihood, we will resign from the government.” However, the coalition would still retain a slim majority of 61 seats if the party’s seven members withdraw.

Pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 suggested that delays in the cabinet’s vote on the agreement stem from Netanyahu waiting for Smotrich’s assurance of continued support, rather than last-minute disputes with Hamas as claimed by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Senior Hamas official Izzat el-Risheq has rejected accusations from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that the group is reneging on aspects of the proposed hostage-ceasefire deal. El-Risheq reaffirmed Hamas’ commitment to the agreement announced by mediators on Wednesday.

The PMO issued two statements accusing Hamas of backtracking on critical issues, including the release terms for Palestinian prisoners. The PMO claimed Hamas is “creating a last-minute crisis,” delaying the finalization of the deal. It alleged that Hamas is attempting to unilaterally dictate the identities of prisoners to be released, violating earlier agreements.

“Hamas is reneging on the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that is preventing an agreement,” the PMO stated, adding that the Israeli cabinet would not convene until mediators confirm Hamas’s acceptance of all terms.

Reports suggest the dispute centers on the identity of Palestinian prisoners slated for release. A leaked draft of the deal indicated that prisoner exchanges would be based on lists agreed upon by both parties.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is scheduled to hold a press conference later today, amid mounting speculation that a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas has been reached.

According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, a Qatari media outlet, al-Thani will reportedly announce that both sides have finalized an agreement. For weeks, Qatari officials have mediated between Israeli representatives and Hamas leadership, aiming to secure a truce and facilitate the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Officials in Jerusalem signaled a potential breakthrough in talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, but cautioned that Hamas has not yet provided a final response. Earlier reports suggested the agreement was imminent, with expectations that it could be signed as soon as tonight or tomorrow. However, the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized that, “contrary to reports,” Hamas has yet to submit its concluding position on the outline.

Should the deal gain approval in the Israeli cabinet, a mandatory 24- to 48-hour period would follow to allow for possible appeals to the Supreme Court. If no legal hurdles arise, implementation could begin as early as Sunday, with the initial group of hostages set for release.

“There is a breakthrough in the hostage deal negotiations in Doha. Hamas military leader in Gaza Mohammed Sinwar gave his OK,” one Israeli official told Walla News. Sinwar, the brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, is believed to command Hamas forces in Gaza.

Legislation seeking to shutter Israel’s Kan public broadcaster has been shelved, Knesset Economic Committee Chair David Bitan (Likud) announced during a meeting on the issue. The bill, submitted by Likud MK Tally Gotliv and drafted by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, will no longer move forward.

“I can’t advance this bill for a simple reason — public broadcasting is necessary,” Bitan stated, emphasizing the enduring value of Kan’s operations. “There has always been public broadcasting in Israel, so in terms of canceling the public broadcaster, I’m not in favor.”

The announcement sparked criticism from Gotliv, who remains committed to her privatization plans. Bitan also announced that legislation aiming to overhaul the TV ratings board will be frozen, though he signaled support for alternative measures. These include giving the government direct control over Kan’s budget and requiring the broadcaster to justify its decisions to the committee annually.

Karhi and Gotliv vowed to pursue alternative avenues to privatize Kan and end public broadcasting in its current form, including ad hoc Knesset committees.

Israeli police announced on Monday that fragments of a Houthi missile, fired overnight, were found in two communities near Jerusalem. According to the police, sappers have been dispatched to Tzur Hadassah and Mevo Beitar to handle the debris safely, urging residents to refrain from touching any suspicious objects.

Images from the scene show a large cylinder that struck the roof of a home in Mevo Beitar. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that an interception attempt was made against the missile, but details of the operation remain unclear. There have been no reports of injuries.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Monday that he does not anticipate any substantial alterations to the newly unveiled judicial overhaul package he developed with Justice Minister Yariv Levin. Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem alongside Denmark’s foreign minister, Sa’ar emphasized the significant time and effort invested in reaching the current blueprint.

“We negotiated it for a very long time, we started the talks… before the war began,” Sa’ar said in response to a question from The Times of Israel. He noted that while minor adjustments could occur during the legislative process, he does not foresee major components of the plan changing. “I don’t see how the big elements in this suggestion… will be changed,” he added.

Sa’ar rejoined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in September 2024, after previously leaving the Likud party in 2020 due to policy disagreements. He served as justice minister in the previous government and was a notable critic of Levin’s original judicial overhaul proposal. His main concern then was that the executive branch would wield excessive influence over the judiciary. Still, he has maintained support for certain reforms to the legal system.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepted a drone launched from Yemen near the southern Israeli community of Gvulot, the military confirmed early Monday.

According to a military source, an IAF helicopter successfully shot down the unmanned aerial vehicle before it posed a threat. No sirens were sounded in nearby towns, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) noted, adding that the response followed standard protocol.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday to address potential coalition fallout over a proposed ceasefire-hostage exchange deal with Hamas, the Walla news site reports.

Netanyahu is reportedly seeking to gauge whether Smotrich, who has voiced strong opposition to the deal, would resign if the government agrees to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages held in Gaza. A political source told Walla that Netanyahu fears far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir will quit the government if the deal moves forward. To stabilize the coalition, Netanyahu hopes to convince Smotrich to limit his opposition to voting against the deal without stepping down.

Smotrich, who also serves as a Defense Ministry minister, has argued against negotiating with Hamas, stating that Israel could secure better terms once US President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in just over a week.

The potential deal comes as Israel continues efforts to recover 94 hostages believed to remain in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7 cross-border attack. Of the 251 hostages taken, 105 have been released through negotiations, and 40 bodies have been recovered, including three hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli troops. Hamas also holds the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014 and two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in prior years.

Netanyahu’s office announced Saturday that a high-level Israeli delegation has been sent to Qatar to expedite negotiations with Hamas.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar introduced a significant judicial reform package on Thursday, outlining changes to the Judicial Selection Committee, the status of Basic Laws, and the authority of the High Court of Justice.

The reforms, set to take effect after the next Knesset elections, propose altering the Judicial Selection Committee’s structure by replacing Israel Bar Association representatives with experienced litigators chosen by the coalition and opposition. Judicial appointments to lower courts will require a majority vote, including coalition, opposition, and Supreme Court representatives, while Supreme Court appointments must also meet specific cross-party approval thresholds.

A key change includes limiting judicial review of Basic Laws, which would be restricted to those concerning voting rights. Basic Laws, under the proposal, would address critical matters of Jewish and democratic identity, human rights, and governance. The reforms aim to elevate the constitutional standing of Basic Laws while ensuring they cannot be amended for short-term coalition needs.

Levin and Sa’ar described the reforms as a historic step, finalized after 18 months of deliberation with legal and political figures, including former cabinet minister Yizhar Shai and Brig. Gen. (Res) Dedi Simchi.

Three Israeli soldiers were killed, and an officer was seriously injured during a military operation in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces reported on Wednesday. The casualties occurred in Beit Hanoun when their tank struck explosive devices, according to Israeli state-owned Kan TV.

The soldiers, part of the Iron Trails Brigade’s 46th Armored Battalion, were identified as 1st Sgt. Nevo Fisher, 20, from Bruchin; 1st Sgt. Kanaoo Kasa, 22, from Beit Shemesh; and Staff Sgt. Matityahu Ya’akov Perel, 22, from Beit El.

The deaths bring the total number of Israeli soldiers killed to 831 since the outbreak of the war in October 2023.

The Lebanese army announced Tuesday that its units had begun deploying in several towns and villages in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The deployment, coordinated with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and a five-member ceasefire committee, includes areas such as Ras al-Naqoura, Alma al-Shaab, Tayr Harfa, and Beit Lif.

The move follows a US- and France-brokered ceasefire that took effect on November 27, ending nearly 14 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the agreement, Israeli forces are to withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days, with the Lebanese army assuming control of security along the border and preventing the presence of armed groups.

Earlier, the Lebanese army had deployed in Khiam, Chamaa, and Naqoura as part of efforts to establish stability in the region.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it will have the capacity to enlist an unlimited number of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men starting in 2026, according to a state response to the High Court of Justice on Wednesday. The statement challenges long-standing exemptions for Haredi men and adds pressure to an already divisive issue in Israeli society.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the court that the IDF could absorb 4,800 Haredim in 2024 and 5,700 in 2025 but noted significant challenges in reaching recruitment targets. Only 916 Haredim have enlisted so far, out of tens of thousands eligible, despite thousands of call-up orders issued in recent months.

The High Court, which ruled in June that Haredi yeshiva students must be drafted, expressed frustration over the low enlistment numbers. Justice Daphne Barak Erez questioned enforcement delays, stating the arguments for exemptions were disconnected from reality, especially during wartime.

Efforts to integrate Haredi recruits face logistical hurdles, including the need for religious accommodations and reluctance to serve alongside women. To address this, the IDF recently established the Hasmonean Brigade, drafting 50 Haredi soldiers and planning for more.

An Israeli Air Force helicopter struck a Hamas command center located at a former school in northern Gaza’s Jabalia earlier today, the military reported. The targeted site, the Halawa School, was being used by Hamas operatives to plan and execute attacks against Israeli forces and civilians, according to the IDF.

The building, which had also served as a shelter for displaced Palestinians, was struck during an operation to neutralize threats in the area. Gaza’s Civil Defense reported that at least nine people were killed in the strike.

Palestinian media highlighted the dual use of the facility, noting its role as a shelter for those displaced by the ongoing conflict. The IDF stated it had taken “numerous steps” to minimize harm to civilians, including using aerial surveillance and other intelligence tools to verify the presence of Hamas operatives at the site.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of his aide Eli Feldstein’s intention to leak a highly classified IDF document to the press, Feldstein’s lawyer revealed during a Supreme Court hearing last month. The newly released court transcript, first published by Ynet, sheds light on the controversial affair.

During the December 5 hearing, Feldstein’s lawyer, Oded Savoray, claimed that Feldstein informed Netanyahu of the plan to release the document. “He whispered in [the prime minister’s] ear after the press conference… ‘I have a document from my sources in IDF Military Intelligence… Urich and I are working on getting it out,’” Savoray told Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein.

The classified document, which detailed Hamas’ strategies and priorities in hostage negotiations, was published five days later in the German tabloid Bild. Prosecutors allege that a reserve noncommissioned officer from IDF Military Intelligence illegally accessed the document, which Feldstein subsequently leaked to influence public opinion in favor of Netanyahu amid sensitive hostage negotiations with Hamas.

Saudi daily al-Sharq published what it claims is a list of 34 hostages set to be freed in the first phase of a potential ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. The report underscores ongoing uncertainties, as Hamas has refused to confirm the status of the individuals on the list, stating it will take about a week to determine whether they are alive.

The list includes two children, 10 women, 11 older men, and 11 men under 50. Among the names is Avera Mengistu, who has been missing ever since his capture by Hamas after crossing into Gaza on September 7, 2014.

Hamas has agreed in principle to release the 34 hostages but insists on further conditions, including a weeklong truce to verify their condition, a demand Israel has not yet agreed to.

The publication of the list comes as negotiations, mediated by Qatar and the United States, struggle to move forward due to disputes over terms. Israeli officials remain cautious about advancing talks without confirmation of the hostages’ status.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Sunday that Israel would take independent action if Hezbollah does not withdraw from southern Lebanon, emphasizing that the terror group’s retreat is a non-negotiable condition for implementing the current agreement.

“Israel is interested in the implementation of the agreement in Lebanon and will continue to enforce it fully and without compromise to ensure the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Katz said during a visit to an IDF base in northern Israel.

Speaking alongside a display of captured Hezbollah weapons, Katz outlined the core requirements for progress: the full withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters beyond the Litani River, the dismantling of weapons, and the removal of terror infrastructure by the Lebanese army.

“These conditions have not yet been met,” he stated. “If this condition is not met, there will be no agreement, and Israel will be forced to act independently to ensure the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.”

The Houthi group in Yemen announced it had downed a US-made MQ-9 drone over Marib province on Wednesday, marking the second such incident within 72 hours. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the drone was targeted using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. “This is … the 14th one of the same type we have shot down since November 2023,” Sarea claimed in a statement aired on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, which also promised to release footage of the incident.

The US military has not commented on the claim. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israel and US-linked assets in the region since November 2023 as part of their declared solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

On Tuesday, US Central Command reported conducting multiple strikes on Houthi facilities in Sanaa and coastal areas, targeting command centers, missile storage sites, and UAV infrastructure. Navy and Air Force operations also intercepted Houthi missile and drone threats over the Red Sea.

Israel on Wednesday confirmed responsibility for a commando operation targeting an Iranian missile manufacturing site in Syria, months after the operation was widely attributed to the Israel Defense Forces.

On September 8, elite troops from the Israeli Air Force’s Shaldag unit carried out a covert raid on the Scientific Studies and Research Center in the Masyaf region, approximately 200 kilometers north of Israel and 45 kilometers from Syria’s western coastline. Iranian forces were reportedly using the site to manufacture precision missiles for Hezbollah.

During the operation, internally named “Operation Deep Layer,” commandos rappelled from helicopters into the underground facility. They secured sensitive documents and laid explosives, successfully destroying the missile production site. Simultaneously, Israeli aircraft struck other targets in the vicinity, reportedly killing at least 14 individuals and injuring 43.