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Hostage Updates
Islamic Jihad official says deal reached for release of Arbel Yehud; PM’s office: ‘Talks are ongoing’
Arbel Yehud, who was taken hostage with her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, from their Kibbutz Nir Oz home on October 7. (Courtesy)
A Palestinian Islamic Jihad official tells Reuters that mediators have reached an agreement regarding the release of civilian hostage Arbel Yehud.
The source says that she will be released before the next round of hostage releases on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office says that “talks are ongoing” to secure Yehud’s release from Gaza, where she is believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Israel has said that Hamas’s refusal to release Yehud, a civilian, during yesterday’s hostage release was a violation of the ceasefire deal and therefore it has refused to open up the coastal road in the Netzarim Corridor to allow Gazans to return to the northern part of the Strip, another element of the deal. -- Israel has not received any conclusion to the release of Arbel, or a sign of life.
Hamas confirms it will free 6 hostages this week, including Arbel Yehud
The Hamas terror group confirms that it will release Arbel Yehud and two other hostages “before Friday,” and that this is in addition to three hostages being set free on Saturday.
This confirms Israel’s version of the agreements, according to which Yehud, soldier Agam Berger and another captive will be released on Thursday in addition to three others on Saturday.
Hamas also says displaced residents of northern Gaza will be allowed to return to their homes this morning. The IDF has said the process will begin at 7 a.m.
After Hamas sends list of living 1st-phase hostages, families updated if loved one believed dead — report
Some of the families of the hostages slated to be released in the ongoing first phase of the hostage deal have been informed that there is concern for their loved ones’ wellbeing, Hebrew media reports, after Hamas provided Israel with information on the status of the hostages late last night.
The list did not provide specifications regarding the status of each individual, and instead only included an overall number of captives who are still alive.
While the sparse information means that officials cannot definitively confirm the deaths of any of the captives, unnamed officials have said that the numbers match the intelligence Israel already had, and therefore bolster prior assessments regarding the status of certain hostages.
Reports have previously stated Israel believes 25 of the 33 hostages slated for release in the first phase are alive. With seven captives already released alive over the past week, this would mean that 18 of the remaining 26 hostages are alive while eight are dead.
Among those whose fates are unknown are Shiri Silberman Bibas, her husband Yarden Bibas and their two young sons Ariel and Kfir.
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that there were “grave concerns” for their lives.
Speaking to the Kan public broadcaster amid reports that the families have been updated regarding the presumed status of their loved ones, Yarden’s sister Ofri Bibas says the family is still waiting to receive any concrete information, and that “there is no difference between what we knew yesterday and what we know today.”
“We have known that there is grave fear for their lives, since Hamas’s announcement at the end of the previous deal,” she says, referring to the terror group’s claim in November 2023 that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir had been killed.
She appeals for the public to withhold from spreading “false and unverified news,” and says her family “needs information to come to us from official sources, not from the media and WhatsApp groups.”
This is the list
List of the 26 hostages remaining in Phase A of the deal:
Yitzhak (Itzik) Algerat
Ohad Ben-Ami
Ariel Bibas
Yarden Bibas
Kfir Bibas
Shiri Bibas-Silverman
Agam Berger
Sagi Dekel-Hen
Yair Horn
Omer Vankert
Alexander Trupanov
Arbel Yehud
Ohad Yahalomi
Elia Cohen
Or Levi
Oded Lifshitz
Gad Moshe Moses
Avraham (Abera) Mengistu
Shlomo Mansour
Keith Samuel Siegel
Tzahi Idan
Ofer Calderon
Tal Shoham
Omer Shem-Tov
Hisham Al-Sayed Shaaban
Eliyahu Sharabi
18 are alive, and 8 are deceased.
"Accelerated Rehabilitation": How Hamas Prepares Hostages for Release
Hostages returning to Israel after prolonged captivity by Hamas often appear to be in "good condition."
However, before their release, Hamas ensures they are given stimulants and nutritious food to make them look better.
Hostages who returned shared grim accounts: “We drank seawater and ate only rice and bread.”
As the release phases under the deal have begun, today (Sunday) it was reported about the "accelerated rehabilitation" that Hamas conducts just before releasing hostages.
Before the terror organization releases hostages, it provides them with more nutritious food and stimulants to allow them to return to Israel with energy and to create an external impression that they received "good treatment" in captivity.
However, testimonies reveal that the hostages endured harsh conditions, held in tunnels and cages. For example, the latest returning hostages recounted that they ate only bread and rice and drank seawater.
Criticism of Hamas in the Arab World: "Its Only Concern Is Its Rule"
Yesterday marked the second release phase, during which four female observers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base on October 7 were freed: Liri Elbag, Naama Levy, Karina Araev, and Daniela Gilboa.
When Hamas transferred the women to the Red Cross, they were put on a stage erected by Hamas, intended as a show of humiliation. However, the women turned the planned humiliation into pride, thwarting the terror group's intentions.
The observers on stage set by Hamas | Photo: Reuters
In the Arab world, reactions surfaced regarding this display by Hamas. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla from the UAE stated:
"Hamas is undoubtedly skilled at public relations, marketing itself, and showcasing its strength to mask the disaster that has befallen Gaza over the past 471 days. Its sole concern is the rule of ‘Hamastan.’”
Egyptian commentator Mohamed Saad Khayrallah, now residing in Sweden, remarked:
"Amid the series of events, we must not forget the reality: this exchange involves Israeli civilians abducted during the terror events of October 7, 2023, and Palestinian terrorists convicted of crimes, including many serving life sentences. This reality imposes an urgent responsibility on the world to stop any role of Hamas in the Gaza Strip."
Social media influencer Louay Al-Sharif from the UAE added:
"Hamas wants you to believe that when they brutally kidnapped Liri, Daniela, Karina, and Naama on October 7, they were somehow 'kind kidnappers.' This distorted psychology is a hallmark of militant Islamist groups. Welcome home, brave Israeli women."
Commentator Amjad Taha from the UAE also addressed the release of Palestinian terrorists:
"It’s simple to determine right from wrong, who belongs and who does not. The four freed women returned to Israel and were welcomed by the world. Meanwhile, 70 Palestinian criminals and terrorists released will live outside Gaza, the West Bank, or Israel. No country wanted them; they were removed from their rightful place—in prison—and deported. Even militias in Iraq and Yemen did not welcome them. It’s good news they cannot stay in the Middle East but bad news for any country deciding to accept them. These Islamist terrorists are infamous for killing innocent women and children." link
"Refused to Wear Red": The Story Behind Emily's Tracksuit
Emily Damari's friend reveals on Kan: "She's a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan, so she settled for green."
At the start of this week, the hostage release deal began, and in the first phase, Emily Damaari, who moved an entire nation, was among those freed. As is well-known, Damari is a football (soccer) enthusiast and a devoted fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tottenham. According to her friend, her loyalty to the yellow team directly influenced her choice of attire on her return to Israel.
In a Kan report, one of Damari's friends spoke about her green outfit upon her release:
"Emily is a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan. Initially, they wanted to dress her in red clothes, but she absolutely refused. That’s how the green outfit came about—it was a compromise she could accept. If not yellow, at least not red."
"Prevented From Holding Hands and Crying": New Details About the Hostage Experience of the Lookouts
Naama Levy was held alone for a long time and asked, "Are we alive?" when reunited with her friends. Her father said, "Victory will be when everyone is home." Daniela's mother shared, "My daughter suffered in captivity but didn't lose her pride as an Israeli." Liri's father criticized coalition members opposing the deal: "Shame on you; the people will hold you accountable." Karina's sister emphasized, "We won't forget those we lost in Nahal Oz."
They were not allowed to hold hands or cry—but they found ways to support one another: A day after the emotional release from Hamas captivity of the four lookouts—Liri Elbag, Naama Levy, Karina Aryev, and Daniela Gilboa—new details emerged about their 477 days of hell. Ynet broadcast live the statements from their families at Beilinson Hospital, where the women are currently staying.
Naama's Story
Naama’s father, Yoni Levy, opened the press statement by saying:
"During these 15 months, I spoke to decision-makers, the media, and the people of Israel, pouring out my heart to save my daughter from hell. This moment, standing here, is the one I prayed for and envisioned for 477 days—not just for myself but for all of us. On October 7, our nation was shattered into countless fragments, with lives changed forever.
"The moment our private lives were upended, we became the family of Naama Levy, the lookout who was abducted.
"I am certain that the events at the Nahal Oz outpost will still be thoroughly investigated as part of a future state inquiry commission. Naama is now safe here with us, surrounded by family and friends, and protected, but the struggle is not over. There are still 90 hostages we must bring home. They are our sons and daughters, the foundation upon which our nation is built. There will be no healing and no recovery without the assurance that the State of Israel is the father and mother of each and every one of us.
"Daniela's Journey
Daniela’s mother, Orly Gilboa, shared her emotions:
"Our Daniela is home. I've waited so long to say this. She returned thin and pale, having endured suffering in captivity, but she remains the brilliant, mischievous girl she was before being taken. Even in captivity, she retained her Israeli pride, as seen during her release."
She revealed that during captivity, they added the letter "Hei" to Daniela’s name on the advice of a rabbi. Daniela, aware of the rallies held for her release, knew her family wouldn’t give up. Her mother emphasized: "This could have been any one of our daughters left behind, a beloved child of those who have become part of the struggle, a real family—one we did not choose. We will not stop, and we will not give up until Agam is also home, along with all the hostages who must return home by the end of the deal.
Yesterday morning, I was still gripped with fear that the deal would fall through, that Daniela would not come back to me. I ask and demand that the agreement be fully implemented. Our new family, the family of the hostages, must have everyone returned. We owe it to them."
Liri's Father Speaks Out
Liri’s father, Eli Elbag, praised the support for the hostage deal and harshly criticized its opponents in the government:
"I am overwhelmed. Liri is back. But 90 hostages remain, including the Bibas family, Agam Berger, and Arbel Yehud. They should have been released already. To Netanyahu and those who supported the deal—continue until the end. To those who opposed it: the people will hold you accountable. When you saw my daughter and the other lookouts smiling proudly, where were you?"
Karina’s Sister's Words
Karina's sister, Sasha Aryev, expressed gratitude but emphasized the shared grief:
"We are grateful Karina is with us, but we won't forget those we lost in Nahal Oz or those still in captivity. Karina knows this pain intimately, and she won't stop thinking about them."
She also thanked global supporters and expressed hope for the future.
"We continue to wait for Agam, for Arbel, for Shiri, for all our loved ones. We will not rest, and we will not stop until everyone returns. I want to give special thanks to President Trump. We are full of hope for the future and need your continued support to bring all our brothers and sisters home.
To you as well, dear Mr. Witkoff, you are a sensitive and special person—thank you for everything you have done. The spirit of our people is what gives us the strength to keep going."
At the end of the statement, all the family members formed a heart shape with their hands, just as Liri had done from the window of the IDF helicopter after her release from captivity.
Liri from the helicopter making a heart
The Bond Between the Lookouts
While in captivity, the young women supported each other despite severe restrictions. They were forbidden to hold hands or cry but found ways to connect. Daniela and Karina, who already knew each other from their base, became even closer. Naama was held alone for an extended period and, upon reuniting with her friends, asked if they were alive.
Now staying at Beilinson Hospital, the four women are in shared spaces, supporting one another and reconnecting with their families. They are being updated on events from the last 15 months while sharing their own experiences. Daniela was moved when she heard singer Eden Ben Zaken’s performance of her song for the first time.
Meanwhile, the family of Agam Berger, the fifth lookout who remains in captivity in Gaza, visited Beilinson and met the released women, emphasizing the ongoing hope and struggle to bring everyone home. link
Romi Gonen’s father says she heard his interviews while in captivity, drew strength from them
Romi Gonen reunites with her family at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, January 19, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)
Eitan Gonen, the father of released hostage Romi Gonen, says that his daughter heard him calling for her release in snippets of interviews with Israeli media outlets that reached her during her long captivity in Gaza, and tells the families of the remaining hostages to continue speaking up.
Gonen was released from captivity last Sunday with Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher on the first day of the ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas.
“I remember there were days when I was interviewed, eight, 10 times a day for all the networks,” Eitan tells the Kan public broadcaster. “Through the media, whether it was radio or television, the messages reached her.”
Throughout Romi’s absence, Gonen would end each media appearance by saying: “Romi is coming home. We just don’t know when exactly.”
“It was enough to hear her say, ‘Dad, I came back alive,’ to understand that she heard me,” he tells Kan. “It gave her a lot of strength, energy, a lot of hope.”
He urges the families of the remaining hostages to keep talking about their loved ones and keep advocating for them on air.
“Even if 10 percent of the interviews reaches the hostages’ ears, it’s enough to give them strength,” he says. “It gives them a little more strength and fresh air to keep them holding on in the hell that they are in.”
Israeli medical officer: Some returned hostages were held in tunnels for months, showed signs of ‘mild starvation’
Some of the hostages released from Gaza so far during the ceasefire were held in Hamas tunnels for up to eight months straight, deprived of daylight and with little to no human contact, an Israeli medical officer says.
“Some of them told us that they’ve been in the past few months, that they’ve been through the entire time, in tunnels, underground,” the deputy chief of the Israeli military’s medical corps, Col. Dr. Avi Banov, tells journalists online.
“Some of them were alone through the entire time they were there,” he says. “Those who said they were together were in better shape.”
The hostages have said their treatment improved in the days leading up to their release, Banov says, when they were allowed to shower, change their clothes and received better food. They appeared to be in good condition and smiling in videos on the days of their release.
Citing the hostages’ privacy, Banov does not say whether any of the seven bore signs of torture or abuse.
Some had not received proper treatment for wounds sustained when they were captured during the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and some showed signs of “mild starvation,” Banov says.
Gaza and the South
Democrats MK Gilad Kariv: Israel has ‘no interest’ in sending Gazans to Jordan, Egypt
The Democrats MK Gilad Kariv is one of the first Israeli lawmakers to come out against US President Donald Trump’s call for Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from war-torn Gaza.
“Israel has no interest in this happening, certainly not in relation to Jordan because the stability of the Hashemite Kingdom is a clear security interest of Israel,” Kariv tells 103FM radio.
Jordanian FM firmly rejects Trump’s suggestion that country should take in Gazans
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi says his kingdom firmly rejects any forced displacement of Palestinians, following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Gazans should be sent to Egypt and Jordan.
“Our rejection of the displacement of Palestinians is firm and will not change. Jordan is for Jordanians and Palestine is for Palestinians,” Safadi says in a statement. linkTrump's plan is as stupid, or stupider than his Greenland and Panama Canal plans. And the fact that our most extremist politicians who are beyond the pale, embraces this internationally illegal plan says a lot.
PA’s Abbas rejects ‘any projects aimed at displacing’ Palestinians from Gaza
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemns “any projects” to relocate the people of Gaza outside the territory after US President Donald Trump suggested moving them to Egypt and Jordan.
Without naming the US leader, Abbas “expressed strong rejection and condemnation of any projects aimed at displacing our people from the Gaza Strip,” a statement from his office says, adding that the Palestinian people “will not abandon their land and holy sites.”
Israel starts allowing masses of Gazans to return to Strip’s north
The Hamas-run interior ministry in the Gaza Strip confirms to AFP that displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza, after the breakthrough in negotiations with Israel last night.
“The passage of displaced Palestinians has begun along the Al-Rashid Road via the western part of the Netzarim checkpoint towards Gaza City and the northern part” of the Gaza Strip, the official says. video of crossing the Netzarim Corridor
Senior Hamas official says group could step away from governing post-war Gaza, willing to enter talks with US on issue
Senior Hamas politburo official Moussa Abu Marzouk tells the Saudi Al Arabiya news outlet that the terror group is not necessarily seeking to govern the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the war it started with Israel on October 7, 2023.
He says that Hamas understands that, going forward, the governing body in the Strip will require both regional and international backing, including the support of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Last month, Hamas and the PA’s Fatah party agreed to create a committee to jointly administer postwar Gaza.
A draft proposal of the plan acquired by AFP showed that the committee would be comprised of 10-15 nonpartisan figures with authority on matters related to the economy, education, health, humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
It is unlikely that Israel would agree to the deal, as it has rejected any role for Hamas in Gaza, and has said it does not trust Abbas’s PA to run the enclave.
Dismissing Jerusalem’s say in the matter, Abu Marzouk tells Al Arabiya that Hamas leadership is “open to dialogue with all parties besides Israel” when it comes to formulating a plan for future control of the Gaza Strip.
He says that the group would be willing to negotiate the makeup of the Strip’s government with the US, as it believes that President Donald Trump “is a serious president” in light of the ceasefire and hostage release deal that he and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff helped finalize.
He nevertheless criticizes Trump for recent comments suggesting that the enclave should be cleared out and its population sent to Jordan and Egypt. “No Palestinian or Arab will accept Trump’s idea of displacement,” he warns. “it will not succeed.” linkHamas, even before the war was interested in ending their municipal governing of Gaza. They have never cared for the well being of the Gazan population and their only goal is the destruction of Israel. They believe they can focus on that better if they don't have to deal with the rebuilding of Gaza and the handling of population issues. They also fully know that no money will come into Gaza for the purpose of rebuilding as long as they are the governing body. The question remains of what will be done with their insistence to maintain their arms and terror activities. This will inevitably result in a mass military operation by whatever Palestinian body will replace Hamas to take away Hamas' military capabilities. That will be in the interest of all of Gaza, the rebuilding and the future of the Strip.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
Lebanese health ministry raises death toll to 22 from Israeli fire in south of country
The Lebanese health ministry says 22 people have been killed and another 124 were wounded by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon since this morning.
The Israeli military says it opened fire on suspects who approached troops and “posed a threat.” Israel said Friday its forces would remain in south Lebanon beyond today’s deadline for their departure.
Israel's Major Test After October 7th is Now
Despite delays, Hezbollah is unlikely to jeopardize the agreement, but friction will persist as long as the IDF insists on its principles. Israel must not concede to the Lebanese Army and must insist on full implementation of the agreement, including close coordination with the Trump administration, even at the risk of escalation. Analysis
This morning (Sunday), after 60 days of a temporary ceasefire, the IDF is expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon under the agreement and redeploy along the border. In turn, the Lebanese Army is supposed to deploy throughout southern Lebanon between the Litani River and the Israeli border, dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure, particularly in areas where the IDF did not operate on the ground.
Israel rightly conditions its withdrawal on the Lebanese Army's full deployment and the destruction of Hezbollah's terror infrastructure as outlined in the agreement. This has prompted intense discussions in recent days with General Jasper, head of the coordination mechanism, and with the Trump administration regarding extending the IDF's presence in specific areas in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese Army completes its deployment and dismantles Hezbollah's infrastructure. Cabinet Decision and Coordination with the U.S.
On Thursday night, the cabinet decided that IDF forces would remain in southern Lebanon until Lebanon fulfills its obligations under the agreement. This decision is likely coordinated with the Trump administration. Challenges Facing the Lebanese Army
The Lebanese Army demonstrates weakness and slow deployment. It is a small force facing a complex mission, requiring the recruitment of thousands of new soldiers. There are also issues of cooperation with Hezbollah, especially among Shiite commanders, and challenges along the Syrian border following regime changes there. A Critical Test for Israel
This marks Israel's first significant challenge since the ceasefire took effect. Israel must insist on full implementation of the agreement, including close coordination with the Trump administration, even at the risk of escalation. Hezbollah’s Position: Adhering to the Agreement for Now
Hezbollah’s weakened state makes it unlikely that the organization wants or has an interest in violating the agreement and resuming fighting. Instead, Hezbollah seeks to adhere to the agreement to ensure a full IDF withdrawal, after which it can begin rebuilding. Minor provocations, such as sporadic rocket fire into open areas or planned clashes between returning residents and IDF soldiers, may occur to express dissatisfaction with Israel's decision to remain in southern Lebanon. Concerns in Northern Israel
Residents of northern Israel are deeply concerned about the security situation. The central issue since October 7th has been a loss of trust in the security system and the government regarding the border's pre-war state.
The IDF and the Israeli government face the challenge of creating a secure reality along the border. Ensuring security and addressing the damage to trust are vital for encouraging northern residents to return to their homes. Rebuilding Northern Communities
The damage to northern communities is extensive, and the government must take significant steps to restore them. This includes generous financial incentives, a clear vision for rebuilding, and programs to attract young people to the area. Flexibility must be afforded to families who relocated and may need to stay in central Israel until the school year ends in June 2025. The Role of the Trump Administration
The Trump administration is expected to support Lebanon's president and new government while pressuring Israel to withdraw according to the agreement, even though the Lebanese Army has not fulfilled its obligations. Israel must make it clear that it will not compromise on the security of its citizens and will insist on the agreement's full implementation. The Strategic Perspective
Hezbollah, while currently weakened and struggling to recover, remains a significant force in Lebanon. The group's interest lies in completing the agreement to facilitate Israel's withdrawal, after which it can focus on rebuilding. However, Israel's aggressive stance and determination to address violations by Hezbollah are essential for preventing the group from regaining strength.
The test lies in implementing the agreement, preventing arms transfers over time, and ensuring Hezbollah cannot reestablish its capabilities in southern Lebanon. This is part of the effort to create a new reality that convinces northern residents to return home.
Col. (Res.) Kobi Marom is an expert in national security and the northern arena. link
Senior Lebanese army official leaked intelligence information to Hezbollah
A senior member of the Lebanese Armed Forces has been leaking sensitive intelligence information to Hezbollah operatives amid the tenuous ceasefire agreement with Israel, The Times newspaper reports.
Citing unnamed intelligence sources, the report alleges that Suhil Bahij Gharb, the chief of military intelligence for southern Lebanon, was passing information to Hezbollah from inside a security control room operated by US, French, and UN officials tasked with overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group.
According to the report, Gharb’s presence in the security control room was authorized after pressure from senior Hezbollah commander Wafiq Saffa, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in October 2024.
The Times says that Gharb is not the only Lebanese military official to have leaked information to Hezbollah. Citing an “international intelligence report,” the UK news outlet asserts that dozens of officers have assisted Hezbollah, including by alerting the group to imminent raids, thereby giving operatives time to flee the area.
The Times does not say which country provided the intelligence report. It adds that the Lebanese military did not respond to a request for comment. link. This is, obviously a very serious matter and puts the ceasefire agreement at risk. This is happening under the watchful eyes of the US, French and UN officials while the IDF is still present in Lebanon. The normal answer would be to thoroughly vet anyone's involvement in the security control rooms and other joint operations but that is not possible in a situation like this in Lebanon. We will have to see how the international and UN officials handle and manage the situation and future risks.
Lebanese Christian leader says Hezbollah to blame for deaths of 24 killed while trying to return south
Protesters carry Hezbollah flags near an Israeli military vehicle as people gather in Borj El Mlouk on January 26, 2025 (Rabih DAHER / AFP)
The leader of a main Christian political party in Lebanon blasts Hezbollah and the Lebanese government for the killing by IDF fire of 24 people in southern Lebanon yesterday, after the Shiite terrorist group urged displaced residents to return to their homes in defiance of IDF warnings.
In an interview with the Lebanese paper Nidaa al-Watan, Samir Geagea, leader of the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces Party, says that “the current government proves it does not exist, and the Axis of Resistance [Iran and its proxies] proves that it does not value people’s lives. It does not hesitate to fabricate new events on a daily basis that it uses to cover up the tragedies and loss of life and property it has caused.”
Hundreds of Lebanese attempted to reach southern villages near the border with Israel by force on Sunday morning, defying warnings by the Israel Defense Forces to stay away, as the ceasefire’s original 60-day deadline for Israel to withdraw its forces passed with troops remaining in parts of the country’s south. According to the latest update by the Lebanese health ministry, 24 were killed and 135 were injured.
An Israeli military official told reporters that hundreds of Lebanese, among them Hezbollah operatives and supporters carrying Hezbollah flags and images of its slain chief Hassan Nasrallah, tried to reach villages in southern Lebanon while carrying out “provocations.” The official said the military had prepared for civilians attempting to reach the border villages at the end of the 60-day truce, despite its warnings.
In the interview, Geagea maintains that the Lebanese government should “inform residents about the sites from which the Israeli army will withdraw and those from which it will not, rather than allowing some parties to exploit the scenes [of returning residents] for self-interest, causing the death of [24] citizens.”
The government should have instructed “the Lebanese army to organize the entry of citizens into safe villages, and prevent them from reaching areas that the Israeli army still occupies, because protecting people’s lives is the responsibility of the Lebanese government, not Israel’s,” the party leader adds.
“[Hezbollah] exploited this vacuum and pushed citizens into imminent danger, not caring who would be killed or injured. It knows that throwing over 20 citizens into certain death is pointless and will not yield any results, and will not make Israel change its position,” he says.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
IDF says it carried out strike near Tulkarem, in the West Bank The IDF says that it carried out a strike in the Tulkarem area, in the West Bank, as part of a joint operation with the Shin Bet.
IDF says it killed Hamas leader in Tulkarem drone strike as it expands West Bank op
The IDF says that it carried out a drone strike in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, killing the local head of Hamas as it it expanded its West Bank operation to the city.
A joint statement from the IDF and the Shin Bet says they targeted Ihab Abu Atwi. Another Hamas operative was also killed in the strike, the IDF says.
Palestinian news agency Wafa identifies the second man as Ramez Damiri.
The IDF says Abu Atwi was involved in numerous attacks against Israelis, including a shooting attack on a car in July 2024 that wounded three people.
The statement says large forces have moved into the city, expanding the operation that began last week in Jenin.
The IDF publishes footage of the drone strike.
IDF condemns video of soldier wearing woman’s underwear during raid on West Bank home
The IDF condemns a group of soldiers, one of whose number was filmed wearing undergarments taken from a Palestinian woman during a raid on her home in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
“This is a serious incident that does not align with the values of the IDF. We are aware of the incident and dealing with it,” the IDF says in a statement.
“The soldiers involved will be questioned and face disciplinary measures from their commanders,” the army says.
In pictures and videos posted online, a soldier can be seen prancing around in a pink undergarment and bra worn over his fatigues, while the group was carrying out an operation in Bethlehem.
In the video, set to the song “You Can Leave Your Hat On,” the soldier then begins to mimic a striptease act.
2 IDF reservists, one of them from Iron Dome unit, arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran
The police and Shin Bet security service have arrested two IDF reservists for alleged espionage on behalf of Iran in return for financial compensation, a police spokesman says in a statement.
Police say the primary suspect, Yuri Eliasfov, served in the IDF’s Iron Dome air defense unit, and in September 2024 began passing along classified material obtained during his military service to his Iranian handler.
Months later, Eliasfov recruited his friend, Georgi Andreyev, into the espionage scheme, putting him in contact with the Iranian agent.
Andreyev served in the IDF’s Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Both suspects spray-painted graffiti and hung banners in Tel Aviv carrying the slogan “Children of Ruhollah,” referring to Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s first supreme leader following the Islamic Revolution.
Police accuse the two 21-year-old suspects, both from northern Israel, of security offenses — transferring classified information and aiding the enemy during wartime. Prosecutors are expected to file an indictment against them in the coming days.
The Critical Information Provided by Lookouts—and Command's Dismissal: "Routine" | Exclusive Report Amid investigations into the events of October 7th, findings from the IDF Combat Intelligence Corps inquiry, presented to the Chief of Staff, reveal the commendable actions of the lookouts who sounded the alarm about activity beyond the border before the attack. The findings indicate numerous reports of armed individuals near the fence. However, intelligence officers and command staff dismissed their warnings, stating, "This is routine; that's how Hamas operates."
On the morning of October 7th, lookout Roni Eshel (of blessed memory) urgently called over the radio for forces to respond, warning of "a full Turkish cavalry" after militants breached the fence. But it was already too late, as masses swarmed the border. This tragic failure unraveled after it was revealed that the lookouts had been reporting what they observed for months: Hamas was preparing for an attack. Yet senior officers ignored their warnings.
Findings of the Inquiry: The investigation uncovered countless reports from the lookouts about armed individuals approaching the fence, training exercises by Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, and Toyota trucks carrying armed Hamas members. Despite the lookouts' warnings, intelligence officers and command staff brushed them off, claiming, "This is routine behavior by Hamas; it's just a show of force."
The inquiry included photos and videos taken months before the attack, showing Hamas militants on trucks near the border. The investigation also indirectly criticized the political echelon. After Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, the buffer zone was reduced from 300 meters to just 100 meters from the fence. The directive to the military was clear: do not shoot at Hamas militants within 100 meters of the fence. This directive was only revised after the events of October 7th. link
The Region and the World
Former US ambassador: 'Saudis were very clear' about Palestinian issue Jack Lew, who completed a year and a half as US envoy to Israel last week, claims the Saudis will not push the Palestinian issue aside like the Abraham Accords; In a farewell interview, he tells Ynet about the differences in the war between Netanyahu and Washington U.S. President Joe Biden's first request to Jack Lew to allow the president to appoint Lew as ambassador to Israel was in July 2023. In Israel, these were the peak days of protests against the judicial overhaul, but the Americans looked ahead, at the big geopolitical picture, and persisted in the quest to reach a normalization deal that would satisfy the U.S., the Sunni Muslim countries in the Middle East, and Israel.
The announcement of Lew's appointment came in early September, but two months passed between confirmation in the Senate and his departure for Tel Aviv, and in the middle Hamas carried out the surprise attack on October 7. By the time Lew landed here, in a country stricken by shock, it seemed that an agreement with Saudi Arabia was the last thing on the agenda.
His short tenure as ambassador, which ended last weekend with the change of administration in Washington, was focused mainly on the war; coordinating airlifts, defending international institutions, contacting families of hostages, and negotiating with Hamas. However, he insists that even during these 15 terrible months, he did not give up on the task of reengineering diplomatic relations in the Middle East. "So when I came here, when President Biden asked me if I would accept this post, it was in July of 2023, so we're several months before October 7. The reason he asked me and that I accepted this post was to try and get Saudi Israeli normalization done," Lew explained.
"Having the right people in the right place was going to make that more likely. I thought it was of huge strategic importance, and that was the, you know, that was the reasoning that brought me here. Originally, when I got here just three weeks into the war, it was in a very different circumstance.
"There hasn't been a day that I've been here that we haven't remained focused on Saudi normalization, where we have been very clear, even as we talked about the need to bring the cease-fire negotiations together," Lew added. "I mean, the hostage release and cease-fire could have created a window to complete Saudi normalization, and we now, obviously, in the last days, can't do it, but it is no less in the national interest of Saudi Arabia, Israel and the U.S. to have Saudi normalization than it was in July of 2023 when I thought it was a good reason to change the same interest. I think the interest is it."
"Now, let me tell you what's changed before October 7, I believe that there was a need to address the issue of Palestinian self-governance. I don't know exactly what the required agreement would be, but it was not like the Abraham Accords, where you could just put that issue to the side. The Saudis were very clear about that. In my understanding, I think after October 7 all of the signals have been very much consistent with that, that there has to be a credible process to address those issues. Now I don't think that that requires doing anything that would create a risk to Israel's security. Then there's that any agreement would have to be predicated on Israel accepting it. It would have to be predicated on Israel being able to defend itself and have security."
When was the moment that you realized we are going to have a hostage deal?
"I thought there was going to be a hostage deal. I felt that over the last week, 10 days, it was clear that all the parties were trying to close. And a deadline helps in all difficult decisions. I will say that there had been enough hopeful moments that I believed it when both sides had actually approved it. It's been up and down and up and down. It's taken too long, and it's going to be a hard agreement to for all parties to continue to implement. So it's going to take ongoing focus and determination to get not just through the six weeks and the release of the 33 hostages, but to engage in the negotiation over phase two and to push those difficult issues to completion."
What was your involvement in the in the diplomatic contacts? Did you only get updates or you take active role in this process?
"So I've been closely connected to the U.S. diplomatic effort for the entire time that I've been here, I don't think a day has gone by when I haven't had conversations with our team directly or through members of my staff that were working with them. Sometimes it was advice to the team, sometimes it was coordinating the meetings between our leaders and leaders in Israel, so I can't say there was just one element to it."
The six murdered hostages including Hersh Goldberg-Polin
(Photo: REUTERS/ Florion Goga)
"It was a very long process, and I've been deeply engaged with the families of hostages, obviously the American hostage families, who are our first priority. But I can honestly say that I have not turned down meetings with any hostage families. I've met with the families of the young women soldiers. Quite a number of times I've been with families who are Israeli and not American. My feeling being here was that the things I could do directly were to make sure that the families knew we were doing everything that we could do."
"I could answer questions as directly as possible to help them understand where I saw the state of the negotiations and when they asked me to do things, if they were things that I could do. Last Saturday night, just a week ago, I was in the Hostage Square with my colleagues, the ambassadors from UK and Germany. And it was because one of the families of the young woman soldiers said the world needs to know that these hostages come from your countries as well."
Is it really the same deal that was on the table in May?
"You don't have a deal until both parties want an agreement. Hamas did not want an agreement in May, no matter what was said here, you weren't going to have an agreement. I can't speak to what decision making went into, different moves made by the government of Israel, but it certainly was described to me that there was a desire for a deal. The action sometimes made it more challenging, as I just said, in terms of the public discussion of the Philadelphi Corridor, that's different from whether or not you are willing to accept a deal."
"Fundamentally, Hamas made a decision, and I've said 1,000 times that whether we liked it or not, there wasn't going to be a deal if Hamas wouldn't accept a deal, because you couldn't unilaterally make a deal. So one can debate whether we could have moved things faster. We've never had any direct ability to influence Hamas. Hamas is influenced by the change of situation on the ground, and the war has obviously put pressure on them, the change of situation in the region, where the condition that after the very successful Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, there's different reality in the region."
IDF on Philadelphia Corridor
(Photo: Yoav Zitun)
Do you think that Netanyahu will continue to the second stage?
"We're sitting here not even 24 hours after the government approved the agreement, I think there will be pressures in both directions. I personally believe that once hostages are released and they're reunited with their families there will be mixed emotions. We don't know exactly what condition they're in. We don't know exactly how everyone will feel when those moments come, but I think it will create a lot of pressure to give peace to the remaining families. I think if the negotiations can continue in the spirit that they've gone so far, there's a pathway here. It's a hard pathway, and it's going to require making decisions that need to be explained for the public to understand them, and that's what leadership is about."
There was no embargo
Ambassador Lew is referring, among other things, to the conflict in the background of the UN Security Council resolution from last March, which approved a call for a cease-fire during Ramadan, mentioning the hostages, but without demanding their release. The U.S. abstained, but did not veto it. This led to a rift between Washington and Jerusalem, and Netanyahu's office was quick to announce the cancellation of the Israeli delegation that was supposed to go to the U.S.
"So if you have a resolution in the UN Security Council where the U.S. goal is to keep other countries on our side, saying a cease-fire has to be connected to the release of the hostages, if you change the language to get other countries to support you. You can choose to say, the US did not change its position. That was what we said. Or you can say, the US did change their position. That's what the government here said. I think that's a strategic mistake."
"You can disagree with the language in private. You can say, I wish you wouldn't do that, but what we knew was we'd had no support in the UN if we went the other way. And subsequent to that, we've had to veto resolutions in the UN Security Council, because we can't get any other country to keep the ideas linked. So we took a change of grammar and it became daylight. I think that took a small difference and made it a daylight issue. It was not something that had to be daylight."
"What was real was that the rest of the world was drifting, and we were trying to hold the rest of the world for as long as possible from drifting too far. The much discussed issue of munitions, we have provided more military support at a speed than we've ever done before. There was a different disagreement about one munition open public, the 2,000 pound bombs to describe that in public as an arms embargo, is completely exaggerated. The day that the shipment of 2,000 pound bombs did not go airplanes were delivering precision guided small diameter bombs. So it was a disagreement about an important, but a single, weapon system that for months colored the debate. Now I'm not saying there isn't a good reason."
I want to ask something personally about things that you did here and what you are going to miss maybe Israeli food or something that was close to you.
"I just spent Shabbat with some of my dearest friends, and I have made many new friends as well. Whenever I go through a transition, the thing that I miss the most is people I've gotten to spend time with that I will miss when I move home."
What did you discover that you didn't know before you came here?
"Look, I have never lived through a war day to day in the country fighting the war. I've worked on military issues from Washington, visited for a day or two, I've learned how important resilience is for people to get through these kinds of trying times, and I actually have faith in the goodness of the people I met in everyday life to get Israel through this crisis and to better days." link
Personal Stories
Eliko Raichenstein, 75: Papier-mache artist with ‘passion, enthusiasm’
Murdered by Hamas terrorists in his home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7
Eliyahu "Eliko" Raichenstein (Courtesy)
Eliyahu “Eliko” Raichenstein, 75, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was murdered by Hamas terrorists who overran the kibbutz on October 7.
He was shot dead inside his home, while his wife managed to survive hidden in their reinforced room for 30 hours until she was rescued.
He was buried on October 18 in Kiryat Tivon. He is survived by his wife, Hanita, their four children, Micha’el, Sagi, Ya’ara and Yael, several grandchildren and his sister, Dassi.
Eliko was known around the kibbutz for his impressive papier-mache artworks, never missing an opportunity to ride his bike, even in his 70s, and for tending with love and dedication to his garden and its produce.
His friend, Debbie Shafrir-Keret, wrote on Facebook of their long friendship, going all the way back to the 9th grade.
“There was always a pleasant and honest connection between us,” she said, noting that while they lost touch at one point, they reconnected in recent years and would take trips and do activities together with their spouses. “You invested so much in your kibbutz garden, and in every visit, we walked its paths with you, and saw your pride in it the way a father is proud of his children.”
“You started creating papier-mache and you immediately reached a level of incredible art,” she added. “You knew how to enter your period of retirement with great interest. You were a straightforward and honest person, kind, a true friend, knowledgeable, a nonstop athlete. I will miss you so much.”
Eliko’s daughter-in-law, Rivi, wrote on Facebook that he was “a gifted artist, talented and an extraordinary creator, you sculpted incredible sculptures.”
“When I would ask you about your artistic path, you loved to share and would answer questions about your decisions, the colors, the unique twists in every sculpture, which really fascinated me,” she added. “You moved me in particular when you made just for me a beautiful zebra sculpture, in black and white as I love, with your colorful twist of red lips… I already miss you, I know that you loved me in your way, as I did you.”
Marking a month since he was killed, his daughter, Yael, shared on Facebook, “I want to write, but the words don’t connect, there are so many words, you are so much.”
“Your smile melts my heart. My comfort is that you knew so well how to live life, with passion, with enthusiasm, sometimes really like a child,” she added. “A huge light, the huge and good soul that you are.”
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
“Every Moment that One Delays in Redeeming Captives...is Considered as if One has Shed Blood” (Shulchan Aruch)
Shimshon Liebman
Former head of the public campaign for the release of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, currently serving in an advisory capacity to the families of the hostages.
Each individual has a number of opportunities to be a human being. Every leader has a number of opportunities to be a true leader.
The individual sitting at the head of the table has a number of opportunities to pick up a paintbrush of values and highlight the essential essence of the flag flying at the entrance to his office, to his heart.
Someone who has earned the right to lead a nation has a number of opportunities to remember the binding contract between the state and its citizens, its soldiers, and everyone who is part of the nation.
The person who holds the reins of power has several opportunities to remember from whence he came and to reconsider where he is going, to do so in light of a tradition in which the wisdom of strength emerges from the Jewish spirit and the Zionist conscience, a tradition that forges leaders as a light unto the Jews. (Really?)
These trail markers illuminate the Israeli path, which sees the values of life, of camaraderie, of not abandoning the lifeblood as the true source of our strength. For the sake of this light, our young people are willing to place themselves at risk for our beloved nation. And every mother who sends her sons and her daughters to serve this country does so with the knowledge that they will not be left behind. This is all the more true when it comes to ordinary civilians, who place their trust in the leadership’s promises of security, knowing that these leaders hold the power to protect us from those who plot against us across the border.
Benjamin Netanyahu!!! You are that person. You are that man (or are you?). You are that leader (or are you?). You will be remembered forever for your choices, your decisions, your actions.
I knew you back then, during the years of struggle for those same values, when we sought the release of Gilad Shalit, and also as a remedy for the open wound left by the disappearance of Ron Arad into the abyss of captivity. When we sought a way out of that same sense of having lost our way and having lost our values.
I knew you when you courageously made the right decision. Even though it took time, we had an opportunity to bless you and thank you. At that time I thought I had discovered the man and the leader within you.
A few days after October 7th, I answered the call to join the civilian forum, where I told the hostages’ families what appeared to me to be obvious. Right here and now, immediately, Israel must talk with the devil and offer a very high “price” for the sake of bringing the hostages home. Yes. Immediately. Because “together we lost”, and in order to turn the tables and restore the secret of our national security we must first and foremost rectify the “contract that was breached”. There will be time for war. The first priority is the obligation to bring the hostages home!!!
I naively thought you would courageously rise to the occasion and declare the proper list of priorities. I thought that you still retained the qualities of a human being and a leader. That you still had a modicum of humility and respect for the people for whose security you are responsible. That you still had a modicum of compassion and the “yearning of the Jewish soul”. That you still had the spirit required of the leader of a nation that arose after the Holocaust.
To my regret, the image that you are now presenting us serves as an exemplar of evading responsibility, of abandoning the hostages, of distorting the list of moral priorities in running the country, of not setting a personal example, and of dismantling and breaking down Israeli society.
I regret that this is the path you have chosen. I regret that you may leave behind the heritage of a glorious state in ruins!
Acronyms and Glossary
COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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The six murdered hostages including Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Photo: REUTERS/ Florion Goga)
IDF on Philadelphia Corridor (Photo: Yoav Zitun)
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