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Hostage Updates
Senior Hamas official says ‘high chance’ six living hostages will be freed on Saturday
A senior Hamas official tells the Ynet news site that there is a “high chance” that the terror group will free six living hostages on Saturday.
“There are negotiations and it depends on the price Israel will pay,” the unnamed official says.
“The demands at the moment are that Israel agrees to enter talks for the second phase [of the hostage deal] and give guarantees on the humanitarian issues, allowing in mobile homes and heavy [construction] equipment,” the official says.
Hamas is set to release four bodies on Thursday and three living hostages on Saturday under the agreement, but Israel has been pushing to get more live hostages released as soon as possible, given the poor physical condition of some of the hostages released in recent weeks.
**The father who lost his ability to speak came to the Knesset - and cried out for his kidnapped son | Watch**
"He could have escaped - but he returned to hell": Tal Kupershtein spoke to Knesset members about his son Bar, who was kidnapped from the Nova festival, after relearning how to speak to fight for his release. "He always cared for others," he said. "On October 7, he helped the wounded," he told the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Tal Kupershtein, the disabled father of hostage Bar Kupershtein, addressed members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today (Tuesday). He once again shared in his own voice how his son took over the management of the family business at just 16 years old, after being injured in a car accident and becoming disabled.
After his son's kidnapping, Tal worked with a speech therapist for a year and relearned how to speak—so he could fight for Bar's release. "Five years ago, I was injured in a car accident while volunteering with United Hatzalah, on my way to save the life of a four-year-old girl. After the accident, I underwent seven surgeries, and during the last one, I suffered a stroke. Since then, I haven't been able to speak or walk; I became disabled. From the age of 16, Bar managed the falafel business I had opened just two months before the accident, working to help support the family. He moved in with my parents so that my caregiver would have a place to sleep," he said.
Tal also shared that "on October 7, he was working at Nova as the deputy security officer and helped the wounded when the terrorists arrived. He drove to Patish in a Ranger four times—he could have escaped, but he chose to return to hell. On one of the trips to Patish, he applied tourniquets to two wounded people and told her father over the phone not to come there because it was chaotic. Bar took her to the blood ambulance.
"We found out about Bar's kidnapping at 11 a.m., when the horrific video was released showing him handcuffed and shackled, with a wire tied around his neck. Even in that moment, Bar was shouting his name to the terrorists and asking them to treat the wounded Elkana Bohbot. That's Bar—always caring for others before himself."
Bar marked his 22nd birthday last April in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, after being kidnapped from the Nova festival. Two days ago, Bar's uncle, Zuri Ezra Erez, who was actively involved in the fight for his release from captivity, passed away. link
In message to public on war’s 500th day, freed hostage Iair Horn pleads for release of brother, remaining captives
Iair Horn gives a video statement on February 17, 2025. (Screen capture/ Channel 12)
Iair Horn gives his first public statement since being released Saturday, after 498 in Hamas captivity.
“My name is Iair Horn. I was released two days ago from Hamas captivity after 498 days. I was there. I was in Hamas’s tunnels. My body endured this captivity, and I’m telling you the hostages do not have any more time,” he says, in a video statement released as hostage families mark the 500th day that their loved ones have been held in Gaza.
“We’re out of time. We must return them now,” Horn says.
“Everyone is asking me, ‘What do you need?’ And I tell them, ‘I need only one thing: Bring back my brother,'” he says, breaking down in tears upon mentioning his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity and is not slated for release until the next phase.
“Bring back my brother and all of the hostages,” Horn says.
Hamas has ordered systematic starvation of male hostages, freed captives reveal
Brother of released hostage Or Levy says 'for 16 months, he was barefoot, hungry and in constant fear that each day might be his last'; another brother rejects claims leadership unaware of intentional starvation policy Tal Levy, the brother of Or Levy, who was freed from Hamas captivity, described the harsh conditions and starvation his brother endured during his 491-day captivity. "There was intentional starvation, a policy from Yahya Sinwar," he said.
"It’s impossible that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t know because officials from the Hostages Bureau at the Prime Minister's Office told us about it," Tal added that, in his estimation, Or wouldn't have survived much longer if he had remained in captivity for another two to three weeks or a month.
Or Levy with his family on the way to the hospital
(Photo: IDF)
Meanwhile, Or's other brother, Michael, issued a statement at Sheba Medical Center, also placing the blame on decision-makers. "Yesterday, after 491 days of hell, Or came back to us," Michael said. "He was imprisoned in Hamas tunnels, cut off from the world, from his life, from his family. For 491 days, every minute was a battle—physical, mental, emotional."
Michael went on to describe Or's physical state, saying, "After a year and four months, I saw my brother again. I hugged him, but he wasn’t the same Or who left home on October 7, 2023. Or returned in a weakened condition. For 16 months, he was barefoot, hungry, and in constant fear that each day would be his last."
Michael continued, "His greatest fear was confirmed when he was freed. For 491 days, he waited to hear about his wife, Einav. He learned only yesterday that she was murdered. Yesterday, he finally met Almog, and Almog asked, 'Why did it take so long for you to come back?' For 491 days, my brother and others were there, but nothing prepared them for what they found here. While Or was in the dark, decision-makers knew about his condition but didn’t do everything they should have."
Michael stressed the urgency of continuing the fight to bring more hostages home. "Every moment and every second there was critical. Our struggle isn't over. Or’s return is a miracle, but the people of Israel deserve this miracle. My brother is here, but I still have other brothers and sisters in hell. I beg, don’t forget them. Don’t stop fighting."
Earlier, Tal Levy spoke to Keshet News about Or's gradual recovery. "Or is recovering slowly," he said. "Yesterday was a bit harder and confusing for him, but he didn’t sleep much. He sat with my mom and my brother and shared experiences from captivity. He fell asleep only at 7 a.m. Yesterday was confusing, but he’s going through a process. Today is a better day, he’s starting to stabilize."
Tal further revealed, "The stories he shares are incredibly difficult to hear. I can’t even describe them. If I could share everything he told us and if the public knew what they went through and the slim chances they had to survive in those conditions... the Or I saw yesterday wouldn't have survived another two or three weeks, or a month in captivity."
Or Levy reunites with his 3-year-old son Almog for the first time
Tal also confirmed that Or had been aware of the intentional starvation policy imposed by Yahya Sinwar, a policy the family had been briefed on. "This is not the first time we’ve heard about this," Tal said. "Yesterday, there were briefings from the Prime Minister’s Office where they claimed they didn’t know about the intentional starvation. But I can say unequivocally that they did know. The prime minister knew. A few months ago, official sources from the Defense Ministry and the military came to us and told us about this top-down policy, with Sinwar ordering the starvation of male hostages. It’s impossible that the families and we were exposed to this, and the Prime Minister wasn’t."
Tal added that Or had initially refused to be freed and suggested another hostage be released instead. "He felt very bad about being freed while others were still in captivity. We told him that he was a humanitarian case, especially because of Almog, who lost his mother, and Or was the family’s only hope." Or also mentioned Elkana Bochbot, another hostage, who had a 4-year-old daughter, saying, "Why wasn’t he released?"
Or didn’t know for certain until yesterday that his wife, Einav, had been killed. Tal said that, at his request, a psychologist broke the news to him. "He guessed she was dead because he was in the shelter when it happened. He suspected she was gone, but he didn’t know. The first question he asked the psychologist, after transitioning to the IDF, was whether Einav was alive or dead. She confirmed she was dead," Tal explained.
Or Levy with his family
(Photo: GPO)
Tal also described the emotional meeting between Or and Almog. "Almog recognized him immediately. The fear wasn’t just ours—it was Or’s too. He was really afraid Almog wouldn’t recognize him. He said the one thing that kept him going every day in captivity was dreaming of meeting Almog. As time went on, he started to think that Almog might not recognize him, and the reunion he had been dreaming about would be very cold and hard. But Almog remembered him completely. He had been longing to meet him, and the reunion was incredible. It was truly the most emotional moment of my life. It was as if they hadn’t been apart."
Or also got the chance to tuck Almog in for the first time. "It was the first time he went to bed with his father. This was a dream his father had every night during captivity. He dreamed of putting Almog to bed, and today I’m helping him do it," Tal said. "We’ll all lie down together in bed and read a story, and they’ll sleep hugging."
Or, along with Eli Sharabi, who lost his entire family in the terror attack, and Ohad Ben Ami, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri in his pajamas, was freed from the heart of the Gaza Strip. The three had been held underground for most of their captivity, without daylight. Some were exposed to limited media, mostly Al Jazeera.
When Michael Levy addressed the UN Security Council, Hamas terrorists informed Or that the Israeli official was working on his behalf. About a week before their release, the hostages began receiving more food and water, likely due to supplies entering the area and the terrorists wanting to present them as healthier.
Or was kidnapped on October 7 from the "shelter of death" where he had fled with his wife Einav and many others during the Hamas surprise attack at the Nova party. His wife was killed in that shelter, along with 15 other victims. Yesterday, Or finally returned home and reunited with his 3-year-old son, Almog, but also received the devastating news of his wife's death in the shelter. "He was held in a tunnel without communication and only guessed that his wife, Einav, had been murdered. He asked, and they told him," his mother, Geula, said yesterday.
Or's mother added that he thought Almog Sarusi, who was killed alongside five other hostages in a tunnel, had been freed. "He was convinced that Almog and Hersh had returned," she said. Tonight, it was revealed that Alon Ohel, who had been kidnapped with Or from the shelter, is also alive. link
In uphill battle, Israel working to secure early release of 3 living hostages together with 3 others on Saturday
Channel 12 reports that Israel is working to secure the release on Saturday of all six remaining living hostages slated for release in the ongoing first phase.
Only three hostages are supposed to be released this Saturday, according to the terms of the deal, with the remaining three living hostages not scheduled to be released until the following Saturday.
It is unclear what leverage Israel has on Hamas to release additional hostages early, and one Israeli official tells Channel 12 that he expects Hamas to hold on to at least one hostage until the end of phase one, as leverage to ensure that Israel is holding negotiations regarding phase two, which to date it has refused to do, in violation of the agreement.
Schedule for release of hostages during remainder of first phase
Families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip march to the Knesset in Jerusalem, marking 500 days since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, February 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip march to the Knesset in Jerusalem, marking 500 days since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, February 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
The following is the schedule for the release of hostages during the remainder of the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas.
On Thursday, February 20, Israel is slated to receive the bodies of four hostages as stipulated in a yet-to-be-published annex of the ceasefire deal. Israel expects to receive the names of those four hostages Thursday morning.
On Saturday, February 22, Hamas will release three living hostages. On Thursday, February 27, Hamas will release four more bodies of hostages.
From February 22 to March 2, Hamas is slated to release phase one’s final three living hostages, including Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, who have been held in Gaza for over a decade. In exchange for the eight bodies, Israel will release all women and children who were arrested in Gaza since October 7. Hebrew media reports that these detainees were not involved in Hamas’s October 7 onslaught or in fighting against Israel since, so it is not immediately clear why they were arrested at all.
Freed hostage tells David Cunio’s family that they recently saw him alive in Gaza
One of the recently released hostages has informed the family of captive David Cunio that they recently saw him alive in Gaza, Hebrew media reports.
Cunio, 34, was taken hostage from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s October 7 onslaught.
David was abducted along with his wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, 33, their 3-year-old twin daughters, Yuli and Emma, as well as Sharon’s sister, Danielle Aloni, 44, and her daughter, Emilia, 5, who were visiting them for the holiday weekend.
Sharon and the twins were released on November 27 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel. Danielle and Emilia were released on November 24.
Freed hostage Or Levy released from hospital
Freed hostage Or Levy visits Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, less than a week after he was released from Hamas captivity, February 14, 2025. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
Freed hostage Or Levy was released from the hospital yesterday after completing medical checkups, his family says.
“This is a big moment for him and for us, but the recovery and rehabilitation process is still ahead of us,” the statement says.
Levy, 34, was freed on February 8 as part of the first phase of a hostage release-truce deal with Hamas. The emaciated appearance of Levy and the two other hostages released that day, Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami, shocked the country.
“”We would like to thank the people of Israel from the bottom of our hearts for the warm embrace, love and support you have showered upon us over the past week,” the statement says.
“Special thanks to Sheba’s medical team for their professional, sensitive and dedicated support throughout the journey. The return home is not complete as long as there are still hostages in captivity. Or is committed to taking part in the fight for their return and will do so as soon as he can,” it says.
Levy’s wife Eynav was killed on October 7, 2023, and his young son Almog, now 3, was raised by his grandparents while he was held hostage.
“At this time, we kindly request that the media and public respect our privacy, allowing us the quiet and time needed for recovery and healing,” the statement says.
Freed hostage Ofer Calderon released from Sheba after being hospitalized Friday due to pneumonia
Family, friends fear for fate of Nepali hostage Bipin Joshi: ‘He saved our lives’ 24-year-old agriculture student came to Israel 2 months before Oct. 7; he deflected grenade thrown at sheltering farmhands; is not slated for release in hostage deal’s 1st phase
Bipin Joshi, a Nepali farming student, was taken captive from Kibbutz Alumim on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists. (Courtesy)
When Hamas terrorists stormed the farm he was working on in Kibbutz Alumim, Nepali agriculture student Bipin Joshi risked his life to save his friends, who fear for his fate after 500 days he has been in captivity in Gaza.
Unlike some others seized during the October 7, 2023 attack — when thousands of terrorists killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 in southern Israel, sparking the war in Gaza — there has been no information about the 24-year-old since that day.
“He knew nothing about this war, and it’s been 16 months that he is captive,” said Himanchal Kattel, a close friend who has Joshi to thank for surviving the attack.
“People should talk more about him,” said Kattel, also a Nepali agriculture student who was working with Joshi at the farm in Alumim, near the Gaza border.
Few in Israel remember Joshi’s name or recognize the face of one of the five foreign hostages still held in Gaza since the 2023 attack — just two of whom, including Joshi, are thought to be alive.
In Nepal, his father Mahananda Joshi told AFP the family was extremely worried, waiting “for any news — anything — about him.”
“So many others have been released but our son remains captive,” said the father.
Bipin Joshi had arrived in Israel just two months before the Hamas attack, to work on a farm as part of his studies.
When terrorists reached Alumim, Kattel recalled, they hurled a grenade into a bunker where a group of Nepali workers were sheltering after hearing warning sirens in the early morning.
Without hesitating, Joshi picked up the grenade and threw it back at the assailants, said Kattel, one of the few survivors of the attack on the farm.
“He saved our lives. I wouldn’t have been alive today” if it weren’t for his swift action, he added.
Twenty-two foreign farm workers, 10 from Nepal and 12 from Thailand, were killed in Alumim before the Israel Defense Forces regained control of the area.
Security forces are seen next to cars burned during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, near the entrance to Kibbutz Alumim, close the Israeli-Gaza border, southern Israel, October 9, 2023. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
Since a truce in the Israel-Hamas war went into effect nearly a month ago, the terror group has released 19 Israeli hostages, in six groups, as well as five Thai captives freed outside the scope of the ceasefire agreement.
More releases are expected, but Joshi’s name did not appear on the list of hostages to be freed under the first phase of the truce.
“Perhaps our government’s efforts have not been strong enough,” said his father.
In the first phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal, Hamas is slated to release 33 women, children and civilian men over 50 and those deemed “humanitarian cases,” in return for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel Monday that negotiations for the second phase, when remaining living male hostages are slated for release, will begin this week.
Hostages L to R: Sagui Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn and Sasha Troufanov are flanked onstage by Hamas and Islamic Jihad gunmen before being handed over to the Red Cross, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 15, 2025. (Eyad Baba / AFP)
The talks were supposed to commence on February 3, day 16 of the first deal, but had been deferred by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose right-wing flank is opposed to ending the Gaza war, which the second phase would require.
Nepalese Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has said of Joshi that the country’s “prime minister and the foreign minister are engaging with other leaders to request his release.”
Deuba met with her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Oman, on Monday, and asked him to help secure Joshi’s release, Nepal’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Araghchi, whose country funds Hamas and is committed to Israel’s destruction, “reiterated his commitment to liaise with the concerned parties” to secure Joshi’s early release, the statement said. ‘He is like my brother’
Kattel said Joshi “taught me a lot of things. He is actually a very spiritual person.”
“He is like my brother. More than a friend.”
Joshi was seized after the group of farm workers had left the first shelter for a larger one, but that too came under attack.
“They broke the lock, and they came inside and they just shot at us… and they took Bipin,” Kattel said.
He showed an AFP correspondent videos of the workers, their faces pale with fear, huddled behind rice sacks in the shelter moments before the shooting.
The last known image of Joshi came from a surveillance camera near a cowshed in Alumim, showing him standing on his feet but held by his captors as they led him toward Gaza.
On that very spot, the kibbutz has placed a Nepali flag and candles in memory of the victims.
Just before the attack, Joshi had taken some photos on his phone, smiling alongside his friends.
The Thai farm workers’ residence was completely burned down during the assault, leaving only a single wall standing.
Now known as the “Wall of Remembrance,” it serves as a solemn tribute, said kibbutz resident Gad Shparer, who was responsible for the Thai and Nepali workers at the time.
The 45-year-old said the hours he spent locked inside a shelter during the attack were agonizing not only for fears that terrorists would reach him, but also because he had no news from the workers.
Hours later, when he was finally able to venture out, “I thought that they all had died,” Shparer said.
Foreign laborers work on a farm near the border with Gaza amid the war there, in southern Israel, December 25, 2023. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)
He recalled seeing the bodies of the victims and learning that Joshi had been taken.
“When I got to the hospital room, I saw Kattel. We hugged, and I started crying there.”
Shparer spoke of his deep connection to the workers, having toiled alongside them in the fields and orchards.
Since the attack, he has joined weekly rallies demanding the release of hostages.
Kattel, who has remained in Israel after the attack to continue his studies, is waiting for his friend to return.
Pro-hostage deal protesters block a road in Tel Aviv, February 17, 2025. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
“I want every hostage to be released, along with Bipin,” he said.
**"There are hostages who cannot move, all to humiliate and abuse": Testimonies of hostages who returned in recent weeks**
Hostages who returned from Gaza in recent weeks have shared harrowing testimonies with the families of hostages who were held with them. These testimonies are published with the families' consent. One of the returnees spoke about a hostage who was with him: "A year has passed from one release to another—the great fear is that he will now lose all hope." Hostages recounted that those about to be released were "force-fed" before their release, while the other hostages were forbidden from eating.
Last night (Monday), many gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv for a rally marking 500 days since the war began. New testimonies from released hostages continue to paint a grim picture of the horrific conditions in which the hostages are held, still imprisoned in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. One hostage shared that there are hostages who cannot move at all, stating, "At first, we thought it was out of fear that we might try to escape—later, you realize it’s all to humiliate and abuse you." The families of the hostages approved the publication of these testimonies.
Hostages who returned in recent waves spoke with families whose loved ones are still in captivity, telling them about the condition of their relatives who were held with them. Among other things, they shared: "There are hostages who cannot move. They are shackled with chains on their legs, for long months, in the dark." One hostage described: "At first, we thought it was out of fear that we might do something, try to escape or rebel, and that’s why they shackled us. Then you realize it’s all to humiliate and abuse you, physically and mentally."
**Testimonies of released hostages on the condition of those still in captivity**
One hostage also shared: "The hostages who were with us and remain there are not exposed to the media. Only occasionally did the terrorists tell us if they saw our family members speaking. That’s the only thing that gives people there hope. It’s like air to breathe in a place where there is no air."
They also recounted that "the hunger there is extreme; we all lost dozens of kilograms in body weight. Those they realized were about to be released were suddenly force-fed, while the others were forbidden from eating." One returnee told the family of a hostage who was with him: "There were hostages with us who were released in the first wave, and then a year passed. Now we have been released. The great fear is that he will lose all hope."
Against the backdrop of the difficult testimonies brought by those who returned in recent weeks, many families who until yesterday hardly participated in protests and avoided leaving their homes are now coming out to demonstrate. The exposure to what their family members are enduring in captivity, along with the new testimonies they have received, has led them to decide that they can no longer remain silent.
**Additional testimonies on the condition of hostages in captivity**
Recently published testimonies also described a shocking picture of the condition of hostages in Hamas tunnels. Yair Horn, who returned from captivity on Saturday, was held in narrow, low tunnels and testified that he met his brother Eitan in captivity—but they were forbidden from speaking to each other under the terrorists' orders. According to further testimonies, the hostages he was with struggled to walk and stand in the cramped tunnels.
Another released hostage spoke about the condition of hostage Elkana Bohbot, who was held for most of the time in captivity while injured, in a tunnel 30 meters underground. Despite suffering from asthma, Bohbot was forced to stay in a mold-filled tunnel with severe breathing difficulties. He asked to convey to his wife and son the song "Lochemet" (Warrior) so they could listen to it every day, and he tried to maintain Jewish routines in captivity—including making Kiddush on Fridays and fasting on Yom Kippur. Additionally, Elkana saw his image displayed at Hostage Square, and the footage greatly strengthened his spirit.
**Protesters in favor of a hostage deal on the 500th day of the war (Photo: Erik Marmor, Flash 90)**
Another disturbing testimony came from Eli Sharabi, who returned from captivity along with Ohed Ben Ami and Or Levi. He spoke about the condition of Alon Ohel and Elia Cohen, who were held in a dark tunnel, shackled, and subjected to deliberate starvation while the terrorists ate full meals in front of them. Sharabi acted as a father figure to them, supporting them as much as he could, and communicated with the captors in Arabic.
One of the released hostages testified about particularly harsh conditions, including interrogations and torture. He shared that he was injured and moved between hospitals, tunnels, and hiding places. In one instance, a building collapsed on him and other hostages due to IDF bombings, and he miraculously managed to escape. The terrorists threatened the hostages that they would be shot in the event of an IDF rescue attempt. link
Gaza and the South
To IDF officers, Mossad agents, Shin Bet personnel, and Israeli officials who are involved in planning the transfer (ethnic cleansing) of Gazans, know that you are about to carry out blatantly illegal orders. These actions will lead you straight to the International Criminal Court in The Hague – what you are doing is defined as a war crime. Be warned!
(Gershon Baskin, February 18, 2025)
**"Neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority": Prime Minister Netanyahu Rejects the Possibility of Palestinian Authority Control in Gaza**
In a statement he published, Netanyahu wrote: "Committed to President Trump's plan for creating a different Gaza" • In the past 24 hours, reports have intensified that Hamas is willing to relinquish the Strip to the Palestinian Authority • At the end of the month, an Arab summit is set to convene to discuss the future of the Strip and present a counter-plan to Trump's vision.
**Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Authority Control in Gaza Post-War**
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Monday) issued a statement rejecting the possibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) ruling Gaza in the "day after" the war. "As I have committed, in the day after the war in Gaza, there will be neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority," the statement from the Prime Minister's Office read. "I am committed to President Trump's plan for creating a different Gaza." Netanyahu's statement came amid numerous reports over the past 24 hours suggesting that Hamas is willing to relinquish control of the Strip in favor of the Palestinian Authority.
**Report: Hamas Announces Willingness to Transfer Gaza's Management to the Palestinian Authority**
Last night (between Sunday and Monday), Sky News Arabia reported that, following heavy Egyptian pressure on a Hamas delegation visiting Cairo, the terrorist organization conveyed a message to the PLO regarding its willingness to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority and a Gaza management committee – on the condition that Gaza's workers are absorbed into the new government or retire with a guarantee of continued salary payments.
Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanoua told the Saudi newspaper *Asharq Al-Awsat* that Hamas's position on the future management of the Strip had been conveyed to mediators in Egypt and Qatar, following consultations with Palestinian terrorist organizations. According to him, Hamas's position is based on two principles: First, that the day after the war and the management of the Strip are "an internal Palestinian matter with national consensus." The second principle, he said, is that Hamas is not interested in managing Gaza but in a "national consensus government that it will not be part of."
"The names of the committee members have already been agreed upon, but Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) has not issued a decree to establish the committee so it can begin its work," explained one of Hamas's spokesmen. He claimed that Hamas is committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement in all three of its stages and will not participate in managing the Gaza Strip but emphasized that the terrorist organization will not cease its activities. "Armed resistance against Israel is the right of the entire Palestinian people across all Palestinian land, not just Hamas. What the organization is committed to is simply not being part of the management," he said. According to estimates, even if Hamas agrees to relinquish control of the Strip, it will remain the dominant force on the ground and continue to collect taxes.
**Arab Summit to Discuss Gaza's Future at End of Month**
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit claimed last Wednesday in an interview with *Al-Arabiya* that Abu Mazen declared his readiness to take the reins of power in Gaza immediately after the cessation of hostilities. He attributed the problem with implementing this plan to Israel's failure to eliminate Hamas: "What's the problem? Hamas is still there. Israel tried to eliminate it but failed to do so."
"After a war that lasted 15 months, they failed, and therefore this force on the ground (Hamas) must agree with the Palestinian Authority, and there must be an international vision. If the Palestinian interest requires it, Hamas must step out of the picture," added Aboul Gheit.
The pressure in Arab countries and among Palestinians to find a solution for Gaza's future began after President Trump presented his plan two weeks ago during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Trump declared that he plans to relocate Gaza's entire population to other countries, primarily Egypt and Jordan, and that the United States would take responsibility for the Strip, turning it into the "Riviera of the Middle East." Since then, he has reiterated his intention to do so several times, including in the presence of Jordan's King Abdullah, whom he met last week. Yesterday, Netanyahu met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and among other topics, they discussed Gaza's future.
Trump's plan has spurred the Arab and Palestinian world to seek alternative options for the "day after." At the end of the month, a summit will convene in Cairo to present a counter-plan to Trump's vision, one that ensures Gaza's reconstruction without the relocation of its population. link
**How Did We Miss Gaza on the Way to Victory Over Iran’s Shiite Axis?**
500 days of fighting have exposed a troubling paradox: On the one hand, a resounding success in dismantling the Shiite axis and dealing a painful blow to Iran. On the other hand, a tragic failure in achieving objectives in Gaza, where Hamas still rules and the hostages have yet to return.
A painful blow to the head of the snake, failure in front of the tail (The IDF in the Gaza Strip, archive) | Photo: Oren Cohen, Flash 90
Can this immense strategic achievement make up for the tactical failure? And how did we succeed in striking the head of the snake but fail against its tail? Former IDF Intelligence Chief Tamir Hayman analyzes.
### 500 Days Since the War Broke Out—A Time for Reflection
The glass is half full: Since the beginning of the war, Israel has carried out a stunning operation against the Iranian-led Shiite axis. But the glass is also half empty: The situation in Gaza remains deeply embarrassing. The most critical point is that the table on which this metaphorical glass rests has completely changed with Trump’s entry into the White House.
Let's start with the good news: Israel has managed to dismantle the Shiite axis. True, this is not a complete dismantling, and the Iranians are intelligent and stubborn—they will not give up. However, when comparing the current state of the axis to its condition before October 7, the difference is stark. Israel has fundamentally undermined Iran’s security doctrine.
Before the war, Iran considered itself stronger than Israel. Today, that is no longer the case. Before the war, Iran believed it could defeat Israel in a conflict. The signs of this Iranian overconfidence were detected by Israeli intelligence, which issued two strategic warnings about war in 2023. The symptoms were clear and visible in Hezbollah’s behavior, yet the realization that we were on the edge of an abyss was not fully absorbed.
The tent on Mount Dov, the last-minute foiled attack in Megiddo, the attempted assassination of former IDF Chief Moshe Ya’alon, and the threat to the Karish gas rig—all were signs that something unusual was unfolding.
Unfortunately, Israel interpreted things differently: We thought we were stronger, that Iran underestimated our capabilities (such as the "Beepers Operation"). But that didn’t matter. What mattered was Iran’s perception of its own strength and Israel’s perceived weakness.
The greater tragedy was the failure to recognize that Hamas is part of the Shiite axis. We should have applied the same understanding of Iranian arrogance and overconfidence to Hamas. But Israeli intelligence did not pick up on this.
### A Devastating Blow to the Shiite Axis
The achievements against Iran have been remarkable. Despite Iran being a nuclear-threshold state expected to deter attacks, Israel has struck it twice.
Iran’s proxies operated from seven different fronts simultaneously, yet they failed to stop or even slow down Israel. Moreover, they collapsed quickly, with Hezbollah—the axis’s cornerstone—falling apart first. Even Iran’s military failed to deliver.
In just six hours of one air campaign, the Israeli Air Force managed to destroy Iran’s strategic air defense. Meanwhile, Israel’s air defense successfully intercepted massive barrages of ballistic missiles, preventing significant damage.
The "death blow" to the axis came with the coup in Syria. The timing—coinciding with the ceasefire with Hezbollah—says more than a thousand words about the direct link between Israel’s actions and Assad’s regime collapse.
Syria was the "axis of the axis"—it was the conduit for arms to Hezbollah and the financial hub of the entire network. Even Hamas received funding through the Syrian central bank before the money was transported in armored trucks to Lebanon and then smuggled into Gaza.
Now, without Syria, and after listening closely to the Syrian Foreign Minister’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, I am convinced that Iran and Russia will not return to the "new Syria."
### The "Gaza Effect" Resonates—But Not Enough Inside the Strip
In contrast to the successes against Iran, Gaza and the battle against Hamas remain a sad story. None of Israel’s war objectives in Gaza have been fully achieved.
Hamas still retains military control in Gaza, and its governing capabilities remain intact. Despite significant successes in eliminating Hamas’s leadership hierarchy, it is still the ruling entity. And this is happening while our hostages remain captive.
Not everything is bleak. At the Munich Security Conference, everyone was talking about the "Gaza Effect." The destruction inflicted by the IDF and the tactical success in urban and underground warfare are recognized as major achievements by military professionals. The ability to counter Hamas’s tunnel networks, dismantle its military units, and maintain relatively low casualties despite the challenging conditions—all have impressed experts over the past several hundred days.
But when did things go wrong in Gaza, and why? That remains unclear. The blame game between political and military leaders is unhelpful. Hopefully, a war inquiry commission will shed light on this.
Everyone has their own conclusions, including myself, but that’s not the most important thing right now. What is important is that the enormous tactical achievement in Gaza allows for a diplomatic maneuver.
Before the ground offensive, many claimed Israel faced a binary choice: either negotiate for the hostages or launch a full-scale operation to crush Hamas.
I argued then that the offensive was necessary because it would provide additional leverage for negotiations. And in this case, I was right—this is exactly the current situation.
In the first phase of the deal, we are withdrawing from occupied territory in exchange for hostages. The military campaign made these bargaining chips possible. Without it, we wouldn’t have had anything to offer in negotiations.
Of course, retreating soldiers are frustrated, and many question whether the price was worth it. The answer: That price is what enables the hostages’ return. And second—this war is not over yet.
### The Most Significant Strategic Development: Trump's Return
The biggest strategic development is Trump’s return to the White House. His business-oriented approach to geopolitics and his disruptive strategies force all players to recalculate.
The pace of events is dizzying. The world is moving to Trump’s chaotic rhythm.
In every area where there was strategic stagnation, we now see change. Jordan and Egypt are being pushed to get involved in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Europe is waking up from its naΓ―ve dream of a war-free world where the U.S. handles the dirty work while they focus on social welfare.
Trump is pushing his tough stance and uncompromising image. There’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s setting the rules.
Trump may be transforming the U.S. in ways that weaken American democracy, and in the long run, liberal democracies worldwide may feel the impact. But in the short term, his disruptions are beneficial.
### Lacking a Vision for the Region, Trump Fills the Void
"The day after"—a vague concept that should have been discussed on day two of the war—is already here. Yet, Israel is still arguing about it.
The astounding tactical achievements have yet to be translated into diplomatic gains.
Israel has become attractive again to Gulf states—thanks to both its military power and Trump’s backing. This is the time to leverage this into a new regional coalition.
Israel has yet to present a vision for the Middle East that takes advantage of its new position. Instead, it is Trump who has a vision—one that threatens Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt.
His plan demands that multiple Arab states absorb additional Palestinian refugees, despite immigration being one of the world's most contentious issues.
The risk in Trump's plan is that Israel might abandon the complex but feasible process of normalization with Saudi Arabia and the formation of a regional defense alliance in favor of an unrealistic dream of eliminating the Palestinian issue altogether.
Ultimately, what will not disappear is the problem of Hamas in Gaza. And at the end of the day, once the hostage deal concludes, Israel will have to address that issue.
All the options are bad—military rule, a hands-off approach, or a civilian Palestinian administration. All require advanced preparation, and once again, procrastination leads to disaster. link
Egypt said to propose Gaza ‘secure areas’ where Palestinians will live as Strip rebuilt
Bulldozers with Egyptian and Qatar flags wait to enter Gaza at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, February 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohamed Arafat)
CAIRO — Egypt is developing a plan to rebuild Gaza without forcing Palestinians out of the Strip in a counter to President Donald Trump’s proposal to depopulate the territory so the US can take it over.
Egypt’s state-run Al-Ahram newspaper says the proposal calls for establishing “secure areas” within the Gaza Strip where Palestinians can live initially while Egyptian and international construction firms remove and rehabilitate the enclave’s infrastructure.
Egyptian officials have been discussing the plan with European diplomats as well as with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to two Egyptian officials and Arab and Western diplomats. They are also discussing ways to fund the reconstruction, including an international conference on Gaza reconstruction, says one of the Egyptian officials and an Arab diplomat.
The officials and diplomats speak on condition of anonymity because the proposal is still being negotiated.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
Lebanese sources say IDF completes withdrawal from southern Lebanon, except for 5 key posts
Israeli soldiers seen on the border with Lebanon, on February 17, 2025. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
The IDF has pulled out of southern Lebanese villages but remains in five positions, a Lebanese security source says, as a deadline for the withdrawal expires under a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.
“The Israeli army has withdrawn from all border villages except for five points, while the Lebanese army is gradually deploying due to the presence of explosives in some areas and damage to the roads,” the source, who speaks on condition of anonymity, tells AFP.
The Lebanese television channel LBCI reports that the Lebanese army had moved overnight into the key border towns and villages of Mais al-Jabal, Blida, Yaroun, Maroun and Mahbib as the IDF withdrew forces.
Several local authorities, including Mais al-Jabal’s municipality, have called on displaced residents to wait for the Lebanese army to deploy there before coming back, so as to guarantee their “safe” return.
Israel said it would meet the February 18 deadline to withdraw under a ceasefire, but remain deployed in five strategic positions in southern Lebanon.
The IDF declined to confirm the withdrawal has been completed.
Lebanon says it will consider any remaining Israeli presence on its lands an occupation
An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank is deployed by the concrete border wall at a position along Israel's northern border with Lebanon on February 18, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP)
An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank is deployed by the concrete border wall at a position along Israel's northern border with Lebanon on February 18, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP)
Lebanon will consider any remaining Israeli presence on its lands an occupation and has the right to use all means to ensure an Israeli withdrawal, a spokesperson for the Lebanese presidency says. Today is the deadline for the US-brokered ceasefire that halted last year’s war with Hezbollah.
Israel said it would meet the February 18 deadline to withdraw under a ceasefire but remain deployed in five strategic positions in southern Lebanon.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
Settlers set fire to Palestinian vehicles in West Bank village
Palestinian media reports that settler extremists set fire to several vehicles in the Susya in the southern West Bank, near Hebron.
There are no immediate reports of injuries, but a video posted on social media shows at least one vehicle going up in flames in the overnight attack. linkThe extremist violent settlers have the backing of cabinet members and other Knesset members and a Prime Minister who does nothing to stop this. The defense minister, who is just an errand boy for the prime minister, eliiminated administrative detention for Jewish terrorists and all those who were under administrative detention for violent crimes against Palestinians including murder, were all released. The Trump administration revoked all sanctions that the Biden Administration had put on some of these violent settlers and settler groups, and the police have continued acting as though Ben Gvir is still the minister of Internal "Insecurity" as Netanyahu is keeping that ministry for his return. He placed all of Ben Gvir's party's ministries under Haim Katz, who is now officially the minister of 5 separate ministries, so they can be handed back if/when Ben Gvir rejoins the government. Netanyahu was planning on not going through with Phase 2 of the hostage deal which calls for ending the war, returning to fighting, which may happen at any time, and having Ben Gvir return to the failed and corrupt coalition. As such, the extremist and violent settlers have absolutely no restraints on their continued accepted violence. And what is truly amazing is that there is no uproar in the Knesset by the opposition about it. I assume they are choosing their battles with everything that is going on with this corrupt government, especially now that the justice minister, Levin is going through with his judicial revolution/demolition one piece at a time in order to neuter the judicial system and make the government more powerful than justice.
Politics and the War (general news)
Shin Bet chief said to reveal that he’s no longer part of hostage negotiating team
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar revealed in a recent conversation that he is no longer part of Israel’s hostage negotiating team, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
His apparent ouster follows reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to fire him entirely.
The two have sparred from the start of the war, particularly over the hostage talks, during which security chiefs have argued that Netanyahu has allowed political considerations to seep into his decision-making in ways that prevented an agreement from being reached earlier on. linkNetanyahu never stops playing his petty politics at the expense of the hostages and the entire country. He is particulary angry that the Shin Bet is investigating some of his cronies because of their illegal actions of leaking secret information that benefitted Netanyahu and the illegal working for the Qatari government while they worked in the Prime Minister's office, and it is likely that this was done not only with Netanyahu knowing, it was probably either with his secret blessing or even desire.
**First the Concept, Then the Battles in the Envelope: This is What the IDF Investigations into the October 7th Massacre Will Look Like**
As a lesson from the publication of the Be'eri investigation, the IDF will first present the focus points of the General Staff investigations – and only afterward the findings of the investigations into the battles in the envelope communities. The investigations will not include personal conclusions, will incorporate information from released hostages, and will be detailed: "Residents will know what happened in every house." These are the dates when they will be presented.
The IDF will begin presenting the full October 7th investigations starting next week. The first investigations to be presented are four "systemic focus points," which will address the General Staff's functioning before and during October 7th, in all its aspects. Only afterward will the investigations into the battles in the envelope communities be presented. This order of presentation is a lesson from the publication of the Be'eri investigation, where the IDF faced heavy criticism for focusing on "the small soldier on the ground" rather than reviewing the performance of the bodies responsible for them.
**The IDF's Timeline for Presenting the October 7th Massacre Investigations**
The systemic-General Staff investigations will be presented to the Defense Minister by February 25, and on that day, they will be published to the public. These include four main focus points:
1. **Concept:** The development of the operational concept regarding the enemy in Gaza, meaning the evolution of the concept that preceded October 7th.
2. **Intelligence:** The investigation of the strategic intelligence assessment, the development of the enemy's possible courses of action (OPFOR), and intelligence oversight.
3. **Situation Assessment in the Hours Before the Massacre:** Decision-making that night, the decisions made at all levels, and actions taken based on the situation assessment at the time.
4. **Decision-Making During the Massacre Itself:** The manner in which the IDF deployed forces and the defensive battle in the Southern Command. This investigation will focus on the 72 hours following Hamas's attack.
The IDF notes that there are additional systemic investigations that will be presented, such as operational continuity, reserve mobilization, and more. The investigations will reference the "Jericho Wall" document, Hamas's plan that was executed on October 7th, which, according to various reports, was known to parts of the intelligence community.
**The Investigations Will Include Information from Released Hostages**
The systemic investigations will not include the IDF's operational performance during the maneuver, and the IDF states that this will have a separate investigation. The military notes that some of the investigations use information provided by released hostages. It is possible that information from recently released hostages who have not yet testified will also be included. Additionally, for now, the investigations will not include personal conclusions regarding IDF personnel, and these will be determined later. The IDF has not yet set a timeline for this.
**Investigations into the Battles in the Envelope Communities**
After the publication of the systemic investigations, the IDF is expected to present investigations into 41 different battle sites that occurred in the envelope on October 7th. The investigations will first be presented to the communities and the families of the fighters who participated in the battles, and only afterward will they be published to the public, according to the communities' requests. According to IDF sources, the communities will be presented with very detailed investigations, including descriptions of the events and conclusions from what happened in every house in the community.
A schedule has already been set for presenting the investigations in some of the envelope communities: From February 26 to March 2, the investigations will be presented to the communities of Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, and Netiv HaAsara. Afterward, by the end of March, the investigations will be presented to the remaining communities and sites. The investigation into the battle at the Nahal Oz base and the Nova party investigation have not yet been scheduled, but the IDF stated that they will be presented to the families of the fallen at the beginning of March and then to the public.
The Region and the World
Personal Stories
Burned trees, traumatized animals: Nature reveals the unseen effects of Israel’s wars
Missile fire and other factors have disturbed entire ecosystems, affected wildlife habitats and undone years of work by foresters, compounding existing problems from climate change
Israeli firefighters try to extinguish a fire that started from a fragments of an interception missile at the Biriya Forest in northern Israel, June 4, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
The trees abutting the road leading to Biriya Forest, a nature preserve in northern Israel, at first resemble spruces turning autumnal shades of red, a sight reminiscent of landscapes in America or Europe but rare in Israel.
A closer look, however, reveals that the trees are only charred remnants — the devastating result of rocket-induced wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres of forest while Israel battled the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.
Fires break out every year in this forest, which like many others across Israel was planted by the Jewish National Fund, known today as KKL-JNF — but they are usually brought under control quickly. This year, with the local population evacuated and weather conditions unusually extreme, things played out differently.
Starting around May, as temperatures rose and winter rains were over, nearly every rocket fired from Lebanon was likely to ignite a fire. And it wasn’t just the rockets themselves: Israeli interceptors exploded overhead, scattering fragments that ignited at multiple points within the forest. The combination of unusual winds, scorching heat and low humidity created a perfect storm that has disrupted entire ecosystems, affected wildlife habitats and undone years of work by foresters aimed at increasing biodiversity.
“We literally witnessed their life’s work go up in smoke,” said Eli Hafuta, director of the Upper Galilee and Golan Region at KKL-JNF, which was founded in 1901 to cultivate Jewish-owned land in the region and today owns 13% of all land in Israel.
“It’s a devastating sight to watch trees that have stood for 70 or 80 years go up in flames,” Hafuta said. “Even younger trees, ones my team and I planted just a decade ago, can be reduced to ashes in just 15 minutes.”
The scorched earth in Biriya Forest reflects just one of many environmental effects of nearly a year and a half of war for Israel. Less visible than the lives lost, injuries sustained and homes destroyed has been devastation to flora and fauna in both Israel’s north and south.
The cascading effects continued this week as the splashy kickoff for a new forest in the western Negev to honor war victims, timed to the Jewish environmental holiday of Tu Bishvat on Thursday, was canceled amid rising security threats in the region. A handful of Israeli officials are instead holding a smaller planting ceremony in the western Negev at a site named for an officer killed in the Hamas-led terror onslaught of October 7, 2023.
Perhaps nowhere has the war’s effect on Israeli ecosystems been more pronounced than at the Agamon Hula Valley Nature Reserve, famed for its mesmerizing bird migrations.
Twice a year, hundreds of millions of birds — including cranes, pelicans and storks — pass through the valley, in a normal year turning it into a hotspot for ecotourism, with the BBC naming it one of the top 10 birdwatching sites in the world.
During the months it was closed — from October 7, 2023, until well after the ceasefire on Israel’s northern border took hold in late November — the Agamon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the reserve turned into what staff call the world’s first wartime field hospital for animals.
Cranes seen at the Hula Valley lake, northern Israel, January 23, 2025. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
“We’re the first rehabilitation center in the world with a war protocol,” said Dr. Rona Nadler-Valency, the center’s head veterinarian and director.
When rockets pounded the north, Nadler-Valency and her team were evacuated from their communities, forcing the center to operate remotely, with staff caring for injured animals at home when possible. After three months, the team began returning, resuming treatment at the center under a chaotic new normal.
“We would be in the middle of surgery, an animal on the operating table when the sirens would go off,” Nadler-Valency said. “We’d have to leave everything and run to the shelter — sometimes dozens of times a day.”
At other times, Nadler-Valency and her team were caught outdoors when sirens sounded, forcing them to drop to the ground for cover. “Those moments felt like pure insanity, but at least we were able to keep doing our work,” she said.
With so few civilians remaining in the north, many of the wounded animals were brought to the center by soldiers.
In one case, Lilit, a tawny owl brought in after being hit by a military vehicle, suffered a severe head injury that temporarily left her blind and deaf. Lilit was carefully monitored and rehabilitated in a specialized acclimation cage. Treatment was complicated by the ongoing missile fire, requiring the team to carefully time their visits to her, but eventually the team managed to restore her sight, hearing and flight. After a month and a half in the cage, Lilit was released back into the wild with a transmitter on her back, allowing the team to track her recovery and ensure she could hunt and survive — as well as gain insights into how owls adjust to life after similar injuries.
“Cases like Lilit’s,” Nadler-Valency reflected, “were rays of light amid the madness.”
The disruption fueled other changes that scientists are now tracking. Yaron Charka, chief ornithologist at KKL-JNF — which manages the reserve and its reopened visitors’ center — observed an increase in wintering bird species this year.
“I’m seeing a great variety of birds this winter, compared with last winter, where there were few,” he said, but acknowledged that he didn’t fully understand why.
Every winter, some 50,000 common cranes settle in the Hula Valley, pausing their southward migration to Africa. But last year, that number dropped by 70% amid constant rocket fire from Lebanon, just 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the valley.
Still, Charka cautioned against attributing all of the changes to the cross-border clashes.
“During wartime, birds can change their route and bypass us in isolated instances — we saw this with Ukraine — but it’s not the whole picture,” he said, noting that the ceasefire came at the end of the migratory season and emphasizing that climate change, which is having an outsized effect on Israel, is also causing changes in the cranes’ migration habits.
“In the past two years, the arrival of the crane flocks in the fall to the Hula Valley has been significantly delayed,” he said. “It is important that we continue to monitor this trend.”
The site’s extended closure left the cranes unaccustomed to humans, so camouflaged wagons now help visitors observe them closely while minimizing disturbance.
With the return of crane populations comes the resurgence of old problems, particularly the challenge of protecting local crops from the birds. Farmers have long used methods such as gas cannons and mirrors to divert the cranes to designated feeding sites, but these approaches are costly and disruptive — both to wildlife and to tourists.
Now, the KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund is developing a laser-based system to address the issue more sustainably. The technology, developed in conjunction with an Israeli ecotech company, employs cameras, lasers and artificial intelligence to detect crane presence and direct a laser beam that the birds perceive as chasing them, causing them to relocate. Charka, who used to work in tech, said he hoped to see the system fully operational by the next migration season.
The damage caused to the Biriya Forest in the northern Israeli city of Safed, following missile attacks from Lebanon, July 10, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
According to the reserve’s director, Inbar Shlomit Rubin, far fewer bird nests were observed in the spring — a trend for which she saw two immediate explanations.
“The unrest and insecurity led many birds to migrate further south to quieter areas of Israel,” she said. But mammals and smaller animals had no means of escaping the area.
“The noise of the war caused immense stress,” Rubin said. “Stress negatively affects fertility.”
Since the ceasefire, KKL-JNF has launched an extensive survey of the areas burned over the past year to evaluate their potential for natural regeneration. For now, most of the organization’s efforts are focused on urgent interventions in visitor-accessible areas.
While the restoration of the affected areas is expected to be a long-term endeavor, Hafuta expressed optimism, highlighting forests’ remarkable ability to regenerate. He said he estimated that as many as 70% of burned trees would begin to regenerate naturally in the next year and a half.
According to Rubin, in recent weeks, wildlife, too, has begun returning to the affected areas.
“We’ve noticed a very subtle, minimal return. While the long-term effects are still uncertain, we remain hopeful that [the war] won’t have a significant impact in the years to come,” Rubin said. “The trauma the area experienced will take time to heal, but we are on the right path.” link
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Shatter
Yasmin Porat
Fled from the Nova Festival. She is one of only two survivors from the Be’eri hostage incident.
I have never been a supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu. I was absolutely convinced that he was causing harm to our country. I saw with my own eyes and had first-hand experience with the destruction of our health and education systems and of the economy, and the way his leadership is tearing us apart as a society.
At the same time, I was unable to argue with Netanyahu’s supporters’ claim that he is "Mr. Security." I admit that I felt safe in my country. With this feeling of security, I went to dance at the Nova Festival without fear. I was well aware of the event’s location, but I felt safe. I trusted the army; I knew I was being protected.
On the morning of October 7th, when the invasion began and we realized the gravity of the situation, we began to flee. We arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri, believing we would be protected there. A yellow gate, a perimeter fence, security squad, a safe place. But the next 24 hours proved without a doubt that I had made a grave mistake. My perception of safety, the belief that I am protected anywhere in the State of Israel, was shattered to pieces.
When the terrorists gathered us at Pesi Cohen's house, I understood that what had been, would never be again. I was held hostage in murderous hands, without help or rescue.
At 11 a.m., as we were fighting for our lives in the burning kibbutz, Netanyahu gave a speech to the nation. There is no word more suitable than "broken" to describe the feelings that flooded me in the face of his smiling speech; something inside me broke. I couldn't believe that while people were being burned and tortured and women were being raped, he chose to make a speech like the one he made, instead of taking action. The man who is responsible for all this. Inside I cried, “Save us! Do something! Why are you making a speech now?”
The terrorist guarding me decided to surrender. I was his human shield and he was mine, and thanks to that my life was saved. The fate of the other hostages was bitter. Thirteen people - men, women, a boy and a girl - whose only sin was that they were in Kibbutz Be’eri, lost their lives in that horrifying event, from which I was saved.
My friends and I were abandoned. An entire region was abandoned that day, it was not a safe place. Netanyahu, who is responsible for forsaking it, continues to behave like a despot. Like Pharaoh or Herod, he has no interest in us, the citizens. The fate of the abandoned hostages, who are still imprisoned in Hamas tunnels, does not bother him either.
The State of Israel must wake up.
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
IPS - Israel Prison System
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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A painful blow to the head of the snake, failure in front of the tail (The IDF in the Gaza Strip, archive) | Photo: Oren Cohen, Flash 90
Israeli firefighters try to extinguish a fire that started from a fragments of an interception missile at the Biriya Forest in northern Israel, June 4, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
Cranes seen at the Hula Valley lake, northern Israel, January 23, 2025. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
The damage caused to the Biriya Forest in the northern Israeli city of Safed, following missile attacks from Lebanon, July 10, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
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