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Israel at war day 457: What happened in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon?

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 IDF troops in Brigade 769 operate in southern Lebanon, December 31, 2024.  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops in Brigade 769 operate in southern Lebanon, December 31, 2024.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Negotiations underway to extend 60-day Lebanon ceasefire by 30 days, sources tell 'Post'

Efforts could avoid premature IDF withdrawal and unnecessary return to full-scale war in the North.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB, AMICHAI STEIN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Toy soldiers, Hezbollah and Israel flags are seen in this illustration taken, October 15, 2023. (photo credit: REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION)
Toy soldiers, Hezbollah and Israel flags are seen in this illustration taken, October 15, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION)

There are Israeli and American efforts underway to extend the 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah to avoid either a premature withdrawal or a return to a full-scale war in the North, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

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Negotiations are continuing, slowly progressing, sources tell 'Post'

Last week, Hamas claimed that it cannot reach all of the hostages and will need several days after the ceasefire has already begun to compile the list. 

By AMICHAI STEIN, HANNAH SARISOHN
 A chair is left in front of posters with pictures of hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 26, 2024.  (photo credit: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
A chair is left in front of posters with pictures of hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 26, 2024.
(photo credit: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to convene a meeting on Sunday evening to discuss the mandate of the delegation to Qatar for Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations.

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Hamas says it has approved Israeli list of 34 hostages for possible deal

By REUTERS

Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has approved a list of 34 hostages presented by Israel to be exchanged in a possible ceasefire deal, a group official told Reuters on Sunday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, also reiterated that any deal is contingent upon reaching an agreement on an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.

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Ignored warnings: Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels hinted to Oct. 7 massacre, researcher argues

"These channels were neither secret nor hidden — they were open and accessible to all," Lt.-Col. (res.)Dahoah-Halevi argued.

By MAYA COHEN
Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 7, 2023.  (photo credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)
Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 7, 2023.
(photo credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

Had posts published on Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels weeks prior to the October 7 massacre been analyzed and monitored in Israel, the outcome of the events could have been very different, Lt.-Col. (res.) Jonathan Dahoah-Halevi argued in an article published recently by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

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Initial reports: Explosions heard in Damascus, Syria

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 breaking news (photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
breaking news
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)

Explosions were heard in Damascus, Syria, Israeli media reported on Sunday, citing Syrian media outlets.

Some of the sources attributed the explosions to an Israeli attack.

This is a developing story.

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Katz: Israel will act if Hezbollah does not withdraw beyond Litani River

"If Hezbollah does not withdraw beyond the Litani River, there will be no agreement — and Israel will act on its own to ensure the safe return of the northern residents to their homes," he noted. 

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Defense Minister Israel Katz visits the North. January 5, 2025. (photo credit: Via Maariv)
Defense Minister Israel Katz visits the North. January 5, 2025.
(photo credit: Via Maariv)

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of severe consequences were Hezbollah not to withdraw beyond the Litani River during a visit to the North on Sunday.

"If Hezbollah does not withdraw beyond the Litani River, there will be no agreement — and Israel will act on its own to ensure the safe return of the northern residents to their homes," he noted. 

This comes as the US envoy to the Middle East, Amos Hochstein, is set to visit the region and the upcoming completion of the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire signed in November between Israel and Lebanon.

 

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Knesset to hold urgent meeting over Brazil's investigation into IDF soldier for 'war crimes'

The discussion follows the Brazilian authorities' demand to investigate an IDF soldier for alleged war crimes. The classified session is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein leads a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on May 8, 2024 (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein leads a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on May 8, 2024
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Yuli Edelstein announced on Sunday that an urgent meeting will be held on Monday to address the legal persecution of IDF soldiers abroad.

The discussion follows the Brazilian authorities' demand to investigate an IDF soldier for alleged war crimes. The classified session is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

“For months, the members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and I have repeatedly warned that the legal persecution under false accusations of war crimes would not stop with the prime minister and the defense minister but would inevitably target IDF soldiers as well,” Edelstein said. “I am embarrassed for Brazil and its government for capitulating to pro-Palestinian legal terrorism. I expect to hear from IDF and Foreign Ministry representatives about their action plan to defend our soldiers from these malicious sanctions and persecutions.”

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The Hind Rajab Foundation behind IDF soldiers' doxxing, legal campaign threats - explainer

Most recently, the foundation targeted soldiers vacationing in the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. 

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Screenshots from the Telegram group "Israel Genocide Tracker"  (photo credit: Telegram/Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the copyright law)
Screenshots from the Telegram group "Israel Genocide Tracker"
(photo credit: Telegram/Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the copyright law)

The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) filed a complaint last week against an IDF soldier vacationing in Brazil, accusing him of "participating in massive demolitions of civilian homes in Gaza during a systematic campaign of destruction."

The Brazilian Federal Court subsequently ordered that an investigation be opened into the soldier on account of the "war crimes" he allegedly committed.

HRF is one of the anti-Israel organizations that have recently targeted IDF soldiers with doxxing and legal campaigns, basing its allegations on footage published by the soldiers on their social media accounts.   

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First recruits enlist in new IDF haredi combat brigade

The brigade aims to enable haredi soldiers to serve in combat roles while fully preserving their religious lifestyle and identity.

By AVICHAI HAIM
 First recruits for the IDF Hashmonaim brigade arrive at the Tel Aviv recruitment office. January 5, 2025.  (photo credit: via walla!)
First recruits for the IDF Hashmonaim brigade arrive at the Tel Aviv recruitment office. January 5, 2025.
(photo credit: via walla!)

First recruits were drafted into the new IDF infantry "Hashmonaim" brigade at the Tel Hashomer recruiting office on Sunday.

The brigade aims to enable haredi soldiers to serve in combat roles while fully preserving their religious lifestyle and identity.

The establishment of such a brigade is another step in integrating the ultra-Orthodox community into military service.

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Blinken: When Hamas saw pressure on Israel, it backtracked from hostage deal

An additional impediment to a deal was Hamas's wish to see the conflict expanding to additional fronts, Blinken noted.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the press in Jordan's southern city of Aqaba on December 14, 2024.  (photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/POOL VIA REUTERS)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the press in Jordan's southern city of Aqaba on December 14, 2024.
(photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/POOL VIA REUTERS)

One hurdle in achieving a hostage deal was Hamas's backtracking from progress towards a deal when seeing public pressure on Israel increasing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with the New York Times published on Saturday. 

An additional impediment to a deal was Hamas's wish to see the conflict expanding to additional fronts, with Israel being attacked by Hezbollah and Iran, he noted. 

Blinken further asserted that achieving a hostage deal was the most rapid route to end the war in Gaza.

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Israel at War: What you need to know

  • Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
  • Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities
  • 100 hostages remain in Gaza
  • 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says
  • The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30
  • The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4:00 a.m.