Israel at war day 478: What happened in Gaza, West Bank?

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is set to be extended to February 18, the White House said on Sunday, according to Reuters. 

The families of Daniella, Naama, Liri, and Karina made their first public statements on Sunday night, following the release of the four girls from Hamas captivity on Saturday.

Eli Elbag, Liri's father, expressed his mixed emotions: "There are still 90 hostages, including the Bibas family, Agam Berger, and Arbel Yehoud. To the prime minister, government members, coalition, and opposition—my heart is with those who supported the deal. To its opponents, the people will hold you accountable."

"To the families of the fallen, my heart goes out to you. On this day, when I should feel happy, I find no joy. At Nahal Oz, 54 soldiers lost their lives defending their posts. My gratitude extends to former President Biden, President Trump, and others. However, the work is far from done; until all our family members are home, there will be no joy."

After a vehicle displaying Hezbollah flags approached troops operating in southern Lebanon, IDF soldiers operated in order to remove the threat, the military announced Sunday.

Additionally, the IDF fired warning shots to disperse dozens of rioters, causing them to retreat.

The IDF said they are determined to continue operating in accordance with the agreement between Israel and Lebanon, despite Hezbollah's attempts to reestablish a presence in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli air force, in a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), struck a terrorist cell in a vehicle in Kabatiya on Friday, the IDF said in a statement.

The cell planned to carry out an attack in the immediate future in the northern West Bank.

Last week, The IDF began the wide-ranging operation on Palestinian terror in Jenin, killing several terrorists in the mission meant to last a minimum of several days and potentially much longer.

Conditions are 'not yet in place' for the safe return of Lebanese citizens to southern Lebanon, according to a joint statement by the top UN official in Lebanon and the chief of the UN peacekeeping mission to Lebanon on Sunday.

They said that the timelines set under the US-brokered ceasefire that halted last year's war with Hezbollah were not met, urging recommitment from both Israel and Lebanon.

The statement comes after Israeli forces reportedly killed three people and wounded 44 others trying to return to homes in south Lebanon, where Israeli troops remained on the ground after a deadline for their withdrawal passed on Sunday.

Senior Hamas officials said that mediators are working to apply pressure on negotiations for the release of Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud, according to a report from Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday.

Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Romi Gonen have completed their medical checks following their release from Hamas captivity one week ago, Ynet reported Sunday afternoon. 

An IAF drone struck to disperse a gathering that included armed individuals in Balata in the West Bank, the IDF announced on SUnday.

The IDF on Sunday morning fired on suspects in Lebanon who tried to cross into Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, given that the 60-day deadline for the military to withdraw passed earlier Sunday morning.

Sources originally indicated to the Jerusalem Post and Lebanese media and security sources reported that five Lebanese were wounded by the fire.

Later updates by the Lebanese Health Ministry placed the numbers at 15 killed and over 83 injured, raising the toll from earlier Lebanese reports of 11 killed and 80 injured.

Despite the indications and reports, the IDF publicly only said that there had been an incident, that soldiers had opened fire to compel the Lebanese persons to distance themselves from IDF positions, and that whether anyone was wounded was being probed.

Kfar Kila is one of some dozens of locations where the IDF has said it will not fully withdraw from at this time, claiming that the Lebanese army is not fully deploying to all of southern Lebanon and is also frequently not destroying Hezbollah weapons when it takes up certain positions.

Keith Siegel, an American taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, will reportedly be released next week as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

The report on NBC News, citing Israeli sources, is a sign that Siegel is alive. 

It came hours after four Israeli women soldiers went free in the agreement’s second hostage release on Saturday. In the first stage of the ceasefire, a total of 33 hostages are slated to be released over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners.

So far, the seven captives who have been released have all been women. 

On Saturday, Feb. 1, according to NBC and Israeli reports, Hamas is expected to release Siegel along with two women: Arbel Yehud, a civilian, and Agam Berger, a soldier.