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Netanyahu and Trump to meet in DC, Lapid offers safety net for deal continuation

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands with U.S. President Donald Trump after signing the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and some of its Middle East neighbors, in a strategic realignment of Middle Eastern countries against Iran, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/TOM BRENNER/FILE PHOTO)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands with U.S. President Donald Trump after signing the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and some of its Middle East neighbors, in a strategic realignment of Middle Eastern countries against Iran, 2020
(photo credit: REUTERS/TOM BRENNER/FILE PHOTO)

Lapid: 'There is no reason not to move forward with the next phase of the deal'

Lapid made the comments while visiting Kibbutz Nir Oz as Phase 2 negotiations are set to begin.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Opposition Leader Yair Lapid makes comments at Kibbutz Nir Oz, February 3, 2025. (photo credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT, Yair Lapid X page)
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid makes comments at Kibbutz Nir Oz, February 3, 2025.
(photo credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT, Yair Lapid X page)

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Monday ahead of the negotiations of the second phase of the hostage deal that there are no political obstacles that should prevent the Israeli government from completing it.

He made the comments during a visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, calling it “one of the symbols of the massacre.”

“I am standing here in Kibbutz Nir Oz. This past Saturday, Jordan Bibas returned home after 487 days in captivity. For part of that time, he was held in a cage, beaten, and tortured. We do not know the fate of his wife, Shiri, or their children, Kfir and Ariel,” Lapid said.

“We owe it to the hostages and the murdered to ensure that this place does not become a desolate memorial to the dead. It must be a place of hope and rebuilding,” he added.

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IDF failed to stop West Bank terror in 2023 and 2024 - will 'Iron Wall' succeed? - analysis

The Israeli military is adopting a mindset that argues using tougher tactics from Gaza may produce greater deterrence against Palestinian terror.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
 IDF troops operate in the northern West Bank. February 2, 2025. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops operate in the northern West Bank. February 2, 2025.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Since October 7, 2023, the IDF has killed over 850 Palestinians in the West Bank, with over 90% of them said to be terrorists. It also said that it has arrested well over 6,000 Palestinians since the war began and carried out over 120 airstrikes in the territory.

In July 2023 and this past August, the IDF undertook massive and extended operations in Jenin and other parts of the northern West Bank. For a short amount of time, following these operations, there seemed to be a drop in terrorist activity. But this was short-lived, and Palestinian terror waves from the West Bank returned.

That is why on January 21, the IDF began Operation Iron Wall, its third major West Bank operation in less than two years, coupled with the nearly nightly raids it has been undertaking since March 2022. The question is: How is this operation different from the previous ones, and might it mean that the IDF won’t need to carry out another major one in six months?

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IDF destroys terror infrastructure in Jenin in Operation Iron Wall

Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly gave instructions to the IDF to destroy any building "incriminated" in terrorist activity.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Smoke rises during an Israeli army operation in Jenin, February 2, 2025. (photo credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)
Smoke rises during an Israeli army operation in Jenin, February 2, 2025.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)

The IDF destroyed several buildings in Jenin as part of Operation Iron Wall, launched to eliminate terrorists and their infrastructure in the West Bank, the military announced Sunday. 

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Hostages given sedatives after starvation, cages, and wet-cloths-'showers' in Hamas captivity

Families of those freed on Saturday described the physical and emotional toll their loved ones.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An Israeli flag flies as people watch footage of released hostage Ofer Kalderon, on the day of the release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel February 1, 2025. (photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
An Israeli flag flies as people watch footage of released hostage Ofer Kalderon, on the day of the release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel February 1, 2025.
(photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Newly released Israeli hostages have revealed the brutal conditions they endured in Hamas captivity—severe malnutrition, psychological torment, and forced confinement in cages. Families of those freed on Saturday described the physical and emotional toll their loved ones.

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Abbas calls for emergency UNSC session on IDF West Bank op.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  (photo credit: REUTERS/DAVID 'DEE' DELGADO)
(photo credit: REUTERS/DAVID 'DEE' DELGADO)

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas demanded an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) following the IDF's activities in the West Bank which are part of Operation Iron Wall, Palestinian Authority state media WAFA on Sunday evening.

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Netanyahu lands in Washington, to discuss hostage deal extension with Trump

Netanyahu to reporters before taking off: 'It is a very important meeting' • PM says Saudi Arabia normalization on the cards in Trump talks

By AMICHAI STEIN
 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boards the Wing of Zion plane to head to Washington DC to meet with US President Donald Trump, February 2, 2025. (photo credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boards the Wing of Zion plane to head to Washington DC to meet with US President Donald Trump, February 2, 2025.
(photo credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been welcomed at Blair House in Washington on Sunday evening ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

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Katz: Either Lebanese drones disappear or Hezbollah will

Air force fires on two Gazan cars in two separate incidents which tried to avoid inspection.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
 Defense Minister Israel Katz visits Mount Hermon. January 28, 2025. (photo credit: ARIEL HERMONI/MOD)
Defense Minister Israel Katz visits Mount Hermon. January 28, 2025.
(photo credit: ARIEL HERMONI/MOD)

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday said that either drone threats from Lebanon will stop existing or Hezbollah itself will stop existing.

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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.
  • 79 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.
  • Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire on January 17, 2025
  • 735 terrorists will be released as part of the hostage deal