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Netanyahu says there will be war if hostages not returned

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 An Israeli soldier sits on a tank on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, February 11, 2025.  (photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
An Israeli soldier sits on a tank on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, February 11, 2025.
(photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

UN chief: Renewed hostilities in Gaza must be avoided at all costs

Hamas was to release more Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and other Palestinians held in Israeli detention as had happened over the past three weeks.

By REUTERS
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres looks on as he speaks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., February 5, 2025.  (photo credit: REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres looks on as he speaks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., February 5, 2025.
(photo credit: REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Hamas to continue with the planned release of hostages on Tuesday, a day after the Palestinian terrorist group announced its intention to halt the exchange.

"We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to an immense tragedy," he said in a statement.

Hamas on Monday announced it would stop releasing Israeli hostages until further notice over what it called Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, raising the risk of reigniting the conflict.

espect the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

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Family of hostage twins Gali and Ziv Berman receive signs of life

The 27-year-old twins, residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, were kidnapped from the Dor Tza'ir neighborhood. They are not included in the first phase of the current hostage deal.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Hostage families speak at a rally in Tel Aviv, 29 July 2024. (photo credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum, Paulina Patimer)
Hostage families speak at a rally in Tel Aviv, 29 July 2024.
(photo credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum, Paulina Patimer)

The family of twin hostages Gali and Ziv Berman announced on Tuesday morning that they had received signs of life from them after 494 days in captivity, Israeli media reported Tuesday morning.

“We are taking a breath on one hand, but we know whose hands they are in and how much danger their lives are in,” the family said in a statement.

Their aunt, Maccabit Meyer, discussed the news during an interview with KAN.

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Oldest hostage Shlomo Mantzur, 86, killed in Hamas captivity

Mantzur immigrated to Israel as a child with his family after surviving the Farhud massacre in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1941.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Shlomo Mantzur (photo credit: BRINGTHEMHOMENOW)
Shlomo Mantzur
(photo credit: BRINGTHEMHOMENOW)

Kibbutz Kissufim announced on Tuesday the death of Shlomo Mantzur, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and held in the Gaza Strip for 494 days.

"With a heavy heart, we kibbutz members received the news this morning of the murder in Hamas captivity of our dear friend, Shlomo Mantzur, 86, who was kidnapped from his home," the kibbutz said in an official statement. "Shlomo was much more than a community member to us – he was a father, a grandfather, a true friend, and a beating heart of Kissufim. This is one of the hardest days in the history of our kibbutz."

The kibbutz also described Mantzur's death as "a wound that will not heal." They also demanded the Israeli government and world leaders "to act decisively to return all hostages - living and dead."

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Hostage families block Highway 1 on way to Jerusalem

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

The families of hostages still held captive in Gaza blocked Highway 1 on the way to Jerusalem alongside activists demanding the continuation of a hostage deal on Tuesday morning.

Those blocking the traffic have demanded that the Israeli government send a delegation to Doha with a full mandate to negotiate the deal's second phase ahead of the security cabinet meeting later.

"This is a demand from the prime minister to stop sabotaging the agreement," the families said in an official statement. "Netanyahu brought us a long agreement that dragged on for months. Today, it is clear that he is motivated by political considerations and is doing everything to sabotage the agreement. From the latest testimonies, our loved ones are going through a Holocaust in captivity. They will not survive there much longer."

Maya Cohen contributed to this report.

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US to Israel: IDF must withdraw from southern Lebanon by ceasefire deadline - exclusive

The United States also told Israel that the ceasefire deal with Lebanon would not be extended a second time.

By AMICHAI STEIN
 IDF operating in Lebanon, published January 16, 2024 (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
IDF operating in Lebanon, published January 16, 2024
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

The US conveyed to Israel on Monday that the IDF must withdraw from southern Lebanon by February 18, with no further extensions to the ceasefire being granted.

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Hamas suspends Gaza hostage releases until further notice, citing Israeli violations

Hamas blamed Israel for violating the agreement by delaying the return of displaced people and blocking supplies from entering Gaza.

By YUVAL BARNEA, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Hamas terrorists seen before a hostage release in Gaza City, February 1, 2025 (photo credit: Ali Hassan/Flash90)
Hamas terrorists seen before a hostage release in Gaza City, February 1, 2025
(photo credit: Ali Hassan/Flash90)

Hamas announced on its Telegram account on Monday that it is canceling the release of hostages on February 15 until further notice due to an Israeli violation.

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IDF postpones leave for combat soldiers in Southern Command following assessment

The area has also been significantly reinforced with additional units for defensive purposes.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. January 4, 2025. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. January 4, 2025.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The IDF has decided to raise the level of readiness in the Southern Command and has postponed leave for combat soldiers and operational units following a situational assessment in the area, the military announced Monday night.

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Trump: If all hostages not released by Saturday, Gaza ceasefire should be canceled

"Let all hell break loose; Israel can override it," he said. 

By SHIR PERETS
 Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Trump participates in a "Fighting Anti-Semitism in America Event" in Washington (photo credit: REUTERS)
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Trump participates in a "Fighting Anti-Semitism in America Event" in Washington
(photo credit: REUTERS)

If all the hostages held in the Gaza Strip are not returned by Saturday at noon, the ceasefire deal should be canceled, US President Donald Trump said on Monday.

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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.
  • 76 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