Hamas expected to free three hostages, Israeli forces foil planned terror attacks
Israel set to stay in Syria for years to come • Gazan rocket fired at Israel lands inside Strip, IDF strikes launcher
Israel expects Hamas to free three hostages Saturday, asks for more living captives
Hamas confirms it will release three hostages on Saturday as Israel pushes for all remaining living captives to be freed.
Israeli officials expect Hamas to deliver on Friday a list of three hostages to be released on Saturday, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. Qatari Prime Minister Al-Thani is expected to send the list to Mossad chief David Barnea.
The release that is expected during the weekend follows Hamas' threat earlier this week to withhold the hostages unless Israel fulfills its humanitarian obligations. Hamas claims that Israel has not allowed all the agreed-upon humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip as stipulated in the agreement.
On Thursday, Hamas stated that Israel had agreed to allow pre-fabricated housing and heavy equipment for rubble removal into Gaza. However, Prime Minister’s spokesperson Omer Dostri dismissed these reports as "fake news" in a post on X.
Later, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that, "as of now," nothing will enter through the Rafah border crossing, but "things might change in the coming days." The sources added that any equipment and housing units if allowed entry, would come through an Israeli border crossing, where they would be inspected and cleared by security personnel before reaching Gaza.
Former hostage Ohad Ben Ami discharged from hospital
Former hostage Ohad Ben Ami, who was released from Hamas captivity six days ago, was discharged from the hospital on Thursday, the Hostages Families Fourm subsequently announced.
Go to the full article >>IDF troops thwart suspect at entrance to army base in West Bank
IDF troops thwarted a suspect who approached the entrance of an army base in the West Bank, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
Go to the full article >>Source to 'Post': Israel 'optimistic' that hostage deal can be continued
Earlier, Hamas reportedly said it was ready to commit to the continuation of the hostage deal and the sixth hostage release on Saturday.
Israel is optimistic that the hostage deal can be continued and that the next release of hostages can be achieved on Saturday, a source with knowledge told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
Go to the full article >>IDF strikes car bomb in Jenin intended to detonate near troops - report
The IDF conducted a strike on a car bomb in Jenin, located in the West Bank, Israeli media reported on Thursday morning.
Go to the full article >>Hamas 'committed' to agreement, release of hostages on Saturday - report
The report claimed that Hamas conditioned this step in exchange for Israel "bringing in [to the Gaza Strip] caravans, tents, fuel, heavy equipment, medicines, hospital renovation materials."
Hamas is ready to commit to the continuation of the hostage deal and the sixth hostage release on Saturday, according to the Saudi news outlet Asharq on Thursday, citing a source familiar with the matter.
Go to the full article >>Hostage families, protesters block southern Ayalon Highway
Hostage families and protesters of the women's protest movement blocked the Ayalon Highway near the Yitzhak Sade bridge, calling for the return of all the hostages, Israeli media reported on Thursday morning.
Go to the full article >>Thai hostage's teeth broken by Hamas terrorists during captivity - N12
The Thai national who returned from captivity with broken teeth underwent rehabilitation at the Shamir Medical Center in Be'er Yaakov.
Hamas terrorists hit one of the Thai hostages released in the hostage-ceasefire deal in January with a weapon and broke his teeth, Channel 12 reported on Wednesday.
Go to the full article >>Hamas to resume hostage release deal as previously agreed - report
Hamas has reached an agreement with the Egyptian ceasefire mediators to resume the hostage release deal in its original form in exchange for caravans and fuel, Egyptian sources told UK-based Qatari news organization Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Wednesday.
Go to the full article >>Rubio to visit Germany, Israel, Saudi and UAE, State Dept says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Europe and the Middle East from February 13 to 18, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Go to the full article >>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