500th day of war: Israel working to release remaining phase one hostages this week

A drone struck a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Monday, killing a Hezbollah operative. 

This is a developing story. 

Ofer Kalderon, who was released from Hamas captivity earlier this month, lost 25 kilograms while in captivity, his family told the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee on Monday. 

“Ofer had a difficult week,” the family shared. “He started with a severe flu and a serious case of pneumonia, to the extent that his children could not visit him. We thank Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer for the dedicated care, for immediately attending to him when he fell ill, and for taking care of him day and night. Fortunately, he has now returned to stable medical condition.”

"There was a scale in the tunnel where they were held, and the terrorists rationed food for him. Ofer said he ate rotten vegetables and sometimes was given half a pita with cheese. He had no vitamin D. They showered maybe once every two to three months,” the family added. 

Two hostages who were released from Gaza captivity and were held together with hostage Nimrod Cohen provided updated information to the family, Cohen's father Yehuda told Ynet on Monday. 

"He is healthy and in reasonable condition, but he is there and will return alive. They were with him for a long time in the tunnels," Cohen told the Israeli news outlet. 
 
 

Families of hostages called for the return of their loved ones held in Gaza captivity as the country marked 500 days since the October 7 massacre on Monday. 

At 7:00 a.m., families of the hostages began marching towards the Knesset in Jerusalem. 

Levi Ben Baruch, uncle of hostage Edan Alexander, 21, who is currently held in captivity, led a prayer for the return of the hostages in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem. 

"500 days that our brothers and sisters have been held captive by Hamas. We begin the morning with a cry and plead to the Creator of the World to redeem them from their suffering. Shema Yisrael, we hear the harrowing testimonies, and our hearts are torn apart," he said, according to N12.

A senior Hamas official called October 7 a "historic success" at a forum organized by Qatari-based news outlet Al Jazeera on Sunday, Israeli media reported early Monday morning.

"October 7 is a historic success in which hundreds of people managed to destroy and dismantle the IDF's Gaza Division," Osama Hamdan said, distancing himself from the current situation in Gaza. "Hamas's victory is an opportunity in that Israel's defeat is possible and also a challenge - is there readiness and seriousness for such a battle?"

He also stated at the forum that Hamas did not ask Hezbollah for help in the war, but former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah offered military assistance.

Hamas threatening Israel with freezing the release of hostages last week was no shock to a former employee of the Biden administration, as he explained in an op-ed in The Washington Post on Friday.

Brett McGurk served as deputy assistant to the president and White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa from 2021 to 2025 under the Biden administration.

"These latest threats are part of the same pattern," McGurk wrote. "[Former] President Joe Biden was right to stand firmly by Israel and demand the release of hostages by Hamas. And President Donald Trump is right to do the same."

The IDF launched a large-scale arrest operation in an Arab village of Al Arub, south of Efrat in the West Bank, during an operation overnight between Sunday and Monday, Walla reported on Monday morning.

Hamas expressed that they would be ready to hand the Gaza Strip over to the Palestinian Authority, sources told Sky News Arabic in a Sunday night report. 

The sources reportedly explained that Hamas said that any of their government employees would be "re-absorbed into the new administration. Or that they would retire, with a guarantee that their salaries be paid."

US President Donald Trump presented the only plan for the Gaza issue that can work, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations on Sunday.

Trump’s “bold new vision” was the only plan that enabled a different future for both Israel and Gaza, he said.
“We have the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” Netanyahu said.

Later, on Sunday, Trump said regarding the Gaza plan that it was "up to Israel" to decide what to do next "in consultation with me."

"I told Netanyahu: You can do whatever you want," Trump added.

US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff informed Egypt that negotiations for phase two of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas have begun, according to sources close to the Arabic channel Al Ghad, the channel reported on Sunday night. 

The sources also reportedly mentioned that Witkoff clarified that the second phase would include 19 living soldiers who were kidnapped, as well as Hamas returning the kidnapped bodies.

The negotiations will also define the positions of both sides to reach an agreement to end the war.