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What is going on in Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza?

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Pictures of Shiri Bibas and her children Kfir and Ariel who are held hostage in Hamas captivity hang outside the protest tent calling for the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 19, 2025. (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Pictures of Shiri Bibas and her children Kfir and Ariel who are held hostage in Hamas captivity hang outside the protest tent calling for the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, outside the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 19, 2025.
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Reporter's Notebook: 'Post' examines ceasefire's effect on Gaza border security landscape

Reporter's Notebook: A ground look at how IDF withdrawals and open mass movement of Palestinians has impacted security.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
 Israeli Military vehicles operate by the border with Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Israel February 15, 2025. (photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
Israeli Military vehicles operate by the border with Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Israel February 15, 2025.
(photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

I visited Gaza four times during this war and was on the Israeli side of the Gaza border countless times, starting from October 11, 2023, while the IDF was still finishing up its clearance of Hamas invaders.

And yet it was critical for me to see the changes, both on the Israeli side and, as much as possible, on the Gaza side, since the January 19 ceasefire.

The ceasefire led to massive IDF withdrawals from nearly all of Gaza, other than a 700-1,100 meter perimeter and a small force on the Philadelphi Corridor with Egypt.

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WATCH: IAF strikes weapons belonging to old Syrian regime in southern Syria

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
IAF strikes weapons belonging to the old Syrian regime in the area of Sasa in southern Syria, February 18, 2025 (CREDIT: IDF SPOKESMAN UNIT).
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IDF withdraws most forces from Lebanon, keeping five border outposts

The IDF said that the Lebanese army is doing better than ever before and is surprisingly confronting Hezbollah in some instances but that its performance is still far below where it needs to be.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
A sign shows the border between Israel and Lebanon, with a map of IDF's five outposts and an Israeli soldier (illustrative) (photo credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90, GOOGLE MAPS/THE JERUSALEM POST, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
A sign shows the border between Israel and Lebanon, with a map of IDF's five outposts and an Israeli soldier (illustrative)
(photo credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90, GOOGLE MAPS/THE JERUSALEM POST, IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The IDF withdrew most of its forces from southern Lebanon early Tuesday, while the military will maintain five outposts a few hundred meters from the border each manned by a company of troops for an indefinite period.

Already overnight the Lebanese army started to deploy to the villages that the IDF was leaving.

According to the Lebanese army, late Monday and early Tuesday its military units were deployed in the following towns: Al-Abbasiya, Al-Majidiya, Kafr Kila – Marjayoun in the Eastern Sector; Al-Adisa, Markaba, Houla, Mays al-Jabal, Blida, Mehibib – Marjayoun in the Central Sector; and Maroun al-Ras and the remaining part of Yaroun – Bint Jbeil in another sector.

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IAF targets weapons linked to Assad regime in Syria

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

The Israel Air Force struck weapons belonging to the old Syrian regime in the Sasa region of southern Syria, the military reported on Tuesday.

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Hamas proposes release of all phase two hostages at once

Israel's security cabinet has not yet authorized negotiations on the proposal.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Families of Israeli hostages and activists protest for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, near the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 14, 2025. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Families of Israeli hostages and activists protest for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, near the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, February 14, 2025.
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Hamas has submitted a new proposal that would involve releasing all remaining hostages at once in phase two, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem announced on Tuesday night. 

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Israeli official: Body of Hadar Goldin will be returned from Gaza next week

Israeli families' advocacy successfully adds pre-October 7 captives, including fallen soldier Hadar Goldin, to hostage negotiations, with Goldin's body now expected to be returned next week.

By ANNA BARSKY, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Sec.-Lt. Hadar Goldin. (photo credit: Courtesy)
Sec.-Lt. Hadar Goldin.
(photo credit: Courtesy)

The body of Hadar Goldin will not be returned to Israel this week, but rather towards the end of phase one next week, an Israeli official told Maariv on Tuesday.

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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.
  • 73 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