Swords of Iron: sources IIIII

This is part 5 of primary sources for Swords of Iron" or use the Template:

Main article: Swords of Iron

Continuing from Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Introduction

Oct 7, 2023 atrocities, the thousands of "Palestinian" Arab Muslim barbarian (Hamas/PIJ, PFLP & ordinary Gazans) onslaught on southern Israel - under Allah Akbar cries: massacring youth at a festival, torching families alive at their homes, suffocating shelters with people in them, mass torture, mass rape - some even post mortem - all while laughing, slaughtering children in front of their parents - parents in front of their children, beheading babies, dismembering bodies, kidnapping kids, men women into Gaza while parading them to cheers of other racist Arab masses. It led to operation Swords of Iron.

Notes Part I: Jan 17 2025 - Feb 26 2025

US military strikes Houthi targets in Yemen - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/17/2025 07:26 AM JPost

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Macron to travel to Lebanon on Friday. By Reuters. 01/17/2025 07:27 AM JPost

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Bibas family marks Kfir's second birthday in captivity. Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 8:54 AM INN

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'We are dealing with the devil'. Col. (ret.) Amit Assa on the hostage-for-ceasefire deal: 'You can't deal with the devil if you want to kill him'. Lidar Grave-Lazi, ILTV|1.17.25. YNet

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Hostage's father: This deal comes too late for my son. Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 11:31 AM INN

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PMO: First hostages expected to be released on Sunday. Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 12:00 PM INN

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These are the 33 hostages who are expected to be released. The list does not indicate the conditions of the hostages or which of them are still alive. Yoni Kempinski. Jan 17, 2025, 10:26 AM (GMT+2)

The list of the names of the hostages who are expected to be released in the first phase of the hostage deal has been published.

The hostages who are expected to be released include Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Ohad Ben Ami, the four members of the Bibas family, Yarden, Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir, Agam Berger, and Romi Gonen.

In addition, Daniella Gilboa, Emily Damari, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Yair Horn, Omer Wenkert, Alexander Troufanov, Arbel Yehud, Ohad Yahalomi, Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, Naama Levy, Oded Lifshitz, Gadi Moshe Mozes, Avera Mengistu, Shlomo Mansour, Keith Samuel Siegel, Tsahi Idan, Ofer Calderon, Tal Shoham, Doron Steinbrecher, Omer Shem-Tov, Itzik Elgarat, Hisham al-Sayed, and Eli Sharabi are expected to be freed during the first phase.

It is important to note that the list does not indicate the condition of the hostages or if they are still alive.

The kidnapped civilian women and the Bibas children are expected to be released first, followed by the female IDF observers, the men over 50, and the wounded and sick younger men.

Senior officials clarified that since Israel is dealing with the Hamas terrorist organization, nothing is certain and Hamas may try to torpedo the deal at various stages. Therefore, this list should not be taken as a guarantee that the hostages named within will be released.

In addition, it should be noted that at each stage, only after the hostages are released and received by IDF forces and after the families have been updated, will the Prime Minister's Office issue an official announcement containing the names of the hostages who are expected to be released that day. INN

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Israel's Security Cabinet to convene to approve hostage deal. Itamar Eichner|1.17.25. YNet

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Republican Senator Graham: I don't doubt Bibi. Most Israelis understand that the deal was necessary.

Graham told KAN news reporter that the relationship between the Trump administration and Israel will be strong and solid, and that the agreement to the hostage deal did not stem from Trump's pressure on Netanyahu.

Natan Gutman | January 16, 2025.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told our reporter tonight (Thursday) that relations between the Trump administration and Israel will be strong and solid, and that the agreement to the hostage deal did not stem from pressure from Trump on Netanyahu: "It's not just Bibi, but a large majority of Israelis who understood that a deal had to be made to return their hostages". Graham said. 

"It is not easy to deal with terrorist organizations," he added. "The choice was either to abandon the hostages and continue fighting, or to harm Hamas and then return the hostages. I do not doubt Bibi's decision." Kan

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Fate of Bibas kids, Gaza’s youngest hostages, grips Israel as deal set to return them. Two small children who have become a symbol of Oct. 7 are to be brought back under the agreement, but it is unclear they are alive. By Sharon Aronowicz and Michael Blum. January 17, 2025, 8:53 am [1]. TOI

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In latest antisemitic attack in Australia, cars and home vandalized in Sydney. Vehicles painted with anti-Jewish slurs, as former house of Jewish community leader is defaced; police minister vows to ‘hunt’ down perpetrators. By AFP. January 17, 2025, 9:03 am TOI

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IDF begins proceedings against haredim who did not report for draft. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/17/2025 09:20 AM JPost

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'Significant progress' in talks between Netanyahu, Smotrich regarding hostage deal. By Amichai Stein. 01/17/2025 09:36 AM JPost

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Katz cancels administrative detention orders against Jews in the West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/17/2025 10:04 AM JPost

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Iranian president arrives in Moscow for treaty signing with Putin, TASS says. By Reuters. 01/17/2025 10:50 AM JPost

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For many Israelis, prospect of hostage release is tempered by concerns about freeing terrorists. Supporters of the Gaza accord often acknowledge it is a ‘bad deal,’ yet one they vehemently believe Israel must accept in order to be true to its values By Deborah Danan. January 17, 2025, 12:16 pm TOI

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Hamas claims these are the achievements of the 10/7 massacre. Dalit Halevi. Jan 17, 2025, 12:20 PM INN

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Guidelines for hospitals set to receive hostages include STD checks, pregnancy tests. Ministry official says new protocols differ ‘significantly’ from November 2023 hostage release, as captives to return from over 15 months in captivity By Diana Bletter. January 17, 2025, 12:56 pm TOI

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Katz releases all settlers in administrative detention, ties it to Palestinians’ release ‘It is better for the families of Jewish settlers to be happy than the families of freed terrorists,’ defense minister says ahead of Gaza deal. By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff. January 17, 2025, 1:03 pm TOI

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Iran and Russia can finalize nuclear plant agreements, Pezeshkian tells Putin. By Reuters. 01/17/2025 01:36 PM JPost

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'Operation Way of the Land'. Israel Prison Service prepares to release thousands of terrorists. Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 2:11 PM INN

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Hostage deal: Murderers to be released into Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. Orly Harari. Jan 17, 2025, 2:27 PM INN

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Former National Security Adviser: 'The war will continue even during the ceasefire'. Nitzan Keidar. Jan 17, 2025, 2:26 PM. INN

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Security Cabinet approves hostage deal ICC prosecutor meets with Syria's de facto ruler in Damascus, SANA says. By Reuters. 01/17/2025 03:29 PM JPost

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Security Cabinet has recommended that the Government approve the proposed hostage deal framework. Uzi Baruch. Jan 17, 2025, 3:31 PM ...Minister of Culture Miki Zohar stated: "After I learned the details of the deal, I was convinced that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump insisted on the fundamental principles critical to Israel's security and more is unknown than is known." INN

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President Herzog: 'I harbor no illusions - the deal will bring challenges'. Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 3:33 PM INN

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Ugandan judge who backed Israel in genocide[sic] case said set to become ICJ chief. Julia Sebutinde, court’s current vice president, is expected to succeed Nawaf Salam after he is appointed Lebanon’s PM; Sebutinde was sole dissenting vote on every ICJ measure. By ToI Staff. January 17, 2025, 4:14 pm TOI

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Netanyahu seeks US visit, Trump promises on Iran. Incoming US president says PM will be among first to visit him, during which Netanyahu will try to secure best cooperation. Itamar Eichner|1.17.25. YNet

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Trump names Mel Gibson, with history of Jew-hatred, ‘special’ Hollywood envoy. JNS Staff. (Jan. 17, 2025 / JNS). JNS

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January 17, 2025. Human Rights Watch ignores international law in condemning Israeli attack on Houthi installations. Human Rights Watch issued a press release condemning Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.  Everything you need to know about how ... EoZ

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Syria claims to thwart weapons smuggling attempt into Lebanon. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/17/2025. JPost

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Justice Ministry releases names of Palestinian prisoners to be released in deal. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/17/2025. JPost

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Israel expands war objectives to address West Bank security. Shirit Avitan Cohen. 01-17-2025. ILH

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Photos: Female Cabinet ministers, PMO employees light Shabbat candles. As the Cabinet meeting discussing the hostage deal continued into Shabbat, female ministers left the meeting for the lighting of Shabbat candles, along with the employees of the Prime Minister's office. [2] Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 8:08 PM INN

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G7 condemns Kremlin-funded Russian 'global disinformation and influence campaigns'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/17/2025. JPost

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US imposes sanctions on Yemen Kuwait Bank, Treasury website shows. By Reuters. 01/17/2025. JPost

US imposes sanctions on Yemeni bank accused of financing Houthis. US Treasury Department designates Yemen Kuwait Bank, saying Houthis exploit Yemeni banking sector to launder money and transfer funds to Hezbollah, facilitate Iran oil sales. By Agencies. January 17, 2025. TOI

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UN chief: UNIFIL found 100 Hezbollah arms caches in south Lebanon since truce began. Only peacekeepers, Lebanese military should be in the area, says Guterres, calling for end to Israeli ‘occupation’; Macron, Aoun also demand IDF withdraw, as Jan. 26 deadline looms. By Agencies and ToI Staff. January 17, 2025. TOI

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CIA employee pleads guilty to leaking classified intel on Israel’s plans to strike Iran. Asif William Rahman admits he illegally downloaded, printed and distributed classified information on several occasions; sentencing is scheduled for May. By Reuters and ToI Staff. January 17, 2025. TOI

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Russia, Iran deepen defense ties as Putin and Pezeshkian sign 20-year pact. While agreement doesn’t specify arms transfers between the two sanctioned countries, Putin offers aid to Tehran’s nuclear program as he and Pezeshkian express hope for a Gaza truce. By ToI Staff and Agencies. January 17, 2025. TOI

Iranian President meets with Putin ahead of new pact. Jan 17, 2025 [...] While Tehran has previously expressed its hope for accelerated cooperation in the North-South Corridor and the Russia-Iran gas transfer project – there has been little progress on Iran becoming an energy hub for Russian gas.

As several analysts have noted, the pact’s timing is a sign that Moscow and Tehran are bracing for Donald Trump’s return to the White House this month.

Hanna Notte, expert in arms control, security, and Russian foreign policy, said in a thread on X, that both countries have emerged as “losers” in the post-October 7,2023 Middle East, referring to the weakening of Iran's "axis of resistance" due to Israeli-led attacks and the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally to Russia and Iran.

“Both Russia & Iran see some utility in signaling the robustness of their partnership at this time - and that Trump won't be able to drive a wedge between them,” Notte wrote.

Nearly three years on, Russia's war on Ukraine continues, with Iran playing a key role as Moscow's ally in supplying drones and missiles. Iranian-made drones, including the Shahed series, have been crucial in Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Reports also suggest that Tehran provided ballistic missiles to enhance Russia's military capabilities.

Advisers to Trump, who takes office next Monday, are reportedly crafting a wide-ranging sanctions strategy to facilitate a Russia-Ukraine diplomatic accord in the coming months while at the same time squeezing Iran, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. IranIntl

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Israel publishes list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed in hostage deal’s first phase. Among those slated for release is notorious Fatah terrorist Zakaria Zubeidi, convicted murderers from Hamas and Islamic Jihad * PA reaches deal with armed groups in Jenin to end standoff By ToI Staff. January 18, 2025. TOI

Palestinian Authority, Jenin Battalions sign truce following month of clashes - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025. JPost

PA makes deal with Jenin Battalion, ending standoff in West Bank city and camp. Truce comes after rupture in talks said to have been caused by IDF’s resumption of airstrikes in area; battalion members to surrender arms to Ramallah following 6-week operation. By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff. January 18, 2025. TOI

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Trump Appoints Mel Gibson, With Antisemitic Past, Pro-Israel Actor Jon Voight as Hollywood Ambassadors. by Shiryn Ghermezian. January 17, 2025. Algemeiner

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Ireland Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism Amid Row With Israel. January 17, 2025. Algemeiner

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Netanyahu Says Israel Has ‘Unequivocal’ Guarantee of US Support Should Gaza War Resume. January 17, 2025 Algemeiner

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Critically injured soldier: A mother’s struggle for support and recovery. For over a year, Inbal Nechmad has fought for her son Ido, a soldier critically injured by a sniper in Gaza; As he lies unconscious, family dedicates their lives to his recovery, advocating for support and singling out one member of Knesset for praise. Alexandra Lukash|1.18.25. YNet

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Terrorist infiltration sirens sound in West Bank community. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025. JPost

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Lack of moderates among Palestinian Islamo-Arabs [Sodom] - forced humane Israel into a dangerous hostage deal.

01.17.25

This is about the agreement to a bad deal in principle, forced by the situation, though the pressed on a date [per US politics, optics on Jan/20 inauguration] probably made a bad deal, worse.

GAZANS

The horrors of Oct/7 led by Islamic-Caliphate-seeking genocidal Hamas (who succeeded as a result, after Israel gave all Gaza away in 2005, the terror entity which controls Gaza Ministry of Health which provides false data to media) by some 6,000 -- suffocating families hiding in shelters, raping while shouting in ecstasy 'Allah hu akbar' and demoniacs laughs; beheadings, body mutilations; burning families alive -- had included also: the sick cheering by masses in Gaza receiving the hostages. The twisted jubilation.

The searing question is: where are the moderate Arabs?

1930s-1940s Arab-Palestine legacy.

It's logical to assume that, hypothetically, if the inventor of genocidal "adbakh al Yahud' some nine years before agitating to the butchering accompanied with rapes of Haredi non-Zionist pious Jews in Hebron, two decades before becoming Hitler's Mufti - Haj Amin al- Husseini via his gangs (which included Ahmad Shukeiri who even assisted in assassination of his brother Dr. Anwar) had not massacred the thousands of moderate Arabs between 1936-1939, the Feb 1941 poll by Sari Sakakini would not have shown as it did: 88% Arab-Palestine for Nazis, (though 23 May 1937 NYT reporting showed pro Hitler, how all Arabs celebrated Muhammad's birthday). CIA report Aug-1942 also showed a majority guilty.

It seems, looking back at history, the guilty mainstream there, never ceased since - at least considerably. So was the 1947/1948 explanation by Arab Higher Committee’s Jamal Husseini on Arab objection to Israel as a State - because it will interrupt the "Arab race", through: 'Mein Kampf' a bestseller since 1999; mixture of: Holocaust denial on one hand and despicable comparisons to fighting on the other with Nazi glorification in-between - 'Swastika-Palestine'; 2014 93% of Arab Palestinians anti-Semitic (ADL poll); 2015 reported shameless 'Hitler' store so popular there - destroyed by IDF in 2023, and the present situation: as it is today.

[And just who are the main agitators for anti-Jewish racism in the West, today, "Buddhist" immigrants ya think?]

The talk about de-radicalizing Gaza, isn't just talk. It's THE issue.

No one is born a racist. Excuse the pun, but Arab-Islamic-Palestine textbooks are textbook racism, and deaths glorification [in their jargon "martyrdom"], continuing with officials media official linked sermons. That goes for "moderate" PA too, of course.

IMAGINE

Imagine had there been a considerable moderate part in Gaza, if the answer is that everyone is afraid, naturally, of the brutal regime, but at least a protest through poll.

But no.

Public opinion on Gaza's regime Hamas among Palestinian Arabs living there, has been mixed throughout the war, with some polls showing a significant decline in support for the terrorist group due to the deprivations of the war, and some polls showing enduring support for Hamas continuing to rule or at least making the right decision in launching the October 7 attack. Yet, most polls conducted by "Palestinian" polling firms show more support for Hamas as well as its decision to launch the October 7 attack in Judea and Samaria compared to in Gaza. Nevertheless, at least a significant portion of Gazans want Hamas to stay. That, after all the destruction it has caused, triggering the war to begin with, mingling among civilians, controlling aid. Not to mention the general, always brutality and torturous dictatorship throughout.

Of course terrorists' continued use of civilians is boosted by fuel flooding from protests with drama slurs and media broadcasting graphic imagery. But what are most Gazans' simple personal priorities, aspirations?

[As a whole, the Arab "Palestinians" are not terribly diverse. It's so amazing how Israelophobes, gleefully, will choose to cite Israelis only who criticize their own government and the many organizations with some, at least on the exterior, portraying themselves as for human tights (still very politically motivated in they hyperbolic charges), but can never cite parts of the Arab Palestine side, any equivalent. BTW, the southern Israelis victims on Oct/7, were peace-nicks, many - activists for the Arabs, and even while being attacked, reminding the Arabs that they are 'friends,' they still murdered them].

Rejoicing by brainwashed Arab kids shouting 'Mohammed Deif' -- Oct/7 mastermind No. 2 -- in public, as hostage deal was announced, doesn't give much hope.

AJA President Dr David Adler asked a question not asked publicly by others and which has become even more relevant. The article, written before the hostage deal, published by the Spectator magazine days later: "Where are the righteous of Gaza? Glorifying jihadists has created a populace that supports terrorism." 'The most distressing aspect of Israel’s prolonged defensive war against the barbaric Hamas terrorists is the plight of the remaining 100 hostages in Gaza. Recent testimonies from released hostages provide an insight into the dreadful conditions which hostages endured. There is evidence of beatings, starvation, sexual abuse and confinement in underground tunnels with minimal light and poor air quality.'

It's not just that crimes against humanity perpetrated by journalists including Al-Jazeera's, UNRWA guys, and doctors, but there wasn't even one righteous person to be found. One.

It reminds Abraham pleading with Almighty Creator in Genesis 18 to spare Sodom, giving his last shot: "And he said: 'Oh, let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'"

ISRAELIS: ONE BIG FAMILY'S DILEMMA AND FACING THE 'DEATH CULT'

So Israel was facing internal pressure from Israelis, who are like one big family and one cares for each other and moved by love and emotions for hostage families. This humanity overpowered in the dilemma of releasing butchers amidst trembling fear of what's to come, learning hard, very bloody lessons from releasing over 1,000 Arab terrorists in exchange for 1 Israeli soldier, in the Yigal Shalit deal, years ago. Most notoriously, Yahya Sinwar, the very masterminded Oct/7 massacres.

Sinwar, the admittedly willing to sacrifice 100,000 Arab Palestinians in order to stay in power (as testified by a dentist treating him), and as revealed (per WSJ report June 10, 2024) in his messages, a calculated strategy for maximize Arab Palestinian casualties for its goals.

How sad it is, that the non-Israel side is trying to boast about a "victory," after losing so many people, which includes also non-combatants. JustSayin'. [3]

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Houthi missile intercepted after sirens sound in central Israel, Jerusalem. IDF says aerial defenses shot down the missile; Ben-Gurion International Airport suspends flights to ensure no damage is caused to the runway; Royal Jordanian flight from Chicago to Amman diverted away from Israeli airspace amid the attack. Iris Lifshitz-Klieger, Yoav Zitun|1.18.25. YNet

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US CENTCOM commander meets SDF commander-in-chief in northern Syria. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025. JPost

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‘Selective indignation’: Rome’s chief rabbi criticizes Pope Francis over Israel remarks. Speaking Catholic-Jewish dialogue event, Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni accuses the pope of of unfairly focusing on Israel, while ignoring other world conflicts. By Agencies and ToI Staff. January 18, 2025. TOI

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‘Shalom, friends’: US Jews on TikTok brace for app’s ban after Supreme Court ruling. With the platform possibly set to be barred in the US as soon as Sunday, Jewish creators credit it for their success even as others blame it for allowing viral antisemitic content. By Andrew Lapin. January 18, 2025. TOI

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Foreign minister says Syria looking forward to return to Arab League. By Reuters. 01/18/2025. JPost

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Israel to free up to 1,904 Palestinians in 1st stage of hostage deal, including killers. Figures comprises 737 jailed Palestinians, 1,167 Gazans detained in ground op; notorious terrorist Zakaria Zubeidi, others responsible for the murder of dozens, to be freed. By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff. January 18, 2025. TOI

SHOCKING LIST: Israel will free 735 terrorists in the hostage deal The first phase of the deal includes prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks and detainees from Gaza operations. Author avatar Gila Isaacson Gila Isaacson|JFeed|16:39 01.18.25. [...] Notable prisoners to be released include Iyad Jradat, convicted of involvement in a 2003 terror attack; Mahmoud Atallah, serving a life sentence for murder; and Mahmud Abu Varda, who is serving 48 life sentences for orchestrating multiple attacks.

Among those to be released are prisoners convicted in the murders of Malachi Rosenfeld, the Henkin couple, Ari Fuld, and other attacks. The notable releases include Zakaria Zubeidi, former head of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Jenin who escaped from Gilboa Prison in 2021, and Wael Qassem, leader of the Silwan cell responsible for attacks that killed 35 Israelis, including bombings at Moment Cafe and Hebrew University.

The releases include those convicted in attacks at Jerusalem bus lines, the Stage Club bombing, Sharon Mall attack, and Hillel Cafe attack, the murder of Dvir Sorek, and multiple suicide bombings in Jerusalem and other cities during the Second Intifada. JFeed

Hostage release deal: List of 95 terrorists to be released in first phase published. Israel National News. Jan 17, 2025, 6:34 PM INN

Terrorists who murdered hundreds of Israelis to be freed in deal. Israel National News. Jan 18, 2025, 6:49 PM INN

Sickening - the monsters being released. Responsible for murder of hundreds of Israelis: These are the terrorists to be released in hostage deal. Zakaria Zubeidi, the terrorist in the affair of the pimping of the prison guards and many other murderers; The Ministry of Justice published the list of terrorists who are expected to be released as part of the first phase of the deal. Avi Nachmani| JFeed | 19:12 01.18.25. JFeed

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IDF: Two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen at Israel intercepted; no injuries. First attack sends millions to bomb shelters in central Israel, Jerusalem area; debris falls in communities near capital without causing damage; 2nd missile targets Eilat area. ([4]. Debris from a missile fired from Yemen that fell near Jerusalem on January 18, 2025. Israel Police) By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff. January 18, 2025. TOI

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IDF confirms it conducted strikes on 50 terror targets across Gaza on Friday. By Reuters. 01/18/2025. JPost

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Gunman shoots dead 2 judges in Iran’s capital tied to 1988 mass executions Assailant said to kill himself after attack at high-security Palace of Justice in Tehran; bodyguard also wounded. By AP. ([5]. Portraits of victims are displayed by representatives in France of the People's Mujahedin of Iran on the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris on October 29, 2019 to commemorate the executions of thousands of Iranian political prisoners in 1988. Photo by Eric Feferberg / AFP) January 18, 2025. TOI

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Security sources estimate 25 of the 33 hostages to be released to be alive - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025. JPost

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PA cannot replace Hamas, expert says Einat Wilf: The problem is ‘Palestinianism’ as an identity, as an ideology unites those obsessed with Israel's existence. Emily Schrader, ILTV|1.18.25. YNet

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NY’s anti-Zionist protesters celebrate ceasefire as victory, hail the ‘resistance’ No indication of a change in direction among anti-Israel activists after Gaza deal announced — only vows to continue calling to eradicate the Jewish state. ([6]. Pro-Palestinian activists during a protest in New York City, October 8, 2023. Luke Tress/Times of Israel) By Luke Tress. January 18, 2025. TOI

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US promises $117 million in support for Lebanese Armed Forces. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025. JPost

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Houthi rebels target Eilat after missile fire to central Israel. IDF says missile intercepted outside Israeli territory after sirens blared in the Arava Desert and the southern port city hours after central Israel comes under attack. Ynet|1.18.25. YNet

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Israel ceasefire deal: ‘Victory’ sets up Hamas’ next war. Netanyahu will be not the last US ally humiliated by self-centred presidential demands. The deal releases many hundreds of hardened Islamist criminals, now free to return to their murderous ways.

Daniel Pipes. January 18, 2025 - 12:00AM TheAustrsalian

The Momentous, ‘Horrific’ Hamas-Israel Deal Netanyahu Came Under Enormous Pressure to Negotiate with Hamas for the Release of Israeli Hostages, and Thereby Implicitly to Permit the Jihadi Organization to Survive. January 18, 2025. Daniel Pipes. The Weekend Australian.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas announced on Jan. 15 has implications nearly as momentous as the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre that precipitated it.

The deal comes after fifteen months of protracted indecision by the government of Israel, during which Jerusalem followed two contradictory policies toward Hamas: Destroy the organization. Make a deal with it.

The first policy, victory over Hamas, clearly appealed more to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. By my informal count, he mentioned “victory” 216 times in 76 discreet statements, from the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7 to lighting the Hanukkah candles three weeks ago. At times, as in a statement on French television, his sentences amounted to a barrage of victory talk: “Our victory is your victory,” he said. “Our victory is the victory of Israel against antisemitism. It is the victory of Judeo-Christian civilization against barbarism. It is the victory of France.”

Netanyahu spoke variously of “absolute victory,” “clear victory,” “complete victory,” “decisive victory,” “full victory,” and “total victory.”

Nor did Netanyahu just seek plain victory. He spoke variously of “absolute victory,” “clear victory,” “complete victory,” “decisive victory,” “full victory,” and “total victory.” Of these formulations, “total victory” led the pack, mentioned 81 times and showcased via a “Total Victory” baseball cap during a visit with former president Donald Trump.

Internal Israeli debates confirmed Netanyahu’s preference for victory. For example, he banged on the table and told off his national security team, according to Israel’s Channel 12: “You are weak. You don’t know how to run a tough negotiation.” An informed source concluded, “He has given up on the hostages.”

But, simultaneously, Netanyahu came under enormous pressure to negotiate with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages, and thereby implicitly to permit the jihadi organization to survive. In agreeing to haggle with Hamas, Netanyahu heeded two powerful lobbies, one foreign, one domestic.

Internationally, governments keenly sought a hostage deal, either because they sympathized with Hamas or because they feared a conflagration across the Middle East. Institutions such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court manifested the wide hostility toward Israel. Even friendly governments worried that fighting already encompassing Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea, and Yemen would further expand, perhaps dragging in their own forces, with ominous consequences.

Meanwhile, a domestic lobby pressured the government to make the return of hostages the paramount goal. Lobby members emoted, marched, and engaged in various forms of political theater, winning public opinion in the process. Polls consistently showed a massive majority prioritizing hostages over victory. One poll in October found 77 percent of Israelis saying the “main goal” of the war in Gaza should be to bring the hostages home and 12 percent say it must be to topple Hamas. A month later, another poll reported 69 percent deeming a hostage deal “more important” and 20 percent calling to continue the war until victory.

Not reaching a decision allowed Netanyahu to postpone fraught choices and prevarication staved off a governing coalition collapse.

Politicians jumped on the bandwagon, with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog declaring that “There is no greater moral, human, Jewish, or Israeli obligation than to bring our sons and daughters back to us.” Military leaders legitimized this sentiment. Maj. Gen. (res.) Noam Tibon announced that “The release of all hostages is the supreme mission of the war, before any other mission! And at the top of our priorities.” Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad went further: “No victory is possible over Hamas if it later turns out that not everything possible was done to retrieve them. An exchange is a matter of national security.”

Former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Benny Gantz stated that “The hostages must be returned, even at a very heavy price.” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari added that “We will do everything, everything, to bring all the hostages home” and “We remain committed to one central war objective – the return of the 109 hostages.”

Torn between his own preference and these dual pressures, Netanyahu prevaricated for over fifteen months between victory and hostages. He ordered a military assault on Gaza that much reduced Hamas’ capabilities even as he sent signed a partial ceasefire deal with it. He ordered the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran while insisting that hostages remained his top concern.

Not reaching a decision allowed Netanyahu to postpone fraught choices and prevarication staved off a governing coalition collapse. In the end, however, he spurned his preference for victory in favor of the hostages and a decisive ceasefire. The complex, three-phase agreement includes many moving parts and extremely detailed provisions, such as how many and what kind of Palestinians are to be exchanged for what kind of hostage.

In outline, it calls for the release of 33 hostages in exchange for the release of more than 1,000 Palestinians, including murderers, now in Israeli prisons; the withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza; an increase in aid to Gaza; the return of Gazans in most of Gaza; and the opening of a border crossing to Egypt. Further, it requires that negotiations resume within 16 days of signing to work on the release of all remaining 65 or so hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners released, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and a permanent end of hostilities.

In brief, as Israel Hayom‘s senior diplomatic and White House correspondent Ariel Kahana puts it, “Israel is, with its own hands, helping its enemy to prepare to wage war.” Netanyahu obviously knows this, if only because prior exchanges have led to disaster, so why did he agree to an agreement that his own coalition partner Itamar Ben-Gvir called “horrific”?

Why did he agree to an agreement that his own coalition partner Itamar Ben-Gvir called “horrific”? Because he fears Donald Trump.

Because he fears Donald Trump.

The president-elect stated on Jan. 7 that “all hell will break out” in the Middle East if Hamas did not release the captives it held. That seemed to mean, as vice president-elect J.D. Vance interpreted it, pressure on Hamas: “It’s very clear that President Trump threatening Hamas and making it clear that there is going to be hell to pay.”

Trump dispatched private citizen and future presidential envoy Steven Witcoff to read Netanyahu the riot act. A report in Ha’aretz tells how Witcoff compelled Netanyahu to break the Sabbath for a meeting in which he was forced “to accept a plan that [he] had repeatedly rejected over the past half year.”

This new, aggressive approach, Ran Porat of Monash University explains, obliged Netanyahu “to recalculate his positions, seeking to appease Trump.” In an unexpected irony, Sanam Vakil of Chatham House notes “the Biden administration proved unwilling to exert adequate pressure over Israel’s leadership” but Trump did. Netanyahu stood up to timid President Joe Biden but acquiesced to cowboy Donald Trump.

Why did Trump push so hard for a deal? One can only speculate but I believe him inspired by the events of Jan. 20, 1981, when an airplane carrying all American hostages took off from Tehran moments after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president, leading to an ebullient and triumphal inauguration.

Trump demanded a done deal before taking office on Monday to win a like glory for himself. Predictably, he lavishly praised on the “EPIC ceasefire agreement,” describing himself as “thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home.”

The deal releases many hundreds of hardened Islamist criminals, now free to return to their murderous ways. It nearly assures continued Hamas rule in Gaza.

He ignored, of course, the grievous future costs of his momentary success. The deal releases many hundreds of hardened Islamist criminals, now free to return to their murderous ways. It nearly assures continued Hamas rule in Gaza. It boosts Islamist morale worldwide. It humiliates the West’s foremost Middle Eastern ally. It also confirms Donald Trump’s inconstant, unreliable, and ego-driven foreign policy. Benjamin Netanyahu will be not the last U.S. ally humiliated by self-centered presidential demands.

Putting this error in the context of George W. Bush’s over-ambition (“Mission Accomplished”), Barack Obama’s shallow defeatism (“leading from behind”), and Joe Biden’s geriatric passivity (the Afghanistan rout), clarifies the shambles of U.S. foreign policy over the past quarter-century.

This leads to an inescapable conclusion: allies such as Australia must reduce their dependence on Washington. This may well be a good thing. Decreased reliance on American leadership concentrates the mind, exercises unused talents, and encourages a seriousness of purpose. Thus does an incompetent America, as symbolized by the “horrific” Hamas-Israel ceasefire, push free countries more actively to determine their own futures. MEForum

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24 in favor, 8 opposed: Israeli government approves ceasefire deal. After over seven hours of discussions, Israeli government approves deal to release around 2,000 terrorists, over 100 of whom are serving life sentences for mass murders; 33 living or dead hostages to be released in first stage of deal. Orly Harari. Jan 18, 2025, 6:18 PM (GMT+2) INN

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'The Syrian people are convinced that Israel is better than Iran'. Syria's once-thriving Jewish community of 100,000 now numbers only 8; one of them is Bakhour Chamntoub, who describes improved freedoms under the new regime, warm ties with Muslim neighbors and hope for peace between Syria and Israel despite past bloodshed. Lior Ben Ari|1.18.25. YNet

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One seriously injured in stabbing attack in Tel Aviv. Man of about 30 stabbed in upper body by 19-year-old illegal Arab from Tulkarm, armed civilian eliminates terrorist.

Israel National News. Jan 18, 2025, 5:46 PM INN

Terrorist stabs man in Tel Aviv The attacker, from Tulkarem in Samaria, was slain by a passerby.

(Jan. 18, 2025 / JNS) A Palestinian terrorist stabbed a man at the intersection of Levontin and Mikveh Yisrael streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday afternoon, a police spokesman said.

The 27-year-old victim was taken to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) with a wound to the head area. His condition was variously described as moderate and serious.

A passerby shot and killed the attacker, reportedly Salah Yahya, 19, from Tulkarem in Samaria, who was within the Green Line illegally. JNS

An hour before the end of Shabbat WATCH [GRAPHIC]: Arab stabs Jew on Shabbat afternoon in Tel Aviv . Gunman Intervenes: Assailant killed after stabbing leaves one seriously wounded on busy Tel Aviv street an hour before the end of Shabbat. Gila Isaacson |1.18.25. 17:58 JFeed

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We'll achieve goals of the war, we'll bring back all the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to Israeli public for the first time following signing of ceasefire deal with Hamas, promising to achieve all goals of the war and responding to criticism. Nitsan Keidar. Jan 18, 2025, 8:29 PM INN

Benjamin Netanyahu on the deal: We reserve right to return to fight the war The Prime Minister stressed the need to release as many hostages as possible; says he received assurances from Trump that Israel can return to fight the war.

Avi Nachmani | 20:16 01.18.25. JFeed

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Hostage families: 'mixed emotions' around deal'. While families of the hostages are eager to see their loved ones, other families are expressing concerns about nation’s security . Shosh Bedrosian, ILTV|1.18.25. YNet

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IDF on high alert as Gaza cease-fire set to begin. IDF readies for cease-fire with repositioning in Gaza, bolstering forces in West Bank and protocols for safe return of hostages Yoav Zitun|1.18.25. YNet

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Netanyahu says cease-fire 'temporary'. PM says both Biden and Trump provided assurances Israel would be supported in resuming hostilities if talks on a 2nd phase fail. Itamar Eichner|1.18.25. YNet

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Halevi calls for reinforcements of IDF troops in Central Command. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 06:00 PM JPost

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Hostage and Missing Families Forum: Stop spreading rumors about hostages to be released. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 06:54 PM JPost

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Police thwart stabbing attack at Kalandiya crossing in the West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 07:30 PM JPost

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Notices to be delivered to families of victims of terrorists released in deal. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 07:41 PM JPost

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Milei promises justice for AMIA bombing prosecutor Nisman, terrorism victims. By Michael Starr. 01/18/2025 09:01 PM JPost

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Hamas to be defeated, celebrations prevented in Judea, Samaria. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich successfully pushed for the ceasefire deal with Hamas to include a section requiring the prevention of celebrations following the release of convicted terrorists into Judea and Samaria. Israel National News. Jan 18, 2025, 9:17 PM (GMT+2) INN

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IDF says its prepared for ceasefire, schools in Gaza envelope to start at 10 a.m. on Sunday. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 10:42 PM JPost

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Israeli delegation arrives in Cairo to examine implementation of hostage deal - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 11:03 PM JPost

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IDF declares Nitzana Border Crossing a 'closed military zone'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/18/2025 11:35 PM JPost

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Trump: The hostage release deal better hold. US President-elect comments to NBC News on ceasefire and hostage release deal, says he told Netanyahu: Just keep doing what you have to do. We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 1:15 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Ari Fuld's brother: 'The release of his murderer hurts because of the next victims'. Israel National News. Jan 18, 2025, 10:52 PM INN

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Neo-Nazi impersonated a rabbi and tried to enter a Jewish center in Nashville. Neo-Nazi dresses like rabbi, enters Nashville JCC. He arrived at Gordon Jewish Community Center wearing fake beard and sidecurls and filmed himself entering the building Daniel Edelson, New York|1.19.25. YNet

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State Attorney's office rejects petition against hostage deal. By Bini Ashkenazi 01/19/2025 01:55 AM JPost

After Israel submits response. Supreme Court rejects petitions against hostage deal. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 4:56 AM INN

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Israeli forces start withdrawing from Rafah to areas along Egypt-Gaza border, Hamas media says. By Reuters. 01/19/2025 03:43 AM JPost

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Netanyahu instructs not to stop fighting until Hamas provides hostage list. By Amichai Stein. 01/19/2025 07:34 AM JPost

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In a secret mission: IDF recovers body of fallen soldier Oron Shaul from Gaza. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 8:00 AM INN

Body of soldier Oron Shaul, held by Hamas since 2014, rescued from Gaza Sergeant Oron Shaul fell in battle in Shejaiyah during Operation Protective Edge in July 2014; In a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the IDF, in which special units participated, his body was recovered from the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours Yoav Zitun|1.19.25. YNet

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Mia Schem: I can't believe the dream is happening & the nightmare is ending. Israel National News Jan 19, 2025, 8:16 AM INN

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Cease-fire set to start at 8:30 a.m. delayed. Government says in contact with mediators to ensure compliance with deal, IDF won't begin until name delivered  Ynet correspondents|1.19.25. YNet

Hamas fails to give names of hostages to be freed. Hamas repeats its commitment to the deal, says in a statement delay is due to logistical reasons. Ynet correspondents|1.19.25. YNet

Ceasefire didn't begin, Hamas didn't give names of hostages. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 8:49 AM INN

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IDF strikes terror targets in north, central Gaza. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 9:15 AM INN

IDF strikes Hamas targets in Gaza after ceasefire delay. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 09:27 AM JPost

IDF currently striking terror targets in the Gaza strip. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 09:40 AM JPost

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Pres. Herzog: 'Moment of solace, of resolving uncertainty and agonizing sorrow'. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 9:59 AM INN

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Ben-Gvir, Otzma Yehudit MKs resign from coalition, gov't. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 10:12 AM JPost

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Today is day 471 of the war. 255 hostages. 98 in captivity. 157 freed. 1834 fallen and murdered. 840 IDF soldiers. 917 civilians. 77 police officers and ISA agents. INN

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'Clear and immediate danger' Prison guards appeal decision to release terrorist to Shechem. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 10:17 AM INN

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After 1.5 hours, Hamas gives names of hostages. The start of the ceasefire was delayed by Hamas' failure to provide the names of the hostages who are supposed to be released today by the deadline.

Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 10:19 AM INN

After 18-Hour Delay: Hamas Says Emily Damari, Romi Gonen & Doron Steinbrecher To Be Freed Today. January 19, 2025. YWN

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Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbecher to be released today.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher are the three hostages who will be released this afternoon after more than 470 days in captivity in Gaza.

Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 12:21 PM INN

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Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News. Sunday, January 19, 2025. Reminder: @UNRWA teachers in Gaza celebrate terror - and Hitler. International organizations are rallying to pressure Israel not to shut down UNRWA in its territory. The World Food. Programme, for example, last week wrote in a report, "WFP can send around 1,600 trucks of food (30,200 tons) each month to facilitate distributions for over 1 million people. In order to reach everyone in need, UNRWA’s support is critical. WFP is committed to bolstering UNRWA’s food assistance delivery efforts. "

I was just browsing around some UN documents and I came across a submission by an Israeli NGO Amuta called "Palestinian Exploitation of Children as Weapons of War."

One footnote references a post I wrote on this site in 2015, which is quite relevant today as the international community wants to shore up UNRWA as a legitimate organization.

I had found a Facebook group of Gaza UNRWA teachers. Among the things the teachers posted were photos of their students pretending to be jihadists: [7].

Here is a "prescription" for shooting rockets to Israel. [8] Name of patient: Ben Gurion Age: 78 years old Male. 1 M75 (Hamas rocket) twice a day, a rocket in the morning and a rocket in the evening at 6 o'clock, before eating, together with a warning siren.

And here is a (false) Hitler quote: [9] "I could have killed all the Jews of the world but I left some of them (alive) so that the world knows why I am killing them" - Hitler.

UNRWA never acknowledged this. They silently removed the group without apology. They never, as far as I know, disciplined the teachers and employees who proudly posted antisemitism and support for terror in their group. [10].

There is no reason whatsoever to think that those teachers are not still teaching hate in Gaza.

This is only one reason why UNRWA should not exist. EoZ

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PMO: Ceasefire to go into effect at 11:15. By Amichai Stein. 01/19/2025 11:09 AM JPost

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PMO: First hostages scheduled to be released today at 4:00 PM. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 11:40 AM JPost

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Two Hundred aid trucks arrive at Kerem Shalom crossing. By Reuters. 01/19/2025 12:55 PM JPost

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Hamas says Israel will submit list of 90 Palestinian prisoners to be freed on Sunday. By Reuters. 01/19/2025 01:15 PM JPost

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PMO: Sara Netanyahu's invite to Trump inauguration a 'complete lie'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 03:15 PM JPost

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Israel's Smotrich threatens to quit government if Gaza war ends. By Reuters. 01/19/2025 03:23 PM JPost

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Chilling: Hundreds of Mass Murderers To Be Released; Families Of Victims Will Be Personally Notified. January 19, 2025. YWN

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End of 471-day nightmare: Hostages Romi, Doron and Emily handed over to IDF | Live. Ynetnews, ILTV|1.19.25.1.19.25 YNet

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To prevent attacks: This is how the IDF is preparing for the return of terrorists to Judea and Samaria. Reinforcement of forces, practice of "escalation scenarios" - and the lesson from the Shalit deal. Nir Dvori | 16:35. 1.19.25. Mako

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IDF readies for release of Palestinian prisoners back to West Bank Elisha Ben Kimon|1.19.25. YNet

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Leopard blanket and a mother’s love: Anticipation builds for Romi’s release from Gaza. Yael Ciechanover|1.19.25. YNet

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Germany's Scholz: 'Important' that Gaza ceasefire finally implemented, hostages to be released. By Reuters. 01/19/2025 03:52 PM JPost

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Thank G-d. Photo Essay: The Red Cross have our hostages. We have made a deal with devil. But getting our hostages back is all we can think about right now. Gila Isaacson | JFeed | 1.19.25 14:22 | Updated: 15:11 | JFeed

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Watch: Thousands sing at Hostages Square. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 5:45 PM INN

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At the center of an excited Gaza crowd: Documentation of the kidnapped women on their way to the IDF force. Rivka Sorek. 1.19.25. Amidst chants in Arabic and in the midst of an excited Gazan crowd: the kidnapped Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbracher, who are being released as part of the deal with Hamas, have been handed over to the Red Cross and are now making their way to the IDF and Shin Bet in the Gaza Strip. Now14

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Biden: Phase Two of Deal Includes End of Hamas Rule. Outgoing President Makes Special Statement: "One of the Most Difficult Negotiations". Tomer Almagor | 18:27. 1.19.25 Mako

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Romi, Doron and Emily returned to Israel and met with their mothers. The three kidnapped girls were returned to Israel after 471 days in Hamas captivity • Before being handed over to the IDF - the three were filmed walking and being transferred to the Red Cross, and in Israel they were updated: "Their condition is good" • The IDF published footage of the helicopters that were prepared to receive the kidnapped girls • Footage: Crowds celebrate and are excited in the abductees' square and with the relatives of the three • All updates. News Reporters 12| N12 | Published 08:46 19.01.25 | Updated 18:14 19.01.25.

.... 17:47- Prime Minister's Office: "We embrace the three kidnapped women. Blessed are you, God - who releases the bound." Mako

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IDF readies for release of Palestinian prisoners back to West Bank Elisha Ben Kimon|1.19.25. 3:50 YNet

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Leopard blanket and a mother’s love: Anticipation builds for Romi’s release from Gaza. Yael Ciechanover|1.19.25 16:37 YNet

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Back In Israel! 3 Female Hostages Reunite With Their Mothers After Being Returned To Israeli Territory January 19, 2025.

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday, marking a turning point in the 15-month-long conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip. In a key first step of the agreement, Hamas released three Israeli hostages who had been held captive since the start of the war.

The released hostages—Romi Gonen, 24, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, and Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, both abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza—were handed over to Israeli forces near the border with Gaza.

The IDF confirmed that the women have been reunited with their mothers at an IDF facility, where they underwent initial medical assessments before being taken to hospitals to meet other family members.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu described the day as “incredibly moving” and hailed the return of the hostages as a significant achievement. Speaking with Gal Hirsch, the government’s point person on hostage negotiations, Netanyahu said, “The whole nation is embracing you, welcome home.”

The Prime Minister added, “They went through hell, they are going from darkness to light, they are truly exiting slavery for freedom. This moment was achieved through the sacrifice and bravery of our heroic fighters… this is a big moment, an emotional moment. A big day.”

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas has agreed to a gradual release of 33 Israeli hostages over the next six weeks. In return, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including detainees from Gaza. Later on Sunday, Israel is expected to release approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of this arrangement.

U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking from North Charleston, South Carolina, expressed optimism about the ceasefire. “The guns in Gaza have gone silent,” Biden said, adding that he had received a call confirming the release of the first three hostages. While he noted it was still early and details about their health and safety were emerging, he said they “appear to be in good health.”

Biden emphasized the importance of persistence in ensuring the agreement’s success. “Success is going to require persistence and continuing support for our friends in the region, and the belief in diplomacy backed by deterrence,” he said.

The deal, which Biden initially outlined in May, now falls to the Trump administration to oversee and implement in the coming months. Biden credited his administration’s efforts in shaping the agreement, describing the unity among his team in its final days as “necessary, effective, and unprecedented." YWN

Welcome returnees. From the moments of liberation in the heart of Gaza until the return to Israel step by step An exciting summary from the homecoming

After 471 days in the jaws of Hamas, in terrible suffering in body and soul, today the first three abductees in the deal were released, on the way to freedom, to a sane and healthy life | 'Kikar haShabbat' in a moving summary of the dramatic moments of the liberation and the return home - to Israel, step by step. "And the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy." (News) | Kikar haShabbat. (1.19.25).

After 471 days of war, the three abductees Romi Gonen, Emily Demari and Doron Steinbracher were released today (Sunday) from the captivity of Hamas in the Gaza Strip - and reached Israeli hands at the border of the Gaza Strip.

[11].

At 5:56 p.m., the IDF spokesman informed the people of Israel that "the three returnees are now being accompanied by an elite unit of the IDF and Shin Bet forces on their way to Israel, back to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical evaluation." The announcement stated, "The commanders of the IDF and its soldiers salute and embrace the returnees on their way to Israel. The IDF spokesman asks the public to show responsibility and sensitivity and to respect the privacy of the returnees and their families."

A few minutes later, the IDF spokesman announced that "the three returned civilians have now crossed with IDF and Shin Bet forces into Israeli territory. The returnees, accompanied by IDF and Shin Bet forces, crossed the border into the territory of the State of Israel a short time ago." According to the announcement, "the returnees are now on their way to the initial reception point in the area surrounding Gaza, where they will receive an initial medical evaluation."

At 18:25 the IDF spokesman announced that "the three returnees have now arrived at the initial reception point in the area surrounding Gaza, and they are now meeting with their mothers." First, IDF representatives accompany the families to the hospital and provide them with regular updates.

Head of the Shin Bet Ronan Bar, head of the Mossad Dedi Barnea and Major General (resp.) Nitzan Alon in the Operation. [12].

The Prime Minister's Office said in an official statement: "The Government of Israel embraces the three returnees. Their families were informed by the appointed officials that they joined our forces. The Government of Israel is committed to the return of all abductees and missing people."

Zvi Yehezkali in a message in Arabic to the Gazans: "Congratulations on the victory, but wait for the rest". [His harsh message to Gaza:] "Prepare for what is to come" | watch

"The list of our citizens: Gonen Romi (24). Demari Emily (28). Doron Steinbracher (31)". "The government together with all the security forces will accompany them and their families." "Blessed are you, O Lord - who releases the bound."

(The families watch the moment of absorption Watch with joy. photo: IDF spokesman).

The Director of Abducted, Returned and Missing Persons in the Prime Minister's Office said: "How good that you came home."

"The Directorate of Abductees, Returnees and Missing Persons [POW/MIA ]at the Prime Minister's Office warmly congratulates Emily, Doron and Romi and their families, upon their return home.

The director will continue to accompany the returned girls, their families and all the families of the other abductees, in prayer and in the hope that they will all return home soon."

(Netanyahu receives the news. Photo: Prime Minister's Spokesperson)

A short time ago, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with the coordinator of the Israel Defense Forces, Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, at the moment of the handover of the abductees Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbracher and Emily Demari to the IDF forces in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: "This is an exciting day. I would like to convey to Romi, Doron and Emily - a whole people embraces you, happy returns home. We will bring them all back and achieve all the objectives of the war.'

Prime Minister: "Gal, can you hear me?"

The POW/MIA coordinator: "Yes, hello, Prime Minister, I am at the center of our operations, of the security system - with the Mossad, the Shin Bet, the IDF and with our entire system. I want to report to you that our abductees have been handed over to our forces and right now they are crossing the border into our territory. I'm very excited."

Prime Minister: "Have they already crossed the border into Israel?"

The POW/MIA coordinator: "It's really happening in these minutes, right now."

The Prime Minister: "So as soon as this happens, I was informed that they are in the territory of our country. It is a very exciting day. These are the first abductees in this round that we are bringing home. I am asking for a wave that you give to them: to Rumi, Doron and Emily - a whole nation embraces you, welcome home.

I know, we all know, they've been through hell. They come out of darkness into the light, they literally come out of slavery to freedom. This moment was achieved thanks to the sacrifice and fighting of our heroic warriors - the heroes of Israel.

I also want to bring appreciation to everyone who contributed to this move. You will of course keep your NPCs open until we get them all back - that is one of the goals of the war. I emphasize to you as well, and to everyone who is listening to me now, that we will achieve all of our war goals.

The most important thing right now is to make sure that the manager in the Prime Minister's office gives them all the envelope, all the support that needs to be given to them so that they absorb properly here at home. This is a big moment, an exciting moment. A big day. Many blessings."

Gal Hirsch: "We will embrace them and continue and bring them all."

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, MK Yuli Edelstein on the release of the abductees Rumi, Doron and Emily from the hands of the Hamas terrorist organization:

"To turn the hourglass from one big nightmare into one big rehabilitation." These words of Eitan Gonen, Romi's father, sum up the task of all of us now. To return everyone and all of them home and to restore the lives of the abductees, the families and the entire Israeli society.

We will not give up on achieving the goals of the war and overthrowing the rule of the terrorist organization Hamas, so that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. [Shehechiyanu]."Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion."

Passing to the Red Cross Passing to the Red Cross. [13] The transition to the Red Cross. screenshot)

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri said: "O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever!". "Together with all the people of Israel, I am excited to see Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbracher and Emily Demari - three of our sisters who were brutally kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas terrorists, get to return home today, after 471 days!". He also said: "I wish them to be reunited with their families soon in good health, and I pray for the release of all the abductees - that life will return to the bosom of their families, and that the dead will be brought to the Kever-Yisrael [Jewish burial] with dignity. The State of Israel is obligated to return everyone home with God's help, this is our moral and Jewish duty!"

Defense Minister Israel Katz said: "Romi, Doron and Emily returned home. This is a moment of hope for an entire nation that now embraces them and their families in their hearts. I salute the soldiers of the IDF, the security system and all those who worked with devotion to return them to the bosom of their families. The State of Israel will not rest or be silent until every abductee returns home - the living to their families and those who are not between life and burial."

State President Yitzhak Herzog said: "Romi, Emily and Doron - so loved and precious - a whole nation is happy that you are back.

We send a huge hug to you and your families. It is a day of joy and comfort, and the beginning of a challenging journey to restoration and healing together.

"A tearful eye and a happy heart" - at this time, our hearts go out to all the anxious and grieving families, whose loved ones have not yet returned. We will not rest or be quiet until we return all our sisters and brothers from the hell of captivity in Gaza - the living for restoration and their families and the dead for the grave of Israel.'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote: "Emily, Doron and Romi, welcome home! My heart goes out to you, our dear sisters! An entire nation is proud of you, tears with you, and hugs you endlessly!".

The chairman of Torah Judaism, Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf wrote: "And the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy."

The first receiving point that the abductees will reach (photo: IDF spokesperson)

Minister Yoav Ben Tzur wrote: "And there is hope for thy future, saith the LORD; and thy children shall return to their own border."

"Between despair and hope, between weakness and strength, an entire country clinging to faith." After 471 days of uncertainty and immense anxiety for the fate of the abductees, we brought Romi, Doron and Emily home with tears of joy.

The State of Israel is obliged to act in every way to return the abductees to their families. We will not give up on anyone, this is our commitment, of all of us.

The Damari family, Gonen and Steinbracher, an entire country embraces and strengthens you, sorry that we failed to protect them, that we were not able to return them faster.

Minister of Communications Dr. Shlomo Karai said: "Blessed is He who releases the bound!" Romi, Doron and Emily returned home. Despite the unbearably difficult images of the Nazis celebrating in Gaza and the terrorists..., today we are all happy and excited to see our loved ones at home again. We will continue to fight until we eliminate terrorism and return everyone home to Gaza soon. The nation of Israel lives [Am Yisrael Chai]."

Chairman of the Noam Party, Deputy Minister Avi Maoz wrote: "Happy and moved to tears along with the whole House of Israel at the sight of the abductees returning home. Accompanying the joy is a feeling of pain and shame for the fact that after 15 months of fighting the cruel enemy is standing on his feet and did not go down on his knees.

Member of the Knesset Keti Shitrit wrote: "Blessed are you, our God, King of the world, who releases the bound." "The return of Romi, Doron and Emily, refines the soul and uplifts the spirit. I salute the soldiers of the IDF and the security forces, who in the war of resurrection, made their return possible. The State of Israel is committed to repatriating all of the abductees, and will do everything to bring the living to the bosom of their families and the dead to Kever-Yisrael [Jewish burial]." Kikar

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Hostage returns to be ‘very slow and brittle’ coming from Hamas. Sky News Australia. Jan 19. 2025 Sky News host Paul Murray says the hostages held by Hamas will be returned “very slow” and “brittle” as the ceasefire continues... “The concern of the next little while is while it is going to be three people now and three people later, it is very slow, very, very slow, very, very brittle YouTube

After over 470 days: Romi, Emily, and Doron come home. Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher have returned to Israel after more than 470 days in captivity in Gaza. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 8:29 PM INN

Government releases first pictures of released hostages reuniting with their mothers. By Amy Spiro. January 19, 2025, 8:28 pm TOI

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How did Il Police prepare for the hostages return. 'It’s important to remember that in the framework of the release of our loved ones, is the release of terrorists'. Ariella Lahyani, ILTV|1.19.25. The Israel Police carried out extensive preparations for various security scenarios as the country prepared to welcome the first three hostages to be released as part of Phase I of the hostage deal, according to International Police Spokesperson Dean Elsdunne. YNet

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IDF Chief Attributes Hostage Release to Stiff Israeli Military Pressure. i24 News. January 19, 2025. Algemeiner

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Gulf states will not rush to pay for reconstruction. An estimated $40 billion to $80 billion will be needed to rebuild Gaza, but it remains unclear where the money will come from  Doron Paskin|1.19.25. YNet

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Oron Shaul's funeral will be held on Monday in Poria Illit. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 07:11 PM JPost

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IDF Arabic spokesperson warns against rioting, marching in support of terrorism. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 08:07 PM JPost

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'Hope of bringing loved ones back home': Zelensky writes on X. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 09:13 PM JPost

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El Al celebrates freed hostages with announcement on all flights. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/19/2025 09:28 PM JPost

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The moving reunion. Wrapped in Israeli flags with tears in their eyes and huge smiles. Israel National News. Jan 19, 2025, 10:22 PM INN

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Son of hostage to Arutz Sheva: 'Hostages' return shows the fighting was not in vain'. Yoni Kempinski. Jan 19, 2025, 11:45 PM INN

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Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby: CNN International couldn't manage to use a picture of the three female hostages for their coverage.

You don't hate the media enough. Jan 19, 2025. On X

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Hamas Releases Hostages With Creepy 'Gift Bags' With Photos Of Captivity, “Certificates Of Release”. Oneindia News. Jan 20, 2025. In a chilling propaganda display, Hamas handed released hostages bizarre “gift bags” featuring photos of their captivity, a commemorative Gaza photo, and gold-gilded “certificates of release.” The released hostages, Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, described the gesture as a “cynical game” aimed at psychological manipulation. Video footage shared by Hamas shows the hostages being escorted through Gaza City by a motorcade of armed, masked terrorists, with crowds mobbing the vehicles. Eventually handed over to the Red Cross, the hostages were transported to safety, marking the first phase of a cease-fire deal. On YouTube

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Trump: 'Hostage deal a first step toward lasting Middle East peace'. US President-elect comments on hostage deal at rally in Washington, DC: This agreement could only have happened as a result of our historic victory in November. Elad Benari. Jan 20, 2025, 12:53 AM INN

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Israel frees 90 terrorists in exchange for three hostages. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 1:42 AM INN

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Palestinians cheer as dozens of terrorists freed to Judea and Samaria. “The wholesale release of terrorists into Judea and Samaria is a clear danger to the country,” said Samaria Regional Council’s head Yossi Dagan. JNS Staff.

(Jan. 20, 2025 / JNS) Crowds of cheering Palestinians late overnight Sunday greeted 90 terrorists in Beitunia in Judea after they were released by Israel as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas, AFP reported.

Earlier on Sunday, three Israeli female hostages were released from the Gaza Strip after 472 days in captivity and were escorted by the Israel Defense Forces to reunite with their families.

The Israel Prison Service said in a statement just before 1:30 a.m. that “All the terrorists were released from Ofer prison and the Jerusalem detention center.”

AFP reported that members of the crowd climbed on the lead bus and unfurled a Palestinian flag, later being joined by others who waved the flags of the Fatah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist factions.

The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee issued a warning on X against participation in riots or armed marches supporting terrorism.

“Anyone who participates in such terrorist acts exposes himself to danger,” Adraee said in Arabic.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan harshly criticized the ceasefire agreement, expressing his concerns over the consequences of releasing Palestinian terrorists to Judea and Samaria.

“Releasing terrorists into Judea and Samaria is a clear danger to the country! This is a dramatic and negative change on the ground,” Dagan was quoted as saying by Israel National News.

“Sadly, we are now witnessing celebrations of terror supporters in Judea and Samaria and around the world,” he went on to say.

Dagan stressed that “Every Jewish heart and every normal person in the world is moved to tears seeing the hostages returning to their families.”

But, he added, “The wholesale release of terrorists into Judea and Samaria is a clear danger to the country. It doesn’t just endanger the residents of Judea and Samaria; it clearly endangers all citizens of Israel, especially the ‘Judea and Samaria envelope’—from Tel Aviv through Netanya, Hadera to Jerusalem. The Israeli government made a terrible and difficult decision.”

Israel’s Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, on Sunday morning rejected a petition filed by terror victims that sought to block the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

“It is not our place or custom to intervene in matters of this type in which the scope of judicial review is extremely narrow,” the justices stated in their ruling. JNS

Yossi Dagan: 'Releasing terrorists to Judea and Samaria - a clear danger'. Head of Samaria Regional Council blasts the release of terrorists to Judea and Samaria: We warned and cried out not to release terrorists to Judea and Samaria and not to stop the war. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 4:10 AM INN

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Amid terrorist release. Israel's warning to the Palestinian Authority. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 5:22 AM INN

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German Chancellor: 'Germany must never turn the page on the Holocaust'. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 5:54 AM INN

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British Airways to resume flights to Tel Aviv. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/20/2025 07:39 AM JPost

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Following terrorists' release: Jerusalem Minister demands reinforced security for city. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 8:55 AM INN

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'I came back to life'| Emily Damari's moving post: 'Thanks be to G-d, I'm so happy to be'. Emily Damari, released Sunday night from Hamas captivity, pens moving first social media post: 'You've shattered my heart from emotion. I've come back to life, my loved ones.' Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 10:07 AM (GMT+2)

Emily Damari, released Sunday evening from Hamas captivity, on Monday morning posted on social media for the first time since her release.

"I'm loving, loving, loving. Thanks be to G-d. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world. I have returned to life, my loved ones," she wrote.

"I have managed to see just a tiny bit of everything, and you have shattered my heart from emotion. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am the happiest person in the world, just to be."

At the end of her post, Emily added a 🤟🏼emoji, hinting at her victory and release, despite the fact that she lost two of her fingers after Hamas terrorists shot at her on October 7.

Emily was released together with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher, in exchange for 90 convicted terrorists. The next group of hostages is expected to be released on Saturday. INN

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Eviatar Ben Yehuda fell during operational activity.

Sergeant First Class (res.) Eviatar Ben Yehuda served in the 8211th Battalion of the Efraim Brigade and fell during operational activity.

Uzi Baruch. Jan 20, 2025, 10:41 AM INN

H’YD: IDF Reservist Killed, Officer Seriously Injured In Arab Village Near Jenin. January 20, 2025. YWN

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In runup to Trump's inauguration Yesha Council displays greeting in Times Square. Despite the bitter cold, dozens of Jewish students and youngsters came to Times Square last night to express support for the initiative and wore "Trump" hats. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 11:38 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Senator Tom Cotton: 'Hostages still in Gaza because Biden didn't back Israel'. Nitsan Keidar. Jan 20, 2025, 12:25 PM INN

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At Smotrich's orders: Amnesty International loses tax benefits in Israel Israel's Tax Authority, acting on instructions from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, revokes Amnesty International's tax benefit due to organization's anti-Israel activities, support for BDS. Hezki Baruch. Jan 20, 2025, 2:23 PM (GMT+2) INN

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IDF Chief of Staff: 'We must be ready for counterterrorism operations in West Bank' By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/20/2025 03:40 PM JPost

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Khamenei: 'Hamas is alive and will remain alive'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/20/2025 04:46 PM JPost

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IDF Chief of Staff in Syria: 'We need to make every effort to bring back Hadar Goldin'. While visiting troops in Syria, IDF Chief of Staff LTG Herzi Halevi discussed the recovery of the body of Oron Shaul, which had been held by Hamas since 2014. Uzi Baruch. Jan 20, 2025, 5:47 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Herzog congratulates Trump, calls him 'a true friend of Israel'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/20/2025 06:02 PM JPost

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Israel Police, Land Authority demolish Negev house used to harbor Hamas. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/20/2025 06:10 PM JPost

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Watch: PM Netanyahu Congratulates President Trump. January 20, 2025.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Monday, 20 January 2025):

“Congratulations President Trump!

Sara and I send our warmest wishes to you, Melania and the American people on your second inauguration as President of the United States.

Your first term as President was filled with groundbreaking moments in the history of the great alliance between our two countries.

You withdrew from the dangerous Iran nuclear deal, you recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, you moved the American embassy to Jerusalem and you recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

You brokered the historic Abraham Accords in which Israel made peace with four Arab countries.

I believe that working together again we will raise the U.S.-Israel alliance to even greater heights.

I’m confident that we will complete the defeat of Iran’s terror axis and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our region.

On behalf of the people of Israel, I also want to thank you for your efforts in helping free Israeli hostages.

I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.

I am sure, Mr. President, that under your leadership, the best days of our alliance are yet to come.” YWN

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Trump: All hostages must be freed immediately. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/20/2025 08:24 PM JPost

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At the inauguration: Rabbi Berman prays for hostages' return and peace in Israel. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 8:18 PM INN

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Hamas delays next hostage release to Sunday, violating deal terms. Israel prepared for second phase of hostage release Saturday, set to include 4 captives; however, terror group announces would provide names Saturday, with release itself now delayed to Sunday. Einav Halabi, Itamar Eichner|1.20.25. YNet

Hamas announces next phase of hostage release will be on Sunday, not Saturday. By Amichai Stein. 01/20/2025 07:29 PM JPost

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Moved dozens of times, kept in darkness: Inside Romi, Doron and Emily's captivity.

Freed hostages say Hamas informed them of their release only hours before; 'We were terrified of the Gazan crowds,' they share; moved dozens of times, often underground, they say, 'We cared for each other constantly,' with one adding, 'I thought I’d die'.

Yael Ciechanover|1.20.25. YNet

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In case ceasefirefalls apart: Netanyahu presented document on resumption of war. Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 9:00 PM INN

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Defense Minister tells IDF to prevent Palestinian celebrations for released terrorists. By Avi Ashkenazi. 01/20/2025 09:37 PM JPost

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'Trump felt fulfilled when he saw the hostages & their families'.

Steven Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, describes how he and President Trump felt when they saw the first images of the 3 hostages meeting their families after they were freed yesterday.

Israel National News. Jan 20, 2025, 9:40 PM INN

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Shas Minister against death penalty for terrorists: "Not simple halachically". 20th of Tevet 5785. 20.01.25

Religious Affairs Minister Melchieli said that "we do not kill terrorists for revenge, but only if it brings deterrence".

Religion Minister Michael Malchieli expressed opposition to calls for the death penalty for terrorists.

In an interview he gave to Kol Chai radio today, a day after the release of the three abductees, Malchieli explained that from a halachic point of view the issue is complex and that according to security officials, such a step would not result in an effective deterrent.

"From a halachic point of view, it's not that simple," explained the minister. "We do not kill terrorists for revenge, but only if it will bring deterrence. The security officials claim that killing terrorists will not bring the desired deterrence."

Referring to the kidnapping deal, Malchiali mentioned Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's support for the Shalit deal, even though it included the release of many more terrorists. "Can anyone think that the children would have remained in captivity for another whole year?" he asked. INN

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Hamas backtracks, confirms second hostage exchange to proceed Saturday. Einav Halabi, Itamar Eichner|1.20.25. YNet

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'Just bravado': No charges in Hamas operative’s killing as case dismissed. State attorney decides to close investigation against five suspects in case of killing of bound Hamas operative at start of war, citing lack of evidence of wrongdoing Lior Ohana, Meir Turgeman, Tova Zimuki | 1.20.25. YNet

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American Historical Association Vetoes Defaming Anti-Israel Resolution. by Dion J. Pierre. Jan 20, 2025.

The American Historical Association (AHA) has vetoed a controversial resolution, passed by its members earlier this month, which falsely accused Israel of sabotaging the higher education system in Gaza during its war to eradicate the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Algemeiner.

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Jewish Onliner @JewishOnliner Palestine Red Crescent Spokesman Photographed with Apparent Terrorists

A new investigation reveals PRCS spokesman Raed Al-Nams photographed alongside armed terrorists.

Al-Nams (wearing glasses) can be seen with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade member Abdul Qadan (center, keffiyeh).🧵. [14]. [15]. Jan 20, 2025 On X

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Monday, January 20, 2025. Israel is seen more favorably than CNN and the EU by Americans - and young Americans now support Israel more than most other age groups! A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll was just released, and it shows that Americans remain strongly pro-Israel.

Taken on January 15-16, the survey asked 2,650 US voters a series of questions about the political environment ahead of President-elect Trump's inauguration today.

One question asked how favorably Americans judged a series of institutions:

Israel is seen more favorably by Americans than the European Union, CNN. MSNBC and X. The gap of favorable over unfavorable is better for Israel than the US Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and Fox News. (If you calculate the percentage of favorable answers over all people who held an opinion, Israel also edges Facebook.)

Given the huge amount of anti-Israel reporting and coverage of anti-Israel events for the past 15 months, this is pretty remarkable.

Another response is perhaps even more surprising:

It is not surprising that 4 out of 5 Americans support Israel over Hamas. But the age breakdown shatters the impression that has been given that young Americans are inexorably becoming more anti-Israel.

A higher percentage of US voters 18-24 say they support Israel than any other age group under 55!

The pattern of younger people becoming more and more anti-Israel appears to have been broken by Gen Z.

This is something worth investigating. Did the pro-Hamas college encampments turn them off? Are they now getting most of their news from social media and therefore not as exposed to the toxic hate from the mainstream media? Is hasbara actually working for the first time in decades? [16] EoZ

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January 21, 2025. Al Jazeera unwittingly proves yet again that Hamas lies constantly.

From Al Jazeera: 'The Palestinian Civil Defence agency said it estimated there are 10,000 bodies under destroyed structures across the strip. At least 2,840 bodies were melted and there are no traces of them, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson of the Palestinian Civil Emergency Services in Gaza.'

2,840 is a curiously specific statistic for bodies that, by definition, have no evidence of ever existing. How can they count bodies that leave no trace?

If you that Gaza civil defense is simply counting missing people, then why not assume that they are missing under the rubble and simply not found yet? How could they possibly determine that 2,840 bodies are invisible under rubble and 10,000 are not? (Actually, Hamas just updated the number of people missing to be exactly 14,222, which must mean 2,840 melted and 11,382 buried.)

It is impossible to count thousands of invisible people. The "2,840" figure by itself is 100% proof that Hamas makes up very specific casualty statistics out of thin air.

Combine this with the facts that the 10,000 buried under rubble number has also been made up by Hamas with no evidence or procedure for counting them, and that there is no known weapon short of a nuclear bomb that leaves no trace of a human body, this gives us 100% proof from Al Jazeera itself that Hamas lies about Gaza casualties. EoZ

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Israeli Military Says Killed '20,000 Hamas Operatives' In Gaza. By AFP - Agence France Presse. January 21, 2025. Outgoing military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday that Israeli forces had killed "20,000 Hamas operatives" during 15 months of war in Gaza. Barrons

"I had the duty and the right to stand up to failure and turn it into a lever and not a weight". 21.01.25

Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi: Good evening,

This is the 473rd day of the war. A long war, which requires great sacrifice from us, but it also has very important achievements for our future. The IDF is still fighting in the various arenas.

We are in the days of realizing one of the most important goals of the war - the return of the kidnapped. The forces, as I am impressed by in my visits to them, are very determined and know what they are fighting for - the dismantling of Hamas, its rule and capabilities, the return of the kidnapped and the return of Israeli citizens to their homes in safety. Even in distant theaters, the IDF continues to operate with all its might.

I am now near Miflasim, a place where many were murdered and from where others were kidnapped. In this place I choose to talk about the situation and also talk about myself.

The day a person assumes the burden of command in the Israel Defense Forces, he shoulderes a responsibility, a responsibility that has no expiration date. On the first day of the war, in the General Staff's assessment of the situation, I loudly and clearly took responsibility, my responsibility, for the IDF's failure to protect civilians on Simchat Torah 5744. I did the same publicly on the sixth day of the war.

The IDF's primary mission is to protect the citizens of the country. We failed in that. I have carried the results of this terrible day ever since and will carry them with me for the rest of my life.

At my duty stations in the IDF, I was taught that an operation ends when the tasks are completed, an operation ends when everyone returns. An operation ends after a debriefing.

The purpose of the IDF investigation is to learn - whether the force failed or succeeded. Already at the beginning of the war, the IDF initiated investigations that were carried out - in an unprecedented manner - during the war.

The desire and need to balance the attention of the commanders leading the fighting with the required commitment from them to conduct in-depth investigations, faithful to the facts and the truth, required a lengthy process. October 7 was a day when the focal points of fighting were numerous and complex. The desire of the bereaved families to arrive at the investigation of the events, as quickly as possible, is understandable and very important to us.

The IDF must provide answers and conduct truthful investigations: high-quality, thorough, and fully transparent. We are investigating out of a commitment to the fallen, the kidnapped, their families, and the communities of the Western Negev; we are investigating out of a duty to learn and in a way that will allow us to better protect the citizens of Israel in the future. I will present the full findings to the Minister of Defense and, as far as possible, to the citizens of Israel as well. Above all, we will learn and assimilate them into the IDF in order to improve and strengthen capabilities.

I can say with confidence right now – no one hid information. No one knew what was about to happen. No one helped the enemy carry out his cruelty. These statements, beyond being untrue, harm loyal servants, who have done and are doing for the security of the country and deeply understand their responsibility in the face of the consequences.

At the end of the IDF investigations, we will be better able to say what happened to us, why it happened, and how we should fix it. The military investigation deals only with the IDF and cannot encompass all the reasons and areas that may prevent such events from recurring.

An investigative committee or any other external body will be able to investigate and verify and will achieve full transparency in the IDF.

I have responsibility for the IDF's failure, I also have responsibility for the achievements. I say in advance, I wish we were not required to achieve these achievements, and there is no achievement that will undo the immense pain, sorrow, and loss that has been caused since the day the war began.

An army is an organization for crisis situations – it is tested in its prevention and ability to deal with difficult and surprising situations when they occur. We failed in prevention and defense. IDF soldiers, commanders, security forces personnel, together with many brave citizens, acted heroically to minimize the damage, contain and repel. We embarked on a difficult war, the arenas joined one after another.

The IDF, under my command, with my colleagues on the General Staff and together with the political echelon, brought about many achievements in this war. The IDF planned, the IDF executed. The Middle East has changed, our threat map has completely changed, opportunities have opened up and we must constantly measure the risks as well.

Hezbollah was defeated – most of its leadership was eliminated; we eliminated over 4,000 terrorist operatives, including most of the organization's most senior chain of command, headed by Hassan Nasrallah. These are the results of quality planning, initiative, and courageous and thorough execution on land, in the air, at sea, and in supporting capabilities.

This is also the result of very high-quality intelligence. The same intelligence officers who failed on October 7 and feel this way are the ones who brought the intelligence that made the achievements possible. The weakening of Hezbollah's power in the Lebanese arena is very evident, and it is our duty to preserve this in the future.

Hamas' military wing was hit very hard. Most of the organization's leadership was killed, headed by Yahya Sinwar, as were senior military wing officials, headed by Muhammad Deif.

The IDF has eliminated nearly twenty thousand Hamas terrorist operatives. We have not yet returned all the abductees and we have tasks to complete against the Hamas regime and against the guerrilla and terrorist capabilities that the organization still possesses. We are very determined to realize and prevail.

In the fight against terrorism, civilians and soldiers were killed in Judea and Samaria last year. Since the beginning of the war, we have killed 794 terrorists in this sector. For the most part, we have prevented evil before the terrorists reach the citizens of Israel.

This is a broad effort, carried out in deep partnership with the Shin Bet, a high-quality organization that joins us in combining forces, responsibility, and learning from the past. Terrorism in Judea and Samaria could have been much more significant in this war, if not for the offensive and defensive efforts we have taken.

In this war, we fought directly against Iran for the first time, striking its proxies in the region - Hezbollah, Hamas, and the assets of the Iranian axis in Syria. Syria changed - in a rapid move of maneuvering for defense, and an air strike to damage the axis' capabilities, we completely changed the scope of the future threat in Syria.

We attacked Iran following missile and drone barrages launched into the territory of the State of Israel. We carried out the strikes over two nights using the Air Force, based on very high-quality intelligence and with courageous strategic partnerships and defensive moves that greatly reduced the damage. No one was killed in these attacks, very few were injured, and we suffered some property damage. This was in light of the hundreds of tons of explosives launched into the State of Israel.

Against these, we attacked Iran. We knew where we were attacking and why. Our armament reached the target precisely and destroyed it in all the targets we aimed at. Iran today knows our power, understands our might, and will feel the comfort of our arm when needed.

These IDF achievements place Israel in a different light in the region and in the world, both in relation to October 7 and in relation to what existed before the outbreak of the war. This is of enormous importance; we will be required to preserve these achievements in the concept of action that will guide us in the future. These achievements will never be enough to alleviate the loss and pain, but they will enable the establishment of a better future for all of us.

The transition from the searing failure to the achievements was fraught with difficulties and required great strength and talent. I am proud of the IDF for coming to its senses, for the path and the results. I am proud of the commanders, the reservists, the regulars, the conscripts and the civilians who work with us.

I have no desire to hold on to my position. From an ethical perspective, it is not appropriate for my term to be complete, and I have stated this in the past. Now is the right time for decisions. I have been investing my all in the war for 473 days, in order to succeed in eradicating Hamas, both military and governmental.

In order to succeed and return the kidnapped and in order to return the residents of the western Negev and the residents of the north to their homes in safety. I informed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense today of my desire to fulfill my responsibility and end my duties on March 6th of this year. By then, we will properly complete all investigations and urgent tasks, and I will transfer command of the IDF in a thorough and responsible manner to whichever candidate is chosen to replace me.

I will soon complete 40 years of military service. The needs of the State of Israel and the IDF have always been before me and have been more important to me. Even at this time. I made this decision a long time ago, and now, when the IDF has the upper hand in all theaters of combat and another agreement to return hostages is underway, the time is ripe. I found it appropriate to wait with these words for several weeks.

I thought it inappropriate to preoccupy myself and at the time of the end of my duties when the fate of the hostages is in doubt and their families are under enormous stress. When the fighting in Gaza is at its peak and the lives of fighters, my subordinates, are at stake. I am strengthening the families of the hostages in this difficult and long wait. I want you to know that we are doing everything possible; I embrace the bereaved families and greet the wounded, strengthening them on their journey of recovery and rehabilitation.

Throughout the war, since October 7, I have looked straight at the failure every day. I have not shied away from responsibility and have not forgotten for a moment that I am the commander who sent his subordinates into a battle from which they never returned and to the positions from which they were kidnapped.

I bow my head in memory of the civilians we did not manage to save, of our colleagues in the readiness squads and security forces, and of the fallen IDF men and women in the reserves and regulars, who stuck to their duty and did not abandon it.

I had the duty, and also the right, as commander of the Israel Defense Forces, to stand up to failure and turn it into a lever rather than a weight – and lead the IDF and the citizens of Israel to a new and safer reality, for many years to come.

"And these are the names of the children of Israel," is this week's parashah on the last Shabbat. The names that we will never forget – of those who are no longer with us, of those we await their return, may they all return. IDF

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Trump to lift pause on 2,000-pound bomb supply to Israel. By Reuters. 01/20/2025 11:27 PM JPost

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Hours after inauguration. Trump cancels sanctions on residents of Judea and Samaria. Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 2:49 AM INN

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Trump thinks Saudi Arabia will normalize relations with Israel. By Reuters. 01/21/2025 03:05 AM JPost

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Dr Mike Evans: 'Hamas would never have conceded without Donald Trump'. Yoni Kempinski. Jan 21, 2025, 3:19 AM INN

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Trump meets freed hostages: 'We never stopped praying for you'. US President meets freed hostages as well as families of hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza during victory celebration in Washington: It should have never happened.

Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 4:22 AM INN

Trump speaks flanked by freed hostages and families of captives. President says Oct. 7 massacre would not have happened had he been president, calls the treatment of hostages a disgrace and says hostages will be coming home daily. Daniel Edelson, New York|1.21.25. YNet

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Ari Fuld's brother: We fear this terrible deal while rejoicing for released hostages.

Eytan Fuld shares his feelings as the terrorist who murdered his brother is scheduled to be released as part of the hostage deal and sends a message to Hamas: 'You will not rejoice from this release, Israel will win.'

Yoni Kempinski. Jan 21, 2025, 12:05 AM INN

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Trump cancels sanctions on residents of Judea and Samaria.

President Trump signs a series of orders reversing Biden's policies, including Biden’s Executive Order which applied sanctions on Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria.

Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 2:49 AM INN

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MK Boaz Bismuth: 'The war will continue, the Americans know that perfectly well'. Yoni Kempinski. Jan 21, 2025, 4:46 AM INN

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Sydney, Australia: Daycare center torched, antisemitic graffiti scrawled on wall. Elad Benari. Jan 21, 2025, 6:24 AM INN

Kindergarten burns in Sydney antisemitic attack. Jewish community center also sprayed with graffiti in the second attackon the city's Jewish property in four days  Reuters, Itamar Eichner|1.21.25. YNet

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IDF to Gazans: If Hamas keeps deal, you can return to northern Gaza next week. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/21/2025 09:33 AM JPost

IDF spokesman: 'Return to northern Gaza next week - if Hamas keeps the deal'. Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 10:07 AM INN

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Turkey could restart Israel trade if peace permanent, trade body says. By Reuters. 01/21/2025 10:33 AM JPost

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Ben-Gvir's resignation from Knesset goes into effect. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/21/2025 10:48 AM JPost

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Gaza ceasefire to help Israel's credit rating if it persists, Moody's says. By Reuters. 01/21/2025 11:14 AM JPost

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Mossad, Shin Bet chiefs meet with Egyptian intelligence chief. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/21/2025 11:25 AM JPost

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Russia: Hamas promised to release Sasha Troufanov in good health. Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 12:30 PM INN

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British Airways resuming Israel service. By Stav Livne/Globes/TNS. 01/21/2025 01:14 PM JPost

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Hamas calls for full West Bank 'mobilization' over Jenin op. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/21/2025 02:37 PM JPost

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President Herzog meets with Qatari Prime Minister. Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 2:52 PM INN

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IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announces his resignation.

Chief of Staff informs Defense Minister Katz of his intention to step down in less than 2 months 'because of my recognition of my responsibility for the IDF's failure on October 7th.'

Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 3:14 PM INN

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Netanyahu, Starmer discuss release of ex-hostage British citizen Emily Damari. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/21/2025 03:35 PM JPost

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PA must pay terror victims, Israel’s top court says. Canaan Lidor. (Jan. 21, 2025 / JNS). JNS

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New Knesset law punishes denial of Oct. 7 massacre with up to five years in prison. (Jan. 21, 2025 / JNS). JNS

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Emily's mom posts photo of her missing fingers. Mandy Damari in post thanked citizens in the UK and around the world who called for her daughter's release from captivity Itamar Eichner|1.21.25. YNet

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Israel considers ‘dead zone’ on Lebanese border. Amid Israel's fragile cease-fire, retired General Amir Avivi urges action against Iran, Hezbollah and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham   Felice Friedson/The Media Line|1.21.25. YNet

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IDF must now withdraw from Lebanon: 6,000 Lebanese soldiers said operating against Hezbollah. Under cease-fire agreement, the IDF must complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Sunday; Western diplomats report that the Lebanese Armed Forces have already carried out 100 operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, noting, 'It’s likely some requests came from the IDF'. Itamar Eichner|1.21.25. YNet

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AOC accused of "Jewsplaining" to ADL over Elon Musk gesture. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and journalist Mehdi Hassan accused of attempting to dictate to Jews what antisemitism is after they attacked the ADL's comment that Elon Musk did not make a Nazi salute. Gary Willig. Jan 21, 2025, 9:31 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Reports in Gaza: Body of terrorist who murdered Border Policeman in 2021 found. Israel National News. Jan 21, 2025, 11:38 PM INN

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Incoming US Amb to UN: 'Israel has biblical right to Judea and Samaria'. Tziki Brandwine. Jan 21, 2025, 9:26 PM INN

STEFANIK ON FIRE: Trump’s UN Ambassador Vows To Root Out Waste And Antisemitism At The UN [VIDEOS]. YWN

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Harvard settles lawsuits over antisemitism on campus. (Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel supporters gather for a rally at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 2023. Joseph Prezioso/AFP). By Agencies and ToI Staff. January 21, 2025, 8:06 pm TOI

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Herzog sees ‘potential’ for next ceasefire stages as Qatar says talks ‘won’t be easy’. By Amy Spiro. January 21, 2025, 9:14 pm TOI

Israeli President Herzog: My Faith In A Two-State Solution Was Shattered By Oct. 7 Massacre. January 21, 2025. YWN

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Deal will see release of longest-serving Palestinian inmate, who murdered bus driver. ([17]. Hamas terrorist Nael Barghouti waves a green Islamic flag and a Palestinian flag to the crowd after arriving in the West Bank city of Ramallah after he was released as part of an exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held by Hamas, October 18, 2011. AP/Majdi Mohammed). By Reuters and ToI Staff. January 21, 2025, 9:31 pm TOI

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Trump order appears to target some foreigners participating in anti-Israel protests. Executive decree says US government must be 'vigilant' in issuing visas and ensure recipients support 'do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists.' By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff. 21 January 2025.

Trump order appears to target some foreigners participating in anti-Israel protests.

([18]. An anti-Israel protester appears to be wearing a Hamas headband and carrying an approximation of the terror group's flag at a rally in New York City on May 18, 2024. John Lamparski / AFP).

An executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Monday appeared to target, among others, foreign nationals who participated in anti-Israel protests that swept throughout the country since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught, and which sometimes featured support for the Palestinian terror group.

The Executive Order Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Threats stated that the government must be “vigilant” in issuing visas to foreign nationals and ensure that those approved “do not intend to harm Americans or our national interests.”

The order signed by Trump shortly after his inauguration required the US government to ensure that foreign nationals “not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”

Trump campaigned on cracking down on the anti-Israel protests, particularly those on college campuses, but it was not yet clear how exactly he’d go about doing it, given free speech laws in the US.

“When I am president we will not allow our colleges to be taken over by violent radicals,” Trump said at a rally in May. “If you come from another country and try to bring jihadism or anti-Americanism or antisemitism to our campuses we will immediately deport you. You’ll be out of that school.”

The Republican party also included a commitment to “deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again” on a list of 20 promises made in the party platform adopted at its National Convention in July. TOI

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Saudi FM says Trump presidency doesn’t raise risk of Iran-Israel war By Agencies and ToI Staff. January 21, 2025, 10:26 pm TOI

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Jerusalem pizzeria once hot for Clinton rebrands itself for Trump. By Deborah Danan. January 21, 2025, 10:44 pm TOI

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5 injured in stabbing attack in central Tel Aviv, terrorist eliminated. They were stabbed in the middle of a busy street and evacuated to a nearby hospital; One was stabbed in the neck and was moderately to seriously injured; Attacker identified as permanent resident of the US originally from Morocco who arrived here 3 days ago. Lior Ohana|1.21.25. YNet

Moroccan Tourist With US Green Card Carries Out Stabbing Attack in Tel Aviv, Wounding 4. by Debbie Weiss.

Israeli police officers respond after a Moroccan national with a US green card carried out a stabbing attack in central Tel Aviv on Jan. 21, 2025. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpaare/dpa via Reuters Connect

A Moroccan national with a US green card, who entered Israel three days ago, carried out a stabbing attack in central Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening, wounding at least four people before being shot and killed by an off duty border guard.

Abdelaziz Kaddi, 29, was found with a permanent US resident card after a female officer shot and killed him. According to Israeli reports, he entered Israel on Jan. 18 with a tourist visa with the intention to carry out a terrorist attack. It was later revealed that he had a history of inciting posts on social media... Algemeiner

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The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome @TheMossadIL: WOW.

Nefarious Wikipedia editors have made it appear as though Israel was responsible for every death on October 7. The system is broken.

@WikiBias2024 Jan 21, 2025 On X

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Pierre Rehov 🔽@rehoov: Do you think the murderous corrupted gangster Mahmud Abbas will continue to reward terrorists from humanitarian aid he receives now that he doesn't have a leftist American administration to back him up anymore? [19] Jan 21, 2025. On X

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Florida Muslim Conference At Marriott Courtyard in Coral Springs to Feature Broward School Board Chair & Local Officials Secret venue discovered, following last year’s ‘Pro-Hamas’ conference cancellation. January 22, 2025 by Beila Rabinowitz. After being removed from two Broward County School Board committees for promoting antisemitism, Muslim “educator” and self-described activist “for Islam,” Naima Khan-Ghany, is now slated to moderate a forum at the upcoming Florida Muslim Conference to be held in Coral Springs, Florida, on January 24th to 25th of this week.

The event is being organized by the South Florida Muslim Federation (SFMF), a.k.a. SoFlo Muslims, a group whose previous year’s conference was shut down for including speakers with ties to terrorism who had glorified the terrorist organization Hamas.

The Khan-Ghany moderated panel, entitled “Shared Values, Stronger Communities: Building Unity Through Dialogue,” lists as its participants Broward School Board Chair Debra “Debbi” Hixon, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, Sunrise Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline A. Dixon, and Lutheran Pastor Jonathan Gantt, alongside two of the Muslim Federations’s top leaders, SFMF Development Director Imam Azhar Subedar and Imam Abdul Hamid Samra, who heads SFMF’s Council of Imams. FPM

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Number of wounded in Tel Aviv attack rises to six, including US tourist. Ichilov Hospital announced that two additional victims were admitted with minor injuries. Joshua Marks. (Jan. 22, 2025 / JNS).

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s Ichilov Hospital announced on Wednesday that two additional victims of the previous night’s terrorist attack in the city had been admitted, with minor injuries. This brings the total number of injured to six, three of whom have already been discharged, according to the hospital.

The terrorist stabbed five individuals, leaving one in serious condition, another moderately injured and the remaining three with light injuries, according to Ynet. Among the victims was an American tourist, who was attacked after the terrorist had already stabbed four Israelis. JNS

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Harvard University Settles Lawsuit With Jewish Students Who Alleged ‘Severe and Pervasive’ Anti-Semitism On Campus.

University agreed to overhaul its discrimination policies to better protect Jews, Israelis, and Zionists.

Jessica Costescu and Lexi Boccuzzi, January 21, 2025.

Harvard University settled a lawsuit Tuesday with a group of Jewish students who accused the school of failing to address "severe and pervasive" anti-Semitism on campus. The Ivy League school agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and issued guidance language on its non-discrimination policy, stating that students who target "Zionists" can face discipline.

Six Jewish students accused the school of becoming a "bastion" of anti-Semitism in a January 2024 lawsuit. Their suit argued that Harvard’s "deliberate indifference" and "enabling" of anti-Semitism violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. One plaintiff, Shabbos Kestenbaum, declined to join the settlement and continues to pursue his claims against Harvard separately.

"With this settlement, Harvard is demonstrating leadership in the fight against antisemitism and in upholding the rights of Jewish students," a spokesperson for Students Against Antisemitism, which is representing the students, said in a statement. "We appreciate Harvard’s proactive approach to implementing effective long-term changes and its strong commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for every student who pursues their education on Harvard’s campus."

The university committed to remedial actions that combat anti-Semitism on campus as part of the settlement. Harvard, for example, will incorporate the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism into its non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. That definition states that "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor," is a form of anti-Semitism.

The amended non-discrimination guidelines will also include examples of anti-Semitism issued by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. The university also agreed to post a frequently asked questions page alongside its non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies, clarifying Jewish and Israeli identities as protected classes at Harvard.

"For many Jewish people, Zionism is a part of their Jewish identity," the FAQ page will state. "Conduct that would violate the Non-Discrimination Policy if targeting Jewish or Israeli people can also violate the policy if directed toward Zionists."

Harassment that Jewish students at Harvard have faced, including the exclusion of Zionists from university programming, calls for their deaths, and demands that Jewish students provide their position on Israel, will also be explicitly prohibited. FreeBeacon

Harvard agrees to implement IHRA definition of antisemitism as part of settlement.

The Ivy League school’s adoption of IHRA may prompt other schools to follow suit.

By Haley Cohen, January 21, 2025.

Harvard University has agreed to implement the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism as part of a resolution to two Title VI lawsuits that it settled in federal court in Boston.

One of the lawsuits, filed in May by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, alleged that since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel, students and faculty on campus have called for violence against Jews and celebrated Hamas’ terrorism as the university ignored harassment — including a physical assault — of Jewish students.

The other suit was filed in January 2024 by Students Against Antisemitism, a group of six Jewish Harvard students, who alleged the school had not protected them from “severe and pervasive” campus antisemitism. In November, a judge consolidated the two lawsuits after Harvard unsuccessfully moved to dismiss both.

In addition to adopting IHRA, Harvard agreed to prepare a public annual report for the next five years that covers its response to violations of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination and harassment based on national origin. It also agreed to provide clarification on its website that Jewish and Israeli students are covered by Harvard’s existing Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Policies.

The May complaint, a copy of which was first obtained by Jewish Insider, stated that Harvard allowed student protesters to occupy and vandalize buildings, and interrupt classes and exams. “Professors, too, have explicitly supported Jewish and Israeli terrorism, and spread antisemitic propaganda in their classes,” according to a Brandeis Center statement. “Jewish students are bullied and spat on, intimidated, and threatened, and subject to verbal and physical harassment.”

“This settlement agreement is a major advance for students at Harvard University,” Ken Marcus, founder of the Brandeis Center, told JI. “We expect that it will have an extraordinary impact for colleges and universities around the country. There is now a Harvard standard that other colleges will need to strive to meet.”

Marcus called Harvard’s agreement to incorporate IHRA — and to use it explicitly in its anti-discrimination policy — “critical.”

“Harvard isn’t the first university in the U.S. to agree to do this, but certainly the most prominent,” Marcus said. “We expect that their lead will now be followed elsewhere.” JewishInsider

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Cassidy, Fetterman reintroduce legislation encouraging students to file Title VI complaints over campus antisemitism.

The Protecting Students on Campus Act would require universities to deliver annual reports on discrimination on campus.

By Emily Jacobs, January 21, 2025.

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) will reintroduce their bill requiring universities to make students aware of their right to file Title VI complaints if they experience discrimination or harassment on campus, Jewish Insider has learned.

The Protecting Students on Campus Act, to be reintroduced on Tuesday morning, would require the Department of Education to have a prominently displayed link on its homepage to the Office for Civil Rights’ webpage where individuals can directly submit civil rights complaints. The OCR, a part of the DOE, is legally obligated to respond to complaints of discrimination based on national origin under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Additionally, the legislation would require schools that receive federal funds to deliver an annual report to the DOE’s inspector general on instances of and responses to discrimination and require the IG to audit institutions “that report high ratios of discrimination complaints relative to their student population.” It would also instruct the department’s assistant secretary for civil rights to brief Congress monthly on how many reports OCR has received and what the office’s plans are to work through those complaints.

“The threats and attacks against Jewish students since October 7 are despicable. No one should fear for their safety at school because of who they are,” Cassidy, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said. “This bipartisan bill holds universities accountable to address discrimination and maintain a safe learning environment for all students.”

“Colleges should be places for students to learn and grow, and the Protecting Students on Campus Act would help ensure that they are exactly that. This bill is about protecting young people facing discrimination on college campuses and making sure they know their rights,” Fetterman said.

“The increasing rates of discrimination, including harassment, hateful speech and instances of vandalism, have left students feeling unsafe and threatened based on their race or what country they’re from, particularly over the last couple years. Colleges need to do more to protect students and help them find paths to recourse. This bill would help us get clearer view of where these terrible acts are happening, understand actions taken by colleges to address these occurrences, and hold colleges accountable,” he continued. JewishInsider

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Yemen vice-president says Trump return pivotal in fight against Iran backed-Houthis. Reuters, January 21, 2025.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 21 (Reuters) – The vice president of Yemen’s U.N.-recognised government on Tuesday welcomed Donald Trump’s return as U.S. president, saying it was a decisive turning point to curb the Iran-backed Houthis, who he said threaten regional stability and maritime security.

Aidarous al-Zubaidi told Reuters that Trump’s strong leadership and willingness to employ military strength were in sharp contrast to the Biden administration, which he said had allowed the Houthis to consolidate power, bolster their military capabilities and extend their reach beyond Yemen. Reuters

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Columbia anti-Israel activists start semester with protest, class disruption. January 21, 2025.

Several hundred anti-Israel demonstrators rallied outside the gates of Columbia University in New York City on Tuesday, as student activists vowed to step up their protests with the start of the spring semester.

The renewed protests come as the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress put pressure on universities to rein in threatening rhetoric on campuses.

The protesters gathered on Broadway outside a Columbia entrance in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. They chanted “We will honor all our martyrs,” “Smash the settler Zionist state,” and “Intifada people’s war” to the beat of a snare drum.

On campus, several dozen activists gathered and chanted “Long live the intifada” outside the university’s Butler Library, according to video that students shared with The Times of Israel. The protesters then marched off campus to join the activists on the street, two students said. The campus is only open to students and staff with university identification.

“Columbia you will see, we resist till victory,” the protesters on the street shouted. Most of the protesters’ faces were covered in medical masks or keffiyehs.

A handful of pro-Israel counterprotesters held Israeli flags and chanted, “The people of Israel live” in Hebrew. Other students and faculty looked on as they waited in line in the frigid cold to enter the campus. Police set up a metal barricade separating the line and the activists.

The protesters were led by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student groups led by the campus branches of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. Both groups were suspended last year for violating university protest policies but continue to operate as part of the broader coalition. Tuesday’s demonstration was backed by the off-campus groups Within Our Lifetime, the Palestinian Youth Movement and National Students for Justice in Palestine.

The groups call for the eradication of Israel and have vowed to continue their activities since the ceasefire agreement this month.

The Columbia students urged classmates to leave class on Tuesday, the first day of classes for the semester.

“Join us to flood Columbia,” the protest coalition said on social media. “There will be no school as usual as long as Columbia is participating in a genocide.”

“Ceasefire is only the beginning,” they said.

New York City protest groups often label their rallies “floods,” a homage to the Hamas term for the October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel, the “Al Aqsa Flood.”

On campus, protesters handed out fliers that said, “The enemy will not see tomorrow,” with images of masked gunmen and an inverted triangle, a Hamas symbol, according to images shared online. TOI

Emily Schrader - אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر @emilykschrader:

Columbia University: masked “free Palestine” activists storm into a class on the history of modern Israel disrupting and passing flyers to Jewish students on “crushing Zionism.”

This is racism and it’s a violation of student there. Disgusting! On X

Aviva Klompas @AvivaKlompas: The mob at Columbia screaming for violence against Jews.

I cannot understand how this is still happening after 15 months.

Jan 21, 2025 On X

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Uni student posted racist comment aimed at Israel Society amid war with Hamas. Amy Fenton. Mon 20 January 2025 at 11:02 am GMT-5 1-min read Yahoo

Trainee pharmacist sentenced after writing “hope we kill hundreds more of you” to Israel student society following action by CAA.

01/21/2025.

A trainee pharmacist was sentenced in court yesterday for a message he sent on social media to a university’s Israel student society.

Mohammad Al Accad, 24, also known as Suhail, pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive communication at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. The charge related to a message that he sent to the Israel Society at University College London which read: “F*** you and your people, hope we kill hundreds more in the coming days.”

The message was sent on 7th October 2023 in response to a statement published by the society condemning Hamas’ barbaric attacks in Israel on the same day. During the attacks, terrorists murdered some 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reported the contents of the message to the police after speaking with the victim.

The police offered to facilitate an apology from Mr Al Accad to the victim in lieu of a prosecution, which was rejected.

We also reported the defendant to the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Mr Al Accad was identified by Campaign Against Antisemitism and arrested following a police investigation. During his police interview, he admitted to sending the message, saying he had done so in reaction to recent events.

Despite his admission, the defendant initially claimed that his message was not grossly offensive.

Mr Al Accad was ordered to pay a fine of £675, which was uplifted from a Class B fine to a Class C fine due to the racially/religiously aggravated nature of the offence. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £270 and £85 towards prosecution costs.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Mohammad Al Accad’s sentencing marks a victory against those who feel that they can target Jewish students with antisemitic hatred. When antisemitism crosses the criminal threshold, we will do whatever it takes to secure justice. Let this verdict send a clear message to those who target Jews. Ruinous consequences await them.” Antisemitism.org

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Amsterdam comedy club cancels Israeli stand-up after threats. 01/21/2025.

An Israeli comedian's stand-up show at an Amsterdam comedy club was canceled Monday due to threats about his performance, according to statements by comedian Yohay Sponder on Boom Chicago.

Boom Chicago said in a statement that upon the announcement of Sponder's Saturday show, they received "significant negative reactions" online and from visitors, including responses that were "outright threatening."

"We began to worry about the safety of our performers, audience, and colleagues. Therefore, we made the difficult decision to cancel the performance," said Boom. "We are deeply saddened that this situation has escalated into a polarized debate about Gaza. In our 32 years of existence, we have never experienced anything like this. Very nasty criticism has come at us from all sides, even though we genuinely tried to do what was best for everyone."

Boom said that it believed in freedom of expression without hate and offered to help Sponder relocate to another venue. Postponing the trip

Sponder said on Instagram on Monday that the show had been postponed, and a new date and location would be announced soon.

"We're working on a new bigger venue, more beautiful, more central, better, we're going to get together and laugh as Jews are supposed to," said Sponder.

Sponder thanked his fans for their support.

Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Netherlands welcomed Boom's decision to cancel the show, asserting that the venue had listened to arguments against allowing him to perform.

"Yohay Sponder is a cultural ambassador for Israel, tasked with whitewashing Israel's atrocities against Palestinians," BDS NL said on Instagram Sunday. "Where other cultural ambassadors do so with music and art, Yohay Sponder chooses hate speech, dehumanization of Palestinians, anti-Muslim racism, and denying and ridiculing war crimes and crimes against humanity." Save the Children apologise and suspend staff member after ‘unacceptable’ ‘Zionist’ bagel shop video Save the Children has apologised after a member of staff posted a video saying she didn’t want to buy bagels from “genocidal maniacs” or people that support “Zionism”.

Yasmin Ghaffar, who the JC understands is a member of Save the Children’s public affairs team – frequently in Westminster speaking to MPs and other parliamentarians on behalf of the charity – posted a video to TikTok where she asked followers for recommendations for bagels in New York.

She specified: “I don’t want to be giving any of my money to genocidal maniacs” and added that she is looking for bagel shops that are either “actively pro-Palestinian” or “known to not be in support of that hell-hole place and Zionism”.

Her comments were severely criticised.

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore said in a post on X that her comments revealed “much about the moral & moronic downfall of Save the Children”, adding “it exposes the degrading of Western charities & NGOs. Save the Children is just one of the many once-great NGOs that [a]r[e] no longer charities at all.” JPost

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Trump: 'We're thinking about going to the Middle East, but not yet'. US President says Biden's "weakness" allowed the October 7 massacre to happen. "Six months ago, you would have had 11 more living hostages. But Biden couldn't get it done." Elad Benari. Jan 22, 2025, 3:23 AM INN

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Turkey’s vision transforms post-Assad Syria. Through its assertive Neo-Ottomanist policies Ankara aims to become the primary architect of Syria’s future while countering rival powers like Iran and Russia. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak. (Jan. 22, 2025 / Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security).

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime—brought about by Syrian opposition forces with Turkey’s backing—has created an unprecedented opportunity for Ankara to redefine its role as a regional power in line with its broader Neo-Ottoman aspirations. By championing the Sunni opposition and dismantling the Alawite-led regime, Turkey has succeeded in shifting the Mideast balance of power, installing in Damascus a regime dependent on Turkey and curbing the influence of rivals such as Iran and Russia. JNS

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Footage of the Jenin operation: Over ten terrorists killed, many explosives destroyed. Over 10 terrorists eliminated as IDF carries out aerial strikes on terror targets, destroys explosives, in new Jenin operation. Uzi Baruch. Jan 22, 2025, 11:29 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Watch: Tel Aviv terrorist orders pizza minutes before stabbing spree Israel National News Jan 22, 2025, 3:52 PM INN

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Abraham Shield Plan is roadmap for meeting the regional dynamics after war. A comprehensive strategy proposed by Israel’s Coalition for Regional Security aims to stabilize the Middle East through Saudi normalization, Palestinian separation and a united front against Iran. Giorgia Valente/The Media Line |1.22.25. YNet

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Paraguayan President to Arutz Sheva: We decided to take ties with Israel to a higher level. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña spoke with Arutz Sheva in Washington, DC, about the country's growing relationship with Israel and his decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem. Uzi Baruch, Washington. Jan 22, 2025, 5:55 PM INN

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'What’s the next step?': Report exposes Hamas' lack of strategy after October 7 attack. Itamar Eichner|1.22.25. YNet

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IDF forces work to thwart ceasefire violations in Gaza. Israel National News. Jan 22, 2025, 9:53 PM INN

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Yoseph Haddad:

'We must speak to our enemies in the language of the Middle East'.

Israel advocate Yoseph Haddad speaks with Arutz Sheva about the challenges and importance of pro-Israel activism and explains how Israel should get along with its neighbors.

Yoni Kempinski. Jan 22, 2025, 8:14 PM INN

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Israel demanding that Arbel Yehud be released this Saturday. While Hamas is supposed to notify Israel on Friday which hostages will be released on Saturday, Israel is demanding that the 29-year-old Arbel Yehud be one of them. Israel National News, Jan 22, 2025, 10:22 PM. INN

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Hamas commander previously declared dead by Israel reemerges in Gaza. Beit Hanoun Battalion chief Hussein Fayyad filmed Wednesday speaking at a Gaza funeral; IDF announced he was killed in Jabaliya tunnel in May, admits intelligence 'not sufficiently accurate'; terror group calls it blow to Israeli intelligence. Einav Halabi, Elisha Ben Kimon | 1.22.25. YNet

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Groups with ‘direct’ terror ties planned anti-Israel protests at Columbia, per Canary Mission report. “Despite efforts to depict it as such, the encampment was not the product of naive, anti-war college kids,” the watchdog stated.

Alex Welz. (Jan. 22, 2025 / JNS).

Anti-Israel and antisemitic protests at Columbia University last academic year were planned “by groups with direct links to terror organizations and supported by those organizations,” according to a new Canary Mission report.

“Despite efforts to depict it as such, the encampment was not the product of naive, anti-war college kids,” according to the report, which runs more than 50 pages. “It was planned by groups with direct links to terror organizations and supported by those organizations.”

“We hope this report will serve as a wake-up call to university administrators, Congress and the American public regarding the ‘education’ that is happening today on college campuses across the nation,” the group said.

The report features 321 profiles of students, professors and external actors, whom Canary Mission identified as engaging in antisemitic activities on the Ivy League campus. It also includes a comprehensive analysis of the ways the school became a “gateway hub for Hamas’s activism in the United States.”

Columbia’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter viewed its New York City campus “as the ideal place to launch its nationwide strategy in support of Hamas’s terror campaign,” per the report.

Instead of quelling the unrest, pockets of the school’s administration supported SJP, including “the Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, as well as the university’s senate, Middle East Institute and Center for Palestine Studies, among numerous other departments,” according to the report.

“Less than six months after Columbia’s leaders had promised Congress that the university would not tolerate antisemitism and would ensure a safe learning environment, the university had lifted discipline for its most extreme offenders and its president had apologized to them,” the report states.

On the first day of the new semester at Columbia, anti-Israel protesters disrupted a class taught by an Israeli professor on Tuesday. JNS

From Tehran to Columbia: Inside America's Student Intifada. January 17, 2025

Introduction. This report shows how foreign terror organizations – all proxies of Iran – and their American affiliates transformed Columbia University into a gateway hub for Hamas’ activism in the United States.​ It further reveals the complicity of Columbia University’s administration and faculty in this endeavor.

The report also exposes the key players at Columbia promoting foreign terror and the massacre of Jews, from faculty to students as well as the outside agitators to whom Columbia opened its gates. CanaryMission

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Trump signs executive order calling for Houthis to be relisted as terror group. The order calls on the U.S. secretary of state to recommend designating the Yemen-based group as a terror organization within 30 days. JNS Staff. (Jan. 22, 2025 / JNS). U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday calling on the U.S. secretary of state to designate the Houthis as a terror group within the next 30 days. JNS

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Survivor of Nova massacre to represent Israel at Eurovision. Israel National News. Jan 22, 2025, 11:53 PM INN

Yuval Raphael, survivor of Nova massacre, to represent Israel at 2025 Eurovision. By Amy Spiro. January 23, 2025, 1:33 am TOI

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Rubio to Netanyahu: We'll work tirelessly to help free all remaining hostages. Elad Benari. Jan 23, 2025, 12:23 AM INN

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Two terrorists eliminated in Jenin Israel National News Jan 23, 2025, 2:16 AM INN

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In sign of priorities, Trump’s first call with foreign leader held with Saudi prince. By Jacob Magid. January 23, 2025, 3:10 am TOI

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Justice Served: Hamas Confirms Death of Terrorist Who Murdered Israeli Hero Shmueli. Eliana Fleming. 01.22.25. JFeed

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Israeli Minister Says Army Applying Lessons From Gaza in West Bank Operation. by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff. January 22, 2025. Algemeiner

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Trump Fires Head of Terrorist-Linked World Central Kitchen From President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, Nutrition. by Corey Walker. January 22, 2025.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the firing of celebrity chef Jose Andres, founder of the controversial World Central Kitchen (WCK), from the president’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, claiming that the restaurateur and humanitarian is “not aligned with” the current White House’s mission.

Trump shared the news of Andres’s departure in an “Official Notice of Dismissal” on social media. The statement explained that his administration is currently in the process of “identifying and removing over a thousand presidential appointees from the previous administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again.”

Over the past year, Andres has found himself embroiled in controversy regarding the alleged conduct of WCK employees in Gaza. WCK, a US-based NGO founded by Andres to help feed needy people caught in disasters or conflict zones, has been operating with roughly 500 employees in Gaza since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. The charity has often engaged in heated public disputes with the Jewish state, accusing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of purposefully targeting its workers with airstrikes — allegations that Jerusalem has adamantly rejected.

In April 2024, the IDF came under fire after it conducted airstrikes on a WCK vehicle convoy, killing seven employees of the charity. Israel acknowledged responsibility for the incident and insisted that the airstrikes violated internal protocol, subsequently dismissing two senior officers over the botched military operation.

Israel has accused WCK of insufficiently vetting its workforce and employing terrorist members within its ranks.

Last month, WCK fired at least 62 of its staff members in Gaza after Israel said they had “affiliations and direct connections” with terrorist groups. Israel conducted an investigation into the backgrounds of the charity’s employees after the Jewish state discovered that a WCK employee named Ahed Azmi Qdeih took part in the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’s invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Qdeih was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Nov. 30. At the time, WCK said it had no knowledge of an employee involved in the Oct. 7 onslaught, in which Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists murdered 1,200 people and kidnapped over 250 hostages during their rampage in southern Israel.

Israel has long insisted that Hamas and similar terrorist groups have infiltrated humanitarian organizations in Gaza. In August 2024, the United Nations admitted that nine employees of UNRWA, the controversial United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees and their descendants, were fired over their alleged involvement in the Hamas terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attacks on southern Israel. Algemeiner

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Belgian gov't panel: Deportation trains 'collective responsibility' of gov't and public. Belgium’s railway should apologize but not pay for sending Jews to Nazi death camps, government panel concludes. Shira Li Bartov, JTA. Jan 23, 2025, 8:03 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Two terrorists from Funduq terror attack eliminated in Samaria. Two of the three terrorists responsible for a deadly shooting attack in Funduq earlier this month were eliminated, as security forces continue to pursue third terrorist; one IDF soldier moderately injured. Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 10:01 AM (GMT+2) INN

IDF kills two terrorists behind al-Funduq attack. The terrorists, who were associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, were killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces after barricading themselves in a building near Jenin • One IDF soldier was moderately wounded in the operation. Joshua Marks. (Jan. 23, 2025 / JNS). Israeli forces on Wednesday night eliminated two terrorists near Jenin in northern Samaria who were involved in a Jan. 6 shooting that left three Israelis dead.

Mohamad Nazzal and Katiba Shalabi, residents of Qabatiya, were affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and had barricaded themselves in a building in Burqin, just southeast of Jenin, according to the Israel Defense Forces. They were killed following an exchange of fire with Israeli troops.

Several other suspects were arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack in al-Funduq.

An IDF was moderately injured during the operation. JNS

IDF Kills 2 Of The 3 Terrorists Who Killed 3 Israelis In Funduq Attack. January 23, 2025. IDF forces overnight Wednesday eliminated two of the three terrorists who carried out the deadly terror attack in the village of Al-Funduq near Kedumim about two weeks ago, killing three Israelis and injuring nine.

IDF forces are currently in the Jenin area as part of Operation Iron Wall, which is focused on rooting out terrorism in the area. Under the direction of intelligence information from the Shin Bet, the forces surrounded a building in the village of Burqin and implemented the “pressure cooker” technique using explosives and gunfire. YWN

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Hamas continues to control humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Gazan residents report that Hamas is continuing to control the thousands of aid trucks entering Gaza, selling the aid for a high price. 'Hamas is stealing the aid.' Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 11:38 AM INN

Hamas accused of diverting aid as over 2,400 trucks enter Gaza. “Hamas steals the aid and sells it to merchants, who then set exorbitant prices at the expense of our entire people.” JNS Staff. (Jan. 23, 2025 / JNS). Despite over 2,400 aid trucks having entered the Gaza Strip since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on Sunday, Gaza residents say the aid is not reaching them and are accusing Hamas of diverting it and selling it, Hebrew media reported on Thursday.

“We don’t see any aid or goods at reasonable prices. Why?” lamented one resident, according to Channel 12 News. Another said, “Hamas steals the aid and sells it to merchants, who then set exorbitant prices at the expense of our entire people.”

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 897 aid trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday alone, following 630 on Sunday and 915 on Monday.

The ceasefire agreement mandates the daily entry of at least 600 aid trucks, including 50 carrying fuel, with half destined for northern Gaza. JNS

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US top diplomat Rubio discusses Iran, Gaza hostages with Israeli PM Netanyahu By Reuters. 01/23/2025 01:02 AM [20]

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Trump nominates Andrew Puzder as US ambassador to the EU. By Reuters. 01/23/2025 02:21 AM JPost

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Saudi crown prince seeks $600 bln investment push with US. By Reuters. 01/23/2025 02:32 AM JPost

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PA arrests Al Jazeera reporter in Jenin - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/23/2025 08:00 AM JPost

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Terrorists threw molotov cocktail on Lev HaShomron Highway Wednesday evening. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/23/2025 10:05 AM JPost

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Released hostage's grandmother: 'I'm glad I stayed alive long enough to see her born again'

Deborah Leshem, grandmother of Romi Gonen who was released from Hamas captivity, shares her feelings about reuniting with her granddaughter.

Yoni Kempinski Jan 23, 2025, 12:47 PM INN

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US security firm readies to inspect Gazans returning to north amid cease-fire. Itamar Eichner|1.23.25. YNet

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Netanyahu responds to Nazi salute uproar: 'Musk is being falsely smeared'. Just days after American tycoon Elon Musk caused a stir when he made a gesture reminiscent of a Nazi salute, the prime minister stood by him. 'Elon is a great friend of Israel,' Netanyahu wrote on the X platform, owned by the billionaire who is close to President Trump. [21]. [22]. [23]. Ynet | 1.23.25. YNet

Netanyahu says Musk ‘falsely smeared,’ but NY officials, top Michigan legal officer say he hates Jews. "Elon is a great friend of Israel," who has "repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself," the Israeli prime minister stated. JNS Staff.

(Jan. 23, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, whom some are accusing of performing a Nazi salute at an inauguration celebration in Washington on Jan. 20, is “being falsely smeared.”

“Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the Oct. 7 massacre, in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Netanyahu stated. “He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state. I thank him for this.”

The Israeli prime minister posted the message in response to Musk, who wrote on social media that “the radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi.”

Russ Roberts, the president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, also defended Musk. “Sorry to have to write this, but some Jews and others are demanding that Elon Musk clarify his recent gesture. Horrible idea,” Roberts stated. “I say this as a Jew. There is zero evidence that Musk harbors evil views.”

“The opposite: he sympathizes with Jews and Israel,” Roberts added. “For him to clarify matters is to incentivize evil people, encouraging them to keep making up things that raise their profile by stoking invented outrage. Ignore them.”

On Jan. 20, the Anti-Defamation League defended Musk and called for “a bit of grace” during “a delicate moment.”

At the time, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a member of the anti-Israel “Squad” in Congress, denounced Musk and accused him of doing a Nazi salute.

On Wednesday, U.S. state officials also said that Musk was guilty of performing a pro-Nazi action.

Dana Nessel, a Democrat who serves as Michigan’s attorney general, referred to “a close adviser to the president giving the Nazi salute during an inaugural rally just this week.”

Nearly a dozen Jewish New York officials, including the city comptroller, state senators, state assembly members and a city council member, said that “there is no room for ambiguity when it comes to Nazi symbology. The time is now to protect ourselves and our neighbors, not to normalize hate.”

([24]. Elon Musk and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak with Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council acting head Yossi Keren in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Nov. 27, 2023. Credit: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO).

Musk performed “what appeared to be two Nazi salutes—otherwise known as a ‘Sieg Heil’ or a ‘Roman salute’—at an official presidential event from a podium that bore the presidential seal,” the officials stated.

“As Jewish elected officials committed to combating antisemitism in New York, we unequivocally condemn this action and the lack of apology,” they said

“Given that Elon Musk has repeatedly pushed the antisemitic ‘great replacement’ theory and endorsed the Nazi-supporting AfD (Alternative for Germany) party in Germany, it is not hard to imagine that he knew exactly what he was doing,” they added. JNS

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Security source on Jenin operation: If Zakaria Zubeidi holds a weapon, he'll be eliminated. Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 1:49 PM INN

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IDF dismantles Hezbollah weapons stores, infrastructure in southern Lebanon. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/23/2025 05:25 PM JPost

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Israel said seeking 30 more days to withdraw from Lebanon, citing Hezbollah violations. By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff. January 23, 2025, 4:19 pm TOI

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Very Concerning: Trump Gives Top Defense Position To Official With Worrying Views On Israel And Iran. January 23, 2025

The Trump administration’s appointment of Michael DiMino as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East has sparked widespread concern among pro-Israel conservatives, with critics pointing to his controversial views on Iran, Israel, and U.S. involvement in the region.

DiMino, a former military analyst at the CIA and a Defense Department official under Trump’s first term, recently served as a fellow at Defense Priorities, a think tank advocating for reduced U.S. engagement in the Middle East. His comments and policy stances have drawn sharp criticism for downplaying threats from Iran and its proxies and for opposing traditional U.S. military strategies in the region.

In a February 2024 webinar, DiMino argued that the Middle East holds minimal strategic importance for the U.S., saying that vital threats in the region are “minimal to nonexistent.” He advocated for a significant reduction of U.S. military presence in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf, instead promoting diplomacy and intelligence-led operations.

Pro-Israel groups have expressed alarm at his remarks on Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel, which he described as a “fairly moderate” response to Israeli actions. DiMino has repeatedly opposed military strikes on Iran, warning that such actions could provoke escalation. In April 2024, he praised President Biden’s efforts to restrain Israel from striking Iranian nuclear sites, a stance many conservatives view as appeasement.

DiMino has also been critical of U.S. military actions against Iranian-backed militias and the Houthis in Yemen, describing such strikes as futile. He has argued for increased diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid rather than military intervention, often urging the U.S. to pressure Israel to modify its policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

His views on regional security have further fueled concerns. In a policy paper, he dismissed U.S. interests in the Red Sea as negligible, suggesting that China, rather than the U.S., should address Houthi threats to shipping lanes. He has also criticized potential U.S. security guarantees to Saudi Arabia as part of a normalization deal with Israel, calling Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman an “erratic figure.”

Critics within the administration and pro-Israel circles view DiMino’s positions as inconsistent with President Trump’s more hawkish approach to the region. A Republican congressional defense staffer described DiMino’s views as “diametrically opposed” to Trump’s policies, which emphasize a maximum pressure campaign against Iran and robust support for Israel.

The appointment has drawn comparisons to Elbridge Colby, another Trump administration official whose stance on Iran has been criticized by conservatives. Both DiMino and Colby are seen as proponents of a more isolationist foreign policy, a perspective many fear will undermine U.S. commitments to its allies.

“This foreign policy is the same as Obama’s foreign policy in the Middle East,” said a former Trump administration official. “We are at a point of choosing whether to allow Iran to become a nuclear weapons power, and people like DiMino don’t see that as a threat.” YWN

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Iraqi FM: Abducted Israeli researcher still alive. Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 5:19 PM INN

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Hezbollah says Israel has to completely withdraw from Lebanon ahead of withdrawal deadline. By Reuters. 01/23/2025 05:25 PM JPost

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'My sunbeam has returned'. Doron's sister posts first photo with her. Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 5:42 PM INN

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Senior Israeli official. 'IDF will not withdraw from all of southern Lebanon by Sunday'.

The Security Cabinet will discuss whether the IDF will complete the withdrawal from Lebanese territory by Sunday, the end of the 60 days stipulated by the ceasefire agreement to do so.

Israel National Newsm Jan 23, 2025, 6:28 PM INN

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Priestly Blessing. Yossi Dagan blesses the Argentinian President. Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 6:48 PM INN

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Trump to Davos: 'Ceasefire wouldn't have happened without us'. By Hannah Sarisohn. 01/23/2025 07:24 PM JPost

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US Senate advances nomination of Trump CIA director pick. By Reuters. 01/23/2025 07:02 PM JPost

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Gaza: Troops fire at suspects approaching them Israel National News. Jan 23, 2025, 8:33 PM INN

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Hamas says group to give Israel on Friday names of next four hostages to be freed. By ToI Staff and Amy Spiro. January 23, 2025, 10:01 pm TOI

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Would be nice if Iran issues can be solved without Israeli strike.

Trump stresses importance of implementing the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas: If the deal doesn’t hold there will be a lot of problems.

Israel National News Jan 23, 2025, 11:31 PM INN

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‘Very serious allegation,’ UN says of reports hostages held at its sites in Gaza. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is slated to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Mike Wagenheim. (Jan. 23, 2025 / JNS).

Reports that freed Israeli hostages had been held in U.N. shelters in the Gaza Strip amount to “a very serious allegation,” Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, told JNS on Wednesday.

“We call on those who have information on this to share it formally with UNRWA or other parts of the United Nations so that we can investigate it further,” Haq told JNS at the global body’s press conference in New York.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, who were released on Sunday, said Hamas had held them in U.N. camps that the global body created during the war to protect Gazan civilians and to provide them with food and water.

It wasn’t clear from public records and reporting in which camps they were held, when and for how long. Israeli intelligence, taken from captured Hamas terrorists, assessed that several Israeli hostages were held at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Fox News reported.

The United Nations and other global groups have criticized the Israeli military extensively for conducting military operations in and around shelters, U.N. camps and Gazan hospitals. The Israel Defense Forces has said that Hamas has a documented history of using such facilities for terror operations. Hamas is known to be embedded in civilian and humanitarian areas. JNS

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Nashville school shooter, 17, was inspired by Hitler and Candace Owens according to 'manifesto'. 24 January 2025. KBC

BREAKING: Alleged Nashville School Shooter RADICALIZED By Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens.

The Bulwark. Jan 23, 2025. Tim Miller talks about the radicalization of the alleged Nashville school shooter by far-right personalities. on YouTube

Nashville school shooter's manifesto reveals he was inspired by Hitler and Candace Owens.

23 Jan 2025. By Bethan Sexton for DAILYMAIL.COM [25] The Nashville school shooter allegedly wrote that his warped ideology was inspired by Candace Owens before he opened fire on two classmates and turned the gun on himself.

Solomon Henderson, 17, fatally shot Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, and injured another student before taking his own life during the rampage at Antioch High School.

The horror inside the school cafeteria unfolded at around 11am Wednesday and was partially streamed online. Daily Mail

Alleged Nashville school shooter praised Hitler and shared neo-Nazi content. Police investigating antisemitic, anti-Black manifesto attributed to 17-year-old shooter, himself Black, who killed fellow student By Philissa Cramer. 23 January 2025. ... The content also included a poster for the Go... Defense League, whose members distribute antisemitic propaganda. The apparent manifesto also included an (unattributed) quotation from the manifesto of the shooter who attacked a mosque in New Zealand in 2019, in which that shooter credited right-wing commentator Candace Owens with having influenced him; security experts disagree about whether the original statement was made sincerely, and Owens has condemned that attack and its perpetrator. TOI

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Hamas executes alleged 'collaborators' with Israel. Elad Benari. Jan 24, 2025, 5:47 AM INN

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Photos: Egoz Unit's activities in Jenin. Israel National News. Jan 24, 2025, 6:00 AM INN

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Columbia University: Student suspended over protest at Israeli history class. Columbia University: Student suspended over protest at Israeli history class. Columbia University suspends student following a disruption earlier this week during a class on Israeli history, in which protesters distributed flyers with “violent imagery”. Elad Benari. Jan 24, 2025, 4:53 AM

Columbia University has suspended a student following a swift investigation into a disruption during a class on Israeli history, the university announced on Thursday, according to CNN.

Protesters distributed flyers with “violent imagery” during a History of Modern Israel class on Tuesday, according to Columbia’s statement. The university identified and suspended one student pending a complete review, with the investigation still ongoing. The student’s identity has not been disclosed.

The incident occurred on the first day of Professor Avi Shilon’s class. Protesters, wearing keffiyehs and covering their faces, entered the classroom and handed out anti-Israel flyers, reported Elisha Baker, a junior studying Middle Eastern history.

One flyer depicted a burning Israeli flag with the phrase “Burn Zionism to the Ground,” while another showed a black boot about to crush the Star of David, accompanied by the words “Crush Zionism,” according to photos taken by Baker.

In response to the incident, Columbia announced increased security measures and intensified efforts to identify those involved. It remains unclear if all demonstrators were students.

“No group of students has a right to disrupt another group in a Columbia classroom,” said interim president Katrina Armstrong. “Acts of antisemitism or any form of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

This disruption is the latest in a series of incidents at Columbia related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Columbia has come under increased scrutiny over the rise in antisemitism on campus since the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators at Columbia set up dozens of tents in April of last year, demanding that the university divest from its Israeli assets. The university administration called in police to dismantle the encampments.

On April 30, at the request of university leaders, hundreds of officers with the New York Police Department stormed onto campus, gaining access to the building through a second-story window and making dozens of arrests of the pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators who had taken over Hamilton Hall.

Before the anti-Israel encampment on campus, the Chabad rabbi of Columbia University and a group of Jewish students were forced to leave the university campus for their own safety during a pro-Hamas demonstration.

In August, three Columbia University deans resigned from the school, after it was discovered that they had exchanged “very troubling” texts that “disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes”. INN

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New footage: IDF blasts tunnels, locates rocket launchers in Lebanon. Israel National News. Jan 24, 2025, 12:05 PM INN

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Unique request: Hostage's mother: Don't desecrate the Sabbath. Merav Berger, whose daughter Agam was kidnapped on October 7 and is held hostage in Gaza, says she will try to avoid desecrating Shabbat and asks the media to respect her wishes.

Israel National News. Jan 24, 2025, 12:52 PM INN

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Gal Hirsch meets with families of hostages, details hostage deal. By Amichai Stein. 01/24/2025 12:59 PM JPost

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Frank Gaffney: 'Qatar is evil incarnate, should be named terror sponsor'.. Jan 24, 2025. INN

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Gov't approving list of Palestinian prisoners to be released in first phase of deal. By Amichai Stein. 01/24/2025 01:23 PM JPost

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Josh Hammer: 'Western civilization begins at Mount Sinai'. Rabbi Pesach Wolicki Jan 24, 2025, 1:54 PM INN

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How Dearborn became a symbol of Jihad Opinion: Majority-Muslim city Dearborn foster quiet jihad in US, with deep ties to Iran, Hezbollah, and anti-Western agendas Eran Lahav|1.24.25. YNet

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PM's Office: Withdrawal from Lebanon to last more than 60 days. Israel National News. Jan 24, 2025, 3:00 PM INN

Israel delays Lebanon withdrawl. Israel to gradually exit with US coordination amid Lebanon army's lack of deployment in south to hold Hezbollah off. Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben Ari, Elisha Ben Kimon|1.24.25. YNet

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Hamas hands over list of hostages to be freed tomorrow.

Hamas hands over list of four hostages who will be released on Saturday afternoon. Israel says Hamas is violating the agreement but will receive the four hostages listed.

Israel National News. Jan 24, 2025, 6:19 PM INN

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PM office confirms it received list of hostages to be released by Hamas. Netanyahu's office says mediators delivered a list from Hamas; however, the list differs from what Israel had expected, raising a significant difficulty over whether to accept it. Ynetnews|1.24.25. YNet

Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy to be freed in second release. 477 days after being kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military post, the four female soldiers are expected to be released from captivity on Saturday, possibly as early as the afternoon Itamar Eichner, Yael Ciechanover, Einav Halabi|1.24.25. YNet

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Friday, January 24, 2025. Hamas is publicly executing Gaza opponents ON VIDEO. Silence from the world.

Here is a video published yesterday by the Hamas-linked Gaza Now Telegram account, showing Hamas terrorists publicly executing several Palestinians in the street in front of a crowd. (Warning: graphic violence EoZ

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Friday, January 24, 2025. The real root cause is, and always has been, Jew-hatred. @Amnesty doesn't combat it - it encourages it. Amnesty USA tweeted a short slideshow in the wake of the ceasefire in Gaza. Here is one particularly disgusting slide:

The three examples they give are for Amnesty reports accusing Israel of apartheid[sic] and genocide[sic].

To Amnesty, Jews are the ones really responsible for Hamas attacking on October 7.

Every time a group like Amnesty speaks about root causes, it is to justify Palestinian and Arab attacks on Jews. They never say that the "root cause" of Israeli defensive actions is a Palestinian action. Their interest in history always only goes back to some Jewish "root cause" and not a second beforehand.

On November 8, 1913, the Filastin newspaper published a poem by Sheikh Sulayman al-Taji Faruqi called "The Zionist Menace" which was both antisemitic and anti-Ottoman. The poem caused the Ottoman authorities to shut down the paper for a time.

Here, possibly for the first time in English, is a translation of the poem. The first half is addressed to Jews, and the rest to the head of the Ottoman Empire.

[26].

Sons of gold, time has exposed your deception, For we are not ones to abandon our homelands through deceit. You have unleashed your arrogance, but within us remains A spirit that declares: we shall act and respond.

The most insignificant of nations, without a true identity, Now dares to bargain with us over our land—how could we allow this? The Jews—oh, how well we know the ways of the Jews, For they are a people united in misguidance.

Our laws—what has struck you that you do not heed them? Do you not see that aiding the motherland requires uprooting you? Our judgments are clear: leave this world and take refuge elsewhere. But after this day, patience has no place.

You have obeyed the enemies in their schemes against us— But will all of you now yield and retreat? This is the terrible danger of those who oppose us. Have you not seen how the eye of the homeland is torn apart, Except to send a message to the rulers: That the heart of the courageous shall falter and be severed?

If they do not give leadership its due right, Then its enemies shall rise and settle in their place. And you, O Commander of the Faithful, show kindness To us, for we are the shield of the Caliphate.

And lands that God has blessed around them, And a people who are the pride of all religions, Are weakened by the frailty you embody— Unless they fall in ruin and are utterly destroyed.

Does it please you, O successful one, that our lands Are sold and snatched away while witnesses remain? It is filled with antisemitic imagery, of rich Jews who aren't a real people anyway and who are hated by Muslims for centuries. It calls for ethnically cleansing Jews from the region.

This is before "apartheid," before "occupation," before the "nakba," before Balfour. Anyone who looks at root causes must conclude that the root cause is Arab antisemitism.

You might argue that this was a single poem in a single newspaper and not representative of Arab feelings towards Jews.

So let us look at the 1921 Jaffa riots. The British Haycraft Commission wrote a report on the 1921 riots where Arabs killed dozens of Jews in Jaffa and elsewhere, which was sparked by a May Day demonstration by a small number of Jewish communists.

Ironically, the communists supported Arab workers as much as Jews; their chants during the demonstration included "Long live the international solidarity of the Jewish and Arab proletariat!"

The commission did not blame the riots on the demonstration. They said they fully expect the Arabs to attack Jews in a situation like that. Here, however, the Arabs turned it into a "race conflict" - meaning, attacking Jews as Jews. It wasn't self-defense and it wasn't a reaction, it wasn't aimed at only the demonstrators. It was the deliberate attacking of Jews, including murdering children and raping women, sadistically splitting open Jewish skulls. One of their first targets was the "Immigration House" where a hundred Jewish men, women and children lived. Arab policemen also joined in the attacks on Jews, shooting at and killing Jews in the building. his was followed by "an orgy of pillage" of Jewish homes and shops.

In many ways, it was a miniature October 7.

The commission noted that the violence towards Jews was not at all proportionate to this supposed excuse of an illegal gathering. It was a "race conflict" - meaning, attacks on Jews because they are Jews. Unlike Amnesty, they didn't automatically blame the Jews for every violent act by the Arabs.

Amnesty keeps blaming Jews as the "root cause" for Arab outrages, but when you go back through the "cycle of violence," the first attackers are always Arabs towards Jews. The Amnesty slide shown above proves that it is Amnesty's own antisemitism that pours gasoline on the fires of Arab Jew-hatred.

Another point worth mentioning is that the Arabs in 1921 were often motivated to kill by unfounded rumors of Jews attacking Arabs and doing heinous crimes. This is what prompted them to attack Hadera and Petah Tikva in the days after the May 1 attacks. The British investigators found that the rumors were baseless. Compare that to today where researchers from NGOs and the media are likely to believe anything Hamas says and not believe the Jews; they themselves are fueling the terrorism by spreading the false rumors and Hamas statements as truth. Blatant lies get laundered through UN agencies and become presumed truth and justifications for murder.

Despite the fact that Amnesty claims to be against antisemitism, and despite the tsunami of antisemitic incitement published today in Arabic media that would make Sheikh Faruqi, blush, Amnesty has not written a word about Arab Jew-hatred which is the real root cause of the conflict and of Arab violence. Amnesty's own contempt of Jews poisons its own analyses.

The 1921 riots and 1913 poetic incitement came decades before "apartheid" and "genocide" and "occupation" and "nakba." How can anyone not infected with antisemitism blame Jews as the "root cause" of the violence?

Amnesty is a sick joke. it doesn't want to talk about root causes. it wants to ensure that every dead or kidnapped or raped Jew is blamed on Jews themselves. EoZ

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‘F—k Him’: UN Special Rapporteur Blasts Netanyahu With Profane Social Media Post, Sparking Calls for Punishment. by Corey Walker. January 24, 2025.

Tlaleng Mofokeng, the United Nations’ “special rapporteur on the right to health,” has come under fire for recently lambasting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a profane post on X/Twitter, expressing her discontent over the Jewish state’s military operations in Gaza.

“F—k him,” Mofokeng wrote last Sunday in response to a report that Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Force (IDF) not to begin the ceasefire in Gaza until the Hamas terrorist organization named the hostages it had agreed to release. Notably, the UN special rapporteur was responding to a news article from Al Jazeera, which receives funding from the government and has long been criticized for pushing an anti-Israel bias. Algemeiner

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US issues broad freeze on foreign aid after Trump orders review. By Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis. January 24, 2025.

Summary. Waivers issued for military financing for Israel and Egypt. Aid freeze impacts health, education, and civil society projects. Critics argue pause could weaken US influence internationally. Waivers issued for military financing to Israel and Egypt. WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department issued a "stop-work" order on Friday for all existing foreign assistance... Reuters

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Hamas has recruited over 10,000 new operatives since October 7, report says. Daniel Edelson, New York, Reuters|1.25.25. JPost

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Hamas airs 'war film' showcasing leadership and October 7 planning. Einav Halabi|1.25.25. JPost

Watch slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar on battleground and in hiding during Gaza. warSlain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar can be seen wearing a military vest and a blanket as he walks on the battleground in a walking stick. By The Week News Desk Updated: January 25, 2025 11:13 IST

Unseen footage of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was published on Friday, showing him walking on the battleground as well as in hiding during the war between Israel and the militant group in the Gaza Strip.

The footage released by Al Jazeera came to light four months after Sinwar was killed in Rafah. The Times of Israel established that The Hamas chief began staying in the Rafah home after IDF left the locality, pointing out that the Hebrew word for "North" was graffitied on the building wall.

Sinwar clad in a military vest and blanket is spotted carrying a walking stick in one of the videos. Another video show Sinwar in a polo shirt kneeling on the floor as he points at a location on a map.

Al Jazeera video also showed an order signed by Sinwar to begin the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

This comes amid Israel's repeated allegations that the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network has close ties with Hamas operatives, accusing six reporters of being members of militants outfits.

Israel has banned Al Jazeera from operating in the country over alleged links to Hamas while the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has also suspended the network over its coverage of Mahmoud Abbas regime's action against militants. TheWeek

Hamas airs 'war film' showcasing leadership and October 7 planning In a bid to assert dominance in Gaza, Al Jazeera airs report featuring footage of slain Hamas leaders, interview with Gaza Brigade Commander and leaked 'operational document' allegedly issued 2 days before October 7 attack. Einav Halabi | 1.25.25. In a bid to assert its dominance in Gaza after over 15 months of war, Hamas released new footage and interviews over the weekend, aired as part of Al Jazeera’s investigative program The Tip of the Iceberg. YNet

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The names and crimes of 80 dangerous terrorist murderers being released by Israel. Itamar Marcus and Ephraim D. Tepler | Jan 24, 2025.

As Israel celebrates the release of three of the hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and anticipates the release of 30 more over 42 days, every Israeli dreads the consequences of the dangerous price extorted from Israel by Hamas.

Israel has agreed to release over 1,900 terrorists, including many murderers, such as Wael Qassem, who is serving 35 life sentences.

General Security Service Director Ronen Bar told Israel's security cabinet last week that 82% of the 1,024 terrorists released in exchange for Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit in 2011 "returned to terrorism." The leaders of Hamas who planned and led the October 7 massacre were released terrorist prisoners. Thousands of Israelis have been murdered as a direct result of previous terrorist-hostage exchanges.

To display the nature of the danger, Palestinian Media Watch has prepared a list of the names of 80 of the terrorist murderers to be released with descriptions of some of their crimes.

Note that among those being released are terror commanders who planned and organized murders by suicide bombing, shooting, and stabbing; bomb builders; and terrorists who murdered with their own hands by stabbing and shooting. As in the past, the majority of those being released now will return to their former positions and be the leaders and foundation of Palestinian terrorism for years to come.

Wael Qassem – Serving 35 life sentences. Led a cell responsible for three suicide bombing attacks in 2002—Café Moment, the Hebrew University cafeteria, and the Sheffield Club, murdering 35 in total.

Ammar Al-Ziben – Serving 32 life sentences. Hamas. Planned several suicide bombings, including the double suicide bombing at the Mahane Yehuda outdoor market in 1997, murdering 16.

Majdi Za'atri – Serving 23 life sentences. Hamas. Planned and assisted a suicide bombing in 2003—drove a suicide bomber to a bus stop in Jerusalem where the bomber boarded the #2 bus and blew himself up, murdering 23, including children and babies.

Ahmad Salah – Serving 21 life sentences. Involved in two Jerusalem suicide bus bombings in 2004, murdering 19 people and injuring over 100.

Sami Jaradat – Serving 21 life sentences. Head of Islamic Jihad in the Jenin district. Planned several attacks, including the 2003 suicide bombing at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa where 21 people were murdered and over 50 were injured.

Fahmi Mashahreh – Serving 20 life sentences. Aided and instructed suicide bomber Muhammad Al-Ghoul, who murdered 19 and wounded 74 on a Jerusalem bus in 2002.

Shadi Ibrahim Ammouri – Serving 17 life sentences. Islamic Jihad. Prepared the bomb for the 2002 Megiddo Junction bombing in which 17 were murdered and 43 were wounded on the #830 bus from Tel Aviv to Tiberias.

Salim Hijja – Serving 16 life sentences. Assisted a suicide bomber in blowing up a bus in Haifa in 2001, murdering 15 and injuring 40.

Mansour Shreim – Serving 14 life sentences. Participated in the murder of an Israeli soldier near Kibbutz Metzer in 2001. Sent terrorists to carry out attacks, including an attack at a Bat Mitzvah celebration in Hadera in 2002, where 6 were murdered and over 30 were injured, and an attack in the town of Itamar in 2002, where 3 teenagers were murdered.

Muhammad Naifeh 'Abu Rabia' – Serving 13 life sentences. Tanzim. Involved in the murder of 5 Israelis at Kibbutz Metzer in 2002, 3 Israelis in Hermesh in 2002, and 5 others in various shooting attacks in 2001.

Ahmed Barghouti – Serving 13 life sentences. Commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the Ramallah region. Dispatched terrorists to lethal attacks in 2002. Sent terrorists to shooting attacks in which 12 people were murdered.

Ahmed Abu Khader – Serving 11 life sentences. Palestinian terrorist and former member of the PA Security Forces, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, and Tanzim. Trained terrorists for suicide missions, carried out shooting attacks, and transported terrorists who committed lethal attacks.

Mar'i Abu Sa'ida – Serving 11 life sentences. Hamas. Member of cell responsible for several terror attacks, including a suicide bombing at the Tzrifin bus stop (9 murdered, 14 wounded, 2003), a suicide bombing at Café Hillel in Jerusalem (7 murdered, over 50 wounded, 2003) and a bombing at a bus stop in Tel Aviv (1 murdered, 24 wounded, 2004).

Izz Al-Din Khaled Hamamrah – Serving 9 life sentences. Tanzim. Recruited suicide bomber Muhammad Za'oul, who blew up the #14 bus in Jerusalem in 2004, murdering 8 and injuring dozens. Also perpetrated shooting attacks in the Bethlehem area.

Osama Al-Ashqar – Serving 8 life sentences. Tanzim. Organized two attacks resulting in the deaths of 8 Israelis in 2002 besides carrying out dozens of shooting attacks in the Tulkarem area.

Samer Al-Atrash – Serving 8 life sentences. Assisted a suicide bomber in blowing up a bus in the French Hill neighborhood of Jerusalem in 2003, murdering 7.

Ahmad Obeid – Serving 7 life sentences. Hamas member from East Jerusalem. Together with Nael Obeid, he planned the Café Hillel suicide bombing in Jerusalem in 2003, where 7 people were murdered, and he brought the terrorist to the attack site.

Taleb Ali Taleb Amr – Serving 7 life sentences. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Provided the explosives to a suicide bomber who murdered 6 and wounded more than 80 at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda outdoor market in 2002.

Muayyad Hammad – Serving 7 life sentences. Ambushed Israeli soldiers near Ramallah, killing 3.

Amjad Takatka – Serving 6 life sentences. Played a role in a suicide bombing at Jerusalem's outdoor market where 6 were murdered and more than 80 were wounded in 2002.

Ashraf Zgheir – Serving 6 life sentences. Drove a suicide bomber to Tel Aviv's Allenby Street in 2002, where 6 people were killed and 84 were wounded, in addition to playing roles in other attempted bombings.

Bakr Al-Najjar – Serving 6 life sentences. Tanzim. Was involved in two deadly shooting attacks in 2002.

Hatem Al-Jayousi – Serving 6 life sentences. Provided the car used to perpetrate the 2002 Hadera Bat Mitzvah attack, in which 6 Israelis were murdered and dozens of others were wounded.

Ibrahim Sarahneh – Serving 6 life sentences. Israeli Arab who drove suicide bombers in 2002 to carry out three different attacks in Israel in which five were murdered.

Iyad Masalmeh – Serving 4 life sentences. Hamas. Sent and directed Ahmed Masalmeh and Ali Asafra in 2002 to infiltrate Karmei Tzur near Hebron, where they shot and murdered Eyal Sorek, his pregnant wife Yael, and Shalom Mordechai, and wounded five others.

Yusuf Al-Skafi – Serving 4 life sentences. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Recruited suicide bombers.

Othman Younes – Serving 4 life sentences. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Sent Habash Hanani to murder 3 Israeli students and injure 2 others in the town of Itamar in 2002. Was also involved in other shooting and bombing attacks.

Ali Suleiman Al-Sa'adi – Serving 4 life sentences. Islamic Jihad. Organized an attack at Afula's central bus station in 2001 that killed Michal Mor and Noam Gozovsky and wounded 50 others. Organized several suicide bombings, including the attack at the Wall Street Café in Kiryat Motzkin in 2001.

Nasser Al-Shawish – Serving 4 life sentences. Responsible for 3 suicide bombings.

Husam Abd Al-Qader Halabi – Serving 3 life sentences. Member of Yasser Arafat's Presidential Guard. Planned and provided the arms for the attack in which Avi and Avital Wolanski were shot and murdered and their three-year-old son was wounded in 2002.

Nasser Al-Shawish – Serving 4 life sentences. Responsible for 3 suicide bombings.

Bilal Ghanem – Serving 3 life sentences. Shot and stabbed passengers on a bus in Jerusalem's Armon Hanatziv neighborhood, murdering Israelis Chaim Haviv (78), Alon Govberg (51), and Richard Lakin (76), and wounding 3 Israelis.

Yasser Abu Bakr – Serving 3 life sentences. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Directed an attack in Netanya in 2002 where Israel Yihye and 9-month-old Avia Malka were murdered. Also responsible for the killing of Border Policeman Constantine Danilov.

Mahmoud Abu Wahdan – Serving 3 life sentences. PFLP. Planned suicide bombings during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005).

Muhammad Khamis Brash – Serving 3 life sentences. Shot and killed Elad Wallenstein, Amit Zaneh, and Sarah Lisha in 2000.

Akram Othman Hamed and Rafat Othman Hamed – Both serving 3 life sentences. Members of the PA Security Forces members and of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Shot Israeli civilians and soldiers, murdering Assaf Hershkovitz and Idit Mizrachi in 2001. Also murdered a Palestinian they suspected of aiding Israel during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005).

Murad Nazmi Al-Ajlouni – Serving 3 life sentences. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Together with Mazen Al-Qadi, he used his status as an Israeli Arab to freely drive Ibrahim Hassouneh to carry out an attack in which 3 Israelis were murdered and 15 were wounded.

Mazen Al-Qadi – Serving 3 life sentences. Drove Ibrahim Hassouneh to Tel Aviv in 2002 to carry out an attack on two restaurants—Seafood Market and Mifgash Hasteak—murdering 3 and wounding 15.

Ali Sa'ada and Wael Al-Arja – Each serving 2 life sentences. Murdered Asher Palmer and his baby son, Yonatan, near the Israeli town of Kiryat Arba in 2011.

Ammar Abu Ghallous and Sajed Abu Ghallous – Both are serving 2 life sentences. Fatah. In 2003, Sajed shot and murdered Israeli civilian David Mordechai and paralyzed his son Menachem, while Ammar stood guard. In 2004, Ammar drove Sajed to an attack in which Sajed shot and murdered Israeli Arab Christian George Khoury, mistaking him for a Jew as he was jogging in Jerusalem.

Yusuf Ata Dhiab Hamdan – Serving 2 life sentences. Drove the suicide bomber who murdered Avner Mordechai in his convenience store near Beit Shean in 2003. Drove 2 other suicide bombers who blew themselves up resulting in the murder of Yehezkel Yekutiel and Erez Hershkowitz as well as the injury of 11 others.

Kifah Hattab – Serving 2 life sentences. PA Security Forces member and head of a Tanzim cell that murdered Rabbi Aharon Ovadian in Baqa Al-Gharbiya in northern Israel in 2001. Hattab was also involved in the murder of a Palestinian suspected of aiding Israel.

Sa'id Musa Shtayyeh – Serving 2 life sentences. Fatah. Provided the arms to the terrorists who murdered Mordechai and Shlomo Odesser in 2002.

Hassan Rateb Aweis – Serving 2 life sentences. Murdered 2 people in a shooting attack at the Afula central bus station in 2001.

Zaid Bassisi – Serving a life sentence. Islamic Jihad. Planned a car bombing outside a Netanya school in which 8 were wounded in 2001.

Zaid Younes – Serving a life sentence. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Drove a suicide bomber to Tel Aviv resulting in the injury of 25 people in 2002 and assisted a terrorist murderer to escape prison.

Hafez Sharai'ah – Serving a life sentence. Member of the PA intelligence service and the Tanzim. Was one of the murderers of Israeli police superintendent Moshe Dayan in the Judean Desert in 2002. Also was one of 39 wanted terrorists who took over the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in April 2002, using dozens of hostages and the religious site as shields.

Ayman Ibrahim Al-Awawdeh – Serving a life sentence. Member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and PA military intelligence. Murdered 1 and committed shooting attacks against Israelis during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005).

As'ad Zo'rob – Serving a life sentence. Shot and murdered his Israeli employer, Nissan Dolinger, while traveling together with Dolinger in his car in 2002.

Jad Maalah – Serving a life sentence. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Carried out attacks during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005).

Jawad Jawarish – Serving a life sentence for the murder of Devorah Friedman in 2002.

Hani Khamaiseh – Serving a life sentence for the murder of Stanislav Sandomirsky in 2001.

Wael Al-Jaghoub – Serving a life sentence. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leader who carried out terror attacks.

Khalil Sarahneh – Serving a life sentence. Israeli Arab who drove a suicide bomber to Jerusalem in 2002 resulting in the killing of Israeli police officer Tomer Mordechai.

Yusuf Kmeil and Muhammad Abu Al-Rub – Each serving a life sentence. Stabbed and murdered 70-year-old Reuven Shmerling in a warehouse in the Israeli Arab city of Kafr Qassem, east of Tel Aviv, in 2017.

Mudar Abu Daya and Musa Ekhleil – Serving a life sentence each. Stabbed and murdered Erez Levanon as he was praying in a forest near Bat Ayin, southwest of Bethlehem in 2007.

Musa Sarahneh – Serving a life sentence. Drove a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in which 2 were murdered and 28 were wounded in Jerusalem in 2002.

Muhammad Al-Tous – Serving a life sentence. Fatah. Commanded terrorist cell that attacked 5 civilian buses in 1985, wounding 16 passengers. Also directed the murder of Zalman Abolnik in 1984 as well as Meir Ben Yair and Michal Cohen in 1985. Helped murder Mordechai Suissa and Edna Harari in 1985.

Muhammad Falana – Serving a life sentence. Planted a bomb near the town of Dolev in 1992, murdering 1 and injuring 6.

Nael Barghouti – Serving a life sentence. Stabbed and murdered Israeli bus driver Mordechai Yekuel in 1978.

Nael Yassin – Serving a life sentence. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and PA policeman. Shot and murdered Israeli border policeman Yosef Tabjeh and injured another while they were on a joint Israeli-PA patrol near Qalqilya in 2000. (Note: As part of the "peace process" prior to the PA terror war launched in Sept 2000, Israel and the PA would do joint security patrols.) Afterwards, he was involved in dozens of shootings and bombings until he was arrested.

Samir Yasser Ghaith – Serving a life sentence. Led a group of terrorists in murdering 25-year-old law student Moran Amit at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem in 2002 as well as other attacks.

Ammar Mardi – Serving one life sentence. Kidnapped and murdered Yuri Gushchin from the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood of Jerusalem in 2001.

Abd Al-Majid Mahdi – Serving a life sentence. Fatah. Shot and murdered his Israeli employer, Gadi Rejwan, in the Atarot neighborhood of Jerusalem in 2002.

Othman Abu Khurj – Serving a life sentence. Murdered 16-year-old Aliza Malka and injured 3 other teens in a drive-by shooting near Kibbutz Merav in 2001.

Alaa Ahmad Abd Al-Mun'im Salah – Serving a life sentence. Murdered Yossi Zandani in 1994 and was recruited to murder an Israeli citizen and use his body as a hostage to release imprisoned terrorists, as is happening today.

Iyad Hreibat – Serving a life sentence.

Ayham Sabah – A murderer serving only a 35-year sentence. (He was a minor when he murdered). Stabbed and murdered Tuvia Yanai Weissman in 2016 at a supermarket. PalWatch

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US says Rubio held call with Yemeni PM to discuss Houthi attacks. By Reuters. 01/25/2025. JPost

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Hegseth narrowly wins confirmation to become US defense secretary. By Reuters. 01/25/2025. JPost

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Reuters image captures swastika graffitied on abandoned IDF vehicle in Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/25/2025. A Reuters image taken on Wednesday revealed a Palestinian man jumping off of an abandoned IDF vehicle in Gaza that had been graffitied with the image of a swastika. JPost

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WATCH: Israel clears hundreds of mines from Golan Heights Syrian border. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/25/2025. JPost

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Freed soldiers arrive at hospital for medical evaluation after reuniting with families. 4 IDF soldiers freed after 477 days in Hamas captivity airlifted to Rabin Medical Center to reunite with their families; health officials call medical evaluation 'complex event'; IDF chief hails their return as 'part of our victory' Itamar Eichner, Gal Ganot | 1.25.25.

Four freed Israeli soldiers, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev, arrived Saturday at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, accompanied by their parents aboard an IAF helicopter.

Families gathered at the hospital cheered as the helicopter landed, while others wore shirts celebrating their relatives’ service. Earlier, emotional footage captured their reunion with parents at a reception center near the Gaza border, where they embraced and shed tears of relief and joy.

Liri Albag held a sign during her helicopter ride that read, "I love you, citizens of Israel, IDF soldiers and my family. I’m back," and signed a heart with her hands upon landing. The hospital confirmed the soldiers are undergoing sensitive medical and psychological evaluations. “This is an emotionally and medically complex event for the returnees, their families and the nation,” said Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, head of the Health Ministry's Medical Division, emphasizing the importance of respecting their privacy during recovery.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Mossad Director David Barnea and POW Coordinator Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon monitored the return process from a command center. “Their return is part of our victory in this war,” said Halevi. “We remain committed to bringing back all captives, soldiers and civilians.”

([27]. Liri Albag signs a heart with her hands upon landing at the hospital. Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP).

The Health Ministry noted extensive preparations for their care, including specialized support across six central hospitals and two facilities near Gaza. "The privacy of the returnees is essential to their transition back to life," the ministry added.

Families of fallen soldiers and captives also shared their mixed emotions. "While the pain of losing our daughters is unbearable, we fought and prayed for the return of their friends," said parents of IDF lookouts killed at Nahal Oz during the October 7 Hamas attack. They described the returning soldiers as "heroes who survived hell," adding, "Today, we breathe a little easier and pray for the swift return of all captives."

([28].

Naama Levy reunited with her parents. Photo: IDF).

([29].

Karina Ariev reunited with her parents. Photo: IDF).

([30]. Daniella Gilboa reunited with her parents. Photo: IDF)

([31].

Liri Albag reunited with her parents. Photo: IDF).

The freed soldiers were transferred to Israeli forces in Gaza earlier in the day after walking from a Red Cross vehicle during a staged Hamas handover in Gaza City. Footage showed them smiling and waving as they were led in uniforms from Hamas into IDF custody. Military officials confirmed they were in good health with no urgent medical needs detected during preliminary checks in Gaza. YNet

Israel redeems four female IDF soldiers from Hamas captivity in Gaza. In accordance with the ceasefire agreement, Jerusalem was set to release 200 Palestinian terrorists, many with blood on their hands. IDF field observers ....

(Jan. 25, 2025 / JNS) Israelis on Saturday rejoiced at the return of four female IDF soldiers—Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19—who were abducted from the Nahal Oz base during the Hamas-led invasion of the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israel Defense Forces earlier Saturday completed preparations for the return of the captives, who were brought to a military facility near the border for a preliminary physical and psychological examination.

Thereafter, they were slated to meet with their parents—this time fathers as well as mothers—for the first time since being kidnapped 477 days ago.

Then will be flown by helicopter to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, near Tel Aviv. If they had needed urgent care, they would have been taken to a hospital closer to the Gaza Strip—either Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva or Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon—but this was not the case.

In exchange, Jerusalem is expected to release 200 Palestinian terrorists (50 for each soldier—30 serving life sentences and 20 who were supposed to remain in prison for up to 15 years).

Terrorists who were “convicted of murder, of manufacturing weapons used for murder, or of directing the carrying out a fatal attack” are to be deported to the Gaza Strip or abroad, instead of to Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.

Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, Hamas was supposed to free female civilian hostages before soldiers. One civilian woman, 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, remains in Gaza. It is not clear whether her exclusion from Saturday’s release will complicate the agreement.

Shiri Bibas, 33, another female civilian hostage, was taken with her two children, and they are included on the list of the 33 hostages to be released. Hamas, however, claimed in November that they were killed.

Three civilian women—Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher—were released last Sunday in return for 90 terrorists (30 for each civilian) shortly after the ceasefire went into effect.

Of the hostages whom Hamas kidnapped on Oct. 7, 87 are still in Gaza, including 30 who are believed to be dead. Hamas also holds three additional hostages taken before the 2023 attack. JNS

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'I love you'. Watch: Liri Albag thanks the nation and the soldiers. Israel National News. Jan 25, 2025, 9:57 PM INN

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Hostages' testimonies revealed. The four newly-released IDF soldiers recounted that there was an elderly hostage who looked after them, ensured they could eat and shower - and was killed in captivity.

Israel National News. Jan 25, 2025, 9:39 PM INN

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With A Smile: Returning hostages proudly face hundreds of terrorists. Israel National News. Jan 25, 2025, 8:28 PM INN

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Report: Freed hostage Emily Damari offered Keith Siegel to take her place. Philissa Cramer, JTA. Jan 25, 2025, 8:11 PM INN

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Heavy price: 200 terrorists to be released, including convicted murderers. Liran Tamari |1.25.25 YNet

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Israel demands UNRWA’s removal from Jerusalem within days. Itamar Eichner|1.25.25. YNet

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Israel blocks northern Gaza crossings over Hamas deal violation. Itamar Eichner1.25.25. YNet

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IDF spokesman: Hamas did not abide by the agreement to return civilians first. 01/25/2025. He emphasized: "We will insist that Arbel Yehud return - and also that Shiri and the children of the Biebs family, for whom we have a very serious concern for their fate, will return soon". News1

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Reunited after 477 days: The stories of the four freed Israeli soldiers. Yael Ciechanover1.25.25. YNet

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Hamas parades hostages in cynical show as terrorists stage unity display. Einav Halabi, Itamar Eichner|1.25.25. YNet

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'Mom, you’re a lioness! I love you, citizens of Israel!': Freed hostages received with embrace. Itamar Eichner, Gal Ganot|1.25.25. YNet

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We can’t believe Liri is back with us': Freed hostage's parents speak with Netanyahu. Itamar Eichner| 1.25.25. YNet

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American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel reportedly slated for release next week. Itamar Eichner |1.25.25. YNet

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Families of 3 women who remain in Gaza celebrate return of 4 female soldiers. Yael Ciecaniver|1.25.25. YNet

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Trump orders Pentagon: Release hold on weapons to Israel. Israel National News. Jan 25, 2025, 9:07 PM INN

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Man shot dead attempting to break into Tunisian synagogue. Nissan Tzur. Jan 25, 2025, 9:00 PM INN

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Orit Mark Ettinger: Those responsible for murder go free - my heart hurts. Israel National News. Jan 25, 2025, 10:47 PM INN

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Netanyahu to visit Washington in early February. By Amichai Stein. 01/25/2025 09:30 PM JPost

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US State Dept. celebrates release of four released hostages. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/25/2025 10:09 PM JPost

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Border Police officers shoot at attackers from Shuafat, injuring one. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/25/2025 10:21 PM JPost

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PA chairman congratulates terrorist who murdered children. Mahmoud Abbas congratulated released terrorist Yasser Abu Bakr, convicted of three murders including that of a 9-month-old baby. Israel National News. Jan 25, 2025, 11:26 PM (GMT+2)... Abu Bakr was part of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades... He was responsible for the attack in the city of Netanya in March 2002, where Israel Yahi and nine-month-old baby Aviah Malka were murdered. INN

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Joy for four captives, but Hamas keeps civilian woman in Gaza. “An entire nation is shedding tears and rejoicing with you at this moment,” Israeli President Herzog tells the Albag, Ariev, Gilboa and Levy families.

(Jan. 25, 2025 / JNS) Four female soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces were reunited with their families in Israel on Saturday after surviving 477 days in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. JNS

Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List. by i24 News and Algemeiner Staff. January 25, 2025.

([32]. A birthday cake for Kfir Bibas, who is a hostage in Hamas captivity. Thursday, January 18, 2024. Photo: Debbie Weiss).

i24 News – The second phase of hostage releases between Israel and Hamas has sparked deep frustration and grief among the families of those still held captive.

Two hostages—Arbel Yahud and Agam Berger—were notably excluded from the list of those to be freed on Saturday, despite earlier agreements prioritizing the return of civilians.

Arbel Yahud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, both captives since the October 7 attack, were not included in the list of four hostages expected to be released. Algemeiner

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IDF blocks passage of displaced to northern Gaza over withholding civilian hostage Itamar Eichner, Einav Halabi, Daniel Edelson, New York|1.25.25. YNet

IDF Arabic spox. to Gazans: Approaching Netzarim axis is banned due to Hamas ceasefire breach. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 02:27 AM JPost

IDF Arabic Spox: Netzarim corridor to remain closed until hostage Arbel Yehoud released. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 08:20 AM JPost

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Conditions 'not yet in place' for safe return of Lebanese citizens to south, UN envoy says. By Reuters. 01/26/2025 12:36 PM JPost

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Israel To Remain In Lebanon As Lebanese Army Fails To Control Hezbollah & Even Aids Them. January 26, 2025. YWN

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"Hezbollah sent the rioters": IDF spokesman reacts to the "victory display". The IDF opened fire on the rioters, reporting at least three deaths. Michal Bakshi. 01. 26. '25. Now14

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Trump says Jordan, Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza. Daniel Edelson, New York, Reuters|1.26.25. YNet

“Just Clean Out That Whole Thing”; Trump Calls On Jordan, Egypt To Take In Gazans. January 26, 2025. YWN

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Smotrich: 'Trump's proposal to relocate Gazans is a good idea'. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 9:48 AM INN

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Hamas rejects Trump proposal to relocate Gazans. Dalit Halevi. Jan 26, 2025, 12:16 PM INN

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Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby: HAPPENING NOW: A massive crowd of people have turned up to protest Australia Day and call for "Death to Australia." You'll notice that the most common flag is the Palestinian flag. The Australian government just welcomed and handed out money to thousands more Palestinians. Jan 26, 2025. On X

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Thousands sleep outdoors as passage to the north delayed | Israel askes Trump to intervene. ynet|1.26.25. YNet

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Trump, Netanyahu expected to meet, discuss Saudi deal. Itamar Eichner|1.26.25 YNet

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Fight not over until all hostages home, grandfather of freed Naama Levy says Ilana Curiel|1.26.25. YNet

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PA's Abbas congratulates terrorist released in hostage deal. Elisha Ben Kimon, Einav Halabi| 1.26.25. YNet

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Some killed, hurt after villages head to south while IDF withdrawal delayed. Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies|1.26.25. YNet

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Anti-Israel mob ecstatic pro-Israel activist lost home in LA fire. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 7:59 AM INN

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Watch: Father of freed hostage says prayer of thanks. Daniella Gilboa's father said a prayer of gratitude in front of the holy ark for return of his daughter. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 12:13 PM. Ran, father of returned hostage Daniella Gilboah, recited a special prayer of gratitude for his daughter's release this morning.

Standing before the holy ark, he read the 'Nishmat' prayer, usually reserved for Shabbat and holiday services. The text of the prayer expresses the boundless gratitude due to God for his kindness, beyond what humans can properly articulate.

Daniella was released on Saturday, along with three other captured IDF soldiers. They were handed over to the Red Cross in the heart of Palestine Square in Gaza, teeming with terrorists. INN

"And to you alone we give thanks": the observer's father in a chilling prayer. This is a day after his daughter Daniela was released from brutal captivity • Watch. Michal Bakshi. 01. 26. '25. Ran Gilboa, the father of the observer Daniela Gilboa who returned to Israel during Shabbat and met with her family and friends, came to the synagogue to thank Hashem for the miracle • He recited the prayer "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD." in front of the holy books with trembling and a happy smile • Watch the chilling documentation. A day after the release of his daughter from captivity: Ran Gilboa, the father of the observer Daniela Gilboa who returned to Israel during Shabbat and met with her family and friends, arrived this morning (Sunday) at the synagogue to thank Hashem for the miracle.

In chilling documentation, the emotional father is seen standing in front of the open Ark of the Covenant and saying with a smile and trembling the prayer "All the soul shall praise her". A particularly moving moment was the background before he praised the Holy One, blessed be He, with the words: "He who gives life to the dead", he stopped and then emphasized and aimed at saving his daughter from the brutal terror.

(Watch the thanksgiving prayer in front of the Torah books).

While she was in captivity and the uncertainty that hovered in the country, among other things, rumors spread that Daniela was no longer alive. Despite everything, yesterday she returned and in good health. She still has a bullet in her leg and needs to undergo surgery and rehabilitation, but the hospital reported that the condition of all four abductees who returned yesterday is good and they will remain in the hospital for rehabilitation for a few more days.

Daniela Gilboa, from Petach Tikva, was abducted to the Gaza Strip when she was 19 years old from the Nahal Oz outpost. A shocking video of her being kidnapped along with her bystander friends was released by the family along with a photo of her from the brutal captivity with a bandage on her head. Now14

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Freed hostage found to have a bullet in her leg. Etty Schwartz, the aunt of Daniella Gilboa, who was released from Hamas captivity yesterday, speaks about her excitement to return home and the injuries she has sustained since the war began.

Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 1:08 PM INN

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Electronic Intifada head Ali Abunimah arrested in Switzerland. Zurich State Councilor Mario Fehr says 'We do not want an Islamist Jew-hater who calls for violence in Switzerland' as denier of Hamas rapes is detained. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 1:17 PM (GM INN

Director of anti-Israel ‘Electronic Intifada’ arrested in Switzerland after entry ban. By Mathilda Heller. January 26, 2025.

([33]. Ali Abunimah.photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X).

Head of the Department of Security, Mario Fehr, said Abunimah is forbidden entry to Zurich, adding "we do not want an Islamist Jew-hater who calls for violence in Switzerland." Ali Abunimah, the executive director of the anti-Israel online publication - The Electronic Intifada (EI) - was arrested by Swiss Police ahead of an event in Zurich on Saturday afternoon, according to both the EI and Swiss news site NZZ. JPost

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Romi, Emily, and Doron released from hospital.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher were released from the hospital today, exactly one week after they were released by their Hamas captors following more than 15 months as hostages.

Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 2:54 PM INN

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Palestinian prisoner refuses to return to Gaza in ceasefire swap, prefers to stay in prison -report. According to the report, the prisoner was a senior Fatah official and preferred to stay in prison than return to Gaza, By Jerusalem Post Staff. January 26, 2025.

A Palestinian prisoner set to be released on Saturday's hostage-prisoner exchange refused to board the bus to Gaza, KAN News reported.

Originally, two prisoners - who were being held at Israel's Ktzi'ot Prison - refused to be released as part of the deal with Hamas. However, one was ultimately persuaded and returned to Gaza, KAN added.

The other, however, remained and was replaced with another prisoner. JPost

Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News. Sunday, January 26, 2025.

Jordanian murderer would prefer to stay in Israeli prison than go to any other Arab country.

One of the prisoners scheduled for release on Saturday was Ammar Marzi Al-Huwaitat. He is a Jordanian citizen who was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 20 years for murdering an Israeli in Judea and Samaria in 2002.

Huwaitat was supposed to be released to Jordan, but Jordan refused to take him. Apparently the Jordanians aren't keen on a murderer being released free on their soil, even if he killed a "settler."

Israel tried to find another place to release Huwaitat to, either the West bank or Gaza or even another Arab country. Huwaitat refused, saying if he cannot return to Jordan, he'd rather stay in Israeli prison than go anywhere else.

Now, Huwaitat has accused the Israeli prison authorities of beating him mercilessly. In 2023, a month after October 7, he claimed that 15 guards beat him, broke his ribs and forced him to be hospitalized.

Now he is saying he prefers to stay in captivity in an Israeli prison that he claims mistreats him rather than go to the West Bank or Gaza or anywhere else.

Most people serving a life sentence and given an opportunity for freedom, even if it had to be in another country, would eagerly accept such a deal. If they were being constantly mistreated in prison, all the more so.

But Huwaitat prefers to stay in Israeli prison for the rest of his life than go anywhere that might take him.

Either he is a masochist, or his life in prison is a far cry from the lurid descriptions that Palestinians tell credulous Westerners about rape [sic] and torture [sic]. EoZ

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Mark Levin: 'There are no extremists in the Netanyahu government'. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 4:00 PM INN

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Arbel Yehud may be released before the end of the week

A source in the terror group said the mediators were working to solve the issue to secure the release of Arbel Yehud and the opening of the Netzarim Corridor before the weekend.

Israel National News Jan 26, 2025, 4:55 PM INN

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Kann news @kann_news: Palestinians with Polish citizenship filed a complaint with the local prosecutor's office, requesting the arrest of Minister Kish, who came to Poland to pay respects at the International Holocaust Day ceremony. @DovGilHar. Jan 26, 2025. on X

(Related:

Polish police probe ‘Jews to the gas’ sign at building occupied by anti-Israel students. Group denies hanging antisemitic signs outside Krakow's Jagiellonian University; Jewish community: Facade of anti-Zionism recalls Communists' excuse for 1968 anti-Jewish purge. By ToI Staff, 18 October 2024. TOI

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22 killed in south Lebanon as IDF fires on suspects trying to break through to villages. Over 120 said wounded as Hezbollah supporters attempt to breach roadblocks on 60th day of ceasefire, ignoring Israeli warnings; IDF says withdrawal delayed due to Lebanese army. By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies. January 26, 2025, 1:18 pm. TOI

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IAF drone strikes armed individuals in Balata, West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 02:23 PM JPost

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Three released female hostages complete medical checks after week in Sheba. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 02:48 PM JPost

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Netanyahu thanks Trump for keeping his promise to support Israel. By Jerusalem Post Staff, Amichai Stein. 01/26/2025 05:05 PM JPost

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Former female guard: Released terrorist threatened to haunt me for the rest of my life. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 5:12 PM INN

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Trump envoy to visit Israel to oversee Gaza ceasefire, report says. By Reuters. 01/26/2025 05:45 PM JPost

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Iranian hackers broadcast rocket sirens, odes to terrorism in 20 Israeli kindergartens. Handala group also reportedly sends intimidating text messages to tens of thousands of Israelis, claims to infiltrate National Security Ministry, which says it sees no breach By ToI Staff. January 26, 2025, 6:58 pm TOI

Iranian cyberattack targets Israeli kindergartens. Iranian hacker group Handala claimed responsibility for breach of emergency button systems in educational institutions Daniela Ginzburg|1.26.25. YNet

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Babi Yar: Zelenskyy marks 80 years since liberation of Auschwitz. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 7:03 PM INN

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IDF eliminates PIJ terrorist in Gaza, fires warning shots at suspects who 'posed a threat'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 08:43 PM JPost

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IDF troops in south Lebanon operate against Hezbollah supporters. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 09:03 PM JPost

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Chikli cancels trip to European Parliament due to security concerns. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 09:34 PM JPost

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Families of released hostages thank President Trump. Israel National News. Jan 26, 2025, 9:57 PM INN

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Who is the foolish idiot speaking here about 'genocide'?! In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Minister May Golan speaks out against those who deny the Holocaust and even falsely accuse the Jewish people of .. genocide[sic]. Minister May Golan. Jan 26, 2025, 10:04 PM (GMT+2) INN

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UN experts [sic] decry arrest of pro-Palestinian American journalist in Switzerland By Reuters "The climate surrounding freedom of speech in Europe is becoming increasingly toxic, and we should all be concerned," said Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied territories 01/26/2025 10:14 PM JPost

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Germans have ‘too much focus on guilt,’ Elon Musk says. The billionaire also praised the AfD party in an address he delivered remotely at one of its rallies.

(Jan. 26, 2025 / JNS) Elon Musk praised the right-wing Alternative for Germany party and suggested there’s “too much focus on past guilt” of Germans, during an address he gave on Saturday using a remote video stream at an AfD gathering in Halle.

“I’m very excited about the AfD, I think it’s the best hope for Germany,” Musk said in his address. It’s OK to be proud to be German, it’s a very important principle, it’s good to be proud of German culture, not to lose that in multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” said Musk, who has endorsed AfD in the past.

“I think there’s maybe too much focus on past guilt. We need to move beyond that, children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their parents, their great-grandparents, maybe even,” added Musk, a billionaire, innovator and U.S. President Donald Trump’s pick to co-head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.

Dani Dayan, the chairman of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, said he disagreed. “Contrary to Elon Musk’s advice, the remembrance and acknowledgment of the dark past of the country and its people should be central in shaping the German society. Failing to do so is an insult to the victims of Nazism and a clear danger to the democratic future of Germany,” Dayan tweeted.

The AfD is an anti-immigration movement that is frequently rocked by scandals connected to the country’s Nazi past. Last year it received 16% of the vote in the European Parliament elections in Germany, a five-point increase over the 2019 election.

AfD leader Alice Weidel in September boycotted an event commemorating the liberation from Nazism, explaining it was akin to celebrating “my own country’s defeat.” Party founder and honorary chairman Alexander Gauland in 2017 said Germans “should be proud” of soldiers who fought in both world wars.

AfD and many of its supporters say the party is not antisemitic and confronts expressions of such hatred in its ranks. It is being singled out and described as illegitimate because of Germany’s past, they say.

Musk’s remarks came after an earlier controversy involving a gesture he performed in a speech in Washington on the day of Trump’s inauguration. Some of his critics said it was a Hitler salute but others, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he was “being falsely smeared,” as Netanyahu put it. JNS

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January 26, 2025. "By Any Means Necessary:' Palestinian leftists historically used Westerners as terrorists, and campuses today are recruitment centers for the next generation. Last year, Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung wrote about how Palestinian Leftist groups like the PFLP recruited young women from the West to be terrorists attacking Israel.... EoZ

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Irish prez attacks Israel in Holocaust ceremony. Irish President Michael Higgins used his Holocaust Remembrance Day speech to criticize Israel, sparking protests from Jewish attendees who were forcibly removed; Jewish leaders had warned the president's participation was inappropriate, citing his dismissal of antisemitism concerns and anti-Israel rhetoric. Itamar Eichner|1.26.25. YNet

Sa'ar: What a despicable person Irish President appears to draw line between Holocaust and Gaza. Elad Benari. Jan 26, 2025, 11:40 PM INN

Unacceptable. WATCH: Irish President Attacks Israel at Holocaust Memorial - Security Guards rough up Jews protesting. The irony is inescapable. During the Holocaust, 6 million Jews perished. October 7th was the bloodiest day for the Jewish Nation since then, yet this president has the unspeakable audacity to use the events of October 7th to defend Gaza and try to get people to feel sorry for the Palestinian cause.We aren't buying it. Gila Isaacson | 1.26.25. JFeed

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White House Extends IDF’s Lebanon Withdrawal Deadline to February 18. January 26, 2025. YWN

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Breaking: Netanyahu Says Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger And 3rd Hostage Coming Home Thursday. January 26, 2025. YWN

Arbel Yehud and two other hostages will be released on Thursday.

Prime Minister's Office confirms Qatar's announcement that there will be two hostage releases this week, in exchange for the opening of the Netzarim Corridor.

Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 12:02 AM YNet

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Female IDF hostages weren't allowed to hold hands or cry | New details. Families of the four liberated lookouts deliver a series of public statements, demanding the return of all hostages, accountability for the mistakes of October 7; Liri's father angrily called out government ministers who voted against the deal that brought his daughter home: 'I despise you'. Yael Ciechanover, Raanan Ben-Zur|1.27.25. YNet

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Qatari Al-Jazeera TV show praises October massacre, Hamas, amid ceasefire mediation. "We were shot at by women and elderly carrying weapons," said one Hamas terrorist attempting to justify the massacre at Kibbutz Beeri, which took the lives of over 100 civilians. By Ohad Merlin. January 26, 2025. Praise of Hamas’s October 7 “achievements and capabilities,” justification of the massacre in Kibbutz Be’eri, and “exclusive Hamas footage” of Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif all starred in the latest episode of the Qatari state-owned television channel Al Jazeera’s documentary series, What is Hidden is Greater.

Notably, the show’s presenter, Tamer Almisshal, received direct instructions and requests from Hamas, according to Hamas documents exposed by the IDF spokesperson last October. JPost

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Netanyahu speaks with newly appointed US Defense Secretary Hegseth. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/26/2025 10:52 PM JPost

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New Germany in question over far-right AfD. Concerns about Holocaust trivialization and nationalist policies underscore growing anxiety over far-right party's influence. Nathan Klabin/The Media Line|1.27.25. YNet

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IAF launches airstrike on vehicle in Tulkarm in West Bank, killing Hamas commander| See video from scene. Seventh day of Operation Iron Wall in the West Bank: According to reports, the car hit by IDF aircraft fire carried al-Qassam Brigades Tulkarm commander Ihab Abu Atiwa; Earlier, a fatality was also reported from IDF fire near Qalandiya. Einav Halabi, Elisha Ben Kimon|1.27.25

In a targeted counter-terrorism operation in West Bank, an Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a vehicle in the Nur a-Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm at noon on Monday. The strike was part of a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, according to the military.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that al-Qassam Brigades Tulkarm commander Ihab Abu Atiwa, who was killed, was in the vehicle. Three other people were moderately and lightly injured and were evacuated to the government hospital in Tulkarm. Footage from the scene shows the vehicle engulfed in flames. Since the start of Operation Iron Wall at the beginning of last week, two commanders of the Al-Qassam Brigades in the camp have been reported killed, including Abu Atiwa, as well as the commander of the Jenin Brigade affiliated with Islamic Jihad. YNet

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IDF Spokesperson in Arabic publishes guidelines for Gazans returning to northern Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 12:48 AM JPost

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Explosive devices hurled at security forces at Kalandiya checkpoint. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 01:48 AM JPost

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IDF begins withdrawing from Netzarim Corridor - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 06:02 AM JPost

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Hezbollah to not participate in extended ceasefire agreement - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 08:03 AM JPost

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Netanyahu denounces ICC as antisemitic in Holocaust memorial post. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 09:23 AM JPost

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Netanyahu planning to visit Washington on February 3-5. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 12:17 PM JPost

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Leaders to hear Auschwitz survivors at 80th anniversary of camp's liberation. By Reuters. 01/27/2025 12:25 PM Auschwitz survivors were being joined by world leaders on Monday to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp by Soviet troops, one of the last such gatherings of those who experienced its horrors.

The anniversary at the site of the camp, which Nazi Germany set up in occupied Poland during World War Two, was being attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain's King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda and a host of other leaders.

They were not due to make speeches, but rather to listen for perhaps the last time to those who suffered and witnessed at first hand one of humanity's greatest atrocities.

Israel, the country founded for Jews in the shadow of the Holocaust, sent Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

A source at Buckingham Palace said King Charles would be paying tribute "both as man and monarch": JPost

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Netanyahu: ‘Hamas are the new Nazis’. "The core of new antisemitism is the attempt to ... undermine [Israel's] right to self-defense," Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said.

JNS Staff. (Jan. 27, 2025 / JNS).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called on the “civilized” world to up its effort to combat Jew-hatred, while labeling the Hamas terror group the “new Nazis.”

“On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I call on all civilized nations to confront antisemitism wherever it appears—on college campuses, city streets or international forums like the [International Criminal Court],” Netanyahu tweeted.

“Founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, the ICC has disgraced itself with antisemitic attacks on Israel. Hamas are the new Nazis, and we are committed to defeating them once and for all. The Jewish state will always stand as a safe haven for Jews worldwide. #NeverAgainIsNow.”

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over their roles in prosecuting the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC does not have jurisdiction over Israel. However, the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who is under investigation for sexual misconduct, insisted that he has jurisdiction over the country.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar similarly weighed in on Monday, tweeting: “Today we mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in memory of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. Throughout 2,000 years of exile, including during the Holocaust, the Jewish people did not have the means to protect themselves.

“The Zionist revolution restored the Jewish people the ability to protect themselves,” continued Jerusalem’s top diplomat. “The core of new antisemitism is the attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state’s right to exist and to undermine its right to self-defense.

“The purpose of the different proceedings in the ‘international legal institutions’ is an attempt to remove Israel’s basic right to self-defense. We will never relinquish our right and ability to defend ourselves! Never again is now!” JNS

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Iranian analyst: The Iranian young people hate Palestinians. Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian author and political analyst, says sympathy for Palestinians 'evaporated' after October 7 massacre, Iranian young people 'HATE Palestinians.' Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 10:24 AM (GMT+2)

Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian author and political analyst, expressed awe at the number of Iranian young people who "hate Palestinians."

"You'd be surprised today," he said in a video shared by Iran International. "Since [the] seventh of October last year, you'd be surprised at the number of Iranian who HATE Palestinians. What happened to that sympathy? It's gone - it's evaporated."

"If someone would have told me that, 'Sadegh, a day would come that Iranian people hate Palestinians and they would praise [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu - of all the people - they would praise Netanyahu as the hero, I would've thought that he or she was out of his mind, he or she was talking nonsense, he or she didn't know ANYTHING about Iranian people. But I saw it with my own eyes during the past 15 months, the degree of hatred of younger generation of Iranian against Palestinian. And their hero was Netanyahu."

'Strike the Houthis while Iran is weak' He added, "Do you think they knew anything about Netanyahu and the Likud party, and the Hamas? No, no. They hate Palestinians because the Islamic leaders - they support Palestinians. "

Last month, a viral video circulated on social media, showing a high school principal in Iran trying to get his students to chant,"Death to Israel," and, "Death to America," while the students instead replied, "Death to Palestine." INN

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Liri Albag: 'There are 2 million terrorists in Gaza'. Hamas demanded hostages talk on stage before their release; they chose to show hand signs of victory. 'I would say one sentence in Arabic: ‘My name is Liri Albag, I am number one.' Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 12:40 PM (GMT+2)

He said that Liri spoke about the hostile attitude of the Gaza residents after the October 7th massacre and during the entire war, “Liri told me .. "Remember that, there are two million terrorists there. I was sitting with an 8-year-old boy and 4-year-old boys, who would spit at the mention of Jews. Do you understand what that means? Does anyone understand what that means? So what are they talking about? About Sinwar who was released? They could have eliminated him a thousand times; not a thousand, but two thousand times, and all of Hamas as well, who were going on a rampage and did what they wanted even before October 7th. They could have crushed Hamas just as they crushed Hezbollah," Albag repeated Liri’s understanding.

Albag also commented on the girls’ release ceremony, "The four were put on stage and the Hamas terrorists demanded that the girls speak but they responded saying, 'Not only will we not talk – we will show a display of victory and disrupt the whole show.' As soon as the girls held up their hands, the terrorists took them off the stage. When Liri spoke to me, she said, 'Dad, I used to say one sentence in Arabic: ‘My name is Liri Albag, I am number one.'" INN

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Govt. spokesperson: 8 of 33 hostages on Hamas list are dead.

Government spokesperson David Mencer tells reporters that the list of hostages provided last night by Hamas for the 33 hostages who are being released over 6 weeks contains 25 living hostages and 8 dead hostages.

Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 4:54 PM INN

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Milan Jews sit out city’s Holocaust memorial event. Anti-Israel co-organizers and their rhetoric at last year's event make attendance at the ceremony "unacceptable," community leaders said. Canaan Lidor. (Jan. 27, 2025 / JNS) The organized Jewish Community of Milan in Italy boycotted the main municipal Holocaust commemoration ceremony on Monday, citing fears of its abuse to support narratives that accuse Israel of perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The event is not “the appropriate environment to participate in an initiative of this type,” the Jewish Community of Milan wrote in a statement ahead of Monday, Jan. 27, the U.N.-designated annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day. JNS

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Holocaust Memorial Day latest: King sounds warning as he meets Auschwitz survivors 80 years on; Kate to join commemorations. January 27, 2025. SkyNews

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IDF Spokesperson in Arabic publishes guidelines for Gazans returning to northern Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 12:48 AM JPost

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Explosive devices hurled at security forces at Kalandiya checkpoint. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 01:48 AM JPost

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IDF begins withdrawing from Netzarim Corridor - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 06:02 AM JPost

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Hezbollah to not participate in extended ceasefire agreement - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 08:03 AM JPost

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Netanyahu denounces ICC as antisemitic in Holocaust memorial post. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 09:23 AM JPost

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Netanyahu planning to visit Washington on February 3-5. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/27/2025 12:17 PM JPost

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Leaders to hear Auschwitz survivors at 80th anniversary of camp's liberation. By Reuters. 01/27/2025 12:25 PM Auschwitz survivors were being joined by world leaders on Monday to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp by Soviet troops, one of the last such gatherings of those who experienced its horrors.

The anniversary at the site of the camp, which Nazi Germany set up in occupied Poland during World War Two, was being attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain's King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda and a host of other leaders.

They were not due to make speeches, but rather to listen for perhaps the last time to those who suffered and witnessed at first hand one of humanity's greatest atrocities.

Israel, the country founded for Jews in the shadow of the Holocaust, sent Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

A source at Buckingham Palace said King Charles would be paying tribute "both as man and monarch": JPost

_____

Netanyahu: ‘Hamas are the new Nazis’. "The core of new antisemitism is the attempt to ... undermine [Israel's] right to self-defense," Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said.

JNS Staff. (Jan. 27, 2025 / JNS).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called on the “civilized” world to up its effort to combat Jew-hatred, while labeling the Hamas terror group the “new Nazis.”

“On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I call on all civilized nations to confront antisemitism wherever it appears—on college campuses, city streets or international forums like the [International Criminal Court],” Netanyahu tweeted.

“Founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, the ICC has disgraced itself with antisemitic attacks on Israel. Hamas are the new Nazis, and we are committed to defeating them once and for all. The Jewish state will always stand as a safe haven for Jews worldwide. #NeverAgainIsNow.”

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over their roles in prosecuting the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The ICC does not have jurisdiction over Israel. However, the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who is under investigation for sexual misconduct, insisted that he has jurisdiction over the country.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar similarly weighed in on Monday, tweeting: “Today we mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in memory of the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. Throughout 2,000 years of exile, including during the Holocaust, the Jewish people did not have the means to protect themselves.

“The Zionist revolution restored the Jewish people the ability to protect themselves,” continued Jerusalem’s top diplomat. “The core of new antisemitism is the attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state’s right to exist and to undermine its right to self-defense.

“The purpose of the different proceedings in the ‘international legal institutions’ is an attempt to remove Israel’s basic right to self-defense. We will never relinquish our right and ability to defend ourselves! Never again is now!” JNS

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Iranian analyst: The Iranian young people hate Palestinians. Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian author and political analyst, says sympathy for Palestinians 'evaporated' after October 7 massacre, Iranian young people 'HATE Palestinians.' Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 10:24 AM (GMT+2)

Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian author and political analyst, expressed awe at the number of Iranian young people who "hate Palestinians."

"You'd be surprised today," he said in a video shared by Iran International. "Since [the] seventh of October last year, you'd be surprised at the number of Iranian who HATE Palestinians. What happened to that sympathy? It's gone - it's evaporated."

"If someone would have told me that, 'Sadegh, a day would come that Iranian people hate Palestinians and they would praise [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu - of all the people - they would praise Netanyahu as the hero, I would've thought that he or she was out of his mind, he or she was talking nonsense, he or she didn't know ANYTHING about Iranian people. But I saw it with my own eyes during the past 15 months, the degree of hatred of younger generation of Iranian against Palestinian. And their hero was Netanyahu."

'Strike the Houthis while Iran is weak' He added, "Do you think they knew anything about Netanyahu and the Likud party, and the Hamas? No, no. They hate Palestinians because the Islamic leaders - they support Palestinians. "

Last month, a viral video circulated on social media, showing a high school principal in Iran trying to get his students to chant,"Death to Israel," and, "Death to America," while the students instead replied, "Death to Palestine." INN

_____

Liri Albag: 'There are 2 million terrorists in Gaza'. Hamas demanded hostages talk on stage before their release; they chose to show hand signs of victory. 'I would say one sentence in Arabic: ‘My name is Liri Albag, I am number one.' Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 12:40 PM (GMT+2)

He said that Liri spoke about the hostile attitude of the Gaza residents after the October 7th massacre and during the entire war, “Liri told me .. "Remember that, there are two million terrorists there. I was sitting with an 8-year-old boy and 4-year-old boys, who would spit at the mention of Jews. Do you understand what that means? Does anyone understand what that means? So what are they talking about? About Sinwar who was released? They could have eliminated him a thousand times; not a thousand, but two thousand times, and all of Hamas as well, who were going on a rampage and did what they wanted even before October 7th. They could have crushed Hamas just as they crushed Hezbollah," Albag repeated Liri’s understanding.

Albag also commented on the girls’ release ceremony, "The four were put on stage and the Hamas terrorists demanded that the girls speak but they responded saying, 'Not only will we not talk – we will show a display of victory and disrupt the whole show.' As soon as the girls held up their hands, the terrorists took them off the stage. When Liri spoke to me, she said, 'Dad, I used to say one sentence in Arabic: ‘My name is Liri Albag, I am number one.'" INN

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‘Nothing will be easy about returning:’ Survivors mark 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation. By Sophie Tanno and Lauren Kent, CNN. Updated 9:13 AM EST, Mon January 27, 2025.

([34]. Survivors of Auschwitz and their families arrive to lay candles at the concentration camp's so-called "death wall" on the 80th anniversary of its liberation. Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images).

CNN

— 

“It doesn’t do any good for your heart, for your mind, for anything,” said Holocaust survivor Jona Laks, 94, about her return to Nazi Germany’s Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

“But it’s necessary,” she said. “It’s necessary for the world to know.” CNN.

In pictures: The liberation of Auschwitz. Published 12:01 AM EST, Mon January 27, 2025.

[35]. Survivors of Auschwitz leave the concentration camp at the end of World War II in February 1945. Above them is the German slogan "Arbeit macht frei," which translates to "Work sets you free." Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images. __

The Soviet Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland on January 27, 1945. About 7,000 prisoners were there when the Soviets arrived. Those people had been left behind — too weak or sick to move when Nazi officers forced nearly 60,000 prisoners to march west as the Soviets approached. More than 1.1 million people were murdered at the Nazi camp complex.

Editor's note: This gallery contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised. [36]

Identification photos of child inmates at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp were taken by Polish portrait photographer and fellow prisoner Wilhelm Brasse, who was ordered to document prisoners in the camp. Auschwitz consisted of three main camps: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II (also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau) and Auschwitz III (also known as Auschwitz-Monowitz). De Agostini Editorial/Getty Images [37] This aerial photo shows the layout of the Auschwitz I camp in April 1944. AP [38] Prisoners of Auschwitz greet their liberators in 1945. Belarusian State Archive of Documentary Film and Photography/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [39] An electrified fence surrounds one of the camps. RIA Novosti/Sputnik/AP [40] Corpses of women are piled up on the floor in February 1945. Stanisław Mucha/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [41] This is the first page of a prisoners list that was prepared by hospital staff after the liberation. This page shows "kinder ohne eltern," or children without parents. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau [42]. Ivan Dudnik, a 15-year-old Russian, is rescued. The teen had been described as insane from the treatment he received from the camp. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images [43] A large pile of prayer shawls, confiscated by the Nazis from arriving prisoners, are seen stored in one of the warehouses in Auschwitz. National Archives and Records Administration/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [44] Civilians and soldiers recover corpses from graves shortly after the liberation. Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images. [45].

A few Auschwitz survivors stand by a fence as the Soviet Army arrived to liberate the camp. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images [46] The ruins of gas chambers — blown up by Germans retreating from the Soviets — are seen in January 1945. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau [47] Glasses of prisoners are piled up at the camp. Roger Viollet/LAPI/Getty Images [48] Child survivors show their arms, which has been tattooed by the Nazis. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images [49] Bodies of prisoners were found covered in snow on the main street of the camp. Henryk Makarewicz/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [50] Survivors stand behind a barbed-wire fence. Some of the children are wearing adult clothing they were dressed in by Soviet soldiers. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images [51] Bales of hair from female prisoners, numbered for shipment to Germany, were found after the camp's liberation. National Archives and Records Administration/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [52] Female survivors in the barracks at the camp. Hundreds of prisoners were housed in the crowded quarters. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images [53] This train was loaded with the personal effects of Auschwitz victims. It was abandoned before it could make its trip to Germany. Some of the freight is scattered and buried in the snow. Stanisław Mucha/Instytut Pamieci Narodowej/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [54] Soviet soldiers are seen with liberated prisoners. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images [55] Prosthetic limbs taken from executed prisoners are piled at the camp. AFP/Getty Images [56] An overview of the camp in 1945. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau [57] Prisoners gather a couple of days before the camp's liberation. RIA Novosti/Sputnik/AP [58] Nazi officer Karl Hoecker lights a candle on a Christmas tree only weeks before the liberation of Auschwitz. It is a page from an album that depicted activities in and around the camp. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [59] Jewish men are lined up at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in May 1944. This photo is from a Nazi documentation of the events at the camp. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [60] This picture shows prisoners' bodies being burned in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in August 1944. It was secretly taken by a Jewish prisoner who was forced to work in and around the gas chambers. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau [61] Jewish prisoners wait in a clearing near a grove of trees before being led to the gas chambers in May 1944. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [62] This undated photo, taken by a guard, shows female prisoners lined up for a hard labor assignment. AP [63] A Jewish woman walks toward the gas chambers with three young children and a baby in her arms in May 1944. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [64] Bodies were brought up to this crematorium to be incinerated at one of the camps. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images [65] Jewish women selected for forced labor stand at a roll call in front of the kitchen at Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 1944. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. CNN

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Watch live: President Herzog marks Auschwitz liberation at UN. UN General Assembly honors Israeli President Isaac Herzog at ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation. Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 6:03 PM (GMT+2) INN

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'God created people to love, not to hate:' Holocaust survivor addresses UN. Holocaust survivor and educator Marianne Miller delivered a speech today at the United Nations General Assembly, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 8:39 PM (GMT+2).

Holocaust survivor and educator Marianne Miller delivered a speech today (Monday) at the United Nations General Assembly, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Born in Budapest during World War II, Miller endured the horrors of the Holocaust, including the forced separation of her family and the murder of multiple close relatives. Despite the unimaginable hardships, she survived and later dedicated her life to educating future generations about the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred and intolerance.

Miller’s journey to the UN began following her participation in the 2024 International March of the Living, where she shared her story of survival with thousands of participants joining commemorative marches through both Budapest in Hungary and Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. There, she expressed her dream of addressing world leaders at the UN to tell her story. Following the march, Revital Yakin-Krakovsky, Deputy CEO of the International March of the Living, approached Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, who worked to make the dream a reality.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said, "Memory does not sustain itself - it needs to be protected, fought for and sustained so that even those who threaten it will not succeed in making it disappear. These pictures, testimonies and documents are for posterity, so that when the voices of denial rise, the truth will stand as an unshakable beacon of justice.” Ambassador Danon added: "I would like to thank Marianne Miller and her family for being here and for their contribution to the preservation of memory and the fight for justice. The Holocaust is not just a historical memory - it is a call to action for the protection of the people of Israel and the fight against anti-Semitism. We will never forget."

Revital Yakin-Krakovsky, Deputy CEO of the International March of the Living, said, "Marianne is a living voice of hope, optimism, and strength. She carries the testimony of the murdered and the message of triumph from the survivor generation. Holocaust survivors are leaving us, and it is of immense importance to hear them, in their voices, on the world's most prominent stages, standing tall against Holocaust deniers and distorters, saying 'We were there.' I thank Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, for his genuine attentiveness and dedicated efforts, which helped Marianne fulfill her dream of addressing the UN General Assembly today."

Below is the full speech, which Miller delivered accompanied by her four children and seven grandchildren:

“My name is Marianne Miller, and I am a Holocaust survivor. I represent the remaining Holocaust survivors, who are getting older, weaker, and sicker, leaving us day by day. I was a baby during the Holocaust, but I can still say it, clear and loud:

"I have been there.

"My parents, Alfred and Violetta Nobel, were a young couple deeply in love. Before my father was taken to a labor camp, my mother wanted to become pregnant. My father was against it. ‘You don’t bring a child into a world where sure death is waiting for them everywhere,’ he said. But my mother, so in love, replied, ‘Maybe one of us will stay alive, and they will have a memory of the other.’

"Under these conditions, I came into the world – a world where death awaited me at every corner.

"Budapest, 1944. A freezing December night. Mothers are marching with their babies in deadly silence, heading toward the railway station. The destination: Auschwitz.

"Then, something unprecedented happened. With a sudden movement, my mother tore off her yellow star and ran out of the line, holding me in her arms. She hid under a gate, thinking no one had seen her.

"But a young Hungarian Nazi chased after her, shouting and aiming his rifle at her chest. ‘How dare you take off the yellow star?’ he roared. ‘Now I’m going to kill your child and make you watch. Then you’ll go back to the line without your baby.’

"There was no point in begging for mercy. All my mother had was a thin golden wedding ring. She held it out to him, saying: ‘Look! Look! You kill people and take their jewelry, but this ring is different – it is not covered in blood. It shines because you didn’t murder anyone for it. Take it. There is a blessing on it. You gave life to a mother and her child. Take it!’

"Maybe, in that one moment, he found a spark of humanity within himself. He didn’t follow her. He let her run, and we were saved.

"My father’s story is no less remarkable.

"Taken to the hunger camp of Bergen-Belsen, he survived on one slice of bread per week. He had the willpower to divide it into seven pieces, eating one each day. At liberation, he weighed only 35 kilos – the weight of a child.

"Most of my family was not as fortunate. Many were shot into the Danube River. My mother’s sister Nicolet, a partisan, was executed. My cousin Gabor, just 13 years old, was killed – he could have become a world-famous poet.

"Today, I stand here having lost my husband, Yoel, two months ago.

"He was my best friend for 58 years. As a child, he survived the Terezin concentration camp, becoming a father figure to his baby brother.

"Last April, I was honored to lead the March of the Living in Budapest and Auschwitz. I was deeply shaken by the mountains of shoes, glasses, and hair left behind. Six million lives were brutally taken simply for being Jewish.

"I came here today with my children and grandchildren – my personal answer to Hitler.

"Antisemitism is lifting its ugly head again across the world. We must remember: God created people to love, not to hate. God wants to be proud of mankind, not ashamed of it.

"I represent today the six million Holocaust victims who were murdered just because they were Jewish. I demand the world remember what happened only 80 years ago.

"Never. Never. Never, let it happen again.

'Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to Ambassador Danny Danon and President Isaac Herzog for making my presence here today possible." INN

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80 Years: Auschwitz Survivors Commemorate Liberation Amid Global Antisemitism Concerns. January 27, 2025

The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops is being marked on Monday at the site of the former death camp, a ceremony that is widely being treated as the last major observance that any notable number of survivors will be able to attend.

Among those who traveled to the site is 86-year-old Tova Friedman, who was 6 when she was among the 7,000 people liberated on Jan. 27, 1945. She believes it will the be last gathering of survivors at Auschwitz and she came from her home in New Jersey to add her voice to those warning about rising hatred and antisemitism.

“The world has become toxic,” she told The Associated Press a day before the observances in nearby Krakow. “I realize that we’re in a crisis again, that there is so much hatred around, so much distrust, that if we don’t stop, it may get worse and worse. There may be another terrible destruction.”

Nazi German forces murdered some 1.1 million people at the site in southern Poland, which was under German occupation during World War II. Most of the victims were Jews killed on an industrial scale in gas chambers, but also Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others who were targeted for elimination in the Nazi racial ideology.

Elderly camp survivors, some wearing blue-and-white striped scarves that recall their prison uniforms, walked together to the Death Wall, where prisoners were executed, including Poles who resisted the occupation of their country.

They were joined by Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose nation lost 6 million citizens during the war. He carried a candle and walked with Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum director Piotr Cywinski.

“We Poles, on whose land — occupied by Nazi Germans at that time — the Germans built this extermination industry and this concentration camp, are today the guardians of memory,” Duda told reporters afterward.

He spoke of the “unimaginable harm” inflicted on so many people, especially the Jewish people.

In all, the Nazis regime murdered 6 million Jews from all over Europe, annihilating two-thirds of Europe’s Jews and one-third of all Jews worldwide. In 2005, the United Nations designated Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Across Europe, officials and others were pausing to remember.

“As the last survivors fade, it is our duty as Europeans to remember the unspeakable crimes and to honor the memories of the victims,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is German, said on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who leads a nation defending itself against Russia’s brutal invasion, placed a candle at the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial a day before in Kyiv, where tens of thousands of Jews were executed during the Nazi occupation. On Monday he arrived in Poland to attend the commemorations.

“The evil that seeks to destroy the lives of entire nations still remains in the world,” he wrote on his Telegram page.

Commemorations will culminate when world leaders and royalty will join with elderly camp survivors, the youngest of whom are in their 80s, at Birkenau, the part of Auschwitz where the mass murder of Jews took place.

Politicians, however, have not been asked to speak this year. Due to the advanced age of the survivors, about 50 of whom are expected, organizers are choosing to make them the center of the observances. Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, will also speak.

Among the leaders expected to attend are Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Germany has never sent both of its highest state representatives to the observances before, according to German news agency dpa.

It is a sign of Germany’s continued commitment to take responsibility for the nation’s crimes, even with a far-right party gaining increased support in recent years.

French President Emmanuel Macron will attend after paying his respects at the Shoah Memorial in Paris, a symbolic tomb for the 6 million Jews who don’t have a grave, and meeting with a survivor from Auschwitz and one from the Bergen-Belsen camp.

Britain’s King Charles III will also be there, along with kings and queens from Spain, Denmark and Norway.

Russian representatives were in the past central guests at the anniversary observances in recognition of the Red Army liberation of the camp on Jan. 27, 1945, and the huge losses of Soviet forces in the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany. But they have not been welcome since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to participants saying: “We will always remember that it was the Soviet soldier who crushed this dreadful, total evil and won the victory, the greatness of which will forever remain in world history.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a briefing Thursday: “There is something that needs to be said to the organizers and all the Europeans who will be there: your lives, your work and leisure, the very existence of your nations, your children have been paid for by Soviet soldiers, their lives, their blood.” (AP) YWN

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Explosive in washing machine: Terror observation command center identified in Jenin. Israel National News. Jan 27, 2025, 7:30 PM INN

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Israel: Eight dead in Hamas list of 33 hostages to be freed. Seven captives have already been released with three more slated to return on Thursday followed by another three on Saturday.

([66]. Family members of four hostages whom Hamas released hold a press conference at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital) in Petach Tikvah on Jan. 26, 2025).

(Jan. 27, 2025 / JNS). Eight of the 33 hostages intended for release during the first phase of the ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas in the Gaza Strip are dead, according to a list provided by Hamas.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer confirmed that the terrorist group stated the remaining 25 hostages are alive. The list was delivered to Israel overnight on Sunday.

After repeatedly violating the truce deal with Israel, Hamas is to release three additional captives on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem announced on Sunday night.

The hostages to be released are civilian Arbel Yehud, Israel Defense Forces soldier Agam Berger and an unidentified man. Three more abductees are to be freed on Saturday, per the terms of the ceasefire. JNS

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Gaza hostages held in tunnels for over 8 months, were starved, IDF medical officer says. They had little to no human contact and showed signs of 'mild starvation'; Hostages said their treatment improved in the days leading up to their release including more food and showers. Reuters | published:1.27.25. YNet

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Closet leading to tunnel shaft: Jenin like Gaza. Military continues its West Bank counterterror operation in Jenin, now expanding to Tulkarm and exposing dangerous terror infrastructure in the area. Elisha Ben Kimon|1.27.25. YNet

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Eitan Fischberger @EFischberger: This Wapo article is one of the most blatant examples of journalistic malpractice I've seen in a while.

Shame on @leo_sands, @sammy_westfall, @NihaMasih, and @MiriamABerger for omitting critical information that would've drastically reframed the piece for their audience 🧵 CAMERAorg and 4 others Jan 26, 2025. On X

(WaPo refers to terror PFLP's Samidoun as "activists." (1/26/25) [67]).

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They saw friends murdered, slowly die; freed hostages share ordeals Four freed girls say terrorists guarding them forbade crying or holding hands but they found ways to support each other;  they picked up Arabic and used black humor to process their experiences  Yael Ciechanover|1.28.25. YNet

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'I wish Sisi would take in some residents of Gaza'.

US President says he spoke to Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi about his relocation plan: I wish he would take some. We helped them a lot, and I'm sure he'd help us.

Elad Benari. Jan 28, 2025, 5:27 AM INN

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President Trump: 'Poison of antisemitism still courses through veins of cowards'. Israel National News. Jan 28, 2025, 7:36 AM INN

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Most Hamas terrorists were drugged, completely inhumane, rescued hostage says. Sherry Makover-Balikov, Jerusalem Post, January 28, 2025. [68]. “The hostages today are suffering from prolonged hunger,” released hostage Luis Har said in an interview with Maariv.”Hamas takes all the aid,” he continued. “I was there; I know what delaying the deals means. Every day increases fear, danger, and suffering. We must not wait, and we must not delay because every passing day increases the concern that, in the end, there will be no one left to bring back.” Har, who was abducted on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, was later freed in a daring military operation in Rafah in February 2024. In his interview, he described the terrifying moments of his abduction, his prolonged captivity in the home of a Hamas operative in southern Gaza, and his eventual rescue and return to Israel….

Har said the captors’ treatment of the hostages varied. “There were some moments of humanity, but not the majority. Most of them were either drugged or completely inhumane.”

“The man of the house, for example, took care of us and made it a point to reassure us that we would be okay. He said, ‘If there’s peace between us, I’ll come to your kibbutz to eat pizza at your place.’ That doesn’t negate the brutality of him and the others, who constantly threatened and shouted. They thought our situation would end in two or three days, but suddenly it became long-term.”

Humor became a lifeline for Har and his fellow captives.

“At some point, we started laughing whenever they said, ‘shwaya shwaya’ (slowly, slowly). I’d say to the man of the house, ‘Come on, shwaya shwaya, we’ve already been here for weeks.’ Humor saved us.”

Har described the challenges of dwindling resources. “I cooked. At first, it was easy; there was everything—canned goods, vegetables, cheese—and they brought pitas every day. But over time, the food ran out. Eventually, Fernando [Merman] and I were sharing one pita a day, dividing it into pieces so we wouldn’t finish it all at once.” JPost

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Columbia University identifies two individuals who stormed Israeli professor's class. Columbia University says it identified two individuals from an “affiliated institution” who took part in disruption of course on the history of modern Israel last week. The students have been barred from entering the campus and referred to their “home institution for further investigation and discipline.” Elad Benari. Jan 28, 2025, 6:53 AM (GMT+2)

Columbia University has identified two individuals from an “affiliated institution” who took part in the disruption of a course on the history of modern Israel taught by an Israeli professor last Tuesday, the Columbia Daily Spectator reported on Monday, citing a statement released by the university.

The individuals, who are not Columbia students, have been barred from entering the campus and referred to their “home institution for further investigation and discipline,” the statement said.

Columbia’s affiliated institutions include Barnard College, Union Theological Seminary, and Teachers College.

This announcement follows an earlier development last Thursday, when the University identified and suspended a student involved in the incident, pending a full investigation and disciplinary process. The broader investigation into the disruption remains ongoing.

The disruption occurred during the first session of the course, taught by history lecturer Avi Shilon, on the first day of Columbia’s spring semester.

Protesters entered the classroom and distributed flyers bearing inflammatory images and messages. One flyer depicted a boot stomping on the Star of David alongside the words “Crush Zionism.”

Another showed an individual in a keffiyeh holding a burning Israeli flag, with the phrase “Burn Zionism to the ground,” according to video and photographs shared by the Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students account on X.

Interim University President Katrina Armstrong, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury, and Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett condemned the disruption in public statements.

Armstrong, in a statement released Wednesday, emphasized that the University had expedited its investigation and adjusted security measures, including requiring Columbia ID swipe access for buildings on the Morningside campus.

The same day as the course was disrupted, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators rallied outside Columbia University, chanting slogans like “We will honor all our martyrs,” “Smash the settler Zionist state,” and “Intifada people’s war” to the beat of a snare drum.

On campus, a smaller group of activists chanted “Long live the intifada” near Butler Library before marching off campus to join the larger rally.

Last week’s disruptions are the latest in a series of incidents at Columbia related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Columbia has come under increased scrutiny over the rise in antisemitism on campus since the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators at Columbia set up dozens of tents in April of last year, demanding that the university divest from its Israeli assets. The university administration called in police to dismantle the encampments.

On April 30, at the request of university leaders, hundreds of officers with the New York Police Department stormed onto campus, gaining access to the building through a second-story window and making dozens of arrests of the pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators who had taken over Hamilton Hall.

Before the anti-Israel encampment on campus, the Chabad rabbi of Columbia University and a group of Jewish students were forced to leave the university campus for their own safety during a pro-Hamas demonstration.

In August, three Columbia University deans resigned from the school, after it was discovered that they had exchanged “very troubling” texts that “disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes”. INN

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Bracing for the worst: Some hostages’ families say IDF told them loved ones may be dead. After Hamas conveys ‘list’ saying 8 of 26 hostages set to be released in coming weeks are dead, relatives say the military gave them grim assessment of their loved ones’ fate. By ToI Staff. January 28, 2025, 4:34 pm TOI

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Tearful King Charles becomes first UK monarch to visit Auschwitz. Aides say king’s visit was ‘deeply personal pilgrimage’ as he took part in events marking 80th anniversary of liberation of the Nazi death camp, UK Jewish news reports. By Lee Harpin. January 28, 2025, 4:48 pm JewishNews

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Holocaust distortion more dangerous than outright denial, warns departing IHRA chief. ‘It’s always those who attack freedom, liberal views, diversity and pluralism’ who twist the facts, says Kathrin Meyer. ‘They use Holocaust distortion for their political gain’. By Larry Luxner. January 28, 2025, 4:57 pm

'It’s an insult to victims; it's also a threat to democracy'. Holocaust distortion more dangerous than outright denial, warns departing IHRA chief. ‘It’s always those who attack freedom, liberal views, diversity and pluralism’ who twist the facts, says Kathrin Meyer. ‘They use Holocaust distortion for their political gain’. By Larry Luxner, January 28, 2025, 4:57 pm. JTA — As the world marked 80 years on Monday since the liberation of Auschwitz, one of Germany’s most prominent Holocaust scholars said twisting the facts about the Nazi extermination of six million Jews is far more harmful than outright denial — and that such distortion is “a stepping stone from antisemitism into the mainstream.”

Kathrin Meyer, secretary-general of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, said she considers Holocaust distortion particularly dangerous, especially as the number of survivors dwindles with each passing year. This week, when the world focuses on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, only 50 survivors took part in ceremonies at the Nazi death camp in Poland – down from 300 just five years ago.

“Obviously, it’s an insult to the victims, but it’s also a threat to our democracy because you will not find a single radical, anti-democratic, nationalistic, imperialistic group ideology that does not have a distorted view of the Holocaust,” Meyer said about distortions that are often disguised as differing opinions rather than outright lies.

Tracking Holocaust denial and distortion is part of its wider mandate to address “contemporary challenges related to the Holocaust and genocide of the Roma people,” according to its website.

One example Meyer offered is that of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s constant vilification of neighboring Ukraine as a “Nazi government” despite the fact that Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was democratically elected.

“It’s always those who attack freedom, liberal views, diversity and pluralistic societies,” said Meyer, who is stepping down from her position after two decades. “They use Holocaust distortion for their political gain.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive for a working session at the Elysee Palace, on December 9, 2019, in Paris. (Ian Langsdon/Pool via AP) Meyer, who is not Jewish, has led the Berlin-based IHRA as the definition of antisemitism it developed became a flashpoint in political debates...

Meyer recalled that it took IHRA three years to adopt a definition of antisemitism that satisfied all its members, which include 35 member states, eight observer countries and nine global partners including the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO and the Claims Conference.

That definition, Meyer said, is now “one of the most important tools ever” in the fight against Jew hatred.

“Before the adoption of this definition, I was confronted time and again with statements like ‘Oh, in our country, there is no antisemitism.’ We don’t have this discussion any longer,” said Meyer. “We discuss what should and shouldn’t be considered antisemitism, but antisemitism as such is acknowledged as a problem in all our societies.”

IHRA defines antisemitism as having a “certain perception of Jews that may be expressed as hatred” toward them. That perception includes certain kinds of rhetoric and action aimed at Israel and its supporters — for example, denying Jews the right to self-determination or calling Israel a “racist[sic] endeavor.”

Proponents of the definition see those examples as an important response to events like the sharp rise in vandalism of synagogues and cemeteries, verbal and physical attacks against Jews and “anti-Zionist” incitement since the October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza.

“The events of October 7 have tragically proven us right. There cannot be a debate on antisemitism without looking into the completely biased criticism of Israel that we often see,” Meyer said. “This dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents came right after the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. The fact that this didn’t lead to more solidarity but to more antisemitism shows how deep this hatred goes, and how irrational it often is.”

Meyer, 60, knows a thing or two about deep and irrational hatred of Jews — and about the power of pushing back against it. She was born and raised in Celle, a village in Lower Saxony, just a few kilometers from the infamous Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where Anne Frank died along with some 50,000 other Jewish Europeans.

“This really picturesque little town, with these medieval houses and a castle, looks almost like a Disneyland film set. It wasn’t affected by the war. No bombings, no nothing,” she recalled. “I was born in 1964, only 19 years after World War II ended, but there was a big silence in my town about Bergen-Belsen.”

That silence extended to her own family, said Meyer, describing her “liberation” at facing the facts of what her country had done to the Jews.

“I was among the first Germans for whom the Holocaust was part of the school curriculum,” she said. “My mother’s side of the family was very much opposed to the Nazi system, but my grandmother on my father’s side was a very committed Nazi. I grew up with her views as well, and I’ve had to fight that my entire lifetime.”

A memorial stone for the young diarist Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, on the grounds of the former concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. (AFP) Later on, she earned a master’s degree in educational science and a PhD in history from Berlin’s Technical University, specializing in denazification and reeducation in Germany after 1945.

“For me, it was liberating to face the facts, to step up to the responsibility I have as a German of this generation — and to not shy away from it,” she said.

IHRA was founded as a temporary task force by then-Swedish prime minister Goran Persson. Along with Britain’s then-prime minister Tony Blair and former US president Bill Clinton, he organized a Stockholm forum held 25 years ago — on January 27, 2000 — that was attended by 46 heads of state and foreign ministers. There, they signed the Stockholm Declaration and committed their countries to support Holocaust education remembrance and research.

“That was revolutionary, because until then, it was mainly Jewish organizations that had commemorated the Holocaust, but it was never really seen as a governmental responsibility,” she said. “This is where we started. We had very few member countries at that point, but the others were invited. The snowball effect started, and soon it became an international institution with 35 member countries and global impact.”

Besides Jewish victims, IHRA also advocates on behalf of the Roma people, a minority ethnic group that Meyer said “are definitely the most discriminated group in Europe when it comes to hate crimes on a daily level.”

During World War II, the Nazis operated a concentration camp near Prague specifically for slaughtering the Roma. For years after the war, Czech farmers used the camp as a pig pen. Eventually, local authorities erected a small memorial.

([69]. Survivors, relatives and representatives of the Memorial and Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau lay wreaths and light candles at the so-called Death Wall next to Block 11 of the former Auschwitz I main camp in Oswiecim, Poland on January 27, 2025, during commemorations on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Red Army. (Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP).

“However, when I visited this place in 2016, I was astonished,” she said. “You see these plaques and rebuilt barracks, and some references to the Roma community that was destroyed, and then in the background, you hear these pigs screaming and you smell ammonia. It was so terrible.”

Thanks to IHRA’s then-president, Romanian diplomat Mihnea Constantinescu, Czech authorities moved the pig farm elsewhere and constructed a proper memorial site.

One of Meyer’s biggest concerns is the immense power of Big Tech, she said, citing “the problems we face just with Meta getting rid of fact-checking” on Facebook, and the increasing virulent hate speech spread on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

A recent UNESCO study of 4,000 pieces of content collected in June and July 2021 showed that 10% of such content on Facebook, 15% on Twitter (now X) and nearly half on Telegram either denied or distorted Holocaust history.

“These tech giants do whatever they want, and I have the feeling this is so unbalanced. It’s something that worries me tremendously,” Meyer said, though she’s not necessarily concerned that artificial intelligence will worsen those problems.

“There’s no question AI brings huge risks, but it also brings great opportunities, because AI cannot only be used by the bad guys. It can be used by us too—for example, in keeping the memory of survivors alive,” she said. “It’s not a curse. It’s in our world, and we need to use it.”

([70]. People visit the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, a former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp, in Oswiecim, Poland, January 26, 2025. AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski).

Asked about her legacy, Meyer said she’s proud to have helped turn IHRA into a “global player” while putting Holocaust distortion on the agenda.

“Making that a major topic was definitely one of the big passions I brought to this job,” she said. “We live in a world of deep divisions within our societies, and since we’re a consensus-based organization, we need to keep the consensus alive to confront antisemitism, extremism, hate speech and the challenge posed by AI and social media. This is a huge challenge, but I think that’s also the only way to go.”

Meyer’s successor at IHRA is Michaela Küchler, a veteran German diplomat who chaired the organization in 2021 and who currently serves as Germany’s consul-general in Chennai, India.

“She brings the drive we need to move this organization ahead and to not shy away from challenges,” Meyer said of Küchler, adding that “after 20 years in this business, I need a break.” TOI

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IDF troops eliminate terrorists in Jenin, destroy weapon-production lathe. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/28/2025 06:12 PM JPost

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UAE conglomerate buys $10m stake in Israeli tech security firm that detects drones. Abu Dhabi defense contractor EDGE to invest a further $12 million to develop and market Thirdeye Systems’ electro-optical recognition products. By Sharon Wrobel. January 28, 2025, 7:16 pm TOI

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Israel carries out strike in southern Lebanon. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/28/2025 08:11 PM JPost

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Defense minister, in Syria buffer zone, says IDF to stay indefinitely. Visiting position on Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Katz vows Israel will not allow ‘hostile forces’ to gain a foothold in area, or be dependent on others for security in area. By Emanuel Fabian. January 28, 2025, 8:53 pm TOI

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US Senate blocks bill to sanction International Criminal Court. By Reuters. 01/28/2025 10:01 PM The chamber voted 54-45, meaning the measure, which had already passed the Republican-majority House of Representatives, could not get the 60 yes votes needed in the 100-member Senate to advance the bill. JPost

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Brother of dead hostage slated for release: Give his place to save living captive. JNS Staff. (Jan. 28, 2025 / JNS). JNS

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Hamas vows archterrorist Marwan Barghouti will be released in phase 2 of ceasefire. Hamas reportedly seeks release of archterrorist serving 5 life sentences for the murders he committed because they believe he would win elections in the post-Abbas era. Israel National News. Jan 28, 2025, 9:44 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Senate Democrats block ICC sanctions bill. Senate Democrats vote against Republican-led bill aimed at sanctioning officials from the International Criminal Court in response to arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. Elad Benari. Jan 28, 2025, 11:40 PM (GMT+2)

Senate Democrats on Tuesday voted to filibuster a Republican-led bill aimed at sanctioning officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC), CNN reported.

The proposed legislation sought to penalize the ICC for issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who have been accused by the ICC accused them of committing war crimes during and after the Hamas October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

The legislation, which was approved by the House of Representatives on January 9, targets any foreigner involved in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting US citizens or those of allied nations that are not ICC members, including Israel.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized the ICC's decision, arguing that equating Israeli leaders with Hamas was “beyond the pale.”

Democrats, concerned that opposing the bill might be framed as being anti-Israel, deliberated extensively before taking action. Ultimately, only Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a staunch supporter of Israel, voted in favor of the measure.

The final vote count was 54-45, falling short of the 60 votes required to advance the bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his opposition to the bill shortly before the vote, labeling it “poorly drafted and deeply troublesome.”

Schumer criticized Republicans for refusing to make minor changes to the legislation that could have secured Democratic support.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan recently defended his decision to pursue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, claiming that Israel had made “no real effort” to independently investigate claims that it committed war crimes[sic]. INN

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Columbia University Bans Pro-Hamas Classroom Agitators From Campus. by Dion J. Pierre. January 28, 2025.

Columbia University has banned from its campus multiple masked individuals who disrupted an active class last week and proceeded to utter pro-Hamas statements while distributing antisemitic literature Algemeiner

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Israel Slams Newly Signed Iran-Russia Treaty as ‘Dangerous for the Entire World’. by Ailin Vilches Arguello. January 28, 2025.

Israel is deeply concerned about a recently signed “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” between Iran and Russia, according to the Jewish state’s ambassador to Moscow.

“Iran is a country that has openly and publicly stated many times its intention to destroy Israel,” Simona Halperin told the Russian state news agency TASS in an interview published on Monday when asked about the pact. Algemeiner

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IDF fires warning shots at suspects in Gaza Strip. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/28/2025 10:15 PM JPost

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Don’t mention the Jews. This removal of Jews from Holocaust. Nicole Lampert. January 28, 2025.

Memorial Day has long been the plan of that weird marriage of the far left and Islamists. For too many leftists, Jews have never been good enough victims for their compassion. They certainly don’t want to remind people that anti-Semitism, the creed they so often march alongside with, is dangerous. Instead, they like to paint Jews as oppressors – or genocidal maniacs. So they have to hide the fact that Jews were the ones attacked in the most heinous and deliberate genocide in history.

There is another reason for removing Jews from the memory of the Holocaust. It’s a way of undermining the necessity of Israel’s existence – a state that had to come into being because the world closed its doors to Jews, despite knowing they were being slaughtered.

Parts of the left really do seem keen on taking the focus of Holocaust Memorial Day away from Jewish suffering. In 2011, Jeremy Corbyn was among a group of mainly Labour politicians who supported a parliamentary motion to rename Holocaust Memorial Day, saying instead it should be called ‘Genocide Memorial Day – Never Again for Anyone’. This was despite the fact it already did officially remember later genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

It is telling that, a few weeks ago, the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) wrote to 460 town halls and educational centres around the UK asking them to boycott this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day because apparently it wouldn’t be inclusive enough (the organisers failed to categorise the war in Gaza as a genocide). In truth, the IHRC hardly needed to go to all that trouble. The message of Holocaust Memorial Day has become so watered down that it is an act of bravery to even mention who the victims of the Holocaust were – especially after Hamas’s pogrom in Israel on 7 October 2023.

One London Jewish councillor tells me that, having organised Holocaust Memorial Day events in the past, since the 7 October attacks she hasn’t been allowed ‘near’ it at the council. ‘I think lots of councils think erasing Jews from their events is “playing it safe”’, she tells me.

I’m ashamed to say that some Jewish organisations have let activists and politicians do this. They’ve let them water down the Holocaust because, otherwise, no one will talk about it at all.

What does that tell you about all those who drearily intone ‘Never Again’ with their crocodile tears about some anonymous horror? If they meant it, they would talk about what must never happen again. They would talk about Jews and anti-Semitism.

All the while, anti-Semitism is surging. As a Jewish person who writes about this stuff, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the fear, the angst, the terror of people writing to me about the anti-Semitism they have faced.

You’ve seen the weekly images of ‘pro-Palestine’ protesters marching with swastikas, chanting blood libels, calling for another genocide of the Jews. You’ve seen how our political class has done nothing to challenge any of it. You’ve seen how news channels repeat Hamas propaganda. You’ve seen how anti-Semitism has been normalised, even as public figures slap themselves on the back because they lit a candle on Holocaust Memorial Day.

Not one Jewish person who I know has felt entirely safe in the UK since 7 October. Never Again has become a hollow slogan, and not one of our cowardly leaders is prepared to call that out. JNS

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Russia, Syria to hold further talks on Russian military bases in Syria, TASS reports. By Reuters. 01/29/2025 12:16 AM JPost

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Rubio thanks Qatari PM for Gaza hostage mediation. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/29/2025 03:26 AM JPost

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RV packed with explosives and a list of Jewish addresses sparks concern in Australia. The discovery follows a spate of antisemitic arson and vandalism in the country. JNS Staff. (Jan. 29, 2025 / JNS). Australian law enforcement agents in Sydney have found a caravan loaded with explosives and containing a list of Jewish targets, they said on Wednesday. JNS

Australia: Suspected terrorist attack on Sydney synagogue thwarted. Police find caravan of explosives, investigating whether Sydney synagogue was targeted. Tziki Brandwine. Jan 29, 2025, 9:36 AM (GMT+2) INN

Huge Neis Down Under: Explosives For “Mass-Casualty” Attack On Jewish Target Found In Sydney. January 29, 2025

“That Is Terrorism” announced a headline in The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday reporting that a trailer loaded with enough explosives to cause a 40-meter blast wave was found in New South Wales, north of Sydney.

The trailer was marked with an antisemitic offensive epithet and with several addresses of targets, including a Sydney shul.

The trailer was found 10 days ago and was only revealed after an investigation into the potential “mass casualty event” was leaked to the media.

According to the report, New South Wales (NSW) police were called by a local resident on January 19 after he discovered the trailer.

The police who arrived at the site found Powergel explosives, which are believed to have been stolen from a mine site, along with a note listing the address of a shul.

“There’s only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

“This would strike terror into the community, particularly the Jewish community, and it must be met with the full resources of the government. And I want to assure the people of NSW that’s exactly what’s happening.”

The caravan had been parked on the roadside in a hazardous position between December 7 and January 19, the report said.

The police transferred the investigation to the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which combines state and Commonwealth agencies, including the Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Although over 100 officers have been tasked with finding the perpetrators, they have not yet been found.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson confirmed that no arrests have been made. “I can indicate we have no information that there are further explosives in our community in relation to conducting antisemitic attacks anywhere,” Hudson said. “We believe that we have contained, appropriately, this current threat.”

Other Australian media reports said that reports that investigators are also looking into the possibility that the trailer marked with the anti-Jewish message was left there to increase tensions in Australia and fuel the wave of antisemitism there. An Australian source told the Daily Telegraph that “something is not right” in the case.

Australia in general and Sydney in particular has suffered a wave of antisemitic attacks in recent weeks and months. Last week, a daycare near a Jewish school and a shul was set on fire in the middle of the night. The day after the attack, Australian federal police launched an investigation regarding suspicions that the recent antisemitic attacks in the country are funded by “overseas actors.” Later that day, the police arrested a suspect involved in the attempted arson attack of a Sydney shul earlier this month.

([71]. A car was set on fire and antisemitic graffiti was sprayed on buildings in a Sydney suburb. Photo: Australian Broadcasting Company. ABC). YWN

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Rubio to Egyptian FM: 'Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again'. Elad Benari. Jan 29, 2025, 4:14 AM INN

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Union representing 30,000 CUNY faculty and staff votes to divest from Israel. Daniel Edelson, New York| 1.29.25. YNet

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The IDF won't withdraw 'until the Lebanese army shows it is in control'. Yair Kraus |1.29.25. YNet

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Israel waits to learn identity of 3rd hostage that will be released Thursday. Lior Ben Ari, Einav Halabi|1.29.25. YNet

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Israeli assessment: 'Trump will make it difficult to resume fighting'. Israel National News. Jan 29, 2025, 8:51 AM INN

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Watch: Lebanese army takes control of huge tunnel complex. Israel National News. Jan 29, 2025, 9:19 AM INN

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IDF demolishes home of terrorist in West Bank in joint counterterrorism operation. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/29/2025 11:46 AM The home of the terrorist who killed Stf.-Sgt. (res.) Elchanan Ariel Klein and injured four Border Police officers, was demolished during a joint counterterrorism operation on Tuesday night in Shuweika with the Shin Bet, and Border Police, the IDF said in a statement on Wednesday. The terrorist was part of the terror cell that committed the terror attack on November 2, 2023. JPost

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Tel Aviv police arrest illegal resident from Hebron. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/29/2025 12:24 PM JPost

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IDF thwarts weapons smuggling attempt from Egypt to Israel. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/29/2025 12:39 PM JPost

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Human Rights expert: 'UN learned nothing from Holocaust except to fake concern for 1 day'. Professor Anne Bayefsky, the Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President of the Human Rights Voices human rights organization, tells Arutz Sheva the UN marking Holocaust Remembrance day is an "oxymoron." Gary Willig, Jan 29, 2025, 3:17 PM (GMT+2) INN

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IDF shoots down drone crossing from Egypt. IDF thwarts attempt to smuggle 13 weapons and ammunition from Egypt via drone. Uzi Baruch. Jan 29, 2025, 1:14 PM (GMT+2) INN

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The dark descent into Holocaust erasure.

Let's be clear: the genocide of European Jews by the Nazi regime was unique in its systematic nature and industrial scale. By Claudia Mendoza. January 29, 2025.

More worrying, however, is the ongoing attempt to draw comparisons between the Holocaust and the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. To compare the systematic murder of 6 million Jews to Israel’s war on Hamas is not only absurd but deeply offensive to survivors and the wider Jewish community.

More worrying, however, is the ongoing attempt to draw comparisons between the Holocaust and the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. To compare the systematic murder of 6 million Jews to Israel’s war on Hamas is not only absurd but deeply offensive to survivors and the wider Jewish community.

Many in the community will have seen the Irish President Michael Higgins address a Holocaust Memorial Day event which he was asked not to attend by members of Ireland’s Jewish community. While it was not a surprise that he used his speech to reference the conflict in Gaza, it was shocking to see Jewish members of the audience thrown out of the room for objecting.

Only recently, Ireland adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, which states that equating the State of Israel to Nazi Germany is antisemitic. Higgins’ hijacking of Holocaust Memorial Day makes one wonder why they did.

Even more disgracefully, the Islamic Human Rights Commission called for boycotts of Holocaust Memorial Day events this year unless they included a reference to Gaza. Those who call to boycott Holocaust Memorial Day events, unless they are inverted to associate modern-day Jews with their persecutors, are the clearest example of why we must keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.

This Holocaust Memorial Day I had the privilege of hearing Janine Webber’s testimony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration event.

Unfortunately, as Holocaust survivors grow older, first-hand survivor accounts are becoming less easily available. Initiatives like the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Ambassador Programme and Testimony 360 do vital work to advance Holocaust education.

I also support the construction of a new Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Westminster, which will enshrine Holocaust remembrance at the heart of our democracy. In a world of rising antisemitism, where people seek to abuse the memory of the Holocaust, this is more important than ever. JewishNews

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Wednesday, January 29, 2025. UN accredited NGO has been accusing Israel of inflicting a "holocaust" on Palestinians since at least 2008. The International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) is a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the UN. It issues reports every year or so to the UN that is filled with pure Jew-hatred.

It routinely compares Israeli Jews to Nazis. For example, this submission to the UN from August 2008: Have Jews everywhere forgotten ... EoZ

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Dutch Parliament links funds to Palestinian NGOs on recognition of Israel. “In no circumstance may taxpayer money end up in the hands of terrorists,” said Dutch Parliament member Chris Stoffer, who put forward the resolution. (Jan. 29, 2025 / JNS) The Dutch Parliament passed a resolution on Tuesday to condition funding of Palestinian NGOs on their recognition of Israel’s right to exist.

The parliamentary move is being made two months after a violent attack in Amsterdam against visiting Israeli soccer fans by a mob of rioters, many of them Muslim, in early November. It also comes as a new government in Holland has started to address a lack of vetting and transparency that has existed for years, enabling the funding of non-governmental aid organizations to reach terror groups designated as such by the European Union.

The motion was passed in a tight 70-67 vote in the Dutch House of Representatives. JNS

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'Punish anti-Jewish racism in colleges and universities'.

Trump signs Executive Order to combat antisemitism, with a focus on combatting the surge of antisemitism on US campuses since October 7, 2023. Order calls for immediate action to quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in colleges and universities.

Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 1:09 AM INN

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Antisemites portray themselves as false allies to Jews as ‘political cover,’ experts say. The gaslighting is “particularly galling” given “what has happened over the last 15-plus months,” Sam Markstein, of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told JNS.

Rikki Zagelbaum. (Jan. 29, 2025 / JNS)

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a member of the progressive “Squad” in Congress, condemned on Oct. 7, 2023, “the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas.” She added that the “senseless violence” would only continue a cycle of violence and called, even before the Jewish state had defended itself, for “de-escalation and ceasefire.”

On Jan. 27, Omar, who has often criticized Israel in antisemitic terms, wrote that “on Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the 6 million Jews and millions of other people murdered during the Holocaust and carry the stories of survivors who showed strength in the darkest of times.” She added that “we must recommit to fighting against antisemitism and bigotry in all forms. Never again.” JNS

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Israel’s new envoy in DC starts work ahead of Netanyahu trip. “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s historic visit to Washington will mark a significant moment in Israel-U.S. relations,” Ambassador Yechiel Leiter told JNS.

Andrew Bernard. (Jan. 29, 2025 / JNS)

Israel’s new ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, started work this week ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled trip to Washington on Tuesday. JNS

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Three Israeli hostages, five Thais slated for release on Thursday. The three women to be freed are Arbel Yehud, 29; Agam Berger, 20; and Gadi Mozes, 80.

(Jan. 29, 2025 / JNS) Israel received from Hamas a list of three Israeli hostages and five Thai captives expected to be released tomorrow, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan News reported on Wednesday.

The three Israeli hostages are two women—Arbel Yehud, 29, a civilian, and Agam Berger, 20, an IDF lookout—and a male hostage, 80-year-old Gadi Mozes. Mozes was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his wife, Margalit, who was one of the first hostages freed on Nov. 24, 2023.

Only men wounded, ill or age 50 and up are expected to be freed in the first phase of the deal. JNS

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Germany in consultations on sending contingent to EU Rafah border mission. By Reuters. 01/29/2025 03:48 PM JPost

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Turkey's Erdogan meets with Hamas leader, delegation in Ankara. By Reuters. 01/29/2025 05:09 PM JPost

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IDF, Shin Bet confiscate and destroy over 150 explosive devices in Jenin. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/29/2025 05:16 PM JPost

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Israel demands Hamas provide info on Bibas family's wellbeing. By Amichai Stein. 01/29/2025 07:59 PM JPost

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Including Zakaria Zubeidi: Israel to release 110 terrorists, 33 serving life terms, tomorrow. Israel National News. Jan 29, 2025, 9:32 PM INN

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Two IDF soldiers wounded in traffic accident in West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/29/2025 09:45 PM JPost

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Pentagon chief tells Israel that US supports its 'right to defend itself'. By Reuters. 01/29/2025 10:27 PM JPost

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Trump envoy Witkoff enters Gaza after meeting Netanyahu. Israel National News. Jan 29, 2025, 11:00 PM INN

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'Punish anti-Jewish racism in colleges and universities'.

Trump signs Executive Order to combat antisemitism, with a focus on combatting the surge of antisemitism on US campuses since October 7, 2023. Order calls for immediate action to quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in colleges and universities.

Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 1:09 AM INN

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Murderers and bombing attacks planners: Terrorists set for release in third phase. Einav Halabi, Yoav Zitun|1.29.25. YNet

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Surrounded by terrorists: Agam Berger on stage at the brutal liberation ceremony. Ynet. 1.30.25. on Instagram

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Like mother, like daughter: Agam kept Shabbat and kosher - even during captivity. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 11:51 AM INN

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Gaza mob attacked kidnapped people who were in captivity after 482 days. Nazis. Jan 30, 2025. On X

Chaos in Khan Yunis: Lots of people around the kidnapped vehicles. Seugim news. 30.01.25 | Thousands of bloodthirsty Gaza residents reached the point where the kidnapped were handed over to the Red Cross and attached to the vehicles in which they were held. The Hamas terrorists were unable to control the incident and the transfer of the hostages was delayed for a long time. [72] Srugim

On the way to lynching: the hostages are abandoned in silence in the face of the frenzy of the releases.

The events of the release of Hamas turn from time to time from humiliating to dangerous, Israel should prepare to threaten to blow up the deal if the phenomenon continues, or at the very least prepare intervention forces to protect the abductees if necessary.

Yair Amar. 30.01.25.

(Screenshot from a video. [73]).

Another wave of releasing hostages, another snarling and rioting crowd, more inflammatory billboards, more victory parades and humiliation marches for the abductees. Israeli defeatism endangers the lives of the abductees, and brings us closer to the event that will be remembered as the "lynching in Gaza"...

One by one, our abductees are humiliated by Hamas, but that is not the problem. Gloating [for the other's pain] is one thing, but what is unfolding in the release of Hamas prisoners is an event far beyond gloat for pain, or even a blunder of one kind or another. The release of the Hamas prisoners creates a demonic dance that may quickly end in hostages being murdered in front of the cameras.

Hamas turned the event of the release of the abductees into showpieces, triumphal displays of power, humiliation, nationalism and incitement. Inciting signs against Israel are raised in every corner, "Victory" displays in front of IDF units star and the humiliation of the abductees is the crowning glory of the barbarians.

Such events can deteriorate quickly, very quickly and in extreme ways. Take this deadly combination, which is already getting worse from week to week, and boil it some more over the coming weekend, and the week after that, and another one after that. Already now the Gazan crowd is attacking each abductee, throwing hands and fists, hitting the vehicles carrying them home, shaking them and shouting victory cries to Allah.

It doesn't take much for this "humiliating" event to turn deadly, all it takes is for one Gazan to replace the hand reaching out to grab the clothes of the young girls or the elderly with a knife or a rock. As long as Israel allows Hamas to turn the release of the prisoners into a show event, their lives are in greater danger during the release than anywhere else.

There may be no escape and Israel will be forced, at least to threaten, to blow up the deal if such events continue. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have intervention forces that could land in the heart of the crowd and act if necessary. Israel must insist not on its pride, but on the lives of its citizens. Hamas can continue to turn the liberation ceremonies into pre-filmed victory celebrations and maintain the same rituals in private rooms, but Hamas' lust must not be allowed to become an event that will lead to the lynching of hostages in front of cameras, Israel must wake up and act. Srugim

Netanyahu condemns ‘unimaginable cruelty’ of Hamas after hostages mobbed. "I demand that the mediators ensure that such horrific scenes do not recur," said the Israeli prime minister, after masses of Gaza residents swarmed the returnees. Canaan Lidor.

(Jan. 30, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday condemned the crowds of Gazans that mobbed three Israeli hostages as they were being released by Hamas.

“I view the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages as very serious,” wrote Netanyahu after the release of Arbel Yehud, Gadi Mozes, Agam Berger and five Thai citizens, all of whom were abducted to Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.

“This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization. I demand that the mediators ensure that such horrific scenes do not recur, and guarantee the safety of our hostages. Those who dare harm our hostages do so at their own peril,” Netanyahu wrote.

Footage from the release shows massive crowds, apparently in a state of jubilation, swarming around cars transporting the hostages and around the Hamas terrorists escorting the Israelis from the vehicles. JNS

Netanyahu on hostages' release: Horrific scenes must not be allowed to repeat themselves. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticizes chaos in Khan Yunis during release of hostages Arbel Yehud and Gadi Mozes. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 2:39 PM (GMT+2) INN

Infuriating footage from Gaza: Masses of terrorists surround Red Cross vehicles. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 2:46 PM INN

REAL JEW @THEREALJEW613: She looks scared to death 😢 [74] Jan 30, 2025 On X

Furious over ‘shocking scenes’ of hostage handover, Israel delays release of prisoners. Release of detainees held as Israel demanded guarantee from mediators for future ‘safe passage’ of hostages; Trump envoy ‘hopeful’ deal’s next stages will be implemented. By Amy Spiro. January 30, 2025, 5:09 pm. ([75]. Gadi Mozes is escorted by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunmen as he is handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Jan. 30, 2025. AP/Jehad Alshrafi).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday slammed the “shocking scenes” of mob chaos at the Gaza handover of two Israeli hostages and five Thai hostages to the Red Cross, and delayed Israel’s reciprocal release of Palestinian security prisoners as he demanded mediators prevent a repeat in future hostage releases. TOI

Pres. Herzog: Scenes were horrifying, they endured hell with amazing bravery. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 2:31 PM INN

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After disturbing scenes: Israel receives commitment for safe exit of hostages from Gaza Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 4:40 PM INN

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After 482 days: Arbel, Gadi, and Agam arrive in Israel. Arbel Yehud and Gadi Mozes, along with five Thai citizens, cross into Israeli territory after being released from Islamic Jihad captivity. Agam Berger, released from Hamas captivity, has reunited with her parents. Chana Roberts Jan 30, 2025, 4:15 PM INN

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From the brutal ceremonies of the terrorist organization Hamas to the meeting with the parents at the reception complex in Kibbutz Re'im - this is what the release of the abductees from the captivity of Hamas looked like. Arbel and Gadi were accompanied by masked armed terrorists - thousands of Palestinians gathered around the Red Cross vehicles and did not allow them to continue their journey after the hostages were handed over. The Israeli Hayom. 30/1/2025. ILH

Hostages Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger and Gadi Mozes free after 482 days. Hamas also released five Thais on Thursday afternoon, as Jerusalem was readying to free 110 Palestinian terrorists. Akiva Von Koningsveld. (Jan. 30, 2025 / JNS). JNS

Watch: Agam Berger reunites with her family. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 5:09 PM INN

Agam Berger reunites with her family after 482 days in Hamas captivity | See videos and photos. Ynet correspondents|1.30.25. YNet

Arbel, Gad, Thais arrive in Israel; Agam reunited with 4 freed observers at hospital. Ynetnews|1.30.25. YNet

Terrorist filmed kidnapping Naama Levy eliminated. Hamas terrorist Muhammad Abu Aseed who was filmed kidnapping Israeli surveillance soldier Naama Levy on October 7, 2023,was eliminated 4 months ago, the IDF confirmed minutes after hostage Agam Berger was freed. Yoav Zitun, Einav Halabi | 1.30.25. [76]. YNet

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'I will do everything I can to rehabilitate Nir Oz'. After 482 days, elderly former hostage embraces his family and vows to rebuild his community after the 10/7 massacre. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 6:13 PM INN

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Hostages Coordinator: 'These are moments of joy but the mission is return all hostages'. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 6:32 PM INN

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Netanyahu: 'Whoever dares to harm our hostages – will pay the price'. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 7:12 PM INN

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I chose faith, returned with faith: Agam's message after release from Hamas captivity. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 7:30 PM INN

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Freed Thai hostages pose triumphantly with national flag at Israeli hospital Ran Azar, Roy Rubinstein, Itamar Eichner|1.30.25. YNet

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Israel resumes release of Palestinian prisoners after temporary halt over hostage incident. Liran Tamari, Einav Halabi, Itamar Eichner |1.30.25. YNet

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Freed Nahal Oz lookout Agam Berger reunites with family, joins fellow hostages in Israel. Raanan Ben-Zur|1.30.25. YNet

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IDF: 2 terrorists who took part in 10/7 attack killed in recent months. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 7:39 PM INN

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Six months later: Hamas admits for the first time: 'Mohammed Deif is dead'. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 7:54 PM INN

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Israeli soldier killed in Jenin clash as IDF expands West Bank terror sweep. Nina Fox, Raanan Ben-Zur, Yoav Zitun|1.30.25. YNet

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IDF shoots down Hezbollah surveillance drone, in first such incident since ceasefire. Terror group appears to violate US-brokered truce days after IDF struck weapons convoy in southern Lebanon. By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff. January 30, 2025, 5:11 pm TOI

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Sydney Jewish school, home and mall daubed with antisemitic graffiti. Discovery of sprayed slogans including ‘Jew dogs’ comes day after announcement of apparent bomb plot against Jewish targets amid escalation in antisemitic incidents in Australia. By Agencies. January 30, 2025. Among the messages vandals wrote were “You fuc#ing Jews,” “Jews are real [sic] terrorists,” “Jew dogs,” “Fu#k the Jews,” and “You wanna buy a caravan,” the last an apparent reference to the Wednesday announcement of the discovery of an explosives cache in a trailer earlier this month. TOI

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The Persian Jewess @persianjewess: The Red Cross complained the presence of guard dogs “scared” murderer terrorists who were being released from prison in exchange for 2 girls and an elderly old man.

They had nothing to say when Arbel Yehoud was nearly lynched by a mob of Hamas terrorists during her release. [77]. Jan 30, 2025 On X

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Why are ‘anti-racists’ silent about Arbel Yehud’s terrible ordeal? Brendan O’Neill. 30 January 2025.

Watching Arbel Yehud being freed in Gaza today, I thought to myself: this is what it must have been like at Salem. Here we had a diminutive woman being paraded through a baying mob of hollering men. They barked religious slogans at her. They shoved and jostled to get a better view of the marked woman. They thrust their mobile phones in her face to capture her terror for posterity. They’ll no doubt share the clips. ‘Look! See how scared she was!’

Mercifully, Ms Yehud was being marched, not to the gallows, but to liberty. She was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led pogrom of 7 October 2023. She was held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad for 482 days. Her partner Ariel Cunio, seized alongside her, remains in captivity. Arbel, though, following tense talks between Israel and her jihadist captors, has at last been spirited back to her homeland. Spectator

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Mobs VS Scared Female Hostage: Again, Only Haaretz (Haaretzism) Was Desperate To Whitewash Guilty Ordinary "Palestinian" Arabs.

On Jan 30, 2025, seeing footage of thousands, literally, of bloodthirsty Gazans, cheering, mobs attacking scared hostage 29 civilian woman Yehud Arbel, it reminded the pre Israelis response 'Oct 7 war': masses of Gazans gloating cheering, celebrating on that fateful day.

Reaffirming the shocking 'secret' no one dares to talk about: the lack of innocent among ordinary Arab "Palestinians".

Google searched for "arbel scared," guess who whitewashed the guilty "Palestinians"?

Even Hamas' mouthpiece and linked, Qatar's Al Jazeera didn't appear on the screen for this despicable propaganda at this early moment.

Only one site was like a thorn on display. The infamous twisted hate site HAARETZ. The dreadful line of Haaretzism: in justifying Arab racism and Islamic bigotry- the motivation and engine for anti Israel, anti Jewish atrocities. EoZ

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New details: Arbel Yehud was held in isolation for 482 days. Freed hostage says the shocking scenes seen in Gaza today do not show a tenth of the cruelty that she experienced in Gaza. Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025, 9:03 PM (GMT+2)

Arbel Yehoud, who was released today by the Hamas terrorist was held captive in solitary confinement for 482 days, and she described the harsh conditions of her captivity with very little food and being held mostly underground, Kan News reported.

According to the report, she suffers from malnutrition and the terrorists' treated her cruelly. The first thing she said to those who met her was, "I was mostly alone." Arbel said that she knew before she was kidnapped that the terrorist organizations in Gaza were cruel and evil, and that what was witnessed today - that the hostages had to pass through a horde of armed terrorists, "is only a tenth of their evil."

Arbel was exposed to very little media during her captivity, but what little she was exposed to included the fact that her brother Dolev was murdered in the Hamas attack on her community.

In addition, Gadi Mozes, the 80-year-old man who was also released today, said that what kept him alive was the knowledge that he would restore his kibbutz and the community. Gadi said that he did not break down or cry in captivity - he was just waiting for the moment when he would be released and believed that it would happen.

It was also reported that Agam Berger, the third hostage who was released today, had been held in solitary confinement for the past week since her comrades were released from captivity on Saturday. She was briefly exposed to the media reports about the release of her friends. INN

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Agam's message after release from Hamas captivity: 'I chose faith, returned with faith'. Agam Berger, who was released from Hamas captivity, conveyed a message to the nation as she returned to Israel: 'Thank you to everyone in Israel and to our heroic IDF soldiers.' Israel National News. Jan 30, 2025. INN

A lesson in choosing faith from Agam Berger. Elizabeth Savetsjy. (Jan 30, 2025). on Instagram.

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Arbel Yehud Was Held In Complete Isolation With Very Little Food; Was Treated Brutally January 30, 2025.

Arbel Yehud is reunited with her family. [78]

Arbel Yehud was held in captivity alone for the 482 days of her captivity and she was treated brutally by the terrorists holding her, Kan News reported on Thursday evening.

She was mostly held underground and was provided with very little food. She was found to be suffering from malnutrition.

The first thing she said to anyone who met her was: “I was mostly alone.” Arbel said that she was aware before October 7 that the terror organizations in Gaza were evil, and that what Israelis saw today – the frenzied mob in Gaza during her release – “is only a tenth of their evil.” YWN

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'Egypt and Jordan will do it, they will take in Gazans'.

US President unfazed by Egypt and Jordan rejecting his plan which would see them taking in Palestinian Arabs from Gaza: They’re going to do it. We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.

Elad Benari. Jan 30, 2025, 11:23 PM INN

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Threatening Jews 6,000 miles from Israel does nothing for Palestinians, Ohio State student says. “It is 2025 and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz being liberated, and there is someone Jewish in Ohio, in America, that is scared to walk home,” the student said. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Vita Fellig. (Jan. 30, 2025 / JNS). Ohio State University senior Adam Kling estimates that he’s seen between 50 and 100 anti-Israel protests on campus in the last four years. But what the Jewish biomedical engineering student experienced on Jan. 27, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, was new to him.

On Monday evening, some 60 antisemitic protesters braved near-freezing temperatures to chant and yell outside of the Schottenstein Chabad House at OSU in an effort to disrupt presentations by two former Israeli soldiers about their experiences being injured while responding to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks in southern Israel.

Although the Chabad center bears the public university’s name, it’s not an official Ohio State University entity and its current building is off-campus. Kling told JNS that it was unusual for protesters to target a site that wasn’t on the university grounds. JNS

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Jewish groups slam medical org for asking federal gov about Hamas colonel’s ‘well-being’. The American Academy of Pediatrics “claims to support the professional needs of its members, but this letter represents a troubling departure from that commitment,” the groups wrote.

Andrew Bernard. (Jan. 30, 2025 / JNS).

U.S. Jewish groups demanded on Wednesday that the American Academy of Pediatrics retract a letter to the U.S. State Department asking about the “well-being” of a Hamas leader Israel arrested in December.

In a Jan. 8 letter to Atony Blinken, then the secretary of state, the organization of 67,000 pediatricians described Hussam Abu Safiya as a “pediatrician and the head of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza.” It neglected to mention that he holds the rank of colonel in the Hamas terrorist. JNS

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IDF kills 11 terrorists in Samaria

A airstrike killed 10 near Tammun and special forces eliminated another armed man in Nablus.

(Jan. 30, 2025 / JNS).

The Israeli Air Force carried out a strike against terrorists in Samaria on Wednesday, killing 10 of them, the IDF said the following day.

Another terrorist, Col. Kassem Aklik, a senior officer in the Palestinian Authority security forces and a member of the Fatah movement of P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas, was killed by ground troops on Thursday, the army added. JNS

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Palestinian Authority and EU to operate Rafah Crossing in February. Itamar Eichner|1.30.25. YNet

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"We’ll never leave you again’: Families meet freed hostages after 15 months of agony. Agam Berger says faith helped her get home; Gadi Mozes tells children he’ll work to rehabilitate Kibbutz Nir Oz; Arbel Yehoud’s family is ‘overwhelmed, extremely moved’ By Amy Spiro. and ToI Staff. January 30, 2025, 9:56 pm TOI

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Zakaria Zubeidi among terrorists to get heroes’ welcome as Israel frees 110 prisoners. By Charlie Summers, Emanuel Fabian, Amy Spiro and ToI Staff. January 30, 2025, 11:48 pm TOI

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Outrageous footage from Ramallah: Joyful marches and celebrations for released terrorists. Israel National News. Jan 31, 2025, 12:23 AM INN

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German Official Under Fire for Claim Israel Stokes ‘Disinformation’ Against UNRWA. January 31, 2025. by i24 News and Algemeiner Staff. i24 News — The German commissioner for humanitarian aid, Ina Heusgen, is facing intense criticism for her claim that Israel is waging a “disinformation” campaign against UNRWA and caused the deaths of 100,000 people in Gaza. Algemeiner

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Channel 4 bosses are blasted for 'sanitising' extremist views of reality show star accused of anti-Semitism and homophobia.

15:29 EST 31 Jan 2025, updated 21:10 EST 31 Jan 2025. By Nicole Lampert.

Channel 4 is under fire for 'sanitising' the extremist views of a woman accused of anti-Semitism and homophobia in a show about immigration.

Former The Apprentice candidate Bushra Shaikh appears in reality show Go Back To Where You Come From which starts on Monday.

The series takes six people – four anti-immigration and two pro-immigration – and shows them following migrant routes from Somalia and Syria.

Ms Shaikh, 41, who is of Pakistani heritage and headed an anti-racism campaign in sport called Run Racism Out, is on the show as a pro-immigration campaigner.

She is shown in a trailer saying: 'There is a proportion in Britain who I think are as thick as s***. I am not the person you want to have these ridiculous racist and Islamophobic conversations with.'

However, Channel 4 is accused of not showing her more extreme side which can be seen through her social media accounts.

This week, after tweeting that an Iraqi Christian called Salwan Momika who was famous in Sweden for burning the Koran had been shot dead, she wrote to her 89,000 followers on X: 'Some of you may disagree but the public desecration of any holy book should be viewed as a hate crime and the offender should face consequences.'

... 'The allegations of anti-Semitism is baseless. Sending Israelis 'back to Europe'.. Daily Mail

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Female captive found Siddur in Hamas captivity, fasted on Tisha B'Av. Speaking to Israel Hayom after leaving the hospital, wife of MK disclosed that Agam Berger, released Thursday during the Hamas-Israel hostage deal's third swap, "discovered a prayer book in Gaza that became her spiritual anchor throughout her captivity. Agam believes the prayer book was inadvertently left behind by soldiers who had previously been in the area." By Merav Sever. Published on 01-31-2025.

Agam Berger with her parents aboard a helicopter following her release on Jan. 30, 2025 | Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Fresh testimony has emerged Friday about Agam Berger's 482-day ordeal in Hamas captivity. Yaffa Deri, wife of Shas party chairman Knesset member Aryeh Deri, and their daughter Margalit Peretz, visited the released observers at the hospital Friday, revealing intimate details of Agam's spiritual resilience. During the visit, Deri shared that "Agam found a Siddur (Jewish prayer book) in Gaza and maintained her religious observance, including fasting on Tisha B'Av."

Speaking to Israel Hayom after leaving the hospital, Deri disclosed that Agam Berger, released Thursday during the Hamas-Israel hostage deal's third swap, "discovered a prayer book in Gaza that became her spiritual anchor throughout her captivity. Agam believes the prayer book was inadvertently left behind by soldiers who had previously been in the area."

In a deeply moving first statement at Beilinson Hospital, Agam revealed to Deri that she "categorically refused to accept the Quran [the Islamic ... book] despite her captors' persistent attempts to persuade her." Yaffa Deri, Margalit Peretz-Deri, and Tzili Schneider from the Kesher Yehudi ("Jewish Connection") organization have been steadfast supporters of the Berger family throughout their 15-month ordeal, accompanying them on journeys, during Sabbaths, to holy sites, and at women's gatherings. Their presence at the hospital came at the specific request of the Berger family.

Ayelet, Agam's mother, delivered her first public statement at Beilinson Hospital with profound gratitude: "If I had to stand here and thank everyone who stood by us, I would be standing here until the end of my life."

These revelations add to earlier reports of Agam's extraordinary spiritual fortitude during captivity, including her determined adherence to kosher dietary laws and Jewish traditions under the most challenging circumstances.

Berger was taken from the Nahal Oz military post during the October 7 along with several other female observers who had tried to alert the military of suspiciousmovements along the border before the horrific attack. Dozens of soldiers from the base were killed in the attack, as well as more than 1,200 other Israeli residents and foreigners. ILH

Remarkable: Israeli Hostage Agam Berger Used A Siddur She Found In The Ruins Of Gaza. January 31, 2025.

A remarkable story of emunah and mesiras nefesh has come to light, as details emerge about Agam Berger, one of the Yidden held captive by Hamas. Despite the unimaginable tzaros she endured, Berger remained steadfast in her shmiras hamitzvos, holding tight to kashrus, Shabbos, and even fasting on Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av. Now, it has been revealed that during her time in captivity, she found a siddur in Gaza and used it throughout her ordeal.

Berger shared that the siddur was likely left behind by soldiers who had previously been in the area. She also related that when her captors attempted to give her a Quran, urging her to take it, she outright refused.

This past Erev Shabbos, Rebbetzin Yaffa Deri, wife of Shas leader R’ Aryeh Deri, visited the group of released tatzpitaniyos (female IDF lookouts) who were freed from Gaza and are currently receiving medical care in Beilinson Hospital. While speaking with them, she recounted Berger’s inspiring story: “Agam found a siddur in Gaza and fasted on Tisha B’Av.”

Meanwhile, Yisroel Hayom also reported on a deeply moving event that took place in Berger’s hospital ward. In an expression of hakoras hatov to the Ribbono Shel Olam for their yeshuah, Berger and her fellow tatzpitaniyos—who were captured together in Nachal Oz—gathered with their families for a special hafrashas challah event. With heartfelt tefillos and hodaah, they marked their return home.

These new details add to previous accounts of Berger’s determination to hold strong in the face of unimaginable challenges. Despite being surrounded by bloodthirsty reshaim, and under immense pressure, she clung to her Yiddishkeit with unwavering emunah, turning herself into an icon of mesiras nefesh for Torah and mitzvos. YWN

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"Path of faith I chose":

With shofar and tears: The Berger family welcomes Shabbat with Agam. The returning lookout observer, Agam Berger, and her parents became very famous for the Kiddush HaShem [Lev. 22:32] of that they performed for the sake of the Sabbath | Today (Friday). Agam's parents gave a short statement at Beilinson Hospital where their family is staying. At the end of the statement, Rabbi blew the shofar, and then the parents and those present sang "Shalom Aleichem, O angels of service," praying that the angels will protect our brothers who are still languishing in Hamas captivity (people)| Kikar haShabbat |1.31.25 [79]. Meirav and Shlomi, the parents of Agam Berger, issued a brief statement today (Friday) at Beilinson Hospital where their daughter is staying. The mother said: "[Shma Yisrael] Hear Israel, God our God is one God - Agam has returned home." "On this moving day, I want to say one thing - thank you, thank you to the Creator of the world." Thank you to all Diaspora Jewry that stood by us throughout this period." "Thank you to everyone who was by our side and helped us bring our Agam home." The mother thanked "our dedicated IDF soldiers who helped us bring Agam home." And also "the decision makers who went above and beyond to make the difficult decisions to help bring Agam home." Thank you to Chabad, the Kissufim organization, the Ayelet Hashachar organization, and our community in Holon. And she added with excitement: "We could not have gotten through these 482 days without your help."

The mother turned to her immediate family and thanked them: "Thank you to my husband and family, we embarked on an unexpected journey." To her returning daughter, Agam, she said: "Agam, you are our superhero, with God's help, take on the whole world, who will say no to you?"

The mother also thanked President Trump, concluding by saying, "We have a special strength, we are with 'desire life' [Ps.34:13] with a dedication to bringing everyone home." The father, Shlomi, also thanked President Trump for the great efforts in returning his daughter Agam to Israel.

The mother finished the statement and said: "How manifold are Thy works, O LORD!' [Ps.104:24], 'O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good for his mercy endures forever' [Ps.136:1]. Am Yisrael Chai [The Jewish people live]." Kikar

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IDF hits Hezbollah targets after terrorist drone sent into Israeli territory. Hezbollah's reconnaissance drone incursion was the first time since the truce began that it sent an unmanned aerial vehicle over the border. (Jan. 31, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley overnight on Thursday after the Iranian-backed terrorist organization dispatched a surveillance drone over the Jewish state, the IDF said on Friday morning. JNS

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IDF fighters shot two terrorists who threw Molotov cocktails at Route 60. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/31/2025 12:50 AM JPost

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US airstrike in Syria kills senior operative of al-Qaeda affiliate. By Reuters. 01/31/2025 02:29 AM JPost

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Parting Words: Israel Prison Service's wristbands for released terrorists. The wristband bears an ominous message in both Hebrew and Arabic that 'the eternal nation does not forget.' [80] Israel National News. Jan 31, 2025, 2:44 PM (GMT+2). As part of the hostage deal, the Israel Prison Service has been issuing a wristband to every terrorist released. Each band is individually labeled with the prisoner's name and identity number.

Along with this information, each band includes a message in Hebrew and Arabic, reading 'The eternal nation does not forget.' This is a paraphrase of a common Israeli proverb 'The eternal Nation is not afraid of a long journey.'

Below that was written a quote from Psalms 18:38, in which King David describes his Divinely ordained victories in battle: 'I will pursue my enemies and overtake them.' The verse is closely paraphrased in Samuel II 22:38. INN

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Hostages Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas set to be released on Saturday. Israel approves Hamas' list for the fourth hostage handover set to take place Saturday; Yarden Bibas first of his family to return from captivity. Itamar Eichner | 1.31.25. YNet

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Agam Berger's father to Trump: 'History will never forget your generosity and leadership'.

Merav and Shlomi, the parents of returned hostage Agam Berger, delivered remarks at the hospital.

Israel National News. Jan 31, 2025, 3:33 PM INN

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'We’re drawing strength from our incredible dad': Gadi Mozes' family celebrates his release. ynet correspondents | 1.31.25 YNet

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EU restarts Rafah border crossing mission, says foreign policy chief Kallas. By Reuters. 01/31/2025 03:07 PM JPost

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Arbel Yehud's family issues first statement By Jerusalem Post Staff. 01/31/2025. 'She survived like a hero': Arbel Yehoud's father issues first statement since her return. During the first statement, Arbel Yehoud's father, Yechiel, told the media that Arbel returned in an unusual condition.

"Considering the hell she went through, she survived like a hero," he said.

He thanked US President Donald Trump and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff for their efforts in helping reach a deal for the hostages.

He also called for the rest of the hostages to be released and the war to be over, saying, "This is the real victory." JPost

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Terror group seeks Hezbollah prisoner swap for Elizabeth Tsurkov, report. Lior Ben Ari, Itamar Eichner | 1.31.25 YNet

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Yarden Bibas to be released while wife and children remain in Gaza captivity Yael Ciechanover | 1.31.25 YNet

Bibas family: 'We face very difficult days'. Israel National News. Jan 31, 2025, 4:05 PM INN

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Emily Damari held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical care, she tells British PM. Ynetnews | 1.31.25. YNet

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Freed Thai hostages talk about Hamas captivity: 'Struggled to breath, spoke in Arabic'. A day after arriving in Israel following more than 15 months in Hamas captivity, five Thai nationals freed from Gaza described enduring relentless bombings and frequent hunger; 'Sometimes there was food, sometimes there wasn’t' one of them says.

Itamar Eichner | 1.31.25 Ynet

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Jews in Australia Up Security, Conceal Identity After Spate of Antisemitic Attacks. by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff. January 31, 2025. Algemeiner

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University of Michigan Suspends Anti-Zionist Group for Two Years. by Dion J. Pierre. January 31, 2025.

A person carrying an American flag cuts into a pro-Palestinian march through the University of Michigan on Oct. 7, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war. Photo: USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

The University of Michigan has suspended an anti-Zionist group responsible for several infractions of school rules for a maximum period of two years, ending on its own terms a dispute with the group which started after Hamas’s massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Algemeiner

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Watch: Gadi Mozes' first Shabbat dinner with his family. Freed hostage Gadi Mozes, 80, enjoys Shabbat dinner with his family for the first time in 482 days. Israel National News. Jan 31, 2025, 9:27 PM (GMT+2).

80-year-old Gadi Mozes, who was freed on Thursday after 482 days in captivity in Gaza, on Friday evening had Shabbat dinner for the first time with his family.

The family gathered at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, where Gadi was taken after being freed from captivity.

In a video released by the family, Gadi is seen drinking from a glass of wine after the Kiddush, with the entire Mozes family sitting next to him saying, "May all the hostages come home soon. Amen."

On Thursday, as he was reunited with his family, Mozes vowed, "I will do everything in my power to rebuild Nir Oz."

(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.) INN

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White House: 'Trump is committed to the release of all remaining hostages'. Elad Benari, Canada. Jan 31, 2025, 10:55 PM INN

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Iran Says Oct. 7 Massacre ‘Revived Palestinian Cause,’ Vows ‘Unwavering’ Support Until ‘Complete Liberation’. January 31, 2025. Algemeiner

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Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities, denied medical treatment. By ToI Staff. February 1, 2025. TOI

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Hostages’ stories: Gadi Mozes paced 7km a day in tiny cell, soldiers rationed grains of rice. By ToI Staff. February 1, 2025. TOI

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In battle-weary Gaza envelope, annual anemone event seeks to make region bloom again. By Jessica Steinberg. February 1, 2025 TOI

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UFC head ‘beyond disgusted’ by fighter’s praise of Hitler. By Jacob Gurvis. Dana White slams comments by Bryce Mitchell, who denied Holocaust and said Nazi leader ‘was a guy I’d go fishing with before he got on meth’. TOI

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IDF troops operating in Syria buffer zone come under fire in 1st such incident. By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff. February 1, 2025. TOI

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As Yarden Bibas is released, relief, dread, and evidence that Hamas is reviving. By David Horovitz. February 1, 2025. TOI

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UNRWA rejects 'terror hub' label on West Bank facilities, acknowledges terrorists occupied center. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/01/2025. JPost

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Thailand's foreign minister, chief of defense visits the five returning Thai hostages. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/01/2025. JPost

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Israeli American hostage Keith Siegel joins IDF forces in Gaza. Einav Halabi, Yoav Zitun | 2.1.25. YNet

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The returning hostages: Yarden alone, Ofer’s fight for his life and Keith finally home. Yael Ciechanover, Itamar Eichner | 2.1.25. YNet

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Under pressure: Hamas avoids chaos in latest hostage releases after Israeli protests. Einav Halabi | 2.1.25. YNet

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Mixed emotions as Yarden Bibas freed—his wife and sons still in Gaza. Yael Ciechanover, Roni Green Shaulov, Itamar Eichner, Lior Ohana | 2.1.25. YNet

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Tears of joy: Ofer sees his kids, Yarden hugs his father and Keith lands in Israel. Ynet correspondents | 2.1.25. YNet

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Most of 183 Palestinians released by Israel to be transfered to Gaza. Einav Halabi | 2.1.25. YNet

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IDF announced it had killed Hamas battalion commander Hitham Khawajari. IDF retracts claim of Hamas commander's death after his appearance in hostage release. Einav Halabi, Yoav Zitun | 2.1.25. YNet

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Rafah crossing, Gaza's gateway to the world opens. Einav Halabi, Lior Ben Ari | 2.1.25. YNet

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Yarden Bibas returns to ‘unbearable reality,’ says family – Inside his recovery plan. Yael Ciechanover, Hagar Kochavi | 2.1.25. YNet

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After 484 days in captivity: Keith, Ofer, and Yarden returned to Israel.

Hostages Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Calderon were released Saturday from Hamas captivity. [81] Uzi Baruch. Feb 1, 2025, 6:05 PM INN

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Siegel family reunites: 'Dad, you came back to us!! You're a hero for surviving!' Watch the emotional reunion as released hostage Keith Seigel meets his family after 484 days in captivity. Israel National News. Feb 1, 2025, 6:16 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Bibas family: Yarden has returned to an unbearable reality. Israel National News. Feb 1, 2025, 6:35 PM INN

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Cost of the Deal: 183 Palestinian terrorists released from Israeli prisons. Among the released terrorists today are 18 with life sentences and another 54 terrorists who served lengthy prison terms. 111 more are Gaza terrorists captured during the war. Israel National News. Feb 1, 2025, 7:34 PM (GMT+2). INN

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DM: 'One mistake and Zubeidi to meet old friends'. Israel Katz sent a message to the senior terrorist, saying that 'We will not accept support for terrorism'. Yoav Zitun|2.1.25. YNet

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The 110 prisoners released from Israeli jails. Thirty-three of the prisoners were serving life sentences, many for the murder of Israelis. ILTV|2.1.25. YNet

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Russian jailed for supporting Israel’s war in Gaza. Vladivostok man jailed 5 days for backing Israel's actions in Gaza; court rules he 'incited hatred, humiliated human dignity' Itamar Eichner| 2.1.25. YNet

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Ahead of the second stage: Netanyahu's dramatic decision. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to head negotiations team for second stage of prisoner swap deal with Hamas, report says. PM's Office: 'Decisions on negotiations to be made only after PM returns from US.' Yoni Kempinski. Feb 1, 2025, 10:29 PM (GMT+2) INN

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IAF strikes terrorists in Kabatiya as West Bank counterterrorism op. continues. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/01/2025 05:57 PM JPost

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Finance Minister Smotrich meets with incoming US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. By Yaki Adamker. 02/01/2025 07:10 PM JPost

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Halevi emphasizes need to maintain high level of readiness on all fronts, especially West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/01/2025 07:12 PM JPost

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Netanyahu on hostage release: Our firm stance has yielded results. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/01/2025 07:56 PM JPost

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Trump says he ordered airstrikes on Islamic State in Somalia. By Reuters. 02/01/2025 08:48 PM JPost

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They kidnap and kill, we return and save Opinion column - Walla News.

Liri Elbag's line after 477 days in hell - says it all. Tzachi Koma. 2.1.2025

These deals are a moral test that proves our essence as a people. The dilemma is always difficult - but we always choose life. The price of returning the kidnapped is the human test of us all.

In recent days, after long months of anxiety, despair, and deceptive hope, our hearts have experienced an incomparable shock. More and more abductees are returning, broken but alive, from a reality whose horror there are no words to contain. We have seen tender children accustomed to life in tunnels, fathers and mothers who have returned to a reality that does not look like the one they left, and teenagers trying to understand how the world went on without them.

And in the face of excitement, there is also pain. Because the price is heavy and almost unimaginable, because our blood is still hot. Because we know that the scum we are releasing will return to murder, burn, and slaughter. The feeling of bereaved families watching the murderers of their loved ones get out of prison - all of these are part of the painful reality that accompanies every such transaction. Because with a choked throat, we look into the eyes of families and see there also the lack of understanding - how could we do this again.

When I watched the coverage of Keith Segal, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibs returning home this morning, I felt the joy, but again, also the confusion. How is it possible that there are people who look into the eyes of those families, who saw their loved ones broken and returned, and say - "This is not the time, let them stay there until we win"? I understand the desire to fight for deterrence, but when leaders question the right of the kidnapped to return home, I can't help but ask: What are we actually doing here? A war until the end? Until when? As long as people's lives are measured by a cold military balance, we are losing the most important thing - our humanity.

"The unity and hope that we have scares all our enemies, amazes all who love us and comforts the people in our midst," said Liri Elbag, who returned home after 477 days in the hell of Hamas - and in doing so, she said it all.

When I hear the voices that oppose the release, it feels like an attempt to mask personal pain behind political clichés. They will remain captive, and the war will continue - is that the solution? Even if we win the war, will we also win ourselves? Prices like these don't buy any more time.

Not when it comes to people's lives, and certainly not when it's us who are clearing the way for liberation - and not them. I don't want to be part of a country that weighs every life based on political expediency. I'm tired of receiving the explanations about how "the deal is wrong." What's annoying is not just these opinions, but the feeling that someone up there thinks that the lives of our citizens are not worth enough. We don't need explanations. We need decisions, now.

I fully understand the hesitation, the divided opinions, the difficulty of those who feel that these concessions harm deterrence. This is not a simple dilemma, and there is no perfect answer. But in all of this, I return to the starting point: the State of Israel is a country that sanctifies life, that is willing to pay painful prices to bring its children home. Even if it's not always convenient, even if it hurts - that's who we are.

This is the essence of being Israeli. The State of Israel is a country that sanctifies life - and this is not a cliché. It is our moral, unquestionable duty to bring our children home. Our duty to the missing, our duty to the families, our duty to ourselves.

We cannot continue to look into the eyes of mothers and fathers, of families, of friends of kidnapped men and women, and tell them with a cold heart - they will continue to suffer there and probably die, the continuation of the war is more important? How can we sit on the sidelines and tell them that the price of deterrence is more important than the lives of their loved ones? And if we are afraid of another October 7, what does that say about us? Does that mean that lessons have not been learned? Does that mean that we do not know how to protect citizens next time? And if we release terrorists, then what? The state will not be able to guarantee us the simplest security? So what do we actually have left if not life itself?

Yes, we will continue to fight terrorism. Yes, we will continue to fight for the righteousness of our path. But on the battlefield of morality - we are winning. Because in this deal, as in its predecessors, we prove time and time again that we are a country that is willing to pay a price, however heavy, to bring its sons home. Because in the end, there is a heavier price. The price of a society that becomes indifferent, the price of a country that abandons the obligation to return its citizens, the price of a people that forgets that above all else - we are here together and we do not have the privilege to forget that.

We do not leave soldiers behind. We do not forget for a moment civilians in captivity. We are not a people who hold hands. We can argue about the path, we can agonize over the price, but we cannot forget the foundation that has kept us here for more than 75 years: mutual responsibility.

We are not like them, and we will never be like them. They kidnap, rape, murder babies, abuse, destroy families without a trace of remorse. They hold small children in dark tunnels, leave mothers without answers, plant fear and despair in whole hearts. They see life as a bargaining chip, a weapon, a political card. And us? We act differently. We return our kidnapped ones, because every soldier and citizen is as precious to us as a family member. We are willing to pay heavy prices, because for us - every life is worth the world.

And as always, our light will prevail over their darkness. They tried to break us apart, but they only strengthened us. They tried to make us cynical, merciless - and we choose love. They tried to extinguish hope, and we prove, again and again, that there is no power in the world that can truly break us.

It is precisely from the pain, from the darkness, that we carry the torch that lights our path. We are a people who build, who grow hope from ashes, who know how to grieve, but also to get up and walk forward. The abductees who are returning now are going through a private hell, but behind them stands a whole people who will support, heal, and embrace unconditionally. We leave no one behind, because that is who we are.

Whoever thought that the horror of October 7 would tear us apart was wrong. Yes, we have been through an unparalleled rupture. Yes, we bear a wound that will not heal. But precisely in the moments when it seems that darkness is winning, we need to remember what truly makes us one people: the promise that we will not leave them there alone. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. We will not rest until the last of the kidnapped returns home.

Today, when three more kidnapped people have returned to us from hell, we both cry and smile. We are in pain, but also proud. Because in the real test - the test of humanity - we win.

The writer: Tzachi Koma, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Walla. Walla

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Gunmen Kill 10 In Syria Village 'Massacre': Monitor. By AFP - Agence France Presse. Feb 01, 2025, 2:22 am EST.

Gunmen in Syria have shot dead 10 people in a "massacre" in a village home to members of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's Alawite minority, a war monitor said on Saturday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday's attack killed "10 citizens in Arzah village in the northern Hama countryside, which is inhabited by citizens of the Alawite sect". Barrons

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Syria's President Julani to visit Saudi Arabia on Sunday in first foreign trip. By Reuters. 02/02/2025 09:19 AM JPost

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Turkey says it killed 23 Kurdish militants in Syria. By Reuters. 02/02/2025 12:45 PM JPost

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Little food and severe abuse: Keith, Yarden, and Ofer were held in harsh conditions Israel National News Feb 2, 2025, 8:09 AM INN

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Former Mossad official: 'No choice but to continue war' 103FM Feb 2, 2025, 1:10 PM 'No choice but to continue war' INN

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Herzog to Thai FM: 'Thai hostages are our brothers' Israel National News Feb 2, 2025, 2:27 PM INN

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Infuriating comparison: BBC news presenter calls Israeli hostages 'prisoners,' apologizes. BBC news presenter Nicky Schiller referred to the three Israeli hostages released yesterday as 'prisoners,' similar to the term used for the terrorists imprisoned in Israel. Tziki Brandwine. Feb 2, 2025, 11:58 AM INN

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The released terrorist's surprising statement. Mohammed a-Tus was released after 40 years in Israeli prison as part of the hostage deal with Hamas. He implicitly criticized the terror organization's attack on October 7th. Israel National News. Feb 2, 2025, 12:54 PM Mohammed a-Tus, a Fatah terrorist from Bethlehem who was released as part of the hostage deal after decades in Israeli prison, made an unusual remark to the press in Egypt - to where he was deported after his release. INN

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'The only thing that saved me was faith'. Daniella Gilboa, who was released from Hamas captivity, shared that from the moment she was abducted, she waited to recite the thanksgiving blessing.

Orly Harari Feb 2, 2025, 1:36 PM INN

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Interior Min. awards residency status to released Thai hostages. Israel National News. Feb 2, 2025, 2:21 PM INN

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One reported dead: IAF opens fire to distance vehicle that violated ceasefire. Uzi Baruch. Feb 2, 2025, 2:33 PM INN

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Dramatic Footage: IDF Attacks Vehicle In Gaza That Violated Ceasefire. February 2, 2025. YWN

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"Morning 485 - Thank God": Kidnapper's daughter thanks for the simple moments. "My father is at home and drinking morning coffee with me." Michal Bakshi. 2.2.25. After being released from captivity, Keith Siegel's daughter Shir posted a story of herself drinking cups of coffee with her father, writing: "Morning 485, my dad is home and drinking morning coffee with me. Thank God." • In another story later, she thanked everyone for the support and emphasized that she is now spending quality time with her father, who has finally returned. Now14

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Iran is developing nuclear warheads for missiles with a range of over 3,000 km. Intelligence indicates massive activity at two major facilities. Rivka Sorek. 2.2.25 Now14

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UNRWA isn't caring for Palestinian refugees. Analysis: Globally, refugees lose status upon gaining citizenship, but UNRWA's unique definition extends the crisis indefinitely. Ben-Dror Yemini|2.2.25. YNet

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The hunger, the fear and the fight to stay alive: Freed hostages reveal Gaza’s hell. Held for over 15 months in tunnels, safe houses and UNRWA facilities—some in isolation—hostages endured starvation, injuries and psychological terror; some were locked in cages, others forced to work; many learned Arabic, some managed to read, write and observe Shabbat. [82]. Ynet correspondents|2.2.25. YNet

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Operation Wall of Iron: IDF carries out wave of demolitions in Jenin Uzi Baruch Feb 2, 2025, 4:03 PM INN

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Argentine FM Gerardo Werthein visits Western Wall. The visit to the Jewish holy site included a prayer for the peace and security of Israel and Argentina.

(Feb. 2, 2025 / JNS) Argentina’s Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday morning, accompanied by his country’s ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish.

The visit, which included prayer and a tour of the Jewish holy site, was part of Werthein’s first official trip to Israel since his appointment on Oct. 30. JNS

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Yarden Bibas' family speaks: 'He has lost a lot of weight, but he is strong. We continue to fight for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir'. A day after his release from captivity, Yarden Bibas' family thanks the people of Israel for the support and concern: "Yarden is here and finally air is entering his lungs. He has lost weight, but feels good and his physical condition is normal." Among the 79 hostages that remain in Gaza are his wife, Shiri, and children, Kfir and Ariel - and the fear for their lives is great; 'Respect our privacy, allow us the time and peace we need'. Lior Ohana | 02.02.25 YNet

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IDF terrorist hunt expands in West Bank amid fear that most released prisoners are returning to terrorism. IDF expands operations in the West Bank, raiding Tamun village to dismantle arms smuggling and terrorist havens; Counterterrorism efforts also intensified in Jenin and Tulkarm, with troops demolishing terror infrastructure, and confiscating weapons to suppress growing threats Elisha Ben Kimon | 02.02.25. YNet

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All I could do on October 7 was pray': Released hostage Daniella Gilboa. By Eve Young. February 2, 2025 14:52

Gilboa described praying over all of the women in the shelter on the Nahal Oz base for 30 minutes.

Gilboa added that she and the other observers who were freed in the hostage deal – Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, and Agam Berger – said the Hagomel blessing (expressing gratitude) on Saturday.

“I waited for that moment from the day I survived October 7 – to thank God, who against all odds saved us from the worst.” JPost

Former hostage Daniella Gilboa reflects on captivity and return: 'I never lost faith'. Freed hostage Daniella Gilboa recounts the terror of October 7 and her months in captivity, describing the moment of her abduction and the faith that kept her going Bar Zaga, Eitan Glickman | 02.02.25. YNet

Daniella Gilboa's First Public Message: "I Prayed Instead of Saying Goodbye". After 16 months of sheer hell, freed Hamas hostage Daniella Gilboa finally reveals what happened in that shelter on October 7th. Gila Isaacson| JFeed | 02.02.25.

In a heart-wrenching first public message that has reverberated across social media, Daniella Gilboa - who survived the October 7 attack and subsequent captivity - has shared her story of faith, survival, and gratitude. Speaking directly to a nation that held its breath for her return, Gilboa reveals the raw, powerful moments when she chose prayer over despair in a shelter under siege, and describes the profound emotion of finally reciting the traditional survivor's blessing in synagogue.

"Hi loved ones, what a surreal year I've been through and I don't know where to start... I think first of all I want to say thank you ❤️ to everyone who supported my family for a year and three months, who didn't leave, didn't give up or lose hope for a moment. Thank you for waiting for me, thank you for not believing the terrible rumors, thank you for continuing to pray for me throughout this entire period. This was my last request before I was kidnapped. I didn't want to despair and say goodbye, so instead I prayed and believed with all my heart that my end was not there, in that shelter. I prayed for all the girls with me for half an hour because I felt I couldn't do anything better than that at the time. I couldn't hold onto the security that maybe the army would give me and maybe come to protect me, I couldn't hold onto the security that maybe the shelter would give me, because it wasn't just about missiles, I couldn't hold onto the few armed girls at that moment either. I knew the only thing that could save us was faith. Yesterday morning, Karina, Naama, Liri, Agam and I recited Birkat HaGomel blessing in the synagogue. This is the moment I've been waiting for since the day I survived October 7th. To thank God who, against all odds, saved us from the most terrible thing of all.

Much love, Daniella". JFeed

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More Hamas cruelty: Keith Siegel forced to write 'thank you' letter to his captors Not just 'gift bags' and 'release certificates': In a letter circulated online, the hostage released from captivity Saturday allegedly confessed to Hamas and wrote 'Those guarding me during this period took care of all my needs,' it read; But the Hostages and Missing Families Forum clarified: 'The terrorists who held him forced him to write them a detailed letter of thanks, this is another example of Hamas' cruelty'. Lior Ohana | 02.02.25. YNet

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IDF thwarts drug smuggling attempt at Egyptian border. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/02/2025 03:49 PM JPost

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Hamas official to visit Moscow on Monday, meet with Russian foreign ministry, RIA reports. By Reuters. 02/02/2025 03:53 PM JPost

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Police seize weapons stored at illegal residence in northern Israel. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/02/2025 04:50 PM JPost

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Jordan's King Abdullah to meet with Trump on Feb. 11 in Washington, state news agency says. By Reuters. 02/02/2025 05:29 PM JPost

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71% of Israelis oppose Palestinian state; 68% support sovereignty in J&S: poll More than half of respondents would oppose a Palestinian state even if it were part of a Saudi-Israel peace deal. David Isaac.

(Feb. 2, 2025 / JNS) Seventy-one percent of Israelis oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. Nearly 70% want to extend Israeli sovereignty over the area, according to a poll conducted on Jan. 29. [...] Security and regional stability took first place (42%). Second was Jewish identity and historical connection (16%). In third place (9%) was strengthening Israel’s diplomatic and political arguments. JNS

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Two Carter Center representatives wear hostage pins when accepting Jimmy Carter's Grammy. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/03/2025 12:58 AM JPost

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Jordan to extradite Sbarro terrorist. Jordan to remove terrorist Ahlam al-Tamimi, who helped carry out the Sbarro pizzeria bombing in 2001, from its territory tonight, reports say. Israel National News. Feb 2, 2025, 10:27 PM (GMT+2)

Sources have told a Hamas-affiliated channel that Jordan is requesting to extradite terrorist Ahlam al-Tamimi, who was released as part of the Shalit deal in 2011.

Jordan is expected to deport al-Tamimi on Sunday night, sources told Al-Aqsa TV.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that Jordanian intelligence sources informed the terror group of the need to remove the terrorist from their country.

Ahlam Tamimi was the first woman to join Hamas and the person who drove the suicide bomber who carried out the attack at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem in August of 2001.

16 people were killed in that attack, including five members of the Schijveschuurder family from the community of Neria in Binyamin. Over 120 people were injured. INN

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Chilling: Sinwar's interrogator lost son at Supernova festival. Israel National News Feb 3, 2025, 12:53 PM INN

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Bereavement: 'Sara has known pain, but she found happiness in life'. Daughter of Sara Vaspi, who lost her husband, son and grandson in Israel's wars, and passed away, eulogizes her mother: 'Whoever colors my mother in colors of bereavement is wrong.' Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 12:51 PM INN

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Despite Netanyahu's promise: Palestinian Authority involved in control of Rafah Crossing. The Palestinian Authority is operating the Rafah Crossing between Israel and Gaza, alongside international bodies. 'The Prime Minister caved in.' Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 11:24 AM INN

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Watch: IDF demolishes Hezbollah buildings in Lebanon. Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 2:57 PM INN

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Watch: Terrorist arrested inside a bed. Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 2:17 PM INN

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IDF demolish house of Palestinian who killed one Israeli soldier, wounded 16 others last year. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/03/2025 04:55 PM ...Amar was responsible for the death of Capt. Alon Sacgiu, as well as injuring 19 other soldiers during an ambush in June 2024 while IDF troops were operating in the city. JPost

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IDF files indictment against suspects in terrorist murder of 12-year-old boy in December. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/03/2025 06:12 PM The military prosecution filed indictments against Ezz El-Din Malouh and three accomplices on Monday for carrying out a shooting attack at the Al-Khader Junction in December, in which 12-year-old boy Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simcha was murdered.

The four planned to carry out a shooting attack with the aim of causing the deaths of Jews, according to the indictment.

As a result of the shooting, Yehoshua was killed, and additional passengers were injured. JPost

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Ambassador Danon: 'Netanyahu's visit is the start of a new era for Israel'. Danny Danon tells Arutz Sheva about the new era ushered in by Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit to Washington DC.

Yoni Kempinski, Washington. Feb 3, 2025, 8:03 PM INN

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'This is a complete lie': PMO denies claims he would delay ceasefire over Iran, Saudi talks. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/03/2025 08:10 PM JPost

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Hamas official tells Russia hostage Alexander Trupanov 'will be freed in first phase'. Ynet | 2.3.25. YNet

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Beitar Jerusalem wears orange jerseys calling for the Bibas' return home. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/03/2025 08:29 PM JPost

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Keith Siegel's daughter reveals: 'Dad was starved and mentally and physically abused'. Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 8:43 PM INN

'Tortured, held in inhumane conditions, barely seeing sunlight': Keith Siegal's ordeal. Lior Ohana| 2.3.25. YNet

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Yarden Bibas was held alone, lied to about his family's fate. Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 8:57 PM INN

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US readies new $1 b. arms sale to Israel, WSJ reports. By Reuters. 02/03/2025 09:37 PM JPost

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'Amazing what they've done'. Trump demonstrates Israel's size using his pen. Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 9:41 PM INN

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Trump to order US withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council, halt UNRWA funding. By Reuters. 02/03/2025 11:37 PM JPost

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The day after UNRWA: Israel's $16.2M Jerusalem program. East Jerusalem residents admit to UNRWA service failures as Israel launches comprehensive healthcare and education alternatives. By Lidor Sultan Published on 02-03-2025.

This weekend, the law banning UNRWA operations within Israeli territory officially went into effect. The law, which passed with an overwhelming majority of 92 Knesset members, is being implemented despite numerous reservations and attempts by countries worldwide to prevent its application in Israel.

For the first time, details have emerged about how dozens of agencies coordinated to develop alternatives for east Jerusalem residents. Most surprisingly, residents themselves have acknowledged that UNRWA's services were substandard and had fostered a black market in supplies provided by the organization.

Over recent months, numerous agencies worked intensively to establish alternative services for east Jerusalem residents who had partially relied on UNRWA but will now transition to state-provided services. The Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage announced Wednesday that all preparatory work has been completed. ILH

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Education Dept. probes Jew-hatred at Columbia, Berkeley, Northwestern, Portland State, Minnesota. “This is exactly the right step to be taking and the right time to be taking it,” stated Kenneth Marcus, of the Brandeis Center. “The cavalry has arrived.” JNS Staff.

(Feb. 3, 2025 / JNS) The U.S. Department of Education opened five investigations of alleged Jew-hatred on Monday at Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

The investigations, under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, come shortly after U.S. President Trump told the federal government to respond to Jew-hatred “vigorously.”

“Too many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground,” stated Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary of education for civil rights.

“The Biden Administration’s toothless resolution agreements did shamefully little to hold those institutions accountable,” Trainor said. “Today, the department is putting universities, colleges and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses, nor will it stand by idly if universities fail to combat Jew-hatred and the unlawful harassment and violence it animates.”

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, said “for the past two years, our committee has uncovered an appalling amount of antisemitism taking place on college campuses.” JNS

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IDF fires warning shots at suspects who pose threat to troops in Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/03/2025 11:15 PM JPost

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Trump to view clip of Hamas atrocities at Witkoff's urging. Itamar Eichner | 2.3.25. YNet

'Ofer was put through hell in Hamas captivity, up until the last moment' Sharon Kidon | 2.3.25. YNet

During Washington visit. Netanyahu meets Elon Musk. Israel National News. Feb 3, 2025, 11:41 PM INN

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As part of hostage deal. The countries which agreed to take in freed terrorists. Dalit Halevi. Feb 4, 2025, 1:09 AM INN

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New intelligence reveals: Iran pushing for a faster path to nuclear weapons. Israel National News. Feb 4, 2025, 2:08 AM INN

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Poll: Large majority of Israelis prefer hostage deal to war. Israel National News. Feb 4, 2025, 11:17 AM INN

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The Blood of the Shepherds Cries Out from the Earth. Hagshma. Feb 3, 2025, 8:03 PM INN

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Syria's Sharaa to discuss Turkey defense pact. Talks with Erdogan focus on air defense cooperation, training  Syrian army and countering Kurdish fighters in the country Reuters|2.4.25. YNet

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IDF probes deadly West Bank shooting attack. Investigation finds terrorist, armed with an M16 and two magazines, snuck in before dawn and opened fire. Elisha Ben Kimon| 2.4.25. YNet

The terrorist snuck in at night and surprised the soldiers. Uzi Baruch. Feb 4, 2025, 12:45 PM INN

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Liri Albag celebrates 20th birthday and shares her wish. Israel National News. Feb 4, 2025, 1:45 PM INN

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Two IDF reservists killed in Jordan Valley shooting attack. Sergeant Major Ofer Yung, aged 39 from Tel Aviv, and Sergeant Major (Res.) Avraham Tzvi Tzvika Friedman, aged 43, from Ein HaNatziv, were killed by a terrorist who opened fire in an IDF installation.

Uzi Baruch. Feb 4, 2025, 2:30 PM INN

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Kenneth Abramowitz: No time to negotiate with Iran. Negotiating with dictatorships guarantees failure. Why? Because Democratic governments are transitional and short-term oriented because of the pressure of upcoming elections. Oped. Kenneth Abramowitz. Feb 4, 2025, 3:16 PM. INN

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US official: Trump is focused on freeing all the hostages. Yoni Kempinski, Washington. Feb 4, 2025, 6:25 PM INN

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Tunisia refuses to take released Palestinians, unlike Qatar and Turkey. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/04/2025 08:05 PM JPost

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Mike Waltz: 'Need to get back to next round of Abraham Accords'. By Reuters. 02/04/2025 08:11 PM JPost

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Middle East envoy Witkoff: 'We're in phase two of negotiations'. By Hannah Sarisohn, Reuters. 02/04/2025 08:40 PM JPost

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Syrian President: We must pressure Israel to withdraw from 'occupied [sic] Golan'. By Liran Aharoni 02/04/2025 09:39 PM JPost

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Five released female observers decide to return to IDF service. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/04/2025 09:59 PM JPost

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US approves potential sale of Lockheed, Northrop Grumman systems to Egypt. By Reuters. 02/04/2025 10:06 PM JPost

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Palestinians have no alternative to leaving Gaza, Trump says. By Reuters. 02/04/2025 10:14 PM JPost

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Trump isn't stopping: US imposes new sanctions on Iran. Israel National News. Feb 4, 2025, 10:41 PM INN

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New details: Senior Hamas figure used five women soldiers as a human shield. Israel National News. Feb 4, 2025, 10:48 PM INN

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Protest in Washington: 'How long until the next October 7?' Israel National News. Feb 4, 2025, 11:16 PM Billboard trucks calling for Hamas’ defeat during Trump-Netanyahu meeting in Washington: 'How long until the next October 7?!' INN

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Trump: 'The goal is to resettle the people of Gaza permanently'. Yoni Kempinski, Washington. Feb 5, 2025, 12:40 AM INN

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'The US will take over the Gaza Strip'.

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold press conference following their meeting at the White House. Trump on Gaza: The US will take over the Gaza Strip, dismantle all the weapons, and create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.

Yoni Kempinski, Washington. Feb 5, 2025, 12:59 AM. INN

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Benny Morris: Response to Coates "The Message" is more propaganda than history. Feb.5, 2025.

Coates never explicitly propounds Arafat’s message because he knows that Western scholarship, based on myriad archaeological findings and documentary evidence, buttresses the traditional take that, indeed, the Jews lived in and resided in the Land of Israel\Palestine between say 1200 BC and the 7th century AD. As to the Temple Mount, he fails to mention that archaeologists, Israeli and foreign, have never been allowed to dig beneath the Temple Mount esplanade, where they might find traces of Solomon’s First Temple and certainly would find remnants of the Herodian reconstruction of the Second Temple.

“What I was seeing here seemed about as credible as the history behind those Confederate memorials [in Columbia, South Carolina],” he writes confusingly, conflating ancient Jewish history and the story of the Confederate South.

Coates goes one further in this conflation. Indeed, he exploits his description of his tour of the City of David to vent his anti-Americanism, killing, as it were, two birds with one stone. He tells us of a plaque at the site bearing an American flag and the name of a formed US ambassador to Israel. The plaque reads: “The City of David brings Biblical Jerusalem to life at the very place where the kings and the prophets of the Bible walked. The spiritual bedrock of our values as a nation comes from Jerusalem. It is upon these ideals that the American republic was founded, and the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel was formed.” And Alon Arad adds his two bits: “When you talk about white supremacy … this is why I think that the Evangelical church and the settlers [in the West Bank] found each other as a perfect match… Their mindset is the same.”

For Coates, “the settlers” are Israel – though most Israelis would dispute this - as the Evangelicals are America – though many, perhaps most, Americans would similarly contest this. It is perhaps worth recalling that the Afro-American campaign to achieve equal rights during the 1960s and 1970s would probably have gotten nowhere had it not been for massive support by northern whites, and some southern whites, including President Lyndon Johnson.

Near the end of the essay on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Coates unsurprisingly relates the story of Deir Yassin. But he doesn’t play it completely straight. He tells us that the assault on that Palestinian village, just west of West Jerusalem on 9 April 1948, almost midway in the 1948 War, “was led by the Irgun and …. [the] Lehi,” two dissident Jewish groups. The implication of the “led” is, perhaps, that the main Jewish militia, the Haganah, also participated. In fact, the assault was carried out by 130 Irgun (IZL) and Lehi troopers; the Haganah supplied only one or two squads in the middle of the battle, and they played only an insignificant role – they ferried in ammunition and extricated Irgun and Lehi wounded. Secondly, at Deir Yassin there was a battle: Four of the dissident troopers were killed and a dozen or more were wounded. About 100 Arabs died in or just after the battle, most of them civilians; some of these, according to Haganah intelligence reports, were executed. (In his retelling, Coates adds that the Lehi defined the Jews as a “master race” and the Arabs as a “slave race.” I am not familiar with these quotes and they do not express mainstream Lehi ideology. The Lehi, curiously, was composed of right-wing breakaways from the Irgun and left-wing anti-imperialists.

But Coates’s ropes in Deir Yassin for an ulterior purpose. The ruins of Deir Yassin, he points out, are “just a short drive from Yad Vashem [Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust]. The proximity of the two sites staggered me.” Coates’s message is clear: How could the Jews, who suffered six million dead at the hands of the Nazis, massacre Arabs? And he comments: “I knew that some Zionists invoked the Holocaust to justify their repression of the Palestinians” – and “a memorial to genocide was built within walking distance of a massacre that had made that memorial possible.” Implicit here is the absurd equation favored by Arab propagandists: Holocaust=Nakba. But in the Holocaust, the German state, for no reasonable reason, simply murdered six million unarmed Jews; in the second, Israel and the Palestinians fought a war over territory they both claimed and the Israeli militias won and crushed Palestinian society (and, along the way, here and there massacred Arabs as here and there during that war Arabs massacres Jews). The uninformed reader, as most of Coates’s American readers are, will, of course, be seduced into accepting the equation.

But I learned two things from “The Message.” One, surprisingly, was about Theodor Herzl, Zionism’s prophet and, in effect, founder. Coates quotes a long passage (which I had never encountered) in which Herzl bemoaned the “disaster” of Africa, “which remains unresolved to this day, and whose profound tragedy only a Jew can comprehend. This is the African question. Just call to mind all those terrible episodes of the slave trade, of human beings who, merely because they were black, were stolen like cattle, taken prisoner, captured and sold … Once I have witnessed the redemption of the Jews … I wish also to assist in the redemption of the Africans.”

The second, and I was previously unfamiliar with Coates’s writings, was his way with words. His homily is emblazoned with catchy phrases. But the end result is a curse. Shakespeare’s Caliban had it right. There, in the “Tempest,” the colonized African tells us he learnt language from his oppressors, the white Anglos, but all that he could do with it was to curse. Benny Morris

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Romi Gonen's mother to Arutz Sheva: This is the reason Romi kept Shabbat after being freed. Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of Romi who was freed from Hamas captivity, talks about the use her daughter made and continues to make of Judaism during her captivity and since her return. Ohevya Sharabi. Feb 5, 2025, 5:17 AM (GMT+2) INN

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US drafts plan to withdraw all its troops from Syria, NBC News reports. By Reuters. 02/05/2025 12:29 PM. JPost

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Mahmoud Abbas to meet with king of Jordan on Wednesday - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/05/2025 01:12 PM JPost

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Trump says he prefers verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran. By Reuters. 02/05/2025 01:39 PM JPost

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Qatar: Busy with phase two of hostage deal, too early to talk about Palestinian displacement. By Reuters. 02/05/2025 04:14 PM JPost

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IDF denies reports of targeted strikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/05/2025 07:08 PM JPost

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Israel to withdraw from UN Human Rights Council. Israel National News. Feb 5, 2025, 7:48 PM INN

Israel withdraws from UN Human Rights. Council, joining US: 'Obsessively demonizes Israel'. 2.5.25. YNet

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Sky News worked with Hamas-affiliated journalist and was forced to apologize. The Gazan journalist was hired by the network through an external production company to cover activities of the UN's mine clearance service and posted photos of himself with UN officials, sparking a diplomatic incident the UN and Israel, which accused the service of having ties to Hamas; Sky News said that when his problematic past became known, it severed ties with him and the external production company.

Daniel Edelson, New York | 2.5.25.

A Gazan journalist affiliated with Hamas, who documented the attack on October 7, was employed by the British Sky News network through an external production company, sparking a diplomatic incident between Israel and UN peacekeeping forces. YNet

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One person injured in West Bank bus stoning. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/05/2025 08:28 PM JPost

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Freed hostage Arbel Yehud returns home to Kibbutz Nir Oz. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/05/2025 08:47 PM JPost

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Syria's president receives invitation from Macron to visit France in coming weeks. By Reuters. 02/05/2025 10:06 PM JPost

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New poll shows bleak future for Yesh Atid, Ben-Gvir gets stronger. Israel National News. Feb 5, 2025, 10:20 PM INN

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'Everyone loves my Gaza idea,' Trump remarks after Gazan relocation plan announcement. Trump's plans will cause Egypt, Jordan, and other countries in the region to be where "one or several sites will be built" for relocated Gazans, Trump told the Post. By Amichai Stein. February 5, 2025 22:24. ([83]. A large billboard posted by the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, in support of US president Donald Trump, February 5, 2025. photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90) JPost

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Netanyahu meets with Vance, Waltz in DC. The Israeli prime minister called the meeting with the U.S. vice president and national security advisor "excellent and warm." ([84]. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at Blair House in Washington, D.C., FEb. 5, 2025, Credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO).

(Feb. 5, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had an “excellent and warm” meeting with JD Vance, the U.S. vice president, and Mike Waltz, the U.S. national security advisor, on Wednesday. JNS

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'We will provide you with the ammunition that was not provided'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who expresses appreciation for the activities of the IDF and for Israel's resilience in the face of security threats.. Yoni Kempinski, Washington. Feb 5, 2025, 11:23 PM INN

US ‘100% committed’ to Israeli security, Hegseth tells Netanyahu. Hegesth "emphasized the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and Israel and praised Israel as a model ally in the Middle East," per a U.S. readout.

([85]. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2025. Credit: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech/U.S. Department of Defense). (Feb. 5, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

“The two held a discussion with staff members and then met privately,” according to Netanyahu’s office.

The Israeli prime minister was the first foreign dignitary that Hegesth has hosted as part of the Trump administration, per a U.S. readout of the meeting.

Hegesth “emphasized the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and Israel and praised Israel as a model ally in the Middle East,” and “stressed that the United States remains 100% committed to Israel’s security,” according to John Ullyot, the Pentagon spokesman.

Netanyahu and Hegseth talked about Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack and the U.S. secretary praised the Israeli prime minister “for his courage and leadership over the past 15 months, culminating in a ceasefire agreement that secured the release of Israeli, American and other hostages,” per the extensive U.S. readout.

Hegseth also told Netanyahu that the Trump administration “will support Israel’s right to defend itself” and lauded the Israeli prime minister “for Israel’s military operations that have significantly degraded Iran and its proxies.” JNS

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Standing Together: Rep. Brian Mast meets fellow war amputee Ari Spitz. Israel National News. Feb 5, 2025, 11:37 PM INN

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Bipartisan House group reintroduces Antisemitism Awareness Act. “There is no reason why this should not be the law of the land,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a lead sponsor of the bill. “It’s time that everyone understood—and there is no confusion—what antisemitism is.”

(Feb. 5, 2025 / JNS) Legislation to beef up efforts to combat Jew-hatred got a new lease on life Wednesday when a bipartisan group of U.S. House members reintroduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act.

The legislation, which requires the U.S. Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, passed the House overwhelmingly in the last Congress but never came up for a vote in the Senate. U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) are introducing the same measure in their chamber.

A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Jewish Insider on Wednesday that he will also cosponsor the Senate bill. JNS

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82% Of Palestinians Freed In First Ceasefire Have Returned To Terrorism; 1 In 4 Already Killed Or Re-Arrested. February 5, 2025.

New data from the IDF reveals that one in four Palestinian terrorists released under the November 2023 Israel-Hamas ceasefire has since been re-arrested or killed.

According to IDF Central Command statistics shared with Channel 13 News, 33 released terrorists have been detained again by Israeli security forces, while four were eliminated while carrying out new attacks. The alarming figures reinforce growing concerns that the mass prisoner releases—a key component of the 2023 ceasefire agreement—have strengthened terrorist organizations and fueled further violence.

Beyond the 25% who have already been re-arrested or neutralized, the Shin Bet reported earlier this week that at least 82% of the freed terrorists have returned to terrorist activity.

One such individual, Abed al-Hadi Kamil, was killed in an Israeli airstrike last Saturday night near Qabatiya, south of Jenin, as he and his terror cell prepared to launch an “imminent” attack. Kamil had been freed as part of the November 2023 ceasefire, only to resume his involvement in terrorism.

Since the start of the current ceasefire on January 18, 2025, Israel has released 583 Palestinian terrorists in exchange for 13 Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, cross-border massacre.

Notably, many of the terrorists released in this recent deal were sent off with identification bands inscribed with citations from Jewish sources. The Israel Prison Service confirmed on Friday that the bracelets featured inscriptions in Arabic and Hebrew, including “The eternal people do not forget” and “I pursued my enemies and overtook them”—a direct quote from Tehillim.

Among the prisoners released under the ongoing agreement, several were convicted murderers serving life sentences for attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians. Under the terms of the deal, those with “blood on their hands” were deported and banned from re-entering Israeli-controlled areas. YWN

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White House spokeswoman clarifies: Trump's plan for Gaza includes only temporary evacuation. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/06/2025 02:34 AM JPost

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Details of rescue operation. The drama behind the recovery of the body of Oron Shaul. A special unit of the Shin Bet and Shayetet 13 acted hours before the Gaza ceasefire came into effect and managed to recover the body of Oron Shaul. Now, the details of the dramatic operation are being revealed. Israel National News. Feb 6, 2025, 3:13 AM INN

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After the destruction and clashes, Hezbollah supporters 'quietly' return to south Lebanon. The residents of the southern villages are returning to their destroyed homes calmly and without provocation; Despite attempts to present a "victory", Hezbollah brought destruction to the residents; A Lebanese woman recorded herself returning to the ruins, with crying heard in the background. Lior Ben Ari | 2.6.25. YNet

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Indictment: Suspect desecrated Torah scroll, plundered charity box. Indictment filed against Shechem resident who attempted to remove Torah scroll from Holy Ark, causing damage. Israel National News Feb 6, 2025, 9:54 AM (GMT+2) The Tel Aviv District Prosecutor's Unit has filed an indictment against a 34-year-old resident of Shechem (Nablus) for breaking and entering and attempted theft from a Bat Yam synagogue.

It is suspected that the suspect entered the building approximately one week ago, stole the charity boxes, and attempted to steal the Torah scrolls from the Holy Ark.

According to the indictment, the suspect attempted to remove the Torah scroll by means of the hole which he made in the Ark door, causing damage.

Police officers from the Bat Yam police station, alongside forensic investigators, arrived at the scene and collected evidence. Within a few hours, they had succeeded in locating and arresting the suspect.

Upon completion of the investigation and the compilation of the evidence, the Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment and requested that the suspect remain under arrest until the completion of the proceedings. INN

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Jerusalem: Arab dressed like a Jew and ransacked a synagogue. A Jerusalem resident in his 30s broke into vehicles and a synagogue. Stolen items included money, charity boxes, and other valuables. Israel National News Feb 6, 2025, 11:22 AM (GMT+2) INN

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ISA thwarts terror attack on Jerusalem bus. Uzi Baruch. Investigations reveal that members of the Ramallah-area cell manufactured an explosive device and planned a suicide bombing attack on a bus in Jerusalem. Feb 6, 2025, 1:17 PM INN

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Terrorists released by Israel leave prison as millionaires. The terrorists received $141,837,087 from the Palestinian Authority while serving time. David Isaac.

(Feb. 6, 2025 / JNS) Many terrorists released by Israel are millionaires, flush with cash from years of receiving monthly Palestinian Authority “pay for slay” stipends, an analysis by a Jerusalem-based watchdog group revealed on Wednesday.

Palestinian Media Watch posted a list of all 734 terrorists scheduled for release from Israeli prisons in the first phase of the hostages-for-ceasefire agreement with Hamas, together with their “salaries”—the dollar amounts each terrorist received from the Palestinian Authority’s so-called Martyrs’ Fund while incarcerated.

In total, the terrorists received $141,837,087, or more than half a billion shekels. Of those, 316, or nearly half, received more than a million shekels. (Palestinian Media Watch created a program to crunch the numbers, inputting all the relevant P.A. criteria—crime, marital status, number of children, etc., to determine the size of their stipends.) JNS

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Two troops killed in Gaza, bringing wartime IDF toll to 846. According to an initial probe, a crane collapsed on the troops due to harsh winds caused by a winter storm. JNS Staff [Sgt. First Class (res.) Nadav Cohen, 21, was killed in the Gaza Strip, Feb. 5, 2025]. (Feb. 6, 2025 / JNS) JNS

Crane collapses in Gaza buffer zone killing 2 soldiers, injuring 8. Yoav Zitun | 2.6.25. YNet

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Australia passes tough hate crime laws with mandatory jail time for Nazi salutes. By Reuters. 02/06/2025 07:07 AM JPost

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Netanyahu says Trump plan to move Gazans '1st good idea I've heard. Itamar Eichner | 2.6.25. YNet

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Court orders seizure of 20 million shekels from PA over terror murder of 16-year-old Rina Shnerb. Lital Dubrovitzky | 2.6.25. YNet

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Trump's Gaza plan pushed to fore after envoy Witkoff visit to Netzarim Corridor. ynet | 2.6.25. YNet

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Spain rejects Israel's suggestion it should accept Palestinians from Gaza. By Reuters. 02/06/2025 10:17 AM JPost

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Released hostage Gadi Moses discharged from hospital. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/06/2025 12:55 PM JPost

Freed hostage Gadi Mozes goes home from hospital and wants to rebuild Kibbutz Nir Oz. Lior Ohana, Alexandra Lukash | 2.6.25. YNet

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Trump says no US soldiers needed in Gaza, US would take over after war. By Reuters. 02/06/2025 01:46 PM JPost

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Trump to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court for 'targeting US and Israel'. Reuters | 2.6.25. YNet

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US attorney general establishes October 7 task force to prosecute Hamas. Pam Bondi launches Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7) to prosecute Hamas operatives, disrupt terror financing and combat antisemitic crimes in US; task force will work with FBI, Treasury and Israel to pursue criminal charges, extraditions and sanctions. Ynetnews | 2.6.25. YNet

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When Israel moved 10,000 Gazans to Sinai—and terror attacks plummeted. In 1971, Israel relocated over 10,000 Gazans to northern Sinai under Ariel Sharon to curb terror attacks, which dropped sharply afterward; while some evacuees reported better housing, others struggled to adapt, and UNRWA protested the move as forced displacement. Yaron Drukman | 2.6.25. YNet

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Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with bipartisan Senate leadership. Israel National News. Feb 6, 2025, 9:14 PM INN

‘Unqualified support’ for Israel, bipartisan Senate leaders tell Netanyahu. “The friendship between the United States and Israel strengthens both of our countries,” stated Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Izzy Salant. ([86]. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 6, 2025. Credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO). JNS

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US taxpayer-funded Arabic news network making changes after airing interviews with terrorists. “There are grounds to be optimistic about real change,” a spokesman for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis told JNS. JNS Staff.

(Feb. 6, 2025 / JNS). The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis is hopeful that changes are underway at Alhurra after the U.S. government-funded Arabic-language news network repeatedly aired the views of terrorists or terror supporters.

The media watchdog told JNS that “there are grounds to be optimistic about real change” at the network following the appointment of Jeffrey Gedmin as president and CEO of its parent organization in October.

“We have had a fruitful meeting and email exchanges with Gedmin and his main team, so there has been actual follow through from them,” a CAMERA spokesman told JNS. JNS

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'The war's turning point'. The golden pager that Netanyahu gifted Trump. Yoni Kempinski, Washington Feb 6, 2025, 6:12 PM INN

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IDF troops destroy explosive-production facility in West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/06/2025 02:35 PM JPost

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IDF arrests 25 terrorists in West Bank counterterrorism operation. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/06/2025 05:35 PM JPost

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Trump: I will not rest until every hostage is returned. By Amichai Stein. 02/06/2025 06:49 PM JPost

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New testimonies from captivity: Hostages tell of severe physical and psychological violence. Israel National News. Feb 6, 2025, 9:27 PM INN

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Rubio says people will have to relocate in 'interim' while Gaza is rebuilt. By Reuters. 02/06/2025 10:12 PM JPost

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US State Dept approves possible sale of military-related services to Kuwait. By Reuters. 02/06/2025 10:13 PM JPost

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'The meeting with Trump - a historic turning point for Israel'.

Prime Minister summarizes his visit to Washington and talks about Trump's plan for Gaza: It's worth listening carefully to Trump's idea.

Yoni Kempinski, Washington. Feb 6, 2025, 11:45 PM INN

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Precise strike. IAF strikes two Hezbollah sites in Lebanese territory. Israel National News. Feb 7, 2025, 12:49 AM INN

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Police uncover ready-to-use explosive device in open area near Jaljulya. By Alon Hachmon. 02/07/2025 10:12 AM JPost

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Hungary's foreign minister says Trump's sanctions on ICC 'understandable'. By Reuters. 02/07/2025 10:52 AM JPost

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Former hostage Keith Siegel discharged from hospital. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/07/2025 11:57 AM JPost

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UK will not follow US on ICC sanctions, PM's spokesperson says. By Reuters. 02/07/2025 2:28 PM JPost

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Former hostage Ofer Kalderon discharged from hospital. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/07/2025 2:45 PM JPost

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Israeli delegation to head to Doha on Saturday for further hostage deal negotiations. By Uri Sela. 02/07/2025 3:15 PM JPost

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Egypt intensifies calls with Arabs to reject displacing Palestinians, foreign ministry says. By Reuters. 02/07/2025 3:31 PM JPost

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France reaffirms support for ICC after US sanctions threat. By Reuters. 02/07/2025 3:34 PM [87]

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US CENTCOM General holds situational assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/07/2025 4:00 PM [88]

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IDF deploys soldiers to several fronts in Gaza Strip to strengthen defense. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/07/2025 4:14 PM [89]

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Trump says he is in no rush on Gaza. By Reuters. 02/07/2025 [90]

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Egypt says Israeli suggestion to establish Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia 'irresponsible'. By Reuters. 02/08/2025 JPost

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'US unis caught off guard to harsh consequences'. JFNA Chair Julie Platt on 'surge' in Jewish community, rising campus antisemitism and hate in hospitals as US Jews face crisis. Yaniv Pohoryles | 2.8.25. YNet

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IDF to fully withdraw from Netzarim Corridor. As part of hostage deal, Israel to complete pullback from strategic corridor—symbol of both IDF ops, settler aspirations. Elisha Ben Kimon | 2.8.25. YNet

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Held in Hamas tunnels, clueless about October 7—freed hostages only fed more a week before release. 'Starvation and humiliation can’t be hidden': Despite Hamas’ attempts to improve conditions before release, frail, starved hostages tell different story; Or Levy and Eli Sharabi unaware families murdered, while Ohad Ben Ami spent most of his captivity underground Yael Ciechanover|2.8.25

After 491 days underground in Hamas captivity, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy returned to Israel, frail and emaciated, with little knowledge of the devastation of October 7 or the fate of their families.

The three men, abducted in the early hours of the Hamas attack, spent most of their captivity underground, deprived of sunlight, communication and reliable information. Some were occasionally exposed to Al Jazeera broadcasts, but many details remained unknown.

Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, a senior Health Ministry official, described the long-term damage inflicted on the hostages. "Hamas prepares the hostages for their staged release, trying to make them appear healthier," she said. "But starvation, humiliation and inhumane conditions leave lasting damage. Even those who appear physically well have suffered immensely and face severe long-term consequences from such prolonged captivity." YNet

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"There are no words."

There are no words. [pic.twitter.com/y8Osk7jPp5] — Israel ישראל (@Israel) February 8, 2025 'Poor Medical Health'. Feb 8, 2025. [91] [92]

Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami freed from Gaza after 491 days. Before their release, Hamas paraded the hostages in front of a raucous crowd of Palestinians in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah. By JNS Staff. (Feb 8, 2025 / JNS). JNS

No one can now deny the evil that is Hamas. Anyone seeing the pictures of emaciated Israeli hostages surely must finally realise what the Jewish state has been up against.

Israeli captive, Eli Sharabi, who has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023, stands on a stage escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah. Israeli captive, Eli Sharabi, stands on a stage escorted by Hamas fighters Credit: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

Stephen Pollard. 08 February 2025 5:31pm GMT.

Two weeks ago the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. In the years since 1945 the images of the inmates have become part of the fabric of history, documenting the evil of which some of our species are capable.

We may now be used to seeing them, but the pictures of starved, emaciated bodies, barely more than skeletons, have never lost the power to shock.

As a former editor of the Jewish Chronicle, I have had both to report and to confront anti-Semitism.

The battle against Jew hate has become the driving force of my professional life. Sometimes it has felt as though the Jewish people were banging our heads against a brick wall – such as when the response of so many self-described “progressives” to the barbarity of October 7 has been to demonstrate not against the barbarity but against the victims of that barbarity.

In that context, I have spent time asking myself if the scenes in Gaza and the terrible state of the latest hostages to be released might cause them to indulge in some self-reflection, or even a sense of shame that they have been marching in support of the terrorists who inflicted this evil.

I doubt it. These are the people, after all, who we have now learnt applied to the police at 2.50pm on October 7 2023 for permission to march against Israel the following week – making their application while the massacre was still in progress.

The footage of Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy could have come straight from 1945.

The only difference was the presence of their Hamas captors; the Nazis had fled the camps by the time they were liberated.

Hamas, on the other hand, stood proudly by as the emaciated, almost crippled bodies of the hostages were forced by their captors on to a stage to take part in the latest of the terrorist organisation’s sick propaganda stunts.

I am not religious. But I know that evil exists and we have once more seen it on display.

Or Levy is just 33 years old. His only crime was to have gone to a music festival and to have been Jewish. Hamas murdered his wife and starved him for 491 days. There is only one word for the people that did this to him: evil.

Ever since October 7 we have heard glib platitudes from around the world about “peace”, about reaching an accommodation with Hamas and about Israel needing to accept a “two-state solution”.

But there will be no peace – indeed, there should be no peace – when that necessitates accepting the presence of evil.

As Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog put it: “This is what a crime against humanity looks like. The entire world should look at Ohad, Or and Eli – who returned from the hell of 491 days in captivity, painful, emaciated and wounded, and were used in a cynical and evil ritual by damned murderers.”

Throughout the war brought on by Hamas’s massacre we have been told by much of the media – and by Hamas’s useful idiots protesting on the streets and on campus – that the real criminal is Israel.

Look at the aid shortages! The simple fact is that, far from blocking aid, Israel has gone out of its way to facilitate its arrival in Gaza.

But just as Hamas deliberately uses Palestinian civilians as human shields for its propaganda so it can accuse Israel of targeting civilians, so too it both blocks aid from being distributed (often destroying it) and seizes it for its own use.

If you want to see what real targeted starvation looks like, look at the pictures of the Israeli hostages. DailyTelegraph

February 8, 2025 | Flash Brief. ‘Look Like Holocaust Survivors’: Three Israeli Hostages Released After 490 Days in Hamas Captivity.

Latest Developments. Three Israeli Hostages Free: Israel welcomed home three hostages on February 8 who had been held captive in Gaza by the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist organization following its mass atrocities in Israel on October 7, 2023. Or Levy, 34, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Eli Sharabi, 52, were freed by Hamas in the fifth round of releases since the 42-day ceasefire agreement went into effect last month. Emaciated and Unable to Stand: During Hamas-choreographed release ceremonies, the three Israeli hostages appeared emaciated and disoriented, and needed to be held upright by Hamas terrorists. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said “the Israeli hostages look like Holocaust survivors and clearly appear to have suffered from starvation.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office vowed to take action over Hamas’s parading of the frail hostages, releasing a statement that said “the shocking images we saw today will not pass without response.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog declared: “This is what a crime against humanity looks like! The whole world must look directly at Ohad, Or, and Eli—returning after 491 days of hell, starved, emaciated and pained—being exploited in a cynical and cruel spectacle by vile murderers.” 183 Palestinian Prisoners Released in Exchange: Israel released 183 Palestinian convicted terrorists on February 8, 18 of whom were serving life sentences, in exchange for the Israeli hostages. 111 of the released prisoners were detained over the course of the war in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas atrocities, and seven of the prisoners will be deported upon their release. FDD Expert Response. “Relief at seeing these hostages freed is overshadowed by anger and sorrow. Israel is forced to release Palestinian mass murderers, while its own hostages return to a nightmare. Eli Sharabi’s wife and daughters, and Or Levy’s wife, were brutally murdered on October 7. Their families now face unbearable grief atop unimaginable trauma. These stories make one thing clear: Hamas has no place in a civilized world. The U.S. must stand firmly with Israel to ensure these Iran-backed terrorists are never allowed to regain power.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO.

“Seeing Israelis come home emaciated and barely able to walk is sending tremors through Israeli society as people are recalling images from the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps after World War II. While everyone in Israel is relieved to see hostages come home alive, it is clear that these hostages have survived severe degradation and abuse, and it raises fresh fear and trepidation regarding the fate and condition of remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Networks. FDD

Israeli UN ambassador calls on Guterres to condemn Hamas’ treatment of hostages. Itamar Eichner | 2.8.25. YNet

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Hostages’ condition worse than previous releases, hospital says. Roy Rubinstein | 2.8.25. YNet

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Israeli consul in New York compares Hamas to Nazis after hostage release.

Itamar Eichner | 2.8.25 Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis reacted to the release of three Israeli hostages released on Saturday, saying Hamas’ actions prove that "they are Nazis, sometimes even worse."

"For many years, even before the October 7 massacre, I have said Hamas are Nazis," Akunis said. "Today, they proved it once again to the world. I will never forget and certainly never forgive Hamas' atrocities—just as I do not forgive or forget the crimes of Nazi Germany during World War II." YNet

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Foreign Minister: 'The only ones starving in Gaza are the hostages'. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar posted a video accusing Hamas of starving the hostages released today, claiming they looked dangerously emaciated while the Hamas forces appeared well-fed. Israel National News. Feb 8, 2025, 8:22 PM (GMT+2). Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar posted a video accusing Hamas of starving the hostages released today, claiming they looked dangerously emaciated while the Hamas forces appeared well-fed.

For over a year, the international community has danced to the tune of the false propaganda of so-called starvation in Gaza but the images we saw today don't lie - Hamas terrorists and other Gaza residents look perfectly fine. INN

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Hostages' testimonies revealed: 'They did not see daylight, they were starved and abused'. Testimonies reveal that hostages Eli Sharabi and Or Levy were held in a tunnel during their entire time in captivity, were not exposed to media and did not know about the events of the October 7th massacre. Israel National News. Feb 8, 2025, 10:28 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Ambassador Danon: 'Clear evidence of war crimes against hostages'. Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon sent an urgent letter to the UN Secretary-General regarding the dire physical condition of the three Israeli hostages released earlier today from Hamas captivity. Israel National News. Feb 9, 2025, 12:12 AM (GMT+2)

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon sent an urgent letter to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarding the dire physical condition of the three Israeli hostages released earlier today from Hamas captivity.

Today, after 491 days in the cruel hands of Hamas, three more Israeli hostages have been released—Eli Sharabi (52), Or Levy (34), and Ohad Ben Ami (56). Kidnapped, tortured, and starved, they emerge from captivity thin, traumatized, exhausted, and in pain—victims of a brutal and cynical spectacle orchestrated by Hamas, he began.

Danon detailed the fate of the hostages' families. Ohad’s wife was also kidnapped and held captive for over 50 days before being released. Or’s wife was brutally murdered by Hamas, as was Eli’s family—his wife and two daughters were executed in cold blood by these inhuman terrorists.

He turned to the hostages themselves. Since then, all the three were held in isolation, without any sign of life to their families, and denied humanitarian visits by the Red Cross—a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

Danon accused the UN of being manipulated by Hamas. For over a year, the international community has been manipulated by a jihadist terrorist group, shielded and protected even within the halls of the UN, spreading false propaganda about so-called "starvation" in Gaza.

But the images tell the truth: Hamas terrorists and the Gaza crowd gathered there to humiliate them appear in a very well condition, while the Israeli hostages alone bear the unmistakable signs of starvation. This is clear evidence of war crimes and blatant violations of international law by Hamas, evoking haunting images from not-so-distant history—moments when the world remained silent.

Danon concluded with a demand for action. Hamas has committed crimes against humanity. I urge you to unequivocally and publicly condemn the inhumane treatment of these hostages and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those still held in Gaza. The world has now seen the brutality firsthand. Silence is no longer an option. INN

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Staring the horrors of captivity in the eye Opinion: We must see Or, Eli and Ohad as they are—frail, broken—so we can't ignore, forget or erase their suffering Yuval Elbashan | 2.8.25. YNet

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IAF strikes Hezbollah terrorists in Beqaa valley in Lebanon. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/08/2025 06:15 PM JPost

Israel strikes Hamas weapons depot in Syria, Hezbollah site in Lebanon. IDF says attacks aimed to disrupt terrorist operations directed against Israel; Lebanese reports say 6 Hezbollah operatives killed in strike, which Israel claims targeted strategic weapons production and storage site Gal Ganot, Lior Ben Ari | 2.8.25. YNet

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Returned hostages 'went through hell,' Health Ministry says. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/08/2025 06:35 PM JPost

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Israeli security forces arrest wanted suspect in West Bank operation. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/08/2025 07:10 PM JPost

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IDF officers confiscates Palestinian weapons in Ramallah without authorization - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/08/2025 07:31 PM JPost

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US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz assures Trump will return all hostages from captivity. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/08/2025 07:44 PM JPost

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IDF shoots at several suspects approaching troops across Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/08/2025 09:12 PM JPost

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Saudis slam PM remarks on displaced Gazans. Riyadh does not directly refer to Netanyahu's comments about establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi territory. Lior Ben Ari, Reuters| 2.9.25. YNet

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Despite US, Hezbollah joins new Lebanon gov. The 24-member cabinet must secure parliamentary approval to address Lebanon’s pressing challenges. Lior Ben Ari | 2.9.25 YNet

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Cabinet inaction on deal evokes outrage  Delays crucial Security Cabinet. discussions on Phase B of hostage return deal despite poor condition of returning hostages. Itamar Eichner, Washington | 2.9.25 YNet

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Trump: US-Iran nuke deal, saves it from Israel . Tells New York Post he wants to make deal with Iran on nuclear issue, saving it from an Israeli airstrike; 'They don't want to die'. Ynet. | 2.9.25. YNet

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Ohad's 1st day of freedom, through Ella's eyes. Ella Ben Ami shared moments from day with her father, who returned after 70 weeks in captivity in Gaza, on Instagram. Alexandra Lukash, Bar Zaga | 2.9.25 YNet

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IDF burns equipment, leaves Netzarim Corridor: 'Hamas is regrouping, so are we'. In line with the hostage deal, the IDF began withdrawing from the Netzarim Corridor, its last northern Gaza foothold; Hamas called the move a 'victory' while IDF troops pledged to return, burning outpost equipment to prevent its use by Hamas. Elisha Ben Kimon, Einav Halabi | 2.9.25 YNet

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We should not be surprised by Hamas' Nazi ideology. Opinion: The images of the returning hostages after their long captivity in the hands of the terror group were harsh but it is not the lack of food that should concern Israel but the ideology behind the terror group that wants all Jews and all Christians gone.

Are we surprised that the hostages Hamas released on Saturday resembled concentration camp survivors? If anything, we should be surprised that the five IDF lookouts seemed as healthy as they did. It is misleading though because only days after their release from captivity, we learned about the abuse they had suffered. There should be no surprises. It is not the lack of food; It is the ideology.

Hamas was a branch of the Mujama al-Islamiya, an Islamic organization founded in 1973 by Shiekh Ahmad Yassin as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza. "Thousands went to the streets and burned the offices of the al Quds newspaper, a movie theater and a pool hall," according to a report. This was in 1980. These were followers of Yassin. At the time, IDF soldiers stood by thinking they were witnessing internal Palestinian strife. But that was the first violent action of the group in Gaza.

([93]. A weak and emaciated Eli Sharabi being released by Hamas after 491 days.Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana / AP) YNet

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Security cabinet to discuss talks on second phase of deal this week - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 07:51 AM [94]

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IDF expands operation in northern West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 09:03 AM JPost

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Official to 'Post': Israeli delegation arrives for second phase of hostage deal talks in Doha. By Amichai Stein. 02/09/2025 09:03 AM JPost

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Egypt's foreign minister heads to Washington for talks with US officials, AFP reports. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 11:20 AM JPost

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Druze community leader, former Likud MK Amal Nasser el-Din, passes away at 96. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 03:24 PM JPost

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Syrian media allegation that Israel struck Khalahla airfield in southern Syria false. By Liran Aharoni. 02/09/2025 03:59 PM JPost

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Likud joins European right-wing political alliance Patriots.eu as observer member. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 05:19 PM JPost

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Security cabinet to meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. to discuss hostage deal. By Amichai Stein. 02/09/2025 05:40 PM JPost

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Netanyahu lands at Ben-Gurion airport, following meeting with Trump. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 05:59 PM JPost

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UK soccer team owner says Israel should be dismantled, praises Hezbollah. Malaysian businessman Ruben Gnanalingam, majority stakeholder in UK soccer team, praises Hamas and Hezbollah and advocates for Israel’s eradication. Israel National News. Feb 9, 2025, 6:33 PM (GMT+2) INN

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IDF foils arms smuggling at Egyptian border. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 07:01 PM JPost

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Wounded, not being treated: Sign of life from hostage Alon Ohel.

The family of Alon Ohel, who was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, received for the first time a sign that he is alive.

Israel National News. Feb 9, 2025, 7:13 PM INN

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IDF foils arms smuggling at Egyptian border. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 07:01 PM JPost

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Chief of Staff Halevi visits IDF units in the West Bank during major readiness exercises. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/09/2025 07:57 PM JPost

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Pres. Herzog shows Fox News before and after photos of hostage Israel National News Feb 9, 2025, 8:12 PM INN

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Ohad, Or and Eli watched one of the hostages collapse. Israel National News. Feb 9, 2025, 8:41 PM INN

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Captivity survivor's daughter: 'My father went through horrors, it's worse than I thought'. Israel National News. Feb 9, 2025, 8:53 PM INN

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Court freezes billions in PA funds for Oct 7 victims. Victims claim in lawsuits PA encourages terrorism against Israel; District Court rules each entitled to millions in compensation. Lital Dubrovitsky | 2.9.25. YNet

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Netanyahu: Gaza return to be conditioned on deradicalization. The Israeli PM called President Trump's plan to temporarily resettle Gazans while the coastal enclave is rebuilt as "the first fresh idea in years." Joshua Marks. (Feb. 9, 2025 / JNS). JNS

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Israeli president blasts BBC’s Israel-Hamas equivalence. JNS Staff. (Feb. 9, 2025 / JNS). JNS

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Woman arrested for attacking NYC Jews | Watch. Former CAIR employee from Kentucky was filmed hitting and cursing at ultra-Orthodox man in a Manhattan office.

Woman arrested for attacks on ultra-Orthodox man in New York: 'F**ck the Jews!' | Watch. Former CAIR employee from Kentucky was filmed hitting and cursing at an ultra-Orthodox man in the lobby of a Manhattan office building; After footage of incident went viral Noora Shalash was arrested; She will be charged with aggravated harassment and second-degree hate crime.

Daniel Edelson, New York|2.10.25.

New York police arrested Noora Shalash, 39, of Kentucky, following an antisemitic attack that occurred in an office building in Manhattan against an ultra-Orthodox man who was passing by. She also made anti-Jewish remarks, including "F**k the Jews." A video documenting the anti-Semitic incident went viral and received millions of views on social media. Following the publication of the video, the woman was arrested and will soon be charged. Watch a clip of the incident

Daniel Edelson, New York | 2.10.25. YNet

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Forty years ago, these women joked about Greenland for Palestine. Philissa Cramer, JTA. Feb 10, 2025, 8:14 AM INN

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Two weeks before the massacre: Terrorists waved 'congratulations' sign at IDF lookout. Eyal Eshel, father of IDF lookout Roni Eshel, who fell in the October 7 massacre, says the terrorists knew the birthday of one of the IDF lookouts at the Nahal Oz military base.

Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 9:16 AM INN

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Arab affairs analyst: 'We forfeited everything in Phase A, immense damage'. Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 9:22 AM INN

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Hostage's girlfriend: 'You don't know I'm alive'. Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 10:39 AM INN

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Watch: Unusual quantity of weapons found in Western Galilee. Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 11:09 AM INN

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Louis Har recalls the moments of his heroic rescue. Louis Har, rescued from Hamas captivity one year ago, tells Kan Reshet Bet that in those moments, 'I became one of the soldiers.' Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 11:48 AM INN

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Psychological terror: Father of released hostage shares chilling message with Knesset.

Father of released hostage Arbel Yehud shares emotional account of psychological tactics used by Hamas: 'I didn’t believe hostages had become a political debate, until I returned to Israel.'

Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 12:40 PM INN

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Kidnapped from 'shelter of death' to horrific captivity: 'A year and 4 months in chains'. Eliya Cohen and Alon Ohel were kidnapped to Gaza from protected space along with Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Or Levi, who was released; Their families describe inhumane conditions, and the horrors they experience in the tunnels: 'They are treated like animals'; Eliya's girlfriend: 'He doesn't know I'm alive' Alexandra Lukash, Lihi Gordon | 2.10.25. YNet

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Israel denies ICJ commitment to investigate October 7 attack despite attorney general’s claim. Ynet correspondents | 2.10.25. YNet

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'From the river to the sea': Police confiscate inciteful coloring book in East Jerusalem. Liran Tamari | 2.10.25. YNet

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Colours of rage.

Heidi Bachram, Feb 10, 2025.

The three men had lost half their body weight. They were starved. Hung up by their legs. Chained. One only walked for the first time on the day he was released. He had to learn how to use his feet again. They were strangled, beaten, burned. The hostages were supposed to be the terrorist’s grand plan, their prize assets. Yet they treated them with malice and brutishness. Part of the strategy with the men could have been to weaken and humiliate them deliberately as psychological warfare. To show well-fed gun-wielding Palestinian terrorists in contrast to frail and thin Israelis. All it did was expose the lie of famine and reveal who was actually starving in Gaza.

Hamas is always speaking to many different audiences, often with opposite messaging. To Arab countries a show of strength and intimidation. To the West an exploitation of sympathy. To Gazans a signal of dominance. The releases have been challenging to satisfy all those needs and Hamas finally succeeded in displaying for the West the true psychopathic nature of their organisation. In a way they could not ignore. Though some still are determined to look away and continue the narrative of victimhood. It is becoming more difficult with every abused innocent.

The shock of seeing Jews so skeletal immediately evoked those haunted images of survivors in concentration camps. We just saw the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz. A camp that my husband Adam’s great grandparents were murdered in. To pause for one second on the thought of his cousin Tsachi being subjected to the tortures that the released hostages endured is to walk on emotional shards of glass. My jaw clamps and my body starts to shake. I have cried enough tears of sorrow and fury. There is only white, red and black rage now.

For those monsters in green. heidibachram

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Trump’s plan may work! 44% of young Gazans considered emigrating even before the war. Itamar Marcus | Feb 10, 2025. The question being asked today around the world is whether President Donald Trump's plan to resettle Gazans in other countries can succeed. Judging by a poll taken just prior to the war, before much of Gaza was destroyed, Trump's proposal is reasonable. PalWatch

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Super Bowl Halftime Show Dancer Gets NFL Lifetime Ban for Displaying Palestinian Flag During Performance. February 10, 2025. by Shiryn Ghermezian. Algemeiner

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Israel Expresses Outrage After Hamas Suspends Next Gaza Hostage Releases Indefinitely. February 10, 2025. by Algemeiner Staff Algemeiner

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The Chilling Implications of Hamas’s Suspension of Hostage Releases.

Seth Mandel, Feb 10, 2025.

Is there anything Hamas could do that would be unspinnable even for its army of Western media collaborators? After nearly 500 days, that question appears to have been answered. The haunting scenes from Saturday’s hostage release shocked a few consciences back to life.

Today Hamas announced that it would be unilaterally suspending the cease-fire and refusing to release any more Israeli hostages until further notice. That announcement should be viewed in the context of the world’s reaction to the events of Saturday, when Hamas released three almost unrecognizably emaciated hostages, one of whom seemed to be relearning how to walk as his captors nearly carried him to the awaiting Red Cross vehicle.

Eli Sharabi, a ghost of the man Hamas had taken on Oct. 7, 2023, was forced at gunpoint to say he was looking forward to reuniting with his wife and children, whom Hamas had already murdered unbeknownst to him. It was almost surely the most evil thing most people have ever seen on television.

At first, Western media followed its reflexes and tried to somehow minimize what we all were seeing, which was like a livestreamed shot of the liberation of a concentration camp. The BBC took its best shot: “Concerns have been raised about their wellbeing, with Mr Sharabi’s family — who live in the UK — describing their shock at his ‘gaunt’ appearance. Returning Palestinian prisoners were greeted with scenes of celebration at Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Representatives claimed they all needed ‘medical care’, without giving specifics.”

Rather than describe what they saw, the BBC decided it had to quote a family member describing Sharabi as gaunt, as if it were a matter of interpretation. But you can begin to hear the impatience creep into the BBC’s voice with the third sentence, as if it has finally lost the will to slavishly echo the talking points of monsters. Even the BBC knows the Palestinian representatives are lying—though calling the terrorists released by Israel on Saturday “prisoners” is a reminder that the media very much want to side with Hamas, even when unable to bring themselves to do so.

Throughout the period of the current cease-fire, Hamas has been systematically dismantling its own side’s propaganda. The claim of Israeli “genocide” was always false, but Gaza officials acknowledging that the enclave’s population increased during the war, and that Israeli bombs were mostly dropped on uninhabited neighborhoods, and that Hamas had been using hospitals and humanitarian zones as active war bases made it clear that Israel’s defenders were telling the truth and Hamas’s fans were lying all along.

Then on Saturday Hamas released a propaganda video showing its men keeping Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami in a claustrophobic, airless underground cell. We’ve seen Hamasniks driving a fleet of well-maintained vehicles through Gaza and past its gleaming buildings.

At the release ceremony itself, the viewing public was treated to watching well-fed Gazans taking selfies while the gaunt hostages could barely stand. We had already known that Israel had allowed into Gaza enough food for each Palestinian to have 3,000 calories per day. But now we were seeing proof that full-bellied Gazans had been spending the war guarding starving Israeli hostages.

Every claim made against Israel was projection. Hamas had been doing all the things it accused Israel of, accusations that the media gleefully echoed like pet-shop parrots.

And so there was a collective gasp from the world, and a backlash. A gentle backlash, but a backlash nonetheless. Hamas’s co-conspirators in governments and NGOs and news organizations around the world were exposed to their own reflections, and they recoiled.

So how can Hamas release the next round of captives in five days without building on the backlash? Well, it can release non-tortured, non-starving hostages—if it has anyone who meets that description in its dungeons. CommentaryMagazine

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Trump threatens Hamas: Release all the hostages by 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. US President warns Hamas that if all hostages in Gaza are not released by 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, the ceasefire should be canceled, but leaves the decision to Israel. Elad Benari. Feb 11, 2025, 1:03 AM (GMT+2)

US President Trump on Monday issued a warning to Hamas and said that if it were up to him, the ceasefire and hostage deal should be cancelled if Hamas does not release all the hostages.

“As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12:00 o'clock, I think it's an appropriate time, I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” stated Trump.

“I'd say they ought to be returned by 12:00 o'clock on Saturday. And if they're not returned, all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two, Saturday at 12:00 o'clock. And after that, I would say all hell is going to break out,” he added.

Trump also acknowledged that such a decision would be up to Israel, saying, “I'm speaking for myself. Israel can override it.”

Trump's statement came hours after the spokesperson for Hamas' military wing, Abu Obaida, announced that the terrorist organization would postpone the next release of hostages, claiming that Israel violated [sic] the terms of the agreement...

Subsequently, Hamas published another statement in which it said that "the postponement in releasing the prisoners is a warning message to Israel and meant to exert pressure for strict adherence to the terms of the agreement. Hamas intentionally published this statement five full days before the release, in order to give the mediators sufficient opportunity to pressure Israel to fulfill its commitments, and to leave the door open for the exchange to be realized on time."

Following the Hamas announcement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with defense officials and moved up the cabinet meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday evening, to the morning hours.

Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to Hamas' announcement and said that it was a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the deal for their release.

“I have ordered the IDF to prepare at the highest level of readiness for any possible scenario in Gaza and for the defense of the communities near Gaza. We will not allow a return to the reality of the 7th of October," said Katz. Imn

BREAKING NEWS: Trump Issues Direct Threat To Hamas: Release Hostages By 12 PM Sat Or Face 'Hell'.

[I looked at hostages that came in. They're emaciated. It looked like something from the 1930s. It's an absolute disgrace. I think they saw as the world viewed it, and they're looking for a reason not to send more. They're all...you look at it.. it looks like it was a concentration camp, which essentially it was. It looks like it came out of the Holocaust. What a sad thing... Those people have been badly hurt, both mentally and physically, I'm talking about the young women also that came out previously. And I think one of the reasons they're probably doing this, they are sending the very best. What you see is probably the best. Because they want to send people that look at least healthy. And that's not healthy...]

Forbes Breaking News. Feb 10, 2025 YouTube

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Glenn Greenwald, again promotes Pallywood fake propaganda. Thus time the invention of fake "abuse", a terrorist supposedly got in prison. At MyRightWord Ouriel 🇮🇱 @OurielOhayon: you must be kidding me have you ever met kayzer sauze? Feb 10, 2025 [95] On X

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Hillel Neuer @HillelNeuer: GOOD: 🇳🇱 Dutch Foreign Minister refuses to meet with the U.N.'s Hamas terrorism supporter Francesca Albanese. On the contrary: the Netherlands should arrest her on criminal charges for aiding and abetting war crimes. @WarCrimes_NL, here is the dossier: [96]. [97]. Feb 10, 2025. In X

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WATCH: Hezbollah members tear down Lebanese flags in South Lebanon. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/10/2025 03:58 PM JPost

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One of Hamas leaders in Jenin arrested by IDF troops. By Avi Ashkenazi. 02/10/2025 04:31 PM JPost

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Jordan's Abdullah II arrives in Washington to meet with Trump. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/10/2025 05:12 PM JPost

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UN pauses some Yemen operations over Houthi detention of staff. By Reuters. 02/10/2025 09:10 PM JPost

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Netanyahu asks Trump to lift restrictions on computer chip exports to Israel - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/10/2025 09:56 PM JPost

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Netanyahu reveals: 'There was pessimism, I worked to release the hostages'. Israel National News. Feb 10, 2025, 11:40 PM INN

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Niece of hostage: 'If hostages aren't returned, stop the aid to Gaza'. Israel National News. Feb 11, 2025, 3:25 AM INN

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Trump: 'Iran is scared, and a deal is the best option'. Elad Benari. Feb 11, 2025, 4:16 AM. INN

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'Pure evil'. Rubio condemns Hamas, calls for its eradication. Israel National News. Feb 11, 2025, 5:09 AM INN

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Man charged with hate crime after attacking Jews in Crown Heights. Israel National News. Feb 11, 2025, 5:51 AM INN

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'Qatar is Hamas, and Hamas is Qatar'. Feb 11, 2025. Khaled Abu Toameh.

-The Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas and other Palestinians on October 7, 2023 could have been released a long time ago had the Biden administration exerted pressure on Qatar to use its good relations with the Islamist group to force it to do so. -All Qatar had to do was to summon the Hamas leaders in Doha and give them an ultimatum to release all the hostages immediately or face deportation from the Gulf state. It is hard to see how the Hamas leaders would have been able to say no to their major political and financial patrons and backers.... The Qataris were never under the slightest pressure. -"For years, Qatar supported the Taliban, and last year [2021] it helped it in its coup against the democratically elected Afghan government, and 13 American service members were killed in the violence. Today, Qatar is doing everything it can to give the Taliban international legitimacy and aid." — Yigal Carmon, President and founder of the MEMRI, who served as counterterrorism advisor to two Israeli prime ministers, [I]Haaretz[/I], May 10, 2022. -"Any Arab who hears American officials say that Qatar is America's ally would burst into laughter.... Ask Egypt, not just the rulers, but the people and journalists. Ask the Emirates, the government and people. Ask Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan. They all know that for decades Qatar has been promoting Islamist and terrorist organizations. There are lawsuits against Qatar in the U.S. and Europe in connection with its support for terrorism." — Yigal Carmon, MEMRI, November 1, 2023

-The Trump administration needs to understand what Arabs have known for years: that Qatar's support for Hamas and other extremist Islamist groups is the main reason thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have died over the past few years. Gatestone Insti.

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Hamas-Linked Lobbying Network Expands Political Influence in Europe, New Report Shows. by Ailin Vilches Arguello. February 11, 2025 2:36 pm

A Turkey-based lobbying network with ties to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is working to recruit European politicians to support anti-Israel policies, according to a new investigative report.

NGO Monitor, a Jerusalem-based research institute that tracks anti-Israel bias among nongovernmental organizations, published a report last week on the expansion of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds and Palestine (LP4Q).

This political lobby network, which was established in 2015 and includes about 1,500 parliamentarians from around the world, is growing its influence across several European countries. Algemeiner

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Trump Insists US Will ‘Take’ Gaza, Jordan’s King Stays Mum on Palestinian Relocation During White House Visit. February 11, 2025 5:54 pm. Algemeiner

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Rubio discuses AI investment, Gaza in call with UAE president, State Dept says. By Reuters. 02/11/2025 11:33 PM JPost

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HonestReporting: Macklemore’s back at it again. Macklemore dropped yet another pro-Palestinian music video on his social accounts on Tuesday, and it’s overflowing with antisemitic tropes. The song, called “f*cked up,” invokes classic antisemitic conspiracy theories and echoes medieval blood libels. These lyrics and visuals fuel dangerous narratives that incite hatred against Jews. This isn’t activism—it’s blatant Jew hatred. FB Instagram

HonestReporting ·Feb 11, 2025 @HonestReporting: Replying to @HonestReporting The Resnicks are major agricultural figures, but claiming they secretly control the water supply? Sound familiar? It should—it’s the classic "Jews control the world" trope. X

It’s 2025 and we’re still getting hit with blood libel? Accusing Jews of deliberately killing children is one of the oldest antisemitic smears in the book. X

Blaming Israel for inflation, rent prices, and the price of eggs? Maybe check the economy instead of inventing a Jewish scapegoat. X

Foreign aid to Israel? It’s not what you think. Those billions? They’re spent in America, on American jobs, for American defense industries. X

"Israel is censoring [sic] Free Palestine." Reality check: Pro-Palestinian content dominates social media—by a ratio of 54:1. X

Apartheid? Try again. Israeli Arabs serve in the government, the Supreme Court, and every industry. Security checkpoints = stopping terror, not enforcing racism. X

Colonizers? The Jewish people have thousands of years of history in Israel. Zionism isn’t colonialism—it’s a land-back movement. X

Terrorism is never going to make Israelis feel safe. This war was never about ethnic cleansing, but ending the threat of Hamas terrorists to Israeli civilians. Show more X

A genocide claim backed by staged propaganda photos? It’s not just false—it’s a disgraceful mockery of Jewish suffering. X

And let’s not forget—this is the same Macklemore who dressed in an antisemitic costume in 2014 and swore it was an accident. So, what’s his excuse now? X

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Awesome Jew @JewsAreTheGOAT: Michael Rapaport goes off on Kanye West:

“You know what h*tler would have done to your biracial kids… You want to be Jewish… You hate yourself, scumbag… You look ridiculous… You’re pathetic…”

Feb 11, 2025 on X

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Another American hostage will be released on Wednesday, US special envoy says. By Reuters. 02/12/2025 04:27 AM JPost

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Police arrest 74 illegal residents from West Bank in overnight raid in Ramat Gan. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/12/2025 10:57 AM JPost

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Jewish Federations thank Trump for strong stance against Hamas hostage threat. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/12/2025 11:33 AM JPost

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Yarden Bibas was held in moldy tunnels, with almost no food.

Ofri Bibas, Yarden's sister, tells of severe conditions in captivity: 'Yarden was in held in moldy tunnels, with almost no food. But he is still smiling.'

Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 1:08 PM INN

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Decreasing response times: New technology gives ambulances 'green wave' at traffic lights. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 1:15 PM INN

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Germany to post staff for EU's Gaza-Egypt border mission, says government source. By Reuters. 02/12/2025 01:27 PM JPost

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East Jerusalem resident sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempted murder. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/12/2025 02:02 PM JPost

East Jerusalem resident sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempted murder. Court sentences Ahmed Nasla to 27 years in prison for attempts to murder two Jews in Hizma. State Attorney request forty years, claiming these were serious terrorist attacks. Israel National News Feb 12, 2025, 2:31 PM INN

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Maglan soldier moderately wounded in Nur Shams. Uzi Baruch. Feb 12, 2025, 2:26 PM INN

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IDF bolsters forces at Gaza border in case ceasefire collapses. The military is preparing to potentially resume fighting following Hamas's announcement that it would delay releasing hostages. (Feb. 12, 2025 / JNS) The Israel Defense Forces is increasing troop reinforcements and mobilizing reservists in the Southern Command following Hamas’s announcement that it would delay releasing hostages.

Describing the reinforcement as “extensive,” the IDF confirmed on Tuesday the deployment of additional brigades and special forces units to the Southern Command. These units will supplement the existing defenses provided by the 162nd Division and the Gaza Division along the Gaza border and the Philadelphi Corridor. JNS

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Sydney nurses caught on video vowing to kill Jewish patients, sparking probe. By Reuters. 02/15/2025. ([98]. Two Australian nurses who were suspended for saying they would, and have already killed Israeli pateints, February 12, 2025. photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X).

Two Sydney nurses were suspended after a viral video showed them threatening to kill Jewish patients, sparking police investigation and condemnation from the Australian prime minister. Two nurses in a Sydney hospital have been suspended from work for threatening to kill Jewish patients and refusing to treat them in a video on TikTok, triggering an investigation by police, authorities said on Wednesday.

The video was shared by a TikTok user named Max Veifer, who says he is from Israel. The video shows him talking to a man and woman wearing medical scrubs... When asked why he would be killed, the woman in medical scrubs said: "It's Palestine's country, not your country," and used an obscenity.

The woman said she would not treat any Jewish patients and instead kill them. The man, with a threatening gesture, said he had already sent many Israelis who visited the hospital to "Jahannam," the term for Islamic hell in Arabic. JPost

Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby: BREAKING: Sydney Hospital, which employed the two Islamists, is now scrubbing their social media accounts of any posts with "Free Palestine" nurses and doctors.

Make sure to screenshot everything. We will no longer tolerate extremism and violence in Australia. 12:54 AM · Feb 12, 2025. On X

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Report prompts allegations of ‘vast’ USAID funds for Hamas. “The full story of funding Hamas is vast, and much of it was done in secret,” Sen. Ted Cruz wrote about an exposé maintaining the aid agency financed terrorism. Canaan Lidor.

(Feb. 12, 2025 / JNS) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Monday accused the United States Agency for International Development of providing “vast and secret” funding for Hamas following new revelations about USAID’s practices vis-à-vis Israel and the Palestinians. JNS

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GAZA: Hamas Terror Chiefs Ordered to Ditch Cell Phones Over Surveillance Fears February 11, 2025

([99]. Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists are deployed in central Gaza City..AP Photo/Abed Hajjar).

Senior Hamas officials in Gaza have been instructed to stop using their cell phones due to concerns that Israeli forces could track their locations, according to a report by Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat. The directive reportedly comes from the terror group’s senior leadership as tensions rise over a possible return to full-scale combat.

The warning follows Israel’s ultimatum to Hamas, stating that “intense fighting” will resume if the group does not release a specific number of hostages by Saturday. However, it remains unclear how many captives Israel expects to be freed. YWN

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WJC, EJC call for immediate, unconditional release of hostages. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 4:57 PM INN

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Family of hostage Matan Angrest receives evidence of life.

Parents of Matan Angrest say they have learned from other hostages who were released recently that Matan is alive and is being held in very harsh conditions because he is an IDF soldier.

Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 4:11 PM INN

Family receives sign of life from hostage Matan Angrest: 'Wounded and held in difficult conditions'. Accounts from released hostages report kidnapped IDF soldier wounded, held under difficult condition; 'We have seen the images of horror.. father says Eitan Glickman, Gilad Cohen | 2.12.25. YNet

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Cabinet Officials: 'USA will allow Israel to remain in Lebanon'. Israel National News Feb 12, 2025, 7:01 PM INN

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Defense Minister Katz: 'If Hamas stops releasing hostages there will be war'. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 7:14 PM INN

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Report: Hamas leaning toward releasing 3 hostages on Saturday. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 7:30 PM INN

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Hamas forced Daniella Gilboa to film her 'death' for propaganda. Daniella Gilboa's mother reveals the terrorist organization forced her to participate in a fake video to make it look like she was killed by IDF fire.

Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 8:44 PM INN

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US Jews feel less safe, over half alter behavior. AJC report for 2024 is 1st analysis of American Jews and U.S. adults to look at the impact of antisemitism in the year since the war. Ynetnews | 2.12.25. YNet

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Sydney nurses identified after being stood down over viral antisemitic video. Two NSW Health nurses who spoke about refusing to treat Israeli patients and suggested killing them in a viral social media video have been identified. Gemma Crotty. Digital Reporter. February 12, 2025 - 4:50P Two Sydney nurses who were stood down after appearing in a viral antisemitic video have been identified.

Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh were stood down from their jobs as nurses at Bankstown Hospital on Wednesday after the video emerged of the pair speaking about refusing to treat, and suggesting killing, Israeli patients.

The two-minute video showed Nadir and Abu Lebdeh in their NSW Health scrubs as they appear to be filming the clip during a night shift at the hospital.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said on Wednesday morning an investigation involving the department and NSW Police was underway, with Premier Chris Minns later confirming the workers had been stood down. SkyNews AU

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Jordanian official paints Israeli flag on ground in front of offices: 'Everyone who enters must step on it'. Jordanian Bar Association deputy head Walid Al-Adwan actions garner support on social media and no condemnation from government; Israel says incident could harm relations. Yuval Karni, Lior Ben Ari | 2.12.25. YNet

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'Not Attacking Hezbollah on October 11—the greatest missed opportunity in Israel’s military history'. Since his dismissal as defense minister, Yoav Gallant stayed silent—until now. In an extensive interview with Nadav Eyal, he shares his version of how the war unfolded for the first time: From the devastating early-morning phone call with the IDF chief, to the grim faces in the command bunker and the realization that the war rested on his shoulders; From his plan to detonate Hezbollah’s pagers and assassinate Nasrallah at the outset, to the political maneuvering that delayed the northern offensive by a year... Nadav Eyal | 2.12.25. YNet

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Sign of life from hostage Eitan Mor. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 9:42 PM INN

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Hamas official: Hostage release to go on as planned. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 10:54 PM INN

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IDF Spokesman reveals: This is how Iran continues to smuggle funds to Hezbollah. Israel National News. Feb 12, 2025, 11:45 PM INN

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US intelligence reports: Israel considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Tziki Brandwine. Feb 13, 2025, 12:03 AM INN

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State Department: Rubio's Israel visit to center on Phase II of hostage deal. US State Department issues official statement about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Middle East from February 15-18, which will include a stop in Israel.

Elad Benari. Feb 13, 2025, 3:11 AM INN

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White House spokesperson: 'Trump won't waiver from Gaza relocation plan'. Elad Benari. Feb 13, 2025, 4:09 AM INN

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Hamas will not free all hostages now, calls for world-wide marches to oppose Trump's Gaza plan. Senior Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri says Trump's threats mean nothing and do not scare them, and that they are committed to deal as it was agreed. Ynet correspondents | 2.12.25. YNet

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Scott, Rosen reintroduce Antisemitism Awareness Act in Senate “It’s critical the Department of Education has the tools and resources it needs to investigate antisemitism,” said Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

(Feb. 12, 2025 / JNS) Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) reintroduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act in the Senate on Wednesday.

The bipartisan bill directs the U.S. Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when investigating acts of Jew-hatred on campus. JNS

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Trump, Putin agree to talks to end war with Ukraine. “First, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the war with Russia-Ukraine,” the U.S. president wrote.

(Feb. 12, 2025 / JNS) U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in which the two leaders agreed to hold talks to end the war in Ukraine.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the call as “lengthy and highly productive.” JNS

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Vast Majority of US Jews Reject Jewish Voice for Peace, Other Anti-Zionist Groups, Polling Data Shows. by Dion J. Pierre. February 12, 2025. Pro-Hamas protesters led by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) demonstrate outside the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 14, 2024. Photo: Derek French via Reuters Connect

A new poll released on Wednesday underscores how far removed Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and other anti-Zionist organizations that claim to represent Jews are from mainstream Jewish views on Israel, Zionism, and the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Algemeiner

Vast Majority of American Jews Believe Anti-Israel Campus Protests Are Anti-Semitic, Poll Finds, in Blow to JVP. Findings show that the American Jewish community 'rejects the assertions of these Jewish anti-Zionist groups,' says Jonathan Schulman. Alana Goodman February 12, 2025

The vast majority of American Jews believe the anti-Israel movements sweeping college campuses and U.S. cities are anti-Semitic, according to a new poll.

The results stem from a survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and commissioned by the Jewish Majority, a public relations and research organization. They reflect a major divide between the Jewish-American community and anti-Israel groups that claim to represent Jews, such as Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow.

Seventy percent of American Jews said anti-Zionist movements are anti-Semitic by definition, and 76 percent said the same about the anti-Israel protests at universities, according to the poll. FreeBeacon

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The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome @TheMossadIL:

Important update on the Bibas family.

IDF spox says the Bibas family are not in the hands of Hamas, rather another terror organization in Khan Yunis.

The IDF demands that all hostages including the Bibas family are to be brought together in Khan Yunis. Feb 12, 2025. on X

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Jewish celebrities offer a f**k you to Kanye West in viral AI video. Ynetnews| 2.12.25. YNet

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Terror victims file NIS 1.255 billion claim against Palestinian Authority. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 08:31 AM JPost

PA sued for 1.255 billion shekels. 245 terror victims and families are suing the Palestinian Authority for 1.255 billion shekels for supporting terrorism. Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 10:12 AM INN

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Jerusalem man to be charged for aiding Tel Aviv terrorist.

(Feb. 13, 2025 / JNS) The State Attorney’s Tel Aviv District Office filed a declaration of intent on Thursday to prosecute a 20-year-old resident of eastern Jerusalem for allegedly transporting a Palestinian terrorist who stabbed a man in Tel Aviv on Jan. 18.

According to police, the man picked up the assailant, 19-year-old Salah Yahya from Tulkarem in Samaria, who was illegally residing in Israel, in Atarot near Jerusalem and drove him to central Tel Aviv.

Authorities say the driver knew Yahya was in Israel illegally and posed a threat to Israeli citizens. To avoid suspicion, the driver reportedly displayed a yellow ribbon on his vehicle symbolizing solidarity with Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The terrorist stabbed a man at the intersection of Levontin and Mikveh Yisrael streets in Tel Aviv before being shot dead at the scene.

The 27-year-old victim was taken to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) with a wound to the head area. His condition was variously described as moderate and serious JNS

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Knesset speaker: Hamas killed two-state solution on Oct. 7. Amir Ohana told visiting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola that only Trump's plan for Gaza offers a path forward. JNS Staff.

(Feb. 13, 2025 / JNS) The Oct. 7, 2023, attacks marked the end of the two-state solution, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana told visiting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Jerusalem on Thursday.

“Today, I welcomed @EP_President Roberta Metsola back to the Knesset to discuss the hostages, Iran & UNRWA’s role in fueling terror,” Ohana tweeted. “I told her Hamas also killed the so-called ‘two-state solution’ on October 7th—and thanked her for her solidarity ever since.” [100]

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MK Arye Deri praises Interior Minister Moshe Arbel for deporting terrorist 'supporters'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/12/2025 11:33 PM JPost

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Two British nationals in custody in Iran on 'security charges', state media reports. By Reuters. 02/13/2025 01:34 AM JPost

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Former hostage Ohad Ben Ami discharged from hospital. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 01:21 PM JPost

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Rubio to visit Germany, Israel, Saudi and UAE, State Dept says. By Reuters. 02/13/2025 02:24 AM JPost

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IDF strikes car bomb in Jenin intended to detonate near troops - report. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 09:58 AM JPost

IDF strikes explosives-laden vehicle in Jenin. Troops detonate booby-trapped car, secondary explosions confirm it was rigged with explosives. Elisha Ben Kimon, Einav Halabi | 2.13.25. YNet

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39 cases of arson against synagogues, most were closed. Recent findings in a Knesset session highlight the extensive damage to religious institutions in Israel, but most were not investigated. Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 9:33 AM (GMT+2)

Recent findings from a debate in the Knesset shed new light on the extent of the damage to religious institutions in Israel.

Over the last five years, 39 investigations were launched due to synagogue arson, with more than half of these cases - 23 in total - being closed without resolution.

Seven of these incidents were classified as nationalist-motivated attacks.

During a discussion initiated by MK Simion Moshiashvili of Shas, it was revealed that the issue is even more widespread: alongside the arson cases, 18 cases related to the theft of Torah scrolls were opened, of which only five led to indictments. Fourteen of these thefts took place in synagogues and prayer sites.

"This is an unimaginable situation," Moshiashvili declared in the session. "The desecration of synagogues was always a symbol of Jewish persecution in the diaspora - it's inconceivable that this is occurring in the Jewish state. The response is silence, disdain, and apathy."

Minister Avi Dichter, responding on behalf of the government, pledged that the police are providing "prioritization and special attention" to these cases.

"When a single synagogue is attacked, it carries over to another place," he warned, "you are not harming a lone individual but an entire community."

At the conclusion of the session, it was decided to forward the issue to the National Security Committee for further address. "It's time to show a strong hand," Moshiashvili concluded, "and make it clear that those who dare to desecrate the sacred sites of Israel will face severe consequences." INN

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UCLA SJP suspended after demonstration and vandalization of UC regent's home. By Michael Starr. 02/13/2025 09:56 AM JPost

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Terror attack thwarted in Samaria Uzi Baruch. Feb 13, 2025, 10:40 AM INN

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Revealed: Terrorists recieve nonessential treatment. in Israeli hospitals. Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 10:50 AM INN

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Emotional: Agam Berger opens the bottle of araq reserved for her. Itzik Brandwin. Feb 13, 2025, 11:51 AM INN

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Israeli Arabs charged with planning terror attacks. Suspects, 18 and 21, indicted for plotting attack on civilians and security forces while expressing support for Hamas Raanan Ben-Zur, Meir Turgeman | 2.13.25. YNet

Two Arab Israelis planned shooting and ramming attacks. Uzi Baruch. Feb 13, 2025, 10:51 AM INN

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Three hostages will be released Saturday, as per original deal.

In official statement, Hamas terror group confirms deal is still on, says additional hostages will be released Saturday.

Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 12:19 PM INN

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UAE envoy: Currently ‘no alternative’ to Trump plan for Gaza Strip. UAE Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef al-Otaiba said Abu Dhabi was "going to try" to find common ground with Trump but called the plan "difficult." Akiva Van Koningsveld.

(Feb. 13, 2025 / JNS) While the United Arab Emirates regards U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza as “difficult,” Abu Dhabi has yet to see “an alternative to what’s being proposed,” the Emirati envoy to the United States said Wednesday. JNS

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Southern Lebanon: IDF uncovers weapons cache and launchers aimed at Israel. Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 4:09 PM INN

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Dozens of Hamas terrorists travel near border - IDF doesn't act. Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 5:01 PM INN

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US imposes sanctions on ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan. Following President Trump's executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC, the Treasury has added the court's prosecutor to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Yitz Goldberg. Feb 13, 2025, 6:11 PM INN

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(Related: What's behind the ICC sexual scandal and Kamala's radical pandering? JNS. Oct 21, 2024. JNS)

Arab Reports: Lebanon blocking flight from Tehran due to cash for Hezbollah. Yitz Goldberg. Feb 13, 2025, 7:30 PM INN

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Sign of life received from Hamas hostage Segev Kalfon.

The family of Segev Kalfon, who was abducted from the Nova Music Festival announced that it has received a sign of life from him.

Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 8:22 PM INN

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February 13, 2025. UN quietly stops reporting Hamas lie "10,000 missing under rubble". For months, the UN-OCHAOPT has faithfully reported Hamas statistics unless they were found to be completely bogus.

One of those statistics was the supposed 10,000 presumed dead Gazans missing or under the rubble, as this February 4 infographic says:

[101]

In its February 11 infographic, however, OCHA stopped reporting on that figure.

[102]

Others have also reported on the "10,000 buried under rubble" claim based on the UN quoting Hamas. EoZ

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US imposes sanctions against ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan. Trump administration blocks international court official's assets and visitation rights; Khan responsible for issuing arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant before being faced with sexual harassment charges Reuters | 2.13.25. YNet

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IDF attacked rocket launcher used to fire rocket which landed in Gaza, IDF says. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 05:25 PM JPost

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Macron: Syria must not see return of Iran proxy groups. By Reuters. 02/13/2025 07:03 PM JPost

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Agam Berger's father: 'The girls prayed and tried to keep Shabbat in captivity'. Yoni Kempinski. Feb 13, 2025, 8:39 PM INN

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Outgoing IDF chief to meet with the five observers freed from Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 08:50 PM JPost

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Security forces arrest illegal resident suspected of planning terror attack. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 10:00 PM JPost

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Report: IDF considering permanent outposts in Jenin. Israel National News. Feb 13, 2025, 10:24 PM INN

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IDF conducts airstrike in southern Lebanon. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/13/2025 11:27 PM JPost

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Rubio: Arab countries unwilling to accept Palestinian refugees. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/14/2025 01:15 AM JPost

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House Committee pressures Columbia University on antisemitism. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 7:31 AM INN

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Hostage families to Trump: 'Thank you, keep going. Our hope rests in you'. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 8:26 AM INN

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Report: Israel plans strike Iran's nuke program, seeks regime change. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 8:58 AM INN

Netanyahu, Trump discuss level of US support for Israeli strike on Iran, report. Ynet | 2.14.25. YNet

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IDF to present Kfar Aza residents results of Oct. 7 probe on kibbutz. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/14/2025 10:51 AM JPost

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ICRC local branch voices 'concern' over 'conditions of hostages'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/14/2025 11:00 AM JPost

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Hostage's father slams Netanyahu: 'Implement Trump's ultimatum, there won't be another chance'. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 11:31 AM INN

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Suspect with explosive belt arrested in Galilee. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 11:51 AM INN

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Granddaughter of Holocaust survivor terrorized with rape, death threats at German university. A man was arrested after he video called 27-year-old Pia Bernstein and threatened her with a gun, she told German media. By Jerusalem Post Staff. February 14, 2025.

Pia Bernstein, 27, has received death and rape threats and has been a victim of a social media hate campaign on her German university campus, according to a BILD interview with the Jewish student published on Friday.

During a discussion on antisemitism at her university, Goethe University in Frankfurt, she alleged she was pushed against the wall of her lecture hall - in an attack which left her shoulder injured.

The young student also said she received messages from anonymous individuals threatening to behead and or rape her.

"When I leave the lecture hall, I am always stalked. I am also filmed. Everything to intimidate me,” she told the German paper.

Bernstein’s photograph has been shared on social media, according to screenshots shared by the German newspaper. In one such image, the text “This person thinks it’s perfectly fine to kill Palestinian babies because their grandparents survived the Holocaust. What do we think?” was edited above her head.

Bernstein condemned the post as “sick” asserting that she had Palestinian friends.

In one of the many hateful messages shared by Bernstein, an anonymously sent message read “Inshallah, you will be shot…You should die…Your whole f***ing Israel…”

Who is behind the campaign of hate? The Jewish student alleged, based on her own investigations, that those behind the social media hate campaign are the same behind the pro-Palestinian demonstrations being carried out on campus - and many had become known to the police.

In response to the threats and harassment, Bernstein told BILD she filed over 60 police complaints which are still being investigated. Despite her involvement with authorities, she claimed that only a fine of €300 was issued against her harassers and the arrest of one man who threatened her with a gun on a video call.

Bernstein’s lawyer Jürgen Illing said, "It is a threatening situation that shapes her daily life."

Pro-Palestinian campus activities Goethe University, like many universities, has seen an increase in pro-Palestinian demonstrations since October 7 2023, when Hamas invaded southern Israel and murdered some 1200 people.

Last month, the university canceled the talk "Talking about (the Silencing of) Palestine. On its Epistemological and Political Challenges” - alleging the organizers had failed to properly identify themselves and engage with the university.

The university claimed that while the organizers advertised the event from the Autumn term of 2024, they remained anonymous and failed to contact the university about a room reservation until hours before the campus was due to suspend for winter break.

“Science needs openness and transparency. To date, the organizers have failed to establish any contact with the university management – the room reservation by our researcher aside,” explained Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff. “Goethe University researchers planning a conference of this size know how and with what lead time they have to book rooms, especially during the lecture period. The request was handled like any other room request, swiftly and in accordance with the university-wide regulations.”

The university has demanded in previous interactions with pro-Palestinian groups on campus that they name at least one representative as the institute will not interact with "anonymous actors."

The university also added a pre-condition that any meeting between groups and the institutions would be carried out under the pre-condition that Hamas was recognized as a terror organization.

Despite demanding a meeting before the university issued its terms, the university claims it has not received a response from the letter dated May 26, 2024.

The Hate Monitor is here to track antisemitism worldwide. JPost

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The Munich attack reveals a terrorised Germany. 14th February 2025. A few days ago, he posted on social media, posing in a forest with two other men, calling on God to guide ‘Muslims all over the world’, before signing off with: ‘Eradicate all those who are bad for Islam.’ SpikedOnline

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'No deportations': Vatican's top diplomat rebukes Trump's Gaza plan. By Reuters. 02/14/2025 12:09 PM JPost

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Samaria Brigade commander visits Israel Dog Unit. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 12:39 PM INN

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Suspected terror attack: Couple attacked with axe in front of their home. 60-year-old man lightly injured in axe attack in Gan Ner in the Gilboa region. Security forces searching for attacker who fled.

Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 12:57 PM INN

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Keith Siegel to Trump: 'You are the reason I am home alive, please bring the rest home'. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 1:14 PM INN

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After October 7th: Sheriffs learn from Jews how to treat the fallen. Yoni Kempinski. Feb 14, 2025, 1:45 PM INN

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Arab crashes stolen vehicle into IDF base gate near Nablus. The suspect was shot by Israeli soldiers.

(Feb. 13, 2025 / JNS) A Palestinian suspect driving a stolen vehicle crashed into the gate of the 442nd “Samaria” Brigade base near Nablus on Thursday morning. According to Kan News, the suspect attempted to flee after the crash but was shot by IDF soldiers.

No injuries were reported among the troops, and the suspect’s condition is currently unclear. JNS

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Trump Ed Dept nominee calls for new panel to tackle campus Jew-hatred. Schools should be defunded if they allow actions that endanger students, Linda McMahon told a Senate committee. Jonathan D. Salant.

(Feb. 14, 2025 / JNS) Linda McMahon, a businesswoman whom President Donald Trump nominated to be U.S. education secretary, told a Senate committee on Thursday that she would support a commission to investigate how well colleges and universities are fighting the surge in Jew-hatred since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack in southern Israel JNS

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Trump unveils historic trade corridor linking India, Israel, Italy, US. "It's a big development. It's a lot of money going to be spent and we've already spent some, but we're going to spending a lot more."

(Feb. 14, 2025 / JNS) President Donald Trump has announced a major trade corridor connecting India, Israel, Italy and the United States.

This ambitious project aims to reshape global trade with extensive investments in ports, railways and undersea cables. JNS

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Israel’s defense minister issues warning as Hamas allies send goods into Gaza So-called “charities” aligned have been trucking in aid in broad daylight. David Isaac.

([103]. Symbols of so-called "charities" proscribed for links to the Hamas terrorist group appear on aid trucks destined for the Gaza Strip).

(Feb. 14, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned all parties bringing aid into the Gaza Strip that attempts to smuggle unauthorized goods or equipment constitute grounds for the seizure and confiscation of the truck and the sanctioning of the driver. JNS

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Gaza terror groups confirm three captives to be freed on Saturday. American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen and Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov are among those set to be released.

([104]. Hamas captive Sagui Dekel-Chen with his wife, Avital, and daughters Bar, 6, and Gali, 2. Credit: Courtesy of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum).

(Feb. 14, 2025 / JNS) Three hostages will be released by Gaza-based terrorist groups on Saturday, according to a Hamas official on Friday, in line with the terms of the ceasefire.

Among those set for release is American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen. Separately, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group said that it would release Russian-Israeli Alexandre “Sasha” Troufanov as part of the arrangement. JNS

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Senate legislation aims to bolster sanctions against Iran, block ICC funding. “Taken together, this suite of bills sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly with Israel,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Jonathan D. Salant.

(Feb. 14, 2025 / JNS) Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.), introduced legislation this week to strengthen sanctions against Iran, expand U.S. defense cooperation with Israel and block funding for the International Criminal Court in The Hague. JNS

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Due to pneumonia. Released hostage Ofer Calderon. readmitted to hospital. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025. INN

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Turkish Foreign Minister. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/14/2025. JPost

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Conference of Presidents CEO: Trump's Gaza plan is a challenge to the world. Yoni Kempinski Feb 14, 2025, 2:55 PM INN

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Sa'ar to Palestinian Arab reporter: What you call Palestine is the land of Israel. At Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister responds to reporter who asked him about “Palestine”: It's a pity that all these years, we haven’t found a partner for peace, but we had enemies that never abandoned the path of terrorism and incitement. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Friday responded to a Palestinian Arab reporter who asked him at the Munich Security Conference about “Palestine” and said, “What you call Palestine is the land of Israel.”

The reporter, who said she is from Shechem (Nablus), asked Sa’ar about US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza and said it would result in Hamas being “outside of Palestine” where they will have much more visibility to mobilize.

“Israel took during the years very bold decisions, maybe mistaken, but bold decisions. Israel created the Palestinian Authority, bringing the PLO terrorists from Tunisia. Israel withdrew from all [of the] Gaza Strip. Israel more than gave a chance to [a] peace process with the Palestinians,” Sa’ar replied, then added, “I mean, the Palestinians never had, in the history of our country, never in history were sovereign in this land. What you call Palestine is the name that Caesar Adrianus gave to the land of Israel when he conquered it…So what you call Palestine is the land of Israel.”

“And it's a pity that in spite of all our efforts during all these years, we haven’t found a partner to go to real peace, but we had enemies that never abandoned the path of terrorism, incitement, and the will to destroy Israel was much stronger than the will to build their own state,” said Sa’ar.

He also spoke about the hostage release deal and made clear, “The war won't be over until we will bring all our hostages back home. Any hostage that comes back home to his family brings us closer to our objective. So it is very important…to continue to implement [the deal].” INN

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Hostage's mother: 'They are in chains, starving, suffering unimaginable torture' 'I won't stop until we bring you home. I'll do whatever it takes to save you,' hostage Matan Zangauker's mother Einav says at rally. Israel National News Feb 15, 2025, 11:25 PM INN

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Trump: 'I would take a hard stance on Gaza'. Elad Benari, Canada. Feb 14, 2025, 9:55 PM INN

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Over blocked flight. Hezbollah supporters target UN convoy. Israel National News. Feb 14, 2025, 10:44 PM INN

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Jordan’s FM: 'We cannot afford to take any more Palestinians'. Elad Benari, Canada Feb 14, 2025, 11:09 PM INN

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IAEA chief warms: 'Time is running out to curb Iran’s nuclear program'. Elad Benari, Canada. Feb 14, 2025, 11:41 PM INN

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UK tracks Russian ships carrying ammunition from Syria. By Reuters. 02/15/2025. Post

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'We will not forget and we will not forgive': Israel releases prisoners with words of warning. By Reuters , By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/15/2025. Post

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Senior UN peacekeeping officer injured as Hezbollah supporters attack convoy in Beirut. Terror group's supporters attack UNIFIL convoy near Beirut airport amid protests over Lebanon blocking an Iranian flight allegedly carrying cash for Hezbollah; UN and US condemn violence as Lebanon’s army warns of escalating unrest. Lior Ben Ari, Daniel Edelson, New York, Yoav Zitun | 2.15.25. YNet

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Herzi Halevi on release of three hostages: 'IDF remembers duty to bring them all home'. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/15/2025. Post

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Family of British nationals detained in Iran focused on ensuring their safe return. By Reuters. 02/15/2025. Post

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IAF fires at suspicious vehicles heading northward in central Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/15/2025. Post

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Tear gas fired to disperse protest by Hezbollah supporters near Beirut airport. By Reuters. 02/15/2025. Post

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After nearly 500 days: Yair, Sagui, and Sasha are back in Israel Sagui Dekel-Chen was informed of his daughter's birth, Sasha Troufanov of the murder of his father Vitaly. All three have arrived in hospitals in central Israel.

Uzi Baruch. Feb 15, 2025, 6:09 PM. INN

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Sagi was physically tortured, Yair transmitted life signals from abductees. Sasha was held alone throughout his captivity and did not know what happened to his family. Yollan Cohen. 2.16.25. Mako

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Hostages reunite with families as Trump leaves Israel to decide on ‘12 o’clock deadline’. Dekel-Chen, 36, was informed for the first time of his third daughter’s name, who was born while he was in captivity. JNS Staff.

([105]. Sagui Dekel-Chen, accompanied by his wife, Avital, meets his sisters Ofir and Dotan at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Ramat Gan, Feb. 15, 2025. Credit: IsraeliPM_heb/X).

(Feb. 15, 2025 / JNS) The three latest returnees from Hamas captivity in Gaza reunited on Saturday with their families in heartfelt scenes of elation and relief.

American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, met with his wife, Avital, and his parents at the IDF’s Re’im camp just outside the Strip before being flown by helicopter to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Ramat Gan. JNS

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IDF reinforces defense, sends warnings in preparation of prisoner releases. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/15/2025 06:19 PM Post

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Sagui hears his infant daughter's name for the first time. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 6:53 PM INN

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'Wow, you're a champ!' Yair Horn meets his father in the hospital. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 7:18 PM INN

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'She's such a strong woman'. Sasha meets his mother, and his girlfriend Sapir. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 7:22 PM INN

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'Don't be fooled by Hamas' ironed uniforms': Halevi speaks with Shayetet 13 fighters. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/15/2025 07:27 PM Post

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Terrorist killed in southern Lebanon in IDF drone strike. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/15/2025 08:04 PM Post

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Cost of the Deal: 369 terrorists released from Israeli custody. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 8:55 PM INN

Terrorists with blood on their hands: 36 convicted killers among prisoners set for release Saturday. Israel readies to free 369 prisoners in exchange for release of hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn and Sasha Troufanov as part of deal. Liran Tamari, Einav Halabi | 2.15.25. YNet

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Ohad Ben-Ami to hostages: With G-d's help, you'll be released soon. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 9:15 PM INN

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Syrian stabs people on street in Austrian town, killing one, police say. By Reuters. 02/15/2025 09:35 PM Post

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President Trump: 'Israel must choose what to do, we will support any decision'. Yoni Kempinski. Feb 15, 2025, 9:43 PM INN

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Watch: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Israel. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 11:02 PM INN

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Israeli official: We're weighing bringing caravans into Gaza. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 11:44 PM INN

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'They are in chains, starving, suffering unimaginable torture'. Israel National News. Feb 15, 2025, 11:25 PM INN

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Terror victims: 'The images of victory will increase terrorism'. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 1:59 AM INN

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Biden ‘proud’ of hostage deal as Sagui Dekel-Chen is freed. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 3:01 AM INN

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These are the 14 remaining hostages to return in Phase I of the deal, and those who remain alive for Phase II. Yuval Karni | 2.15.25. YNet

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Netanyahu's office accuses Hamas of trying to derail deal after hostage release Yuval Karni | 2.15.25. YNet

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Freed Palestinian prisoners wear Star of David shirts. Liran Tamary, Einar Halabi | 2.15.25. YNet

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First testimonies: Dekel-Chen was tortured by Hamas, didn’t know his family survived; Troufanov didn’t know his father was murdered. By ToI Staff. 15 February 2025, 9:58 pm.

Channels 12, 13, and Kan TV tonight carry bits of information from today’s freed hostages that they have conveyed to their families and that the military censor has permitted for publication.

Among the key details:

All three of the hostages freed today endured “very harsh captivity, including physical abuse.”

All three were very hungry when released. All three have learned Arabic in captivity.

Sagui Dekel-Chen and Iair Horn were held together, and with other hostages, in recent days. For most of their captivity, they were in tunnels.

They were held with other hostages and have returned with signs of life regarding at least three.

Both men were wounded when they were abducted and suffered abuse that exacerbated their injuries.

Sasha Troufanov was held alone.

All three were held in Khan Younis, from where they were freed today, mere hundreds of meters from their homes on Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Iair Horn has told his family that he and his brother Eitan were held together early in their captivity, but not recently. He has said Eitan is injured in the leg. He was compelled by his captors to film a video in which he talks about Eitan, Kan reports.

He has lost tens of kilograms in weight, and received almost no medical treatment. TOI

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Netanyahu and Rubio: Everything coordinated including 'when gates of hell will open'. Prime minister and US secretary of state meet in Jerusalem; Netanyahu emphasizes that he has 'made it clear Iran must not have nuclear weapons' and that Hamas must not pose a threat to Israel; Rubio says Iran is the major source of instability in the region and Hamas cannot remain dominant force in Gaza. Moran Aopen. | 2.16.25 YNet

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Alex Trupanov prays for hostages' return Released captive holds prayer with Russia’s Chief Berel Lazar for the 1st time in nearly 500 days, meets Russian ambassador. Shilo Freid, Moran Azulay | 2.16.25. YNet

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Here’s why it’s legal for U.S. to take over Gaza. Human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky argues those preventing Gazans from leaving are truly violating international law. Sivan Raviv, ILTV | 2.16.25. YNet

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Israel's Eurovision pick challenged in court. Creators opposing selection of a song by Keren Peles claim conflicts of interest and demand a new selection process. Ran Boker | 2.16.25. YNet

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Yoseph Haddad's warning to Arabs of Judea and Samaria. Dalit Halevi. Feb 16, 2025, 7:53 AM INN

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Report: Netanyahu blocking mobile homes from Gaza. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 9:55 AM INN

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Watch: 'I talked about you while in captivity'. Ohad Ben-Ami, recently released from Hamas captivity, requested to meet Maor Cohen, known for distributing LEGO kits to hospitalized children. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 11:18 AM (GMT+2)

Ohad Ben-Ami, recently released from Hamas captivity, expressed his desire to meet Maor Cohen, famous for distributing LEGO kits to injured or ill children. Ben-Ami said to Cohen, "We spoke about you in captivity, about your kindness. I admire you. Keep doing what you're doing." INN

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Rubio meets Netanyahu. 'Trump insists Hamas can't have governing, military capabilities'. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 2:01 PM INN

Israel in ‘full cooperation’ with Trump, say Netanyahu, Rubio. "We have a shared strategy, which cannot always be detailed to the public—including when the gates of hell will open." Joshua Marks. ([106]. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands during a joint press conference in Jerusalem on Feb. 16, 2025. Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO).

(Feb. 16, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working closely with President Donald Trump, according to a joint statement released on Sunday with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. JNS

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Antisemitism Down Under: Jewish midwife faces backlash for reporting antisemitic nurses. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 3:04 PM INN

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Smotrich promises: 'This year we will demolish more than the PA builds'. Hezki Baruch. Feb 16, 2025, 4:58 PM INN

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Cabinet ratifies appointment of Eyal Zamir as IDF Chief of Staff. Government approves Chief of Staff's appointment Minister Smotrich: 'Great tasks lie ahead of us as a people, as a state and as an army. First and foremost, a complete victory on all fronts.'

Uzi Baruch. Feb 16, 2025, 5:32 PM INN

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With IDF security: Hamas crews work near border, lay explosives. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 6:00 PM INN

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Rubio to Herzog: 'Iranian regime behind all challenges in the region'. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 4:29 PM INN

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'Zionist pig[sic]' shouted by thousands of pro-Palestine marchers at London rally. One of the pro-Palestinian marchers made a Hitler salute at the Israel supporters, resulting in his arrest by the Metropolitan Police. By Jerusalem Post Staff. February 16, 2025.

“Zionist pig[sic]” was just one of the antisemitic insults hurled at Israel supporters by tens of thousands of London pro-Palestine demonstrators on Saturday, The Telegraph announced.

According to The Telegraph, the pro-Palestine marchers started shouting, "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Mohammed will return," which is believed to be a threat to Jews and Israelis.

The rally cry was directed at Stop the Hate, a Jewish activist group.

'Hate marches' Stop the Hate added, “They’re not interested in peaceful solutions. They want to destroy all of Israel and Jews to be ethnically cleansed. These are hate marches.” JPost

Thousands march in London against Trump Gaza plan. Police arrested several demonstrators, including one who allegedly performed a Nazi salute at a pro-Israel counter rally. JNS Staff.

(Feb. 16, 2025 / JNS) Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators on Saturday attended one of the largest anti-Israel rallies in London since 2023, themed around opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for relocating the residents of the Gaza Strip.

Police made several arrests, including of a man who allegedly performed a Nazi salute toward participants of a smaller, pro-Israel counterprotest, The Standard reported. Others arrested were suspected of causing criminal damage, showing support for a proscribed organization and breach of the conditions of the rally, according to the report.

The protesters carried signs such as “Trump, get your filthy hands off Gaza” and “Free Palestine, exist, resist, return.”

Prominently placed at the rally, which began with a march through London, members of Neturei Karta—a small, radically anti-Israel Jewish Haredi group—held signs reading: “Judaism condemns the State of Israel and its atrocities” and “Stop Israel.”

The march ended with a rally outside the U.S. Embassy in London, where several speakers, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, expressed opposition to Trump’s relocation plan.

Stop The Hate, a pro-Israel group, staged the counterprotest on the junction of Grosvenor Road and Vauxhall Bridge. The rally was the 24th mass event in support of Gaza and in opposition to Israel that has taken place in London since the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

In recent weeks, Trump spoke on several occasions about plans to have the roughly 2 million residents of Gaza leave while the area is being rehabilitated.

The U.S. president said he had discussed the issue of relocation with Jordan and Egypt, both of which, along with other Arab countries, have publicly rejected Trump’s proposal. However, he has dismissed their opposition, insisting that the proposal will be implemented.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Saturday said that Arab countries were formulating a plan to rehabilitate Gaza without displacing its population.

Last week, Jordan’s King Abdullah II traveled to Washington, where he announced his country was willing to take in 2,000 severely ill Gazan children and their families. JNS

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Pallywood blockbuster Unreal. Feb 16, 2025. JNS

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Haaretz moves on to the prophecy phase. (Prophecies of destruction, of course).

Hanan Amior | 02.16.25 |

Humanitarian aid trucks enter the Gaza Strip (Photo: Abd Rahim Kataib Flash 90)

Last Thursday, Gideon Levy advanced in life and became a prophet of wrath.

And so he prophesied, from the pages of Haaretz:

The renewal of the "war" is the greatest disaster facing us, and it heralds genocide, now without any debate about the definition. And what will the "war" look like now, if not as an attack on tens of thousands of destitute refugees? And what will the stopping of humanitarian aid, fuel, medicine and water mean, if not genocide? Perhaps it will yet appear that its first 15 months were only the appetizer, and the first 50,000 deaths were the forerunner.

"Now without any debate about the definition"!

Well, there is actually a debate. Not just about the definition, but also about the prophecy.

Let's start with the official definition of genocide, as it appears in the 1948 UN Genocide Convention:

Acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

Everything has already been written and exhausted, but let us recall it again:

Israel, in its official policy, acts in exactly the opposite way of the definition. It carries out actions that are contrary to its wartime interest, with the clear aim of protecting the Palestinians, not eliminating them.

To this end, it safely moves them out of the combat zones so that they will not be harmed, even though it is not obliged to do so, since in a situation of deliberate war action among a civilian population, international law places the blame for civilian casualties on the party that used them as human shields, i.e. Hamas, and not on the party that fought under these impossible conditions, i.e. Israel.

In the language of Article 28 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Times of War:

The existence of a protected area will not serve as a pretext for immunizing certain points or areas against military operations.

Israel is taking another military action, which is clearly intended to protect the Palestinians in Gaza and not to destroy them, and it is of course the introduction of humanitarian aid, which it is also not obliged to introduce under international law.

According to the Hague Regulations, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the First Protocol to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the side that is besieging the opposing side in a war is not obliged to introduce food to the enemy's civilians, if the food is also used by the fighting side. And yet, even though Hamas not only uses the humanitarian aid that Israel allows to be introduced, but also takes over it and steals it from its citizens, Israel continues to bring in the trucks, because it wants to protect the civilians and not destroy them. Exactly the opposite of what Haaretz and Gideon Levy claim...

And the question arises, why is Levy writing this and Haaretz publishing it? What is the basis of the matter?

In my opinion, the reason is Levi and Haaretz's basic aversion to Israel and their view of it as a barbaric society, and in contrast, their basic sympathy for the Palestinians.

The same sympathy that caused them, two days after the October 7 massacre, to publish an article of sympathy and even support for the barbaric massacre in the surrounding settlements, wrapped in mockery of the Israeli victims, admiration for the level of carrying out by the terrorists, and understanding of their motives. Presspectiva

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List of alleged 'collaborators' with police spreads in Arab sector. Security forces warn people mistakenly detailed on document could be ostracization and even murdered; as murders continues to rise in Arab society.

Raanan Ben-Zur|2.16.25.

A list of alleged "collaborators" with the Israel Police was circulated in Arab communities on Sunday, mainly in central Israel, accusing those named of aiding the police. The list was accompanied by calls to boycott them, refuse to pray or marry them — and even harm them. Some of the individuals named are innocent residents with no ties to crime or law enforcement. YNet

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Netanyahu: 'Trump and I know how and when the gates of hell will open'. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 8:24 PM INN

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Steve Witkoff: 'Trump's policy program is about peace through strength'. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 8:44 PM INN

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Avital Dekel-Chen: Shahar saw her father for the first time in real life. Israel National News. Feb 16, 2025, 9:26 PM INN

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Trump on ultimatum to Hamas:

'Up to Israel what to do next, in consultation with me'. US President comments on the ultimatum he gave to Hamas that it must release all the hostages. "I told Bibi, you do whatever you want...the next step is up to Israel, in consultation with me."

Elad Benari Feb 16, 2025, 11:21 PM INN

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Former Biden adviser: 'Hamas is the one that blocked hostage deal'. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 12:13 AM INN

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Strike in Syria: US army eliminates senior member of Al-Qaeda offshoot. Elad Benari. Feb 17, 2025, 2:15 AM INN

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AG @AGHamilton29: Worth watching.

There were so many horrors on 10/7. Among them is what Adam mentions here about his family. I am aware of at least two other families who found out their family members were killed because Hamas uploaded the deaths on the victim's social media during the attack. Adam Ma’anit 🎗️ @adammaanit I am raising money for the @BoardofDeputies crowdfunding campaign. The BOD have stood right by me and my family, and that of all the hostages, and have worked so hard to campaign for them. Please consider supporting our work and share widely. Link below 🙏💙🎗️ February 16, 2025. On X

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Raylan Givens @JewishWarrior13: This is what Israel is all about: Our IDF hero, Idan Amadi, a famous singer and actor who fought in Gaza and was severely injured, almost dying, met with the freed IDF hostages to sing for them. Feb 16, 2025 on X

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Visegrád 24 @visegrad24: A video from the Oct. 7th Massacre people should never forget.

Hamas terrorists murdered Bracha's grandmother in her own home.

They then took her phone, filmed her butchered body & posted the video on the elderly woman’s Facebook page to hurt her family. February 16, 2025. on X

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Raylan Givens @JewishWarrior13: 🚨 The IDF released intercepted communications among Hams terrorists during a pivotal moment in the war. This information reveals several key points: ➡️ Hams was in complete panic due to the IDF's advances. They were redirecting all aid towards their militants. ➡️There is full collaboration between Hams and UNRWA. ➡️At one point, the Hams terrorists were openly threatening their leadership (Sinwar and Deif), even expressing intentions to settle scores with them. ➡️Hams leadership sent people to beat and threaten the wives of activists who were complaining. Feb 16, 2025 on X

Hamas leaders hoarded stolen aid, leaked recordings show. Pressure from the Biden administration drove continued supply shipments to Gaza, despite the terrorist group's theft at the expense of civilians. (Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS)

Newly uncovered Hamas radio communications from the Swords of Iron war, aired by Israel’s Channel 12 News on Sunday, reveal internal tensions within the terrorist organization, particularly over the distribution of humanitarian aid.

The recordings feature operatives accusing the leadership of hoarding stolen supplies for themselves. One operative even threatens, “Tell the leadership in Khan Yunis—we’ll tear you apart.”

Humanitarian aid became a focal point in the November 2023 ceasefire deal. Hamas had agreed to release hostages in exchange for increased aid entering Gaza, and after the deal, 250 trucks of humanitarian supplies entered the Strip daily. However, these recordings reveal that much of this aid, intended for the civilian population, ended up with Hamas leadership.

Jerusalem’s concerns about the aid focused on how it bolstered Hamas’s strength. Israeli officials argued that it primarily benefited the terrorist organization, enabling it to continue its operations.

Israeli officials shared the recordings with their counterparts in the Biden administration, attempting—unsuccessfully—to push back against White House pressure to continue allowing the daily entry of 250 aid trucks into Gaza after the November 2023 truce collapsed.

A security source quoted in the report stated, “The Americans helped us a lot at the start of the war, but at some point, they tied one of our hands. Not only did the flow of humanitarian aid not feed Gaza’s civilians—it helped Hamas recover, and in that sense, we helped them get back on their feet.” JNS

Raylan Givens @JewishWarrior13: 🔴 In other words, by overwhelmingly supporting Trump's transfer plan, they say: the hostages now, then finish of Hams and empty of the Strip. Raylan Givens @JewishWarrior13 🚨 News 12 Poll: A large majority of the Israeli public, 68%, prefers the return of the hostages to the dismantling of Hams, even at the cost of the organization's survival. The public also supports Trump's transfer plan by a majority of 68%. Feb 17, 2025 On X

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FDD: ‘Neither Hamas Nor the Palestinian Authority’: Netanyahu Rejects Reports of Gaza Power Transfer. February 17, 2025. Latest Developments Netanyahu Rejects Post-War PA Governance in Gaza: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on February 17 that “the day after the war in Gaza, neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will be there.” Netanyahu’s statements came following unconfirmed Arabic media reports that the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist organization had agreed to a conditional transfer of power in Gaza to the PA following pressure from Egypt.

Trump’s Plan Embraced: Netanyahu said that he is “committed” to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “plan to create a different Gaza,” — a reference to Trump’s proposal that would allow Palestinians to voluntarily relocate to other nations while Gaza is rebuilt under United States oversight. Egypt has reportedly crafted an alternative plan to present to the United States later this month that aims to rebuild Gaza within three to five years without displacing Palestinian civilians.

Next Phase of Hostage Deal in Negotiations: Israel will send a delegation to Egypt on February 17 for talks on phase 2 of the current ceasefire and hostage deal. The contingent traveling to Cairo will be led by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, the Coordinator for Hostages and the Missing, and another official known as “M.,” from Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet.

FDD Expert Response “Suppose the United States and Israel identify a suitable candidate to replace Hamas in governing the Gaza Strip. In that case, all parties must recognize that Hamas and other terrorist factions will pose significant obstacles to implementing these plans. Achieving success will require Hamas and its allies to willingly relinquish power, which seems unlikely unless they are forcefully removed. Given Hamas’ track record of prioritizing its rule over civilian lives and its willingness to endure substantial losses to maintain control, it is improbable that the group will abandon its position without another round of significant fighting.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The PA can barely maintain control in the West Bank, where Iran-backed terrorists have dug in, and violence has skyrocketed. West Bank terrorists not only continue to perpetrate lethal attacks against Israelis but also present a credible threat to Mahmoud Abbas’s leadership. The idea that the aged, ailing, and deeply unpopular Abbas could govern Gaza and prevent a Hamas resurgence in the enclave is far-fetched to say the least.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Networks. FDD

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Israeli majority rejects Palestinian Authority taking over Gaza, survey Sixty percent of Israelis, including 56% of Arab Israelis, oppose integrating the Palestinian Authority into a future arrangement in Gaza, according to a recent survey by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA).

The poll was conducted among a representative sample of more than 700 Jewish and Arab Israelis aged 18-65. Some 62% of the respondents, including 68% of Jews and 25% of Arabs, said they were concerned about an attack originating from the West Bank similar to the October 7 massacre.

The survey was carried out by Dr. Menachem Lazar’s Lazar Research Institute. It reflected a shift in public opinion regarding a potential Palestinian state.

Following the October 7 massacre, 67% of Israelis, including 75% of Jews, opposed establishing a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, according to the survey. Forty-two percent of Arabs supported the establishment of a Palestinian state without conditions, which was a 10% increase from a previous survey.

“The Israeli public is very clear about what it expects from Israel’s leadership when considering ‘the day after’ the war in Gaza,” the report said.

The prospect of normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia has not swayed Israeli opinion, the survey indicated. Opposition to a Palestinian state remained more than 60% even when normalization with Riyadh was offered as an incentive, the report said.

The possibility of Hamas retaining any control in Gaza, whether as a civil or military body, was overwhelmingly rejected by the respondents. The survey found that 82% of Israelis, including 90% of Jews and 33% of Arabs, opposed Hamas remaining in any civilian capacity.

Regarding the notion of Hamas maintaining military power, 94% of Jewish respondents and 46% of Arab respondents opposed the idea. JPost

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Marking 500 days, hostage families press gov’t for swift release of all 73. (Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS).

Members of the Tikva Forum for Families of Hostages, which represents relatives who oppose concessions to Hamas, urged the Israeli government on Monday to leverage U.S. President Donald Trump’s support to get all 73 remaining captives out of Gaza by March 1, when the first phase of the ceasefire is due to expire.

Speaking at a press conference outside the Knesset marking 500 days since Hamas kidnapped their loved ones during the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion, Tikva co-founder Tzvika Mor opened by addressing Cabinet ministers who were set to convene to discuss the next stage of the Gaza truce.

“Today, you will talk about our loved ones who remain there,” Mor said. “We told you for 500 days that this way, you will not succeed in bringing everyone back, because talking to Hamas is a waste of time. You decided to negotiate, you decided to go for an agreement: Bring everyone back together.” JNS

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IDF PodCast: Special Episode: 500 Days of War. For 500 days, Israel has been fighting a war on multiple fronts. In this special episode of Mission Brief, we spoke with soldiers from Lotar, the IDF’s elite counterterrorism unit, who have been on the front lines since October 7.

Lotar has played a crucial role in eliminating threats and protecting civilians.

Hear firsthand accounts of their most intense operations, the challenges they’ve faced and what it takes to be part of one of the IDF’s most elite units. February 17, 2025. IDF

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Israeli Citizen Spox 500 days in Hamas dungeons. February 17, 2025. on X

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Israel ישראל @Israel:

500 days in hell.

500 days too long.

We will not rest until

Every

Last

Hostage

Is

Home. February 17, 2025. on X

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Kosher🎗🧡 @koshercockney: The is Kim Damti, an Irish Citizen 🇮🇪 that was brutally murdered on October 7th by Hamas.

Could you imagine her family knowing how certain Irish people like President Michael D. Higgins have been behaving lately?

Here is her story and some words from the heart from her family:

She was at the Nova Festival.

Her mother said Kim called her at 6:30 a.m. as Hamas was attacking the party, and asked:

“Mummy, what should I do?” Her son took the phone and told her to seek shelter, and that was the last they heard from her.

Her body was discovered several days later, and she was buried in Gedera on October 12.

Damti is survived by her parents, Jennifer and Gidon, and four siblings. Her family owns the well-known Falafel Damti stand in Gedera, where Kim grew up.

Her cousin, Hadas Damti Padlon, described Kim as “beloved, beautiful and good, whose only sin was going to a party to dance and enjoy.”

“Kimmy was a source of pride and joy to her parents and siblings,” she wrote.

“Kim was a beautiful, gentle, light-filled girl, there was nobody who didn’t love her, she was a ray of sunshine in the world!”

Her relative, Nasrin Damti, described Kim as “my angel… I am broken and destroyed and cannot believe that I won’t get to see your beautiful smile anymore.

My Kimmy, you were the angel of the family and especially of me. Watch over us from above, and give us the strength to deal with the horrible pain.”

At her funeral, her brother Daniel Damti eulogized her and spoke of her final moments.

“Kimmy, our flower, my little sister… you were always full of generosity. You left for the party and I told you, ‘Go, have fun, this is your time.'” He said they last spoke at 7 a.m. and she told him she was hiding out in a shelter, “and I was relieved. I didn’t know that that’s where it would end.”

“You will always stay in my heart, smart and pure, I’ll never forget you. I promise you I’ll protect everyone, the whole family. Our angel, you will always stay beautiful in our memories,” he said.

At the ceremony, her sister, Emily Damti, lamented the loss of “Kimmy, my little sister, my sunshine, my flower girl, my successful, beautiful sister. I can’t get your smile out of my head. I can’t imagine summing up your life when you just started living.”

Emily said she “received a gift to spend 22 years by your side, I was privileged to be your sister.

You managed to do so much during that time, an excellent student, who also found time for fun… What a treasure was stolen from me. I wanted to do so many more things with you… I will always remember you dancing with a smile on your face. My angel.” [107]. May her memory be a blessing 🕯️ Feb 17, 2025. in X

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Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 @MarinaMedvin: Only 3 teeth of hers were buried — that’s all the Palestinians left of her on October 7. Everything else they burned beyond recognition.

Remember that when you discuss what should happen to Gaza. [108] Feb 17, 2025 on X

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Family, friends fear for fate of Nepali hostage Bipin Joshi: ‘He saved our lives’. February 17, 2025. [109]. When Hamas terrorists stormed the farm he was working on in Kibbutz Alumim, Nepali agriculture student Bipin Joshi risked his life to save his friends, who fear for his fate after 500 days he has been in captivity in Gaza.

Unlike some others seized during the October 7, 2023 attack — when thousands of terrorists killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 in southern Israel, sparking the war in Gaza — there has been no information about the 24-year-old since that day.

“He knew nothing about this war, and it’s been 16 months that he is captive,” said Himanchal Kattel, a close friend who has Joshi to thank for surviving the attack.

“People should talk more about him,” said Kattel, also a Nepali agriculture student who was working with Joshi at the farm in Alumim, near the Gaza border.

Few in Israel remember Joshi’s name or recognize the face of one of the five foreign hostages still held in Gaza since the 2023 attack — just two of whom, including Joshi, are thought to be alive.

In Nepal, his father Mahananda Joshi told AFP the family was extremely worried, waiting “for any news — anything — about him.”

“So many others have been released but our son remains captive,” said the father. TOI

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Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ @Ostrov_A: Just heartbreaking ❤️‍🩹.

Iair Horn was released from captivity only three days ago. In this video, recorded today, 500 days since the war, he breaks down, describing how much he wants to see his brother, who is still in captivity, back! February 17, 2025. on X

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Lishay Miran-Lavi @LishayLM:

Omrili, I can’t believe it’s been 500 days.

It feels like one long nightmare of a day.

So many sunrises and sunsets.

Sometimes I fall and break down, but keep going. We won’t stop til we can hold you in our arms. February 17, 2025. on X

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Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig: “They said our unity is our strength”

Agam Berger, who survived 482 days in Hamas captivity, in a powerful call: stay united to bring the remaining hostages home. February 17, 2025 on X

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Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig: Released hostage Emily Damari at the Kotel/Western wall: “In the holiest place for the Jewish people I came to pray for Gali, Ziv and all the hostages who are in Hamas captivity for 500 days. They have to come back as soon as possible.”

It's customary to leave a note in the cracks of the wall with a prayer and request, and Emily wrote: "With the help of God, may all Israeli hostages who are held in Hamas captaincy return in the coming days. Give Gali and Ziv health, strength to survive. Give them faith to know they’ll be back home so on." [110] February 17, 2025. on X

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Chief Rabbi of Russia: 'Putin is involved in the efforts to release the hostages'. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 4:47 AM INN

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IDF arrests 13 wanted persons in West Bank. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/17/2025 6:32 AM JPost

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Father of hostage Nimrod Cohen says family received sign of life. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/17/2025 9:31 AM JPost

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Security forces arrest two residents of North suspected of planning terror attack. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/17/2025 11:05 AM JPost

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Israel economy grew 2.5% in Q4, 1% in 2024, statistics bureau. By Reuters. 02/17/2025 01:08 PM JPost

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EBU approves Israeli song for Eurovision. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/17/2025 02:15 PM JPost

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Ohad Ben-Ami to Pres. Herzog: 'We were six people in six meters, 30 meters underground'. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 2:13 PM INN

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Radwan Force underground terrorist infrastructure dismantled.

The underground structure extended for dozens of meters and contained living quarters and combat equipment.

Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 3:51 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Smotrich freezes additional PA funds. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 4:01 PM INN

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920 civilians murdered in terror attacks since October 7, National Insurance Institute reveals. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/17/2025 05:13 PM JPost

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Lebanon extends suspension of flights from and to Iran, Lebanese presidency says. By Reuters. 02/17/2025 05:19 PM JPost

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'Do a good deed for the hostages' Agam Berger speaks for first time since her release. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 5:39 PM INN

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Gallant: Israel has defeated 'enemies' militarily, but political action is needed for true victory. By Jerusalem Post Staff 02/17/2025 05:46 PM JPost

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Report: Israel preparing to receive the bodies of 5 hostages this week.

The bodies of 5 hostages who were killed in captivity could be returned as early as this Thursday, according to a new report. 3 more hostages are also scheduled for release on Saturday.

Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 6:16 PM INN

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IAF strikes at suspicious vehicles moving north from central Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff 02/17/2025 06:34 PM JPost

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Hamas “Fattened Up” Ofer Calderon With Rotten Food Before His Release February 17, 2025 YWN

Ofer Calderon's uncle: Hamas stuffed him ahead of his release. Shami Calderon, uncle of released hostage Ofer Calderon, says Hamas terrorists stuffed Ofer ahead of his release in ceasefire deal. 'Three months before his release he weighed 25 kilograms less.' Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 10:59 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Despite Ceasefire: Israel to retain five bases in Lebanese territory. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 6:42 PM INN

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IDF confirms it will remain in five Lebanon outposts after deadline. Jerusalem's decision to keep boots on the ground over the border was made in conjunction with the Trump administration.

(Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS) Israel Defense Forces soldiers will remain deployed at five outposts in Southern Lebanon beyond the Feb. 18 deadline set out in the truce deal with Beirut, the army’s Northern Command confirmed on Monday. JNS

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Israel eliminates top Hamas commander in Lebanon. Muhammad Shaheen, the head of Hamas's Operations Department in Lebanon, had been planning attacks against Israeli citizens, according to Israeli security forces. JNS Staff, Natan Galula.

(Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS) The Israeli Air Force on Monday eliminated the head of Hamas’s Operations Department in Lebanon near Sidon, according to a joint Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) statement. JNS

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Katz to US senators: No Palestinian state, only Trump’s plan ensures safety. "Trump's plan regarding Gaza is the only one that can guarantee security for the residents of the south and the State of Israel after the lessons learned from the events of Oct. 7," said the Israeli defense minister. JNS Staff.

(Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz informed a bipartisan delegation of visiting U.S. senators on Sunday that Israel “will never agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger its existence.” JNS

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'All options on the table' against Iran, says Waltz. The U.S. could talk with the Iranians if they forgo their “entire [nuclear] program,” said the U.S. National Security Advisor. JNS Staff

(Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS) “All options are on the table” to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said on Sunday. JNS

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Dangerous Dope: CBS Anchor Stupidly Insists That Free Speech Led To The Holocaust, Gets Shut Down By Rubio [VIDEO]. February 17, 2025.

CBS journalist Margaret Brennan faced swift backlash Sunday after making an outrageous and historically inaccurate claim that free speech was “weaponized” to enable the Holocaust. The comment came during a heated exchange with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Face the Nation, in which Brennan displayed a shocking lack of understanding of Nazi Germany.

The controversy erupted as Rubio defended Vice President JD Vance, who had criticized European censorship in a fiery speech at the Munich Security Conference. Brennan, however, suggested that free speech had been used as a tool for genocide in Nazi Germany—a claim so factually absurd that even seasoned political figures were stunned.

Brennan, 44, tried to frame Vance’s defense of free speech as problematic, arguing: “Well, he was standing in a country where free speech was weaponized to conduct a genocide.”

Rubio immediately shut her down, calling out her complete lack of historical knowledge.

“No, I have to disagree with you. Free speech was not used to conduct a genocide,” Rubio shot back. “The genocide was conducted by an authoritarian Nazi regime that happened to also be genocidal because they hated Jews and minorities.”

Then came the crushing reality check: “There was no free speech in Nazi Germany. There was none.”

Indeed, Nazi Germany was a brutal dictatorship where dissent was violently crushed, the press was state-controlled, and those who spoke out against Hitler were jailed or executed. For Brennan—a supposedly seasoned journalist—to suggest otherwise is not just ignorant, but an insult to history itself.

Vance himself took to X to slam Brennan’s absurd take.

“This is a crazy exchange. Does the media really think the Holocaust was caused by free speech?”

Even White House Communications Director Steven Cheung weighed in, blasting Brennan’s comments as “bizarre” and “disgusting.”

“Margaret Brennan of CBS News is going through some bizarre episode as she makes disgusting excuses for Nazis and the Holocaust,” he wrote.

For the record, Nazi Germany was one of the most oppressive regimes in modern history, where:

-Dissent was outlawed—speaking against the government could land someone in a concentration camp. -The press was strictly controlled, with only Nazi-approved propaganda allowed. -Jews, political opponents, and intellectuals were silenced through arrests, book burnings, and violence. -The Nazis didn’t “weaponize” free speech—they destroyed it, along with millions of lives.

Brennan’s stunning ignorance on national television is a disgrace to journalism and a gross insult to Holocaust victims. She should apologize immediately—or better yet, pick up a history book. YWN

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In public comments, Saudis non-committal to Trump’s Gaza plan. Crown prince holds three-hour meetings with top Trump administration officials • Saudi statement doesn’t even mention Strip. Mike Wagenheim.

(Feb. 17, 2025 / Riyadh / JNS) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for about three hours with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday as the Trump administration looked for clarity on Riyadh’s position on a pan-Arab plan for post-war Gaza. JNS

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UN official employs word salads in defending anti-Jewish, anti-Israel vitriol. Challenged by a Norwegian journalist, Francesca Albanese says “you can make up your own definition” of antisemitism. Mike Wagenheim.

(Feb. 17, 2025 / JNS) A Norwegian journalist appeared to surprise a controversial U.N. official, starting a television interview by asking if the anti-Israel bulldog is an antisemite.

Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for Palestinian rights, has been accused by the American, French and German governments of antisemitism, and is known for her relentless criticism of Israel and utilizing Jewish tropes in her rhetoric. JNS

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Trump’s Pentagon Pick Under Fire: Mark Levin Slams Top Defense Choice As A National Security Threat. February 17, 2025.

Fox News host Mark Levin launched a scathing attack Sunday night on Elbridge Colby, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, accusing him of undermining national security with past remarks on Iran’s nuclear program.

Levin’s criticism followed right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s claim that Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) was trying to block Colby’s confirmation. Kirk accused Cotton of working “behind the scenes” to derail Trump’s nominee, arguing that Colby was essential in stopping what he called the “Bush/Cheney cabal” at the Department of Defense.

However, several Republican senators have voiced concerns over Colby’s views, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions... YWN

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First sign of life from hostage David Cunio Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 7:49 PM INN

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Former hostage Iair Horn: 'I need only 1 thing, bring back my brother and all hostages'. Israel National News. Feb 17, 2025, 8:42 PM INN

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Netanyahu: Enforce UNRWA law immediately, no exceptions By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/17/2025 09:08 PM JPost

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Herzog to travel to Hungary to commemorate 80th anniversary of Holocaust. By Greer Fay Cashman 02/17/2025 10:48 PM JPost

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Noa Argamani in Miami: 'We have to bring an end to this nightmare'. Israel National News. Feb 18, 2025, 2:09 AM INN

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Brother of freed hostage: 'Keith is thinking about those who are still in Gaza'. Ohevya Sharabi. Feb 18, 2025, 4:08 AM INN

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Mike Waltz: Trump ‘dead serious’ about stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Elad Benari. Feb 18, 2025, 3:51 AM INN

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Brother of freed hostage: 'Keith is thinking about those who are still in Gaza' Ohevya Sharabi Feb 18, 2025, 4:08 AM INN

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In an Israeli hospital: Nukhba terrorist received the desired test - within hours.

A Nukhba terrorist, who complained of headaches and dizziness, transferred to Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot, where he underwent a head CT scan and an MRI within hours.

Israel National News. Feb 18, 2025, 4:46 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Report: Mediators seek to delay release of hostages. Egypt and Qatar, the mediating countries in the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, may try to delay release of hostages until a lasting peace is determined. Dalit Halevi. Feb 17, 2025, 10:40 PM (GMT+2) INN

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Poll: 68% support Trump's plan for Gaza According to a new poll published by Channel 12 News, 68 percent of the Israeli public supports US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza. Israel National News. Feb 18, 2025, 12:22 AM (GMT+2) INN

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Heavy vehicles in return for 6 living hostages by Saturday.

A senior Israeli official said that Israel would allow heavy vehicles to enter Gaza for the removal of rubble if Hamas would release six living hostages by Saturday.

Israel National News. Feb 18, 2025, 11:36 AM INN

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Trump Ends U.S. Foreign Aid to South Africa. A penalty goes out to a human rights abuser, enemy of Israel, and friend of Iran, Russia, and China. February 18, 2025 by Joseph Klein. FPM

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February 18, 2025. An Israeli Arab and Jew sing of peace at an Italian music festival. Some people can't stand this.

On the opening night of the annual Italian Sanremo music festival, a video of the Pope was shown where he said "music is an instrument of peace and it must remain so." This was followed by Israeli singers Mira Awad and Noa.... EoZ

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A Watershed Moment in American Jewish History.

Seth Mandel, February 17, 2025.

Jon Ossoff is Georgia’s first Jewish senator. And the Jews of the Peach State are doing something remarkable: refusing to be taken for granted.

Though this drama is playing out behind the scenes, it represents a watershed in American Jewish politics.

The New York Times has obtained a letter sent privately in December to Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, urging him to run for Senate against Ossoff. The twist: The signatories of the letter included prominent Jewish Democrats.

“I took great pride to see a young Jewish man find the successes that he has,” Isaac Frank, one of the signatories, told the Times. “I just feel like he’s somewhat disconnected from where our community is, given post-Oct. 7.”

The letter to Kemp, as quoted by the Times, says: “As a bipartisan group of leaders in the metropolitan Atlanta Jewish community, we humbly ask you to consider running for the United States Senate in 2026… Should you decide to run in the 2026 election, you would find no better friends, more loyal allies or stronger supporters than us and our community.”

The signatories, especially the Jewish Democrats among them, have done their community a great act of service by insisting that being Jewish does not chain one to either party, that a vote has to be earned, and that a last name alone does not amount to true representation.

What’s their beef with Ossoff? The senator’s vote to withhold U.S. weapons transfers to Israel seems to have been the trigger. This was made worse by watching Ossoff preen on the Senate floor in an eight-minute rekindling of ugly Hamas propaganda in support of withholding those weapons.

Ossoff started off with an ahistorical—but popular—comparison .. Comentarry

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Fiji to become seventh nation to open embassy in Jerusalem. "I commend the Republic of Fiji's government for its historic decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people," said Foreign Minister Sa'ar.

(Feb. 18, 2025 / JNS) Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday hailed the island nation of Fiji’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

“I commend the Republic of Fiji’s government for its historic decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. Thank you, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, friend of Israel. Thank you, Fiji! tweeted Sa’ar.

Rabuka had confirmed the intent during a meeting last week with Sa’ar on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Six countries currently have their embassies in Israel’s capital—the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay and Papua New Guinea.

Then-U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 set the stage for other countries to follow suit.

In October 2023, Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said in a telephone interview with JNS, “Our desire to have an embassy in Jerusalem is very strong. We as a people feel very close to the descendants of Abraham and want to connect with Israel in its entirety.” JNS

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Herzog makes state visit to Hungary, meets with family of Hamas captive The Israeli president and his counterpart also met with Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor Aharon Shevo.

(Feb. 18, 2025 / JNS) Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday made a state visit to Hungary at the invitation of his counterpart, Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok.

Herzog was received in a state ceremony at Heroes’ Square in Budapest. There, he was greeted by Sulyok, and the countries’ national anthems were played. JNS

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Montreal police investigate swastika defacement of synagogue. Mayor Valerie Plante called the vandalism an antisemitic attack.

(Feb. 18, 2025 / JNS) Police in Canada are investigating who scrawled a swastika on the side of a synagogue in Montreal, they said Monday.

The investigation began after a leader of the Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom said on social media that the symbols were painted sometime before its discovery on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Florence Stafford told The Canadian Press that security camera footage was being reviewed to identify the perpetrators, none of whom have been arrested.

Mayor Valerie Plante called the vandalism an antisemitic attack on X.

Expressions of antisemitic sentiment have proliferated in Canada, as they have throughout much of the Western hemisphere, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group murdered some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted another 251.

In Canada, critics blamed the left-wing government of outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for emboldening perpetrators with their criticism of Israel’s defensive war.

Many incidents took place on college campuses, including one in which University of Montreal Professor Yanise Arab was filmed telling Jewish Concordia students to “go back to Poland, sharmuta,” using the Arabic language for prostitute.

Federation Combined Jewish Appeal and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in November released a joint statement saying that “Campuses across Quebec are facing threats from local demonstrators inspired by calls from the U.S.-based organization, Students for Justice in Palestine—a group with alleged ties to Hamas—to strike and shut down academic institutions.”

The statement was in response to the temporary closure of Dawson College in Montreal due to anti-Israel campus actions. JNS

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PMO: Hamas to release six living hostages on Saturday. In addition, the remains of four hostages murdered in Hamas captivity will be handed over to Israel on Thursday.

(Feb. 18, 2025 / JNS) The Hamas terrorist group agreed to double to six the number of hostages scheduled to be freed as part of the seventh release on Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem announced on Tuesday. JNS

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Hamas to release bodies of slain captives on Saturday, Arab media reports. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 03:29 PM JPost

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Iron Dome interceptor launched at malfunctioning Air Force drone. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 03:48 PM JPost

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Iranian supreme leader Khamenei meets Islamic Jihad chief in Tehran. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 04:30 PM JPost

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Iranian supreme leader Khamenei meets Islamic Jihad chief in Tehran. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 04:30 PM JPost

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Knesset speaker to CoP: Israel at a crossroads, must stop Iran. By Eliav Breuer. 02/18/2025 05:19 PM JPost

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IDF fires warning shots at suspects posing threat to troops in Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 07:19 PM JPost

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US Navy rescues Iranian and Indian mariners from Iranian vessel in Arabian Gulf. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 07:26 PM JPost

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Israeli official: Body of Hadar Goldin will be returned from Gaza next week. By Anna Barsky. 02/18/2025 08:03 PM JPost

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March Madness: Israel, Trump and Gaza gamble. Opinion: US president’s escalating rhetoric and the fragile hostage deal are forcing tough decisions in Jerusalem. Amit Segal | 2.18.25. YNet

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These are the 6 living hostages to be released on Saturday | Read their stories. The families of 6 remaining living hostages from Phase 1 of deal have been notified their loved ones will be released on Saturday; Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed will be released after more than a decade in captivity; Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Omer Sham Tov, Tal Shoham have endured 505 days in hell. Ynet correspondents | 2.18.25 YNet

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Israel demands complete demilitarization of Gaza, minister says. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar says talks on 2nd phase of deal to begin; Jerusalem will not support plan that would see civilian control of Gaza transferred from Hamas to Palestinian Authority; says Iran and Turkey working to restore Hezbollah Reuters, Einav Halabi, Lior Ben Ari, Moran Azulay | 2.18.25.

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Israel will begin negotiations on the second phase of the hostage deal, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday, adding that Israel demanded a complete demilitarization of the enclave. YNet

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BBC accused of using Hamas official’s son in documentary about ‘ordinary Palestinians’.

Hamas propaganda promoted as reliable fact’, anti-Semitism campaigners say in official complaint.

Patrick Sawer. Senior News Reporter. 18 February 2025.

BBC accused of using Hamas official’s son in documentary about ‘ordinary Palestinians’

The BBC has been accused of focusing a documentary about ordinary Palestinians on the son of a Hamas government minister without disclosing the connection.

The documentary, Gaza: How To Survive a War Zone, was broadcast on Monday evening as an account of the conflict through the eyes of three children whose lives have been devastated by Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.

The hour-long film was narrated by a 14-year-old English-speaking boy named Abdullah, who is listed in the film’s credits under his full name, Abdullah Al-Yazouri.

It has since been claimed that Abdullah’s father, Ayman Alyazouri, is a senior figure who currently holds the position of deputy minister of agriculture in the Hamas-run government.

Critics have said the BBC has allowed itself to be used as a propaganda platform for Hamas by giving airtime to the child of one of its senior figures.

The child’s alleged family background was not revealed to viewers and it is not clear if the film crew were aware of the Hamas links.

The campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism has lodged a formal complaint to the BBC about the broadcast, claiming that the team failed to properly vet the documentary’s subjects.

Alex Hearn, from Labour Against Antisemitism, said: “This documentary appears to have been a failure of due diligence by the BBC, with Hamas propaganda promoted as reliable fact at the taxpayers’ expense.

“There needs to be an urgent investigation into how this happened once again.

“Misinformation is the story of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and this is not an isolated case. There has been a failure of news platforms to adequately scrutinise sources and a willingness to regurgitate Hamas disinformation repeatedly.”

The BBC has defended the hour-long film, stating it had full editorial control over the content and that the children’s parents had no editorial input.

When asked by The Telegraph about Abdullah’s alleged links to Hamas, the corporation did not provide comment.

Questions about the film were first raised by David Collier, an investigative journalist. DailyTelegraph

The most revealing part of @BBCNews statement is "...as independent journalists are not allowed into Gaza."

With that in mind, none of their output or reporting of this war should or can be trusted. They're admitting everything is second hand, provided by unverified sources. [111] [112] [pic.twitter.com/31VBmbRZYW]

— Joo🎗️ (@JoosyJew) February 19, 2025. on X

Breaking: BBC admit the narrator of its documentary was a Hamas official - and say they just did not know.

NO. NO. NO.

Dear @bbcnews Will you just shut up and take your vile Hamas propaganda piece down. You have let Hamas manipulate you -what do you not understand? [113] [pic.twitter.com/9pXcqjp7uG]

— David Collier (@mishtal) on X

1️⃣ First, meet Zakaria, the secondary protagonist who takes up a significant portion of the film. Yesterday, we exposed that his scenes were directed by none other than Mr. FAFO. (See here: 🔗 [114])

— GAZAWOOD - the PALLYWOOD saga (@GAZAWOOD1) on X

3️⃣ Zakaria is deeply tied to Hamas propaganda circles, favored by Hamas-affiliated journalists—those who cheer terror, celebrate Jewish deaths, and stage Pallywood scenes—like Abdallah Alattar, who wrote: “At least for half an hour, take us back to October 7.” [115] [pic.twitter.com/e2lu0bcZNc]

— GAZAWOOD - the PALLYWOOD saga (@GAZAWOOD1). February 19, 2025. on X

5️⃣ 📢 The BBC now claims they had no idea who they were working with in their documentary, GAZA: HOW TO SURVIVE A WARZONE. 🔗 [116]

— GAZAWOOD - the PALLYWOOD saga (@GAZAWOOD1). February 19, 2025. on X

@BBCNews, You know how your documentary from Gaza was secretly fronted by family from the Hamas government.

Did you pay them any money? Did you hand cash over to a family from a proscribed terrorist group?

Asking for the police.... and the millions of Brits who fund you.

— David Collier (@mishtal). February 19, 2025. on X

Following the release of the @BBCTwo documentary on Gaza, I have sent an official letter to the Director General of the @BBC, Tim Davie.

I asked for clarification on the BBC’s choice of cameraman as well as the main protagonist of the documentary, given the BBC’s supposed… — Tzipi Hotovely (@TzipiHotovely) February 19, 2025. on X

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IDF fires warning shots at suspects posing threat to troops in Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 7:19 PM JPost

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France stands alongside the Bibas family, Macron writes on X. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 10:14 PM JPost

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IAF targets weapons linked to Assad regime in Syria. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/18/2025 11:17 PM JPost

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Sign of life received for hostage Eitan Horn. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/19/2025 07:53 AM JPost

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Israel begins to bring caravans, heavy machinery into the Gaza Strip. By Amichai Stein. 02/19/2025 01:03 PM JPost

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'Horrific news' | Chris Kenny tears up while reporting on Bibas family hostages. Sky News host Chris Kenny fights tears as he reports on Hamas' announcement that the bodies of Shiri Bibas and young sons Ariel and Kfir will be returned on Thursday. Israel National News. Feb 19, 2025, 2:14 PM (GMT+2) INN

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IAF jets strike Hezbollah operative on the northern border. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/19/2025 04:44 PM JPost

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Kaddish and Psalms in Gaza: IDF prepares to receive deceased hostages from Hamas Israel National News Feb 19, 2025, 5:13 PM INN

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While hostages suffer Photos: Gaza's market returns to full operation. Israel National News. Feb 19, 2025, 6:03 PM INN

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Red Cross calls for private, dignified handover of hostages' bodies. By Reuters. 02/19/2025 06:50 PM JPost

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Netanyahu: Tomorrow will be a shocking, sorrowful day for the State of Israel. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/19/2025 07:12 PM JPost

Netanyahu: 'Tomorrow will be a day of sorrow for Israel' Israel National News. Feb 19, 2025, 7:08 PM INN

Netanyahu: “Tomorrow Will Be A Difficult Day”; Bodies Of Bibas Children To Be Released. February 19, 2025. YWN

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Hamas to return bodies of Shiri Bibas, her sons, and Oded Lifshitz. Israel received the official list of deceased hostages who will be returned tomorrow. Uzi Baruch. Feb 19, 2025, 8:20 PM (GMT+2)

([117]. Ariel, Shiri, and Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. Courtesy of the families).

The Prime Minister's office announced on Wednesday that Israel has received the list of hostages who died in captivity whose bodies are due to be released on Thursday, pursuant to the framework. The four murdered hostages who will be returned are Shiri Bibas, her young sons, Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz.

The Prime Minister's Office stated that the Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing, Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch has updated the families of the hostages via the representatives of the IDF.

"At this difficult hour, our hearts are with the grieving families. Additional credible information will be provided as needed, and we request to refrain from disseminating rumors and unofficial information," the Prime Minister's Office stated.

The Hamas terrorists are expected to hand the bodies over to the Red Cross at around 8:00 a.m. local time in the Bani Suheila area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. According to reports, Hamas plans to hold a ceremony in which the bodies will be handed over to the Red Cross.

After the deceased are transferred to the IDF, a military ceremony in their honor will be held in the Gaza Strip. From there, the caskets will be taken on IDF vehicles with a police escort to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for an identification process which is expected to take up to 48 hours.

Shiri Bibas, 33 years old, was from Nir Oz. On the morning of October 7th, 2023, the Bibas family gathered in the bomb shelter after they heard the sirens. Until about 9:40 a.m., the father, Yarden, had been writing to his sister and family members telling them that the "situation is bad. By 10:00 Shiri and her two sons, nine-month-old Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were abducted by terrorists on a quad bike. After that, the three were loaded onto a pickup truck which took them to the eastern part of Khan Yunis.

According to the information known to the IDF, they were held by terrorists from the Ktaib Mujahideen group. The footage of Shiri and the boys' abduction was published on the day of the massacre itself and the sight of young children being abducted set off shock waves. When the first hostage deal, which mostly included women and children, was signed, there was much hope that Shiri and her boys' names would be among those released, but they were not. After the disappointment, the extended family stated: "We are currently experiencing moments of great uncertainty. The understanding that we won't get the hug that we waited for, leaves us speechless."

The family of Oded Lifshitz commented: "These hours are not easy for us after we were informed that our beloved Oded is on the list of the deceased hostages who will return to Israel after he was abducted alive from his home in Nir Oz.

"For 502 days we hoped and prayed for a different ending, but until we get total confirmation, our journey is not over, and even after that, we will continue fighting until the last hostage is returned." INN

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IDF soldiers killed three armed terrorists near Jenin. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/19/2025 09:42 PM JPost

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Suspected terror attack: Woman attacked with ax in Jerusalem's Old City. Israel National News. Feb 19, 2025, 11:12 PM INN

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Bibas family: 'Entire country has become casualty officers knocking on door'. Israel National News. Feb 19, 2025, 11:20 PM INN

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Bereavement amid uncertainty: Families of deceased hostages face trauma, loss, and neglect. Israel National News. Feb 19, 2025, 11:38 PM INN

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Car Jihad, Terror as Hamas Supporters Attack Brooklyn Jewish Community Local residents fought back against the mob. February 19, 2025. by Daniel Greenfield.

Islamic terrorist supporters invaded one of the largest Jewish communities in the country with a pro-terrorist riot in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Boro Park. Flying terrorist flags and assaulting local residents, the Muslim mob brought terror to a Jewish community in New York City as it had previously done to Jewish communities in Los Angeles and London.

But local residents fought back against the mob.

Videos and local accounts describe an attempted stabbing, an attempted ‘Car Jihad’ attack, and numerous assaults.

BREAKING: Hamas supporters are attacking Jews in Boro Park, Brooklyn, New York, in the heart of the Orthodox Jewish community.

These are terrorists in America. They need to be deported.pic.twitter.com/b2rQG8ydYU

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) February 19, 2025

🚨HAPPENING NOW: A Free PaIestine protestor attempted to ram his car into Jews at the intersection of 14th Avenue and 37th Street in Boro Park. He was stopped by the NYPD and taken into custody. [pic.twitter.com/OjTb6Jlscx]

— Manhattan Mingle (@ManhattanMingle) February 19, 2025.

This is the knife with which a Hamas supporter tried to stab Jews tonight in Boro Park.

The Police will now take it as evidence. [118] [pic.twitter.com/TdsSVfEQWn] — REAL JEW (@THEREALJEW613) February 19, 2025

BREAKING: A Hamas supporter attempted to ram his car into Jews in Boro Park.

He was stopped by the NYPD and taken into custody. [pic.twitter.com/YXKfYlCiT5]

— REAL JEW (@THEREALJEW613) February 19, 2025

New York City politicians offered tepid condemnations, but did nothing to prevent this from happening. FPM

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Hamas booby traps are killing and injuring Gazans - and they are blaming Israel. Thursday, February 20, 2025. Ultra Palestine reports on explosions in Gaza since the ceasefire. It says they are all from Israeli muitions, but the details sound more like Hamas booby-traps. EoZ

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IAF strikes down drone crossing into Gaza from Israel. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/20/2025 01:00 AM JPost

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Keith Siegel's daughter: 'Dad survived thanks to reciting blessings and Shema Yisrael'. Israel National News. Feb 20, 2025, 2:15 AM INN

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BBC ridiculed for not realizing movie narrator son of Hamas official. The hour-long documentary, which aired on Monday, was promoted as offering insights into the experiences of three children in the Gaza Strip amidst the current war. By Erez Linn. Published on 02-20-2025 09:41 ILH

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Global media mourns for Israel's dead hostages. As Hamas began its cynical ceremony, the news reached top headlines, with push notifications sent to readers when the coffins were transferred to the Red Cross. By Miri Weissman. Published on 02-20-2025 09:00. ILH

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Memorize these words: Hamas kidnapped and murdered a mother, a toddler, and an infant. The Palestinian terrorist organizations are our true, most immediate, and dangerous enemy. They are the ones lurking at our doorstep, seeking every opportunity to strike us. They kidnapped and murdered a mother, a toddler, and an infant, and for that, they must pay. By Hanan Greenwood. Published on 02-20-2025. ILH

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Netanyahu: 'The blood of our loved ones cries out to us'. Israel National News. Feb 20, 2025, 4:16 PM INN

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'O God, do not be silent'. The Psalm read over the caskets of the deceased hostages. Israel National News. Feb 20, 2025, 3:54 PM. INN

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Coffins of four deceased hostages arrive at forensic institute. Israel National News. Feb 20, 2025, 3:51 PM INN

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Hamas stages macabre ceremony to release bodies of four Israeli hostages, said to include Bibas children and their mother. By Mick Krever, Ivana Kottasová, Mohammad Al Sawalhi, Kareem Khadder, Lucas Lilieholm and Edward Szekeres, CNN. Updated 1:25 PM EST, Thu February 20, 2025

01:23 - Source: CNN. Hamas releases bodies of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza CNN

4 Kedoshim Arrive In Israel After Depraved Hamas Ceremony In Khan Younis. February 20, 2025

([119]. IDF ceremony in the Gaza Strip. IDF spokesperson.

([120]. The coffins of the four kedoshim were brought to Israel on Thursday morning).

As Israel waited with broken hearts for the four kedoshim to return to Israel, Hamas prepared a depraved ceremony in Khan Younis. The barbaric handover ceremony began at about 9:20 a.m. to the sounds of the cheering, clapping and whistling of the delighted audience. The coffins were handed over to the Red Cross, who transported them to a meeting point in the Strip where IDF forces were waiting.

Shortly after 10 p.m., the coffins were handed over to the IDF. The coffins were locked and were handed over with keys that didn’t fit the locks. IDF sappers thoroughly inspected the coffins to ensure they weren’t rigged with explosives and then forced the locks open.

A decision was made to shorten the ceremony. IDF Chief Rabbi Brig. Gen. Eyal Karim recited an appropriate kappitel Tehillim – 83 – over the coffins while IDF soldiers saluted. The coffins were then placed in IDF vehicles, which transported them across the border to Israel and continued to the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv.

Earlier, the terror group built a stage featuring a banner depicting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as a vampire delighting over the “murder” [Hamas libelous blamed him for their killing] of the hostages, with images of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifshitz. ...

YWN made a decision to publish the disturbing images [see below] as they reflect the barbarity of Hamas. However, the videos of the disturbing ceremony, staged against the backdrop of celebratory music, were not published.

Another banner glorifying the October 7 massacre and depicting multiple “Zionist” coffins, states: “The return of the war = the return of your prisoners in coffins.” The coffins were placed on the stage. Written on them [the coffins of babies!] were the words: “Date of arrest: October 7, 2023.”

Unfathomable depravity. The coffins of babies, a young mother, and an elderly man surrounded by missiles and armed and masked terrorists. This is what they revel in and proudly display to the world, a world that at best fails to condemn such images and at worst, gloats over them.

Red Cross collaborator participates in the depraved ceremony. [121]

Hundreds of terrorists and “innocent” Gazan civilians gathered to watch the barbaric ceremony, delighted to start their day gloating over a Jewish mother, babies, and an elderly man brutally abducted from their homes and murdered in captivity.

[122]. [123].

According to Kan News reporter Roi Kais, terrorists released from Israeli prisons in previous hostage release waves, were among the audience.

([124]. Terrorists sitting in the audience. Roi Kais/X)

[125]. [126] [127]

Hamas set up a table with weapons for children to experiment with. Seen in the photo is a terrorist wearing an IDF uniform stolen on October 7. Many Israeli social media users have commented on the “carnival” atmosphere at the depraved ceremony, with women, young children and babies in the audience.

[128] These Gazans brought their babies to the ceremony.

[129] The Red Cross “taxi service” on the way to Khan Younis.

[130] The Red Cross arrives in Khan Younis.

[131]

The large crowd shows how many “innocent” Gazan civilians are repelled by the depraved ceremony. YWN

Avi Mayer אבי מאיר @AviMayer: Red Cross officials are yet again participating in a Hamas propaganda spectacle – this time involving the bodies of four murdered Israeli hostages.

This is an absolute outrage, contrary to both the ceasefire agreement and international law. [132] The @ICRC must be held to account. Feb 20, 2025. On X

Israel, UN slam Hamas for 'abhorrent' display of hostage remains. Israel protests to mediators and Red Cross over 'sickening ceremony,' which it says violated prior agreements; UN human rights chief also condemns act Itamar Eichner, Einav Halabi|02.20.25.

The United Nations and Israeli officials condemned Hamas on Thursday after the terror group publicly displayed the bodies of four Israeli hostages before handing them over to the Red Cross.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called the act "abhorrent" and a violation of international law. "Under international law, any handover of remains must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families," Türk said in a statement. Hostage remains repatriated from Gaza (Video: Israel Police).

The hostages, including Israeli infant Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel, their mother Shiri Bibas and 85-year-old Oded Lifshitz, were transferred to Israel on Thursday as part of the cease-fire agreement reached last month. YNet

Aviva Klompas @AvivaKlompas: The sick jihadi psychopaths have placed four caskets on full display for a crowd of cheering Palestinians. on X

Eitan Fischberger @EFischberger: OH MY GOD. Shiri Bibas' coffin says "Date of arrest, October 7th, 2023" on it. "DATE OF ARREST. [133] Feb 20, 2025. on X

Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby: Young Palestinian children are lined up to jeer at the dead bodies of a 9-month-old baby, his 4-year-old brother, their mother, and a 73-year-old man.

What kind of culture is this? Feb 20, 2025. on X

Faraz Pervaiz @FarazPervaiz3: Sound on to hear the celebratory music Hamas Terrorist played before parading 4 dead Jews in front of a Muslim crowd in Gaza. Feb 20, 2025 on X

Israel: Hamas a ‘death cult that murders, tortures, parades dead bodies’. The Palestinian terrorist organization "has no place amongst civilized nations. It has no place in Gaza," government spokesman David Mencer said.

(Feb. 20, 2025 / JNS) An Israeli government spokesman slammed Hamas as a “death cult” after it paraded the coffins containing the remains of four civilian hostages, including those of a baby and a child, during a propaganda stage show in Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip, on Thursday morning.

“Hamas is not a resistance movement. Hamas is a death cult that murders, that tortures and parades dead bodies,” government spokesman David Mencer told journalists during a press briefing.

The Palestinian terrorist organization “has no place amongst civilized nations. It has no place in Gaza,” he said.

One of the bodies has been identified as belonging to hostage Oded Lifshitz, his family confirmed on Thursday afternoon after identification at the National Center of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv.

The other remains handed over by the Palestinian terror organization were said to be those of Shiri Bibas (32 when captured on Oct. 7, 2023) and her sons, Ariel (4 when taken) and Kfir (9 months old when taken).

The four bodies were transferred to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross after the propaganda ceremony attended by members of Hamas’s “military wing,” Gaza civilians and terrorists released under the auspices of previous prisoner swaps. JNS

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After Gaza celebrations: Lindsey Graham calls for 'annihilation' of Hamas. Yitz Goldberg. Feb 20, 2025, 8:23 PM INN

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The tragic tale of Oded Lifshitz. On Oct. 7, he was shot in the hand and lost consciousness, while his wife, Yocheved, was pulled from her bed. Both were taken to the Gaza Strip. Oded Lifshitz, who spent his 84th birthday in Hamas captivity. Credit: Courtesy of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.Oded Lifshitz, who spent his 84th birthday in Hamas captivity. Credit: Courtesy of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

(Feb. 20, 2025 / Israel Hayom) The purported remains of Oded Lifshitz, 84, one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, were returned to Israel on Thursday, as part of the first phase of the hostage deal after his death has been all but confirmed a day earlier. Lifshitz was abducted from his home during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack alongside his wife, Yocheved.

The body was handed over to Israel on Thursday as part of the latest swap in the hostage deal with Hamas, after which confirmation of its identity through forensics analysis will be carried out.

Five Hamas operatives broke into the safe room where the couple was sheltering; Oded was shot in the hand and lost consciousness, while Yocheved was pulled from her bed. It was later discovered that Oded was initially held in an apartment in Khan Yunis, but after 20 days in captivity, when his health deteriorated, his whereabouts became unknown.

Yocheved was freed about two weeks after the abduction together with Nurit Cooper, whose husband, Amiram Cooper, was killed in Hamas captivity.

“After 50 days, when the released women came out, it turned out that one of them, a member of Nir Oz, was with him,” Yocheved said. “She told us that he was alive and said that he functioned well and helped her a lot because she was having a very difficult time. On the 20th day, he felt unwell, and they dragged him out of the room. Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown, and we know nothing about him.”

Oded Lifshitz was a journalist, a prominent figure in the kibbutz movement and a peace activist. He volunteered with the Road to Recovery organization, which transports Palestinian children who are ill to hospitals in Israel. In their yard at Nir Oz, Oded and Yocheved nurtured a magnificent cactus garden, which remained abandoned after their abduction. Dozens of volunteers came together to rehabilitate the garden as a symbol of solidarity and hope for his return. JNS

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Putin thanks Hamas for release of Russian Israeli hostage, ignores return of Israeli bodies. Russian president praises terror group for releasing Sasha Troufanov but sidesteps return of 4 Israeli hostages' bodies; Israeli officials condemns Russian media for falsely blaming Israel for their deaths

Itamar Eichner | 2.20.25. YNet

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IDF fires warning shots at suspect posing threat to troops in Gaza. By Jerusalem Post Staff. 02/20/2025 2:21 PM JPost

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IDF troops fired warning shots at suspects who approached the troops operating in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, the military said.

One of the suspects continued to approach the troops, after which troops fired further shots at him.

Bat Yam bus bombing causes Miri Regev to cut short her visit to Morocco. By Tal Shalev. 02/20/2025 11:22 PM