Day 504 — Friday, February 21

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slams the “unspeakable cynicism” of Hamas after Israeli forensic authorities determined that the body handed over yesterday which Hamas said was of Shiri Bibas is not her.

“The cruelty of the Hamas monsters knows no bounds,” Netanyahu says in a video statement. “Not only did they kidnap the father, Yarden Bibas, the young mother, Shiri, and their two small babies. But in an unspeakably cynical manner, they did not return Shiri alongside her young children, the little angels, and they put the body of a Gazan woman in the coffin.”

Yarden Bibas was freed earlier this month.

Netanyahu vows that Israel will “act resolutely to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages — both living and dead — and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.”

The prime minister also expresses sadness at the confirmation that the other three bodies returned were those of Oded Lifshitz, 83, Ariel Bibas, 4, and Kfir, approximately 10 months, saying that “the three of them were brutally murdered in Hamas captivity in the first weeks of the war.”

He adds: “May God avenge their blood — and we too will avenge.”

Times Of Israel

Day 504 — Friday, February 21

More than two in three Israeli Jews fear that Palestinian terrorists based in Judea and Samaria could launch a significant terrorist attack similar to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre near the Gaza Strip, according to a poll the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs published this week.

The survey, which was conducted by the Lazar Research Institute and was first published in Hebrew on Tuesday, surveyed a representative sample of some 700 Israelis—Arabs and Jews—between Feb. 11 and 13.

Sixty-eight percent of the Jewish respondents have concerns about a large-scale terrorist attack emanating from Judea and Samaria, while a quarter of the state’s Arab minority fear this scenario.

The JCFA poll also found that, in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre, 67% of Israeli citizens oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state along the country’s pre-1967 borders. Three-fourths of Jews are against creating a “Palestine,” while 16% of Arab Israelis declared they oppose the move.

“The survey suggests that, for most Israelis, the fear of another attack is not just a far-fetched scenario, but a tangible threat that must be taken into account in formulating a clear strategy to ensure the security of [Israeli] residents,” the Jerusalem-based think tank commented.

JNS 

Day 503 — Thursday, February 20

IDF STATEMENT: Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police, IDF representatives informed the Bibas family that their loved ones, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, have been identified.

According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.

During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage. This is an anonymous, unidentified body.

This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.

Ariel Bibas was four years old at the time of his death, and Kfir Bibas was ten months old at the time of his death. They were abducted with their mother, Shiri Bibas, from their home in Nir Oz. Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir’s father, went out to protect them and was abducted prior to the abduction of Shiri and the children. Yarden returned as part of the agreement for the return of the hostages on February 1, 2025.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity.

Israeli Defense Forces

Day 503 — Thursday, February 20

Three empty buses exploded and caught fire on Thursday evening in three parking lots in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv. Additional explosive devices were found on two buses in the nearby city of Holon.

One explosion occurred in a bus lot near the Bat Yam Stadium and the second in a lot 400 meters away.

Later a report was received about a bus that exploded in a lot near Wolfson Hospital in Holon, four kilometers away from the other two.
The words: “Revenge from Tulkarm” were found written on one of the devices.

After the explosions, bus drivers in Bat Yam received a voice message stating: “I ask all drivers who are currently on routes to stop at the nearest bus stop and search the bus. If you see a suspicious bag, please report it.”

An Israeli source said that Prime Minister Netanyahu views the incident of planting explosives on buses with great severity and will instruct the security forces to act more decisively against terrorist elements in Judea and Samaria.

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to intensify its operations against refugee camps in Judea and Samaria in response to attempted attacks in the Gush Dan area.

“In light of the severe attempted attacks in Gush Dan by Palestinian terror organizations against Israel’s civilian population, I have instructed the IDF to increase the intensity of its operations to thwart terrorism in the Tulkarm refugee camp and in all refugee camps in Judea and Samaria. We will pursue the terrorists relentlessly and destroy the terror infrastructure in the camps, which serve as a forward outpost of the Iranian axis of evil,” Katz said.

The Bus Drivers Union published an order to all public transportation drivers to stop all operations across the country. “We call on all bus drivers in Israel to follow the directives of the security officials and the known procedures and to conduct thorough inspections of the buses while showing maximum vigilance. In case of any unusual incident report it immediately to the security forces.”

Minister of Transportation Miri Regev also ordered all trains in the country to cease operations.

Arutz Sheva

Day 503 — Thursday, February 20

The heart of the entire Jewish nation is torn, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday evening ahead of Thursday’s release of the bodies of four hostages killed in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

The slain hostages expected to be returned for burial are Shiri Bibas (32 when taken) and her young sons, Ariel (4 when he was taken) and Kfir (9 months old when he was taken), as well as Oded Lifshitz (83 when taken), the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed after officially informing the families.

They were kidnapped and dragged into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“A wrenching day, a day of grief. We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages, deceased.

“We embrace the families, and the heart of the entire nation is torn. My own heart is torn. So is yours,” stated Netanyahu. “And all of the world’s heart should be torn because this demonstrates who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with—with such monsters.

“We are grieving, we are in pain, but we are also determined to ensure that such a thing never happens again,” concluded the premier.

JNS

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Hamas will release six living Israeli hostages this Saturday, according to statements by Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and Israeli officials on Tuesday.

In a short speech, al-Hayya accused Israel of delaying the talks over a second stage of the deal while affirming his group’s willingness to enter Phase 2, which includes an end of the war.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated: “Understandings have been reached in the Cairo negotiations according to which six living first-stage hostages will be released on Saturday.”

“This Thursday, four deceased hostages will be returned to Israel. Pursuant to the agreement, four additional deceased hostages are due to be returned to Israel next week,” the PMO said.

Earlier Tuesday, a political source briefed media outlets that “Prime Minister Netanyahu is making great efforts to release all six remaining living hostages in Phase A, as well as four non-living hostages.”

In return, Israel would allow “caravans and heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip after strict inspection,” as per the terms of the agreement, the source added. “As part of the negotiations, and subject to Hamas’s compliance with the agreement, Israel will begin to allow this in a controlled and graduated manner.”

Out of the original 33 hostages slated for release during the first phase of the ceasefire, 14 remain in captivity, of whom eight are believed to be dead.

In recent days, both Israel and Hamas have shown interest to move up and combine the last two rounds of hostage releases of the first phase, while talks over the details of a possible second phase seem stuck at the moment.

A Hamas official told Ynet News that “There is a negotiation, and it depends on the price Israel is willing to pay.”

He added that Hamas’s main demands are that Israel adhere to the “humanitarian protocol provisions,” and commit to carrying out the second phase, which includes a final end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

At the time of publication, there was no indication Israel had agreed to the latter condition.

Other reports suggested that Hamas wants to ensure the release of its prisoners, particularly those who were released under the 2011 Shalit Deal but have since been rearrested after returning to terror.

“Hamas feared that the agreement will not last until day 42 when these 47 prisoners were supposed to be release, because Israel will blow it up,” an Israeli official told Axios.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday reiterated that Israel would not accept “the continued presence of Hamas or other terrorist organizations in Gaza.”

“Hamas is trying to adopt the ‘Hezbollah model’ in Gaza – meaning Hamas will transfer civilian rule to the Palestinian Authority or another body but will remain the dominant military force and continue the war against Israel. We will not accept this. We demand the complete demilitarization of Gaza,” Sa’ar said Tuesday.

All Israel News

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke during Sunday’s Cabinet meeting about his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I’ve known him for many years. I’ve known President Trump for many years – when he wasn’t president. I’ve known Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for quite a few years and many others.”

The Prime Minister noted that in the past Israel had to put up with pressure from what he called “less friendly” administrations which pressured Israel to make dangerous concessions. “We stood up to it, and I stood up to it while cultivating the relationship with these people and with Democrats who, like us, believed that you need a strong Israel against our mutual enemies and to work for shared interests.”

Netanyahu made clear that there is “full” coordination with the Trump administration, especially regarding the president’s vision for Gaza. “Our coordination with this administration is full coordination. Contrary to the reports. You have to understand that. We have a shared strategy, we are coordinated and are working together. It happened before President Trump presented his vision for Gaza, a revolutionary vision, which entails a huge change for the State of Israel. It doesn’t come as a surprise, we knew about it and spoke about it beforehand. Same thing regarding other things you’re hearing now.”

He added: “President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination. I can’t get into all the details – but we have shared strategy, including, regarding when and how the gates of hell will open if our hostages, all of them, are not freed and do not return home.

“In any case,” Netanyahu continued, “We are committed together to the shared objectives. Not just the release of the hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and of course to ensure that Gaza does not return to be a threat to Israel, in addition to the President’s plan which would mean a totally different Gaza. To this were are committed, for this, we work, in a shared strategy with the US President, in the direct conversations we had with his staff just five minutes ago.”

Netanyahu concluded by discussing the potential opportunities that were created: “It’s very important, it creates a great hope for a totally different future, a situation that Israel has not been in since its founding. There have not been opportunities like these, there has not been a partnership like this, and there has not been such potential to get rid of the threats and to really bring an opportunity that we haven’t dreamt of. So it pays to work together, both in full cooperation here, and to ensure that we realize this great promise for the future of the Jewish state and the future of the Jewish people.”

Arutz Sheva

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Recently released Israeli hostage Keith Siegel thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in securing his release. Siegel, an American citizen, was held by Hamas for 484 days. He expressed constant fear for his life while in captivity.

“Since February 1st, I am a newly released Hamas hostage,” Siegel said in a video statement on Friday. “I’m a survivor. I was held for 484 days in unimaginable conditions. Every single day felt like it could be my last… I was starved, and I was tortured, both physically and emotionally.”

The Times of Israel reported that when the fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified, Siegel’s captors treated him even worse than they usually did.

“Terrorists kicked me, spat on me, and held me with no water, no light, no air to breathe,” he explained.

Siegel appealed to Trump, saying that his “leadership, power, and authority are necessary to enforce the ceasefire and put an end to the unnecessary daily dangers to the lives of innocent hostages and civilians.”

The newly freed hostage said, “I trust in your strength and leadership, Mr. President. The helpless hostages in the dark, cold tunnels in Gaza also trust you. Please bring them home.”

Here’s my take. President Trump speaks Middle Eastern. What do I mean by that? He knows Western-style diplomacy in the Middle East smells of weakness. Trump’s ultimatums to Hamas produce results—more freed hostages—while negotiations only give Hamas time to perpetuate their war against Israel.

Chris Katulka — The Friends Of Israel Gospel Ministry

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Let’s debunk a major myth of the mainstream media. Gaza is not an “open-air prison.” How do we know? President Trump has proposed allowing the people of Gaza to leave the hellish ruins, while the out-of-touch media insists that they stay under the punishing rule of Hamas.

Disturbing video evidence shows Hamas gunmen brazenly stealing humanitarian aid. When hungry Gazans attempted to take aid, the footage showed the terrorists then mercilessly beating the civilians with sticks and spray painting the word “thief” on their backs.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that President Trump’s plan to give Gazans the choice to leave is “right on the dot.”

“Why not give Gazans a choice?” Netanyahu asked in an address on Sunday. “Everybody said this is the largest open-air prison in the world. Not because of us. We let people leave. In fact, if you want to know, over the last couple of years, two years I think, 150,000 Gazans left. You know how they left? Because they bribed their way out, not through us. They bribed their way out. The rich could leave, but if other people wanted to leave, give them a choice, not forcible eviction, not ethnic cleansing. In a war zone people leave.”

“We tried to get the population to leave, to get them out of harm’s way, and Hamas, with rifles, with gunfire, tried to prevent them from leaving,” he underscored. “So we moved them around so that they would get out of harm’s way. But if people want to leave, if they want to emigrate, it’s their choice. And I think President Trump’s plan is right on the dot.”

I will bet that you have not seen video footage of Hamas beating hungry Gazan civilians in the mainstream media. Why? Because controlling information is a way of controlling speech.

Day 501 — Tuesday, February 18

Egypt has built military bases in Sinai “that can only be used for offensive operations, for offensive weapons,” Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, highlighted on Sunday.

Leiter called it a “clear violation of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel – after some 45 years.”

He also noted that the Israeli government will present Cairo’s military buildup in Sinai “very soon.”

Leiter first said this in a meeting with American Jewish organizations on January 28, however the recording of this was just shared online by the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations in America on Friday, according to the Jewish News Syndicate.

Ten days ago, Egypt released a video showing its army’s military capabilities, which includes hundreds of tanks, fighter jets, helicopters and navy vessels.

Last May, retired Lt. Col. Eli Dekel, who has been researching Egypt for 60 years, claimed that Egypt had increased its armored forces by hundreds of tanks.

“I did not find an explanation in the media for why Egypt increased its armored forces by 700 tanks. They call it a cold peace, but that’s not what this is,” he told Maariv.

The ambassador pointed out the violations in the Sinai Peninsula are “a subject that is bound to come up because it is unacceptable.”

He added that the issue has been pushed aside for a long time: “We will put this issue on the table very soon, and in a decisive manner.”

This comes after satellite images indicating changes in the deployment of the Egyptian military in the Sinai Peninsula reportedly concerned security coordinators in Israeli border communities.

In May 2024, Lt. Col. Dekel sought to draw attention to the fact that “since the start of the war, Egypt has been issuing threats to us in one way or another.”

“A few days ago, the military academy was inaugurated, attended by President Sisi. The trainees learned what the weak points of the Merkava tank were. Two days before that, the Egyptian army spokesman released an entire propaganda film, in which he said: ‘We are preparing our army in case Israel does not listen to our wise advice not to occupy Philadelphi.'”

Dekel also argued that Egypt’s role in the October 7 attacks should be examined.

Egypt has kept military presence in the Sinai for a long time in order to stop terrorism spilling over from Gaza and to prevent the proliferation of terror in Egypt proper.

Jerusalem Post

Day 501 — Tuesday, February 18

The Israel Defense Forces will withdraw to five strategic points in southern Lebanon on Tuesday as the ceasefire expires.

A day before the end of the ceasefire in Lebanon, the IDF estimates that most of the terrorist infrastructure within five miles of the border have been destroyed.

As the ceasefire comes into effect, Israeli troops will pull back to the five points, which the IDF has dubbed “The Protective Line.” Many more outposts have been established near the security fence along the border.

The effort in the near future will focus on enforcing the agreement on those who return to the villages close to the border. The Northern Command said that those who return home from these villages will find the devastation very great.

Israeli forces in the strategic points will enforce the ceasefire, preventing any from approaching the border or the outposts.

The implementation of the ceasefire will be studied as residents return to both sides of the northern border. The military wishes to continue implementing the ceasefire as much as possible, while preserving its tactical achievements.

i24 News

Day 500 — Monday, February 17

The heavy precision-guided bombs that then-President Joe Biden withheld from Israel last year arrived in Israel on Saturday night after being released by President Donald Trump.

Biden withheld the bombs in retaliation for Israel attacking Hamas in Rafah, a southern Gaza city on the border with Egypt, where Israel eventually found and killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Relatively few civilians were killed in the attack, despite the warnings of the Biden administration.

The bombs are used for destroying buildings where terrorists are hiding; the alternative is to send Israeli troops into the buildings, which are often booby-trapped. Dozens of Israeli soldiers were killed by collapsing buildings in Gaza.

In a press statement, Israel’s defense ministry said:

In a joint operation led by the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) Mission to the United States and the International Transportation Authority Unit of the Ministry’s Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD), a shipment of heavy aerial bombs recently released by the U.S. government was received and unloaded overnight (Saturday) in Israel.

The vessel, carrying heavy MK-84 munitions, docked and was unloaded at the Port of Ashdod. The munitions were loaded onto dozens of trucks from the Transportation Unit of the Ministry’s Logistics and Assets Department and the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate and transferred to Israeli Air Force bases.

The IMOD continues to procure and transport munitions for the IDF. To date, over 76,000 tons of military equipment have arrived in Israel via 678 airlifts and 129 sea shipments. This represents the largest air and sea bridge in Israel’s history.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Defense Minister, Israel Katz: “The munitions shipment that arrived in Israel tonight, released by the Trump Administration, represents a significant asset for the Air Force and the IDF and serves as further evidence of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States.

In our recent conversation, Secretary of Defense, HON Pete Hegseth reaffirmed America’s commitment to continue providing Israel with all necessary tools to ensure its security.

I thank President Donald Trump and the U.S. Administration for their unwavering support of the State of Israel. We will continue working together to strengthen our security.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Biden also withheld other equipment, such as D-9 bulldozers, which have since been delivered to the Israeli military.

Breitbart

Day 500 — Monday, February 17

An Israeli Air Force strike in Southern Lebanon on Saturday night killed Hezbollah operative Abbas Ahmad Hamoud, who was responsible for overseeing the Iranian-backed terror group’s aerial force.

Hamoud was targeted after repeatedly violating the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, including by launching UAVs toward Israeli territory, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

“The IDF continues to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel and will operate to prevent any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to establish itself, which is contrary to the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon,” added the statement.

During the war, Hezbollah’s aerial forces, known as Unit 127, repeatedly fired explosives-laden drones into Israel. Overnight Thursday, IAF fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley after the Iranian-backed terrorist organization dispatched a surveillance drone over the Jewish state.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday described the launch of the drones at the Jewish state as “a red line” and “a blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement.

“As I warned, if there are drones, there will be no Hezbollah,” said Katz.

Also on Thursday, the IAF carried out targeted strikes on Hezbollah military sites in Southern Lebanon that posed a direct threat to Israel’s security, the IDF said.

“Terrorist activity in these sites is a clear violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the military added.

JNS

Day 499 — Sunday, February 16

The three hostages who were released from Gaza on Saturday after 498 days of captivity endured physical abuse and were left in the dark as to the fate of their loved ones, according to snippets of information shared with Hebrew media outlets by family members.

The information shared by Channels 12 and 13 and the Kan public broadcaster was conveyed by the freed hostages to their families and then cleared for publication by the military censor.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn were all abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were seized as hostages.

Dekel-Chen and Horn were held captive by Hamas, and Troufanov was held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

They were released following days of uncertainty and doubt after Hamas accused Israel earlier in the week of failing to meet aid obligations and said it was pausing the scheduled hostage releases. Israel rejected the charge and threatened to resume the war.

The terror group eventually backed down on Thursday, and notified Israel via Qatari and Egyptian mediators of the identities of the three hostages slated for release Saturday.

While the three men looked thin and pale, and Horn seemed to be limping, they appeared to be in better physical condition than the three severely emaciated hostages who were released last week in images that shocked Israel and sparked an outpouring of anger.

All three of them were held in Khan Younis throughout their captivity, mere hundreds of meters from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz. While they were mostly held in tunnels, they were taken to apartments in the lead-up to their release, Kan reported.

All of them learned to speak Arabic during their 498 days in Gaza, and Troufanov also learned to read it, Channel 12 said.

Both Dekel-Chen and Horn were held with other hostages at various points in captivity, and at one stage early on, Horn was held with his brother Eitan, who is not slated for release in the first stage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. They were not held together recently.

After he was separated from his brother, Iair was forced by his captors to film a video in which he talked about Eitan, Kan reported.

He lost ten kilograms in weight and, like the other hostages, received almost no medical treatment.

Nevertheless, Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center said his general condition was stable, and that he would be able to focus on reuniting with family and friends before undergoing more extensive testing and treatment.

Upon his release, Horn’s captors gave him an hourglass with a picture of Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage and who has emerged as a leading figure in the movement for the hostages’ return. According to Kan, the IDF plans to give her the hourglass.

Dekel-Chen, who was abducted while battling against invading terrorists with the kibbutz security team on October 7, 2023, was held in a Gaza hospital for the first weeks of his captivity, Channel 12 reported. He was held along with other hostages, including Itzik Elgarat.

He was “tortured during interrogations” by his captors, Channel 12 said and has scars on his body to show for it. He was also shot in the shoulder and wounded on October 7.

The Israeli-American citizen was cut off from the outside world, with no access to any media or information, and didn’t know what had become of his family.

He “mourned and cried” for them, fearing the worst, but also “held out hope for them and was optimistic.”

His wife Avital was seven months pregnant on October 7 when Dekel-Chen was captured and gave birth in December 2023. His captors told him recently that he had a daughter born while in captivity, Kan reported, and gave him earrings for his wife. He didn’t believe what they told him, and asked the IDF representatives he met upon his release to confirm it.

He only found out about the hostage release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas two days before his release, at the same time that he learned he was going to be freed, Channel 12 said.

In sharp contrast to the joyful news that awaited Dekel-Chen upon his release, Troufanov returned to the outside world to discover that his father Vitaly had been killed on October 7. He burst into tears at the news, delivered by IDF representatives.

Troufanov was held alone, as was the case with previously freed hostages Gadi Mozes and Arbel Yehoud, both of whom were also held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

He was barely exposed to television or radio in captivity, and had no idea that his family was fighting for his release. However, he heard the radio at the time of the first weeklong truce in November 2023, and discovered that his mother Yelena and girlfriend Sapir Cohen had been released from captivity. His grandmother Irena Tati had also been taken hostage and was released after some 50 days in captivity.

Times Of Israel

Day 498 — Saturday, February 15

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.”

Ohana, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and ruling coalition, blamed Gaza’s education system for inciting violence and suggested that only the approach proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump offers a fresh perspective.

The American president’s plan includes the resettlement of Gazans to other countries while the war-torn coastal enclave is rebuilt, deradicalized and turned into a developed hub at peace with Israel.

Metsola also met at the Knesset on Thursday with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

She described the meetings as “open discussions in Jerusalem,” adding that the immediate priority for the European Parliament “is to ensure that all the hostages are released, that the ceasefire holds and humanitarian aid increases.”

Hamas currently holds 76 hostages in Gaza, including 73 kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attacks in which over 250 were taken hostage and some 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel. Three captives are scheduled to be released on Saturday as part of the first stage of a ceasefire that took effect on Jan. 19, with the second stage being negotiated.

Israel has threatened to resume combat against the terrorist group if the hostages are not released by noon on Saturday. Trump also warned Hamas after the organization said earlier in the week that Saturday’s release would be postponed, although reports indicated on Thursday that the Islamist group will move forward with freeing three men.

JNS

Day 498 — Saturday, February 15

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would take a hard stance on Gaza on Saturday, but added that he is not sure what Israel will do.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen at 12 o’clock [on Saturday]. If it was up to me, I’d take a very hard stance. I can’t tell you what Israel is going to do,” Trump said in response to a question from a reporter at the Oval Office.

“Now I understand they’ve totally changed. Hamas has totally changed. They want to release hostages now again. But this started by them saying ‘we’re not going to release the hostages as we said we were.’ I said, ‘Good. You have till 12 o’clock on Saturday to do it.’ And we didn’t hear anything. Then all of a sudden, two days ago, they said, ‘No, we’ve decided we’re gonna release the hostages,’” continued Trump.

“I actually think they should release all of the hostages. As bad as [the ones who have been released] looked, the ones that follow probably will look a lot worse,” the President said. “I think they’re sending out their most healthy…they probably didn’t want to release, but they obviously changed their mind.”

His comments came ahead of the scheduled release of Sagui Dekel-Chen (36), Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov (29), and Yair Horn (46) as part of the hostage deal with Hamas.

Earlier this week, Trump 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.”

Arutz Sheva

Day 504 — Friday, February 21

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slams the “unspeakable cynicism” of Hamas after Israeli forensic authorities determined that the body handed over yesterday which Hamas said was of Shiri Bibas is not her.

“The cruelty of the Hamas monsters knows no bounds,” Netanyahu says in a video statement. “Not only did they kidnap the father, Yarden Bibas, the young mother, Shiri, and their two small babies. But in an unspeakably cynical manner, they did not return Shiri alongside her young children, the little angels, and they put the body of a Gazan woman in the coffin.”

Yarden Bibas was freed earlier this month.

Netanyahu vows that Israel will “act resolutely to bring Shiri home along with all our hostages — both living and dead — and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.”

The prime minister also expresses sadness at the confirmation that the other three bodies returned were those of Oded Lifshitz, 83, Ariel Bibas, 4, and Kfir, approximately 10 months, saying that “the three of them were brutally murdered in Hamas captivity in the first weeks of the war.”

He adds: “May God avenge their blood — and we too will avenge.”

Times Of Israel

Day 504 — Friday, February 21

More than two in three Israeli Jews fear that Palestinian terrorists based in Judea and Samaria could launch a significant terrorist attack similar to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre near the Gaza Strip, according to a poll the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs published this week.

The survey, which was conducted by the Lazar Research Institute and was first published in Hebrew on Tuesday, surveyed a representative sample of some 700 Israelis—Arabs and Jews—between Feb. 11 and 13.

Sixty-eight percent of the Jewish respondents have concerns about a large-scale terrorist attack emanating from Judea and Samaria, while a quarter of the state’s Arab minority fear this scenario.

The JCFA poll also found that, in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre, 67% of Israeli citizens oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state along the country’s pre-1967 borders. Three-fourths of Jews are against creating a “Palestine,” while 16% of Arab Israelis declared they oppose the move.

“The survey suggests that, for most Israelis, the fear of another attack is not just a far-fetched scenario, but a tangible threat that must be taken into account in formulating a clear strategy to ensure the security of [Israeli] residents,” the Jerusalem-based think tank commented.

JNS 

Day 503 — Thursday, February 20

IDF STATEMENT: Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police, IDF representatives informed the Bibas family that their loved ones, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, have been identified.

According to the assessment of professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.

During the identification process, it was determined that the additional body received is not that of Shiri Bibas, and no match was found for any other hostage. This is an anonymous, unidentified body.

This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages. We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.

Ariel Bibas was four years old at the time of his death, and Kfir Bibas was ten months old at the time of his death. They were abducted with their mother, Shiri Bibas, from their home in Nir Oz. Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir’s father, went out to protect them and was abducted prior to the abduction of Shiri and the children. Yarden returned as part of the agreement for the return of the hostages on February 1, 2025.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Bibas family during this incredibly difficult time and remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Shiri and all the hostages are brought home at the earliest opportunity.

Israeli Defense Forces

Day 503 — Thursday, February 20

Three empty buses exploded and caught fire on Thursday evening in three parking lots in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv. Additional explosive devices were found on two buses in the nearby city of Holon.

One explosion occurred in a bus lot near the Bat Yam Stadium and the second in a lot 400 meters away.

Later a report was received about a bus that exploded in a lot near Wolfson Hospital in Holon, four kilometers away from the other two.
The words: “Revenge from Tulkarm” were found written on one of the devices.

After the explosions, bus drivers in Bat Yam received a voice message stating: “I ask all drivers who are currently on routes to stop at the nearest bus stop and search the bus. If you see a suspicious bag, please report it.”

An Israeli source said that Prime Minister Netanyahu views the incident of planting explosives on buses with great severity and will instruct the security forces to act more decisively against terrorist elements in Judea and Samaria.

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to intensify its operations against refugee camps in Judea and Samaria in response to attempted attacks in the Gush Dan area.

“In light of the severe attempted attacks in Gush Dan by Palestinian terror organizations against Israel’s civilian population, I have instructed the IDF to increase the intensity of its operations to thwart terrorism in the Tulkarm refugee camp and in all refugee camps in Judea and Samaria. We will pursue the terrorists relentlessly and destroy the terror infrastructure in the camps, which serve as a forward outpost of the Iranian axis of evil,” Katz said.

The Bus Drivers Union published an order to all public transportation drivers to stop all operations across the country. “We call on all bus drivers in Israel to follow the directives of the security officials and the known procedures and to conduct thorough inspections of the buses while showing maximum vigilance. In case of any unusual incident report it immediately to the security forces.”

Minister of Transportation Miri Regev also ordered all trains in the country to cease operations.

Arutz Sheva

Day 503 — Thursday, February 20

The heart of the entire Jewish nation is torn, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday evening ahead of Thursday’s release of the bodies of four hostages killed in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

The slain hostages expected to be returned for burial are Shiri Bibas (32 when taken) and her young sons, Ariel (4 when he was taken) and Kfir (9 months old when he was taken), as well as Oded Lifshitz (83 when taken), the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed after officially informing the families.

They were kidnapped and dragged into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“A wrenching day, a day of grief. We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages, deceased.

“We embrace the families, and the heart of the entire nation is torn. My own heart is torn. So is yours,” stated Netanyahu. “And all of the world’s heart should be torn because this demonstrates who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with—with such monsters.

“We are grieving, we are in pain, but we are also determined to ensure that such a thing never happens again,” concluded the premier.

JNS

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Hamas will release six living Israeli hostages this Saturday, according to statements by Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and Israeli officials on Tuesday.

In a short speech, al-Hayya accused Israel of delaying the talks over a second stage of the deal while affirming his group’s willingness to enter Phase 2, which includes an end of the war.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated: “Understandings have been reached in the Cairo negotiations according to which six living first-stage hostages will be released on Saturday.”

“This Thursday, four deceased hostages will be returned to Israel. Pursuant to the agreement, four additional deceased hostages are due to be returned to Israel next week,” the PMO said.

Earlier Tuesday, a political source briefed media outlets that “Prime Minister Netanyahu is making great efforts to release all six remaining living hostages in Phase A, as well as four non-living hostages.”

In return, Israel would allow “caravans and heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip after strict inspection,” as per the terms of the agreement, the source added. “As part of the negotiations, and subject to Hamas’s compliance with the agreement, Israel will begin to allow this in a controlled and graduated manner.”

Out of the original 33 hostages slated for release during the first phase of the ceasefire, 14 remain in captivity, of whom eight are believed to be dead.

In recent days, both Israel and Hamas have shown interest to move up and combine the last two rounds of hostage releases of the first phase, while talks over the details of a possible second phase seem stuck at the moment.

A Hamas official told Ynet News that “There is a negotiation, and it depends on the price Israel is willing to pay.”

He added that Hamas’s main demands are that Israel adhere to the “humanitarian protocol provisions,” and commit to carrying out the second phase, which includes a final end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

At the time of publication, there was no indication Israel had agreed to the latter condition.

Other reports suggested that Hamas wants to ensure the release of its prisoners, particularly those who were released under the 2011 Shalit Deal but have since been rearrested after returning to terror.

“Hamas feared that the agreement will not last until day 42 when these 47 prisoners were supposed to be release, because Israel will blow it up,” an Israeli official told Axios.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday reiterated that Israel would not accept “the continued presence of Hamas or other terrorist organizations in Gaza.”

“Hamas is trying to adopt the ‘Hezbollah model’ in Gaza – meaning Hamas will transfer civilian rule to the Palestinian Authority or another body but will remain the dominant military force and continue the war against Israel. We will not accept this. We demand the complete demilitarization of Gaza,” Sa’ar said Tuesday.

All Israel News

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke during Sunday’s Cabinet meeting about his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I’ve known him for many years. I’ve known President Trump for many years – when he wasn’t president. I’ve known Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for quite a few years and many others.”

The Prime Minister noted that in the past Israel had to put up with pressure from what he called “less friendly” administrations which pressured Israel to make dangerous concessions. “We stood up to it, and I stood up to it while cultivating the relationship with these people and with Democrats who, like us, believed that you need a strong Israel against our mutual enemies and to work for shared interests.”

Netanyahu made clear that there is “full” coordination with the Trump administration, especially regarding the president’s vision for Gaza. “Our coordination with this administration is full coordination. Contrary to the reports. You have to understand that. We have a shared strategy, we are coordinated and are working together. It happened before President Trump presented his vision for Gaza, a revolutionary vision, which entails a huge change for the State of Israel. It doesn’t come as a surprise, we knew about it and spoke about it beforehand. Same thing regarding other things you’re hearing now.”

He added: “President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination. I can’t get into all the details – but we have shared strategy, including, regarding when and how the gates of hell will open if our hostages, all of them, are not freed and do not return home.

“In any case,” Netanyahu continued, “We are committed together to the shared objectives. Not just the release of the hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and of course to ensure that Gaza does not return to be a threat to Israel, in addition to the President’s plan which would mean a totally different Gaza. To this were are committed, for this, we work, in a shared strategy with the US President, in the direct conversations we had with his staff just five minutes ago.”

Netanyahu concluded by discussing the potential opportunities that were created: “It’s very important, it creates a great hope for a totally different future, a situation that Israel has not been in since its founding. There have not been opportunities like these, there has not been a partnership like this, and there has not been such potential to get rid of the threats and to really bring an opportunity that we haven’t dreamt of. So it pays to work together, both in full cooperation here, and to ensure that we realize this great promise for the future of the Jewish state and the future of the Jewish people.”

Arutz Sheva

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Recently released Israeli hostage Keith Siegel thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in securing his release. Siegel, an American citizen, was held by Hamas for 484 days. He expressed constant fear for his life while in captivity.

“Since February 1st, I am a newly released Hamas hostage,” Siegel said in a video statement on Friday. “I’m a survivor. I was held for 484 days in unimaginable conditions. Every single day felt like it could be my last… I was starved, and I was tortured, both physically and emotionally.”

The Times of Israel reported that when the fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified, Siegel’s captors treated him even worse than they usually did.

“Terrorists kicked me, spat on me, and held me with no water, no light, no air to breathe,” he explained.

Siegel appealed to Trump, saying that his “leadership, power, and authority are necessary to enforce the ceasefire and put an end to the unnecessary daily dangers to the lives of innocent hostages and civilians.”

The newly freed hostage said, “I trust in your strength and leadership, Mr. President. The helpless hostages in the dark, cold tunnels in Gaza also trust you. Please bring them home.”

Here’s my take. President Trump speaks Middle Eastern. What do I mean by that? He knows Western-style diplomacy in the Middle East smells of weakness. Trump’s ultimatums to Hamas produce results—more freed hostages—while negotiations only give Hamas time to perpetuate their war against Israel.

Chris Katulka — The Friends Of Israel Gospel Ministry

Day 502 — Wednesday, February 19

Let’s debunk a major myth of the mainstream media. Gaza is not an “open-air prison.” How do we know? President Trump has proposed allowing the people of Gaza to leave the hellish ruins, while the out-of-touch media insists that they stay under the punishing rule of Hamas.

Disturbing video evidence shows Hamas gunmen brazenly stealing humanitarian aid. When hungry Gazans attempted to take aid, the footage showed the terrorists then mercilessly beating the civilians with sticks and spray painting the word “thief” on their backs.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that President Trump’s plan to give Gazans the choice to leave is “right on the dot.”

“Why not give Gazans a choice?” Netanyahu asked in an address on Sunday. “Everybody said this is the largest open-air prison in the world. Not because of us. We let people leave. In fact, if you want to know, over the last couple of years, two years I think, 150,000 Gazans left. You know how they left? Because they bribed their way out, not through us. They bribed their way out. The rich could leave, but if other people wanted to leave, give them a choice, not forcible eviction, not ethnic cleansing. In a war zone people leave.”

“We tried to get the population to leave, to get them out of harm’s way, and Hamas, with rifles, with gunfire, tried to prevent them from leaving,” he underscored. “So we moved them around so that they would get out of harm’s way. But if people want to leave, if they want to emigrate, it’s their choice. And I think President Trump’s plan is right on the dot.”

I will bet that you have not seen video footage of Hamas beating hungry Gazan civilians in the mainstream media. Why? Because controlling information is a way of controlling speech.

Day 501 — Tuesday, February 18

Egypt has built military bases in Sinai “that can only be used for offensive operations, for offensive weapons,” Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, highlighted on Sunday.

Leiter called it a “clear violation of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel – after some 45 years.”

He also noted that the Israeli government will present Cairo’s military buildup in Sinai “very soon.”

Leiter first said this in a meeting with American Jewish organizations on January 28, however the recording of this was just shared online by the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations in America on Friday, according to the Jewish News Syndicate.

Ten days ago, Egypt released a video showing its army’s military capabilities, which includes hundreds of tanks, fighter jets, helicopters and navy vessels.

Last May, retired Lt. Col. Eli Dekel, who has been researching Egypt for 60 years, claimed that Egypt had increased its armored forces by hundreds of tanks.

“I did not find an explanation in the media for why Egypt increased its armored forces by 700 tanks. They call it a cold peace, but that’s not what this is,” he told Maariv.

The ambassador pointed out the violations in the Sinai Peninsula are “a subject that is bound to come up because it is unacceptable.”

He added that the issue has been pushed aside for a long time: “We will put this issue on the table very soon, and in a decisive manner.”

This comes after satellite images indicating changes in the deployment of the Egyptian military in the Sinai Peninsula reportedly concerned security coordinators in Israeli border communities.

In May 2024, Lt. Col. Dekel sought to draw attention to the fact that “since the start of the war, Egypt has been issuing threats to us in one way or another.”

“A few days ago, the military academy was inaugurated, attended by President Sisi. The trainees learned what the weak points of the Merkava tank were. Two days before that, the Egyptian army spokesman released an entire propaganda film, in which he said: ‘We are preparing our army in case Israel does not listen to our wise advice not to occupy Philadelphi.'”

Dekel also argued that Egypt’s role in the October 7 attacks should be examined.

Egypt has kept military presence in the Sinai for a long time in order to stop terrorism spilling over from Gaza and to prevent the proliferation of terror in Egypt proper.

Jerusalem Post

Day 501 — Tuesday, February 18

The Israel Defense Forces will withdraw to five strategic points in southern Lebanon on Tuesday as the ceasefire expires.

A day before the end of the ceasefire in Lebanon, the IDF estimates that most of the terrorist infrastructure within five miles of the border have been destroyed.

As the ceasefire comes into effect, Israeli troops will pull back to the five points, which the IDF has dubbed “The Protective Line.” Many more outposts have been established near the security fence along the border.

The effort in the near future will focus on enforcing the agreement on those who return to the villages close to the border. The Northern Command said that those who return home from these villages will find the devastation very great.

Israeli forces in the strategic points will enforce the ceasefire, preventing any from approaching the border or the outposts.

The implementation of the ceasefire will be studied as residents return to both sides of the northern border. The military wishes to continue implementing the ceasefire as much as possible, while preserving its tactical achievements.

i24 News

Day 500 — Monday, February 17

The heavy precision-guided bombs that then-President Joe Biden withheld from Israel last year arrived in Israel on Saturday night after being released by President Donald Trump.

Biden withheld the bombs in retaliation for Israel attacking Hamas in Rafah, a southern Gaza city on the border with Egypt, where Israel eventually found and killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Relatively few civilians were killed in the attack, despite the warnings of the Biden administration.

The bombs are used for destroying buildings where terrorists are hiding; the alternative is to send Israeli troops into the buildings, which are often booby-trapped. Dozens of Israeli soldiers were killed by collapsing buildings in Gaza.

In a press statement, Israel’s defense ministry said:

In a joint operation led by the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) Mission to the United States and the International Transportation Authority Unit of the Ministry’s Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD), a shipment of heavy aerial bombs recently released by the U.S. government was received and unloaded overnight (Saturday) in Israel.

The vessel, carrying heavy MK-84 munitions, docked and was unloaded at the Port of Ashdod. The munitions were loaded onto dozens of trucks from the Transportation Unit of the Ministry’s Logistics and Assets Department and the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate and transferred to Israeli Air Force bases.

The IMOD continues to procure and transport munitions for the IDF. To date, over 76,000 tons of military equipment have arrived in Israel via 678 airlifts and 129 sea shipments. This represents the largest air and sea bridge in Israel’s history.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Defense Minister, Israel Katz: “The munitions shipment that arrived in Israel tonight, released by the Trump Administration, represents a significant asset for the Air Force and the IDF and serves as further evidence of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States.

In our recent conversation, Secretary of Defense, HON Pete Hegseth reaffirmed America’s commitment to continue providing Israel with all necessary tools to ensure its security.

I thank President Donald Trump and the U.S. Administration for their unwavering support of the State of Israel. We will continue working together to strengthen our security.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Biden also withheld other equipment, such as D-9 bulldozers, which have since been delivered to the Israeli military.

Breitbart

Day 500 — Monday, February 17

An Israeli Air Force strike in Southern Lebanon on Saturday night killed Hezbollah operative Abbas Ahmad Hamoud, who was responsible for overseeing the Iranian-backed terror group’s aerial force.

Hamoud was targeted after repeatedly violating the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, including by launching UAVs toward Israeli territory, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

“The IDF continues to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel and will operate to prevent any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to establish itself, which is contrary to the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon,” added the statement.

During the war, Hezbollah’s aerial forces, known as Unit 127, repeatedly fired explosives-laden drones into Israel. Overnight Thursday, IAF fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley after the Iranian-backed terrorist organization dispatched a surveillance drone over the Jewish state.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday described the launch of the drones at the Jewish state as “a red line” and “a blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement.

“As I warned, if there are drones, there will be no Hezbollah,” said Katz.

Also on Thursday, the IAF carried out targeted strikes on Hezbollah military sites in Southern Lebanon that posed a direct threat to Israel’s security, the IDF said.

“Terrorist activity in these sites is a clear violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the military added.

JNS

Day 499 — Sunday, February 16

The three hostages who were released from Gaza on Saturday after 498 days of captivity endured physical abuse and were left in the dark as to the fate of their loved ones, according to snippets of information shared with Hebrew media outlets by family members.

The information shared by Channels 12 and 13 and the Kan public broadcaster was conveyed by the freed hostages to their families and then cleared for publication by the military censor.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn were all abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were seized as hostages.

Dekel-Chen and Horn were held captive by Hamas, and Troufanov was held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

They were released following days of uncertainty and doubt after Hamas accused Israel earlier in the week of failing to meet aid obligations and said it was pausing the scheduled hostage releases. Israel rejected the charge and threatened to resume the war.

The terror group eventually backed down on Thursday, and notified Israel via Qatari and Egyptian mediators of the identities of the three hostages slated for release Saturday.

While the three men looked thin and pale, and Horn seemed to be limping, they appeared to be in better physical condition than the three severely emaciated hostages who were released last week in images that shocked Israel and sparked an outpouring of anger.

All three of them were held in Khan Younis throughout their captivity, mere hundreds of meters from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz. While they were mostly held in tunnels, they were taken to apartments in the lead-up to their release, Kan reported.

All of them learned to speak Arabic during their 498 days in Gaza, and Troufanov also learned to read it, Channel 12 said.

Both Dekel-Chen and Horn were held with other hostages at various points in captivity, and at one stage early on, Horn was held with his brother Eitan, who is not slated for release in the first stage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. They were not held together recently.

After he was separated from his brother, Iair was forced by his captors to film a video in which he talked about Eitan, Kan reported.

He lost ten kilograms in weight and, like the other hostages, received almost no medical treatment.

Nevertheless, Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center said his general condition was stable, and that he would be able to focus on reuniting with family and friends before undergoing more extensive testing and treatment.

Upon his release, Horn’s captors gave him an hourglass with a picture of Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage and who has emerged as a leading figure in the movement for the hostages’ return. According to Kan, the IDF plans to give her the hourglass.

Dekel-Chen, who was abducted while battling against invading terrorists with the kibbutz security team on October 7, 2023, was held in a Gaza hospital for the first weeks of his captivity, Channel 12 reported. He was held along with other hostages, including Itzik Elgarat.

He was “tortured during interrogations” by his captors, Channel 12 said and has scars on his body to show for it. He was also shot in the shoulder and wounded on October 7.

The Israeli-American citizen was cut off from the outside world, with no access to any media or information, and didn’t know what had become of his family.

He “mourned and cried” for them, fearing the worst, but also “held out hope for them and was optimistic.”

His wife Avital was seven months pregnant on October 7 when Dekel-Chen was captured and gave birth in December 2023. His captors told him recently that he had a daughter born while in captivity, Kan reported, and gave him earrings for his wife. He didn’t believe what they told him, and asked the IDF representatives he met upon his release to confirm it.

He only found out about the hostage release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas two days before his release, at the same time that he learned he was going to be freed, Channel 12 said.

In sharp contrast to the joyful news that awaited Dekel-Chen upon his release, Troufanov returned to the outside world to discover that his father Vitaly had been killed on October 7. He burst into tears at the news, delivered by IDF representatives.

Troufanov was held alone, as was the case with previously freed hostages Gadi Mozes and Arbel Yehoud, both of whom were also held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

He was barely exposed to television or radio in captivity, and had no idea that his family was fighting for his release. However, he heard the radio at the time of the first weeklong truce in November 2023, and discovered that his mother Yelena and girlfriend Sapir Cohen had been released from captivity. His grandmother Irena Tati had also been taken hostage and was released after some 50 days in captivity.

Times Of Israel

Day 498 — Saturday, February 15

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.”

Ohana, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and ruling coalition, blamed Gaza’s education system for inciting violence and suggested that only the approach proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump offers a fresh perspective.

The American president’s plan includes the resettlement of Gazans to other countries while the war-torn coastal enclave is rebuilt, deradicalized and turned into a developed hub at peace with Israel.

Metsola also met at the Knesset on Thursday with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

She described the meetings as “open discussions in Jerusalem,” adding that the immediate priority for the European Parliament “is to ensure that all the hostages are released, that the ceasefire holds and humanitarian aid increases.”

Hamas currently holds 76 hostages in Gaza, including 73 kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attacks in which over 250 were taken hostage and some 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel. Three captives are scheduled to be released on Saturday as part of the first stage of a ceasefire that took effect on Jan. 19, with the second stage being negotiated.

Israel has threatened to resume combat against the terrorist group if the hostages are not released by noon on Saturday. Trump also warned Hamas after the organization said earlier in the week that Saturday’s release would be postponed, although reports indicated on Thursday that the Islamist group will move forward with freeing three men.

JNS

Day 498 — Saturday, February 15

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would take a hard stance on Gaza on Saturday, but added that he is not sure what Israel will do.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen at 12 o’clock [on Saturday]. If it was up to me, I’d take a very hard stance. I can’t tell you what Israel is going to do,” Trump said in response to a question from a reporter at the Oval Office.

“Now I understand they’ve totally changed. Hamas has totally changed. They want to release hostages now again. But this started by them saying ‘we’re not going to release the hostages as we said we were.’ I said, ‘Good. You have till 12 o’clock on Saturday to do it.’ And we didn’t hear anything. Then all of a sudden, two days ago, they said, ‘No, we’ve decided we’re gonna release the hostages,’” continued Trump.

“I actually think they should release all of the hostages. As bad as [the ones who have been released] looked, the ones that follow probably will look a lot worse,” the President said. “I think they’re sending out their most healthy…they probably didn’t want to release, but they obviously changed their mind.”

His comments came ahead of the scheduled release of Sagui Dekel-Chen (36), Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov (29), and Yair Horn (46) as part of the hostage deal with Hamas.

Earlier this week, Trump 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.”

Arutz Sheva