The Israeli army killed an Israeli civilian, Tom Godo, on 8 October 2023 while he was hiding in the safe room of his home with his wife and three daughters and covered up the incident, Channel 13 revealed on Sunday.
Official tells ToI that terror group also open to releasing some captives as part of revived truce deal, despite previous refusal to do so, indicating military pressure is taking toll
President Trump on Wednesday issued a threat against the civilian population of Gaza, saying the “people of Gaza” would be “dead” if the Israeli hostages weren’t released immediately.
Feb 25 (Reuters) - Hamas said on Tuesday it has agreed during a visit to Cairo on a solution to end the delay of releasing of Palestinian prisoners.
The solution is to release the Palestinian prisoners simultaneously with the bodies of the killed Israeli hostages who were agreed to be handed over during the first phase, the Islamist militant group said in a statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made several new demands in talks on the second phase of the current ceasefire and hostage deal, Channel 13 news reports.
Speaking to reporters alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Hamas must be “eradicated,” a goal that would require Israel to restart its genocidal war on Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement Tuesday that if Hamas doesn’t release Israeli hostages in Gaza by noon on Saturday, the Gaza ceasefire will end, and Israel will restart its genocidal war.
Israeli strikes on Gaza have been relentless since it was announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire deal, which is expected to take effect on Sunday.
Official confirmation is trickling in, ahead of a planned evening Netanyahu speech - where he's expected to issue an official declaration of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's death during fighting in southern Gaza:
On Wednesday, Hamas reiterated that it wants to implement a ceasefire proposal that was unveiled by President Biden in May instead of restarting hostage deal talks with Israel.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran after attending the inauguration of the country’s new president, Iran and the militant group said early Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a list of demands for a potential hostage deal ahead of more indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, a move seen by mediators and Israeli officials as an attempt to sabotage the chances of an agreement.
The IDF had precise information about Hamas's intentions, but due to prevailing conceptions in the security establishment and possible negligence by officials, the warning signs were not acted on.
The fate of the 120 remaining hostages in Gaza is crucial to any deal to end the protracted and bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas. But a senior Hamas official has told CNN that “no one has an idea” how many of them are alive, and that any deal to release them must include guarantees of a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Hamas has submitted to Egyptian and Qatari mediators its formal response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal that was recently outlined by President Biden. The Palestinian group is seeking stronger assurances on a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, reaffirmed on Wednesday the Palestinian group’s conditions of a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza for any hostage deal with Israel.
Israel organized and paid for an influence campaign last year targeting U.S. lawmakers and the American public with pro-Israel messaging, as it aimed to foster support for its actions in the war with Gaza, according to officials involved in the effort and documents related to the operation.
Hamas probably won’t be defeated until the end of the year, Israel’s national security adviser said, underscoring the difficulty the country faces in achieving its stated aim of crushing the Islamist group in Gaza.
