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News Update

The bodies of Oded Lifshitz and brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas were positively identified by forensics. All three were confirmed to have been murdered in captivity. The IDF said, “We can say with certainty that they were murdered in a brutal manner, a fact supported by intelligence.” Al-Mujahedeen, an extremist Salafi group, held the Bibas family, and their murder took place in November 2023.

The fourth body returned was confirmed NOT to be that of Shiri Bibas or any other Israeli hostage. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned Hamas for the despicable act of sending the body of a Palestinian woman instead of Shiri’s, who’s fate remains unknown.

Netanyahu said, “The State of Israel bows its head in mourning for two small children, innocent babies, brothers—Ariel and Kfir Bibas—and for Oded Lifshitz, one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz. All three were brutally murdered in Hamas captivity during the first weeks of the war. The cruelty of Hamas monsters knows no bounds.” Israel is considering retaliatory measures against Hamas.

Adam Boehler, President Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, called Hamas’s actions “horrific” and a “clear violation” of the cease-fire. He said, “If I were them, I’d release everybody or they are going to face total annihilation.”

Six living hostages are scheduled to be released on Saturday. They are: Tal Shoham, Omer Wankrat, Omer Shem Tov, Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, and Eliya Cohen. The bodies of four more hostage are planned to be handed over next week, which will mark the end of the first phase of the agreement with Hamas.

Terrorists affiliated with Hamas in the West Bank blew up 3 buses in 2 locations in Bat Yam and Holon yesterday, using timer-based explosive devices. Thankfully, the buses were empty, thanks to an alert passenger who noticed a suspicious bag on one of the buses and told the driver, who drove the bus to a terminal, called police, and evacuated the area. One of the bombs had “revenge from Tulkarm” inscribed on it. Two more unexploded devices were discovered on buses in Holon. Today, the Shin Bet arrested three suspects for allegedly assisting in planting the bombs. Two of the suspects are reportedly Jewish Israelis. The IDF has deployed 3 additional battalions to the West Bank.

The Air Force, last night, struck several crossings along the Syria-Lebanon border which were being used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons into Lebanon, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Egypt is reportedly working on a two-stage plan for a post-war Gaza that it hopes to present to President Trump as an alternative to Trump’s proposal. The first stage of the plan is expected to last 10 years and focus on reconstruction, development and infrastructure projects, while preparing for a broader long-term solution to the Palestinian issue.

It envisions a redistribution of residential areas, reducing population density in northern Gaza and establishing low-population “safe zones” near Israeli border communities. It also includes restrictions on Palestinian armed factions, aiming to monitor but not completely disarm them. According to sources, Egypt proposes designated weapons storage sites in Gaza, to be overseen by European and Egyptian monitors.

To manage local security and governance disputes, Egypt intends to establish an Arab-led committee, which would function as an extension of the existing Egyptian-Qatari committee overseeing the return of displaced Gazans to the north. Additionally, the continued operation of an American security firm currently active in the area is envisioned, though limited to three key contact points between Gaza and Israel. The second stage of the plan would move toward establishing a Palestinian state.

Other Arab leaders are reportedly developing a $20 billion plan as a Trump plan alternative. Arab leaders are meeting in Saudi Arabia today. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff defended Trump’s plan, clarifying that the relocation of Gaza’s residents was meant to provoke discussion rather than promote forced displacement.

News Update

Israel began to bring military caravans and heavy machinery into Gaza today, as part of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. Six hostages are expected to be released on Saturday. The bodies of 4 other hostages are expected to be released tomorrow. The identities of the dead have not yet been released.

Israel killed a Hezbollah terrorist in a drone strike in Lebanon today. This is the first strike since IDF forces withdrew from Lebanon yesterday.

The air force struck 3 tanks belonging to the old Syrian regime in southern Syria. The attack was intended to prevent the tanks from falling into the hands of the new Syrian regime or terrorist organizations operating in the area.

The UAE president told Secretary of State Rubio that his country was against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, which is what President Trump has said needs to happen in order to rebuild the Strip.

Military prosecutors filed an indictment against five reserve soldiers for severely abusing a Palestinian detainee at the Israel Defense Forces’ Sde Teiman detention facility in southern Israel last summer.

News Update

Hamas stated that it will fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire agreement and release 3 hostages on Saturday. Egyptian officials said that Israel had committed to increasing the supply of tents, shelters, and heavy equipment into Gaza. Israel has told mediators that it wants more living hostages released in phase 1 of the agreement.

Senior spokesman for Hamas Sami Abu Zuhri told Al Jazeera that Hamas had no intention of releasing all of the hostages on Saturday, as demanded by President Trump, and called for mass marches against Trump’s plans for taking over Gaza. He said, “Trump’s threats mean nothing and do not scare us. Egypt and Qatar are making great efforts to push Israel to meet its obligations and we are pleased with the official position of Arab states who reject the plan to uproot Palestinians. The administration of Gaza is a Palestinian affair and we will not be dictated to. We are committed to the deal as it was agreed and will not be releasing all of the prisoners next Saturday.”

Egypt is scrambling to put together a coalition of Arab nations to commit to rebuilding Gaza, hoping to preempt the U.S. from carrying out President’s Trump plan of taking over the Strip and rebuilding it, after transferring the population to other Arab states. Egypt will host a summit of Arab leaders on Feb. 27 to discuss the issue. Egyptian President el-Sisi has yet to meet with Trump.

The IDF struck a vehicle packed with explosives in the eastern sector of Jenin. The the car was intended to detonate near troops operating in the area. A terrorist attempted to attack soldiers at the IDF headquarters in northern Samaria, but was neutralized.  IDF counter-terror operations continue in and around Jenin and Tulkarm. Since the start of the operation, the IDF has killed approximately 60 terrorists, arrested over 200 terror suspects, conducted 15 airstrikes and used heavy machinery to demolish buildings and roads where explosives were planted.

News Update

Hamas announced yesterday that they would delay the release of hostages until further notice, because of what they claim are Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement, including not permitting Gazans to return to the north via the Netzarim corridor and the withholding of agreed upon humanitarian aid. Both claims are false.

President Trump responded to Hamas breaking the agreement by warning that if Hamas doesn’t release ALL of the hostages by 12pm on Saturday, the ceasefire would be considered nullified, Israel could resume the war, and that “all hell is going to break out”. Israel’s cabinet met today to discuss its options.

Trump also suggested that he would withhold U.S. aid to Egypt and Jordan if they refuse to accept Palestinians from Gaza to settle in their territory. Trump said that he believes they will accept them, despite their public rejections of his plan.

The IDF announced today that Shlomo Mansour, 85, the oldest hostage believed to be held by Hamas, was murdered on Oct. 7 and his body was abducted to Gaza. Twins Gali and Ziv Berman, 27, who were abducted from their home in Kfar Aza are believed to be alive but, according to testimonies, likely being held separately.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on Monday canceling laws that allowed financial payments to families of prisoners in Israeli jails or to families of terrorists killed during attacks. Officials in Ramallah noted that this move was made as part of efforts to bolster the Palestinian Authority’s standing and legal position at the United Nations and other international bodies, with the aim of achieving international recognition and full membership for a “State of Palestine”. Hamas and Islamic Jihad condemned the move.

News Update

Israel is awaiting the names of the 3 hostages scheduled to be released tomorrow under the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Israel has urged mediators to prioritize the release of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, whom Hamas claimed were killed in November 2023, a claim Israel says is unverified.

Armed Hamas terrorists, along with thousands of Gazans, participated today in a funeral service for Marwan Issa, a senior member of the Hamas who was killed by an Israeli airstrike last March, that was held in the El Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Strip. Issa was one of the founders of Hamas, one of the top 3 Hamas leaders in Gaza and one of the architects of Oct. 7.

Israeli airstrikes hit multiple Hezbollah-linked sites deep inside Lebanon, including the eastern city of Baalbek, last night. The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities and newly established Hezbollah outposts. US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said at a Friday press conference in Beirut that the Trump administration wants February 18 to be the date that Israel completes its withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The IDF has established a special command to address potential threats in the West Bank. The newly designated force, which includes multiple reserve brigades from the Home Front Command, will be tasked with defending border communities stretching from the northernmost tip of the West Bank, through the Sharon area and down to Hebron.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi launched Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7) to seek justice for victims of the October 7 Hamas attack, disrupt Hamas-linked financial networks and address rising antisemitic crimes in the United States. According to a Justice Department memorandum released Thursday, JTF 10-7 will pursue criminal charges, including capital crimes, against those responsible for the attack, assist victims and hostage families, investigate U.S.-based Hamas supporters and funders and collaborate with federal agencies and Israel to counter the terror group. The FBI will provide agents, analysts and linguists with expertise in counterterrorism to staff the task force and the Treasury Department and IRS will collaborate with JTF 10-7 to track and disrupt Hamas’ funding sources, including financial institutions suspected of laundering money for the group.

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Netanyahu gave a golden pager as a gift to President Trump during their meeting at the White House on Tuesday. The golden pager displayed text that read: “Press with both hands,” and was given to Trump on a trophy-style display with a placard saying: “To President Donald J. Trump, our greatest friend and greatest ally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”