Israel at war day 498
3 Israeli hostages are released from Gaza in exchange for over 350 terrorists
PM Netanyahu and the Cabinet are debating Israel's next steps in relation to the Gaza deal
- Channel 12: Israel's goal is to use Trump's ultimatum to secure the release of the remaining 6 living hostages (from Phase A) in the coming days.
- Trump posted this after the hostages were released
"Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape! This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages. Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!"
-The terrorists released by Israel today in the Gaza deal were dressed in shirts with a Star of David on which was written in Arabic: "We will not forget nor forgive."
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: "Preparations have begun with the Americans for voluntary immigration from Gaza, Estimates are that immigration will begin within weeks."
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Israel for his visit
- Former US President Joe Biden hails the release today of American-Israeli hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen from Gaza “after 498 painful days,” saying in a tweet that he and his wife Jill are “relieved.” Biden says he’s “proud that the deal we negotiated has held, paving the way for the release of hostages.
The IDF carried out a strike a few hours ago in Southern Lebanon that killed Hezbollah commander Abbas Ahmad Hamoud. He was a high-ranking member of Hezbollah's aerial unit responsible for launching drones into Israel.