Negotiations over a potential hostage release deal have resumed in Qatar following talks in Paris this weekend. Israel and mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar reportedly made “significant progress and a solid basis for discussions.”
Speaking to CNN today, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that the “basic contours” of a deal have been reached. Different Israeli media sources have reported various numbers of hostages that would be released in the deal, with some citing 35-40 captives freed in exchange for 200-300 Palestinian terrorists in Israeli prisons and a six-week pause in fighting.
Those demanding a temporary ceasefire in Gaza should direct their calls to the one address preventing one from happening: Hamas.
While Israel has agreed to pause the fighting, surge more aid, and release hundreds of convicted terrorists, it is Hamas that must agree to release the hostages.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the IDF will present its plans later today for an operation in the last Hamas stronghold of Rafah, and for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians to areas north of the city. The IDF believes 10,000 Hamas operatives are embedded among the more than one million civilians currently in Rafah.
Hezbollah continues attacking Israeli communities
This morning, the Iran-backed terror group launched a barrage of 25 rockets into northern Israel.
This video taken yesterday shows multiple Iron Dome interceptions over Kiryat Shmona during another rocket onslaught. The remarkable missile defense system we lobby for together continues to save countless lives.
The IDF is responding to Hezbollah attacks with airstrikes on the terror group’s weapons depots and command centers throughout southern Lebanon, and increasingly further north.
According to red alert data since October 7, more rockets are now being fired at Israel from Lebanon (around 70 per week) than from Gaza (less than 10 per week).
IDF finds Hamas rocket launcher in Khan Yunis medical lab
Today the IDF continued operating against Hamas cells throughout the Gaza Strip, including in Khan Yunis where it discovered weapons and a long-range rocket inside a medical laboratory refrigerator.
The video below was taken by an IDF soldier inside the building where Hamas used the medical lab as a weapons depot – demonstrating yet again how Hamas exploits Gaza’s civilians to shelter its weapons and terrorists.
“I believe she will get out of there.”
One of the first calls that 17-year-old Agam Goldstein-Almog made after being released from Hamas captivity was to the parents of another hostage, 19-year-old Agam Berger.
A recording of the call was published this weekend. While being transported to a hospital in Israel, Goldstein-Almog delivered a happy birthday message to Berger’s father, giving him a sign that his daughter was still alive.
“I believe she will get out of there,” said a tearful Berger. “She will.”
Agam Berger has now spent 142 days in Hamas captivity.
The Squad is still silent on Hamas’ sadistic sexual abuse
Days after a horrific new report provided comprehensive evidence of Hamas’ systematic rape and mutilation of Israeli women and men on October 7, the anti-Israel Squad in Congress remains silent.
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