After Hamas announced that it would violate the hostage-ceasefire agreement and not release more hostages on Saturday as planned, Prime Minister Netanyahu said today following a security cabinet meeting that if Hamas does not release the hostages, Israel will resume the war in Gaza.
Yesterday, President Trump threatened that if the hostages in Gaza are not released the ceasefire should be canceled and "let all hell break loose."
Meanwhile, the IDF has raised the level of readiness for the troops in and around Gaza, and postponed leave for combat soldiers. The area has also been significantly reinforced with additional units for defensive purposes, the IDF said.
Israel announced today that Shlomo Mantzur, previously believed to be the oldest hostage still in Gaza, was killed on October 7 and that his body is being held hostage.
Shlomo pictured with his grandchildren Ori and Roni.
Shlomo's kibbutz said in a statement that "his smile, modesty and human warmth were an inspiration to us all. Our hearts are so broken that we were unable to bring him back to us alive. The entire community grieves his loss and is united in grief and pain."
Shlomo was originally from Baghdad, where he survived the 1941 Farhud pogrom in Iraq before moving to Israel at age 13. He is survived by his wife, Mazal, five children, 12 grandchildren and five siblings. He was 85 when he was killed and his body abducted; he would have turned 87 next month.
He was on the list of the 33 hostages set to be released in the first stage of the hostage deal. Israel has now confirmed the deaths of 36 of the hostages remaining in Gaza.
76 hostages, including 6 Americans, are still being held hostage in horrific conditions by Hamas terrorists. The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Iran, Qatar and Turkey to release the hostages.
ICC chief prosecutor sanctioned by the United States
The Trump administration named International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan as the first person to be designated for sanctions under the executive order issued last week.
The executive order imposed sanctions on ICC officials involved in the court's outrageous and illegitimate effort to prosecute Israel's leaders. The ICC has also attempted to target American servicemembers, despite the fact that neither the United States or Israel are subject to its jurisdiction.
AIPAC commends the administration for taking this important step and imposing consequences on the court for its outrageous actions.
Jordanian king meets with Trump at White House
King Abdullah II of Jordan and his son, Crown Prince Hussein, met today with President Trump at the White House.
Sitting together in the Oval Office, the president reiterated his vision for the future of Gaza where Palestinians live outside the Strip while the U.S. controls Gaza. King Abdullah indicated that he is coordinating with the leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia on a plan for Gaza that considers U.S. interests.
U.N. pauses operations in Houthi-controlled province in Yemen after workers arrested
The United Nations announced yesterday that it has paused all operations in Yemen's Sa'ada region after more U.N. staff were detained by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
"This pause is to give time to the [Houthis] and the United Nations to arrange the release of arbitrarily detained U.N. personnel and ensure that the necessary conditions are in place to deliver critical humanitarian support," a U.N. spokesman said.
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