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Sirens sound across central Israel following projectile from Yemen, Hostage deal talks reach climax

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Israeli security forces at the scene where fragments of a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis damaged a home in Jerusalem, January 14, 2025 (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Israeli security forces at the scene where fragments of a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis damaged a home in Jerusalem, January 14, 2025
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Hostage families meet with Netanyahu: An agreement may be signed 'within hours'

According to the families, the emerging deal will include three phases, but the current agreements only pertain to the first stage.

By MAYA COHEN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Hostage and Missing Families Forum sets up massive display in front of Capitol Hill demanding Netanyahu to sign deal  (photo credit: Hostages and Missing Families Forum)Enlrage image
Hostage and Missing Families Forum sets up massive display in front of Capitol Hill demanding Netanyahu to sign deal
(photo credit: Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

Hostage families were told that an agreement may potentially be signed "within hours," in a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Tuesday.

According to the families, the emerging deal will include three phases, but the current agreements only pertain to the first stage.

The families are demanding immediate continuation between all stages of the deal and oppose waiting until the 16th day. Netanyahu expressed agreement, stating, "There is no such thing as a humanitarian pause" and committed to bringing back all hostages. However, the families stressed: "Words are not enough."

The families are urging decision-makers to avoid political considerations and warn against missing the current opportunity for a comprehensive agreement. "Don’t leave any hostage behind," they emphasized.

Hostage family members sit in the Knesset with photos of their relatives in empty chairs. (credit: Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post)Enlrage imageHostage family members sit in the Knesset with photos of their relatives in empty chairs. (credit: Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post)

Family members excluded

Eli Shtivi, whose son Idan was taken hostage and murdered in captivity, said that he was not allowed to enter the meeting, Ynet reported.

"We were not on the list, no one represents us," he said.

"We are accepting 33 hostages, and we are going to abandon the remaining 70. We will not know what happened to them."

Haim Haiman, the father of Inbar, who also murdered in captivity, also said he was not allowed in.

Sharon Sharabi, whose brother Eli is expected to be released in the first phase of the deal, and whose brother Yossi will remain in captivity, said "we must not wait until the 16th to discuss the second and third phases, every moment is critical."

Robbie Chen, whose son Itay was killed and whose body is being held in Gaza, said: "The Prime Minister has not included my son and other hostages. Most families do not accept this deal. There should be a deal when we know that all the hostages will be released."

He continued, "Yoni Netanyahu went to rescue Jews in Entebbe, when he went to rescue them he rescued them all - he did not say he would return later to rescue the others. My son is a hero and saved many people - he does not deserve to stay in Gaza." 

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IDF announces deaths of five soldiers in northern Gaza

The IDF added that eight other soldiers from the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Nahal Brigade were also wounded in the same incident.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Five soldiers fell in Gaza, the IDF announced on Monday (photo credit: IDF)Enlrage image
Five soldiers fell in Gaza, the IDF announced on Monday
(photo credit: IDF)

Five soldiers were killed in northern Gaza, the IDF announced Monday evening. 

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Israel will not hand body of Yahya Sinwar to Hamas as part of hostage deal, source says

"It won't happen, period," the source stated.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 HAMAS’S GAZA chief, Yahya Sinwar, sits in his office in Gaza City, in 2022. While the majority of experts believe that Sinwar is an irrational psychopath, others consider him to be a psychopath who ultimately makes rational decisions, says the writer. (photo credit: ATTIA MUHAMMED/FLASH90)Enlrage image
HAMAS’S GAZA chief, Yahya Sinwar, sits in his office in Gaza City, in 2022. While the majority of experts believe that Sinwar is an irrational psychopath, others consider him to be a psychopath who ultimately makes rational decisions, says the writer.
(photo credit: ATTIA MUHAMMED/FLASH90)

Israel will not hand over the body of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal, a government source stated Monday night.

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Rocket sirens sound across central Israel following projectile from Yemen

The IDF stated that several attempts were made to intercept the missile that was launched and that it was likely intercepted.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Footage released by Houthi Military Media says to show a launch of missile, which the Houthis say they fired at Israel, at an unknown location in this screen grab obtained from a handout video released on December 19, 2024.  (photo credit: HOUTHI MILITARY MEDIA/via REUTERS)Enlrage image
Footage released by Houthi Military Media says to show a launch of missile, which the Houthis say they fired at Israel, at an unknown location in this screen grab obtained from a handout video released on December 19, 2024.
(photo credit: HOUTHI MILITARY MEDIA/via REUTERS)

Rocket sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and central Israel following a missile that was launched from Yemen early Tuesday morning.

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Israel at war: What you need to know

  • Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
  • Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
  • 98 hostages remain in Gaza.
  • 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
  • The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
  • The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4:00 a.m.