Israel At War Monday Jan 13

Israel at war day 465

Hostage Deal breakthrough update

- Trump says they are close to getting a deal done there's been a handshake and it's time to wrap it up and getting it. He said the Oct 7th would have never happened if he was president.

- Sadly the 5 soldiers who were killed in Gaza today may have died from a explosive device that was in their possession according to a initial investigation  by the IDF.

- Group of national religious rabbis sign letter against the deal.

- Senior Israeli political source to Amit Segal: Israel will not hand over the body of arch-terrorist Sinwar to Hams as part of the deal. It won't happen, period.

- Biden says he's "working urgently" to close a deal in the Israel-Hamas war in his final days in office, which would free the hostages held by Hamas, "halt the fighting" and surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza. "I have learned in many years of public service to never, never, never ever give up.

- Right wing journalists and pundits blaming Trump for pressuring Netanyahu into bad deal calling it a surrender to Hamas.

- Bereaved  families protesting against hostage deal blocking traffic at intersections in Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv

- According to the Israel ch 14, Qatar managed to convince Trump to put pressure on Israel, together with Trump’s wish to end the war in Gaza, resulting in the deal in which Israel has to make significant concessions.

- Hostage deal details:

Phase A: Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages and they have not yet told Israel how many of those 33 are alive. These include women (civilians and soldiers), children, adults over the age of 50, the wounded and the sick. during Phase A, Israel will release terrorists depending on the number of live hostages that Hamas releases. Murderers will also be released, but not to Judea & Samaria (Israel has not specified to where). Terrorists who participated in 10/7 will NOT be released.

the first hostages will be released at the very beginning of Phase A. Also, Israel does not commit to ending the war, and can return to fighting at the end of Phase A. On the 16th day of Phase A, detailed negotiations will begin on Phase B.

During Phase A, IDF forces will not fully withdraw from Gaza, and will remain in the buffer zone along the border to enable the protection of the surrounding settlements. The withdrawal from areas in Gaza will be gradual throughout the days of the ceasefire.

As for the Philadelphi Axis, there will be "security arrangements" and at the beginning of the ceasefire, the IDF will remain on the Axis, but will later withdraw from parts of it.

The deal includes a component of introducing significant humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as supplies and logistical equipment.

Political sources clarify: "We are retaining significant assets in our hands for the continuation of negotiations - both geographical assets and terrorists who remain in our hands and will not be released until the last of the hostages returns home."

- Netanyahu expected to bring the hostage deal for a vote at the knesset tomorrow (walla)

-Channel 12 is reporting that two relevant Israeli government ministries have begun preparing for the return of abductees in the coming days.

- Updated: - Another 5 IDF soldiers HY"D killed in Gaza as a result of explosion in a home that collapsed in Beit Hanoun. Another 10 soldiers were injured, bringing death toll to 411 since ground operation .

Yair Shoshan, 23, from Maalot Tarshisha

Yoav Pfeffer,19, from Herzaliya

Aviel Weissman, 20,  from Poriah Illit

Yadav Hadar, 20, from Kfar Tavor

Guy Karmiel, 20, from Gadera

- Hamas terror leader Osama Hamdan to CNN: "We are very close to a ceasefire agreement. It is possible that a signing and guarantees will be made in the coming hours

- Israel has not received a draft proposal for a deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and return its hostages, an Israeli official says.

- Israeli officials tell media a hostage deal is close, awaiting final Hamas approval

- Earlier, an official briefed on the negotiations said Qatar had handed Israel and Hamas a “final” draft of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement designed to end the war in Gaza.

- 10 knesset members from the right said they will not vote for the current emerging hostage deal, "we can't cross red lines."

- Smotritch: The emerging hostage deal is a “national security catastrophe,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a statement on Monday morning. “We will not be part of a surrender deal that will include the release of arch-terrorists, stopping the war, and dissolve its achievements that were bought with much blood, and the abandonment of many hostages,” Smotrich said.

- Trump's VP, J.D. Vance, said yesterday, he clarifies the meaning of Trump's threat to Hamas if the hostages from Gaza are not released by the time he takes office:

1. Allow the Israelis to eliminate the two remaining Hams battalions and Hams' leaders. 

2. Very aggressive sanctions and economic sanctions on those who support terrorist organizations in the Middle East.

- Iran claims 1,000 new and advanced drones with a range of more than 2,000 km and "evasion capabilities" have been transferred to security forces