Israel National News

Vacation mindfulness:

Vacation mindfulness: Keep sharp with daily puzzles and sudoku

Vacation Mindfulness: Keep Sharp with Daily Puzzles and Sudoku

Gaza reports:

Gaza reports: This is the building the hostages were rescued from

Gaza footage reveals site of nighttime rescue operation which freed elderly hostages Fernando Marman and Louis Har from Hamas terrorists.

Government passes draft bill to shutter Al Jazeera

Israel's government approves in telephone vote a draft bill to close Al Jazeera's Israel offices, following revelations that one of their 'journalists' was a Hamas commander.

Watch:

Watch: Knesset Speaker Ohana announces hostage rescue over the plane's intercom

Upon landing in Israel from a diplomatic visit to the US, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana notified his fellow passengers of the operation to rescue two hostages from Rafah.

Study:

Study: Presence of too many Bacteriodes linked to ASD

Bar-Ilan University study reveals microbiome changes linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

In past four months:

258 Judea and Samaria women received gun licenses in the past four months

258 women have received licenses to carry firearms, compared to only 12 in the same period last year. Another few hundred requests are waiting for approval by the Firearms Licensing Department.

Crown Heights:

Crown Heights: Yeshiva students celebrate hostage rescue operation

Dozens of yeshiva students break out dancing in Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in Crown Heights, New York, following news that IDF rescued two hostages from Hamas captivity.

Argentine President thanks Israel for hostage rescue

Politicians praise hostage rescue operation, Israeli Pres. Herzog promises, 'We will continue to act in every way to return all the hostages home.'

IDF spokesman reveals details of dramatic hostage rescue

'We prepared for this operation over the course of time, waited for conditions which would allow it to be carried out,' IDF spokesman Hagari says.

Rescued hostage's son-in-law:

Rescued hostage's son-in-law: 'We met and embraced, they are surrounded by family'

Idan Bejerano, the son-in-law of Louis Har, described the reunion with his father-in-law after he was freed from Hamas captivity in an Israeli operation.

Channel 13 News poll:

Channel 13 News poll: Smotrich gains strength

Benny Gantz's party wins 37 seats, Likud with 18, Yesh Atid with 13 and Yisrael Beytenu has 10 seats. Shas maintains its strength with 9 seats.

Jordan's King takes part in an airdrop of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Jordan's King Abdullah participated in an airdrop of humanitarian aid to Gaza last week, before leaving on a trip overseas.

Photos:

Photos: IDF's activities in Gaza and in the north

IDF soldiers continue to operate in the Gaza Strip and the northern border. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit presents a photo album of the activities in both areas.

Brother of dead hostage:

Brother of dead hostage: Perhaps Yossi's death saved the lives of soldiers

Brother of Eli Sharabi who is held captive by Hamas and Yossi Sharabi who was killed in captivity says he hopes his brother's "was not in vain".

Senator Fetterman:

Senator Fetterman: There’s only one clear, right side and that’s with Israel

Senator John Fetterman speaks to Channel 12 News about his support for Israel: Until Hamas is effectively neutralized, I could never support a ceasefire.

In dramatic operation:

In dramatic operation: Israeli troops free two hostages from Hamas captivity

Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, freed in joint IDF, Israel Security Agency and Israel Police operation in Rafah.

Poll:

Poll: Public believes Gantz is most suitable candidate to be Prime Minister

51% say that the elections should be moved forward, 39% say that there is no need to do so and 10% replied "I don't know". Among votes of the pro-Netanyahu bloc, only 20% said that it was necessary.

20 terrorists arrested inside Gaza hospital

Israeli forces captured a group of terrorists hiding in the al-Amal hospital without needing to open fire.

Former US Middle East envoy:

Jason Greenblatt to Arutz Sheva: 'There were a few steps back in Israel Arab ties'

Arutz Sheva spoke to former special envoy Jason Greenblatt about Israel's relations with her neighbors, the day after the war, and how Palestinians feel about October 7th.

Chief of Staff warns ministers not to end war

Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told the general cabinet that he was certain that without military pressure the previous hostage deal would not have been possible.

IDF reveals:

IDF reveals: Al Jazeera 'journalist' was Hamas commander

The IDF has discovered a laptop belonging to a Gazan journalist, with photos proving that the alleged journalist is in fact a Hamas senior official.

Biden to Netanyahu:

Biden to Netanyahu: 'No Rafah operation without plan to protect civilians'

The Prime Minister and President spoke for 45 minutes and discussed hostage negotiations, humanitarian aid, and Israel's expected operation in Rafah.

Egypt publishes official opposition to Rafah operation

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Israel to avoid taking measures that 'will further complicate the situation.'

Iranian President:

Iranian President: 'The Zionist entity will depart the world'

A speech for the 45th anniversary of the Iranian revolution declared that Iran took orders from no power and had the upper hand militarily.

Egypt threatens:

Egypt threatens to suspend peace agreements if Israel operates in Rafah

Cairo may suspend its peace agreements with Israel if the IDF launches a ground offensive in Rafah.

Terrorist's body-cam:

Terrorist's body-cam: Terrorists rig building to detonate, IDF disarms explosives

During a raid on terrorist infrastructure, the forces located body cameras belonging to Hamas terrorists with footage showing terrorists rigging a building and the forces entering the building, disarming the explosives, and locating the weapons.

PM Netanyahu:

PM Netanyahu: 'No alternative to Israeli security control west of the Jordan'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on the war in Gaza and said that victory was at arm's reach. 'It will take more time, that was said correctly, but it won't take years, in contrast to what they say.'

Illegal immigrant abducted girl for ransom

After returning to Israel illegally following extradition, he kidnapped the daughter of an acquaintance and demanded 50,000 shekel.

Report:

Report: IDF soldiers endangered themselves to seize PA funds

IDF soldiers approached the Bank of Palestine despite sniper fire to seize 200 million NIS which were to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.

Rabbi to banks:

Rabbi to banks: 'Freeze Joe Biden's accounts'

Rabbi Shimon Ben-Tzion demands that banks worldwide freeze any accounts held by Joe Biden in retaliation for the sanctions leveled at Israeli citizens.

Ahead of Rafah operation:

Ahead of Rafah operation: Egypt's warning to Hamas

The Egyptian ultimatum warns that if an agreement is not reached, Israel will launch a ground offensive against Rafah.

UN official outrageously claims:

UN official: Oct. 7 victims were killed because of Israeli oppression, not antisemitism

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese claims October 7 only happened because of 'Israeli oppression' in response to French President calling it the 'largest antisemitic massacre of our century.

Supreme Court rejects petition:

Supreme Court rejected petition: Chametz not permitted on IDF bases on Passover

Supreme Court judges rejects petition of organizations that demanded to allow bringing chametz to IDF bases on Passover and ruled that the army's orders on the matter should not be messed with.

Watch:

Israeli flag on bridge in Tehran

An Israeli flag hanging on a bridge in Tehran. A citizen, who photographed the flag, says in the video that was posted online: "The pain of the people of Israel is the same pain; the pain of a struggle against terrorists."

Terrorist released in hostage deal arrested

Hamas-affiliated female terrorist released as part of November deal arrested again while attempting to enter Israel using a stolen Israeli ID.

Khan Yunis:

Khan Yunis: Aircraft eliminated terrorists loading weapons

Three terrorists were spotted leaving the house of a Hamas operative and loading weapons onto a motorcycle. IDF forces directed an aircraft that eliminated them.

'Bring them home'

Israel purchases Super Bowl ads to draw attention to plight of 136 hostages

Diaspora Affairs Ministry and the Public Diplomacy Directorate hope to reach tens of millions of Americans with videos, radio commercials, and billboards drawing attention to the plight of the hostages during the Super Bowl.

Gallant:

Gallant: 'Deepening operation brings realistic hostage deal closer'

Defense Minister says IDF has 'penetrated into the heart of Hamas’s most sensitive places, and are using their intelligence against them.'

Governor of Bank of Israel:

BOI governor on downgrade of credit rating: 'Government must address the economic issues'

Bank of Israel governor, Prof. Amir Yaron: 'We knew how to recover from difficult times in the past and quickly return to economic stability. The Israeli economy has the strength to ensure that this will happen this time as well.'

Military operation in Beit Ummar: Hamas terrorists arrested, explosive devices lab located

From the start of the war more than 3,060 wanted persons have been arrested in Judea and Samaria – more than 1,350 are members of Hamas.