Sunday, February 23, 2028
11:18 GMT –– Israel's military to prepare for 'extended' West Bank stay
Israel has ordered its military to prepare for an "extended stay" in parts of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli defence minister said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to carry out an "intensive" offensive in the occupied West Bank following explosions on buses close to Tel Aviv on Thursday.
But he was quick to pull the guns in jiffy and blame Palestinians in the occupied West Bank for the blasts.
Israeli security agency Shin Bet has reportedly arrested three suspects, including at least one Jewish Israeli, suspected of driving "apparent terrorists" who set off three bombs on buses in the Tel Aviv suburbs last week.
07:34 GMT — Israel delaying prisoner release violates Gaza deal — Hamas
The Palestinian resistance group has condemned Israel's decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostage handover ceremonies are "humiliating" was false and a pretext to evade Israel's obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu's decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation's lack of reliability in implementing its obligations," Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.
10:35 GMT — Israeli opposition leader accuses Netanyahu of violating Gaza ceasefire deal
An Israeli opposition leader accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of violating a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement after delaying the release of Palestinian detainees.
“Netanyahu ordered the delay in the release of the prisoners, blatantly violating the agreement and sabotaging the first phase, just as we warned,” Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli Democratic Party, said on X.
“There are no actual negotiations for the second phase, only deceit and abandonment of the lives of the captives,” he said.
Golan, a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s government, vowed that the Israeli opposition will not allow the prime minister to remain in office “at the expense of our brothers and sisters.”
“I say to you, Bibi, if you sabotage the deal, all hell will break loose,” he stated.
10:32 GMT — Israeli hostage family asks Netanyahu government not to attend funeral
The family of returned slain hostage Shiri Bibas has rejected the attendance of any Israeli government officials at the funeral of hers and her two children, according to Israeli media on Sunday.
According to the Israeli news website Walla, the Bibas family told the government that they don’t want any government representative present at the funeral.
Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel will represent the government at the funeral of returned slain captive Oded Lifshitz, which will be held on Tuesday.
On Friday, the Bibas family accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning the hostages during the Gaza war and failing to return them alive.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said on Saturday that the Bibas family had not received any official information from the government regarding the circumstances of their killing.
09:24 GMT — Israeli air strikes target southern Lebanon ahead of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's funeral
Israeli warplanes conducted air strikes targeting six southern Lebanese towns, hours before a mass funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and despite an ongoing ceasefire.
The Israeli attacks targeted the towns of Zrariyeh, Zibqin, Al-Qlaiaah, Jannata, Deir Qanoun Al Naher, and Maaroub, sources said.
The Israeli army confirmed the strikes, claiming that they targeted Hezbollah rocket sites in southern Lebanon.
A military statement claimed that several rocket platforms were destroyed in the attacks, which coincided with the arrival of participants for the funeral of Nasrallah and senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine in Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports City.
09:14 GMT — Israel deploys tanks in occupied West Bank for 1st time in over two decades
For the first time in over two decades, the Israeli army deployed tanks in the occupied West Bank amid military escalation in the occupied territory.
The Israeli public broadcaster KAN said the deployment of tanks was part of “broader preparations for an expansion of military operations in the northern West Bank.”
It marked the first time since 2002 when the Israeli army deployed tanks as part of the army’s Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank.
07:00 GMT — Delay of Palestinians release due to deal guarantees — Israel
The Israeli prime minister's office said that the release of Palestinian prisoners planned for Saturday was delayed until the release of the next hostages is secured and "degrading ceremonies."
The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office came as vehicles apparently carrying prisoners left the open gates of Ofer prison, only to turn around and go back in.
06:22 GMT — Libyan speaker urges establishing Arab-Islamic fund to rebuild Gaza
Libyan House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh urged the establishment of the Arab-Islamic Fund to develop and reconstruct besieged Gaza, with contributions from states, organisations, banks and investment companies.
"Today we meet amid the most dangerous attempts to eradicate the Palestinian cause, following the physical annihilation our people in Gaza have endured over the past 15 months, during which the world witnessed firsthand the killing of thousands of defenceless civilians —men, women and children — and the destruction and burning of their property," said Saleh.
The speaker added: "From this platform, I call on Arab governments, with the participation of Islamic countries and international organisations, to establish the Arab-Islamic Fund for the Development and Reconstruction of Gaza, managed by a trustworthy body capable of the highest level of responsibility and competence."
05:25 GMT — Israel's delay in releasing Palestinian prisoners 'terrorism and abuse': Rights group
Israel's delay in releasing detainees in the seventh batch of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas constitutes "organised terrorism and abuse of prisoners," the Palestinian Prisoner Society said.
The group said it is "carried out by the occupation against the freed prisoners and their families, especially amid the bitter cold."
"The occupation has not left any tool of humiliation, abuse, or torture unused against the prisoners and their families," it added.
04:21 GMT — Israeli army fires on car in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire
The Israeli army fired on a car in one of the towns of the Marjayoun district in the Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon, causing it to catch fire.
The incident comes as part of continuous violations of a ceasefire agreement by Israel since it took effect on November 27, 2024.
Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that "the Israeli army fired on a car at the outskirts of the town of Houla in Marjayoun, causing it to catch fire," without clarifying if there were casualties.
For our live updates from Saturday, February 22, 2025, click here.
