Sunday, February 2, 2025
06:21 GMT — Israel kills 5 Palestinians in occupied West Bank strikes
Israel has killed five Palestinians in strikes in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
An Israeli air strike on an eastern neighbourhood of Jenin killed 16-year-old Ahmad al Sadi and critically wounded two other people, the ministry said.
A second strike targeted a car, killing two people in the nearby town of Qabatiya, the ministry said, while a third killed two people in central Jenin.
05:22 GMT — Netanyahu appoints Eyal Zamir as Israel's new army chief of staff
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Major General Eyal Zamir as the new army chief after the resignation of top general Herzi Halevi.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have agreed on the appointment of Major-General (Res.) Eyal Zamir as the next IDF (Israeli Army) Chief-of-Staff," the premier's office said in a statement.
04:21 GMT — Hamas showcases captured Israeli military symbols during Israeli hostage exchange in Gaza
Several Israeli military symbols captured by Palestinian resistance fighters and a locally made sniper rifle were displayed at an event in Gaza, marking the release of the fourth batch of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire and exchange deal.
The Ghoul rifle, developed by the Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and named after Adnan al Ghoul, a prominent leader of the Palestinian group killed in 2004, first gained recognition during the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza, where it was used in precise sniper operations against Israeli soldiers.
The display of the rifle comes more than a year after the Israeli military claimed to have dismantled key units of the Al Qassam Brigades, including its production capabilities.
03:20 GMT — Talks on second phase of Gaza truce to start on Monday: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will start negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire when he meets with US President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Monday in Washington, Netanyahu's office said.
Netanyahu is scheduled to depart Israel on Sunday for Washington, where he is to meet next week with Trump at the White House to discuss Gaza and the Israeli hostages held there.
During his meeting with Witkoff, Netanyahu will discuss Israel's positions in respect to the ceasefire, the prime minister's office said.
For our live updates from Saturday, February 1, 2025, click here.
