As part of a fragile ceasefire, Hamas militants in Gaza released four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday. In exchange, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals convicted of deadly attacks, marking a critical moment in the ongoing conflict.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing the military’s inability to anticipate the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. His resignation, effective March 6, 2025, comes alongside the intended resignation of Major General Yaron Finkelman, head of the IDF Southern Command.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi insurgents announced Sunday they will limit attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea to Israeli vessels, citing the Gaza ceasefire agreement. However, they warned that broader assaults could resume if the ceasefire fails to hold.
In an interview on MSNBC’s The Last Word Thursday, President Joe Biden stated he began urging Israeli leaders to minimize civilian casualties in their response to Hamas shortly after the October 7 terrorist attacks. Biden recounted discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel about 10 days after the attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas is holding up the ceasefire agreement that would release hostages.
Ayman Mohyeldin of MSNBC has raised concerns over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motivations in securing a recent ceasefire and hostage release agreement. On the network’s “Alex Wagner Tonight,” Mohyeldin suggested that Netanyahu may have delayed the deal intentionally, positioning it for strategic leverage with the Trump administration, rather than aiding U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in building political momentum during an election year.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya reportedly pledged another attack similar to the October 7 massacre during a press conference Wednesday, shortly after a tentative ceasefire agreement was announced.
