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ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS 9 CHARITY WORKERS IN GAZA, HAMAS CONDEMNS ATTACK AS “HORRIFIC MASSACRE”

At least nine charity workers were killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on Saturday, marking the deadliest incident since the ceasefire took effect in January. The Israeli military claimed it had targeted “terrorists” operating a drone, but Hamas accused the Israeli military of committing “a horrific massacre”. Ismail Thawabta, Director General of Hamas’ Government Media Office, condemned the attack, stating, “The targeting of unarmed civilians, especially those providing humanitarian aid to displaced and homeless individuals, constitutes a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law.” The Gaza health ministry confirmed that nine people had been killed, including three members of a media team documenting humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. Multiple people with critical injuries were transported to Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital. The Israeli Defense Forces said it had targeted two “terrorists” operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops. However, Hamas and other Palestinian groups have denied that the victims were affiliated with any militant organizations. The incident has raised concerns about the ongoing violence in Gaza, despite the ceasefire agreement. Israeli military operations inside Gaza have continued, with the IDF citing threats to its troops or Hamas violations. However, there has been a decline in casualties in recent months.

ISRAEL CUTS OFF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO GAZA, HAMAS CALLS IT “STARVATION POLICY”

Israel has announced that it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza, a move that has been condemned by Hamas as part of Israel’s “starvation policy.” The decision is expected to have a significant impact on the arid territory’s desalination plants, which rely on electricity to produce drinking water. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassam said, “Israel has practically cut off electricity since the start of the war.” He added that the latest move is part of Israel’s “starvation policy, in clear disregard for all international laws and norms.” The Israeli government has defended its decision, saying it is necessary to pressure Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire. Israel wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. However, Hamas is insisting on starting negotiations on the ceasefire’s more difficult second phase, which would see the release of remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a lasting peace. The United Nations human rights office has criticized Israel’s decision to cut off supplies to Gaza, saying, “Any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment.” The International Criminal Court has also accused Israel of using “starvation as a method of warfare.” Israel has denied the allegations, saying it has allowed in enough aid and blaming shortages on the UN’s inability to distribute it. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has paused the deadliest and most destructive fighting ever between the two sides, sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The White House has confirmed direct US talks with Hamas, with envoy Adam Boehler saying, “I think you could see something like a long-term truce, where we forgive prisoners, where Hamas lays down their arms, where they agree they’re not part of the political party going forward. I think that’s a reality. It’s real close.”

ISRAEL BLOCKS HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA OVER CEASEFIRE DISPUTE

Israel has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing Hamas’s refusal to agree to a US-proposed ceasefire extension. The first phase of the ceasefire, which expired on Saturday, had allowed for the release of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Hamas has refused to accept a temporary extension of the ceasefire under a proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu’s office stated, “With the end of Phase 1 of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff outline for continuing talks… Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that, as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease.” A Hamas spokesman condemned Israel’s decision, calling it “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” on the ceasefire agreement. The spokesman urged mediators to intervene, stating, “Netanyahu’s decision to stop aid going into Gaza once again shows the ugly face of the Israeli occupation… The international community must apply pressure on the Israeli government to stop starving our people.” The US-proposed ceasefire extension would last approximately six weeks, coinciding with the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods. If negotiations reach a dead end, Israel reserves the right to resume hostilities. US envoy Witkoff’s proposal includes the release of half of the remaining living and dead hostages. Aid agencies have confirmed that no aid trucks were allowed into Gaza on Sunday morning. Antoine Renard from the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasized, “Humanitarian assistance has to continue to flow into Gaza. It’s very essential. And we are calling all parties to make sure that they reach a solution.” The Israeli military reported that four people were killed in strikes on Gaza on Sunday, claiming they were planting an explosive device. The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, halted 15 months of fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military. Negotiations on phase two, including the release of remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, have yet to progress.

TRUMP ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO HAMAS: RELEASE HOSTAGES OR FACE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES

President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas, threatening severe consequences if the hostages they’ve held since October 7, 2023, are not released. Trump stated that if the hostages are not freed before “12 o’clock” on Saturday, “all hell will break out” in the Middle East, and those responsible will face unprecedented repercussions. This threat comes as part of Trump’s efforts to secure the release of the hostages. Trump criticized the “all talk, but no action” diplomatic efforts to return Hamas’ hostages home, vowing to ensure that Hamas suffers dire consequences if they fail to comply. The situation is particularly pressing, as over 60 hostages are reportedly still held by Hamas. Trump’s warning has significant implications for the region, which has been grappling with the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war. In a recent development, Trump proposed that the US take over the war-shattered Gaza Strip, which has been met with international condemnation. The plan involves resettling Palestinians elsewhere and developing the area economically. However, this proposal has raised concerns about the potential for increased tensions in the region.

ISRAEL DELAYS RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AFTER CHAOTIC HOSTAGE RELEASE IN GAZA

Israel has delayed the release of over 100 Palestinian prisoners following the chaotic scenes in Gaza during the transfer of seven hostages. The hostages, including two Israelis and five Thais, were released in Khan Younis, but the scene turned chaotic as hundreds of people swarmed around the Red Cross convoy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the scenes as “shocking” and ordered a delay in the release of Palestinian prisoners until the safe exit of the hostages is guaranteed. “The Israeli government embraces the seven returnees,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. The delay comes after buses carrying the Palestinian detainees were told to head back to the prisons. The Hamas-run Prisoners Media Office had earlier announced that 110 Palestinian prisoners were set to be freed after the return of the Israeli hostages. The family of a Thai farm worker held hostage in Gaza expressed relief after hearing of his release. “It is confirmed everyone, my son did not die. Thank you God,” said Wiwwaeo Sriaoun, the mother of Watchara Sriaoun. Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sharren Haskel, condemned the chaotic scene in Khan Younis, calling it an example of Hamas’ “hate, terror and savagery.”

ISRAELI HOSTAGES NAMED AHEAD OF RELEASE IN GAZA

Three Israeli hostages set to be released in Gaza on Thursday have been named by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. The hostages are Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 19, and Gadi Moses, 80. The release is part of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. According to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, all three hostages are believed to be alive. Yehoud was kidnapped from her home in the Nir Oz kibbutz, while Moses, a grandfather and agronomist, was also taken from Nir Oz. Berger, a soldier, was abducted from a military base beside the Nahal Oz kibbutz. The chairwoman of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Osnat Peri, described the news of the releases as “an exciting moment for us, and another step on the long road to bringing all our loved ones home.” However, she noted that 29 members of the community remain in Gaza, and “the struggle will continue” until all are returned. Moses’ family expressed their excitement at the news of his release, thanking “the people of Israel for their embrace and support.” The Hostage and Missing Families Forum vowed to continue working towards the release of all hostages, saying they would “not give up or stop at any stage until all hostages return home – down to the very last one – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial.”

GAZA CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED AND HER PEOPLE CAN NEVER BE MOVED TO EGYPT AND JORDAN!

By Chief Femi Fani-Kayode A friend sent the following to me last night. He wrote, “No to the evacuation of Palestinians. They will never be allowed to return once they vacate Gaza. That’s what happened to their grandparents, expelled forcibly from Jaffa, Tel Aviv and over 700 other Palestinian towns, villages and settlements. Any Palestinian leader who even thinks in this manner of collaboration with the United States, the greatest facilitator of Israeli atrocities, would need to have his head examined. Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniye and other martyrs didn’t give their lives for the Palestinians to be evacuated to Egypt or Jordan”. My friend got it right. The suggestion that the people of Gaza should be relocated to Jordan and Egypt in order to “clean the place up” is asinine, absurd and unacceptable and thankfully both the Egyptians and the Jordanians have formally rejected it. The Lord did not save Trump’s life and make him President of the most powerful nation on earth for him to indulge in ethnic cleansing and take the lives of others. As Believers in God we are called to help and support the persecuted, the poor, the weak, the vulnerable and the brokenhearted. We are not called to kill and displace them or to join hands with their violent and savage oppressors. Biden and Harris have suffered humiliation and the judgement of God due to the shedding of the blood of the women and children of Gaza. President Donald Trump, a man who I have tremendous respect and affection for and who I believe was called by God, should not make the same mistake lest he suffers an even worse fate. He was lifted by God to bring peace, liberty, light and justice to the world and not to bring war, destruction, bloodshed, misery, injustice and darkness. He was lifted to save lives and not to destroy them. He was lifted to crush the genocidal maniacs and barbarians that call themselves Zionists and not to assist them. He was lifted to deliver and liberate nations and not to conquer and divide them. He was lifted to save the women and children of Gaza and not to eat their flesh and drink their blood. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK) is a former Minister of Aviation, Activist and writer

TRUMP FLOATS PLAN TO “CLEAN OUT” GAZA, SEEKING PALESTINIAN RESETTLEMENT

US President Donald Trump has proposed a controversial plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, describing the territory as a “demolition site” after the Israel-Hamas war. Trump suggested that Egypt and Jordan could take in the Palestinians, estimating that around 1.5 million people would be relocated. “I’d like Egypt to take people. And I’d like Jordan to take people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “You’re talking about probably a million and half people, and we just clean out that whole thing.” Trump emphasized that the relocation could be temporary or long-term, stating that “it’s literally a demolition site right now, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there.” The proposal has sparked concerns among Palestinians, who fear that any attempt to move them from Gaza would evoke memories of the mass displacement during Israel’s creation 75 years ago, known as the “Nakba” or catastrophe. Israel has denied plans to force Gazans to move, but some extreme-right members of the Israeli government have expressed support for the idea. Trump’s plan comes as a fragile truce and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas enters its second week. The US president has claimed credit for the deal, which was signed on the last day of former President Joe Biden’s administration. Trump’s administration has promised “unwavering support” for Israel, but details of its Middle East policy remain unclear. In a related development, Trump confirmed that he had ordered the Pentagon to release a shipment of 2,000-lb bombs for Israel, which was blocked by his predecessor Biden. “We released them. We released them today,” Trump said. “They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time.”

HAMAS NAMES FOUR HOSTAGES TO BE RELEASED UNDER GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL

Hamas has announced the names of four hostages to be released on Saturday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The hostages, all Israeli soldiers, are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag. They will be freed in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. This will be the second hostage exchange since the ceasefire came into effect last Sunday. The first exchange saw three hostages and 90 prisoners released. The ceasefire halted the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. Hamas is expected to provide information about the remaining 26 hostages due to be released over the next five weeks. The prisoners to be released in the current exchange are of a more serious category than those freed in the first exchange, including those who have killed and are serving sentences of over 15 years. Israel has insisted that no one involved in the October 7 attacks will be freed. The four hostages to be released were seized at the Nahal Oz military base, which was overrun by Hamas gunmen.

HAMAS HANDS OVER THREE ISRAELI CAPTIVES TO RED CROSS UNDER CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

In a significant development, Hamas has handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross, marking the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The captives, identified as Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, were handed over by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, at Saraya Square in central Gaza City. The Israeli army confirmed that it was notified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that the three captives had been handed over. The military said that the three female captives are now in the hands of its forces in Gaza after they were handed over by the Red Cross. According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the three freed captives are in good health. A large number of Qassam members and their vehicles gathered in central Gaza City during the handover process. The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday, after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations that Hamas was delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. The agreement was originally scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. local time. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in devastating consequences, with nearly 47,000 people killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured since October 7, 2023, according to local health authorities. The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

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