APPLENEWS - STORY ADD
Middle East live updates: Siegel's family thanks President Trump 'for bringing our father back to us'
Thirty-three hostages are set to be released in the ceasefire's first phase.
Many residents of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon are expected to return to their homes in the coming days and weeks, with most of the fighting in both areas paused under Israeli ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Under Israel's multi-phased deal with Hamas, some hostages held in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have started to be released. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to continue amid the first phase of the deal, which was slated to last about six weeks.
Latest headlines:
- 15,000 displaced from Jenin camp, mayor says
- Family of released Israeli hostage celebrates his return
- ICRC transfers 3 hostages, 175 Palestinian detainees
- Allegations of abuse emerge as Israel releases 183 Palestinian prisoners
- Siegel's family thanks President Trump 'for bringing our father back to us'
- American hostage Keith Siegel freed from Gaza
- Thousands of Egyptians protest against displacement of Palestinians
IDF will remain in Jenin refugee camp even after current operation is over, Israeli defense minister says
After significantly increasing operations in the West Bank over the past two weeks, the Israeli defense minister is now saying the IDF will stay in Jenin even after they complete the current ongoing operation there.
“We have declared war on Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria. Operation Iron Wall is intended to crush the terrorist infrastructures built in the Palestinian refugee camps with Iranian funding and armament. The Jenin refugee camp will not return to what it was after the operation is completed, the IDF will remain in the camp to ensure that terrorism does not return,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.
"I am sending a clear message from here to the Palestinian Authority: Stop funding terrorism and the murder of Jews and start seriously fighting terrorism. Whoever funds the families of murderous terrorists and educates their children to destroy Israel — endangers its very existence,” Katz said.
2 killed, 6 injured in Israeli operation in the West Bank, IDF says
Israeli forces say two Palestinians were killed and six others were wounded “during counterterrorism operations” in the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday.
The Israel Defense Forces said it dismantled weapons storage facilities and a weapons manufacturing workshop during their operation in Jenin.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller
Israel strikes southern Lebanon
Israel has launched several strikes against southern Lebanon on Tuesday, saying it struck a Hezbollah truck and an additional vehicle transferring weapons in the areas of Chaqif and Nabatieh.
"The truck and the additional vehicle were struck after being monitored by the IDF at the time of the transfer of the weapons," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.
"The IDF is determined to continue to operate in accordance with the understanding between Israel and Lebanon, despite Hezbollah's attempts to return to southern Lebanon, and will operate against any threat posed to the state of Israel and its citizens," the IDF said.
Egypt denies speaking to Trump about taking Palestinians from Gaza
Egypt on Tuesday denied reports that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump after the latter said Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza.
"There was no truth to what some media outlets reported about a phone call between the Egyptian and American presidents," a senior official told state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV. The official added that any such contact would have been announced.
Trump suggested on Saturday a plan to "clean out” the Gaza Strip, saying he would "like Egypt to take people," and would like Jordan to do the same.
He elaborated on the remarks on Monday, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he’d spoken with Sisi, although he did not clarify Sisi’s stance on accepting additional Palestinian refugees.
"I wish he would take some, we help them a lot, and I’m sure he can help us, he’s a friend of mine," Trump said. "He’s in a very rough part of the world, to be honest, as they say, it’s a rough neighborhood, but I think he can do it."
"When you look at the Gaza Strip, it’s been hell for so many years," Trump said Monday. "There’s always been violence associated. So, I think you can get people living in areas that are a lot safer and maybe a lot better and maybe a lot more comfortable."
Both Jordan and Egypt appeared to reject Trump's suggestion. Egypt's foreign ministry issued a statement affirming its rejection of the “displacement or the uprooting of Palestinians from their land whether temporarily or long-term," and Jordan reiterated its “firm and unwavering" stance against any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington D.C. on Feb. 4.