Gaza Strip

As Israeli soldiers have massed to enter the Gaza Strip in force, the defense minister has promised them, "You see Gaza now from a distance; you will soon see it from inside."

That scenario would mean the United States would have to evacuate hundreds of thousands of American nationals from the region.
This means that hundreds of thousands of American citizens would be evacuated from the region, of which about 600,000 are in Israel and Lebanon, the Washington Post said, citing as many as four officials involved in the development of that plan.

Namely, the video was made by Hamas and it shows two old women sitting while next to them are members of Hamas, armed to the teeth, with their faces completely masked.
Hamas fighters talk to them calmly, most likely assuring them that everything will be fine. They gave them something to eat and drink, talking to them along the way, as if they were sitting at a tea party.

Although there were unofficial announcements that about 50 hostages would be released, Hamas released only two elderly women.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant again addressed the soldiers near Gaza, repeating that Israel will launch a ground offensive against the enclave. He added that the troops were ready and that it would be a "deadly" attack.

Macron in Tel Aviv

An Israeli 85-year-old freed by Palestinian militant group Hamas said Tuesday she "went through hell" during her abduction, but was treated well during more than two weeks held captive in Gaza.

Yocheved Lifshitz was a resident of Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip which Hamas militants attacked on October 7.

Israel's military said it was preparing for a "relentless attacks" against Hamas. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the death toll in Gaza has already exceeded 5,000. Israeli airstrikes have continued for more than two weeks in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed more than 1,400 people.

The leaders of six Western countries reaffirmed their support for Israel's "right to defend itself against terrorism" but also urged it to adhere to international humanitarian law. At the same time, a second humanitarian aid convoy was allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

Washington has advised Israel to postpone the ground operation in the Gaza Strip in order to gain time to negotiate the release of 212 hostages held by Hamas, the media reported.
Also, as stated by the New York Times, which refers to U.S. officials, the goal of the delay was to provide greater aid to Palestinian civilians.

Israel carried out air strikes on the Gaza Strip Wednesday in response to rocket fire from the coastal enclave, as the military began withdrawing forces from Jenin in the occupied West Bank after a major two-day operation in the area.

Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters in the Gaza Strip agreed to a ceasefire from 10 p.m. on Saturday to end the deadly fighting, the BBC reported, citing Palestinian sources.

The truce was reached in negotiations brokered by Egypt. Israel and Islamic Jihad have yet to comment.