The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.
IDF assesses tens of thousands of Gazans have returned to north, far below Hamas claim of ‘over 300,000’ The Israeli military assesses that only tens of thousands of Palestinians have returned to the northern Gaza Strip since troops withdrew from most of the Netzarim Corridor yesterday morning and authorized the opening of south-north roads. Hamas claimed yesterday that “over 300,000 displaced” returned to the Strip’s north. The Times of Israel has learned that according to the IDF’s assessments as of this morning, that number is far lower, estimated in the tens of thousands. Since yesterday morning, as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas, Gazans have been able to freely return to northern Gaza after being prevented by the IDF from doing so since the beginning of the war — when civilians were called to head for the Strip’s south to avoid combat zones. Many of the buildings in northern Gaza have been destroyed amid the fighting, and it is unclear where civilians are supposed to reside. In southern Gaza, tent camps were constructed for displaced civilians.
Haredi lawmaker says son is willing to go to prison rather than serve in the IDF A lawmaker belonging to the ultra-Orthodox Shas party announces that despite receiving an enlistment order from the IDF, his son is willing to go to prison rather than serve in the Israeli military. “My son… received an order and he asked me what to do. I told him to ask the heads of his yeshiva and act according to their instructions,” MK Yosef Taieb tells Radio Kol Baramah. “He sits and studies seriously and loves to learn. We will do what they instruct us to do. If they tell us that what should happen is that he should be arrested, then he will be arrested and learn Torah from prison.” While some Shas politicians have called for drafting Haredim who do not study full-time in yeshiva, the Shas Council of Torah Sages, the spiritual leaders of the ultra-Orthodox party, instructed their followers last summer to ignore all initial draft orders. Rabbi Moshe Maya, a senior member of the Shas Council of Torah Sages, told Radio Kol Baramah in June 2024 that it was “forbidden for those who don’t study to go to the army. Those who do will end up violating the Shabbat.”
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declares that Gaza has brought Israel “to its knees,” in a reference to the ceasefire and hostage release deal that came into effect on January 19. “The small, limited Gaza brought the Zionist regime, armed to the teeth, and fully supported by America, to its knees,” Khamenei says. He appears to avoid direct mention of the ruling Hamas terror group that waged war against Israel, preferring instead to speak of Gaza as a whole. The war in Gaza was sparked by the terror group’s invasion and massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
Danny Elgarat tells Knesset House Committee he has reason to believe hostage brother Itzik Elgarat is dead Danny Elgarat tells the Knesset House Committee that he believes his brother Itzik Elgarat, who is held hostage in Gaza and is slated for release in the first phase of the ceasefire deal, is no longer alive. “We know more today about the list that Hamas passed on,” Elgarat says. “I won’t speak for others but we will probably not receive him [Itzik] alive.” According to the list Hamas provided on Sunday night, eight of the 26 hostages still to be freed in the first phase of the deal are dead. Although the list did not provide information on each hostage individually, officials have said that the document matched Israel’s existing information. Elgarat tells the committee he believes Itzik could have been saved if earlier attempts to negotiate a ceasefire-hostage deal had been successful, and asks: “Who will be held accountable for this decision that killed 40 hostages?” At least 34 of the 87 hostages still in captivity have been confirmed dead by the IDF, and the bodies of 40 others have been recovered throughout the course of the war.
IDF publishes footage of temporary army post built on Syrian side of Mount Hermon The IDF publishes footage showing the construction of temporary army posts atop the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, where troops have been deployed since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime last month. The military says the Technological and Logistics Directorate provided troops with insulated structures and equipment to reside atop the mountain during the harsh winter weather. Among the structures erected in the army posts is a medical building that is equipped to treat cold weather injuries. The IDF provided the forces with generators, heating devices, and clothing and shoes for snow. The military has said that its deployment to a buffer zone on the Syrian side of the border and strategic positions beyond the zone is a defensive and temporary measure.
Lapid: Diplomacy with Palestinian Authority is only way to end Hamas rule in Gaza Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says the only way to prevent Hamas rule in Gaza and to bring about regional security is to take part in a wider diplomatic deal with regional players, including the Palestinian Authority. “Anyone who saw hundreds of thousands of Gazans yesterday crossing the Netzarim Corridor and returning to the northern Strip understands that the war is over,” Lapid tells a conference in Tel Aviv organized by the Commanders for Israel’s Security group. “If Israel doesn’t set out on a major diplomatic process, Hamas will simply return to rule Gaza, and we will miss out on a historic opportunity.” However, he says, “in this Netanyahu government it won’t happen,” in large part because the prime minister has stated a refusal to “accept that the Palestinian Authority” will play a role in Gaza. Lapid says without PA involvement in the Strip, “the Saudis, Emiratis, Egyptians, Jordanians won’t be involved.” Lapid warns that the Trump administration “can make a deal with the Saudis without us… if the government of Israel won’t be at the table, they’ll write a side memo on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and put it in a drawer. This is a very bad idea, this would be to miss out on all the potential of the Trump administration.” This government’s “refusal to involve the PA in Gaza leads to one thing — Hamas remains the ruler in Gaza, because if there is no alternative it will only perpetuate Hamas rule.”
IDF: Vehicles heading to northern Gaza must travel via Salah a-Din road, undergo inspection The IDF warns Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that northbound vehicle traffic is only permitted via the Salah a-Din road, where cars will be inspected by security contractors. “According to the agreement, vehicle movement to the northern Gaza Strip is permitted, only after inspection, and via Salah al-Din road,” Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, says on X. “For your safety and the safety of your loved ones, please obey the instructions. IDF forces are operating in the area. Attempts to move north via non-agreed routes expose you to danger,” he adds. Last night, the IDF said it carried out a drone strike near a vehicle trying to travel to north Gaza via a prohibited area.
IDF again warns Lebanese civilians not to return to southern border villages The IDF again warns Lebanese civilians against returning to villages in southern Lebanon, where troops are still deployed as a ceasefire deal has been extended by several weeks. “Residents of Lebanon, as you know, the IDF has recently redeployed to various locations in southern Lebanon, per the ceasefire agreement, to gradually enable the effective deployment of the Lebanese army, and dismantling and removing the Hezbollah terror group, with its operatives and infrastructure, from southern Lebanon,” Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, says on X. “I remind you that the agreement period has been extended and IDF forces are still deployed on the ground. The deployment process is taking place gradually and in some sectors, it is being postponed and requires more time to ensure that Hezbollah cannot re-establish its strength there,” he says. “Hezbollah, as usual, puts its narrow interests above the interests of the Lebanese state and tries through its mouthpieces to heat up the situation, despite being the main reason for the destruction of the south,” Adraee says. The IDF spokesman adds that “until further notice, all previously published instructions remain in effect,” and the military will update when it is safe to return to the border villages.