The Times of Israel is liveblogging Sunday’s events as they happen.
Katz says he instructed IDF to stay for year in West Bank refugee camps and not allow 40,000 residents home Defense Minister Israel Katz says he has instructed the IDF to stay for the next year in West Bank refugee camps that have been cleared of terror operatives and civilians, and not allow anyone to return. “40,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated from the Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, and are now empty of residents. UNRWA activity in the camps has also been stopped.” Katz says in a written statement. He says the IDF is clearing the “nests of terror” of terrorists and destroying infrastructure and weapons “on an extensive scale.” “I instructed the IDF to prepare for a long stay in the camps that were cleared, for the coming year, and not allow residents to return and the terror to return and grow,” Katz says. “We will not return to the reality that was in the past. We will continue to clear refugee camps and other terror centers to dismantle the battalions and terror infrastructure of the extreme Islam that was built, armed, funded and supported by the Iranian evil axis, in an attempt to establish an eastern terror front,” he adds.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana calls for the annexation of the West Bank while on a tour of the northern part of the territory, and says that settlements are the only way for Israel to achieve peace. “On the seventh of October not only Israeli citizens were murdered but also the idea that was mistakenly called ‘the two-state solution’,” says Ohana, a member of the Likud party. “These Biblical, original, parts of our land, which in the Bible tells the story of our people, are intended for us, for the people of Israel, need to be in the territory of the State of Israel, under the ownership of Israel, under full Israeli sovereignty, and I think that today this thing is clearer than ever.” The Knesset speaker describes Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “not only not an obstacle to peace” but rather “our one and only way, for the people of Israel, of the State of Israel, to arrive at peace.” Ohana also praises US President Donald Trump for proposing ideas “outside of the box” and describes him as “the best friend Israel ever had in the White House.”
IDF deploys 3 tanks to West Bank for first time since 2002 The IDF confirms it has deployed tanks to the West Bank as it expands its ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the Jenin area. It marks the first time since the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield that IDF tanks are operating in the West Bank. Troops of the Nahal Infantry Brigade and the Duvdevan Commando Unit began operations in several villages near Jenin this morning, the military says. At the same time, a platoon from the 188th Armored Brigade is preparing to operate in Jenin, the army says. Palestinian media published images showing three tanks in the area. The IDF has been carrying out a major offensive in the northern West Bank, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, since January 21.
Hamas: Israeli delay of prisoner releases over hostage ceremonies a ‘deliberate attempt’ to avoid deal obligations Hamas condemns Israel’s decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages’ handover ceremonies are “humiliating” is false and a pretext to evade Israel’s obligations under the Gaza hostage release and ceasefire agreement. “[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation’s lack of reliability in implementing its obligations,” Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, says in a statement. Israel said that it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who had been slated to go free Saturday until Jerusalem receives assurances regarding the end of “humiliating ceremonies” staged by Hamas when hostages are handed over. The statement by Netanyahu’s office came after over 600 inmates had reportedly already boarded buses to leave Ofer prison, in the largest single-day release of the first stage of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire. Instead, the inmates were told to disembark, their release on indefinite hold. The prisoners had been slated to be let go as part of a deal for the release of six hostages who were freed by Hamas earlier in the day. But with Israelis fuming over the handling of the transfer of the bodies of mother Shiri Bibas and her two small children murdered in captivity, and new anger sparked by a propaganda video showing hostages being brought to a ceremony where others were being freed, Netanyahu said Israel would demand an end to the gauche fanfare before resuming freeing prisoners.
Polling stations open for pivotal German elections, with the conservatives the strong favorites after a campaign rocked by a far-right surge and the return of US President Donald Trump. Voting got underway at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) with more than 59 million Germans eligible to cast ballots and first estimates based on exit polls expected after polls close at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT). The race pits the incumbent chancellor against the opposition leader, the vice chancellor and — for the first time — a leader of a far-right party. Germany’s electoral system rarely gives any party an absolute majority and opinion polls suggest that no party is anywhere near one this time. Two or more parties will most likely form a coalition in the coming weeks.
Tens of thousands begin to gather in Beirut ahead of Nasrallah’s funeral Tens of thousands of people are beginning to gather in Beirut to attend the funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader Hassan Nasrallah, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital. Roads into Beirut have been clogged with carloads of Hezbollah supporters traveling in from the movement’s strongholds in south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. The funeral for Nasrallah, and his successor Hashem Safieddine, killed by Israel in early October, is set to take place at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium on the outskirts of the capital, where giant posters of the two have been hung. The stadium has a capacity of around 50,000 but Hezbollah organizers have installed thousands of extra seats on the pitch and many more outside, where mourners will be able to follow the ceremony on a giant screen. The funeral is due to start at 1 p.m. and will include a speech by current leader Naim Qassem.