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US attacks Houthis in Yemen, hostage deal talks reportedly 90% complete

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank (L) is deployed near Israeli soldiers inspecting a Syrian army tank that they captured, in the UN-monitored buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights, near the Druze village of Majdal Shams. December 21, 2024. (photo credit: JALAA MAREY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)
An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank (L) is deployed near Israeli soldiers inspecting a Syrian army tank that they captured, in the UN-monitored buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights, near the Druze village of Majdal Shams. December 21, 2024.
(photo credit: JALAA MAREY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Hamas, PIJ, PFLP demand PA halt crackdown on Jenin terror crackdown

The terror groups emphasized the preservation of “Palestinian blood” and unity as a “top priority” and a “red line.”

By SAM HALPERN
 Gunmen stand during the funeral of Palestinian Ribhi Shalabi, who was killed in clashes with Palestinian Authority forces, in Jenin camp in the West Bank, December 10, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/RANEEN SAWAFTA)
Gunmen stand during the funeral of Palestinian Ribhi Shalabi, who was killed in clashes with Palestinian Authority forces, in Jenin camp in the West Bank, December 10, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/RANEEN SAWAFTA)

Terror groups Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a joint statement on Saturday demanding a halt to the Palestinian Authority’s ongoing actions against terror groups in the West Bank city of Jenin.

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Hostage, ceasefire negotiations 90% finished, Palestinian official claims - BBC

The official reportedly added that some significant issues remained to be resolved, among which was the presence of Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Visitors at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, December 18, 2024 (photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)
Visitors at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, December 18, 2024
(photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)

Hostage deal and ceasefire negotiations are 90% complete, a Palestinian official participating in the talks told the BBC on Sunday. 

The official reportedly added that some significant issues remained to be resolved, among which was the presence of Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor, a corridor in southern Gaza that runs parallel to its border with Egypt. 

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Hamas official Muhammad Abu Askar killed in Jabalya strike - report 

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  (photo credit: FLASH90)
(photo credit: FLASH90)

Hamas official Muhammad Abu Askar, who previously served as spokesperson for the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, the terror group's military wing, was killed in a strike in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, Israel's public broadcaster KAN News reported on Sunday, citing Palestinian reports. 

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IAF strike hits terrorist command center embedded in Gaza school compound

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  (photo credit: Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)
(photo credit: Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

An Israel Air Force aircraft struck terrorists overnight at a command and control center in a compound that previously served as the  "Musa bin Nusayr" School in the Daraj Tuffah area in Gaza, the military said on Sunday. 


   
 
 

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IDF to conduct military exercise in Jordan Valley area on Sunday

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 breaking news (photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
breaking news
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)

The IDF is set to conduct a military exercise in the Jordan Valley area starting Sunday afternoon, the military said. 

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'They won't survive the winter': Hostage families call on the government to reach a hostage deal

Family members called for a deal but also attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family for launching a 'hate' campaign against them.

By URI SELA
Einav Zangauker speaks during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, December 14, 2024 (photo credit: REUTERS/STOYAN NENOV)
Einav Zangauker speaks during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, December 14, 2024
(photo credit: REUTERS/STOYAN NENOV)

The Hostages Families Forum held a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding a deal that would guarantee the return of all the hostages.

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Documents captured from Hamas reveal Iran's complex weapons smuggling network

The smuggling routes to the West Bank had two routes: the first passed through Syria to Jordan; the second route began in Syria, through Lebanon, and then weapons were smuggled directly into Israel.

By AVI ASHKENAZI
The embroidered flags of Lebanon, Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Palestinian Authority (illustrative) (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
The embroidered flags of Lebanon, Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Palestinian Authority (illustrative)
(photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Iran's weapons smuggling routes to Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank were revealed by documents recently captured from Hamas, according to a new study by the Maj.-Gen. Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.

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Israel should strike Houthi leadership, anti-Houthi Yemeni figures say - report

The figure urged Israel to target one of the Houthi's key military commanders, Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim, who he described as the "military brain" of the Houthis.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 A Houthi follower wears a vest portraying the Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi during a parade held as part of a 'popular army' mobilization campaign by the movement, in Sanaa, Yemen February 7, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
A Houthi follower wears a vest portraying the Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi during a parade held as part of a 'popular army' mobilization campaign by the movement, in Sanaa, Yemen February 7, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

A figure close to the anti-Houthi government told KAN on Saturday that Israel should go further than retaliatory strikes and should target the Houthi leadership as they did Hezbollah's.

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CENTCOM conducting strikes on Houthi military facilities in Yemen's Sana'a

Initially, reports attributed the attack to Israel but then shifted to the US.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
CENTCOM Conducts Airstrikes Against Iran-Backed Houthi Missile Storage and Command/Control Facilities in Yemen, Dec 21 (CENTCOM)

The US began conducting strikes on Iran-backed Houthi missile storage and command facilities in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, on Saturday night, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported.

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Israel requests 34 hostages in first phase of deal, including 11 off-limits by Hamas - report

Al-Ghad's sources said that some of the names on Israel's list include hostages that Hamas considers to be soldiers, whereas Hamas says it will only release the sick, the elderly, and children.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 A Hamas terrorists in front of hostage posters. (Illustrative) (photo credit: Canva, Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS, Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
A Hamas terrorists in front of hostage posters. (Illustrative)
(photo credit: Canva, Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS, Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Israel reportedly presented Hamas with a list of 34 hostages that it insists must be released as part of the first phase of a deal, including 11 names that do not meet Hamas's criteria for a deal, Egyptian news channel Al-Ghad reported, citing official sources, on Saturday night.

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What you need to know

  • Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
  • Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities
  • 100 hostages remain in Gaza
  • 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says
  • The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30
  • The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4:00 a.m.