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Joshua Marks is a news editor on the Jerusalem desk at JNS.org, where he covers Jewish affairs, the Middle East and global news. He is an experienced journalist who has written and produced content for major media outlets in both the United States and Israel.

A Saudi report suggested that the Hamas terror chief in Gaza escaped to Egypt • IDF death toll in ground offensive rises to 237.
After that period, the Israeli military will shift to a more targeted phase • Hamas claims 6,000 fighters killed in war, about half the number of the IDF’s most recent estimate.
In Israel for a surprise solidarity visit, Stephen Harper in an op-ed also called the U.S.-led push for Palestinian statehood “insincere, hypocritical and beyond foolish.”
While there are currently no direct talks between Fatah and Hamas, Russia has invited all of the Palestinian factions to a meeting in Moscow, said P.A. Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
The Israeli president called the Friday encounter at the Munich Security Conference a “good discussion.”
The proposal depends on a hostage deal that would include a pause in fighting in Gaza.
If faced with the choice, 40% would choose toppling the terrorist group compared to 32% supporting bringing the captives home.
“We will return to fight with a determination that will not be less than the one we used before,” Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi assured.
“Don’t return until everyone is back—the living and dead. The eyes of 134 families are on you,” group representing hostages tells Mossad head David Barnea.
The withdrawal of the terrorist group would be preceded by a ceasefire and followed by the deployment of Lebanese Army forces.
Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70—both kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak—are in good condition.
The prime minister said that the military is preparing a plan to evacuate the civilian population ahead of the offensive.