Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday warned the Hezbollah and Hamas terror organizations in Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, respectively, not to test Jerusalem’s resolve.
Israel “will continue to enforce the ceasefires in the north and south firmly,” tweeted the defense minister.
“Anyone who violates the rules or threatens IDF forces will bear the full price. We will not allow a return to the reality of the 7th of October,” he added, in reference to the Hamas-led massacre of 1,200 people in 2023.
After repeatedly violating the truce agreement with Jerusalem, Hamas agreed to release three additional Israeli hostages on Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced on Sunday night.
The PMO also confirmed receipt from Hamas of a list detailing the status of all the hostages to be released in the six-week first stage of the truce. Hamas failed to provide the list on Saturday as required, prompting Jerusalem to postpone the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.
At 7 a.m. on Monday morning, Jerusalem allowed them to begin passing into northern Gaza after Israeli troops evacuated the Netzarim Corridor dividing the Strip. Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster aired pictures that purportedly showed Hamas gunmen moving alongside the noncombatant population, in an apparent breach of the deal.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon was extended by some three weeks until Feb. 18 on Monday following indirect talks between Jerusalem and Beirut mediated by the U.S. government.
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that Beirut agreed to the extension, saying the decision came following talks with consultations with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a powerful Hezbollah ally. Mikati claimed in a statement that the United States had heeded his request to help negotiate the release of Hezbollah terrorists detained by Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.
