J Street Welcomes Second Release of Hostages, Flood of Aid Into Gaza, J Street
J Street is extremely relieved that another four hostages held by Hamas are finally reuniting with their families after 477 days in captivity, and that desperately needed humanitarian aid continues to surge into the hands of Palestinian families in Gaza. “As we see the joy of loved ones reuniting with relatives taken hostage and the relief of aid reaching Palestinian families, it’s clear that we cannot let the ceasefire deal fall apart,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. “We have endured far too much to go back now. President Trump must ensure that the deal is seen through and protected from pro-war saboteurs in the Netanyahu government.”
President Trump: Don’t Get Played by Netanyahu, Substack
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “The US and other mediators will have to listen to those, like the hostage families and international voices, who truly want the deal to hold and press Netanyahu’s government to accept fair outcomes – even if it risks tearing the Prime Minister’s government apart, forcing him into a new coalition or to hold elections.”
Palestinians Finally Returning to Devastated Northern Gaza After Ceasefire Dispute Delay, CNN
Israel delayed opening the Netzarim corridor into northern Gaza, blaming Hamas for breaching a ceasefire agreement by failing to release more Israeli hostages on time on Saturday as planned. After additional hostages were freed by Hamas, Palestinians began moving north on Monday, many on foot, carrying what little they had left after months in refugee camps.
Hamas Frees 4 Female Israeli Soldiers; Fragile Gaza Ceasefire Holds, The Washington Post
Four female Israeli soldiers (Liri Albag, 19, Naama Levy, 20, Karina Ariev, 20, and Daniella Gilboa, 20) that were held hostage by Hamas were released in Gaza City, while 200 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel on Saturday, the start of a second week of a planned six-week ceasefire deal.
22 Reported Killed in Lebanon Before Agreement To Extend Deadline for Israeli Forces To Withdraw, AP
Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on Sunday opened fire on Lebanese protesters demanding their withdrawal in line with the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement, killing at least 22 and injuring 124, Lebanese health officials reported. Later that day, the White House stated that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to depart southern Lebanon until Feb. 18, after Israel requested more time to withdraw beyond the 60-day deadline stipulated in a ceasefire agreement that halted the Israel-Hezbollah war in late November.
Auschwitz Holds Observances on the 80th Anniversary of the Death Camp’s Liberation, NPR
The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops is being marked on Monday, January 27 at the site of the former death camp, a ceremony that is widely being treated as the last major observance that any notable number of survivors will be able to attend. World leaders will join with elderly camp survivors, the youngest of whom are in their 80s.
Trump Wants Jordan and Egypt To Accept More Palestinian Refugees and Floats Plan To ‘Clean Out’ Gaza, NPR
President Donald Trump said he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the Gaza Strip, potentially moving out enough of the population to “just clean out” the war-torn area to create a virtual clean slate. President Trump states, “It’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there.” Trump added: “So, I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change.”
Senior Hamas Official Says Group Could Step Away From Governing Post-War Gaza, Willing To Enter Talks With US on Issue, The Times of Israel
Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk tells the Saudi Al Arabiya news outlet that Hamas leadership is “open to dialogue with all parties besides Israel” when it comes to formulating a plan for future control of the Gaza Strip. He says that Hamas would be willing to negotiate the makeup of the Gaza Strip’s government with the US, as he believes that President Donald Trump “is a serious president” in light of the ceasefire and hostage release deal that he and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff helped finalize.
Gazans Find Fragments of Life Along With Remains of Loved Ones, The Washington Post
The Washington Post worked with Corey Scher from CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University to create a map that tracks damage data and analyse satellite imagery of populated areas in different regions of Gaza, which offers a conservative estimate for these areas affected by building damage.
Israel Insists It Is Going Ahead With UNRWA Ban – What It May Mean for Palestinians, The Guardian
Patrick Wintour writes, “Arguably, the effects of the ban amount to a breach of the ceasefire. With Donald Trump now ventilating plans for the deportation of millions from Gaza, some UN staff fear Israel and the US regard the closure of UNRWA as a precondition for persuading Palestinians to travel to Jordan and Egypt. In a standoff about the legitimacy of Israel’s effort to close UNRWA, the UN declined to make contingency plans for other agencies to take over.”