Updates/Headlines From Times Of Israel

Cabinet tonight set to okay deal for Hamas release of 50 Israeli hostages over 4 days

The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday

Incoming rocket sirens sound in central Israel; interceptor missiles seen over area

No plans to allow Palestinians back to northern Gaza when IDF operation expands to south

The Israel Defense Forces has no plans to allow Palestinians to move back to northern Gaza when the military expands its ground offensive into the southern part of the Strip.

The Times of Israel has learned that the IDF instead plans to direct the civilian population to areas away from the expected ground offensive in southern Gaza, in order to reduce civilian casualties.

The population may move around in southern Gaza, but not northward, according to information seen by The Times of Israel.

So far, the IDF has declared the small al-Mawasi area on the southern coast of Gaza as a “safe zone” amid the ground offensive in the north and airstrikes across the Strip.

IDF investigates drone infiltration alarms in northern Israel

A suspected drone infiltration alarm is sounding in several communities in the Western Galilee.

The alerts are activated in Shlomi, Rosh HaNikra, Metzuba, Betzet, Lehman and the Achziv Miluot Industrial Zone.

At the same time, incoming rocket sirens sound in Shlomi and Betzet.

Source: Gaza war will resume once releases completed; Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder won’t be freed

An Israeli government source says Israel has insisted on certain conditions in the developing hostage deal with Hamas, including that no Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder will be released in the agreement.

Immediately after the phases of the hostage releases are completed, the source says, Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza will resume.

According to the developing deal, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly women and children, in exchange for a ceasefire of four days, the release of between 150 and 300 Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of fuel and other goods into Gaza.

Some 12-13 hostages will be released per day as the ceasefire takes effect, the source says, adding that Israel will release women and minor prisoners, with each returning to the city or town where he lived prior to imprisonment, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The source says the deal will also include a second stage to the agreement by which Hamas will act to locate women and children held by other terror factions in Gaza ahead of their possible release.

The halt in the fighting could be extended for additional days in exchange for 10 further releases per extra day, the source says. Israel believes Hamas may prove able to locate and release up to 30 further Israeli women and children.

The source says the deal has nothing to do with hostages who are not Israelis, and that other governments may be working on separate deals.

If as expected the deal is approved by the full cabinet tonight, Israel will subsequently publish the details of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, the source says; the public will have 24 hours by law to petition against any of these planned prisoner releases.

According to the source, Israel’s security establishment is in favor of the imminent agreement.

IDF chief says military pressure on Hamas creating ‘better conditions’ for hostage deal

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