The only thing we know is that Benjamin Netanyahu said they’re not even talking about the second phase. I heard Smotrich say that he only agrees to the first phase and then a renewal of war. What war? The one where soldiers are just killed?

 

now

13.36 GMT

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/16/israel-gaza-war-live-blog-updates-strikes-hamas-ceasefire-talks#top-of-blog

 

Hebrew media outlet Ynet is carrying a quote from the aunt of hostage Bar Kuperstein about the delay to the confirmation that Israel and Hamas have come to a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

 

Ora Rubinstein said:

 

We don’t receive any briefing, only general messages from the administration saying that Hamas is causing the delay. In my opinion, it’s because of problems in our coalition, with Bezalel Smotrich.

 

We don’t know what’s going to happen, we’re not told anything, always keeping us informed is at the bottom of the priority list.

 

The only thing we know is that Benjamin Netanyahu said they’re not even talking about the second phase. I heard Smotrich say that he only agrees to the first phase and then a renewal of war. What war? The one where soldiers are just killed?

 

Kuperstein was a member of staff at the Nova music festival who was seized and abducted into Gaza on 7 October 2023.

 

Israeli media reports that finance minister Smotrich’s far-right Religious Zionism party has said it will only remain in Netanyahu’s coalition with a guarantee that Israel will return to fighting Hamas after the hostages are released.