The Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday’s events as they unfold.
Netanyahu to US media: ‘All hell breaks loose’ if Hamas refuses to disarm
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives an interview to CBS News, amid his years-long near-total boycott of Israeli media, saying that if Hamas doesn’t agree to disarm, “all hell” will break loose.
“We agreed to give peace a chance,” says Netanyahu when asked by the American network how it can be said that the war is over when the IDF is still deployed in parts of Gaza and Hamas is reasserting control of the Strip.
The premier touts US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which has been okayed by both Israel and Hamas, and stipulates that the Palestinian terror group must be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized, with no weapons factories operating inside the Strip and no smuggling on its borders.
“We agreed, let’s get the first part done, and now let’s give a chance to do the second part,” Netanyahu says, voicing hope that Hamas will hand over its arms peacefully, and paraphrasing Trump as saying that otherwise, “all hell breaks loose.”
Trump has said that if Hamas doesn’t uphold its side of the deal, “we will disarm them,” perhaps “violently.”
Asked what it would take for him to declare the war over, the premier says: “I think that, for the foreseeable future, not only for Israel but for the free world, and for the civilized world, you have to maintain your ability to defend yourself, because freedom is not permanent, nor is it automatic. If you cannot defend free societies, they will be overtaken by authoritarian or totalitarian regimes.”
When the interviewer remarks that this sounds like Israel will be at war for another 100 years, Netanyahu disagrees, saying that “the way you purchase peace is through strength” and touting the Trump-brokered normalization deals he signed in 2020 with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, though the latter is indefinitely suspended.
“I think we have an opportunity to make peace with many, many more,” he adds. “And that, I think, would be the greatest gift we can bring the people of Israel, the people of the region, and the people of the world.”
Asked about a remark Trump made at the Knesset on Monday that he isn’t “the easiest guy to deal with,” Netanyahu says: “Well, I hope he says that because I’m very tough on the matters that pertain to my country’s future. When I believe that what I’m asked to do is fine, I say [it] is, and when I think I have to say ‘no,’ I say it. And that’s my job. My job is to protect the Jewish state and assure the future of the Jewish people.”
Sources: Hamas has said it will return 4 more bodies of hostages on Wednesday
Hamas has informed the mediators that it will transfer four more bodies of deceased hostages to Israel on Wednesday, a Middle Eastern diplomat and a second source familiar with the matter tell The Times of Israel.
The transfer would bring the number of hostages’ bodies returned by Hamas to 12, while another 16 would remain in the Strip.
Hamas has claimed that it needs time to reach all of the bodies as some of them are located underneath the rubble of buildings and tunnels bombed by the IDF, while others are located in areas under the IDF’s control.
Israel has dismissed Hamas’s claims as stalling tactics and has threatened to limit aid, keep the Rafah border crossing with Egypt closed, and resume fighting if the terror group doesn’t immediately return the remaining bodies.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas misrepresented the number of bodies it told mediators it would be able to produce of the 28 that remained in Gaza before the deal was signed.
“We were told they had 26, 24 dead hostages… and it seems as though they don’t have that because we’re talking about a much lesser number,” Trump said, adding that he wants them all back.
Caskets of apparent dead hostages arrive at forensic institute for identification
The caskets containing the apparent remains of four dead hostages have arrived at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for identification, the Health Ministry says.
The identification process may take up to two days.
Hamas has not provided the identities of the hostages it handed over.
Italy-Israel World Cup qualifier sees boos, nearby protests but no major incidents
The World Cup qualifier between Italy and Israel wraps up without major incidents amid a heavy police presence that included snipers on the stadium roof.
Italy won 3-0, dashing Israel’s last hopes of qualifying for next year’s tournament, and there were skirmishes between protesters and police on the streets of Udine at a pro-Palestinian demonstration before the match but no disruptions during the game itself.
The Israel team bus was escorted to the stadium by 13 police vehicles, including some from the special forces, and several motorbikes. The sound of helicopters surveilling the city filled the air since the morning, with drones spotted in the sky and snipers also seen on the roof of the Israel team’s hotel.
In the city center, around 10,000 people attended a pro-Palestinian march, which stayed incident-free for nearly three hours before arriving at its final stop. Then about 50 people — with their faces covered — started clashing with police, who used water cannons and tear gas to try and disperse them.
Some spectators booed Israel’s anthem before the match, but applause from the rest of the crowd largely drowned that out.
Attendance at the match was estimated at around 10,000 in the 25,000-seat stadium, including a small group of Israel supporters carrying their national flag in the main stand.
Family of Cpt. Daniel Perez to hold a second funeral for him after body returned
The family of Cpt. Daniel Perez will hold a second funeral for him this evening in Jerusalem, two years after his death, after his body was returned on Monday from Gaza by Hamas.
Perez, an immigrant from South Africa who was a tank commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, was killed battling Hamas fighters on October 7 and his body taken captive.
His death was declared by the IDF in March 2024, and his family decided at the time to hold a funeral, burying his blood-soaked clothing at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem. His remains are expected to be added to the casket during this evening’s proceedings.
The funeral is slated for 8 p.m. Israel time and will be streamed live at https://www.youtube.com/live/ZLdiTQv7K6o
Caskets of 4 apparent slain hostages brought out of Gaza by IDF troops
The caskets containing the apparent remains of four dead hostages have been brought out of the Gaza Strip by troops, the military says.
The bodies are now being taken to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for identification, which officials have said may take up to two days.
Hamas did not provide the identities of the hostages it handed over.
The terror group is still holding the bodies of at least 20 hostages in Gaza.
Italy defeats Israel 3-0 in World Cup qualifier, ending Israel’s faint hopes of qualification for next year’s tournament
UDINE, Italy — Italy beats Israel 3-0 at home thanks to a Mateo Retegui double and a late goal from Gianluca Mancini, securing at least a World Cup playoff berth amid tension between police and some demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel march. The defeat means Israel cannot qualify for the World Cup.
Retegui put Italy ahead just before the break after he was fouled and converted the resulting penalty. He netted the second in the 74th minute by winning possession on the edge of the area, cutting inside and curling his effort into the top corner.
Defender Mancini scored with a close-range header in second-half stoppage time to wrap up a comfortable win.
Norway leads Group I on 18 points. Italy is second with 15, six clear of Israel, who have only one game left and cannot overtake Gennaro Gattuso’s side.
The group winners qualify directly for next year’s World Cup, with the runners‑up entering the playoffs.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Families of freed Argentine-Israeli hostages send letter to Milei, expressing joy over release
The families of recently freed Argentine-Israeli hostages David and Ariel Cunio, and Eitan Horn send a letter to US President Donald Trump, delivered by Argentine President Javier Milei today in Washington.
“We write to you today with hearts overflowing with joy,” they write, in a Spanish-language letter shared with The Times of Israel by the Argentinian embassy in Israel.
“After 738 days of darkness and suffering, our loved ones – Eitan Horn and David and Ariel Cunio — today they are home. After so much pain and uncertainty, this day feels like a miracle.”
“We can finally breathe again,” the families write. “You gave us back the light we thought we had lost. He gathered our family and restored our hope.”
They say that they are “proud Argentine citizens. Our roots are in Argentina, our lives in Israel, but our hearts belong to both nations that remained united in values and friendship.”
They tell Trump that his leadership “reminded us that humanity and courage know no distance. What you have done will never be forgotten.”
“Thanks to you, our homes are filled with happiness again,” they tell him, adding that he “demonstrated to the world that freedom, moral clarity, and humanity can prevail even in the darkest of times.”
The families tell Trump that he is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.
They ask Trump to continue working for the return of all the slain hostages, including Argentine citizen Lior Rudaeff.
“You gave us back our family,” they say. “You gave us back our faith in life. That’s why we will bear your name on our hearts forever.”
Eitan Horn’s brother, Iair, and David Cunio’s wife and two daughters were also kidnapped but released in earlier exchanges.