The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.
Trump issues statement marking Auschwitz liberation, says ‘no place’ for antisemitism
US President Donald Trump declares Monday to be the National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, in a statement issued less than two hours before midnight Tuesday.
“Today, we renew our promise that antisemitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America,” Trump says in a statement.
Doubling down, Trump suggests Gazans better off somewhere not ‘associated with violence’
US President Donald Trump doubles down on his desire for Egypt and Jordan to take in Gazans, suggesting that Palestinians would be better off somewhere not “associated with violence.”
“I’d like to get them living in an area where they can live without disruption and revolution and violence,” Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One.
“When you look at the Gaza Strip, it’s been hell for so many years… There have been various civilizations on that strip. It didn’t start here. It started thousands of years before, and there’s always been violence associated with it. You could get people living in areas that are a lot safer and maybe a lot better and maybe a lot more comfortable,” Trump says.
Asked if this stance means he no longer believes in a two-state solution, Trump avoids answering directly, saying he’ll be discussing the issue with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he comes to Washington to meet him “in the not so distant future.”
He says a date will be set for the meeting “very soon.”
Two sources familiar told The Times of Israel on Monday that Netanyahu’s office is planning for the premier to travel on Sunday to Washington, where he’ll meet Trump at the beginning of the week before returning to Israel on Wednesday. The trip has not been finalized and will depend on Netanyahu’s health as he recovers from prostate surgery, the sources said.
Asked how Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi received his idea of relocating Gazans to his country, Trump responds, “His response [was] that he’d like to see peace in the Middle East.”
“I’d like to see peace in the Middle East,” Trump adds.
Pressed further on how Sissi reacted to his idea, Trump insists that both the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders “would do it.”
“I’d love to do that. I wish [Sissi] would take some. We helped them a lot, and I’m sure he’d help us. He’s a friend of mine. He’s in… a rough neighborhood. But I think he would do it, and I think the King of Jordan would do it too,” Trump adds.
Both Egypt and Jordan have come out strongly against Trump’s idea, saying that Palestinians should be allowed to remain in Gaza, where members of Israel’s far right have been calling to reestablish settlements while advocating for the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from the enclave.
Minister reportedly scrapped Brussels trip over fears arrest warrant could be issued
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli scrapped a planned trip to the European Parliament in Brussels over concerns that pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel groups would seek a warrant for his arrest, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement saying the trip was cancelled “in light of concrete warnings, and in accordance with the guidance of security officials,” though the broadcaster says its inquiries with Shin Bet sources established that there were no such concrete threats against Chikli.
According to the report, Belgian officials relayed to Israel that Chikli would not enjoy diplomatic immunity during his time in Belgium, as he would not be there on an official visit to the country.
Widely shared clip shows Al Jazeera cutting off Palestinian criticizing Hamas
An Al Jazeera interview of a Palestinian returning to northern Gaza is being widely shared after the reporter cut off the man once he started criticizing Hamas.
The man can be heard telling the Al Jazeera reporter that Hamas allowed thieves to loot his house before being cut off.
It is one of a growing number of clips showing reporters from the Qatar-backed network blocking the dissemination of voices critical of Hamas.
Hamas failed to provide us with a bottle of water, or a food meal!
"Hamas allowed the gangs in Gaza to steal our properties".
When I talk about that and expose what Hamas does to the people of Gaza, I often get called "a tokenized Palestinian." Here you go, from the mouth of a… pic.twitter.com/L0XeQI3bSv
— Hamza (@HowidyHamza) January 28, 2025
Trump says he’ll sign executive order to build ‘state-of-the-art Iron Dome’
US President Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order to start building an “Iron Dome” air defense system for the United States, like the one that Israel has used to intercept thousands of rockets.
“We need to immediately begin the construction of a state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defense shield,” Trump tells a Republican congressional retreat in Miami on the day new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth takes office.
Rubio speaks with Jordan’s Abdullah after Trump suggested kingdom take in Gazans
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call Monday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the State Department says, with the call coming two days after a suggestion by President Donald Trump that Jordan and Egypt should take more Palestinians from Gaza.
“The secretary and King Abdullah discussed implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of hostages, and creating a pathway for security and stability in the region,” the State Department says in a statement. Trump’s weekend remarks are not mentioned in the statement.
Albanian PM denies Israeli TV report claiming he’s talking with US about housing Gazans
The prime minister of Albania forcefully denies a report by Israel’s Channel 12 news claiming that his government has been in talks with the Trump administration about taking in as many as 100,000 Palestinians from Gaza.
“I haven’t heard something so fake in quite some time—and there’s been a lot of fake news lately! It is absolutely not true,� Edi Rama tweets, along with a screenshot of the Channel 12 reporter’s purported scoop.
“Full respect and solidarity for the people of Gaza, who have been dehumanized by the savage Hamas regime and have endured a hellish war following the medieval horrors of October 7,� Rama adds.
“But let me be clear: Albania has not been asked by anyone, nor can we even consider to take on any such responsibility.�
“We are proud of our strong friendships with Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and, of course, the Palestinian people, whose state Albania recognized a very long time ago,� the Albanian premier continues.
“But Albania is not in the Middle East itself, and from the heart of Europe, we cannot do more than any other European country in such a matter.�
“Yet, we wish and pray that the Palestinian people are given the chance to live in their own state, as free people under democratic rule, and that Hamas will never again be able to harm Israel—or, first and foremost, the Palestinians themselves,� he adds.
Channel 12 claimed that Israel believes US President Donald Trump’s call for Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinian refugees is unrealistic and that Washington is accordingly looking to other suitors, such as Albania.
NBC News reported earlier this month that the US also is considering Indonesia as a landing spot for Palestinians while the Gaza Strip is being rebuilt.
Egypt and Jordan have strongly come out against the idea of hosting Gazans, which Israeli far-right leaders have responded to by calling for Jerusalem to “encourage emigration” of Palestinians from the Strip.