The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.
Trump speaks with Bahraini king about efforts to bolster Abraham Accords
US President Donald Trump has spoken on the phone with Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the White House says.
“King Hamad congratulated President Trump on his inauguration and the two leaders discussed their support for regional peace and security, including building upon their work to promote peace through the Abraham Accords,” the redout says, referring to the normalization agreements signed at the end of Trump’s first term that established Bahrain’s and other Arab countries’ relations with Israel.
Responding to Trump, Egypt and Arab League reject forced displacement of Palestinians
Egypt rejects the idea of forced displacement of Palestinians, after US President Donald Trump suggested a plan to “clean out” the Gaza Strip and move its population to Egypt and Jordan.
Cairo’s foreign ministry in a statement expresses Egypt’s “continued support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land.”
It rejects “any infringement on those inalienable rights, whether by settlement or annexation of land, or by the depopulation of that land of its people through displacement, encouraged transfer or the uprooting of Palestinians from their land, whether temporarily or long-term.”
After 15 months of war, Trump has said Gaza has become a “demolition site” and he would “like Egypt to take people, and I’d like Jordan to take people.”
Moving Gaza’s inhabitants could be done “temporarily or could be long term,” he said.
The Arab League echoes Cairo’s statements, saying that “the forced displacement and eviction of people from their land can only be called ethnic cleansing.
“Attempts to uproot the Palestinian people from their land, whether by displacement, annexation or settlement expansion, have been proven to fail in the past,” the regional bloc says in a statement.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, with whom Trump said he would speak on Sunday, has repeatedly warned that said displacement would aim to “eradicate the cause for Palestinian statehood.”
Sissi has described the prospect as a “red line” that would threaten Egypt’s national security.
The Egyptian foreign ministry urges the implementation of the “two-state solution,” which Cairo has said would become impossible if Palestinians are removed from their territories.
Hegseth tells Netanyahu US commited to ensuring Israel has the capabilities to defend itself
The US Department of Defense issues its own readout of new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s introductory call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that Hegseth stressed that Washington is fully committed to ensuring Israel “has the capabilities it needs to defend itself.”
“Both leaders discussed the importance of advancing mutual security interests and priorities, especially in the face of persistent threats,” the statement reads, hailing the “unbreakable bond” between the US and Israel.
‘Wonderful’: Trump envoy praises Israel for resolving truce snags in Gaza, Lebanon
US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff describes as “wonderful” the recently reached agreement between Israel and Hamas regarding the upcoming hostage releases and the return of Gazans to the Strip’s north.
“I talked to the president about it and he was thrilled about it,” Witkoff tells reporters, hailing the role of Qatar and Israel in the talks.
“It’s a good day for the hostages,” he says. According to the agreement, six hostages will be freed this week — three on Thursday, including Arbel Yehud and Agam Berger, and three more on Saturday.
Witkoff says he was moved to tears by this past Saturday’s release of four IDF soldiers from Hamas captivity, saying that him losing his own son helped him identify with the families waiting to receive their daughters back.
“This week will be another moment like that. It felt solemn but very worthy,” he says.
Regarding the extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon until February 18, Witkoff says: “We announced the deal today. The Israeli government was great, they’re a great partner of the United States, they’re a principled ally for us, and they’ve done pretty good work over in Lebanon.”
He says that if today is any indication of the sides’ ability to overcome “blips,” there is reason to be positive about the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire holding further.
President Trump's special envoy to the Middle east Steve Witkoff in New York addresses the resolved hostage crisis and the ceasefire in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/vhcW2S8RWt
— Iris (@streetwize) January 26, 2025
IDF says Gazans can start returning to northern Strip at 7 a.m., issues series of warnings
The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson tweets instructions to Gazan civilians planning to return to the Strip’s north in the morning via the Netzarim Corridor, after a late-night Israeli announcement that the long-awaited move is set to go ahead.
Residents will be allowed to return northward on foot via the Netzarim Road and Rashid Street on the coast starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, Avichay Adraee says.
Vehicles will be allowed to pass through Salah a-Din Street in the east, after a security inspection, starting at 9 a.m.
Adraee also issues a series of warning to Gazans, including not to transport terror operatives or weapons to northern Gaza; not to approach IDF positions and troops in Gaza or Israeli territory; not to near the Rafah Crossing and Philadelphi Corridor area in southern Gaza; and not to swim, dive or fish in the Mediterranean Sea in the coming days.
#عاجل ???? إعلان عاجل الى سكان قطاع غزة بناء على الاتفاق الذي تم التوصل اليه برعاية الوسطاء حيث ستدخل التعليمات التالية حيز التنفيذ:
⭕️سيسمح بعودة السكان مشيًا على الأقدام الى شمال قطاع غزة عبر طريق نتساريم ومن خلال شارع الرشيد (طريق البحر) اعتبارًا من الساعة 07:00 صباحًا… pic.twitter.com/ICaqMzGGSk
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 26, 2025
Lebanon confirms adhering to truce deal with Israel until Feb. 18
Lebanon confirms it will continue to adhere to the ceasefire agreement with Israel until February 18, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati says in a statement.
PMO: Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger and 3rd hostage to be freed Thursday; Hamas sent how many 1st phase captives are alive
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms reaching a deal with Hamas over a dispute on hostage releases, saying that civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger and a third unnamed hostage will be released on Thursday.
In addition, three more hostages will be freed on Saturday as scheduled.
Israel also says that it has received from Hamas a document regarding whether or not the remaining hostages slated for release in the first stage of the ceasefire deal are still alive.
In return, the IDF will allow the passage of Gazans to the northern part of the Strip beginning tomorrow morning, the PMO says.
Netanyahu’s office says Israel reached an agreement with Hamas after “strong and determined negotiations,” and reiterates that it will “not tolerate any violation of the agreement.”