6️⃣3️⃣ HOSTAGES 🎗️Day 507 still in captivity in inhumane conditions in Gaza /

• Six living hostages were released from Hamas captivity and returned to Israel on Saturday, in the largest single day of releases since the current hostage-ceasefire deal took effect. https://lnk.sk/dbp5
• Prime Minister’s Office: In light of Hamas’s repeated violations— including the disgraceful ceremonies dishonoring our hostages and the cynical use of captives for propaganda— will delay the release of terrorists scheduled for yesterday until the next hostages are secured for release, without humiliating ceremonies.
• Hamas will hold off on negotiations with Israel through mediators unless Israel frees the 602 Palestinian prisoners slated for release in exchange for the six Israeli hostages handed over yesterday https://lnk.sk/gjwj
• The funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, who were murdered by Hamas, will take place this Wednesday at 11:00 AM in the town of Tzohar, southern Israel.                                                                                                                                                      

GAZA, JUDEA&SAMARIA (so-called West Bank) /

• The Israel Defense Forces decided on Sunday to “increase military and operational readiness” in the border area surrounding the Gaza Strip. https://lnk.sk/kncs  

LEBANON 🇱🇧 /

• Foreign Minister Gideon Saar: The images from Nasrallah’s “funeral” now precisely reflect the historic crossroads where Lebanon stands: The continuation of the Iranian occupation in Lebanon, through Hezbollah – or liberation from Iran and Hezbollah and  freedom to Lebanon. The choice is in the hands of  Lebanon and the Lebanese people. https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/1893628838975869307 
• Tens of thousands shout ‘Death to Israel’ at Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah funeral, as Israeli jets fly overhead https://lnk.sk/mdln 
• The IDF on Sunday released video footage of its assassination of former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, which took place on September 27, 2024 https://lnk.sk/zymn 
• Pro-Iranian groups from across the Middle East gathered in Beirut on Sunday for the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The gathering looked like something out of the scene in the Godfather where the heads of the “five families” gathered. https://lnk.sk/vho8 
• President Josef Aoun tells Iranian delegation: “Lebanon is tired of others’ wars on its land”. Stressed  that Lebanon paid a heavy price for the Palestinian cause. https://lnk.sk/dfyj 

SYRIA 🇸🇾 /

• Israel on Sunday said it will not tolerate presence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in southern Syria, nor any other forces affiliated with the country’s new rulers, and demanded the territory be demilitarized. https://lnk.sk/amxz 

ISRAEL 🇮🇱 GERMANY 🇩🇪 /

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last night (Sunday, 23 February 2025), had a warm conversation with Friedrich Merz and congratulated him on his victory. Merz would invite him to make an official visit to Germany, in overt defiance of the scandalous International Criminal Court decision to label the Prime Minister a war criminal. https://lnk.sk/yqw9 
• Germany’s conservatives swept to victory in Sunday’s elections, with their leader Friedrich Merz set to become the next chancellor, followed by the far-right AfD in second place with record gains, in the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II. https://lnk.sk/jtp2 

USA 🇺🇸 /

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Saturday that Hamas will be „destroyed“ if it does not release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, as he condemned the deaths of members of an Israeli family held by the group. https://lnk.sk/eite 
• Rep. Elise Stefanik, incoming U.S. Ambassador to United Nations: “Make no mistake, hear it now: We will not only defund UNRWA, we will dismantle it. We documented UNRWA’s widespread and systematic complicity with Hamas terrorism  https://x.com/HillelNeuer/status/1893629758581211472 ; https://lnk.sk/hybg 

IRAN 🇮🇷/ 

• Iran is on the cusp of a possible revolution, exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi said in an interview with The Telegraph published Sunday, calling on Western countries to brace for the historic change. https://lnk.sk/swrv ; https://lnk.sk/hclt 

Resources: Jewish Breaking News, Newsrael, Barrons, The Telegraph, Times of Israel, Israel National News, Jerusalem Post

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