As Saturday hostage deadline nears, Netanyahu holds assessment with top security officials in Beersheba

By Lazar Berman

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13 February 2025, 4:32 pm

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a situation assessment with top political and military officials at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba, February 13, 2025. (Haim Zach/GPO)

As Israel threatens to return to fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to free hostages on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a situation assessment at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba with top military commanders and security officials.

He is joined by Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, incoming chief of staff Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, and head of the IDF Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman.

Hamas has said that it will release three more hostages on Saturday, but an Israeli official said in a statement this week that Jerusalem wants to see nine more hostages released “in the coming days.”