Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Israeli official: Ceasefire deal, talks on second phase will not progress unless 9 hostages are freed in coming days
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel will not move forward with the hostage release/ceasefire deal unless Hamas releases nine more hostages in the coming days, says an Israeli official.
There are currently 17 hostages, living and dead, set to return in the ongoing first stage of the deal, nine of whom are believed to be alive.
“Hamas violated the agreement,” says the official, “and therefore there will not be progress in continuing carrying out the agreement or in negotiations on the second stage without the return of our hostages.”
“The cabinet expects the release of all nine hostages of the first phase within days,” the official demands.
