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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 617

Shira Silkoff

In this March 30, 2005, file photo, an Iranian security official in protective clothing walks through part of the Uranium Conversion Facility just outside the city of Isfahan, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
June 9, 2025, 5:01 pm
IAEA finds Iran conducted key nuclear weapon production tests more than 2 decades ago
Security think tank analysis of recent nuclear watchdog report sheds light on decades of Tehran’s secretive activities, recommends bringing case to UN Security Council
By Shira Silkoff
A demonstration at the beach in Tel Aviv to mark 600 days in captivity for the hostages, May 28, 2025 (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
May 28, 2025, 2:26 am
May 28: Smotrich warns he ‘will not allow’ Israel to agree to Witkoff’s hostage deal proposal
Footage from Gaza shows hundreds breaking into warehouse, stealing flour * 62 protesters arrested after storming Likud HQ, projecting Qatari flag on outside of building
By Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of Edan Alexander, holds a picture of her grandson near the border with the Gaza Strip on April 20, 2025. (Lior Rotstein/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
May 12, 2025, 3:22 am
Hamas set to free US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander Monday in goodwill gesture to Trump
Israel wasn’t told in advance about release; Hamas hoping US will now coax Jerusalem to end war in exchange for all hostages; Trump hails potential step toward ending ‘this brutal conflict’
By Jacob Magid, Nurit Yohanan, Shira Silkoff, Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Edan Alexander was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)
May 11, 2025, 6:46 am
May 11: Source: US didn’t brief Israel on efforts to free Edan Alexander until after deal was reached
Hamas says it will free American-Israeli hostage after recent talks with US * Witkoff said set to arrive in Israel to facilitate release, which is expected on Monday
By Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
The 24 hostages presumed to be alive who are still held by Hamas as of February 2025: Top row, from left: Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Edan Alexander, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel. Second row, from left: Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Bipin Joshi, Rom Braslavski, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman. Third row, from left: Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn. Bottom row, from left: Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Tamir Nimrodi, Pinta Nattapong. (Hostage Families Forum)
April 8, 2025, 2:16 pm
Hostage Forum publishes health report for 24 living hostages, warns ‘time is running out’
Based on testimonies from freed hostages and propaganda videos, medical report details dire conditions of captivity including isolation, severe malnutrition and untreated injuries
By Shira Silkoff
People rush for cover as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike in southern Beirut on March 28, 2025. (Anwar Amro/AFP)
March 28, 2025, 3:49 am
March 28: Envoy says US backs Israeli response to ‘broken ceasefire that emanated from Lebanon’
World Central Kitchen says IDF strike hit one of its Gaza distribution sites, killing a volunteer * Israeli official: Netanyahu should be questioned in ‘Qatargate’ investigation
By Jacob Magid and Shira Silkoff
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands during a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on February 16, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein / POOL / AFP)
March 23, 2025, 4:04 am
March 23: Rubio and Netanyahu discuss fighting in Gaza, hostage efforts
Coalition, opposition pan Haredi minister who danced to anti-Zionist, anti-enlistment song * 3 arrested amid protests outside PM’s home * Shin Bet seems to confirm, then denies probing Kahanist infiltration into police
By Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar at a state ceremony marking the Hebrew anniversary of the Hamas October 7 attack, at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ FLASH90)
March 21, 2025, 5:47 pm
Setting up standoff, High Court issues temporary order against dismissing Shin Bet chief
In wake of ruling, AG tells Netanyahu he’s prohibited from even interviewing new candidates, says could be a conflict of interest; PM says government will decide who heads Shin Bet
By Jeremy Sharon, Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (left) and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar (right) hold an assessment at the IDF Southern Command, March 21, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
March 21, 2025, 4:03 am
March 21: State Department says firing of Shin Bet chief ‘an internal Israeli matter’
US also avoids commenting on Katz’s threat to begin annexing parts of Gaza if hostages not freed * Israeli source: Dermer-Witkoff approach failed, PM aimlessly drawing out hostage talks
By Jacob Magid and Shira Silkoff
Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu, right, with UTJ MK Moshe Gafni in the Knesset on December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
February 9, 2025, 5:56 am
Feb. 9: Gafni: A state commission of inquiry would mean Netanyahu’s prime ministership is over
Netanyahu says Trump’s Gaza plan ‘much better for Israel’ than previous ideas * Smotrich: Hostage families’ pain must not ‘overcome reason,’ Israelis ‘brainwashed’ into wanting deal
By Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
Visitors at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, February 3, 2025. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
February 7, 2025, 5:15 am
Feb. 7: Source says Israeli negotiators ‘most likely’ headed to Doha for 2nd phase talks
Negotiating team will be a working-level delegation * Netanyahu invites US House speaker to Israel * ICC president decries American sanctions as ‘serious attacks’ on global order
By Elana Kirsh, Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for meetings at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on February 6, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
February 6, 2025, 5:05 am
Feb. 6: PM reportedly gave US officials plan to end Gaza war, exile top Hamas officials
Katz, defense officials discuss plans for Palestinians to ‘voluntarily’ leave Gaza * Israel might not dispatch delegation to Doha hostage deal talks tomorrow, report suggests
By Michael Bachner and Shira Silkoff
Ahlam Tamimi is welcomed at Queen Alia international airport in Amman, late October 18, 2011. (LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images)
February 2, 2025, 4:38 am
February 2: Jordan said to tell Hamas it will deport Sbarro pizzeria bomber, may extradite her to US
Reported effort to deport Ahlam Tamimi comes on heels of White House invitation for King Abdullah II * Abbas calls for UN Security Council meeting on IDF West Bank operation
By Michael Bachner, Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
The 33 hostages who were returned in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal: Row 1 (L-R): Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Arbel Yehoud, Doron Steinbrecher, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas; Row 2: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, Gadi Moshe Mozes; Row 3: Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon, Eli Sharabi, Itzik Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, Ohad Yahalomi, Oded Lifshitz; Row 4: Tsahi Idan, Hisham al-Sayed, Yarden Bibas, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn, Omer Wenkert, Sasha Troufanov; Row 5: Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, Avera Mengistu, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov (all photos courtesy)
January 26, 2025, 4:39 am
Jan. 26: Israel says Hamas has sent how many 1st-phase hostages are alive; list matches intel
PM’s office also says Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger and a third hostage will be freed Thursday, 3 others will be released Saturday * Gazans can return to Strip’s north from 7 a.m. Monday
By Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone with US President-elect Donald Trump on January 15, 2025. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
January 15, 2025, 1:48 am
Jan. 15: In first, US acknowledges PM added conditions that hampered hostage talks in July
Netanyahu thanks Biden, Trump for help securing hostage-ceasefire agreement * Cabinet set to vote Thursday to approve terms * Deal due to commence Sunday; first 3 captives to be freed then
By Shira Silkoff and ToI Staff
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