Israeli president announces discussion with U.S. on Iran policy

The Israeli government will discuss policy toward Iran with the United States and other countries in the Middle East region. Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog said on Sunday, January 26.

"I will of course be careful in my statements because of the sensitivity of the issue. Israel will need to discuss [Iran policy] with the rest of the region and obviously with the US administration," the head of state said on CNN International.

Herzog also emphasized that he believes Iran cannot have nuclear capabilities. Iran should "look in the mirror" and stop funding terrorist groups that stand in the way of peace, he said.

Meanwhile, the country's Defense Minister Yisrael Katz hinted at possible action against Iran in the "coming months" in his first congratulatory letter to new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, The Jerusalem Post reported.

And last I'll show you: why Israel delayed the cabinet meeting on Gaza

More than 1,500 Palestinians may be released after ceasefire

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington in the first half of February. It is specified that this meeting may take place even before the completion of the first phase of the deal on the release of hostages.

On this day, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four hostages. 114 prisoners will be sent to Ramallah in the West Bank, the other 70 will be expelled to Egypt and the remaining 16 will be deported to the Gaza Strip.

At the same time, the radical Palestinian movement Hamas handed over four hostages to the Red Cross staff in Gaza, and then to the military of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who took them to the territory of their native country, reports "Gazeta.Ru". First, the released girls will meet with their parents.

Four Israeli soldiers - Karina Ariov, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag - were kidnapped by Hamas during the attack on the territory of Israel on October 7, 2023. The girls were at an observation post near the border with the Gaza Strip and were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement reported on January 15.

IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said on January 25 that Hamas had failed to fulfill its obligations to release the Israeli female civilian hostages. In particular, Israel is concerned about the fates of the movement's captives Arbel Yehud and Shiri Bibas. Along with the latter, her young children, Kfir and Ariel, are being held hostage by Hamas. The IDF is determined to bring them all home.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.