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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
❗️Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem:
○ "The [Israeli] occupation is trying to pressure the negotiation team, but it will not succeed even if it continues its aggression."
○ "We hold the occupation and, behind it, Washington, responsible for obstructing the agreement by proposing unacceptable terms."
○ "The occupation bears full responsibility for the consequences of its decision on the people of Gaza and the fate of its prisoners."
○ "The occupation is once again resorting to the policy of starvation and political blackmail."
❗️Gaza Municipality to Al Jazeera:
○ "Gaza City is facing an environmental and health catastrophe due to the accumulation of over 170,000 tons of waste."
○ "The continued buildup of garbage in markets and streets is worsening the environmental crisis, especially during the month of Ramadan."
○ "We are unable to access the main landfill east of the city due to the presence of Israeli occupation forces in the area."
❗️Israel's Channel 7, quoting the spokesperson for the Israeli army: "The decision to halt aid to Gaza is a political decision that came from Netanyahu’s office, and the leadership on this matter is entirely in the hands of the political echelon, not the military."
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Israeli occupation forces open fire on residents and their homes east of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip.
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❗️Benjamin Netanyahu:
○ "The decision was made with the end of the first phase of the deal and Hamas’s refusal to accept Witkoff’s plan to continue the talks."
○ "Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of the hostages."
○ "If Hamas continues to refuse, there will be other consequences."
❗️BREAKING | Hamas: "We affirm that the only way for the [Israeli] occupation to recover its prisoners is to abide by the agreement and immediately enter negotiations for the second phase while fulfilling its obligations."
Full statement:
"The statement issued by the office of the terrorist [Israeli] occupation Prime Minister Netanyahu, regarding his alleged approval of American proposals to extend the first phase of the agreement under arrangements that violate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is a blatant attempt to evade the agreement and avoid entering negotiations for its second phase.
Netanyahu’s decision to halt humanitarian aid is a form of blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant violation of the agreement. We call on mediators and the international community to take action to pressure the occupation to stop its punitive and unethical measures against more than two million people in Gaza.
The war criminal Netanyahu is attempting to impose political realities on the ground, which his fascist army failed to establish over fifteen months of brutal genocide due to the resilience and bravery of our people and their resistance. He seeks to undermine the signed agreement for his own narrow political interests at the expense of the occupation’s prisoners in Gaza and their lives.
The occupation’s claims that Hamas has violated the ceasefire agreement are baseless and misleading, aimed at covering up its own daily and systematic violations. These breaches have resulted in over 100 martyrs in Gaza, the obstruction of humanitarian protocols, the prevention of shelter and aid supplies, and the deepening of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.
We reaffirm that Netanyahu’s actions blatantly violate Article 14 of the agreement, which states that all measures from the first phase will continue into the second phase, and that the guarantors will exert maximum efforts to ensure the continuation of negotiations until an agreement is reached on the terms of implementing the second phase.
We call on the US. administration to end its bias and alignment with the fascist plans of war criminal Netanyahu, which target our people and their very existence on their land. We emphasize that all projects and schemes that bypass our people, their rights, self-determination, and liberation from occupation are doomed to fail.
We reiterate our commitment to implementing the signed agreement in all three of its phases and have repeatedly declared our readiness to start negotiations for the second phase.
We urge mediators to pressure the occupation into fulfilling its commitments under the agreement, ensuring the implementation of the humanitarian protocol, and allowing the entry of shelter materials and rescue equipment into Gaza.
War criminal Netanyahu and his extremist government bear full responsibility for obstructing the agreement’s progress, or for any reckless actions, they may take to overturn it, including the humanitarian consequences affecting the occupation’s prisoners in Gaza.
We affirm that the only way for the occupation to recover its prisoners is to abide by the agreement and immediately enter negotiations for the second phase while fulfilling its obligations."
— ❗️🇮🇱/🇸🇾/🇸🇾 NEW: About three hours ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement in support of the newly formed 'Suweida Military Council,' vowing to 'defend' the majority-Druze city of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, against the 'extreme Islamic regime' of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
This statement came just after clashes were reported between the Druze forces and HTS militants.
Local sources have spotted trucks with Israeli and Druze flags carrying 'aid' in Suweida.
Sources claim HTS fighters reportedly withdrew after Israeli jets and drones were seen in the area.
The Israeli military was later ordered to 'monitor' the situation.
Just days ago, the Israeli Defense Minister called for the complete demilitarization of Syria south of Damascus, despite repeated statements from Syrian President and HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Jolani) claiming they have no hostile intentions against Israel.
@Middle_East_Spectator
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released footage of an airstrike that it claims resulted in the death of a senior military leader of Hurras al-Din, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.
In a statement, CENTCOM said, 'On Feb. 23, U.S. Central Command forces conducted a precision airstrike in northwest Syria, targeting and killing Mohammad Yousef Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD).'
CENTCOM Commander Michael Erik Kurilla added, 'As we have stated before, we will continue to relentlessly pursue these terrorists to protect our homeland, as well as U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region.
❗️ Israeli Channel 12:
"Thousands demonstrate in front of the Ministry of War in Tel Aviv and demand a deal to return all the prisoners held in Gaza."
A family in Gaza gathers for their first iftar of Ramadan, decorating their home to celebrate the Holy Month despite the destruction caused by the Israeli aggression.
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❗️Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office responds to the latest Qassam Brigades video:
○ We will continue to work tirelessly to return all our hostages and achieve all war goals.
○ A cruel propaganda clip in which our hostages were forced to engage in psychological warfare.
○ Israel will not back down due to Hamas propaganda.
❗️Palestinians in north Gaza prepare for a large iftar near Kamal Adwan Hospital.
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❗️Throughout the day, local sources across south Lebanon reported that Israeli jets were heard flying low.
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❗️Israeli occupation forces storm the city of Jenin, occupied West Bank, for the 40th consecutive day.
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Hamas confirms 'no talks underway' on Gaza ceasefire as phase one ends
Israel repeatedly delayed the start of talks for phase two of the ceasefire and is pushing to 'extend' phase one by an additional six weeks
❗️Families of Israeli captives in Gaza criticize Netanyahu’s decision:
"The prisoners don’t have time; the living and the dead must be returned, and it is unacceptable to differentiate between them."
⭕️ The newly established Suwayda Military Council, which evolved from the Interim Military Council, claims to focus on protecting local security and advocating for a decentralized, secular, and democratic Syria. Its leader, Tareq al-Shoufi, a former Syrian army officer, has emphasized national unity and denied accusations of separatism. However, the council's rhetoric, symbols, and affiliations have sparked suspicions. The council’s announcement also coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the demilitarization of southern Syria. Additionally, Israel has increasingly framed itself as a protector of Syria’s minorities, with its Defense Ministry announcing on Saturday that the military had been instructed to prepare to defend a Druze village in the suburbs of Damascus, claiming that the community it has vowed to protect was under attack by Syrian forces.
Figures linked to the council, such as Majed Najem Abu Ras, have expressed support for Israel, furthering claims that the council may align with Israeli interests in establishing a buffer zone in southern Syria. Syria’s Druze spiritual leader, Hikmat al-Hajeri, has denounced the council, calling it an illegitimate and separatist movement that does not represent Suwayda’s leadership. Other major armed factions in Suwayda, such as the Decisive Operations Room and the Joint Operations Room, have also rejected the council, accusing it of attempting to replicate the Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) separatist model. Despite the council’s insistence that it aims to integrate into a future Syrian army, many argue that its formation is part of a broader plan to divide Syria into sectarian enclaves, with potential backing from foreign actors, including Israel.
❗️Israeli Security Cabinet Member and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:
"The decision we made last night to completely halt the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas is destroyed or surrenders completely and all our hostages are returned is an important step in the right direction—‘standing at the gates of hell.’
Now, we must open these gates as quickly and as lethally as possible against the cruel enemy until absolute victory. We remained in the government to ensure this happens, and with God's help, it will."
❗️Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid:
"The prisoner exchange deal has been halted. Humanitarian aid to Gaza has been stopped. The government has approved the mobilization of 400,000 reserve soldiers. What is the goal? What objective has Israel set for itself? Has the government decided to abandon the prisoners, and if so, why? For what greater national purpose? If we return to war, what is the objective of the war? Who will replace Hamas in the end? Once again, the government is acting without a plan, without a vision. We can only hope things turn out okay—because that seems to be the extent of their planning."
❗️Israel's Channel 12:
Netanyahu's government has approved the possibility of calling up an additional 400,000 reserve soldiers.
❗️BREAKING | Netanyahu has decided to halt the entry of all goods and supplies into Gaza with the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, starting this morning.
The government ordered the army to close all crossings into Gaza.
(Channel 14, Israeli Broadcasting Corporation)
BREAKING | Reports of three explosions in the Mezzeh area of Damascus, Syria followed by the sounds of heavy gunfire.
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BREAKING | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Minister of War Israel Katz have ordered the occupation forces to “prepare to defend” and invade the Druze-majority city of Jaramana on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus.
A statement from Katz’s office says the city is “currently under attack by the forces of the Syrian regime.”
“We will not allow the extreme Islamic regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regime harms the Druze, it will be struck by us,” Katz says.
Israel informs aid groups army 'will remain in post-war Gaza': Report
Israel is supposed to withdraw completely from Gaza as part of the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire
❗️Families of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza:
○ “We demand that President of the US prevents Netanyahu from sabotaging the ceasefire agreement."
○ “The rest of our prisoners must be returned from Gaza in one batch, and we will not allow Netanyahu to sacrifice them."
○ “Netanyahu is ruining the deal for political reasons, and we will not allow him to do so."
○ “Netanyahu tried to undermine the agreement this week and chose to bury the rest of our prisoners in the tunnels."
PKK declares immediate ceasefire in 46 year conflict with Turkiye
Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for the group to disband after 40 years of fighting the Turkish state
UPDATE | 4 Palestinian injuries by Israeli occupation bullets reported during clashes in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, occupied West Bank.
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❗️Two injured Palestinians were transferred to hospitals a short while ago during violent clashes with Israeli occupation forces in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, occupied West Bank.
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❗️Israeli settlers burn a Palestinian car near the town of Silwad, northeast of Ramallah, occupied West Bank.
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WATCH | Palestinians prepare for a large iftar, in Rafah, southern Gaza.
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