LIVE BLOG: Phase II ‘Has Not Started Yet’ | Israel Destroys Village in West Bank – Day 501

QATARI FM: Qatar is committed to supporting efforts to begin negotiations, which they hope will lead to the second phase. He clarified that the second-phase negotiations of the Gaza ceasefire agreement have not officially started yet and declined to comment on coordination regarding the prisoner and hostage exchange scheduled for next week.

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER GIDEON SA’AR: Sa’ar called for the complete disarmament of Gaza, stating that Israel will begin negotiations on the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal. He described Hamas’ rule in Gaza as “not a successful experiment for Israel” and emphasized that Israel will not allow another Hezbollah-like model in Gaza. Sa’ar added that Tel Aviv will not support any plan transferring civilian control of Gaza from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority.

GAZA GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICE: The Gaza Government Media Office confirmed in a press conference that no heavy equipment has entered Gaza, highlighting the need for 500 pieces of equipment to remove rubble and recover the bodies of martyrs from under the debris.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: Israeli occupation forces raided an UNRWA school in the Wadi Al-Joz neighborhood of Jerusalem, evacuating students and closing its doors. They also stormed the Qalandia Vocational Training Institute, affiliated with UNRWA, in the Qalandia refugee camp north of Jerusalem.

🚨 Palestinian Media: Israeli forces raided an UNRWA school in Wadi Al-Joz, Jerusalem, forcing students out and shutting it down.

🔴 They also stormed the Qalandia Vocational Training Institute in Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem.

Targeting UNRWA institutions continues… pic.twitter.com/KL9aggIgF6

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) February 18, 2025

MAARIV: The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that the handover of four detainees’ bodies on Thursday will be more complex than previous exchanges. Israel will release women and children detained from Gaza since the start of the war in exchange for the four bodies. Hamas is expected to repeat the process of releasing four more bodies of Israeli captives next Thursday.

AL-JAZEERA: Israeli occupation forces raided the village of Umm Al-Khair in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

🚨 Al Jazeera: Israeli forces have raided Umm Al-Khair in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, occupied West Bank.

🔴 The village, already under constant threat of displacement, is facing yet another military incursion.#WestBank #MasaferYatta #Hebron #Palestine pic.twitter.com/dIBOqlLPI4

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) February 18, 2025

ISRAELI CHANNEL 12: The cabinet did not make any decisions regarding the second phase of the deal during its meeting on Sunday, meaning the delegation sent to Cairo does not have a broad mandate. The instructions focus on releasing six detainees on Saturday and attempting to extend the first phase of the deal.

ISRAEL HAYOM :

Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom quoted informed sources stating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’ demand to link the release of remaining captives to ending the war during the cabinet meeting.

The sources added that Israel may agree, under US pressure, to enter negotiations for the second phase of the deal, with the cabinet insisting on adhering to war goals and eliminating Hamas.

UN SPOKESPERSON STÉPHANE DUJARIC: The United Nations announced that over 250,000 students in Gaza have joined distance learning programs, as 95% of schools in the Strip have been damaged by Israel’s genocidal war. Students are currently studying in temporary tents in open areas under harsh winter conditions.

PALESTINIAN RED CRESCENT: A boy was injured after Israeli occupation forces fired an incendiary projectile at a house in the town of Meithaloun, in the occupied West Bank.

🚨 Palestinian Red Crescent: A boy was injured after Israeli forces fired an incendiary projectile at a home in Meithaloun, occupied West Bank.

Israeli attacks on Palestinian homes continue—this time with firebombs. pic.twitter.com/imjFdpMiFy

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) February 18, 2025

ISRAELI RADIO: Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that he will return to the government when he sees Israel seizing opportunities and taking action on the ground. He advised Netanyahu to show more courage to move forward with Trump’s displacement plan and dismiss the government’s legal advisor.

AL-JAZEERA: Israeli occupation forces raided the town of Mithloun, southeast of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, and injured a youth during the assault.

ITAMAR BEN-GVIR: Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that those who want to encourage displacement and eliminate Hamas should not allow mobile homes and aid trucks into Gaza, following reports of Israel permitting mobile homes in exchange for the release of detainees’ bodies.

ISRAELI OPPOSITION LEADER YAIR LAPID: Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for the government’s dismissal, stating that it has no answers or solutions to any pressing issues in the country, amid delays in starting second-phase negotiations for the Gaza agreement.