Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar:

"Truly honored to meet my good friend Italian Deputy PM and FM Antonio Tajani at the "MED Dialogues" that he's hosting in Napoli. I said that the only chance for stability in our region is by implementing the Trump Plan. Hamas is violating it by continuing to hold 19 of our dead hostages. We know that they have the ability to return our dead hostages, while they choose not to. This is severe. I also described Hamas's horrifying mass executions without trial of Palestinians in Gaza during the last days. It is barbaric!
The international community must speak out.
I thanked my friend for his warm friendship with Israel. 🇮🇱🇮🇹"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar delivered a statement ahead of his participation in a panel at the MED Conference in Naples, led by Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani:

"I told Deputy Prime Minister Tajani that Israel is committed to implementing the Trump Plan. We want the Trump Plan to succeed, and accordingly, we will act. But I also shared with the Minister some of the concerns and worries we have. The problem of our dead hostages — 19 of them are still being held by Hamas. And we know, as a matter of fact, they can easily bring back a significant number of dead hostages and to give them back according to the agreement. What they are doing right now - it's a fundamental breach of the agreement. We share our worries with our American friends and we expect the mediators to help us resolve this issue immediately. It's very important because it's also playing with families that suffered enough for more than two years."

Photo Credit: Shalev Man

🎥 The Voices of October 7 — testimonies that must never be forgotten.

Real people. Real pain. Real voices.

Watch here ⤵️

https://vimeo.com/1126577465/df3b86bea6?share=copy

While Israel embraces life, Hamas spreads violence. The ceasefire agreement stipulates Hamas lays down its arms, Gaza demilitarizes. The agreement must be implemented.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar's Full Interview at the Mediterranean Dialogues in Naples >>

https://t.me/gideonsaar/2772

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar made it clear that the Palestinian Authority has never stopped its "Pay for Slay" policy. Now, the PA is making additional payments to the terrorists released as part of the agreement. This must stop now!

Barely hours into a fragile ceasefire, Hamas turned its weapons on local opposition. Another reason why the agreement needs to be implemented.

Prime Minister's Office Announcement

Prime Minister's Office (translated from Hebrew):

Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of the hostage Eliyahu Margalit, of blessed memory, that their loved one had been returned to Israel and his identification had been completed.

The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Margalit family and all the families of the fallen hostages.

The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country.

The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them.

May their memories be a blessing.

Heartbroken but relieved Eliyahu Margalit is home - after 742 days in Hamas captivity. 💔

Eliyahu was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. His body was taken into Gaza.

He is survived by his wife, Daphna, his children Noa, Danny & Nili and 3 grandchildren.

A pillar of Nir Oz, Eliyahu devoted his life to the kibbutz’s cattle - building its herd from 50 calves to thousands.

Every morning, he could be found feeding his beloved horses, also taken that day. Always tending. Always giving.

Finally home, for a proper burial - a dignity denied to him for too long.

We stand with the Margalit family in their unbearable grief.
May Eliyahu’s memory be a blessing. 🕯️

Prime Minister's Office Announcement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed that the Rafah border crossing will not open until further notice. Its opening will be under consideration in accordance with the manner in which Hamas implements its part in the return of the deceased hostages and the implementation of the agreed upon framework.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar:

"Spoke with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. We discussed the Trump Plan, its implementation and the situation in Gaza.

I raised the issue of the dead hostages and Hamas’s violation of the agreement in this regard.

I also described Hamas’s efforts to consolidate its control over Gaza, as well as its mass and public executions without trial.

I also raised the need to take practical measures against the use of the slogan “From the river to the sea - Palestine will be free” in public spaces in the UK. This follows PM Starmer’s statement last week that the phrase constitutes an anti-Semitic expression.

I added that the slogan is, in fact, a call for the elimination of Israel. A line must be drawn between freedom of expression and hate speech. I said that PM Starmer’s remarks should be part of a historic turning point in the UK’s fight against antisemitism. I added that legislation is needed to enforce a ban on the use of this slogan, as several federal states in Germany have already done.

We also discussed the outrageous ban imposed by Birmingham police preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europe League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6th. I expressed our clear and unequivocal expectation that this disgraceful decision be revoked and that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans be allowed to attend the game.

The Foreign Secretary expressed the British government’s reservation about the decision and said that staff work, involving the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport would resume on Monday to find an appropriate solution."

Prime Minister's Office Announcement

The Prime Minister's Office, this morning (Sunday, 19 October 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:

Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of hostage Ronen Engel, of blessed memory, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identification has been completed. The identification process for the remains in the second coffin is ongoing.

The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Engel family and all the families of the fallen hostages.

The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country.

The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them.

May their memories be for a blessing."

MDA Israel:

The Magen David Adom family mourns our beloved volunteer, Ronen Engel, may his memory be blessed, whose body was returned from Hamas captivity last night.

Ronen, 54 years old, always smiling and dedicated, was a father of three and husband to Karina. On October 7, he was shot while rushing out to save lives and help the many wounded in his kibbutz, Nir Oz, and was kidnapped to Gaza. His first-aid responder bag was found abandoned in the kibbutz. It was later confirmed that he had been murdered.

Now, more than two years later, we embrace his family, who will forever be part of ours, and prepare to lay him to rest in the land he loved.

His legacy, saving lives, devotion, and commitment, will forever be our guiding light.

Prime Minister's Office Announcement

The Prime Minister's Office, today (Sunday, 19 October 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:

Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of hostage Sonthaya Oakkharasr, of blessed memory, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identification has been completed.

The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Oakkharasr family, the people of Thailand and all the families of the fallen hostages.

The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country.

The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them.

May his memory be for a blessing."

IDF:

Earlier today, terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity.

These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly.

At Times Square, our message is clear:

Barely days into a ceasefire, Hamas turned its weapons on Palestinians to reassert control through fear & violence.

The world watches. The ceasefire must be upheld. Hamas must go. Gaza must be demilitarized.

Hamas is blatantly violating the ceasefire.
Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at IDF soldiers who were in an Israeli-controlled area, according to the agreement, east of the yellow line.
We will not sit idle while our soldiers are attacked, and we will respond to these attacks forcefully.

🎥WATCH:

Several armed terrorists identified approaching IDF forces operating in the Beit Lahia area behind the yellow line, posing an immediate threat to the troops.

In accordance with the ceasefire agreement, the terrorists were struck after crossing the yellow line.

In response to Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement this morning, the IDF struck dozens of Hamas terror targets across Gaza.

The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, firing posts, terrorist cells and additional Hamas terror infrastructure.

In addition, the IDF struck and dismantled ~6 km of underground terrorist infrastructure, used to advance attacks against Israel, using over 120 munitions.

We mourn the loss of two IDF soldiers from the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion, who fell in combat in southern Gaza:

🕯️ Major Yaniv Kula, 26, from Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut
🕯️ Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21, from Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut

Our hearts are with their families and loved ones.

May their memory be a blessing. 🕯️