Hostage deal contingent on end of war, court names suspect in security leak case

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close aid is suspected of leaking sensitive security documents as part of an orchestrated campaign to thwart a hostage deal, court documents revealed on Sunday night.

Speculation about the case had seized public attention for days, even before Rishon Letsiyon Magistrate Court Judge Menahem Mizrahi partially lifted a gag order on details of the security breach.

Hamas is expected to reject any renewed effort to finalize a hostage agreement until such time as the war in Gaza ends, a security source told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

“It’s very clear that the hostage deal will only happen” when the war comes to a close, the source said.

The IDF raided Southern Syria several months ago and captured a Syrian national who is believed to have operated Iranian terror networks from the area, the military announced on Sunday.

Ali Soleiman al-Assi, a Syrian citizen, lives in the area of Saida in southern Syria.

Micha Kobi, a former senior member of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), emphasized the enormous challenges Israel faces in dealing with Hamas and the return of the hostages in an interview on Sunday with Maariv.

The IDF announced that they were monitoring a drone flying above the Haifa Bay and Carmel area on Sunday.

Residents are instructed to pay attention to ongoing Home Front Command updates.

This is a developing story.

IDF Troops of the 769th Brigade found numerous weapons in a kitchen and children's bedroom of a house in a southern Lebanese village, the military said on Sunday. 

Some 902 civilians were killed in terror attacks since October 7 of last year, the National Insurance said on Sunday. 

Israel almost captured former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar five times throughout operations in the Gaza Strip, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the subject.