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Israel Threatens to End Gaza Ceasefire if Hamas Does Not Release Hostages by Saturday

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the ceasefire in Gaza will end, and military operations will resume if Hamas fails to release hostages by Saturday. 

Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli forces to mobilize inside and around Gaza after Hamas announced it was postponing further hostage releases. He did not specify whether he was demanding the release of all 76 remaining hostages or just the three expected to be freed on Saturday. However, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev later stated that “everyone” must be released. 

Hamas responded, saying it remains committed to the ceasefire and accused Israel of violating the agreement, including blocking humanitarian aid—claims Israel denies. 

The standoff follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement urging Israel to cancel the ceasefire unless Hamas releases all hostages by Saturday. Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s demand, stating, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is defeated.” 

Israeli officials have issued conflicting statements regarding the ultimatum, with one source telling Haaretz that releasing the next three hostages as planned on Saturday could keep the ceasefire intact. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it has raised readiness levels in Gaza’s Southern Command and reinforced troops, including reservists. 

Meanwhile, Hamas rejected Trump’s proposal to permanently relocate Gaza’s 2 million residents and rebuild the territory as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The group called the remarks “racist” and an “attempt at ethnic cleansing.” The Palestinian Authority and Arab nations have also opposed the plan, while the UN warned forced displacement would violate international law. 

Despite the rising tensions, Hamas official Basem Naim said mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt could still salvage the ceasefire. “We don’t want this deal to collapse,” Naim said, adding that Hamas was prepared to release more hostages if issues with Israel were resolved. 

Under the current ceasefire, which began on January 19, Hamas has freed 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals. In exchange, Israel has released Palestinian prisoners, withdrawn troops from densely populated areas, and allowed aid deliveries. The agreement is expected to last six weeks, with further hostage-prisoner exchanges planned. 

The war began after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken. More than 48,210 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s population, severely damaged infrastructure, and led to shortages of essential supplies. 

With the ceasefire in jeopardy, the situation remains volatile as both sides prepare for possible renewed fighting.

South Africa’s Land Expropriation Law Faces Legal Challenge Amid U.S. Sanctions

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South Africa’s second-largest political party has filed a legal challenge against a land expropriation law that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to cut all funding to the country, calling the law unconstitutional. 

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a key member of South Africa’s governing coalition, announced the legal action Monday, increasing pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump issued an executive order Friday halting U.S. aid to South Africa, citing concerns over the law, which he described as a violation of property rights. 

The legislation allows the South African government to expropriate land in the public interest, including without compensation in cases where negotiations for a settlement have failed. The government maintains that the law targets unused land and does not permit arbitrary seizures. 

Authorities have dismissed Trump’s claims that the law specifically targets land owned by white Afrikaner farmers, who are descended from European settlers. 

The DA, South Africa’s most prominent white-led political party with a multi-racial support base, has long opposed the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Despite joining a 10-party governing coalition last year, the DA argues the law grants excessive power to the government. 

“We reject this Expropriation Act because we believe no democratic government should have such sweeping powers to seize property without compensation,” the DA said, calling for the law to be nullified. 

The party also reminded the ANC that it failed to secure a majority in last year’s election and must now share power for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. 

The law has sparked concerns among Afrikaner groups, who own a significant share of South Africa’s commercial farms. Some have traveled to the U.S. in recent years to lobby against the legislation while it was still under consideration. 

Trump’s executive order halting U.S. assistance to South Africa extends beyond the land law. It also cites the country’s foreign policy stance, including its accusation of genocide against Israel at the United Nations’ top court and its ties with Russia, China, and Iran. The order further criticizes South Africa’s alleged support for Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

Trump also claimed that South Africa was allowing violent attacks on white farmers, a claim frequently amplified by conservative commentators, including his adviser Elon Musk. However, government officials and experts have refuted these allegations, stating that while some white farmers have been killed, such attacks form a small fraction of the country’s overall violent crime rates. 

Despite Trump’s claims of land confiscation, the country’s main farmers’ union has confirmed that no land has been seized under the new law. 

The legal battle over land expropriation is expected to be closely watched, with significant implications for South Africa’s economy and international relations. 

Ebola Cases in Uganda Rise to 9 as 265 People Remain Under Quarantine

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The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda has risen to nine, while 265 people remain under quarantine as health officials work to contain the outbreak, authorities said Tuesday. 

The cases include the first victim, a male nurse who died on Jan. 30, a day before the outbreak was officially declared. He remains the only reported fatality. 

Eight patients are receiving medical care and are in stable condition, according to a statement from Uganda’s Health Ministry. Seven have been admitted to the main public hospital in Kampala, the capital, while one is receiving treatment in the eastern district of Mbale. Officials said the situation is under control amid heightened surveillance. 

The nurse who died initially sought treatment in Kampala before traveling to Mbale, where he was admitted to a public hospital. Authorities said he had also consulted a traditional healer. His relatives are among those currently receiving treatment for Ebola. 

Kampala, home to nearly 4 million people, remains a key focus for health officials investigating the source of the outbreak. 

Health experts are prioritizing contact tracing to prevent further spread of the Ebola virus, which causes viral hemorrhagic fever. 

There are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola, which is currently circulating in Uganda. However, health authorities have initiated a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a candidate vaccine as part of containment efforts. 

Uganda’s last Ebola outbreak, which began in September 2022, resulted in 55 deaths before being declared over four months later. 

Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. 

Scientists believe initial infections in outbreaks originate from human contact with infected animals or consumption of raw meat from such animals. The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the Ebola River, after which the disease was named. 

US Cyber Agency Places Election Security Staff on Leave, Raising Concerns

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Seventeen employees at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), responsible for securing elections, have been placed on administrative leave, potentially disrupting support for state and local election offices ahead of the 2024 election. 

Among those placed on leave are 10 regional election security specialists hired to expand field staff and provide expertise on cybersecurity and physical threats. These specialists had been working with election officials nationwide to assess risks, conduct training, and strengthen election security. 

A source familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the internal review is examining efforts to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections—tasks that had reportedly been reassigned to other CISA personnel. 

The affected employees include former state and local election officials who had spent the past year building relationships with election offices in all 50 states and more than 8,000 local jurisdictions. Their responsibilities included coordinating with election officials, attending security briefings, and providing guidance on cybersecurity best practices. 

CISA and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. 

Bipartisan state election officials have defended CISA’s role in helping secure U.S. elections against cyber threats. 

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, emphasized the agency’s support for local election offices, particularly county clerks. 

“The most value we’ve got from CISA has been the people on the ground in our state who build direct relationships with county clerks,” Adams said in an interview last month. 

AP

Holocaust Survivor and Oldest Israeli Hostage Killed by Hamas as Ceasefire Deal Hangs in the Balance 

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Israel has confirmed that Shlomo Mansour, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and the oldest Israeli hostage, was killed by Hamas, raising concerns over the fate of the remaining captives and the stability of the ceasefire deal. 

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday that intelligence gathered in recent months led them to confirm Mansour’s death. Authorities believe he may have been killed during the October 7 Hamas attack on Kibbutz Kissufim. His body is still being held in Gaza. 

Mansour was among the hostages set for release under the ceasefire agreement, but the deal now remains uncertain. 

His granddaughter, Safir, had previously spoken about his ordeal, revealing that he survived a massacre in Iraq as a child before enduring Hamas’ attack on October 7. According to her, terrorists stormed his home, physically assaulted him, and abducted him in his own car without his hearing aids. 

His wife, Mazal Mansour, with whom he shared a 60-year marriage and five children, managed to escape the attack. 

Kibbutz Kissufim released a statement mourning Mansour, expressing their grief and calling for the return of all hostages. 

“With heavy hearts, we, the members of the kibbutz, received the news this morning about the murder of our dear friend, Shlomo Mansour… kidnapped from his home during the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023.” 

The community urged Israeli and world leaders to take decisive action to secure the return of all hostages, both the living and the deceased, to prevent similar tragedies. 

According to the Israel Defense Forces, 76 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with 36 confirmed dead. 

United States President Donald Trump issued a warning, stating that “all hell is going to break out” if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages by midday on Saturday. 

“I don’t want a trickle. Not three and then two. I want them all,” Trump said. 

His administration has expressed frustration after seeing recently released hostages appear emaciated and frail. Trump compared their condition to that of Holocaust survivors and suggested that the hostage deal should be canceled if Hamas fails to comply. 

So far, 21 hostages have been freed in exchange for over 730 prisoners. Hamas had previously agreed to release 33 hostages in return for nearly 2,000 detainees. However, the group has since suspended further releases, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire by delaying humanitarian aid—an allegation Israel denies. 

The situation has grown increasingly dire, with particular concerns over the youngest hostage, nine-month-old Kfir Bibas. Kidnapped with his family from Kibbutz Nir Oz, Kfir has spent most of his life in captivity under Hamas. 

As negotiations remain uncertain, global pressure is mounting on all parties to ensure the safe return of the remaining hostages and prevent further escalation.

Venezuela Resumes Deportation Flights from U.S., Signaling Possible Diplomatic Shift

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Two Venezuelan planes carrying approximately 190 deported migrants arrived in Caracas from the United States on Monday, marking a significant shift in relations between the two nations and a policy victory for President Donald Trump as he pushes for stricter immigration enforcement. 

Deportation flights to Venezuela had been largely suspended for years, except for a brief period in October 2023 under the Biden administration. Since 2021, Venezuelans have been among the largest groups crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, making their country’s longstanding refusal to accept deportees a major challenge for U.S. immigration policy. 

The breakthrough came after a visit to Caracas earlier this month by Trump envoy Richard Grennell, who facilitated negotiations with the Venezuelan government. 

“Flights of Illegal Aliens to Venezuela Resume,” the White House announced Monday in a post on the social platform X, stating that Grennell oversaw the process. 

Venezuelan state television triumphantly covered the arrival of the Conviasa flights from Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas. President Nicolás Maduro framed the event as a diplomatic success, stating, “This is the world we want, a world of peace, understanding, dialogue, and cooperation.” 

In an official statement, the Venezuelan government criticized what it called an “ill-intentioned” and “false” narrative surrounding the presence of Tren de Aragua gang members in the U.S. It emphasized that most Venezuelan migrants are hardworking and law-abiding, accusing U.S. officials of unfairly stigmatizing them. 

Monday’s flights followed the first transfers of migrants to a U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and agreements reached by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with El Salvador and Guatemala to accept non-citizen deportees. 

However, legal challenges have already emerged. On Sunday, a federal judge in New Mexico preemptively blocked the transfer of three Venezuelan men to Guantanamo Bay. Lawyers for the men argued that they had been unfairly targeted due to alleged—and, they claim, false—connections to the Tren de Aragua gang. 

Following Grennell’s visit, Trump announced that the Maduro government had agreed to accept “all Venezuelan illegal aliens who were encamped in the U.S., including gang members of Tren de Aragua,” and that Venezuela would cover the cost of their transportation. Additionally, six Americans detained in Venezuela were released as part of the negotiations. 

In its Monday statement, the Venezuelan government did not comment on whether additional deportation flights would take place.

Trial Begins for 84 Congolese Soldiers Accused of Crimes Against Civilians

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The trial of 84 Congolese soldiers accused of murder, rape, and other crimes against civilians in the war-torn east of the country opened Monday in a military court. 

The soldiers allegedly broke into civilian homes across multiple villages in the Kabare and Kalehe territories of South Kivu province over the weekend, killing at least 12 people and raping several women, according to Pascal Mupenda, a lawyer representing civilian victims. 

“They turned their weapons against the civilian population they were supposed to protect, while the enemy was at our doors,” Mupenda told the Associated Press, adding that more soldiers will face trial in the coming days. 

The accused appeared before a military court in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Prosecutors have requested the death penalty for all defendants. The Democratic Republic of Congo lifted a 20-year moratorium on capital punishment in March, a move widely criticized by human rights organizations. The country’s last execution took place in 2003. 

Zawadi Chapo Ombeni, a resident of Kavumu, recounted being beaten and robbed by soldiers while trying to flee an advancing rebel offensive. 

“We were robbed by military personnel known by the state, that are serving the state,” Ombeni said in a phone interview. “We ask the state to compensate us because everything we had was taken away by these military personnel.” 

The trial takes place amid escalating violence in South Kivu, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have been making significant territorial gains. The rebels, who recently captured the strategic city of Goma in neighboring North Kivu province, have been engaged in intense fighting with Congolese forces. Since late January, at least 3,000 people have been killed and nearly as many injured. 

Last week, M23 rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid, but the Congolese government dismissed the announcement as “false communication.” 

The United Nations has accused Rwanda of deploying 4,000 troops to support M23, making it the most powerful among more than 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo. The region is rich in minerals crucial for global technology production. 

On Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Council launched a commission to investigate atrocities committed by both the Congolese army and M23 rebels since the beginning of the year. The inquiry will focus on reports of mass rapes, summary executions, and other war crimes.

Former Colombian President Uribe Denies Bribery and Witness Tampering Charges in Landmark Trial

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Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe denied charges of bribery and witness tampering Monday in a historic trial, marking the first time a former president has faced criminal prosecution in the country. 

Speaking before a judge in Bogotá, Uribe dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. 

The charges stem from allegations that Uribe attempted to manipulate witnesses in a case initiated by leftist Senator Iván Cepeda. Cepeda accused the conservative leader of having ties to paramilitary groups formed in the 1990s to combat leftist rebels. 

Uribe originally filed a libel lawsuit against Cepeda in 2012 with the Supreme Court, which handles investigations into elected officials. However, in a dramatic twist, the court dismissed the case against Cepeda and instead launched an investigation into Uribe in 2018. 

Following Uribe’s retirement from the Senate, the case was transferred to a lower court. Prosecutors initially hesitated to file formal charges, citing a lack of evidence, but proceedings gained momentum after President Gustavo Petro, a leftist leader, took office in 2022. 

Uribe was officially charged in 2023, and his trial began last week. 

Uribe, who served as Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010, remains a polarizing figure. His administration, backed by the U.S., achieved major military victories against rebel groups, pushing the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) into remote areas and paving the way for a 2016 peace deal that led to the disarmament of over 13,000 fighters. 

Despite the charges, Uribe commands strong support among Colombians, particularly conservatives. Dozens of supporters gathered outside the courthouse Monday, waving Colombian flags and wearing masks depicting his face. 

“It was my patriotic duty to come here and support this great Colombian,” said Jesús Vivas, a 67-year-old supporter. “He saved this country when it was about to collapse.” 

Prosecutors allege that Uribe hired a lawyer who met with imprisoned former paramilitary members, pressuring them to alter testimony they had given to Cepeda. 

Uribe denied witness tampering but admitted reaching out to former paramilitary members to verify testimony also used in the trial of his brother, Santiago Uribe. Santiago was acquitted last year of murder and paramilitary support charges. 

If convicted, Uribe could face up to 12 years in prison. However, the case has a statute of limitations set to expire in October, giving the court just eight months to issue a verdict.

Dominican National Sentenced to Nine Years for Deadly Human Smuggling Operation

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A Dominican national was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for his role in a human smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of 11 migrants attempting to reach the United States. 

According to court records, Fermin Montilla, 45, piloted a vessel on the night of May 12, 2022, carrying 48 individuals from the Dominican Republic toward Puerto Rico. During the journey, the boat took on water and capsized, leading to 11 drownings. 

“The defendant attempted to illegally smuggle 48 migrants into the United States, leading to the tragic deaths of 11 people,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human smugglers threaten national security and exploit vulnerable people for profit with no regard for their safety.” 

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico echoed those concerns, stating, “These operations not only violate U.S. law but also endanger lives, as we tragically saw in this case. We remain committed to dismantling criminal smuggling networks.” 

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos reinforced the message, warning that smugglers endanger lives for profit. “In this one incident, we lost 11 lives. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those responsible for exploiting immigration laws.” 

Montilla pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2024, to one count of bringing unauthorized migrants into the U.S. at a location other than a designated port of entry, resulting in death. 

The case was investigated by HSI San Juan, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Trial Attorney Angela Buckner of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and U.S. Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena Daniel prosecuted the case. 

The investigation was part of the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT), a joint initiative between the Justice Department and HSI targeting smuggling networks that pose national security risks or humanitarian concerns. 

Last June, the Justice Department proposed the Deterring Human Smuggling and Harm to Victims Act of 2024, which seeks to increase penalties for prolific and dangerous smugglers. The proposal would impose steeper sentencing guidelines based on the number of people smuggled, injuries or deaths caused, and additional enhancements for crimes committed during the smuggling process. 

U.S. officials continue working with Congress to advance the proposal, aiming to hold smugglers accountable for the full extent of harm caused by these dangerous operations.

DOJ

EU, Canada Prepare Retaliation as Trump Raises Steel, Aluminum Tariffs

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President Donald Trump imposed a blanket 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports Monday, eliminating previous exemptions and sparking immediate pushback from key U.S. trading partners.

The new measures, taking effect March 4, remove country-specific exceptions and product exclusions that had allowed millions of tons of metals to enter the United States duty-free from nations including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea.

“It’s 25% without exceptions or exemptions. That’s all countries, no matter where it comes from,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The aluminum rate increased from his previous 10% levy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would respond with “firm and proportionate countermeasures” to protect its interests. EU steel exports to the U.S. have averaged about 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) annually over the past decade.

The EU could revive previously suspended tariffs on U.S. products including bourbon, motorcycles and orange juice. Those measures, originally imposed in 2018, are currently suspended until March’s end.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking at the Paris artificial intelligence summit, called the tariffs “unacceptable” and promised a strong response if needed. Canada provides nearly 80% of U.S. primary aluminum imports.

Trump announced plans to implement a North American standard requiring steel to be “melted and poured” and aluminum to be “smelted and cast” within the region, aiming to prevent Chinese and Russian metals from circumventing existing trade restrictions.

The move sent gold prices to a record $2,942.70 in Asian trading Tuesday before settling at $2,909.49, up 0.1% at 0916 GMT.

Steel imports represented approximately 23% of American steel consumption in 2023, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, with Canada, Brazil and Mexico serving as the largest suppliers.

Trump indicated he would announce reciprocal tariffs on countries imposing duties on U.S. goods in the coming days, adding he’s considering additional tariffs on cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.

Tags: international trade, tariffs, Donald Trump, European Union, Canada, steel industry, aluminum industry, trade policy, global markets, metal imports

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