IDF recovers body of hostage Itay Svirsky from Gaza | IDF attacks new Hezbollah ceasefire violations | PM Netanyahu meets family of US-Israeli hostage

20:15 - IDF recovers body of hostage Itay Svirsky from Gaza Strip

The body of the Israeli hostage Itay Svirsky was recovered from the Gaza Strip in a joint operation by IDF and Shin Bet forces, the military said.

Itay, a member of Kibbutz Be'eri, was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, and was murdered in captivity. He was declared dead in January.

"The Shin Bet, the IDF and the security forces share in the family's grief and will continue to work to return all of the hostages home," the IDF stated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The heart breaks at the heavy loss of the Svirsky family, which also lost Itay's parents, Orit and Rafi of blessed memory, who were murdered in Hamas's deadly attack. Yesterday I met with Shin Bet personnel and I would like to express deep appreciation to them and to the IDF, for their brave operation to recover Itay's body."

"We will continue to take determined and relentless action to return all of our hostages, the living and the deceased."

20:03 - PM Netanyahu meets family of kidnapped US-Israeli IDF soldier

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this evening in his office in Jerusalem with the family of the kidnapped Edan Alexander, who is held captive by Hamas, the Prime Minister's Office said.

"The Prime Minister told the family that the efforts for the return of all the hostages are being carried out around the clock, resolutely and tirelessly."

Hamas released a propaganda video of Alexander earlier this week.

19:48 - IDF attacks new Hezbollah ceasefire violations

The Israeli Air Force struck a rocket launcher in the area of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon, with the IDF stating the launcher "posed a threat to the State of Israel in violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

"The IDF continues to act against Hezbollah's actions that pose a threat to the State of Israel and violate the agreements between Israel and Lebanon."

In the border area, IDF troops continued to locate and destroy weapon depots. On Wednesday, the army destroyed weapons in al-Khiam, Aitaroun and al-Sawana. "The IDF is deployed in southern Lebanon and acts against any threat that endangers the State of Israel," the military said.

18:35 - Italy compensates victims of Nazi war crimes

For the first time in history, Italy has paid compensation to victims of Nazi war crimes by giving 800,000 euros ($840,000) to the heirs of a man killed in a 1944 civilian massacre in Tuscany, a lawyer for the heirs and the Italian Treasury said on Wednesday.

The historic decision marks a significant shift in the Italian government's approach, potentially setting a model to follow in compensating the families of other victims of Nazi crimes.

16:20 - US Secretary of state Antony Blinken says Ukraine needs to recruit younger soldiers

In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, there is a need for younger recruits between the ages of 18 and 25 years-old U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. Younger individuals in the desired age range are not currently "in the fight" according to Blinken.

The Ukraine-Russia war officially began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine

14:15 - Israeli delegation to visit Cairo on Thursday in hopes to reach a cease-fire and hostage deal

An Israeli delegation headed by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is expected to visit Cairo on Thursday, reported the Lebanese Al Jadeed channel on Wednesday.

The members of the delegation are hopeful they will be able to discuss new ideas for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

12:30 - PM Netanyahu seeks court's permission to limit days of testifying each week

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legal council asked the Jerusalem District Court where he is facing criminal corruption charges, to allow him to only testify two days a week due to his responsibilities in running the country.

Netanyahu has attempted to delay his testimony, but those requests were rejected. He has assured the court that his position as head of state would not interfere with his ability to answer the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, leveled against him.

The prime minister has been granted the ability to move his trial to Tel Aviv where he will be in a secured location underground due to security concerns of his whereabouts being known by terrorist networks.

10:32 - Israeli settlers wound 2 Israeli soldiers during evacuation before rioting in Palestinian towns

Two Border Police soldiers were wounded after being attacked with stones by settlers while evacuating an illegally built outpost near the village of Beit Furik overnight, the IDF stated.

"After that, Israeli citizens entered the village of Beit Furik, set fire to property in the area and threw stones at the village. Another violent disturbance developed in the Hawara area, during which Israeli citizens set fire to property and threw stones," the military said.

Another confrontation between security forces and settlers took place near Rujeib, where a group of 20 Israeli settlers had gathered.

"Upon the arrival of the IDF and the Border Police forces, a clash developed," the IDF said. "The event was dispersed and several Israelis were arrested and transferred to the security forces."

"The IDF takes any violence against its soldiers and the security forces very seriously, who work day and night for the security of the citizens of the area. These events must be condemned and those who break the law must be prosecuted."

08:55 – IDF warns soldiers against traveling abroad for fear of lawsuits over alleged Gaza crimes

The IDF recently warned approximately 30 officers and soldiers who have participated in the fighting in Gaza against Hamas to either return to Israel quickly or cancel planned trips abroad after complaints were filed against them.

“Pro-Palestinian organizations have prepared black lists” of IDF soldiers to sue them, Ynet News reported.

At least eight soldiers were required to immediately leave the countries they were visiting, including Cyprus, Slovenia and the Netherlands.

Dozens of lawyers have been hired to defend soldiers against lawsuits.

Soldiers who served in Gaza are instructed to remove images and footage taken during the fighting from social media and not to upload photos from abroad that could indicate their location.

08:41 – Over service to settlements: Norway’s sovereign wealth fund divests from Israeli telecoms group Bezeq

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, decided to divest from Israel’s largest telecom group, Bezeq, over its service to Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria.

“The company, through its physical presence and provision of telecom services to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, is helping to facilitate the maintenance and expansion of these settlements, which are illegal under international law,” the fund’s Council on Ethics stated, claiming this constituted a violation of international law.

The fund also noted that Bezeq is providing services to Palestinians as well, but said this doesn't make up for its violations.

08:16 – IDF returns bodies of 2 terrorists to Jordan for burial

The IDF stated that the bodies of the two terrorists who crossed from Jordan into the country and carried out a shooting attack on IDF forces south of the Dead Sea on October 18 were returned to Jordan overnight, “in accordance with the directive of the political echelon.”

The terrorists were members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. They infiltrated the country near the border community of Neot HaKikar and fired at IDF soldiers, wounding two of them before being shot dead.

07:04 – Israel’s FM Sa’ar set to meet US State Secretary Blinken and new EU top diplomat Kallas

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the new High Representative for External Relations of the European Union Kaja Kallas, at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) foreign ministers’ conference in Malta, which begins today.

Sa’ar is set to meet several other top diplomats and “will also speak before the forum of foreign ministers participating in the conference,” his office stated.