Al Mayadeen – February 17, 2025
Israel ready to discuss phase 2, no details yet: Palestinian source
The Israeli negotiations team will receive instructions from the cabinet after a meeting set for Monday evening.
The Israeli delegation will arrive in Cairo today to discuss completing the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner-exchange agreement, a senior Palestinian official said.
Speaking to Al Mayadeen, the official said the Israeli side is ready to discuss the second phase without giving any details about its terms, asserting that the meetings in Cairo will see the participation of all relevant parties concerned with the situation in Gaza.
"Hamas is waiting for the implementation of all the terms of the agreement and last week's assurances about the entry of equipment and caravans and the cessation of violations," he maintained, adding that "equipment and caravans are expected to enter the strip tomorrow, Tuesday."
Second phase of the ceasefire
This comes as Israeli media spoke of the Israeli negotiating team being sent to Egypt to discuss the continuance of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, while the Israeli cabinet will convene on Monday evening to discuss the second phase and send relevant instructions to the negotiations team.
The cabinet meeting comes after US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said talks regarding the second phase are in place, adding that the second phase of the ceasefire deal will start for sure, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling Tel Aviv to send its team to Cairo.
Israeli channel Kan Reshet Bet said Netanyahu promised Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire would not start without cabinet approval, noting that Smotrich requested a clause that requires such approval as a condition to remain in the government.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported conflicting accounts on the future of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, adding to the uncertainty surrounding it.
Channel 12 reported that the US Middle East Envoy confirmed that the phase will move forward despite its complexity while describing his discussions with Netanyahu, Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian intelligence officials as productive and constructive.
However, the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 said the second phase is unlikely to happen, citing a political source who said that the first phase may be extended to allow the release of more Israeli captives while not adding to Israel's commitments.
Hamas, on the other hand, expressed its readiness to begin negotiations for the second phase of the truce on February 3, according to two officials, one of whom said, "Hamas has informed the mediators, during ongoing communications and meetings held with Egyptian mediators last week in Cairo, that we are ready to start the negotiations for the second phase."
Despite talks and negotiations, "Israel" continues to attack Palestinians in Gaza in violation of the ceasefire as three Palestinian police officers were killed in an Israeli airstrike east of Rafah yesterday.
Al Mayadeen – February 17, 2025
Al-Qassam commander Muhammad Shahin killed in IOF strike in S. Lebanon
This comes as Israel"continues to violate the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, with its military carrying out explosions in towns it has not withdrawn from.
An Israeli drone targeted Monday a vehicle at the entrance of Saida, southern Lebanon, killing one person, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported, on the eve of the deadline set for the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese territory.
The person targeted in the strike is a Palestinian official in the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, our correspondent mentioned, citing reports.
Later, Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV said al-Qassam commander Muhammad Shahin was martyred in a Zionist raid that targeted him in the city of Saida.
Lebanon's state news agency said rescuers had retrieved one body from the vehicle after firefighters extinguished the fire.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army cordoned off the site of the Israeli attack.
Commenting on the aggression, former head of the Israeli Security Intelligence Tamir Hayman said Shahin's assassination is more related to the Israeli operation in the West Bank rather than the situation in Gaza or South Lebanon.
Israeli violations of ceasefire agreement continue in South
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said authorities were following up on contacts at various levels to push "Israel" to comply with the ceasefire agreement, stressing that the sponsors of the agreement must assume their responsibility in assisting Lebanon.
Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Sunday that it was the government's responsibility to ensure the Israeli military fully withdraws by Tuesday's deadline.
This comes as "Israel" continues to violate the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, with its military carrying out explosions in towns it has not withdrawn from, setting fires to homes, and bulldozing olive groves.
According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon, Israeli forces are bulldozing olive orchards in the town of Kfar Chouba, while the area is being combed with gunfire by Israeli forces. This coincided with an Israeli drone dropping a sound grenade over the residents of the town.
Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the southern town of Yaroun.
In the border town of Odaisseh, Israeli forces set fire to several homes and demolished others, while southern towns witnessed an intensified presence of Israeli drones in the skies.
On another front, "Israel" established a military position on Sunday on the al-Hamames hill, south of the town of Khiam, opposite the Metulla settlement.
The occupation forces also obstructed the Lebanese Army and Red Cross entry into the town of Houla, in an attempt to retrieve the body of the child Khadija Atwi killed by "Israel" yesterday.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that citizens stranded in Houla were able to leave the town without the intervention of the Red Cross or the Lebanese Army.
As the February 18 deadline for the Israeli military's withdrawal from southern Lebanon approaches—an extension from the initially scheduled withdrawal on January 26, 2025, under the ceasefire agreement—the occupation remains adamant about keeping its forces in five positions in southern Lebanon; a stance met with Lebanese opposition.
Al Mayadeen – February 17, 2025
Senior US, Russian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov notes that discussions in Riyadh will address the possibility of organizing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov are traveling to Riyadh on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday.
"Today, foreign minister Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov are flying to Riyadh on behalf of president Putin," Peskov told reporters.
He added that the officials are scheduled to meet with US representatives on Tuesday, and they will be able to swiftly brief Putin on the outcome of the talks in Saudi Arabia.
The Washington Post reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff are set to meet with the Russian delegation.
CNN also cited an informed source as saying that Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key Russian negotiator, is set to meet with the US delegation in discussions that will center on enhancing US-Russia relations and fostering economic cooperation.
According to the Kremlin spokesperson, potential discussions on a Ukraine settlement may take place during the meeting between Russian and American representatives in Riyadh.
"First of all, the contacts that will take place on Tuesday will be about restoring the entire complex of Russian-US relations and preparing possible negotiations on Ukraine," Peskov pointed out.
The Russian diplomat noted that discussions in Riyadh will also address the possibility of organizing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Peskov also expressed Russia's openness to discussing Middle East-related issues with the United States during the talks.
"If this topic is somehow touched upon, then, of course, our representatives will be ready to discuss this topic," he stated.
Peskov further explained that Saudi Arabia was selected as the venue for these contacts because it is mutually agreeable to both Moscow and Washington.
"Saudi Arabia was mentioned by [US President Donald] Trump when they were talking about a possible location for a possible summit ... This location generally suits both the American side and the Russian side. This is a joint decision," he told reporters.
The Kremlin spokesperson also indicated that the global discourse on Ukraine appears to be shifting, noting that discussions have moved from prolonging the conflict to finding ways to end it.
"It is probably important that, in general, if literally two months ago everyone in the world, with the exception, perhaps, of Russia and countries friendly to us, was talking about how to continue the war at any cost, it is gratifying that now everyone is trying to talk about what needs to be done to stop the war at any cost. This is a positive fact," he explained.
Zelensky to travel to Saudi Arabia, but will not participate in talks with Russia
On his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kiev will not take part in this week’s discussions in Riyadh, emphasizing that his country was not informed about them and does not recognize any agreements made without its involvement.
“Ukraine will not participate. Ukraine knew nothing about them. Ukraine perceives any negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine as those with no results. We can not recognize anything or any agreements about us without us,” Zelensky told reporters Monday.
He confirmed that he will travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for official meetings this week but stressed that these visits are unrelated to the US-Russia.
Zelensky added that he intends to ask Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about the negotiations, "just out of interest."
It is noteworthy that Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed Saturday claims that Ukraine would take part in an upcoming meeting between Russia and the United States in Saudi Arabia.
"There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing," Podolyak said on Ukrainian television, emphasizing that "Russia is not ready for negotiations."
On the same day, Politicoï¾ reported, citing a Republican lawmaker and two US officials familiar with the matter, that representatives from all three countries were set to meet in the coming days.
However, the news website later updated its report, noting that a Ukrainian official had confirmed the announcement came as a surprise to Kiev and that there were no plans to send a Ukrainian delegation.
Podolyak's remarks appeared to align with statements made earlier in the day by Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.
"We didn't talk about it. The media printed something. I saw that someone said that there would be a meeting in Saudi Arabia. I do not know what it is," Zelensky said.
During his television appearance, Podolyak further claimed that Russia aims to use its presence at the negotiating table to secure an "operational pause to reconfigure its army" while also seeking to gain leverage and ease sanctions.
Al Mayadeen – February 17, 2025
Russia to likely keep reduced military presence in Syria: Bloomberg
Sources say Moscow is reportedly nearing an agreement with Syria’s new government that would allow it to retain some personnel and equipment in the country.
Russia is expected to maintain a reduced military presence in Syria, marking a key achievement for President Vladimir Putin following the collapse of the al-Assad regime he had supported, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Moscow is reportedly nearing an agreement with Syria’s new government that would allow it to retain some personnel and equipment in the country, the sources said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
One source indicated that Russia aims to preserve its existing naval and air bases in Syria, which it had used until now-President Ahmad al-Sharaa led an offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad last year.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not respond to a request for comment, and officials from Syria’s transitional government were also unavailable to verify the information.
While there is no certainty that ongoing negotiations will result in a final agreement, a historic phone call last week between Putin and al-Sharaa—their first ever—suggests growing momentum and signals Moscow’s efforts to strengthen ties with Syria’s new leadership, Bloomberg indicated.
According to the sources, Russia could assist in combating ISIS terrorists active in eastern Syria. One source noted that Moscow’s continued presence might also serve as a counterbalance to Turkiye’s expanding influence in the region.
The news website highlighted that while many European officials had pushed for a full Russian withdrawal from Syria, others—particularly in southern Europe—expressed concern that losing its naval and air bases there might prompt Moscow to shift its focus toward Libya.
Russiaï¾’s two military installations in Syria have been crucial for projecting influence across both the Middle East and Africa, making their potential loss a major strategic setback for the Kremlin.
Moscow’s negotiations with al-Sharaa over retaining its Mediterranean port in Tartus and the nearby Hmeimim air base faced obstacles in January. In response, Putin indicated a willingness to support Syria’s reconstruction efforts.
During their call last week, Putin assured al-Sharaa of Russia’s readiness to provide aid and facilitate essential trade to help stabilize Syria’s devastated economy. Days later, Syria’s central bank received a fresh shipment of local currency from Russia to ease a cash shortage, according to the country’s main news agency.
Syria's new Defense Minister Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra stated in early February that Syria is open to allowing Russia to maintain its air and naval bases along the Mediterranean coast, provided that any agreement with Moscow serves Syria's national interests.
Syria remains critically underfunded for reconstruction, with its new government inheriting billions of dollars in debt to Russia and Iran, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani told Financial Times in an interview last month.
Palestinian Information Center – February 17, 2025
Israeli Army storms mosque, injures Palestinian in West Bank
NABLUS, (PIC) Israeli occupation forces stormed the village of Burqa, northwest of Nablus, in the northern West Bank, on Monday evening and broke into a local mosque after blowing up its gate during the afternoon prayer.
During the raid, the IOF stopped the prayer and interrogated the worshipers at the mosque.
A Palestinian was also injured by live fire during confrontations with Israeli forces in the village of Tal, south of Nablus city, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Israeli military attacks in the occupied West Bank have intensified since the Gaza ceasefire was implemented last month.
Israel launched “Operation Iron Wall” trying to tighten its grip on resistance strongholds in the occupied West Bank. According to United Nations figures, at least 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the incursion began.
