DAY 479 OF CAPTIVITY • DAY 9 OF THE CEASEFIRE: Two Hundred Thousand Gazans Flock to Northern Gaza, Netanyahu Trial Resumes, 80 Years Since the Liberation of Auschwitz

Tel Aviv Diary, January 27, 2025

Last night was truly unusual. Typically, I complete the initial draft of the daily update by 9 PM, after which the text is edited and proofread. Most nights, I take Milo out for a walk around 11 PM, and return to finalize and publish the update. However, last night, deviated from the routine.

As I returned home, a significant news story broke: Qatar announced a deal to return six hostages home this week. I quickly added the joyful news as a final line in that section of the update, citing Qatar’s report. Before I could finish writing, further developments unfolded. The Prime Minister’s Office not only confirmed the Qatari announcement but also provided additional details, necessitating a rewrite of that section.

Then, just as I was wrapping up these updates, another major announcement arrived: the White House announced an extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon until February 19th. This extension allows the Lebanese Army time to deploy along the southern border and reduces the likelihood of the ceasefire unraveling prematurely.

Having worked in Israeli news for over a decade, I’ve often been called into the newsroom in the middle of the night due to urgent developments, generally of a distressing nature. Last night, however, marked the first time I can recall where good news unfolded so close to midnight. It appears that credit for this positive development is due to President Trump’s representative, Steve Witkoff. Perhaps a tough, no-nonsense real estate negotiator is what’s needed to achieve what seasoned diplomats often find challenging.

This morning, we witnessed the implementation of the other side of the agreement: 200 thousand Gazans streamed northward to Northern Gaza. MK Ben-Gvir expressed his skepticism on Twitter, asking, “Where is the total victory we were promised?” Of course, the notion of a complete victory was always unrealistic. A decisive triumph over Hamas would require years and was never a practical objective if the priority was to retrieve the hostages.

Furthermore, even after 15 months of combat, we see compelling signs of Hamas’s control over Gaza. While expert opinions on the matter vary—some believe Hamas remains in strong control and capable of reconstruction, others argue that Hamas is struggling without a definitive future plan—it’s evident that, for now—like it or not—Hamas is the sole authority in Gaza at this time. Time will reveal the extent of their resilience or vulnerability.

NETANYAHU TRIAL CONTINUES …

Prime Minister Netanyahu returned to the witness stand for the first time in a month, following his recent surgery. Netanyahu had requested to testify only once a week and for shorter durations. While the judges agreed to shorter sessions, they rejected limiting the Prime Minister’s appearances to once-a-week, emphasizing that—at some point—the trial must come to a close.

In his opening statement today, Netanyahu expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with the judges’ ruling, explaining that his recovery has been slower than anticipated due to his ongoing duties as head of state, which prevent him from resting adequately. His testimony continued to focus on rebutting allegations that he manipulated the media. Netanyahu also responded to rumors concerning his health, dismissing reports that he is gravely ill. Despite appearing unwell, there is hope that Netanyahu is on a steady path to recovery.

INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Today marks International Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorating 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz by Russian troops.

My relationship with the Holocaust is nuanced and complex. On one hand, I am the child of a German emigrant who left at the age of 9 and was fortunate to grow up in the United States. Both of my grandparents, with whom I was very close, lost nearly all their entire families who remained in Poland. I have visited Poland and the camps twice—initially with my mother, where we explored the towns and villages from which our family originated, and a second time with my daughter, while collaborating with the Polish government on an app about Jewish Poland—available free via this download link below.

My relationship with the Holocaust is complicated because, for many years, I believed that too much emphasis was being placed on Holocaust education. Regrettably, I am now concerned that I may have been mistaken. Two significant developments are reshaping our global landscape: Recent data reveals a troubling trend in attitudes and incidents targeting Jewish communities worldwide. The Anti-Defamation League's latest global survey indicates a substantial shift in antisemitic sentiments, with an estimated 46% of the world's adult population—approximately 2.2 billion people— exhibiting what the organization classifies as elevated antisemitic attitudes. This represents a marked increase from a decade ago, when the figure stood at 1.1 billion.

RISING ANTISEMITISM

The United States has experienced its own distinct pattern of changing attitudes. According to the ADL's measurements, the portion of Americans expressing what they describe as "significant" antisemitic attitudes has escalated 24 percent in 2024. This figure is the highest level documented since 1964 and represents a more than doubling of the percentage from 2019 — a shift in attitudes that coincides with a corresponding rise in documented antisemitic incidents.

The period following October 7, 2023, has proven particularly significant in this trajectory. The ADL's tracking system documented over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the subsequent 12 months, marking an unprecedented surge of more than 200 percent compared to the previous year's data. This spike takes on additional significance when viewed within the broader historical context—it represents not only the highest number of incidents recorded in any 12-month period since the organization began its systematic documentation in the 1970s, but also builds upon what was already a substantial increase of nearly 900 percent over the previous decade.

At the same time, according to a 2025 survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) 21% of adults worldwide believe the Holocaust is “exaggerated” or “never happened”; while 20% “have never heard of” the event. This reflects a substantial increase in the number of people worldwide who either doubt—or do not believe—the history that our people lived through.

In the United States, a survey revealed that approximately half (49%) of Millennials and Gen Z have encountered Holocaust denial or distortion on social media or other online platforms. Alarmingly, 11% of these younger Americans believe that Jews caused the Holocaust.

I have no doubt that a significant factor contributing to the deteriorating situation lies with the social media companies—but that is a complex discussion for another day.

Today’s Radio Show

RESERVE SOLDIERS ARRESTED FOR ESPIONAGE

Two reserve soldiers were arrested and will face charges of espionage on behalf of an enemy during wartime. Both individuals, who were spying for Iran, engaged in this activity for a modest sum of money. One of them, a member of the Iron Dome unit,