Israel News for 2-1-2024
News Update
Rockets were fired at the Metulla area and an anti-tank missile at an IDF post on Mount Hermon. The IDF responded by striking numerous Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The hostage deal currently being negotiated would include a 6 week pause in the fighting, including stopping drone flights, during which Hamas would gather the hostages. The hostages would be released in 3 phases, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid. The first phase would include the elderly, sick and children. The second would include female soldiers. The third would include male soldiers and dead bodies — but some hostages would remain in captivity, as human shields. Nothing has yet been agreed to. National Security Minister Ben Gvir has said he would bring down the government over the deal. But Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid has indicated that he would be open to joining the government if Ben Gvir left.
[There is an impossible dilemma regarding the hostages. On the one hand it is the governments responsibility to protect its soldiers and citizens and to do everything possible to return them home. At the same time, the government must protect all of its citizens and provide them with safety — which it cannot fully accomplish as long has Hamas continues to function with military capabilities to carry out attacks against Israelis. Destroying Hamas and returning the hostages cannot both be fully accomplished. The government is trying to find a way to accomplish both objectives. Is that possible?]
IDF soldiers killed in Gaza:
Maj. (res.) Yitzhar Hofman, 36, a commander in the Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit, from Eshhar. He was wounded in the fighting late last year but returned to Gaza to continue fighting. He also fought the terrorists at Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7.
For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.
A terrorist reportedly attempted to ram soldiers at a checkpoint near Hebron. The terrorist was arrested. There were no casualties.
Iran is pulling out senior Revolutionary Guard officers from Syria in the wake of Israeli strikes against Iranian targets there. For more, click here.
At least 66 Israeli-American or Israeli families with close relatives wounded, abducted or murdered in the Hamas atrocities on October 7, filed a law suit in the New York Federal Court demanding compensation from Iran, totaling a billion dollars. They are represented by the Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan law firm. The case is expected to last many years.
