Israel News for 10-1-2025
News Update
The IDF will be completing it’s sealing off of Gaza City and cutting direct passage between northern and southern Gaza except through IDF checkpoints. Defense Minister Katz warned, “This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to move south, leaving Hamas terrorists isolated inside Gaza City against the full force of the IDF. Whoever remains in Gaza will be considered a terrorist or terror supporter.” Meanwhile, rockets were fired at Israeli communities near the Gaza border.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC it will reject President Trump’s peace plan, claiming it “serves Israel’s interests and ignores those of the Palestinian people.” He said Hamas would not agree to disarmament or the deployment of an international force in Gaza, describing such a move as “a new form of occupation.” According to the BBC, Hamas’ most senior military commander still in Gaza, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, is determined to continue fighting rather than accept Trump’s proposal. While the Arab nations have reportedly all signed on to the plan, it’s still unclear wether they are truly all-in. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have already rejected the deal. Trump has given Hamas 3 or 4 days to accept the deal or face dire consequences. [Given that their entire reason for existing is to carry out armed struggle to destroy Israel and they are Islamic fundamentalist extremists willing to become martyrs, it’s difficult to envision a peaceful and happy ending to this.]
The civilian flotilla of 50 boats carrying 500 people heading towards Gaza has reached the 200km distance from the coast where they were stopped by Israeli forces last time. IDF forces and 600 police officers are prepared to intercept.
Security forces discovered 15 rockets in Ramallah today, 8 of which were armed with explosives. Other weapons and explosives were also found. The rockets and weapons are linked to the cell that was caught two weeks ago with dozens of rockets, explosives, and other weaponry hidden in a Ramallah building.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins tonight and ends Thursday night. May God grant us atonement for our sins and seal us in the Book of Life.
