Israel News for 2-10-2025
News Update
The IAF struck an underground tunnel, crossing from Syria into Lebanon, that was used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons in the Beqaa area. The tunnel had been struck at least once in the past. The IAF also struck other Hezbollah sites containing munitions and rocket launchers. Lebanese media reported that other crossings border crossings were struck. Syrian media reported that Israel attacked the Khalkhalah Air Base in southern Syria’s Sweida province on Sunday. On Saturday the air force struck a a Hamas weapons warehouse in Syria and Syrian sources reported additional Israeli strikes in the Tal al-Manea area on the outskirts of Damascus.
IDF, Border Police and Shin Bet forces launched an overnight operation in Nur Shams, a terrorist stronghold near Tulkarm, as part of an ongoing anti-terror operation called Operation Iron Wall. Multiple terrorists were killed and arrested. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the expansion of military operations in the northern West Bank, saying, “We are dismantling the terror infrastructure in the camps and preventing its resurgence. We will not allow the Iranian axis of evil to establish an eastern terror front threatening Israeli communities in the West Bank, the Seam Zone and major cities.”
The Shin Bet continues to monitor the hundreds of terrorists freed in recent prisoner exchanges, with intelligence assessments showing that most released terrorists return to militant activity. Last week, a senior security official warned, “Based on our intelligence data, the majority of those released are reengaging in terror.”
As part of the ceasefire agreement, IDF forces withdrew from the Nitzarim corridor that cuts across central Gaza, marking a full military pullback from northern Gaza. U.S. contractors took over checkpoint operations, conducting security screenings for both vehicles and pedestrians entering northern Gaza. Shortly after the IDF withdrawal, several dozen Palestinians were seen advancing hundreds of meters from the border fence near Nahal Oz. IDF forces opened fire, killing 3 and wounding 6.
Based on the condition and the testimonies of the male hostages released on Saturday, it is clear that Hamas is intentionally starving the hostages. The hostages are held in chains, barefoot, in tunnels. The rleased hostages revealed that hostages Alon Ohel and Eliya Cohen, who were kidnapped along with Hersh Goldberg-Polin from a shelter on Oct. 7, are alive and being starved and held in inhumane conditions by Hamas. For more, click here.
President Trump has not backed down from his position that the U.S. should take ownership of Gaza to rebuild it. He stressed that “We will turn Gaza into a prime site for future development” and that we’ll “take care of the Palestinians and ensure they are not killed.” Meanwhile, the father of former Hamas hostage Romi Gonen, who was released from captivity after 471 days, wrote, “The person who made seeing my daughter possible, after so many months of despair and failed negotiations, was President Donald Trump.” He wrote, “When he (Trump) set a Jan. 20 deadline for the deal, it applied the necessary pressure, setting in motion the events that would bring Romi home. I would be honored to shake his hand one day and express my gratitude for his role in reuniting our family.”
