Tag Archive for: Israel News

News Update

IDF forces surrounded a UNRWA compound in Gaza City with armored forces and raided the compound after military intelligence indicated hundreds of Hamas terrorists and senior commanders were using the area to reorganize after the IDF withdrew last January. At least 2 senior Hamas commanders were killed in the raid. The IDF spokesperson said, “Troops located large quantities of weapons including explosive drones, grenades, explosive devices, snipers, mortar shells, rockets, and RPGs.”

According to a Washington Post report yesterday, a framework for a cease-fire in exchange for the hostage release has been agreed by both Israel and Hamas. It said, “Israel and Hamas have both signaled their acceptance of an interim governance plan that would begin with Phase 2, in which neither Hamas nor Israel would rule Gaza.” It said that a force of some 2,500 supporters of the Palestinians Authority, vetted by Israel, would provide security. It added that obstacles still exist and negotiations over the details in the agreement would take time.

[It is assumed that Hamas wants to copy the model of Hezbollah, where it would not be responsible for civil governance but only maintain military power. In other words, it sounds like Hamas would continue building tunnels and preparing for the next major terror attack, while the governing authority would be busy managing reconstruction, garbage collection, utilities, civil policing etc.]

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said, “We have exhausted Israel economically, in terms of manpower, and socially. This will force it to stop the war.” He emphasized several times that when a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, Hezbollah would also cease firing on Israel. For more, click here.

A drone launched by Hezbollah exploded inside Kibbutz Kabri, in the western Galilee, causing at least 1 serious injury and damage to cars and property. IDF defenses failed to intercept the drone.

Senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis have directed yeshiva students to ignore IDF draft orders that will be arriving in a free weeks and to refuse to go to conscription offices even at the price of jail time. For more, click here.

News Update

IDF forces launched an operation in Gaza City to root out Hamas and Jihad terrorists who have reestablished terror bases and positions there, around 6 months after Israeli forces had reportedly cleared the terrorists out of the city. Civilians were warned to evacuate ahead of the operation. Troops killed at least 30 terrorist and destroyed weapons, rocket launchers and military infrastructure. The air force eliminated the deputy head of the Hamas run Gaza labor ministry, Ihab al-Ghussein.

IDF Soldiers Killed:

Maj. Jalaa Ibrahem, 25, a company commander in the Combat Engineering Corps’ 601st Battalion, from the Druze village of Sajur.

Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a public statement on Sunday night listing the principles that Israel will not compromise on, in the negotiations for a hostage-ceasefire deal.

1. Any deal will allow Israel to resume fighting until all of objectives of the war have been achieved.
2. There will be no smuggling of weapons to Hamas from Egypt to the Gaza border.
3. There will be no return of thousands of armed terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip.
4. Israel will maximize the number of living hostages who will be released from Hamas captivity.
5. The plan that has been agreed to by Israel, and which has been welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden, will allow Israel to return hostages without infringing on the other objectives of the war.

Many officials are criticizing the timing and content of Netanyahu’s announcement, claiming that it will make negotiations much more difficult and possibly scuttle a potential hostage release deal. The Prime Minister believes that a tough stance will benefit Israel’s negotiating position. Hamas has appeared to have dropped its demands for a an end to the war as part of the ceasefire deal. Demonstrations were held throughout the country yesterday demanding that the government reach a deal to release the hostages and calling for new elections.

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar left for Cairo today, at the head of a security delegation, for meetings with Egyptian officials. They will be discussing the Rafah border crossing and are expected to raise Israel’s request for an underground barrier to be built along the Philadelphia corridor, to prevent the use of new tunnels to bring weapons into the Strip.

Hezbollah continues to fire rockets at northern Israel and the IDF continues to strike Hezbollah in Lebanon. It is believed that a ceasefire in Gaza would most likely lead to a ceasefire in the north.

News Update

Over 20 drones and 200 rockets were fired at northern Israel and the Golan today. The IDF is responding with air and artillery strikes. Over 100 rockets were fired yesterday, after Israel eliminated one of the highest ranking Hezbollah commanders, in an airstrike in Tyre, Lebanon. For more, click here.

Yesterday, an Israeli-Arab terrorist stabbed and killed Sergeant Aleksandr Iakiminskyi, 19 years old, Manhariya, a heavy truck driver in the 71st Battalion, 188th Brigade, at a mall in the northern town of Karmiel. The terrorist lived in a nearby village. Another soldier who was seriously wounded in the attack, Sergeant Natan Shimon Avny, managed to shoot his weapon and eliminate the terrorist.

IDF Soldiers Killed in Gaza:

Captain Elay Elisha Lugasi, 21, a team commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 75th Battalion, from Kiryat Shmona.

Captain Roy Miller, 21, a platoon commander in the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion, from Herzliya.

Mediators have conveyed Hamas’ response to Israel’s latest hostage release proposal, which they say is the best offer received from Hamas thus far and is the basis for further progress. The government is reviewing the offer. The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement saying, “Hamas continues to insist on a principle clause in the framework that would prevent Israel from resuming fighting after phase one of the plan, which is unacceptable to Israel. Other gaps still remain unresolved. Israel will continue the negotiations while maintaining military and diplomatic pressure to secure the release of all 120 hostages, both living and deceased.”

News Update

IDF soldiers killed in Gaza:

Sergeant Yair Avitan, 20, a fighter in the 890th Battalion, Parachute Brigade, from Ra’anana.

Sergeant First Class (res.) Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum, 21,, a fighter in the 77th Battalion, ‘Saar Megolan’ formation, from Ma’ale Adumim.

Israel released 54 prisoners, including the director of Shifa Hospital, Muhammed Abu Salmiya, who assisted Hamas terrorists and kept Israeli hostages inside the hospital. Abu Salmiya claimed that detainees in Israel suffer harsh conditions including hunger and thirst. He said, “The enemy is committing crimes against medical staff. Hundreds of doctors, nurses and technicians are imprisoned.” He also encouraged “resistance” and called for the release of all prisoners from Israeli prisons. Some ministers, including Ben Gvir, blasted the Defense Minister for released Abu Salmiya and other terrorists. Some sources claim that Abu Salmiya provided the IDF with precise information including the locations of top Hamas leaders in Gaza and abroad. For more, click here. 

Combat operations continue in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood, where IDF forces have eliminated scores of terrorists and uncovered large amounts of weapons as well as intelligence documents. The IDF had operated in the area months ago, but Hamas has managed to return to the area and recruit hundreds of new terrorists who are now fighting the IDF. Defense Minister Gallant said that the IDF would continue operation in Rafah until Hamas military capabilities have been dismantled. He said, “We will persist and intensify until we reach a situation where we are choking their lifeline and preventing them from rebuilding their strength.” Meanwhile, Egypt is intensifying its efforts to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas.

One soldier was critically wounded, and 17 others lightly wounded, in UAV attack in the northern Golan Heights yesterday. The IDF responded with airstrikes and artillery fire against Hezbollah targets.

Iran has significantly ramped up its smuggling of weapons to Hezbollah in recent weeks, including air defense systems. Iran is also attempting to supply Hezbollah with Almas missiles—an Iranian-developed anti-tank missile equipped with a camera in its warhead. These long-range, relatively accurate, TV-guided missiles do not require the operator to be in direct line of sight with the target. Israeli forces continue to conduct airstrikes to knock out Hezbollah air defense systems.

According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Israel spent an estimated $1.1 billion on nuclear weapons in 2023. ICAN ranks Israel seventh in the world in terms of investment on nuclear weapons, just above Pakistan which spent an estimated $1 billion last year and North Korea, $900 million.

News Update

One IDF soldier was killed and 16 wounded during a raid in Jenin this morning, when their armored personnel carrier was hit by a bomb planted beneath the road and then a second bomb detonated when other forces attempted to evacuate the wounded. Most of the soldiers were only lightly injured from the initial blast, while they were still inside the vehicle. The soldier killed was Cpt. Alon Sacgiu, 22, a sniper squad commander in the Kfir Brigade’s Haruv reconnaissance unit. He was part of the team that attempted to evacuate the wounded soldiers. Most of the wounded soldiers were lightly injured. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. For more, click here. 

The IDF began an operation in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood today. Yesterday, air force jets attacked Hamas terrorists operating from a school in Khan Yunis. The IDF continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

An Israeli airstrike reportedly hit a facility housing pro-Iranian militias, including Hezbollah officials, that was used as a weapons depot south of Damascus yesterday. Two people were killed in the strike.  The Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement, “Israel conducted an airstrike on several points in the southern region. Air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles and shot down some of them. The attack resulted in the deaths of two individuals, injuries to a soldier, and material damage.”

According to the latest IDF figures, 16% of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed since the start of the war. The U.N. claims the number to be 50%. Other foreign media reports it to be 70%. For more, click here. 

According to a Washington Post report, the U.S. has provided $6.5 billion in military aid to Israel since the start of the war, with half of the amount being delivered in May.

A new group called the Movement for Settlement in South Lebanon is advocating for Israeli settlement up to the Litani River and calling on Lebanese civilians in the south to evacuate. The group has over 800 members. For more, click here.

The Israel Police has deployed Chinese made speed cameras throughout Israel’s roads. The cameras have been blacklisted by many Western countries, including the U.S. For more, click here.