War Summary, Day 538: Mixed messages about possibility of hostage deal and new proposals, targeted eliminations in Gaza, 25-barrel rocket launcher found in Rafah, UAE attempting to negotiate between U.S. and Egypt over relocation plan, IDF more proactive arresting stone throwers, three targeted strikes against Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, senior terrorist eliminated, Iran respond’s to Trump’s letter, U.S. in position to attack Iran, $2 billion in aid to Qatar, and new IDF Spokesman.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,828 Israelis killed.
413 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,695 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
50,000 Israelis estimated displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Top Headlines:
– Mixed messages about possibility of hostage deal, new proposals
– Targeted eliminations in Gaza
– 25-barrel rocket launcher found in Rafah
– UAE attempting to negotiate between U.S. and Egypt over relocation plan
– IDF more proactive arresting stone throwers
– Three targeted strikes against Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, senior terrorist eliminated
– Iran respond’s to Trump’s letter
– U.S. in position to attack Iran
– $2 billion in aid to Qatar
– New IDF Spokesman
Hostages:
Senior Hamas official, Suhail al-Hindi, told Arab media that “serious dialogues are still continuing with the mediators at this time. We hope they will lead to a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, aid, rehabilitation, and a real deal.”
News 12 reported rumors about a new hostage deal, being promoted by the US and Qatar. In this deal, Hamas frees American hostage Idan Alexander, in exchange for a promise that US President Trump will make a statement on the need to renew negotiations & secure a ceasefire. Israel was not involved in drafting this proposal.
Meanwhile, an Israeli source told Israel Hayom that there is no new proposal. (Remember: easier Israel said that it would now only agree to the Witkoff framework).
The parents of hostage Alon Ohel requested of Prime Minister Netanyahu: “We heard first-person testimony, his life is in danger. Hamas blatantly lied, did not release all the wounded humanitarians, thereby violating Phase A of the agreement. We demand that any renewal of humanitarian and medical aid to the Gaza Strip be conditional on the hostages leaving the Hamas tunnels and receiving open and supervised medical treatment that will save their lives.”
Gaza:
While ground operations remain limited, the IDF is continuing with heavy targeted airstrikes, taking out Hamas leadership.
The IDF confirmed the assassination of Hamas spokesman, Abdel Latif al-Kanoa. Al-Kanoa is accused of being a main instigator of Hamas, who for years used his microphone to incite violence and hatred. Saudi media reports that another important Hamas official was eliminated this morning—the liaison between Hamas’s intelligence and security agencies. The IDF has not yet confirmed.
In the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, troops found a rocket launcher with 25 barrels, capable of sending large barrages all at once. The launcher was well hidden in the ground, camouflaged in sand.
The Institute for National Security Studies notes that since the beginning of the war, the IDF has eliminated approximately 17,000 terrorists in Gaza, hit approximately 90% of Hamas’s rocket array, and destroyed approximately 40% of the tunnel network. So far, eight Hamas commanders at the brigade commander level, 30 at the battalion commander level, and 165 at the company commander level have been eliminated.
The anti-Hamas protests in Gaza continued today, and are gearing up for a “Friday of rage” at Hamas. However, the civilians who claim they don’t want war, and don’t want Hamas, have barely been evacuating from the places where the IDF issued warnings for—and are essentially continuing to act as human shields for Hamas.
Kann News reports: The United Arab Emirates is mediating between the United States and Egypt to convince Egypt to agree to a plan for evacuating Gaza residents. In return, Egypt would receive economic aid and a diplomatic agreement that would guarantee Egypt’s minimum requirements: Palestinian factions would remain within the Gaza Strip, and the Strip would not be completely emptied of its residents. In other words, that terrorism in Gaza lives to see another day.
Judea & Samaria:
Over the last week, in a series of counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, the IDF arrested 80 wanted terrorists, eliminated two in battle, and confiscated dozens of dangerous weapons, including weapons, explosives, ammunition, and additional combat equipment.
In a proactive operation, troops located and arrested three terrorists who regular threw large stones at cars being driven by Jews on Highway 60.
Lebanon:
Overnight, a targeted airstrike in Southern Lebanon eliminated terrorist Ahmed Adnan in-Jija, a battalion commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. In-Jija directed numerous attacks against Israel during the war, and continued to plan attacks even during the ceasefire.
In two daytime strikes, the IDF eliminated several Hezbollah terrorists who were operating and transporting weapons in Southern Lebanon, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Yemen:
Around 1:30 p.m., the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles at central Israel. Sirens were activated in large areas, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, sending millions to shelter, while children were still in school.
The missiles were intercepted before entering Israeli territory.
The U.S. is still heavily bombing Houthi targets in Yemen, in order to clear the seas for safe transport. Many of these strikes are planned based on Israeli intelligence, from sources on ground.
According to a report in the Qatari news outlet, Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, a Houthi delegation visited Cairo yesterday and met with senior Egyptian intelligence officials. During the visit, American messages were conveyed to the Houthis, in an attempt to end the military escalation.
Iran:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that Iran sent its answer to Trump’s letter demanding nuclear talks. The answer to Trump’s letter to Khamenei was sent through Oman. Araqchi said Iran won’t talk directly with the US so long as Trump upholds the maximum pressure policy, but is willing to keep talking through other countries. Mideast analysts are doubtful that an agreement can be made with such distrust, and within Trump’s two-month deadline.
A U.S. official confirmed that the presence of the B-2 bombers in Diego Garcia are tied to Trump’s two-month ultimatum for Iran. The B-2 bombers are the only military planes able to carry the heavy bunker-sister bombs that are capable of destroying Iran’s underground nuclear factories. Both the U.S. and Israel now appear to have everything in place to attack.
Other:
The U.S. State Department has approved a $2 billion sale of advanced military equipment to Qatar.
The IDF announced a new position in the military service: drone technicians, in the Technology and Maintenance Corps. over the course of the war, drones were gradually integrated into the regular IDF strategy, to the point that every platoon and team now has a done on hand to search ahead of them. For the first year, these drones were mostly donated by civilians (including hundreds from our team of readers!), now the IDF provides them to most platoons. Since the drones frequently get broken, a designated position has been made to repair them, just like the technicians who repair tanks and bulldozers.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin formerly took over as the new IDF spokesman, replacing Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, who served in the role for the past two years. Defrin says he aims to do “everything to strengthen the public trust in the IDF.”
Sponsored in honor of the shloshim for Reuven Yaacov Ben Esther Chana Lipkind.