War Summary, Day 652: Notable issues in hostage-ceasefire negotiations, continued rocket fire from Hamas, significant eliminations in Gaza, IDF progress in Gaza City, Hamas’s false claims regarding IDF actions at GHF sites, a Houthi missile targeting central Israel, 70 arrests in Judea & Samaria, thwarted terror attacks, four terrorists removed in Lebanon, and Islamist groups in Syria persisting in attacks on the Druze.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
In Gaza, 50 individuals remain captive, with 28 confirmed murdered. 148 hostages have been rescued alive, and 57 bodies have been retrieved. A total of 1,910 Israelis have lost their lives, including 454 soldiers and police in the Gaza conflict, 88 soldiers in Northern Israel, and 18 in Judea & Samaria. An estimated 32,355 projectiles have been fired at Israel. A united Jewish nation continues to engage in prayer, charity, and positive actions.
Critical Updates:
– Disagreements in hostage-ceasefire negotiations
– Ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas
– Major eliminations in Gaza
– IDF advances in Gaza City
– False claims by Hamas regarding IDF actions
– Houthi missile launch towards central Israel
– 70 arrests in Judea & Samaria, with terror plots foiled
– Elimination of four terrorists in Lebanon
– Continued atrocities against Druze by Islamist factions in Syria
Hostage Situation:
Former President Trump maintains that a deal for hostages and ceasefire could be finalized imminently. Israel is utilizing a small negotiation team in Qatar while deliberating on sending a larger, more potent team.
Reports from unnamed sources abound, necessitating caution as past agreements have demonstrated the need for skepticism. Current discussions may involve:
– A 60-day ceasefire with IDF pullback
– The release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased, without Hamas ceremonies
– Eight living hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, with two on the 50th day
– Bodies released over three dates during the 60-day ceasefire
– A substantial number of terrorists freed in exchange for hostages
– Daily delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza
– U.S. guarantees for continued ceasefire post-60 days based on negotiation progress
– No assurances for the remaining alive hostages, with at least 10 still unaccounted for.
Conditions in Gaza:
Hamas persists in launching short-range rockets at Israeli border communities. Recent attacks include two intercepted rockets targeting Sderot and intercepted fire over Netiv HaAsara. Residents have only 10-15 seconds to reach shelter.
Recently, the IDF conducted numerous targeted strikes, resulting in significant figures in Hamas being eliminated, greatly impacting their internal governance and military capacity.
Humanitarian Situations:
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distributed over 1.5 million meals recently, totaling 80 million meals to date, without enabling Hamas profit. However, reports from multiple media outlets falsely claimed that IDF actions killed 26 Gazans heading to GHF sites, which IDF investigations disputed.
Despite challenges, the Israeli military continues to support humanitarian efforts while combating terrorism in parallel, maintaining a focus on the safety of civilians and operational mandates.
Situations in the Region:
In Yemen, a missile launched by Iranian-backed Houthis triggered sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, but it was successfully intercepted. In Judea & Samaria, Israeli security forces apprehended 70 wanted terrorists and neutralized various attacks, showcasing operational success.
In Lebanon, since Thursday, four Hezbollah members have been eliminated, indicating a continued struggle against ceasefire violations. Concurrently, the situation in Syria remains dire for the Druze community, with ongoing violence necessitating international plea for intervention and humanitarian aid.
This update is sponsored by anonymous supporters in recognition of Bruria’s dedicated efforts and in celebration of Rabbi Yossi Baitelman’s birthday.
