War Summary, Day One Hundred and Ninety Four: Qatar may withdraw from mediation role, IRGC in Syria on edge from fear of Israel’s retaliation, and 14 soldiers were injured in Hezbollah drone strike.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
133 held captive in Gaza.
112 hostages freed.
12 hostage bodies rescued.
37 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
1,490 Israelis murdered.
260 fallen soldiers in the battle in Gaza.
6 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
4 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
11,600+ injured.
13,420 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
102,100 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Top Headlines:
- Qatar may withdraw from mediation role
- IRGC in Syria on edge
- 14 injured in Hezbollah drone strike
Hostage Updates:
As reported by Reuters, Prime Minister of Qatar Muhammad al-Thani announced that Qatar is “re-examining its position as a mediator between Israel and Gaza.” According to him, “our position is being misused by politicians for their own purposes.”
Qatar, who has been at the center of the hostage release negotiation teams together with Egypt and the USA, is also hosting Hamas leaders, and has funded Hamas with at least $1.8 billion.
Iranian Front Updates:
The Wall Street Journal reports that Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) forces in Syria are taking emergency measures out of fear of an Israeli attack. Many of the Revolutionary Guards have left their bases in Syria, and returned to Iran.
Israel has told all its partners in the region that it must and will retaliate for Iran’s attack, but hasn’t specified how, and is intentionally keeping the regime in a state of panic.
British Foreign Minister David Cameron visited Israel today, with the stated reason being to show solidarity after the Iranian attack, but likely also to appeal to Netanyahu to respond softly. In Cameron’s words: “It is clear that Israel will make a decision to act in Iran, we hope that the action will not escalate the situation in the region.”
Gaza Front Updates:
Hamas did not successfully launch any rockets at Israeli civilians today, though it appears that efforts were made.
Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce the names of any fallen soldiers in Gaza today.
In Northern Gaza, IDF troops wrapped up a targeted operation in Beit Hanoun, to remove Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists who were attempting to regroup inside two school buildings where civilians were sheltering. The troops first evacuated the civilians from the building, and then battled the terrorists who were hiding behind them—eliminating those who fired back, and arresting those who surrendered. One soldier was seriously injured in the operation. No civilians were hurt. Residents of Northern Gaza had been warned to evacuate to the south in October.
In Central Gaza, troops continued to operate on the outskirts of Nuseirat, where they eliminated numberer terrorists, and located terror infrastructure—including primed rocket launchers, which they called an airstrike to destroy.
The IDF mentioned elements of the drone battles in Gaza. In once instance the IDF used an airstrike to take out a Hamas cell who were operating an armed drone. In another instance IDF troops used a drone to eliminate an armed terrorist, and locate another. IDF troops are increasingly using drones to search areas ahead of them, and locate sources of gunfire, in and outside of buildings.
The Israeli Air Force struck over 40 terror targets in Gaza over the last day, including booby-trapped buildings, hidden rocket-launchers, structures used by terrorists as gathering points, observation points, and weapons storage sites.
Locals in Rafah reported IDF airstrikes near the border with Egypt.
Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:
342 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to Gaza today.
8 World Food Program trucks of flour entered the Gaza Strip from the Ashdod Port today.
104 pallets of approximately 25,300 meals airdropped over northern Gaza.
The UN Security Council held a special discussion on the situation of the UNRWA agency, which was established in 1949 to help Arab refugees from Israel, and is the only refugee agency that passes refugee status down through endless generations. Israel presented data and evidence of hundreds of UNRWA employees who were involved in Hamas terror activities, including some who participated in the October 7th massacre and kidnappings.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said that UNRWA teaches Palestinian children to call for the destruction of Israel, and that “it’s time to end their funding.” He emphasized that there are other UN agencies who can replace UNRWA.
Northern Front Updates:
Hezbollah fired heavily on Israeli communities along the Lebanon border today. In one instance, Hezbollah launched an Iranian Ababil 2 attack drone onto the Israeli Bedouin town of Arab al-Aramshe. The drone evaded Israel’s air defense detection, and went straight into a community center building where it injured 14 soldiers, including one seriously, and 4 civilians. An anti-tank missile attack on Metula also evaded air defenses and destroyed a home, which was fortunately evacuated.
Following the attack in Arab al-Aramshe, residents of all communities within 0-4 kilometers of the border with Lebanon were told not to gather in places that are not fortified by concrete. Most civilians have evacuated the border communities, but a large number stayed, either to take care of farms or those who cannot evacuate.
The IDF retaliated with airstrikes to launch sites and many other targets in Southern Gaza, as well as airstrikes deep into northeastern Lebanon’s Baalbek, targeting sites belonging to Hezbollah’s air defenses.
Since the beginning of the war, fire between Hezbollah and the IDF has gone through waves where an increase or heavy attack from Hezbollah is met by deeper airstrikes from the IDF, which then returns Hezbollah to decreased fire and the IDF to limiting airstrikes to Southern Lebanon. The IDF and War Cabinet have repeatedly said that the Hezbollah attacks an no longer be tolerated, and that if no diplomatic agreement is brought about, Israel will have to deal with it otherwise. It is unclear when the IDF will completely deal with Hezbollah, though some expect it to be after dismantling Hamas in Rafah, Gaza.
The IDF’s 91st “Galilee” Regional Division recently completed a significant training exercise in Northern Israel. The focus was on preparing for both defensive and offensive actions in that area. They practiced dealing with challenging terrain, harsh weather, and handling situations with multiple casualties.
Houthi War Front Updates
US Army Forces intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles in areas controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen—no injuries or damage was reported.
Judea and Samaria Updates:
Overnight, the IDF demolished the homes of the two terrorists who carried out the deadly car-ramming attack in Ranana in January, in which they killed 79-year-old Edna Bluestein and injured 17 others. It is IDF policy to demolish homes of Palestinians who carry out deadly terror attacks.
Throughout Judea and Samaria the IDF arrested six wanted persons for their activities with terror groups. Since October 7, IDF troops and Border Police have arrested around 3,850 wanted Palestinians throughout Judea and Samaria, of which more than 1,650 were affiliated with Hamas, and the remainder with various other terror groups.
International Updates:
The American House of Representatives decided that the chant “From the River to the Sea” is defined as an antisemitic statement and a call for the destruction of the State of Israel.
General Updates:
A five year plan via the Tekuma administration was unanimously approved by the government today. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will invest a very large sum of 19 billion ILS to boost the communities surrounding Gaza for generations. We will invest in housing, infrastructure, education, employment, medicine and more. The Hamas terrorists wanted to uproot us – we will uproot them and deepen our roots. We will build the Land of Israel and protect our country.”
This update is sponsored by Anonymous, in honor of Bruria and Mendy, thank you for the opportunity to join in the work you are doing in supporting our soldiers.
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