War Summary, Day One Hundred and Ninety Five: Early reports of retaliatory strikes on IRGC targets in Syria, Iraq, and Iran, Iran brings back spy ship, tunnels connecting Central and Northern Gaza found and destroyed, significant preparations underway for Rafah, and the U.S. vetoes Palestinian membership in the UN.
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:
- Early reports of retaliatory strikes on IRGC targets in Syria, Iraq, and Iran
- Iran returns spy ship
- Tunnels connecting Central and Northern Gaza found and destroyed
- Significant preparations underway for Rafah
- Direct hit on a boutique hotel in the north
- Two terror attacks prevented
- U.S. vetoes Palestinian membership in the UN
Hostage Updates:
There are no ongoing negotiations, after Hamas refuses to settle for anything less than a complete ceasefire and IDF withdrawal, and will only guarantee the return of 20 hostages alive, without naming who they are.
Iranian Front Updates:
In the early hours of Friday morning (after I finished writing all this), an airstrike hit a military base near Isfahan in Iran. The NYT cites two sources the Israeli military confirming that the IDF was behind the attack. Attacks were reported on IRGC sites in Syria and Iraq at the same time. Early reports indicate that the attacks may be on drone manufacturing or storage sites.
Reports indicate that the attack may have come from Kurdish Iran, where the Mossad has been active for decades.
Retired Israeli general, Israel Ziv says the goals of the operation are:
1) To show Iran that Israel can get around all of its defenses with ease.
2) To show it wants to retaliate. Not escalate.
(As reported by Shaiel Ben-Ephraim)
Iran is walking back their earlier words, and denying that hits were made, while claiming that their air defenses intercepted whatever it was. Iranian airspace had been closed.
Today is the birthday of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khameini.
There are no changes to Home Front Command directives in Israel. The U.S. Embassy told American diplomats to stay put in their cities of residence—either Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Be’er Sheva, until further notice.
The U.S. was not involved in the attack, but was given advance warning by Israel.
Iran has been on edge about potential attacks. After returning many senior IRGC commanders from Syria, yesterday Iran also returned a ship called the Behshad, which is suspected to be a spy ship assisting the Houthis, and has been in the Red Sea since 2021.
The U.S. continues to pursue a diplomatic response, in an attempt to avoid escalation, and is encouraging countries to impose sanctions on Iran. The US announced that it will impose sanctions targeting leaders and entities linked to the IRGC.
The finance ministers of the G7 countries agreed to act in coordination to restrict Iran’s ability to “acquire, manufacture and transfer weapons as part of its actions to destabilize the region.”
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Mike Herzog, said in an interview on Fox News that “Defense is not enough to create deterrence—we must push back. If we don’t respond to Iran now, in a few years we will see nuclear warheads on Iranian ballistic missiles.’
Gaza Front Updates:
Hamas fired rockets at Israeli civilians twice today, once on the communities bordering Gaza, and once at Ashkelon. In Ashkelon, the rocket landed in an empty space, and injuries were reported. The rockets appear to have been fired from Northern Gaza, by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce the names of any fallen soldiers in Gaza today.
The IDF is continuing with pinpoint operations in the north of Gaza, where Hamas no longer functions as an organized military, but has small cells of holdouts scattered and hidden in various areas. The IDF is using intelligence from captured terrorists, as well as drones and other means, to locate the terrorists.
An airstrike in Beit Hanoun earlier this week was revealed to have eliminated Yousef Sabat who was the head of interrogations in Hamas’s internal security as well as an officer in in Hamas’s intelligence wing. Another airstrike on a vehicle eliminated a cell of 10 Hamas terrorists. The IDF is also using Intelligence to locate terror infrastructure and launch sites in Northern Gaza, such as a mortar launch site which they destroyed today in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City.
The IDF announced the completion of an operation in the outskirts of Nuseirat, Central Gaza. During the operation, the IDF expanded the Netzarim corridor southwards, eliminated 40 terrorists, and destroyed more than 100 sites belonging to Hamas. The primary target in the operation was a tunnel network which lead from the outskirts of Nuseirat into Gaza City, and was allowing terrorists to rearm and return to the north of Gaza (it’s possible that the IDF learned about the tunnel from terrorists who were captured in Shifa Hospital during the recent raid). A total of 17 tunnel shafts were destroyed.
The only troops permanently in Gaza now are the Nachal Brigade, who are operating along the Netzarim corridor which separates the north and south of Gaza. They’ll soon be replaced by a reserve brigade, and be given time to rest and prepare for future offensives—likely in Rafah. The troops eliminated over a thousand terrorists just along the corridor.
According to a report on Axios, Israel and the US will hold an online meeting on Thursday, with the participation of high-ranking officials, to discuss the ground maneuver in Rafah. The IDF has in the meantime begun preparations, and appears to have moved many tanks an armored vehicles towards the border from where they’ll enter to Rafah. The first step will likely be to divide the city into zones, and begin evacuation of civilians.
After completing extreme fortifications along their borders with Gaza, and increasing troops in the area, Egypt has reportedly somewhat softened their position, which was previously vehemently against IDF entry into Rafah.
Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has found a total of NIS 29 million ($7.6 million) cash in various Hamas hiding spots. The Ministry of Defense today announced that they forfeited the money to the Bank of Israel.
Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:
342 aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza strip, yesterday, 97 of which contained food, and 9 of which contained flour.
Airdrops: 104 pallets containing tens of thousands of packages of aid were airdropped into northern Gaza yesterday.
A total of 90 trucks entered northern Gaza.
4 tankers of cooking gas and 4 tankers of fuel designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, entered Gaza.
More than 24 bakeries are currently operational in Gaza, providing over 3 million breads, rolls, and pita breads daily.
Gazans in the north of the Gaza Strip have been sharing on social media that as of late, they have been receiving fresh chicken, meat, and eggs, and share photos of barbecues and baking cookies. Northern Gaza is the area which aid previously had the hardest time reaching—residents of the area were warned strongly to evacuate over six months ago, and have a safe route of a 90 minute walk to Central Gaza.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today accused Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich of refusing to pass a budget which is needed in order to further increase aid to Gaza, which Gallant says is necessary in order to continue operations. In similar instances in the past, Smotrich has asked for further details and assurances that the budget/supplies won’t assist Hamas, before allowing it to move forward.
Northern Front Updates:
Hezbollah fired heavily, with both attack drones and anti-tank missiles on Israeli communities bordering Lebanon. A direct hit was made on a boutique hotel in Yiron, causing a fire. The anti-tank missile evaded air-defense systems, and there was no warning siren. Thank G-d the hotel was empty, and no injuries were reported.
The IDF retaliated with airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, and used drones to track and eliminate several Hezbollah terrorists.
Hezbollah announced a total of 282 terrorists eliminated since the beginning of the war; the IDF estimates the number to be higher.
When asked by municipality heads of evacuated communities along the Lebanon border, Major General Uri Gordin, who is the commander of the Northern Command, said he “understands the importance of returning home in the summer and starting the school year back in the north, but cannot commit.”
According to media in Lebanon (Al-Akhbar news), UNIFIL forces began to take moves to prepare for a possible larger-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah sources also claim that UNIFIL are assisting the IDF with information about Hezbollah positions.
Judea and Samaria Updates:
Border Police officers apprehended a Palestinian man reportedly linked to the Islamic State jihadist group, who intended to execute a terror attack soon. The arrest took place in Beitunia, near Ramallah, based on information from the Shin Bet. The suspect tried to escape upon the officers’ arrival at his residence and was caught while attempting to seize an officer’s firearm. He has been transferred to the Shin Bet for additional questioning.
Another terrorist was arrested with a knife near Bruchin, also on his way to carry out a terror attack.
The IDF are currently on a large scale operation in Nur Shams, near Tulkarm, where exchanges of fire are reported.
International Updates:
After the Palestinian Authority filed a resolution to be admitted as a member of the United Nations, the UN Security Council passed a vote on Thursday night, in which 12 countries voted in favor—which would have been enough to pass it—but the U.S. vetoed it.
In the discussion ahead of the vote, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said, “Does anyone really believe that the Palestinians meet this criterion? Have you heard a Palestinian leader condemning the massacre? The PA does not really have control over Gaza. You all know that. But even in Judea and Samaria, entire neighborhoods and cities are controlled by other terrorist gangs, and the Palestinian Authority, ironically, has no authority. So who does the council vote to “recognize” and give full membership status to? Hamas in Gaza? The Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Nablus? Who exactly?’
This update is sponsored by the Yulzari Family: Thank you Bruria so much for your dedication and time in bringing us these current and honest updates and opportunities to contribute to our beloved Israel🇮🇱❤ Love, The Yulzari Family
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