War Day 122 Makes It Israel’s Longest War Since 1948

War Summary, Day One Hundred and Twenty-Two: Hamas rejects proposed temporary ceasefire deal which would allow the release of some hostages, and demanded the release of more terrorists from prison, which Israel refuses.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

War Summary, Day One Hundred and Twenty-Two
Over the next few days I’ll be traveling in NY, and summaries might be shorter and/or later.

136 held captive in Gaza.
110 hostages freed.
11 hostage bodies rescued.
34 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
1,400+ Israelis murdered.
225 fallen soldiers in the battle in Gaza.
5 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
3 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
8,000 injured.
13,000 rockets fired at Israel.
187,533 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Hostage Updates:

According to unverified reports, Hamas rejected to proposed temporary ceasefire deal which would allow the release of some hostages, and demanded the release of more terrorists from prison, which Israel refuses.

There are rumors that division is sowing between the Hamas leadership in Qatar, led by Ismael Haniyah, and the leadership hiding deep under Gaza, led by Yahya Sinwar—who are more ready to accept a temporary ceasefire with less conditions.

Little is known about the current proposal, as Israeli leadership are being cautious about preventing leaks to the media. The most reliable rumors indicate that it’s a six week ceasefire with the slow release of Israeli hostages.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told his ministers that the point of reference for any exchange of terrorists for hostages would be the same as that of the first release deal—and there would not be an exchange “at all costs.”

Pressure is mounting in Netanyahu’s own party to use heavier force in Gaza as a means to release the hostages.

The US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, claims that a deal is just around the corner, and that “at this point, the progress of the deal depends on Hamas.”

Gaza Front Updates:

The last rockets fired from Gaza onto Israeli civilians were on Shabbat morning, into the Gaza Envelope communities.

Over the last three days, the IDF announced one hero who fell in battle in Gaza:
Sgt. First Class (res.) Shimon Yehoshua Asulin, 24, from Beit Shemesh

This is now Israel’s longest running war since 1948.

Small battles continue in areas around Northern Gaza, especially in Gaza City and the al-Shati neighborhood in particular. Northern Gaza is largely under IDF control, but isolated Hamas cells have been trying to retake some control.

The IDF made significant advancements in and around Khan Younis over the last three days, towards the south and west, while encircling two primary strongholds—al Qarara and al-Amal.

The troops have now began advancing into the al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Younis. This is a major Hamas stronghold, where the IDF has so far found many weapons manufacturing factories, tunnel shafts, store houses, and in one Hamas commander’s home— 3 million ILS cash. The battles in al-Amal are intense, and many Hamas terrorists were eliminated in close combat, and more by air strike or artillery fire as they were preparing to attack IDF forces.

IDF forces also advanced into al-Qadsia, a Hamas outpost and headquarters in Khan Younis which was home to Yahya Sinwar’s brother, Mohammad, who acts as a senior Hamas commander. In the outpost, the IDF found advanced training facilities, weapons manufacturing factories, a rocket depot, and many tunnel shafts, one of which lead to a large underground tunnel network.

Hamas terrorists in western Khan Younis were mostly found to be hiding in civilian shelters. Over the past several days, 120,000 Gaza civilians evacuated Khan Younis via a humanitarian corridor. The IDF used advanced technology and other methods to identify terrorists who were attempting to sneak out with the civilians, and captured around 500 of them—some of which took place in the horrific October 7th attacks.

The IDF eliminated an estimated 800 terrorists in Khan Younis thus far; 550 in battles, and 250 by air. The IDF estimates another week into Khan Younis is taken over. To date, 8 IDF soldiers fell in battle in Khan Younis.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

Israel’s Bank Leumi blocked UNRWA’s bank account access due to significant suspicion that funds were being used for terrorist purposes.

The IDF released a video of Hamas terrorists blocking Gaza civilians from receiving humanitarian aid and crossing towards the humanitarian corridor from al-Amal hospital.

Due to the the UN’s inefficiency distributing aid in Gaza, an agreement reached with the US, Egypt and the UN, that Israel’s Kerem Shalom and Nitzana crossings is closed on Shabbat. This is to allow the UN time to catch up on distributing humanitarian goods on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom and the reception on the Egyptian side of Rafah.

At the same time, 4 tankers of cooking gas designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, entered the Gaza Strip.

12 bakeries, providing 2 million pita breads a day are operational with additional ones in the planning process. 

The IDF also coordinated the repair of vital infrastructure was successfully completed. 

On Sunday, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, the IDF paused operations in A-Sheikh Muhammad al-Yamini – west, in the town of Dier al Balah, Gaza, in order to enable movement of humanitarian aid.

Northern Front Updates:

Hezbollah fire on Israeli communities dramatically picked up pace today (Sunday), to an almost nonstop rate during the daytime – but still restricted to the far north of Israel, in a zone called “the confrontation line.”

While heavy damage has been caused to civilian infrastructure, thank G-d, no casualties were reported.

In a significant move, the IDF announced that three divisions have been placed on the northern border. For comparison, at peak operations, there were four divisions inside Gaza.

The IDF Air Force also picked up pace of attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, but is also staying confined to Southern Lebanon.

Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has struck more than 150 terror cells in Lebanon, killing an estimated 200 terrorists—mostly from Hezbollah. The IDF also struck more than 3,400 Hezbollah terror sites, mostly observation posts, weapons depots, and command centers.

Defense Minister Galant gave a statement while at the Tel Nof Air Force base: “Every attack in Gaza brings us closer to dismantling Hamas and freeing the hostages, every attack in Lebanon advances us in changing the security situation on the northern border. We haven’t activated all our special capabilities yet, the noses of the planes are pointing north.”

Galant added, “The slogan I saw at the entrance to the base – ‘no place is too far’ is a very correct slogan for the Air Force and for the State of Israel. We will act in any way and we will reckon with everyone who attacked us, in order to ensure our safety and our existence.”

War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz met with the special envoy of the US President Amos Hochstein—first he expressed thanks to the US for the efforts and help they are providing. Later, he expressed that Lebanon is responsible for the terrorism that comes from its territory and that Israel will expand and deepen military activity to remove the threat unless the international community removes the threat, and this regardless of the developments in the fighting in the south.

Houthi War Front Updates:

Early Sunday morning the IDF’s Arrow aerial defense intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile on the way to Eilat. No sirens were triggered in Eilat, as the missile didn’t enter Israeli airspace.

The US and British army, carried out attacks against 36 targets of the Iranian backed Houthis in 13 different areas throughout Yemen.

According to a Reuters report: The spokesman for the Houthis, Muhammad Abdel Salam, promised that the American and British attacks against the Houthi rebels will not result in the cessation of their attempt to impose a naval blockade on Israel. “The aggression against Yemen will not achieve any goal and will only increase their problems in the region. It is not easy to destroy our military capabilities, they were rebuilt during difficult war years.”

Judea and Samaria Updates:

On Sunday, Israeli security forces arrested four wanted persons in Judea and Samaria, primarily in Shechem (Nablus), as well as Jilzon. Since the beginning of the war, approximately 3,000 wanted persons have been arrested throughout Judea and Samaria over 1,350 of whom are associated with Hamas.