War Day 188: No Sirens All Day, UN Failing to Deliver Aid

War Summary, Day One Hundred and Eighty Eight: There were no reported missiles from Hezbollah today, in an eerie quiet—the first since the war began, the content of 600 aid trucks is waiting to be collected by the UN on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom, and Mossad and IDF approve plans in case of attack from Iran.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

War Summary, Day One Hundred and Eighty Eight:

133 held captive in Gaza.
112 hostages freed.
12 hostage bodies rescued.
37 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
1,489 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.
13,200 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
102,100 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

• No sirens in Israel today, in first since October 6th
• Sinwar is hoping Iran joins in
• Mossad and IDF approve plans in case of attack from Iran
• Head of US Central Command visits Israel to discuss Iranian threat
• Hamas money man eliminated in Rafah
• UN failing to deliver aid in Gaza

Hostage Updates:

Hamas has still not agreed to any proposal, including one which would exchange 40 hostages who are women, children, elderly, and ill, in exchange for 900 Palestinian terrorists who are in prison, many of them for murder, during a 42-day truce.

According to Israel’s Channel 12 news, Israel believes that Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is holding off in hopes that Iran will attack Israel, and spark the wider conflict he tried to provoke on October 7th.

In an interview, Hamas’s political leader, who lives in Qatar, said, “Without meeting our conditions, which are a permanent ceasefire and the unconditional return of the displaced, Hamas will not enter into any deal.”

Preparations for Iranian Response:

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari reassured Israelis that there are no changes to Homefront Command instructions, although everyone should remain vigilant. If there are any changes, the spokesperson will announce it immediately. Hagari also emphasized that Israel is ready, and with strong air defense.

Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), arrived in Israel this morning for an assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on the security challenges in the region. Later, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote: “I spoke to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to reiterate ironclad U.S. support for Israel’s defense in the face of growing threats from Iran and its regional proxies. Israel can count on full U.S. support to defend Israel.”

Officials in the American administration told Politico that Iran plans to launch a “larger than usual” operation against Israel, but not one that would lead the United States to respond to it, and Washington to enter a regional war. According to the source, the attack will include firing missiles and attack drones. Reuters reported similar, and added that the administration is in contact with partners in the Middle East in order to reduce the chances of escalation in the region. The US also restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travel outside of the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas (these areas are the main hubs of diplomatic activity).

Israel Hayom reported that the IDF and Mossad have approved a plan to attack Iran in response, in case of an attack.

Late Thursday night, Iranians reported a “mysterious” large explosion in an area southwest of Tehran, in one of the warehouses or factories that produce chemical solvents. 

Friday is the last day of school before Pesach (Passover) break, and many teachers recommended that their students bring their books home, in case of a return to online school, as was in the first two months of the war.

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas did not successfully launch any rockets onto Israeli civilians today.

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes today.

In Northern Gaza, IDF troops carried out a quiet pinpoint operation in Shejaiya, Gaza City, over the last few days. During the operation, troops eliminated a large number of Hamas terrorists and located and destroyed Hamas infrastructure. Palestinians in Gaza report that the Hamas commander of the Jabaliya police force was eliminated in an airstrike.

In Central Gaza, IDF troops entered Nuseirat for the first time during the war, in an overnight targeted operation. The operation was based on detailed intelligence on terror infrastructure in the area, and the ground-entry was preempted by dozens of airstrikes against Hamas targets, including tunnel infrastructure. During the operation, troops eliminated several terrorists—including one as he popped out of a previously unknown tunnel, and located rocket launchers.

In Southern Gaza’s Rafah, the Shin Bet and IDF coordinated an airstrike to eliminate Nasser Yaqub Jaber Nasser, who was responsible for funding much of Hamas’s military activity in Rafah, and aided in the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars for Hamas in recent months.

In Khan Younis, where the IDF withdrew forces, many residents have returned, and even begun to clear the rubble off of major roads. The IDF facilitated water teams from the Palestinian Authority to repair water lines where damaged, even in Gaza City. With the IDF facilitating more aid to these areas, and allowing repairs to begin, military analysts are suspecting that this is part of an effort to entice civilians out of Rafah ahead of a ground maneuver.

Since almost all tunnels have been destroyed in Khan Younis and Gaza City, the few remaining Hamas members are now forced to operate overground, which makes it easier for the IDF to track them with drones and hidden cameras, and follow them to remaining infrastructure or terrorist hideouts. The fact that Ismael Haniyeh’s own sons were eliminated above ground is seen as evidence to this lack of tunnels.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

The content of 600 aid trucks is waiting to be collected by the UN on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom, in a way that is preventing the transfer of additional trucks.

298 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip yesterday (Apr. 10). 61 aid trucks were distributed within Gaza, 29 of which contained food.
340 aid packages containing hundreds of thousands of meals were airdropped over Gaza yesterday, in conjunction with Egypt, the UAE and Jordan (Apr. 10).
17 trucks carrying food aid from the private sector were coordinated to northern Gaza, of which 11 trucks from the World Food Program were coordinated through crossing 96 directly to northern Gaza. 
4 tankers of cooking gas designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, entered the Gaza Strip yesterday (Apr. 10).
21 bakeries are operational in Gaza, providing over 2 million breads, rolls, and pita breads a day for the local population.

Northern Front Updates:

There were no reported missiles from Hezbollah today, in an eerie quiet—the first since the war began.

Israel hit Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon, including a building in which Hezbollah terrorists were hiding, and preemptively shelled Hezbollah firing positions along the border.

Houthi War Front Updates:

The US Army’s Central Command announced that they managed to shoot down three drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen over the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In addition, the forces also destroyed eight drones in areas controlled by the Houthis. 

Late Thursday night, the British Maritime Security Company received information that a ship was attacked southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen.

Judea and Samaria Updates:

Israeli security forces arrested six wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria overnight, for their association with terror groups. The troops confiscated many weapons, including an M-16 rifle, a gun and other weapons which may have been smuggled in from Jordan, as well as incendiary materials and military equipment, all which show intent to carry out terror attacks.