War Day 230: Attacks from Iraq, Israel Has ‘Planned Surprises’

War Summary, Day Two Hundred and Thirty: Negotiations may reopen, Beit Hanoun commander eliminated, a large expansion in Rafah operation, Netanyahu says that Israel has planned surprises up ahead, attacks from Iraq, and the operation in Jenin was completed.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

128 held captive in Gaza.
41 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
112 hostages freed.
16 hostage bodies rescued.
1,523 Israelis killed.
285 fallen soldiers in the battle in Gaza.
14 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
5 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
14,000 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
90,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

• Negotiations may reopen
• Beit Hanoun commander eliminated
• Large expansion in Rafah
• Netanyahu says that Israel has planned surprises up ahead
• Attacks from Iraq
• Operation in Jenin completed

Hostage Updates:

According to a report in Israel HaYom, Egypt is “checking the pulses” to reopen new negotiations.
In Israel, The Prime Minister’s Office announced that the War Cabinet ordered the negotiation team to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages.

Following yesterday’s release of the video of the female observers being taken hostage by Hamas, the IDF Spokesman issued a statement to the foreign media, and said: “Hamas is holding our hostages in Rafah, our forces are focused there.”

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas fired twice at the Rafah Crossing and nearby community, and at communities on the outskirts of Ofakim. No physical injuries were reported.

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

Four divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 98th Division in Northern Gaza’s Jabaliya, the Gaza Division in Beit Hanoun and other pinpoint areas, the 99th Division along the Netzarim Corridor and Central Gaza, the 162nd Division in Rafah.

Intensity is beginning to wind down in Jabaliya, where IDF troops are finding Hamas weapons, destroying Hamas infrastructure, and continuing to find and eliminate terrorists. In a special operation, troops eliminated the commander of the Beit Hanoun Battalion, while he was hiding in a tunnel in Jabaliya.

In Beit Hanoun, the IDF announced that one brigade, which includes the Netzach Yehuda battalion, have been carrying out a new pinpoint operation in recent days. The IDF has carried out many operations in Beit Hanoun over the last months. In the operation, troops are searching for and destroying Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels, with wide success. Troops also located and eliminated several terrorists, in one incident calling an airstrike to destroy a building from which a Hamas terrorist was shooting.

In Central lGaza, troops continue to operate along the Netzarim Corridor, and come under Hamas attack from all sides. The IDF also carried out several airstrikes in the area, eliminating number of terrorists, including one who participated in the October 7th massacre

The IDF is continuing to advance in Rafah, in the Brazil and Shaboura neighborhoods. Troops are finding a very large number of tunnels and tunnel shafts, of all sizes and lengths. There have been a few incidents of troops spotting and eliminating terrorists as they pop out of hidden tunnels, and also attacks directed at troops from the hidden tunnels. In a first outright hint to findings, the IDF says that the Givati soldiers located a number of “significant underground” sites used by the terror groups.

In addition to tunnel findings, troops have been finding and destroying weapons, rocket and mortar launchers, and terror squads. In the Eastern part of Rafah today, troops found missiles and rocket launchers in a graveyard.

Israel is expected to soon deploy even more forces into Rafah. Defense Minister Yoav Galant said: “We are strengthening our effort against Rafah, this operation will continue on and increase, with more forces on the ground, more forces from the air, and we will reach our goals: to cause a very hard blow to Hamas, to deprive it of its military capabilities, and to create the conditions to return the hostages to their homes.”

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

On Wednesday May 22:

298 aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip
17 trucks of aid were transferred into Gaza, through the JLOTS temporary floating pier
A total of 66 trucks were transferred to northern Gaza via Erez West Crossing
2 tankers of fuel designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, entered Gaza

Northern Front Updates:

Hezbollah fired many rockets, anti-tank missiles, and drones at Israel’s far north today, including barrages of 30. A home in Metula and a home in Shtula were directly hit by missiles. Attacks that landed in empty areas caused at least three fires—in the Hula Valley reserve, in the Beit Hillel area, and the Ayelet Hashachar area.

The IDF carried out several airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon. A targeted airstrike on a vehicle eliminated Nasser Farran, a prominent Hezbollah member who was responsible for the acquisition and manufacturing of weapons.

In a visit to the Northern Command, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel has surprises up ahead: “We are constantly operating on the northern front. So far we have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah operatives, and the hand is still bent—even today. I just received an overview from the commander of the Northern Command, and I also spoke with the division commanders. We have detailed plans which are important, even surprising. But I don’t share these plans with the enemy. The plans are designed to do two things: a) to restore security to the north, and secondly – to return the residents safely to their homes. We are determined to achieve both things together.”

Houthi & Iraqi War Front Updates

The Iranian-back militia in Iraq launched two attack drones towards Eilat. Both were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force before entering Israeli airspace, and no sirens were triggered in Eilat.

Judea and Samaria Updates:

IDF forces completed a 40-hour-long counterterrorism operation in Jenin. In one incident during the operation, an armed terror squad was seen firing at the troops. The soldiers, with the assistance of a drone for guidance, chased after the terrorists, who fled in a vehicle towards the hospital, and then ran inside, leaving their weapons in the car. Troops broke into the car and confiscated the weapons and ammunition. The terrorists used the hospital as a safe space to hide.

International Updates:

After their announcements to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian State, Israel’s Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of Spain, Norway and Ireland, and had them watch the entire, unedited, video of the female observer soldiers being taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.

At Israeli embassy reception, US Speaker of the House Johnson announced that Netanyahu will be addressing a joint session of Congress. “This will be a timely and I think a very strong show of support to the Israeli government in their time of greatest need,” he said.

This update is sponsored in honor of Yosef Yiftach on his recent engagement to Nitzeves Freeman. Huge Mazal tov from a teacher in YOEC

Attack drones from Iranian-backed militia in Iraq were intercepted outside Eilat

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A Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack set a fire between Beit Hillel and Kiryat Shemona