War Day 247: Journalist Held Hostage in Home, Army Winning in Gaza

War Summary, Day Two Hundred and Forty Seven: Al-Jazeera contributor held hostages in his home, IDF says army is winning in Gaza, 900 trucks of aid still waiting for UN organizations in Gaza, Hezbollah continues with escalated attacks, and a large number of Houthi attacks at sea.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

120 held captive in Gaza.
45 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
116 hostages freed.
19 hostage bodies rescued.
1,541 Israelis killed.
296 fallen soldiers in the battle in Gaza.
15 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
7 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
14,400 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
90,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

• Al-Jazeera contributor held hostages in his home
• IDF says army is winning in Gaza
• 900 trucks of aid still waiting for UN organizations in Gaza
• Hezbollah continues with escalated attacks
• Large number of Houthi attacks at sea

Hostage Updates:

After Rami Abdu, head of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, accused the IDF of killing a journalist in his home in Nuseirat, the IDF confirmed that Abdallah Aljamal, who wrote for the Palestinian Chronicle and Al Jazeera, was holding three hostages in his home. Aljamal was assisted by his father, who was a doctor, and had his family in the apartment too, as human shields. Aljamal was also a former spokesperson for Hamas. Troops eliminated Aljamal when they broke into his apartment to rescue Almog, Andrei, and Shlomi.

The news of the IDF rescue of four hostages from Hamas was met with congratulations from various western countries, and condemnation from Hamas allies. Amongst the morally confused, was Joseph Borrell Fontelles, EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who initially expressed that “we share the relief of their families and call for the release of all the remaining hostages.” Then followed with “Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling. We condemn this in the strongest terms. The bloodbath must end immediately. POTUS [President of the United State’s] 3-stage plan is the way forward for an enduring ceasefire, and to end the killing.”

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in continued efforts to push for a hostage-ceasefire deal, again stated: “The cease-fire proposal that Biden talked about will lead to the release of all the hostages and aid to Gaza. The only thing stopping us from reaching a cease-fire is Hamas. It’s time for them to accept the deal.”

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas fired rockets at Holit and Sufa, both communities on the border of Southern Gaza, near Rafah.

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

Four divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 98th in al-Bureij and Deir al-Balah, the 99th Division along the Netzarim Corridor, and in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City; The Gaza Division in various areas in Gaza on pinpoint operations in areas such as Beit Hanoun and the buffer zone; and the 162nd Division in Rafah and along the Philadelphi Corridor.

The IDF carried of numerous airstrikes across Gaza, including against a mortar launcher which was located and being used from inside the Islamic University in southern Gaza City, to fire at IDF soldiers in the Netzarim Corridor. Another airstrike eliminated a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) field commander, and others destroyed Hamas infrastructure, including tunnel shafts, rocket launchers, and weapons caches.

Troops are still active in east al-Bureij and east Deir al-Balah, where they’re systematically destroying Hamas infrastructure and eliminating terrorists.

Along the Netzarim Corridor, troops continue to face down attacks from Hamas, and have eliminated several terrorists who fired at IDF positions.

Advances continue in Rafah, where troops are acting based on intelligence information to locate Hamas tunnels, weapons, and rocket launchers. The IDF currently has 5 brigades in Rafah, and would typically have more at this point in a maneuver to clear and hold a city, but is instead acting in a limited manner, in order to meet demands from the Biden administration for a “limited operation.” This means that some areas are being cleared, but not held afterwards, due to a shortage of manpower. Still, troops in the city report great success, and optimism that Hamas has been cut off from their lifeline to Egypt.

In a briefing to the government cabinet, IDF officials emphasized that the army is winning in Gaza, and it doesn’t make sense that anyone is trying to present facts as otherwise.

Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld, Commander of the Gaza Division, handed a letter of resignation to the IDF Chief of Staff, writing that “on October 7, I failed in my life’s mission to protect the [Gaza border communities].” He will remain in his position until a replacement is appointed.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

On Sunday, June 9:

167 humanitarian aid trucks were transferred to Gaza.
A truck convoy entered via “Gate 96”, directly to northern Gaza.
8 tankers of fuel and 4 tankers of cooking gas were transferred to Gaza.
Close to 4 ton of food aid were airdropped over Gaza.

The content of over 900 aid trucks is currently waiting on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom to be picked up and distributed by aid agencies.

An American official told Israel Hayom that humanitarian aid was transferred into the Gaza Strip using the JLOTS pier built by the US Army near the coast of Central Gaza, after it was repaired from damage done by strong winds. According to the official, about 500 thousand kg of humanitarian aid was transferred to the Gaza Strip through the pier on Shabbat.

Northern Front Updates:

Hezbollah continued heavy fire on Israel’s north, with barrages of up to 40 rockets at a time, and sirens setting off in several communities which weren’t evacuated, including as far is the Kiryot area, just north of Haifa. Several wild fires were started by drones and rockets in the Northern Golan Heights, Upper Galilee, Metula, and Misgav Am.

The IDF responded with airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon, and targeted a few Hezbollah terror cells. Hezbollah announced the 335th terrorist of their ranks eliminated by the IDF (though the IDF estimates the number to be much higher).

Hezbollah has successfully widened their “area of operation” without consequences, mostly due to the pressures of ongoing hostage-ceasefire negotiations.

In a briefing to the government cabinet, IDF officials stated that the army is ready for a war on the northern front, but are waiting for instructions from the political level.

Houthi & Iraqi War Front Updates

The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) reported that a vessel is on fire after being hit by a missile about 130 km southwest of the Gulf of Aden. There are no casualties in the incident. Not long after thus report, the Houthis claimed to have attacked a British destroyer in the Red Sea.

The US Central Command reports that on June 9th alone, the Iranian-backed Houthis attacked 5 ships, of which the US forces intercepted three, and two hits were made—one on a Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container ship, and one on an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, German-owned cargo ship.

No damage or injuries were reported in any attack, and no confirmation of a British destroyer hit.

General Updates:

Chairman of the National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, announced that he and his party will be resigning from the unity government and War Cabinet, amid frustrations with PM Netanyahu’s handling of the war, and called for elections. Gantz, a long-time rival of Netanyahu, along with party members Gadi Eisenkot and Chili Tropper, had joined the unity government in an emergency move just days after October 7th. Gantz had previously given Netanyahu an ultimatum to present goals and timelines for the war, including a day-after plan for Gaza, and a plan for Hezbollah in the north. Netanyahu and other coalition members appealed to Gantz not to leave the unity government now, at a time when he is needed.

Gantz’s departure from the unity government means that Netanyahu is dependent on the votes of all coalition members, including the Religious Zionist parties who don’t agree with the negotiations with Hamas. It also means an increase in protests against the government, in an effort to bring about elections. This may lead to stronger division between people in Israel at a time when unity is extremely important.

Celebrations were filmed in Gaza after Gantz’s announcement.