War Day 303: Smuggle Highway to Egypt Found, Two Stabbed in Cholon

War Summary, Day 303: Troops find massive smuggling tunnel in Rafah with drivable highway to Egypt, two killed in terror attack stabbing in Cholon, and Israel says it’s prepared to respond harshly to enemy attacks.

War Summary, Day 303:

115 held captive in Gaza.
41 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
116 living hostages rescued.
24 hostage bodies rescued.
1,615 Israelis killed.
331 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
19 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
9 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
20,500 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
90,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

• Netanyahu addresses negotiation rumors
• Israelis continuing life as normal, despite Iranian threat
• Home Front Command launches new broadcast warning system
• Israel preparing for the possibility of a multi-day attack
• Israel says its prepared to respond harshly to enemy attacks
• Northern Israel preparing for scenarios of drawn-out Hezbollah war
• Rockets fired at Ashdod area
• IDF moves into areas of Khan Younis, again
• Troops find massive smuggling tunnel in Rafah, with drivable highway to Egypt
• Two killed in terror attack in Holin, central Israel
• Senior terrorists eliminated in Tulkarem

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Hostage Updates:

Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a video statement in which he addressed rumors about the hostage negotiations, and said that the rumors damage the negotiations. He added that the rumors also misrepresent the situation, which is that Hamas has not agreed to even the most basic conditions of the hostage deal proposed by President Biden, which Israel has agreed to. Netanyahu said that Hamas is only offering to free a small amount of hostages, and insists on regaining control of the Gaza-Egypt border, and full movement around Gaza, which will allow them to rearm and be able to carry out another October 7th attack.

The Prime Minister added that he is working towards a deal and won’t give up until all the hostages are brought home, and all the goals of the war are achieved, including full security for Israel.

Iran & Proxies Attack Updates:

Despite the looming threat, the atmosphere in Israel is pretty relaxed, with people going about their days as usual. Most people have prepared their bomb shelters or grab bags with water and non-perishable food items, as well as portable phone chargers. Home Front Command guidelines have not yet changed.

The IDF Home Front Command announced that a new system is now operational, which will send location-based public warning messages, via a Cell Broadcast, in case of emergency events. The system does not require any set-up or downloads on individual phones, and will simply work automatically. It is not meant to replace the sirens or Home Front Command app. The alerts will pop up on phone screens with an alarm in case of local rocket threats, or “surprise large-scale emergencies.”

Israel’s Energy Ministry ordered coal and diesel fuel stockpiles to be maximized, in case Israel decides to shut down gas rigs in response to heavy attacks.

Much speculation remains about when and how Iran will launch their coordinated attack. What is clear, is that Iran feels the need to do something huge, to avenge Haniyeh’s killing in their capital, and appease the extremists in power. There are many signs indicating that this is already a religious obligation to the Ayatollahs, and they are wiling to risk launching a war, knowing that they may not fare well.

The attack is expected imminently by some, and up until Tisha B’Av (August 13) by others. Israel is preparing for the possibility of an attack that lasts several days, rather than a few hours as in April. The attack is expected to reach most parts of Israel, but will likely be heaviest in the north, due to proximity to Lebanon (though short-range missiles cause less damage than long-range ballistic missiles). Israel thinks it’s unlikely that Hezbollah will attempt a ground entry into Israel, but is preparing for all scenarios.

Israel Hayom reports that a Russian Ilyushin plane carrying military equipment was seen landing in Tehran. And that conversely, the American B-2 nuclear bomber is currently in the Middle East.

The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is expected to arrive in Israel tomorrow to discuss coordination with the IDF during the attack.

Israel has been making it clear that aside from being at the top level of readiness in defense, the IDF is also ready for a strong offensive response.

During a visit to the IDF’s Ground Technological Division, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “We are prepared very strongly in defense, on land and in the air, and we are ready to move quickly to attack or to respond. We will exact a price, as we have been doing in recent days from the enemy. If it dares to attack us, it will pay a heavy price.”

At the state memorial for Zeev Jabotinsky, PM Netanyahu said, “Only increasing military pressure on our enemies will advance the goals of the war. We will continue to press the pedal. We will take a stubborn initiative until victory comes. Iran and its detractors seek to surround us with a stranglehold of terror. We are determined to stand against them on every front and in every arena—far and near. Anyone who hurts us will pay a very heavy price.”

PM Netanyahu held a four-hour long security assessment meeting until midnight, after Gallant held a meeting with senior military and defense officials, focused on “the security developments, and the various options to exact a price for attempted attacks from Iran and its proxies.”

The airport in Beirut is jam packed as thousands try to find a way out, many foreign nationals following their country’s instructions to evacuate to any country they can find a ticket to. Today France called on citizens to evacuate from Iran as well.

Canada raised the travel warning level to Israel and called on its citizens to avoid any travel here. A statement from the government stated that “the security situation may deteriorate further without warning.”

In my personal opinion: Until further warning from Home Front Command, there is no need to avoid travel in Israel, so long as you stay aware of the nearest bomb shelter, and time to reach it. There is no need to be afraid.

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas launched a barrage of 5 rockets, triggering sirens in the Gan Yavne area (near Ashdod). Most landed in empty areas, one sparked a fire near the town of Bitzaron. No injuries were reported.

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes in Gaza.
One soldier was severely injured by sniper fire in Rafah.

Three divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 252nd Division (replacing the 99th Division) along the Netzarim Corridor, and on pinpoint operations in Central Gaza; the Gaza Division in the buffer zone; and the 162nd Division in Rafah and along the Philadelphi Corridor. The IDF carried out over 50 airstrikes over the last day, including squads of terrorists, buildings used by terrorists, observation points, and other Hamas infrastructure.

In an overnight airstrike in Deir al-Balah, the IDF says it eliminated a terrorist, and that “during the attack, secondary explosions were identified which indicated the presence of weapons in the area.” Reports in Gaza say that the airstrike eliminated Abdel Fattah al-Zarii, a senior official in the Hamas Ministry of Economy in Gaza.

A cautious precision airstrike today attacked a Hamas command and control room which was embedded within the Hassan Salama and Nasr schools, in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.

A recent drone strike in Nuseirat, Central Gaza, eliminated Ismail Nofal, a Hamas terrorist who participated in the October 7th massacre by involvement in launching torrents of rocket fire on Israel. Ismail was the son of Ayman Nofal, the former commander of Hamas’s Central Gaza Brigade, who was eliminated in October.

This morning, the IDF gave renewed evacuation warnings for some parts of Khan Younis, after several rockets were launched from the area. Civilians were warned to relocate to the designated humanitarian area, as the IDF will forcefully operate against the terror groups in Khan Younis. After 10:00 PM, locals in Khan Younis reported hearing artillery shelling in the area.

In both Rafah and in Central Gaza along the Netzarim Corridor (which divides the north from the south of Gaza), troops eliminated armed terrorists and located and destroyed Hamas terror infrastructure.

The IDF announced that troops in Rafah located a massive tunnel last week, large enough for vehicles to drive through (3 meters tall), and which stretches deep into Egypt. IDF combat engineers are investigating the tunnel, and will demolish it on completion. Troops have found dozens of tunnels along the Philadelphi Corridor, including at least 25 which crossed into Egypt. This announcement comes as Israel’s hostage negotiating team insists that Israel retain control of the Philedelphi Corridor in an agreement, in order to prevent further smuggling.

According to an interesting report from Israel Hayom, reflecting on Hamas’s dire situation, the spokesman for the Hamas civil defense told to the media in Gaza that its formation is fragile, and operates with minimal means.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

A daily average of 149 food trucks entered Gaza during July, compared to an average of 70 food trucks a day prior to the war.

Today, August 4th:

252 trucks carrying humanitarian goods were transferred to Gaza. Trucks arrived from Israel, the Ashdod port and Egypt and entered via the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings.
5 tankers of fuel and 6 tankers of cooking gas designated for the operation of essential infrastructure were transferred.
63 aid trucks were collected from the Erez crossing, and 110 trucks were collected from the Kerem Shalom Crossing (70 by the private sector and 40 by the UN aid agencies).

Currently, there are about 600 trucks worth waiting to be collected from the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom and 15 trucks worth from the Erez crossing.

Northern Front Updates:

Hezbollah in Lebanon continues to fire heavily on Israel’s far north, focusing on border towns and the city of Kiryat Shemona. No injuries were reported, but a few buildings sustained damage.

The IDF struck several Hezbollah sites in Southern Lebanon, and shelled launch sites, including to eliminate terrorists who launched rockets. It appears that the IDF is also taking some subtle preemptive strikes against Hezbollah storage and launch sites to weaken its palled attack.

Lebanese media reported an alleged Israeli airstrike on a power station and water utility site in Taybeh, Southern Lebanon. According to the “Al-Akhbar” newspaper, the strike led to a sire, and resulted in power outages and cutoff water supply to dozens of surrounding Lebanese villages. The IDF has not commented on the incident.

The IDF’s Kfir Brigade, which until recently was operating in Northern Gaza, conducted a drill simulating combat in Lebanon to enhance readiness in case of an expanded war in the north. The exercise involved complex terrain navigation, advancing along mountainous routes, and utilizing firepower. The brigade also practiced extracting wounded troops under fire and camouflage techniques. This was the first drill by a standing army brigade, with previous exercises conducted by reserve units.

Mayors of cities in the north received a document from the iDF detailing possible Hezbollah war scenarios, and Homefront plans. Amongst the scenarios are a potential three-day power outage in vulnerable cities; disruptions in water supply that could last several days; a disconnection of landlines for up to eight hours and cellphone communications for up to 24 hours; and brief local disruptions to radio and internet.

It’s estimated that up to 40% of the workforce may be unable to work, and service providers may have trouble reaching affected areas in the north. Plans were made in case the need arises for emergency evacuation of large numbers of civilians from the north, in areas not yet evacuated, including major cities, such as Haifa. Displaced northerners would be housed in the south, in areas such as Arad and the Arava desert, and ironically, could even find refuge in small southern cities which used to be under heavy fire from Gaza, such as Sderot, Netivot, and Ofakim.

Terror Attack in Central Israel:

A terrorist stabbed four civilians in Holin, central Israel, today, killing two, and injuring two. At the scene, Magen David Adam found a woman in her 70s killed, her husband in critical condition, a 68-year-old man in serious condition, and a 26-year-old in moderate condition.

The terrorist was shot by a police officer, and later declared dead at the hospital. The terrorist, a 34-year-old from Sulfite in Judea and Samaria, had Palestinian Authority citizenship, and did not have a permit to enter Israel. He had no prior security-related offenses.

IDF troops later went to his home in Salfit, to prepare it for demolition, a practice which is done to the homes of all terrorists.

Houthi & Iraqi War Front Updates:

Reuters news agency reported that the Houthis in Yemen intercepted an American drone over the north of the country.

Judea and Samaria Updates:

The IDF and Shin Bet say that yesterday amongst the 9 terrorists eliminated in Tulkarem, were violent terrorists behind the killing of at least three Israelis, and other attacks.

Amongst the nine, Haitham Balidi, a commander in Hamas’s Tulkarem wing, who was part of a cell that carried out a deadly shooting attack near Bayt Lid on November 2, killing off-duty IDF reservist Sgt. First Class (res.) Elhanan Klein, and part of the cell that killed Chief Inspector Yitav Lev Halevi, a commander in police’s elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit, on May 4, and was involved in numerous other attacks.

Jamal Abu Haniyeh and Ali Khalil, also eliminated yesterday, were members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad cell who shot dead Israeli civilian Amnon Muchtar in a terror attack in Qalqilya on June 21.

Another terrorist count in the 9, is Abdul Jabbar al-Sabbagh, who was involved in shooting attacks against Israeli towns bordering the green line, including Bat Hefer, Einav, and Avnei Hefetz.

The IDF Home Front Command announced that a new system is now operational, which will send location-based public warning messages, via a Cell Broadcast, in case of emergency events. The system does not require any set-up or downloads on individual phones, and will simply work automatically. It is not meant to replace the sirens or Home Front Command app. The alerts will pop up on phone screens with an alarm in case of local rocket threats, or “surprise large-scale emergencies.”

Massive smuggling tunnel in Rafah, with a drivable road to Egypt.