War Day 331: Massive Protests in Tel Aviv, Three Police Murdered

War Summary, Day 331: An estimated 300,000 Israelis gathered for a protest in Tel Aviv, and other areas around Israel, calling for a hostage trade deal to be made, three police officers were killed in a shooting attack this morning near Tarqumiyah, and the bomb-making lab which was used to produce the bombs in the two car-bombing attacks on Shabbos was found and demolished.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

War Summary, Day 331:

101 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
117 living hostages rescued.
37 hostage bodies rescued.
1,643 Israelis killed.
344 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
21 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
13 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
20,800 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

• Six hostages were murdered shortly before IDF reached them
• Israel torn into two over hostage deal
• Biden administration preparing to present final proposal
• Polio vaccination campaign underway in Gaza
• One severely wounded, two moderately, in Hezbollah missile attack
• Three police officers killed in Judea and Samaria shooting attack
• Terrorist shooter was former PA guard

Hostage Updates:

Overnight, the IDF recovered the bodies of 6 hostages, found in a Hamas tunnel under Rafah. They are:

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23
Eden Yerushalmi, 24
Ori Danino, 25
Alex Lubnov, 32
Carmel Gat, 40
Almog Sarusi, 25

The hostages were found about a kilometer away from where Farhan al-Qadi had been found on Tuesday. Based on intelligence received during Farhan’s rescue, the IDF learned that there was a high probability of other hostages being held nearby, and began to operate with extreme caution. According to forensic analysis, the six hostages were brutally murdered by the Hamas captors sometime between Thursday and Friday morning, with multiple gunshots at a close range. The terrorists fled the tunnel before the IDF neared in the evening after Shabbat.

Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with the parents of Alex Lubanov, apologized, and said he would speak with other hostage families later today. Netanyahu told the parents: “I want to tell you how sorry I am and ask for forgiveness for not being able to bring Sasha back alive.”

In the aftermath and heartbreak of the incident, Israel divided into two main camps: those who believe that a deal must now be made to bring the hostages home at all costs, and those who believe that security must be prioritized and the Philadelphi Corridor held onto.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called on Israel’s security cabinet to reconvene and reverse the decision to maintain the contested border strip. The remainder of the cabinet maintained the previously made position.

Netanyahu gave a statement that Hamas must be punished for murdering the hostages, and Israel must ensure that they can never perpetuate an October 7th attack again. He added that he is still working tirelessly towards a deal to bring the hostages home, and will not give up on it, while maintaining security interests.

An estimated 300,000 Israelis gathered for a protest in Tel Aviv, and other areas around Israel, calling for a deal to be made. Histadrut Labor Federation chief, Arnon Bar-David, declared a general strike to begin Monday morning, in protests of the government’s failure to bring the hostages home, stating that “a deal is more important than anything else.”

The Gevura Forum, which represents hundreds of families of fallen soldiers, and the Tikva Forum, which represents a smaller number of families of hostages, submitted a petition against the strike, calling it a “knife in the back of the fighters,” and a political ploy. The Tikva Forum called for the fury to be targeted at Hamas, and stated: “After the abominable cold-blooded murder, we demand that the Prime Minister announce the end of negotiations immediately and increase the fighting [in Gaza].”

Most hostage family members of the Tikva Forum are not expected to be returned in the hostage deal under discussion, and their families are concerned that the deal will condemn them to death, or worse.

The Gevura Forum also argued that the protests against the government and demands for a deal at all costs plays directly into the hands of Sinwar who wants to divide the people of Israel, and rewards terrorism.

According to a late night report from the Washington Post, the Biden administration is preparing to deliver one last “take it or leave it” proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal, which would release female, elderly, and injured hostages. The administration is first reportedly waiting to see if Netanyahu will cave on some issues as a result of the pressure resulting from the murder of the six hostages.

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas has not succeeded in firing any rockets into Israel since Thursday.

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

Three divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 252nd Division along the Netzarim Corridor, and pinpoint operations in Central Gaza and Gaza City; the 162nd Division in Rafah and along the Philadelphi Corridor; and the Gaza Division in the buffer zone.

Troops are operating in Gaza City and Rafah, locating tunnels, and uprooting Hamas infrastructure.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

The Polio vaccination campaign for children in Gaza began today, and thousands of children were already vaccinated.

19 trucks were collected from the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom today. There are still around 380 aid trucks awaiting pick up and distribution within Gaza by UN aid groups.

12 bakeries are operational (6 in northern Gaza and 6 in central Gaza), producing close to 3 million pita loaves a day.

Northern Front Updates:

Hezbollah fired heavily on Israel’s far north today, with multiple barrages, totaling at least 70 rockets and other projectiles. A guided anti-tank missile hit Kfar Yuval and seriously wounded an Israeli civilian, and moderate injured two others.

The IDF responded with airstrikes to Hezbollah infrastructure in Southern Lebanon, eliminating at least one terrorist, and hitting multiple rocket launchers and other targets.

Judea and Samaria Updates:

Three police officers were killed in a shooting attack this morning, near Tarqumiyah. They are named as:

Arik Ben Eliyahu, 37
Command Sgt. Maj. Hadas Branch, 53
First Sgt. Roni Shakuri, 61.

Roni Shakuri is from Sderot, and is the father of First Sgt. Mor Shakuri, a hero police officer who was killed in the battle of the Sderot police station on October 7th.

The IDF and Shin Bet pursued the terrorist, and located him in a building in Chevron (Hebron). After attempting to squeeze the terrorist out with the “pressure cooker” tactic, troops ultimately eliminated him with shoulder-launched missiles fired into the building. The terrorist was found with an M16 assault rifle on his body.

The terrorist was identified as Muhannad al-Aswad, 31, from Idhna—who is affiliated with the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah movement, and in the past served in the PA’s presidential guard.

The IDF is continuing with the intense counter-terrorism operation in the Chevron and Jenin areas, and has so far eliminated over 30 armed terrorists. In one incident in Jenin today, the IDF used a drone strike against a group of terrorists who were hurling explosives at troops.

The IDF gave details about the bomb-making lab which was located in Chevron yesterday, and used to produce the bombs in the two car-bombing attacks on Shabbat. The Shin Bet says that the bombs were made of improvised materials, and not quality explosives. After raiding the lab and collecting evidence, IDF troops demolished the lab building.