War Day 460: IDF Preparing for War in Yehuda and Shomron, Israeli Baby Boom

War Summary, Day 460: Blinken thinks deal is coming soon, Smotrich indicates huge differences that will change talks after January 20,  IDF is preparing powerful response in Judea & Samaria, more rumors about IDF keeping outposts in Lebanon longterm and large Israeli baby boom amid war.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

99 held captive in Gaza.
37 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza. 
117 living hostages rescued.
39 hostage bodies rescued.
1,803 Israelis killed.
403 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
14 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,683 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes. 
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Body of hostage rescued, concern for his son
– Blinken thinks deal is coming soon
– Smotrich indicates huge differences that will change talks after January 20
– Three heroes fell in Gaza
– Katz: IDF is preparing powerful response in Judea & Samaria
– Three terrorists from deadly shooting attack remain at large
– More rumors about IDF keeping outposts in Lebanon longterm
– LAF busts Hezbollah drug operations
– IDF implements new rules, due to attempts to arrest IDF soldiers abroad
– Israeli baby boom

Hostages:

The IDF announced that they recovered the body of hostage Youssef Ziyadne, 53. His body was found in a tunnel in Rafah, Southern Gaza, and brought back to Israel for identification. The IDF had previously operated in the area of the tunnel, but returned after receiving new intelligence. His body was found with two other bodies, which were identified as Hamas terrorists, possibly who were guarding Youssef. Other findings in the tunnel raise grave concern for the life of Youssef’s son, Hamza Ziyadne.

Youssef Ziyadne was taken hostage on October 7th along with three children, Hamza, Bilal Ziyadne, 18, and Aisha Ziyadne, 17, while working in Kibbutz Holit. Bilal and Aisha were released on November 30th, during the ceasefire deal that brought home most child hostages. Youssef and Hamza were assumed to have been alive.

The Ziyadne family live in the Bedouin city of Rahat. Youssef was married with two wives and 19 children. He was known as a strong pillar of his community who promoted dialogue over tribal feuds. 

The rescue of Youssef’s body took intense and complicated efforts led by a group of determined special forces who refused to give up, even after major setbacks. (If I get permission from them, I’ll share more about this.)

Meanwhile hostage negotiations are ongoing. 

A statement from the Prime MInister’s Office says that it’s a slow process and there are no breakthroughs. It also added that most rumors about conditions of the deal are false, and spread by Hamas as a form of psychological terror.

In a press conference, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said that mediators were getting very close to a deal, which he hopes can be achieved before Biden’s term is up, but if not, it “will be handed over to the incoming administration, and I believe that when we get that deal — and we’ll get it — it’ll be based on the plan that President Biden put before the world back in May.”

It’s questionable whether Israel will continue with the same plan once Trump enters office. Israel’s Finance Minister, Smotrich, says that Israel is preparing very fundamental changes in how the war is conducted in Gaza, and preparing hell for Hamas. Smotrich doesn’t believe there should be negotiations with Hamas, especially now, just days before Israel can come to the table with a lot more strength. 

The current deal being discussed still leaves most of the hostages behind, in the hands of a re-powered Hamas.

Gaza:

The IDF announced the names of three heroes who fell in battle in Northern Gaza:

Staff Sgt. Matityahu Ya’akov Perel, 22, from Beit El
Staff Sgt. Kanaoo Kasa, 22, from Beit Shemesh
Staff Sgt. Nevo Fisher, 20, from Bruchin

The soldiers were operating in Beit Hanoun, when a large explosive laid by Hamas was detonated against a tank. Three other soldiers were injured in the incident, including one who is in serious condition.

Hamas launched a rocket from Southern Gaza towards the Kerem Shalom area, from where most aid is processed and delivered into Gaza. The rocket was successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome, and no injuries were reported.

An Air Force attack helicopter struck a group of Hamas terrorists in Jabalia who were operating out of a command center, which was as usual, inside a former school building which is being used as a shelter for displaced Gazans. Hamas continues to use schools and shelters to hide, because they know that even if the IDF does strike it, it will be delayed and a smaller strike, since the IDF makes great efforts to avoid harm to civilians.

While this strategy has not been clearly announced, it appears that the IDF has chosen to completely flatten specific areas in Northernmost Gaza which are far too infested with Hamas infrastructure. These are neighborhoods in places like Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya to where Hamas keeps returning and regrouping, due to the massive amounts of tunnels and hidden weaponry throughout the buildings. As long as there are any buildings left to hide between, Hamas will continue to return and cause harm to both civilians and IDF troops. The IDF isn’t just bombing buildings there, they are completely flattening them, with controlled explosions and bulldozers.

Judea & Samaria:

Defense Minister Israel Katz met with Jewish mayors from Judea and Samaria, and stressed that the IDF will be placing increased focus on terrorism in the area. He told them: “We see increasing threats to the residents and communities in Judea and Samaria from the Iranian axis and the radical Sunni Islam axis, and we are preparing together with the IDF to give the powerful response required – to prevent events like October 7 in Judea and Samaria.” 

An unusual IDF drone strike targeted a cell of armed terrorists in Tamun, in Samaria. Locals say that two children were also killed in the strike. IDF soldiers took the bodies of the terrorists after the strike. The IDF has not yet released their identities.

The IDF released a video of undercover officers arresting a wanted terrorist in Deheisha. The officers jumped out of a vehicle in the heart of the city, rushed towards the vehicle of the terrorist, arrested him, and drove off—all within 60 seconds. 

Hamas claimed responsibility for the deadly shooting terror attack on Monday, which killed three Israelis. Hamas claims it was a joint operation together with the PIJ and Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. They said that the mastermind behind the attack was Jaafar Ahmed Dababseh, who was eliminated by IDF troops on Tuesday, in Talluza, near Shechem (Nablus). 

The three terrorists who carried out the attack have not yet been caught.

Yemen:

It’s almost four days since Yemen has managed to get a missile near Israel.

Iran & Syria:

Syrian media reported that IDF convoys operated in three villages in southern Quneitra, and has taken control of all the mountain peaks in the region. These areas are in the buffer zone. This report has not been confirmed by the IDF.

General Behrouz Asbati, a senior Iranian officer with the rank equivalent to a brigadier general, gave an unusual interview to the New York Times. In the interview, he admitted terrible defeat in Syria, and pointed to October 7th as blame—for creating a rift between Syria and Iran.

Asbati says that after October 7th, Assad rejected multiple requested from Iranian-backed militias to open a front against Israel from inside Syria. Iran even presented Assad with comprehensive military plans on how it could use its military resources in Syria to attack Israel. When Assad continued to refuse, the relationship with the Iranian regime went sour, leading to less military cooperation, and then defeat by the rebels. 

Iran had previously supported Assad for over a decade, by sending commanders and soldiers of the IRGC as well as Hezbollah to help fight the rebels. In turn, Syria allowed Iran to use it as a regional command and control center. Iran held massive warehouses in Syria, as well as missile and drone production bases, and even controlled airports. Iran supplied weapons to its proxies in the region—including to Hezbollah and terror groups in Judea and Samaria, from their command centers in Syria. 

Losing Syria makes a major setback for the Iranian regime. 

Asbati also accused Russia, who was considered a major ally of Iran, of duping the Iranian regime. He claims that Russian planes would pretend to bomb rebels, but would actually just drop bombs over empty areas. He also claims that Russia would turn off air defense radars whenever Israel attacked Iranian targets in Syria—effectively aiding Israel’s attacks.

The general also hinted that while they are posturing to attack Israel, Iran is currently in no shape to do so, at least not without risking everything.

His interview revealed many reasons to thank G-d: Mainly, that Syria did not join the war, and that Syria, Iran, and Russia are all so full of corruption and deceit, making it possible for the Mossad to get what they need behind the scenes.

Lebanon:

IDF troops continue to work on removing Hezbollah infrastructure in the villages bordering Israel (which have long been taken over by the IDF, and fully evacuated). Today the IDF announced that troops located and demolished five Hezbollah weapons depots, which contained over 200 mortars, primed rocket launchers, and other military gear. Separately, they also found and destroyed a truck-mounted rocket launcher.

Unverified reports in Lebanon claim IDF shelling of Bint Jbeil, during which the mayor’s house was damaged.

Another unverified report in Arabic media claims that the US has agreed that Israel will maintain three strategic points in southern Lebanon, even after the first phase of the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) raided a Hezbollah drug lab near Baalbek, where they seized 50 million captagon pills and stores of hashish. Captagon is the cheap amphetamine which Hamas terrorists used during the October 7th attack.

Hezbollah is heavily involved in drug trafficking, including the production and smuggling of narcotics like Captagon and cocaine, as well as money laundering through global drug networks. Estimates suggest that up to 70% of Hezbollah’s finances come from drug-related activities, making it a significant source of funding for the terror group, alongside Iranian support and other illicit activities.

International Attempts to Arrest IDF Soldiers:

The IDF has now introduced new rules to protect soldiers from groups who are trying to get them arrested while abroad.

Last week, and IDF soldier was evacuated from a vacation in Brazil, after the Hind Rajab Foundation, an anti-Israel group, tried to get him arrested for war crimes. The group announced that they had initiated legal proceedings against a soldier, without revealing his name, in order to prevent Israeli authorities from warning him. 

Israel’s Foreign Ministry, led by Gideon Sa’ar, worked with the IDF to identify the soldier and evacuate him quickly. Consular officials contacted the soldier and his family, arranging his departure within hours, before an arrest warrant could be made. 

Similar stories have occurs in the last two months with IDF soldiers who were visiting Cyprus and Sri Lanka. Many more soldiers are at risk: the Hind Rajab Foundation claims to have gathered information against 1,000 dual-nationality Israeli soldiers, and filed arrest requests in eight countries known to be hostile to Israel, including Spain, Ireland, and South Africa. While the soldiers are of course innocent, all it takes is one anti-Israel judge in a hostile country to start a diplomatic nightmare and horrific situation for the soldier. 

The Hind Rajab Foundation leaders, Diab Abu Jahjah and Karim Hassoun, are known for supporting terrorism against Israel, openly showing support for Hamas and Hezbollah. In a 2003 NYT interview, Abu Jahjah described the September 11 attacks as “sweet revenge.”

In addition to asking that soldiers stop sharing unauthorized footage online, the IDF has given new guidelines to protect them while traveling abroad. From now on the identities of all combat soldiers (under the rank of brigadier general) will be concealed in all photos and interviews. Their faces must be blurred, and names hidden, similar to that of special forces and pilots. These precautions will especially be taken for soldiers with dual citizenship. 

All footage from any interview with media will need to be approved by the Military Censor and Information Security Department before release.

Other:

Israel’s Channel 12 reported a baby boom in a classic Jewish response to terrorism. In the last quarter of 2024, there were 10% more births in Israel than in the previous year.

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