War Summary, Day 473: Hamas police take over Gaza and humanitarian aid, IDF chief of staff announced upcoming resignation, new large-scale operation launched in Jenin, President Herzog retracts his position on a two-state solution, Israel may give captured Russian weapons to Ukraine, and Trump issues more executive orders that support Israel.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
94 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
120 living hostages rescued.
41 hostage bodies rescued.
1,815 Israelis killed.
411 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
15 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,683 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
80,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Israelis killed since the Gaza ceasefire began.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Top Headlines:
- Thank G-d, no fallen heroes today
- Hamas claims they need to hold Sasha Trufanov for longer
- Hamas police take over Gaza, and humanitarian aid
- Instead of 600, the UN delivered 897 trucks of aid to Gaza today
- IDF chief of staff announced upcoming resignation
- Defense Minister interviewing new candidates
- New large-scale counterterrorism operation launched in Jenin
- PFLP congratulates released terrorists, promises to “liberate” all of them
- President Herzog voices a reversal on former opinions about a two-state
- Terror attack in Tel Aviv
- Terrorist had American green card
- Israel may give captured Russian weapons to Ukraine
- Trump gives more executive orders that support Israel
Hostages:
Hamas responded to Russia’s calls to return hostage Sasha (Alexander) Trufanov, who has dual Israeli-Russian citizenship. They stated that since Russia demanded that he be returned in good health, they will need to wait a few weeks for Sasha to recover from injuries (which of course were inflicted by Hamas).
Gaza:
The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman told Gazans that they will be able to return to the north of the strip after a week of the ceasefire—if Hamas upholds the deal. For now, Gazans are warned against approaching the Netzarim Corridor, which the IDF has not yet withdrawn from, more the buffer zone or Philadelphi Corridor.
Hamas police are now fully controlling the streets of Gaza, and enforcing public order, which according to Arabic reports, is part of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas police are also notorious for rounding up and torturing anyone under the tiniest suspicion of support for Israel or dislike for Hamas. The Hamas police are also controlling all the humanitarian aid being brought into Gaza.
According to the ceasefire agreement, 600 trucks of humanitarian aid are supposed to be delivered per day through the Rafah crossing, via Egypt. However, today the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that 897 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday alone.
In a televised statement, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi announced his resignation over the failures of October 7th. He will be handing over the command on March 6th, after 40 years of military service. “I made this decision a long time ago,” Halevi said. “And now, when the IDF has the upper hand in all the combat theaters and another hostage agreement has been launched, the time is right.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz will begin to interview candidates for the next IDF chief of staff in the coming days. The lead candidate for the position is reportedly Defense Ministry Director-General and Major General Eyal Zamir. Other candidates being named are outgoing deputy IDF chief Maj. Gen. Amir Baram and IDF Northern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Uri Gordon.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, Chief of the IDF Southern Command, also announced his intention to resign, for the same reasons.
Judea & Samaria:
Netanyahu and the IDF announced a new large-scale counterterrorism operation in Jenin, named “Iron Wall.” Jenin is in Samaria, and is one of the cities overridden with terror groups. The others are Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Shechem (Nablus), as well as some villages in the area, particularly around Tubas. The terror groups have taken near complete control over these areas, taking over from the Palestinian Authority. While Hamas is the main terror group, they are joined by several others, including the PIJ, PFLP, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and other smaller groups.
The stated goal of the operation in Jenin is to “preserve the IDF’s freedom of action” in Judea and Samaria, to neutralize terror infrastructure, and eliminate immediate threats. It is expected to last several days.
The operation began with several drone strikes on infrastructure used by the terror groups. Large numbers of troops are now operating in the city, including special forces, Border Police, and Shin Bet agents.
Despite warnings, last night, terror fans in Samaria gathered for celebrations with fireworks in honor of the terrorists released from prison. However, they hid their weapons at he celebration, and gathered in messier crowds.
Yesterday the PFLP issued a statement of congratulations to the freed terrorists, and pledged “to liberate all prisoners from the occupation’s prisons, without exception.” Unfortunately, the OFLP learned that the best way to “liberate” terrorists from prison, is by taking innocent Israelis hostage.
President Herzog attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, at which he was interviewed by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria.
In response to Zakira’s question about a two-state solution, Herzog responded: “The idea of the two-state solution is something which, on record, I supported in the past, many times…I had a wake-up call following October 7. In the sense that I want to hear my neighbors say how much they object, regret, condemn, and do not accept, in any way, the terrible tragedy of the terror attack of October 7 — and the fact that it cannot be the tool to get there.”
Tel Aviv Terror Attack:
Four people were injured in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv. Two victims aged 24 and 59 are in good condition, and two aged 24 and 28 are in moderate condition. The terrorist was shot and eliminated by an armed woman.
The terrorist was Abdelaziz Kaddi, 29, a Moroccan who held a US permanent resident card, and had entered Israel on January 18 with a tourist visa.
When Kaddi arrived in Israel, he was apprehended by security and taken for questioning. Border security officers voiced major concerns over allowing him entry, but after an assessment and interrogation, the Shin Bet officers determined that “there was no information that established grounds to prevent his entry into Israel for security reasons.”
As always, Hamas issued a press release with congratulations to Abdelaziz Kaddi, and called for more attacks against Israelis.
Lebanon:
With just days left until the IDF is expected to complete withdrawal from Lebanon’s border villages, IDF troops are still finding more underground weapons stashes.
Other:
– In an official meeting between Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Israel offered to transfer Russian-made weapons which were seized from Hezbollah to Ukraine. This might need further government approvals and bureaucracy in order to roll into effect, but would send a strong message to Russia against supplying Israel’s enemies with weapons.
– After issuing an executive order to reverse Biden’s executive order which allowed sanctions against Israelis in Judea and Samaria, Trump Issued several more which are helpful to Israel. He restored the sanctions against the ICC; put a 90-day pause on all U.S. foreign developmental assistance programs—including UNRWA—pending further review; he authorized the deportation of visa holders who support hateful ideologies—such as support for Hamas and other terror groups; and gifted the restrictions on arms sales to Israel, including the supply of 2,000-pound bombs.
Sponsored in honor of the 22nd Birthday of Yosef Menachem Meir by his parents Chana Pesha and Mordechai.
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