War Day 480: Israel to Keep Hermon, UNRWA to Be Shut Down

War Summary, Day 480: U.S. pushing for phase two of hostage deal, IDF finds weapons manufacturing materials and caches in Jenin, IDF airstrike targets Hezbollah vehicles in Southern Lebanon, Katz says Israel to stay in Syria indefinitely, won’t rely on others for security, Israel to build relations with Syrian Druze, and New Zealand asks Israeli visa applicants if they carried out war crimes.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

90 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
124 living hostages rescued.
41 hostage bodies rescued.
1,816 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 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

U.S. pushing for phase two of hostage deal
Israeli civilian contractor tragically killed in Gaza
Hamas continuing to push limits of buffer zone
IDF finds weapons manufacturing materials and caches in Jenin
IDF airstrike targets Hezbollah vehicles in Southern Lebanon
Katz says Israel to stay in Syria indefinitely, won’t rely on others for security
Israel to build relations with Syrian Druze
New Zealand asks Israeli visa applicants if they carried out war crimes

Hostages:

US envoy Steve Witkoff is set to arrive in Israel to ensure that the the first phase of the hostage deal is completed, and moves forward to the second phase. He’ll be meeting with Netanyahu, and visiting Gaza to see the situation up close.

Kan News reports that there is intense U.S. pressure on Israel to reach the second phase of the deal—which includes a complete withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Israel and Egypt, and the release of thousands of arch terrorists, in exchange for the return of the remaining living hostages (estimated to be around 29 men).

The new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, spoke with the Prime Minister of Qatar (who also serves as Foreign Minister), to discuss the continuation of the mediation for the second phase of the deal. The two both expressed hope that the ceasefire deal will reach its second phase and become a permanent ceasefire.

Rubio also spoke with the King of Jordan, and discussed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of the hostages, and the creation of a framework for security and stability in the region.

To Israelis, Netanyahu is still maintaining that Israel will return to fighting Hamas, if they aren’t defeated, and that Trump will support Israel’s choice to do so, if necessary.

Gaza:

In a very sad and tragic incident, an Israeli civilian contractor hired by the Defense Ministry was killed in “friendly-fire” in Central Gaza today.

He is named as Yakov Avitan, 39, from Eilat.

Avitan was hired to operate an excavator and clear rubble in areas of Gaza which are now part of the buffer zone. When he arrived at an IDF post in Gaza today, he was mistakenly identified as a threat, and a soldier opened fire on him.

The incident happened while IDF troops in Gaza are under high stress—especially those in the Central Gaza area, where the buffer zone dips into Gaza, and is surrounded by enemies. Hamas terrorists continue to approach IDF positions, in an ongoing attempt to weaken the strength of the buffer zone.

In the past, long before October 7th, Gazans were forbidden from approaching the border fence with Israel. But Hamas continuously sent Gazans to approach the fence, and often ignore the warning shots. Every time a Gazan was injured after approaching, Israel faced severe international backlash, and eventually the IDF chose to ignore those approaching the wall. This made it much easier for Hamas to carry out the October 7th attack, because it was no longer unusual for masses to gather at the fence.

Hamas is likely trying to employ the same strategy now, with even more eyes on Israel during the ceasefire. They know that Israel will get more blame for killing terrorists during the ceasefire, than Hamas will get for entering IDF positions during the ceasefire. So either they will manage to weaken Israel’s hold on the buffer zone, or they’ll get Israel blamed for breaking the ceasefire agreement.

Over the last 24 hours, IDF troops throughout the buffer zone and the Philadelphi Corridor had to fire several rounds of warning shots to push back approaching terrorists. In an area in Southern Gaza, the terrorists ignored the warning shots, so the troops shot directly at them, causing injuries.

In Central Gaza, a group of vehicles attempted to cross into Northern Gaza via an unauthorized road, in order to avoid inspection—violating the ceasefire agreement. An IAF aircraft fired shots to drive them away.

Gazans continued crossing through the authorized roads for the second day in a row. The UN says that over 376,000 Gazans returned to Northern Gaza so far. Two thirds discovered that their homes are now gone, or unlivable, thanks to Hamas’s “victory.” The most intense destruction is in Northernmost Gaza, while many structures still stand in Gaza City itself. The repopulation of Northern Gaza may severely damage the goals of the war, but at the very least, it directed a lot of Gazan anger towards Hamas, and disillusionment in the Hamas version of victory.

Judea & Samaria:

Operation Iron Wall is goin in Jenin, with smaller counterterrorism operations in Tulkarem.

Over the last couple days, troops eliminated an unspecified number of terrorists, and arrested several dozen.

The troops are also carrying out extensive searches—amongst the biggest finds were a weapons manufacturing lathe and two weapons depots full of ammunition and combat equipment. Both were immediately destroyed. Smaller funds included numerous explosive devices, weapons, and ammunition.

Israeli medics reported that PA residents threw a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli vehicle on the Har Homa road near the Shadma intersection.

Lebanon:

The number of Hezbollah supporters approaching IDF positions decreased significantly today, despite Hezbollah’s insistence that they wouldn’t allow Israel to stay past Sunday, and wouldn’t accept the withdrawal extension.

The IDF carried out a significant airstrike in Nabatiyeh, in Southern Lebanon. The IDF says it struck a truck and several other vehicles used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons around the area. The IDF had closely monitored the vehicles, and observed them transferring weapons, before carrying out the airstrike. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said that seven people were injured in the airstrike.

Syria:

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited IDF positions on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon. While there, he announced the the IDF would stay in the Syrian security zone and Hermon summit indefinitely, in order to ensure the safety of Israel’s northern communities.

Katz emphasized that Israel will no longer be dependent on others (hint: UN peacekeepers) for defense. He also said that Israel will establish contact with the friendly populations of the area, forging good neighborly relations. He mentioned the Syrian Druze in particular, which have close historical and family ties with the Druze citizens of Israel. The Syrian Druze still remain skeptical and afraid of the new Syrian regime, and have expressed wishes for Israeli protection.

The IDF published footage of the newly constructed military outposts on the peak of the Syrian Hermon, where troops have been deployed since the fall of Assad in early December. The outpost is built with insulated structures to protect troops from the harsh winter cold, and includes a medical clinic which is equipped to treat cold weather injuries. The IDF prepared the mountain unit well for the winter, providing them with generators, heating devices, and snow suits and boots.

On the top of Mount Hermon, temperatures can drop to around -15°C (5°F) during the winter months, especially at night or during storms. In comparison, the coldest winter nights in Tel Aviv can be 10°C (50°F).

Other:

Israelis of military service age who recently applied for visas to visit New Zealand, discovered that the application now includes extensive questions about their military service and asks “have you been involved in war crimes?” The questioning goes into the details of their unit, rank, bases, operations, and locations they served in. Soldiers who cannot answer the questions, even for military security reasons, are unable to apply. At least one soldier who did fill in the form reported being denied entry for what he thinks was because of his service.
The New Zealand Immigration Authority didn’t deny the questionnaire, but denies that the mere fact of service in the current war disqualifies Israelis from entering the country.

In one more day, on January 30th, the new UNRWA law will go into effect. The law bans any Israeli authorities from communications with UNRWA, and bans UNRWA from operating in Israeli-controlled territory. UNRWA will need to evacuate a building in East Jerusalem.
UN officials and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe all put extensive pressure on Israel to halt the law, saying that it’ll damage the relief efforts for the millions who they consider to be “Palestinian refugees” living in Gaza and Judea and Samaria.
The law was enacted after extensive evidence that UNRWA repeatedly assisted Hamas in terrorism, and employed a significant number of Hamas terrorists—including some who kidnapped Israelis on October 7th.
UNRWA also perpetuates the terrorism problem, by allowing all descendants, even after four or five generations, to consider themselves “refugees” and receive refugee stipends and rights. UNRWA schools teach students that their true home was taken away by Israelis, and encourages terrorism to destroy Israel.

In a three-way agreement, Israel is sending dozens of American-made Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Israel phased out the Patriot missile system last year, in favor of Israeli-made air defense systems. Israel returned the systems to the U.S., to refurbish and deliver to Ukraine. The U.S. already began the delivery of 90 interceptors to Ukraine. This will be the most significant delivery from Israel to Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Ahead of the transfer, Israel told Russia that it wasn’t a direct gift, and that Israel was only returning the systems to the U.S.

A large number of D9 bulldozers which Israel had purchased from the U.S., finally arrived in Israel today. The Biden administration had blocked the purchase, and the Trump administration lifted the block. Israel needs these D9s to clear out road mines and other explosives left by Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists.

Sponsored in honor of the complete & speedy recovery of Dovid Betzalel ben Devora, & all of our brothers and sisters who need healing in Eretz Yisrael.

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