War Day 495: Hamas in Paranoia, Egypt Violates Camp David Accords

War Summary, Day 495: Israel maintains vagueness about hostages expected to be released, Katz says a return to war will “allow the realization of Trump’s vision”, Hamas only plans to release three hostages this Shabbat, smuggling into Gaza has already resumed, Gaza received 3,000 calories of food per person per day, IDF again warns about Iran smuggling funds to Hezbollah, USAID send hundreds of millions to Hamas, and Egypt at highest level of preparedness for war.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

76 held captive in Gaza.
36 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
138 living hostages rescued.
41 hostage bodies rescued.
1,821 Israelis killed.
413 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,683 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
70,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Bibas family not held by Hamas
– Daniella Golboa was forced to play dead
– Netanyahu and Katz maintain vagueness about number of hostages expected
– Trump continues to say “all hostages”
– Katz says a return to war will “allow the realization of Trump’s vision”
– Hamas only plans to release three hostages this Shabbat
– Smuggling into Gaza has already resumed
– Gaza received 3,000 calories of food per person per day
– Egypt is pushing their own Gaza rebuilding plan, with no deportation
– IDF commando injured in Nur Shams operation
– IDF again warns about Iran smuggling funds to Hezbollah
– USAID send hundreds of millions to Hamas
– Egypt at highest level of preparedness for war

Hostages:

The IDF Spokesperson confirmed: The Bibas family is not being held by Hamas, but by a different terror group in Khan Younis. The IDF demanded that all hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her children, be brought together in Khan Younis. The IDF did not give any information on the status of the Bibas family, whether they are alive. They did earlier state that there was “great concern” for their well-being.

In an interview with Channel 12, Orly Gilboa, the mother of Daniella Gilboa, said that Hamas forced her to play dead. They had her lay on the floor in a slumped position, and then covered her with powder and debris to make it look like she was killed in an IDF airstrike. They then released a short and blurry film, and announced that the IDF killed one of the female soldier hostages. Her family identified her in the video when they spotted her unique tattoo. Daniella had pleaded with the terrorists not to do it, and then upon release, begged her mother’s forgiveness for the heartache it caused. Daniella’s family had chosen not to believe the video.

Defense Minister Israel Katz joined Netanyahu in vaguely calling for the release of hostages this Shabbat, or “the gates of hell will open, just as the US president promised.” Katz did not either specify all hostages, or how many.

Katz threatened that the return to war “will be different in its intensity compared to before the ceasefire, and will not end without the defeat of Hamas and release all the hostages, and will also allow the realization of US President Trump’s vision for Gaza.”

Government sources tell media that Israel will not break the ceasefire if Hamas returns just the three hostages on schedule.

According to Egyptian reports, Hamas plans to return to the ceasefire agreement and return three hostages, based on a promise from mediators that they will receive caravans and more fuel.

While Israel is keeping a soft line, not jumping to break the ceasefire agreement, Trump continues to push for all hostages to be released on Shabbat. He told King Abdullah of Jordan that Hamas must release all the hostages by Shabbat, and asked the king to assist in ensuring that Hamas and the regional leaders understand the severity.

Steve Witkoff repeated Trump’s words, but like the Israeli government, refrained from using the word “all.” In Witkoff’s words: “Hamas is a terrorist organization and must not be allowed to be part of the government in Gaza. It’s an unhealthy situation, and they need to go. And the president said everything we all need to know, which is that on Saturday at 12:00 he expects different events—and if not, then it will be a big problem.”

Meanwhile, the IDF has caught several attempts at smuggling good to Hamas via the aid caravans—particularly communication devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, which Hamas can use to get reorganized.

Defense Minister Katz issued a harsh warning that any organization caught smuggling, would have their entire organization cut from operating in Gaza.

Gaza:

The IDF carried out a drone strike in Rafah this morning, targeting two suspects who collected smuggled goods flown into Gaza from Egypt on a drone. The IDF tracked the drone during its entire flight, and hit it once it was collected. One suspect was killed, the other wounded. The Egyptian drone smuggling has become and increasingly large problem, with both drugs and weapons being smuggled over the borders, into Israel and Gaza.

Hamas is paranoid (and rightly so). Senior Hamas officials in Gaza were instructed to disconnect their phones, and find hiding places, because they think that the IDF left listening devices across Gaza. (I can confirm that the IDF did leave listening devices, and other devices that Hamas can’t imagine.)

For the second time this week, the IDF searched an Israeli border community after suspicions of an infiltration, or “security incident.” First it was in Yad Mordechai (near Northernmost Gaza), and today it was around Sufa (near Southern Gaza and Egypt). Both resulted in the the security incident being ruled out. The IDF is clearly on high alert, and taking extra precautions.

A new study published in the scientific journal of the “Israel National Institute For Health Policy Research,” explored aid transferred to Gaza in the time period from January 2024 until July 2024. The data showed that 478,229 tons of food entered Gaza during that time, after adjusting for expected food loss. Added up, that meant that Gaza was provided with a supply of 3,000 calories of food per person per day, including 98 grams of protein, 61 grams of fat, and 23 mg of iron.

The hostages were given an average of 250 calories per day, some even less.

Professor Ronit Endevelt, nutritionist at the University of Haifa School of Public Health and former director of the Ministry of Health’s Nutrition Department, who co-authored the study, concluded: “If the population didn’t receive food, it’s because distribution wasn’t equitable by those controlling the territory, meaning Hamas.”

Egypt has been desperately trying to stop Trump’s Gaza deportation plan. Today they announced that they created a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, without removing the residents from the strip. There is significant skepticism that Egypt’s plan will be viable at all, due to the extent of the destruction.

Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan are planning a smaller summit ahead of the upcoming Arab summit in Cairo. During the summer they will join together to present a unified stance calling for the rebuilding of Gaza and a Palestinian State.

As a reminder, the IDF specifically destroyed buildings that were used by Hamas and the PIJ for terrorism and to fight against IDF troops. The extent of the damage is only a reflection of the extent to which Hamas embedded themselves within civilian infrastructure, and the extent to which the civilians supported Hamas in doing so. Two thirds of Gaza is destroyed, without the IDF even entering Central Gaza, Maning, Hamas embedded themselves within more than two thirds of the population.

Judea & Samaria:

Operation Iron Wall is ongoing in Jenin, Tulkarem, Tubas, the Tamun area, Shechem (Nablus), and Nur Shams.

In street battles in Nur Shams today, IDF commandos eliminated an armed terrorist, and seized his weapon. An IDF soldier was moderately wounded in the battle.

Late at night, flares were seen over Jenin, and and gun battles were heard.

Lebanon:

The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, announced that the Iranian regime has been smuggling funds to Hezbollah in Lebanon, through civilian flights to the Beirut International Airport.

“The IDF remains in contact with the monitoring mechanism for implementing the ceasefire and continuously shares specific information to thwart these smuggling operations,” Avichay wrote. “Despite ongoing efforts, our assessments indicate that some of these money-smuggling attempts have succeeded. The IDF will not allow Hezbollah to arm itself and will act through all available means to enforce the ceasefire agreements and ensure the security of Israeli citizens.”

There are various conflicting reports whether the IDF will fill withdraw from Lebanon on February 18th, or whether they requested an extension until the 28th. Some reports say that the IDF will fully withdraw, while others say that the IDF will hold onto several key locations in the southeast area of Lebanon, to protect the most geographically vulnerable Israeli communities.

Yemen:

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen are threatening to renew attacks on Israel if the Gaza ceasefire collapses.

Iran:

After Ayatollah Khameini announced that he wouldn’t negotiate under pressure, and called to expand the IRGC army in response to threats, two major U.S. papers reported that Israel is preparing to bomb Iran. The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal wrote that there is evidence that Israel is preparing to attack Iran. This information is nothing new, but perhaps commissioned to scare Iran enough to sit at the negotiating table.

Other:

– New evidence shows that USAID sent hundreds of millions to Hamas, which enabled Hamas to carry out the October 7th attack, and continue fighting Israel. According to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, the USAID officials knew and internally recognized that the funds were going to Hamas, but lied about it on documentation. Just six days before the October 7th attack, USAID sent $900,000 to a Gaza charity which was known to support Hamas, and was involved with the son of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh. In a more ridiculous example, cited by Congressman Mike Lawler, USAID paid $3 million to a rapper in Gaza to produce anti Israel and antisemitic rap music.

– The Jerusalem District Court has issued an unprecedented seizure order of 485 million shekels from frozen Palestinian Authority (PA) funds to compensate families of victims murdered on October 7 in the Gaza Envelope and at the Nova Festival. This marks the largest asset seizure to date in the ongoing lawsuits filed by terror victims’ families.
The lawsuit, filed by Arbus Kedem Tzur law firm, represents 245 victims and their families, including Nova festival attendees killed at Kibbutz Re’im. So far, the firm has filed claims totaling 5 billion shekels on behalf of 750 murdered and injured individuals.
The case argues that the PA initiated, supported, and encouraged terrorism against Israeli citizens and financially rewards perpetrators and their families.

– Following lessons learned from October 7th, the Air Force will now be allowed immediate mobilization of air power during surprise attacks, without needing to wait for permission from IDF HQ, or cabinet votes to war.

– Israel Army Radio raised concerns, after the Egyptian Defense Minister ordered military brigades in the Sinai and Rafah regions to maintain the highest level of preparedness for war. Hundreds of Egyptian tanks line the border, in a direct violation of the Camp David Accords.

This update is sponsored anonymously, with the message: Am Yisrael Chai!