War Day 535: Hamas Pickup Trucks Destroyed, Terror Attack in Northern Israel

War Summary, Day 535: Egypt brings hostage-ceasefire proposal, Egypt threatens to expel Hamas terrorists from Egypt, signs of life from two hostages, rocket launches from Gaza, IDF expands positions in Gaza along buffer zone and further into Rafah, Hamas terrorist who plays Al Jazeera journalist eliminated, IDF targets over 100 of the notorious Hamas pickup trucks, terror attack in Northern Israel, and Yemen fires ballistic missile at Central Israel.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,828 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.
30,690 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
50,000 Israelis estimated displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Egypt brings hostage-ceasefire proposal
– Egypt threatens to expel Hamas terrorists from Egypt
– Hamas may agree to Egypt proposal
– Hamas published sign of life from two hostages in cruel video
– Two rocket launches from Gaza
– IDF expands positions in Gaza, along buffer zone and further into Rafah
– Hamas terrorist who plays Al Jazeera journalist eliminated
– IDF targets over 100 of the notorious Hamas pickup trucks
– Terror attack in Northern Israel: grandfather killed, soldier severely injured
-Oscar-winning stone thrower detained in Judea, along with others
– Yemen fires ballistic missile at Central Israel

Hostages:

According to reports in AP and Reuters, Egypt presented a new hostage-ceasefire proposal. The proposal would have Hamas release 5 living hostages, in exchanged for several weeks of a ceasefire, the release of hundreds of terrorists from Israeli prison, and the resumption of hundreds of trucks of humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza daily. During the ceasefire, negotiations would take place for the remaining hostages to be returned in exchange for a complete IDF withdrawal and end to the war.

Egypt reportedly threatened Hamas that if they don’t agree to the proposal, Egypt will expel the Hamas terrorists who are in Egypt. There are currently over 60 terrorists stuck in Egypt after being released from Israeli prison. The terrorists have no place to go, since no other country wants to take them in.

According to AP, Hamas is responding positively to this proposal, and may agree to it, though details need to be determined.

Israel’s opinion was not presented. Previously, Israel stated that it will only agree to the Witkoff framework, which would release at least 12 living hostages in the first phase. Egypt’s framework is similar, but returns far less hostages, with no viable path to return the remaining hostages. Netanyahu and the security leadership may believe that they can get more hostages released if the pressure is laid on for longer, and more Gazan land is taken first.

While Hamas doesn’t care much for the lives of Gazans, or even their own, they do care about land. Every inch of land taken is a devastating blow to them. Ynet says that Israel will be taking and holding land as leverage to bring the remaining hostages home.

Meanwhile, the Middle East Eye reports that Jordan also joined in the effort, by offering to exile 3,000 Hamas leaders in order to bring an end to the war.

Both Egypt and Jordan are under intense pressure to find a solution to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, out of fear that the Trump administration will otherwise force them to take in hundreds of thousands of Gazans.

Hamas has published a horrific, and obviously scripted, propaganda video showing signs of life from hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana. In the video, the hostages are made to identify only by numbers, echoing Holocaust sentiment.

Gaza:

Two rounds of rockets were launched at Israeli border communities in and around the city of Sderot today. The IDF intercepted the three rockets that entered Israel. No direct injuries were caused, but several were injured while running to shelter (the area has only 15 seconds warning) or suffered from shock. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) took credit for the attacks.

The rockets were launched from the Jabaliya area in Northern Gaza. Following the launch, the IDF issued an evacuation warning for the area. The IDF also reissued evacuation orders for Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, where troops are currently maneuvering.

Troops are now in Bait Lahiya and Beit Hanoun of Northern Gaza, the eastern half of the Netzarim Corridor in Central Gaza, the outskirts of Khan Younis in mid-Southern Gaza, and in the Shaboura and Tel Sultan neighborhoods of Rafah, Southern Gaza, as well as in the Philadelphi Corridor. In most of these areas, the IDF’s goal is to expand the buffer zone, giving Israel a wider security area, and thinning out Gaza.

Yesterday, troops encircled the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah. Today they began some operations in the neighborhood, and detained 30 suspected terrorists, of which at least one was identified to have participated in the October 7th massacre. In addition, around 20 terrorists were eliminated.

The troops, who entered Rafah via the Philadelphi Corridor on the southernmost border, pushed at least 3 km further into Rafah along the coast.

The IDF reported that after identifying a threat, troops in Rafah fired towards the building which it sourced from. The troops did not know that the building housed a Red Cross office. No one was hurt in the firing, and only minor damage was done to the building. The IDF is investigating the incident to prevent reoccurrence.

In a swoop of airstrikes all across Gaza, the IDF struck over 100 pickup trucks belonging to Hamas. These included the notorious trucks used on October 7th, and to parade the hostages. The trucks are frequently used by Hamas to transfer terrorists and weapons.

Amongst the eliminations today, was Hamas terrorist and Al Jazeera Journalist, Hossam Shabat. Hossam wore a journalist vest, but was also listed by Hamas as a sniper in the Beit Hanoun anti-tank unit. Back in October 2024, the IDF declassified the Hamas documents identifying him as such. Some of Mr. Shabat’s more famous journalist work includes his reports that the IDF was using a magical bomb that was making Gazans dissolve into thin air.

Terror Attack:

One man was killed, and a soldier is in serious condition after a terror attack near Yokne’am, Northern Israel.

The attack began when a terrorist rammed his vehicle into people waiting at a bus stop at the Tishbi Junction. He then jumped out of his car, stabbed a soldier, grab the soldier’s riffle, and began firing at traffic. The terrorist was stopped and eliminated by Israeli border police officers who, thank G-d, were driving through the area at that moment.

Moshe Horn, 85, was murdered in the attack, while driving his car. His son was in his car with him. Horn, a kibbutz elder, leaves four children and ten grandchildren.

A soldier in his 20s, who served as a heavy load truck driver, is fighting for his life in Rambam Hospital.

The terrorist was an Arab Israeli, from the Arab-majority town of Ma’ale Iron. After he was eliminated, police arrived at his home, and arrested accomplices.

Judea & Samaria:

On Sunday night, terrorists threw stones at Israeli civilians near Susya, in the Mount Hebron region, and damaged their vehicles. Some of the Israelis then threw stones back, in an effort to repel the terrorists.

When IDF and police forces arrived at the scene to disperse the tension, several terrorists began throwing stones at the security forces. In response, the troops arrested three suspects, and took them to the police station for questioning (contrary to claims, none of them were injured or pulled from ambulances).

It appears that one of the stone throwers who was arrested is none other than Hamdan Bilal, the Oscar-winning director of the film “No Other Land.”

An Israeli citizen who was injured in the incident was taken to receive medical treatment.

Over night, IDF forces arrested 18 wanted terrorists in various counterterrorism operations across Judea and Samaria. Forces also confiscated explosives, ammunition, and weapons. The IDF is quietly arresting massive numbers of terrorists who have proven ties to the various terror groups in Judea and Samaria. In addition to reducing the number of terrorists on the street, this is also building a supply of terrorists who can be exchanged for the release of hostages.

Yemen:

In the evening, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Central Israel. Air raid sirens were activated, and millions of Israelis were sent to shelter. The missile was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace. Following the interception, several pieces of shrapnel were found in the city of Beit Shemesh. Despite the missile being intercepted before entering Israel, the shrapnel often continues on its trajectory, and falls not far from the target. This is why sirens are still activated, sometimes even after the interception.

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