War Day 561: Houthis Fear New Pager Operation, Hamas Trucks Destroyed

War Summary, Day 561: Cabinet debates whether to continue pressuring Hamas to release hostages or to move to full war, IDF destroys 40 Hamas heavy trucks, the IDF has expanded operations in Gaza, Rafah and other areas are getting fattened, terrorists arrested and many illegal weapons found in Judea and Samaria, and IDF eliminates two terrorist commanders in Lebanon.

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.
30,715 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
10,000 Israelis estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Cabinet debates whether to continue pressuring Hamas to release hostages, or to move to full war.
– IDF destroys 40 Hamas heavy trucks
– The IDF has expanded operations in Gaza, but has not approved publication.
– Rafah and other areas are getting fattened
– Terrorists arrested and many illegal weapons found in Judea and Samaria
– IDF eliminates two terrorist commanders in Lebanon

Hostages:

The government security cabinet is meeting tonight, and according to Israel Hayom, is likely debating clashing opinions on whether to continue negotiations for a deal, or to turn to a war at full force.

Finance Minister Smotrich and Minister Struck believe that the negotiations are not going anywhere good, and it’s time to bring the IDF’s full power to Gaza, to completely defeat Hamas in a powerful and decisive war.

PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz believe that there is still a possibility of reaching a deal to free the remaining hostages (or at least some of them), as long as they continue the current “maximum pressure” method. The two do not want to call up all the reservists for a full operation, and then have to pause for a deal with all reservists present. The reservists have already spent the majority of their last year and a half away from home and in service. To call them up when they’re not needed would severely harm morale. There is also a legal limit to the amount of days soldiers are allowed to spend on reserve duty per year, and the IDF need to be careful not to waste them.

While Netanyahu and Katz aren’t yet ready to depart from the current method and maneuver to a full war, there is a feeling that it will come soon. Smotrich and others in the cabinet are asking for a clear deadline to be given.

Gaza:

A siren was activated in the city of Sderot just before midnight. It was determined to be a false alarm.

In a less common series of airstrikes, the Israeli Air Force targeted 40 heavy trucks that were used by Hamas and the PIJ for terror purposes, such as: breaking down the border fence on October 7th, digging bunkers and tunnels, and locating buried weapons and rockets.

The IDF is continuing to clear terror infrastructure from the areas added to the buffer zone, and Rafah. Hamas laid huge amounts of booby-traps, in almost every building. The IDF are destroying any building that is suspected to be trapped or contain other dangerous terror infrastructure. An estimated 60% of buildings in Rafah have been flattened, and in total, at least 75% of buildings are uninhabitable.

The IDF is maintaining a high level of ambiguity over action in Gaza, in order to keep Hamas guessing. There are significant areas where the IDF is operating, but have not yet announced.

Heavy action is taking place in Southern Gaza from Khan Younis to Rafah, and residents of Israeli border communities in the area were warned that loud explosions will be heard through the night.

Around 40,000 Gazans who have foreign citizenship have left Gaza since the start of the war, and more are continuing to leave each day. Gazans are trying to figure out the “escape route,” or how to get transferred out of Gaza by the IDF. One Gazan wrote on social media today that after many attempts to reach the IDF to request transportation out of Gaza, he was told to meet at a gate of the Netzarim corridor I’m Gaza at a specific time for a planning meeting.

Judea & Samaria:

The IDF arrested 10 suspected terrorists in overnight operations throughout Judea and Samaria.

In the village of A-Ram, the forces located a weapons cache containing three M16 rifles, nine airsoft pistols, gas grenades, knives, weapon parts, and ammunition. In the village of Yatta, troops located a weapons cache containing an M16 rifle, a pistol, a Carlo-type weapon, a hunting rifle, and additional weapons.

Security forces demolished the home of terrorist Muhammad Shahab, who carried out the ramming attack at the Nir Zvi intersection that killed Captain Ariel Topaz and injured three other soldiers.

Lebanon:

The Israeli Air Force eliminated two terrorists in Southern Lebanon today:

1. Hussein Izzat Muhammad Atwi, a key terrorist in the Jama’ah al-Islami, a terror group which is linked to Hamas in Lebanon. Al-Islami was behind the planning of several attacks against Israel, including planned attacks overseas, and rocket fire
2. An unnamed Hezbollah commander who was operating to reestablish Hezbollah’s capabilities in Southern Lebanon.

Yemen:

American sources told Al-Arabiya that since the start of the operation in Yemen, more than 500 Houthi terrorists and activists have been eliminated, including senior officials.

The Houthis are putting on a show of being confident, but are actually panicking due to the U.S. strikes, and nearing their end. Out of fear of a potential pager-like operation, the Houthis have confiscated all electronic devices from their members, and reverted to outdated communication methods. They are also punishing anyone who shares footage or information about U.S. airstrikes.

Iran:

U.S. President Trump wrote on social media: “I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue.”