War Day 594: Hamas Steals Aid, New Shin Bet Chief

War Summary, Day 594: IDF prepares to expand Gaza maneuver, Hamas steals more aid, Houthis fire three missiles at Israel, Houthi missile launch fails and blows up their own warehouse and kills terrorists, 20 terrorists with bombs arrested in Yehudah and Shomoron, Netanyahu announces new Shin Bet pick, and unusual heavy airstrikes in Lebanon.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

58 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,844 Israelis killed.
424 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,725 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:

– More details give wider picture of IDF activity in Gaza
– Preparations to expand maneuver
– IDF makes unusual move in Central Gaza
– IDF calculates there is enough food in Gaza
– Hamas stole aid again
– New aid delivery system to begin on Sunday
– Houthis fire three missiles at Israel
– Houthi missile failure blows up warehouse, kills terrorists
– U.S.—Iran talks to take place in Rome on Friday
– 20 terrorist suspects arrested in Judea and Samaria
– Heavy airstrikes in Lebanon
– Terror attack in Washington
– Netanyahu announces new Shin Bet pick

Hostages:

France is reportedly working with Saudi Arabia to create a proposal in which Hamas would disarm. This is unlikely to lead to anything, since Hamas is unwilling to disarm, and neither France nor Saudi Arabia are trustworthy guarantors to ensure they do.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes today. However, a tank commander was seriously injured in combat in Northern Gaza.

Heavy airstrikes continue in Gaza, as troops continue with the shaping operations for Operation Gideon’s Chariot. In a few more days, the IDF will introduce more brigades into Gaza, and significantly increase operations.

In all areas of Gaza, troops are operating slower than in early war operations, focusing on depth, and gaining a real hold. Gaza has a shocking and unfathomable amount of tunnels, and many (even most) were missed or not fully destroyed in earlier operations. In order to keep a real hold on Gaza, these tunnels need to be fully cleared. Soldiers are also facing an immense amount of booby-traps, in every building and alleyway, and therefore need to work with caution and destroy most infrastructure before moving ahead. Some areas have a lot more tunnels and explosive traps than others, and these are where troops are operating now.

For the first time, the IDF published the activity of Division 98, in Khan Younis, Southern Gaza. Here’s what we can now say about activity in Gaza, from north to south:

Division 252, which has been operating for two months already, is still active in Northern Gaza, primarily focused on the buffer zone areas, which they are continuing to expand. The 162nd Division, which entered more recently, is pushing forward into the outskirts of Gaza City.

Today the IDF expanded the evacuation notice in Northern Gaza, to include the remainder of Beit Lahiya, Saladin, and Jabaliya, and all areas right up to the outskirts of Gaza City.

The IDF is still only holding half of the Netzarim Corridor, leaving the coastal side open.

The 98th Division is now operating in the eastern part of Khan Younis, and slowly advancing towards the area of the European Hospital, where Muhammad Sinwar was eliminated. In the last few days, they’ve had several intense battles, including several close-combat encounters. They destroyed over 200 terror infrastructures so far, and coordinated hundreds of airstrikes.

Division 36 is continuing to build the Morag Corridor, which gets right up to Khan Younis on its southern side, and cuts off Rafah. Almost all of Rafah has been taken over by Divisions 36 and 143 (the Gaza Division), but a few neighborhoods remain. It’s in this area where the IDF is expected to soon set up the first Hamas-free humanitarian zone.

The Gaza Division is operating primarily in Rafah, but in several other areas as well, mostly along the buffer zone and Netzarim Corridor.

**

Central Gaza remains the most problematic area. The IDF has barely entered it at all, likely due to the amount of hostages being held there, and the risk to their lives. Today, the IDF tried something new.

The IDF issued a warning to Gazans living in the Deir al-Balah area (Central Gaza), to stay away from specific locations where Hamas terrorists are operating. The IDF gave a map, identifying their locations in civilian infrastructure, and included photos of the commanding terrorists. The locations included a municipality building, an educational institution, a hospital, and a tent camp.

The IDF did not indicate that they would strike these areas—perhaps because hostages are being held in, under, or near them. But they are pushing the locals to direct anger towards them, and perhaps hoping to get the terrorists to move or at least feel paranoid. Time will tell—this is an areas to keep your eyes on.

Humanitarian Aid:

In recent days, hundreds of trucks have entered Gaza, including significant quantities of baby food and flour for bakeries. Part of this aid has been collected and delivered by UN agencies, the rest sits waiting at the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

According to COGAT (the IDF and government department which coordinates aid to Gaza) assessment, there is no food shortage in Gaza at this time.

Addressing the “14,000 babies will die” libel, COGAT wrote: “Tom Fletcher’s false claims are not only disingenuous — they represent a cynical political manipulation. His statements are based on IPC projections, whose credibility has repeatedly been disproven. The UN continues to amplify Hamas-driven, false narratives.”

PM Netanyahu also addressed the libel, and added: “Since October 7th, Israel has sent 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza. That’s right. 92,000 aid trucks. That includes 1.8 million tons of aid. 1.8 million tons of aid – more than enough food to feed everyone in Gaza.”

The problem is that Hamas steals the aid, and sells it at exorbitant prices for a heavy profit.

Even today, despite UN promises: Hamas stole sacks of flour, and is storing them in the ICU of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. This is the hospital that the IDF warned about, which is now being used as a Hamas headquarters. It may also be holding hostages. (As reported by local Gazans, on X.)

**
The new aid delivery system, with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), is expected to begin operations on Sunday. The GHF plans to distribute over 300 million meals over a 90-day period. The system is supposed to cut Hamas off from the aid.

Yemen:

The Houthis in Yemen have been busy, and fired three missiles at Israel in under 24 hours.

All launches were successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses, thank G-d.

After a 3 am launch at Tel Aviv, a 12 pm launch activated sirens in the Jerusalem area and spots near the Dead Sea. Later, at 4 am (already Friday morning), another launch activated sirens in the Tel Aviv area.

Meanwhile, around 2 am, there was a massive explosion at a warehouse near the Sanaa airport in Yemen, causing around a dozen deaths. The explosion is assumed to have been caused by a failed missile launch in a missile warehouse, and the deaths were likely all Houthi terrorists.

Iran:

On Friday, the U.S. will be holding another round of negotiations with Iran, aimed to prevent them from obtaining nuclear weapons. The negotiations will take place in Rome.

Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Chief Dedi Barnea, will meet with Steve Witkoff (U.S. negotiation lead) in Rome, alongside the negotiations.

Israel is hoping that the U.S. won’t come to an agreement that allows Iran to enrich uranium in any way.

Judea & Samaria:

Israeli security forces* operated throughout Judea and Samaria overnight (Wednesday), and arrested 20 wanted terrorists, and confiscated four firearms and 15 prepared explosive devices.

Seven terrorists were arrested in Qalqilya and nearby Bal’a, where four explosive devices, an M4 rifle, a hunting weapon, and additional arms were confiscated.

Two weapons were confiscated in the Hebron area. 11 explosive devices were found in the village of Beit Ummar

Security forces demolished the home of the terrorist who killed Gideon Perry HYD in August 2024.

*In Judea and Samaria, a range of Israeli security forces work together, usually consisting of IDF forces, Border Police, and Shin Bet officers.

Lebanon:

It was a busy day in Lebanon.

After issuing an evacuation warning, the IDF struck and destroyed a building in Toul (near Nebatieh), in Southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah was storing missiles.

More airstrikes were carried out in areas throughout Southern Lebanon, such as in Tyre, Toulin, and Reyhan (no evacuation warnings were given for areas not populated by civilians). The targets contained rocket launchers, missiles, and other terrorist infrastructure.

Further into Lebanon, the IDF struck a military site containing rocket launchers and weapons in the Bekaa Valley.

Earlier in the day, an IDF airstrike eliminated a terrorist from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces. The IDF has eliminated more than 150 Hezbollah terrorists since the ceasefire in November 2024.

The IDF is doing the job that the Lebanese Armed Forces are supposed to be doing, as apart of the ceasefire agreement, in order to keep Hezbollah out of Southern Gaza, and prevent them from rearming. The IDF may also be putting extra effort into disarming Hezbollah now, to prevent them from joining in on a possible attack from Iran. Several in southern Lebanon report that this was the most strikes since the ceasefire went into place.

Syria:

Israel and Turkey reached an agreement in principle to coordinate activity in Syria, in order to prevent incidents or accidental clashes between the two countries. A hotline was established between the two countries, similar to the hotline that existed between Israel and Russia in Assad’s Syria.

This arrangement came out of negotiations between Israel and Turkey which were held in Azerbaijan, a mutual ally.

Washington:

Last night, two Israeli diplomats were murdered in Washington, by a pro-Palestinian activist.

The victims were Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The shooter brutally used 21 bullets, before shouting that he did it to free Palestine.

Other:

Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed Maj. Gen. David Zini as the next Shin Bet chief, to replace Ronen Bar when he resigns mid-June.

Zini currently serves as the head of the IDF Training Command and General Staff Corps. Zini is a war hero, with an impressive track of commanding various elite units as he climbed the ranks. He also served as military secretary to various defense ministers.

In March 2023, David Zini prepared a report for the commander of the Gaza Division, warning that in almost every sector, the IDF was at high risk of and unprepared for a surprise terrorist raid.

On October 7th, when the war broke out, he drove down to the Gaza border, and personally fought alongside IDF soldiers in Kibbutz Mefalsim, where he eliminated around 30 terrorists, and prevented a larger massacre from hitting the small community. During the war, he was the first senior IDF official to adopt the concept and call for a “total victory” over Hamas.

Major General Zini is also credited for establishing the new Charedi brigade, “Chashmonaim.” He personally may with over 100 rabbis from all walks of life in the Charedi sector, and led a significant effort to create a brigade where charedim can serve while preserving—and even growing in—their charedi values and lifestyle.

Zini is religious, and lives in Moshav Reshet in the Golan Heights with his wife Naomi and 11 children. He grew up in a religious family of 12.

There are still several steps and political bumps ahead of Zini before he can take office in the Shin Bet.

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