War Day 600: Israel Destroys Houthis’ Last Plane, Netanyahu Hints to Unknown Concern in Iran

War Summary, Day 600: Coalition members don’t want a partial hostage deal, U.N. helps Hamas sabotage the new distribution system, Israel destroys Houthis last plane, Netanyahu hints to unknown grave concern in Iran, tensions between Israel and U.S. over negotiations with Iran, Netanyahu reveals that Israel repelled Iran jets from Syria, and Israel used a new laser technology to intercept dozens of Hezbollah drones.

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.
30,730 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:

– Witkoff feels optimistic about a new hostage proposal
– Coalition members don’t want a partial deal
– Hamas in self preservation mode
– New aid distribution system is collapsing Hamas
– Hamas desperately tries to sabotage new aid distribution, fails
– U.N. helps Hamas sabotage the new distribution system
– Israel destroys Houthis last plane
– Netanyahu hints to unknown grave concern in Iran
– Tensions between Israel and U.S. over negotiations with Iran
– U.S. concerned: Israel could attack Iran in just 7 hours from decision
– $8.6 million in terrorist funds confiscated in Judea and Samaria
– Israel to continue hitting Hezbollah
– Netanyahu reveals: Israel repelled Iran jets from Syria
– Censorship removed: Israel used a laser to intercept dozens of Hezbollah drones

Hostages:

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff says that the U.S. is about to send a new proposal for a hostage and ceasefire agreement. Witkoff says he has “a good feeling about” reaching a longterm ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas is continuing with their psychological games, and claims that they have reached an agreement with Witkoff, which they say includes:

– The release of 10 living hostages, and some bodies
– Release of a number of terrorists from Israeli prisons
– A permanent ceasefire
– Complete IDF withdrawal
– Free flow of humanitarian aid
– A new professional committee that will take control of the administration of Gaza—immediately after the agreement is announced.

Hamas’s supposed agreement doesn’t include their disarmament, or exile from Gaza—which means that Israel won’t accept it. It’s unlikely that Witkoff would agree to a deal that he knows crosses all of Israel’s red lines.

However, Witkoff has expressed optimism about a deal being shaped. And Netanyahu is obsessed with returning all the hostages. In a speech in the Knesset today, he said, “For me, every hostage is a whole world. I am focused on the goal of returning all the hostages, both alive and dead. There are at least 20 more hostages alive.”

It is unclear what kind of deal is in the making—nor whether Prime Minister Netanyahu can get his government coalition to approve it without collapsing.

Minister Betzalel Smotrich responded to reports to day by saying that it is not the time for a deal—especially not a partial one that only releases some of the hostages. Hamas is under tremendous pressure, and Smotrich says that this pressure is only just about to reach its peak, as the new aid distribution mechanism is pulling out Hamas’s reign of control over the people in Gaza.

“It would be delusional folly to release pressure now and sign a partial deal with them that would give them oxygen and a lifeline and allow them to recover,” Smotrich said. “I will not allow such a thing to happen. Period.”

If Smotrich won’t support it, you can be 200% sure that Ben Gvir won’t, and Netanyahu’s government coalition won’t survive if a partial agreement is signed now.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, no fallen heroes or serious injuries were announced.

In the words of PM Netanyahu: “We are at a dramatic turning point in the last two days towards eliminating Hamas’s governing capabilities.”

Five divisions continue to operate in Gaza: Division 162 is operating in Northern Gaza, with Division 252 pushing into Gaza City. Division 36 is in southern Khan Younis, while Division 98 is pushing into Khan Younis from the east side. The Gaza Division (143) is holding the Rafah area, Morag Corridor, and buffer zone, while continuing to clear and expand the areas.

The number of average daily airstrikes has decreased from a hundred to “dozens” (which usually means around 35). Targets include a rocket launcher that was recently used to target Israel, terrorists, Hamas military buildings, anti-tank positions used to fire at IDF troops, weapons depots, and other terrorist infrastructure.

The decrease in airstrikes does not signify a decrease in activity—but because most “clean” targets have already been destroyed, and most terrorists are fleeing or hiding underground. Most of the remaining Hamas infrastructure known to the IDF is more complicated to strike, either because it is too close to hostages, or too full of civilians who have not yet been evacuated.

While some terrorists are putting up a fight, a majority have gone into hiding, and flee IDF positions. Hamas has almost no organizational ability anymore, and knows that they can’t hold back the IDF from advancing. Their only hope is a ceasefire—and so they are trying to preserve what they have left, so that they can rebuild once the IDF leaves. This doesn’t mean that they’re not fighting at all—Hamas needs to declare some kind of “victory” and show that they are still kicking. So small squads of terrorists are left to try and harm IDF forces, while the rest flee and hide.

**

Muhammad al-Mubayyad, the project manager for the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), was killed in an IDF airstrike today. There is significant evidence that he was a terrorist member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Many aid workers in Gaza are also confirmed Hamas or PIJ terrorists.

Humanitarian Aid:

Israel is currently facilitating two methods of aid delivering in Gaza: One through the new Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) mechanism which is designed to cut Hamas out, and one through the UN and other humanitarian agencies which have been active all along.

A total of 95 trucks entered Gaza today, only 8 for the GHF. Included in the delivery was important vaccines:

• 15,050 pneumococcal vials (for pneumonia), for 75,250 people
• 10,550 diphtheria vials, for 105,500 people.

The GHF successfully delivered the full contents of 8 trucks, which included 14,550 food packages—each of which is enough for about five people for 4.6 days, or a total of 840,262 meals.

The aid was delivered successfully today, without any incidents. Gazans filmed themselves celebrating the aid, and even thanking President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

This is in complete defiance of Hamas, who made desperate attempts to stop the GHF’s delivery methods. Hamas tried to block the roads, give out their own boxes (which they have been hoarding), and even made fake social media profiles for the GHF in which they announced that the distribution was halted due to disturbances.

Many western media sites picked up Hamas’s false information, and falsely published that the distribution sites were again overrun by mobs, and the delivery failed.

Senior Hamas leader, Osama Hamdan, who is living it up in Lebanon, gave a desperate and hypocritical plea: “We expect our great people to thwart the method of receiving aid today, just as they thwarted it yesterday. We trust that our people will endure hunger and not extend their hands to the occupier asking for aid!”

**

Not only did Hamas’s attempts fail, but Hamas has already begun to feel the consequences: Food prices in Gaza have dropped significantly (News 14). The food is primarily sold by Hamas employees, or taxed by Hamas. Price drops mean less money for Hamas. (The fact that aid delivered by the UN didn’t cause price drops should raise many questions.)

The people in Gaza have started to feel the freedom from Hamas, and raided a massive Hamas warehouse in Central Gaza. The warehouse, according to Gazans who raided it, contained tens of thousands of sacks of flour—enough to supply all of Gaza for two years. Hamas was hoarding it ini order to create an artificial famine.

Hamas opened fire on the crowd, and killed 5 civilians. However, the Gazans continued, and thousands entered and left with sacks of flour.

**

Hamas is not alone in trying to stop the GHF from delivering aid to Gazans. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, says that the UN has joined Hamas in an effort to sabotage the GHF.

According to Dannon, a number of major international non-government aid organizations decided to take part in the new aid initiative. These NGOs would have been able to personally distribute individual boxes of aid to elderly and disabled families who are unable to reach distribution sites.

The UN promptly removed those NGOs from then shared aid database, which is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza, and was created and approved under a UN General Assembly resolution.

The UN has worked alongside Hamas in Gaza for many years, and many of their employees in Gaza belong to Hamas and the PIJ. Aside from this, the UN has up of 13,000 employees in Gaza, and many more outside of Gaza working in related positions (such as Tom Fletcher who makes a very large salary, plus gifts). If the GHF succeeds in replacing the UN in Gaza, then thousands of UN staffers will be out of work.

**

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) is also putting up a fight. Today they announced that the IDF is blocking the delivery of food trucks needed for their kitchens in Gaza. The IDF (COGAT division) denied this, and says that 400 truckloads are waiting at the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, and the IDF has given a secure delivery route for the UN and WCK to pick up the air—but for some reason they’re not doing it. Meanwhile, some of the food is going bad.

Yemen:

The IDF attacked the central airport in Sanaa again, this time destroying the last airplane belonging to the Houthis. This airplane was used by the Houthis to transport terrorists who were attacking Israel. All other Houthi aircraft were destroyed in strikes on May 6th.

In a statement, Defense Minister Katz said that so long as the Houthis target Israel, the attacks will continue. “The ports in Yemen will continue to be struck heavily, and the airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures in the area used by the Houthi terror organization and its supporters.”

Iran:

In a speech today, Netanyahu hinted that Israel has serious concerns in Iran, which aren’t publicly known. “Iran is exposed,” he said, in reference to the air defenses which Israel destroyed. “But there is another grave threat, and we are also giving our opinion [to the Americans] on that.”

**

In a press conference today, a journalist asked U.S. President Trump if he wanted Netanyahu against attacking Iran. Trump responded in the affirmative, and then clarified:

“It’s not a warning, I said I don’t think it’s appropriate. We are having very good discussions with them [Iran], and I said I don’t think it’s appropriate right now.”

Trump said that he prefers to solve the nuclear issue with “a very strong document,” which would lead to blowing up the labs without anyone inside.

Trump added that this could change at any moment, with just a phone call. But right now, he prefers a deal that won’t lead to military strikes.

**

Senior Israeli officials, including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and Mossad Director David Barnea, met in the United States with Vice President JD Vance and Steve Witkoff to discuss the Iran talks.

Israel is very concerned about the U.S. making an agreement with Iran that will only buy Iran time while they continue with underground efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon.

According to reports from Ynet and Reuters, Iran is looking to make an agreement in which they will simply pause uranium enrichment for one year and ship part of its highly enriched stock abroad, or convert it into fuel plates for civilian nuclear purposes. In exchange, they want the U.S. to release billions of dollars of frozen funds, while talks continue.

The U.S. has not responded publicly, and officials say the proposal has not been presented at the talks so far.

**

If the U.S. does sign a faulty agreement with Iran, or continue allowing Iran to drag out talks, Israel will need to decide whether to accept it and risk an Iranian nuclear attack, or strike Iran and risk sabotaging the relationship with the U.S.

The U.S. is concerned about Israel undermining negotiations by attacking Iran. Someone in the Trump administration leaked intelligence to the New York Times, raising U.S. concerns that Israel could launch an attack on Iran within just 7 hours of making the decision. This means that the U.S. would have very little time to try and stop Israel.

Israel has struck nuclear reactors twice before, against U.S. wishes. Once in Iraq in 1981, and once in Syria in 2007. Israel faced repercussions both times, and both times the U.S. ended up thanking Israel later.

Judea & Samaria:

Israeli security forces operated overnight in Judea and Samaria, and arrested 18 terrorists, and confiscated a pistol with a cartridge, pipe bombs, and other weapons.

**

The Shin Bet and Israeli security forces continued ongoing operations to confiscate terrorist funds in Judea and Samaria. In a series of raids, the forces operated against illegal money exchange businesses which were serving terrorists.

In raids this week, Israeli forces seized over 7 million Israeli shekel ($2M) of terrorism funds, and arrested 30 wanted individuals with connections to the funds.

Since the start of the war, forces confiscated approximately 30 million shekel ($8.6M) of terrorist funds in Judea and Samaria.

Lebanon:

In an airstrike, the IDF eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist in Southern Lebanon who was attempting to rebuild the Yatir compound.

**
In an assessment today, IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Eyal Zamir, said: “The campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon is not over – we will pursue it and continue to weaken it [Hezbollah] until it collapses. We will continue to operate across the border in order to remove threats as they arise.”

A military source told Ynet that Hezbollah’s plan to invade Northern Israel has been completely destroyed, and no longer exists.

**
It is becoming more common in Lebanon to call for the end of Hezbollah’s terrorist military. Today, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister said: ”The Lebanese people no longer want “the triangle” – army, people, resistance [Hezbollah’s slogan]. Hezbollah is an illegal armed organization. I call on Hezbollah to hand over its weapons, establish a political party with its supporters, and send its fighters to live everyday lives.”

Syria:

For the first time, Netanyahu confirmed that the IDF proactively helped chase Iran out of Syria, allowing the Al-Julani regime to defeat Assad and march onto Damascus. In an address at the Knesset, he said: “Iran wanted to come to Assad’s aid from the east. I sent F-16 jets to deter their forward deployment, and they returned [to Iran].”

**
In recent weeks, IDF Division 210 and the Medical Corps have been operating a mobile triage and treatment facility in Khathar, southern Syria, to aid the local Syrian-Druze population. Over 500 Syrian civilians have received medical care so far.

The facility is part of a broader IDF effort to enhance security for residents of the Golan Heights by establishing a forward security zone, while also providing humanitarian assistance. Medical personnel and reservists operate the facility, which is equipped to handle various emergencies. IDF forces remain on alert to counter threats in the area.

Laser Beam:

Censorship lifted: During the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the IDF used a new laser system to intercept dozens of enemy drones, with a very high success rate. This is the first time a country successfully achieved large-scale operational success with laser weapons in combat. (China and the U.S. also have laser systems, but never proved them in real combat.)

The laser system used was a smaller version of the Iron Beam, which is being developed intercept rockets.

The laser used to intercept drones (UAVs) was a 30 kilowatt system. The larger system, which is expected to be ready before the end of 2025, uses just over 100 kilowatts to intercept rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missiles.

A system to intercept ballistic missiles will take more time to develop, and would need up to 1,000 kilowatts.

The laser beam systems will cost pennies operate, in place of the billions spent on the current air defenses. However, there will still be gaps to fill:

One of the main challenges with UAVs from Lebanon is not interception, but detection. They can be small, and fly low, avoiding radars or confusing with birds.

Laser interception can take up to five seconds, which can pose a challenge in a heavy barrage at short range.

The lasers don’t work well through heavy clouds. Some propose that systems will need to be set up at height, or even be airborne (Jewish Space Lasers anyone?).

**
Sponsored anonymously, in the merit of the IDF and hostages—may G-d return them home in safety and victory.

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