War Day 606: Rocket Fired from Syria, Hamas Disrupts Gaza Aid

War Summary, Day 606: Israel still trying to negotiate for hostages; Hamas not budging, troops find 100 rocket components, Hamas pretending that the IDF is killing Gazans receiving aid, Gaza civilians are beginning to fight back against Hamas and lynching terrorists, two missiles from Houthis, 20 terrorists arrested in Judea and Samaria, rockets launched at Israel from Syria, and another Egypt smuggling intercepted.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

58 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,849 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:

– Israel still trying to negotiate for hostages; Hamas not budging
– Three heroes fell in Gaza
– IDF releases first map of ongoing activity
– Troops find 100 rocket components
– Hamas pretending that the IDF is killing Gazans receiving aid
– Hamas is killing Gazans who are walking to receive the aid
– Gaza civilians are beginning to fight back against Hamas and lynching terrorists
– U.S. sent a proposal to Iran—awaiting response
– Two missiles from Houthis
– Reports that the deal might temporarily allow Iran to continue uranium enrichment—to just 3%
– 20 terrorists arrested in Judea and Samaria
– Rockets launched at Israel from Syria
– Another Egypt smuggling intercepted

Hostages:

Despite Hamas’s rejection of the Witkoff framework for a hostage-ceasefire deal, Israel is still making an effort to achieve a deal. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, spoke with the Prime Minister of Qatar today, in an effort to pressure Hamas to soften their stance, and accept the Witkoff framework.

Hamas has agreed to negotiate, but is sticking with their demands—for a permanent ceasefire, full IDF withdrawal, no Hamas disarmament, and only half the hostages freed.

Hamas’s leadership is crumbling, and the terror group is turning from an organized militia to smaller guerrilla fighters. There are concerns that the hostages will be separated from the umbrella group, and will be exclusively at the mercy of the individual terrorists holding them.

This could either be a danger—if the captors are cruel and stubborn, or good—if the captors are willing to give the hostages up in exchange for cash and a safe exit from Gaza.

Gaza:

The IDF announced the names of three heroes who fell in Northern Gaza on Shavuot:

Staff Sgt. Lior Steinberg, 20, a combat medic, from Petach Tikva
Staff Sgt. Ofek Barhana, 20, a combat medic, from Yavne
Staff Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, 22, a squad commander, from Maale Adumim

The three were operating in Jabalia, when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device.

The terrorists who planted the explosives, came out of an attack tunnel, of which the exit was hidden in a partially demolished building. IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin explained that this is why the IDF needs to fully destroy every building in Gaza

“Nearly every other building is booby-trapped and contains a tunnel entrance,” Defrin said. “We are demolishing these homes, not for the sake of destroying. Every building that is destroyed posed an operational threat, and could harm our forces.”
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The IDF has been carrying out an average of 30-50 airstrikes daily, and a lot more shelling and controlled explosives. Over the night of Shavuot, Israelis in Southern Israel (and even some further north), heard many loud explosions from Gaza. These were likely from combat engineers blowing up building in Gaza, which were deemed to be a threat. The engineers fill old vehicles with explosive materials, and roll the vehicle into the building for the explosion. This results in a very loud noise, but is efficient and cost-effective. (They’ve been doing this since the beginning of the war, but people didn’t question every loud boom back then ;))

The IDF finally published a map of operations of each division in Gaza, and their current whereabouts (of course always with a couple days delay).

Five divisions continue to operate in Gaza: Division 162 is operating in Northern Gaza, with Division 252 pushing into Gaza City and the Netzarim Corridor. 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.

Most divisions are operating in areas which they are already familiar with from previous battles—only this time, they get to fully destroy all of the Hamas infrastructure, so that it doesn’t become a danger again.

The 98th Division is made up of commando units, and takes the biggest risks. They’ve made significant advances into Khan Younis, and are now pushing deep into the city, including into parts where the IDF has not previously operated.

On the other side of Khan Younis, the Kfir Brigade (under Division 36) located an arms depot with over 100 rocket components and military equipment—all of which they promptly destroyed.

While the IDF still has not entered Central Gaza, today an airstrike hit a school where civilians were sheltering—and of course Hamas terrorists made into a command and control center. The IDF had already warned civilians to avoid the building and the terrorists who frequent it. The IDF took additional steps to mitigate harm to civilians.
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Reports are emerging from Gaza of civilians lynching Hamas terrorists, out of anger. It’s still small groups, and infrequent, but a significant step and sign of Hamas’s imminent collapse.

Humanitarian Aid:

The American-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been handing out millions of meals daily, directly to Gazans from three distribution sites. This process cuts Hamas out, so that they can no longer profit off the aid, or use it to control the Gazans.

Despite strong efforts from Hamas to stop Gazans from going to GHF distribution sites, hundreds of thousands of Gazans are lining up to receive a food box. The distribution sites were not built for this capacity, which led to frequent over crowding.

Distribution will be paused tomorrow, while the IDF renovates the GHF distribution sites in order to be able to service the larger crowds. Gazans were warned not to near the sites at all tomorrow, since it will be considered an active combat zone.
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On Sunday, Hamas and the Red Crescent on Gaza, claimed that the IDF shot and killed 24+ civilians who were standing in line for aid. International media quickly picked up in this story and reported it as fact, before the GHF and IDF proved it to be false. Security footage of the site at the alleged time of the shooting, shows no unusual activity or shooting.

The IDF late published surveillance footage taken about one kilometer from distribution sites, in which Hamas terrorists are seen shooting at civilians who were on their way to collecting aid.
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In separate incidents, IDF troops fired warning shots towards suspects who approached GHF sites from unauthorized routes, about 500 meters from the entrance. In addition to instructions to stay on designated safe routes, Gazans were told not to approach the distribution centers before 5 a.m., as the IDF operates in the area at night. Hamas appears to be sending people to break the rules, so that they can exaggerate deaths, and disable the GHF.

Yemen:

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen fired two ballistic missiles at Israel, since Shavuot: One on Tuesday night, and one on Monday night. Both activated sirens in the massive areas from Netivot to Yerushalayim, with Tel Aviv and its suburbs in the middle.

Both were successfully intercepted, thank G-d.

Iran:

According to the White House spokesperson, Steve Witkoff sent a detailed proposal to the Iranian regime, and now the U.S. is waiting for a positive response—otherwise the U.S. will turn to bombing Iran.

Axios reports that the proposal allows Iran to continue enriching uranium to the level of just 3%, and won’t completely destroy—but just dismantle—the factories. Other reports (such as the New York Times), say that this is only for an initial stage, which will be a step towards zero enrichment and zero factories.

Judea & Samaria:

Over Shavuot, Israeli security forces carried out counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, and arrested 20 suspected terrorists, and confiscated ”Carlo” type weapons.

Forces also operated in the Ramallah area, where they surrounded the homes of four terrorists at the same time, and successfully arrested all of them.

Today, troops noticed a terrorist who was throwing large stones at a civilian traffic route, as well as two bottles containing a dangerous substance. The terrorist was “neutralized.”

Syria:

At 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, an Iranian-backed terror group in Syria fired two rockets into Israel’s Golan Heights. The rockets impacted an empty areas near Ramat Magshimim. Thank G-d, no physical injuries were reported.

This is the first rocket attack against Israel from Syria in just over a year—and the first since the new Al-Julani regime kicked out Assad. The rocket was fired from the Tasil area, around 12 kilometers from Israel’s border.

The IDF initially responded with artillery shelling towards the site of the launch. Hours later, the IDF carried out several airstrikes in Southwestern Syria—but has not yet explained.

Defense Minister Israel Katz put the responsibility on Al-Jolani, to remove terror groups from Syria, and especially along the Syria-Israel border.

Al-Jolani in return separated himself from the rocket terrorists, calling them “bad actors,” and accusing them of trying to destabilize the region. He also condemned Israel’s retaliatory strikes, and called on the international community to stop them.

Other:

Once again: The IDF Intercepted a drone, which was smuggling weapons from Egypt into Israel. The drone was found to contain 11 rifles and ammunition.

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Sponsored by Ellen: In memory of my friend Judi Haggai Weinstein and her husband Gadi, and Yaron, Sara, Tzele and all the hostages and victims of terror and their families and our worldwide Jewish family that grieves and mourns these horrors.