War Summary, Day 653: Hamas in Gaza may be sabotaging negotiations for a deal, Hamas’s R&D guy in Gaza eliminated, for the very first time the IDF is preparing to operate in Deir al-Balah were hostages were believed to be held, many tunnels destroyed, advancements in Gaza City, Hamas bans reporters from photographing trucks of aid, and Iran claims to have replaced air defense systems.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

50 held captive in Gaza.
28 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
57 hostage bodies rescued.
1,910 Israelis killed.
454 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
32,355 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Hamas in Gaza may be sabotaging negotiations for a deal
– Hamas’s R&D guy in Gaza eliminated
– For the very first time the IDF is preparing to operate in Deir al-Balah
– Many tunnels destroyed
– Advancements in Gaza City
– Hamas bans reporters from photographing trucks of aid
– Iran claims to have replaced air defense systems
– Massacres of Druze in Syria—world remains silent.

Hostages:

Israel and the mediating countries (the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar) are waiting for Hamas to respond to the most recent ceasefire proposal.

According to Barak Ravid’s sources, Hamas officials in Qatar are inclined to accept the deal, and are under pressure from Qatar and Egypt to do so. However, the few surviving Hamas leaders in Gaza keep demanding more.

A senior U.S. official told Ravid, “There were times in the past when there was no agreement because of Israel. That is not the case now. The Israelis are bending over backwards to reach an agreement, and Hamas leaders are being hard-headed. If there is no agreement this time, it will be entirely Hamas’ fault.”

Gaza:

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes!

The IDF confirmed that on July 10th, terrorist Bashar Thabat was eliminated in an airstrike in the Nuseirat area. Thabat headed a department in the development and projects section of Hamas’s production headquarters. He was responsible for research and development processes for Hamas’s weapons production headquarters, and worked to restore and strengthen Hamas’s arsenal of weapons.

**

Over the past 24 hours, the Air Force struck approximately 75 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Among the targets struck were terrorists, military buildings, and other terror infrastructure.

Five IDF divisions are active in Gaza: Division 99 is in Beit Hanoun; Division 162 is also in Beit Hanoun, as well as in the Jabalia and Daraj & Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City; Division 98 is in eastern Gaza City and parts of Central Gaza; Division 36 is in Khan Younis; and the Gaza Division is in Rafah and the buffer zone.

Most interesting: For the very first time during this war, the IDF issues a complete evacuation warning for Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, warning that they will be operating in the city. Tanks were seen approaching from the southeast side, and at night, artillery was heard around the city. Until now, the IDF avoided Deir al-Balah because hostages are thought to be held there.

The IDF also gave a separate warning for almost all of northern Gaza—areas which were previously evacuated, but civilians returned to during the January-March ceasefire. Only a small part of eastern Gaza City is not under evacuation warning.

Division 98 has further expanded operations in Gaza City.

In Jabaliya, forces of Division 162 found and destroyed several underground tunnels, with a total length of 2.7 kilometers, and depth of 20 meters.

Division 99 and 162 have been doing some intense work in Beit Hanoun, destroying intensive Hamas infrastructure, including many tunnel networks. Massive explosions could be seen from miles away, and heard as far as Be’er Sheva.

The Gaza Division (143) is still locating and destroying tunnel shafts in southern Gaza.

The Paratrooper Brigade, who were operating in Khan Younis under the 36th Division, have been withdrawn from Gaza in preparation for their next mission in the Judea and Samaria sector.

**
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood for an assessment. Zamir said that the IDF is preparing to “implement new operational formations that will enhance our strengths, reduce our vulnerabilities, and deepen operational gains.”

Zamir said that he presented the options for the next operations to the political echelon, and a decision will soon be made as to how to advance forward.

Humanitarian Aid:

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) safely distributed 2 million meals today, without allowing Hamas to profit off it.

Hamas is spreading a massive campaign claiming that Israel is starving Gaza, preventing aid from entering, and shooting those who near food distribution sites.

The IDF’s COGAT division published a photo of a massive pileup of pallets of humanitarian aid waiting inside of Gaza for UN organizations to collect and deliver. The IDF also investigated reports, and found that no civilians were killed in or near GHF distribution sites.

Today, Hamas issued a warning to journalists in Gaza not to share any imaged of aid trucks entering any part of Gaza, so that Hamas can maintain the picture of a blockade and starvation.

Iran:

Iran’s Deputy for Operations, Mahmoud Mousavi, claimed today that Iran has replaced all air defense systems which were damaged or destroyed by Israel.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that Iran, Britain, France and Germany will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday.

Syria:

Violence inside the city of Suwayda seemed to come to a stop on Sunday, with some violence continuing on the city outskirts.

Syrian regime forces set up checkpoints around the city to prevent Sunni Bedouin tribes from entering the city to attack the Druze. However, late at night, ME24 reported that the Syrian government withdrew forces, and is allowing the tribal islamists to reenter Suwayda and resume the attacks.

According to Reema Naisseh, at least 79 Druze women and girls were kidnapped by Islamists, and their whereabouts are unknown. Many other horrific atrocities were recorded and published online, and verified to be accurate,

Joining in the Druze leaders, the leaders of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Suwayda also issued an urgent appeal to the world for help.

This evening, four Israeli helicopters were spotted landing in Suwayda, to deliver medical supplies.

Visegrad 24 claims that the IDF launched strikes against a military convoy of tribal Syrian forces who were advancing towards the positions of Druze in southern Syria.

Sponsored by Evelyn Fabrikant. Dedicated to all the Hayalim fighting and defending Klal Yisrael.

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