Hostage Updates:
Rumors that the IDF found the bodies of four additional hostages this weekend are unfortunately false.
Gaza Front Updates:
Hamas fired rockets at four communities on the Gaza border, and 10 rockets at Central Israel, setting alarms in the Tel Aviv area, and as far as the outskirts of Netanya. 2 rockets fell short in Gaza, one landed in an open field near Tel Aviv where it made a crater, and the rest were intercepted. Shrapnel from an interception damaged a family home in Herzilya. One person was lightly injured from shrapnel.
The rockets were launched from a civilian area in Rafah, from a site just 800 meters ahead of IDF advancements. The IDF earlier predicted that Hamas may try to use up some of their remaining long-range rockets in Rafah before the IDF finds them. The launch sites were struck by the Air Force after the attack.
The IDF announced the names of two heroes who fell in battle in Northern Gaza:
Staff Sgt. Betzalel Zvi Kovach, 20, from Jerusalem
Staff Sgt. Sahar Sudaei, 20, from Tel Aviv
Four divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 98th Division in Northern Gaza’s Jabaliya, the Gaza Division in limited pinpoint operations, the 99th Division along the Netzarim Corridor and Central Gaza, and the 162nd Division in Rafah. Over the last day, the Israeli Air Force struck over terror targets in Gaza, including weapons depots, rocket launchers, buildings used by terrorists, and terror cells.
While the IDF has made significant advancements in Jabaliya, battles remain some of the most intense seen since the start of the war, as troops engage in close-quarters combat through narrow alleyways and abandoned markets filled with hidden tunnels, weapons caches, and booby-trapped buildings. Over the last few days, troops eliminated around 100 armed terrorists from up close.
Also in Jabaliya, troops raided the home of the commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) northern Gaza Brigade, where they found valuable intelligence materials, alongside a cache of weapons. They also raided and demolished Hamas’s security HQ, which had previously been visited in December, but not yet destroyed, and found further intelligence materials. In a school building they found a large number of weapons and rockets.
In Rafah troops forged ahead and eliminated over 30 armed terrorists, while carrying out thorough searches, finding tunnels and weapons stockpiles.
A targeted airstrike eliminated Yassin Rabia, the commander of Hamas’s “West Bank” headquarters, along with Khaled Najjar, another senior official. Rabia personally carried out several deadly terror attacks since 2001, managed the transfer of funds for various terror activities, and directed terror attacks in Judea and Samaria. The airstrike, which the IDF says was carried out based on precise intelligence, was in the Tel Sultan area of northwestern Rafah.
Shortly after the strike, a fire broke out in a nearby displaced persons camp—it is unknown if the fire was triggered by the airstrike or other causes. Hamas claims that 35 people were killed in the strike and fire (earlier they said 50, but retracted that). The IDF says that it is aware of the reports of deaths from both the strike and fire, and will investigate—although the strike was completely legal.
Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:
127 trucks of food (on 1,806 pallets), were brought into Gaza via the JLOTS pier this week.
2,065 trucks of humanitarian aid were transferred to Gaza this week, via the Kerem Shalom and Erez Crossings—almost twice the amount of the previous week.
The JLOTS pier has so far proven to be a very inefficient solution.
The Rafah crossing remains closed, as Egypt refuses to transfer aid through it since Israel took over. Residents of Rafah say that this has led to a significant *drop* in food prices, since aid is now coming from Israel via the Kerem Shalom crossing, and is no longer being taxed by Egypt and Hamas.
Northern Front Updates:
Hezbollah continued to fire heavily on Israel’s far north. A man in his 40s was lightly injured in an anti-tank missile attack in Kiryat Shemona, and was evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
The IDF continued to respond with airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon, including targeted eliminations of at least 5 terrorists today.
Judea and Samaria Updates:
A terrorists attempted to stab IDF soldiers near the Beit Einun junction, but was eliminated by quick-thinking troops before he could do any harm.
International Updates:
Defense Minister Yoav Galant will be sending a delegation to Washington, led by Director General of the Defense Ministry Eyal Zamir. Samir will be meeting with officials at the US Department of Defense and Department of State to discuss strategic defense cooperation, and the procurement process for Israel, in order to preserve Israel’s qualitative edge in the region.
