Israel and Hamas at War – Days 93 to 128

Egyptian officials warned Sunday that an Israeli invasion of Rafah could prompt the key Arab ally to suspend the landmark peace agreement between the two nations. 

Mediated by the Carter administration and signed in 1978 by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the Camp David Accords were seen as a diplomatic triumph, having brought peace between the two countries after five wars. The agreement has served as a pillar of regional stability for decades. 

However, Israel’s plan to move troops into the southern Gazan city of Rafah is making Egypt reconsider its commitment to the agreement, two Egyptian security officials and one American diplomat revealed. 

All three sources spoke to the press anonymously, given the sensitivity of the matter. 

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated that the IDF is crafting a plan to relocate the city’s civilian population to other parts of the strip, international observers fear an attack on Rafah will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation for the 1.4 million internally displaced Palestinian refugees currently sheltering there. 

Egypt, along with Qatar and the United States, has played a critical role in mediating the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, but the cited Egyptian officials fear an Israeli invasion could induce a widespread panic that would see hundreds of thousands of Palestinians attempt to cross the border into Sinai to escape the fighting. 

Although Egypt’s border with Gaza is heavily fortified by concrete walls and a 3-mile buffer zone, security could very well be overwhelmed in the chaos of a massive migratory wave, the officials added. 

During a television interview on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated that to eradicate Hamas and win the war, Israel must destroy the four battalions said to be operating in Rafah. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, staunchly defended Israel’s potential military offensive in Rafah, despite mounting international concerns over the humanitarian implications. Netanyahu argued that avoiding action in Rafah, the Gaza Strip’s southernmost city known as a smuggling haven for terror groups, equates to conceding defeat against Hamas, the organization governing Gaza.

Netanyahu assured plans are underway to ensure “safe passage for the civilian population” ahead of the anticipated assault, aiming to mitigate fears of a humanitarian disaster. This comes as the international community, including the Biden Administration and European diplomats, express grave concerns over the operation’s potential to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Rafah.

The operation’s implications extend beyond the immediate military objectives, potentially affecting ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal and cease-fire. A senior Hamas leader warned that any ground offensive in Rafah would jeopardize these talks.

Amid these tensions, Israeli forces continue to engage Hamas across the Gaza Strip, with the IDF reporting significant militant casualties and the targeting of strategic sites in Khan Yunis and central Gaza.

An Israeli drone strike targeting a senior Hamas official in Lebanon killed two and wounded two others in the coastal city of Sidon on Saturday, Lebanese officials say. 

Impacting some 37 miles (60 kilometers) into Lebanese territory, the attack is the deepest into Lebanese territory since the strike that killed deputy Hamas leader Saleh Arouri in early January—an action that Israel never outright claimed nor denied. 

According to an Israeli security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive military matters, the explicit target of the strike was Basel Saleh, a Hamas recruitment official who was allegedly “injured to an unknown extent.” 

In a recent operation under the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, Shin Bet and IDF fighters apprehended Muhammad Netzer Suleiman Abu Namer, a commander in Hamas’ elite Nukhba unit. During his interrogation, footage released by the Shin Bet shows Abu Namer advising other Hamas operatives to surrender, stating, “Your fate otherwise is death.”

Abu Namer disclosed that he was arrested alongside two other fighters in a tunnel but chose not to resist when IDF forces entered.

“We made a decision that we don’t want to fight, and as soon as the army comes, we will turn ourselves in,” Abu Namer expressed in the footage. He further detailed their actions prior to capture, indicating a non-combative surrender, “We sat in the room, we put all the weapons outside the room… We sat and waited. When the army arrived, we raised our hands and surrendered.”

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) non-commissioned officer was seriously wounded, and two other soldiers sustained light injuries following a Hizbullah anti-tank missile attack in the Kiryat Shmona area this morning. In retaliation, the IDF conducted airstrikes on a building and infrastructure in Khiam, southern Lebanon, identified as being used by Hizbullah for launching the projectiles.

The attack also saw missiles fired from Lebanon targeting the Biranit base and Mount Hermon, prompting the IDF to respond with artillery shelling on the launch sites. The IDF confirmed that the injured soldiers were promptly evacuated to a hospital, ensuring their families were notified of the incident.

During a meeting in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the United States’ commitment to bolstering humanitarian assistance for Gaza’s civilians and reiterated support for establishing an independent Palestinian state.

According to Blinken’s office, the discussions also touched on the importance of rejuvenating the Palestinian Authority, with the US advocating for substantial reforms to enable the PA’s governance of Gaza post-conflict. The Secretary also emphasized the United States’ rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken convened on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza.

While the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) kept specific discussions under wraps, it described the encounter as “long and in-depth.”

The dialogue precedes Blinken’s consultations with Netanyahu’s war cabinet and senior advisers, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Mossad chief David Barnea. Notably, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi joined the talks, despite earlier reports suggesting a direct meeting with Blinken would be bypassed due to PMO reservations.

Blinken’s agenda also includes a scheduled meeting with President Isaac Herzog later in the day. Following these high-level discussions, Netanyahu is set to address the public in a press conference from Jerusalem at 7:30 p.m., a shift from the usual Kirya military HQ location in Tel Aviv.

The Israeli military disclosed a discovery in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis on Wednesday, revealing they had unearthed a major Hamas tunnel that served dual purposes: a residency for senior terror group members and a facility for holding hostages. The tunnel, described as strategic and approximately a kilometer long, was infiltrated by troops from the Yahalom special forces unit of the Combat Engineering Corps and other special forces under the 98th Paratroopers Division.

During the raid, IDF forces encountered and combated terrorists within the tunnel, overcoming blast doors and neutralizing explosive devices. Inside, they found evidence of its use as a hostage-holding site, including a cell, bathroom, and a rest area for the terrorists.

The IDF reported that 12 hostages were held in this tunnel at various times, with three already returned to Israel. Additionally, the forces retrieved various items and weapons from the site.

At least 32 of the 136 hostages still held in Gaza are thought to be dead, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing four anonymous military officials, an increase from the previously confirmed 29 deaths. The Oct. 7 Hamas assault resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the taking of 253 hostages. 

The report also highlights the uncertain fate of four other individuals held by Hamas, including the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014 and two Israeli civilians believed to be alive. 

The military is investigating unconfirmed intelligence, suggesting an additional 20 hostages might have been killed. According to officials, most confirmed deaths occurred during the initial attack. The families of the deceased have been notified.

Israeli troops from the 98th Paratroopers Division have sustained their operations in western Khan Yunis, where they engaged Hamas militants disguised in civilian attire, as reported by the IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit on Tuesday.

Over the past few days, soldiers have successfully neutralized numerous terrorists, resulting in dozens of casualties, and apprehended approximately 80 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism, including some who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre.

The Givati Brigade’s snipers alone eliminated more than 15 terrorists, while members of the 646th Brigade combat team took down a lookout concealed in a building. Throughout these operations, Paratrooper and Egoz fighters uncovered various weapons, including grenades, Kalashnikov rifles, and RPG missiles, according to the IDF.

Additionally, in Deir el-Balah, Israeli troops guided an IAF jet to eliminate a terrorist linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad who had played a role in the Oct. 7 massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

In parallel, a combat helicopter targeted and eliminated four terrorists identified by Unit 414 lookouts. These militants were in the process of installing surveillance devices in the Beit Hanoun area, attempting to reestablish the terrorists’ intelligence network, according to the IDF.

In the north and central regions of the Gaza Strip, the Nahal Brigade’s combat team conducted successful raids and ambushes, resulting in the elimination of numerous terrorists. In an area where Nahal fighters were active, a missile ship detected a terrorist squad, and a joint effort by the Brigade on the ground, the IAF, and the navy resulted in the elimination of several militants.

The military concluded its operations with the 401st Brigade combat team, which eliminated over 15 terrorists and, in coordination with the IAF, destroyed a building used by terrorists for firing at Israeli troops and storing explosive devices.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has initiated an internal investigation into potential violations of international law by its troops during the ongoing conflict with the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip, according to a Haaretz report published Tuesday. The specially formed team, led by former military Operations Directorate chief Yoav Har-Even, will scrutinize various incidents, including a strike targeting a Hamas commander that allegedly resulted in civilian casualties and the tragic shooting of three Israeli hostages abducted during a Hamas attack.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi appointed Har-Even to lead the team, operating under the military’s General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism. IDF Chief Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi has granted authorization for the investigation, which focuses on reports and complaints regarding potential violations of Israeli and international law during the conflict.

The investigation’s findings will determine whether further actions, such as military police investigations or disciplinary measures, are necessary. The probe comes amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with senior military officials recognizing its importance in ensuring adherence to regulations and international law.

France is demanding concrete proof from Hamas that medications intended for Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been successfully delivered to their recipients, according to a report published by The Times of Israel on Tuesday citing a member of French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné’s team during his visit to Israel.

The medications were dispatched to Gaza as part of a complex operation brokered by Qatar and France, with the goal of securing the release of Israeli hostages held by terror groups in the region. While it is confirmed that the medications entered Gaza, there remains uncertainty about whether they have reached the captives.

France has taken a strong stance on this matter, emphasizing that Hamas bears the responsibility to provide verifiable evidence of the delivery. The French government is collaborating with Qatar and regional partners to address this issue.

During his visit, Séjourné reiterated France’s commitment to securing an “immediate cease-fire” in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid. He also called for the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and other terror groups.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is awaiting a preliminary report regarding Israeli claims that a dozen of its employees were involved in the attack on Israel that occurred on Oct. 7. According to Dorothee Klaus, UNRWA’s representative in Lebanon, the report is expected to be ready in early March.

Israel has accused 12 out of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip of participating in the Hamas-led assault on Israel. These allegations have coincided with Israel’s appearance at the International Court of Justice, where it faces scrutiny over its actions in Gaza and its longstanding call for the disbandment of UNRWA.

In response to these accusations, 19 donors have temporarily suspended their funding to UNRWA. The investigation into the matter is being carried out by the UN’s oversight office. UNRWA has taken swift action to address the allegations, including the dismissal of those allegedly involved. The agency has also informed the UN secretary-general, the United States, and other donors about its actions.

While Israel had verbally informed UNRWA of accusations against the 12 staff members, there have been media reports suggesting a larger number of UNRWA employees with alleged Hamas links. However, Israel has not provided any official evidence or dossier regarding the claim that 190 of the agency’s staff members in Gaza have connections to Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel is close to achieving a “complete victory” over the Hamas terror group in Gaza, with most of Hamas’ fighters either killed or seriously injured. Despite the nearly four-monthlong offensive, Netanyahu now believes the conflict could end within months, not years, signaling a more optimistic timeframe than previously suggested. 

The focus of the military efforts is shifting towards Rafah, the southern metropolis of the Gaza Strip, indicating the final stage of Israel’s campaign. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant highlighted the intensified pursuit of Hamas’s Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar, asserting that he is evading capture and losing contact with his forces. 

In a statement to his Likud party faction, Netanyahu emphasized the destruction of 18 out of 24 Hamas battalions, underscoring the strategic aim for total victory to restore national security. This commitment comes amidst ongoing negotiations for the release of approximately 136 hostages held by terror groups in Gaza, reaffirming Israel’s resolve not to conclude the war without securing its objectives.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Saudi Arabia on the first stop of his latest Middle East tour, which will see him visit Egypt, Qatar and Israel later this week.

Blinken is expected to discuss the possible normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as continue talks on the rule of the Gaza Strip after the current war ends. He is also expected to advance the Egypt- and Qatar-mediated talks with Hamas on a possible deal to release the Israeli hostages still being held by the terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.

It is Blinken’s fifth trip to the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 and the onset of the ensuing war, and it comes at a time of retaliatory US strikes on Iran-affiliated militias in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in response to attacks on American bases, including a drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan and injured several dozen others.

In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet with the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Jake Sullivan, the White House’s top national security aide, told ABC’s The Week on Sunday that a hostage deal between Hamas and Israel is likely not “right around the corner.”

In his appearance, Sullivan assured that while the United States still sees a hostage deal as being of critical importance, “these kinds of negotiations unfold somewhat slowly until they unfold very quickly,” noting that it is uncertain whether an agreement can be reached at all.

Sullivan adds that the events that have occurred since October 7 have only solidified the administration’s view that the only viable “long-term answer” for solving the conflict is a Palestinian state “with security guarantees for Israel.”

Thousands of people gathered on Saturday night at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv for the 17^th week of protesting, where speakers openly criticized the way Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been handling the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza.

Rami Beja, the event’s emcee, emphasized the importance of bringing the hostages home as a means to restore faith in Israel’s leadership, a notable change from his prior calls to avoid politicizing the movement. The criticism was further amplified by Ronen Manelis, a brigadier general in the reserves and former spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, who accused the Netanyahu government of prioritizing personal and political gains over decisive action, contributing to a loss of public trust.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has been urging Netanyahu to agree to a prisoner swap framework. This proposal gains urgency amid Manelis’ allegations of the government’s attempt to use the hostage situation to defer elections.

A senior Hamas official has indicated that the terror group is close to responding to a proposal that aims to establish a cease-fire and facilitate the phased release of hostages held in Gaza, alongside Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, according to reports first published by The Associated Press.

This proposal, a collaborative effort by senior officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, seeks to introduce extended pauses in the ongoing conflict, with a lasting cease-fire highlighted as the crucial foundation of the agreement, though other aspects remain open for negotiation.

While Hamas has yet to submit a formal response, positive signals have been communicated, suggesting a potential breakthrough in the indirect talks. The anticipation of Hamas’ reply has led to cautious optimism among the involved nations, underscoring the intensive diplomatic efforts to secure a pause in the conflict and ensure the release of hostages.

Israel reportedly conducted airstrikes near Damascus, resulting in the death of an adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps according to a semiofficial Iranian news agency. The strike, part of a broader Israeli campaign to counter Iran’s military influence in the region, specifically targeted areas south of the capital from over the Golan Heights around 4:20 a.m., as reported by Syria’s state-run SANA broadcaster.

The strikes focused on the Iranian-backed stronghold of Sayyidah Zaynab. This area, known for its strategic importance to Iran’s allies, has been hit multiple times in recent months. The airstrikes also extended to locations near Agrabaa in southern Syria.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has intensified its efforts against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The IDF’s 99th Division has been at the forefront, conducting operations aimed at dividing Gaza and hindering the movement of Hamas operatives and weapons. A critical part of these operations included the discovery of a rocket manufacturing plant in the Nuseirat area by the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade.

Additionally, the Yiftah Brigade’s reservists executed a successful raid on a Hamas-affiliated bank in central Gaza. This operation led to the seizure of approximately NIS 100,000 in cash and valuable intelligence documents from an underground vault. The 179th Reserve Armored Brigade also played a pivotal role in neutralizing hundreds of Hamas gunmen, destroying key tunnels, confiscating weapons, and dismantling the group’s operational sites.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has recalled its senior officers from Syria, opting instead to leverage regional proxies, according to security sources speaking with Reuters. This strategic shift comes in the wake of increased targeted strikes in the region, for which Israel has been blamed, and Tehran’s hesitation to engage in a full-scale Middle Eastern conflict.

A significant number of middle-ranking officers have also been withdrawn, marking a notable reduction in Iranian forces on the ground. The IRGC plans to manage its operations remotely, primarily through the assistance of Hizbullah and other allied Shi’ite militias in the region.

In the West Bank near Hebron, a suspected car-ramming attack targeting Israeli soldiers was thwarted on Thursday. The incident occurred in the area of Givat Ha’avot, where the assailant attempted to ram a vehicle into soldiers during a proactive operation. Soldiers responded with live fire, managing to stop the attack without casualties among the troops.

A Palestinian bystander, however, was wounded during the attempt to neutralize the vehicle. Rescue Without Borders paramedics assisted at the scene. The Israeli military later confirmed that the assailant was shot, successfully apprehended, and has since been transferred to security forces for further investigation.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alongside a delegation of UN ambassadors led by Israel’s envoy Gilad Erdan, visited areas affected by the Hamas-led October 7 massacres before heading to Gaza. The visit aimed to provide the ambassadors with insights into the conflict in Gaza and along the northern border with Lebanon. A significant focus of their discussions was the alleged involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 attack, questioning the agency’s legitimacy.

Gallant criticized UNRWA, claiming it supports terrorist infrastructures under the guise of humanitarian aid, thereby losing its legitimacy. He argued that the agency operates in “ongoing symbiosis” with Hamas, which Israel and several other countries recognize as a terrorist organization. This connection, according to Gallant, diverts international funds meant for aid into supporting terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest allies, has traveled to the US for expected talks with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House officials on the war in the Gaza Strip and its aftermath, according to sources.

Despite weeks of negotiations moderated by Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediators, Israel has been unable to strike a deal with the Hamas terrorist group for the release of the Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, with sources indicating that Hamas is unwilling to accept anything less than a permanent cessation in hostilities. 

On Tuesday, Sullivan met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the White House and reportedly urged him to exert more pressure on Hamas to make concessions.

Dermer, well known in Washington as a former Israeli ambassador to the US, is expected to hold discussions on what will occur in Gaza once the war is over, as well as on the hostage negotiations.

Dozens of protesters were reportedly detained in clashes with police on Wednesday as they attempted to prevent aid from passing into the Gaza Strip at the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel.

Between 18 and 40 protesters were reportedly arrested.

Protesters began gathering at the crossing in recent days and blocking or hindering aid trucks trying to enter Gaza, saying that no aid should be allowed in as long as Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza.

After days of protests, the crossing was declared a closed military zone, but demonstrators still gathered there on Wednesday, when they clashed with police.

Israel has been under international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to prevent a humanitarian disaster there.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s national security minister and leader of the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party in the Knesset, reignited calls for “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip at a conference in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Responding to audience members holding placards calling for the relocation of Gazans after the war, Ben Gvir launched into a fiery speech demanding the reinstatement of the Israeli settlements forcibly evacuated by the Israeli government as part of the 2005 disengagement from Gaza.

“We must fulfill what our Torah says: ‘You will inherit the inhabitants of the land so that they do not become thorns in your side,’ [and] we must encourage them to leave,” Ben Gvir said, urging Israel to “encourage [the Palestinians] voluntarily to go away from here.”

According to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense Forces have captured more than 100 Hamas fighters in the last two days alone, including many who were found beneath Gaza in the extensive tunnel network running beneath the city.

“In the past day and a half, we have over 100 captives, some of them who came up from underground, in the Khan Yunis area and also in other places, because they realize that they can’t fight against the IDF,” Gallant told troops in Israel’s Yahalom combat engineering unit.

Yahalom’s essential operations had led to “hundreds of casualties” in the tunnels, Gallant said, and the unit was spoken of with pride by the rest of the Israeli armed forces.

A top Hamas official says that if the International Court of Justice rules to impose a cease-fire, the terrorist group will respect the court’s decision so long as Israel does as well.

Hamas foreign affairs chief Osama Hamdan told the press during a news conference in Beirut on Thursday that the group is also willing to trade all Israeli hostages still held in Gaza for all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Citing sources at Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing and one American official, Bloomberg released a report on Wednesday indicating that both governments have evidence that Hamas has access to millions of dollars in international donations collected by Palestinian charities. 

The estimate puts the figure at $8 million to $12 million per month, largely through aid groups able to evade sanctions and transfer the funds directly to the terrorist organization.

Seventy-nine aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip today through the Rafah crossing while 74 entered through the Kerem Shalom (Karm Abu-Salem) crossing, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The trucks were loaded with humanitarian assistance, including food, water, relief supplies, and medical supplies.

According to the society, a total of 5,939 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent Society passed through the Rafah crossing between Oct. 21, 2023, and Jan. 14, 2024. The Palestine Red Crescent Society received 4,001 of those trucks, while the rest went to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and other bodies. The society also received 88 ambulances in that period.

It said that most of the food and relief trucks (72.7%) were delivered to the Social Development Ministry, with the rest going to UNRWA and other institutions. Most of the medical aid (64%) went to the Health Ministry, with the rest going to UNRWA and hospitals.

Egypt has denied smuggling weapons and ammunition into the Gaza Strip from Egyptian territory, saying that Israel is “marketing these lies” to provide legitimacy for its bid to occupy the so-called Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border.

Israeli leaders have recently discussed retaking control of the corridor, from which Israeli forces withdrew when Israel left Gaza in 2005, to prevent arms from being smuggled to Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza.

The chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, said that the claims of smuggling were “empty and ridiculous,” and that trucks passing through the Rafah crossing were inspected by Israel before entering Gaza. Rashwan warned that any attempt by Israel to occupy the Philadelphi Corridor would lead to a serious threat to relations between Egypt and Israel, which have had a peace treaty since 1979.

Israel’s top diplomat convened with ministers from all 27 European Union member states on Monday to address the Gaza conflict, specifically focusing on the political landscape post-Hamas defeat.

Leadership within the European bloc has been marred by infighting and disagreement on conflict management, with some advocating for a complete Gaza Strip cease-fire. However, after Monday’s meetings, the bloc expressed a unified stance that Israeli rejection of a two-state plan was unacceptable and a diplomatic nonstarter.

Even Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, whose government opposes a cease-fire and remains a strong ally of Israel, emphasized the necessity of considering a two-state solution. “The two-state solution is the only solution, and even those who resist it have not proposed any viable alternatives,” she noted.

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell remarked, “More death, destruction, and hardship for the people of Gaza and Palestine will not aid in defeating Hamas or its ideology.” He urged policymakers to concentrate on developing a plan for enduring peace.

The United States imposed a new round of sanctions on Hamas for abusing cryptocurrency and targeted Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad and its CEO for allegedly assisting Iran’s military wing. The US Treasury Department’s action comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and frequent strikes by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria against US forces.

The Treasury accused Fly Baghdad and CEO Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani of aiding Iran’s military and its proxies across the region. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson emphasized the US commitment to disrupting Iran’s activities destabilizing the Middle East.

These sanctions, which block access to US property and financial systems, are part of the US efforts to counter Iran’s influence and its support for terrorist groups like Hamas. The US has also sanctioned a network of Hamas-affiliated financial exchanges in Gaza, including entities transferring funds via cryptocurrency from Iran to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Fly Baghdad has denied the allegations and announced plans to seek legal redress.

The sanctions coincide with coordinated actions by the UK and Australia against the financing of Hamas and additional Iranian-backed groups in the region.

The Arab League (AL) on Monday called on the United States to halt its support for Israeli actions against Palestinians. During an emergency meeting in Cairo, the AL passed a resolution demanding a complete and lasting cease-fire in Gaza. The resolution also urged the US to encourage Israel to end its siege on the Strip. Additionally, the AL expressed concerns over alleged “Israeli plans” to drive nearly 2 million internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza toward the Egyptian border. The pan-Arab organization emphasized the need for immediate implementation of Security Council Resolution 2720, adopted in December 2023, which called for increased humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and demanded the safe and unhindered delivery of such aid.

The Health Ministry of the Hamas-run government in Gaza announced on Sunday that the Palestinian death toll from the ongoing conflict with Israel has risen to 25,105. According to the ministry’s latest press statement, Israeli forces killed 178 Palestinians and injured 293 others within the past 24 hours. Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, the total number of Palestinian injuries has reached 62,681.

Israeli authorities report 1,459 deaths and 11,549 injuries in the conflict.

Around 1.9 million Palestinians and 200,000 Israelis have been displaced due to the violence.

The IDF announced the death of Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Uriel Aviad Silberman, 23, of the Kiryati Brigade’s 7421st Battalion, from Nehalim. Sgt. Silberman lost his life during intense fighting in the southern Gaza Strip over the weekend, marking the 195th casualty in the ongoing ground offensive against Hamas.

In the same battle, an officer and another soldier from the 7421st Battalion sustained serious injuries, according to the IDF. 

In a press conference on Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on the United Nations Security Council to advocate for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Lopez Obrador proposed a truce period to give diplomacy a chance and to involve all parties capable of aiding peace efforts. He stressed that Mexico’s stance is not about assigning blame but seeking an end to the “inhumane, cruel war.”

Freed Israeli hostages met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Guterres called for the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza. The group, including hostages Nili Margalit and Moran Stela Yanai, discussed the atrocities of October 7 and the ongoing conflict.

During a poignant moment at the meeting, as Guterres engaged in a discussion with the survivors of the harrowing Gaza captivity, he reached into his coat pocket, retrieving a dog tag bearing a message of solidarity and support for the hostages.

“The dog tag is in the right pocket of my coat, where my hand normally is, and I take it with me everywhere to remember the hostages at every moment,” the UN chief said.

Today marks what is being described as “the saddest birthday in the world” for one-year-old Kfir Bibas, a redheaded child held captive in Gaza along with his four-year-old brother Ariel and their parents, Shiri and Yarden. The family was abducted from kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October by Hamas, and their captivity has continued since.

Despite the grim circumstances, the extended Bibas family and supporters plan to gather at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Thursday afternoon. Major Israeli children’s entertainers will join the event to draw attention to the ongoing trauma of the Bibas family’s abduction.

To highlight Kfir’s first birthday, a song titled “They Call Me Gingi” has been released, featuring various entertainers and several Bibas relatives. The Kibbutz Nir Oz community also organized a daycare birthday party on Tuesday, complete with decorations and a cake, but the celebration took place without the presence of Kfir, Ariel, and their parents.

Krif Bibas has been held captive for nearly a third of his life and his fate still remains uncertain. The IDF has refuted Hamas’s claims regarding the family’s status, dismissing them as “psychological terror.” As the family and supporters mark this somber occasion, the wider community is grappling with the shock and inertia that have settled over Nir Oz, a community devastated by the loss of residents and the trauma inflicted by the ongoing hostage situation.

After a visit to Israeli forces along the northern border, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said on Wednesday that although he does not know when the conflict will erupt, he believes the likelihood of war with Hizbullah is “much higher than it has been in the past.” 

As IDF soldiers participated in a war games exercise simulating a possible invasion of Lebanon, Halevi affirmed the military’s commitment to producing an environment in which the approximately 80,000 Israelis who have evacuated the border region because of the cross-border strikes can return to their homes. 

“[The IDF] is increasing readiness for fighting in Lebanon; we have a lot of lessons from the fighting in Gaza; many of them are very relevant to fighting in Lebanon, and there are some that must be adjusted,” Halevi explained during the visit, adding that he believes that Israel is “starting it with many more advantages [compared to the war in Gaza].” 

Five truckloads of medical supplies and prescription drugs for Palestinian civilians and the Israeli hostages held in Gaza entered the war-torn enclave on Wednesday as part of the recently announced Qatar-France deal made between Israel and Hamas. 

Initial reporting coming out of Israel speculating that the aid shipment was exempt from Israeli inspection ignited an inferno of political frustration in the country, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launching into a fury after it was asserted that he signed off on the package entering Gaza without examination. 

Netanyahu was bombarded with criticism from across the Israeli political spectrum on the grounds that he signed off on the controversial deal, with the IDF claiming that it was told the deal was approved but was never informed of security procedures by the premier’s office. Netanyahu staunchly denied the allegations, however, and the trucks were subsequently inspected by Israeli border agents before reaching the Red Cross distributors. 

In an interrogation video published on Tuesday by Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agency, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander Basel Mahadi reveals that he and other PIJ fighters received advanced military training in Iran. 

In the video, Mahadi, who was captured by IDF forces on December 20 in the Gaza Strip, tells investigators in Arabic that he spent about two weeks on an Iranian military base, learning to shoot and operate different types of weapons such as sniper rifles and rockets. He assures Israeli investigators that the men training him were Iranian soldiers, emphasizing that they were “wearing uniforms.” 

Tuesday’s released footage lends support to reports from October implicating that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps trained hundreds of PIJ and Hamas operatives in the immediate weeks leading up to the devastating October 7 attack. 

The government of the United Kingdom announced on Monday that Parliament would begin debating whether to ban the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir from operating within the country. 

Headquartered in Lebanon but with branches spread across more than 30 countries, including the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Hizb ut-Tahrir’s declared purpose is to unite the Islamic world under a single caliphate. In recent months, the organization has played a key role in orchestrating dozens of pro-Palestinian events since the war broke out in Gaza in early October. 

The UK Home Office says that members of the group have been observed calling for “jihad” along with an extensive history of antisemitic calls to violence against Jewish people, factors that have prompted the government to initiate deliberations to make the group illegal under terrorism laws. 

Announcing the parliamentary inquiry, Home Secretary James Cleverly stated unequivocally that Hizb ut-Tahrir is “antisemitic” and that the group “actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling Oct. 7 attacks.” Parliament is expected to decide on the issue by Friday.  

The Islamist terrorist group Hamas has announced the deaths of two Israeli hostages, Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, who were held captive in Gaza by the organization.

In a video release, Hamas featured hostage Noa Argamani, 26, who said Sharabi and Svirsky had been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

The veracity of Argamani’s report has not been confirmed.

In the video, Argamani recounted that during their captivity, an airstrike hit the building they were in, causing Sharabi’s death. Svirsky, she said, was killed a few days later in another airstrike while the captives were being moved.

Hamas has a history of using psychological warfare in its communications.

Svirsky and his mother, Orit, 70, were hiding in a safe room at her home on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 when terrorists entered and opened fire, killing her. His father, Rafi, 71, was also murdered in the Oct. 7 attack.

Sharabi and his son, Oren, 13, were kidnapped from the same kibbutz. Oren was later released during a hostage-prisoner exchange.

Argamani, in her statement, pleaded for an end to the violence and the safe return of the remaining hostages to their families.

The Health Ministry of the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip reported that the Palestinian death toll in the war with Israel has risen to over 24,000, as Israeli attacks continue. In the past 24 hours, 132 Palestinians were killed and 252 others wounded, bringing total fatalities since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, to 24,100 deaths and 60,834 injuries.

Intense Israeli army bombardments in Gaza City since early Monday have claimed at least 33 lives. The Palestinian Civil Defence stated that more than 70% of northern Gaza is now uninhabitable due to the bombings.

Additionally, Palestinian media outlets report that clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank on Sunday resulted in at least five Palestinian deaths.

Since October 7, 2023, the West Bank has seen at least 352 Palestinian fatalities.

Over 150 Israeli companies and educational institutions have initiated a 100-minute strike to express solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza on the 100th day of their captivity. The strike includes major high-tech firms like Meta Israel; the largest Jewish nonprofit organization in the world, the Jewish Agency; and prominent retail clothing and home-goods chains such as Fox Home, Billabong, and Golf.

The fast-food giant McDonald’s and popular Cafe Cafe are among the participants.

The initiative has also resonated within the academic sector, with universities and schools across Israel altering their schedules and implementing special programs during the strike period.

During a press briefing Tuesday evening, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed the elimination of senior Hizbullah commander Ali Husin Berji, also known as “Abu Maadi,” by an Israeli Air Force craft.

Hagari stated that Berji, who oversaw Hizbullah’s southern Lebanon aerial unit, had ordered dozens of drone attacks against Israel, including two launches on Tuesday that struck the IDF’s northern command base, causing no casualties and only minor physical damage. Berji, along with other Hizbullah operatives present at the time, were subsequently located and killed in an Israeli strike three hours after the incident, Hagari said.

“We will continue to act with determination against any threat to our territory, to claim a price and bring about a difference to the security situation on the northern border,” he stated.

Berji was one of several high-ranking Hizbullah commanders killed by Israel in recent days. Both sides have escalated the severity of their attacks since Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri was killed in southern Beirut in an alleged Israeli airstrike.

The explosion which killed six Israeli combat engineers in central Gaza was caused by an accident resulting from an Israeli tank blast, the Israeli Defense Forces said on Tuesday.

Concluding its initial investigation of the incident, the IDF reported that the combat engineers were inside a tunnel near the Bureij camp, rigging the shaft with explosives to demolish it when the above-ground triggering mechanism was accidentally tripped by an Israeli tank approximately 30 minutes before the tunnel’s scheduled demolition.

The probe revealed the tank, located directly next to the detonating cord, had identified suspicious movement in a nearby building and the action of firing the blast itself had inadvertently set off the nearby device, causing a premature detonation that killed the soldiers still working inside the tunnel.

Yesterday’s accident occurred in the same vicinity as an IDF-led press tour of a captured Hamas rocket manufacturing site. Confusion following the initial blast caused the IDF to evacuate the reporters gathered for the tour.

In addition to the six soldiers who died in the tunnel demolition accident, three other Israeli soldiers died and several more were seriously wounded in the fighting in Gaza on Monday. All three were killed in combat with Hamas operatives in southern Gaza near the Khan Yunis area.

The IDF has signaled that wrestling control of Khan Yunis from Hamas is a primary objective in the war, but the enclave’s second-largest city has proved to be a fiercely contested battleground. During Tuesday’s meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told the chief US diplomat that the IDF intends to amplify its operations in the greater Khan Yunis area until Hamas’ leadership is destroyed and the hostages are rescued.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, in a phone call on Monday with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna, condemned Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, describing them as surpassing humanitarian, legal, and ethical boundaries. Safadi expressed concerns about the conflict’s potential expansion due to ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. He emphasized the urgency for the international community to adopt a strong stance to halt these actions. The ministers also discussed the immediate need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, including food and medical supplies, and underscored the necessity of allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.

The Israeli military confirmed the targeted assassination of a senior Hamas commander in Syria on Monday. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari, in a press conference, identified the individual as Hassan Akasha, located in Beit Jann, southern Syria. Akasha was reportedly responsible for coordinating rocket attacks against Israel from Syrian soil.

In a separate statement, the Israeli army emphasized its stance against terrorism originating from Syria, holding the Syrian government accountable for activities within its borders. This incident is part of the broader ongoing conflict predominantly centered in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Additionally, Israel is alleged to have killed Wissam Hassan Tawil, a top commander of Hizbullah’s elite Radwan forces in Lebanon, earlier the same day, although official comments from Israel regarding this incident have not been made.

In a key meeting Monday between UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the two officials emphasized the critical need to prevent further escalation of conflict in the Middle East. They discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and serve mutual interests. The discussions also covered various regional and international issues, with a specific focus on the ongoing crisis in the Palestinian territories and its severe impact on regional peace, stability, and security.

President Al Nahyan underlined the urgency of establishing a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip to safeguard civilian lives. He highlighted the importance of setting up permanent and safe mechanisms to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza residents without obstacles and to prevent their displacement.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has continued for three months, is likely to persist throughout 2024 and may expand to other areas. Speaking during a visit to the West Bank, Halevi described the coming year as “challenging,” with Israel expected to be actively engaged in combat in Gaza. He indicated that while the full-scale conflict with Hamas, the governing faction in Gaza, might diminish, it would not completely cease.

Halevi also expressed concerns about escalating violence in the West Bank and on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. He noted recent exchanges of fire with Hizbullah, a Shi’ite militant group, stating that the IDF would intensify its operations in the area to protect northern residents. He emphasized that Hizbullah has joined the war, and Israel is increasingly taking action against it.

The Israeli military announced the completion of major combat operations in northern Gaza, marking a significant shift in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated late Saturday that Israel’s forces will now concentrate on central and southern Gaza, and reinforce the Israel-Gaza border defenses. This development precedes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel, amid calls from the Biden Administration for Israel to reduce its intensive offensive in Gaza and focus on targeted attacks against Hamas leaders.

Israel’s strategy has recently evolved, with a reduced military presence in northern Gaza and increased operations in the south. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that operations will continue until Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israel, and all Israeli hostages are returned. The conflict, which began with a Hamas incursion into Israel and massacres of civilians and soldiers in multiple locations on October 7, has resulted in over 22,800 Palestinian deaths and significant civilian casualties according to the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip. Israel attributes these deaths to Hamas’ operations in populated areas.

The recent airstrike near Rafah, resulting in the death of two journalists, including Al Jazeera’s Wael Dahdouh’s son, has drawn sharp criticism. Al Jazeera has condemned the attack and called for international accountability for Israel’s actions. Amid the conflict, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, with increasing casualties and displacement.

Two Palestinian journalists, including the son of Al Jazeera’s Wael Dahdouh, were killed in a reported Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza. Hamza Dahdouh, an Al Jazeera reporter, and Mustafa Tharaya, a freelance journalist, died when their vehicle was struck while heading to an assignment. A third journalist, Hazem Rajab, sustained serious injuries. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident.

Wael Dahdouh, renowned for his coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict for Al Jazeera, has become a poignant figure, having lost multiple family members to the war. Despite personal losses, Dahdouh vowed to continue reporting, highlighting the plight of civilians and journalists in Gaza.

Al Jazeera condemned the attack, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting journalists and vowing legal action. The Qatar-based network’s coverage has been marked by tragedy, including Dahdouh’s family losses and the death of other team members in previous strikes. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports over 70 Palestinian journalists killed since the conflict’s escalation.