War Summary, Day 475: Four hostages to be released on Shabbos, Hamas kills 7 Gazans and injures 17 for allegedly collaborating with Israel, the IDF is working to completely neutralize the “Jenin Battalion,” Trump hopes Israel can subdue the Iranian threat without striking nuclear facilities, and Republican congressmen to discuss Egypt’s Camp David Accords violations.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
94 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
120 living hostages rescued.
41 hostage bodies rescued.
1,815 Israelis killed.
411 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
15 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,683 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
80,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Top Headlines:
– Hamas terrorists still violating ceasefire
– American and Egyptian private security companies to secure crossings into Northern Gaza
– Witkoff open to talks with Hamas
– Hamas executing “collaborators”
– IDF working slow and steady in Jenin
– Republican congressmen to discuss Egypt’s Camp David Accords violations
Hostages:
In the coming hours, Hamas is expected to announce the names of the four hostages who will be released on Shabbat.
On Shabbat they are also expected to deliver a list of the 30 remaining hostages to be released as part of the first phase, with the status of each of them—whether they are alive, or were killed. There are rumors that Hamas will try to deliver only numbers of how many are alive, and how many not, without names.
Gaza:
Armed Hamas and PIJ terrorists in Gaza continue to violate the terms of the ceasefire by approaching IDF positions in the buffer zone and Philadelphi Corridor. The IDF says that soldiers were forced to fire warning shots in Gaza several times, to repel approaching terrorists. Most incidents occurred in the Khan Younis and Rafah areas.
On Shabbat, after the four hostages are returned, and Hamas provides Israel with the list of statuses of the remaining hostages, Israel is expected to open the coastal road for Gazans who want to return to the north of the strip. The agreement stipulates that a third party, agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas, will operate security at the crossing to the north. People on foot will not be checked—only those in vehicles.
From what we know so far, the security will be handled by two American private security companies, and one Egyptian security company. (The U.S. army and government refrain from any direct involvement inside Gaza since 2003, when three U.S. government security guards were killed in an attack on a U.S. convoy in Gaza.) Their role will be to prevent heavy weapons and rockets from being brought into Northern Gaza—but not smaller rifles or grenades.
The three security companies are:
– Safe Reach Solutions, a strategic planning and logistics company. Thus company appears to be the project lead, and drafted the security plans.
– UG Solutions, a private security company primarily involved in providing armed guards around the world. Many of these guards have military backgrounds.
– An Egyptian company, approved by the Egyptian intelligence service (the same Egyptian intelligence that misled the Shin Bet on the morning of October 7th).
In a Fox News interview, Steve Witkoff (Trump’s mideast envoy) indicated that he was open to direct talks with Hamas, after a Hamas official was quoted saying “we are prepared for a dialogue with America in achieving understandings on everything.” Witkoff again praised Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed, and said that “His communication skills with Hamas were indispensable here.”
Also today, Hamas executed 6 Gazan civilians in Rafah accused of “collaboration” with Israel. Seventeen other Gazans were shot in the leg as a warning. (It is unlikely that these people were really collaborators, and more likely that they were people Hamas didn’t like, and chose to use as warnings to others.)
Judea & Samaria:
Operation Iron Wall in Jenin is ongoing. Although the IDF didn’t explain much about the plan for this operation, a picture is beginning to emerge. This is not like previous raids which were quick and with high intensity. The IDF is moving slowly and being extremely thorough, going from door-to-door to get every terrorist of the Jenin militia. Terrorists who run from the IDF, are instead caught and arrested by the Palestinian Authority (while in the past this might have been preferable for them, now the PA has a vendetta against the Jenin terrorists, who killed some of the PA’s own—and the PA can be far less kind to prisoners than the IDF).
The IDF is working to completely neutralize the “Jenin Battalion.”
By Thursday morning, the IDF announced that 13 terrorists have been eliminated in the operation thus far, but did not specify how many were arrested.
Two terrorists who were eliminated last night were behind the deadly terror attack last month, in which three terrorists opened fire at Jewish civilians at a bust stir near al-Funduq. Three people were killed in the attack. The two terrorists were eliminated after the IDF surrounded their building and opened fire on them in there “pressure cooker” tactic. A third terrorist surrendered and was arrested—the IDF aren’t yet sure if he was the third shooter, or not. Several others who were behind the attack were arrested.
The operations in Jenin are extremely dangerous, with IDF troops detonating many explosive traps every day, and walking through densely populated areas where the terrorists are embedded deeply within the population. Thank G-d, no soldiers were hurt today.
Lebanon:
With less than three days left to the 60-day withdrawal deadline, IDF troops are still finding significant Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanese border villages. In the past couple days, troops found rockets, Russian-made anti-tank missiles, mortars, RPGs, grenades, explosives, and assault rifles. Special forces even found several more tunnels belonging to Hezbollah, some which were still being used as weapons storehouses.
There are reports that Israel asked for a 30-day extension to stay in Southern Lebanon, over concerns that The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have not being doing their job fast enough, and that Hezbollah has not withdrawn to the north of the Litani River.
Israel might evacuate some positions, where they believe that the LAF can move in swiftly and ensure that Hezbollah doesn’t retake it. But doesn’t feel that the LAF is ready or capable of keeping Hezbollah out of the full area yet.
The Israeli government does want the Lebanon ceasefire to hold, especially since the conditions are so favorable to Israel. However, Israel does not want to leave a vacuum where Hezbollah will quickly swoop in, or where the LAF feels they don’t need to do their job of removing Hezbollah. Israel also wants the U.S. to remain in the framework of the agreement, where they are responsible for the mechanism that allows Israel to hit Hezbollah targets when the LAF does not.
The Trump administration also wants the ceasefire deal to hold.
In response to reports that the IDF is likely to extend its stay in Lebanon, Hezbollah called on everyone, and particularly put pressure on the political authority in Lebanon, to demand that Israel withdraw at the end of the 60-days. They then threatened: “Israel must withdraw completely from Lebanon since the 60-day ceasefire period will end Sunday. Any violation of the agreement will not be accepted.”
If Hezbollah chooses to fire on Israel, the ceasefire deal might totally disintegrate. Hezbollah might be less predictable now, as they no longer have their experienced leadership who acted strategically, and knew when to fire and when to hold. However, the Iranian regime might want Hezbollah to back down, so that they can survive to rebuild.
Iran:
Axios reports that President Trump intends to give Steve Witkoff responsibility for Iran diplomacy—and charge him with making a deal with Iran.
During a press conference in the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump what he thought about a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump responded: “It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step.”
Other:
Egypt is continuing to build up a heavy military presence, with a large number of tanks and military vehicles in the Sinai, against the Camp David Accords agreement. While many Israelis are growing concerned about this, the Israeli government and IDF remain very cautious about upsetting Egypt.
According to the Camp David Accords, America is responsible as a guarantor for ensuring that Egypt does not build a military presence in the Sinai.
Israel Hayom reports that at the upcoming U.S. congressional retreat, a closed forum of Republican congressmen, under the instruction of House Speaker Mike Johnson, will meet to discuss Egypt’s violations of the agreement. In the meeting, they will review the economic and military aid which the U.S. provides Egypt, and whether it should be brought into question and halted in light of the ongoing violations.
Sponsored by Dovid ben Aliza and Miriam Racquel bas Bleema Feldman. Thank you, Bruria, for your efforts, love, and care for Klal Yisroel. May the hostages return to their loved ones, may Jews and humanity be kept safe and protected, and may the ultimate peace come with the complete and full revelation of Moshiach and Geula now.
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