Israel and the USA are increasingly distancing themselves over the war in Gaza. This was confirmed by American National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan's visit to Tel Aviv after Biden's sharp criticism of Netanyahu in recent days. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated to Sullivan that “it will take more than a few months to dismantle an organization built for years for terrorist purposes and to liberate the Gaza Strip. It will be a long war that we will win in the end.” Biden's envoy responded that the timing of the conflict requires a “transition to the next lower intensity phase” within “weeks, not months.” Then there are the words of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in an interview with the Associated Press: “I would urge us not to just talk about a two-state solution. Why? Because there is an emotional chapter here that needs to be addressed.” “My nation is grieving. My nation is traumatized.” In the Gaza Strip, fierce fighting continues in the north and south. The Israeli army has distributed leaflets in Arabic in the Palestinian enclave promising compensation to anyone who provides useful information in finding four senior leaders of Hamas: apparently the leader Yahya Sinwar ($400,000), his brother Muhammad Sinwar ( 300,000 dollars), the military commander of Khan Yunis Rafa Salameh ($200,000) and Mohammed Deif, commander of the military wing of Hamas Qassam Brigades (“only” 100,000 dollars).
05:57
Gaza, another Israeli soldier is dead. The toll rises to 117
The Israeli army announced today that a soldier died in combat in the Gaza Strip yesterday, bringing the number of soldiers killed in the ground offensive against Hamas to 117. The youngest victim is 19-year-old Sergeant Oz Shmuel Aradi, who died in the southern Palestinian enclave of Strip. Four more reservist soldiers were seriously injured in yesterday's clashes in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
05:50
The identity of the dead hostage: It is 28-year-old Elia Toledano
The identity of the hostage was recovered lifeless by the Israeli special forces: it is Elia Toledano, 28 years old, who has been held in the Gaza Strip since the tragic October 7th. This is confirmed by an army press release. Elia Toledano was among those watching the rave, which turned into a massacre after the attack by Hamas militants.
05:34
Israeli special forces have recovered the body of a hostage held by Hamas in Gaza
The news in a military statement.
05:17
Netanyahu: Red Cross “fulfills its mission” with the hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and called on the organization to “fulfill its mission” of those held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7 Reach hostages and ensure the hostages' well-being. Israeli media reported on this. In a televised portion of the meeting, Netanyahu pressed Spoljaric, telling her that the Red Cross had “every right to put public pressure on Hamas” to gain access to the Israeli hostages. “That won’t work because the more public pressure we would exert, the more they would close the door,” replies the ICRC president. Spoljaric also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen yesterday. Regarding the Israeli hostages, “every day that goes by is another failure for the Red Cross,” Cohen charged.
04:15
Gaza, Pfa: 55 Palestinian footballers killed since war began. 30 athletes from other sports died
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) says it has documented the murder of 85 Palestinian athletes since the start of the war in Gaza, including 55 football players and 30 from other sports. This was reported by the Wafa news agency. According to the PFA, the Israeli army “targeted Palestinian athletes and sports facilities, particularly football players and club presidents, administrators, referees and others.” The Palestinian Football Association report states that 18 children were among the players killed. According to the PFA, Israeli bombings resulted in the destruction of nine sports facilities: four in the West Bank and five in the Gaza Strip. The report said Israel had arrested three athletes in the West Bank, while the number in Gaza “is infinitely high given the number of missing people.”
03:43
Hamas: Our tunnels are built to withstand even flooding
Hamas built its tunnels to resist possible attempts to pump water into them, the Palestinian Islamist group's spokesman Osama Hamdan was quoted as saying by Arab media. At a press conference in Beirut, Hamdan addressed reports of possible flooding of underground passages by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. “The tunnels,” he assured, “were built by well-trained and educated engineers who took into account all possible attacks by the crew members, including pumping water. The tunnels are an integral part of the resistance and all expected consequences and attacks have been taken into account.” Yesterday, Israeli public television Kan reported that the Israeli army had made a first attempt to open a Hamas military tunnel in the northern part of the Gaza Strip to flood with water from the sea.
00:52
USA, White House: Hamas leader Sinwar's days are numbered
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s days are “numbered.” A White House official said. “It doesn't matter how long it takes, but justice will be done for Sinwar,” the senior US government official added, speaking to a small group of journalists about National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's meetings in Israel. The official recalled that Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar has “American blood on his hands” and “is still holding American hostages.”