No to the ceasefire, yes (maybe) to humanitarian breaks of a few hours. Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza continues, but there are possibilities for a temporary cessation of fighting. She is sure of that White House. The spokesman for national security United StatesJohn Kirby announced there would be none armistice but of “four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in some parts of the northern strip to allow the passage of relief supplies and the escape of civilians southward.” U.S. concerns are also reflected in diplomat Barbara Leaf’s statements to lawmakers at a congressional commission, in which she said the Palestinian death toll in Gaza would exceed 10,000. Meanwhile the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a meeting with the leaders of local communities on the Gaza border, during which he stated that the army would continue to maintain the situation Control of Gaza even after the end of the war. The Prime Minister said that the use of international forces was out of the question, as was a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Israeli army killed Roaa Haniyeh, the niece of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, in a raid in Gaza City.
Arab media, hostage agreement
The Al Arabiya newspaper reports on a “humanitarian prisoner exchange” agreement signed between Israel and Hamas. The sources spoken to by the Arab newspaper claim that the agreement provides for the release of Palestinian prisoners and minors in Israeli prisons in return 100 hostages, women and minors, arrested by Hamas. However, the agreement was denied by an Israeli political source quoted by Kan TV.
Rockets on Tel Aviv
In the morning, rocket sirens sounded again in central Israel and Tel Aviv. A powerful volley of rockets came from Gaza and the Iron Dome interceptor system was activated almost immediately.
Terrorists arrested: “Sinwar is in Shifa Hospital”
The hunt for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar continues. The IDF has released a video in which two terrorists captured on October 7, the day of the attack on Israel, explain that Sinwar is hiding in the basement of Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa: “The leader “Hamas is hiding under it,” like Yahya Sinwar and other high-ranking military and political commanders,” says one of the two. The other responds to the use of ambulances: “Hamas transports important things in ambulances. Commanders and everything they need. Why do they use ambulances and not regular cars? Because the Jews don’t attack ambulances,” he said.
Israeli soldiers have taken over his brother Muhammad Sinwar’s office in Gaza. The 7th Tank Corps brigade attacked several military outposts, including a Hamas training center, located in the heart of a civilian district in Gaza. Also took control of the Tzabra Brigade compound, where large quantities of ammunition, electronic devices and intelligence reports were found.
Time for the offensive is running out
However, another warning comes from the USA. Official American sources spoke to the New York Times and said that the Idf They barely have time to end the offensive in Gaza and eliminate the Hamas threat before the Arab world’s anger in the Middle East increases on the one hand and support from the United States and its allies is exhausted on the other. The same sources emphasized that Tel Aviv’s response to the October 7 attacks “rekindled the world’s solidarity for the Palestinian cause, even as Israel continues to bury its dead.”
According to American officials, the main risk is that the extension of Israel’s military operation will trigger a regional conflict on a much larger scale. And they add that time and conditions on the ground work against Israel. Hamas uses many civilians as human shieldsPlace underground bunkers, weapons depots and rocket launchers under or near sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools and mosques. In this way, the risk of civilian casualties increases exponentially with each IDF attack. “Israel’s quick decision to launch ground operations in the densely populated enclave,” the American newspaper continues, “left little time for comprehensive advance planning to mitigate risks to civilians and all but guaranteed a high number of civilian casualties.”
The Iranian Threat: Inevitable Expansion of War
Out ofIran Meanwhile, a new threat comes, this time from the mouth of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian: “Due to the increasing intensity of the war against the civilian population of Gaza, the expansion of the scale of the war has become inevitable.” Amirabdollahian’s threat came on the sidelines of a meeting with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Israel’s approach is changing
Meanwhile, Israel announces that the offensive will continue and there will be no reduction in “war fighting” but “local and targeted measures” to encourage civilians to leave. On the night of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He clarified the position of the government and the army: “We are doing exceptionally well,” he said in an interview with Fox News. “We are not trying to rule Gaza. We are not trying to occupy it, but to give them and ourselves a better future”. “And – he added – I think it is clear what the future of Gaza must look like. Hamas will leave, we must destroy it, not just for our own good, but for the good of all. For the good of the civilization of the Palestinians and the Israelis.”
On the diplomatic front, the US President Joe Biden confirmed US support for Tel Aviv: “For weeks I have spoken with Israeli leaders about the importance of humanitarian pauses in fighting to rescue civilians, support the release of hostages and increase the flow of food, water and medicine into Gaza,” wrote he on X: “There will be two humanitarian corridors that will allow people to escape from the hostile areas of the Gaza Strip. The breaks are a step in the right direction.”
Israel’s influence on the West Bank
Meanwhile, the Israeli army is stepping up its actions West Bank. Last night, 41 wanted Palestinians were arrested, 14 of whom were identified as Hamas operatives. A military spokesman said soldiers found Hamas equipment and propaganda material in a warehouse in Hebron. Further raids took place in the al-Arroub, Dheisheh and Aldiiah refugee camps. Since October 7, more than 1,540 wanted people have been arrested in the West Bank, a large proportion of whom are affiliated with Hamas.
Some terrorists of the Nukhba group who struck on October 7 were killed
Over the course of the night, in Jabalia districtIn northern Gaza, Israeli troops killed several members of Hamas’ Nukhba Force who were involved in the October 7 attack. The Israeli military and Shin Bet said the dead included Ahmed Musa, a commander of the Islamic Movement’s special forces unit that led the attacks on the Zikim military base, Kibbutz Zikim and the military post in Iftah. Also killed were field commander Omar Alhandi and Muhammad Kahlot, head of the sniper unit in the north.
36 soldiers have died since the fighting began
Another died that night Israeli soldier during the fighting in the northern Gaza Strip. This brings the number of soldiers killed since the ground operation began in the Palestinian enclave to 36. The victim was 21-year-old Gilad Rozenblit from the 401st Armored Brigade.
Erdogan: If there are 10,000 deaths, someone will pay the bill
New diplomatic push in Tel Aviv by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who speaks again about the conflict: “Israel is testing our patience.” “There are ten thousand victims,” he added, “a violence for which someone is responsible.” have to pay the bill. The accomplices of this massacre will be held accountable first to their own conscience, then to history.”