After October 7th, Israel experienced the most tragic day of the war: the massacre of 21 of his soldiers, which plunged the country into deep despair. The soldiers, all reservists, were killed in the Almaazi area of central Gaza by a team from the Al-Qassam Brigades – Hamas's military wing – in the explosion of two buildings, apparently caused by the firing of an anti-missile missile – Tank rocket.
The soldiers undermined the two buildings around 4 p.m. on Monday, but the news only emerged today, as part of the creation of a buffer zone near the border with Gaza to allow residents to return safely to the now preserved kibbutzim. The rocket – which Hamas claimed was fired – targeted an Israeli tank that was protecting the soldiers. At the same time, according to army spokesman Daniel Hagari, who announced the opening of an investigation, the explosives exploded in the two buildings, killing the soldiers: The most likely hypothesis is that the detonation of the mines was somehow activated by the first anti-tank missile fired or by one second.
In the evening, Hamas released a video showing the attack, which killed 21 Israeli soldiers. The video – reports Al Jazeera – begins with a Hamas fighter firing a mortar shell at a house, then picking up a grenade and throwing it at the front of a tank parked in front of the building, which was surrounded by smoke at that moment. A caption then appears reading: This is “the moment a minefield is detonated” targeting “Israeli forces.” Let's hope they're dead.
The death of 21 soldiers in one day caused a huge response in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country had “experienced one of the most difficult days since the beginning of the conflict,” but that did not mean that “Israel will stop fighting until complete victory.”
“This – commented Defense Minister Yoav Gallant – is a war that will determine the future of Israel in the coming decades. The deaths of these fighters must motivate us to achieve our goals.” The total military death toll then rose to 24, with three more soldiers killed in other circumstances in the Gaza Strip.
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Meanwhile, Hamas rejected Israel's proposal of a two-month ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages.. According to an Egyptian source cited by international media, the Palestinian faction has insisted that no more abductees will be released until Israel ends its offensive and completely withdraws from Gaza. The proposal, published on Monday by the American website Axios, also called for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons and permission for Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip to move to other countries.
But Qatar does not completely despair of starting new negotiations, and the US has expressed its willingness to support long humanitarian pauses (of 60 to 90 days) for the release of the hostages, even if this is “not possible” in the future of Gaza be Hamas,” but not even “a reduction of the territory” of the Gaza Strip. The White House has confirmed that US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is visiting the region to discuss just that.
NOIn the 109th War, the IDF completely surrounded Khan Yunis, the Hamas stronghold in the south of the Palestinian enclave. Units of paratroopers, the Givati Brigade and armored vehicles were involved in the operation, which, according to the army, killed dozens of “terrorists” and destroyed a kilometer-long tunnel in a residential area, supported by units of commandos. The military spokesman in Arabic, Avichai Adraee, said that for “security reasons” the army had asked residents of 6 districts of the city to evacuate via Al-Bahar Street to the not far away seaside “humanitarian zone” of Moassi.
The Palestinian Red Crescent accused the IDF of opening fire on their ambulances which transported the wounded to Kahn Yunis while Nasser Hospital remained surrounded for the second day, with the army reporting that soldiers had been shot at in recent days. According to military analysts, the IDF's next move will be towards Rafah, which is near Egypt. While the number of those killed in Gaza has reached 25,490 – according to the Hamas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and militia deaths – Unicef Palestine has said that “more than 1,000 children” in the Gaza Strip were mutilated in bombings.
The story of the former Knesset hostages: “Women and men raped in the tunnels beneath Gaza”
A former hostage woman in Gaza, who was later released, and her daughter told a Knesset committee that “women and men are being raped by terrorists in the tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip.” “The terrorists,” said the woman quoted by the media, “are bringing doll clothes for the girls. They have turned the girls into their dolls to do whatever they want with.” Another former female hostage also reported that “there are girls there who haven't menstruated for a long time, and maybe that's why we should pray, that the body protects them so that, God forbid, they do not become pregnant.”
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ANSA Agency “Women dressed as dolls and raped in the tunnels” – War in the Middle East – Ansa.it Dramatic reports of systematic sexual abuse carried out by Hamas on Israeli hostages, men and women, in the tunnels where they were held captive Over 100 days have arrived in a Knesset commission of former prisoners released in November (ANSA)
The White House: “Open to long humanitarian pauses in Gaza”
The United States stands ready to support long humanitarian pauses to release hostages and provide additional assistance to Gaza. This was stated by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, responding to those who asked him whether the US would support breaks of 30, 60 or 90 days. Kirby also noted that yesterday was “a terrible day for the IDF (IDF) in terms of casualties.” However, Kirby made it clear that Gaza's future, whatever it may be, cannot include Hamas' leaders.
The Red Crescent accuses the army: “In Khan Yunis they are shooting at our vehicles”
A spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent today accused the Israeli army of opening fire on its rescue vehicles trying to provide aid to the wounded in Khan Yunis (south of Gaza). Haaretz reported this, adding that the local Nasser Hospital was still surrounded by the army for the second day in a row today. Last week, the army reported that soldiers at that hospital had been shot.
Unicef: “More than 1,000 children mutilated in Gaza”
“According to the news we have received, more than 1,000 children in Gaza have lost a limb due to the bombing, which has profoundly changed their lives.” Unicef Palestine writes it on X.
Borrell: “Israel has no right of veto over the two states”
“We automatically have to talk about the two states’ request. And one thing must be clear: Israel has no right of veto over the self-determination of the Palestinian people recognized by the United Nations.” This was said by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, in the press conference at the conclusion of the EU-Egypt Association Council.
New US-GB raids in Yemen. The Houthis: “We will respond”
The Americans and British have returned to attack the Houthis in Yemen. For the second time in just over ten days, joint raids took place targeting various targets in the area controlled by the Shiite movement. Washington and London have reiterated that they want to prevent attacks on Western merchant ships in the Red Sea without opening a new war front, but the pro-Iranian militias have consistently promised that they will not stand idly by. AND Tehran has warned the USA: “You are making a strategic mistake.”
On the night of Monday to Tuesday, Task Force Prosperity Guardian went into action and bombed eight Houthi sites hiding “missile and launch systems, air defense systems, radars and weapons storage facilities,” a statement from the Anglo-American-led multinational said Group operations. The raids served to “weaken the arsenal endangering global trade and the lives of innocent seafarers.” It is the second large-scale military operation after that of January 12th, which was followed by targeted attacks by the USA alone.
The latest airstrike in Yemen was preceded by a phone call between Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak in which the two leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation.” This comes in a phase in which London estimates the Houthis have attacked 12 cargo ships in the last 10 days, more than 30 since November, in retaliation against Israel following its Gaza invasion. British diplomatic chief David Cameron will visit the region in the coming days and is working with the US on new sanctions against the Houthis.
Yemen's de facto masters have responded to the US and UK raids with another challenge: “They will not go unpunished.” While their main sponsor, Iran, stressed that Western attacks are counterproductive because they “threaten regional security and… “cause the war to spread to Gaza.” At the time of the bombing, “satellite images showed 230 merchant ships and oil tankers in the Red Sea,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said.
The EU, like the US and Britain, is alarmed by the Houthis' actions, which have led to a “22% drop in container traffic in the Red Sea this month,” said Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. According to this, there are “currently no visible effects on energy prices or goods prices, but there are already effects on transport prices”. To address this crisis, Brussels is working to make the Aspides naval mission operational as quickly as possible, following the political green light given at the last Foreign Affairs Council. In this new operation, which will have defensive tasks, Rome is at the forefront. Because “Italy is an export country and therefore we have the duty and will do so to protect merchant ships,” emphasized Minister Antonio Tajani.
Sunak: “We will not hesitate to respond to further Houthi attacks”
The UK will “not hesitate” to respond with military action again if attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea continue. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this as he reported to the House of Commons following overnight joint raids by London and Washington forces in Yemen against Houthi bases.
During the House of Commons debate, Sunak insisted on denying that he wanted military escalation while reiterating that Houthi attacks must stop. According to the Tory Prime Minister, the real escalation is being led by the rebels, who continue to “attack US and British warships with missiles and drones and threaten allied bases in the region”. The Prime Minister also said that according to an initial intelligence assessment, the targeted targets had been effectively hit.
He also stressed that Foreign Secretary David Cameron was about to embark on a new trip to the Middle East, demonstrating Britain's desire to also resume diplomatic action in the region, including support for an Israeli-Palestinian solution conflict based on the two-state principle. On the Labor opposition side, leader Keir Starmer reiterated his support for the raids and limited himself to asking Downing Street for further details on their effectiveness, future plans and the legal opinion of the relevant government departments.
Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz in the north after Hezbollah attacks
The situation in northern Israel following the ongoing Hezbollah attacks was examined today by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz at a meeting in Ramat Corazim (north of Lake Tiberias) with the representatives of Israel's border towns in Lebanon. During these hours, alarm sirens sounded in the Upper Galilee and the air base on Mount Meron (north of Safed) was attacked with Hezbollah rockets. “We’re keeping our eyes open to what’s happening up north,” Gallant said. “Hezbollah continues its provocations.” We stand ready. “We do not want war, we are ready to face any situation that may develop in the north.” Netanyahu reiterated that despite yesterday's heavy human losses, Israel remains determined to fight until victory. “We are engaged in the fairest of all wars. Today we also achieved great success with the encirclement of Khan Yunis south of Gaza. “But unfortunately we also paid a very high price.”
Former hostages, “women and men raped in tunnels in Gaza”
Aviva Siegel, a former hostage in Gaza who was later released, and her daughter Shir told a Knesset commission that “women and men are being raped by terrorists in the tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip.” “Terrorists,” she said in the media, “bring doll clothes for girls. They have turned girls into their dolls to do whatever they want with.” Former captor Chen Goldstein Almog also said: “There are girls there who haven't menstruated for a long time, and maybe that's why we should pray that the body protects them so that, God forbid, they do not become pregnant.”
Hezbollah fires rockets at base in Galilee, Iron Dome intercepts
At least twelve rockets were fired by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon at the military air base on Mount Meron in the Galilee. Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported that at least four of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome's defense systems, while others exploded in open areas nearby. What is being described as a “very massive attack” occurred as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in northern Israel at an unspecified location, where he met today with representatives of the tens of thousands of residents forced to evacuate their homes near the border with Lebanon due to the ongoing bombardment by Hezbollah.
Fierce exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel
This morning there was a heated exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel between southern Lebanon and the Upper Galilee. This was reported by Lebanese and Middle Eastern media, according to which several rockets were fired by Hezbollah at Israeli military positions. Israel bombed Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon with artillery and airstrikes, in the cities of Aytarun, Blida, Shahin, Marwahin, Ramiye, Tayr Harfa and Mays al Jabal, in the western and eastern parts of the Blue Line.
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