Prime Minister Netanyahu said today that he has authorized "immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel."
The announcement came during the prime minister's visit to the IDF Southern Command, where he approved the IDF's plans to take control of Gaza City, one of Hamas' last remaining strongholds.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that the military is "advancing with efforts for action in Gaza City. Our forces are operating on the city's outskirts, and additional forces will join them soon. We will continue to strike Hamas everywhere inside - and abroad."
The IDF's spokesperson confirmed that "preliminary actions" have begun around the city, and that 80,000 call-up notices for reservists will be issued to bolster forces.
Meanwhile, earlier today, terrorists launched a rocket from near a hospital in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza towards one of the humanitarian aid corridors established by Israel. The rocket fell short, but struck as aid trucks were passing through the corridor.
Despite Hamas' ongoing efforts to sabotage the flow of humanitarian aid within Gaza, the IDF is continuing its efforts to provide aid to civilians without benefiting Hamas.
Aid efforts are expanding as civilians are beginning to leave Gaza City ahead of the IDF's operations there and head to humanitarian areas further south.
"As part of laying the groundwork" for the operation to take Gaza City, the IDF "is leading a civilian effort to adapt the humanitarian infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip to meet the needs of the expected population... Additional aid distribution centers will be established," the IDF spokesperson said.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) delivered an additional 1.7 million meals today, for more than 132 million meals distributed to date.
GHF is also now working with humanitarian aid organization Samaritan's Purse to provide food and medical care for Gazan civilians at its aid sites.
While Israel works to defeat Hamas, free all the hostages, and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Hamas is prolonging the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
The United States must stand with Israel and increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Qatar, Turkey and Iran to release all 50 hostages still held in captivity.
IDF providing medical aid in Syria
Back in May, the IDF established a medical facility in southern Syria to help provide care to the area's Druze community.
Since then, the facility has treated over 1,600 patients, 40% of whom are children, and serves about 50 people every day. The medical staff on site includes a general practitioner, a pediatrician, an OB-GYN and additional specialists as needed.
The IDF is also evacuating patients from Syria for medical treatment in Israel.
The IDF today struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including a weapons depot and rocket launcher.
The presence of Hezbollah's terror infrastructure and weapons in southern Lebanon is a violation of both the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
Over the past two weeks, the IDF has conducted dozens of operations against Hezbollah and other terror targets in Lebanon, including targeted assassinations, airstrikes, artillery strikes, and more.
Hezbollah is actively working to rebuild its terror infrastructure and weapons arsenal with help from Iran, and has repeatedly confirmed that it will not willingly give up its weapons.
IDF activity in Lebanon between August 11 and 17.
IDF soldiers freed from Hamas captivity complete rehabilitation
Five female IDF soldiers, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Agam Berger, who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for nearly 500 days, have completed their intensive rehabilitation program.
The program was aimed at helping them recover from the physical and psychological challenges they faced while in captivity. The five will continue to receive medical and psychological support to prevent deterioration of their conditions and identify new needs as they arise.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
