The IDF is continuing its military operations in Gaza City, one of Hamas' last remaining strongholds, to increase the pressure on Hamas to free the hostages and surrender its weapons.
Israeli troops today dismantled a weapons storage facility in Gaza City containing explosive devices.
The IDF estimates that more than 400,000 people have left Gaza City for humanitarian areas further south.
"The more people move south, the more power Hamas loses. As the IDF’s military pressure in Gaza City increases, the pressure on the population will make them move, and Hamas will be backed into a corner. Then the chances of a deal grow," an Israeli security official said.
Sources in the IDF's Southern Command are saying that armed Gazan clans have begun fighting Hamas in some places and attempting to seize control from the terror group in areas.
Meanwhile, in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, four IDF soldiers were tragically killed today.
They were Maj. Omri Chai Ben Moshe, 26, Lt. Eran Shelem, 23, Lt. Eitan Avner Ben Itzhak, 22, and Lt. Ron Arieli, 20.
May their memories be a blessing.
The four were killed by a roadside bomb while driving in a Humvee.
The IDF is still investigating the incident to learn what type of bomb was used and when it was placed there.
Hamas could end this war today by releasing the hostages, laying down its arms, and surrendering. Instead, it is prolonging the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Qatar, Turkey and Iran to release all the hostages.
New report: UNRWA allowed Hamas to control school system
A new report from U.N. Watch shows how UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinians whose employees participated in the October 7 massacre, knowingly allowed Hamas to take over their network of schools.
UNRWA "handed [the schools] over to the very operatives who recruit child soldiers, glorify suicide bombers, and preach the annihilation of a U.N. member state," the report says.
The organization knowingly hired Hamas terrorists as school principals and teachers. UNRWA did not "just tolerate extremism… [they] institutionalized it, turning classrooms into incubators of hate."
The problems with UNRWA, both in Gaza and beyond, are grave, systemic and beyond repair. It is a morally bankrupt and corrupt organization and all efforts over several decades to reform UNRWA have failed.
Congress must permanently end American funding for UNRWA and the administration must urge our allies to do the same.
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IDF launches new wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah terror sites
Today, the IDF announced that it had eliminated a senior Hezbollah weapons dealer in northern Lebanon.
Following that, the IDF launched a new wave of strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
The IDF issued a warning to civilians in the area before the strikes:
"In the near future, the IDF will attack military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terror organization throughout southern Lebanon, in response to its prohibited attempts to rebuild its activities in the area."
Hezbollah, with help from its sponsor in Iran, is working to rebuild and rearm. The United States must continue provide Israel the resources and support needed to disarm Hezbollah.
Two IDF soldiers killed at Jordan border crossing
A Jordanian humanitarian aid truck driver killed two Israeli soldiers in a terrorist attack at the Allenby Crossing at the Jordan border.
The terrorist opened fire as he entered the Israeli side of the crossing, leaving his truck, and then proceeded to stab additional bystanders.
The terrorist was soon killed by a security guard.
The soldiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Yitzhak Haish, 68, and Sergeant Oran Hershko, 20, were coordinating humanitarian aid bound for Gaza when they were stabbed to death.
May their memories be a blessing.
Houthis continue attacks on Israel
The Houthi terrorist group launched three separate attacks at Israel today. Two drones and a ballistic missile were shot at Israeli civilians.
The first drone was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, but the second one struck a hotel in the southern city of Eilat, causing a small explosion and fire.
A ballistic missile caused sirens to go off between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv but was also intercepted by Israel's missile defense systems.
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Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications
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