Over 1,200 of the October 7 massacre have been identified

Over 200 soldiers have been killed, since the Gaza campaign

13,016 people injured

136 of the 238 people kidnapped into Gaza by Hamas are still being held hostage

Over 14,000 rockets fired at Israeli towns and villages (over a 2,000 mis[1]launches)

Around 300,000 people displaced within Israel

It has been a while since we have updated you, and it is hard to believe that Israel is still fighting for the release of the hostages and to destroy Hamas terrorists for 110 days now.

This week was one of the most devastating for Israel, with 24 soldiers killed in 24 hours. Israel made the conscious and responsible decision and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been implementing a different approach to the war in Gaza since the battle shifted from the first phase, and geographically from north to south. Israel is relying less on aerial bombings and is operating in an urban warfare environment, in order to minimize collateral damage and the loss of life of civilians.

This is a very difficult feat as every day we see that hamas has used the past 16 years to embed itself fully in the civilian infrastructure. It stole international aid, money, and supplies and built over 700 Km of terror tunnels under almost every hospital, masque, and school in the Gaza strip. Add to that weapons' storage in kindergartens and in children's rooms. See and listen to hamas leader Khalid Mashal in his own words.

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1749241387625619456/vid/avc1/480x270/vFDGThPlKn6VuNl9.mp4?tag=14 

The cost of this war is dear and difficult for Israel but we are clear in our aim of saving the hostages and eliminating Hamas; our soldiers are doing all they can to save the civilians from Hamas's claws of terror and to ensure their safety.

The New York Times issued a new report that acknowledges the pivot in Israel’s war strategy and that it has resulted in a lowered civilian death toll among Palestinians.

"The changes in Israel’s war strategy have been significant — and somewhat overlooked. Israel has responded to international pressure in ways that suggest its harshest critics are wrong to accuse it of wanting to maximize civilian deaths."

Read the Times piece here. 

IDF presses deeper into Khan Yunis:

This week, the IDF launched a new offensive against Hamas positions in the western part of Khan Yunis. Four IDF brigades took part in the raids, killing some 100 Hamas operatives and several Hamas commanders in the fighting. Senior Hamas leadership is believed to be hiding deep below Khan Yunis, likely surrounding themselves with Israeli hostages.

In northern Gaza, where the IDF has defeated Hamas’ military framework and established control of the area, Israeli troops are working methodically to locate remaining rocket launchers and destroy tunnels. "Any area where there is a tunnel or a rocket, we will get there," said a senior IDF battalion commander. "We have a mission to defeat Hamas and its capabilities, however long it will take."

Humanitarian Aid:

As of today, 10,136 trucks carrying over 186,540 tons of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza.

The IDF reiterated that "there is no limitation to the amount of humanitarian aid that can enter Gaza," as the 10,000th aid truck entered the Strip since the war began. https://twitter.com/cogatonline/status/1749500352209039501

While the U.N. ramps up its public pressure on Israel to allow more goods into Gaza, the U.N. is failing to fully distribute all of the aid.

Hostages Update:

Over the past weekend, the IDF uncovered a tunnel compound deep beneath Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, where it found evidence that approximately 20 hostages were held in inhumane conditions.

The entrances to the tunnel were rigged with explosives, and the air in the tunnels was described as thick and humid with little oxygen. In the dark, abandoned chamber, the Israeli military found drawings by children, mattresses on the floor, and a half-used package of diapers.

Israel proposes pause for hostage release:

According to several Israeli and international news outlets, Israel has proposed a long pause in fighting as part of a multi-phase deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza. Israeli officials said they are ready to release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners if Hamas agrees to the offer.

In November, the United States brokered a week-long pause in fighting. 105 Israeli hostages were released in exchange for over 300 Palestinian prisoners, before Hamas broke the agreement and resumed attacking Israel

International Arena:

· The Houtis, guided and provided with missiles by the Iranian regime, are still endangering international shipping routes.

Operation Prosperity Guardian - a coalition of more than 20 nations committed to defending international shipping and deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. There have also been over 40 nations condemning Houthi threats, and the Biden administration announced plans to re-designate the Houthi rebels as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.

U.S. Warns of Iran’s Involvement in Houthi Red Sea Attacks. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, U.S. Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said that Iran is “very directly involved” in recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea.

This warning comes after weeks of violent attacks carried out by Houthi terrorists in Yemen against container ships bound for Israel and Europe in the Red Sea.

· Setting course for the IMEC, the India-Middle East Europe Corridor One of the goals of the Iranian regime and the terrorists, is to stop or derail international cooperation and normalcy in the Middle East as well as with like-minded countries.

The Massacre of October 7 by hamas terrorist and the ongoing war may delayed plans for the corridor, but can’t derail them.

Read here: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/setting-course-for-the[1]imec-gaza-war-has-delayed-plans-for-the-corridor-but-cant-derail-them/3372191​