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International Business Times
International Business Times
World
Marvie Basilan

Israel-Hamas Conflict: New Truce Deal Elusive; Hamas Claims Hostage Killed In Rescue Attempt

Hamas Hezbollah Israel Gaza Beirut Lebanon Benjamin Netanyahu Khan Yunis

KEY POINTS

  • Netanyahu said Lebanon's south will be turned into Khan Yunis if Hezbollah initiates an "all-out" war
  • Israel, Hamas 'not close' to new ceasefire-hostage agreement: White House
  • Hamas' Gaza chief is a "dead man walking," Israeli army spokesperson said
Live Updates
A billboard bearing portraits of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants. At least 138 hostages are still being held by Hamas and other Palestinians even after the seven-day ceasefire deal led to the release of over 100 abductees. (Credit: AFP)

The Israel-Hamas war has entered its 63rd day, and a new ceasefire agreement remains elusive as the Israeli army works to locate the hostages still in captivity in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah that Beirut will be turned into Gaza if the Lebanon-based paramilitary organization decides to launch an all-out war against Israel.

Fire exchange is heating up in Israel's northern border with Lebanon after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was accused by the Lebanese government's news agency of using phosphorus in launches toward southern Lebanon.

  • House GOP to investigate Harvard, MIT, Penn
  • Israeli army strikes Hezbollah observation post in Lebanese territory
  • 2 top Hamas operatives in observation unit eliminated: IDF
  • Netanyahu visits IDF Northern Command headquarters amid border fire exchanges
  • Washington proposed amendments to UAE-drafted ceasefire text: Report
  • US announces sanctions against alleged Houthi funding backers
  • Hamas violated truce agreement 15 minutes after it started: Senior IDF officer
  • Israel strikes Syrian targets in response to Thursday launches: IDF
  • Biden expresses to Netanyahu his 'concern' for remaining hostages
  • US working with Palestinian Authority for post war plan: Palestine's PM
  • Houthis warn any Israeli ship will face same fate as Galaxy Leader
  • Son of former IDF chief of staff killed in battle in northern Gaza
  • Hamas claims hostage killed during Israeli troops' rescue attempt
  • One-fifth of Hezbollah rockets fired toward Israel fell within southern Lebanon: IDF
  • Weapons, tunnel shaft found within university complex in Rimal: IDF

The United Nations said a total of 491 foreign and dual nationals were able to leave Gaza into Egypt Thursday. More than a hundred "sick people" also left the enclave for treatment in Egypt.

Upon the request of Washington, Tel Aviv reportedly agreed to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing for the inspection of humanitarian aid amid continuous pressure from the international community to speed up the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

More than two months after Hamas operatives invaded Israel and killed more than a thousand people on Oct. 7, deep-rooted Israel-Palestine tensions have been magnified further on a global scale as anti-Semitism reports rise in various countries and universities.

Qatar has vowed to pursue efforts for another ceasefire agreement after the truce deal that led to the release of dozens of hostages fell apart. U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed concern over the conditions of the remaining abductees.

There are still more than 130 hostages – abducted from Israel during the Oct. 7 massacre – being held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza.

The live update has ended.

Tunnel shaft located within Al-Azhar University – Gaza compound: IDF

Israeli troops discovered "an underground route that leaves the [Al-Azhar] university yard and continues to a school about a kilometer from it" during operations in the Rimal area, the IDF said Friday in a series of Google-translated posts on X. Weapons and other military paraphernalia were also uncovered.

"The findings on the ground show that Hamas used the university building for the purpose of fighting against our forces," the Israeli army said.

Loud explosions heard in Gush Dan: Report

Residents of Gush Dan, also called the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, reported that they heard loud explosions at around noon Friday local time, as per local N12 News. Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported the explosion was due to two rockets falling in the sea.

Gush Dan has an estimated population of more than 4 million and is Israel's largest metro area.

Hamas leader's son spent thousands of dollars on luxury jewelry: Israel

The Israeli government published receipts uncovered during a ground operation in Gaza that purportedly showed how Moaz Haniyeh spent "$25,000 on luxury jewelry in recent years." Moaz is the son of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

One-fifth of Hezbollah launches fell within Lebanese territory: IDF spox

About one-fifth of the rocket launches fired toward Israel by Iran-backed Hezbollah fell within southern Lebanon territory, IDF spokesperson for Arab media Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee said Friday.

The development poses "a danger to the Lebanese population and a flagrant violation of international resolution," Adraee said in a Google-translated post on X.

Hamas claims captive 'soldier' killed during rescue attempt by special forces

Hamas' armed wing, Al Qassam Brigades, said Friday that it thwarted an attempt by Israeli special forces to rescue hostages being held in Gaza, adding that it killed several Israeli troops in the incident, including one captive soldier, Reuters reported, citing a statement distributed on Telegram.

The terror group named the hostage killed as Sa'ar Baruch. Israel's list of hostages identifies one captive as Sahar Baruch, a civilian student who was 24 when he was abducted from Israel during the Oct. 7 carnage by Hamas militants.

'Not close' to new ceasefire deal: White House

Israel and Hamas are "not close" to achieving a new truce agreement, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said, adding that he had no news to provide yet about the release of hostages still being held captive in the Gaza Strip.

Kirby's remarks come as the families of remaining hostages plead with the Israeli government and international community to get the abductees freed or at least push for the Red Cross to have access to them.

Israelis fill up Herzliya streets to send off fallen soldier

Residents of Herzliya in central Israel filled up the streets Friday to accompany Maj. Gal Eisenkot on his last journey after he fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip. He is the son of Knesset member and cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot.

Israel's ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, has taken to X to condole with the minister, who was also the Israeli army's 21st chief of staff.

4 Israeli soldiers fall in Gaza battles

The Israeli army has lost four more soldiers in fierce battles both in the north and southern Gaza Strip, the IDF announced Friday on its tribute page for fallen soldiers since the war started.

  • Maj. Yonatan David Dietsch, 34 – fighter in the 6623rd Patrol Battalion
  • Maj. Gal Meir Eisenkot, 25 – fighter in the 699th Battalion
  • Maj. Eyal Meir Berkovich, 28 – fighter in the 699th Battalion
  • Maj. Kobi Devash, 41 – fighter in the 271st Engineering Battalion of the Hatch Brigade

Any Israeli ship awaits same fate as Galaxy Leader: Houthis

"This fate awaits any Israeli ship," Qatari TV channel Al-Araby reported of the hijacked Galaxy Leader that Houthis seized last month at the Red Sea, citing Yemen's Houthi rebel group, as per a translation of the report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

"Any ship connected, directly or indirectly" to Israel will face the same fate of being "seized and towed to the shore," the channel reported, citing Muhammad Ayash Qahim, the paramilitary group's Hodeidah governor. "We are lying in wait for them. We are prepared," Qahim warned.

The ship's crew are still in Houthi captivity. Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has vowed to do everything in his power to return home 17 Filipino crew members of the Galaxy Leader.

Palestinian Authority coordinating post war plan with US: Palestine's PM

The Palestinian Authority is working with U.S. officials on a plan regarding the governance of Gaza after the war, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told Bloomberg in an interview published Friday.

He revealed that the Washington officials who visited the PA earlier this week to draw up "day after" plans for the Gaza Strip agreed that an Israeli reoccupation should not take place. They also agreed, as per Shtayyeh, that Israel should not shrink Palestinian land or drive the people of Palestine out of the enclave.

Shtayyeh said he prefers an outcome on governance talks that will see Hamas becoming a "junior partner under the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)."

Unlike the PLO, which was coming to terms with the existence of Israel, Hamas completely rejects the State of Israel. The Palestinian PM says Hamas' beliefs may change.

"If they [Hamas] are ready to come to an agreement and accept the political platform of the PLO, then there will be room for talk. Palestinians should not be divided," he said.

Over 450 Hamas targets in Gaza attacked by Israeli forces

More than 450 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip were attacked over the last 24 hours by Israeli troops. "Numerous" terrorists were neutralized by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) through "precise strikes," the IDF said Friday.

POTUS expresses concern over remaining hostages

Biden told Netanyahu during a call late Thursday that he was concerned for the remaining hostages who are still held captive in Gaza. He also backed Israel's earlier statement that Hamas caused the collapse of the seven-day ceasefire agreement.

"It was Hamas's refusal to release women civilian hostages that broke down the humanitarian pause," he said.

He also reiterated the importance of allowing the sustained flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and raised his concern over extremist violence in the West Bank.

Israel attacks Syrian targets

Israeli strikes targeted several assets in Syrian territory in response to launches fired towards the annexed Golan Heights Thursday, the IDF said Friday.

Hamas broke truce 15 minutes after it started: Senior IDF officer

Hamas already broke the ceasefire agreement within minutes after it started, Lt. Col. Yisrael told The Times of Israel in an interview published Friday morning local time. His last name was withheld by the Israeli army over security concerns.

Only 15 minutes after the truce started, "dozens of terrorists ran toward us, from every direction," with some of the Hamas combatants opening fire, said Yisrael, who leads the 261st Brigade's 8717th "Alon" Battalion of the Israeli army.

His revelation comes a week after the seven-day ceasefire fell apart when Hamas failed to deliver a new list of hostages slated for release last Friday. The IDF did not reveal Hamas' alleged violation right after the firing incident on the first few minutes of the ceasefire, likely to uphold the deal and allow for the release of hostages, the outlet noted.

In photo: an Israeli soldier takes cover near Sderot on Oct. 9, 2023, during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. (Credit: AFP)

US sanctions 13 individuals and entities allegedly funding Yemen's Houthis

The White House will impose sanctions on 13 individuals and entities that allegedly funded Yemen's Houthi rebels "through Iranian commodity sales," U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday.

The news comes after Houthis seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship last month and just recently attacked three commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The hijacked cargo ship's crew remains in Houthi captivity.

Weapons found in Shuja'iyya civilian areas

Weapons such as RPG rocket launchers, rifles, ammunition and uniforms embedded "at the heart of civilian areas in Shuja'iyya" were located by Israeli soldiers, the IDF said Friday morning local time.

During operations in the Gazan district, the Israeli army destroyed terrorist tunnels and other Hamas infrastructure.

US offers substantial amendments to UAE-drafted text calling for ceasefire: Report

Washington proposed significant amendments to the outline that the United Arab Emirates drafted this week for another ceasefire in Gaza, Reuters reported late Thursday.

The draft was amended to include a provision that states "the Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law." Another amendment pushed for the "immediate and unconditional" release of remaining hostages in the strip.

However, a condemnation of Hamas' Oct. 7 carnage in Israel was not included in the text that the UN Security Council will vote on Friday.

In photo: a barrage of rockets is fired from the southern Gaza Strip towards Israel. Hamas has continuously fired rockets toward Israeli territory since Oct. 7, forcing Israelis and foreign residents to move to safer areas. (Credit: AFP)

Intense fighting both in north and southern Gaza: Report

Fighting between Israeli ground forces and Hamas militants has grown intense both in the north and southern part of the Gaza Strip, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported Friday morning local time. "The shooting was heard in every corner," the broadcaster said in a post on X, as per Google's translation.

Netanyahu visits IDF's Northern Command HQ

The Israeli prime minister visited the Israeli army's Northern Command headquarters with defense minister Yoav Gallant and IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi Thursday amid escalating fire exchanges with Lebanese terror group Hezbollah near Israel's border with Lebanon.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu heard about the soldiers' activity in the area and their readiness to continue ensuring the security of the country," as per a statement from Netanyahu's office.

He also visited the IDF's artillery battery in the Upper Galilee, telling reserve fighters in the facility that Israel is proud of the work they do for the country.

2 senior Hamas operatives assassinated

The Israeli army has assassinated two senior Hamas operatives — Abdel Aziz Al-Rantisi and Ahmed Aiush — the IDF announced Thursday.

Al-Rantisi was head of the terror group's observational intelligence operations in the Gaza Strip, while Aiush was responsible for collecting information from all of Hamas' observation posts in the enclave.

Israeli army strikes Hezbollah observation post in Lebanon

The Israeli army late on Thursday attacked several Hezbollah military assets in Lebanese territory, the IDF said. In particular, an observation post was struck, and so was other military sites operated by the Iran-backed terror group.

The neighbors had skirmishes in the past, but attacks by the Lebanon-based paramilitary group toward Israel have intensified since the war started, especially after the seven-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed late last week.

US House GOP announces probe into Harvard, MIT, Penn

U.S. House Republicans on Thursday announced an investigation into Harvard, MIT and Penn following the "morally bankrupt" responses of the universities' presidents when asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" violates the schools' code of conduct on bullying and harassment.

The House's Education and Workforce Committee "is launching an official Congressional investigation with the full force of subpoena power into Penn, MIT, & Harvard and others," Stefanik, a senior member of the committee, said in a statement.

"We will use our full Congressional authority to hold these schools accountable for their failure in the global stage," added Stefanik, who also chairs the House Republican Conference.

The announcement came after the university presidents provided Congress with answers including the terms "depending on the context" and "if the speech turns into conduct."

Israel agrees to open Kerem Shalom crossing: Report

The Israeli government, upon Washington's request, has agreed to open the Kerem Shalom crossing to help accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Reuters reported Thursday, citing a senior U.S. official.

However, the border crossing will only be opened "for inspection" purposes, said Col. Elad Goren, head of Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) department.

UN chief aid chief Martin Griffiths also told reporters that "there are promising signs" Israel will open the said crossing "soon," raising hopes for aid to be delivered faster to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has been under constant pressure from the global community since the war started to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing. (Credit: AFP)

Over 400 foreign and dual nationals depart Gaza: UN OCHA

A total of 491 foreign and dual nationals left Gaza through the Rafah border crossing and entered Egypt Thursday, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a new update on the Israel-Hamas war. Moreover, 121 "sick people" left the strip to receive medical care in Egypt.

For humanitarian aid, 69 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies entered the enclave Thursday. Trucks carrying 61,000 liters of fuel were also allowed entry.

In photo: people from Gaza enter the Rafah border crossing to Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 1, 2023. (Credit: AFP)

Sinwar a 'dead man walking': IDF spox

IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Sinwar, who leads Hamas' operations in the Gaza Strip, was a "dead man walking" after Netanyahu announced late Wednesday that Israeli troops were surrounding the top Hamas official's house in Khan Yunis.

Sinwar is reportedly known for his brutality and violence against Hamas members who he suspects of betrayal. He was previously jailed in Israel for more than two decades for his role in the murder of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel.

Hamas's leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar (C), is being hunted by the Israeli army after ground troops completed the encirclement of his hometown, Khan Yunis. (Credit: AFP)

At least 68 media workers killed since Oct. 7: Media group

At least 68 journalists and media personnel have been killed since the war started, global media union the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said. Several others have been injured while others were reported missing, the group added.

Pictured: a salvo of rockets is fired from Gaza towards Israel. (Credit: AFP)

Netanyahu warns Hezbollah against waging all-out war

Hezbollah will turn Beirut into another Gaza if it decides to launch an all-out war against Israel, the Israeli prime minister said in a stark warning late Thursday.

He further warned that a full-blown war initiated by the Lebanon-based terror group will turn southern Lebanon into the next Khan Yunis, where Israeli ground forces have expanded operations to target Hamas' most senior official in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.

Netanyahu's warning comes amid intensifying fire exchanges between the Israeli army and the Iran-backed paramilitary group in Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

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