War Summary, Day 652: Hostage-ceasefire negotiation points of contention, Hamas still firing rockets, significant eliminations in Gaza, IDF advances in Gaza City, Hamas falsely claims IDF kills people at GHF sites, Houthi missile targets central Israel, 70 arrests in Judea & Samaria, terror attacks prevented, four terrorists eliminated in Lebanon, and Islamist terrorists in Syria continue to massacre Druze.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

50 held captive in Gaza.

28 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.

148 living hostages rescued.

57 hostage bodies rescued.

1,910 Israelis killed.

454 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.

88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.

18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.

32,355 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.

1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Hostage-ceasefire negotiation points of contention

– Hamas still firing rockets

– Significant eliminations in Gaza

– IDF advances in Gaza City

– Hamas falsely claims IDF kills people at GHF sites

– Houthi missile targets central Israel

– 70 arrests in Judea & Samaria, terror attacks prevented

– Four terrorists eliminated in Lebanon

– Islamist terrorists in Syria continue to massacre Druze

Hostages:

U.S. President Trump continues to insist that a hostage and ceasefire deal can be signed within days. Israel has a small negotiating team in Qatar, and is reportedly debating whether to send the larger and more powerful team.

As usual, there are a lot of reports from unnamed sources, and rumors about the negotiations. From past deals and rumors we’ve learned to take it all with a grain of salt.

According to Ynet, the basic outline under discussion includes the following:

– A 60-day ceasefire in Gaza with IDF withdrawals.

– The release of 10 living hostages, and the bodies of 18 murdered hostages, without any Hamas ceremonies.

– Eight of the living hostages will be released on the first day of the ceasefire, and two on the 50th day.

– The 18 bodies of hostages will be released on three separate dates, spread over the 60-day ceasefire.

– A large number of terrorists who murdered Israelis will be released from Israeli prison in exchange for the hostages.

– A significant about of “humanitarian aid” will be delivered to Gaza daily.

– America will give a guarantee that the ceasefire will continue after the 60 days, so long as some form of negotiations continue.

– No guarantees for the release of the remaining hostages, of which at least 10 are still alive.

The Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, citing a Hamas source, says that the negotiations are focused on three main disagreements:

– IDF withdrawal lines: Hamas wants Israel to redeploy to the same lines as the previous ceasefire, which are all within the buffer zone, and less than a kilometer from the border. (It’s unclear if the Philadelphi Corridor bordering Egypt is included.)

– The number and names of terrorists released: Hamas is demanding the freedom of some notorious terrorists, part of the debate is over how many requests Israel can veto.

– Humanitarian aid: Hamas only wants the organizations that they trust to deliver aid, and not the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (which doesn’t let Hamas profit off the aid). There are also goods that Hamas is requesting which Israel doesn’t allow, because they’re used for producing explosives and rebuilding tunnels.

Ynet reports that Qatar is putting pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal. Meanwhile, Israel and the U.S. are showing a desperation for a deal (which in my opinion, based on what we’ve seen until now, tells Hamas that they can demand even more).

41 IDF soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the previous hostage-ceasefire deal, in which 30 living hostages were freed. The IDF has not yet regained all parts of Gaza which were evacuated during the January-March ceasefire, and over 80,000 Gazans who returned to northern Gaza after the IDF’s withdrawal, remain in the area and continue to act as human shields for Hamas.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly publicly stated that if the IDF leaves Gaza now, Hamas will rebuild and be able to attack Israel again.

Gaza:

Hamas is still firing short-range rockets at Israeli communities on the border. On Thursday, two rockets were fired at the city of Sderot and surrounding towns—both were intercepted. On Friday, one rocket was intercepted over Netiv HaAsara. People in these areas have 10-15 seconds to get to shelter.

**

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen soldiers. However, two soldiers were seriously injured in southern Gaza.

**

The IDF, together with the Shin Bet, carried out quite a few targeted assassinations in the last three days:

— Barhoum Shahin

Role: Head of the Western Gaza Sector in Hamas’s General Security Apparatus

Significance: Senior figure in Hamas’s internal intelligence and enforcement body. Oversaw the identification of suspected collaborators, protection of senior figures, and intelligence gathering used for terror planning. Also responsible for violent suppression of opposition within Gaza.

Impact: His elimination is a significant blow to Hamas’s internal governance, security enforcement, and intelligence capabilities.

— Hashem Tsartsur

Role: Head of Hamas’s Emergency Committee in Eastern Gaza

Significance: Managed civil and security infrastructure for Hamas in eastern Gaza, supporting its military wing and enforcing control through intimidation.

Impact: Weakens Hamas’s governance structure and its support systems for military activity.

— Faraj Al-Awl

Role: Chairman of the Legal Committee and Member of the Hamas Legislative Council

Significance: A political and legal leader within Hamas’s governing framework.

Impact: Damages Hamas’s administrative and political capacity to govern and legislate.

— Mohammed Ats’in

Role: Commander of Hamas’s Daraj Tuffah Battalion

Significance: Infiltrated Israel during the October 7 massacre and continued to lead and execute terror operations throughout the war.

Impact: His elimination significantly reduces the operational capacity of the Daraj Tuffah Battalion.

— Ayad Natzer

Role: Deputy Commander of Hamas’s Jabalia Battalion

Significance: A senior Hamas terrorist who infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre. Despite being injured during the war, he returned to a leadership role in the Jabalia Battalion and actively directed terror operations, including recent attacks on IDF Division 162.

Impact: His elimination is a major operational blow to Hamas’s leadership in Jabalia and significantly disrupts ongoing attacks against IDF forces.

— Hassan Mahmoud Mohammed Marai

Role: Commander of Hamas’s Central Jabalia Company

Significance: Took part in the October 7 massacre and held a mid-level command role within Hamas in Jabalia.

Impact: Weakens the command and control structure of Hamas in Jabalia.

— Mohammed Zaki Shamada Hamed

Role: Deputy Company Commander in Hamas’s Beit Hanoun Battalion

Significance: Infiltrated Israel on October 7 and served in a leadership capacity in Beit Hanoun.

Impact: Further degrades Hamas’s operational structure in the Beit Hanoun area.

— Ra’ad Khaled Hassan Jabain

Role: Senior terrorist in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Significance: Former Israeli prisoner (2006–2015). Acted as a key financier, transferring funds from Gaza to PIJ networks in Judea and Samaria to support terror activities.

Impact: Severely disrupts the PIJ’s funding channels and weakens their ability to plan and execute attacks in Judea and Samaria.

**

Israel’s Air Force struck an average of around 100 targets per day over the last three days. Most strikes were called in by or coordinated with ground forces to provide support for ongoing operations. Targets included military compounds, buildings associated with terrorists, underground infrastructure, and terror squads.

Five IDF divisions are active in Gaza: Division 99 is in Beit Hanoun; Division 162 is in the Daraj & Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City; Division 98 is in eastern Gaza City and parts of Central Gaza; Division 36 is in Khan Younis; and the Gaza Division is in Rafah and the buffer zone.

The IDF has made gradual progress in all areas—Beit Hanoun, Gaza City, and Khan Younis. Troops are still finding and destroying significant tunnel networks, including an 800 meter long tunnel in Daraj & Tuffah.

**

The IDF carried out an internal investigation, following reports that the IDF hit the Latin Church in Gaza City, where civilians were sheltering. The Investigation found that shrapnel from a shell fired during operational activity in the area inadvertently hit the church. The church wasn’t directly targeted, as the IDF works to avoid hitting religious buildings unless absolutely necessary.

Humanitarian Aid:

Today, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distributed over 1.5 million meals, making a total of 80 million meals distributed to date. The GHF delivers aid without allowing Hamas to profit off of it.

**

Multiple media outlets repeated Hamas’s claim that the IDF killed 26 Gazans and injured 100 who were on the way to GHF aid distribution sites in Rafah.

The IDF investigated the report and found no such occurrence. What did happen: Overnight, Gazan suspects approached IDF soldiers in Rafah, in a way that threatened the troops.

The IDF soldiers shouted warnings to the suspects to stay away, and when they were ignored, the troops fired warning shots.

The incident took place a full kilometer away from the GHF distribution site, and at a time when it was closed and civilians were strongly warned to stay away from the area.

Hamas despises the GHF, since the foundation removes Hamas’s ability to control Gazans through the humanitarian aid, and profit off it. Hamas has put in a strong effort to to get the GHF shut down, including by killing people who go to collect aid at the distribution sites. It’s unclear why news outlets continue to repeat Hamas’s lies about the GHF, and help Hamas keep Gazan civilians away from a humanitarian aid site that actually feeds them.

Yemen:

On Friday night, sirens were activated across the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas, due to a missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The missile was intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

Judea & Samaria:

Over the last week, Israeli security forces (which includes the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police), arrested 70 wanted terrorists, and confiscated large amounts of terror funds and weapons.

Activity in the last couple days:

– Three terrorists who were planning an attack against IDF soldiers were arrested in Qabatiya. Israeli forces located the explosive devices which the terrorists planned to use in the attack.

– In the village of Al-Ram, forces located and destroyed an explosives manufacturing lab.

– In Chevron (Hebron) forces arrested 5 wanted terrorists, seized hundreds of thousand of shekels intended for terrorism, and confiscating numerous weapons.

Lebanon:

Since Thursday, Israel’s Air Force eliminated four Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon who were in violation of the ceasefire agreement. Those eliminated:

A terrorists from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, who was attempting to restore terror infrastructure in the Al-Khayyam area of southern Lebanon.

Ahmed Mahmoud Salah, the commander of Hezbollah’s Yochmur sector, who was trying to rebuild his area.

Hassan Ahmad Sabra, a commander in the naval force of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, in the Al-Kafr area of southern Lebanon.

A Hezbollah terrorist who was involved in attempts to rebuild terror infrastructure in the Al-Naqoura area of southern Lebanon.

Syria:

Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the three main spiritual leaders of Syria’s Druze community, has issued an urgent plea to the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, begging for protection of the Druze in Suwayda, from al-Julani’s regime.

Despite a ceasefire declared on Wednesday, Islamists in Syria continue to massacre the Druze in Suwayda. Sources in Suwayda report of horrific acts of violence against the population, including massacres of entire families, torture, kidnappings, and worse.

The massacres were carried out by Sunni-Bedouin tribes, and regime forces who were reportedly sent to “break up the fighting.” According to some reports, the tribal fighters have all been chased out of Suwayda, but regime forces remain.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 940 people have been killed in the violence since Sunday, including:

326 Druze fighters

262 Druze civilians

312 government security personnel

21 Sunni Bedouin, three of them civilians

Druze sources say that the Druze civilian death toll is much higher, and share video footage of bodies strewn across the streets.

Last week, the IDF carried out hundreds of airstrikes to support the Druze, and keep Syrian regime forces out of Suwayda. Until now, Israel’s policy has been to keep armed forces of the new Syrian regime out of all areas south of Damascus, including Druze Suwayda.

However, on Wednesday evening, at the request of the Trump administration, Israel stopped military intervention, and allowed regime forces to enter Suwayda for a limited test trial. The U.S. wants to give al-Julani the chance to prove himself and enforce a ceasefire, and remove the attacking tribal groups from Suwayda.

It’s unclear if this is working or backfiring: the Druze report that Julani’s forces are actually perpetuating the violence.

In the meantime, Israel is preparing to send medical equipment and medicine to the hospital in Suwayda, along with around $600,000 worth of humanitarian aid.

Hundreds of Israeli Druze who served in the IDF are expressing a desire to go to Syria to help defend their brethren.

This update is sponsored by anonymous, in appreciation of Bruria’s hard work, and in honor of Rabbi Yossi Baitelman’s birthday.