Note to reader: We wanted to give you a trigger warning on what you may read below. We have chosen, as with every night of these briefings, to not share horrific images, however we want to alert you as sensitively as we can to the reports coming out of Israel and Gaza.
What you need to know today:
• 50 hostages are reportedly set to be released by Hamas as part of a deal
• Arrested terrorist from Gaza says that Hamas disguises as medical staff at Shifa Hospital
• Leader of Israel’s Islamic Party meets families of hostages
• 1,000 boats set to leave Turkey in attempt to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza
50 Hostages Could Be Released In Deal
More than a dozen Conservative parliamentarians joined a CFI briefing event with IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. (Res) Peter Lerner yesterday. The group heard about the IDF’s war against Hamas, and were shown evidence of the terror group’s misuse of hospitals in Gaza.
Rt. Hon. Tom Tugendhat MBE MP and Brendan Clark-Smith MP tweeted: “Free the hostages”, on X, alongside a video shared by Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK, Oren Marmorstein. The video imagines the events of October 7th taking place in the UK, and forces viewers to put themselves in the shoes of thousands of Israelis whose family members have been taken hostage by Hamas.
CFI Parliamentary Vice Chair, Andrew Percy MP, has written how Hamas has established a “terror-military force” in the Jewish Chronicle. Percy compares Hamas tactics to ISIS, which used similar means to seize control of Mosul.
Former Attorney General Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Ellis KC MP raised the issue of the judiciary “making incendiary comments about Israel”, in the House of Commons today, after a Magistrate’s Court told vandals that their crimes were “proportionate in comparison to the crimes against humanity which they were acting to stop” and acquitted them. The affair brought the country’s legal system into “disrepute” according to Ellis, who lodged his comment as a “complaint”.
50 hostages set to be released after deal inches closer
50 hostages could be released by Hamas amid a deal set to be approved by Israel’s cabinet this evening. There have been reports that the deal will come into effect late this week.
“Things are looking good”, said U.S. President Joe Biden. Hamas and Qatar have confirmed the reports.
Around 40 children were abducted by Hamas, together with 200 civilians, on October 7th.
Reports have indicated that between 50 and 100 civilian hostages would be released, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners kept in Israel, between 100 to 300 trucks of food, fuel and medical aid, and a “complete ceasefire” for four to five days.
12 to 13 hostages are set to be released per day, as 30 Palestinian prisoners are released on Israel’s side. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that between 150 to 300 Palestinian prisoners may be released in total.
Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder will not be released as part of the deal. The IDF, Shin Bet and Mossad have reportedly come out in favour of the proposed agreement.
White House on Genocide
White House National Security Spokesperson, John Kirby, has stated categorically that Israel is not engaged in genocide. “Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat”, he stated. Conversely, genocide is “what Hamas wants”, having “said so publicly on more than one occasion”, according to the spokesman. The messaging comes for the second time in little over a week, with Kirby quoting Hamas’ commitment to the “slaughter” of Israeli civilians “again, and again, and again”.
Developments at Gazan Hospitals
An IDF interview of a detained terrorist from Gaza revealed that terrorists were disguising themselves as staff at Shifa Hospital.
The professional medics were reportedly “furious” at Hamas’ cynical tactics, but did not protest, according to the Hamas terrorist.
The interrogation also disclosed that not only Hamas, but also Palestinian Islamic Jihad, were active in Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
According to the terrorist, rockets had been concealed in the Palestine Red Crescent building, whilst the “Swedish hospital” (a likely clinic), and Rantisi Children’s Hospital also harboured terror activities. Around 100 terrorists, organised in different cells, had based themselves around the latter hospital, often disguised in civilian clothing.
IDF targets Hamas presence across West Bank
Tarek Abdallah Ahmed Salam, a senior Hamas leader, together with other 16 individuals, were apprehended on Sunday. Separately, IDF personnel pursued terrorists who opened fire at Israeli vehicles nearby Al Za’wiyah Bridge in the northern West Bank.
Last week, the IDF launched an operation in the village of Al-Mughayyir in the central West Bank. The operation succeeded in seizing an armoury, Hamas flags and propaganda materials. Demolition orders were issued for illegal buildings in the village.
The village of Na’alin was reportedly revealed to harbour strong ties to Hamas, with flags hung across Mosque minarets in various parts of the village. The IDF discovered a video of teenagers aged approximately 14-15 taking part in what appeared to be a swearing-in ceremony for Hamas.
A social media recording being circulated on social media urged the towns residents, together with the residents of the nearby town of Dir Qadis, to block the Israeli bypass road near Huwara, urging Palestinians to throw Molotov cocktails and stones at settlers.
“Anyone who brings a dead Jew will receive a free car”, was advertised by a car dealer in Ramallah, reportedly leading to a wave of violent anti-Israel sentiment. The IDF arrested the businessman and his vehicles following the publication of the advert online.
Over 200 suspects have been arrested for incitement to violence since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War.
Developments in Gaza
The IDF Maglan unit inaugurated the “Iron Sting” guided missile in precision strikes in Gaza today. The new weapon allowed the Maglan commando unit to hit 70 Hamas targets, and was used in conjunction with Israel’s Gil missile.
Over 250 terror targets have been struck over the last 24 hours, including three tunnels harbouring Hamas terrorists.
Jabaliya has been encircled by the IDF. The area houses the Indonesian Hospital, which reportedly covers a network of terror tunnels utilised by Hamas, according to IDF intelligence.
In a reported ground operation at the Shati area of northern Gaza, a cache of weapons was found, together with two tunnels which were uncovered at a nearby school.
Hamas leader reportedly killed in Lebanon
Senior Hamas Commander Khalil Kharaz has been reported killed by the IDF after several targeted airstrikes which destroyed “three armed terrorist cells”.
An Israeli drone struck the coastal Lebanese village of Chaatiyeh, killing four Hamas terrorists today.
The IDF launched strikes against several anti-tank missile squads in southern Lebanon following Hezbollah missile fire toward Metula, northern Israel, this morning. Mortars were also fired at army posts along the border.
Leader of Israel’s Islamic Party meets with hostage families
Mansour Abbas MK, leader of Israel’s Islamic Ra’am Party, met with the families of hostages and sent their papers to the leaders of Turkey and Qatar.
“A two-year-old child is not a bargaining chip and is not part of the deal. Islam cannot accept this situation”, Abbas said – pledging to do “everything possible” to return the kidnapped children.
Abbas – a member of the previous Israeli Government – received a variety of documents from families, including a petition from Nobel laureates and a legal document calling for the release of around 40 captive children. He sent the papers to the Emir of Qatar, President of Turkey, and to the U.S. President.
1,000 boats leave Turkey for Gaza, Ashdod
One thousand boats will head toward Israel, from Turkey, in an effort to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and disrupt incoming trade routes into Israel’s Ashdod port.
The boats, carrying 4,500 individuals from 40 countries, will make up the flotilla. 313 of the boats will be filled with Russian activists, and 104 will be filled with Spanish activists, according to the Turkish news service Haber7.
Organisers claim that the flotilla will not be armed, and will include some families. In 2010, a Gaza-bound flotilla became subject to an IDF commando raid after ignoring Israeli warnings to turn back. 10 Turkish activists were killed onboard the Mavi Marmara after they attacked the soldiers who boarded the ship.
Selected Tel Aviv schools permitted to reopen
Since September, many children across Israel have not been attending school. Due to the October 7th massacres, many schools have remained closed. This changed today as nurseries and college-year schools in Tel Aviv were granted official permission to reopen and return to full activity.
Following the municipality’s declaration that the central Israeli region of Dan had been reclassified as “green” by the Home Front Command, in-person educational activities can proceed without restrictions, providing that “safe zones” provide shelter in case of rocket alert. These zones must provide security as well as existing bomb-shelters, and a number of schools without large protected areas have not been permitted to return yet.
Two terrorists discovered in Israel one month on from October 7th massacres
Two terrorists had remained in Israel for a month following the October 7th massacres. Elite forces captured the two in the southern Bedouin city of Rahat two weeks ago, according to an official statement. One was a known Hamas operative, whilst the other had entered Israel together with the hundreds of other that breached the Gaza barrier.
