Tonight, the IDF announced that based on the risk assessment of a potential Iranian attack, it has decided to mobilize reservists within its Air Defense units to be prepared for any eventualities. The extent of the threat remains a big unknown. It seems evident that Iran may seek retribution for our elimination of Mohammad Reza Zahedi and other Quds force members. While a terror attack on an overseas target seems more likely, a significant missile assault on Israel is also a plausible Hezbollah response. Regardless, we will not be caught by surprise.
GAZA
The combat in Gaza is primarily concentrated in Khan Younis and the vicinity surrounding the El Amal Hospital. Here’s what the Army Spokesman's office reported about today’s fighting:
The 7th Brigade's combat team fighters located many weapons in the Khan Yunis area. As part of the operation, air force aircraft and engineering forces attacked and destroyed terrorist infrastructure and weapon storage facilities in the area.
As part of the commando brigade's combat team activities in the Al-Amal area, the fighters killed and arrested several terrorists. In addition, an aircraft attacked and killed a terrorist in the area. During a raid on terrorist infrastructure in the neighborhood, the fighters found many weapons, including firearms, explosives, and grenades.
Fighters from the Givati Brigade's combat team killed a group of terrorists in the Al-Amal neighborhood in face-to-face confrontations using short-range gunfire and tank fire.
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After the critical reports from the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN about our military operation in Shifa Hospital, the Army Spokesman released a video featuring the interrogation of a Hamas intelligence operative, Ashraf Abrahim Samur, captured inside the hospital. In the video, Samur details his interactions with Shin Bet, revealing the extensive Hamas operations within the hospital, which include military intelligence, internal bodies, security, and the organizational governance Hamas. Here is a clip of the interview:
GANTZ SPEAKS OUT
Former Defense Minister and current member of the War Cabinet, Benny Gantz addressed the country tonight. Gantz advocated for elections in September, while also suggesting the possibility of a war in the North during the summer. These two propositions are somewhat incongruent.
Here is what Gantz said:
I asked to speak this evening because we are facing immense challenges on all fronts. Especially now, amid all the difficulties, we must strive to maintain our unity. Not to set aside our disputes, but to manage them in a way that allows us to continue fighting, together. What is happening in the corridors of power, networks, and streets is dangerous and must stop.
During a war, it's forbidden to pass a law of [draft] evasion. It's insensitive to treat the families of the hostages with disregard, and it would have been correct to respond to their request to cancel the Knesset recess. Comparisons between demonstrators [inside Israeli] and our enemies should not be made. Our enemies must be destroyed; our brothers must be listened to. We must not harm the strategic relations with the United States. Violence should not be used, nor should we disobey police instructions, who must also act responsibly and with maximum restraint in the face of great public pain. We must remember what our enemies did to us on October 7, and we must not return to the division of October 6.
I want to address the families of the hostages and tell them that I bow my head because we have not yet succeeded in bringing them back home. I am ashamed when I hear how part of the public and public representatives treat them. The Prime Minister must speak clearly on the matter, strengthen them, and ensure that all coalition members treat them appropriately. They deserve to know that the Israeli society is not against them but behind them.
The families must know that we are doing everything, night and day, so that their loved ones may sit with them, God willing, already on the night of the Seder as free people. We face a cruel enemy, and we are doing everything to succeed. If there is an opportunity [to secure their release], and we must always promote one, we will not miss it. It's forbidden for us to miss it. My colleagues and I will not sit in a government that does not truly act to bring back the abducted.
Our desire to bring all the hostages back home is not a point of weakness, but a source of strength. When we are conducting such a complex and long war, we must look at the bigger picture. We have many challenges in general, and especially these days. There are many tests we need to pass – and we will pass them.
