DAY 241 OF THE WAR: Five Hostages Killed, Far-Right Ministers Pressure Netanyahu, The North is on Fire

Tel Aviv Diary, June 3, 2024

I write this part of today’s update with tears in my eyes and a feeling of hopelessness. Tonight's entry was mostly complete earlier in the evening, and then an announcement came that the Army Spokesman would make a special statement. Tragically, what followed was devastating news. Two terrible announcements followed. First, it was disclosed that Nadav Popplewell (51) of Kibbutz Nirim was killed in captivity

A few minutes later, Kibbutz Nir Oz reported that Chaim Peri (79), Amiram Cooper (84), and Yoram Metzger (80) were killed in captivity. It is unclear how they died, but they were being held in Khan Yunis at the time our troops were there. Perri, Cooper, and Metzger were among the founders of the Kibbutz. It has been 241 days since the beginning of the war. We have managed to rescue three hostages but have lost many more

.

Earlier in the day, we received the heartbreaking confirmation that the body of Dolev Yehud had been identified. Dolev was murdered in Nir Oz on October 7th, when he left his house to aid the wounded. His body had been found but never identified until now. An exhaustive study ultimately concluded the remains belonged to Dolev. Previously thought to have been taken hostage in Gaza, Dolev left behind a wife and four children, one of whom was born after his passing.

Of the original approximately 240 hostages abducted by Hamas and its terror affiliates on October 7th, 124 remain in Gaza. Of those remaining captives, 43 have been confirmed dead, and the status of the others is still uncertain— 241 days and counting.

HOSTAGE AGREEMENT

The status of the potential agreement remains very unclear. This morning, the Egyptian Foreign Minister issued a statement claiming that Hamas views the proposal favorably, which quickly made headlines and boosted the Israeli stock exchange. However, the statement was merely a reiteration of Hamas’s positive response on Saturday. Since that announcement, there has been complete silence from Hamas. The Egyptian Foreign Minister appeared to be meant to generate headlines and maintain momentum.

On the Israeli side, Netanyahu faces extreme pressure from Ben-Gvir and Smotritch, who have threatened to break up the government if the proposal is accepted. Ben-Gvir met with Netanyahu but was denied a written copy of the plans. This refusal prompted Ben-Gvir to hold a press conference to voice his complaint.

Netanyahu's strategy seems straightforward. Today, Netanyahu stated:

We are not ready for a [permanent] ceasefire. I will not disclose the details of the deal here, but what the President of the United States described is not fully accurate; there are other details that have not been revealed. We can pause the fighting for 42 days to retrieve hostages, but we will not give up on an absolute victory.

A White House spokesman stated today that the Ceasefire proposal disclosed by President Biden on Friday is an Israeli plan and that the President described it accurately. Later in the day, reports indicated that the White House believes that Hamas is the only obstacle preventing a ceasefire. The latest plan was designed with enough flexibility for both Israel and Hamas to accept. By definitively stating that Israel will resume the war, Netanyahu seems to be attempting to derail the agreement. Meanwhile, we do not know whether Sinwar will accept the plan, regardless of Netanyahu’s statement.

I want to make it clear we have no plan after Rafah of how to win the war. It will take years to destroy Hamas completely, and by then, we will be totally isolated, our economy will be in ruins, and all the hostages will be dead.

HOUTHIS

This morning, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Eilat, which the Arrow missile system successfully intercepted over the Red Sea.

LEBANON & THE NORTH ABLAZE

As of this evening, fires rage in the Galilee in multiple locations. The main road connecting the Upper Galilee with the rest of the country is blocked, and flames have reached some of the homes in the largely abandoned Kiryat Shmona. The fires stretch from Shlomi in the east to the Golan Heights.

Beyond the widespread fires, it was another active day on the Northern border. At 5:30 PM, the Army Spokesman issued the following statement regarding hostilities in the North

:

Shortly ago, approximately 30 rockets were identified crossing from Lebanon towards northern Golan Heights, landing in an open area.

Following earlier alerts about an intruding aircraft in northern Israel, air defense fighters intercepted an explosive drone that crossed from Lebanon near the Keren Naftali area. Additionally, another explosive drone crossed from Lebanon and fell in the region.

Simultaneously, an explosive drone that crossed from Lebanon fell in the Metula area.