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International Business Times
International Business Times
World
Marvie Basilan

Israel-Hamas Conflict: Hamas Official Says Gaza Hostage Count 'Not Important' As War Resumes

Hamas Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Antony Blinken

KEY POINTS

  • Blinken spoke with Israel's war cabinet members in separate meetings
  • Israel resumes fighting against Hamas after militant group fired toward Israeli territory Friday morning
  • Israeli officials obtained documents regarding Hamas' attack plans over a year ago, as per New York Times
Live Updates
The image of hostage Ariel, 4, is projected on a wall during a rally outside the UNICEF offices in Tel Aviv on Nov. 20, 2023. Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official, revealed Thursday that Ariel, his brother 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, and their mother, Shiri, paid the price for Israel's occupation. (Credit: AFP)

The Israel-Hamas conflict is now on its 56th day. Israel has resumed fighting against Hamas after the Israeli army intercepted a launch from the Gaza Strip about an hour before the ceasefire deal expired and accused the terror group of violating the ceasefire agreement.

The Wall Street Journal reported early Friday, before rockets were fired toward Israeli territory, that the parties had agreed to extend the ceasefire for an eighth day.

  • A total of eight Israelis were freed Thursday
  • Two hundred trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza Thursday
  • The Israeli air defense unit intercepted a launch from Gaza Friday morning
  • Israeli army says Hamas violated truce agreement
  • IDF fighter jets are attacking Hamas targets in Gaza
  • Hamas didn't meet its obligations under the truce deal: Netanyahu's office
  • Khan Yunis neighborhoods a war zone: IDF
  • Youngest hostage and his family paid the price for Israel's occupation: Hamas' Ghazi Hamad
  • Gazans are starting to understand who's the "real culprit": ex-IDF intel officer
  • Israel's Herzog emphasizes to King Charles the importance of freeing hostages
  • Sirens sound in multiple communities near Israel's border with Gaza
  • Israel's Nahshon calls out UN chief's "hypocrisy"
  • Israel is planning a global campaign to assassinate top Hamas leadership: WSJ

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday visited the command center for returning hostages. He has repeatedly said in recent days that Israel will resume fighting after the ceasefire.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met separately with the members of Israel's war cabinet, defense minister Yoav Gallant and minister without portfolio Benny Gantz. He held a private meeting with Netanyahu earlier Thursday. He also spoke with the Palestinian Authority's leadership.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to conduct ground patrols in northern Gaza and multiple arrests have been made amid the ceasefire, with some of the arrested individuals being members of Hamas.

The U.S. has reiterated that a two-state solution is the only way to resolve deep-rooted Israel-Palestine tensions that ultimately led to the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas of more than a thousand Israelis and foreign nationals.

As per a New York Times report, Israeli officials already knew about Hamas' Oct. 7 attack plan more than a year before the carnage was carried out.

The live update has ended.

Israel preparing to eliminate Hamas leaders abroad: WSJ

Israel's intelligence services are preparing a campaign to assassinate Hamas leaders residing in different countries once the Gaza war winds down, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing Israeli officials.

There were proposals to immediately hunt down and assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal after the Oct. 7 massacre, but the notion was dismissed due to the possible diplomatic consequences, as per the report.

Fighting will continue until Hamas signals willingness to free hostages: official

The fighting will continue for a couple of days until Hamas hints that it is ready to release more hostages, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported, citing an Israeli political official. "The negotiations will take place under fire," the official said as per a Google translation.

A billboard bearing portraits of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants. (Credit: AFP)

Israel strikes Houthi infrastructure in Yemeni capital: report

The Israeli army struck a military facility belonging to Yemen's Houthi rebels in the country's capital of Sana'a, local media reported, citing the Al-Hadath TV.

The report comes after an explosion was reported in Sana'a on Thursday. A senior Houthi official claimed that the explosion was due to old munitions detonating.

An Israeli soldier carries rounds from a stockpile towards a stationed self-propelled artillery Howitzer firing from a position near the border with Gaza in southern Israel. (Credit: AFP)

Israeli official calls out UN chief's 'hypocrisy'

Israel's Deputy Director General for Public Diplomacy, Emmanuel Nahshon, called out United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his supposed "hypocrisy and moral weakness" after the latter expressed regret for the resumption of fighting in Gaza.

Sirens sound in multiple Gaza border communities

Rocket sirens are sounding in multiple communities near Israel's border with Gaza, including in Ein HaShlosha, Nirim, Nir Oz, Kfar Aza and Sa'ad.

UN chief calls for 'truce humanitarian ceasefire'

Guterres on Friday called for a "true humanitarian truce," saying he deeply regrets the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas. He also expressed hope for the established pause to be renewed.

Some property damage reported in Kibbutz Mefalsim after strike from Gaza

A rocket launched from Gaza resulted in damage to property in Kibbutz Mefalsim, an Israeli border community, local media reported, citing local authorities.

Rocket alerts also sounded in two other border communities: Yad Mordechai and Netiv HaAsara. Israel's Iron Dome air defense system was able to intercept some of the launches.

The kitchen of a house in Kibbutz Kissufim in southern Israel after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants, seen in an image from Nov. 20, 2023. (Credit: AFP)

Israeli president meets King Charles

Israel's President Isaac Herzog met Britain's King Charles on the side lines of the COP28 climate change conference. During the meeting, Herzog "emphasized the humanitarian obligation" of working on the release of all hostages being held by Hamas, as per local media.

'Rising resentment' among Gaza civilians against Hamas: ex-IDF intelligence officer

"Hamas is also losing ground in Gaza. It's not mentioned enough, but first of all, there's a rising resentment among the population," former IDF intelligence officer Raphael Jerusalmy said Friday. "They're starting to understand who's the real culprit," he added.

Jerusalmy further revealed that Gazan police have not been paid their due salaries for two months and are "starving."

Youngest hostage and his family 'paid the price': senior Hamas official

Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas leader, told CBS' Holly Williams Thursday that 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his mother, Shiri, and his brother, 4-year-old Ariel, were killed by an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip.

Despite saying the Bibas family had been killed in an Israeli bombardment, Hamad said, "They pay the price because of the occupation."

"They have to impose pressure in their government, to tell them that you pushed us to the hell," he answered when pressed further about baby Kfir and his brother being too young to be involved in the fighting. Williams said Kfir and Ariel are kids who "cannot put pressure" on the Israeli government.

When asked how many hostages remained in the Gaza Strip, Hamad said, "I don't know," to an apparently shocked Williams. "The number is not so important," he added. Williams pointed out that the number of hostages is important since the families of the abductees would like to know if their loved ones are still alive.

IDF publishes map to help Gazans evacuate before attacks

The Israeli army published a map of "evacuation areas" that Gaza residents can refer to when they are asked to move to specific places. "This is to ensure their safety," IDF spokesperson for Arab media Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee said.

Eastern Khan Yunis a combat zone: IDF

The IDF dropped leaflets in the Gaza Strip, telling residents that the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Yunis were "a dangerous combat zone." Gazans in the area have been urged to evacuate the area immediately and seek shelter in Rafah.

Sustaining truce was 'equally challenging' to reaching an agreement: Qatari negotiator

Abdullah Al Sulaiti, one of Qatar's lead negotiators who helped broker the seven-day truce between Israel and Hamas, acknowledged the difficulties surrounding the fragile ceasefire deal.

"At the beginning I thought achieving an agreement would be the most difficult step. I've discovered that sustaining the agreement itself is equally challenging," the career diplomat told Reuters.

200 humanitarian trucks entered Gaza on 7th day of truce

A total of 200 humanitarian aid trucks carrying food, water, shelter and medical supplies entered the Gaza Strip Thursday, the IDF said. In addition to the humanitarian supplies, four fuel containers and four trucks carrying cooking gas were also allowed entry into the enclave on the 7th and last day of the ceasefire.

Hamas didn't deliver hostage list to be freed Friday: report

The ceasefire fell apart after Hamas failed to deliver a list of hostages slated for release Friday before the truce's expiration, as per local i24 News correspondent Ariel Oseran.

By 5:48 a.m. local time (10:48 p.m. Thursday ET), rockets were fired toward communities in Israel's southern border. Seven minutes before the ceasefire expired, another rocket barrage was fired toward Israeli territory.

The IDF then announced Hamas' violation of the truce agreement three minutes past 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET).

Netanyahu's office reveals Hamas' truce violations

The Israeli prime minister's office provided some insight into the IDF's claim that Hamas "violated" the ceasefire agreement. "It has not met its obligation" to free all women hostages Friday and launched rockets targeting Israeli citizens, Netanyahu's office wrote on X more than an hour after the seven-day truce expired.

Israeli warplanes attack Hamas targets in Gaza

Israeli fighter jets have started attacking Hamas targets in Gaza, the IDF said less than an hour after it said Israeli troops resumed combat with Hamas militants following an alleged violation of the truce agreement by the terror group.

Seen from southern Israel, smoke rises from buildings still smouldering after being hit by Israeli strikes before the ceasefire. (Credit: AFP)

ICC chief prosecutor visits Israel upon request of Oct. 7 victims' families

Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, is visiting Israel after the families of victims of the Oct. 7 massacre and survivors of the attacks requested that the ICC launch an investigation into the actions of Hamas operatives during the deadly attacks.

The families urged Khan to order a probe that will focus on enforced disappearances during the Oct. 7 attacks as well as Hamas' other actions that included killing more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, mostly civilians.

Blinken meets war cabinet members in separate meetings

The U.S. Secretary of State, during his Thursday visit, spoke with members of Israel's war cabinet, Benny Gantz and Yoav Gallant. He met Netanyahu earlier in the day to discuss developments in releasing hostages being held by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.

He also talked about the importance of accelerating the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Israeli army resumes firing after Hamas allegedly 'violated' ceasefire

The Israeli army has "resumed combat against Hamas" in Gaza, the IDF said Friday after the terror group allegedly "violated the operational pause" and fired toward Israel.

IDF intercepts launch from Gaza

The Israeli army's air defense troops intercepted "a launch from Gaza" early Friday, the IDF announced on X.

An Israeli political reporter for Axios said the rocket was fired from Gaza "an hour" before the truce agreement expired.

Hamas tells mediators it needs more time to locate hostages: report

Hamas has informed mediators of the truce deal that it needs more time to coordinate with other Palestinian groups so it can locate the remaining hostages that are still being held in Gaza, local media reported, citing the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper.

Before the Wall Street Journal reported that the two sides agreed to extend the ceasefire for an eighth day, the mediators were reportedly convincing Israel to accept Hamas' list of hostages to be freed. The said list supposedly has only seven hostages, plus the bodies of three deceased abductees.

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem, on which are projected pictures of the hostages abducted by Palestinian militants on the Oct. 7 attack and held in the Gaza Strip. (Credit: AFP)

Netanyahu visits command center for returning hostages

The Israeli prime minister visited Israel's Intelligence and Negotiations Command Center to encourage personnel to continue their efforts in getting abducted Israelis and foreigners back home, according to a statement from his office.

Israel, Hamas reportedly agree to extend ceasefire

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their truce deal for an eighth day, the Wall Street Journal reported. The news comes after the warring sides extended the ceasefire Thursday morning, just a few minutes before it was due to expire.

Israeli scouts wave flags of Israel next to the Schneider Hospital as they wait for the release of hostages in Petah Tikva near Tel Aviv. (Credit: AFP)

Israel obtained document that described Hamas' Oct. 7 attack plan: report

Israeli military and intelligence officials obtained a document that laid out Hamas' plans for its Oct. 7 massacre in Israel more than a year before the plan was executed, the New York Times reported, citing interviews, emails and documents.

While the document, codenamed "Jericho Wall" by Israeli authorities, did not specify a date for the attack, it had a "point by point" outline of the battle plan that mirrored the Oct. 7 carnage, as per the Times.

Israeli officials assessed that Operation Jericho Wall would be too difficult to pull off, according to the Times, which reviewed the translated document. The report noted that while the document was widely circulated among Israeli officials, it was unclear if it reached Netanyahu.

Abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the Oct. 7 attack on the Supernova desert music festival by Hamas militants in the Negev desert in southern Israel. (Credit: AFP)
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