The southern front:
The IDF spokesman announced that Nahal Brigade soldiers in the Gaza Strip discovered a training facility for firing RPG missiles hidden inside a mosque in the heart of a civilian neighborhood. Many weapons were found there.
Five of the soldiers whose deaths we reported yesterday were killed in this battle. HYD.
The IDF and the Shin Bet disclosed that in the last month more than 500 terrorist operatives were arrested in Gaza, and taken for questioning in Israel.
IDF activity continues in the Gaza Strip: in the past day, the Air Force attacked a number of launch sites throughout the Strip. At the same time, ground forces raided a Hamas terrorists' building and found hundreds of rockets ready for launch and other weapons too.
During the fighting in Jabaliya, Nahal forces discovered several combat training areas and weapons caches inside a residential neighbourhood and near a school. Rockets and RPG launchers of various types, explosive charges, grenades, weapons, weaponry, and military equipment were found in the caches. Soldiers also found, in the home of a terrorist, documents and computers containing the plans for the attacks on the Gaza Envelope communities that were carried out on Simchat Torah.
A Saudi report indicates that negotiations are underway for another agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to the report, as part of the agreement, women, children, the elderly, other civilians and even kidnapped IDF officers will be released. In return, about 300 security prisoners and ten more veteran prisoners will be released, including the arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti.
For the first time since the outbreak of the war, humanitarian trucks underwent a security check at the Kerem Shalom crossing. This means that the scope of aid entering Gaza is expected to expand.
Last week, an IDF paratrooper unit operating in the heat of Gaza City eliminated and arrested terrorists, exposed tunnel shafts and destroyed four central tunnel systems. They located a missile-production lathe, hundreds of explosive devices, dozens of weapons and missiles. The soldiers also found materials filmed by the terrorists on Simchat Torah.
The northern front:
The IDF spokesman stated that the Air Force struck a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon, in response to missile launches towards the Western Galilee in the morning hours.
It was reported in the last hour that two houses in Metula were hit by anti-tank fire. There were no casualties.
After Hezbollah terrorists' launch of anti-tank missiles from Lebanese territory towards the Metula region in Israel, Last night the IDF responded with artillery fire to the area of the launch site.
Two warnings about hostile aircraft were announced in Galilee towns over the past few hours. The IDF spokesman said that a suspicious aerial target was intercepted.
A short while ago, alarms were sounded in the city of Acco (Acre) and its surroundings. No missile landings or injuries were reported.
The West Bank:
Defense Minister Gallant held a situation assessment at the Central Command today. Gallant said it is important that the situation in Yehuda and Shomron remain quiet, to allow the IDF to complete the mission in Gaza.
IDF forces operated last night in Jenin in order to counter terrorism and arrest wanted persons. During the operation, a manned aircraft remotely attacked and eliminated three terrorists who endangered our forces.
In Israel:
120 Holocaust survivors participated in the lighting of the fifth Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall this evening.
The IDF announced plans to demolish the homes of the terrorists who murderously attacked at the entrance to Yerushalayim last week. Three Israeli civilians were murdered in the attack, and a civilian who helped stop the terrorists was accidentally killed.
On a positive note:
About 2,000 ultra-Orthodox women volunteer for the "Achayot Barzel" (sisters of Iron) organization, helping the wives of reservists across the country. Today, the organization held an appreciation event for wives of reservists and volunteers. Singer Ishai Ribo performed, dedicating the song "Eshet Hayil" to the women.
The students of the "Ma'ale Eliyahu" yeshiva in Tel Aviv lit Hanukkah candles last night at the Ichilov Hospital together with the medical staff, the patients and their families. Rabbi Chaim Gantz, head of the Yeshiva, said at the event that: "The hospital brings light to so many people throughout the year, on Hanukkah we came to spread the light together with them."
Some of the girls who were released from Hamas captivity were photographed upon return with their hair in braids. The girls said the female soldiers who were with them in captivity had braided their hair for them. From these testimonies, it appears that for at least part of the time, the soldiers and the girls were together and able to support each other.
The southern front:
The IDF spokesman announced that Nahal Brigade soldiers in the Gaza Strip discovered a training facility for firing RPG missiles hidden inside a mosque in the heart of a civilian neighborhood. Many weapons were found there.
Over the past day, fighters from the 8111 Battalion of the 5th Brigade raided a terrorist infrastructure complex located on the grounds of a school in the southern Gaza Strip. During the fighting, a bomb was fired at the troops. The fighters returned fire, directed aircraft and tank attacks, engaged with the enemy, eliminated terrorists and destroyed terrorist infrastructure.
Five of the soldiers whose deaths we reported yesterday were killed in this battle: Major Evyatar Cohen, Major Roman Bronstein, Captain Elia Yanovsky, Major Itai Perry and Major Ari Yechiel Zenilman, HYD.
The 4th Brigade's combat team raided a control center of the Islamic Jihad in the southern Gaza Strip, finding weapons, technological equipment, intelligence documents, and a tunnel shaft.
The IDF and the Shin Bet disclosed that in the last month more than 500 terrorist operatives were arrested in Gaza, and taken for questioning in Israel.
The Chief of General Staff and the head of the Shin Bet today held a situation assessment in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
IDF activity continues in the Gaza Strip: in the past day, the Air Force attacked a number of launch sites throughout the Strip. At the same time, ground forces raided a Hamas terrorists' building and found hundreds of rockets ready for launch and other weapons too.
IDF fighter Master Sergeant (res.) Tzvika Lavi, 30 years old from Eili, died of his wounds yesterday after being fatally wounded about three weeks ago.
During the fighting in Jabaliya, Nahal forces discovered several combat training areas and weapons caches inside a residential neighbourhood and near a school. Rockets and RPG launchers of various types, explosive charges, grenades, weapons, weaponry, and military equipment were found in the caches. Soldiers also found, in the home of a terrorist, documents and computers containing the plans for the attacks on the Gaza Envelope communities that were carried out on Simchat Torah.
A Saudi report indicates that negotiations are underway for another agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to the report, as part of the agreement, women, children, the elderly, other civilians and even kidnapped IDF officers will be released. In return, about 300 security prisoners and ten more veteran prisoners will be released, including the arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti.
For the first time since the outbreak of the war, humanitarian trucks underwent a security check at the Kerem Shalom crossing. This means that the scope of aid entering Gaza is expected to expand.
Last week, an IDF paratrooper unit operating in the heat of Gaza City eliminated and arrested terrorists, exposed tunnel shafts and destroyed four central tunnel systems. They located a missile-production lathe, hundreds of explosive devices, dozens of weapons and missiles. The soldiers also found materials filmed by the terrorists on Simchat Torah.
The northern front:
The IDF spokesman stated that the Air Force struck a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon, in response to missile launches towards the Western Galilee in the morning hours.
In the afternoon, nine rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Kiryat Shmona and Kibbutz Manara. Five missiles were intercepted, and the rest fell in open areas.
Additional launches were detected from Lebanon toward IDF outposts in the north of the country. The Air Force attacked the terrorist squad that carried out the launches towards the outposts in the Shetula area, and destroyed a post from which shots were fired toward Yiftah.
It was reported in the last hour that two houses in Metula were hit by anti-tank fire. There were no casualties.
According to reports in the Lebanese media, the muchtar (leader) of Kfar A-Taiba in southern Lebanon was killed today in an IDF attack.
After Hezbollah terrorists' launch of anti-tank missiles from Lebanese territory towards the Metula region in Israel, Last night the IDF responded with artillery fire to the area of the launch site.
The IDF spokesman said that this morning two launches were detected from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee. The IDF retaliated toward the sources of the fire. The Lebanese media reported Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.
Two warnings about hostile aircraft were announced in Galilee towns over the past few hours. The IDF spokesman said that a suspicious aerial target was intercepted.
A short while ago, alarms were sounded in the city of Acco (Acre) and its surroundings. No missile landings or injuries were reported.
The West Bank:
Defense Minister Gallant held a situation assessment at the Central Command today. Gallant said it is important that the situation in Yehuda and Shomron remain quiet, to allow the IDF to complete the mission in Gaza.
IDF forces operated last night in Jenin in order to counter terrorism and arrest wanted persons. During the operation, a manned aircraft remotely attacked and eliminated three terrorists who endangered our forces.
In Israel:
120 Holocaust survivors participated in the lighting of the fifth Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall this evening.
The IDF announced plans to demolish the homes of the terrorists who murderously attacked at the entrance to Yerushalayim last week. Three Israeli civilians were murdered in the attack, and a civilian who helped stop the terrorists was accidentally killed.
On a positive note:
About 2,000 ultra-Orthodox women volunteer for the "Achayot Barzel" (sisters of Iron) organization, helping the wives of reservists across the country. Today, the organization held an appreciation event for wives of reservists and volunteers. Singer Ishai Ribo performed, dedicating the song "Eshet Hayil" to the women.
The students of the "Ma'ale Eliyahu" yeshiva in Tel Aviv lit Hanukkah candles last night at the Ichilov Hospital together with the medical staff, the patients and their families. Rabbi Chaim Gantz, head of the Yeshiva, said at the event that: "The hospital brings light to so many people throughout the year, on Hanukkah we came to spread the light together with them."
Some of the girls who were released from Hamas captivity were photographed upon return with their hair in braids. The girls said the female soldiers who were with them in captivity had braided their hair for them. From these testimonies, it appears that for at least part of the time, the soldiers and the girls were together and able to support each other.
For the first time since the outbreak of the war, humanitarian trucks underwent a security check at the Kerem Shalom crossing. This means that the scope of aid entering Gaza is expected to expand.
120 Holocaust survivors participated in the lighting of the fifth Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall this evening.
About 2,000 ultra-Orthodox women volunteer for the "Achayot Barzel" (sisters of Iron) organization, helping the wives of reservists across the country. Today, the organization held an appreciation event for wives of reservists and volunteers. Singer Ishai Ribo performed, dedicating the song "Eshet Hayil" to the women.
Some of the girls who were released from Hamas captivity were photographed upon return with their hair in braids. The girls said the female soldiers who were with them in captivity had braided their hair for them. From these testimonies, it appears that for at least part of the time, the soldiers and the girls were together and able to support each other.