The southern front:
In the north of the Gaza Strip, the IDF uncovered a tunnel route over 4 km long, reaching a depth of about 50 meters below ground. Sewage, electricity, and communication infrastructure were found in the tunnel, and it is wide enough for vehicles to drive through. The tunnel has several splits that create a wide and branching network of tunnels. This is the largest tunnel uncovered in Gaza so far.
Terrorists have come out of the tunnel to attack Israeli ground forces; and a few days ago, terrorists were eliminated inside the tunnel. Soldiers from Infantry, the Engineering Corps including Yahalom, and special forces participated in the operation in which the tunnel was exposed, searched, and cleared of terrorists.
It has been reported that dozens of Hamas terrorists participated in the construction of the tunnel, and special digging machines smuggled into Gaza were used. According to the IDF, Hamas invested millions of dollars in digging the many tunnels in Gaza.
The Chief of General Staff held a situation assessment in the Gaza Strip today, with fighters and commanders of Division 99. The Chief of General Staff said that he hopes there will be more opportunities to rescue hostages in Gaza, and that the soldiers will be better prepared.
In the same battle, a reservist from the same battalion was seriously wounded.
The names of another four fallen IDF soldiers who fell in the battles in the Gaza Strip were released for publication: HYD
Extensive airstrikes by the IDF during the night in both the south and north of the Gaza Strip have been reported.
The northern front:
Throughout the day, the Air Force attacked Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces struck two terrorist squads in Lebanon today. One group had attempted to launch anti-tank missiles toward Livneh.
The IDF spokesman said that since the beginning of the war, more than 120 terrorist squads have been struck within Lebanon.
In the afternoon, nine rockets were fired from Lebanese territory towards the Upper Galilee. There are no casualties. Our forces retaliated at the sources of the shooting.
The Hezbollah terrorist organization announced the 110th death in its ranks since the beginning of the war. The IDF estimates a higher number.
Syria: The national news agency reported last night on 2 Israeli attacks in the Damascus area. According to the report, 1 Syrian soldier was injured and the targets were seriously damaged.
A terrorist stabbed a soldier near Rantis, injuring the soldier moderately. Other soldiers captured the terrorist, who was later reported to be affiliated with Hamas, yet has a permit to work in Shiloh.
Terrorists opened fire on an Israeli family driving near the Rawabi junction in Binyamin this morning. The shooting was carried out from a passing vehicle. A 27-year-old woman was moderately injured. Her husband and their baby, who were also in the car, were not injured.
In Israel:
The Israeli cargo airline CAL announced that it will increase its cargo flights to Israel, with the aim of helping to transport shipments to Israel. This follows announcements by a number of shipping companies that they will not sail in the Red Sea due to the situation in Yemen.
Chief Rabbi David Lau announced the establishment of a special panel of rabbinical judges that will deal with cases of agunot (women whose husbands are missing) from the war.
Over 100 aerial threats have been thwarted since the beginning of the war. The control and combat teams of the Air Force are continuously mapping and synchronizing hundreds of aircraft above the ground forces. At the same time, our Air Force continuously scans the skies over the entire country, to protect us from any possible aerial threat.
On a positive note:
Over the past ten weeks, many soldiers have shared stories of other customers paying for their shopping in stores or meals in restaurants. In many cases, business owners have refused to accept any payment for the soldiers' purchases. The phenomenon is seen also in the ultra-orthodox sector. A soldier who entered a bakery in Meah She'arim last Friday said that two customers argued over which of them would pay for his purchase, until the shop owner announced that he was not taking payment from anyone for the soldier.
The IDF reserve officer who was moderately injured yesterday in the stabbing attack near the Rantis checkpoint was discharged from hospital last night.
Many physiotherapists and massage therapists continue to volunteer throughout the country, providing treatment to soldiers who need treatment and recovery from combat. The therapists provide care to soldiers on base as well as those on leave.
The southern front:
According to the commander of Division 162, the division has gained operational control in Jabaliya. As part of the fighting in the area, hundreds of terrorists were eliminated, and about 500 terrorists surrendered and were arrested.
Sheldag's special forces are operating inside Hamas tunnels in Gaza.
The IDF spokesman said that the IDF is deepening the operation in the southern Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Gallant said today that Khan Yunis has become the "new capital of terrorism", and the IDF's activity in the city will continue until the senior Hamas leaders reach "either the cemetery or prison".
Since the beginning of the war, IDF forces have located in Gaza approximately 1,500 Hamas shafts and tunnel routes. The IDF spokesman stated that most of the underground infrastructure was exposed in schools, hospitals, mosques, UN facilities, and civilian institutions, and this points to Hamas' use of the population as a human shield.
Ahmed Kahlot, director of the "Kamal Adwan" hospital in Jabaliya, admitted that the hospital is used as a Hamas military facility. In his Shin Bet investigation, which was revealed today, Kahlot said that he was recruited to Hamas at the rank of lieutenant colonel, and about 16 other employees of the hospital, doctors and staff members, are Hamas military operatives. According to him, the terrorist organization Hamas has offices inside the hospital, and a kidnapped soldier was brought there.
The IDF released for publication the names of two soldiers who fell in battle:
- Captain (res.) Lior Sivan, 32 years old from Beit Shemesh, an officer in the Harel Brigade, who was killed yesterday in battle in the south of the Gaza Strip.
- Master Sergeant (res.) Maoz Fenigstein, 25 years old from Susya, a fighter in Battalion 7008, who was killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip הי"ד.
- Captain (res.) Uriel Cohen, 33, from Tzur Hadassah, a Namer (APC) commander in the logistics assistance unit of the Givati Brigade, was killed in the battle in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
May their families find comfort in the nation they served to protect.
Another fighter, from the Givati Brigade, was seriously injured in the fighting.
Medical equipment looted from the "Yad Sarah" organization during the Simchat Torah massacre was found in the home of a Noh'ba terrorist in Gaza by IDF soldiers, who proceeded to return it to the organization.
The Health Ministry of Hamas in Gaza announced that close to 20,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war.
Intense attacks were reported around Jabaliya in the north of the Gaza Strip.
From intelligence material found in Gaza, it appears that senior Hamas official Muhammad Deif is healthy, and had not lost limbs in attempts to eliminate him. A video found shows Deif walking on two legs, with both arms intact.
As part of the psychological warfare by terrorist organizations, Islamic Jihad circulated a video showing hostages Elad Katzir and Gadi Moses.
IDF forces have attacked more than 300 targets in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours. The forces raided military headquarters from which there had been firing; captured the Khan Yunis homes of senior members of Hamas; exposed infrastructure related to water and electrical systems; and located weapons and ammunition including 20 mortar shells.
The Air Force attacked targets throughout the Strip including a building where terrorists were hiding, an anti-tank position and a rocket launching position. Forces also found and destroyed a truck belonging to Hamas in Jabaliya that was carrying long-range rockets.
In the Shejaia neighborhood, the IDF blew up 56 buildings. A senior officer in the Bislah Brigade (of the School for Infantry Corps Command) said: "Brigade 828 says hello to Shejaia - Victory begins here."
According to foreign reports, intensive negotiations are underway regarding another hostage exchange agreement, and Israel insists that women and men who are not in good health be released. However, an Israeli official stated that another agreement is not imminent, because Hamas is demanding the release of terrorists who were sentenced to longer prison terms, and Israel is demanding release of all the abductees. According to the same source, "a temporary ceasefire as part of the deal may last a week or two."
The "Tikva" forum of some of the families of hostages demanded an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, to discuss their approach - which differs from that of other hostage families - that Hamas must be subdued through intensive attack in order to return the hostages.
Foreign reports indicate that a "Houthi official" said that the Houthis have weapons and "secrets" that they do not want to reveal. According to the source, most of the organization's weapons are manufactured by the Houthis themselves and are not received from Iran.
Two companies that provide Internet and wired communication to the Gaza Strip reported that the services in the Strip were again completely cut off.
The northern front:
Throughout the day, our forces attacked Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Attacks were carried out by fighter planes and artillery fire. The Air Force also attacked a terrorist cell in the Hanita area, and another cell in the Shtula area.
Several launches from Lebanon into Israeli territory were reported today. A launch was detected toward the IDF post in Malkia, which reportedly fell on a basketball court in Kiryat Shmona. There were no casualties and our forces returned fire. The military wing of Hamas in Lebanon took responsibility for the launches to Kiryat Shmona.
IDF forces intercepted several suspicious aerial targets that penetrated from Lebanon into the country's territory.
Early last night, sirens were heard in the Yiftah area. Six interceptions of launches from Lebanon were reported. The Air Force attacked the launcher and the squad of terrorists a few minutes after the launches.
This morning, Israeli Air Force planes attacked targets in Southern Lebanon.
The IDF spokesman said that two reservists were moderately injured from the shooting at the IDF post in Malkia, about which we reported yesterday..
Lebanon has so far suffered significant damage in the fields of agriculture, tourism and international trade, according to a report by the United Nations Development Program. According to the report, the country may enter a much more serious economic crisis as a result of the ongoing war.
The Hezbollah organization announced the 117th death from its ranks. As we've mentioned, the IDF estimates that the number is higher.
The West Bank:
The Arabs reported activity of IDF forces in the area of Shechem.
IDF forces mapped (for demolition) the house of one of the terrorists who carried out the attack at the tunnel checkpoint about a month ago. An exchange of fire was reported during IDF activity in Kfar Tamon. 17 wanted persons were arrested, of which 11 are associated with Hamas. No IDF soldiers were harmed.
In Israel:
Prime Minister Netanyahu met with the families of hostages this evening and expressed to them his commitment to the hostages' release.
In a briefing for foreign ambassadors, President Herzog stated that Israel is ready to hold another humanitarian pause in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages.
According to the National Insurance data since the beginning of the war, 133,970 employees have been put on unrequested unpaid leave.
The Chairman of the Council of University Heads and President of Bar Ilan University, Prof. Arie Zaban, proposed a new outline for the start of the academic year. According to the proposal, following the scheduled opening of the school year on December 31, there will be a second start of studies for the reserve servicemen on January 20, by which time the IDF estimates that most of the students currently serving will have been released. In the first week of the second cycle, the discharged reservists will study the material they missed in an accelerated marathon, while the rest of the students will have a week of "academic acclimatization".
The Knesset plenum approved in second and third reading the bill for the admission of discharged soldiers, according to which there will be full funding of academic tuition for the soldiers.
An attempted terrorist attack was thwarted by IDF forces at the Beit Anon intersection, near Kiryat Arba. The terrorist was eliminated and there were no casualties to our forces.
On a positive note:
Ultra-Orthodox volunteers from the "Menatzchim Be'achdut" (Victorious in Unity) organization arrived at the navy base in Ashdod last night, to cheer and strengthen the soldiers' spirits. The volunteers distributed food to the soldiers, danced with them, and read Tehilim.
Three of the released abductees, Sapir Cohen and Yelena and Irena Trupanov, went to the Western Wall last night. They said the prayer "Mizmor leTodah" (Psalm of Thanks) and recited the blessing "HaGomel".
Following the growing interest in immigration to Israel since the outbreak of the war, an immigration fair was held in Paris last night. Crowds came to the fair and received comprehensive information about immigrating to Israel from representatives of the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption.
Over the past ten weeks, many soldiers have shared stories of other customers paying for their shopping in stores or meals in restaurants. In many cases, business owners have refused to accept any payment for the soldiers' purchases. The phenomenon is seen also in the ultra-orthodox sector. A soldier who entered a bakery in Meah She'arim last Friday said that two customers argued over which of them would pay for his purchase, until the shop owner announced that he was not taking payment from anyone for the soldier.
Many physiotherapists and massage therapists continue to volunteer throughout the country, providing treatment to soldiers who need treatment and recovery from combat. The therapists provide care to soldiers on base as well as those on leave.