War Day 542: Houthi Missiles Dwindling, Hamas Tunnel Destroyed

• IDF Issues Unprecedented Evacuation Warning for Entire Rafah Area The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued an unprecedented evacuation notice for the entire Rafah region in southern Gaza, urging residents to relocate to safer areas due to ongoing military operations.
• Red Crescent Makes Controversial Claim Regarding IDF-Related Medic Casualties The Palestinian Red Crescent has faced criticism for allegedly misrepresenting reports concerning medics who were claimed to have been killed in incidents involving the IDF. Further clarification is sought on the veracity of these claims.
• Foiled Bombing Plot in Shomron; Results from Jenin Operations Begin to Emerge A bombing plot in the Shomron region has been successfully foiled by security forces. Meanwhile, military operations in Jenin are starting to show tangible results in terms of counterterrorism efforts.
• Unusual Airstrike Hits Beirut A sudden and unusual airstrike has been reported in Beirut, raising questions regarding its origin and target. Authorities are investigating the incident.
• U.S. Initiates Indirect Negotiations with Iran The United States has begun indirect negotiations with Iran, aiming to address various regional and nuclear concerns. The discussions are being conducted through intermediaries.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu Pursues Appointment of New Shin Bet Director Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking a new director for the Shin Bet security agency, following recent developments in national security strategy.

March 31, 2025

59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,828 Israelis killed.
413 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,696 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
20,000 Israelis estimated displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Details of Israel’s counterproposal for a hostage release and ceasefire
– IDF gives unprecedented evacuation warning for the entire Rafah
– IDF destroys kilometer-long tunnel
– Red Crescent lies about “medics” killed by IDF
– Bombing attack foiled in Samaria
– Jenin operations beginning to show results
– Sudden unusual airstrike in Beirut
– Hamas and PIJ terrorists grouping in Syria, planning attacks
– Houthis might run out of missiles
– U.S. begins indirect negotiations with Iran
– Netanyahu seeks new Shin Bet director, faces opposition from his own party

Hostages:

Israel is still waiting for Hamas’s response to Israel’s counteroffer. Hamas had agreed to an Egyptian proposal which would release 5 living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, during which humanitarian aid would flow into Gaza, and terrorists would be released from Israeli prison.

Timeline of Israel’s counteroffer:

40-day ceasefire
Day one: 10 hostages released, including Edan Alexander
Day one: Truckloads of humanitarian aid deliveries begin immediately after the release of the hostages
Day five: Hamas gives Israel information about the health of all remaining hostages
Day ten: Hamas releases the bodies of 16 hostages previously murdered

During the 40 days, talks will be held for a lasting ceasefire, which would include:
The release of all remaining hostages
Full IDF withdrawal from all areas except the buffer zone and Philadelphi Corridor
Complete demilitarization of Gaza
Exile of all Hamas leaders from Gaza
Security arrangements in Gaza to prevent Hamas from rearming

It is unknown how many terrorists will be released, and of what security level, but appears that Israel is aiming for similar to last time, while Hamas will push for the release of some more notorious terrorists.

In the meantime, in order to pressure Hamas into agreeing, Israel is continuing to raise the military pressure on Hamas.

Hamas is not expected to agree to the second phase of the deal, since they want to remain in power and armed, and don’t want to give up the last of the hostages.

Gaza:

The next phase of military pressure in Gaza has begun. Today the IDF issued an unprecedented evacuation order for the entire Rafah up until the border of Khan Younis. This includes some areas where the IDF has not yet operated at all. Footage from Rafah today shows large streams of people evacuating, in compliance with instructions. It’s still unknown how many have left.

The IDF is expected to complete the takeover within 2-3 weeks, which is not very fast, but expected to be thorough. Other than the Northside, the borders of the city will be added to Israel’s security buffer zone.

Meanwhile, the IDF has expanded the buffer zone further in the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis (mid-south Gaza), and in the Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun area (Northernmost Gaza). Troops are also operating in the Netzarim Corridor, which separates the north from the south of Gaza, and provides quick access to Central Gaza.

In the Beit Lahiya area, soldiers of the Yahalom unit demolished a one-kilometer-long Hamas tunnel. In another area, troops located a rocket and launcher manufacturing workshop. The IDF says that troops operating on the ground in the Netzarim Corridor and Northern Gaza have eliminated 50 terrorists in recent weeks.

While the IDF expands the security buffer zone, it is still unknown which parts would be held onto permanently is a second phase of a hostage deal is agreed upon (unlikely), but it will remain expanded from the original one-kilometer width. Hamas has already begun working with Iran to create new weapons smuggling routes via African countries.

Following claims from the Red Crescent that the IDF randomly attacked an ambulance, murdering 9 medics, the IDF spokesman refuted the claim and gave the actual sequence of events. It turn out that Hamas terrorists were using the ambulance, and were spotted advancing towards an IDF position. The IDF struck the vehicle when the driver refused to stop. The 9 “medics” who were eliminated were all registered Hamas and PIJ terrorists, including Mohammad Amin Ibrahim Shubaki, who took part in the October 7th massacre.

Judea & Samaria:

The Shin Bet announced that they recently foiled Hamas plans for a shooting and bombing attack directed against Jewish targets in Samaria. The attack was planned and directed by Hamas leaders in Turkey, to be carried out by a cell of six terrorists in Shechem (Nablus).

The cell was arrested and interrogated, leading the security authorities to locate a bomb that had been planted near the Gitai Avisar junction in Samaria. The explosive was successfully neutralized in time. A search of the terrorists’ belongings also led to the discovery of an assault rifle and $60,000 in cash payments from Hamas.

According to Israel Hayom reports, the IDF campaign in Jenin is beginning to show success. Nearly half of the residents of the Jenin “camps” area have left, and found homes in other Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, leaving just 7,000 people behind. This area was considered a terrorism incubator, which encouraged strong support for terrorists amongst residents. It’s estimated that most of those who left the area are settling in more moderate towns, in search of quiet.

In a separate incident, the IDF punished several soldiers and officers for unauthorized searches in a school and clinic Jinba, during which property was damaged. The soldiers were on a search operation in the area, and chose to add the two sites to the search, without higher approval. The incident led to reprimands, jail time, and a dismissal. The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, visited the site of the incident and told troops, “We must continue to act to thwart terrorism, with determination and offensiveness, while maintaining the security of the residents and communities.”

Lebanon:

Around 3 a.m., early Tuesday morning, the IDF carried out an unusual airstrike in the Dahlia district of Beirut. The IDF announced that the precision airstrike was carried out under the direction of the Shin Bet, to eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist. The Hezbollah terrorist had been directing Hamas terrorists and assisting them in an attempt to carry out a serious attack in the immediate future against Israeli civilians.

The terrorist posed a real and immediate threat, leading to the decision to eliminate him without delay.

Earlier in the day, a senior Hezbollah official told Al-Manar TV that the terror group has decided that they will retaliate against Israel’s Friday airstrike in Beirut (which was a retaliation), but not from within Lebanon. Instead they will plan an attack from within Iraq.

Syria:

A senior security source told Ynet that after the new regime took over Syria, they released hundreds of Hamas and PIJ terrorists who had been imprisoned by Bashar Assad. Those terrorists are now armed, organizing, and working to prepare attacks against Israel.

This is one of the reasons why the IDF is maintaining a security buffer zone in Syria. The buffer zone contains 9 IDF bases, and is 15 km deep from Israel’s border. It also maintains a sphere of influence over a million people, 65 km deep into Syria, with Damascus in range of IDF artillery.

Yemen:

Israeli intelligence assesses that due to American airstrikes, the Houthis are beginning to run out of ballistic missiles and launchers, and may just have a few dozen left.

Iran:

Israel Hayom reports that the U.S. and Iran have opened indirect channels in an attempt to negotiate a nuclear agreement.

New Shin Bet Choice:

PM Netanyahu’s office announced that after interviewing seven candidates, he decided to appoint former Navy chief Vice Adm. (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next Shin Bet director. Sharvit is a Shin Bet outsider, who does not even know Arabic. His appointment isn’t unprecedented though, it follows a similar pattern to the 1996 appointment of Ami Ayalon, after the Shin Bet failed to prevent the assassination of PM Yitzchak Rabin. Ayalon was also commander of the Navy, and similarly unfamiliar with Arabic affairs, but is regarded as a successful appointment who steered the intelligence organization back in the right direction.

IDF demolition of a kilometer long tunnel in Northern Gaza

Unusual airstrike in Beirut, which targeted a Hezbollah terrorist who was planning an imminent and serious attack against Israel

An anonymous sponsor made this update possible.

——
I wouldn’t be able to write these updates without sponsorships from my incredible readers. Please message me if you’d like to sponsor an update, which is sent to over 20,000 avid readers, who help fight misinformation and spread awareness. Sponsorship is $100 per day and includes a written dedication in the update.

WhatsApp Bruria Efune
+972 58-527-8742
Join WhatsApp Update Group