War Day 565: Lebanon Turning on Hezbollah, Houthi Missile Intercepted

Summary: April 23, 2025

• Gaza Strip: The IDF is methodically expanding the buffer zone within the Gaza Strip as part of ongoing security operations.
• Ramon Airport Evacuations: Several hundred Gazans have been transported to Ramon Airport as part of efforts to facilitate their departure to third countries.
• Lebanon: The IDF has released details regarding last week’s airstrikes in southern Lebanon, outlining strategic targets aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah infrastructure.
• Syria: A U.S. Congressman recently visited Syria and stated that a path to peace with Israel remains possible, signaling potential diplomatic openings.
• Yemen: A Houthi-launched ballistic missile was successfully intercepted, amid growing speculation about the possibility of a broader conflict involving Yemen. Unconfirmed reports suggest war preparations may be underway.
• Iran: The United States continues to engage in negotiations with Iran, even as military posturing in the region suggests Washington is preparing for the potential of escalated confrontation.
  

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.
30,715 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
10,000 Israelis are estimated to remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Mediators draw a new hostage proposal, which slowly releases hostages on condition of a declared permanent ceasefire.
– Israel preparing to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza, government and IDF debate method
– IDF methodologically expanding and flattening the buffer zone and Rafah, in long-term strategy
– Hundreds of Gazans brought to Ramon airport to leave for a third country
– IDF details last week’s airstrikes in Lebanon
– Congressman visits Syria, says peace with Israel possible
– Sirens in Haifa, Northern Israel, due to Houthi ballistic missile
– Rumors of Yemen war in planning
– U.S. continues to negotiate with Iran, while making strong moves towards attack
– Wildfires near Jerusalem appear under control, evacuees return home

Hostages:

Hamas released a video of hostage Ori Moran. This is the seventh video they’ve released in just one month—a sign that they’re desperate for a deal.

Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. are drafting a new hostage deal proposal. Al-Majla (a Saudi journal, as reported by Israel Hayom) reported on what may be the outline of the deal. It includes a 45-day ceasefire during which the IDF would gradually withdraw from Gaza and release hundreds of terrorists from prison, while Hamas would gradually release hostages, and ceasefire agreements would be made. A significant amount of humanitarian aid will be delivered to Gaza (via Hamas) during the ceasefire.

In the current draft, fourteen living hostages would be released in the first week, and sixteen hostages who were murdered would be released on the 20th day. The remaining hostages would be released on the 45th day if a full end-of-war agreement is reached with Hamas. In contrast, at last 120 high-level terrorists, 1,111 low-level terrorists, and 160 terrorist bodies will be released.

The major caveat: On the third day of the ceasefire, Israel and Hamas need to declare a long-term ceasefire with a full IDF withdrawal, and Hamas needs to agree to demilitarize. A plan will also be announced with financial commitments from the mediators to rebuild Gaza.

It is unlikely that Israel will agree to end the war and fully withdraw with Hamas still in Gaza—Prime Minister Netanyahu has emphasized many times that this will lead to another October 7th-style attack. There is no chance Hamas will agree to disarm, as they’ve repeated many times that “the right to resistance is a red line.” Even if Hamas says they will, Israel will not be stupid enough to believe that Hamas will actually disarm unless they’re all exiled from Gaza.

What is possible is that Israel will keep negotiating until there’s a framework that gets at least ten more living hostages out before a complete ceasefire needs to be declared. Israel will probably agree to temporarily withdraw from Gaza, release terrorists from prison, and even allow the delivery of aid that will revitalize Hamas. Even without a permanent ceasefire, it will be a very unfair deal to Israel, and extremely dangerous in the long term, but Netanyahu seems determined to get as many hostages as possible out before completely destroying Hamas in a way that will risk the remaining hostages’ lives.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, we had another day of no rockets from Hamas and no fallen heroes.

Last night, the government security cabinet had an intense debate over the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Food will soon begin to run out in Gaza, and while Hamas is hoarding stockpiles for its own, Israel does not want civilians to starve. There seems to be unanimous agreement that aid must be delivered to the civilians. The debate was over the method of delivery.

Defense Minister Katz declared that it would be delivered either by the IDF soldiers or trusted American companies, in order to prevent Hamas from getting their hands on it. Hamas has profited hundreds of millions of dollars from selling and taxing the free aid, and keeps control over the population by controlling the food.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was adamant that IDF soldiers would not be involved in delivering the aid, but that food must be delivered. Finance Minister Smotrich was appalled by Zamir’s disagreement and threatened that the decision is up to the government, and if he is incapable of doing it, “we will bring in someone capable.” (Source: Amit Levy)

The IDF was busy today, but only reported one event in Gaza: an airstrike targeting a school building, which Hamas and PIJ terrorists were using as a command center. The school building, located in Gaza City, was being used to house displaced civilians. Hamas took up several rooms, dispersed between the civilian rooms. The IDF used advanced intelligence and precision airstrikes to destroy just the rooms that the terrorists took over, and minimize harm to civilians.

While the IDF isn’t talking about it, satellite imagery is beginning to emerge, showing much of the current strategy: The IDF is methodologically flattening every part of Gaza that it takes over for the security buffer zone, including all of Rafah until the Morag Corridor.

Since the area is being used as a security barrier to prevent attacks where enemy intent was declared, it is a legal and militarily standard action. If the buildings are left standing, Hamas will use them to hide, plant booby traps, or carry out sniper attacks. The size of the buffer zone continues to grow every day that Hamas doesn’t agree to release hostages.

An added benefit of flattening the areas is that Gazans will not be able to return, even during a temporary or long-term ceasefire. And if civilians can’t return, Hamas can’t hide amongst them, or use them as human shields. The IDF is acting quickly, so that if a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal is declared, in which the IDF needs to withdraw, it will be easy to take back any land left.

Gazan civilians, seeing the destruction caused by Hamas’s actions, are realizing that they have no future in Gaza. Every day, more and more Gazans decide that they want to leave.

The IDF’s COGAT division is helping Gazans leave by transporting them through Israel, but still at slow numbers, not meeting demand. Today, around 240 Gazans were brought to the Ramon Airport near Eilat, from where most of them flew to France. Almost all Gazans who are leaving now have a second citizenship, or at least a visa. To help more Gazans leave, Israel will need to find countries to accept them.

At the same time, civilians in Gaza are continuing to protest against Hamas and call for an end to the war. This is only being reported by protesters on social media—Al Jazeera is completely ignoring it.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is picking up on Gaza’s discontent. In a televised speech today, he called Hamas sons of dogs and demanded that they release the hostages, hand over their weapons, and end their rule in Gaza. Abbas is hoping that his party will be given control of the Gaza Strip in place of Hamas.

Judea & Samaria:

Midday, a terrorist was spotted throwing explosives towards IDF forces in the village of Al-Yamoun. Troops fired and eliminated the terrorist.

Lebanon:

Over the last week, the IDF eliminated 9 terrorists in Lebanon. This brings a total of over 140 terrorists eliminated in Lebanon since the start of the ceasefire.

Among those eliminated was Hussein Ali Nasser, the deputy commander of Unit 4400, Hussein Izzat Muhammad Atwi, a terrorist from the Islamic Jamaa organization, and several members of Hezbollah’s elite “Radwan Force” and other cell commanders.

Additionally, the IDF struck over 40 terrorist infrastructures and weapons stockpiles in southern Lebanon which violated the ceasefire agreement.

Despite the Lebanese government reports that Hezbollah is beginning to hand over weapons, and that the Lebanese Armed Forces are working to disarm Hezbollah, the terror group is making significant efforts to rebuild, including south of the Litani River. Hezbollah is continuing to produce new drones, establish new protected areas to stockpile weapons, appoint new field commanders, and set up new regional command centers.

But they do face significant challenges: The tide in Lebanon has mostly turned against Hezbollah, the new President of Lebanon is not a Hezbollah fan, Syria is no longer a safe smuggling route, and the IDF has near free rein to bomb Hezbollah targets every day.

Syria:

On a visit to Damascus, U.S. Congressman Cory Mills showed optimism for peace between Syria and Israel. The congressman claimed that the Syrian president and foreign minister both told him that they want to partner with the West, and won’t allow Syria to be a safe haven of terrorism for the Iranian regime or a proxy state.

Syrian President Al-Jolani did arrest several Palestinian terror leaders in Syria this past week.

Israel remains extremely wary of Jolani, who used to be a member of Al Qaeda, and freed many terrorists from Syrian prison when he took his position.

Yemen:

Shortly before 4 p.m., sirens were activated in Haifa, Kiryat Ata, and the Western Galilee in Northern Israel, due to a ballistic missile launch from the Houthis in Yemen. This might be the first time the Houthis targeted the north of Israel.

The missile was successfully intercepted.

Due to a technical error unrelated to missile detection, the new advance warning system only gave notice less than a minute before the siren was activated.

There are growing rumors that the legitimate government in Yemen is preparing for a ground offensive against the Houthi rebels. In the rumored offensive, the U.S. would support Yemen with weapons and air support.

Iran:

Mixed messages: The U.S. is continuing with intensive negotiations with Iran, and is reportedly progressing quickly. At the same time, two E-3 Sentry aircraft landed today in the U.S.’s area of responsibility in the Middle East—within range of Iran. These are typically used to direct air operations during complex operations, such as an attack against Iranian nuclear development sites.

It appears that the U.S. military establishment favors an attack, while the politicians want to first exhaust the possibility of an agreement to avoid war. Israel is very concerned that the politicians will be willingly fooled into a bad deal.

In his speech at the Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day) memorial at Yad Vashem this evening, PM Netanyahu seemed to address the U.S. negotiations.

“The struggle between us and the terror empire in Tehran will decide the fate of all free societies,” Netanyahu stated. “If, G-d forbid, Israel loses this campaign, the Western countries will be next in line. The tide of fanaticism will wash over them mercilessly, and it will happen much faster than they think… And I say these things, because what are fine words about the victory of enlightenment over barbarism worth—if at the moment of the test you are not ready to fight, and you surrender to the barbarians.”

Political commentator Ariel Kahana suspects that Netanyahu may have been talking about U.S. President Trump when he said those last few words.

Other:

Wildfires broke out near Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh this morning, leading to the evacuation of several communities. 110 firefighting crews, 9 aircraft, the IDF Homefront Command, and a few other organizations were deployed to get the fire under control. Several communities were evacuated, but since allowed to return home. There is suspicion that the fire may have been started intentionally by a terrorist, but, being that it was an extremely hot day (39 Celsius, 102 Fahrenheit), and windy, a natural outbreak is also very possible.

⁠In his Yom Hashoach speech, President Isaac Herzog said that he is frequently asked by Holocaust survivors to create unity, “President, please, we beg, we demand—the division within us is terrible. Let there be unity in the people.”

The president emphasized, “History will not forgive those who behave irresponsibly and dismantle us from within.”

This update is sponsored anonymously in zchus for the return of all the hostages, the safety of the soldiers, and Moshiach Now! Thank you, Hashem. Thank you to the Efune family for everything you do.

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