War Day 568: Chemical Explosion in Iran, Trump Urges Gaza Aid

Summary: April 26, 2025

Hostage negotiations near collapse, IDF preparing for major operational expansion in Gaza, two more fallen heroes in Gaza, Trump says he is pressuring Netanyahu to deliver food and medicine to Gaza, Houthis wake up Be’er Sheva before 2 a.m. on Shabbos, and massive chemical explosion in Iran port — Israel says not connected.

59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,830 Israelis killed.
415 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 estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Hostage negotiations near collapse
– IDF preparing for major operational expansion in Gaza
– Devastating: Two more fallen heroes in Gaza
– IDF preparing to establish controlled humanitarian zone, with aid delivered by selected organization
– Trump says he is pressuring Netanyahu to deliver food and medicine to Gaza
– PA president chooses his possible successor
– Houthis wake up Be’er Sheva before 2 a.m., Shabbat
– Massive chemical explosion in Iran port — Israel says not connected
– U.S. — Iran talks continue, big rifts begin to show

Hostages:

Negotiations may be coming to an end, at least for now. Osama Hamdan, a Senior Hamas official, stated this evening that Hamas has “decided not to consider any proposals that do not include a complete end to the fighting.”

Israel will not agree to such a proposal, unless it includes the demilitarization of Gaza, including Hamas—so that they can’t carry out another attack against Israel.

The IDF announced that it is preparing for a significant expansion of the war against Hamas in Gaza, to be launched if the negotiations with Hamas continue to stall. In this scenario, the IDF will expand operations to new areas of Gaza, and a large number of IDF reservists will be called up to support the expansion.

Gaza:

The IDF announced the name of the soldier who fell in battle in Northen Gaza on Thursday:
Master Sgt. (res.) Asaf Cafri, 26, from Beit Hashmonai

On Friday afternoon, an IDF commander and undercover police officer fell in battle in Northern Gaza:
Cpt. Ido Voloch, 21, from Jerusalem
Sgt. Neta Yitzhak Kahane, of the Border Police’s Yamas covert unit.

The heroes were killed in a two hour battle in Shejaiya.

Since the end of the ceasefire on March 18, the IDF has attacked more than 1,800 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip. At least 400 terrrorists were eliminated, including senior level political figures, and dozens of mid-level commanders,

Over the past 48 hours, the IAF struck over 120 terrorist targets, including military structures, terrorist infrastructure, launch pits, underground targets, and terrorist cells.

The IDF is continuing to operate with three maneuvering divisions, using eight brigade combat teams. The teams work to expand the security buffer zones, by eliminating terrorists, and locating and destroying weapons, rocket launchers, and other Hamas infrastructure.

Division 252 is operating in northern Gaza, expanding into the Daraj and Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City. On Friday, the IDF issues a final evacuation warning for the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, ahead of airstrikes.

Division 36 is operating in Rafah and particularly in the new Morag Corridor.

The Gaza Division (143) is operating in the Shabourah and Tel Sultan areas in Rafah.

An IDF reservist was seriously wounded in battle in the Tel Sultan neighborhood, after he was hit by an explosive device followed by light arms fire from terrorists. IDF troops, including logistics soldiers who were on a supply mission, returned fire. The IAF later carried out airstrikes in an attempt to eliminate the terrorists from the attack. There is no confirmation that they were eliminated.

Kann News reports that the IDF is preparing to open a new controlled humanitarian zone in Rafah. The zone will be cut off from the rest of Gaza by the Morag Corridor. Gazan civillians will only be allowed entry after passing through individual security checks. Terrorists will be kept out. The IDF will build a tent city, and food and medicine will be delivered by a trusted third party, such as an American civilian company.

The Israeli government and IDF have long been preparing and planning for a solution to provide food and medicine to civilians in Gaza, without letting Hamas get their hands on it.

In response to questions from reporters, U.S. President Trump said that he is putting “great pressure” on Israel to bring food and medicine into Gaza.

Judea & Samaria:

The aging President of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas has appointed Hussein al-Sheikh, as his vice president—and possible future replacement.

Al-Sheik is also from the PLO’s Fatah party, and is fairly similar to Abbas. He was imprisoned by Israel from 1978-1989 for his association with anti-israel terror groups. He learned Hebrew in Israel, leading him to become the PA’s main contacting liaison with the Israeli government, and later with other world powers.

Yemen:

Around 2:20 a.m. on Shabbat, sirens were activated in Be’er Sheva and int suburbs. The IDF intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen, before it entered Israeli airspace. The Houthis claim that they targeted the Nevatim Airbase, east of Be’er Sheva.

Around 9:10 a.m., the Air Force intercepted a UAV (attack drone) fired by the Houthis, which was on its way to Israel. No sirens were activated, as there was no threat to civilians.

The U.S. Air Force and Navy are continuing with heavy attacks against the Houthis.

Iran:

A sudden massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas killed at least 14 people and injured over 750, with many still missing. The blast, originating from containers storing hazardous chemicals—including sodium perchlorate used in missile fuel—caused a fire and a shockwave felt up to 50 kilometers away. The fire lasted for many hours.

The explosion released toxic substances into the air, including ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, causing a public health emergency.

At least two Chinese ships were reported to have docked at the port in recent months, carrying sodium perchlorate made in China. Initial investigations into the explosion point to the mishandling or improper storage of the chemical.

Israeli sources told media that Israel was not behind the explosion.

Meanwhile, negotiations for a nuclear deal between Iran and the U.S. continued today. While both sides reported serious talks and progress, major clashes came to the surface.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi said that both parties showed determination to make progress, but, “sometimes determination alone is not enough, and the disagreements may be so serious that reaching a result becomes impossible. Some of the disagreements are serious, and some have their own complexities, but we are hopeful that we can move forward quickly, and the progress so far has been good. I am satisfied with the process and pace of the negotiations.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that major disagreements centered around two issues:

1. America demands that Iran completely give up on its ability to enrich uranium. Iran insists that it will continue to enrich some uranium for “civilian projects.”
2. America wants to include a program to oversee Iran’s ballistic missile project, which is what would carry a nuclear bomb, if production is achieved. Iran will not agree to including their missiles in the program at all.

Other:

On Friday morning, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met with United States CENTCOM chief, Gen. Michael Kurilla. Katz’s office says that the meeting focused on “several security and regional issues.”

Last week, three new F-35I fighter jets landed last night at the Nevatim Airbase. They will join the 140th Squadron, and bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35 fleet to 45.

In a major policy shift, the Trump DOJ announced that UNRWA — the UN agency for Palestinian refugees — has no immunity from U.S. lawsuits, opening the door for Hamas victims to sue. The DOJ also questioned UNRWA’s very existence, stating it is “highly doubtful that the UN Charter even authorizes the General Assembly to create” such an organ, which passes refugee status through endless generations. Known for sheltering terrorists, storing weapons in schools, and teaching violent antisemitism, UNRWA has helped fuel endless conflict — collapsing the very institutions meant to uphold “Never Again.”

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