War Day 598: Hamas Undermines Ceasefire as IDF Escalates Strikes and Regional Tensions Rise

Summary May 26, 2025

58 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,844 Israelis killed.
424 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,730 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:

•⁠ ⁠Hamas announces bogus agreement
•⁠ ⁠Even Witkoff says Hamas is destroying the deal
•⁠ ⁠Rockets fired, land in Gaza
•⁠ ⁠100 airstrikes
•⁠ ⁠Division 36 moves into Khan Younis
•⁠ ⁠IDF turning Hamas rubble into pebbles
•⁠ ⁠New humanitarian aid system begins, Hamas threatens Gazans not to use it
•⁠ ⁠UN’s Tom Fletcher caught in lies again
•⁠ ⁠Tensions over Iran deal
•⁠ ⁠Unusual IDF activity in Lebanon

Hostages:

Hamas announced that they agreed to a hostage-ceasefire deal under the Witkoff framework. But the deal they announced is actually nothing like Witkoff’s proposal. Hamas wants a deal in which they release just 5 hostages, then have a two month ceasefire with unlimited humanitarian aid for two months, after which they’ll release 5 more hostages, and then get a permanent ceasefire with a full IDF withdrawal—and no Hamas disarmament.

Axios reports that this idea comes from Palestinian-American businessman, Bishara Bahbah, who was overly flexible with Steve Witkoff’s guidelines, while negotiating with Hamas.

U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff told Axios that he rejects Hamas’s claim, adding, “What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable.”

The Witkoff framework which Israel agreed to, and Hamas rejected, allows 10 hostages to be freed on the first day of the ceasefire, and does not guarantee a permanent ceasefire without steps to disarm Hamas and exile its leaders. He said the deal is still on the table, and Hamas should take it.

Asked about the negotiations, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I hope we can announce something regarding the hostages, if not today then tomorrow.” An office staffer clarified that Netanyahu was speaking hopes, not guarantees, and didn’t specifically mean today or tomorrow, but that he is constantly trying to make something happen to bring the hostages home.

Gaza:

On Monday morning, Hamas launched three rockets towards Israel, from Southern Gaza. Two fell inside Gaza, and one was intercepted before crossing into Israel. No sirens were activated in Israel.

Thank G-d, the IDF didn’t announce any fallen heroes or serious injuries!

The IDF is continuing with an average of 100 daily airstrikes against Hamas targets. The airstrikes are primarily in areas under mandatory evacuation warning. When civilians are in the area, the IDF uses extreme caution and precision missiles in order to avoid harm to civilians. Targets include Hamas command centers, terrorists (including a Nukhba terrorist), weapons depots, sniper and anti-tank positions, tunnel shafts, and other terrorist infrastructure.

Overnight (Sunday-Monday), the IDF struck key Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, who were operating in a command and control complex in Gaza City. As usual, the building used to be a school, and civilians were sheltering in parts of it. The IDF used intelligence and a precision strike in order to hit only the parts of the building where the terrorists were hiding, and minimize harm to civilians.

Five divisions continue to operate in Gaza: Division 162 is operating in Northern Gaza, with Division 252 pushing into Gaza City. Division 36 completed their mission in Rafah, and moved onto southern Khan Younis. Division 98 is pushing into Khan Younis from the east side. The Gaza Division (143) is holding the Rafah area, Morag Corridor, and buffer zone, while continuing to clear and expand the areas.

The IDF reissued a wide evacuation warning with the entire Rafah and Khan Younis areas, in Southern Gaza. These warnings were issued previously, but the IDF is reminding civilians ahead of heavy airstrikes that are about to come.

In most areas, IDF troops meet only a few terrorists, with most terrorists choosing instead to hide underground. However, they still do come into close-quarters combat, and under direct fire every day. The IDF shared a recent incident, in which terrorists fired several mortars at troops. The troops, using a drone, quickly identified the location of the terrorists, and eliminated them from the air.

In an effort to reduce hiding spots for terrorists, the IDF is grinding down the rubble from buildings destroyed by the IDF. The IDF hired a number of civilian crushers, who follow up on IDF demolitions, and turn what remains into pebbles.

Humanitarian Aid:

On Monday, 170 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing. The trucks included food, medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals.

The IDF’s new system to deliver food packages to civilians through the GHF has begun, but only in part. It will expand in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Hamas issued a strong statement, demanding that Gazans not take food from the new mechanism. Hamas also issued threats towards anyone who does. Hamas is for the first time facing a system where they will not be able to profit—not from selling, and not from taxing, the aid. (Spoiler: Gazans still went to get aid.)

The UN Relief Chief, Tom Fletcher, was caught in a lie today, claiming that 10,000 trucks of aid are waiting to enter Gaza, but are blocked by Israel.

The IDF’s COGAT Division responded on Twitter: “Hey look, it’s Tom Fletcher with another libelous lie.
We’ve been patient with your media circus, but your lies just keep coming:
There are no ten thousand trucks waiting to go into Gaza. What there are, are hundreds of trucks’ worth of aid the UN hasn’t picked up from the Gazan side over the last few days, after we gave you plenty of routes you can use to safely distribute the aid throughout the entire Gaza.
You are using a humanitarian difficulty and causing a worse one, one that isn’t serving your “humanitarian principles.””

Iran:

Reports are emerging of disagreements between PM Netanyahu, and US President Trump, over negotiations with Iran.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the two leaders had a tense call, in which Trump told Netanyahu: “I want a diplomatic solution with the Iranians. I believe in my ability to make a good deal.”

This comes shortly after US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News that “President Trump specifically sent me here to speak with the prime minister about how negotiations are going, and how important it is that we stay united and let this process play out.” Noem described the meeting as “very candid,” a possible hint to tensions.

Lebanon:

Lebanese media reported a midday airstrike near the village of Brital in the northeastern Beqaa Valley. This is where Hezbollah stores many weapons, or puts together parts, after they’re smuggles through the Syrian border.

Late at night, Lebanese media reported that IDF ground forces entered southern Lebanon, near Mis Al Jabal, and advanced several hundred meters into the area. The troops then allegedly began conducting a search in the area. The IDF did not comment in the incident.

The Lebanese army, upon hearing the report, can to the area to patrol.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia this morning, the Prime Minister of Lebanon made it clear that his government will no longer tolerate foreign interference or armed groups operating beyond its authority. He stated: “The days of spreading the Iranian revolution are over. We will not remain silent about weapons in Lebanon that are outside the government’s control.”

He also voiced opposition to the presence of weapons in Palestinian refugee camps. On the subject of relations with Israel, he emphasized: “We are a peace-seeking nation, but we want true peace. Israel is occupying territories in our country.”

Other:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the voices against IDF operations agains Hamas in Gaza, claiming: “Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism.”

Merz added that he planned to hold a call with Netanyahu this week to tell him “to not overdo it,” though for “historical reasons”, Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners.

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