Israel News Today

A high-ranking Hamas official, Marwan Issa , reportedly targeted multiple times by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), has been confirmed killed in an airstrike, according to the White House. Despite Israel not yet making an official statement, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan verified the news on Monday. Born in the al-Burij refugee camp, Issa joined Hamas' military wing at 19 and rose through the ranks, playing a significant role in various attacks. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Issa served time in Israeli and Palestinian Authority prisons for his involvement in terrorist activities.  Upon his release, he resumed terrorist operations, eventually leading an assault on a Palestinian Authority prison in 2005, resulting in multiple deaths.  Issa's leadership in orchestrating attacks against civilians was marked by his assertion that the battleground should extend to settlers' homes. Known for meticulous planning, Issa conducted surveillance on targets before ...

 Israel Notifies Egypt of Planned Incursion into Rafah for Hostage Release Israeli authorities have informed Egyptian counterparts of their intention to conduct "targeted operations" within the Palestinian territory of Rafah, as reported by Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper.  This marks the first communication of such intent between Israel and Egypt, with Israel emphasizing limited and specific actions aimed at freeing hostages ahead of any broader military incursion.  Egypt, meanwhile, continues to caution against entering Rafah without considering the welfare of the 1.5 million Gazans residing near the border. According to the report, Israel assured Egypt that its forces (IDF) would be stationed along the border but would refrain from entering the Philadelphia axis. Following Israel's notification, Egyptian officials promptly reached out to their American counterparts, who affirmed their commitment to preventing any extensive entry into Rafah without safeguards for civilian ...

 South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, warned South Africans who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that they could face arrest upon returning home.  Speaking at an event held by her party, the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Pandor expressed readiness to take action against those involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Her remarks have sparked debate, with MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beiteinu questioning South Africa's diplomatic relations with Israel in light of the statements.  Last year, South Africa gained attention for filing a case in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. While the court has not ruled on the case's merits, it issued directives urging Israel to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

 The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently disclosed that since the conflict with Hamas in Gaza commenced, they have targeted over 1,000 sites affiliated with Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, official reports suggest that the Air Force has utilized less than 20 percent of its capacity in the northern region. Released yesterday, IDF data regarding the conflict with Hezbollah indicated that over the course of five months of engagement in the north, the Air Force had struck " more than 1,200 targets affiliated with the terrorist group Hezbollah " (with an additional 3,000 targets attacked from the ground). The data included a map illustrating the locations of IDF airstrikes, primarily concentrated in southern Lebanon. The IDF's objective in releasing this information was to showcase the intensity of the conflict and the significant blows inflicted upon the terrorist organization since it became involved in the war alongside Hamas in Gaza. Despite these efforts, the Air Force ...