Israel At War Monday Dec 18

Israel at war day 73

11:00 pm

- Two more soldiers killed in Gaza bringing death toll in Gaza op to 131

 Daniel Yacov Ben Harosh,31 from Alon

Rotem Yoseff Levy 24, from Oranit

- A  pro Hamas mob of  500 gathered inside Penn Station in midtown Manhattan on Monday evening yelling violently, creating havoc and disruptions in the station. Later, they are seen conducting prayers, on the loud speakers

The group came from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and earlier marched down 42nd Street from Grand Central Terminal 

Cops initially stymied their efforts to enter by putting up barricades around the entrances of the massive train station.

-Israel is trying to initiate a "humanitarian deal" for the release of all the women and elderly men who remain in captivity. Hamas does not signal that it is interested in a deal, Israeli officials say: a long and complex negotiation is ahead of us.

The principles from Israel's point of view:

1. The release of all the women who remained alive in captivity

2. The release of all elderly men - who are not defined as "soldiers" according to Hamas

3. Similar to the previous deal, terrorists will be released with a temporary ceasefire 

4. Israel is ready for the release of "heavier" terrorists than the previous deal

5. The deal will only apply to alive prisoners

-The United States on Monday announced a 10-nation coalition against Huthi attacks in the Red Sea, with Britain, France, Bahrain and Italy among ten countries joining the "multinational security initiative."

-IDF says a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba forces and another terrorist who participated in the October 7 massacre have been captured at a school in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood.

The pair, along with several other Hamas terrorists, were captured during a raid on the school on Friday, during which troops  killed “many” more operatives.

- Politico reports, according to intelligence sources: U.S. has been collecting information about the extent of Israel's compliance with the laws of war in the Gaza ground operation

- US Defense Sec. Loyd Austin on Gaza War: ‘This Is Israel’s Operation’ 'I’m not here to dictate timelines or terms,' the Pentagon chief further elaborated after meeting with Israeli leaders

- Rockets fired into kiryat shmona in the north caused damages but no injuries bh

-On Sunday, a survey conducted within the charedi community found a significant shift in its attitude toward Israeli society in general during the Gaza war. The survey highlighted a substantial increase in support for haredi enlistment in the IDF – from 9% to 29%. Furthermore, 70% agreed that haredi individuals not studying Torah should contribute by enlisting in the IDF or doing national service. (Jpost)

- Hamas released a video showing three of the elderly male Israeli hostages still in captivity. 

In the video, the hostages plead for Israel's help in securing their release, stating that they do not want to be killed by an Israel Air Force strike. The three also state that they are in poor health. The video ends with the three pleading, אל תשליכנו לעת זקנה  "Do not let us grow old here."

- Two more IDF soldiers killed in Gaza:Yarin Gahali, 22 from Rechovot, Netanel Silberg, 33 , from Namah, total deaths is 129

- Soldier  killed in Gaza Lidor Yosef Karavani, 23 from Eilat. Death toll in Gaza ground op is 127

WSJ Opinion: Israel’s military is taking more risks to satisfy U.S. demands on how to fight in Gaza, and taking more casualties as a result. 

- CIA director Bill Burns is meeting today with Qatari Prime Minister and the head of Israel's Mossad spy agency in Warsaw to discuss a potential new deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

- Yemen's rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea The first ship they targeted was the Swan Atlantic, which was transporting oil for Israel. The second ship is the MSC Clara, which is loaded with containers.

-Mounting attacks by the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthi militant group on ships in the Red Sea are disrupting maritime trade as leading global freight firms reroute to avoid the Suez canal costs of shipping goes up

- Israel prepares for military operation vs Hezbollah, Minister Gantz tells French foreign minister; IDF will take action if diplomatic efforts to push Hezbollah away from Lebanon border fail.

- Netanyahu is considering changing the name of Operation Swords of Iron to another name. arguing that "‘Swords of Iron’ is the name of an operation, not the name of a war. Netanyahu is considering names such as the Gaza War, the Simchat Torah War, and the Bereishis war.

- Terror Shooting Attack in the Binyamin Region: In an incident near Ateret north of Ramallah this morning, Arab terrorists fired upon an Israeli vehicle. A 27-year-old Jewish mother, accompanied by her month-and-a-half-old baby in the backseat, sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Fortunately, the armed husband, who was driving, retaliated, forcing the attackers to flee in a passing vehicle. The family proceeded until reaching Israeli medics, who evacuated the injured mother to the hospital. She is currently listed in light condition.