Israel At War Wed Jan 8

 Israel at war day 460

- Another 3 IDF soldiers HYD  killed in Gaza bringing death toll in Gaza ground war to 401.

Kanaoo Kasa, 22, from Beit Shemesh

Mattisyahu Perl,22, from Beit El

Nevo Fisher, 20, from Beruchin.

- US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken: "If we don't reach a hostage deal by the end of the term - President Biden's plan will be passed on to incoming President Trump."

- Israel Treasury Minister Smotrich: “We are now preparing a very fundamental change in how we conduct the war in Gaza. We are preparing hell for Hamas.” “I think there should have been no negotiations with Hams, but I can't understand it even more when we will come to the table stronger with Trump in the White House in a few days.”

“The deal in question leaves most of the hostages behind - and that must not be done.”

- Blinken: “We are very close to a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal”.

- The bodies of hostages Youssef Hamis Ziyadne and his son Hamza Ziyadne of the Druze community were retreived from  the Gaza strip, the family announced and brought back to Israel. As of now 98 hostages remain in Gaza 36 of them have been declared not alive.

- US intelligence believe only 20 hostages are alive

- The IDF says it located and demolished five Hezbollah weapon depots in southern Lebanon, during recent operations amid the ongoing ceasefire.

- Iran has released images of recent air defense exercises near the Natanz nuclear facility

- Iranian Leader Khamenei: Iran will continue to support the resistance in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen - and wherever it stands against Israel.”

- Prime Minister's Office: Arab media report on weeks of truce in exchange for a list of names of abductees - a complete lie.“Another part of Hams' psychological warfare is trying to be used on the families of the kidnapped and the citizens of Israel. The State of Israel will continue to work around the clock and tirelessly to bring all of our kidnapped people home."

- Syrian media outlets are reporting that Israeli tank convoys have entered the villages of Abu Asa and Abu Ghara, as well as the Mazraat al-Hiran area in southern Quneitra.

The Russian news agency Sputnik reported last night that the IDF has deployed large forces to the Tel Ahmar area in Quneitra and has taken control of all the peaks that dominate the region. According to this report, the IDF has erected communication towers and placed observation devices (cameras) on these peaks

- Report in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar from senior Egyptian officials: Negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage deal are moving towards a solution. They claim that there is an opportunity to reach an agreement before the end of next week. They believe that the arrival in Doha today of US President-elect Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will constitute a declaration of agreement to complete the deal