Israel News Tuesday Jan 13

 Day 830

- The Knesset approved in a first reading 19-0 late Monday night a bill that would establish a special military tribunal to try perpetrators of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

- Hamas was reported to be rebuilding its rocket production capabilities, while the IDF has been striking only a limited number of workshops, mainly in response to violations. Israeli defense officials also assessed that Hamas has been sending Gazans daily toward IDF positions to gather intelligence and study troop behavior, adding to concerns over undiscovered cross-border tunnels and growing risks created by civilian laborers working near sensitive military sites.

- Israel has demolished over 2,500 buildings in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire with Hamas took effect in October, The New York Times reported yesterday as the military continued to destroy alleged terror infrastructure. Most of the demolitions have been on the Israeli side of the so-called Yellow Line

- IDF says it’s on alert for ‘surprise scenarios,’ as US mulls military strikes on Iran

Israel said to believe Trump will make good on threat to attack in support of anti-regime protesters;

- The IDF announced Monday that it struck and killed three armed terrorists and wounded a fourth after they approached troops in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza near the Yellow Line, in a manner that it said posed an “immediate threat.”

- One of Australia’s top writers’ festivals was canceled on Tuesday, after 180 authors boycotted the event and its director resigned in response to the festival disinviting a Palestinian author who praised Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre.

-Former hostage David Cunio said that he considered collecting pills so that he could overdose while being held in torturous conditions by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, in a harrowing interview aired on Monday. Speaking to Channel 12 news, Cunio also recalled the terrible uncertainty he felt not knowing the fate of his brother Ariel, who was also kidnapped with Ariel’s partner Arbel Yehoud, and after being separated from his own wife and children when they were released from captivity before him.

- About 40 celebrities, along with nonprofits and Palestinian medical workers, signed a letter accusing Israel of deliberately targeting medical facilities and civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and calling for unrestricted aid access. Using language from the Genocide Convention, the letter makes allegations Israel denies and is being presented to UK and EU lawmakers this week.

- Joshua (Josh) Boone, a U.S.-born lone IDF reserve soldier, was found dead at his home in Beersheba after serving hundreds of reserve days during the Swords of Iron war. His family and friends say his death was linked to service-related PTSD and are seeking IDF recognition and a military burial, despite him not being on active duty at the time. The IDF and Defense Ministry have so far declined to recognize him as a fallen soldier, citing current regulations, prompting advocacy efforts and a Knesset discussion.