Swords of Iron

Touching:

Surprise Bat Mitzvah for girl evacuated from northern Israel

Oriyah had to cancel her Bat Mitzvah celebration when her family needed to leave their home - until now.

Southern Command official:

'We are preparing to continue attacking once the pause is over'

Official says operational achievements put pressure on Hamas and served as a vital tool to create the conditions for the hostage deal.

A dream come true:

Rabbi sings Shabbat song at composers synagogue in Gaza

Before entering Gaza, Lt. Col. (Res.) Rabbi Yoel Rakhel dreamed of singing 'Ya Ribon' at the site of the ancient Gaza synagogue.

'A strong, threatening Israel will free more hostages for less'

Military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai warns against allowing prisoner exchanges to draw out the ceasefire.

'Heaven's Doors'

Headphones, children's toys prepared for released hostages

IDF completes preparations to receive the first hostages released by Hamas later today, asks public to respect hostage's privacy.

Report:

Gazans attempting to return home during ceasefire clash with IDF

Residents who did not flee south again ignore IDF warnings on first day of 4-day ceasefire.

Sky News reporter's explanation for anti-Israel question

Kay Burley says she merely presented opinion that Israel sees Palestinian lives as less valuable to give Israeli spokesman chance to respond

Ceasefire broken already?

Red alert sirens activated 15 minutes after start of ceasefire

Sirens activated in Kissufim and Ein Hashlosha after ceasefire goes into effect at 7 am.

Netanyahu to ZAKA volunteers:

'You have given direct testimony of the most terrible horrors'

Netanyahu hears from ZAKA members about their work locating and identifying the bodies of those who were murdered by Hamas on October 7.

Friend of hostage:

'Sad he won't be released, happy that others will return'

Aviv, friend of Omer Wenkert who was abducted to Gaza, talks about situation in which some hostages will be released, but not Omer.

Directed attacks by sea:

Hamas naval commander in Khan Yunis eliminated

IDF fighter jets, directed by IDF and Shin Bet intelligence, eliminate Amar Abu Jalalah, commander of the Hamas naval forces in Khan Yunis.

Report:

Hamas willing to release Thai hostages unconditionally

Hamas reportedly refusing to allow Red Cross to visit hostages despite deal, willing to release Thai hostages after Iranian intervention.

48 days later:

Search for the Oct 7 victims continues

The Israel Dog Unit continues to check every place where the remains of the Oct. 7th massacre victims could be found.

IDF Spokesperson:

'Our forces will stay along the ceasefire lines within Gaza'

Spokesman Hagari reiterated the call not to spread rumors as Hamas will attempt to exploit the respite for manipulation.

Report:

Hamas demanded IDF withdraw from al-Shifa hospital

Terrorist organization made another demand before signing hostage deal, but dropped the demand after Israel refused.

Gallant to naval commandos:

'This will be a short break; intense fighting will follow'

The Defense Minister told Shayetet 13 commandos to prepare to apply more pressure on Hamas which only understands force.

Minister Akunis:

Hostage deal was 'deal with the devil' but had to be done

Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis tells Arutz Sheva the hostage deal is not the end of the war but the beginning.

Hamas' human shields:

IDF finds terror tunnel shaft and weapons in mosque

Soldiers located and destroyed 50 mortar shells as well as rocket launchers aimed to fire toward Israel.

Troops receive new orders regarding graffiti in Gaza

IDF Southern Command commander Yaron Finkelman ordered soldiers to stop writing non-tactical graffiti on walls in the Gaza Strip.

Ahead of hostage release:

Government rep. asks not to publish names of released hostages

Brg. Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch requested that the media not publish the list of the first hostages to be released until they arrive in Israel.

We support and we hold responsible

We support the Israeli government's decision but hold resonsible all those who made it necessary. Op-ed.

Unit 8200:

Junior officer who warned of Gaza told 'You're imagining it'

Officer in IDF signal intelligence unit warned of mass infiltration event of the kind that occurred on Oct. 7 for a year, to no avail.

After 44 days:

Officer who was seriously wounded released from hospital

Major Foaz Hussein, who was wounded while fighting terrorists in Kibbutz Holit, left the hospital on his two feet.

Qatar Foreign Ministry:

Ceasefire on Friday at 7 am, hostages will be released at 4 pm

Spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry says Qatar has lists of people to be released from both sides, 13 Israelis to be released tomorrow

In Hamas operative's home:

Weapons found hidden under children's beds

401st Brigade combat team found four tunnel shafts of significant depth in an area on the outskirts of Jabalya.

Ben-Gvir orders police to forbid celebrations of prisoner swap

Ben-Gvir ordered police to 'immediately end any expressions of support for these Nazis.'

'A disgusting accusation'

Israeli spokesman left speechless by ridiculous question

Eylon Levy is shocked by the suggestion that Israel sees Palestinian lives as less valuable than Israeli lives.

Netanyau to David Cameron:

'We hope to get our hostages, but there are challenges'

PM meets British Foreign Secretary, says peace can only happen if Hamas is eliminated.

Relative of kidnapped family:

'They will not come back the same people'

Oriyah Yahbas, cousin of Jordan Bibas, who was abducted to Gaza together with wife Shiri & their children, speaks about the prisoner swap.

Shelter for terrorists:

IDF arrests director of Shifa hospital

Israeli forces found numerous pieces of evidence linking the hospital to Hamas and proving the hostages were brought there after the attack.

Hamas: We fired a rocket at northern Samaria town

Hamas releases footage purportedly showing launch of Qassam 1 rocket towards the town of Shaked in northern Samaria.

SWC: Hamas could end all the suffering by releasing all hostages

'The suffering of the families of Israeli hostages is on the hands of Hamas terrorists,' Simon Wiesenthal Center says.

Terrorist who attacked Rabbi Dov Lior to be released

One of the terrorists to be freed in the exchange is accused of throwing fire bombs at the house of Rabbi Dov Lior.

Watch:

Bodycam footage shows Egoz special forces operating in Gaza

IDF forces raid srategic Hamas targets, direct air strikes on terrorists and weapons stockpiles.

IDF on missile barrage:

35 launches crossed the border from Lebanon

Thirty-five missiles cross border from Lebanon to Israel, some are intercepted.

Analyst:

The soldiers on the ground believe ceasefire is a mistake

Military analyst Yossi Yehoshua: 'Significant' discrepancies between how top IDF bronze, soldiers fighting on the ground, see prisoner swap.

Family of hostages:

'Religious Zionism is giving us the cold shoulder'

Journalist Jacky Levy has multiple family members in Hamas captivity, and said that Religious Zionism is uninterested in the hostages.

50 rockets fired in heaviest barrage since start of war

Security sources say Hezbollah fired barrage of 50 rockets towards Israel from Lebanese territory.

Former NSC chair:

'Gaza is like Nazi Germany, you don't send aid to the enemy'

Giora Eiland, former head of the National Security Council, criticizes the decision to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Chief of Staff:

We're not ending the war, we'll continue until we are victorious

IDF Chief of the General Staff meets brigade commanders in Gaza, promises war is not over. 'We'll continue until we are victorious.'

Lebanon: IDF strikes rocket launcher, weapons storage post

IdF hits antitank missile cell near northern border, intercepts surface-to-air missile fired towards IAF aircraft.

IDF strikes Hamas military command centers

IDF ground troops continue striking terrorists, locating underground sites and striking terror infrastructure in Gaza.

Moments of strength from the war

During the days of fighting, the nation of Israel bursts with the spirit of unity, and strength pours out of the battlefield. Watch.

Top White House official:

'The war won't be over after the truce ends'

White House official John Kirby speaks to US Jewish community leaders, says Hamas still poses a real threat to Israel.

In southern Lebanon:

Son of senior Hezbollah parliamentarian eliminated

Hezbollah says son of the chairman of the group's faction in the Lebanese parliament and four others eliminated in Israeli strike.

Amb. Erdan:

'UN Women maliciously disregards Hamas rape and murder'

Israeli Ambassador to the UN lambasts UN agencies at Security Council for deliberately ignoring Hamas crimes against women and humanity.

Talent agency UTA drops Susan Sarandon over antisemitic rant

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon claimed at an anti-Israel rally that Jews fearing antisemitism are 'getting a taste' of Muslim life.

Netanyahu:

'War will continue until Gaza is no longer a threat to Israel'

Prime Minister Netanyah addressed the press on Wednesday regarding the deal to release some of the hostages from Hamas captivity.

Simon Wiesenthal Center:

'Tragically, hostage deal gives Hamas a lifeline'

Simon Wiesenthal Center says it is relieved to see dozens of hostages released, but Hamas must be 'removed permanently' for peace to exist.

IDF Spokesperson:

'The coming days may include psychological terrorism'

IDF Spokesman Hagari asked the public to refrain from spreading baseless news.

Due to prisoner swap:

Terrorist will return to live next door to her victim

The terrorist who stabbed Moriah Cohen in front of her children will be released as part of the deal to release the hostages.

Diplomatic source:

Hostages' families will be told only when the release happens

Israeli source explains why families will not be informed ahead of time that their loved ones are being released by Hamas.

Watch:

IDF soldiers in the terror tunnel complex at Shifa Hospital

IDF explores dozens of meters of a tunnel system that passes under the Qatari Building in the hospital complex.

Defense Minister Gallant:

'Even during the ceasefire, troops will recive intelligence'

Minister Gallant said that thanks to exact intelligence the troops on the ground know what to do and the enemy is in distress.

Watch:

IDF demolishes Hamas military intelligence building

Soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade raided Hamas' military intelligence offices and an outpost and located drone manufacturing workshops.

Staff Sergeant Eitan Dov Rosenzweig fell in battle in Gaza

Staff Sergeant Eitan Dov Rosenzweig, 21, from Alon Shvut, was a student at the Yeruham Hesder Yeshiva.

Smotrich's condition for supporting hostage deal

After voicing opposition, the Religious Zionism party voted in favor of the hostage deal thanks to a clause added to the Cabinet decision.

Mossad Director in Qatar ahead of hostage deal

Director David Barnea traveled to the country ahead of the deal which will see Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity.

Watch:

IDF raids Hamas HQ in luxury Gaza neighborhood

IDF forces found tunnel shafts, a scaled-down model of an IDF armored vehicle, and weapons used on October 7th.

First Lady:

'Women's orgs silence in face of Hamas mass rape a betrayal'

First Lady Michal Herzog expresses shock and anger at international, UN women's organizations for completely ignoring Hamas' mass rapes.