IDF soldiers foil attempted stabbing near Jewish community
A Palestinian terrorist armed with a knife attempted to infiltrate the Elias Gate entrance of Kiryat Arba near Hebron early Saturday morning, but was swiftly neutralized by precise IDF gunfire. No Israeli forces were harmed in the incident. According to the IDF, the suspect was taken for interrogation, and the road that had been temporarily closed was reopened shortly after.
Dozens of humanitarian aid trucks looted in southern Gaza
At least 24 trucks carrying flour were looted within minutes in the early hours of the morning along the coastal road between Khan Younis and Rafah. Videos shared online showed dozens of civilians fleeing with sacks on their backs. The IDF reported that six armed men who opened fire to prevent the delivery of aid to the population were killed by Israeli forces escorting the convoy. Aid operations were temporarily slowed pending a new situational assessment.
Meanwhile, the Paratroopers Brigade joined the 98th Division in central Khan Younis over the weekend, finalizing the deployment of all regular IDF infantry brigades in the Gaza Strip. In the armored corps, Brigades 401 and 7 are operating under Divisions 252 and 143, continuing combat operations in both northern and southern Gaza. The Golani Brigade is engaged in fighting in the Jenina neighborhood of Rafah, and the Nahal Brigade has been moved from the West Bank into Gaza in preparation for expanded operations by Division 162.
Mass robocall campaign spreads fear across Israel
Thousands of Israelis received disturbing calls Saturday evening from unidentified numbers. The calls featured recorded messages of hostages pleading for help, accompanied by sirens and explosion sounds. Israel’s National Cyber Directorate labeled the campaign a psychological operation aimed at spreading panic and confirmed a joint investigation with Israeli police.
Hamas admits internal collapse
For the first time since the war began, Hamas sources acknowledged in a statement to the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat that the organization is facing its most severe financial, security, and administrative crisis to date. According to the report, government employees in Gaza have received only about 900 shekels total over four months, while fighters in Hamas’s military wing have not been paid at all.
Other reports point to an acute cash shortage following successful Israeli operations against Hamas financing cells and increasing restrictions on aid, leading even senior officials within the terror group to suffer pay cuts.
Possible breakthrough in Elizabeth Tsurkov hostage case?
Iraqi news channel Al-Rabaa and Reuters reports from London cited initial understandings regarding the possible release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in exchange for seven detainees linked to Iran. The reports claim the breakthrough followed U.S. pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani. Asharq Al-Awsat added that a senior Iraqi official coordinated deal details with White House representatives, with implementation expected within a week to ten days.
However, journalist Barak Ravid quoted a senior U.S. administration official who refuted the claims, stating: “There is no breakthrough in the negotiations for her release in Iraq,” adding that, “the reports in the Arab media are incorrect.”
The official clarified that the U.S. is not considering the release of the Iranian detainee accused of murdering an American citizen—reportedly a key condition in the proposed exchange.
