News Digest — 3/5/25
Report: Senior Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander Killed In Israeli Drone Strike
An Israeli official confirmed that a senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force was killed on Tuesday (4th) when a drone targeted a vehicle in Rashkenani, near the southern Lebanon city of Tyre. Footage published by Lebanese media showed the vehicle engulfed in flames after the strike.
Hours earlier, Israeli forces identified a suspect approaching them near the Philadelphi Corridor in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, the suspect posed an immediate threat and was shot and killed. Intense gunfire was also heard from military vehicles in the Rafah Tel al-Sultan neighborhood.
The incidents came amid heightened tensions over a possible resumption of fighting, following the end of the ceasefire, the halt of humanitarian aid deliveries, and Hamas’ rejection of an extended deal mediated by the U.S. “We will continue to act against any threat to Israeli civilians and forces,” the IDF said.
On Monday (3rd), the IDF targeted a suspicious motorboat off the coast of northern Khan Yunis and fired at two individuals moving toward troops in southern Gaza. The IDF said that it had fired warning shots before striking the motorboat and confirmed that the two individuals in southern Gaza posed an immediate threat. Palestinian media reported three injuries from a helicopter strike in the Khan Yunis Mawasi area and two fatalities from a drone strike on an UNRWA building in central Rafah.
Meanwhile, incoming IDF Chief of Staff MG Eyal Zamir–who will officially take over from LG Herzi Halevi on Wednesday (5th), has been conducting visits across combat zones to assess military readiness.
According to the IDF, Zamir held situational assessments in Gaza, Jenin, and Lebanon, discussing attack plans with commanders in preparation for further operations.
Israel: Hamas Has ‘A Few Days’ To Agree To Extended Truce
The Hamas terror organization only has “a few days” to agree to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire extension, an Israeli government spokesman confirmed on Tuesday (4th).
“If they don’t, the Cabinet will convene and decide on the next steps,” Omer Dostri, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman, told Army Radio.
The Security Cabinet, which is responsible for defense-related decisions and composed of senior ministers, is scheduled to meet on Sunday (9th) at 4 p.m., the Ynet outlet reported on Tuesday (4th), noting that the forum would convene only after MG Eyal Zamir was sworn in as the 24th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Jerusalem is developing a plan to resume the war in the Strip in four to six weeks in a decisive campaign to wipe out Hamas, The Washington Free Beacon reported on Friday (2/28), citing several current and former Israeli officials.
Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed Zamir to develop the plan, which is projected for completion when he enters office on Thursday (6th), according to the report.
The plan is to conquer the entire Gaza Strip in one fell swoop with more than 50,000 soldiers, relocating the civilian population to humanitarian zones and waging a “ruthless ground campaign” in terrorist-heavy areas that will receive no humanitarian aid, according to the Beacon.
The campaign is to commence with a heavy aerial assault, followed by a reduction of aid entering the Strip. IDF divisions would simultaneously enter the Strip in the north, center and south, carving it into three parts.
The campaign could be paused if the Hamas leadership agrees to free captives, or if it disarms and goes into exile, the report added.
Israeli assessments indicate that Palestinian terrorist groups in the Strip are still holding 59 hostages. Of these, 24 are believed to be alive–all men–while 35, including three women, are believed to be deceased. Two of the living hostages and three of the deceased are foreign nationals.
Phase 1 of the ceasefire, which went into effect on January 19, formally expired at midnight on Saturday (1st).
Jerusalem subsequently announced it had suspended all humanitarian aid after Hamas rejected U.S. Mideast envoy Witkoff’s plan to extend the temporary ceasefire deal during the Ramadan and Passover period.
“Saturday (1st) was the last day of the first phase of the framework for the release of our hostages. Israel has fully implemented its part, including the part of humanitarian aid, fully and down to the last day,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told international media on Tuesday (4th).
He noted that Israel had agreed to the U.S. bridging proposal, but that “unfortunately, Hamas rejected the offer. Accordingly, Israel stopped enabling the entry of aid into Gaza.”
Any aid that ends up in the hands of Hamas “is not humanitarian,” charged the foreign minister. “Unfortunately, Hamas’ takeover of goods turned it into an economic engine for them. It became the number one budget income for Hamas in Gaza. They use the money for terror, to restore terror capabilities and get more young terrorists to join their organization.”
Not content with appropriating the aid, “They are shooting the civilians who try to get access to the aid. They use it as an engine in their war against Israel,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat added, declaring: “This can not continue and will not continue.”
Israel Throws Off The Shackles – Editorial
The six-week Gaza ceasefire ended on Saturday (1st). Israel didn’t return to war Sunday (2nd), meaning Hamas is getting free days of quiet without releasing more hostages. But the U.S, and Israeli pressure is increasing. In Phase One Israel ransomed 33 hostages for nearly 2,000 terrorists and security prisoners, and withdrew from most of Gaza. The deal’s terms, affirmed by the U.S., give Israel the right to resume fighting.
Israel backed the proposal of Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to keep trading terrorists for hostages, and at a faster pace, without the strategic concessions of phase two. Hamas rejected it. It is down to 59 hostages, including as many as two dozen of them alive.
To prompt Hamas to reconsider, Prime Minister Netanyahu has chosen an intermediate step. “In light of Hamas’ refusal to accept the Witkoff outline,” he said Sunday (2nd), “We have decided to prevent any entry of goods and supplies into Gaza.”
This is what President Biden promised at the start of the war. On October 18, 2023, Mr. Biden said aid would enter Gaza “based on the understanding that there will be inspections and that the aid should go to civilians, not to Hamas. Let me be clear, If Hamas diverts or steals the assistance, they will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people, and it will end.”
Yet Mr. Biden sanctioned an Israeli protest group that opposed the aid, and kept pressuring Israel to send more, no matter how much Hamas stole. This let Hamas control Gaza’s people despite its losses. An Israeli siege means time is no longer on Hamas’ side. Israel flooded Gaza with aid during the deal, and it estimates Gaza is stocked for several months. The determination to cut off Hamas’ supply and control of new aid is a signal that Israel will no longer play with one arm tied behind its back. (Wall Street Journal)
(wsj.com)
White House Welcomes Arab Input On Gaza Reconstruction But Stresses ‘Hamas Must Go’
The White House said on Tuesday (4th) it welcomes “input” from Arab nations who backed an Egyptian plan to reconstruct the Gaza Strip that does not require relocating its residents, as US President Donald Trump has proposed.
At the same time, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes stressed that Washington insists that Hamas cannot remain in power.
“President Trump has been clear that Hamas cannot continue to govern Gaza,” said Hughes, adding, “While the president stands by his bold vision for a post-war Gaza, he welcomes input from our Arab partners in the region. It’s clear his proposals have driven the region to come to the table rather than allow this issue to evolve into further crisis.”
Hughes’ comments came after Arab leaders endorsed the Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza at an estimated cost of $53 billion.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced at the conclusion of a summit in Cairo that the proposal had been adopted.
For nearly a month, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states have been consulting on an alternative to Trump’s proposal, which they rejected due to the fact that it involves relocating Gazans to neighboring countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the United States is open to hearing new proposals from Arab nations regarding Gaza.
“Hopefully they’re going to have a really good plan to present to the president,” Rubio said, referring to Arab nations.
Lebanese Army Infiltrated By Hezbollah Loyalists – Shachar Kleiman
A new report by the Alma Research and Education Center warns of the increasing “Shiitization” and cooperation with Hezbollah by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed in southern Lebanon, raising questions about the forces ability to enforce the ceasefire agreement.
Maj. (res.) Tal Beeri, head of the research department at the Alma Center, says “Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says what the Americans want him to say, but in the end there is reality, and unfortunately right now it shows other things. I don’t see that the LAF is not trying in some part to do its job, but in the end, there are processes and figures that cause it to be unable to perform its tasks.”
There is a trend of Shiitization in the LAF, in light of the cessation of mandatory conscription and natural demographic changes in the population, with a downward trend in the recruitment of young Christians and an upward trend of young Shiites. There may already be a Shiite majority in the LAF. “Commanders, officers, and other soldiers, mainly Shiites, are cooperating with Hezbollah, and allowing it to operate freely and bypass international agreements, for example, UN Resolution 1701.” The Shiitization of the LAF neutralizes its ability to serve as a counterweight to the pro-Iranian Hezbollah.
“The family ties between Hezbollah operatives and LAF soldiers increase the likelihood that Hezbollah will exploit the LAF, especially in southern Lebanon, as a supporting platform, human shield, or even as a direct proxy force. This situation also facilitates the leakage of Western military knowledge and weapons to Hezbollah.” If the trend of Shiitization is not curbed, the LAF will eventually become, “at least in part, a proxy force of Hezbollah, or even merge with its military forces.”
In the past two decades, the U.S. has provided the LAF with aid worth $3 billion, including Humvees, armored personnel carriers, cannons, light drones, helicopters, light aircraft with attack capabilities, anti-tank missiles and launchers. Some Western equipment and weapons, including anti-tank missiles and surveillance equipment, have leaked to Hezbollah in the past and may continue to leak in the future.
“The assumption of the supporters of the LAF in the West that it can serve as a counterweight to Hezbollah is fundamentally mistaken. The assumption ignores the … cooperation of the LAF with Hezbollah during the last 18 years.”
Why Are There No Christians In Bethlehem? – Eness Elias
Systematic oppression of Christians has been carried out for decades by the Palestinian authorities in Judea and Samaria and in Gaza. “Terrorist attacks against Christians, assaults on churches, cemeteries, and Christian properties in the Palestinian Authority… have become daily occurrences, and their severity clearly intensifies during Christian holidays,” the Greek Orthodox Church recently declared.
Reports from Gaza describe attacks on Christians and Christian holy sites carried out by Hamas police.
The Palestinian authorities persecute the Christian population through systematic land confiscations via the Palestinian courts, extortion and seizure of Christian-owned businesses, and systematic discrimination against Christians in employment. Christians are excluded from leadership positions in the Palestinian Authority and face difficulties buying and selling land and property.
In 1950, Christians made up 86% of Bethlehem’s population. A 2017 census revealed that only 10% of Bethlehem’s residents were Christian. Hamas members occupy most of the seats on the city council. (Israel Hayom)
