Israel at war: What happened on day 26?

Israel's Shin Bet released footage on Wednesday of a Hamas terrorist describing his actions in the south of Israel during the October 7 massacre.

"The mission was simply to kill," said Hamas operative Omar Abu Rusha. "We weren't supposed to kidnap. Just kill."

 Jordan has told its ambassador to come back from Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

The ambassador would only return to Tel Aviv if Israel halted its war on the enclave and ended "the humanitarian crisis it has caused," the ministry added.

Israel's ambassador in Jordan, who left two weeks ago amid protests, would only be allowed to return on the same conditions, the ministry added.

Members of Knesset were shown the uncensored October 7 documentary on Wednesday that was put together by the IDF from terrorists' footage.

The movie was previously screened for Israeli and foreign journalists to show them the horrors of Hamas's attack.

Palestinian rescuers at the site of an overnight Israeli air strike on Gaza brushed away debris early on Wednesday to gradually reveal a motionless head and arm, the latest victim of a bombardment that has reportedly killed thousands.

As the rescuers scraped off more rubble, the rest of the body slowly emerged, a member of the Nasr family whose house in the southern city of Khan Younis was hit by bombing early on Wednesday, killing nine people according to residents.

Former defense minister Avigdor Liberman's warning in 2016 of a Hamas attack like Israel experienced on October 7 was dismissed immediately by the cabinet, he told Reshet Bet on Wednesday.

In December, 2016, Liberman handed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a document warning of a large-scale Hamas attack in Israel.

Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi-born Muslim immigrant to the United States, is running in the Republican Party primary election, hoping to clinch that party’s nomination to challenge Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District seat.

Fleeing Saddam Hussein’s regime, Al-Aqidi sought refuge in the United States in 1993 and has since become a distinguished journalist and activist. Over the years, she worked with various news outlets, including Voice of America and Al-Arabiya, and served as a media adviser to the US Department of Defense in Iraq.

After observing what she considers to be divisive rhetoric from Rep. Omar, Al-Aqidi decided to run for Congress, aiming to represent a politics of inclusion rather than division.

 The leader of Palestinian Islamist terrorist group Hamas said on Wednesday that Israeli hostages held in the besieged Gaza Strip were subject to the same "death and destruction" that Palestinians have faced.

Hamas has told mediators that it was necessary for the "massacre" to stop and called on people to continue protesting, particularly in the West, to mount pressure on decision makers, Ismail Haniyeh said in a recorded video message.

An aircraft, operated by Interdel Logistics USA, touched down at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday, carrying 80 tons of essential equipment for Israeli soldiers, amid the war with Hamas.

This generous donation, donated by one American Jew, who has asked to keep his anonymity, includes medical supplies, winter gear, thermal clothing, and more.

According to a press release on behalf of the company, Interdel Logistics played a crucial role in facilitating this significant contribution. Interdel Logistics was founded in 1986 and is part of the Alaluf Group.

The IDF attacked a terrorist squad that tried to launch anti-tank missiles at IDF soldiers on the Lebanese border, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced on Wednesday afternoon.

An IDF tank attacked a terrorist squad that was trying to launch anti-tank missiles from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory in the Zar’it area.

In addition, terrorists fired a short time ago from Lebanese territory toward Israeli territory in the Yiftah area, there were no casualties reported. 

Magen David Adom (MDA) has received three intensive-care vehicles and two advanced monitoring systems worth a total of $500,000 from the global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. 

"Through Eli Lilly-Israel and in cooperation with the Friends of MDA association in Israel, these vital donations will significantly strengthen MDA’s ambulance teams in the field which have been operating around the clock since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Equipped with improved life-saving medical equipment, the mobile intensive care units and monitors will improve readiness and efficiency in life-saving operations," MDA said. 

Eli Lilly-Israel’s director-general Roberta Marinelli, said that “in times of crisis, Eli Lilly stands firm in its dedication to the communities it serves. The donation embodies our goal to improve lives, by helping those who put themselves at the forefront of saving lives every day.”

Gratitude for Eli Lilly's support

The head of Friends of MDA in Israel, Orli Ariel, added that “Eli Lilly’s support in these difficult days greatly strengthens MDA’s abilities and the spirit of the teams in the field. We thank them for the quick and immediate mobilization for the generous and important support that is unparalleled at this time.”

MDA director-general Eli Bin commented, “We thank the Eli Lilly company for their commitment and cooperation, for their contribution in this complex time, which will help MDA teams to save lives throughout the country. The new intensive-care vehicles will help and strengthen our ability to treat and save the lives of the sick, the wounded, and the injured.” 

THE MDA response was quick and the ER care was state-of-the-art. However, the care on the floor after admission was not up to modern medical standards, says the writer. (credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90/ILLUSTRATIVE)

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Eli Lilly and Company has offices in 18 countries, and its products are sold in about 125 countries. It was founded in 1876 by, and named after, Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and veteran of the American Civil War.