Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 89?

The United States does not have any reason to believe that Israel assassinated Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington on Wednesday, as he also clarified that his country had nothing to do with the killing.

“The US was not involved in any way and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous,” Miller said. “We have no reason to believe that Israel was involved in this explosion,” he stressed.

Hamas hostage Sahar Baruch, 25, was killed on December 8 in connection with an IDF rescue attempt, the military revealed Wednesday.

The IDF neither confirmed nor denied whether he was killed by the IDF or during the rescue attempt itself.

A large amount of evidence has been collected as part of the IDF's ongoing military campaign against Hamas in Gaza proving the indoctrination of children from a young age to hate Israel and Jews, as well as theoretical and practical military training.

The IDF published on Wednesday collated photos and videos showing children undergoing military training, posing with weapons, and even simulated drills in a mock tunnel.   

As Israel transitions from "stage 2" of the war against Hamas to the longer "stage 3", experts warn that a reduction in the intensity of Israel's campaign could allow the terror organization to rebuild itself militarily in Gaza.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project, American organizations analyzing the IDF's war in Gaza, released an update to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War on Tuesday, stating that "Israeli forces are transitioning to the third phase of their operations in the northern Gaza Strip, which will very likely enable Hamas to reconstitute itself militarily. 

An anti-tank missile landed in the area of Kibbutz Malkia in the Upper Galilee on Wednesday close to the Lebanese border. The missile damaged the electrical grid of the kibbutz, which is currently without electricity. 

No injuries were reported. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Turkey on Saturday to discuss bilateral and regional issues, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters, state broadcaster TRT reported on Wednesday.

Blinken is set to arrive in Israel on Saturday.

"R.",  a 21-year-old IDF combat soldier serving in Gaza a few weeks ago, was hit by an anti-tank, rocket-propelled grenade launcher, causing blast wounds that shattered his ceramic protective vest leading to penetrating wounds in his back and chest. 

Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah announced the deaths of two terrorists on Wednesday as the IDF conducted further air strikes against the organization. Abbas Hassan Jamul, from the town of Deir al-Zahrani, and Muhammad Hadi Malek Abid, from Baalbekin, were described as "martyrs on the way to Jerusalem," a description Hezbollah uses for terrorists who are killed in action against Israel. 

The terror group claims that since the beginning of hostilities between Israel and Hamas after the October 7 massacres, some 140 terrorists have been killed. Israel estimates that figure to be much higher. 

The IDF stated on Wednesday afternoon that it is continuing to target Hezbollah infrastructure with airstrikes, and IDF artillery attacked a group of terrorists attempting to launch rockets into Israel. 

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told a delegation from US Congress that the current priority is to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a presidency statement on Wednesday.

Sisi stressed the importance of "responsible action" to avoid widening the conflict in the region, the statement added.

Egypt and Qatar have been mediating between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group whose deadly rampage into Israeli towns on Oct. 7 triggered the current war.

Two explosions killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens near a cemetery in Iran where a ceremony was being held to mark the 2020 death of the country's top commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.

Iranian state television reported a first and then a second explosion during the ceremony in the southeastern city of Kerman, saying at least 20 people had been killed.

The semi-official Nournews said "several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery." A local official was quoted by Iranian state media as saying "It is not yet clear whether the explosions were caused by gas cylinders or a terrorist attack."

State TV showed Red Crescent rescuers attending to wounded people at the ceremony, where hundreds of Iranians had gathered to mark the anniversary of Soleimani's death. Some Iranian news agencies said at least 50 people were wounded.

"Our rapid response teams are evacuating the injured... But there are waves of crowds blocking roads," Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman province Red Crescent told state TV.

This is a developing story.