Israel-Hamas War: What happened on Day 169?

A number of anti-tank missiles were fired at the Ramim ridge, near the border of Lebanon, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

As of now, there are no reported injuries or casualties.

This is a developing story.

The United Nations is "once again" deceiving the world by blaming Israel for logistical issues that are impeding humanitarian aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said on Sunday in a post on X on Sunday.

"Again, the UN is deceiving. These trucks are awaiting inspection in Egypt and haven't reached Israeli crossings. The UN must scale up logistics and stop blaming Israel for its own failures. Btw, 142 aid trucks are still waiting for pick up by the UN on the Gazan side of KS," COGAT wrote on X.

This comes as a response to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's visit to the Gaza border on the Egyptian side, where he stated, "Today I saw long lines of blocked relief trucks waiting to be let into Gaza. It’s time to flood Gaza with life-saving aid. The choice is clear: surge or starvation. Let’s choose the side of help, the side of hope, and the right side of history. I will not give up."

Israeli security forces captured in broad daylight a senior Hamas terrorist in the Palestinian West Bank town of El-Bireh, near Ramallah, Israel Police said Sunday.

The arrest of the suspect, who previously served time in Israeli prison for a number of terrorist attacks, took place during the weekend.

בפעילות משותפת של יחידת הגדעונים 33, שירות הבטחון הכללי וצה"ל נעצר בסוף השבוע מבוקש בגין מעורבותו בפעילות טרור בכפר אל בירה שבאזור רמאללה. העצור נחשב לפעיל חמאס בכיר אשר ריצה מספר שנות מאסר בכלא הישראלי על פעולות טרור שונות pic.twitter.com/Zxb4nPprYX

— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) March 24, 2024

This is a developing story.

The IDF on Sunday denied that it was involved in an operation against two hospitals in Khan Yunis, despite Palestinian reports.

Rather, the IDF acknowledged that it was fighting terrorists near the hospitals and said it was not impossible that some indirect impact was affecting the hospitals.

Critically, the IDF said that there was also no plan to attack the hospitals later Sunday, the way it has gone after terrorists for more than a week at Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza.

Earlier Sunday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said that Israeli forces were besieging two more Gaza hospitals on Sunday, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire,

The Palestinian Red Crescent said one of its staff was killed when Israeli tanks suddenly pushed back into areas around Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis amid heavy bombardment and gunfire.

It was unclear where this occurred or whether it was connected to an ongoing fight between Israel and Hamas.

A targeted strike was carried out on a vehicle in Beqaa in eastern Lebanon, Israeli media reported on Sunday, citing Lebanese sources.

Later, Israeli media, citing Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya, reported that two people were killed in the attack.

This is a developing story.

Israel has taken a step forward in the hostage deal negotiations by accepting some key elements in the Paris deal, an Israeli source was cited by N12 as saying on Sunday. 

The source added that a discussion had begun on the return of residents to the northern Gaza Strip as part of the deal.

Senior officials of the Israeli delegation who have returned to Israel will return to Qatar if they receive from Hamas a positive answer, the source concluded.

Troops of the 7th Brigade and Kfir Brigade operated in the north of Khan Yunis in the 'Al Karara' area, the military announced on Sunday. 

The forces found several Hamas terror infrastructures and weapons, killed terrorists at close range via tank fire, and thwarted a threat close to the fence. 

Additionally, a combat helicopter attacked and destroyed a weapons warehouse and underground infrastructure underneath it.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that he would oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bill to prolong the haredi exemption from IDF and national service.

Just as he was about to fly out to the US for meetings with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan about the Gaza war, he gave a parting shot to the prime minister.

While his main criticism was and has been against Netanyahu and the haredim, he did also press National Unity party leader Benny Gantz to show some more flexibility.

Netanyahu has been rumored to be ready to extend the haredi exemption from IDF and national service in practice while trying to make some symbolic gesture toward greater service.

IDF and Shin Bet forces continued targeted operations in the area of the Shifa hospital, the military said on Sunday.

Troops of the 401st and Shayetet 13 under the command of the 162nd Division continued fighting in the area while avoiding harming civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment, the IDF added.

The fighters arrested some 480 terrorists affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 

In addition, in the area of the hospital, forces found weapons and terror infrastructure.

Two additional Hamas officials were arrested by IDF troops at Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip, according to a Sunday Kan News report. 

The two are Hisham Tzarzur, Chairman of the east Gaza district in Hamas's Emergency Committee, and Diab Tatar, a senior member of the south Gaza district emergency committees.