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IDF strikes Hamas terrorists, Netanyahu says Israel will control Gaza

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
IDF operating in Khan Yunis.  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF operating in Khan Yunis.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Humanitarian aid enters Gaza as IDF escalates invasion, kills senior terrorist in Khan Yunis

Past Israeli estimates have said that 200-300 trucks of food per day would be needed over time to feed Gaza’s around 2.2 million Palestinians.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
 An Israeli soldier stands guard as a truck carrying humanitarian aid makes its way to the Gaza Strip at Erez Crossing in southern Israel, May 5, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
An Israeli soldier stands guard as a truck carrying humanitarian aid makes its way to the Gaza Strip at Erez Crossing in southern Israel, May 5, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

The IDF allowed humanitarian aid to start to enter Gaza on Monday after a two-and-a-half-month pause dating back to early March, at almost the same time that it significantly escalated the new invasion of five divisions into the Strip.

In addition, the IDF carried out a special operation in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza early Monday, which, among other things, led to the death of senior Palestinian terror operative Ahmad Sarhan.

Regarding humanitarian aid, reports indicated that only minimal aid, possibly as few as 20 trucks, had been entered by press time.

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Gazans call for Hamas removal, end of war, amid fleeing from Khan Yunis - report

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Thousands of Gazans evacuated Khan Yunis following a warning from the IDF earlier on Monday.

However, this triggered several spontaneous protests with dozens calling for an end to the war, according to local reports cited by Israeli media.

Protesters reportedly chanted anti-Hamas slogans, including "Stop the war and the expulsion," and "Hamas, out, out!" N12 reported.

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Several illegal structures demolished near site of Tzeela Gez's murder, IDF says

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The Civil Administration, in coordination with the IDF, demolished a four-story building and an additional construction site in the village of Bruchin on Monday, near the road where Tzeela Gez was murdered in a terrorist attack last week, the military said on Monday. 

Early Monday morning, officers from the Ephraim District Coordination and Liaison office, the Civil Administration’s inspection unit, and IDF troops from the Ephraim Brigade demolished several illegal structures along route 466.

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Negotiations in ‘critical hours’: Will Israel intensify war or head to a ceasefire? - analysis

Pressure mounts on Netanyahu to choose between ending the war and reaching a deal to free the hostages or escalating further.

By KEREN SETTON/THE MEDIA LINE
 IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. March 19, 2024. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. March 19, 2024.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

For over a year and a half, Israel has been fighting the Hamas terrorist organization. Massive amounts of explosives have been dropped on the Gaza Strip, all in response to a massive attack staged by Hamas that stunned Israel on October 7th, 2023, and catapulted the Jewish state into its longest war to date.

And now, long after the war began, reports over the weekend indicated that talks between the two rivals are in their “critical” hours. The latest push to reach a deal that would see a ceasefire and a partial release of Israeli hostages comes after Israeli warnings that it will ratchet up its attacks in Gaza to pressure Hamas.

It wasn’t the first time the talks had been labeled “critical” and on the brink of either collapse or success.

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'No aid will reach Hamas, only Gazan civilians,' Smotrich says after cabinet renews aid

"No aid will enter Hamas. Period. Anyone who says otherwise is simply lying," said Smotrich

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Palestinian trucks loaded with humanitarian aid cross into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, February 17, 2025 (photo credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)
Palestinian trucks loaded with humanitarian aid cross into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, February 17, 2025
(photo credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

"No aid will reach Hamas. Period. Anyone who says otherwise is simply lying," Religious Zionist Party chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said during a press conference on Monday. 

In his statement following the cabinet's decision to renew aid into Gaza later on Sunday night, Smotrich that that aid "will not reach Hamas.

"It will allow civilians to eat, our friends around the world to continue providing us with an international protection umbrella at the Security Council and The Hague, and us to keep fighting, God willing, until victory."

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Witkoff pressuring Israel, Hamas directly to agree to new hostage deal proposal - report

Netanyahu reportedly responded positively to the offer, but with reservations, while Hamas continues to demand guarantees for an end to the war.

By WALLA!
 Steve Witkoff seen on a background of Hamas terrorists and a protest sign featuring US President Donald Trump (illustrative) (photo credit: Israel Hadari/Flash90, REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)
Steve Witkoff seen on a background of Hamas terrorists and a protest sign featuring US President Donald Trump (illustrative)
(photo credit: Israel Hadari/Flash90, REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)

White House envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff delivered an updated proposal to Israel and Hamas a few days ago for a deal to release the remaining hostages and to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, and is putting pressure on both sides to accept it, according to a senior Israeli official and a separate source familiar with the details.

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Cabinet approves immediate return of humanitarian aid in Gaza without release of hostages

The decision was made without holding a vote, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other ministers being against the move.

By AMICHAI STEIN
 A UN staff member stands in front of humanitarian supplies for Gaza stored at Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses storing aid for Gaza, in the Egyptian border town of El-Arish, Egypt, April 8, 2025.  (photo credit: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER)
A UN staff member stands in front of humanitarian supplies for Gaza stored at Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses storing aid for Gaza, in the Egyptian border town of El-Arish, Egypt, April 8, 2025.
(photo credit: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER)

The Israeli security cabinet decided to allow the resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Sunday night.

The decision was made without holding a vote, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other ministers being against the move.

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'Every day, I receive negative messages': Former hostages face wave of online abuse after release

“We didn’t come to make political statements,” former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky said. “We just want our loved ones home.”

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Freed hostage Liri Albag speaks at a rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, April 5, 2025. (photo credit: Paulina Patimer)
Freed hostage Liri Albag speaks at a rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, April 5, 2025.
(photo credit: Paulina Patimer)

Former hostages have faced a wave of online abuse since returning home, N12 reported on Sunday.

According to the report, analysts have found that most of the hate is spread not by bots, but by real users, and that this phenomenon is growing.

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New WJC-Israel Region president warns against ‘another Obama-like Iran nuclear deal’

“If Iran refuses to eliminate its uranium enrichment, then Israel, together with the US, must end their nuclear program with a committed bombing campaign," said Adams.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 Sylvan Adams, the newly appointed president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC)-Israel Region and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on May 18, 2025 in Jerusalem.  (photo credit: SHAULI LENDNER)
Sylvan Adams, the newly appointed president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC)-Israel Region and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on May 18, 2025 in Jerusalem.
(photo credit: SHAULI LENDNER)

Sylvan Adams, the newly appointed president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) - Israel Region, warned on Sunday against renewed diplomatic appeasement of Iran’s nuclear program. Speaking at the opening gala of the WJC’s 17th Plenary Assembly in Jerusalem on Sunday, Adams called for Jewish unity, bold leadership, and decisive action.

The event at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem brought together more than 300 Jewish leaders and delegates from over 70 countries. It marked the start of the WJC’s highest decision-making forum and a new chapter in global Jewish advocacy, according to the organization.

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IDF increases pace of Gaza invasion, killing dozens of Hamas terrorists

The IDF said five Divisions were engaged, 670 targets were hit, and reports of 200 dead civilians may be correct.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
 IDF soldiers continue their ground operations in northern Gaza May 17, 2025 (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF soldiers continue their ground operations in northern Gaza May 17, 2025
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The IDF has increased the pace of its Gaza invasion over the weekend, expanding its operations in the enclave, killing dozens of Hamas terrorists, and striking 670 Hamas targets, it announced on Sunday.

IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin said on Sunday that five IDF divisions were operating in Gaza, which is the first time since late 2023 to early 2024 that such a large volume of soldiers is inside the enclave.

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Israel at war: What you need to know


  • Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
  • Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Supernova music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
  • 58 hostages remain in Gaza.
  • 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
  • The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
  • The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4 a.m.
  • Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on January 17, 2025.