BICOM

The south: Israeli forces continue operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Israel attacked a Hamas military site in Gaza City’s Shati camp. Initial reports suggest that target of the strike – Hamas commander Raed Saad – had been killed. This remains unconfirmed, however.

• In a separate strike, Israel confirmed the killing of Muhammad Salah, a senior Hamas operative responsible for weapons development.
• Israel announced the death of Sgt. First Class (res.) Malkia Gross, 25, of the 205th “Iron Fist” Reserve Armoured Brigade’s 9212th Battalion, who died fighting in the southern Strip on Saturday.
• On Friday, the IDF killed two Hamas fighters operating along the Humanitarian Route from the Kerem Shalom Crossing into the Gaza Strip, close to humanitarian workers from the UN’s World Food Programme. “The gunmen were not in close proximity to the UN team during the strike,” the IDF said. “We emphasise that the UN workers were not the target of the operation and they were not harmed during the strike.”
• A separate strike was reported on Friday in the al-Mawasi area, which the International Red Cross said killed 22 people and damaged its offices. In response, the IDF said that “following an initial inquiry, there was no direct attack carried out by the IDF against a Red Cross facility. The incident will be quickly examined and its findings will be presented to our international partners.”
• “Intelligence-based, targeted operations” also continue in Rafah, the IDF’s primary are of operations, where the IDF said it uncovered weaponry, alongside tunnel shafts and underground terrorist infrastructure.
• In the city’s Tel Sultan neighbourhood, troops demolished a Hamas training complex and raided the offices of senior Hamas figures.
• On Sunday, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters were targeted in buildings which previously served as UNRWA headquarters.

The north: On Saturday, the IDF reported that “An IAF aircraft conducted a precise strike in the Beqaa area in Lebanon in order to eliminate the terrorist Ayman Ratma, a central terror operative responsible for weapons supplies for the Hamas and Jamaa Islamiya terrorist organizations in Lebanon, as well as the development of terrorist infrastructure in the area… Ratma was eliminated due to his involvement in the promotion and execution of terrorist activities against Israel in the immediate future, as well as his involvement in advancing terrorist activity against Israeli civilians.”

• Two IDF reservists were injured yesterday, one lightly and one severely, in a Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack on Metula.
• Also over the weekend, a UAV crossed from Lebanon and fell in the area of Beit Hillel, with no injuries were reported. During the incident, an interceptor was launched toward the UAV, sounding rocket and missile sirens due to the possibility of falling shrapnel.
• On Saturday evening, the IDF said “IAF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah military structure and observation post in the area of Kfarkela. Additionally, a Hezbollah terrorist cell which had been identified by IDF troops was struck in the area of Taybeh.”
• The UK’s Daily Telegraph has meanwhile alleged that Hezbollah is using Beirut’s international airport to store weapons, including ballistic missiles, unguided artillery rockets, and laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles. Lebanese authorities have denied the accusations.

Context: After 261 days of war, and with 120 hostages remaining in Gaza (with an unknown number alive), Netanyahu remains adamant that although Israel is willing to do a partial deal for the return of some hostages, Israel will not agree to a deal explicitly providing for Hamas to remain in power. He continues to insist that the Israeli objective remains the full defeat of Hamas as a governing entity.

• Of the war in Gaza, Netanyahu said that “the high-intensity stage of the war is going to end. That is going to happen very soon,” he said.
• Netanyahu’s attitude to a hostage deal once more resulted in criticism from hostage families. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said “we strongly condemn the prime minister’s statement in which he walked back from the Israeli proposal. This means he is abandoning 120 hostages and breaching the moral duty of the State of Israel to its citizens.”
• Netanyahu’s appearance on Channel 14 this weekend was his first Hebrew language TV interview since October 7th. He has previously faced criticism for failing to answer Israeli media questions and for preferring to engage with US networks. He also faced criticism for choosing to speak to Channel 14, widely considered a right-wing, partisan network.
• At one stage in the interview, Netanyahu was asked about the prospect of Israeli resettlement of parts of Gaza, a move supported by some on the ideological right. The question prompted cheers from the studio audience, though Netanyahu rejected the idea. “Settlement in Gaza is unrealistic and does not help achieve the war aims,” he said.
• Saad is considered the fourth-highest-ranking official in Hamas’s military wing, where he served as the chief operations officer who was tasked with building the wing’s military capabilities, and as the commander of its Gaza City Brigade.
• If confirmed, he would represent the most senior Hamas commander killed in several months, since the killing of Marwan Issa, deputy commander of the group’s military wing, in March. Saad was thought to have been present when Israel raided Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital in March but managed to flee.
• Gross’s death brings the total number of IDF troops killed since October 7^th to 665. Of them, 314 have been killed since the beginning of the ground invasion of Gaza.
• Of the use of UNWRA facilities, the IDF said that “this is another example of Hamas’ systematic exploitation of civilian infrastructure and the civilian population as a human shield for its terrorist activities.”

Looking ahead: Defence Minister Gallant began a US trip yesterday. Today he will meet with counterparts to discuss the southern and northern fronts. As he left Israel, he said “our ties with the United States are more important than ever. Our meetings with U.S. officials are critical to this war.”

• Netanyahu is anticipated to visit the US and address both Houses of Congress in late July