Israel-Hamas Conflict: Communications Cut As Israeli Army Encircles Gaza's Jabalia, Advances Toward Hospital

Hostile aircraft from Lebanon located in Margaliot

A hostile aircraft that crossed over from Lebanese territory earlier Tuesday has been located by IDF troops in the Margaliot area in northern Israel, the IDF said.

IDF prohibits civilian movements in parts of Khan Yunis

The "movement of civilians through the Salah al-Din axis in the sections north and east" of Khan Yunis are prohibited, IDF spokesperson for Arab media Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee announced on X. Civilians will only be allowed to move in a bypass passage west of Khan Yunis, he added.

The IDF's notice comes amid reports that the Israeli army has encircled Khan Yunis, which is located in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes strike Hezbollah weapons facility in Lebanon: IDF spokesperson

Israeli fighter jets attacked several Hezbollah assets in Lebanese territory Tuesday, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a Google-translated post on X.

Among the targets that struck were military posts and weapons storage facilities, he said, adding that several launches were made from Lebanon toward northern Israel earlier in the day. The launches fell in open areas.

2 more Israeli soldiers fall in Gaza

Two IDF soldiers have fallen in battles against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced Tuesday.

• Capt. Yahal Gazit, 24 – deputy commander of a company in the 53^rd Battalion
• Maj. Gil Daniels, 34 – fighter in the patrol company of the 261^st Reserve Brigade

France sanctions Hamas top official: Reports

France has imposed sanctions on Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas' operations in Gaza, Arab media reported. Some Israeli outlets have also reported about the development.

The country previously ordered a ban on "pro-Palestinian demonstrations because they are likely to generate public order disturbances."

IDF reportedly encircles Khan Yunis

The Israeli army has "completed the encirclement of Khan Yunis", a city in southern Gaza, local N12 News reported. The IDF has yet to officially confirm the report after it confirmed earlier Tuesday that Israeli forces have encircled Jabalia in northern Gaza.

The report comes after the IDF announced Monday that it was expanding operations across the Gaza Strip.

Israeli army advances toward northern Gaza hospital: Journalists

Israeli troops are advancing toward the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, CNN reported, citing journalists within the complex who spoke to the outlet.

One journalist said the hospital has been surrounded by Israeli military tanks and there was "heavy" gunfire around the medical facility. Israeli tanks were reportedly "one block away" from the hospital as of Tuesday morning local time.

Israel has repeatedly said Hamas operatives use hospitals across the Gaza Strip as command nodes. The IDF previously entered Gaza's largest medical compound, Al-Shifa Hospital, where it uncovered a tunnel complex beneath the facility.

Yemeni locals report several explosions in capital: Israeli media

Locals in Yemen reported several explosions in the capital of Sana'a Monday evening, as per Israeli media. While the exact cause of the explosions is unclear, reports say four Houthi military sites in and around the Yemeni capital were attacked by five drones.

Israeli army raids 2 residences of Meir Tamari's attacker

Joint forces of the IDF, Israel's security services agency Shin Bet and the Israeli Border Police (MGB) raided two houses in Jenin, West Bank Monday night, the IDF said Tuesday.

The residences belonged to one of the people who attacked the late Meir Tamari, who was shot dead in May. He was a father of two.

Oct. 7 Hamas operatives carried hostage-taking guides: Report

Hamas planned its Oct. 7 invasion of Israel for years, and in the process drew up a "thorough map" as guided by intelligence from spies planted within Israel, The Guardian reported, citing an Israeli intelligence source.

Aside from a detailed map of Israel to help the militants move with ease during the attacks, Hamas operatives also carried hostage-taking guides that included the line "put your hands up and spread your legs", as per the report.

News about the language included in phrasebooks carried by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7 massacre come as the Israeli government calls for action from the United Nations regarding accounts of Hamas' sexual violence against women during the carnage.

Israeli troops encircle Jabalia

Israeli forces with the 162^nd Division are operating in the Jabalia region, the IDF said Tuesday morning local time. The IDF has encircled the area and destroyed Hamas infrastructure and strongholds.

Soldiers found rocket launchers and other weapons in civilian buildings in the area, the IDF said.

3 soldiers fall in Gaza: IDF

Three more Israeli soldiers have fallen in battles against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced Tuesday on its tribute page for fallen soldiers since the war started.

• Capt. Eitan Fish, 23 – combat armor officer in the 53^rd Battalion of the 188^th Brigade
• Staff Sgt. Toval Yaakov Tsanani, 20 – 53^rd Battalion of the 188^th Armored Brigade
• Sgt. Yakiridya Shinkolevsky, 21 – 53^rd Battalion of the 188^th Armored Brigade

Rocket sirens sound in Gaza border towns

Rocket sirens sounded in Gaza border communities Tuesday morning local time, multiple local outlets reported, as the Israeli army continues to exchange fire with Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas may be keeping remaining women hostage to silence them: US

U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said late Monday that it appears one reason why Hamas continues to hold several women hostage is "they don't want those women to be able to talk about what happened to them during their time in custody.

When the truce deal fell apart Friday, Israel said Hamas failed to produce another list of women and children hostages due for release that day.

17 women and children remain in Gaza: IDF

Of the 137 hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas, 17 are women and children, the IDF revealed Tuesday. "We have a moral obligation to continue to do everything to bring everyone home," the Israeli army said.

The news comes after the seven-day ceasefire deal that brought home dozens of hostages collapsed Friday. Israel said Hamas violated the agreement by failing to produce a new list of women and children hostages slated for release that day. The terror group also fired rockets into Israeli territory just minutes before the truce expired.

Biden administration wants 'revamped' Palestinian Authority to rule Gaza post war: Report

The White House under Biden wants to reinstate the Palestinian Authority's (PA) governance over Gaza after the war ends, Politico reported, citing a State Department official and a senior Biden administration official familiar with the discussions.

American officials acknowledge that giving back the Palestinian Authority its power over the strip was not the perfect solution but they view it as the best of several bad options for the territory, as per the report. What they see is a "revamped" PA to rebuild the enclave.

"There's a strong policy preference for the PA to play a governing role in Gaza, but it has significant legitimacy and capability challenges," the State Department official said.

Despite the challenges and potential strong opposition from the Israeli government, Washington wants "to have a Palestinian security structure in post-conflict Gaza," the official added.

According to an Israeli official, "both administrations agree that the PA in its current form cannot govern Gaza," and that "a revitalized, reformed one might be able to do it." But discussions have not reached the point of determining which reforms should be implemented, the official further said.

Israel strikes Hezbollah assets in Lebanon

Israeli fighter jets struck Hezbollah military assets in Lebanese territory early Tuesday after the Iran-backed terror group launched mortar bombs into Israel that injured three IDF soldiers Monday.

Israel denies WHO claims regarding warehouse evacuation

The Israeli government early Tuesday denied the WHO chief's claim that the organization received a notification from the IDF to remove supplies from the medical warehouse in southern Gaza within 24 hours.

"From a #UN official we would expect, at least, to be more accurate," Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) department wrote on X.

Netanyahu holds war cabinet meeting

The Israeli Prime Minister held a meeting with the war cabinet, which includes defense minister Yoav Gallant and minister without portfolio Benny Gantz.

The meeting came as Israeli troops continue to move into the southern Gaza Strip following weeks of targeted operations in the northern part of the enclave.

IDF completes assembly of large pumps for possible flooding of Hamas tunnels: Report

The Israeli army has completed assembling a system of large seawater pumps that it could use to flood Hamas tunnels under the Gaza Strip, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials.

However, there is concern that flooding tunnel complexes to drive Hamas fighters out of their underground shelters may threaten the enclave's water supply and damage infrastructure, as per the report.

Over 130 hostages remain in captivity

Israeli authorities said Monday that there are still 137 hostages being held in Gaza following the seven-day truce that led to the release of more than 100 abductees. They also revealed that an army colonel and seven civilians have died in captivity, as per Reuters.

The news comes as talks for another hostage-ceasefire deal "have stopped," the White House confirmed earlier Monday. Families of the remaining hostages have also demanded to meet with the Israeli cabinet as frustration builds about the fate of their loved ones held captive in Gaza.

Israel investigating claims investors had advance knowledge of Oct. 7 massacre

Israeli authorities are investigating claims made in a new study that some investors and traders had prior knowledge of Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks.

The new paper reveals that in the week before the massacre, there was a surge in short-selling for the MSCI Israel ETF and Israeli securities on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Read the full story here.

Gaza Strip under 'near-total internet blackout': Outage tracker

The Gaza Strip was plunged into a "near-total" communications blackout Monday night, internet outage tracker NetBlocks reported, adding that the blackout "impacts the telecoms backbone via Israel."

It is expected that most residents will experience "a total loss of communications" due to the outage. Gaza's telecommunications service provider Paltel has also announced that "all telecom services" in the enclave have been lost "due to the cut off of main fiber routes."

As of around 5 a.m. local time (10 p.m. Monday ET), outage trackers and local media have yet to provide updates about the communications issue.