Israel-Hamas Conflict: Bahrain PM Condemns Hamas Massacre In Israel, Calls For Hostages' Release

Rocket barrage reported near Gaza border

Local media is reporting a "large rocket barrage" toward Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gaza border communities Monday local time.

The news comes following a series of launches toward communities near Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Monday morning.

Bahrain PM calls for release of hostages

Bahrain's Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Monday called on Hamas to free the hostages they abducted on Oct. 7, calling the massacre and kidnapping of people "barbaric" and "horrific," as per The Times of Israel.

While he also condemned the Israeli air strikes that Gaza's health ministry said has killed thousands of people, many of them children, he noted that "I don't think any Arab leader has called on Hamas to release the hostages."

He further called on the international community to step up efforts in ending the war. "We're all here to end this war. I don't care who started it, I don't care who will end it. I care that we all work together to make sure that it ends as quickly as he possible," he said.

Rocket sirens sound near Lebanon border: local media

Rocket sirens are sounding in communities near Israel's border with Lebanon, local media reported. In particular, the sirens are sounding in Kiryat Shmona, Margaliot and Manara.

In the Kiryat Shmona area, at least three launches were intercepted amid a "heavy barrage from Lebanon," The Jerusalem Post reported.

The report comes amid mounting fears over the possible regional spillover of the Israel-Hamas war, especially after Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah warned against continued strikes targeting Gaza.

IDF has had 'very bad experiences' with Hamas regarding ceasefires: deputy chief of staff

The Israeli army has had "very bad experiences with terror organizations, especially with Hamas," deputy chief of staff of the IDF Maj. Gen. (Res.) Uzi Dayan told local i24 News of ceasefires.

When Israel agreed to a ceasefire in the past, Israel stopped firing but "they continue to fire," he said. On the other hand, he said that the IDF was willing to "make any arrangement in order to promote the release our hostages."

The IDF has learned "a very important lesson" through years of fighting against terrorists, Dayan noted, which is "to continue to put the pressure on terror organizations."

Senior Hamas member arrested: IDF

Tarek Abdullah Ahmed Salem, a "senior member" of Hamas, was arrested by Israeli forces Sunday night during raids in Judea, Samaria and Beqaa, the IDF said Monday.

More than 1,000 arrested individuals since Oct. 7 had links to Hamas: IDF

Around 1,100 wanted persons who were arrested since the war started were associated with Hamas, the IDF said Monday. They were among 1,850 wanted individuals arrested by Israeli authorities across Judea, Samaria and Beqaa, the Israeli army said.

Not time for terrorists' death penalty law: families of hostages to Israeli government

The families and loved ones of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip pled with the Israeli government not to advance a proposed bill that would allow for the death penalty for terrorists, local media reported.

The proposed legislation, which was put to the table by National Security minister Itamar Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, will only put the hostages' lives "in the balance," Gil Dikman, a cousin of one hostage taken by Hamas, said during the Knesset National Security Committee hearing, The Times of Israel reported Monday.

Another soldier falls in Gaza: IDF

Another Israeli soldier, 21-year-old Sgt. Eitan Dishon, has fallen in battle in northern Gaza, the IDF announced Friday. Dishon was a fighter with the Givati Brigade, one of two infantry brigades under the IDF's Southern Command.

Tunnel shaft within Al-Shifa complex 'arguably the most compelling evidence' so far about IDF's claims: CNN

CNN was allowed by the IDF to see the tunnel shaft it uncovered within the Al-Shifa Hospital's compound, and the news outlet said the discovery was "arguably the most compelling evidence thus far that the IDF has offered that there may be a network of tunnels below the hospital."

At the top of the tunnel shaft was a ladder hanging over the opening. The shaft "extended down farther than we could see," the CNN team revealed.

"It does not establish without a doubt that there is a command center under Gaza's largest hospital, but it is clear that there is a tunnel down below. Seeing what connects to that tunnel is absolutely critical," the outlet noted.

Heavy fighting around Indonesian Hospital: report

There is heavy fighting around the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza Monday morning local time as the IDF continues to hunt down terrorists it says are hiding within hospitals, the Associated Press reported.

The IDF has yet to confirm its ground offensive around the said hospital.

Israeli army reopens evacuation passage

The Israeli army has reopened an evacuation path for northern Gaza residents who want to flee the center of the Israel-Hamas war, according to IDF spokesperson for Arab media Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee. The IDF will also temporarily suspend military activities for several hours Friday "for humanitarian purposes in the western Rafah area."

Latvia's president in Israel for solidarity visit

Latvia's president Edgars Rinkēvičs visited Israel Friday and met with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog. The former said in a post on X that he expressed Latvia's "support and solidarity for the Israeli nation, its right to self-defense in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law."

Herzog also expressed his gratitude to the Latvian leader and the country's support for Israel's battle against Hamas.

Israeli forces strike Lebanon artillery fire bases

The IDF attacked "several locations with artillery fire in Lebanese territory" Monday morning, the Israeli army said in a Google-translated post on X. Several launches were later detected from Lebanon towards the following Israeli communities: Aramsha, Bar'am and Biranit.

In the Biranit area that was targeted by artillery fire from Lebanese territory, a fire broke out. Israeli troops and firefighters have since arrived on the scene. No casualties were reported as of writing.

Houthis seize Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi rebels said they seized an "Israeli" ship in the southern Red Sea Sunday. The Israeli government said the cargo ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated.

Data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) reveal that the ship, Galaxy Leader, is owned by a company registered under Ray Car Carriers, which is a unit of Tel Aviv-incorporated Ray Shipping, as per a Reuters report. Ray Car Carriers is based in the Isle of Man.

Japan has since confirmed that the Nippon Yusen-operated vessel was captured, adding that Tokyo was appealing to the Iran-backed militant group for the release of the ship and its crew.

Terrorists hiding in Gaza warehouse eliminated: IDF

A terrorist squad hiding in a warehouse in Gaza was eliminated by IDF forces with the Nahal Brigade's combat team, the IDF said Monday.

The Israeli army expanded its ground incursions into the Gaza Strip late in October and since then, Israeli forces have destroyed multiple Hamas infrastructure and assets.

Rocket sirens sound near Gaza border: local media

Rocket sirens are sounding in three Gaza border communities, local media reported Monday. The rocket alerts were reported in Erez, Yad Mordechai and Netiv Ha'asara. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

3 Hamas commanders killed in Israeli air strikes: IDF

Three Hamas company commanders were killed in Israeli air strikes, the IDF said Monday. The jet fighters were guided by intelligence from Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate (Amman) and Israeli security agency Shin Bet.

19-year-old female soldier 'murdered' by Hamas at Al-Shifa: IDF

Cpl. Noa Marciano, 19, who was among more than 200 people abducted during the Oct. 7 attack of Hamas in Israel, was "murdered" by Hamas at the Al-Shifa Hospital, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said during a briefing early Monday.

Hamas had claimed that Marciano was killed in an Israeli air strike, but Hagari said Marciano was "taken into Gaza alive" and was held hostage by the militant group in Gaza City, "next to the Shifa hospital."

An air strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) "injured Marciano" and killed her captor. "An independent pathological report has determined [that] Noa's injuries were not life threatening," Hagari explained.

As per "concrete intelligence" obtained by the IDF, Marciano was taken by Hamas terrorists "into Shifa hospital, where she was murdered quickly," Hagari said. "Hamas murdered Noa inside Shifa Hospital," he reiterated.

The IDF said late last week that Israeli troops found and recovered Marciano's body in a facility "adjacent" to the Al-Shifa Hospital. Her remains have since been brought back to Israel.

4 more Israeli soldiers die in Gaza

Four more Israeli soldiers have died in ground battles against Hamas in Gaza, the IDF announced on its tribute page for fallen fighters Monday.

• Lt. Adir Portugal, 23 – officer in the Shaked Battalion, Givati Brigade
• Sgt. Yanon Tamir, 20 – 890^th Battalion, Paratroopers Brigade
• Sgt. Dvir Barzani, 20 – 890^th Battalion, Parachute Brigade
• Sgt. Gal Mishalof, 21 – Saber Battalion, Givati Brigade

Hamas brought 2 hostages to Al-Shifa Hospital on Oct. 7: IDF

The IDF released CCTV footage and images of what it says was proof Hamas "used the Shifa Hospital complex" as a "terrorist infrastructure" during the Oct. 7 carnage in Israel.

The Israeli army said two hostages, "a Nepalese civilian and a Thai civilian" were abducted and brought to the hospital between 10:42 a.m. and 11:01 am local time on Oct. 7.

In the video, one of the hostages can be seen being dragged by multiple men into the hospital as medical staff follow behind the group. The other hostage can be seen lying on a hospital bed with blood on his hand and torso area. Multiple armed men surround the person on the hospital bed as medical staff approached to assist the injured.

Netanyahu slams Palestinian Authority's 'denial' of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack

The Palestinian Authority's Finance Ministry on Sunday denied that Hamas was responsible for the massacre of more than 300 attendees of the Re'im music festival on Oct. 7, adding that Israeli helicopters attacked civilians that day, causing "great destruction."

Netanyahu clapped back later in the day, calling the Palestinian Authority's claims "preposterous."

"This is a complete reversal of the truth," the Israeli Prime Minister said, reiterating that his government's goal was to ensure that after Hamas is eliminated, "any future civil administration in Gaza does not deny the massacre, does not educate its children to become terrorists ... that's not acceptable and that is not the way to achieve peace."

55-meter-long tunnel found beneath Al-Shifa Hospital: IDF

A "significant 55-meter-long terrorist tunnel, 10 meters under the Shifa Hospital complex" was unearthed by Israeli ground forces, the IDF said late Sunday.

It further said that the entrance to the tunnel had "various defense mechanisms," such as a firing hole and a bomb-proof door. "For weeks we've been telling the world about Hamas' cynical use of the residents of the Gaza [Strip] and patients of Shifa Hospital as human shields. Here is more proof," the IDF added.

It published two videos that it said showed how the tunnel was hidden within the hospital complex. In one video, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the tunnel shaft was found "in a sheltered area inside the hospital, under a car that was full of weapons, ready for forces that came near the hospital."

'Only way' to peace is a two-state solution: European Commission president

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said Sunday that "the cycle of violence needs to be broken" in the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict. "A two-state solution is the only way to achieve peace," she wrote on X.

Her comments came amid increasing violence in the occupied West Bank. Biden also wrote in a Washington Post op-ed Saturday that a two-state solution "is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people."

Newborn babies in 'extremely critical condition' evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital

A total of 31 premature babies who were in "extremely critical condition" were safely transported out of the Al-Shifa Hospital and are expected to be moved to Egypt. More than 250 other patients with urgent conditions, some with severely infected wounds, are still stranded at the hospital, the Associated Press reported.

The Israeli army entered the Al-Shifa Hospital last week as it hunts down Hamas terrorists it said have been using an underground tunnel complex beneath the hospital as a command node.

The IDF said it has offered to help with evacuations and delivered medical supplies and other equipment such as incubators to the hospital.

Biden rejects ceasefire again, reiterates importance of ending war 'forever'

Biden reiterated his stance regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, once again rejecting calls for a total ceasefire. "As long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, a cease-fire is not peace," the U.S. president wrote in a Washington Post op-ed published Saturday.

He has repeatedly said Israel had the right to defend itself following the massacre of more than 1,400 Israelis and other foreigners on Oct. 7. He has also expressed support for humanitarian pauses in the fighting but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.

"Our goal should not be simply to stop the war for today – it should be to end the war forever, break the cycle of unceasing violence, and build something stronger in Gaza and across the Middle East so that history does not keep repeating itself," he wrote.

Possible hostage deal seeks four- to five-day ceasefire: sources

A recent draft of a potential agreement regarding hostages proposes a four- to five-day ceasefire in the fighting in exchange for the release of 50 hostages, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the negotiations.

The latest discussions proposed that a significant number of hostages be released initially before gradually moving to a "staggered" manner of freeing the captives, the sources said. Israel has proposed a list of around 100 civilian hostages that it wants to be included in the agreement, one source told the outlet.

Hamas has reportedly indicated that it was willing to free 50 hostages in exchange of a multiday ceasefire, the report added.

Aside from a ceasefire, Hamas has requested 500 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip daily, one source revealed. Another said no deal has been struck regarding aid trucks, but agreeing to the entry of more than 200 trucks was "logistically challenging." Israel has also repeatedly expressed concerns that Hamas may take the aid meant for civilians.