Israel-Hamas Conflict: Israel Will Accept 'Reformed' Palestinian Authority; Hezbollah Threat Shutters Roads

ICRC sued by 4 freed hostages, families of 2 remaining captives

A group that includes four freed hostages and the families of two remaining captives in Gaza have filed a lawsuit at the Jerusalem District Court against the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), multiple outlets reported Friday.

The lawsuit alleged that the ICRC failed to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law. It also states that the organization should be mandated to visit the remaining hostages in Gaza, supply medication for the abductees, and provide information to their families regarding the captives' conditions.

Moshavs in northern Israel hit by anti-tank missiles: Local media

An anti-tank missiles fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon toward Israel hit the Dovev and Avivim communities. Three people sustained slight injuries in Moshav Avivim, as per Haaretz. Several vehicles also caught on fire due to the hit.

Sirens sound in Gaza border communities

Rocket alerts sounded in communities near Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, multiple outlets reported Thursday at around noon local time.

Proposed truce deal includes 10 Palestinian prisoners for 1 Israeli hostage exchange ratio: Report

A proposed ceasefire deal suggests that Israel free 10 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israeli hostage to be released by Hamas, the Lebanese news outlet al-Akhbar reported, citing Egyptian sources.

The outlet further reported that U.S. mediators informed Qatar they are pressuring Israel to agree to a longer truce than the previous seven-day ceasefire that fell apart earlier this month. One of the key points of disagreement between the warring sides is reportedly related to Israeli troops deployed within Gaza.

Over a dozen communities basically locked down over Hezbollah threat: Local media

The local council of Upper Galilee in northern Israel has "basically put at least 15 communities on lockdown" due to the ongoing threat from Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah.

Authorities have urged residents to stay "off the roads" as they shut down junctions in the area due to a "credible threat" specifically from southern Lebanon. The road closures are temporary for the next few hours as Israel monitors the threat, local i24 News reported Thursday local time.

Hezbollah delivered "strong statements" of plans to attack the affected communities, triggering more stringent actions by Israeli authorities to protect residents.

The outlet noted that the closure of roads marks a significant milestone in actions taken by the authorities in northern Israel due to Hezbollah's continuing aggression near the border with Lebanon.

Hostage deal without full ceasefire 'worthless': Senior Hamas official

Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, said Thursday that an Israeli offer for a hostage release agreement that doesn't include a full ceasefire is "worthless," local media reported, citing the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper.

"The time for truces is over," he added, echoing the earlier report that Hamas rejected Israel's offer for a one-week truce in exchange for around 40 of more than 120 remaining captives in Gaza.

A 'moderate' Palestinian body needed to govern Gaza after war: Israeli security chief

Tzachi Hanegbi, chief of Israel's National Security Council, wrote in an op-ed for Saudi newspaper Elaph that Israel was calling for a "moderate Palestinian governing body" to rule over the Gaza Strip after the war.

He wrote that Israel was not interested in governing the enclave's civil affairs, and it would accept a "reformed Palestinian Authority." He noted that Israel will not decide which party should take over, but Gaza's current leadership needs a "fundamental reform" to transform the Strip's new generation into one that values tolerance and peace.

EU to 'contribute' to US-led Red Sea alliance

The European Union has "agreed to contribute to the U.S. Operation Prosperity Guardian," the Washington-led maritime coalition that will bolster shipping activity protection in the Red Sea, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday.

He also condemned Yemen's Houthi rebels for their "irresponsible" aggression threatening navigation freedom in the Red Sea. He added that the bloc will "increase our presence with additional naval assets" to prove that the EU is a "maritime security provider."

Freed hostage talks of 'mental' abuse in Hamas captivity

Ofir Engel, one of the hostages freed by Hamas, talked Wednesday about how Hamas "mentally abused" him and other captives by telling them their families no longer wanted to have them back.

"I was there, and every moment the hostages are there is danger. They have no time. Why do I get to be here, and they don't?" he said to an audience of loved ones of hostages still in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

IDF exchanges fire with Hezbollah

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) exchanged fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah near the northern border with Lebanon Wednesday night, the IDF said. Israeli troops also attacked some Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory after several launches were detected from Lebanon.

Israel signals gradual shift to civilian-centric operations

Israel is looking to focus on border security as the war ensues, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a press briefing late Wednesday.

Aside from moving towards activities that protect the Israeli borders, Hagari noted that "we will ensure a different security situation allowing residents to return when the time comes."

His remarks came amid concerns from Israelis displaced by the fighting. He said earlier this week that aside from those who had to evacuate due to the raging Hamas battles, there are also more than 80,000 northern Israel residents who were displaced by Hezbollah attacks near the Lebanon border.

Houthi chief warns US against responding to its attacks

The leader of Yemen's Houthi rebel army, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, warned the U.S. not to target Houthis if it wants to prevent retaliation from the rebel group.

"Any American targeting our country will be targeted by us, and we will make American battleships, interests, and navigation a target of our missiles, drones, and military operations," Al-Houthi said in a televised speech, as per a translation by local i24 News.

Al-Houthi further noted that the Yemeni rebel group was prepared to confront any direct attacks.

The Houthi chief's warning came after Washington announced a 10-nation maritime force that will focus on protecting shipping in the Red Sea. The alliance was established amid Houthi-initiated attacks against commercial vessels in recent days.

Evacuations ordered for Khan Yunis residents

Israel has issued evacuation orders Wednesday for Khan Yunis, the second-largest city in the Gaza Strip, and the main city in the enclave's southern tip.

The news came after the IDF said it has refocused ground operations in Khan Yunis, the known hometown of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' most senior leader in Gaza.

Read the full story here.

Israel seeks faster aid delivery to Gaza through Cyprus naval passage: FM

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Wednesday that Israel wants to speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through a maritime pathway from Cyprus, specifically through the Cypriot port of Larnaca.

Technical teams from both sides are discussing the initiative's details through Thursday, he said.

IDF attacks Syrian army post after 4 launches toward Israeli territory

The IDF attacked the sources of four launches that targeted Israeli territory Wednesday. A Syrian army post was also struck in response to the launches that triggered rocket sirens in the Golan Heights area.

Shipping delays, product shortages possible amid Red Sea disruptions: IKEA

Furniture giant IKEA on Wednesday warned of possible shortages in some products during the holiday season due to the re-routing move of shipping companies that used to sail by the Red Sea. The company also said it was expecting delays in shipping and possible "availability constraints" due to the ongoing disruptions at the Red Sea.

The home furniture company's concerns came amid multiple attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Israel will not stop until victory: Netanyahu

The Israeli Prime Minister reiterated again that Israel will continue fighting "until Hamas is eliminated – until victory."

"Whoever thinks that we will stop is detached from reality," he said in a statement Wednesday night, adding that the Israeli army is not only targeting Hamas operatives in Gaza, but they are also "attacking their [Hamas] accomplices near and far."

His remarks came amid continuing fire exchanges between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah near Israel's northern border with Lebanon. The IDF has also been responding to launches from Syria in recent days.

UN Security Council to vote on draft resolution calling for 'urgent suspension' of Gaza fighting

The UN Security Council, which has been postponing a vote on Gaza since Monday, will vote Thursday on a draft resolution that now calls for the "urgent suspension of hostilities" in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. previously raised issue with the draft text's language that initially called for a "cessation" in the fighting. The text has evolved over the past three days after the U.S. – one of only five permanent members of the council – said it may support a resolution that calls for a "suspension" in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Hackers claim Iranian gas station workers ordered to 'lie' about dire situation

Gonjeshke Darande, the hacking group that claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack that targeted Iranian fuel stations earlier this week, said Wednesday that they were told "employees [at the petrol stations] were ordered to lie about the severity of the situation."

Iran's oil minister said during the suspected cyberattack Monday that around 70% of gas stations in the country were out of service. The hacking group said Wednesday that the situation in Iran was "severe" because it continued to attack the Iranian fuel network.

During the downtime of most gas pumps in Iran, the hackers warned Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that "playing with fire has a price."

The group also said the hack was carried out "in response to the aggression of the Islamic Republic and its proxies in the region."

Israeli army takes over compound used by Hamas leadership in Gaza: IDF

"The IDF forces have completed the takeover of Hamas' 'Senior Quarter[s]' in the center of Gaza City," the IDF said in a Google-translated statement late Wednesday.

In the complex, Israeli troops discovered a "branching network of tunnels" that connected offices, apartments, hiding facilities and other infrastructure used specifically by Hamas' most senior officials, the IDF said.

The "above and below ground" complex was a "central security control center" of Hamas' political and military wings, the statement added. Furthermore, underground infrastructure in the area included "back doors and living rooms" that allow for Hamas leaders to hide "for a long period of time." Some tunnel networks in the complex were found to have food, water, and electrical lines, as per the statement.

During several weeks of targeted operations at the compound, Israeli forces eliminated around 600 militants.

Hamas rejected Israel's offer for weeklong truce: Report

The militant group rejected an offer by Israel to stop fighting for a week in exchange for around 40 hostages still being held in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday night, citing Egyptian officials. The IDF previously said there are still 129 hostages in Hamas captivity.

Hamas reportedly reiterated that it will not begin negotiating for the release of captives unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire first. The Palestinian terror group also reportedly demanded that Israel release all remaining Palestinian detainees in exchange for the hostages abducted during the Oct. 7 massacre.

The news came after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh traveled to Cairo Wednesday to talk with Egypt – a mediator alongside Qatar that helped deliver a seven-day truce agreement late last month – over developments in the Gaza war and a possible new ceasefire deal.

Iraqi forces investigating rocket fired at U.S. air base

A 122mm rocket was fired at the al-Assad Air Base – which hosts American and other western forces – in Iraq Wednesday morning, CENTCOM said Thursday. No casualties or damage were reported from the launch and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are investigating the incident.

The ISF seized a modified "flatbed truck" located at the site that can be used to launch "up to 5 x 122mm rockets," CENTCOM added.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the al-Assad Air Base was the second-largest U.S. military airbase in the country. It is located in western Iraq and was the target of four Katyusha rockets late in October. At the time, Iraqi armed groups aligned with Iran threatened to target American military assets if the U.S. continues to support Israel in its battle against Hamas.