KEY POINTS
- Hezbollah fires toward northern Israel after accusing IDF of targeting Lebanese civilians
- US expects Army forces and vessels deployed to build Gaza humanitarian pier to arrive soon
- Israeli protests in Tel Aviv after Hamas publishes video of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin
Tensions in the Israeli-Lebanese border have only intensified further on the 202nd day of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip as Iran-backed Hezbollah targets northern Israeli communities.
U.S. President Joe Biden and 17 other global leaders, including the leaders of the United Kingdom and Canada, have issued a joint statement calling on Hamas to immediately release some 130 hostages who have been held in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.
Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group backed by Iran based in Yemen, have resumed their attacks in the Red Sea after some two weeks of no incidents reported to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
- Loud bang heard, smoke seen by merchant vessel's crew off Yemen's Aden: UKMTO
- Staffer of Belgian aid agency, 3 other members of his family, killed in Israeli strike in Rafah: Belgium's foreign ministry
- Nearly 400 bodies recovered from Nasser Hospital grounds mass graves: Palestinian civil defense team
- IDF withdraws Nahal Brigade from Gaza ahead of looming Rafah raid: Local media
- Hamas has shown signals of not intending to delay ceasefire deal: Report
- Egypt reportedly proposed restarting truce talks in exchange for Israel's agreement to not pursue Rafah raid
- US official reportedly blames Sinwar for Hamas' rejection of multiple ceasefire proposals
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen. The missile is believed to have targeted a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden.
Back in the Gaza Strip, there were reports of an internet outage in several parts of the central and southern regions Thursday as the Israel Defense Forces make the necessary preparations to raid Rafah, the overcrowded city in southern Gaza temporarily home to majority of the Palestinian population.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called out the "horrific" anti-Israel protests in American college campuses, saying antisemitism should be stopped.
The U.S. State Department said Israel's push to legalize settler outposts in the Israeli-occupied West Bank would be "dangerous and reckless" following reports that Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was pushing for such a move.
A move that legalizes Israeli settlements in the West Bank could only add fire to the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict that has left civilians from both sides suffering the consequences – a disproportionate number on the Palestinian side.
The live update has ended.
Sinwar calls shots in truce talks, rejects proposals: Reports
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' most senior official in Gaza, is "the ultimate decision maker" in terms of ceasefire-related moves by the Palestinian terror group, multiple local outlets reported, citing a senior U.S. official.
"The question goes to him of whether he'll agree to release the vulnerable category of hostages to secure ceasefire and relief for Gazans, and the answer that comes back from Sinwar personally, is 'No,'" the official reportedly said.
Egypt reportedly proposed Israel discontinue Rafah raid plan in exchange for restarting truce talks
Egypt, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, has forwarded to Israel a "new proposal to freeze the operation in Rafah in exchange for starting the negotiations" for a new ceasefire agreement, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported, citing the Saudi Al-Hadath channel.
The report added that Hamas has submitted a proposal to Israel via Egypt that includes a "full ceasefire" that will last for a year.
The Israeli government has yet to deny or confirm the report.
US, 17 other global leaders call on Hamas to immediately release hostages
The leaders of the United States and 17 other nations have issued a joint statement calling on Hamas to immediately free the remaining hostages in Gaza.
"We strongly support the ongoing mediation efforts in order to bring our people home. We reiterate our call on Hamas to releases the hostages, and let us end this crisis so that collectively we can focus our efforts on bringing peace and stability to the region," the leaders said.
Hamas has shown signals it wasn't looking to postpone truce deal: Report
Hamas leaders have signaled in recent days that they weren't intending to push back a ceasefire deal and "that they were ready to sit down at the negotiating table," Axios political reporter Barak Ravid revealed Thursday, as per a Google translation.
"We will see in the coming days if they are serious," Ravid reported, citing a senior American official. He added that the official reiterated that at times, there have been indications of differences between the intents of Hamas leaders overseas and those inside the Gaza Strip.
A truce agreement could lead to the release of some 130 hostages still being held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
IDF withdraws Nahal Brigade ahead of looming Rafah ground incursion: Local media
The Israeli army has withdrawn its Nahal Brigade from the Gaza Strip Thursday "apparently in preparation for an imminent offensive in Rafah," local i24 News reported.
IDF withdraws the elite Nahal brigade from Gaza, apparently in preparation for the imminent military operation in Rafah@laura_i24 pic.twitter.com/BKLdmEh2jS
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 25, 2024
The Brigade, which has been operating for the past three months in the enclave, is one of the IDF's main infantry brigades played a major role during the first and second Lebanon wars.
Palestinian civil defense team says nearly 400 bodies found in mass graves at Nasser Hospital
A Palestinian civil defense team on Thursday said nearly 400 bodies were recovered from mass graves at the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Yunis, which the Israeli army raided earlier this year.
The team did not provide any evidence as per Reuters, but it claimed that there were "cases of field execution of some patients while undergoing surgeries and wearing surgical gowns."
The civil defense forces is urging the United Nations to conduct an investigation to determine if the IDF committed war crimes during its operations at the said hospital.
Belgium says aid worker, young son killed in Gaza strike
An employee of the Belgian development agency Enabel was killed in Gaza Wednesday night "after an Israeli strike in the eastern part of the city of Rafah," the Belgian foreign ministry announced Thursday.
Abdallah Nabhan and several other members of his family lost their lives in the strike, the ministry said, including his 7-year-old son Jamal, his 6-year-old niece, his 35-year-old brother and his 65-year-old father. His wife is currently "fighting for her life" at the hospital after sustaining serious injuries. His two other children, 5 and seven months old, sustained minor injuries.
'Attack' reported off of Aden: UKMTO
The British maritime activity monitor on Thursday said it received a report of an incident southwest of Aden, Yemen of a "loud bang heard and a splash and smoke seen coming from the sea."
The merchant ship and its crew are safe, but vessels transiting the area have been advised to move with caution as authorities investigate the incident.
UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 065 - UPDATE 001
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) April 25, 2024
ATTACKhttps://t.co/fX3hWupi7g#MartimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/TiOwre3jIx
Hostages' families protest in Tel Aviv after Hamas releases abductee video
The loved ones and supporters of remaining hostages in Gaza have held another protest in Tel Aviv a day after Hamas published a video that showed hostage Hersh, the son of Rachel Goldberg-Polin, who was recently added into the TIME Magazine 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
In the propaganda video, Hersh urges the government to work on freeing the remaining abductees. His left arm can be seen amputated.
On day 202 of captivity, families and supporters held a protest at Sha’ar Shaul at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) April 25, 2024
📷: Avshalom Sassoni/Maariv pic.twitter.com/moaSImuu8i
US expects Army troops deployed to build temporary Gaza pier to arrive soon
U.S. Army ships and forces deployed for the construction of a temporary humanitarian aid pier in the Gaza Strip are expected to be in "position" for the mission "very soon," Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
Hezbollah says Israel attacked 'Lebanese civilians'
Iran-backed Hezbollah on Thursday said it launched rockets toward northern Israel "in response to assaults that targeted Lebanese civilians."
The Israeli army has yet to deny or confirm the claims.
US warns against legalizing settler outposts in West Bank
The U.S. Department of State on Wednesday said it would be "dangerous and reckless" to legalize Israeli settler outposts in the occupied West Bank amid reports that Smotrich was pushing for such a move that could further escalate the deep-rooted conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Smotrich is reportedly pushing for the legalization of 68 illegal outposts in the West Bank, while State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington believes settlements in the Palestinian territory were a violation of international law.
Netanyahu calls out 'horrific' anti-Israel protests in American campuses
The Israeli prime minister late on Wednesday called anti-Israel protests across U.S. college campuses "horrific." He said "anti-Semitic mobs have taken over leading universities" and they were calling for Israel's annihilation.
He called on the world to "speak up" against antisemitism. "We have to stop antisemitism because antisemitism is the canary in the coal mine. It always precedes larger conflagrations that engulf the entire world."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 24, 2024
"What’s happening in America’s college campuses is horrific. Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty. pic.twitter.com/ZuoeAUyP2s
Internet outage in parts of Gaza: Arab report
An internet outage in parts of the central and southern Gaza Strip was reported Thursday afternoon, as per Sky News in Arabic, which cited a Palestinian telecoms company.
It has been several months since an internet outage was reported in the war-torn enclave. The last major telecommunications outage in Gaza was reported late in December.
US engages Houthi missile in Gulf of Aden 'likely' targeted US ship
U.S. forces on Wednesday successfully engaged an ASBM launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that was launched toward the Gulf of Aden, CENTCOM said late Wednesday.
The U.S. military noted that the missile was "likely targeting the MV Yorktown," a U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated merchant vessel that had 18 American and four Greek crew members.
The U.S. army also destroyed four drones over Houthi-held areas of Yemen Wednesday.
April 24 Red Sea Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 24, 2024
At 11:51 a.m. (Sanaa time) on April 24, a coalition vessel successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen over the Gulf of Aden. The ASBM was likely targeting the MV… pic.twitter.com/MppinZTpTi
IDF fighter jets strike Hezbollah posts in southern Lebanon
Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah infrastructures and an observation post in the Maroun El Ras and Markaba villages in southern Lebanon overnight, the IDF said Thursday.
The move comes after the powerful Iranian-backed terror organization fired toward northern Israeli communities in recent days and damaged two homes in one area.
מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו אמש תשתיות טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב מרון א-ראס, ועמדת תצפית של הארגון במרחב מרכבא שבדרום לבנון.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 25, 2024
מוקדם יותר אתמול הותקף מבנה צבאי של ארגון במרחב עלמא א-שעב.
כמו כן, כוחות צה"ל ביצעו אתמול ירי ארטילרי להסרת איום במספר מרחבים בדרום לבנון pic.twitter.com/fYpij9Md90
