The IDF reported Saturday evening that five Israeli soldiers have been killed in action in the Gaza Strip.
More stories:
They are Staff Sergeant Nir Rafael Kananian, 20, a Givati Brigade soldier, from Beit Keshet; Staff Sergeant Birhanu Kassie, 22, a Givati Brigade soldier, from Beit Shemesh; Master Sergeant (res.) Shay Termin, 26, a 55th Paratroopers Brigade soldier, from Rosh Pina; Warrant Officer (res.) Alexander Shpits, 41, a 55th Paratroopers Brigade soldier, from Karmiel; Captain Oshri Moshe Butzhak, 22, a platoon commander in the 933rd Infantry Brigade, from Haifa.
6 View gallery
Captain Oshri Moshe Butzhak, Master Sergeant (res.) Shay Termin, Staff Sergeant Birhanu Kassie, Warrant Officer (res.) Alexander Shpits, Staff Sergeant Nir Rafael Kananian
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Staff Sergeant Kananian and Staff Sergeant Kassie were killed by an explosive device in the southern Gaza Strip. In the same battle, five Israeli servicemembers were seriously wounded and another five sustained injuries to varying degrees.
Master Sergeant (res.) Termin and Warrant Officer (res.) Shpits were killed in a separate battle in the southern Gaza Strip. Captain Butzhak was killed in a clash with terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip.
U.S. President Joe Biden said he did not ask Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a cease-fire in a long call the two leaders had on Saturday.
"I had a long talk with Netanyahu today and it's a private conversation," Biden told reporters in Washington. "I did not ask for a cease-fire," he said, in response to a shouted question.
6 View gallery
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Meanwhile, an IDF reservist was lightly to moderately injured on Saturday near the border town of Manara from shrapnel following mortar fire from Lebanon. He was evacuated for medical treatment to Ziv Medical Center in Safed, where he was reported to have shrapnel wounds in his leg.
The IDF reported, "Several launches from Lebanon into different areas in northern Israel were identified. In response, IDF forces struck the sources of the fire. Throughout the day, IDF forces attacked several areas in Lebanon with artillery. Additionally, Air Force fighter jets targeted a Hezbollah military command center."
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz on Saturday entered the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip and conducted a situation assessment with the commander of the Northern Brigade in the Gaza Division, Col. Haim Cohen.
They later spoke with 969th Reserve Battalion soldiers. Minister Gallant told them, "Every house from which they fire and every place where there was terrorist activity should be demolished. There must be a price for those who fight against the State of Israel. I am sure Yahya Sinwar is sitting in his bunker watching TV, and he can also see what Beit Hanoun and Shijaiyah look like."
Minister Gantz added, "This battle is one of the most important Israel has faced. It serves both the residents of the south and projects to other arenas. I am sure Hassan Nasrallah is watching what's happening here and he doesn't want this at his doorstep."
Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi held a situation assessment with 98th Paratroopers Division and 84th Brigade forces in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. "Formidable achievements, we've still got much work ahead," he told forces.
6 View gallery
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The IDF reported on Saturday that it eliminated a senior Hamas official responsible for arms trade, production and procurement for the terror organization's military wing in an airstrike in southern Gaza's Rafah the day before.
According to the statement, Hassan al-Atrash, who was killed in an attack on a vehicle he was driving in, also participated in smuggling weapons from various countries to the Gaza Strip and, more recently, was involved in smuggling weapons into the West Bank.
Hamas military supply chief Hassan al-Atrash eliminated in Israeli airstrike
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Air raid alarm sirens were activated in the northern Israeli communities of Shlomi and Betzet near the Lebanese border Saturday evening. Hezbollah claimed it launched Burkan short-range ballistic missiles toward Israel at 4:40pm. Footage shows the moment of impact near the Israeli border community of Shlomi. No casualties or damage were reported. Since the morning hours, Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for four attacks at the border.
Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported Israeli strikes in several southern areas of the country, including A-Naqoura, Teer Harfa, Al-Jibin, Meiss El-Jabal Ramiyah and Ita al-Shaab.
Footage of Hezbollah rocket attack near Shlomi
Earlier, Hezbollah issued a statement claiming responsibility for an attack on Israel at 3:45pm, although no alarms were activated at that time. Since the morning hours, the organization has claimed three attacks at the border and reported two casualties among its ranks. The IDF said that sirens that sounded on the eastern sector of the Lebanese border warning of an incoming drone were the result of a false identification.
On the Gaza front, sirens blared three times throughout several Israeli border communities throughout the day after over a day without incoming rockets. In all instances, there were no reports of casualties or damage.
Hamas continues to hold its ground regarding negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages, demanding a cease-fire before any such talks, Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar reported on Saturday.
6 View gallery
Archival: Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar and Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh meeting in Cairo
According to the report, the military and political leadership of Hamas within the Gaza Strip has conveyed to its leadership abroad that it "can withstand prolonged fighting and is still inflicting heavy losses on Israel."
The report also cited sources asserting all reports of disagreements between the internal and external leadership of Hamas are incorrect.
The report outlines Hamas's four key demands: an immediate halt to fighting and withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza; opening border crossings for aid; indirect prisoner talks on the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for all Palestinian inmates held in Israeli prisons; and Arab-sponsored talks for a Palestinian unity government as part of a restructuring of Palestinian leadership
Meanwhile, Hamas-affiliated Palestinian network Al-Quds reported that Israel has informed Cairo that it intends to retake the Philadelphi Corridor — a buffer zone that straddles the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
An Israel-affiliated merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea off India's west coast was struck by an unmanned aerial vehicle, causing a fire, British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Saturday.
The fire on the Liberian-flagged chemical products tanker was extinguished without crew casualties in the incident 200 km (120 miles) southwest of Veraval, India, it said.
"Some structural damage was also reported and some water was taken onboard. The vessel was Israel-affiliated. She had last called Saudi Arabia and was destined for India at the time," the firm said on its website.
The IDF reported Saturday morning that a joint operation between IDF ground forces and the Israeli Air Force "led to the elimination of dozens of terrorists in the southern part of Gaza City."
IDF 11th Brigade forces engage terrorists in area of Gaza City's Issa post
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
According to the army, 11th Brigade forces, anticipating an ambush, conducted diversionary fire to draw numerous terrorists into a Hamas command center. Coordinating with artillery and intelligence, Israeli jets targeted the building, successfully eliminating the terrorists.
In addition, IDF soldiers from the 179th Division uncovered a weapons cache in the central Gaza Strip's Bureij neighborhood, notably located within a kindergarten. According to the IDF, the findings included toy boxes containing dozens of mortar shells, explosive heads, and RPG anti-tank missiles.
First published: 17:55, 12.23.23