Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

• Intense bombardments by Hezbollah on Israel’s north have continued over the past few days, with dozens of rockets and UAVs being deployed by the terror group each day. Damage, wildfires and minor injuries as a result of the attacks have become a daily occurrence in the region.
• In response, the IDF has been hitting multiple Hezbollah targets in Lebanon - some up to 50 miles from the border - with a particular focus on weapons storage facilities.
• According to a report in the Washington Post, Iran has agreed to put off an attack on Israel for now, but is pushing Hezbollah to step up their attacks on the Jewish state.
• Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier this week hinted that IDF operations in Gaza are winding down, with activity being increasingly focused on the north. Nonetheless, some 50 terrorists have been killed in battles with the IDF in Rafah over the past 24 hours.
• See this analysis outlining IDF measures to protect civilians in Gaza, and to comply with international law, written by two retired US military officials Lt. Gen. David Deptula and Lt. Col. Geoffrey Corn. 
• See here for a complete list of IDF soldiers killed since October 7.

Truce Talks and Hostages

• Earlier this week, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages that had been held in Gaza since October 7. Listen to the remarks of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on the recovery operation. Three of the returned hostages have been laid to rest.
• As a result of the operation, there are now 109 hostages remaining in Gaza, at least half of whom are believed to be dead.
• Negotiations over a potential hostage and truce deal continue. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel had accepted the mediators’ proposed compromise outline, but Hamas had yet to agree to the conditions.
• Secretary Blinken has returned home, after pushing an American “bridging proposal” designed to get beyond disagreements between the sides over issues like IDF deployment on the Gaza-Egypt border in the event of a deal.
• Last night, tens of thousands of people broke into chants of “Bring them home,” during the profoundy moving speech given at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago by the parents of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

International

• Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Joe Biden by phone yesterday in an effort to push a hostage deal. Vice President Kamala Harris also joined the conversation. According to the White House, Biden “stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacle.”
• The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and accompanying destroyers have arrived in the Middle East after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the strike group to accelerate its speed, fearing an Iranian attack on Israel.
• A High Level Military Group (HLMG) of former senior ministers, generals and security officials from NATO and other democratic countries including the US, Italy, Finland, France and the UK recently visited Israel to explore challenges of 21st century warfare and learn first-hand from the IDF about strategies for countering terrorism while protecting civilians.  Upon returning, the group published its summary from the fact-finding trip, including its conclusions that the IDF is making rigorous efforts to avoid civilian casualties, that claims made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians do not align with the facts on the ground, and that the IDF is fighting this war in accordance with international law.
• With many foreign airlines halting their flights to Israel due to fears of an escalation in the war, El Al has reached an agreement with Israel’s Finance Minister that will see fixed prices on numerous flights, to counter the national carrier’s temporary near-monopoly status.

Stories of Heartbreak, Heroism, and Hope

• Read this story of 80-year-old Yoram Metzger, husband of Tami, father to three children and grandfather to seven grandchildren. Yoram lived and worked on Kibbutz Nir Oz and in his free time he enjoyed cooking for family and other members of the kibbutz. He was a history and wine aficionado. On the morning of October 7, Yoram and Tami were kidnapped from their home by Hamas terrorists. Tami was freed during the November hostage deal, and Yoram’s body was recovered earlier this week by the IDF. 
• Mark Shindel, 23: Civil engineering student who loved soccer: Murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7.