Five soldiers killed in Gaza Strip battles; IDF and Shin Bet eliminate Hamas official
On the 79th day of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, five Israeli soldiers were killed in battles according to the IDF spokesman. The soldiers were identified as Sergeant Nir Raphael Kananian, Sergeant Birano Kasia, Major (Res.) Shay Termin, Sergeant-Major (ret.) Alexander Spitz, and Captain Oshri Moshe Botchak. Additionally, the IDF and the Shin Bet eliminated Hassan Atrash, a high-ranking Hamas official responsible for the trade, production, and equipping of the military arm of Hamas, as well as the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria.
In a separate development, Sharon Kunio, who was released from Hamas captivity along with her sister and daughters, spoke at a rally in Tel Aviv. She recounted the harrowing experience of being held captive and called for the release of the remaining captives.
Meanwhile, Iran has denied any involvement in the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, rejecting US accusations. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagri Kani, stated that the Houthis act independently and according to their own decisions.
US President Joe Biden also made a statement regarding the conflict, revealing that he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but did not ask for a ceasefire. On the other side, Hezbollah announced the 124th death from its ranks since the outbreak of the war.
The conflict in the region continues to escalate, with ongoing battles and diplomatic efforts to reach a resolution. The situation remains volatile, and the international community is closely monitoring the developments.