As the Israel-Gaza conflict stretches into its 279th day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have ramped up operations across multiple fronts. Overnight strikes in Gaza reverberated through southern Israeli towns, while security forces conducted raids in the West Bank. The escalating situation has seen an uptick in drone incursions from Lebanon, prompting swift responses from Israeli air defenses and retaliatory strikes. The IDF reported multiple unmanned aerial vehicle incursions from Lebanon into the Western Galilee region. One casualty sustained severe injuries in Kibbutz Kabri, just next to the city of Nahariya.
Video: After the sequence of alarms: Seriously injured person in Kibbutz Kabri / Credit: Noam Falaksa/TPS
Latest developments for July 11, 2024:
17:02: The cadet graduation ceremony is currently taking place at Bahad 1 in southern Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi present.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the ceremony: "We all take pride in the success of your sons and daughters. We will forever remember the bravery of our beloved defenders. I continue to stand by you. I want to thank the families of the reservists who provide a solid support system.
"Almost all of you have been in the thick of it and fought there. Kudos to you, heroes of Israel. I trust you and salute you. Here, on this concrete square, a nation takes its fate into its own hands. In exile, we were defenseless. Those days are behind us. Around us are malevolent forces, but the difference between the past and the present is our ability to fight. We fight and are determined to achieve victory. We will not stop the war until all objectives are met. When asked how long the war will last, I say it will continue until absolute victory. We do not tire.
"I salute you for your mental fortitude. We have 120 brothers and sisters in captivity. We have a sacred mission to bring them back. We have returned 132 while adhering to our principles. Without military pressure, this would not have happened. Not hesitation, but only clarity and determination will lead to the release of the hostages. I am committed to the framework for releasing the hostages, but Hamas insists on demands that contradict it."
"The four principles I insist on are: we will not allow weapons to be smuggled from Egypt, we will not allow the return of weapons and armed terrorists to northern Gaza, and in the first phase of the framework, the maximum number of living hostages will be released."
15:20: The terrorist organization Hamas claims in an official statement: "So far, we have not been informed by the mediators of anything new regarding the negotiations aimed at bringing about a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange." It is further claimed that Israel "continues the policy of procrastination to buy time in order to sabotage the round of negotiations, as it has done in previous rounds."
14:19: Three rockets were fired towards Nir Israel and fell in open areas. There are no reports of casualties at this time.
14:10: Palestinian sources reported in the past day that former deputy commander of the Hamas Sajaiya Battalion, Ayman Shuaydah, was killed by the IDF. According to reports, Shuaydah was also the son of a former Hamas government justice minister who died many years ago. The father himself served as a commander in the military wing over the years. It was also claimed about Ayman Shuaydah that he led attacks against IDF tanks and armored vehicles during the war.
14:00: Sirens in Nir Israel, a moshav located northeast of Ashkelon.
13:50: Defense Minister Yoav Galant met in his office with Brett McGurk, the U.S. administration's envoy to the Middle East. The two discussed the progress of talks to return the hostages, with an emphasis on the ongoing dialogue regarding security arrangements in the southern Gaza Strip to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza. In their conversation, McGurk updated the Defense Minister that following his visit to Washington and according to his agreement with senior U.S. administration officials, parts of the essential weapons shipment will depart for Israel in the coming days.
13:32: So far, Hezbollah has announced three different attacks in the north. In the first announcement, it claimed to have launched attacking UAVs towards a command post, and in two additional announcements, it claimed to have launched rockets towards outposts.
13:24: IDF: Air defense fighters successfully intercepted several suspicious aerial targets that were making their way to Israel from Lebanon shortly ago. The targets did not cross into Israeli territory, and alerts were not activated according to policy.
11:59: The IDF Chief of Staff held an assessment yesterday (Wednesday) at the Galilee Division on the Lebanese border: "When your enemy is struggling, don't turn around, make it harder on them - we are making it harder." Later, the Chief of Staff visited Metula and met with the head of the town council, Mr. David Azulai, and other representatives, where they discussed the situation and the importance of the IDF's connection with the authorities and residents.
11:44: IDF: Following alerts activated in the Western Galilee area in the past hour, several unmanned aerial vehicles were identified crossing from Lebanese territory and falling in the Western Galilee area. Air defense fighters intercepted several aerial targets, making their way to Israel from Lebanese territory.
11:35: Several UAVs violated Israeli airspace and crashed in the Kabri area of the Western Galilee.
11:20: Series of alerts in the Western Galilee: Report of a severely injured person from a UAV strike.
11:14: In a rapid response by the Air Force and the 162nd Division, an aircraft struck and eliminated the militants who carried out this launch towards southern Israel from the Rafah area within 30 minutes.
11:02: Alerts in the Western Galilee due to concerns of hostile aircraft infiltration.
09:20: For the first time today, alerts in many communities in the southern border area.
09:00: IDF Spokesperson updates that IDF and Shin Bet forces eliminated a militant in Hamas's internal security apparatus. In addition, Commando Brigade forces located explosive drones alongside mortar bombs and RPG launchers at UNRWA headquarters in the central Gaza Strip.
08:10: Overnight, an Israeli Air Force aircraft struck a truck in the Ayta ash Shab area carrying the launcher used in yesterday's firing at Shtula. Additionally, IAF fighter jets struck several military sites in the Rab El Thalatheen and Al-Adisa areas. Concurrently, a Hezbollah observation post in the Ramyah area was attacked, along with a military infrastructure used by the organization in the El-Khiam area. IDF forces engaged in artillery fire on additional areas in southern Lebanon to remove threats.
05:02: Initial report: Security forces are currently operating in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus.
02:40: White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby addressed the ongoing efforts to release the hostages. In an interview with CNN, he noted: "There is cautious optimism as things are moving in a good direction." Kirby also said that "there are still gaps between the two sides. We believe these gaps can be narrowed, and that's what Brett McGurk and the CIA director are working on."
00:59: Residents in Acre and northern communities report hearing loud explosion echoes in their vicinity, but no alert was activated in the area.
00:02: Communities near Gaza were informed that strong explosions would be heard throughout the night due to extensive IDF activity in the northern Gaza Strip. In the past hour, explosion echoes have been heard throughout the south.
