The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for an escalation of fighting in Gaza, including a call-up of reservists, senior officials told Israel Hayom.
According to the officials, Hamas is showing "intransigence," and if no progress is made within the next week or two, the IDF will significantly intensify military operations, sooner than originally planned. "Hamas is misinterpreting us," the officials said.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, brokered by intermediaries under ongoing fire, have yet to produce a breakthrough toward a cease-fire or hostage release deal. Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza is intensifying, with increasing clashes with Hamas terrorists leading to casualties among IDF forces, even as Houthi missile attacks against Israel continue daily.
Neta Yitzhak and Ido Wallach fell in Gaza
Heavy fighting took place Friday in the Shujaiyya area, approximately 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) from the security fence. During an offensive operation by the 16th Brigade Combat Team under Division 252, in cooperation with undercover Border Police counterterrorism forces, troops conducted sweeps and destroyed terrorist infrastructure. An encounter with Hamas terrorists led to the death of Staff Sgt. Neta Yitzhak Kahana, an undercover operative in the Border Police Southern Unit.
During the two-hour extraction operation under heavy fire, Capt. Ido Wallach, 21, an armored corps officer from Battalion 46, was also killed. Wallach was from Jerusalem.
The complex rescue mission involved multiple combat incidents: another soldier was moderately wounded during evacuation in a Hummer vehicle; two RPG missiles were fired at the forces without causing injuries; later, an anti-tank missile and small arms fire struck troops, moderately wounding two additional soldiers. In total, two soldiers were killed and three were moderately wounded in the Shujaiyya events.
Elsewhere, in the Philadelphi Corridor area, a force from Division 143 apparently encountered an ambush involving explosive devices and small arms fire. Four reservists were wounded: one seriously, one moderately and two lightly. The wounded were urgently evacuated to Ichilov Hospital. The Israeli Air Force responded swiftly, striking four targets to support the forces on the ground.
Hamas: Six-month cease-fire proposal
On Saturday night, Israel Hayom reported that Hamas sources shared details with the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat about a proposal presented during meetings in Cairo and Doha.
According to Hamas sources, the Egyptian-Qatari proposal includes a temporary six-month cease-fire agreement, under which there would be a one-stage deal for the release of both living and deceased hostages. During the six months, negotiations would be held regarding a permanent cessation of hostilities, discussions on post-war arrangements, and Gaza reconstruction efforts, based on the Egyptian framework.
