Israel at War: Day 81
Tuesday, December 26, marks the 81 day of the war that started with rocket attacks on central Israel from Gaza and an invasion by thousands of Hamas militants. The conflict resulted in the deaths of over a thousand civilians, as well as hundreds of police and military personnel. Around 240 Israelis and foreign citizens were captured, with many still held in the Gaza Strip.
A ceasefire was in place from November 24-30, allowing the release of 105 hostages held by terrorists, including 81 Israelis. To date, Hamas has released a total of 109 hostages, with one female soldier rescued by the IDF during the Gaza operation. Unfortunately, some hostages have been confirmed deceased. Three hostages, who had escaped from terrorists, were accidentally killed by the Israeli military. According to the IDF, terrorists currently hold 128 hostages in the Gaza Strip, including 117 Israeli citizens.
On October 7, the first day of the war, Hamas terrorists targeted a music festival near the Gaza border in the Reim forest. Around 3,000 attendees were present at the festival. The attack resulted in hundreds of casualties and numerous hostages. Terrorists conducted massacres in Be'eri, Kfar Aza, and Nir Oz villages, claiming the lives of many, including elderly individuals, women, and children. Additionally, they invaded Sderot, Ofakim, Netivot, and other Western Negev settlements, causing fatalities and carrying out thefts against Israelis.
Shortly after the attack, Hamas declared war on Israel, giving its actions the name "Al-Aqsa Flood". In response, the Israeli government declared a state of war (for the first time since 1973) and the beginning of the War of "Iron Swords".
In Israel, almost 1,400 died on October 7 and in the following days of the war. About 11,000 people were wounded or injured. Among those killed were citizens of Israel, the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova , Brazil, China, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Nepal, South Africa, Sudan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan.
Israel has not suffered such losses since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago.
A ground military operation in Gaza has been ongoing since late October. During clashes with terrorists in the Gaza Strip, the IDF experienced substantial losses, with 154 soldiers killed. The IDF reported around 8,000 Hamas militants and their leaders killed in Gaza since the war's onset. Additionally, there were casualties among military personnel during border confrontations with Lebanon.
Since the beginning of the war, over 12,000 rockets have been launched from the Gaza Strip, with the IDF estimating that up to 15% landed within Gaza. Additionally, hundreds of rockets were fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon, with about 20% landing on Lebanese territory. Both Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists utilized attack UAVs.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis, in both the southern and northern regions, were compelled to flee their homes since the war began.
The IDF continues to intensively strike on Gaza targets using Air Force, Navy, and artillery. Over 22,000 targets in Gaza have been attacked since the war began. Strikes on southern Lebanon targets are routine, and the IDF is conducting operations within Syria.
The Gaza Ministry of Health (linked to Hamas) reports approximately 20,700 fatalities and 54,500 wounded since the war's onset.
UN reports 1.7 million Gaza residents displaced, with WHO stating 1.3 million in south strip shelters. The IDF says 1 million displaced Gazans are living in shelters in the south of the strip.
Humanitarian aid began on October 21, with a significant portion received by Hamas.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
21:00
Relatives of the kidnapped hostages attempted to block the road for ministers who had arrived at 'Kirya' for a cabinet meeting. As a result, the police were forced to clear the way for the vehicle of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Israel returned the bodies of 80 Palestinians killed in clashes to the Gaza Strip. The bodies were transported to Gaza through the "Kerem Shalom" crossing point and will be buried in a communal grave in Rafah. According to "Haaretz", the bodies were discovered by Israeli soldiers in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and were brought to Israel to ensure that there were no Israeli hostages among the deceased.
The IDF spokesperson announced that a combat aircraft of the Israeli Air Force intercepted an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Red Sea as it was heading towards Israeli territory. The threat was neautralized before entering Israeli airspace.
20:00
Lebanese sources reported that the IDF targeted two cars near the town of Tyre, with confirmed hits recorded. At least one Hezbollah militant was reported to have been killed. The Lebanese channel "Al-Mayadeen" stated that Israel used unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for the attack. Hezbollah stated that since the beginning of the conflict, they have lost 128 of their militants.
18:00
On the evening of December 26, the IDF reported the deaths of three more Israeli soldiers during clashes in the Gaza Strip.
Reserve Staff Sergeant Maor Lavi, 33 years old from Susya, a fighter in the 450th Battalion of the "Bislah" Brigade, was killed in combat in the central area of the Gaza Strip.
Major Shai Shamriz, 26 years old from Merkaz Shapira, the commander of the 931st Battalion of the "Nachal" Brigade, was killed in combat in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Captain Shaul Gringlik, 26 years old from Ra'anana, an officer in the 931st Battalion of the "Nachal" Brigade, was killed in combat in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
It is also reported that on December 26, during the clashes in Gaza, five soldiers were seriously wounded - a reservist fighter from the 450th Battalion of the "Bislah" Brigade, an officer, and two fighters from the 931st Battalion of the "Nachal" Brigade, as well as a reconnaissance unit fighter from the "Nachal" Brigade.
16:00
The IDF targeted objects belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Specifically, strikes were carried out on a building where a terrorist, responsible for firing an anti-tank missile at a church in the Ikrit area, had taken refuge, resulting in numerous injuries.
The IDF spokesperson reported that among the wounded were civilians and nine soldiers, one of whom sustained severe injuries. All injured individuals were taken to hospitals. Additionally, an attack in the Dov neighborhood was recorded. The attack originated from a position near a mosque in the village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon. The IDF responded to this attack and the shelling of targets in the areas of the settlement of Iftach and Mount Dov with tank and artillery fire.
Telecommunications services were completely disrupted in the Gaza Strip - telephones and mobile communications do not work, and there is no access to the Internet, reports PalTel. The statement said this was due to infrastructure damage caused by IDF actions. This is the fourth time since the start of the war (October 7) that Gaza has been left without communications and the Internet.
15:00
Saad and Kfar Aza were shelled from Gaza.
Sources in Gaza: The IDF struck a vehicle of the municipal water supply department in Khan Yunis, three killed.
14:00
The city of Sderot and the surrounding villages of Ibim and Nir Am were shelled from the Gaza Strip. "Tseva Adom" alarm signals were heard. One missile was intercepted by the Iron Dome. The second fell in an open area without causing damage.
The “Tzeva Adom” alarm was heard in Ashkelon, as well as in the villages of Netiv HaAsara, Karmiya, Zikim, Yad Mordechai, Mavkiim. Missile launches from the Gaza Strip have been recorded.
13:00
An IDF helicopter attacked targets east of Khan Yunis in the southern part of Gaza.
As a result of shelling from Lebanese territory in the village of Ikrit, located several kilometers from the border, a civilian was wounded. The wounded man was treated and taken to the hospital. Based on available information, an anti-tank missile was fired at a church in the Ikrit area from Lebanon. When rescuers, police and paramedics arrived, the area was fired upon again from Lebanese territory. In addition, a rocket was fired from Lebanon at the village of Dovev. The IDF is carrying out retaliatory strikes on targets in southern Lebanon.
12:00
The IDF reports that Sergeant Daniel Nachmani , 21, from Kfar Saba, a member of the 71st Battalion, 188th "Barak" Brigade, died on Tuesday, December 26, from wounds received on December 22 near the northern border .
The IDF attacked Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in response to shelling in the area of Mount Dov and the village of Shomera, located near the Lebanese border. An Israeli Air Force fighter was used to carry out the strikes. In addition, an IDF tank fired at the target, preventing further shelling of Israeli territory. The IDF said in a statement that on the morning of December 26, a surface-to-air missile was fired at an Israeli Air Force plane from Lebanon. The missile did not hit the plane, the crew successfully completed the task.
IDF forces, general security officers (Shin Bet), and border police (MAHAV) detained 33 terrorist suspects in Judea and Samaria. The detainees were handed over to Shin Bet investigators for questioning.
Khalida Jarar, an activist of the terrorist organization 'Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine', was detained in Al-Bir (near Ramallah). In addition to her, three more PFLP activists were detained in the vicinity of Ramallah - Rami Fadail, Hassan Shatia and Rashad Karaga. The IDF also reports the confiscation of more than 30 weapons during today's operations, as well as the dismantling of an explosives and explosives laboratory in Nur al-Shams (east of Tul Karem).
During the operation, clashes occurred and one soldier was slightly wounded. Since the beginning of the war (October 7, 2023), about 2,550 terror suspects have been detained in the Palestinian Authority and about 1,300 of them are associated with terrorist organization Hamas.
11:00
The IDF launched a new series of strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
Al Jazeera reports that an IDF strike on a house and car in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, killed at least ten people and wounded others.
10:00
Sources report that the IDF is shelling targets both on the northern outskirts of Gaza City and in the Juhr al-Dik area, located in the south of Gaza City.
Lebanese sources report that on the morning of December 26, the IDF attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Shortly before, Hezbollah militants fired six anti-tank missiles at targets in the Mount Dov area.
According to Palestinian sources, two local residents, aged 17 and 31, were killed during clashes with the military in the village of Al-Fawar, situated south of Hebron.
9:00
Red Crescent reports Israeli artillery shelled the Red Crescent headquarters in Khan Yunis, where thousands of displaced people live.
According to Al Jazeera, one person was killed and one wounded in an IDF strike on a target in the Al-Bureij camp, in the center of the Gaza Strip.
08:00
The IDF publishes another military report on the the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours (December 25-26): more than 100 targets were attacked. Among the targets attacked are tunnel mines and other terrorist infrastructure facilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
It is reported that soldiers of the 261st Brigade, with the support of the Air Force, eliminated a group of militants who tried to plant an explosive device near an IDF tank in the north of Gaza. Soldiers of the 7th Brigade indicated a target in the Khan Yunis area, where the Air Force killed more than ten militants. Soldiers of the Givati brigade identified a group of militants near a weapons depot. The air strike eliminated both the terrorists and the warehouse. Fighters of the Shaked battalion of the 401st brigade in the Daraj Tuf area, in the north of the Gaza Strip, captured the headquarters of Islamic Jihad militants, in which weapons, explosive devices, ammunition, military equipment and documents with intelligence data were found.
According to sources in Gaza, the IDF air force and artillery attacked targets in Jabaliya (in the north of the strip) and in Khan Yunis (in the south of the strip).
06:00
According to the Palestinian Authority, IDF forces are operating in Tul-Karem. Clashes continue in Nur al-Shams, east of Tul Karem.
The IDF reports the death of two more Israeli soldiers during fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Reserve Sergeant Elisha Yonatan Luber , 24, from Yitzhar, a member of the 8104th Battalion, 179th Re'em Brigade, was killed in action in the southern Gaza Strip.
Reserve Sergeant Major Yosef Gitarz , 25, from Tel Aviv, member of the 7029th Battalion, 179th Re'em Brigade, was killed in action in the southern Gaza Strip.
It is also reported that during the clashes in Gaza on December 25, four soldiers were seriously wounded - an officer of the 75th battalion and two soldiers of the 82nd battalion of the 7th Saar mi-Golan brigade, and a reservist from the 6646th battalion of the 646th "Shualei Marom" brigade.
From October 31 to December 26, 156 IDF soldiers were killed during the ground operation in Gaza.
05:00
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are operating in Ramallah and its suburbs, suspects have been detained.
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are operating in the village of Iqtaba, northeast of Tul Karem.
04:00
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are operating in the Nazzal area of Qalqilya.
The IDF operation continues in Nur al-Shams, east of Tul Karem. Shooting and explosions are heard.
According to sources in Gaza, the IDF attacked the house of the Abu Zarqa family west of Khan Yunis, in the south of the strip.
03:00
Sources in Gaza say that the IDF is attacking targets in the area of Rafah and Khan Yunis, in the south of the strip.
02:00
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are operating in Tamun, south of Tubas.
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces entered Bayt Rima and Al-Masayaf, in the outskirts of Ramallah.
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are operating in Hebron, suspects have been detained.
Sources in Gaza report a shootout in al-Bureij, in the center of the strip.
According to sources in Gaza , the IDF artillery is shelling the center of Khan Yunis, in the south of the strip.
According to the Palestinian Authority, IDF forces are operating in Beitunia, west of Ramallah.
01:00
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are operating in the village of Safa, west of Ramallah. Suspects have been detained.
Palestinian Authority: IDF forces are conducting an operation in Nur al-Shams, east of Tul Karem.
Rocket attacks from Gaza continue. Alarm signal in Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
An alarm warning of a rocket attack sounded in Sderot, as well as in Kibbutzim Ibim and Nir Am.
00:00
The IDF is conducting an anti-terrorist operation in the Palestinian refugee camp in Nur Shams. Palestinian militants threw improvised explosive devices at soldiers.
According to sources in Gaza, an air strike on the home of the Ismail family in Khan Yunis killed at least seven people.
Israeli artillery shelled the Abu Rashid area in Jabaliya.
The last attacks from Gaza were recorded at 21:02 on December 25. During the current war, terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip usually (but not always) stop firing rockets at Israeli territory overnight.