On Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had defeated a Hamas battalion in northern Gaza, an area that was one of the last not fully under Israeli control.
Reports indicate:
The IDF successfully defeated the Hamas Bait Hannon Battalion, as declared on Saturday.
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Since the war began, the IDF has engaged in operations at Beithanon multiple times, gradually weakening the Hamas battalion, which had over 1,000 fighters as of October 7, 2023.
The majority of the battalion, including commander Hussein Feiyad, either perished or fled during the conflict.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz shared a video showing the surrender:
In a related development, Hamas has been sharing video footage of an Israeli hostage, highlighting severe hunger among captives in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday, arguing that obstructing visits, like taking hostages, constitutes a war crime.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated:
Netanyahu discussed the need for urgent provision of food and medical care for hostages with Julian Lelison, head of the ICRC delegation.
He expressed concerns about the systemic hunger faced by hostages, emphasizing that the world must not ignore these distressing situations, which echo past atrocities.
The Prime Minister condemned both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, urging global action to stop any support for them, citing violations of international law and the Geneva Convention.
The Red Cross reiterated its request for hostages to receive visits, to which Hamas responded by saying that assistance would be allowed only if Israel opens permanent aid corridors and withdraws from Gaza.
