Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 113?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that there was a crisis with Egypt, noting that Egypt has its reasons to make statements, he said in a press conference on Saturday evening.

Netanyahu said that on Qatar, "I don't rescind anything I have said. Qatar hosts Hamas, it had a responsibility to ensure that medicine reaches the hostages."

Hamas's next massacre is "only a matter of time" if Israel fails to destroy the terror organization in its war on Gaza, he added.

Hamas's next massacre is "only a matter of time" if Israel fails to destroy the terror organization in its war on Gaza, he said in a press conference scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time.

Netanyahu denied that there was a crisis with Egypt, noting that Egypt has its reasons to make statements.

Netanyahu said that on Qatar, "I don't rescind anything I have said. Qatar hosts Hamas, it had a responsibility to ensure that medicine reaches the hostages."

The United Kingdom has issued a proposition of a five-point plan that they believe will end the war between Israel and Hamas, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed this initiative with Israeli and Palestinian leaders while he was touring the region this week, the report said. Cameron called for an "immediate pause in hostilities."

The halt in the fighting would eventually lead to the release of the hostages in Gaza and then negotiate the permanent ceasefire, a UK official said, who also said, “What we’re trying to do is cement the idea that when you get this pause, you’ve got to work hard to turn it into a lasting ceasefire and to really focus on the realistic and achievable things that could actually make a ceasefire permanent and sustainable.

“I think there is a growing consensus in the international community that a hostage deal and a pause are the keys for unlocking the chance of a permanent ceasefire,” the official continued. “And that you have to have a much clearer political horizon for a Palestinian state: a new Palestinian government for the West Bank and Gaza, and that Hamas must never again be able to attack Israel.”

Establishing a "political horizon"

The UK's "five-point plan" proposes to establish a "political horizon" for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the formation of a Palestinian government that would govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the war, the Times reported. However, the plan notes that Hamas would be required to release the hostages and stop attacks against Israel for it to work. This includes expelling Hamas's leaders from the Gaza Strip - most notably Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the October 7 massacre.

Staff and volunteers of Amnesty International USA, MoveOn, Oxfam America and Win Without War hold a vigil outside the White House calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Leah Millis )

The plan has already been shared by the UK with Arab, US, and European governments, the Times noted.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out any moves toward the creation of a Palestinian state or working with the Palestinian Authority, as well as rejected any permanent ceasefire as part of a hostage deal.

The IDF held an increasing number of drills simulating warfare with Hezbollah in Israel's North over the weekend.

Paratrooper and combat engineering forces from the Israeli military carried out intensive training drills at the IDF's Northern Command, preparing troops for combat in densely populated urban areas, winter weather conditions, and in the northern terrain, as per the IDF.

The drills further combined tanks, combat engineering, infantry, and artillery forces.

IDF deputy commander: We are ready

"Despite the winter weather, the rain, the mud, and the fog, and after 113 days of defending the northern border, this week we carried out a series of difficult and complex exercises to strengthen the Brigade’s readiness," the deputy commander of the participating 226th Brigade was quoted as saying.

"The spirit of the commanders and soldiers is strong, professionalism is at a very high level and the troops are ready for anything. After this week, I can wholeheartedly say - we are ready."

Israeli forces simulating warfare with Hezbollah in Israel's North, January 27, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

IDF intercepts suspicious target from Lebanon, strikes Hezbollah targets

The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted a suspicious aerial target on Saturday that was coming from Lebanon and approaching Israeli territory.

This was among numerous launches identified crossing from Lebanon into Israel earlier, to which the IDF fighter jets struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in response.

This included a military post and compound used by Hezbollah terrorists in the areas of Blida and Marwahin, with additional targets struck in Ayta ash Shab. 

Israel demands that the leadership of the United Nations' refugee agency for Palestinians must be dismissed, with the organization replaced with "agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday evening.

Praising the decisions of multiple countries to stop funding UNRWA following intelligence information provided by Israel regarding the involvement of several organization members in the October 7 attack.

"I call for more nations to join in," Katz wrote on X. "UNRWA's ties with Hamas, providing refuge for terrorists, and perpetuating its rule, are undeniable.

"The leadership of UNRWA should be dismissed and thoroughly investigated for their knowledge of these activities. In Gaza's rebuilding, UNRWA must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development," the foreign minister added.
 

UNRWA truck crosses into Egypt from Gaza at Rafah border crossing, November 27, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said, "Congratulations to the US, UK, Italy, Canada, Finland, and Australia for the decision to stop funding UNRWA.

"The time has come to establish an alternative organization that will not educate generations of Palestinian children in hatred and will not cooperate with Hamas terrorism," he continued.

The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted a suspicious aerial target on Saturday that was coming from Lebanon and approaching Israeli territory.

This was among numerous launches identified crossing from Lebanon into Israel earlier, to which the IDF fighter jets struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in response.

This included a military post and compound used by Hezbollah terrorists in the areas of Blida and Marwahin, with additional targets struck in Ayta ash Shab. 

Israeli officials have welcomed and praised the decisions of multiple countries to stop funding the UNRWA following intelligence information provided by Israel regarding the involvement of several organization members in the October 7 attack.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said, "Congratulations to the US, UK, Italy, Canada, Finland, and Australia for the decision to stop funding UNRWA.

"The time has come to establish an alternative organization that will not educate generations of Palestinian children in hatred and will not cooperate with Hamas terrorism," he continued.

Foreign Minister Katz's comments

Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the American government Saturday morning for its decision to stop funding UNRWA.

UNRWA truck crosses into Egypt from Gaza at Rafah border crossing, November 27, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)

"We have been warning for years: UNRWA perpetuates the 'refugee problem,' distances peace, and serves as a civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza," wrote Katz on X, and called on the UN to take "immediate personal steps" against the leaders of the organization.

מברך את הממשל האמריקאי על החלטתו להפסיק את המימון לארגון אונר"א, אחרי שהתברר שחלק מעובדיו נטלו חלק בטבח הנורא ב-7 לאוקטובר.

אנחנו מתריעים כבר שנים: אונר"א מנציחה את "בעיית" הפליטים, מרחיקה את השלום ומשמשת כזרוע אזרחית של חמאס בעזה.

מברך את קנדה שהצטרפה להחלטה ומצפה שמדינות…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) January 27, 2024

Britain, Italy, and Finland on Saturday became the latest countries to pause funding for the United Nations' refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), following allegations that 12 of its staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel.

The United States, Australia, and Canada had already paused funding to the aid agency after Israel said 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the cross-border attack. The agency has opened an investigation into several employees who severed ties with them.

The Palestinian foreign ministry criticized what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA, and the Hamas terrorist group condemned the termination of employee contracts "based on information derived from the Zionist enemy."

The UK Foreign Office said it was temporarily pausing funding for UNRWA while the accusations were reviewed and noted London had condemned the October 7 attacks as heinous terrorism.

"The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on October 7," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on social media platform X.

Finland also said it suspended funding.

Palestinian at an UNRWA camp in Rafah after heavy rainfall, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 14, 2023. (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

Palestinian Authority panics over UNRWA defunding

Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the Palestinians' umbrella political body the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said cutting support brought major political and relief risks.

"We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision," he said on X.

The IDF has established a humanitarian corridor in recent days for Palestinian residents of western Khan Yunis to move from combat areas to the town of Al-Mawasi in southwestern Gaza, IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Ardaee announced on Saturday.

Ardaee said that Gazan residents would be safe in Al-Mawasi and that the corridor has been opened to evacuate civilians every day so that the IDF can focus on fighting the Hamas terrorist organization and deepening its incursion into Khan Yunis without the risk of civilians being injured in the process.

Tens of thousands of Gazans have already passed through this corridor safely, according to the spokesperson.

#عاجل في الأيام الأخيرة، فتح جيش الدفاع ممرًا إنسانيًا آمنًا للسماح لسكان غرب خانيونس بالانتقال غربًا من منطقة القتال إلى المنطقة الإنسانية في المواصي من أجل الحفاظ على سلامتهم.

ويتم فتح الممرّ الآمن لإجلاء السكان كل يوم، حيث يتجنب جيش الدفاع استهداف المدنيين في المنطقة خلال… pic.twitter.com/YDN5wsZFLU

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 27, 2024

Ardaee also quoted a number of Gazan civilians passing through the corridor, who informed IDF soldiers that Hamas was preventing them from leaving combat areas, using threats and violence. Additionally, IDF soldiers were also assisting civilians at the scene, including the elderly and sick.

The humanitarian corridor remains open until 4 p.m. for residents to cross over to Al-Mawasi.

IDF troops operate in Khan Yunis, Gaza. January 27, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Crowds of Palestinians were seen recorded using the corridor, Maariv reported.

Earlier at Nasser Hospital

Palestinians were also seen evacuating from the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis on Friday, with COGAT stating that "Hamas operates from and around the Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals. The systematic use of hospitals across Gaza by Hamas has been documented, including Hamas shooting a rocket from within the hospital.

"The IDF liaised with the hospital directors and staff to ensure that the hospitals can remain operational and accessible. The IDF communicated that there is no obligation to evacuate the hospitals," but stated that "Gazans who wish to move from the Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals, as many have chosen to do, can pass through the corridor on the Al-Bahar street, located on the western side of the hospitals. The IDF has been communicating this information in Arabic via media channels."

A report by N12, citing Palestinian media, states, "There are more voices of Gazans coming out against Hamas, which controls prices of food and humanitarian aid." Another Gazan said, "Hamas is the one that receives the goods. All the arms of Hamas are corrupt - they take most of the aid, and only small amounts reach the distribution centers.

"The Hamas police also cooperate with merchants and create a monopoly, so goods can be sold at a much higher price than the original price. The merchants receive the goods in cooperation with Hamas or through the Kerem Shalom crossing, where Hamas collects astronomical taxes," he continued.