Israel-Hamas War: What happened on Day 115?

Following reports of an upcoming hostage deal, Hamas has rejected the proposal, Israeli media reported on Monday. 

IDF soldiers operating in Khan Yunis killed five terrorists Sunday night, one of them armed with an RPG, the IDF reported.

Ground forces raided terror centers and targets, uncovering an onslaught of weapons such as RPGs, military equipment, and other technology.

Paratroopers raided area targets, uncovering weapons, military equipment, and related materials inside the home of a Hamas operative. Soldiers killed four terrorists about to launch an attack on the IDF.

IDF raids PIJ compound near hospital

The terrorists were neutralized adjacent to the Al-Amal Hospital. IDF troops conducted a raid on an Islamic Jihad compound, which was used as a hideout. Soldiers found weapons stored in the hideout. 

Nahal Brigade soldiers killed dozens of armed terrorists in a shootout as well, the IDF stated.

IDF soldiers uncover weapons, electronics in homes of terrorists in Gaza (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

On the edge of Al-Shati in the north of the Gaza Strip, the fighters of the 5th Brigade Combat Team eliminated armed terrorists in various encounters and located many weapons in the area, including AR-15s, RPGs, explosives, missiles, and many launchers.

At the same time, the IAF eliminated terrorists in the area, and fighter jets attacked several targets, including terrorist infrastructure, anti-tank positions, tunnel shafts, and observation posts.

Hamas said on Monday that releasing hostages it is holding would require a guaranteed end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and withdrawal of all IDF forces, reiterating its position after Israel held a meeting with Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

"The success of the Paris meeting is dependent on the Occupation (Israel) agreeing to end the comprehensive aggression on Gaza Strip," senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

It was not immediately clear if, with this condition met, Hamas would free all or some of the 132 hostages Israel says remain in Gaza. Hamas had previously said a full release would require that Israel free all of the thousands of Palestinians held on security grounds in its prisons.

Israelis whose family members are held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza protest during a Finance committee meeting, in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on January 22, 2024. (credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90)

Agreement would have to be endorsed by Qatar, Egypt, and US

A Palestinian official, close to mediation talks, who requested anonymity, said that for Hamas to sign a follow-up deal to the November truce in which it released dozens of hostages, it wants Israel to agree to end the offensive and withdraw from Gaza - though implementation would not necessarily be immediate.

The agreement would have to be endorsed by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the official said. Those countries sent top delegates to discuss the Gaza hostages crisis with senior Israeli intelligence figures on Sunday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed in a phone call the importance of allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, a German government spokesperson said on Monday.

"The chancellor and the president agreed that in the conflict between Israel and Hamas there is an urgent need to significantly improve access for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the provision of supplies to the Palestinians," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The leaders' call came as a growing number of countries, among them Germany, paused payments to the United Nations' aid agency for Palestinians in response to accusations from Israel that some of its workers were involved in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

An IDF soldier was wounded in Haifa on Monday morning after an axe-wielding terrorist rammed his vehicle at a group of soldiers near the Navy base in the northern city, the IDF confirmed.

As per the Israeli military, the terrorist rammed over Israeli forces before leaving the vehicle and attempting to attack them with an axe in his possession.

The soldier is in serious condition, Israeli media reported. The terrorist was shot at the scene. Another man suspected of fleeing the scene of the attack was arrested by police.

Police officers arrived at the scene of the incident and began searching the area and investigating the circumstances behind the incident.

Israel Police have launched an investigation into the incident. Commissioner Kobi Shabtai was en route to the scene of the attack.

Israeli forces foil attack in West Bank moments earlier

Only minutes prior, Israeli forces foiled a suspected terror attack near Tekoa Junction in the West Bank.

The perpetrator was killed on the scene, according to unconfirmed reports.

This is a developing story.

Israel Police launched an investigation after an IDF soldier was wounded in Haifa on Monday morning.

Officers arrived at the scene of the incident and began searching the area and investigating the circumstances behind the incident.

This is a developing story.

Israeli forces foiled a suspected terror attack near Tekoa Junction in the West Bank on Monday morning, Israeli media reported.

The perpetrator was killed on the scene, according to unconfirmed reports.

War cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot on Monday morning berated Israeli ministers and MKs who took part in a conference calling for the re-establishment of settlements inside the Gaza Strip the night before.

"Those who participated...have not learned a thing from the past year," the former IDF chief of staff said in a statement. "They host events to divide Israeli society and increase the existing lack of trust in the government and its representatives, while IDF troops are battling shoulder-to-shoulder in a righteous war."

Gaza hostage families: Calls akin to what was done to us in Europe

Izhar Lifshitz, son of Oded Lifshitz who is being held captive in Gaza, criticized in a Knesset Aliyah and Absorption Committee discussion the Knesset members and ministers who participated on Sunday in an event in Jerusalem in favor of resettling the Gaza Strip. The committee discussion was a special meeting to present the 2023 antisemitism report, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"Is now the right time? When no families have returned to their homes in the Gaza border area, when soldiers are fighting together?" Lifshitz said. "We feel like we were stabbed," Lifshitz added.

The 'victory conference' at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem on January 28, 2024 (credit: FLASH90/CHAIM GOLDBERG)

Merav Leshem-Gonen, mother of Romi Gonen, who is also being held hostage in Gaza, said that the calls to "transfer" the Gazan population at the conference were "shocking."

"Transferring another ethnic group - isn't that what was done to us in Europe? Are we not here to discuss antisemitism - but to be better?" Leshem-Gonen said.

A joint operation between the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police on counterterrorism in the Jenin refugee camp uncovered weapons and killed one terrorist overnight Sunday. Under the direction of the Menashe Brigade, security forces uncovered explosives and were confronted by additional terrorists.

One was killed in the village of El Yamoun after opening fire on soldiers while resisting arrest, according to the IDF.

In Nablus, reservists raided terror centers within the city of Nablus, including the Kasbah, and the Askar and Balata refugee camps.

Terrorists were questioned after military equipment was confiscated.

Austria is suspending payments to the United Nations' Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, pending a full investigation into accusations that its employees were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Austrian foreign ministry said on Monday.

"We call on UNRWA and the United Nations to conduct a comprehensive, swift and complete investigation into the allegations," the ministry said in a statement.

Austria joins Britain, Germany, the United States, Australia and Canada, among others, in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza.