Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 132?

The United States carried out a cyberattack on an Iranian warship that was collecting intelligence on cargo ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, NBC reported on Thursdy evening.

The attack, conducted over a week ago, was carried out in retaliation to the killing of three US soldiers in a drone attack, and was intended to "inhibit the Iranian ship’s ability to share intelligence with Houthi rebels in Yemen," as per the report.

Israel publicly rejected any possibility of moving forward on a two-state resolution to the Palestinian conflict, including any plans that might be proposed by the US, while it was battling to destroy Hamas in Gaza.

“Here in Israel we are still in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre perpetrated against us by a genocidal Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas,” government spokesperson Avi Hyman told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday.

He spoke up after a report in The Washington Post said that the United States and its moderate Arab allies are working on a plan for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Arab conflict based on a clear timeline, which they had hoped to unveil in the coming weeks ahead of the Ramadan holiday period that begins on March 10.

Such a move, Hyman said, would be akin to awarding a prize to Hamas for that attack.

“Now is not the time to be speaking about gifts for the Palestinian people, at a time when the PA itself has yet to even condemn the October 7 massacre,” Hyman said.

He added that the PA has even “suggested in official statements that it did not happen or have questioned it.”

“Now is the time for victory, total victory against Hamas and we will continue on the path to victory,” Hyman said, adding that “all discussions on the day after Hamas, will be had the day after Hamas.”

Yair "Yaya" Yaakov, 59, was murdered in Hamas captivity in Gaza, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced Thursday night. Yaakov's body is being held in Gaza, the community asserted.

Yaakov, a father of three, was kidnapped alongside his partner Merav Tal, and two of his sons, Or, 17, and Vigil, 13.

The deceased was remembered as a humble man who loved his family, his nation, tending to the land, and music. He worked in the garage at Kibbutz Alumim, according to a statement released by Kibbutz Nir Oz.

He was believed to have been murdered on October 7 with his body taken into the Gaza Strip.

The IDF announced that Sergeant Rotem Sahar Hadar, a 20-year-old paratrooper from Kfar Aviv fell in battle in the south of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to a statement.

The family of the soldier has been notified.

Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad director Yossi Cohen in a secret meeting on Thursday night, according to Israeli media reports.

In a closed-door meeting at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu spoke with the heads of both agencies and the Defense Ministry to discuss the best ways to maximize pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli sources.

Following a policy of "maximum pressure," Netanyahu discussed the need for strong military pressure and firm pressure in negotiations with Hamas, sources added.

Netanyahu also used the time to insist on a probe to identify whether or not the medication that needed to be delivered to Gaza hostages was actually delivered.

Netanyahu cited that both the United States and Qatar guaranteed medication would be given to captives.

The Israeli public would prioritize toppling Hamas over returning the hostages held in Hamas captivity, if Israel's leaders were to be faced with such a decision, according to The Jewish People Policy Institute's (JPPI) monthly Israeli Society Index for February. 

Although the question posed to Israel's public was hypothetical, it has been the topic of heated discussion throughout the Israel-Hamas war.

There has been much criticism of Israel's government for not doing more to prioritize hostage's release from Hamas captivity.

Details of the survey

The question was posed to Israel's public by asking individuals to "assume Israel’s leaders reach the conclusion that they only have the two following options: the hostages are returned, and Hamas remains in control of Gaza, or the hostages are not returned, and Hamas loses control of Gaza, which do you think should be chosen?"

According to the survey, 40% of Israel's population would choose to overthrow Hamas, in contrast to 32% of Israel's population who would rather prioritize the release of hostages.

'Let's assume that the Israeli leadership only has two available options, which do you think should be chosen?' (credit: The Jewish People Policy Institute)

Among Israeli Arabs, those who believe Israel will achieve victory is substantially lower. About a quarter (28%) rated their confidence in Israeli victory as high, while 44% rated it as low (1 or 2 out of five).

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed the PA's responsibility for the future of the Gaza Strip in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday. Abbas stated that the political body would be ready to act upon an official end to fighting in Gaza.

Abbas said that the PA would be ready to act on their duties following the "cessation of aggression against [their] people."

Abbas claims that the PA has been responsible for Gaza and emphasized the need to work with partners in the Arab world, within the Middle East, and other international actors to avoid future escalation and harm to Palestinians.

Abbas praised Saudi Arabia's statement on the importance of recognizing a Palestinian state over any other form of normalization of diplomatic ties between the kingdom and Israel.

Abbas criticized US President Joe Biden, claiming that "he did not exert real and serious pressure on the Israeli government to establish a path for a political situation that would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

Abbas added that there would be no partners in peace from Israel's side in his eyes. Abbas called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "an obstacle" to peace.

Hamas has rejected an Israeli offer to free all hostages taken into the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of 1,500 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, Saudi media outlet Al-Arabiya reported on Thursday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that a deal on the release of hostages held by Hamas remains possible, but there remain "very hard" issues to be resolved.

Blinken was speaking at a news conference during a visit to Albania days after talks involving the US, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar on a deal that would see a pause in fighting in Gaza ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday.

IDF launches operation to retrieve Gaza hostages' bodies

The IDF has launched a targeted operation within Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, aiming to apprehend Hamas terrorists and recover the bodies of hostages.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel February 7, 2024. (credit: Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS)

In a Thursday briefing, IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated, "Sadly, we know that some hostages are no longer alive. We are committed to finding and returning the bodies of those hostages in Gaza.

"We have credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages, indicating that Hamas held hostages at the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser hospital facility," Hagari continued. 

Reuters and Alex Winston contributed to this report. This is a developing story.

Hamas has rejected an Israeli offer to release all hostages taken into the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of 1,500 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, Saudi media outlet Al-Arabiya reported on Thursday.

This is a developing story.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that a deal on the release of hostages held by Hamas remains possible but there remain "very hard" issues to be resolved.

Blinken was speaking at a news conference during a visit to Albania days after talks involving the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar on a deal that would see a pause in fighting in Gaza ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday.