Israel-Hamas War: What happened on Day 146?

The IDF announced on Thursday evening, that one of its fighter jets struck a Hezbollah compound near the city of Blida, in Lebanon, where a Hezbollah terrorist was detected.

Additionally, the IDF fired upon and neutralized a threat near the area of Meiss El Jabal.

The IDF also revealed that launches were detected near the village of Goren in Israel, and the IDF has returned fire at the sources of the launches.

Earlier on Thursday, IDF fighter jets struck several Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Jabal Blat in southern Lebanon, including launch posts and a military site in which terrorists operated.

Thursday morning, several additional rocket launches were detected crossing from Lebanon toward Adamit and Shlomi in northern Israel. The IDF struck the source of the fire.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke on Thursday about ongoing efforts to release hostages held by Hamas and a potential humanitarian pause in the Gaza conflict, according to the State Department.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah signaled on Thursday that it would halt its attacks on Israel from Lebanon when the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip stops but that it was also ready to keep on fighting if Israel continued hostilities.

Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been trading fire since the Palestinian group Hamas stormed southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, in a steadily intensifying conflict that has fueled concern of wider escalation.

"The war in the south is linked to the aggression on Gaza on the one hand and to securing means of protection for our country on the other," senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah said.

"When the (Israeli) occupation halts its aggression on Gaza, this front stops because it is a supportive front," he said in comments made at an event to commemorate a Hezbollah field commander killed in an Israeli strike earlier this week.

Only one way to halt fire?

Two sources familiar with Hezbollah's thinking told Reuters on Tuesday that the group would halt fire on Israel if Hamas agreed to a proposal for a truce in Gaza - unless Israeli forces kept shelling Lebanon.

Mediators are seeking to secure a Gaza truce, which US President Joe Biden has said he hopes will be in place by the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, expected to start this year on March 10.

Palestinians protest after Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan, at the Al Aqsa Mosque Compound in Jerusalem's Old City, March 31, 2023. (credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)

Possible IDF escalation to come

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant indicated on Sunday that Israel planned to increase attacks on Hezbollah in the event of a possible ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

But Gallant also left the door open to a diplomatic deal to achieve Israel's goal of a withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters from the border and the return of tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled the area.

The fighting, the worst between Hezbollah and Israel since 2006, has also uprooted tens of thousands of people in Lebanon.

Referring to Gallant's comments, Fadlallah said he had threatened to "continue targeting Lebanon." "The resistance will repel all aggression on its country," Fadlallah said in the comments, a copy of which was circulated by his office.

Two Israelis were murdered during a terror shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Eli, the IDF confirmed in an announcement on Thursday. 

Additionally, the IDF announced that it killed two of the three terrorists responsible for the shooting. They also announced that the third terrorist was later neutralized by security forces after taking cover inside a Hummus Eliyahu branch, without any hostages.

A Magen David Adom spokesperson said that "a report was received at 5:08 p.m in the Jerusalem region about gunshot wounds on Route 60 at the gas station near the entrance to Eli. MDA medics and paramedics provide medical treatment on the spot to two critically injured and unconscious people. More updates will follow."

Shortly after, the MDA spokesperson reported that the two wounded Israelis succumbed to their wounds, saying, "Update on the shooting incident at the Eli gas station. An ambulance on the spot reported two dead civilians, one in his 20s and one about 57 years old, and additionally, it is suspected that a terrorist has fled."

Army radio also initially reported that two terrorists were killed at the scene and that security forces were on a manhunt looking for a third.

Later, army radio announced that there were no more suspected infiltrations, and residents were safe to leave their houses.

פיקוד העורף: הסתיים אירוע חדירת מחבלים ביישוב עלי -
ניתן לצאת מהבתים ולנוע באזור ללא הגבלה@Doron_Kadosh

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) February 29, 2024

The IDF also announced that despite the threat ending, forces were continuing additional scans in the area for additional threats.

After the three terrorists were neutralized, Israeli media reported that Aviad Gazber, the owner of the 'Hummus Eliyahu' branch that was used by the third terrorist as cover, was present and armed at the scene, and neutralized one of the terrorists. Aviad is reported to be a soldier in reserves, who was fighting in Khan Yunis, and was in Eli for some time off before returning to reserves.

Aviad Gazber, the owner of the 'Hummus Eliyahu' branch near the terror attack by Eli, where one of the terrorists hid. He was also armed and killed one of the terrorists on the scene, February 29, 2024. (credit: VIA MAARIV ONLINE)

Kan News posted an initial interview with him on X.

אביעד גזבר, שניטרל את המחבל בפיגוע הירי בעלי: "שמעתי יריות, הייתי בתוך החומוס, נתתי כדור כדי שהמחבל יבין שאני פה, ראיתי שהוא רואה אותי, הוא התחיל להסתער לכיווני, הורדתי אותו והמשכתי סריקות"@carmeldangor pic.twitter.com/3y5A6Hohk1

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) February 29, 2024

Terror attack carried out in same gas station as last year's attack in Eli

The settlement of Eli's spokesperson commented on the event, saying, "A short time ago, there was a serious attack in which two Israelis were injured. A terrorist is neutralized on the spot. The attack took place at the Eli gas station where four people were murdered a year ago."

According to a post by former Jerusalem Post correspondent Khaled Abu Toameh, one of the terrorists responsible for the attack was Mohammed Manasreh, a Palestinian Authority police officer.

Mohammed Manasreh, the Palestinian Authority police officer who carried out today's shooting attack. pic.twitter.com/nc8KClFPNp

— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) February 29, 2024

Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir commented on the attack saying: "Yesterday concessions by the Cabinet regarding the Temple Mount - today, an attack . This morning the evacuation of Jews in Binyamin - now an attack The cabinet [needs to] forget about the "conceptzia" [in the West Bank]!

אתמול כניעה של קבינט הקונספציה בעניין הר הבית - היום פיגוע

הבוקר פינוי יהודים בבנימין - עכשיו פיגוע

הקבינט המצומצם, צאו מהקונספציה!

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) February 29, 2024

Politicians respond to the attack

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also commented on the attack, saying, "I will demand tonight at the cabinet meeting to change phase and get rid of the "conceptzia" in the West Bank as well. It is not the economic situation, it is a deep hatred of Israel that is no different between Gaza and the West Bank. It is not possible that every year, Ramadan and the period before it will become a bloodbath of murdering Jews. This is not a stroke of fate."

MK Dan Illouz commented on the attack on X, (formerly Twitter,) saying: "The response to the murderous attack should not be loose calls to calm the area ahead of Ramadan, as you hear in the news studios, but rather exacting a heavy price from the enemy. Complacency invites more terror. Charging a heavy price restores deterrence. Besides the elimination of the terrorists and all those who aided them and the dismantling of the terrorist networks in Israel, we must also deepen our roots in Israel as a response to those who want to cut us off from here. The response must include more settlement and actual steps towards the application of sovereignty. This is the only way we will restore peace."

התגובה לפיגוע הרצחני לא צריכה להיות קריאות רופסות להרגעת השטח לקראת הרמדאן, כמו ששומעים באולפנים, אלא גביית מחיר כבד מהאויב. רפיסות מזמינה עוד טרור. גביית מחיר כבד משקמת את ההרתעה.

חוץ מחיסול המחבל וכל מי שסייע לו ופירוק רשתות הטרור ביו"ש, אנחנו חייבים גם כן להעמיק את השורשים…

— דן אילוז - Dan Illouz (@dillouz) February 29, 2024

Ariel Elmaleh, chairman of the settlement Eli, said, "This is a serious attack. After the attack a year ago at the Eli gas station, another attack took place there. Now, the security forces, together with the Israeli community police, are conducting searches on the spot. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall."

The response of the head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shlomo Na'aman, to the attack near the settlement of Eli: "Once again a very serious attack, again shooting at Jews. We embrace the families of the murdered in this difficult time and demand to reverse the equation in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority is waging a war against us, and we must act vigorously to eliminate all threats throughout the West Bank. The State of Israel and the world must understand that there is no difference between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas terrorists. Whoever did not condemn the Simchat Torah pogrom, whoever financed the families of the terrorists who carried out the attack today, has no right to exist."

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday said that captured hard disks, computers, and internet servers have been a major book for Israel to dissect and destroy Hamas.

This has been true in terms of mapping out Hamas's infrastructure and in terms of tracking the movements of its leaders like Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar.

The IDF arrested several settler activists who violently infiltrated a military checkpoint in the Erez crossing and entered Gazan territory, KAN News reported on Thursday.

This is a developing story.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that more than 25,000 women and children had been killed by Israel since October 7, adding that Israel can and should do more to protect civilians.

During a congressional hearing, Austin was asked how many Palestinian women and children had been killed by Israel, and Austin replied: "It is over 25,000."

Austin added that about 21,000 precision-guided munitions had been provided to Israel since the start of its war in Gaza.

Two Israelis were murdered during a terror shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Eli, the IDF confirmed in an announcement on Thursday. 

Additionally, the IDF announced that it killed two of the three terrorists responsible for the shooting. They also announced that the third terrorist is currently surrounded by security forces, taking cover inside a Hummus Eliyahu branch, without any hostages.

A Magen David Adom spokesperson said that "a report was received at 5:08 p.m in the Jerusalem region about gunshot wounds on Route 60 at the gas station near the entrance to Eli. MDA medics and paramedics provide medical treatment on the spot to two critically injured and unconscious people. More updates will follow."

Shortly after, the MDA spokesperson reported that the two wounded Israelis succumbed to their wounds, saying, "Update on the shooting incident at the Eli gas station. An ambulance on the spot reported two dead civilians about 17-30 years old, and additionally, it is suspected that a terrorist has fled."

Army radio also reported that two terrorists were killed at the scene and that security forces are on a manhunt looking for a third.

The gas station near Eli, where the terror shooting attack took place, February 29, 2024. (credit: MAGEN DAVID ADOM)

Terror attack carried out in same gas station as last year's attack in Eli

The settlement of Eli's spokesperson commented on the event, saying, "A short time ago, there was a serious attack in which two Israelis were injured. A terrorist is neutralized on the spot. The attack took place at the Eli gas station where four people were murdered a year ago."

Ariel Elmaleh, chairman of the settlement Eli, said, "This is a serious attack. After the attack a year ago at the Eli gas station, another attack took place there. Now, the security forces, together with the Israeli community police, are conducting searches on the spot. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall."

US President Joe Biden said on Thursday the United States was checking reports of Israeli firing on people waiting for food in Gaza, and he believes the deadly incident will complicate talks on a ceasefire.

"I know it will," Biden told reporters as he left the White House for a trip.

He also said a temporary ceasefire probably would not happen by Monday, as he had earlier predicted, but he is hopeful.

The White House said on Thursday it is looking into reports of Israeli fire on Palestinians waiting for aid near Gaza City, describing it as a "serious incident."

"We mourn the loss of innocent life and recognize the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians are just trying to feed their families," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.

"This underscores the importance of expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including through a potential temporary ceasefire."

UN response to the transfer of aid supplies

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Thursday he was appalled at the reported killings and injuries of people during the transfer of aid supplies west of Gaza City.

Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs media on the launch of the funding appeal to support conflict-torn Sudan in 2024 at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, February 7, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE)

"Even after close to five months of brutal hostilities, Gaza still has the ability to shock us," Griffiths said in a post on X. "I'm appalled at the reported killing and injury of hundreds of people during a transfer of aid supplies west of Gaza City today."

Life is draining out of Gaza at terrifying speed. pic.twitter.com/5Wd4w8aurX

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) February 29, 2024

Health authorities in Gaza said on Thursday that Israeli fire on people waiting for aid near Gaza City had killed 104 Palestinians and wounded 280, with one hospital saying it had received ten bodies and dozens of injured patients.

Israel disputed the account and the death toll provided by health officials in Hamas-run Gaza, saying aid trucks had been surrounded by hundreds of people and in the confusion, many were trampled or run over, though it acknowledged its forces had later opened fire.