Israel-Hamas war: What happened on day 171?

In an interview with KAN to promote his new book, Ilan Kfir claimed that Hamas had an operative plan to reach the heart of Tel Aviv on October 7, but was ultimately thwarted. The veteran journalist published "Gaza Division Conquered," in March, the first book published in Hebrew about the October 7 massacre. 

"Today the picture is much clearer than it was on October 7. Hamas was not satisfied with the phase one plan - but the test was if the phase one plan was successful, they would go on to phase two - and it was prepared with large forces ready on standby and prepared to set off at noon. At the heart of the plan was a breach in two areas, in the north as well as in the south and east, towards Dimona, which was singled out by the group as a very central target. The goal of the operation would have been a raid on Tel Aviv. They marked several focal points in the city that were expected to be crowded in the afternoon and evening in order to carry out a mass massacre in the city," the author stated.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh will travel to Tehran on Tuesday to meet Iranian officials, a day after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group, Iran's official Press TV reported.

IAF jets struck on Monday night a military building belonging to Hezbollah in the area of Tayr Harfa, the military said on Tuesday.

Jets attacked an additional military building in the area of a-Dehira, the IDF added.

In response to the two launches, which crossed into Israeli territory on Monday night, the IDF said it struck the sources of the launch. 

An unnamed Hamas official told Arab media on Monday that the IDF’s Shifa hospital complex operations were a blow to Hamas's military capabilities.

Much of these reports and statements from Hamas are emerging amid the IDF operation within the Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City over the past week in an effort to eliminate Hamas terrorists, who had returned to the hospital to restart terror activities and store weapons. The IDF was also active in various neighborhoods in Khan Yunis, including in al-Qarara and the city of Deir al-Balah.

Along with ongoing operations by IDF ground soldiers, the Israel Air Force  struck targets across the Strip, including in Rafah.

Britain's Royal Air Force airdropped more than 10 metric tons of food supplies into Gaza for the first time on Monday, Britain's defense ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The aid, which consists of water, rice, cooking oil, flour, tinned goods and baby formula, will support the people of Gaza," the ministry said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored in a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday that alternatives exist to a ground invasion of Rafah that would both better ensure Israel's security and protect Palestinian civilians, the State Department said.

Rocket alerts sounded in Gaza border communities early Tuesday morning. 

The alerts sounded in Sderot, Ibim, Nir Am, Netiv Ha’asara, Gevim, and Sapir College.

This is a developing story. 

The IDF attacked a terrorist squad and military structure belonging to Hezbollah, the IDF announced on Monday.

Israel Air Force fighter jets attacked military structures in Meiss Ej Jabal in southern Lebanon. The fighter jets detected terrorists inside a military post, and directed an attack on the post, eliminating the terrorists within.