Israel-Hamas war: What happened on day 182?

Gaza hostage Elad Katzir's sister announced on Saturday that he was murdered in Hamas captivity over the past few days.

Her announcement also claimed that his body was returned to Israel late last night.

Body found in Khan Younis 

In a joint message from the IDF and the Shin Bet, they announced that according to credible intelligence sources, Katzir was murdered by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). His body was recovered on Friday in Khan Younis by IDF commando soldiers from the Egoz unit.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed Katzir's death on X Saturday afternoon.

גופתו של החטוף אלעד קציר ז״ל, אשר על פי מידע מודיעיני נרצח בשבי על ידי ארגון הטרור גא״פ, חולצה הלילה מחאן יונס במבצע של עוצבת הקומנדו בהכוונת שב"כ ואמ״ן והוחזרה לשטח מדינת ישראל. גופתו אותרה באמצעות מידע מודיעיני של אמ״ן ושב״כ וזיהוי מדויק של יחידת אגוז.

לאחר הליך זיהוי שבוצע…

— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי - Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) April 6, 2024

Egyptian authorities arrested 10 activists participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported on Friday.

The 10 activists, who were arrested at their homes, were ordered by prosecutors to undergo detention for 15 days while investigations were carried out, according to their lawyer Nabeh Elganadi.

The protesters were charged with spreading false information and joining a terror group.

Speaking points for the protesters

The protesters had accused the Egyptian government of contributing to the siege of Gaza, which Egypt shares a heavily policed border with, a human rights lawyer told the source. The protesters also demanded that the Israeli ambassador be expelled from Egypt. 

A border wall stands between Rafah and Egypt, amid fears of an exodus of Palestinians into Egypt, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Rafah southern Gaza Strip February 16, 2024 (credit: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA/REUTERS)

Representative Nancy Pelosi, former House speaker and a key ally of Joe Biden, signed a letter on Friday from dozens of congressional Democrats to the president and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging a halt to weapons transfers to Israel.

Support from Pelosi, a veteran member of Biden's Democratic Party, for stopping the transfer of weapons to Israel showed that the view is increasingly becoming mainstream in the party.

The United States is on high alert and preparing for a possible attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region in response to Israel's strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria, a US official said on Friday.

"We're definitely at a high state of vigilance," the official said in confirming a CNN report that said an attack could come in the next week.

US President Joe Biden on Friday urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas militants to agree to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal ahead of a fresh round of talks this weekend in Cairo.

CIA Director Bill Burns will lead the US delegation to the Cairo talks, a US official said.

Jordanian army trucks carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza will be allowed to pass through Israeli territory, according to a Friday KAN11 report.

The report stated that the trucks would cross through the Allenby Bridge and then be allowed to pass through Israeli territory and reach Gaza directly, except for an inspection at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has decided to reprimand IDF Southern Command Commander Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman over the accidental killing of the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers this week, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Friday.

This comes after an independent investigation was conducted by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yoav Harevi, into the killings, found that the WCK had coordinated with the IDF correctly in advance.

Colombia has asked the International Court of Justice to allow the country to intervene in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the court said Friday.

In its application, Colombia called on the court to ensure "the safety and, indeed, the very existence of the Palestinian people."

Hamas rejected Israel's latest proposal to cease fighting and release hostages, according to a Friday CNN report.

According to an unnamed diplomat cited by CNN, “They refused and asserted it doesn’t include any reply to their asks.”

Families of seven American-Israeli hostages remain confident in the Biden administration's commitment to ensuring any ceasefire deal includes the release of all remaining hostages, they said Friday morning during a press conference in New York, marking six months since October 7. 

The families gathered at the American Jewish Committee's headquarters with New York Reps. Mike Lawler (R) and Dan Goldman (D) plead with the international community to pressure Qatar, Hamas, and Israel to come to a deal.