Israel-Hamas war day 185: What's happening in Gaza, Lebanon?

Support among Democratic voters for the US-brokered peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority plunged 30% following revelations of the PA’s alignment with Hamas, according to a recent poll by Gideon300, a public affairs agency, and RMG Research.

The survey revealed a significant shift in American public opinion on the US effort to facilitate a peace deal between Israel and the PA. The poll involved 1,000 likely general election voters.

Initially, the survey indicated a majority of American voters favored the US role in brokering a peace agreement. However, support notably waned after respondents were informed of the PA’s plans to form a unity government with Hamas, which included cabinet positions to members of the organization, which widely condemned for involvement in terrorist activities and particularly for perpetrating the October 7 massacre in Israel.

France's foreign minister Stephane Sejourne said on Tuesday that pressure, and possibly sanctions, must be imposed on Israel to open crossings to get humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

"There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions to let humanitarian aid cross check points," Stephane Sejourne told RFI radio and France 24 television

"France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening of humanitarian aid," he said.

Marking this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the NGO CyberWell released a report on the widespread online denial of Hamas’s October 7 sexual violence.

CyberWell charged that, despite the overwhelming evidence that Hamas terrorists willingly uploaded online, the denial narrative spread by extremists online is spreading at a rapid rate. “The denial of rape is an attempt to rewrite history - to obfuscate the deliberate crimes committed against women and redirect sympathy away from the victims and toward justification and celebration of their attackers,” CyberWell explained.

“Hamas deliberately used sexual violence and rape as a weapon to torture, terrorize, and humiliate women and girls,” the NGO asserted.

October 7 denial on social media

CyberWell claimed to have identified five different narratives used to deny sexual violence was committed on October 7 - when Hamas invaded Israeli borders and murdered some 1200 people and kidnapped over 250 more.

The first narrative claimed that no survivor has personally come forward, a narrative which is untrue. Released Gaza hostage Amit Soussana gave her personal testimony of the sexual violence and physical abuse she endured in Hamas captivity in an eight-hour interview with The New York Times that was published in March. Soussana disclosed that she had been forced to commit sexual acts on her captors. 

Released hostage Amit Soussana, kidnapped on the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, talks to the press in front of her destroyed home at the Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Israel, January 29, 202 (credit: REUTERS/ALEXANDRE MENEGHINI)

Additionally, while they are not alive to share their testimonies, the bodies of October 7 victims have shown signs of sexual violence. As reported in February, some families were forced at gunpoint to watch their loved ones experience sexual assault. 

The IDF identified one rocket launch from Syria fired toward the area of Yonatan in the Golan Heights and returned fire, striking the source of the launch on Monday night, the IDF announced on Tuesday.

No injuries or casualties were reported in the attack.

IAF fighter jets later, early Tuesday morning, struck terror infrastructure belonging to the Syrian military in the vicinity of the town of Mahajjah in southern Syria, as well as struck another Syrian military post.

Turkey will impose restrictions on the export of products from 54 different categories to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza, the Turkish Trade Ministry said on Tuesday, adding the measures would take effect immediately.

In a statement following Ankara's announcement that it would be taking measures after Israel rejected its request to take part in an aid air-drop, the ministry said the restrictions would include iron and steel products, construction equipment and products, machines and more.

IAF fighter jets eliminated the chair of  Hamas's Emergency Bureau in the Central Camps in Gaza on Monday night, the IDF announced on Tuesday.

The terrorist, Hatem Alramery, was killed in a strike with intel provided by the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate.

Alramery served as an operative in the al-Qassam Brigades, working on projectile launches within the Maghazi Battalion of the Central Camps.

Other activities in Gaza

Hamas said on Tuesday that Israel's proposal received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions.

An official from the terrorist organization told Reuters on Monday that the group rejected the ceasefire proposal by Israel that was made at talks in Cairo. However, other officials from the group stated that the proposal is still under review.

Hamas said early on Tuesday Israel's proposal that it received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions.

However, the group added in a statement it would study the proposal, which it described as “intransigent”, and deliver its response to the mediators.

Over 400 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, the highest number in one day since the start of the war, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said Monday evening.

The new high comes just a day after the previous highest number, 322, was recorded.

🚚419 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to Gaza today (Apr. 8). This is the highest number of aid trucks that entered Gaza in one day since the start of the war. It follows a previous high of 322 trucks that were inspected and facilitated yesterday.
👇 pic.twitter.com/zsJ4TWly6v

— COGAT (@cogatonline) April 8, 2024

Unrecognized aircrafts infiltrated Israel's south on Monday night.

Alerts were triggered in Eilat, Hevel and Eilot.

Following reports of an unauthorized entry of unidentified aircraft into the city of Eilat and the Eilat region, the Israeli Navy identified a suspicious aerial target that crossed into Israeli territory and successfully intercepted it using the "Water Dome" system, IDF spokesperson reported. The target was monitored by IDF forces. There are no casualties and no damage caused.

It's wrong for the US to make demands of an ally and suggest that vital aid will be withheld unless those demands are met, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) said on Monday from the senate floor. 

President Joe Biden's recent call for a ceasefire plays directly into Hamas' hands and the priority should be the release of the hostages and victory for Israel, Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, said. 

"But instead of displaying American resolve, our President seems to be mollifying the left wing of his party," Wicker said. "Calling for a ceasefire instead of hostage release and unconditional victory creates a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas."