Israel-Hamas War Day 202: What's going on in Israel?

Yemen's Houthis targeted the MSC Darwin ship in the Gulf of Aden, the Iran-aligned group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Thursday, as Houthi forces have staged attacks on shipping in the Red Sea region for months in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war.

The US’s artificial island is expected to be completed and operating by early May, according to IDF sources.

The artificial island, or Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) pier, has been in the works since it was announced by US President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address on March 7.

At the time, the announcement caught many Israeli officials by surprise and it was the start of a series of moves of Washington injecting itself more forcefully into the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Late Sunday, the IDF provided the following statement regarding security over the construction and operation of the island:

"The IDF, through the coordination of COGAT, has approved collaborative efforts for the new Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) initiative led by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The initiative will create an enhanced ship-to-shore distribution system to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

U.S. Air Force members work on the preparation of a humanitarian aid drop for Gaza residents, in this picture released on March 5, 2024. (credit: US Central Command via X/Handout via REUTERS )

The IDF will operate to provide security and logistics support for the JLOTS initiative, which includes the establishment of a temporary floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid from the sea into Gaza.

The extended cabinet approved that an Israeli judge accompanied by two foreign observers would visit Hamas Nukhba terrorists detained in Israeli prisons, according to Israeli media.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich reportedly opposed the decision. 

According to Walla, citing an Israeli official, such visits will be part of a try-out plan, with Israel approving the identity of the observers prior to the visits.

The official also added that Israel does not allow the Red Cross to visit the terrorists since the international organization does not visit the hostages. 

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli media reported the cabinet was set to discuss a British suggestion that British representatives should be allowed to visit Hamas Nukhba terrorists in prison so they can get an impression of the conditions in which the terrorists are detained.

Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed the move and demanded that the hostages receive visits by international delegations as well.

Israel Air Force jets struck a Hezbollah military structure in the Aalma El Chaeb area in addition to launch posts and terror infrastructure in the Kfarchouba area in southern Lebanon, the military said on Thursday. 

The IDF further stated that it had attacked various areas of southern Lebanon to eliminate a threat.

The military added that several launches had been identified crossing from Lebanon throughout the day in the areas of Arab al-Aramshe and Mount Dov.

The United States on Thursday issued further sanctions on Iran, targeting the sale of Iranian drones and commodities, including Russia's use of Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine, as Washington seeks to ratchet up pressure on Tehran.

The US Treasury Department, in a statement, said the action, taken in coordination with the United Kingdom and Canada, targets over one dozen entities, individuals, and vessels it accused of playing a key role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles to the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which Washington said supports Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and Russia's war in Ukraine.

Washington also targeted two companies and a vessel involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities, the Treasury said.

"Destabilizing the region"

A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that a majority of Americans (53%) have little or no confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ability to make the right decisions regarding world affairs.

The survey, published on Thursday, conducted from April 1-7, 2024, involved 3,600 US adults and indicates a growing skepticism toward Netanyahu's leadership.

Among the respondents, 25% expressed no confidence in Netanyahu, marking an 11-percentage point increase since 2023.

A rise in mistrust can create a shift in the younger generation

This steep rise in mistrust could signal a broader shift in American public opinion about the Israeli Prime Minister, particularly among Democrats and younger generations.

Political alignment plays a significant role in the survey's findings, with 51% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents indicating confidence in Netanyahu, compared to just 13% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.

Share of Americans without confidence in Netanyahu has increased since 2023. (credit: SCREENSHOT/PEW RESEARCH CENTER)

Age of Americans factors in 

The cabinet is set to discuss a British suggestion that British representatives should be allowed to visit Hamas Nukhba terrorists in prison so they can get an impression of the conditions in which the terrorists are detained at its upcoming meeting, according to reports by Israeli media on Thursday. 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly opposed the move and demanded that the hostages receive visits by international delegations as well.

This is a developing story.

An aid worker who was part of Belgium's development aid efforts in the Gaza Strip died in an Israeli strike, the Belgian government said on Thursday, adding it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over the incident.

Belgium's Development Minister Caroline Gennez said in a statement that 33-year-old Abdallah Nabhan and his seven-year-old son died after a bombardment by the Israeli army in the eastern part of the southern city of Rafah.

Nabhan, whose nationality was not disclosed, worked for the Belgian Enabel agency, assisting small businesses.

"I will summon the Israeli ambassador to condemn this unacceptable act & demand an explanation," said Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib in a post on social media platform X.

Seven killed in the strike - statement

The US, along with leaders from 17 countries whose citizens are also held hostage in Gaza, released a joint statement on Thursday for the first time during the conflict, calling on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. 

A senior administration official said the cohort of countries tried to initiate a joint statement earlier during the war but were unable to come to an agreement due to different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and Gaza now for over 200 days. They include our citizens," the statement said. "The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza who are protected under international law is of international concern."

The version of the joint statement released on Thursday had been in the works for the past two weeks, the official said. 

Ceasefire to Gaza just for release of women, wounded, elderly, and sick

The deal on the table that would bring a ceasefire to Gaza simply with the release of women, wounded, elderly, and sick hostages is ready to go, a senior administration official said, and Hamas has rejected that.

Demonstrators protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and against the current Israeli government outside Hakirya Base in Tel Aviv, April 20, 2024. (credit: Itai Ron/Flash90)

The statement is signed by leaders from the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

In an unprecedented vote, the European Parliament passed a resolution against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursday.

The resolution condemned Iran for its attack on Israel and reinforced the European commitment to the security of the State of Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the European Parliament for its vote in favor of a resolution. It follows last Monday's decision by the European Union to sanction Iran in order to curtail missile and drone production.

"Another Israeli political success and another blow to Iran," Katz said. "We are tightening the chokehold around the neck of the Iranian octopus. The world understands that Iran needs to be stopped now before it is too late."