Israel-Hamas war: What happened on day 209?

President Biden delivered unscheduled remarks on Thursday morning from the White House in his first public condemnation of the escalating protests sweeping college campuses across the country. 

Biden inserted himself at a pivotal moment in the anti-war, pro-Palestinian movement that's now seen several nights of violent clashes between students and heavily armed law enforcement called in by university administrators to dismantle Gaza solidarity tent encampments. 

On Wednesday, for the second night in a row, riot police in tactical gear stormed the encampment on UCLA's campus, where local reports estimated 300-500 people were gathered. More than 2,000 supporters were standing outside of the encampment when California Highway Patrol moved in to start arresting protestors who refused to disperse. 

Turkey stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday, Bloomberg News reported citing two Turkish officials familiar with the matter.

Hostage family members placed at the entrance to the Kirya in Tel Aviv a sukkah from kibbutz Be’eri, dating to the October 7 massacre, a photo published on Kan’s X account showed on Thursday. 

According to Kan, the families stated, “Passover is over, we are all still in Sukkot.”

לקראת ישיבת הקבינט, משפחות חטופים הציבו מחוץ לשער הקריה סוכה ששרדה את הטבח בקיבוץ בארי: "פסח נגמר - כולנו עוד בסוכות"@AnnaPines_ pic.twitter.com/ktqZEU5Hny

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 2, 2024

The United States warned Israel against any Rafah operation that would not protect Palestinian civilians, stressing that it could change its Gaza policy in response to such a move.

“I think that the Israeli leaders understand well, President [Joe] Biden’s view about a Rafah operation,” US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters Thursday.

“I think they understand well, President Biden’s sincerity when he talks about the possibility of changes to our Gaza policy, should they move ahead with some sort of ground operation in Rafah that again, doesn’t take into account refugees,” Kirby said.

The US has insisted that any such operation must ensure the protection of the more than 1.3 million Palestinian civilians in that area of southern Gaza, many of whom sought refuge there to escape heavy Israeli bombing in the north at the start of the war.

Mossad Director David Barnea, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Director Ronen Bar, and outgoing IDF Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva on Thursday effectively issued their first unified public message since October 7. All three agencies provided an unusual update on their work via the journal of the Israeli Intelligence and Heritage Commemoration Center (IICC).

The Mossad wrote about its contribution to the war effort, not only in a general sense but giving specific examples, including that Mossad-made robots have helped the IDF penetrate and analyze Hamas tunnels in Gaza.

Further, the spy agency’s technological prowess has helped the IDF learn new methods for operating in nighttime battle situations and how to use artificial intelligence to analyze and select optimal battlefield strategies and options.

Israel should prevent further attacks on aid convoys bound for Gaza after Israeli settlers attacked a shipment from Jordan, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday, who also called Hamas actions to divert aid "unacceptable."

Shai Davidai, an Israeli associate professor at Columbia Business School, has become the face of the pro-Israel movement not only for students and staff on campus - but for the greater Jewish community. 

On Wednesday morning, he came to speak on the steps of City Hall in lower Manhattan at the invitation of EndJewHatred, an organization dedicated to Jewish unity and solidarity. 

He was greeted with hugs, handshakes, thank you's. 

Two women asked to take a picture with him. 

He'd just returned from five days in Israel, where he told reporters he felt safer walking the streets in Tel Aviv than he did in New York. 

The IDF spokesperson announced the names of officers who will ascend to senior roles in the General Staff forum on Thursday evening, following discussions between Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of the General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi. According to Walla, the decisions are based on evaluations of commanders distinguished in combat and staff roles during the 'Iron Swords' war. Brig.-Gen. Shlomi Binder is set to lead the Intelligence Division and Brig.-Gen. David (Dado) Bar Kalifa will head the Personnel Division.

The Defense Minister approved the Chief of Staff's recommendation for the following appointments: Brig.-Gen. Avi Blut will be designated as the Central Command chief. This officer will be elevated to major general. Brig.-Gen. Shlomi Binder will head the Intelligence Division and be promoted to major general. Brig.-Gen. Dan Goldfus will take over as commander of the Northern Corps and head of the Ground Forces' Maneuvering System, with a promotion to major general. Brig.-Gen. David (Dado) Bar Kalifa will lead the Personnel Division, with a promotion to major general. Brig.-Gen. Aviad Dagan will head the Communications Division and be elevated to major general. These appointments will be implemented in the coming months on a phased basis.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev unveiled the list of individuals who will carry torches in this year's Independence Day ceremony, noting a shift from previous ceremonies. "This year, the torches will be lit in groups, not individually," she stated on Thursday, emphasizing a focus on collective representation of Israeli heroism.

Security Forces Torch

Amid the backdrop of the October 7 massacre and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, significant changes have been made to the selection of torchbearers. Regev (Likud), a retired major general, highlighted the bravery displayed on October 7, "a day when the resilience and heroism of our security forces came to the forefront, as they managed to contain the invasion and continue their vigilant defense of our nation."

The “Islamic Resistance in Bahrain, Saraya Al-Ashtar” claimed Thursday that it had attempted to target Israel with a drone attack, according to reports posted on social media and also by pro-Iranian media in the region. The pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen said that the group had “announced the targeting of the depths of the Israeli occupation entity, with drones, in support of the Palestinian cause and in support of the resisting people in Gaza, in the first operation since the beginning of the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation.”

Saraya Al-Ashtar confirmed, in a statement published on Thursday, “that it targeted the headquarters of the company responsible for land transportation in the occupation entity, Trucknet, in the city of Umm Al-Rashrash, Eilat, south of occupied Palestine.” It claimed that it had carried out the attack on April 27. In a video online the group appeared to use an Iranian-style drone launched from a metal frame using a propellant. The drone then soars into the distance.

#BREAKING
The newly formed Islamic Resistance in #Bahrain released a footage of what it claims a drone that was used to target Eilat, southern #Israel from Bahrain. pic.twitter.com/AOgZYQpY5c

— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) May 2, 2024