Israel-Hamas war day 213: What's going on in Gaza?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to re-open the Kerem Shalom Crossing, the White House said on Monday.

Israel had closed the crossing, one of the main entry points for goods heading into Gaza, in the aftermath of Hamas’s rocket attack against it on Sunday in which four soldiers were closed.

Biden brought up the issue when he spoke with Netanyahu for half an hour on Monday.

The White House stated after the call, “The Prime Minister agreed to ensure the Kerem Shalom crossing is open for humanitarian assistance for those in need.”

More than 80 family members of hostages from 30 different families, including six former hostages, sent a letter to Ministers-without-portfolio Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot asking them to give the public answers regarding the negotiations for a hostage deal. 

"We hostage family members watch in horror at what is happening. Netanyahu is deliberately scuttling the deal and abandoning the hostages to their deaths. Entering Rafah now is a death sentence for the hostages. Netanyahu's announcement that he is not the one who is scuttling the deal is a misrepresentation and throwing dust in the eyes of the public - and you know it," they wrote. 

Letter calls for clarifications following Netanyahu's Saturday statement 

"You have become extras in Netanyahu's show of accusations and the torpedoing, which has for meaning the abandonment of the hostages to their deaths," the letter further stated. 

Kfar Aza residents and People call on the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv. October 26, 2023. (credit: Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)

"You justify your stay in the government by returning the hostages. It is time for you to turn over every stone to return them. It is time for you to remove the obstacles that Netanyahu put in the deal," they concluded. 

Four IDF soldiers were killed and at least three others were seriously wounded after Hamas fired ten rockets toward the Kerem Shalom area along the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday afternoon.

The four slain soldiers were identified as St.-Sgt. Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, 19, from Ra'anana; St.-Sgt. Ido Testa, 19, from Jerusalem; St.-Sgt. Tal Shavit, 21, from Kfar Giladi; and Sgt. Michael Ruzal, 18, from Rishon Lezion. Assouline and Testa served in the Shaked Battalion in the Givati Brigade. Shavit and Ruzal served in the 931st Battalion in the Nahal Brigade.

Soroka Medical Center stated that it received 10 people wounded in the attack, including three in serious condition, two in moderate condition, and five in light condition.

Shortly after the attack, the IDF closed the Kerem Shalom crossing located in the area, halting the entry of humanitarian aid trucks through the crossing which serves as the main entry point for aid.

Several people received medical treatment on the spot for injuries sustained from the rocket fire, and were evacuated to hospitals for immediate medical care. The Eshkol Regional Council announced that one of the people wounded was a resident of the Eshkol Regional Council.

Additionally, a home in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom was hit and damaged, according to the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries were reported in the impact in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom.

IDF troops, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and Border Police Officers arrested the 4000th wanted person since the beginning of the war during an overnight operation and are continuing operations to thwart terror in Tulkarm, West Bank, the military said on Monday.

According to the announcement, soldiers had killed a terrorist, destroyed an explosives manufacturing factory, and discovered an additional factory and a Kalashnikov rifle during the overnight raid.

IDF operates in West Bank. May 6, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Forces find terror infrastructure in West Bank

Engineering forces found several explosive devices, raided infrastructures, searched for weapons, and interrogated suspects, the IDF said.

As Israel signals that it is beginning a limited operation in eastern Rafah, Hamas will weigh its next moves. The terrorist group attacked Kerem Shalom on May 5, targeting IDF soldiers. Hamas put out a statement claiming it attacked with 114mm rockets. Hamas is, therefore, very aware of an attempt to provoke an Israeli response. Hamas is aware that Israel has withdrawn from most of Gaza and that Hamas has achieved many of its war aims, basically getting an Israeli withdrawal from most areas and a kind of de facto ceasefire in some areas.

Therefore, Hamas was gambling on May 5 on attacking Israel even as it had put out messaging about its “flexibility” in the ongoing ceasefire and hostage talks. Hamas has generally believed it is kind of “playing” Israel in this respect. Its backers in Doha and Ankara give Hamas the cover to feel it is winning. This is because military pressure on Hamas generally ended back in March.

Initially, Israel had waged a campaign that had brought pressure on the terror group, and Hamas was surprised by Israel’s response and surprised the international community was not able to prevent the war from continuing.

However, Hamas regrouped quickly in northern Gaza in February and March. It also has regrouped in other areas. It has re-established some capabilities to fire rockets, often working with other terror groups in Gaza. This is not to say it has the extensive capabilities to manufacture long-range rockets and fire large barrages. However, it continued reference to the 114mm rocket, which is relatively short range, is a reference to a continued capability to position its munitions and projectiles around Gaza. It has also used these munitions to target the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza. 

Impatiently awaiting the IDF's response

Now Hamas will likely look closely at the IDF response. A limited and gradual incursion into an area along the border will leave Hamas intact in Rafah and enable it to move its battalions back to Khan Younis. One area of Khan Younis, the western side of Salah al-Din road, is now part of the “humanitarian area” and therefore Hamas can likely shift forces up this road, which is the main north-south road in Gaza. Hamas leaders are more familiar and comfortable with Khan Younis as a base of operations. Yahya Sinwar is from there.

An Israeli medic walks near soldiers and an ambulance after Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack on Kerem Shalom crossing, May 5, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

Drone infiltration alerts sounded in Manara, Misgav Am, Margaliot, Kiryat Shmona, Tel Hai, Metulla, Kfar Giladi, Kfar Yuval, Ma'ayan Baruch, Beit Hillel, Gonen, Dafna, HaGoshrim, Kfar Blum, Kfar Szold, Lehavot HaBashan, Neot Mordechai, Ghajar, Amir, Kibutz Dan, Shear Yeshuv, Sdeh Nechemia, Shamir, and Snir in northern Israel.

Rocket sirens sounded shortly after in Metulla.

Israel's Air Force intercepted a monitored UAV coming from the east overnight, according to Israeli media reports. 

The IDF began moving the Palestinian population from the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah to a humanitarian zone on Monday morning, according to Israeli media reports. 
 

The Haifa District Juvenile Court sentenced a teenager from Umm el-Fahm to three years in jail for planning to carry out an attack against soldiers in the area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, by placing an explosive device or shooting at them.

The three judges sitting in court noted, "The severe breach of citizen's duty of loyalty to the state" and even more so because the planned attack was in such a sensitive location in the Old City of Jerusalem, "aside from the harm to human life, it could have ignited a chain of serious events, potentially inflaming the entire area."

An Israeli strike targeting a house in Rafah in Southern Gaza killed nine Palestinians, officials from the Hamas-run Gazan health ministry said on Monday.