Israel-Hamas war: What happened on day 218?

Hamas published on Saturday the first sign of life from 51-year-old hostage Nadav Popplewell, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim during the events of October 7.

The video shows Popplewell reading a short script before the video cuts to a large question mark. Accounts that posted the video mockingly asked, "In a few moments... What happened?"

It is unclear when the video is taken and what the current status of Popplewell's health is.

Nadav Popplewell's health

Popplewell had a black eye in the video, but no other visible injuries.

It is unclear when the video is taken and what the current status of Popplewell's health is.

Popplewell is diabetic and his sister told the Daily Mail in November, one month after he was kidnapped, that she was worried about his health in captivity.

Popplewell's mother, Channah Peri, was released on November 24 as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement.

Popplewell's brother Roee was murder on October 7.

Hamas has posted short videos of hostages in the past and taunted about the state of their wellbeing. This is part of Hamas's ongoing campaign of psychological terror.

Only two weeks ago, Hamas published footage of hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Keith Siegel and Omri Miran.

Hostile aircraft intrusion sirens sounded in northern Israeli communities on Saturday.

Earlier, a rocket siren sounded near the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.

Egypt is refusing to coordinate with Israel regarding the entry of aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing due to Israel's "unacceptable escalation" in the Strip, Egypt's state-affiliated Alqahera News, citing a high-level source, reported on Saturday.

According to the source, Egypt held Israel, above any other party, responsible for the deterioration of the situation in Gaza.

The source added that Egypt had done its part to reach a hostage deal and had fulfilled its responsibility towards the Palestinians in Gaza.

Ayelet Metzger, the wife of the hostage Yoram Metzger, stated, "Today marks the 218th day our loved ones are held hostage in the hell of Gaza. We gather here today to cry out to all of Israel: the Israeli government abandoned the hostages and left them to die in Hamas captivity!

"As long as Netanyahu remains in power, the captives will not return. Today, it's clear that only a different government can bring them home!"

Mezgar further stated, "In the past two weeks, the Prime Minister has engaged in a fraudulent charade of negotiations to rescue the hostages. Because of Netanyahu, there is no deal, and the hostages do not return! He is sacrificing our families for political considerations!

"The incursion into Rafah and the expansion of operations there not only distances negotiations but also endangers our families! As long as Netanyahu remains in power, the captives will not return because Netanyahu does not want them home!"

Four launches from the Rafah area were identified on Saturday, the IDF reported, adding that the military's Aerial Defense Array intercepted one of the launches.

Following the siren that sounded on Saturday in the Kerem Shalom area, four launches were identified that crossed into Israel from the Rafah area of southern Gaza. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted one of the launches, and the rest fell into open areas.

No injuries have been reported.

A Hamas delegation arrived in South Africa on Saturday to participate in the 'Global Anti-Apartheid Conference on Palestine,' the Islamist terror organization announced.

In the Hamas announcement, the conference is referred to as the 'World Conference Against Zionist Apartheid.'

According to the statement, the Hamas delegation included Dr. Basem Naim, a member of the group's Political Bureau in Gaza, and Imad Saber, a member of Hamas's International Relations Office.

Naim is the Hamas official who told AFP last month that the terror group did not know which of the hostages were dead or alive.

Sirens sound in Kerem Shalom on Saturday afternoon.

Hamas released a video of the hostage Nadav Popplewell, according to Israeli media.

This is a developing story.

The IDF launched a wave of strikes, on Friday night and early on Saturday morning, against terrorist targets throughout the entire Gaza Strip.

The attacks were carried out with an emphasis on Gaza City, the central Gazan region and Rafah.

Palestinian sources report more than ten deaths.

The IDF has been advancing ground troops into the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah, according to Palestinian reports from the last few minutes.

Reports also indicate that the movement of Palestinians to the area of ​​the humanitarian shelters has continued.

The IDF is ordering the residents of other areas in East Rafah to evacuate to the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, according to Reuters.

IDF distributed posters calling for additional neighborhoods in Rafah to evacuate the area, according to Israeli media.