Hezbollah escalates attacks in North, world awaits Israel, Hamas responses to deal

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud received a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday during which they discussed the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, the Saudi state news agency said.

Rocket sirens sounded again in northern Israel on Saturday morning.

The IDF announced on Saturday morning that the Israeli air force conducted targeted strikes on Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in the areas of Qana, Hmaileh, and Aadloun in southern Lebanon overnight.

A Hezbollah observation post and two military structures were also struck in the areas of Tayr Harfa, Jibba, and Khaim.

South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor affirmed US House Speaker Mike Johnson’s prediction that the United States would be next if the International Criminal Court (ICC) is allowed to prosecute Israeli leadership, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported on Friday.

Pandor’s comments were addressed to an audience at a mosque in Cape Town, South Africa, MEMRI noted.

The IDF announced on Saturday morning that it successfully eliminated Hamas terrorist Mansur Aadel Mansur Kashalan, who was responsible for terror attacks on Israeli territory.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls on Friday with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan, the State Department said, to discuss a proposal to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

The top US diplomat, conducting the calls on the plane as he flew back to Washington from Prague, underscored to his counterparts that the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

The US military said on Friday that Yemen's Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles and one drone over the Gulf of Aden and four drones over the Red Sea.

Three of the drones fired over the Red Sea were destroyed by US forces and one crashed into the sea, the US military's Central Command said. Centcom also said it destroyed the drone fired over the Gulf of Aden.

No damage or injuries were reported as a result of the anti-ship ballistic missiles, it said.

Hostile aircraft intrusion sirens sounded in northern Israel on Saturday morning.

Rocket sirens sounded in northern Israel on Saturday morning.

Hamas published a video featuring what is believed to be the voice of Gaza hostage Noa Argamani in captivity, Israeli media reported on Friday.

The Hostages & Missing Families Forum provided the following statement shortly afterwards: 

"Recently, Hamas released a video with the voice of Noa Argamani, who's been in Hamas captivity for 238 days. The Argamani Family has requested not to broadcast the video."

Later, the forum provided the following statement, allowing the publication of the video: "After assessing the situation and receiving additional information, the Argamani family has approved the use of a video in which Noa Argamani was heard while being held hostage by Hamas. Alongside Noa's voice, drawings are shown, which the family believes to be scribbles that Noa has drawn.."

The forum statement continued, saying, "125 men and women have been held hostage by Hamas for 238 days. The Israeli government must hear the call and act decisively, without the need for any propaganda video from Hamas, to swiftly reach a deal to bring the hostages home!."

Noa Argamani and Liora Argamani. (credit: Screenshot from Hamas Telegram video/ Courtesy)

The hostage video

In the video, the voice identified as Argamani said "I am imprisoned with Al-Qassam Brigades. I have been in captivity for more than 237 days and do not know till when. 

"I say to the people of Israel: Have you become government partners with Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz? Will my fate together with my colleagues be like Ron Arad's fate?

"Let thousands of women and men come out and block the streets of Tel Aviv and do not return home until we return home. Do not put our fate in the hands of Netanyahu and the War Council."

"Time is running out. The people must decide. We don't want to die here."

This is the third hostage video released this week, the two prior ones released were sent out by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.

About Noa Argamani 

Argamani has previously featured in Hamas's hostage videos, which they publish as part of an ongoing campaign of psychological terror. In January she appeared alongside fellow captives Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38. Both Svirsky and Sharabi were later reported as having been killed. 

Noa's mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer. Liora has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again. 

Argamani was kidnapped from the Nova music festival. A video of her riding off on the back of a motorcycle with Hamas terrorists on October 7 went viral.