Israel-Hamas war day 336: What's happening in Gaza and Lebanon?

The Hostage Families Forum on Friday announced that it was calling on the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and all health organizations to condemn Hamas’s murder of hostages in Gaza captivity publicly and to advocate for the release and protection of the remaining hostages.

Carmel Gat had been among the six hostages discovered murdered last week in a tunnel in Rafah. She had been training to work as an occupational therapist. 

“Carmel Gat, of blessed memory, was a dedicated occupational therapist specializing in mental health. Even in captivity, her compassion never wavered. Carmel remained a beacon of hope and support, continuing to care for others and supporting fellow hostages through daily yoga and meditation,” the forum said. 

Professor Hagai Levine, head of the health team at the Hostages Families Forum, added, "The silence of international health organizations regarding the murder of hostages this week is disappointing and painful. We expect them to address harm to all individuals, including the hostages in Gaza."

Hamas released a video of murdered hostage Almog Sarusi on Friday afternoon on its official Telegram channel.

In the video, made while captive by Hamas, Sarusi claimed that Israeli bombings had targeted him and his fellow abductees in Gaza.

"Our lives and the lives of our people are not a worthless game in your hands," Sarusi said. "Bring us back home without us losing a single hair from our heads. This way, we know our lives are not worthless, and security is restored again to the country."

IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi conducted a situational assessment and tour at the 210th Division on the border of the Golan Heights on Friday, where he announced that the military was working toward reducing Hezbollah's offensive capabilities.

Halevi attended the border alongside the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin, the Commanding Officer of the 210th Division, BG Yair Peli, and additional commanders.

During this assessment, the military officials detailed both offensive and defensive actions, including the enhancement of the barrier and components of intelligence gathering.

"The IDF is very focused on combat with Hezbollah. I think that the number of strikes in the past month, operatives eliminated, rockets and infrastructure destroyed, is very high," Halevi said.  "The Northern Command, with all of the IDF's capabilities, is striking a lot of Hezbollah's capabilities in Lebanon before they can attack us, and at the same time, we are preparing for offensive moves within the arena.

American-Turkish human rights activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, succumbed to her wounds on Friday after being shot in the head by Israeli forces during a weekly protest against settlement expansions in the West Bank, according to Palestinian Authority-run news outlet Wafa. 

During the weekly protest in Beita, south of Nablus in the West Bank, IDF soldiers opened fire at the protesters using live ammunition, the report noted. Eygi was subsequently critically wounded in the head. The 26 years old activist was evacuated to Rafida Hospital in Nablus, where she later died.

Fouad Nafaa, the head of the Rafidia Hospital, told Reuters that a woman arrived at the hospital in a very critical condition with a serious head injury.

Despite his role in the intelligence failure of October 7 and his affair with a female officer under his command, Lieutenant Colonel A, who served as the intelligence officer of the Southern Command, has been appointed as the IDF representative in the National Cyber Security Authority.

According to the IDF, the new position is not a command position; therefore, the appointment is not an exemption. The IDF stated that at the end of the probes into 7/10 intelligence failures, additional decisions will be made regarding Col. A, and the previous commander of the Gaza Division, Lt. Col. Avi Rosenfeld, who resigned and retired.

Col. A. remained in the army even after his removal from his previous post following the affair with the female officer.

Ronan Manelis, IDF spokesman and former Director General of the Strategic Affairs Ministry, condemned the appointment. They said: "Why am I angry about no one taking real responsibility in the army? There is no resignation and there is no removal of senior officials with direct responsibility for the failings on October 7. Now, we have a situation where people at fault get new positions instead of being punished."

At least three anti-tank missiles damaged a building and town infrastructure in Metula in the Upper Galilee, the IDF reported Friday. There were no casualties.

Israel Fire and Rescue Services have arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire. 

Earlier, the Israel Air Force struck a structure in which several Hezbollah terrorists were operating after IDF soldiers identified a Hezbollah terrorist operating there in the area of Matmoura in southern Lebanon. 

Incidents earlier today

Earlier, an explosive drone fell in an open area north of Kibbutz Ma'ayan Baruch in the Upper Galilee. There were no casualties in this incident, as well.

No siren sounded in either community to warn of the missile or drone.

The Chief of Staff of Egypt's Army's visit to the border between the country and the Gaza border is a "step of escalation against the Israeli government," an Egyptian source told the Egyptian newspaper Al-Akbar.

The military, Shin Bet, and Border Police forces have eliminated and apprehended numerous terrorists, dismantled booby traps, and conducted aerial strikes in Jenin, the IDF reported Friday morning.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir addressed a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, requesting that the defeat of Hamas and other terror organizations in the West Bank be officially added as a goal of the war in the upcoming cabinet meeting.