Swords of Iron: Here is what happened on days 3, 4 and 5

Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon was hit by a rocket during a barrage on Wednesday, according to Israeli media.

While damage was caused, no injuries were reported.

As Israel fights its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the battles are being fought from bases across the country. One such base is Ramat David Airbase, southeast of Haifa, where the soldiers in the control tower are helping the operations in the South.

The soldiers manning the tower have been providing the IAF with air-control support since Saturday, when the war broke out.

Lior, an officer who works in the tower, said she did not wait to be called up. She dropped her plans for the day and was at the base ready to help within half an hour of seeing messages about the massive Hamas attack.

Morale on the base is high, Lior said Wednesday.

The job at hand

“We all understand the task at hand, the responsibility we have, and what it means,” she told The Jerusalem Post.

A planned meeting of the security cabinet which was set to take place on Wednesday evening was moved up to 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The reason for the change is unclear as of yet.

President Isaac Herzog visited Sderot on Wednesday morning, meeting with local leaders and volunteers and calling on world leaders to demand the release of hostages being held by Hamas.

"I am here in Sderot, the capital of heroism of this region, the Gaza envelope. Sderot - this is the line of heroism of the State of Israel, this has been the line of heroism for generations in the State of Israel," said Herzog.

"What we see here is the unimaginable heroism of a people, a people that rose from a terrible attack that was imposed on them on their holiday, and the enormous strength that emanates from them are impressive, they are amazing," added the president. "You can come here to Sderot and see the volunteers, the soldiers - everyone who is involved in the effort - the police officers, the rescue workers, the welfare workers - all mobilize as one man, with one heart, with an amazing mayor."

"We demand from the international community, and today I will meet with more leaders who are coming here and I will talk with more leaders who will come - to demand the immediate release of the hostages who are in Gaza - this is a minimal, basic, and reasonable demand of every human being and we will stand by it."

The IDF launched retaliatory strikes on a Hezbollah observation post in southern Lebanon on Wednesday after anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanese territory at an Israeli military position on the border, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said. Hezbollah took responsibility for the anti-tank missile fire shortly after the incident.

The attack took place near the Israeli town of Arab al-Aramshe, opposite the Lebanese village of Dhayra. The IDF did not immediately provide details on casualties.

A Lebanese security source said the powerful armed group Hezbollah fired two precision missiles into Israel, which the group considers its sworn enemy.

Where did the IDF strike in Lebanon?

IDF retaliatory strikes hit a Hezbollah observation post near the border, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.

A Palestinian who was being detained was shot and killed after attacking security forces at the Tunnels checkpoint near Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon, according to Walla.

According to an initial investigation, two Palestinians who were illegally in Israel were detained at the checkpoint before one of the Palestinians attempted to get out of his handcuffs and attack security personnel.

A civilian at the scene shot toward the Palestinian, killing him and moderately injuring a second person. The injured person was transferred to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in stable condition.

"The wounded man was lying on the road fully conscious and suffering from a penetrating injury to his lower body," said MDA paramedic Nadav Taib. "We gave him medical treatment that included dressings and evacuated him in an MDA intensive care vehicle to the hospital in moderate condition."

Police and security personnel gather around the body of a Palestinian terrorist at the scene of a shooting attack at ''HaMinharot'' checkpoint, near Jerusalem, October 11, 2023. (credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON/FLASH90)

The power plant in the Gaza Strip ceased operations on Wednesday afternoon after running out of fuel, the Gaza Energy Authority announced.

Widespread power outages were reported shortly after the announcement.

Seventeen British nationals including children are dead or missing in Israel after attacks by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, the BBC reported on Wednesday, citing an official source.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday the EU's humanitarian support to the Palestinian people is not in question, but the bloc must review its financial assistance.

"Our humanitarian support to the Palestinian people is not in question," von der Leyen said in a statement.

"Yet it is important that we carefully review our financial assistance for Palestine. EU funding has never and will never go to Hamas or any terrorist entity. So we will now again review the entire portfolio in light of an evolving situation on the ground," she said.