Tag Archives: Israel

Israel awaits return of last 2 remains of hostages from Gaza

Israel continues to await the return of the remains of two hostages, a month and a half after a ceasefire began in Gaza. On December 2, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) received “findings” that Hamas had handed over to the Red Cross; Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed receiving the remains of a hostage. Separately, the IDF says it has eliminated suspected terrorists in daily incidents in Gaza, and Qatar urged the ceasefire to move to a new stage.




Terrorist uses aid route to fire at Israeli troops; IDF reports 14 Gaza ceasefire violations from November 22 to 26

Palestinian terrorists violated the ceasefire 14 times between November 22 and 26, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reports. Among these incidents were an attacker using a humanitarian aid route to shoot at Israeli troops and at least three instances of terrorists emerging from tunnels in Rafah on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line. Palestinian Islamic Jihad also returned the body of a hostage after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of violating the ceasefire by delaying the transfer.




Hamas hands over body of hostage as IDF fights terror cells in Rafah

On November 25, Hamas transferred the body of Dror Or, an Israeli hostage whose body had been held in Gaza for more than two years. Israeli troops continued to clash with Hamas terrorist cells in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as the Israeli military continues reporting ceasefire violations along its Yellow Line of control. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ended its work in the territory, noting that it had distributed 187 million meals since May.


Hezbollah vs Israel flag

Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 17–23, 2025

Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between November 17 and November 23, 2025. These activities involved targeted assassinations of Hezbollah operatives involved in the group’s regeneration efforts and strikes on its assets. The week witnessed a significant escalation by Israel against Hezbollah, including the targeted assassination of its chief of staff, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, for his ongoing oversight of the group’s regeneration efforts.


Generation Jihad | Don’t Call It a Peace Deal

Ceasefire on paper. Chaos on the ground. Trump’s 20-point plan promises “peace” in Gaza — but Hamas is already violating the ceasefire, gaming hostage returns, killing rivals, and rearming in tunnels. Bill Roggio is joined by his FDD colleagues Samuel Ben-Ur and Aaron Goren to discuss why disarming Hamas is a fantasy, why an international force risks becoming UNIFIL 2.0, and why Israel may be forced to finish the war.


An inside look at the US-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center for Gaza stabilization

The US-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in southern Israel primarily coordinates humanitarian aid entering Gaza and monitors the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. A visit by FDD’s Long War Journal to the site on November 20 showed that US Central Command (CENTCOM) has committed significant resources to this effort, which now involves nearly 50 countries and organizations.




Palestinian terrorists fire on Israeli soldiers, break ceasefire 8 times from November 13 to 21, IDF says

As phase one of the ceasefire in Gaza continued to bend but not break, Israel reported that Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations continue to violate the terms. Notably, another shooting attack on Israeli troops this week led to retaliatory airstrikes across the enclave. Separately, the situation surrounding 200 holed-up Hamas operatives in Rafah remains unresolved.


Israeli prime minister and top officials visit Syria ‘buffer zone’ as Israel-Syria talks stall

On November 19, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a buffer zone in southern Syria that is controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The zone, which the IDF took over after the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime in December 2024, has been a source of tension between Israel and Syria. Netanyahu led a large Israeli delegation, including government ministers and commanders, to the area and said Israel’s presence there is of “immense importance.” Syrian officials condemned the visit as reports emerged of security talks between Israel and Syria hitting a “dead end.”


Hamas rejects UNSC vote endorsing key aspects of 20-point plan for Gaza

Hamas rejected UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which endorses US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, immediately after its passage. The resolution also called for the establishment of the Board of Peace that would temporarily govern Gaza and oversee the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF). Continued challenges to the establishment of an ISF and Hamas’s rejection of the resolution and refusal to disarm place the future of the peace plan in question.



IDF destroys more Hamas tunnels, prepares for future Gaza operations

The Israeli military continues to eliminate Hamas tunnels in the 50 percent of Gaza still under its control after the ceasefire deal signed in Egypt in early October. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir traveled to the territory to meet with troops on November 16 and said, “We will persist in the mission of dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip.” He also stated that the army had to be prepared to transition back to fighting if necessary.



Palestinian terrorists broke Gaza ceasefire 6 times from November 7 to 12, IDF says

According to the IDF, Palestinian terrorists have violated the Gaza ceasefire on at least six occasions since November 7. The incidents over the past week have been nearly identical, with terrorist operatives testing the boundaries of the “Yellow Line” marking Israeli-controlled territory almost daily. These issues have been compounded by 200 Hamas members trapped in tunnels under Rafah in Israeli-controlled territory.



Hamas returns body of IDF soldier held since 2014 amid Rafah tensions

Hamas transferred the body of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lieutenant Hadar Goldin to Israel on November 9. Goldin was one of two IDF soldiers who were killed in 2014 and whose bodies had been held in Gaza. The other soldier had been located in January 2025. The return of Goldin’s body came as tensions remain over 200 Hamas terrorists reported to be trapped in a tunnel network in Rafah. In southern Gaza, Israeli troops dismantled “dozens” of terrorist infrastructure sites.


Houthis arrest alleged members of Saudi-American-Israeli spy ring

On November 8, the Houthis announced the arrest of members of an alleged espionage network that they claim was operated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel. The Yemeni terrorist group accused these individuals of identifying and providing information on sensitive sites and residential areas in Houthi-controlled territory.


US pushes for UN resolution on Gaza to support peace plan

The US is seeking a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Gaza to bolster President Donald Trump’s peace plan. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz convened a meeting on November 5 with 15 countries, 10 of which are elected members of the UNSC, noting that the effort was aimed at creating “real peace in the Middle East.” The resolution seeks to support the establishment of an international security force for Gaza, which will operate in conjunction with the Board of Peace envisioned by the ceasefire agreement reached in Egypt in October.



Palestinian terror groups have violated Gaza ceasefire at least 18 times since implementation, IDF claims

Since phase one of the Trump administration’s 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza went into effect on October 10, Israel reports that Hamas and other groups have repeatedly violated the agreement. Violations include violence against Gazans accused of working for Israel, attacks on Israeli forces, delaying the return of the bodies of slain hostages, and Hamas’s refusal to withdraw its fighters from Israeli-controlled territory.


Hamas continues to return hostage remains as Gaza ceasefire holds

Hamas continued to hand over the remains of Israeli hostages between November 1 and November 5 as part of the ceasefire agreement that has largely held for almost a month. The remains of the last two American hostages held captive in Gaza were returned and identified. As of November 5, seven deceased hostages remained in the territory. The transfers took place as negotiations are reportedly underway regarding Hamas members who are trapped in tunnels in Rafah.



Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows signs of renewed activity in the West Bank

Mounting evidence suggests that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is becoming more active in the West Bank following extensive Israeli military operations in the territory that began earlier this year. Claims of attacks by PIJ, the killing of its members in counter-terrorism operations, and other evidence point to the group attempting a resurgence.


Report: Iran rebuilding its ballistic missile program

With the help of China, Tehran is importing a chemical precursor for its medium-range ballistic missiles despite recently imposed United Nations sanctions, CNN reported. The report assesses that Tehran “appears to be stepping up the rebuilding of its ballistic missile program” following the 12-day war with Israel in June.


Israeli soldier killed in Gaza attack, IDF responds with airstrikes

An Israeli soldier was killed in Gaza in an attack on October 28, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes across the territory in response. “The targets struck included key terrorists, observation posts, weapons production warehouses, launch posts, underground tunnels, and mortar shell firing posts,” the IDF said. In addition, Israel released drone footage that appeared to show Hamas staging the discovery of the remains of hostage Ofir Tzarfati. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement through the slow return of the remains of hostages and continued attacks.