The IDF also revealed that the houses and tunnels in Rafah had new kinds of defenses and boobytraps, with some houses having video surveillance in each room of the given house to facilitate ambushes.

Al-Quds Foundation South Africa, self-described as a branch of designated Hamas proxies based in Lebanon, was at the center of a Jerusalem Post investigative report from January.

The knowledge that the US is resupplying Israel may convince those in Lebanon with Hezbollah ties that reaching diplomatic solution is preferable to escalating hostilities.

"There is nothing to be gained by the Houthis in keeping the 25 crew members," said the ship managers.

Friedman sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing personal survival over national security due to his ongoing corruption charges.

Vaturi later stated that his words were taken out of context, then posting on X that "The demonstrations harm our national strength."

Blinken thinks the sheer number of Israelis who have been displaced from their homes in the North is reason for Israel to avoid war.