The Israeli military reported that a militant, who was seen in a video drinking cola from an Israeli family’s fridge after the father’s murder during the October 7 attack on border communities, has been killed in an airstrike on a Hamas facility near Gaza City.

This assault occurred as hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered for demonstrations and strikes to pressure their government for negotiations regarding hostages held by Hamas-led groups. Hamas also warned that attempts to rescue the hostages could lead to additional casualties among them.

The Israeli military stated that Air Force jets struck the compound near the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, eliminating eight militants, including Ahmed Fozi Wadia, who led the attack on Israel’s Netiv HaAsara settlement on October 7 and was responsible for the massacre there.

Footage from the incident showed Israeli citizen Gil Taasa fleeing with his two sons to a shelter and then diving on a grenade thrown by the militants. In the video, Wadia is seen relaxing with a soda while the injured children were later rescued.

The Israeli military emphasized that their operation took place outside the hospital, and precautions were taken to limit civilian casualties. However, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that three individuals were killed in an attack on the hospital on Saturday.

Updates:

∎ Michelle Rukovitzin, a military intelligence technician injured in the October 7 attack, recently got engaged to her boyfriend of four years. At 21, Rukovitzin, who was in a coma for three months, continues her recovery but remains wheelchair-bound.

∎ As reported by The Times of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on the situation in Gaza later this month, likely on September 26. He is also anticipated to meet with global leaders during his visit to New York.

∎ Two individuals from the unauthorized West Bank settlement of Givat Ronen face terrorism and related charges following increased international calls for Israel to hold extremists accountable for attacks on Palestinians. One of these individuals, David Hasdai, was added to the U.S. sanctions list in February.

Week-long Israeli Offensive in the West Bank Enters Day 7

The death toll among Palestinians rose to 34 on Tuesday due to the ongoing Israeli military operation in the West Bank, with the Palestinian Red Crescent reporting that a 16-year-old girl was among the latest victims. The operation has been concentrated around the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm. The girl, named Lujain Osama Musleh, was reportedly killed in Kafr Dan, near Jenin. The Israeli military has not yet provided details but mentioned they are investigating the report. The Palestinian health ministry also reported two fatalities in Tulkarm on Tuesday.

Paramedic officer Murad Khamayseh from Jenin, part of the Palestinian Red Crescent, stated that his team has been delivering essential supplies such as bread and water amid the ongoing violence.

“We are currently in the seventh consecutive day of operations, and the situation has overwhelmed many,” Khamayseh told Reuters.

Hamas Representative: Hostages Will Be ‘Returned in Coffins’

Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades, warned that militants holding hostages have been given dire new orders in response to Israeli rescue attempts. This directive supposedly follows the “Nuseirat incident,” referring to a past event where five Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp.

“We want to make it clear that following the Nuseirat incident, new instructions have been communicated to the fighters responsible for guarding the hostages concerning their fate if the Israeli army approaches,” Obaida stated. “Netanyahu’s pursuit of hostage liberation through military pressure will likely lead to them returning to their families in coffins, forcing their families to make a heartbreaking choice between knowing if they are alive or dead.”

Polio Vaccination Efforts in Gaza Ahead of Schedule

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the temporary ceasefires in Gaza that allow for polio vaccinations as a “rare glimpse of hope and humanity amidst the ongoing tragedy,” according to his spokesperson on Tuesday. The World Health Organization indicated that it is exceeding its vaccination goals, having immunized around 161,000 children under 10 in the first two days of a comprehensive campaign in central Gaza. Further ceasefires are planned for both northern and southern Gaza, with the aim of vaccinating approximately 640,000 children overall.

“If authorities can take action to shield children from a lethal virus, they certainly must act to safeguard children and all innocent lives from the atrocities of war,” stated U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Hamas posts video of hostage prior to her death

Hamas militants published a video featuring Eden Yerushalmi, a hostage whose body was discovered over the weekend. In the video, she shared her love for her family and urged the Israeli government to negotiate for the release of all remaining captives. The Israeli government claims that the six hostages were shot at close range on Thursday or Friday, and the timing of the video’s recording remains uncertain.

Eden, 24, was working as a bartender at the Nova music festival close to kibbutz Re’im when Hamas launched their attack. Her family consented to the release of a segment of the video.

“We love you too, Eden, and we miss you so much. You are always in our hearts,” her family expressed in a statement from the Hostages and Missing Family Forum.

Netanyahu: ‘No one will preach to me’

In Jerusalem late Monday, Israeli demonstrators carried six empty coffins covered with Israeli flags past Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence as he faced rising demands from families to make concessions to Hamas and negotiate a cease-fire. Scuffles broke out outside Netanyahu’s home when police attempted to disperse the protesters. In his first public comments since the military recovered the bodies of six hostages over the weekend, Netanyahu pushed back against the pressure.

“These murderers executed six of our hostages by shooting them in the back of the head,” Netanyahu stated. “And now, after this, we’re asked to demonstrate seriousness? We’re asked to make concessions?”

Recently, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken part in protests and a general strike. U.S. President Joe Biden has indicated that Netanyahu needs to take further steps to secure an agreement following months of conflict. Even some members of Netanyahu’s own government are urging him to negotiate a deal.

“No one is more dedicated to freeing the hostages than I am,” Netanyahu affirmed, but insisted that “nobody will lecture me.”

Hamas claims Israel has failed in Gaza

Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, dismissed Netanyahu’s comments as a “desperate effort to project a fictitious victory.” He accused Netanyahu of failing to negotiate a cease-fire that would include releasing the remaining hostages. According to Israel, their main objectives in Gaza are to dismantle Hamas and secure the hostages’ release. Al-Rishq claimed that Israel has accomplished none of its goals, except for causing “massacres and genocide.”

“All prisoners held by the resistance can return to their families at once,” Al-Rishq declared. “The one who is delaying their return and responsible for their safety is Netanyahu.”

Netanyahu versus ‘axis of evil’

A major point of contention is Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow area along Gaza’s border with Egypt, out of fear that Hamas uses this route to smuggle weapons. Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty has refuted this assertion, saying that Egypt will not permit Israeli control over the Rafah crossing.

Netanyahu, however, warned that withdrawing Israeli troops would enable Hamas, backed by Iran, to rearm and launch further attacks on Israel, stating: “The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi axis.”

Britain suspends arms export licenses

In response to the situation, Netanyahu has also reacted to a recent announcement from the United Kingdom, which suspended 30 out of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy mentioned there was a “clear risk” that these weapons could be misused in violation of international law.

Netanyahu condemned the decision as “shameful,” asserting it would “only empower Hamas.”

The U.K. supplies a relatively small amount of arms to Israel, accounting for less than 1% of Israel’s defense imports. In contrast, the U.S. is Israel’s largest arms supplier, covering about 70% of the total.

Hamas has live hostages and remains

Further protests are anticipated on Tuesday evening in various locations in Israel, according to the Hostages Families Forum, which is advocating for the government to secure a deal with Hamas. The group orchestrated the assault on Israel on October 7 that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and the capture of over 200 hostages. Presently, Israel estimates that 101 hostages are still in Gaza, with many feared dead.

Since Israel commenced its military operations in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, over 40,000 Palestinians are reported to have died in the conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Contributions from: Reuters