Israel SitRep: May 1, 2024

Today’s Issue: Netanyahu Vows to ‘Enter Rafah and Eliminate Hamas Battalions There, With or Without a Deal’ | IDF Divisions Improve Combat Readiness for Further Gaza Operations | IDF Recommends Canceling Celebrations for Lag Ba’omer Holiday on Mount Meron | IAF Strikes Targets in Southern Lebanon and Gaza | Latest FDD Analysis

Netanyahu Vows to ‘Enter Rafah and Eliminate Hamas Battalions There, With or Without a Deal’: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with members of the Gevurah (“Heroism”) forum, which represents families of those who have fallen in the war as well as members of the Tikvah (“Hope”) forum, a group representing families of hostages being held in Gaza. During the meeting, Netanyahu stated: “The idea that we will stop the war before we achieve all of its objectives is out of the question. We will enter Rafah and eliminate the Hamas battalions there, with or without a [hostage] deal, in order to achieve total victory.” Representatives of the two groups called on the prime minister to continue working to achieve the goals of the war and to withstand international pressure.

IDF Divisions Improve Combat Readiness for Further Gaza Operations: On Tuesday, the IDF published a report on preparations by the 98th Division and the 162nd Division for continuing the war in Gaza, amid reports that the Rafah operation will begin shortly if a hostage deal is not reached. The 98th Division fought for more than four months in Khan Younis, while the 162nd Division left Gaza last week after fighting in the north and center of the strip for six months. According to the report, soldiers from the two divisions are working to improve combat readiness. The division and brigade commanders, as well as reserve soldiers, participated in professional study days on all levels and held talks about continuing their mission. Exercises were also held to learn lessons and improve effectiveness on the battlefield. In addition, technology and maintenance crews worked on armored vehicles to improve their fitness for continuous combat.

IDF Recommends Canceling Celebrations for Lag Ba’omer Holiday on Mount Meron: After a situation assessment by the IDF’s Home Front Command and Northern Command, the army has recommended canceling celebrations for the Lag Ba’omer holiday, held every year on Mount Meron in the north of Israel. In recent months, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of missiles and rockets at the Mount Meron air traffic control base. Lag Ba’omer falls this year on May 25 and 26, and the IDF believes that the group will continue firing on the area in the coming month. The Mount Meron site is expected to be declared a closed military zone during the holiday, and the defense establishment, believing that some Israelis may try to enter despite the ban, is discussing enforcement procedures. Police officials took a tour of Mount Meron yesterday and are keeping open the possibility of allowing a more limited version of the celebrations to be held.

IAF Strikes Targets in Southern Lebanon and Gaza: Overnight, Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out airstrikes in several parts of southern Lebanon. In the areas of Khiam and Kafr Kila, fighter jets struck Hezbollah targets including lookout posts and terrorist infrastructures. In the Blida area, a Hezbollah military building and terrorist infrastructure were attacked, and in the areas of Odaisseh and Mis al-Jabal, terrorist infrastructure and lookout posts were struck. Meanwhile, in Gaza, fighter jets destroyed several targets belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including military buildings, weapons depots, and rocket and mortar launching sites. In addition, soldiers from the 99th Division called in airstrikes against several terrorists who were aiming rockets at IDF troops. IAF aircraft also eliminated a terrorist cell that was moving toward soldiers in central Gaza. Shortly after the attack, an aircraft eliminated an additional terrorist cell that had placed a bomb in the area.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Loay Alshareef, FDD Event

“Hezbollah Stumbles Into a War of Attrition,” David Daoud, The Wall Street Journal

“Turkey Cannot Be a Mediator in the Gaza War,” Sinan Ciddi, Townhall

“IDF Focuses on Humanitarian Aid in Gaza,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“The Netherlands Considers Restoring UNRWA Funding, Pending Reform,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Dismantles Terror Tunnels in Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“EU Members Gear Up for Palestinian State Recognition,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Iranian IRGC Agents Murdered Teen Protestor Whose Death Was Ascribed to ‘Suicide,’ Leaked Document Reveals,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Progress Elusive as China Hosts Palestinian Unity Talks,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief