Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed a Knesset committee that the IDF is set to launch a ground operation in Rafah, and he relayed this decision to US President Joe Biden during their phone conversation yesterday.

Syria’s Defense Ministry confirmed that Israeli missile strikes allegedly hit military installations outside of Damascus. The ministry noted that while several military sites were hit, Syrian air defenses managed to intercept a number of the incoming missiles. According to regional intelligence and Syrian sources, these attacks represent an escalation in strikes targeting the fortifications of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which are located in the vicinity of Damascus.

The Israel Defense Forces reported that in a two-day operation at the Shifa Hospital complex, the largest medical facility in northern Gaza, they killed roughly 50 terrorists associated with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, while arresting around 300 others.

Archaeologists excavating near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel have discovered an ancient complex of underground bolt holes that are believed to have been used as hiding places for Jews during the three Jewish Revolts against the Roman Empire some 2,000 years ago, the Times of Israel reports.

Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said he will try to end the war in Gaza quickly and suggested extending a regional peace deal between Israel and Arabic countries if re-elected.

Israeli sources say Israel will offer a six-week ceasefire in exchange for 40 hostages during mediated talks with Hamas, which is holding Israelis.

In the early hours of Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an operation at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, acting on intelligence that indicated the presence of senior Hamas officials using the facility to orchestrate and execute terrorist activities, according to the IDF.

Esmail Qaani, the head of Iran’s Quds Forces, met with Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah in February to discuss strategy as the war in Gaza may soon extend to Lebanon, threatening the terrorist organization and forcing Iran to enter the war.

“We are in a multi-front war – Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria [West Bank] and Gaza and threats even further way,” stated Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi during a security threat assessment detailing the security challenges for Israel during the month of Ramadan.

Israel’s army has rescued 70 orphans from wartorn Gaza and rushed them to safety in Bethlehem in the Biblical region of Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, several sources confirmed Friday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Thursday called on Israel to hold new elections, criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu as an “obstacle to peace” and advocating for a two-state solution in the Middle East. His speech drew criticism from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that an airstrike led to the death of a senior Hamas leader in Lebanon who was responsible for worldwide attacks against Jews.

During a Wednesday visit to the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested that a military operation by the Israel Defense Forces targeting Hamas units in Rafah will happen “soon.”

Israeli researchers have installed a muon detector in a cavern under Jerusalem’s Old City in the hope it will use subatomic particles created by cosmic rays to send images of previously inaccessible ancient passageways, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

The United States was rushing Tuesday to get aid by sea into wartorn Gaza, with officials saying Washington may ask allies to fund a privately run aid operation ahead of a much larger US military effort.