Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 85?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Iran and Hezbollah and confirmed that the Gaza war could continue for months, amid a push to bring to fruition a Qatari proposal to secure the release of additional hostages.

“On the northern border - we are landing heavy blows against Hezbollah, eliminating many terrorists and destroying the enemy's capabilities,” Netanyahu said in a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday night.

He spoke as Israel continued its military operation to destroy Hamas in Gaza even as it thwarted Hezbollah violence along its northern border, working to contain the situation from escalating into a full-fledged war.

Netanyahu said that diplomacy was the best option to restore security to that border, but noted that Israel would not hesitate to act against the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah should those options fail.

“We approved operational plans for the continuation of the fighting. If Hezbollah expands the war - it will receive blows it never dreamed of, and so will Iran. We will act in any way until we restore security to the residents of the north,” Netanyahu stated.

“Iran leads the axis of evil and aggression against us on the various fronts,” Netanyahu stated.

“This aggression is directed not only against Israel but against the entire free world. We act against Iran all the time, everywhere, in every way,” Netanyahu said, as he declined to provide details to back up his statement.

 The United States shot down two missiles headed toward a container ship in the southern Red Sea and launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

A Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned/operated container ship reported that it was struck by a missile and the USS Gravely and USS Laboon responded to the ship, CENTCOM said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"The vessel is reportedly seaworthy and there are no reported injuries," CENTCOM said.

Large IDF forces were operating in the West Bank city of Tulkarm on Saturday night, amid reports of violence and disorder. 

The IDF has killed Hamas operative Abd el-Fatah Maali, according to reports in Palestinian media on Saturday.

Maali was the deputy of Yahya Ayash, the Hamas bomb-maker known as the "Engineer," who was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 90 Israelis before his assassination by the Shin Bet in 1996.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked former prime minister Naftali Bennett during a Saturday evening address from Tel Aviv, saying his admission of an Israeli strike on Iran last year was "gravely irresponsible."

"He has no authority to make those claims," Netanyahu added.

"The war is in full swing. We are fighting on all fronts" the prime minister said. "We have had significant successes but also paid painful prices. Achieving victory requires more time," he continued. "The war will continue for many more months. My policy is clear - continue to fight until all the goals of the war are achieved."

Netanyahu went on to emphasize that Israel would not relent in working to rescue the Israelis held by Hamas and that Israel would ensure Gaza would be stripped of the capacity to harm the Jewish State.

Regarding the Islamic Republic, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will act against [it] all the time, in every place in every way." He added that he would not elaborate on the details of what those actions would entail. 

Netanyahu's remark that he would not elaborate follows an admission by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennet in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that Israel had struck Iranian targets on Iranian soil.

A "massive" number of Chinese weaponry used by Palestinian terrorists has been seized by the IDF in Gaza, N12 reported on Saturday.

As per the report, the political echelon was briefed on the findings.

How did Chinese weapons get to Gazan terrorists' hands?

Following N12's report, Carice Witte, CEO and founder of SIGNAL Group and an expert on China-Israel relations, said that while it is certainly possible Chinese weapons have made it to the Palestinian terrorist group's hands, it was not bought directly from Beijing.

"China has an extensive arms industry," Wette said. "By definition, it does not sell weapons to non-state entities, it certainly does sell weapons to countries in the [Middle East].

According to Wette, those responsible for the weaponry's presence in Gaza are either countries or independent Chinese actors illegally selling the weaponry to Gazan-based groups.

"Trade relations between China and Middle Eastern nations are well known, even with those sanctioned by the West," she added. "It is not impossible that such weaponry ends up in the wrong hands.

She added that Israel "must check the issue with official Chinese authorities."

"Iran will suffer if Hezbollah escalates war with Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a Saturday evening address from Tel Aviv.

Regarding the Islamic Republic, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will oppose them in every place in every way."

The prime minister also noted that the IDF had eliminated over 8,000 Hamas terrorists.

The IDF arrested dozens of terrorists hiding among civilians in a school located in the central Gaza municipality of El-Bureij, the IDF announced on Saturday evening.

Operating since the start of the week in the area, soldiers of the 188th Brigade encountered numerous terrorists who launched assaults on them from inside civilian structures and populations, the Israeli military said.

The IDF personnel of the 188th Brigade also managed to locate and destroy four rocket launchers in El-Bureij. They also exposed five tunnel shafts in the area, the IDF added.

A "massive" number of Chinese weaponry used by Palestinian terrorists has been seized by the IDF in Gaza, N12 reported on Saturday.

As per the report, the political echelon was briefed on the findings.

This is a developing story.

Hamas praised South Africa's Friday request to the International Court of Justice in the Hague to initiate legal proceedings against Israel on the grounds of genocide. The Hamas statement was posted to its English-language Telegram channel on Saturday evening.

"We highly appreciate South Africa's move to submit a request to the International Court of Justice to initiate proceedings to investigate the Zionist entity's criminal act of committing genocide against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," Hamas wrote. "South Africa's action is a significant step towards holding the leaders of the entity accountable for the worst atrocities in contemporary history.

"We call on all countries to submit similar files and requests to competent national and international courts against this Nazi entity, considering it a threat to international peace and security," the Hamas statement continued. "This is to ensure it does not escape punishment for the heinous crimes committed against children and innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip."