Israel-Hamas War - What happened on day 175?

Hamas reiterated its rejection on Saturday for any hostage deal without Israel first meeting a series of the terror organization's demands.

"We affirm our national position that there will be no agreement or exchange deal with the occupation except with a comprehensive cessation of aggression, the return of the displaced, full [Israeli] withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, provision of shelter and reconstruction, stopping the siege, opening crossings, and delivering aid," Hamas wrote.

Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah claimed to have struck Israel's Ramim ridge, near the Lebanese border, on Saturday morning after Lebanese media reported that the IDF carried out three strikes in the southern village of Taybeh.

Local residents reported that a rocket fell in the northern border town of Margaliot later on Saturday, with no siren sounding prior. According to Walla, the locals observed a "louder explosion than usual."

Lebanon's National News Agency further reported that Israeli drones were observed flying over the Iqlim al-Tuffah and Nabatieh regions.

Hezbollah claimed to have struck Israel's Ramim ridge, near the Lebanese border, on Saturday morning after Lebanese media reported that the IDF carried out three strikes in the southern village of Taybeh.

Lebanon's National News Agency further reported that Israeli drones were observed flying over the Iqlim al-Tuffah and Nabatieh regions.

The IDF continued to operate inside Shifa Hospital, conducting operations to arrest and eliminate any remaining Hamas members left in the area, according to a press statement on Saturday.

IDF troops, in coordination with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), conducted "precise" operations in the area of the Shifa Hospital while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment.

Forces killed terrorists as well as located weapons and terror infrastructure in the area.

A terror cell in a military compound was identified as attempting to transport weapons, and in response, the Air Force struck and killed them.

Following the strike, secondary explosions were identified, indicating the presence of numerous weapons in the area. Several minutes later, an IDF helicopter struck the military compound from which the terrorist cell exited. 

The IDF admitted to killing two Palestinian men and burying their bodies with a bulldozer after Al Jazeera published a video claiming to show the incident, according to an IDF statement to CNN on Saturday.

The IDF claimed that the men approached the operational area in central Gaza in a "suspicious manner" and didn't respond to warning shots.

After they were killed, their bodies were buried using a bulldozer due to the fear of hidden explosives.

Two unarmed #Palestinian men were shot dead by #Israeli forces in #Gaza at close range; their bodies were later buried by an army bulldozer in sand and trash. Al Jazeera was able to capture exclusive broadcast footage of the incident. The men waved what looked like white cloth… pic.twitter.com/Jf522ulHof

— RTA English (@rtaenglish1) March 28, 2024

The video, filmed from a distance and heavily edited, was released by Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

In the video, you can see two men walking along a beach in Gaza, waving white flags, as they approach a wall of rubble dividing the beach, where Israeli soldiers are stationed.

As one crosses the barrier, he waves at troops stationed there and is allowed to approach them. He then passes out of view of the camera, and what happens is unclear.

Former hostage Hagar Brodutch and her three children were transported to a new prison in Gaza wrapped in white sheets via ambulance, Brodutch said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail’s Sabrina Miller published on Friday.

Recounting her experience, Brodutch said that she had awoken on October 7 in her home, located in Kibbutz Kfar Azza, to find her three-year-old neighbor Abigail Idan knocking at her door while drenched in the blood of her parents. 

“It wasn't her blood, it was her parents' blood,” Hagar explained to the Mail. ‘She saw how terrorists, dressed in military uniforms, killed her mother.

“Her father picked her up and tried to run away with her brothers. But they killed him, too. She was in his arms when they killed him, and he fell on top of her. They let her go, and she ran to our house.”

Avigail Idan was placed in a safe room alongside Brodutch’s three children while her husband, Avichai, attempted to protect the kibbutz in his capacity as the community’s security guard. 

Left alone with Idan, her ten-year-old, nine-year-old, and 4-year-old, Brodutch spent four hours hiding in the family’s safe room before 14 armed Hamas terrorists broke into her house and kidnapped all five of them.

“It's only kids! It's only kids! Please don't do anything!” Brodutch begged her abductors in Arabic.

The IDF admitted to killing two Palestinian men and burying their bodies with a bulldozer after Al Jazeera published a video claiming to show the incident Wednesday, according to an IDF statement to CNN on Saturday.

The IDF claimed that the men approached the operational area in central Gaza in a "suspicious manner" and didn't respond to warning shots. After they were killed, their bodies were buried using a bulldozer due to the fear of hidden explosives.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) announced on Wednesday that it had begun implementing a major effort to equip Israeli communities in Israel’s north with security teams and armored vehicles at an estimated cost of NIS 7.5 million.

The donated security equipment comes as rockets became a daily occurrence for northern communities since October 7, and escalating tensions with Hezbollah terrorists on the Lebanese border.

The donations were marked by a ceremony held on Wednesday at the Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council in northern Israel, where the first five armored vehicles were gifted. Four additional vehicles will be delivered in the coming months.

The vehicles, all specially designed and armored Chevrolet Silverados, will allow senior municipal officials and security personnel to be able to reach the communities they serve even under rocket fire and other threats. 

Israel could allow forces from three Arab militaries of Middle Eastern nations to serve in the Gaza Strip as part of a US-funded peacekeeping mission after the war, Israeli media reported on Friday night.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has reportedly updated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of significant developments made during the former's visit to Washington DC this week.

According to the report, Gallant told the prime minister, the IDF chief of staff, and the war cabinet that the peacekeeping force under discussion with the United States would consist of forces from three Arab nations.

American troops will not serve on the ground in Gaza

A previous report on the project by Politico noted that American troops would not serve on the ground in Gaza as part of any option considered in the talks with Israel. The Politico report further said the peacekeeping force could still have a Palestinian majority.

Initial plans were to fund a security force to stabilize the situation on the ground while allowing an influx of aid to be used for reconstruction, infrastructure, humanitarian assistance, and other needs.

The officials cautioned that any movement on the issue would be unlikely for several weeks or months, as the Biden Administration is unwilling to approve any plans until commitments on a two-state solution are made.

Gallant set to advance project with US

Israel's position is not clear as they have not discussed any options with the US, instead preferring to wait until Hamas is defeated and the hostages released.

However, as per reports on Friday night, Gallant signaled his intention to continue advancing the project in talks with American counterparts.

Talks between US and Israeli officials regarding the IDF's planned operation in Rafah could happen in Washington, DC as early as Monday, American officials told CNN on Friday.