Israel-Hamas war day 212: What's going on in Gaza?

The families of the Gaza hostages and their supporters rallied to call for the release of the hostages held in Gaza on Saturday evening, which included protests and statements made by both the Hostage and Missing Families Forum as well as by Forum Tivka. 

Thousands rallied around the country, where they called for Israel to continue to negotiate a hostage deal with Hamas that would see their loved ones released. 

In their most pressing call yet, Forum Tikva, which represents the families of hostages who seek to continue the war in Gaza, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign. 

In their statement, they told Netanyahu, "If you cannot withstand the pressure and order an IDF victory, please stand up and resign."

Israel has consistently targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon alongside the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Alongside recruitment to the organization, Hezbollah also enhances its airspace with an entire air defense system dedicated to downing drones and other UAVs. 

The use of drones by Hezbollah, which began already 20 years ago, came to be through its collaboration with Iran. The current and contemporary drones, which have been used in the last operations in Arab al-Aramshe, can carry about 50 kilograms of explosives and have a launch range and the ability to reach a distance of about 150 km.

Arab media reports reveal that alongside the Iranian Shahed UAV, air defense is a major factor pointing to Hezbollah's development. Apart from artificial intelligence-based missiles, Hezbollah also has missiles capable of overpowering advanced Israeli drones such as "Hermes 450" and "Hermes 900."

A joint attack by the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Services) killed one of the top commanders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the IDF announced on Saturday.

PREPARING FOR a joint mission? US and Israeli fighter jets participate in the Juniper Oak drill over the Negev in January. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The terrorist, Imam Zerev, was killed by Israel Air Force fighter jets in southern Gaza. Zerev commanded and directed several attacks.

Representatives from Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States met in Cairo on Saturday for talks on a possible hostage deal, while Israel delayed sending a delegation until the terror group gave a response to the latest proposal on the table. 

Netanyahu opted not to send a delegation without consulting with War cabinet ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Mintier Ron Dermer were privy to the decision, according to media reports. 

Egyptian sources said CIA Director William Burns arrived in Cairo already on Friday. KAN News reported that the US has pushed Israel to send a delegation to join the talks as protestors and relatives of the hostages rallied in Tel Aviv demanding that the government finalize a deal now.

The rally was held amid a flurry of media reports that expressed optimism and pessimism regarding the potential for a deal, in a process that appeared to hit a crucial point, even as it remained stymied over a basic disagreement as to whether a deal would include an Israeli promise to end the war.

An Iranian-backed terrorist group in Bahrain claims to have targeted Israel a second time. JPost first reported on May 2 that the “Islamic Resistance in Bahrain, Saraya Al-Ashtar” claimed it had targeted Israel. The group alleged via pro-Iran media such as Al-Mayadeen that on April 27 it had targeted an Israeli company in Eilat. There is no evidence that the group’s attacks, which it claims involved drones, have taken place or been successful. The group posted an undated video showing a drone being launched.

Now Iran’s IRNA reported on May 4 that the group said it had carried out a second attack targeting Eilat. “The Bahraini resistance group, Al-Ashtar Brigades, has announced its second attack on Israeli positions in support of the Palestinian people in war-ravaged Gaza,” IRNA claimed.

The group has been sanctioned as a terrorist group by the US. Bahrain is a member of the Abraham Accords. Bahrain has a Shi’ite minority and Iran has often sought to influence the Shi’ite community in Bahrain and stir up trouble in the Kingdom. Iran has done the same among Shi’ites in Saudi Arabia.

Iran attempting regional destabilization

Iran likely is pushing the Bahrain group to make these claims during the 15th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul, Gambia, where Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is pushing countries to cut ties with Israel. As such Iran appears to be trying to operationalize a new “front” against Israel.

Iran already uses Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq and Syria to attack Israel. Iran also attacked Israel on April 13-14. Iran’s foreign minister met with his Saudi counterparts in Gambia on may 4. Iran may be trying to send a message it can destabilize Bahrain, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, and it is pushing this terrorist proxy to make these claims in that light.