Week #81 | Israel Weekly War Summary | April 20- April 26 ,2025
- IDSF
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Account of the main events in the Israel-Hamas war and hostilities by the Iranian Axis
Overview
Three senior Hamas leaders have informed Egypt of their willingness to discuss surrendering the organization’s weapons to a committee tasked with managing the Gaza Strip, contingent on the implementation of a comprehensive hostage deal that includes an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Approximately 600 Druze religious leaders from the Khadr region in northeastern Syria (not Mount Druze) entered Israel to celebrate a Druze holiday at the tomb of Prophet Shuaib in the southern Galilee.
Iranian media reported a powerful explosion at Shahid Rajai Port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, followed by footage of a massive fire engulfing the port, which houses oil and petrochemical facilities.
Jordan’s Interior Minister declared the Muslim Brotherhood an illegal organization, banning its activities nationwide.
Gaza
Hostage Deal
Three senior Hamas leaders have informed Egypt of their willingness to discuss surrendering the organization’s weapons to a committee tasked with managing the Gaza Strip, contingent on the implementation of a comprehensive hostage deal that includes an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. This development reflects significant external pressure on Hamas, primarily from Egypt, to disarm and transition governance. Similar messages have been conveyed to Hamas leadership in Qatar and Turkey by Gulf states and the Palestinian Authority (PA), urging the group to relinquish its military control and integrate into a political framework under Palestinian state legitimacy. This shows that Israel’s strategy of maximalist pressure works and could potentially create a reenactment of the 1982 PLO evacuation from Beirut.
Hamas published a video and proof of life of Israeli hostage Omri Miran, the first such release in approximately a year. The video contains messages aimed at exacerbating political divisions within Israel, indicating Hamas’s intent to exploit internal Israeli discord.
Diplomatic
A senior Hamas delegation, led by Muhammad Darwish, Chairman of the Shura Council, and including prominent figures such as Khaled Meshaal (Hamas leader abroad), Khalil al-Hayya (head of the political bureau in Gaza), Zahar Jabarin (Hamas leader in the Judea and Samaria), and Nizar Awadallah, met with Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin in Ankara. The delegation also held discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
UN’s World Food Program announced that it had distributed its last food rations in Gaza, as its warehouses were depleted. U.S. President Trump, responding to a journalist’s question, stated that he is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to “be good to Gaza,” emphasizing the need for food and medicine to alleviate civilian suffering. He added that the U.S. is applying “very significant pressure on Israel to allow food and medicine into Gaza” and is “taking care of Gaza,” signaling a diplomatic push to address the humanitarian crisis.
Operational
A tank from the 79th Battalion of the reserve armored brigade "Hamahatz" was traveling along an administrative movement route in the buffer zone near Beit Hanoun when a terrorist cell opened fire with anti-tank weapons and sniper rifles. Three soldiers were injured in the attack: an officer and a soldier were severely wounded, and a third soldier was killed in action.
Drawing on lessons from previous maneuvers in Operation "Strength and Sword," the Israeli military established a reconnaissance platoon (Palatatz) for each armored battalion, composed of reserve soldiers who previously served in armored reconnaissance units. These reservists underwent specialized training in drone operations to enhance situational awareness and operational effectiveness.
The Morag Corridor, a strategic IDF-controlled route in Gaza, spans 12 kilometers, with 6 kilometers already paved with gravel. The corridor’s width ranges from 300 meters at its narrowest point to 2 kilometers at its widest, equipped with observation masts providing oversight of Rafah and Khan Younis. Current efforts focus on expanding the corridor southward into Rafah, with plans for future northward expansion into Khan Younis. So far, 60-75% of the Rafah and the adjacent Tel Sultan refugee camp demolished, including flattened or heavily damaged buildings, with debris being cleared.
In a joint operation, the IDF and Shin Bet targeted and destroyed 40 pieces of engineering equipment across Gaza. Some of these machines were used to breach the border fence during the October 7 massacre, while others were smuggled into Gaza from Egypt during a ceasefire and employed to build terror infrastructure, dig tunnels, or create pits for planting explosives. The operation aimed to cripple Hamas’s engineering capabilities, limiting its ability to clear rubble, open movement routes, and maintain governance functions in the Strip.
The IDF and Shin Bet conducted airstrikes on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad command and control centers located in civilian areas. One target was a facility in the "Yafa" school in Gaza City, and another was in the Jabalia refugee camp, both embedded within civilian populations.
An IDF investigation into the March 23 incident, where Golani Brigade reconnaissance soldiers fired on an ambulance convoy in a dangerous combat zone, revealed that 15 Gazans were killed, including at least six confirmed Hamas operatives. Chief of Staff Zamir ordered the dismissal of the deputy commander of the reconnaissance unit, a veteran soldier who fought since the war’s onset, was wounded, and returned to combat. The commander of the "Hamahatz" Brigade received a command reprimand for procedural errors and post-incident management, highlighting the IDF’s commitment to accountability in complex wartime scenarios, despite Hamas’s continued use of medical facilities as human shields.
Judea and Samaria
In a speech to the PA’s Central Council, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas to release Israeli hostages to undermine Israel’s justifications for continuing the war in Gaza. Abbas accused Hamas of providing Israel with a pretext to “destroy Gaza” through its 2007 takeover of the Strip, which he described as a “catastrophe.” He called on Hamas to end its rule in Gaza, surrender its weapons to the PA, and transform into a political party operating under the legitimacy of a Palestinian state.
Lebanon
Diplomatic
Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, strongly opposed efforts to disarm Hezbollah, describing such initiatives as a “clear plot” against regional states. Amani warned against falling into this “trap,” prompting Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, Youssef Rjei, to summon him for a formal protest. In response to the backlash, Amani clarified that Iran respects Lebanon’s internal decision-making and does not intend to impose its views.
Syria
Military Activity
ISIS released a new video announcing a war against the regime of Abu Mohammad al-Julani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria, accusing him of collaborating with the United States and deviating from Islamic law. This declaration marks a significant escalation in intra-jihadist rivalries, with ISIS positioning itself as a purist alternative to HTS’s governance in rebel-held Syrian territories.
Diplomacy
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with U.S. Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman in Damascus, marking the first visit by a U.S. congressional member to Syria since the new regime’s rise. The discussions focused on Syria’s security and economic developments
Syrian security forces detained senior leaders of the Islamic Jihad’s Syrian branch, indicating a crackdown on militant groups within the country. This action underscores the new Syrian government’s efforts to consolidate control and neutralize potential threats from jihadist factions, and also signaling to the West that the new regime is not Jihadist.
The British government announced the removal of sanctions previously imposed on Syria’s defense and interior ministries, as well as several intelligence agencies.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa expressed interest in joining the Abraham Accords “under the right conditions.”
Approximately 600 Druze religious leaders from the Khadr region in northeastern Syria (not Mount Druze) entered Israel to celebrate a Druze holiday at the tomb of Prophet Shuaib in the southern Galilee. This follows a previous entry of 100 Druze leaders, with the larger group permitted to stay overnight, authorized by Defense Minister Katz to strengthen ties with Syria’s Druze community.
Iran
Iranian media reported a powerful explosion at Shahid Rajai Port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, followed by footage of a massive fire engulfing the port, which houses oil and petrochemical facilities. The incident raises concerns about sabotage or infrastructure vulnerabilities, though no official cause has been confirmed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran has no current ties with the Syrian government and is not rushing to establish them, but it is also not acting against it. Araghchi emphasized that Iran is waiting for the Syrian government to ensure security, stability, and a legitimate administration inclusive of all sects.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Tajikistan and signed a security cooperation agreement between the two countries.
In an interview with Politico, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Iranian Crown Prince, proposed a “third way” to topple the Iranian regime through support for civilian protests, rejecting diplomacy or military action. Pahlavi suggested using $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets to fund popular resistance and called for Western assistance in providing communication tools to bypass government censorship.
Nuclear Talks
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the Trump administration aims to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons but does not rule out a civilian nuclear program, provided Iran halts its uranium enrichment activities.
In recent days, commanders of the Revolutionary Guards’ air and aeronautics units inspected nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, Arak, and defense industries in Isfahan to assess air defense systems. These visits reflect Iran’s heightened alert status amid fears of an Israeli attack on its nuclear infrastructure.
During previous talks in Rome, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told U.S. negotiator Witkoff that reaching a nuclear deal within Trump’s 60-day timeline is unfeasible, proposing an interim agreement for a civilian nuclear program. Iran aims to alleviate time pressure, avoid the Snapback sanctions mechanism, and deter an Israeli-U.S. military strike.
International
President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords, stating, “It will happen!” He revealed that he made it “less convenient” for Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear sites during his presidency, believing a deal with Iran is possible without military action. However, Trump warned that if negotiations fail, he would lead an offensive against Iran. He also indicated openness to meeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, signaling a willingness to engage directly with Tehran’s leadership. Trump further cautioned that while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could initiate a war with Iran, the U.S. would not be drawn into a war unwillingly, as he stated that if negations fail, the US “will be leading the pack”
Yemen
The Houthis launched two ballistic missiles toward Israel this week, both intercepted by Israeli defenses. Since March 18, the Houthis have fired 22 missiles and four drones at Israel, escalating their role in the regional conflict. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command’s operation against the Houthis continues, with a spokesperson stating on April 24 that over 800 Houthi targets in northern Yemen (primarily in Saada and Sanaa provinces) have been struck since March 15, killing 500-600 Houthi operatives, according to Al-Arabiya.
Global Jihad
Jordan’s Interior Minister declared the Muslim Brotherhood an illegal organization, banning its activities nationwide. This decision follows the arrest of a terror cell in Jordan that manufactured rockets and drones with support from Hamas. The move reflects Jordan’s heightened security concerns and its efforts to curb Hamas’s regional influence.
Fallen Soldiers
Master sergeant (res.) Asaf Cafri
Captain Ido Voloch z"l
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