Continued Attacks on Hezbollah and Hamas Positions; Wall Street Journal: Israel Aiming to Control Gaza and Egypt Border

The Israeli army reported on Saturday, January 13, the continuation of airstrikes by its fighter jets on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The attacks on Saturday followed a Hezbollah strike on northern Israel, where a home of an Israeli citizen was targeted by an anti-tank missile from this group affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Israeli media reports, this Hezbollah attack did not result in casualties but caused significant material damage. Meanwhile, Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, stated in an interview with the Arabic-language news channel Al-Hurra on Friday that Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, decided to join the war on October 8 and is doing so on behalf of the Islamic Republic. He emphasized that Israel will never allow an attack like that of October 7 from Lebanese territory against the country. According to this senior Israeli military official, instead of the Lebanese government paying the price for Nasrallah's and the Islamic Republic's 'adventures,' it should strive to keep the country away from such incidents. On Saturday, Israel continued its operations in central and southern Gaza, approaching the hundredth day of its campaign aimed at destroying the Islamist group Hamas. The Hamas Health Ministry announced that 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on the southern city of Khan Younis. Additionally, Reuters reported at least 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City. The Israeli army also stated that a large number of Hamas fighters were killed in Saturday's attacks in central and southern Gaza, including Khan Younis. The spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, 135 Palestinians were killed and 312 others injured due to Israeli attacks. Hamas never mentions its own casualties in the statistics it provides. However, the Israeli army spokesperson announced on Friday that 9,000 Hamas members have been killed during Israel's offensive in Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify the figures provided by Hamas. On the other hand, the Israeli army reported the death of a 24-year-old reserve soldier named Dan Vajinbam during operations on Friday in central Gaza. Three other Israeli soldiers were also injured in central and southern Gaza. Thus, the number of Israeli soldiers killed during the offensive in Gaza has increased to 187. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 240 others taken hostage, Israel launched its operations in Gaza with the aim of destroying Hamas. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and several other countries. The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that Israel has informed Egypt that it will conduct military operations to control the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza. The report, citing current and former Israeli officials as well as Egyptian officials, added that Israel's goal for this operation is to eliminate Hamas forces from this border and to establish its own forces along the 13-kilometer border between Gaza and Egypt. This comes as Egypt had recently rejected Israel's proposal for greater control over the corridor between Egypt and Gaza known as the 'Philadelphi Corridor.' Sameh Shoukry, Egypt's foreign minister, stated last Tuesday that ceasefire, delivery of humanitarian aid, and preventing the expulsion of Palestinians residing in Gaza to Egypt should be prioritized. On Saturday afternoon, Tel Aviv hosted a tunnel exhibition by an artist named Roni Lavavi to mark the hundredth day of the captivity of Israeli hostages by Hamas. The purpose of this exhibition in a 30-meter tunnel was to simulate the situation of hostages held by Hamas. On the walls of the tunnel, slogans such as 'Bring them home now' were displayed. According to Israeli media, a large number of people, including families of Israeli hostages, visited the exhibition. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations stated: 'We oppose the request to resettle Palestinians anywhere other than Gaza.' Biden: 'The Islamic Republic avoids conflict with the U.S.; we are not seeking a proxy war with Iran.' Israel's strong reaction to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' statement on the first 100 days of the war. Israel sends medicine for hostages in Gaza in coordination with Qatar. The second day of the International Court of Justice meeting; Israel rejected South Africa's allegations. Netanyahu's strong reaction to South Africa's complaint against Israel; 'We are fighting against terrorists and lies.' Benjamin Netanyahu stated, 'We are fighting against Hamas terrorists, not Palestinians.' Intensification of Israeli attacks in Gaza despite promises to reduce forces. End of Blinken's visit to Israel; the U.S. will respond to Houthi movements in the Red Sea. Blinken to the Israeli government: 'Avoid harming Palestinian civilians in Gaza.' The World Health Organization: Doctors and patients are fleeing from the remaining hospitals in Gaza. The commander of Hezbollah's air force in southern Lebanon was killed following an Israeli airstrike.