The IDF’s elite Unit 8200 has successfully used artificial intelligence to track and eliminate Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari and locate hostages in Gaza, according to officials speaking to The New York Times. The AI, developed by Unit 8200 engineers and refined with the help of tech industry reservists, was cleared for use after the October 7, 2023 attacks and has been instrumental in both targeting terrorists and monitoring regional reactions. While the technology has enhanced operational efficiency, experts warn it raises significant ethical concerns due to risks of civilian casualties from misidentifications. Click here to read more.

In a groundbreaking interview with The Jerusalem Post, U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman revealed that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is open to normalizing relations with Israel under the framework of the Abraham Accords. During a recent visit to Damascus—marking the first by U.S. lawmakers since Assad’s fall—Stutzman said Sharaa expressed a desire for regional stability, economic development, and an end to Israeli airstrikes, while emphasizing Syrian unity. The congressman acknowledged concerns about Sharaa’s past but called on officials to give dialogue a chance, suggesting that Syria could re-enter the global community if it meets conditions on human rights and diplomacy. Click here to read more.

Holocaust survivors, freed hostages, and IDF soldiers gathered at Auschwitz for a deeply emotional moment of remembrance and unity during this year’s March of the Living. Irene Shashar, who hid in Warsaw’s sewers as a child, held hands with Ori Megidish, an IDF soldier rescued from Hamas captivity, declaring, “We defeated the enemy, all of us, each in a different way.” With 8,000 in attendance, survivors like Naftali Furst and Gita Koifman emphasized the urgency of memory in the face of rising global antisemitism. As yellow Stars of David mingled with yellow ribbons for hostages, participants carried the message “Never Again Is Now.” Click here to read more.

The IDF has successfully thwarted attempts by Iran and its proxies to smuggle weapons across the Israel-Jordan border into the West Bank, significantly curbing a growing security threat. Outgoing Jordan Valley commander Lt.-Col. Aviv Amir reported that under his watch, troops intercepted dozens of smuggling attempts, seized over 500 weapons, and neutralized 85 terrorists. The success has prompted the Defense Ministry to invest NIS 5.2 billion in a new fortified border fence. Amir now moves to a key role in the Southern Command, while the effort continues to adapt to evolving threats. Click here to read more.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have established the “Morag Corridor” in southern Gaza, aiming to split Hamas’s Rafah and Khan Yunis brigades and dismantle them. The corridor, approximately 12 km long and up to 2 km wide, is being secured and expanded by the IDF’s 36th Armored Division, with the Golani Brigade and 188th Armored Brigade conducting operations to the south near Rafah. According to IDF assessments, Hamas’s Rafah Brigade has lost its missile capabilities and much of its command structure, but efforts to rebuild using young recruits continue. The operation is part of a broader strategy to pressure Hamas into releasing remaining hostages and weaken it militarily and politically. IDF sources also report signs of growing civilian resistance to Hamas in Gaza. Whether the Morag operation will be decisive remains uncertain, but the IDF continues to press forward. Click here to read more.