Israel at war day 537: What's going on in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria?

The United States delivered a message to Hamas via Qatari intermediaries in an effort to release the American-Israeli hostage, Edan Alexander, from captivity, according to a report on Thursday evening.

The political class must avoid dragging the IDF into their politics, Outgoing IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said on Thursday in his outgoing speech in Tel Aviv, moments before he passed command over to incoming chief Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin.

Hagari said that the IDF must “be left above and outside of all debate and disagreement. Anything else endangers the ability to accomplish its role” of protecting Israel.

The IDF chief spokesperson said that the state must immediately draft all of those who are eligible, an obvious reference to the haredi sector, and not wait for years into the future.

The IDF conducted a strike on two Hezbollah terrorists near Baraachit in southern Lebanon on Thursday evening, the military announced.

The IDF eliminated two terrorists, apprehended approximately 80 wanted suspects, and confiscated dozens of weapons, including explosive devices, munitions, and additional combat equipment, over the past week, the military announced on Thursday.

IDF Col. Efraim Avni's appointment to Paratroopers Brigade Commander will be delayed until the October 7 investigations are complete, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced on Thursday according to Israeli media.

The political class must avoid dragging the IDF into their politics, Outgoing IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said on Thursday in his outgoing speech in Tel Aviv, moments before he passed command over to incoming chief Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin.

National Missions Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionist Party) demanded on Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convene a cabinet meeting to discuss Israel's relationship with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The Iranian-backed Houthis launched two long-range missiles at Israel on March 27. This was an attempt by the group to showcase that they can fire multiple missiles in broad daylight, even as they continue to be hit by US airstrikes.

The Houthis have been attacking Israel for more than a year, using ballistic missiles and drones. They have also attacked ships in the Red Sea. However, March 27 will go down as yet another example of their escalation.

The IDF's 512th "Paran" Regional Brigade thwarted a drug smuggling attempt at the Egyptian border earlier on Thursday, the military announced.

The rare anti-Hamas demonstrations that took place over the past few days in Gaza took many by surprise. In fact, they were so rare and so surprising that analysts had a hard time seeing them as spontaneous or authentic, questioning half-jokingly whether they may have been orchestrated by Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip with an iron fist for decades, quashing any form of dissent.