Nadene Goldfoot
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Hamas violated the ceasefire yesterday when it opened fire on IDF troops, killing Master Sgt. (res.) Efi (Yona Efraim) Feldbaum, 37, a combat engineering reservist in the Gaza Division and father of five from Zayit Raanan in the Binyamin Regional Council. The reservist was killed amid the latest Hamas violations of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The incident triggered a series of IDF strikes across the enclave against Hamas targets.
He was a dual Israeli-American citizen. The IDF responded to the attack with extensive strikes against Hamas positions and targets, reportedly killing dozens of terrorists. Feldbaum, a native of Zayit Ra’anan-Neria in the area of Samaria (West Bank’s) Binyamin region, and was a combat engineer serving under the Gaza Division.
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Then, Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and called on mediators to pressure Israel “to stop its massacres and commit fully to the terms of the agreement.” Oh ho, ho, the pot calling the kettle black. Hamas has done this so many times.
Numerous ceasefires have been negotiated between Israel and Hamas over the years, though they have often proven fragile. Since the October 7, 2023 attacks and the ensuing war, multiple ceasefires and truces have been implemented, including a recent, fragile agreement reached in October 2025 by Trump.
- June 2008: Egypt brokered a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel. The agreement mostly held for five months before breaking down in November.
- January 2009: After a 22-day Israeli military offensive in Gaza (Operation Cast Lead), Israel unilaterally declared a ceasefire. Hamas and other militant groups announced their own ceasefires shortly after.
- November 2012: An eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas ended with a ceasefire mediated by the U.S. and Egypt. The deal left many underlying issues unresolved and proved fragile, with both sides reporting violations.
- July–August 2014: During the war known as Operation Protective Edge, multiple temporary truces were established and broken. A 51-day conflict ended after many ceasefires failed to hold.
- 2023: Week-long truceA brief humanitarian truce was established in the early months of the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 7, 2023 with the gigantic attack of Hamas and their civilians against Israel.
- Negotiators: The deal was negotiated primarily by Qatar and Egypt.
- Initial agreement: A four-day truce began on November 24, 2023, and involved an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- Extension and end: The truce was extended to seven days before Israel resumed its military operations on December 1, 2023.
- 2025: U.S.-brokered deal January 2025After 15 months of war and negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, a three-phase ceasefire began in January 2025.
- Timeline: The first six-week phase officially started on January 19, 2025, after a brief delay.
- Key terms (Phase 1): The agreement stipulated a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, increased humanitarian aid, and the return of displaced Palestinians. It also included a prisoner exchange, where some Israeli captives were freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The bodies of 13 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, as of 21 October 2025. The return of the hostages was a goal of the Israeli operation in Gaza. Its status as the main goal has been debated by Israeli politicians. Hamas offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all 5,200 Palestinian prisoners at the start of the war. How magnanimous of Hamas; 5200/20 live hostages.
- 2025: U.S.-brokered deal: After 15 months of war and negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, a three-phase ceasefire began in January 2025.
- Timeline: The first six-week phase officially started on January 19, 2025, after a brief delay.
- Key terms (Phase 1): The agreement stipulated a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, increased humanitarian aid, and the return of displaced Palestinians. It also included a prisoner exchange, where some Israeli captives were freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
- Continuation of deal: Further phases were planned to continue negotiations for a more permanent cessation of hostilities.
- Continuation of deal: Further phases were planned to continue negotiations for a more permanent cessation of hostilities.
- October 2025 status:
- Following reports of renewed strikes and violations by both sides, Israel's military announced on October 29, 2025, that the ceasefire was back in effect.
- This announcement came after a deadly flare-up in which Israel conducted strikes in Gaza, and Hamas and Israel traded accusations of violating the truce.
Killed in Hamas captivity after he was kidnapped from Supernova; body retrieved from Gaza December 1 of Ofir Tzarfati. The middle child in his family, Ofir was born and raised in Kiryat Ata outside Haifa. From a young age he loved sports and played tennis, according to a state obituary.
Ofir Tzarfati, 27, was shot and wounded as he was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival on October 7. Ofir, who was celebrating his 27th birthday at the rave with his girlfriend, Shoval Gal, led his group of friends as they ran and hid when Hamas terrorists opened fire, according to a group member. They got to their car and Ofir made sure Shoval was safe.
After graduating high school he enlisted in the IDF and served as a combat soldier on a Navy patrol boat based in Ashdod. When he finished his military service, Ofir worked as a waiter and bartender to save up money in order to spend eight months traveling around South America. Upon his return to Israel, he began studying electrical engineering at Ariel University, and after finishing his degree, starting working in the field. At his funeral, his sister Shoval mourned the family’s immense loss.
Hamas also attempted to trick Israel (and the world) by placing a white bag containing what appeared to be hostage Ofir Tzarfati’s remains in a pit, covering it with sand, and summoning Red Cross representatives within minutes to recover it. Tzarfati was killed on Oct. 7, 2023 and his body was retrieved by IDF forces last year. The entire Hamas ruse was captured on drone video. As I read, I wondered what the remains remained as; was it that he had been decapitated, which I had heard happened, certainly with ISIS, or an arm or leg or what? It's been since October 7, 2023; 2 years and a month ago when he was butchered, then. An answer is: After two years and a month, a body will have undergone significant decomposition, with soft tissues largely broken down and the body in a state of advanced decay, though it may not be fully reduced to just bones and hair. The exact condition depends heavily on factors like embalming, burial environment, and temperature.
Israel informed the U.S. prior to the strikes. President Trump said yesterday that the strikes wouldn’t jeopardize the cease-fire. “Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave…But they said they would be good, and if they’re good, they’re going to be happy, and if they’re not good, they’re going to be terminated. Their lives will be terminated.”
The ceasefire resumed this morning at 10am.
Defense Minister Katz announced today that he has signed an order barring International Red Cross representatives from visiting Palestinian prisoners defined as “unlawful combatants”, including Hamas terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre. He said, “The intelligence presented to me leaves no doubt that Red Cross visits to imprisoned terrorists would severely harm Israel’s security. The safety of the state and its citizens comes first.”
Resource:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ofir-tzarfati-27-a-pure-soul-who-helped-girlfriend-escape-rave/
