General Information

IDF forces continued their activity in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip and the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip, expanding their activities in Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah. The Palestinian organizations continued firing rockets into Israeli territory, including targeting the center of the country. Three IDF soldiers were killed in combat; Israeli security forces rescued the bodies of six Israeli hostages from a tunnel in Khan Yunis. Efforts to promote a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages continued, while senior Hamas figures continued to accuse Israel of making new demands; The UN called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to allow children to be vaccinated against polio. The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in Gaza claimed to have identified the first active case of the virus; Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out two attacks, murdering one Israeli civilian and wounding another. An Israeli citizen was injured when an IED exploded in Tel Aviv. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the "suicide attack." In an attack in an industrial area in Samaria, an Israeli citizen was killed by a hammer-wielding Palestine. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; A Palestinian was killed when dozens of Jewish settlers rioted in the village of Jit in Samaria; PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas visited Turkey and met with President Erdogan. He gave a speech to the Turkish Parliament, announcing his intention to visit the Gaza Strip with senior Palestinian figures. Read more...

The operatives of Hamas' military wing swore allegiance to Yahya al-Sinwar after his appointment as the new head of the Hamas movement's political bureau. Discussions continue on the selection of a deputy. According to reports, al-Sinwar is still involved in the negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages from his hideout in the Gaza Strip; This past week IDF forces focused their activity on the Rafah and Khan Yunis regions, attacking terrorist facilities operated by Hamas in civilian compounds and exposing tunnels and weapons. Palestinian terrorists continued firing rockets at Israeli territory; The leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar issued a joint statement calling for finalizing the negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages. Hamas claims it has shown flexibility in the negotiations, while efforts are being made to convince the movement to participate in the talks expected to take place on August 15, 2024; An UNRWA spokeswoman said that the agency continued to provide humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and operated more than a hundred medical sites; Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorists carried out two attacks, murdering an Israeli civilian and wounding two others. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; The PA chairman met in Russia with Vladimir Putin. The PA petitioned the International Criminal Court for arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and defense minister. Turkey announced it was joining the lawsuit against Israel in the International Court of Justice. Read more...

Isma'il Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau, was killed in an attack in Tehran; he was buried in Qatar. Senior Hamas figures said killing him would not alter the movement's path. The Hamas leadership held consultations to choose his successor. "Sources" stated the movement would resume negotiations for a ceasefire after a new leader had been elected; This past week IDF forces focused their activity on the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip and the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip. They attacked Hamas terrorist facilities operating in civilian compounds and exposed tunnels and weapons. There was an increase in rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, an Israeli civilian was injured; The IDF confirmed that Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, was killed in an airstrike in Khan Yunis; Hamas did not issue a confirmation. the IDF continued to target terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip, including those involved in smuggling and operatives who participated in the Hamas terrorist attack and massacre on October 7 2023; A UN investigation determined that there was evidence indicating the possible involvement of nine UNRWA employees in the October 7, 2023 attack, and announced their dismissal. Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorist operatives carried out three attacks, murdering two Israelis and injuring four others. A Palestinian terrorist stabbed two civilians to death and wounded two others in Holon, and a female Border Police fighter was stabbed at the Tunnel roadblock. An Israeli civilian was injured in a combined shooting and stabbing attack near Kiryat Arba. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, killing nine terrorist operatives in two airstrikes in Tulkarm, and at least five in two airstrikes in Jenin. Read more...

This past week IDF operations focused on the areas of Khan Yunis and Rafah in southern Gaza Strip. The forces also attacked Hamas facilities in civilian compounds. Two IDF soldiers were killed in combat. The Palestinian organizations continued firing rockets at Israeli territory,no casualties were reported; IDF forces rescued the bodies of five Israeli hostages killed by Hamas and held by since October 7, 2023, kept in a tunnel in the humanitarian area of Khan Yunis. Hamas claimed that Israel had set new demands for the negotiations; The World Health Organization announced it would send more than one million doses of polio vaccine to the Gaza Strip; Senior Fatah figure Muhammad Dahlan denied a report that he would head a Palestinian security force which would enter the Gaza Strip after the withdrawal of the IDF forces; Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinian terrorists carried out two shooting attacks this past week, wounding four IDF soldiers. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria. Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives tried and failed to launch rockets into Israeli territory from Tulkarm. The Palestinian security forces attempted to detain wanted terrorists and clashed with armed operatives; The Palestinians condemned Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech before Congress. Read more...

This past week IDF activity focused on the Rafah region in the southern Gaza Strip and in the east of Khan Yunis in the central Gaza Strip. IDF forces also attacked Hamas facilities in UNRWA compounds. The Palestinian organizations continue firing rockets at towns and villages surrounding Gaza; Hamas accused Israel of raising obstacles in the ceasefire negotiations. The American Secretary of State said progress had been made towards reaching an agreement but several disputed issues remained; Hamas apologized to the Gazans for the suffering caused by the war; Human Rights Watch stated that on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian organizations committed war crimes and crimes against humanity; Fourteen Palestinian organizations led by Fatah and Hamas held a meeting in China and signed a declaration "to end the schism and strengthen national unity." They agreed to establish a temporary government for the Gaza Strip after the war; Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week there were three terrorist attacks in which six Israelis were injured. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; The Palestinians welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague which stated that Israel had to end the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Read more...