Hamas

Nasrallah announces escalation and calls for pressure on Israel

On November 11, 2023, Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech entitled "Life on the way to Jerusalem” for Martyr’s Day, marked by Hezbollah every year.He related to the war in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah’s activities, stating that recently Hezbollah had escalated its attacks on Israel by firing Katyushas rockets, launching Burkan rockets (equipped with a warhead of between half a ton and a ton) and a drone attack. He claimed he was following the “equation” he set out in his previous speech, according to which escalation in Lebanon or the Gaza Strip would lead to escalation from Hezbollah. He also noted the Arab-Iranian "support front" working against Israel. It was Nasrallah's second speech since the outbreak of the war. His first speech was preceded by a build-up of expectations and was broadcast by many media and in front of a large audience, and was extensively rehashed. This speech did not inspire much interest, started about half an hour late, was broadcast only on al-Manar TV and did not prompt reactions. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 13, 2023)

The integrated ground maneuver continued, focusing on Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip and concentrating on the area of the Shati refugee camp. As during the past days, IDF forces exposed a large quantity of terrorist facilities situated in the civilian infrastructure such as schools, universities, mosques and operatives' homes. Aerial attacks on terrorist targets continued. Since the ground forces entered the Strip, there has been a significant decrease in the number of rocket launches. During the past day more rockets were launched from Lebanon than from the Gaza Strip. Hamas continues accusing Israel of sabotaging every arrangement regarding the abductees, claiming there is a difference between civilians and the soldiers, whom Hamas wants to exchange for an estimated 9,000 terrorist operative prisoners in Israeli jails. Hezbollah intensified its attacks along the northern border with more anti-tank and mortar shell fire. Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for firing 15 rockets at the Haifa Bay area. The attacks from Lebanon injured 22 people, one of whom later died. The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) aerospace arm noted that the war had already spread, Lebanon was involved, the extent of the conflict might increase and Iran was prepared for any situation. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 12, 2023)

The IDF integrated maneuver in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip continued. Since the beginning of the war, the forces have attacked more than 15,000 terrorist targets in Gaza, destroying and confiscating about 6,000 weapons. The IDF also took control of 11 posts belonging to Hamas’ military-terrorist wing. Over the past few days, Israeli Air Force aircraft, with the help of the ground forces, attacked about 5,000 targets. Two rockets launched from Syria at fell in open areas, and a number of UAV launches at the Eilat-Arava region were identified, at least one of them from Syria. Senior Hamas terrorists still claim they have the upper hand in the campaign. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) sources accuse Israel of delaying a deal to release the abductees. According to reports, the situation in the Gaza Strip is difficult, mainly in the hospitals. The Shifa Hospital has allegedly stopped functioning. For the first time, signs Hamas is cracking may have been detected, because Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas' military-terrorist wing, used the term "betrayal," apparently in connection with the military support they were expecting from outside the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts and Israeli cities, towns and villages near the Lebanese border. On November 11, 2023, a summit meeting of Arab League leaders was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, combined with an emergency summit meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The UN Security Council held a session to discuss the situation, at the end of which no resolutions were issued. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 9, 2023)

The southern sector: IDF forces continued its integrated ground maneuver, focusing on Gaza City and a number of locations in the northern Gaza Strip. The forces uncovered more evidence of Hamas's use of the civilian population as human shields. Hamas is trying to minimize the IDF’s achievements by claiming that the forces have stalled in the places they entered on the first day of the maneuver and have been prevented from advancing. They also deny the IDF's claims that Hamas headquarters are located in hospitals. According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7, approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 352 of them soldiers and officers; 239 civilian and military abductees are held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Hamas often relates to the issue of the abductees and an exchange deal conditioned on a ceasefire, distinguishing between civilian and military abductees. The Gaza Strip: According to reports, the situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate and there are shortages of food, water and electricity. As part of the battle for hearts and minds, Hamas has recently been increasing the use of the term "Israel’s war of starvation," and claiming it is a deliberate measure of collective punishment against the population. Several dozen aid trucks will arrive in the Gaza Strip after they have been inspected. The exodus of foreign citizens from the Gaza Strip continues. Hamas: Saleh al-'Arouri, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, who lives in Beirut, was interviewed and discussed the war in Gaza, Hamas’ situation and the aid and support it receives from abroad. He also called on the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to start a campaign against Israel. The northern sector: Hezbollah continued to attack IDF posts and the cities, towns and villages in the Galilee. Hezbollah forces were reportedly being transferred from Syria to Lebanon and equipped with sophisticated weapons. Meanwhile, voices are he Read more...

Financing Terrorism: Currency Exchange in the Service of Hamas

The Hamas movement needs enormous sums of money to finance its terrorist activities. Because Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries, and because the conventional global banking system does not operate in the Gaza Strip and is monitored by security bodies and state and international enforcement agencies, Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip (and Iran) are forced to look for alternative methods to transfer funds to its coffers. The Hamas leadership, in collaboration with the Iranians, employ several channels to transfer the funds. They rely on traditional money changers, use Offset methods between Palestinian laborers and merchants for money changers, and use digital means such as virtually unregulated cryptocurrencies, which are transferred according to agreement by a mostly confidential network. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 8, 2023)

The integrated maneuver of IDF forces continued in the northern Gaza Strip in the Beit Hanoun area and in Gaza City. Senior Hamas terrorists denied Israel's military achievements deep in Gaza City and reported “the withdrawal of IDF forces. Regarding the issue of the abductees, Hamas spokesmen said that any deal would be carried out after a ceasefire was announced. They also reiterated the claim that not all of the abductees were being held by Hamas. Medical officials reported a serious situation in in the Gaza Strip Thousands of Gazans responded to the IDF's call and are making their way to the south. Among a small number of unofficial speakers, there is a budding opposition to the Hamas leadership and criticism of the disaster they visited on the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah launched a campaign that included a video and activity on social networks “justifying” the organization's activities. In Judea and an attempted stabbing attack was carried out near Ofra, northeast of Ramallah. Read more...

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