Hamas

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...

This past week IDF activity focused on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, while IDF forces completed their activity in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. The forces also operated at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, where they found large quantities of weapons. The IDF attacked a compound near displaced persons in Khan Yunis from the air, where Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing was hiding. The likelihood that Deif was also killed is increasing. The Palestinian organizations continue firing rockets at the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip; Senior Hamas figures said the movement wanted to continue negotiations despite the attack on Khan Yunis, and blamed Israel for impeding progress; Senior Fatah figures accused Hamas of responsibility for killing civilians in the Israeli attack on Khan Yunis. It was agreed that talks between the representatives of the two movements would resume in China; Four IDF soldiers were injured in a vehicle ramming attack at the Nir Zvi Junction, carried out by a resident of east Jerusalem. Three Israelis were injured in a shooting attack in Samaria. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria; The PA prime minister and senior PLO figures met in Ramallah with the new British foreign minister. Read more...