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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Public protests and criticism of Hamas in the Gaza Strip during recent months

During the past three months, in light of the continued fighting, public criticism of the Hamas government and leadership has increased significantly in the Gaza Strip compared to the protests in the first months. An analysis of the demonstrations indicates that currently they are local and sporadic, apparently organized spontaneously. They are not held particularly frequently, only a few per month, and are attended by a few hundred people. Apparently Hamas is not trying to stop them, possibly because it does not currently regard them as endangering its status. Furthermore, Hamas [falsely] claims that most of the demonstrations do not represent the feelings of the population and are fabricated or directed by Israel. Criticisms are also posted on the social networks. However, at the moment there are relatively few threads, managed by a handful of people with a limited number of followers. So far, the number the protests is small and they do not endanger the Hamas administration. However, as time passes and Israel's military pressure increases in the Gaza Strip, and as a result the humanitarian crisis worsens and the lack of food and shelter for the residents increases, the protests will continue and most likely increase. It is also possible that the approaching month of Ramadan, which begins on March 11, 2024, will further increase the public's sense of want and its frustration, and therefore the extent of the protests.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., March 4, 2024)

The IDF forces continued the integrated ground maneuver, focusing on Khan Yunis, particularly the Hamad neighborhood in the northwestern part of the city and the Qarara area to the north.. Palestinian media reported air and ground attacks by IDF forces throughout the Gaza Strip. A "senior Hamas source" claimed they were working "seriously" to reach an agreement for a ceasefire, and that contrary to news items about Ramadan as the target date, none had been specified. Gazans continue to criticize the airlifted aid, claiming that it is a propaganda stunt and the aid does not reach the entire population . On the morning of March 4, an anti-tank missile was fired at civilian community of Margaliot, killing one person and wounding several. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for seven attacks during the past day.Mahmoud Abbas, PA chairman, issued a "presidential edict" ordering the appointment of three new district governors. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for an attack on the "chemical materials plant in Haifa Port," using a UAV. In reality, no such attack occurred.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., March 3, 2024)

On March 3, 2024, the IDF forces launched a large-scale attack in western Khan Yunis. Over the weekend they continued operating in previous and new areas. They also operated in the Abasan area east of Khan Yunis, near the Israeli border. Rockets were launched at Israel for three consecutive days including Hatzerim Airbase; the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed responsible for two of the attacks. The Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to continue talks for a ceasefire and hostage deal. Hamas insisted that the temporary cease-fire become permanent and the IDF withdraw from the Strip. Hamas refused Israel's request for a list of the hostages. In cooperation with Jordan, an American plane airlifted humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Some people in the Gaza Strip were critical, claiming the supplies were insufficient, did not reach the right recipients and made UNRWA's role redundant. Over the weekend Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 20 attacks against Israel. Three operatives of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Imam Hossein Division were killed in a targeted aerial attack on the Naqourah road,. A building in the city of Baniyas in the Tartus Governate was attacked. Three people were killed, one of them a military advisor to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Two terrorist attacks were carried out' two people were killed. A third diplomatic meeting dealing with the war in the Gaza Strip was held in Turkey under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Russia initiated a meeting in Moscow attended by representatives of the Palestinian "organizations." The summary announcement of the meeting detailed ten points on which the organizations had agreed; further meetings will be held in the future.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 29, 2024)

During the past day, IDF forces focused on western Khan Yunis and the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. The forces exposed terrorist facilities and clashed with armed squads of terrorist operatives.  According to reports, Hamas' ministry of the interior established a "people's defense committee" in Rafah to help enforce the law against business owners who raised prices in the markets.  Hezbollah claimed responsibility for four attacks. It was reported that Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, and Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' Qods Force, met in Beirut, and Qaani gave Hezbollah a green light to escalate its attacks if the IDF began a ground operation in Rafah. According to reports, two attacks on Hezbollah and its affiliated militias were carried out in Syria and attributed to Israel. Mahmoud Abbas sent communiqués to a number of presidents, prime ministers and heads of organizations stating the PA's opposition to the Israeli government's plan for "the day after" the war in Gaza.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 28, 2024)

The IDF forces in the Khan Yunis area continued to intensify their activities, while the forces in the central and northern Gaza Strip operated against Hamas terrorist facilities and armed squads. In the Gaza City area, forces located a tunnel system used for the passage of operatives between different divisions. The tunnels were investigated and destroyed. In two separate incidents on consecutive days, rockets were launched at the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip, including Ashqelon. The IDF responded with air strikes. For the time being, the negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal are on being dealt with less intensively. Several versions of the proposed agreement were published in the Hamas media, elaborating the details and Hamas' position. The Jordanian Air Force airlifted humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip encouraged the continuation of airlifting aid, especially to the northern Gaza Strip Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 15 attacks during the past two days, including rocket barrages targeting the Golan Heights and the Mt. Meron area.. Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for firing 40 rockets at Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee from south Lebanon on February 28, 2024. PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, officially submitted his and the PA government's letter of resignation to Mahmoud Abbas. The Iranian foreign minister claimed Israel was unable to achieve any of its goals in the war despite the military support of the United States. The UN Security Council held a session to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 26, 2024)

IDF forces continued their activity in the southern, central and northern Gaza Strip, mainly fighting armed terrorist organizations who had remained in the areas and tried to attack them. Senior Hamas members accused Israel of making it difficult to continue the negotiations for a hostage deal. They claimed that while some progress had been made, they reiterated their priorities for an agreement, which were that before a hostage deal there had to be a ceasefire, IDF forces had to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, and humanitarian aid had to be introduced into the Gaza Strip, especially in the north. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for six attacks. On the morning of February 26, 2024, Hezbollah shot down an Israeli UAV with a surface-to-air missile. In response, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked Hezbollah aerial defense targets deep inside Lebanon. Israeli security forces operated in several locations in Judea and Samaria. In Kafr Qalil (southeast of Nablus) they confiscated funds that were intended for financing terrorist activity. The forces closed a printshop in Nablus that printed inflammatory materials for Hamas. Palestinian Prime Minister is supposed to submit his resignation today. The government will likely continue to serve as an interim government. His resignation is a preventive measure for dealing with the pressure exerted on the PA by regional and global countries. Hamas expressed doubt regarding the measure and any possible benefit it might bring. The Arab bloc in the UN submitted a formal request to the General Assembly president an emergency session to discuss the "escalating humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip and the situation of UNRWA."
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