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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 16, 2023)

In Gaza City, the operation focused on Shifa Hospital, where  evidence of terrorist activity was found. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) tried to cast doubt on the evidence, and they and several Arab countries criticized the IDF’s activity. In the northern Gaza Strip, the forces operated in the Palestine post of the Shati refugee camp. The forces also took control of Hamas’ central anchorage, which was a focal point for Hamas and PIJ terrorist activity. Rocket fire: The daily number of rocket fire attacks continues to decrease and there were about ten during the past day. According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 371 of them soldiers and officers; 239 civilian and military abductees are held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the PIJ continue to accuse Israel of delaying a prisoner exchange deal. The PIJ claimed it holds 30 hostages. The Gaza Strip: The World Food Organization warned of food shortages. The fuel situation is deteriorating and according to UNRWA, the entry of one truck with fuel for the agency’s use contributed very little to improving the situation. The Palestinian Communications Company announced the generators were no longer operative. An association based in Turkey announced it was organizing an aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip. The northern arena: Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts. The IDF responded by attacking Hezbollah military-terrorist targets. Hezbollah threatened to intensify its attacks in response to IDF activity in the Gaza Strip. Judea and Samaria: Palestinian terrorists carried out a shooting attack at the Tunnel Crossing in Jerusalem. Seven people were injured, one of them fatally. The terrorists were shot and killed by Israeli security forces. The terrorists apparently planned to carry out a much larger attack in Jerusalem. Mahmoud Abbas met with the White House coordinator for Middle East and North African affairs, and with the United States assistant secretary of state. Iran: Hamas vigorously denied the Reuters report that Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran, meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of Hamas, said that since Hamas had not given Tehran advance notice about the October 7 attack, Iran would not enter the war on its behalf. The international arena: The UN Security Council voted on a resolution calling for immediate action for prolonged pauses in the fighting and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in the Gaza Strip.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 15, 2023)

The IDF completed the takeover of the Shati refugee camp and of a number of government institutions in Gaza City. During the night, the IDF forces began a focused operation at Shifa Hospital, which was carried out after the hospital management had been informed in advance of the soldiers’ entry into the compound and after an effort had been made to evacuate the patients and Gazans who had taken shelter in the hospital; IDF forces delivered medical equipment to the hospital. The IDF’s entry into the hospital compound provoked a wave of angry reactions from the terrorist organizations, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Arab sources. The rate of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip has decreased. Three rockets were fired at the central part of the country and injured several civilians. A missile launched at Eilat was intercepted in the Red Sea. Two rockets were launched from south Syria at IDF positions. The terrorist organizations continue to accuse Israel of sabotaging any agreement to release the abductees. Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) secretary general, claimed the negotiating method for the release of the hostages could push them to abort the deal and keep the hostages to "obtain better conditions." Hezbollah continued attacking along
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 14, 2023)

The IDF integrated maneuver in the Gaza Strip continued. It focused on the Shati refugee camp and the Rantisi Children's Hospital, where the IDF exposed a basement used by Hamas terrorist operatives and where Israeli hostages may have been held. Hamas still claims its operatives are inflicting losses on the IDF and that they have the upper hand. Damage to the headquarters of Qatar's National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza provoked a wave of reactions from Qatar and other Arab countries.Hamas officials continue to claim that they are ready for a deal to exchange "captives" and accuse Israel of delaying it. Sources in the Gaza Strip continue to report the situation is difficult. According to UNRWA, fuel reserves are running out. The Iranian Red Crescent reported financial aid from Iranian citizens to the Gazans of more than $2 million. Hezbollah attacks and IDF responses continued in the northern Israel. Hezbollah claimed Israel shot at journalists who came to cover the events. Opposition figures in Lebanon warn that Hezbollah will drag Lebanon into war. Counterterrorism activities continued. One stabbing attack was carried out and another, in Tel Aviv, was prevented.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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