The Palestinian Authority (PA)

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 31, 2024)

Over the past day the activity of the IDF forces continued focusing on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, with additional activity in the northern Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas members reported that they had received the document formulated at the Paris summit for a three-phase hostage deal, during which the military operations of both sides would cease. Senior Hamas members stated they were checking the details of the proposal and claimed Hamas represented all the "organizations" in the Gaza Strip. Senior PIJ members said they had not received the document. Dealing with the claims against UNRWA continues. Sweden announced that it would stop funding the agency. The UN secretary general has been appealing to the donor countries to restore their funding for the agency. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for five attacks. Senior Hezbollah members continue threatening Israel with escalating their attacks. Three rockets were launched at Israel from Syria, falling in open areas. In response, the Israeli Air Force attacked targets near Daraa in southern Syria. The PA foreign ministry issued an announcement stating that all the details of any idea or initiative regarding the future of Gaza had to be shared with and approved by the PA. The secretary general of the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq announced the suspension of the militia's military and security operations against the American Army.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 30, 2024)

The IDF's activity in the last day focused on the Khan Yunis area, both above and below ground. The forces dismantled two battalions of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades' Khan Yunis Brigade, killed a large number of terrorists and damaged important terrorist facilities. East of Khan Yunis, the forces operated in a tunnel exposed under a cemetery which served as the headquarters of Hamas' military wing. The mediators expressed optimism about progress towards a hostage deal. Senior Hamas officials expressed cautious optimism and a certain flexibility regarding a ceasefire, stating they would formulate their final position in the near future. The serious accusations against UNRWA regarding the involvement of the agency's employees in the terrorist attack and massacre on October 7, 2023, continue making headlines. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for eight attacks using anti-tank missiles and rockets, including heavy Burkan and Falaq-1 rockets. In response, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon. Hezbollah reported two deaths. Israeli security forces killed three terrorists, one an operative of Hamas' military wing and two Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives who were hiding in a hospital in Jenin.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 28, 2024)

The fighting continued, mainly in the Khan Yunis area, where IDF forces extended their presence. They confronted armed terrorist squads, located munitions stockpiles, shafts and tunnels. Meanwhile, Israel opened a secure humanitarian corridor for residents from the combat zone to move towards the west. The Palestinian media reported heavy fighting in the Khan Yunis area and clashes in the northern and central Gaza Strip. Western spokesmen reported that Hamas and Israel, under the aegis of the United States and Qatar, were close to reaching a deal for the release of the hostages. Hamas stated that the proposals, which include a two-month temporary ceasefire in exchange for a new hostage deal, did not meet their "basic requirements .Palestinian Authority (PA) foreign ministry claimed Israel was ignoring the UN's warnings about the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip . Following information provided by Israel to UNRWA about the 12 agency employees who took an active part in the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack and massacre, UNRWA announced the immediate termination of the employment of those staff members and the opening of an independent investigation of experts. Several countries announced they were suspending the agency's funding. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 16 attacks over the weekend. The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued an interim ruling regarding South Africa's "genocide" petition in the Gaza Strip. Although the tribunal did not call on Israel to stop the fighting, it adopted the South African "genocide" narrative and issued several interim orders to Israel and called for the return of the Israeli hostages.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 25, 2024)

The activity of the IDF forces continued focusing on the Khan Yunis area in the southern Gaza Strip. The forces located weapons and clashed with a large number of armed squads. The Palestinians claimed that the IDF forces had attacked an UNRWA facility. In the central Gaza Strip the forces uncovered a tunnel connecting the northern and southern Gaza Strip. So far, no progress has been made on the negotiations for a hostage deal. Hamas members denied all reports in the international news agencies and the Israeli media about a possible exchange deal sponsored by Qatar and Egypt. Senior Hamas members reiterated that they stood by their initial conditions for any deal, the first of which was a ceasefire and the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip. The heavy fighting has caused residents of the Khan Yunis area to continue moving to the Rafah area. Senior figures, including the president of Egypt, claim that the humanitarian aid received by the Gaza Strip every day is insufficient. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for six attacks against Israel. Israeli Air Force fighter planes and artillery attacked in the Yaroun area. The Hezbollah-affiliated daily al-Akhbar published an article which claimed that the Lebanese army, Lebanon, and UNIFIL had "data" confirming Israel's intention to escalate the fighting. Mahmoud Abbas met with David Cameron, the British foreign minister. He said that contrary to Israel's plans, the Gaza Strip had no security or military solution and could not be cut off from the "Palestinian state." For the second time, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for launching a UAV to attack the Port of Ashdod. The Houthis attacked a ship flying the American flag.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 23, 2024)

There was heavy fighting in Khan Yunis, mainly in the south and west of the city. The IDF forces completed the encirclement of the area. During the operation the forces clashed with armed terrorist squads and three IDF officers were killed. Hamas accused Israel of attacking sites which had been classified as shelters for displaced persons. In the central Gaza Strip, 21 fighters were killed when two buildings collapsed as the forces prepared to demolish them. A senior Hamas member warned of famine in the Gaza Strip and called on international organizations to send urgent aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for five attacks against Israel. One attack targeted the IDF base in Miron for the second time. A Palestinian woman armed with a knife approached an IDF position in the settlement of Psagot (east of Ramallah). The Palestinian Authority (PA) government approved a $30 million program, funded by donor countries, for the reconstruction of several cities and refugee camps that were "destroyed" by Israeli security force counterterrorism activities. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for launching a UAV to attack the Port of Ashdod. United States forces, in cooperation with other countries, attacked 18 Houthi targets in Yemen.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 22, 2024)

Over the past day, IDF forces fighting in the Gaza Strip focused on the Khan Yunis area, where they expanded their activities in the west and south of the city. Reportedly, Egypt and Qatar are trying to push Israel and Hamas into joining a diplomatic process that will lead to the release of hostages and ultimately to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the end of the war. Senior Hamas members said they that all the issues were still in the process of being generally laid out and at the moment they were not close to reaching an agreement. Hamas published a document in English and Arabic that "explained" their reasons and the circumstances for launching Operation al-Aqsa Flood. The document is rife with lies . Hezbollah claimed responsibility for six attacks. According to the organization, an Israeli civilian target was attacked in response to the death of a Lebanese civilian in an IDF attack. Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) figures are looking for a mechanism that will allow them to receive the tax funds from Israel. Terrorist attacks planned by two ISIS supporters from east Jerusalem were prevented.The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for attacking a "military target" in the Golan Heights.
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