The Palestinian Authority (PA)

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 26, 2023)

On November 24, 2023, at 7 a.m., a four-day hiatus in the fighting began in the Gaza Strip, followed by the first phase of the deal to release the abductees. So far 26 Israeli civilians and 15 foreigners have been released in two groups. Israel released 76 Palestinian prisoners. More abductees are supposed to be released in the coming days. Senior Hamas terrorists and international figures are talking about extending the agreement and releasing more hostages. However, Hamas continues posing difficulties, claiming Israel is violating the terms of the agreement. Trucks bringing humanitarian aid began entering the Gaza Strip. Gazan sources claimed the amount of aid was insufficient and should be increased. Hamas' military-terrorist wing announced the deaths of four senior commanders; their funeral was held in the northern Gaza Strip. Protests in Gaza continue. Although Hezbollah did not officially announce it would participate in the pause in the fighting, with the exception of isolated incidents, relative quiet has prevailed in the northern arena since the pause began. In Judea and Samaria: The IDF security forces continue their counterterrorism activities. Iran supports the temporary hiatus and hopes it will be extended, while stressing that Israel has not achieved anything and Hamas is winning.The pro-Iranian militias have been asking whether they should stop their activities against United States military bases and Israel following the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
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Hamas attempts to ignite Judea and Samaria (Updated November 22, 2023)

Since October 7, 2023, Hamas has been working to ignite Judea and Samaria to open another front that will engage Israel's security forces, part of the concept the "unity of the arenas". Senior Hamas terrorists, led by Saleh al-'Arouri, s, are again urging the residents of Judea, Samaria, east Jerusalem and Israeli Arabs to join the campaign, attack settlers, clash with Israeli security forces and carry out attacks, including inside Israeli territory. They called on the operatives of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) security apparatus to use their weapons to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel. Not wanting to open another front and to foil Hamas' plans, immediately after the war began, the Israeli security forces increased their counterterrorism activities in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. Their actions are directed primarily against the Hamas terrorist infrastructure and its leadership. So far, the security forces have arrested about 1,850 wanted persons, about 1,100 of them Hamas operatives. The PA also understood the danger and the possibility it would lose control. Mahmoud Abbas instructed the Palestinian security forces to increase their activity in the Palestinian cities, warning that otherwise the situation could become chaotic. In practice, the public’s response to Hamas' calls has been limited. The increase in the Israeli security forces' counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria increase in the number of Palestinian deaths. The ministry of health in Ramallah reported that since the beginning of the war in Gaza, 217 Palestinians had been killed. In addition, since the beginning of the war there has been a significant increase in clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians. Despite the public's identification with Hamas, for now the situation on the ground is apparently under control and the mobilization of the Palestinian public in Judea and Samaria in favor of Hamas and the Gaza Strip is relatively limited.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 23, 2023)

Despite the announcements of a deal to release some of the abductees and a ceasefire on November 23, as of now the agreement has not been implemented and the timetable for its implementation is unclear. According to Isma'il Haniyeh's advisor, the discussions are currently about the mechanisms for its implementation. In the southern arena: IDF forces continued operations in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip. An extensive tunnel network was uncovered at Shifa Hospital, used as headquarters by Hamas terrorist operatives, and apparently Israeli hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack were held there. According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 392 of them soldiers and officers; 236 civilian and military abductees are being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Sporadic rocket launches were carried out from the Gaza Strip, in northern Israel an unusual barrage of 48 rockets was launched at the Galilee, a ballistic missile was launched at Eilat from the region of Yemen and intercepted before it reached Israeli territory. The difficult humanitarian continues in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah military-terrorist activity continued. In Judea and Samaria, Israeli security force counterterrorism activities continue. The Iranian foreign minister visited Lebanon and met with government officials, and secretary general of Hezbollah and representatives of the Palestinian terrorist organizations.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 21, 2023)

The IDF integrated ground maneuver continued in Gaza City and the north of the Gaza Strip; a number of attacks were also carried out in the central and southern Gaza Strip. The centers of activity included the neighborhoods of Zeitoun, Jabaliya, Beit Lahia and Rafah. The president of the Red Cross met with Isma'il Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, and demanded that the Red Cross be allowed to meet with the abductees. UNRWA and figures from the ministry of health in Gaza continue to report a worsening situation and fear of diseases due to the lack of water. Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts and cities, towns and villages along the northern border. According to an initial report, the IDF attacked a vehicle south of Tyre at 2:45 p.m., killing four Hamas terrorist operatives. In Judea and SamariaThe Israeli security forces continue counterterrorism activities.The Iranians are trying to coordinate efforts with other countries, especially Muslim countries, to exert pressure on Israel.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 20, 2023)

IDF forces continued the integrated ground maneuver, focusing mainly on the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City. Palestinian officials reported IDF activity at the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesman exposed Hamas terrorist activity inside Shifa Hospital, including a 55 meter (about 60 yards) tunnel passing directly under the hospital intended for Hamas activity. He also revealed that Israeli abductees had arrived at the hospital and that one of them was murdered within its walls. Hamas denied the reports. Jordan sent equipment into the Gaza Strip for the construction of a second field hospital in Khan Yunis. In Lebanon, Hezbollah continued attacking IDF positions along the border. Hezbollah reported carrying out about 15 attacks. The IDF responded by attacking Hezbollah targets with artillery fire and airstrikes. In Judea and Samaria Vehicles were shot at in the Salfit area. No casualties were reported. The Houthis hijacked a ship, which they claimed was Israeli ,and captured the crew
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 19, 2023)

During the past few days the IDF forces continued operations at Shifa Hospital and in several other neighborhoods in Gaza City. In the northern Gaza Strip they operated in Beit Hanoun, Zeitoun, Beit Lahia and Jabalia, and destroyed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) post where they found a large quantity of strategic weapons. The Palestinian terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip continue firing rockets daily at Israel, especially at the cities, towns and villages near the border. According to the Palestinians, the situation in the Gaza Strip is getting worse and there is a fear of the spread of diseases. Sources in the Gaza Strip reported that Israel's agreement to bring in two fuel trucks a day for UNRWA was not enough. In Lebanon, Hezbollah's daily attacks on IDF positions and northern cities, towns and villages increased. In Judea and SamariaTwo Palestinian terrorists attempted a shooting attack; they were shot and killed by IDF forces. The Israeli security forces focused their counterterrorism activities on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus and Jenin. The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force sent a communiqué to Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military-terrorist wing, congratulating him on Hamas’ October 7 attack. Rallies in support of the Palestinians were held throughout Iran. Senior Iranian officials praised the Hamas attack.
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