The Palestinian Islamic Jihad

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

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the Khan Yunis area in the south. Collaborating with the armored and engineering forces and the Israeli Air Force, the fighters eliminated terrorists in face-to-face clashes. They also located and destroyed terrorist facilities, finding large quantities of weapons (IDF spokesperson, December 31, 2023). At midnight, as 2023 became 2024, a barrage of more than 20 rockets attacked central Israel and the area between Ashdod and Jerusalem. Hamas' military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for the attack. Egypt summoned delegations of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other terrorist organizations to a meeting in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire and "the day after." According to a single report, a Hamas delegation left for Cairo.Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israel. A Palestinian terrorist carried out a stabbing attack in the industrial zone of Ma'ale Adumim, wounding two security guards. The Palestinians in Judea and Samaria marked the anniversary of the founding of Fatah; Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for attacking the Golan Heights and Eilat. The IDF spokesperson reported that missiles had been intercepted. The Houthis in Yemen reported ten operatives dead in an American attack and claimed the United States was responsible for their deaths and the consequences.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 31, 2023)

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip focusing on the Daraj-Tufah neighborhoods in the northern Gaza Strip and the city of Khan Yunis in the south, where they operated in the Khirbat al-Khiza'a area to gain operational control the region.. The Palestinians reported fierce fighting in many centers in the Strip. Senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists continue to claim that they controlled the battlefield and that Israel had suffered heavy losses. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continue to reiterate that there will be no prisoner exchange or any other deal with Israel until the "aggression" ends and Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip.Medical personnel and UNRWA warn of hardships and hunger in the Gaza Strip, noting that the current amount of humanitarian aid is insufficient. Senior Hamas and PIJ terrorists are engaged in formulating answers to the mediators' proposals for a cease-fire and the issue of control of the Gaza Strip "the day after." Hezbollah continued attacking IDF outposts. The IDF responded with massive attacks on south Lebanon. Several attacks were also carried out in Syria, mainly on targets of the pro-Iranian militias, including an attack in the Albukamal area on the Syria-Iraq border. There were two vehicle ramming attacks in the Hebron area and a stabbing attack in east Jerusalem; Hamas and the PIJ praised the attacks . South Africa has petitioned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for proceedings against Israel, claiming that Israel is "deliberately committing genocide" of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the PIJ praised South Africa and called on other countries to do the same.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 28, 2023)

he IDF forces continued to attack terrorist targets in a number of central locations in the Gaza Strip, among them Daraj and Tufah in the northern Gaza Strip, the al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. In Rantisi Hospital in Gaza City, the IDF completed the destruction of the underground tunnel complex. The Palestinians reported that the IDF's ground maneuver in the central Gaza Strip focused on the Juhor al-Dik area (Wadi Gaza) and the al-Bureij refugee camp. Hamas' military-terrorist wing announced it was using "new weapons”. According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,300 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 501 of them soldiers and officers; 129 civilian and military hostages are still being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, 16 of them women and children; 121 hostages have been returned to Israel. The preoccupation with "the day after" continues. Hamas informed Egypt that a situation in which Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) would not be part of the leadership of the Gaza Strip after the war was unrealistic. Hamas denied reports in the French newspaper Le Figaro stating that half an hour before the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, they updated Hezbollah. Hezbollah accepted responsibility for three attacks. A barrage of about 30 rockets was launched at Kiryat Shmona. Three hostile aircraft crossed from Lebanon and fell in the area of Mount Dov.Israeli security forces conducted an extensive operation to confiscate funds intended to finance terrorism and detained suspects for helping to finance Hamas.The Islamic Resistance Front in Iraq claimed responsibility for attacking a vital target in the Golan Heights.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 27, 2023)

The IDF forces continued to attack terrorist targets, terrorist groups and military facilities in the Gaza Strip focusing on the Daraj and Tufah neighborhoods of Gaza City and the refugee camps in central Gaza, and in Khan Yunis in the south. The Palestinians reported intense IDF artillery fire targeting east al-Bureij and al-Maghazi, shelling targeting east Khan Yunis, and attacks in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip and in east Gaza City. A three-phase updated Egyptian proposal has been published which includes a ceasefire, the return of the hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) reiterated that there was nothing new in the proposal. According to reports, Egyptian officials are working to settle "the day after" and are in contact with the Hamas leadership "abroad." Hezbollah claimed responsibility for nine attacks. An anti-tank missile was fired at a church in the Christian village of Iqrit, injuring a civilian and several IDF soldiers. The heads of the Palestinian Authority are dealing with "the day after." Iranian leaders continued commenting on the killing of Seyyed Razi Moussavi and threatened Israel with a harsh response. An Israeli Air Force fighter jet intercepted a hostile air target in the Red Sea area en route to Israeli territory.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 26, 2023)

The ground, sea, and air forces continued to attack terrorist targets, terrorist cells and military sites in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians reported intense attacks in the Jabalia area, the center of Khan Yunis and Rafah, adding that the IDF had completed splitting the Strip According to a report, an ISIS operative who participated in the October 7 attack and massacre was reported killed by the IDF in Rafah. A commission of UN agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and civilian social organizations published a comprehensive report regarding the food crisis in the Gaza Strip. The contents of a letter from Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, to the Hamas political bureau were revealed. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for ten attacks. Hamas' military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for firing rockets at the Western Galilee.. At the meeting of the PLO Executive Committee, Mahmoud Abbas said the war had to be brought to a complete, permanent halt, all humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip had to be met and Israel's plan to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip had to be blocked. Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force operative, was killed in the Damascus area in an attack attributed to Israel. Iranian officials threatened to avenge his death.
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Photojournalists in the service of Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Hamas operates affiliated media outlets in the Gaza Strip, along with an array of prominent correspondents whose professional activities are used to convey messages and reports to the residents and others in the Gaza Strip and abroad. Some, such as Hassan Aslih, Ashraf Abu Amra, Anas al-Sharif work independently and others, such as Islam Badr and Hani al-Sha'er work for foreign media outlets as well as for Hamas.This report analyzes a group of five of the most prominent journalists currently working in Gaza. They enjoy extensive media exposure, are known in the streets of Gaza and are followed by many on their social media. They also have personal relations with the Hamas leadership and are invited to cover special events such as conferences, rallies, demonstrations and weapons displays. They also enjoy benefits, apparently provided by the Hamas government, such as first-class flights to the hajj in Saudi Arabia and expensive medical treatment abroad.
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