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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 22, 2024)

IDF activity continues, focusing on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and the Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. In Khan Yunis the forces uncovered another tunnel used by senor Hamas operatives. Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said that for every Israeli hostage released, Hamas demanded the release of 500 Palestinian prisoners. He also noted that there might soon be a breakthrough regarding a ceasefire. Senior Hamas members continue to reiterate that Hamas has adhered to the conditions it presented in response to what was agreed upon in Paris. A Jordanian Air Force plane airlifted medical aid to the Jordanian field hospital in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 14 attacks, including firing anti-tank missiles which damaged homes, and launching a barrage of rockets at the cities, towns and villages in the Western Galilee. The IDF responded with airstrikes and artillery fire. Three Palestinian terrorists in two cars carried out a shooting attack near Ma'ale Adumim. One person was killed and eight were injured. Two of terrorists were killed and the third was captured. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) welcomed the attack and called on the Palestinians to continue attacking. The Iranian leader claimed the Gaza Strip was currently the main focus of the Islamic world. The Iranian foreign minister condemned the United States' decision to veto the UN Security Council proposal for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. On the morning of February 22, 2024, IDF aerial defense fighters used the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system to intercept a missile fired at Israel from the Red Sea. United States military forces attacked Houthi targets.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 21, 2024)

A Hamas delegation led by Isma'il Haniyeh has gone to Egypt. Some progress in the talks has been reported. Reports are increasing that severe hunger is spreading throughout the Gaza Strip, especially in the north. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced the halting of aid deliveries to the northern Gaza Strip following civilian attacks on the delivery trucks. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for nine attacks during the past day In Syria, a building on the outskirts of Damascus was attacked where Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps operatives lived. During the past day activity focused mainly on the Jenin refugee camp, where Israeli security forces detained a wanted Palestinian who had barricaded himself inside a house; a UAV was deployed. The spokesman for Houthi armed forces reported a UAV attack on "sensitive Israeli sites" in the Eilat area and a missile attack on an Israeli ship.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 20, 2024)

IDF forces continued its operations in Khan Yunis and Nasser Hospital. In Gaza City, Palestinian media reported intensive IDF activity in the Zeitoun neighborhood in the southeast of the city, adding that many residents had left the area.A Hamas delegation led by Isma'il Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political bureau, arrived in Cairo. A senior Hamas member of the delegation to Cairo again reiterated Hamas' conditions for a deal: the cessation of hostilities, the return of residents to their homes and the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip.: Reports about the difficult situation in the Gaza Strip continue. The UN coordinator for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip said that according to the UN, expanding the military operation to Rafah would have extremely severe humanitarian consequences. During the past day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for three attacks. In response to the detection of a UAV in the Lower Galilee, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked sites in the Sidon area. Palestinians threw an IED at an Israeli vehicle northwest of Nablus, injuring one passenger. Following the attack, the security forces operated in the village of Burqa. According to Palestinian media, following the attack Israeli settlers entered the village and set fire to two cars and two houses. Hossein-Amir Abdollahian, the Iranian foreign minister, sent a communiqué to Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, alerting him to a possible Israeli action in Rafah.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 19, 2024)

The IDF forces continued to focus their activity on the Khan Yunis area, clashing with squads of terrorist operatives. At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, where the forces have been operating for several days, hundreds of Gazans hiding in the hospital and suspected of terrorist activities were detained, among them operatives who had participated in the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and massacre. Large quantities of weapons were also found in the hospital. Hamas reiterated its claim that given the difficult humanitarian situation in the northern Gaza Strip, if the issue of humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip was not resolved, they would have no choice but to suspend the negotiations for a hostages deal. Senior Hamas members denied Israeli Defense Minister's statement that Hamas was looking for a replacement for Yahya al-Sinwar. During the past day Hezbollah claimed responsibility for nine attacks. : Senior Palestinian figures criticized the Israeli government's decision to limit the entry of Israeli Arabs to the Temple Mount for prayers during the month of Ramadan. The Houthis attacked a British-registered cargo ship operated by a Lebanese company. The ship was damaged and the crew abandoned it.The International Court of Justice in The Hague has begun discussing the Palestinian Authority's request for a Court opinion on the legality of the "Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories."
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 15, 2024)

During the past day, IDF forces intensified their activities in Khan Yunis. On the morning of February 15, 2024, Palestinian media reported IDF activities in Nasser Hospital. Meanwhile, the forces in the northern and central Gaza Strip operated to eliminate armed terrorist squads remaining in the area and also carried out targeted attacks. The ground forces coordinated attacks with the Israeli Air Force and Navy.According to reports, discussions (hostage deal) continue in Cairo, although at a lower level. They also revealed that "external" Hamas members had not yet received a response from Yahya al-Sinwar regarding the controversial issues. According to reports, Rafah is overcrowded because of the displaced persons arriving in the area. Meanwhile, many residents, fearing an Israeli attack, were reported to have left the city. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for one attack. For the first time since the ceasefire, Hezbollah did not claim responsibility for attacks against Israel, including the barrage of rockets at Safed which killed one soldier and injured eight others. The Israeli Air Force carried out massive attacks on Hezbollah targets, including Radwan force targets. Hezbollah stated that the attacks, in which civilians were also killed, would not go unanswered. IDF forces continued counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria , rendering six lathes for the production of weapons unusable, confiscating equipment from two print shops, confiscating weapons and detaining wanted Palestinians. The chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), said the PA, with all its institutions, was ready to begin work and perform its duty as a Palestinian national authority in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria The UN Security Council held another session to discuss the Houthis' attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The families of the Israeli hostages filed a formal complaint against Hamas at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.a
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 14, 2024)

During the past day, the fighting focused on the Lesser Abasan area, adjacent to Khan Yunis, where IDF forces cleared terrorist facilities, exposed and neutralized tunnels and clashed with armed terrorist squads.. Palestinian media reported that Gazans staying at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis were asked by the IDF forces to leave and evacuation began. A summit meeting was held in Cairo attended by representatives of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Israel. The main differences between the two sides center on the ceasefire and a formula for the release of [a specific number of terrorists in exchange for every Israeli hostage During the past day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for five attacks. On the morning of February 14, 2024, a barrage of rockets was fired at the Upper Galilee. A woman was killed in Safed and eight people were injured. So far, no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, gave a speech in which he reiterated his claim that with the cessation of fighting in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah's attacks would also stop. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) called for expanding the borders of the campaign against Israel from the territories of Judea and Samaria to the heart of Israel. Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas to complete the hostage exchange deal quickly to prevent further displacement and another disaster.: The leader of the Houthis in Yemen stated that since the sea route was important for Israel, their operations at sea had proven to be effective, and they were ready to continue and escalate the attacks on Israel. South Africa submitted an "urgent" request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether Israel's decision to extend the fighting to the Rafah area required intervention.
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