The West

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
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 9, 2023)

The southern sector: IDF forces continued its integrated ground maneuver, focusing on Gaza City and a number of locations in the northern Gaza Strip. The forces uncovered more evidence of Hamas's use of the civilian population as human shields. Hamas is trying to minimize the IDF’s achievements by claiming that the forces have stalled in the places they entered on the first day of the maneuver and have been prevented from advancing. They also deny the IDF's claims that Hamas headquarters are located in hospitals. According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7, approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 352 of them soldiers and officers; 239 civilian and military abductees are held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Hamas often relates to the issue of the abductees and an exchange deal conditioned on a ceasefire, distinguishing between civilian and military abductees. The Gaza Strip: According to reports, the situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate and there are shortages of food, water and electricity. As part of the battle for hearts and minds, Hamas has recently been increasing the use of the term "Israel’s war of starvation," and claiming it is a deliberate measure of collective punishment against the population. Several dozen aid trucks will arrive in the Gaza Strip after they have been inspected. The exodus of foreign citizens from the Gaza Strip continues. Hamas: Saleh al-'Arouri, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, who lives in Beirut, was interviewed and discussed the war in Gaza, Hamas’ situation and the aid and support it receives from abroad. He also called on the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to start a campaign against Israel. The northern sector: Hezbollah continued to attack IDF posts and the cities, towns and villages in the Galilee. Hezbollah forces were reportedly being transferred from Syria to Lebanon and equipped with sophisticated weapons. Meanwhile, voices are he
Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 7, 2023)

The southern sector: After encircling Gaza City, the IDF forces began operating inside the city, focusing on Hamas strongholds in the Shati refugee camp, in the northwest of the city and the area of the Shifa, al-Quds and Indonesian hospitals. The operation revealed more evidence of Hamas' use of civilian compounds for terrorist activities. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continue claiming they have the upper hand, are prepared for prolonged fighting, and that most of the dead are civilians and not military “operatives” [terrorists] or commanders. In the meantime, sporadic rocket fire attacking Israel continues. So far, since October 7, more than 1,400 civilian and soldier deaths have been reported; 240 civilian and soldier abductees are still being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. A PIJ source claimed Israel would be forced to trade 6,000 prisoners in Israeli jails for the abductees. The Gaza Strip: According to the Hamas-controlled ministry of health, the number of dead in the Gaza Strip stands at 10,328. The IDF continued to urge the population to evacuate the combat arena, while Hamas continued to prevent their exodus in order to keep them as human shields during the fighting. The Rafah Crossing was reopened for the passage of foreign citizens. The northern sector: Hezbollah attacks along the border continued. A barrage of rockets, unusual in number and range, was launched at the Haifa area. Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for the launch. In response, IDF forces attacked Hezbollah terrorist targets in south Lebanon. Judea and Samaria: An attempted stabbing attack was carried out at the Qalandiya Crossing. IDF forces eliminated a squad of four Hamas operatives who were planning to carry out attacks in Tulkarm. Iran: Iran continues its efforts in the international arena to bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Iranian foreign minister has been operating on the diplomatic level in preparation for
Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 5, 2023)

The IDF’s integrated aerial, land and naval maneuver in the Gaza Strip intensified. According to reports, more than 2,500 terrorist targets have been attacked since the beginning of the ground maneuver. The forces exposed Hamas’ exploitation of civilian facilities for positioning rocket launchers. Sources in the Gaza Strip claimed the “resistance” had the upper hand in combat and Israel had made no operational achievements. Hamas accused Israel of attacking UNRWA ambulances, hospitals and schools which shelter local residents. Officials in the Gaza Strip noted that the humanitarian situation was deteriorating and the aid delivered through the Rafah Crossing was insufficient. According to the Hamas-controlled ministry of health in Gaza, so far 9,770 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip.Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts and the cities, towns and villages on the northern border. Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for launching a barrage of rockets. In Judea and Samaria Palestinians terrorists carried out three shooting attacks and an attempted stabbing attack.
Read more...