Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 25, 2023)

Overview^[1]

• The combat arena: The IDF land, sea, and air forces continued their integrated ground maneuver. In the northern Gaza Strip the forces gained operational hold over the Jabaliya refugee camp, one of Hamas’ most important strongholds. In Gaza City the fighting focused on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, located three kilometers northwest of the city center. In the southern Gaza Strip fighting continued in Khan Yunis. The Palestinians accused the IDF of attacking the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and reported dozens of deaths. Hamas noted the [alleged] “unprecedented achievements” of its military-terrorist wing in the fighting against the IDF.
• According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,300 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 489 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 issue of the hostages: Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) reiterated that no negotiations would begin before a ceasefire and there would be no temporary ceasefires, only a total end to the fighting and a comprehensive exchange deal.
• The Gaza Strip: According to the Palestinian social media, a boy who was trying to reach a truck carrying humanitarian aid was shot and killed by the Hamas police in Rafah. A PIJ delegation arrived for talks in Cairo. They reiterated that negotiations would deal not only with the hostage deal but also with the lifting of the “siege”, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the cessation of “aggression” in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
• The northern arena: Hezbollah claimed responsibility for four attacks during the past day. In one of the attacks, a house in Avivim, a moshav on the Lebanese border, was damaged. Hezbollah claimed that the attack was in response to the destruction of houses in south Lebanon.
• Judea and Samaria: The Palestinians reported the entry of a large Israeli security force into the Jenin refugee camp, along with heavy exchanges of fire with “armed Palestinians” [terrorist operatives].

The Combat Arena

• IDF ground, aerial and naval forces continued the integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip.
• The northern arena: After weeks of fighting, IDF forces gained operational hold over the Jabaliya refugee camp, one of Hamas’ most important strongholds. There was intense fighting, during which terrorists were eliminated and large quantities of weapons were found. The forces uncovered a network of tunnels that served as the northern headquarters of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing. It had two levels, one about ten meters deep and the other dozens of meters deep. The branching network of tunnels was used for directing combat and the passage of terrorists from place to place. One of the tunnel network’s shafts was located in the house of Ahmed Ghandour, commander of Hamas’ Northern Division, who was killed by IDF forces in November 2023. The route of the tunnel network passed under a school and a hospital (IDF spokesperson, December 24, 2023).
• Gaza City: IDF forces operated in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, located three kilometers northwest of the city center. Based on intelligence information, they raided schools where displaced persons were sheltered and locating large quantities of weapons. The weapons included grenades with advanced and modern operating mechanisms, RPG launchers, explosives and various media. The schools were adjacent to mosques and residential buildings. During the raid, the forces killed a large number of terrorists and detained dozens who were transferred to Israel for further investigation (IDF spokesperson, December 24, 2023).

   
Weapons found in Sheikh Radwan (IDF spokesperson, December 24, 2023)

• An al-Arabi TV presenter explains the battle scene in Juhor al-Dik (east of Gaza City) where fierce fighting between IDF forces and the “resistance” [terrorist operatives] was reported (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 25, 2023).

   
Right: Israeli Air Force attack in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City (Shehab X account, December 24, 2023). Left: The fighting arena in the Juhor al-Dik area (east of Gaza City) (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 25, 2023)

• The central Gaza Strip: Saleh al-Natour, a correspondent for al-Arabi TV in Rafah, reported there had been about 100 Palestinian deaths in the past day in IDF attacks throughout the Gaza Strip. He said 70 deaths had been reported in the IDF attack in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. He also reported that during the night, the IDF attacked the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 25, 2023).

• The attack on the al-Maghazi refugee camp was extensively covered by the media. Hamas’ media information bureau announced that more than 66 people had been killed and dozens injured “in the massacre carried out by the occupation army” on four residences in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip (Hamas administration Telegram channel, December 25, 2023). Al-Jazeera later reported that the death toll had risen to 70. Hamas condemned the attack and claimed that it was a “horrific massacre and a new war crime,” adding that attacks on residential buildings were [allegedly] an attempt “to restore the defeated IDF’s image” (Hamas’ Telegram channel, December 25, 2023). Rawhi Fatouh, senior Fatah figure and chairman of the Palestinian National Council, also condemned “the [alleged] massacre in al-Maghazi and the war crimes of the occupation.” He blamed the United States for the [alleged] “ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza” and called for investigative teams to be sent from the UN and human rights organizations to “document the [alleged] acts of repression, ethnic cleansing and the siege in the Gaza Strip” (Wafa, December 25, 2023).

   
The al-Maghazi refugee camp the morning after the IDF nighttime attack
(al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 25, 2023)

• Senior Hamas terrorist Sami Abu Zuhri, claimed that the continuation of the [alleged] “Zionist war crimes” with the support of the United States, which culminated in “executions in the field,” and the preventing of access to the bodies of the dead, leaving them to decompose, emphasized the need to expand the “struggle” and exert pressure on Israel and its supporters to stop the [alleged] “holocaust” of Gaza Strip (Sami Abu Zuhri X account, December 24, 2023). Senior terrorist Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, wrote that the attacks on the al-Maghazi refugee camp were carried out immediately after American President Joe Biden said that he did not ask Israel to stop its attacks (Musa Abu Marzouq’s X account, December 25, 2023).
• An al-Arabi TV correspondent reporting from the hospital in Deir al-Balah noted the arrival of a large number of casualties following the IDF attacks in the central Gaza Strip, adding that the IDF continued to attack the center of Khan Yunis (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 24, 2023).

• Following the IDF nighttime attacks in the central Gaza Strip and the large number of casualties were evacuated to Shuhadaa al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in private vehicles (Wafa YouTube channel, December 25, 2023). The hospital’s spokesman claimed that many dead and wounded were still under the rubble (Hassan Aslih’s X account, December 25, 2023).

     
Bringing casualties from the central Gaza Strip to Shuhadaa al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in private vehicles (Wafa YouTube channel, December 25, 2023)

• The southern Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued extending their attacks in Khan Yunis, a Hamas stronghold (IDF spokesperson, December 24, 2023). Saleh al-Natour, a correspondent for al-Arabi TV in Rafah, reported that the IDF attack in the Ma’an neighborhood, east of Khan Yunis, killed about 25 people (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 25, 2023). Ibrahim Qanan, reporting from Khan Yunis, said the IDF continued to attack in north, southeast and west Khan Yunis, and that the sounds of the explosions could be heard all over the city (al-Ghad TV, December 25, 2023).
• “Local sources” in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, said that in recent days the Egyptian army had increased its forces in the border area with the Gaza Strip and erected a number of additional roadblocks and earthworks. Concrete walls were also placed around watchtowers and various posts in the border area (al-Araby al-Jadeed, December 25, 2023).

   
IDF forces in the Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023)

• Naval activity: Israeli Navy fighters attacked Hamas targets, including terrorist squads located near IDF forces, terrorists hiding in buildings adjacent to the forces, military posts and positions from the forces were attacked (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023).

   
Israeli Navy attacks in the Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023)

Reactions to the fighting

• “Sources close to Hamas” reported that arch terrorist Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, sent a letter to Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau and its members, claiming that the operatives of Hamas’ military[-terrorist] wing were conducting “a fierce and unprecedented campaign against the IDF forces,” causing the IDF heavy losses in human life and equipment. He claimed that during the ground war, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades [Hamas’ military-terrorist wing] had attacked no less than 5,000 soldiers and officers, “a third of whom were killed, a third were seriously injured, and a third were permanently disabled.” In addition, he claimed, 750 military vehicles had been completely or partially destroyed. Al-Sinwar claimed the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades were “crushing” the IDF, and [the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip] would not submit to Israel’s conditions. He praised the firm stand of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, noting that they showed “unprecedented examples of sacrifice, heroism, chivalry, and solidarity,” and that it was the duty of Hamas’ political leadership to quickly heal their wounds and strengthen their firm stand (Aljazeera.net, 25 in December 2023).
• Senior terrorist Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, claimed that during the past four days the fighters of Hamas’ military wing [Hamas terrorist operatives] had partially or completely destroyed 35 military vehicles, killed 48 soldiers and wounded dozens, carried out 24 military operations which included attacking IDF forces with mortar shells and explosives, booby-trapped two tunnels, carried out six sniping operations, attacked headquarters, command posts and troop concentrations with mortar shells and short-range rockets and had launched a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv (Abu Obeida’s Telegram channel, December 24, 2023).
• Senior terrorist Ali Baraka, head of Hamas’ national relations department “abroad,” claimed that so far no combat route in the Gaza Strip had fallen, and that the battles were being fought on all axes, even in places where IDF forces had previously entered, such as the Johur al-Dik area. He claimed the “resistance” [Palestinian terrorist organizations] had prepared a war plan before starting Operation al-Aqsa Storm (al-Mayadeen TV website, December 24, 2023).

Israeli casualties

• According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,300 Israeli people have been killed. According to the IDF spokesperson, 489 of them are soldiers and officers (of whom 160 have been killed since the start of the ground maneuver on 27 October, 2023); 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.

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip

• During the past 24 hours there was sporadic rocket fire targeting the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip. One barrage was fired at the Lachish region, northeast of the Gaza Strip to the east of Ashqelon.

The issue of the hostages

• With intelligence assistance, IDF soldiers located and rescued the bodies of five hostages from October 7 and brought them to Israel for burial (IDF spokesperson, December 24, 2023).
• In response to reports about Egypt’s proposals for a hostage deal, “sources” in the Hamas and PIJ leaderships responded that Egypt knew what their vision was for ending the war, their clear positions and their red lines, which were that there would be no negotiations before the end of the “aggression” and no partial hostage exchange. They said they would accept only one exchange deal based on “everyone in return for everyone” and the immediate beginning of reconstructing the Gaza Strip (al-Akhbar, December 24, 2023).
• Senior Hamas terrorist Taher al-Nunu, Isma’il Haniyeh’s media advisor, denied the reports in the Israeli media that an exchange deal was on the horizon. He claimed Hamas did not discuss the ratio of “1 for 10” reported by the Israeli media, nor did it discuss other details related to the issue, and emphasized indirect negotiations with Israel were conditional on the cessation of “aggression.” He also stated that they were not coordinating with the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the issue. He also noted that the Egyptian and Qatari efforts complemented each other and that both were appreciated and worked together to stop the “aggression.” He claimed that Hamas’ relationship with the Egyptian and Qatari sides was one of “brotherhood,” and Hamas did not treat Cairo and Doha as mediators but as “brothers” who were making an effort to end the “aggression” against the Palestinians (al-Masry al-Youm, December 24, 2023).
• Senior Hamas terrorist Mahmoud Mardawi^[2] stated that proposals were indeed being made by Israel but [the terrorist organizations’] position would not change and there would be no negotiations without a complete, permanent ceasefire. He said there had been proposals for a ceasefire of a month and a month and a half, but they would not accept them. He said that Hamas would not participate in any talks unless the conditions of a total ceasefire and complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip were met, adding that Hamas had not responded to any of the proposals which had been put forward, nor had it discussed them because Israel refused to meet its two conditions (Arab World News Agency (AWP), December 25, 2023).
• Senior terrorist Ali Baraka, head of Hamas’ national relations department “abroad,” said that many proposals had been put forward but the position of the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] was united and clear: first, the Israeli “aggression” against the Gaza Strip had to end, next, the IDF forces had to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, after an exchange deal had to be sealed, based on the principle of “everyone in return for everyone, next the crossings had to opened, humanitarian aid had to be delivered to the Gaza Strip and the wounded had to be taken for treatment abroad. He said their terms had been conveyed to the Qatari and Egyptian mediators, adding that hostages were the “resistance’s” [terrorist organizations’] trump card. Now that they had reached the stage of officers and soldiers, they would not waste that card but they would hold it until Israel submitted to their terms. He also noted that when in Egypt, the “brothers” in the PIJ delegation would reiterate the position agreed on by “resistance,” which conducted daily consultations (al-Mayadeen TV website, December 24, 2023).
• Senior terrorist Maher al-Taher, in charge of international relations in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), said that the Palestinian position, which Isma’il Haniyeh had presented to the prime minister of Qatar, was that it would not discuss any proposal before a comprehensive ceasefire, and that all Palestinian prisoners had to be released according to the principle of “everyone in return for everyone.” “Unlimited” aid had to be provided to the Gazans and the IDF forces had to withdraw completely. The Palestinian position was also that the released prisoners, including the leaders, would return to their places of residence, and that there would be international guarantees that they would not be attacked (al-Mayadeen TV website, December 24, 2023).

The Gaza Strip

Palestinian casualties

• The Hamas-controlled the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that as of 3:40 p.m., December 25, 2023, the number of dead since the beginning of the war stood at more than 20,674 and the number of wounded at 54,536 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, December 25, 2023).
• Ra’ed, al-Nims, the director of the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza, reported a large number of dead and wounded during the past day, and said that the hospitals were unable to accommodate them. He claimed that due to the population density in the central and southern Gaza Strip after Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip had been evacuated, the number of casualties was higher than any attack the IDF carries out (Wafa YouTube channel, December 25, 2023).
• Hamas called on the Red Cross to find out what happened to the hundreds of Palestinians “kidnapped” [sic] from the Gaza Strip, and to those detained by Israel under unclear circumstances, especially after the release of 20 detainees who [allegedly] , according to it, had signs of “abuse.” Hamas also called on human rights organizations to collect testimony from released Palestinian detainees in preparation for their submission to international courts and to prosecute senior Israeli officials (Hamas Telegram channel, December 24, 2023).

The situation in the Gaza Strip

• Jabalia residents reported that there was currently one main water well in the area that supplied drinking water. They said other water sources in Jabalia were polluted and unfit for drinking (Wafa YouTube channel, December 24, 2023).

     
Residents procure water in Jabalia (Wafa YouTube channel, December 24, 2023)

Residents are denied aid

• The social media reported that Ahmed Shaddad Barika, who was trying to reach a truck carrying humanitarian aid, was shot and killed by the Hamas police in Rafah (Mohammed Emad’s X account, December 24, 2023; Hussain Zoher’s Facebook page, December 24, 2023). His family threatened revenge against Hamas operatives Murid al-Akhras^[3] and Umar Abu Hilal, who, they claimed, killed their son (Hussain Zoher’s Facebook page, December 24, 2023). It was also reported that in response, the police station in Tal al-Sultan in Rafah was set on fire (@MyPalestine0 X account, December 24, 2023). Hussain Zoher claimed that Hamas policemen fired at the demonstrators near the police station, wounding 17 of them, and that Hamas police raided houses in western Rafah following the protests (Hussain Zoher’s Facebook page, December 24, 2023).

    
Right: From a video showing a commotion and local residents trying to grab the humanitarian aid brought by the trucks while gunfire can be heard in the background. The caption on the video indicates that Hamas operatives are firing at civilians while they are trying to grab aid (@yaffa_ps X account, December 24, 2023). Left: Protests in Rafah after the death of Ahmed Barika (Hussain Zoher’s Facebook page, December 24, 2023)

• Meanwhile, a video was released showing Hamas police operatives in Khan Yunis shooting at a young member of the Mutawa family. Policemen dressed in civilian clothes are shown beating a man with clubs (@yaffa_ps X account, December 24, 2023).

• Senior terrorist Musa Abu Marzuq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, denied a statement attributed to him on social media following the incident in Rafah, saying that the aid reaching the Gaza Strip had to be distributed to resistance operatives and the remainder to the residents [sic], and that attempts by local residents to take control of the aid, as happened in Rafah, would be prevented by force (Musa Abu Marzuq’s X account, December 25, 2023).

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

• Senior terrorist Muhammad al-Hindi, deputy PIJ secretary general, reported that the PIJ’s delegation had arrived in Cairo and that over the next two days it would hold meetings with senior Egyptian officials to discuss stopping the “aggression” in the Gaza Strip, Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, and the issue of a hostage deal. He said the PIJ’s position on the issue was clear, there would be no talks on prisoner exchanges before the cessation of the “aggression” and the full withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip. He added that when negotiations began, they would deal with all the issues, not only the prisoner exchange, but also the lifting of the siege, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the cessation of all forms of “aggression” in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque. He also said that the future of the Palestinian issue and the realization of Palestinian rights would undoubtedly be discussed, which was at the heart of the agenda of the “resistance” [terrorist organizations]. Regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, he said it would not be Netanyahu or the American administration, but the Palestinians, who would decide the issue. He also said that the future of the Gaza Strip could not be discussed separately from the future of Judea and Samaria. He categorically rejected talk of truces, saying that the “resistance” was in good shape, morale was high and they could continue fighting for a long time (al-Arabi TV YouTube channel, December 24, 2023).

The Northern Arena

Hezbollah’s activity

• Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts, concentrations of forces on the northern border and civilian targets. During the past day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for carrying out four attacks (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, December 24-25, 2023). A house in Avivim, a moshav on the Lebanese border, was hit in one of the attacks. There were no casualties, but the house was damaged. Hezbollah claimed the attack was carried out in response to Israeli attacks against villages and civilian homes (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, December 24, 2023).
• In response, Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in Lebanese territory. Artillery was also fired into Lebanese territory (IDF spokesperson, December 24, 2023).

   
Attacking Hezbollah targets (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023)

Casualties in Lebanon

• Hezbollah reported the deaths of two operatives: Wissam Khalil Hamoud, aka Alaa, from Markaba in south Lebanon, and Abbas Hassan Hazimah, aka Haidar, from Meiss al-Jabal in south Lebanon (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).

     
Hezbollah fatalities (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, December 25, 2023)

Hezbollah

• Speaking at a ceremony commemorating a Hezbollah operative who was killed, Na’im Qassem, Hezbollah deputy secretary general, said that the war in south Lebanon was a reflection of Israel’s “aggression” against the Gaza Strip and that the escalation of the war in south Lebanon depended on Israel. If Israel expanded its aggression, then Hezbollah would respond to it. He stressed that Israeli, American and international threats would not affect Hezbollah. He rejected the criticism of Hezbollah’s involvement, stating that Hezbollah’s move at the right time deterred Israel and proved that the organization was ready on the ground (al-Nahar, December 24, 2023).
• Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary faction, declared that they had entered the campaign of their own free will, and before Israel thought of a preemptive strike, they preceded it and showed it that they were ready and present on the ground. He said that as a result of the events in south Lebanon, diplomatic attempts were being made, including in Europe, to create changes in south Lebanon to calm the residents of northern Israel who would return to their homes. However, they were not willing to calm the residents, and the activity would not change the “resistance’s equations.” He noted that they could not discuss proposals regarding changes in south Lebanon or be influenced by threats, and that they dealt with the threats on the battlefield, and that would always be their answer (Lebanese News Agency, December 24, 2023).

Judea and Samaria

Counterterrorism activities

• The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian media reported that 18 Palestinians had been detained during the past day (Wafa, December 25, 2023). The Palestinians reported the activity of Israeli security forces in the Jenin refugee camp. Large forces entered the area and flares were fired over Jenin. Heavy exchanges of fire with armed Palestinians were reported at the site (al-Ghad TV, December 25, 2023).

Palestinian Authority (PA)

• Mahmoud al-Habbash, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on religious affairs and Islamic relations, noted that since the war began, they had had no direct contacts with Hamas or the PIJ. However, he said, that was not due to their refusal to meet, but to the situation on the ground. He noted that it was too early to discuss the “day after” without resolving the issues of the present, and at the moment they were focusing on current and pressing issues. He reiterated that the “aggression” against the Gaza Strip had to be stopped, but refused to give an opinion on the Hamas attack on October 7. He further said Hamas was not the Palestinian people’s sole decision-maker, since the representative of the Palestinian people was the PLO, headed by Mahmoud Abbas (The Medialine, December 24, 2023).
• For Christmas, Riyadh al-Maliki, PA foreign minister, posted to the ministry’s Facebook page that he hoped Christmas this year would be an opportunity for an international awakening to end the war in the Gaza Strip and achieve peace. He attached a Christmas card reading that this year in the Gaza Strip was being celebrated “from under the destruction” (PA foreign ministry Facebook page, December 24, 2023).

Iran

• Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi sent a communiqué to Pope Francis on the occasion of Christmas, calling for immediate action by the international community to “stop the killing of innocent residents of the Gaza Strip.” Raisi wrote that in the absence of decisive action on the part of international organizations and in light of the support of the American administration and several European countries for Israel, they were witnessing the deaths of more than 17,000 people, especially Palestinian women and children, in Israel’s hands (IRNA, December 24, 2023). 
• Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iranian foreign minister, met in Tehran with Mohammad Hussein Bahr al-Uloom, Iraqi deputy foreign minister. They discussed bilateral relations and developments in the Palestinian arena. Abdollahian stressed the need for diplomatic and international measures to deal with the “crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.” The Iraqi deputy foreign minister called for unity among the Palestinians and for the Muslim world to unite in defense of “Palestine” (Mehr, December 24, 2023).
• Speaking at his weekly press conference, Nasser Kanani, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, rejected accusations by the United States that the MV Chem Pluto was hit in the Indian Ocean on December 23, 2023, by a drone launched from Iranian territory. He claimed that the accusations were false and baseless, and that their objective was to hide the crimes of the United States in the Gaza Strip. He also condemned Britain for its support of Israel, saying that Britain and the United States were not in a position to blame Iran. Kanani also said that the continuation of the war in the Gaza Strip was a great strategic mistake on Israel’s part and that time was not on its side (Tasnim, December 25, 2023).

Pro-Iranian militias

Iraq

• The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an American base in Green Village in Syria (Islamic Resistance in Iraq Telegram channel, December 25, 2023). This is the first announcement in which the Islamic Resistance has claimed responsibility for an attack in Syria since December 16, 2023.

Yemen

• Houthi spokesman Mohammad Abdeslam said that while their aircraft was on a reconnaissance mission in the Red Sea, an American warship fired missiles “in panic” and one of the missiles exploded close to a ship belonging to Gabon that arrived from Russia. He said the threat to international navigation stemmed from the militarization of the Red Sea by the United States and its partners, who came to the region unjustly. He noted that the Red Sea arena would burn if the United States and its allies continued “on the path of bullying” (Houthi spokesman’s Telegram channel, December 24, 2023).
• Referring to the American-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, Houthi Information Minister Dhaif Allah al-Shami said their position was clear: it was a coalition designed to support “Israel’s crimes” and defend its ships. He said nothing would deter them from defending the Palestinians. He also stressed that Saudi Arabia’s absence from the operation was positive, since it was still working on a way out of the sensitive situation it found itself in vis-à-vis Yemen, and therefore did not want to get into trouble again (al-Araby al-Jadeed, December 25, 2023).

^[1] Click https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en to subscribe and receive the ITIC's daily updates as well as its other publications. ↑
^[2] Hamas terrorist operative from Qalqilya who was exiled to the Gaza Strip in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal. ↑
^[3] An internet search revealed the name of Murid al-Akhras (or al-Akhrasi), an operative in Hamas' military-terrorist wing from Rafah who was released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal and later served in the Hamas police. ↑

Related Articles