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

Overview^[1]

• The combat arena: The ground, sea, and air forces continued to attack terrorist targets, terrorist cells and military sites in the Gaza Strip. IDF forces operating at the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia found evidence in the hospital linking it to Hamas activities. 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 into three parts, thereby controlling the central axis which runs from the north to the south.
• According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,300 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 492 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 Gaza 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 report claims that the residents of the Gaza Strip face “acute food insecurity,” the third of five risk phases. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) denied a report they had rejected an Egyptian proposal for a settlement, reiterating that there would be no settlement without a ceasefire.
• Hamas: 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. He wrote that Hamas would not accept a temporary ceasefire, its goal was a full and comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, adding that “Hamas’ military achievements had exceeded Israel’s expectations.”
• The northern arena: Hezbollah claimed responsibility for ten attacks. Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for firing rockets at the Western Galilee. An air-to-ground missile was launched at a fighter jet attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory.
• Judea and Samaria: The Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities. 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.
• Iran: 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. He was reported as responsible for supporting the “resistance” [anti-Israeli terrorist] front in Syria and was an associate of the late Qasem Soleimani, former Qods Force commander. Many people reacted to his killing, including senior Iranian officials who threatened to avenge his death, pro-Iranian militias, Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist organizations.

The Combat Arena

• IDF forces continued to attack terrorist targets, terrorist cells and military sites in the Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, December 26, 2023). The Palestinian media reported intense Israeli Air Force attacks in the Jabalia area and IDF artillery fire at the center of Khan Yunis during the Air Force attacks in Rafah. Most of the Air Force nighttime and morning attacks (December 26, 2023) focused on the main road connecting the al-Maghazi refugee camp with the al-Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip (Shehab X account, December 26, 2023). During the past day, IDF attacks in the Gaza Strip reportedly caused 250 deaths and wounded approximately 500 Gazans (Ma’an, December 26, 2023).
• An al-Arabiya channel correspondent reporting on the IDF’s ground activity said the IDF had completed splitting the Gaza Strip into three parts: the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip, and now controlled the central axis running from north to south (al-Arabiya YouTube channel, December 25, 2023).

   
IDF forces in the Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, December 26, 2023)

• The northern Gaza Strip: IDF activity in Jabalia continued. IDF forces operating in the Indonesian Hospital, the largest in the northern Gaza Strip, found evidence in the hospital linking it to Hamas activity. For example, inside the hospital compound the forces found a white Toyota van of the type used by Hamas terrorists on October 7, and weapons were found in the vehicle. A vehicle with Israeli license plates that belonged to the family of one of the hostages was also found. The remains of an RPG and bloodstains were found in the vehicle, apparently belonging to a hostage. The forces operated in the areas of the schools in the Daraj and Tufah neighborhoods following information that Hamas and PIJ terrorist operatives were hiding inside. Large quantities of weapons were found (IDF spokesman, December 25, 2023).

   
The Israeli vehicle located at the Indonesian Hospital (IDF spokesman, December 25, 2023)

   
The Toyota pickup used by the terrorists in which weapons were found
(IDF spokesman, December 25, 2023)

• The central Gaza Strip: Bassel Khalaf, a correspondent for al-Arabi TV, reported from al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah that the IDF was focusing its attacks on the al-Bureij refugee camp area in the central Gaza Strip, and the Air Force attacks had continued throughout the night. At the same time, tanks were preparing to enter from the east and northeast. He reported that IDF forces were firing shells unceasingly at the refugee camp (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 26, 2023).

    
Right: IDF attacks on the al-Maghazi refugee camp (Shehab X account, December 26, 2023). Left: Al-Arabi channel correspondent reporting from Shuhadaa al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 26, 2023)

• The southern Gaza Strip: IDF forces operating in Khan Yunis destroyed a compound where a lathe for the production of weapons and a factory for the production of concrete for the construction of tunnels were found. So far, about a hundred terrorist targets have been destroyed in the area, including headquarters, buildings where terrorists were hiding, dozens of tunnel shafts and tunnel routes used by Hamas terrorist operatives (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023).

   
Elimination of a terrorist cell in the Khan Yunis area (IDF spokesman, December 26, 2023)

Reactions to the fighting

• Sources close to Hamas revealed the details of a letter sent a few days ago by Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, to the Hamas political bureau. He reiterated that Hamas would not agree to a temporary ceasefire, and the goal was a complete, comprehensive ceasefire. He stated that the “military achievements” of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades [Hamas’ military-terrorist wing] and the “resistance” [terrorist] organizations had exceeded Israel’s expectations, and they were capable of continuing the fighting for months. He welcomed every effort to stop the “aggression,” claiming Hamas was open to all ideas and initiatives, especially from Egypt, Qatar and other parties, to end the war, reach a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal and pave the way for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip (al-Sharq News website, December 26, 2023). It is not clear if it is the same letter that was published in al-Jazeera on December 25, 2023, and has since been removed from the website.
• Senior terrorist Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, quoted a Qur’an verse calling on believers to fight for the sake of Allah, and called on the residents of Judea and Samaria, on everyone who possessed “something that will repel the evil-doer and restore national honor,” on the operatives of the security forces, on the tribesmen and on everyone who shots at weddings and used weapons in conflicts, to mobilize for war (Musa Abu Marzouk’s X account, December 25, 2023).

Israeli casualties

• According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,300 Israeli people have been killed. According to the IDF spokesperson, 492 of them are soldiers and officers (of whom 158 have been killed since the start of the ground maneuver on October 27, 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.

The Gaza Strip

Palestinian casualties

• Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, reported that as of 2:15 p.m., December 26, 2023, the number of dead since the beginning of the war stood at 20,915 and the number of wounded at 54,918 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, December 26, 2023).
• The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) issued a mourning notice for Ayman Na’im Sayid al-Madhoun, “Abu Muhammad,” 51 years old, a member of the PFLP Central Committee in the Gaza Strip. He was killed on December 25, 2023, during an attack on the Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City (PFLP Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).

• On December 24, 2023, the death of Ayman Omar (Abu Wahib), an ISIS “supporter,” was reported. He was killed in an attack in Rafah before dawn on December 24. He had been among those who entered Israeli territory on October 7 and participated in the attack and massacre (war map Facebook page, December 24, 2023; Salah Abu Mahmoud’s Facebook page, December 24, 2023). On his Facebook page he calls himself Abu Wahib al-Filastini. On social networks he also appears under the alias Abu Wahib al-Maqdisi (Abu Obeida al-Ansari’s Facebook page, December 24, 2023).

The situation in the Gaza Strip

• A commission of UN agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and civilian social organizations published a report about the hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip. It claims that the residents of the Gaza Strip face “acute food insecurity,” classified as the third of five phases of risk according to the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification UN’s (IPC) index. According to the index, the phase is defined as an actual nutrition and living crisis. According to the report, certain concentrations of the population are suffering from a more severe phase. The report presented the current food insecurity situation according to geographic distribution, with the most severe situation prevailing in the evacuated areas in the southern Gaza Strip (IPC website, December 25, 2023).
• The Palestinian media published photos of the deployment of traffic police forces of the Khan Yunis district to direct traffic and facilitate the passage of ambulances on the main streets leading to the Nasser Medical Complex. Photos were also published of operatives of the Khan Yunis district police’s general investigations department working to secure stores that were partially damaged by IDF activities; several thieves were arrested (Shehab X account, December 25, 2023). The publication of the photos was apparently a conscious effort by Hamas to represent governance on the ground.

   
The activities of the Khan Yunis district police general investigation department
(Shehab X account, December 25, 2023)

• The Rafah municipality announced it had applied for land to be prepared for the construction of new camps in Khirbat al-Adas, east of Rafah, for displaced persons from the central Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis. Ahmed al-Suffi, the mayor of the municipality, said one million Palestinians currently lived in a small area which did not exceed 100 square kilometers, 80% of whom are displaced. He added that the situation required urgent UN and UNRWA intervention to take care of them and provide them with food and humanitarian aid, in addition to places to stay in light of the intense cold and rain (Aram News, December 26, 2023).

     
The Rafah municipality prepares vacant land in the Khirbat al-Adas neighborhood to erect a tent camp for displaced persons (Rafah municipality Facebook page, December 25, 2023)

Aid for the Gaza Strip

• The Palestinian Red Crescent in the Gaza Strip reported that since December 21, 2023, 4,760 humanitarian aid trucks for the Red Crescent had entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing, bringing food, water, medicine and medical equipment (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 26, 2023).

     
Humanitarian aid for the Palestinian Red Crescent enters the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing (al-Arabi YouTube channel, December 26, 2023)

Reactions to the Egyptian proposal for the Gaza Strip

• Reuters reported that according to “Egyptian sources,” Hamas and the PIJ rejected an Egyptian proposal to give up power in the Strip in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. According to the “sources,” during the talks, which were held separately in Cairo in the presence of Egyptian mediators, both sides refused to make concessions regarding the release of additional hostages. They added that a PIJ delegation led by senior terrorist Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the organization’s secretary general, insisted that the exchange deal should be based on the principle of “everyone in return for everyone” (Reuters, December 25, 2023).
• Senior terrorist Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said they had no information about the content of the proposal published in a Reuters article and attributed to Egyptian security sources. However, he emphasized that there would be no negotiations without a comprehensive cessation of “aggression” (Izzat al-Rishq’s Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).
• Senior terrorist Muhammad al-Hindi, deputy PIJ secretary general, denied the Reuters report, but confirmed that in Egypt the Hamas and PIJ delegations had discussed a document of general principles and ideas for discussion or a draft for discussion. He said the PIJ delegation had reiterated its stated position, that they welcomed any effort to stop the “aggression” before talks about a hostage deal began. He noted that in the coming days a unified Palestinian position would be formulated regarding the proposals to be discussed discuss with the Egyptians (al-Jazeera Mubasher website, December 25, 2023).
• A senior Hamas terrorist who wished to remain anonymous said Isma’il Haniyeh had brought a “united position” with him to Cairo, which rejected every Israeli proposal. He claimed the rejection was unanimous, including Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and PFLP, reiterating that there would be no ceasefire or prisoner exchange before the complete cessation of “aggression” and the complete withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and its airspace. He added they were completely confident of their ability to continue the campaign and defeat the IDF forces. He also stated that Hamas did not relate to the publications in the Israeli media regarding the fate of the Hamas “political” and military leaders [senior terrorists] in the Gaza Strip, and to Israel’s proposals to deport them, because Hamas firmly believed that all its leaders at the various levels were potential shaheeds (Quds Peres, December 25, 2023).

The Northern Arena

Hezbollah attacks

• 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 ten attacks (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, December 25-26, 2023).
• In response, IDF forces attacked the sources of the fire with artillery and Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanese territory. During the Air Force activity an air-to-surface missile was launched from Lebanese territory at an Israeli aircraft operating in the area. The missile did not hit the aircraft, which completed its mission successfully (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023).

     
Right: Israeli Air Force attack on a Hezbollah military-terrorist facility (IDF spokesperson, December 26, 2023). Left: The IDF attacks Hezbollah launch positions
(IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2023)

Hamas

• On the afternoon of December 25, 2203, rockets were fired at the Western Galilee. The Hamas’ military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for attacking the Liman military post in the Western Galilee with a barrage of rockets launched from south Lebanon. According to the announcement, the attack was in response to the “Zionist massacres” of the residents of the Gaza Strip (Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).

Syria

• On the afternoon of December 25, 2023, explosions were heard in an agricultural farm near Abu Taleb Street in the al-Sayyidah Zaynab area, south of Damascus, allegedly caused by an Israeli airstrike (Sham FM, December 25, 2023). According to a different report, an aerial attack was carried out while a senior IRGC operative entered a farm in Syria used as a headquarters by Hezbollah in Lebanon. One person was killed in the attack and four were injured (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, December 25, 2023).
• Later the death of Lieutenant Colonel Seyyed Razi Mousavi was reported, a senior IRGC advisor in Syria. He was one of the veteran advisers in Syria and Qassem Soleimani’s comrade in arms (Tasnim, December 25, 2023)

Judea and Samaria

Counterterrorism activities

• On the night of December 25, 2023, Israeli security forces operated in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp (east of Tulkarm), exposing and destroying IEDs under and on the sides of the roads. A search of a building revealed a laboratory for manufacturing IEDs where dozens of improvised ready-to-use IEDs and materials for making IEDs were found. A large quantity of  weapons were found in the building. An IDF soldier sustained minor injuries from shrapnel.

     
Destruction of the IED and weapons laboratory in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp
(IDF website, December 26, 2023)

• The Palestinians reported extensive activity by Israeli security forces in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, during which there were heavy exchanges of fire between armed Palestinians and the Israeli forces. According to the Palestinian reports, the Israeli forces blew up three houses and caused heavy damage to the infrastructure in the area (Ma’an; al-Arabi TV, December 26, 2023).

   
Israeli security forces activity in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm
(Wafa, December 26, 2023)

• The Palestinians also reported the activity of Israeli security forces in Qalqilya and the detention of several Palestinians. There were clashes and exchanges of fire with armed operatives (Shehab X account, December 26, 2023). Two Palestinians were reportedly killed during clashes with IDF forces in the Al-Fawar refugee camp (north of Hebron) (Ma’an, December 26, 2023).

• In al-Bireh (east of Ramallah), several Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) operatives were detained, including Khalida Jarrar from al-Bireh, a senior PFLP figure and member of its political bureau (IDF spokesperson, December 26, 2023). During the past day, 33 wanted Palestinians were detained. Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, about 2,550 wanted Palestinians have been detained, of whom about 1,300 are Hamas operatives (IDF Spokesperson’s Telegram channel, December 26, 2023).

Palestinian Authority (PA)

• Mahmoud Abbas, the PA chairman, convened members of the PLO’s Executive Committee to discuss the latest developments following the war in the Gaza Strip. He stressed that their national priority was to bring about a full and permanent halt to the war, to ensure that all humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip were met, and to thwart Israel’s plan to uproot the residents of the Gaza Strip. He also said he was opposed to media reports about the intention to establish a technocratic government outside the authority of the PLO (Wafa, December 25, 2023).

• The PA foreign ministry condemned statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Likud officials at a meeting of the Likud faction regarding efforts to uproot the residents of the Gaza Strip. The ministry said the statements were a slap in the face to all the countries that supported Israel in the war and continued to do so under the pretext of Israel’s self-defense (Wafa, December 25, 2023).
• Hamas said Netanyahu’s statements were an attempt to spread illusions to prolong the aggression after he and his army failed in realizing their goals. Hamas noted they would not allow Israel to promote a plan that would put an end to their issue or expel them from their country (Hamas Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).
• Mahmoud al-Aloul, deputy chairman of Fatah (Mahmoud Abbas’ deputy in Fatah), who is also a member of Fatah’s Central Committee and in charge of the ministry of mobilization and organization, said on PA TV that what happened on October 7, 2023 (i.e., the terrorist attack on the Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip) was justified because of “the occupation and its ongoing crimes.” He claimed the main objective of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the war in the Gaza Strip was to deepen the internal Palestinian schism to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. On the other hand, the objective of the Palestinian leadership was to stop the war immediately (Quds Press, December 26, 2023).

Iran

Death of a senior IRGC official

• Seyyed Razi Mousavi, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force official, was killed on December 25, 2023, in an attack attributed to Israel in the Damascus area. Tasnim News Agency reported that Mousavi was an associate of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Qods Force. According to an IRGC statement, Seyyed Razi Mousavi was responsible for supporting the resistance front in Syria. It was also stated that “there is no doubt that the Zionist regime will pay for this crime” (Fars, December 25, 2023).

    
Right: Death notice for Seyyed Razi Mousavi (Tasnim, December 25, 2023)

• Hossein Akbari, Iran’s ambassador to Syria, said Mousavi had been killed by three missiles in his home in the Zaynabiya neighborhood, and that his wife was not at home when he was killed. He noted that the operation was also a violation of Syria’s security because Mousavi had served as a diplomat at the Iranian embassy in Damascus, and the security of diplomats was the responsibility of the host country.
• Many reacted to Mousavi’s killing, including senior Iranian officials, pro-Iranian militias, and Palestinian organizations. The Iranians threatened to avenge his death:
  • Iranian officials: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi issued a condolence message, saying that the operation was further proof of the frustration, weakness and helplessness of the “Zionist regime” in the region and that there was no doubt that it would pay the price for this crime (Tasnim, December 25, 2023). Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iranian foreign minister, wrote on his X account (December 25, 2023) that “Tel Aviv should wait for a tough countdown.” Nasser Kanani, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, condemned Mousavi’s assassination, stressing that Iran reserved the right to respond at the appropriate time and place (ISNA, December 25, 2023). Reza Tala’i-nik, spokesman for the Iranian ministry of defense, also threatened revenge. At a press conference in Tehran, he said the response to the assassination would be carried out decisively and efficiently at the appropriate time, place and method (Fars, December 26, 2023).
  • Pro-Iranian militias: Kataib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades) conveyed condolences for Mousavi’s death, noting that he had played a central role in dealing with the forces that destroyed Iraq (Kataib Hezbollah Telegram channel, December 26, 2023). Qais al-Khazali, secretary general of the Asaib Ahl al-Haqq militia, stressed the role Mousavi had played in dealing with Israel (Qais al-Khazali’s X account, December 26, 20203). The al-Nujaba militia in Iraq also expressed condolences (al-Nujaba X account, December 26, 2023).
  • Hezbollah said Israel had committed a new crime that was added to its list of crimes: the assassination of the “dear brother” Razi Mousavi, who had worked as a military advisor in Syria. Hezbollah noted that it regarded the assassination as a blatant attack that crossed the line. The organization expressed condolences to the Supreme Leader of Iran, the leadership of the Revolutionary Guards, Mousavi’s family, and the Iranian people (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).
  • Palestinian organizations: Senior Hamas terrorist Ali Baraka condemned on behalf of Hamas the crime of killing the Iranian advisor in Damascus, Razi Mousavi. According to Baraka, the decision to assassinate him had been taken by Netanyahu with the intention of expanding the campaign, since Netanyahu was awaiting his trial in February and wanted to prolong the war to postpone the trial, and now he was summoning an Iranian response by assassinating the general. Baraka said Israel was failing in the military campaign in Gaza, and therefore it wanted to expand the campaign and attract an Iranian response and American intervention (al-Alam TV website, December 26, 2023). The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) condemned the assassination of the senior IRGC commander by the “Zionist entity”, praising Mousavi’s activity and support for the “resistance” forces in the region. The PIJ said the assassination reflected the “Zionist entity’s” (i.e., Israel’s) dangerous influence on the entire region (PIJ Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).

Pro-Iranian militias

Iraq

• The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for attacking the American Harir base in Iraq with a drone (Islamic Resistance Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).
• The Iraqi government reported that on the afternoon of December 25, 2023, a drone exploded near Erbil Airport, causing damage and casualties and disrupting the airport’s operation. The operation was reportedly carried out as part of an attempt by “lawbreaking groups” to attack Iraqi bases, some of which had the presence of advisors and international coalition forces. The statement noted that they condemned the terrorist act and stressed that the Iraqi security forces would reach the perpetrators and prosecute them (Iraqi prime minister’s office Telegram channel, December 25, 2023).
• Lloyd Austin, American Secretary of Defense, reported that three people had been wounded in the attack in Erbil, one critically (American Department of Defense website, December 26, 2023). Austin later reported that on President Biden’s orders, United States Army forces had attacked three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and other groups in Iraq. This was in response to a series of attacks against the American forces in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-affiliated militias. Austin noted that the objective of the American attacks was to undermine the capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible (American Department of Defense website, December 26, 2023).
• Saberin News, a Telegram channel affiliated with the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, reported that a Popular Mobilization operative had been killed in an attack carried out by the American forces and 18 people had been wounded, including six Popular Mobilization operatives and 12 Interior Ministry security personnel (Saberin News Telegram channel, December 26, 2023).
• The Iraqi government’s information office condemned the American attacks on “Iraqi military sites,” stressing that it was an explicitly hostile act that contradicted American declarations to strengthen relations with Iraq. It stated that the attacks would complicate reaching understandings about ending the international coalition’s presence in Iraq and that it was a violation of Iraqi sovereignty (Iraqi information office Telegram channel, December 26, 2023).

The Arab Arena

Jordan

• Ayman al-Safadi, Jordanian foreign minister, spoke with Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iranian foreign minister, and discussed efforts to stop Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and provide humanitarian aid immediately. The two stressed the need to reach an immediate ceasefire. Abdollahian praised Jordan’s role in supporting the Palestinians and stressed the need to solve regional problems by regional countries (al-Mamlaka; IRNA, December 25, 2023).
• Muhannad Mubaidin, spokesman for the Jordanian government, said it was Israel that had dragged the region into war and that it had to move toward peace because Israel needed it more than Jordan. He added that Israel was talking with Jordan about conflicts, while it was the one undermining peace. He also said everyone knew that Israel was placing obstacles when it came to delivering aid to the Gaza Strip. He stressed that Jordan was making efforts to create a different narrative from what Israel was trying to present to the world, according to which it was defending itself (CNN, December 25, 2023).

Egypt

• Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to discuss the latest developments and humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. They also discussed international courses of action to alleviate Palestinian suffering. Shoukry stressed that the latest Security Council resolution calling for the establishment of an international mechanism to facilitate and monitor the entry of humanitarian aid had to be fully implemented (al-Qahera, December 25, 2023). He also thanked Abdollahian for Iran’s willingness to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza (IRNA, December 25, 2023).

The International Arena

India

• The Indian WION news channel reported that the MV Chem Pluto was safely docked in Mumbai after being attacked two days ago by a drone. After it docked, an Indian investigation team arrived to inspect the vessel to make a first assessment of the type and nature of the attack and to assess the extent of the damage. The team confirmed that according to an analysis of the impact area and debris found on the deck, it was a drone attack (WION, December 26, 2023).

Japan

• A spokesman for the Japanese government announced that the Japanese government would freeze assets and impose sanctions on payments and capital transactions of three senior Hamas figures for their involvement in the October 7 events and the use of funds to finance terrorist activities (Reuters, December 26, 2023).

Pakistan

• The Palestine Foundation Pakistan (PLF)^[2] held a car and motorcycle parade in Karachi, Pakistan in support of the Palestinians, under the slogan “Israel is an illegitimate state.” The event was held to commemorate the birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah^[3], Pakistan’s Father of the Nation. It was attended by Khaled Qaddoumi, senior Hamas terrorist who serves as Hamas’ representative in Iran. In Qaddoumi’s speech, he said Hamas was grateful to the people of Pakistan who had always supported the Palestinian cause. He stressed that Hamas would continue its resistance against Israel (PLF Pakistan website, December 25, 2023).

    
The event in support of the Palestinians. Left: Khaled Qaddoumi speaking
(PLF Pakistan website, 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] The organization, based in Karachi, presents itself as an NGO founded in 2008 by former students at Karachi University and works for the Palestinian cause. ↑
^[3] Muhammad Ali Jinnah was an Indian Muslim leader who headed the Muslim League, which led to the establishment of Pakistan, and served as its first governor. He is referred to in Pakistan as a "great leader" and "father of the nation," and the dates of his birth and death are marked as national holidays. ↑

Related Articles