Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 7, 2024)

Overview^[1]

• The southern arena: Over the past day IDF forces continued raiding terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip while coordinating with Israeli Air Force and Navy forces to attack and destroy terrorist targets. The fighting focused on the Khan Yunis area and the southern Gaza Strip. The Palestinians reported IDF attacks in the Rafah area.
• According to unofficial statistics, since October 7, 2023, approximately 1,450 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 564 of them soldiers and officers; 132 civilian and military hostages are still being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip; 121 hostages have been returned to Israel.
• Negotiations for a hostage deal: After several days of consultations, on February 6, 2024, Hamas issued an official statement noting that Hamas regarded the proposal positively, but the deal would take place only after the promise that several conditions had been met, including a ceasefire, transfer of aid to the Gaza Strip, guarantees for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the rehabilitation of the displaced persons. According to Hamas’ answer as published in the media, the deal is based on three stages, each of which will last 45 days. Attached to the answer is an appendix elaborating all of Hamas’ demands for the various stages.
• The situation in the Gaza Strip: Medical personnel reported a difficult situation in the hospitals in Khan Yunis. Residents evacuated to Rafah are apprehensive about the expansion of IDF activities in the area.
• The northern arena: Hezbollah claimed responsibility for six attacks during the past day. Two Hezbollah operatives were killed. In an attack in the Homs region of Syria, attributed to Israel, a number of casualties were reported, including two Hezbollah operatives.
• Iran: The IDF spokesperson revealed information about funds Iran transferred to Hamas and to Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesperson said the IDF found official Hamas documents dating from 2020 which provided details of the transfer of more than $150 million from Iran to Hamas and al-Sinwar. Hamas denied the findings.
• The pro-Iranian militias: The Houthis attacked two ships in the Red Sea, one Greek and the other British.
• The United States: Anthony Blinken, American Secretary of State, is conducting his fifth tour of the region.

The Southern Arena

• During the past day IDF forces continued raiding terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip while coordinating with air and naval forces to attack and destroy them. Palestinian media reported that during the past day IDF activity focused on Gaza City, where the forces destroyed two buildings belonging to al-Aqsa University (west of the city) and shot at the Rimal neighborhood. A heavy exchange of fire was reported in the southwest of the city. In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked in the Wadi Gaza area. In Khan Yunis, IDF forces fired artillery at the Khan Yunis refugee camp and the Air Force attacked in the Qizan al-Najar area (south of Khan Yunis). In Rafah heavy air force strikes were carried out in the west and east of the city (Wafa, Ma’an, February 7, 2024).

     
IDF forces in the Gaza Strip (IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024)

• The southern Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued operations in western Khan Yunis, raiding and destroying terrorist facilities. They also eliminated a large number of armed terrorists in face-to-face encounters (IDF spokesperson, February 6, 2024).

     
Right: Attacks on a Hamas terrorist facility. Left: Attack on a terrorist tunnel
(IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024)

    
Right: IDF attacks in Rafah (Wafa YouTube channel, February 6, 2024). Left: Attack in Deir al-Balah (Shehab X account, February 6, 2024)

• An al-Jazeera correspondent in Khan Yunis reported heavy exchanges of fire in the Khan Yunis refugee camp and the firing of tank shells at the al-Amal neighborhood in the west of the city. He claimed IDF snipers located in the area near the Nasser Hospital shot at anyone outside the hospital compound. He also claimed that during the night the Israeli Air Force attacked the Qizan al-Najar neighborhood in the south of the city (Al-Jazeera YouTube channel, February 7, 2024).

Israeli casualties

• According to unofficial statistics, since October 7, 2023, approximately 1,450 Israeli people have been killed. According to the IDF spokesperson, 564 of them are soldiers and officers (225 since the start of the ground maneuver on 27 October, 2023); 132 civilian and military hostages are still being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip; 121 hostages have been returned.

The issue of the hostages and a ceasefire agreement

• On February 6, 2024, after a series of consultations within the leadership of the movement and with the various organizations, Hamas issued its answer to Qatar and Egypt regarding the Paris proposal for a hostage deal. According to the announcement, Hamas regarded the proposal positively, but only in a way that guaranteed a complete and total ceasefire, an end to the “aggression” against the Palestinian people, a guarantee of aid, shelter and reconstruction for the residents of the Gaza Strip and the lifting of the “siege” of the Gaza Strip. Hamas expressed appreciation for the role of Egypt and Qatar and of all the countries that assisted in the matter. The message also praised the Palestinian people and their firm stand and “courageous resistance,” especially in the Gaza Strip (Hamas Telegram channel, February 6, 2024).
• Muhammad bin Abdel Rahman, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, and Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, held a press conference where they reported they had received Hamas’ response to the agreement, and it was positive but included reservations. Antony Blinken noted that a great deal of work had to be invested to reach the agreement, but they were optimistic and would continue to use all the means at their disposal to achieve a prolonged ceasefire during which the hostages would be released from the Gaza Strip (al-Jazeera, February 6, 2024). President Joe Biden called it a move towards an agreement which would guarantee the release of the hostages. He noted that despite Hamas’ overreaction to the negotiations continued (Reuters, February 6, 2024).
• The office of the prime minister of Israel said in a statement that the Qatari mediator had given Hamas’ response to the Mossad and it was being examined in depth by all parties involved in the negotiations (prime minister’s office website, February 6, 2024).
• The daily al-Akhbar published the text of Hamas’ three-page answer. Muhammad Nizal, a member of the Hamas political bureau, stated that the draft agreement published in the media was “mostly correct” (al-Arabi, February 7, 2024). A senior Hamas member and two senior Egyptian officials anonymously confirmed the authenticity of the document published by al-Akhbar (AP, February 7, 2024). The text of Hamas’ answer follows (al-Akhbar, February 7, 2024).
• The text is entitled, “Draft – Initial Response.” The response of the Hamas movement to a general framework for a comprehensive agreement “between the Israeli occupation and Hamas and the Palestinian factions.” The purpose of the agreement is to stop mutual military operations, to achieve a complete and sustainable peace, to carry out an exchange of hostages, to end the siege of the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate and return the residents and displaced persons to their homes, and provide the needs for shelter and assistance of all residents in all areas of the Gaza Strip, to be accomplished according to the following phases:
  • First phase (45 days): All kidnapped [detained in the original] Israeli women, children (younger than 19, not soldiers), elderly and sick Israeli would be released in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners to be determined, in addition to increasing humanitarian aid, redeployment of IDF forces outside the populated areas, the possibility of beginning the reconstruction of the hospitals, residences and facilities in the entire Gaza Strip, and allowing the UN and its agencies to provide humanitarian services and establish camps for the shelter of the residents. Israel would temporarily stop military operations and aerial reconnaissance. The IDF forces would redeploy outside the populated areas, near the separation line [referring to the perimeter fence], to allow the parties to complete the exchange of hostages and prisoners, whose release will be determined in stages according to pre-agreed lists.
  • Second phase (45 days): Completion of the [indirect] discussions regarding the requirements for the continued mutual cessation of military operations and the restoration of a state of complete calm. The objective of the phase is to [secure the] release [of] all the male hostages (civilians and military personnel) in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners to be determined, the continuation of the humanitarian measures of the first phase, the withdrawal of the IDF forces beyond the borders of the Gaza Strip, the beginning of the complete reconstruction of the houses, facilities and infrastructure in all areas of the Strip Gaza through specific mechanisms that would ensure their implementation, and the complete end of the “siege” on the Strip.
  • Third phase (45 days): The exchange of bodies and remains of the dead on both sides after they have been identified, and the continuation of the humanitarian measures of the first and second phases, according to what would be agreed upon in the first and second phases.
• An appendix was added to the text. According to al-Jazeera TV, Hamas added the condition that the appendix be an integral part of the proposal (al-Jazeera TV website, February 7, 2024). According to the text of the appendix, in the first phase Israel would release 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the first group of hostages, and Hamas would determine the names of 500 who were sentenced to life and long prison terms, and the necessary legal procedures would be completed to ensure that the Palestinian and Arab prisoners were not detained again on the same charge for which they were initially detained. Meanwhile, the conditions of the prisoners in the prisons would be improved and the measures and punishments instituted after October 7, 2023, would be abolished. The stopping the “invasions and aggression of the Israeli settlers” against al-Aqsa Mosque and returning the situation in the Mosque to the status quo ante of 2002 was also included. All Israeli restrictions on the movement of passengers, the sick and the injured through the Rafah crossing would be removed, and all wounded men, women and children, could depart for treatment abroad without restriction.
• “Several sources” also emphasized that Hamas asked Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Turkey and Russia to be guarantors for the agreement (al-Jazeera TV website, February 7, 2024).
• Senior Hamas members commented on the details of the Hamas proposal and how it was formulated:
  • Muhammad Nizal, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said that Hamas’ approach was positive, and they had based their answer to the framework document on the condition that various factor were known, such as the date of the cessation of “aggression” and the withdrawal of the IDF, everything related to the introduction of aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced persons to their homes and Israel’s proposals regarding the release of the Palestinian prisoners. Regarding reactions to Hamas’ response, he noted that the American administration was obviously cautious, as reflected in the statements of Antony Blinken, who said he could not comment on the details of Hamas’ response, which could be interpreted as a positive signal and was better than a complete rejection. The response of the Qatar’s prime minister was positive and that could be built on because they specifically wanted use the framework document to begin negotiating the details (al-Arabi TV YouTube channel, February 6, 2024).
  • Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas member, noted that Hamas’ response was clear because there were important issues that had to be included in every proposal. He said Hamas representatives had not been present in Paris during the formulation of the agreement framework, which made in necessary for them to establish their positions. He said their view on the main issues had been added, such as the ceasefire, the need for withdrawal, the reconstruction that would include facilities such as institutions, places of worship and educational institutions, the return of the displaced persons, freedom of movement, and the maintaining of the territorial integrity of the Strip, as well as the issue of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, whom they were working hard to free. He emphasized that Hamas wanted to reach a solution, but it could not abandon the Palestinian people and therefore it wanted to establish a permanent ceasefire and a total withdrawal of IDF forces (QudsN, February 6, 2024).
  • Muhammad al-Hindi, deputy Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) secretary general, stated that in their answer, beginning with the first phase, which related to the release of the remaining civilian hostages, whose number is small, they related to the withdrawal of the IDF forces, UN intervention to help the residents of the Strip and provide them with shelter. On the issue of reconstruction, he said that they wanted the UN as a guarantor, and the guarantee of shelter for the displaced persons would begin in the first phase. Regarding the withdrawal of the IDF, he said that in the first phase they wanted a withdrawal from population concentrations, and in the second phase, they specifically wanted a full withdrawal beyond the borders of the Strip. He said the plan for a security zone that Israel was establishing in preparation for its withdrawal would be foiled by the Palestinians and the “resistance” [terrorist organizations], and no zone would protect the [Israeli cities, towns and villages] surrounding Gaza from rockets if Israel attacked the Gaza Strip. As for the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, he said the issue would be discussed in detail during the negotiations. He noted that since October 7, 2023, Israel had detained approximately 6,000 Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and thousands more “civilians” in the Gaza Strip, adding that there were important prisoners whose release had to be insisted on. He said he expected the negotiations to take time, and that disagreements would arise with regard to the criteria and the number of prisoners to be released. He also noted that no time frame had been set for Israel’s response to the Palestinian document (al-Mayadeen YouTube channel, February 6, 2024).
  • Ihsan Ataya, a member of the PIJ political bureau, said the Hamas answer had been submitted after many consultations between the Hamas and PIJ leaderships regarding all the details. He said their position was positive and they did not completely reject the document, rather they had made the necessary corrections to make it achievable. He stated that the most important point was the cessation of “aggression,” because any document that did not ultimately lead to a complete ceasefire and reconstruction was unacceptable. He added that in the transition from the first phase to the second phase, the document clearly led to a complete ceasefire, and it also included the matter of reconstruction, with a target date of no more than three years and guarantees for it (al-Mayadeen YouTube channel, February 6, 2024).

The Gaza Strip

Palestinian casualties

• The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that as of 1:40 p.m., February 7, 2024, over the past day 123 Palestinians were killed in IDF attacks and 169 were wounded. The number of dead since the beginning of the war stood at 27,708 and the number of wounded at 67,147 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, February 7, 2024).
• The Hamas-controlled Palestinian police in the Gaza Strip announced the death of six officers in an attack on their vehicle in the Khirbat al-Adas area in east Rafah while they were securing aid trucks. Reportedly, the casualties were a high-ranking officer named Jihad Lafi Yusuf al-Akhras and five additional officers (Palestinian police in the Gaza Strip Facebook page, February 6, 2024).

• The Hamas government information bureau reported the death of the 123^rd journalist in the war, Dr. Rizq Muhammad Ghazi al-Gharabli. He was the director of Palinfo, a Hamas-affiliated media outlet in the Gaza Strip, and he had previously worked for the Safa agency. He was killed in an attack on his home in Khan Yunis (Hamas government information bureau Telegram channel, February 6, 2024; Hassan Shahin’s Facebook page, February 6, 2024).

• The death of the journalist Zakaria Fathi Abu Ghali was also reported. He was killed along with his mother and sister in an attack on a house in Tel al-Sultan in western Rafah (Wafa, February 6, 2024; Hasan Aslih’s Telegram channel, February 6, 2024). The PIJ-affiliated al-Quds al-Yawm Telegram channel announced he was one of the channel’s employees and had written series which were broadcast on the channel, including the series “Sign of Victory – Gilboa,” which recounted the escape [of six terrorists] from the Gilboa Prison (Filastin al-Yawm TV X account, February 6, 2024; Hasan Aslih’s Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).

The situation in the Gaza Strip

• The spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that the stock of fuel, food and medicine at al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis had run out after the siege imposed on it during the last two weeks (Shehab X account, February 6, 2024). Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, reported a severe shortage of medicine, medical equipment and food at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. He reiterated that fuel reserves were running out and the generators were expected to stop operating within four days (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, February 6, 2024). Dr. Nahed Abu Teima, director of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, said they were trying to transfer the seriously injured to the Jordanian field hospital, which is located near Nasser Hospital, while risking the lives of the medical staff because there was no safe way to evacuate the wounded (al-Jazeera YouTube channel, February 7, 2024).
• Displaced persons in Rafah expressed fear of Israel’s threats to advance and operate in the Rafah area. They said they had arrived in the Rafah area after evacuating from several places in the Gaza Strip in the hope of finding a safe harbor, but they discovered there was currently no safe place in the Gaza Strip and they did not know where to go (Wafa YouTube channel, February 6, 2024).

     
Residents and displaced persons in Rafah express fear of Israeli entry into the Rafah area
(Wafa YouTube channel, February 6, 2024)

Hamas response to the president of Argentina

• Hamas strongly condemned the announcement by Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, who is visiting Israel, that he intended to move the Argentinean embassy to “occupied” Jerusalem. Hamas claimed it was a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and of the principles of international law, and called on him to retract his decision (Hamas Telegram channel, February 6, 2024).

The Egypt-Gaza Strip border

• Egyptian officials said that it was becoming more likely that Israel would carry out military operations along the Philadelphia Axis without coordinating with Egypt. The officials said Egypt was taking such a scenario into account and they promised not to escalate the situation with Israel in light of their common interests. A discussion was also reported between Israel and Egypt regarding the Axis and that the understandings [between the two sides] would lead to the transfer of some of the residents of the Gaza Strip to other areas. It was also reported that as part of fortifying the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian army had added a barbed wire fence on top of the wall which contained electronic detectors to warn of infiltration attempts (al-Araby al-Jadeed, February 6, 2024).

The Northern Arena

Hezbollah attacks

• During the past day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for six attacks using anti-tank missiles, rockets and firing shells (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, February 6-7, 2024). Most of the attacks targeted IDF positions in the Mount Dov area.
• In response, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked observation posts and infrastructure used by Hezbollah in the area of Labouneh, Jabal Blat and Kafr Holeh. The IDF also fired artillery at the sources launching the rockets at Israel (IDF spokesperson, February 6, 2024).

• The Lebanese media and social networks published videos and pictures of the Israeli Air Force attacks. According to reports, the targets included a water pumping station in the al-Wazzani area in south Lebanon. According to claims, a UAV launched a missile at the station building, causing damage.

Hezbollah fatalities

• Hezbollah reported the death of two operatives (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).
  • Muhammad Jafar Asili, aka Walaa, born in 1975 in Ansar, south Lebanon.
  • Hussein Muhammad Shames, aka Mahdi, born in 1995 in al-Laboueh in the Lebanon Valley.

     
Hezbollah fatalities (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, February 7, 2024)

UNIFIL

The Lebanese government

• Najib Mikati, prime minister of Lebanon’s interim government, met with Stéphane Séjourné, the French foreign minister, who is visiting Lebanon (Lebanese prime minister’s X account, December 6, 2024). Séjourné also met with Nabih Berri, speaker of the parliament, to discuss developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as “Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and Lebanon” (al-Nashra, February 6, 2024).

Syria

• According to a Syrian military source, on February 7, 2024, at around 12:30 a.m. (Damascus time), Israel carried out an airstrike from northern Tripoli targeting several sites in the Homs area and its environs, causing several fatalities and wounded, as well as material damage (Syrian information ministry Telegram channel, February 7, 2024). Syrian TV reported rescue efforts in Homs and the deaths of at least three people (Syrian TV, February 7, 2024).
• It was later reported that a building on al-Hamraa Street, in the western part of Homs, had been attacked, killing at least eight people and wounding several others. The fatalities included six civilians, including a woman and a child, and two Hezbollah operatives. Other targets reported were the al-Mazraah area near the Homs refinery, the al-Auras area near the municipal stadium and near the technical services building (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, February 7, 2024). According to another report, the target of the attack was a multi-story residential building apparently used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). It was noted that many houses sustained extensive damage (Muhammad Abu Abd al-Aziz’s X account, February 7, 2024).
• A Telegram channel affiliated with the Syrian opposition claimed that the damage was caused by the fall of a missile launched by the Syrian army as part of the attempts to intercept missiles launched “in an Israeli attack” (Ayn al-Sham Telegram channel, February 7, 2024). Syrian journalist Nur Abu Hassan released documentation of damage he claimed was caused by the fall of one of the Syrian anti-aircraft defense missiles on al-Hamraa Street in Homs (Nur Abu Hassan’s X account, February 7, 2024).

   
Destruction caused by the airstrikes in Homs
(Syrian information ministry’s X account, February 7, 2024)

Judea and Samaria

Palestinian fatality

• Following the attack on February 6, 2024, near Nablus, the PA ministry of health reported that the dead man was Muhammad Saud Abdallah al-Titi, 18, son of Saud al-Titi, who was killed by IDF forces on April 11, 2023 (Wafa, February 6, 2024).

Counterterrorism activities

• The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining 21 wanted Palestinians. Since the beginning of the war, more than 3,050 wanted Palestinians have been detained, including more than 1,350 Hamas operatives (IDF spokesperson’s Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).
• On the night of February 7, 2024, Israeli security forces operated in Jenin and Nur al-Shams (east of Tulkarm). During the operation, armed Palestinians threw IEDs and shot at the forces, who responded with gunfire. IDF heavy engineering vehicles exposed roads where IEDs were planted, and the forces detained seven wanted Palestinians. In Qalqilya, the forces located a warehouse containing a large quantity of materials for making explosive devices. In the village of Biddu (southwest of Ramallah), the forces found weapons (IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024).
• According to Palestinian reports, five Palestinians were detained in Jenin, including Hamza, son of senior PIJ figure Bassam al-Saadi, and senior Hamas figure Abd al-Jabbar Jarrar (Jenin Camp X account, February 7, 2024).

     
Nur al-Shams camp after IDF activity there (QudsN X account, February 7, 2024)

Palestinian Authority (PA)

•  The PA foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the Israeli government’s decision to build 167 housing units “in the settlement of Tzufim.” The statement noted that they regarded it as an Israeli attempt to sabotage the efforts to express the international consensus for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The ministry further condemned the war waged by extremist settlers against the Palestinian presence in these areas, claiming they were working to destroy Palestinian property and agriculture as part of the gradual annexation of Judea and Samaria. The ministry called for urgent international intervention to force Israel to curb the “colonialist terrorist elements” (Palestinian foreign ministry X account, February 7, 2024).

Iran

• Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iranian foreign minister, spoke with Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassem al-Thani, Qatari prime minister and foreign minister, to discuss the latest developments in the region and the Palestinian arena, including political efforts to stop the war in the Gaza Strip and initiatives to establish a ceasefire, exchange prisoners and transfer humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip (IRNA, February 6, 2024).

Proof of Iran’s Support for Hamas

• IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari revealed new intelligence information regarding the funds transferred by Iran to Hamas and to Yahya al-Sinwar, head of Hamas’ political bureau in the Gaza Strip. At a press briefing, Hagari said the IDF had uncovered a tunnel in which it found official Hamas documents from 2020, detailing funds transferred by Iran to Hamas and al-Sinwar between 2014 and 2020, amounting to over $150 million. The IDF exposed Hamas sums of money, paperwork documenting the transfer of funds from Iran to Hamas, and photos of envelopes of money personally delivered to the Hamas leader, all of them found in the tunnel (IDF spokesperson, February 6, 2024).

   
Bags containing terrorist funds found in the tunnel (IDF spokesperson, February 6, 2024)

• In response, Hamas issued a statement saying that the IDF’s claim that it had found Hamas documents and sums of money received from external sources was ridiculous and showed Israel’s contempt for public opinion. It also said promoting imaginary narratives in the form of military achievements emphasized the level of the IDF’s failure. The IDF, Hamas claimed, had not succeeded and would not succeed in marketing its lies to the world, which was fed up with its “crimes and massacres” for which it was tried by the International Court of Justice (Hamas Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).

Pro-Iranian militias

Iraq

• American Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein to discuss the American strike on February 2, 2024, which targeted military and civilian sites and killed several Iraqi security personnel and civilians. The two noted the need to strengthen the strategic partnership and expressed their desire to continue cooperating. Hussein asked Blinken to reconsider the American Department of Treasury’s decision to impose sanctions on 31 Iraqi banks (Iraqi News Agency, February 7, 2024). It was the first official conversation between American and Iraqi officials since the American attack on Iraq.
• Jordanian officials reportedly conveyed messages to several Iraqi officials, including members of the government, parliament, and the main Shi’ite factions, stressing that Jordan was not interested in the current American confrontation with the militias and forces of the “axis of resistance”^[2] in Iraq and Syria. The messages indicated that the only issue that Jordan’s security sector was working against on the border with Syria was the fight against drugs. The messages were conveyed by “prominent” Iraqi Shi’ite businessmen, after Iraqi parliamentarians close to the Popular Mobilization and the other militias tried to cause a storm of public outrage over Jordanian partnership in the American attack on the Iraqi-Syrian border (al-Rai al-Youm, February 7, 2024).

Yemen

• On February 6, 2024, the Houthis launched six missiles at two merchant ships, one Greek and one British. Of three missiles fired at a Greek-owned ship flying the Marshall Islands flag, one exploded near the ship, causing minor damage. One missile was intercepted by the destroyer USS Laboon, and one fell into the water. Three more missiles were fired at a British ship flying the Barbados flag. They fell in the water and did not hit the ship (CENTCOM X account, February 7, 2024).
• Houthi leader Abd al-Malik al-Houthi warned Israel to stop its “aggression” in the Gaza Strip and the siege on it, threatening that if Israel did not do so, they would strive for escalation (al-Masirah, February 6, 2024).
• At a press conference held by Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, and American Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Blinken said that Houthi attacks affected the interests of the entire world because of the importance of safe passage through the Red Sea for international trade. He stressed that the United States would act forcefully against anyone who tried to use the conflict in the Gaza Strip as an excuse to attack the United States (al-Jazeera, February 6, 2024).
• Bulgaria’s transport minister said that the crew members who had been on board the Galaxy Leader, which the Houthis took over in November 2023 and led to the coast of Yemen, were safe and sound and would soon be transferred to Bulgaria (Agence France-Presse, February  6, 2024).

The Arab Arena

Egypt

• Egyptian presidential spokesman reported that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had met with American Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and that the meeting focused on efforts to bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a hostage deal, and the transfer of aid to the Gaza Strip. El-Sisi noted Egypt’s efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and Blinken praised Egypt’s efforts to support regional security and stability (Egyptian presidential spokesman’s Facebook page, February 6, 2024).

Qatar

• Tamim bin Hamad, Emir of Qatar, met with Antony Blinken. The Emir of Qatar stressed that international efforts had to be made for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. Blinken expressed the United States’ appreciation for Qatar’s ongoing efforts to resume negotiations on the hostage deal (Emir of Qatar’s X account, February 6, 2024).

The International Arena

Turkey

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, about developments regarding the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. According to “sources,” Turkey supports the proposed agreement (Anadolu News, February 7, 2024).

^[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] Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, the Palestinian terrorist organizations and the Houthis in Yemen. ↑

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