Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 8, 2024)

Overview

• The southern arena: The IDF forces continued their activities throughout the Gaza Strip, focusing on the southern region. A tunnel was discovered in Khan Yunis where the leadership of Hamas and several hostages had apparently stayed. The Palestinians reported on escalating attacks in the Rafah area and voiced concern that they heralded a ground maneuver in the area, where there were many civilians from the northern and central Gaza Strip.
• 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 drafting their response, senior Hamas officials stated they were “flexible and open to discussion,” and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of wanting to continue the fighting. A Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, arrived in Cairo.
• The situation in the Gaza Strip: According to reports, the difficult humanitarian situation continues. The Palestinians are concerned about the expansion of IDF activity into the Rafah area.
• The northern arena: Hezbollah claimed responsibility for seven attacks during the past day. Three IDF soldiers were injured by anti-tank missiles and rockets fired at Kiryat Shmona and Biranit; one of the soldiers was seriously wounded. In response, IDF aircraft attacked terrorist targets, including al-Hiyam in south Lebanon, from where a significant portion of the rockets and anti-tank missiles attacking Israel have been launched.
• Judea and Samaria: Shots were fired at an IDF position near Nablus; the shooter was killed. No IDF casualties were reported. IDF forces continued counterterrorism activities, destroying the house of a Hamas terrorist who carried out an attack on the Tunnel Road in Jerusalem in November 2023, in which six people were injured. Mahmoud Abbas, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), met with American Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A demonstration was held in Ramallah to protest his visit.
• The pro-Iranian militias: A senior operative of the Hezbollah Brigades, one of the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq responsible for attacking United States military bases in Syria and Iraq, was killed in an American army attack. The response to the attack was a wave of angry reactions, including from senior Iraqi government members.
• Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Arabian foreign ministry announced that diplomatic relations with Israel would not be established before the end of the war in the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of IDF forces and Israel’s recognition of a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders. The announcement was received with approval by the PA and Hamas.

The Southern Arena

• The Palestinian media reported that Israeli attacks in Rafah were escalating for the third day in a row. According to the reports, in Khan Yunis the attacks continued in various neighborhoods. IDF armored vehicles were stationed in front of the al-Amal Hospital gate and the encircled Nasser Hospital. There were also reports of attacks in the form of “fire belts ” in the areas between Khan Yunis and Rafah. In Gaza City, it was reported that the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of attacks in the Rimal, Sabra and Zeitoun neighborhoods, as well as on al-Wahda Street, near the Fishermen’s Port and in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. Artillery was also fired at the Rimal and Sabra neighborhoods. In the central Gaza Strip, casualties were reported in attacks on two houses in Deir al-Balah (Ma’an, February 8, 2024; Wafa, February 8, 2024).

     
Weapons found in the Gaza Strip by IDF forces (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2024)

   
Right: Destruction of a Hamas terrorist facility. Left: Elimination of a Hamas terrorist
(IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2024)

• The southern Gaza Strip: IDF fighters continued attacking terrorist centers in western Khan Yunis, detaining dozens of Palestinians suspected of involvement in terrorism, including two terrorists who participated in the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and massacre, and an elite nukhba force operative (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2024).
• In Khan Yunis IDF forces raided a tunnel more than a kilometer in length. Inside the tunnel they clashed with armed terrorists operatives, broke through the blast doors and neutralized explosives. While exploring the tunnel they found several facilities, including barred prison cells where hostages had been held, a bathroom and a rest area where the terrorists supervising the hostages stayed. Hamas intelligence materials and weapons were also found in the tunnel, which was part of a branching maze of tunnels and connected to one uncovered a few weeks ago where other hostages had been held (IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024).

    
Right: Prison cells found in the tunnel. Left: Weapons found in the tunnel
(IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024)

• Palestinian media reported IDF strikes and Palestinian casualties west of Rafah (Shehab, February 8, 2024). Hani al-Shaer, correspondent for al-Jazeera TV in Rafah, reported that over the past five days there had been a significant escalation in the intensity of the airstrikes on Rafah. He said strikes were being carried out in the Tel al-Sultan and Saudi neighborhoods in western Rafah, where displaced people are staying in thousands of tents and on the streets. In addition to attacking houses, an attack was carried out in eastern Rafah and there was heavy shooting in the west of the city. He reported that the Palestinians in Rafah were seriously worried that the attacks heralded an upcoming ground maneuver. He also reported that during the past day, nine airstrikes had been carried out near the Egyptian border (al-Jazeera TV YouTube channel, February 8, 2024).

• The northern Gaza Strip: IDF forces eliminated ten terrorists in various clashes. Armed terrorist operatives fired an anti-tank missile at a tank; the fighters identified the terrorists who had shot at them and directed a fighter jet to the site to eliminate the squad (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 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

• After drafting a response to the Paris agreement, senior Hamas members claimed they were “flexible and open to discussion,” and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of wanting to continue the fighting. According to reports, a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Haya, a member of the Hamas political bureau, arrived in Cairo on February 8, 2024, to discuss the ceasefire (al-Araby al-Jadeed February 8, 2024).
  • Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas member, said that unfortunately the next-to-last version of Hamas’ answer had been leaked to the media and what was published in the media was very close to the truth and correct to a large extent. He refused to discuss the details of Hamas’ response, claiming it was subject to discussion and development. He said they had spoken with Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Russia, the guarantor countries of the agreement, as well as with the UN. He claimed remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the continuation of the war were “proof” of his “true goal of destroying the Palestinian people,” adding that Hamas would prevent him from realizing his goals with political methods and through “resistance” [violence and terrorism] (al-Jazeera channel website, February 7, 2024).
  • Sami Abu Zuhri, head of Hamas’ “external” political bureau, called Netanyahu’s statements in response to the Paris document “a form of political arrogance,” and “proof” that he wanted to continue the “aggression” and expand the circle of conflict. He claimed Hamas’ message “to everyone” was that the movement had reacted “flexibly” to the Paris document from a position of strength, not weakness, was prepared to deal with all eventualities, and “everyone” had to bear responsibility towards Netanyahu’s statements and their consequences (Shehab Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).
  • Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, said Hamas had not retreated from its principles regarding the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and adhered to its demand of “everyone in return for everyone.” He said Hamas had tried to overcome some of the obstacles in the Paris agreement through versions that would lead to the same objective. He added that Hamas had used the phrase “specific number,” which could be between 1 and 10,000 prisoners, and thus they could press for the release of the largest possible number of prisoners. He said Hamas had clear, specific, detailed lists [of prisoners] which were divided into categories. He said Hamas had not abandoned its demand of “everyone in return for everyone” and said that the number was “open,” meaning they were circumventing the wording to facilitate the process of reaching an agreement, make it easier for the mediators and have room for implementation (al-Sharq TV website, February 8, 2024).
• According to reports, Egypt and Qatar plan to hold a new round of negotiations in Cairo to calm the situation in the Gaza Strip and reach a hostage deal. Egypt called on all parties to demonstrate the flexibility essential for reaching an agreement (al-Qahera, February 7, 2024). A “source” in Hamas said that a delegation of the Hamas leadership would arrive in Cairo for a round of indirect talks with the Israeli government regarding the agreement. He added that during the visit, which would last several days, members of the delegation would meet with Abbas Kamal, the head of Egyptian General Intelligence. An “Egyptian source” said that senior Egyptian officials would present the Hamas delegation with their proposals for the phase after the end of the war in the Gaza Strip (al-Araby al-Jadeed, February 7, 2024).
• Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, said that given Hamas’ response, “there’s still a lot of work to do be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible.” He noted that a UN team would begin operations in the northern Gaza Strip to assess the conditions of the residents. He also emphasized that UNRWA’s activities had to be preserved (Reuters, February 7, 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. Therefore 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).
• On February 7, 2024, the death of Majdi Abd al-Ael, was reported. He was the commander of the intervention and order-maintenance forces in the Rafah police. He was killed in a targeted attack on his vehicle while securing humanitarian aid trucks in Rafah (QUDSN Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).

• The death of journalist Nafez Abd al-Jawad, who worked for the Palestinian TV channel, was reported. He and his son were killed in an attack on a house in Deir al-Balah (Wafa, February 8, 2024).

The situation in the Gaza Strip

• Given the statements in Israel about the intention to expand the campaign to the Rafah area, Hashem Zaqout, al-Jazeera TV correspondent in Rafah, reporting from the tent camp in Rafah, said residents he spoke with wished for end of the war and wanted to return to their homes, even if they had been destroyed (al-Jazeera YouTube channel, February 7, 2024).

• Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas member, held a press conference in Beirut where he said that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which had been difficult since the beginning of the war, had worsened due to the continued attacks, the destruction of infrastructure, the “massacres,” the killing and the prevention of the arrival of sufficient aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip, especially in the north. He claimed that was the situation, despite the ruling of the International Court of Justice. He claimed there was a “great and urgent need for food, water and medicine for all the residents of the Gaza Strip, whom hunger, thirst and disease kill every day without the countries and relevant UN institutions taking action.” He accused Israel of [allegedly] “massacring” civilians and displaced persons throughout the Gaza Strip, most recently, he claimed, an attack on a UN aid convoy on al-Rashid Street, and an attack on police vehicles in Rafah in which six policemen were killed, whose role had been to secure the entry of the aid trucks into the Gaza Strip. He warned of the danger that Israel would carry out a “slaughter” at al-Amal Hospital and the Nasser Medical Center, and blamed the United States administration for the consequences because of its support for Israel (al-Jazeera TV website, February 7, 2024).

Hamas-Iran relations

• In response to information revealed by the IDF spokesperson regarding the funds Iran transferred to Hamas and to Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas member, claimed the IDF spokesperson still [allegedly] “continues to spread lies and propaganda against the Palestinians and the ‘resistance,’ ” the most recent of which was the claim to have found Hamas documents and sums of money received from Iran. Hamdan emphasized that “everyone” knew the Palestinian “resistance” had ties with Iran based on Iran’s support for the “resistance” and its support for the “firm stance of the Palestinian people,” a support they valued and for which they thanked Iran (al-Jazeera TV website, February 7, 2024).

The Northern Arena

Hezbollah attacks

• During the past day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for seven attacks using anti-tank missiles and rockets, including a Falaq-1 rocket (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, February 7-8, 2024). On the morning of February 8, 2024, an anti-tank missile and rockets were fired at Kiryat Shmona and Biranit. According to Hezbollah, the target was the headquarters of the IDF’s Eastern Division in Kiryat Shmona and Biranit (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, February 8, 2024). One IDF soldier was seriously injured and two others were superficially wounded (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2025).
• In response, the IDF fired artillery at Hezbollah’s rocket launching sites and Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked terrorist facilities, observation posts and a Hezbollah military structure in the al-Hiyam region of south Lebanon. According to the IDF spokesperson, there is extensive Hezbollah terrorist activity in the al-Hiyam area (about five kilometers northeast of Metula). About one-sixth of all rockets launched from Lebanese territory at Israel since the beginning of hostilities have been launched from that area. The rockets targeting Kiryat Shmona are also launched from the same area (IDF spokesperson, February 7, 8, 2024).

   
Attack in the al-Hiyam area (IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024)

• Videos and photos of the air force attacks were published in Lebanese media and on social networks. According to reports, one of the targets was a house in al-Hiyam which was attacked by a UAV, killing one person and injured two (Radio al-Nur, February 7, 2024). The next day, on February 8, 2024, an airstrike attacked another house in al-Hiyam (Majed Abdallah’s X account, February 8, 2024).

   
Attacks in Kafr Kila (Fouad Khreiss’ X account, February 8, 2024)

Statement from a senior Hezbollah member

• Nabil Qaouk, a member of Hezbollah’s Central Council, gave a speech at a conference in Deir Kifa in south Lebanon, where he claimed that unlike Israel, Lebanon did not beg for security and international guarantees. He claimed Israel threatened Lebanon every day, but they were not afraid and were prepared for all possible scenarios. He claimed that Israel, on the other hand, asked the countries of the world for guarantees for the return of its residents to the north of the country because it [allegedly] “did not trust its army, feared Hezbollah’s power and knows that it is Hezbollah that decides [events] on the southern border” (al-‘Ahed, February 8, 0024).

The Lebanese army

• Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese army, met with Kurt Georg Stöckl-Stillfried, the German ambassador to Lebanon, and signed an agreement for Germany to donate €2 million to support the army. Aoun noted that the assistance was very important due to the extraordinary current circumstances and he expressed his appreciation for Germany’s support of the Lebanese military. The German ambassador said Germany was committed to supporting the army (Lebanon Army X account, February 67, 2024).
• The Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliated daily al-Akhbar reported from its “sources” that members of Congress were trying to start a campaign to stop funding the Lebanese army because it did not oppose Hezbollah. The “sources” stated that on the other hand, American officials claimed that was impossible because the army had to play a role in south Lebanon in the future. The same “sources” also noted that Hossein-Amir Abdollahian, the Iranian foreign minister, would arrive in Beirut [on February 10]. They also noted that Abdollahian was supposed to visit Cairo, but the visit was canceled following the arrival of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken (al-Akhbar, February 8, 2024).

The Lebanese administration

• Najib Mikati, prime minister of the interim government in Lebanon, met in Beirut with a delegation of senior French diplomats. According to reports, the visit of the French delegation was a continuation of the visit of the French foreign minister for talks on the situation in south Lebanon (Lebanese prime minister’s X account, February 8, 2024).

Judea and Samaria

Terrorist attacks

• On the morning of February 8, 2024, shots were fired at an IDF post at the entrance to the village of Deir Sharaf, near Nablus. IDF soldiers at the scene shot and killed the assailant. There were no casualties to IDF forces (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2024). The terrorist was reportedly al-Mansur Billah Jalal Mahmoud al-Jabbar, 27 years old, from the village of Jalqamus, southeast of Jenin (Wafa, February 8, 2024).

Counterterrorism activities

• Guided by intelligence, the Israeli security forces operated for more than four hours in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. The fighters surrounded a building where Mu’tassem al-Ali, a wanted terrorist operative in the refugee camp who was suspected of shooting at IDF forces, had barricaded himself. After an exchange of fire he was killed. Two other terrorist operatives who tried to flee the building were also killed. The fighters found large quantities of weapons at the site (IDF spokesperson, February 7, 2024). The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AAMB) announced the deaths of three operatives: Mu’tassem al-Ali, who was one of the network commanders in the Nur al-Shams camp; Islam Ibrahim al-Ali and Ziad Ali Daama, who were fighters in the network in the Nur al-Shams camp (elaqsa_1965 AAMB Telegram channel, February 7, 2024).

    
Right: Mu’tassem al-Ali (@Wafaa08432965 X account, February 7, 2024). Left: Military funeral for the two terrorists (al-Fajr TV Telegram channel, February 8, 2024)

• On the night of February 7, 2024, IDF forces in Hebron demolished the apartment of Hassan Qafisha, a Hamas operative who, along with two other terrorists, carried out an attack at the Tunnel Road checkpoint on November 16, 2023, killing one soldier and wounding five others (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2024).

   
Demolition of the terrorist’s house (IDF spokesperson, February 8, 2024)

   
Hassan Qafisha’s family home after it was destroyed (QudsN X account, February 8, 2024)

• Muhammad Khalil Barghouti, from the town of Kafr Ein, northwest of Ramallah, reportedly died of his wounds after being shot by Israeli security forces on January 22, 2024 (Wafa, February 8, 2024; SND website, February 8, 2024).

Palestinian Authority (PA)

• Mahmoud Abbas, PA chairman, met with American Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian arena and efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip. Abbas stressed the importance of bringing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip to help the residents. He reiterated his opposition to the uprooting of residents and demanded American intervention in the matter. He also called for increased pressure to release the tax revenues Israel collects for the PA. Furthermore, he asked for PA control of its international crossings. He noted the importance of the United States’ recognition of a Palestinian state, achieving full membership in the UN, and convening an international peace conference. He said that peace and security would only be achieved through the two-state solution. He referred to the decision of the American Congress to prevent PLO members from entering the United States, describing it as a “disappointing decision” and one that would affect the role of the United States (Wafa, February 7, 2024).
• During Blinken’s visit a demonstration was held in Ramallah. Demonstrators carried signs condemning Blinken and chanted slogans against his visit. Some also held up signs in Arabic saying Blinken was a “murderer” and a “war criminal.” The PA’s security services were deployed near the Muqata’a in Ramallah to prevent demonstrators from reaching the area (QudsN X account, February 7, 2024).

   
Right: Mahmoud Abbas meets with Antony Blinken (Wafa, February 7, 2024). Left: Protest demonstration against Blinken’s visit to Ramallah. Demonstrators wave signs with pictures of Blinken that read in Arabic “murderer” and “war criminal” (QudsN X account, February 7, 2024)

• Muhammad Shtayyeh, PA prime minister, said in an interview that they welcomed Hamas’ proposal, but that he was not sure Israel would fully implement it. He said they wanted Marwan Barghouti to be released, in addition to all the Palestinian prisoners, before talking about the future. He noted that their return to the Gaza Strip had to be within the framework of a Palestinian national understanding. He also said they wanted to hold an international conference that would lead to the recognition of a Palestinian state (al-Mayadeen, February 7, 2024).
• Fatah’s Central Committee met in Ramallah to discuss the war in the Gaza Strip and other issues. The movement’s announcement noted that the Israeli “aggression” in the Gaza Strip had to be stopped immediately and the Israeli forces had withdrawn. It also noted that the members of the Executive Committee categorically rejected all plans to uproot Palestinians from their land, stating that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were united, and Israel had no part of Palestinian land. They also noted that the PLO was the only legitimate representative of the Palestinians (Sawa, February 7, 2024).
• The PLO’s anti-apartheid department held a seminar in al-Bireh, calling on the countries of the world to take diplomatic and economic measures against Israel and boycott it. Omar Awadallah, Palestinian assistant foreign minister for the UN and its specialized agencies, said the issue of the International Court of Justice was a strategic path built on solid legal foundations and was intended to help the Palestinian national struggle, which began with the refugee camps. Shawan Jabarin, general director of the al-Haq organization in Ramallah, said the International Court of Justice was setting the compass and stressing the rights of the Palestinians, and that it was the duty of the countries of the world to boycott Israel economically and diplomatically (Wafa, February 7, 2024).

Iran

• Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, meeting with senior regime officials and ambassadors in Tehran, said that “the tragedy of the Gaza Strip is the tragedy of humanity” and proved that the current world order was” false and was not sustainable.” He noted that the “Zionists” (Israelis) themselves admitted that without American weapons they would not have been able to continue the war “even one day.” Khamenei added that it was the duty of governments to cut off political, propaganda, military and commercial support with Israel, while the nations had to exert pressure on their governments to fulfill their duty (Tasnim, February 8, 2024).

Pro-Iranian militias

Iraq

• The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that on February 7, 2024, at 9:30 p.m. (Iraq time), the forces killed a Kataib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades) commander who was responsible for planning and participating in attacks on American forces in the region (CENTCOM X account, February 7, 2024). An “American source” confirmed the attack in Baghdad, noting that it was carried out by a UAV launched “at one single target of value” (al-Jazeera, February 7, 2024). According to Kataib Hezbollah sources, three people were killed in the attack, including the person in charge of operations in Syria and two militia operatives (Agence France-Presse, February 7, 2024). The Iraqi al-Ghadir network added that the attack had targeted two senior Kataib Hezbollah operatives, Abu Baqir al-Saadi and Arkan al-Alawi (al-Ghadir Network, February 7, 2024).
• Later, Ahmed al-Hamidawi, secretary general of the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia, officially announced the death of Wissam Muhammad Saber, aka Abu Baqir al-Saadi, following an attack by American forces (Kataib Hezbollah Telegram channel, February 8, 2024).

     
Right: The car explosion (Baghdad al-Youm, February 7, 2024). Left: Abu Baqir al-Saadi, killed in an American airstrike in Baghdad (Popular Mobilization Telegram channel, February 7, 2024)

• The attack was widely condemned, including by Iraqi government officials. The pro-Iranian militias promised a response.
  • Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the Iraqi armed forces, said it was an irresponsible action that could undermine the ties between the countries and endanger the lives of the residents. He stressed that the recent American actions pushed the Iraqi government more than ever to end the mission of the global coalition countries in its territories and threatened to drag Iraq into the conflict. He noted that the Iraqi army forces could not ignore the events and were committed to carrying out their missions and maintaining the security of the country (Iraqi News Agency, February 8, 2024).
  • Tahsin al-Khafaji, head of Iraq’s security information department, said the American “aggression” in Baghdad undermined all understandings between the United States and Iraq. He noted that the United States and the global coalition countries were responsible for the consequences of the “aggression” that threatened the security of the country and that it was a clear violation of Iraqi sovereignty (Iraqi News Agency, February 8, 2024).
  • The Nujaba movement noted that it was a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and contempt for Iraq. They claimed the attack would not be the last unless the Iraqi government responded and attacked back. They said their patience had run out and their response would be focused (Nujaba movement Telegram channel, February 8, 2024).
  • Qais al-Khazali, secretary general of the Asaib Ahl al-Haqq militia, conveyed condolences on the death of Abu Baqir al-Saadi, claiming that the continued airstrikes were evidence of American contempt for Iraq. He also noted that Iraq was obligated to submit a request to the UN Security Council demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraqi soil (Qais al-Khazali’s X account, February 8, 2024)
  • Hezbollah issued an announcement stating that the killing of Abu Baqir al-Saadi was a direct continuation of the ongoing crimes of the American occupation against Iraq, Syria and Yemen, a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and a blow to its stability. Hezbollah expressed its support for the Iraqi fighters who insisted on adhering to the path of “resistance” and support for the Palestinian people (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, February 8, 2024).
  • Hamas also condemned the attack, claiming it had violated Iraqi security and that they held American President Joe Biden responsible for the escalation in the region (Hamas Telegram channel, February 8, 2024).
• After the American attack, “sources” reported that echoes of explosions were heard at the American base in the al-Omar oil field in Syria due to a UAV launched to the area (al-Mayadeen, February 8, 2024).

Yemen

• The Houthis reported another attack by the United States and Britain in the al-Hudaydah area in western Yemen (al-Masirah, February 7, 2024).

The Arab Arena

Jordan

• King Abdullah II of Jordan began a visit to the United States, Canada, France and Germany. its objective was reportedly to enlist international support for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip (Jordanian al-Mamlaka network, February 8, 2024).

Saudi Arabia

• In light of the Saudi foreign ministry’s announcement that they would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel before the end of the war in the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of IDF forces, and Israel’s recognition of a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders, the PA issued a statement expressing its gratitude and appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its position supporting Palestinian rights, first and foremost the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and stopping the Israeli “aggression” against the Gaza Strip. It was also reported that Mahmoud Abbas greatly appreciated the Saudi position and the efforts of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to realize the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and independence (Wafa, February 7, 2024).
• Senior Hamas member Osama Hamdan said Saudi Arabia’s announcement of its commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state was a step in the right direction. However, he rejected talks of realizing the rights of the Palestinians in return for normalization of relations with Israel, saying all Arab countries had to stop normalization and sever ties with Israel (Palinfo, February 7, 2024).

The International Arena

United States

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the General Assembly, saying he was particularly alarmed by reports that the IDF planned to focus on Rafah in the next stage. He said such an action would significantly increase what was already a humanitarian nightmare. He noted it was time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages. He warned that the world was entering an era of chaos with a highly divided Security Council that could not deal with critical issues such as the war between Israel and Hamas (Reuters, February 7, 2024).

Russia

• Russian President Vladimir Putin told leaders of the Russian Jewish community that Russia had achieved “certain results” in its diplomatic efforts to free the hostages from Hamas. He said Russia had been in contact with Hamas’ political wing and was doing “everything” to help release the hostages (Reuters, February 8, 2024).

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