Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., March 12, 2024)

Overview^[1]

• The southern arena: The IDF forces continued their activity in the southern Gaza Strip, mainly in the Hamad neighborhood in the northwest of Khan Yunis and in the neighborhoods to the east of the city. In the central and northern Gaza Strip, the forces took action mainly against armed terrorist operatives and rocket launchers. Following the IDF spokesperson’s announcement of the probable killing of Marwan Issa, acting commander of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, the ministry of interior and national security in Gaza warned local residents to trust information issued only by official Palestinian sources. Muhammad Nazzal, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the truth of the IDF claims had not yet been proved and to rely on the version provided by Hamas’ military wing, which had not yet issued a statement.
• According to unofficial data, since October 7, 2023, approximately 1,500 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 589 of them soldiers and officers; 130 civilian and military hostages are still being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip; 123 hostages have been released.
• Negotiations for a hostage deal: Hamas officials reported that no progress had been made and blamed Israel for causing attempts to reach an agreement before Ramadan to fail.
• Humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip: Arab sources stated that the pier under construction for the delivery humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was insufficient and that aid should also be brought in in additional ways. Senior sources in the Gaza Strip claimed the issue of the pier “was suspicious” and there were problems that had to be solved before its operation.
• The northern arena: Hezbollah claimed responsibility for eight attacks during the past day. On the night of March 11, 2024, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked two Hezbollah aerial force compounds in the Beqa’a region. It was the second time since the beginning of the war that the Israeli Air Force attacked Hezbollah targets deep in Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah launched about 70 rockets at Israel. The Hezbollah secretary general met with a delegation of senior Hamas members led by Khalil al-Haya, Yahya al-Sinwar’s deputy.
• Judea and Samaria: Israeli security forces killed a terrorist operative in the village of Zeita near Tulkarm, who was en route to carry out a suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv. A rifle and an IED prepared for detonation were found in his possession.
• The pro-Iranian militias: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed its operatives had launched a UAV at Ben Gurion Airport; the launch was videoed and distributed by the “resistance.” The Houthis reported attacking another ship in the Red Sea.
• The Security Council: The Security Council convened to discuss the sexual assaults during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and massacre, following the report written by the UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict.
• Italy: A cell of three Palestinians was detained, apparently with connections to the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in Judea and Samaria, which planned to carry out terrorist attacks. One of the detainees is wanted by Israel.

The Southern Arena

• Palestinian media reported on IDF activity during the past day. In the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli Air Force attacked the Jebalya refugee camp. In Gaza City, the Air Force attacked the Zeitoun, Tel al-Hawa and Sabra neighborhoods. In the central Gaza Strip, the Air Force attacked the Maghazi refugee camp and Deir al-Balah. In Khan Yunis, the Air Force attacked the center of the city and the IDF attacked in the villages east of Abasan, Khiza’a, Bani Suheila and Qarara. In Rafah, the IDF attacked in the Saudi Arabian neighborhood in the west of the  city (Ma’an, March 12, 2024).

   
An al-Jazeera TV presenter describes the activities of the IDF forces in the Hamad and Qarara neighborhoods (right) and the Israeli Air Force strikes in the south and west of Gaza City (left) (al-Jazeera YouTube channel, March 11, 2024)

• The southern Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued operations in the Hamad neighborhood in the northwest of Khan Yunis, mainly raiding terrorist targets deep in the neighborhood. In a military structure, the forces located Kalashnikov assault rifles, ammunition and other military equipment. They also operated in Greater and Lesser Abasan and Qarara east of Khan Yunis, attacking terrorist targets from the air and on the ground, located near the Israeli towns and villages surrounding Gaza (IDF spokesperson, March 12, 2024).

     
IDF attacks in the Hamad area (IDF spokesperson, March 11, 2024)

• Northern and central Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued operations and with intelligence guidance, located a number of rocket launchers from which rockets were fired at Israel; the launchers were destroyed. In another incident, two rockets were fired at the fighters, who located the operatives and directed an Israeli Air Force aircraft to attack them (IDF spokesperson, March 12, 2024).

    
Right: Attack on a Hamas terrorist facility. Left: Attack on a munitions warehouse (IDF spokesperson, March 12, 2024)

• Palestinian media alleged that nine Palestinians were killed and 20 wounded by IDF forces who shot at residents waiting in Kuwait Square, in the south of Gaza City, for the arrival of humanitarian aid trucks from the southern Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip alleged that “shooting at hungry people” had become a daily routine (Shehab X account, March 12, 2024).

Israeli casualties

• According to unofficial data, since October 7, 2023, approximately 1,500 Israelis have been killed. According to the IDF spokesperson, 589 of them are soldiers and officers (249 since the start of the ground maneuver on 27 October, 2023); 130 civilian and military hostages are still being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip; 123 hostages have been released.

Reactions to reports of the killing of Marwan Issa

• The IDF spokesperson said there were increasing indications that Marwan Issa, a member of the Hamas political bureau, Muhammad Deif’s deputy and acting commander of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, had been killed during Israeli security force attacks in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. However, his death has not yet been official confirmed (IDF spokesperson, March 11, 2024).
• According to Muhammad Nazzal, a member of the Hamas political bureau, the claims have not been proved and Israel has not presented proof. He claimed the political bureau relied only on the version provided by Hamas military wing, body authorized to relate to such information. He claimed Hamas was a movement of “institutions” which did not rely on one person, no matter what his status or position in the hierarchy (al-Jazeera Mubasher website, March 12, 2024).
• The “home front” platform of the Hamas ministry of interior and national security issued an “urgent warning” to local residents regarding Israel’s announcements of the killing of senior members of the “resistance” [Palestinian terrorist organizations]. The announcement stated that Israel periodically announced the killing of high-ranking operatives, specifying the time and place but leaving the result in doubt. Therefore, the public was called on to trust information issued only by official Palestinian sources and to avoid the Israeli media. According to the announcement, local residents had access to well-known media platforms which published official, relevant news. The announcement claimed Israel left the door open to questions, and its intelligence officers focused on tapping the phones of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to listen to conversations about their questions, all of which served Israel’s interests. Palestinians were called on to demonstrate personal responsibility and not unknowingly contribute information to Israel. The message also emphasized that the IDF previously announced the death of several resistance leaders, announcements which later proved to be false, and the silence of the “resistance” was based on security reasons (“home front” platform Telegram channel, March 11, 2024).

The issue of the hostages and a ceasefire agreement

• In response to the IDF spokesperson’s statements that Hamas had sabotaged attempts to reach an agreement, Muhammad Nazzal, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in response that the claims were baseless and that Israel was to blame for the failure to reach an agreement before Ramadan. He claimed Israel was trying to “blackmail” Hamas and had set “impossible” conditions. He said the negotiations had not stopped, but had recently stalled. The mediators were working to continue the negotiations and Hamas was “responsive” and cooperated with them. He said that the negotiations would stop only after Netanyahu met to their demands (al-Jazeera Mubasher TV, March 12, 2024).
• Ali Abu Shaheen, a member of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), said there was currently no news of progress in the negotiations. He said there was talk of a delegation going to Egypt and the talks with the mediators were continuing, but Israel’s “stubbornness” hindered progress. He claimed it was impossible to continue negotiations and that pressure should be exerted on Israel. Hamas, he claimed had shown “great flexibility.” They had preconditions for a ceasefire before going to negotiations, there was opposition to dividing the solution into phases and they had made “many concessions” to protect the Palestinians. He accused Israel of “primary responsibility” for the failure of the negotiations and the United States administration of “secondary responsibility,” because it could exert more pressure on Israel to agree to a complete ceasefire (Arab World Press News Agency (AWP), March 12, 2024).

The Gaza Strip

Palestinian casualties

• The Hamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported at 1:15 p.m., March 12, 2024, that during the past day 72 Gazans had been killed and 129 wounded, bringing the [alleged] number of dead since the beginning of the war to 31,184 and the number of wounded to 72,889 (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, March 12, 2024).

Aid for the Gaza Strip

• Al-Jazeera TV reported the Spanish aid ship Open Arms had sailed from the port of Larnaca en route the Gaza Strip with a cargo of 200 tons of food, mainly flour and rice. Technical issues delayed the ship’s departure. At the moment it is not clear where the ship will dock to unload the aid, or if the matter has been coordinated with Israel (al-Jazeera TV X account, March 12, 2024).

   
Right: Beit Lahia residents enter the sea to look for humanitarian aid which was dropped in the northern Gaza Strip. Left: Gazans wait on the beach to find the aid packages (al-Jazeera YouTube channel, March 11, 2024)

• Mohammed bin Zayed, president of the UAE, spoke with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. They discussed the importance of establishing the sea port to transfer humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Bin Zayed said they were interested in cooperating with the EU to help the Palestinians, adding that a ceasefire had to be reached immediately and the expansion of the conflict avoided (UAE News Agency, March 12, 2024). In a conversation with Nikos Christodoulides, the president of Cyprus, Mohammed bin Zayed said that land, sea and aerial “humanitarian crossings” should be opened immediately to help the Palestinians and provide them with the necessary protection and to ensure that the suffering of the Palestinians does not worsen (Ma’an News Agency, March 11, 2024).
• “An Egyptian source” said that the Egyptian authorities had “concerns” regarding the construction of a sea pier, which could become a larger port and in turn affect the current situation and the border crossings between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. They were also concerned the pier would become an exit for Gazans to leave. According to the source, the Egyptian presidency cannot openly oppose the pier’s construction because of the high level of coordination with the United States government and the EU (al-Araby al-Jadeed, March 12, 2024).
• Muhammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, related to the pier and the concerns that it would be used by Palestinians to emigrate from the Strip. He noted that so far the project was vague, and therefore they could not determine a position until things became clear. He said there were questions which so far were unanswered, such as where the pier will be built, who will manage it, how will the aid be delivered, will the pier also be used for the import and export of goods and/or the movement of people and will it replace the land crossings. He noted that they were in favor of all genuine, serious plans to help the Palestinian people (al-Jazeera Mubasher TV website, March 12, 2024).
• Ali Abu Shaheen, a member of the PIJ political bureau, said that the American administration’s airlifts of humanitarian aid were “throwing dust in the eyes of the Palestinians,” a form of deception, since the administration’s position was clear, it always vetoed any demand for a ceasefire and encouraged Israel to continue the war. Therefore, airlifting aid did not relieve the United States of its responsibilities. Regarding the floating pier, he said that they were concerned because they did not trust the American administration, and they could see many risks. He noted that the construction aroused suspicion, especially when there were alternatives. He also said he wondered why the American administration did not pressure Israel to bring in the aid that has been piling up at the crossings, unless there was another purpose behind the establishment of the pier (Arab World Press News Agency (AWP), March 12, 2024).
• Kazem Abu Khalaf, UNRWA spokesman in Jerusalem, said the way to bring aid into the Gaza Strip was clear to everyone, but the international community was unwilling to deliver it through the crossings. He said the crossings were the only way to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip (aljazeera.net , March 12, 2024).

Recruiting leadership in the Gaza Strip to replace Hamas

• According to Muhammad Nazzal, the attempt to find clans for transferring aid to the Gazans was a “futile” scenario, because they would not allow the implementation of a new program similar to the village associations which Israel established in the 1970s and early 1980s in Judea and Samaria, and which had failed miserably. No one in the Gaza Strip would agree to cooperate with Israel, and the clans would not agree to be a “Trojan Horse” which would be used to implement Israel’s “plots” (al-Jazeera website from Basher, March 12, 2024).

The Northern Arena

Hezbollah attacks

• During the last day, Hezbollah took responsibility for eight attacks using anti-tank missiles, rockets, and Burkan rockets, whose warheads weigh between 300 and 500 kilograms (between 660 and 1,100 pounds) and firing shells (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, March 11-12, March 2024).
• The more prominent events were the following:
  • On the afternoon of March 11, 2024, the presence of hostile aircraft in the northern Golan Heights was detected. Two aerial targets were identified which crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory and fell in open areas in the northern Golan Heights (IDF spokesperson, March 11, 2024). In response, on the night of March 11, 2024, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked two Hezbollah air force facilities in the Beqa’a region (IDF spokesperson, March 12, 2024). It was the second time since the beginning of the war that the Air Force has attacked Hezbollah targets deep inside Lebanon.

   
Israeli Air Force attack deep inside Lebanon territory (IDF spokesperson, March 12, 2024)

• • On the morning of March 12, 2024, a barrage of about 70 rockets was launched at the Golan Heights and the Upper Galilee. Hezbollah reported that they launched 100 Katyushas at the Israeli civil defense headquarters in Camp Kela, an artillery base in Yoav, and a number of artillery deployments. The objective of the attack was “to aid” the Palestinians and as a response to the Israeli attacks, the more recent of which was in the area of the city of Baalbek in which a civilian was killed (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, March 12, 2024). In response, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked three launchers from which the rockets were fired (IDF spokesperson, March 12, 2024). According to Lebanese reports, the IDF attacked Hasbaya and Kfar Houla.

     
Attack in the Baalbek area (al-Manar, March 12, 2024)

• Hezbollah reported several airstrikes in the vicinity of Baalbek and which injured six people (al-Mayadeen, March 12, 2024). Hezbollah later reported a death and several wounded in the attack (al-Manar, March 12, 2024). It was also reported that the attack targeted a building in the town of Ansar south of Ba’albek, where a center of the Lebanese ministry of industry operated.

IDF response

• Israeli Air Force warplanes also attacked Hezbollah terrorist targets in the areas of Aita al-Sha’ab, and Naqoura, Jibbayn, and Taybeh in south Lebanon. Artillery attacks and tank fire also attacked Aita al-Sha’ab (IDF spokesperson, March 11, 2024).

     
Right: Attack in the Aita al-Sha’ab area. Left: Attack in the Naqoura area (IDF spokesperson, March 11, 2024)

   
Right: Attack in al-Khiyam (Lebanos X account, March 12, 2024). Left: Attack in Bint Jbeil (Ali Shoeib’s X account, March 12, 2024)

• Lebanese sources reported an attack on the highway in the Riyaq-Ba’albek area (Fouad Khreiss’ X account, March 12, 2024).

Hezbollah casualties

• Hezbollah reported the death of operative Ali Muhammad Zein, aka as Bilal, born in 1991 from Suhmour, in the Lebanon Valley (Hezbollah combat information Telegram channel, March 11, 2024).

• According to reports, the operative killed in the Air Force attack in the Ba’albek area was Mustafa Gharib, a player in the Ba’albek youth football team, who was staying at a friend’s house (Lebanese News Agency NNA, March 12, 2024). Hezbollah in the Lebanon Valley issued a mourning notice for his death (Nasseem Center, March 12, 2024). Mustafa Ali Gharib previously participated in a propaganda video of the Nasseem Center as a wounded person (a pro-Hezbollah social network account which posts notices and videos) (Nasseem Center, March 12, 2024).

     
Mustafa Ali Gharib plays the part of a wounded Hezbollah operative in a propaganda video (Nasseem Center, March 12, 2024)

Residents of south Lebanon

• Following the IDF attacks, Hezbollah channels issued a call to the entire Lebanese public, stating, “Honorable people, we beg you, our respected people, to preserve your safety, please stay away from the places that were attacked, do not approach them, do not hold gatherings near them. Please, leave the efforts to the relevant parties entrusted with the task. Your nobility is a source of pride, but your life is more important than anything and it is the responsibility of all of us to protect it” (Nasseem Center, March 12, 2024)

The Lebanese army

• The Lebanese army’s Southern Litani Command informed UNIFIL that the army had stopped holding joint patrols south of the Litani River after one of them had come under fire during an Israeli attack two days previously (al-Jadeed, March 12, 2024).

Hezbollah-Hamas relations

• Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah met in Lebanon with a senior Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and Yahya al-Sinwar’s deputy. They discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria, the fronts supporting Hamas, and the negotiations to stop the Israeli “aggression” in the Gaza Strip (Hezbollah’s combat information Telegram channel, March 12, 2024). Khalil al-Haya headed the Hamas delegation in the Cairo talks for a ceasefire agreement and a hostage deal.

Statements by senior Hezbollah members

• Na’im Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, said they were prepared to respond and “resist” if there was any expansion of Israel’s “aggression.” He said Hezbollah’s preparedness was high and it would continue its activities in support of the Gaza Strip residents until the “aggression” in the Strip ended. He also said Hezbollah was determined to deter and embarrass Israel. As for Israel’s statements about the army’s preparations for a ground incursion into Lebanon, he said they did not want to comment on Israel’s statements, whether they were serious or intended to frighten them (al-Nashra, March 11, 2024).

Israel, Judea and Samaria

Counterterrorism activities

• The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, detaining ten wanted Palestinians. Since the beginning of the war, about 3,500 wanted Palestinians have been detained, more than 1,500 of them Hamas operatives (IDF spokesperson’s X account, March 12, 2024)
• On the morning of March 12, 2024, Israeli security forces operating in the Jenin refugee camp detained three wanted Palestinians and found an M-16 rifle. One of the wanted Palestinians detained was Mahdi Fayyad, a PIJ operative from Jenin who was involved in terrorist activity, carrying out a shooting attack and throwing IEDs at Israeli security forces (IDF spokesperson’s X account, March 12, 2024). An al-Jazeera correspondent reported that 25 Israeli military vehicles and a bulldozer had entered the refugee camp and surrounded one of the houses. There was an exchange of fire with armed Palestinians, with the Israeli forces firing a missile at the besieged house. A few hours later, the forces left the camp (al-Jazeera TV, March 12, 2024).

 
Right: Israeli forces entering the Jenin refugee camp (al-Jazeera TV X account, March 12, 2024). Left: Smoke billows near the besieged house (al-Shejaiya X account, March 12, 2024)

• During the night, the Israeli security forces operated in the village of Urif (south of Nablus), seizing four lathes for manufacturing weapons (IDF spokesperson’s X account, March 12, 2024).
• On the evening of March 11, 2024, the security forces operated in the village of Zeita (northeast of Tulkarm). They killed Muhammad Jabr, from Jenin, who was on his way to carry out an attack, apparently a suicide bombing attack, in Tel Aviv. He was found in possession of a weapon and an IED ready for detonation (IDF spokesperson’s X account, March 12, 2024). The Palestinian media reported that the Palestinian killed was Muhammad Jaafar Mustafa Jabr, 32 years old, from the town of Arraba, south of Jenin (Arab48 website, March 11, 2024).

Ramadan

• The Palestinian department of religious endowments (waqf) in Jerusalem reported that despite the measures and restrictions imposed by Israel, about 35,000 worshippers had participated in the Tarawih^[2] prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque on the night of March 11, 2024 (Quds Press, March 11, 2024). During Ramadan in 2023, at least 50,000 worshippers were reported to   have participated in the Tarawih prayers.

   
The prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque (right: Quds Press, March 11, 2024; left: FIMED website, March 12, 2024)

• As part of Israel’s security measures, for the first time since 1967, barbed wire was erected on the wall near al-Aqsa Mosque near the Tribes Gate^[3] area (Palestinian Authority Jerusalem district Facebook page, March 11, 2024).

Iran

• During a visit to an elite IDF unit, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Iran was promoting showcase terrorist attacks against Israel from Judea and Samaria during the month of Ramadan. He said Iran was connected to everything happening in Judea and Samaria and was trying to push weapons, ammunition, guidance, information, deception and awareness into the Palestinian Authority (PA) territories (Ynetnews.net, March 11, 2024).
• Ali-Asghar Khaji, senior advisor to the Iranian foreign minister, met in Tehran with Alexander Kinshchak, director-general for West Asian and North African affairs at the Russian foreign ministry, to discuss regional developments, including the situation in the Gaza Strip, Syria and Yemen. Khaji said Israel continued its attacks in the Gaza Strip because of American support and so far, it had not had any achievements in the war (IRNA, March 11, 2024).
• Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh, head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, announced the cessation of passenger flights from Iran to Syria due to “he situation.” He noted that about 50,000 pilgrims had been supposed to leave for Syria this year, but due to the “special circumstances” in Syria, passenger flights to Syria were halted (Aftab News, March 11, 2024).
• Esmail Qaani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Qods Force, told senior Iranian state broadcasters that the “Zionist regime” had always feared the actions of young Palestinians in the West Bank during the month of Ramadan, and that fear reached its peak this year. He praised the Hamas attack [terrorist attack and massacre] on October 7, 2023, saying the “war of resistance” was not waged only with weapons but also had to be rooted in faith. He claimed some of those who participated in the Hamas attack had a mission to “resist” [attack] the Zionists until their deaths (Tasnim, March 12, 2024).

Pro-Iranian militias

Iraq

• The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a UAV attack on March 11, 2024, against Ben Gurion Airport. According to the organization, the attack was carried out as part of the “second stage” of the confrontation with Israel (Islamic Resistance Telegram channel, March 12, 2024). In reality, such an attack on Ben Gurion Airport did not occur.

   
Launch of a UAV at Ben Gurion Airport (Islamic Resistance Telegram channel, March 12, 2024)

Yemen

• Yahya Saria, spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, said the Houthis had attacked the American ship PINOCCHIO in the Gulf of Aden with several naval missiles. He claimed, “the hit was accurate” (Yahya Saria’s Telegram channel, March 12, 2024).
• The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that on March 11, 2024, between 8:50 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., the Houthis fired two ballistic missiles at the Singaporean-owned ship PINOCCHIO, which flies the Liberian flag and was sailing in the Red Sea. The missiles did not hit the ship and no casualties or damage were reported (CENTCOM X account, March 12, 2024).
• On March 11, 2024, between 2:50 and 11:30 p.m., CENTCOM forces carried out six airstrikes that destroyed an unmanned vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles (CENTCOM X account, March 12, 2024). According to the Houthis, American and British forces carried out two airstrikes in the al-Durayhimi district in al-Hudaydah and four additional airstrikes in the al-Salif district (al-Masirah Network, March 11, 2024). A spokesman for the Yemeni government reported that at least 11 people were killed and 14 wounded in the attacks (Reuters, March 12, 2024).

The Arab Arena

Jordan

• Ayman al-Safadi, Jordanian foreign minister, said at a press conference that Ramadan was the month of security and tranquility, but that was not the case for the residents of the Gaza Strip, who continued to suffer from [alleged] “Israeli cruelty.” He said the international community had no ability to implement international humanitarian law and stop Israel’s [alleged] “aggression” against the Gaza Strip. He also stressed that the situation in Judea and Samaria was very difficult and that Israel was taking unilateral steps that delayed the establishment of peace in the region. He said Israel had to respect freedom of worship during the month of Ramadan and that targeting the holy sites was “playing with fire” (al-Mamlaka Network, March 11, 2024).
• The Jordanian Army located part of a drone that had fallen in an open area in the Irbid district in northwestern Jordan, near the Israeli border. No significant damage was reported. It was also reported that the Jordanian Army had opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident (Jordanian News Agency, March 12, 2024).

The International Arena

United Nations Security Council

• On March 11, 2024, a Security Council met to discuss the sexual assaults and violence perpetrated by Hamas operatives against Israelis on October 7, 2023. Several families of kidnapped Israelis were also present. Pramila Patten, the UN representative for Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, who wrote the report on the subject, stated there was a “high probability” that sexual violence against Israelis had indeed been perpetrated. She stated that during her visit to Israel She had found clear and convincing information that hostages had been sexually assaulted (UN website, March 12, 2024). Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, said the Council was silent about the atrocities that took place on October 7, 2023, noting that Hamas’ acts of sexual violence were still ongoing and that Hamas should be called upon to agree to a ceasefire. The Russian representative said they clearly condemned the October 7 attack, but they did not justify the collective punishment of the Palestinians. She said it was unacceptable to use the suffering of people who had been sexually assaulted as a bargaining chip in political games. Riyad Mansour, the PA’s representative to the United Nations, said that for decades, no investigation into sexual assault had led to a Security Council meeting, even though there was [alleged] “evidence” that Israel had [allegedly] abused detained Palestinian children.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the immediate release of all hostages “in the spirit of Ramadan compassion.” He said the threat of an Israeli attack on Rafah could plunge the residents of the Gaza Strip into “a deeper circle of hell.” He called for the removal of all obstacles to ensuring the rapid and massive supply of life-saving aid required for the Gaza Strip (UN X account, March 11, 2024).

United States

• The 2024 American intelligence Annual Threat Assessment of the United States Intelligence Community was presented to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Some of the points raised in the report related to the war in the Gaza Strip (website of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, March 12, 2024):
• Israel will face great international pressure because of the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The continued policy of the Israeli government could pose a danger.
• Iran did not know about the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
• Hezbollah will continue to consider all options to retaliate for Israel’s actions in Lebanon.
• The militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen will continue to attack American forces and vessels in the Red Sea, with Iranian support.

Italy

• Italian police detained three Palestinians in the city of L’Aquila, in the center of the country. The police said they had planned to carry out attacks in “a country.” The three formed a cell linked to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Judea and Samaria and are suspected of engaging in propaganda and religious conversion and planning to carry out terrorist attacks, including suicide bombing attacks, targeting civilian and military targets. It was also reported that one of the detainees was wanted by Israel, and that the Italian court was examining an extradition request for him (Reuters, March 11, 2024). The investigations found proof of the establishment of a military operational framework called the “Rapid Response Group – Tulkarm Brigades” (English website of the Italian Agenzia Nova news agency, March 11, 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] Sunnah prayers involving reading long portions of the Quran and performing many rakahs (cycles of prostrations required in Islamic prayer), which are performed only during Ramadan (Wikipedia). ↑
^[3] In the original post, "Bab al-Asbat." It probably refers to the Tribes Gate, located in the northeastern corner of the Temple Mount, near the Lions' Gate in the Old City wall. ↑

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