The elimination of Isma’il Haniyeh: Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, was killed in an attack in Tehran; he was buried in Qatar. Senior Hamas figures said killing him would not alter the movement’s path. The Hamas leadership held consultations to choose his successor. “Sources” stated the movement would resume negotiations for a ceasefire after a new leader had been elected.
The southern arena: This past week IDF forces focused their activity on the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip and the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip. They attacked Hamas terrorist facilities operating in civilian compounds and exposed tunnels and weapons. There was an increase in rocket fire from the Gaza Strip; an Israeli civilian was injured.
The IDF confirmed that Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas’ military wing, was killed in an airstrike in Khan Yunis; Hamas did not issue a confirmation; the IDF continued to target terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip, including those involved in smuggling and operatives who participated in the Hamas terrorist attack and massacre on October 7 2023.
A UN investigation determined that there was evidence indicating the possible involvement of nine UNRWA employees in the October 7, 2023 attack, and announced their dismissal.
Israel, Judea and Samaria: This past week Palestinian terrorist operatives carried out three attacks, murdering two Israelis and injuring four others. A Palestinian terrorist stabbed two civilians to death and wounded two others in Holon, and a female Border Police fighter was stabbed at the Tunnel roadblock. An Israeli civilian was injured in a combined shooting and stabbing attack near Kiryat Arba. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, killing nine terrorist operatives in two airstrikes in Tulkarm, and at least five in two airstrikes in Jenin.
The Palestinian Authority: The Palestinian Authority (PA) representative to the UN called on the international community to stop the “terrible Israeli attacks” on the Palestinians and on “the entire Middle East.”
On August 2, 2024, the funeral of Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, was held in Qatar. He was killed on July 31, 2024, in an explosion in Tehran attributed to Israel.[2] The service was held at the Imam Muhammad bin Abd Mosque in Doha attended by senior Hamas figures, including Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Haya and Musa Abu Marzouq; Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); Tamim bin Hamad, the emir of Qatar; Khan Fidan, the Turkish foreign minister; Mahmoud al-‘Aloul, Fatah deputy chairman; and Jibril al-Rajoub, secretary of Fatah’s Central Committee (Wafa and al-Jazeera, August 2, 2024).
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) denied reports that Haniyeh had been killed by an explosive device planted in his room at the Corps’ guest house in Tehran. They claimed the killing had been carried out by “the launch of a short-range ‘item’ with a warhead weighing about seven kilograms that caused a large explosion” (SNN agency, August 3, 2024).
Hamas spokesman Jihad Tahe claimed the shedding of Haniyeh’s blood “increases our determination to continue ‘resisting the occupation’,” adding that the funeral service reflected appreciation for Haniyeh’s role (Shehab Agency Telegram channel, August 2, 2024).
Khalil al-Haya, deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, said Haniyeh’s death would not cause Hamas to change course, and would revitalize the Arab nation. He claimed Haniyeh’s death had not left a vacuum and a new leader would soon be chosen (Hamas Telegram channel, August 4, 2024).
“Informed sources” said that Hamas was holding consultations to select Haniyeh’s successor, discussing the possible establishment of a leadership of three deputies of the political bureau’s head: one would perform “representative tasks,” another would choose a deputy for the head of the political bureau, and the third would be responsible for convening a meeting of the Shura Council to choose an interim successor for Haniyeh until elections could be held. According to the “sources,” the joint leadership would consist of Khaled Mashal, head of the “external” Hamas leadership, Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and Zaher Jabarin, head of Hamas in Judea and Samaria (al-Sharq, August 4, 2024).
According to “sources,” Yahya al-Sinwar opposes appointing Khaled Mashal as interim political bureau head, preferring his deputy, Khalil al-Haya. According to the “sources,” Sinwar wants Haniyeh’s replacement to have good relations with Iran and Syria. It was also noted that the appointment would be for a few months until elections could be held (al-Arabiya, August 4, 2024).
The PLO’s Executive Committee erected a mourning tent for Isma’il Haniyeh, who at one point was PA prime minister,[3] at the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent in al-Bireh. Muhammad Mustafa, PA prime minister, members of the PLO’s Executive and Central Committees, the secretaries of the PLO factions, the governor of the Ramallah and al-Bireh District and various government ministers came to pay their respects (Wafa, August 4, 2024).
Muhammad Mustafa, PA prime minister (right); Ramzi Rabah, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine representative in the PLO Executive Committee; and Laila Ghannam, Ramallah and al-Bireh district governor (extreme left) pay their respects at the mourning tent (Laila Ghannam’s Facebook page, August 4, 2024)
IDF activity last week focused on the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip and on the central Gaza Strip. Ground and air forces attacked terrorist operatives, destroyed terrorist facilities, and exposed several tunnels and large quantities of weapons.
Rafah: IDF activity focused on the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, where the forces killed dozens of terrorist operatives in clashes and airstrikes, and destroyed terrorist facilities, tunnels and tunnel shafts (IDF spokesperson, July 31 to August 6, 2024). They continued exposing tunnels along the Philadelphia Axis (the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt). A tunnel nine feet high was discovered which was large enough to allow for the passage of vehicles. According to estimates there are at least 20 tunnels, some of which cross the border into Egypt. The IDF spokesperson confirmed that some of the tunnels were inactive (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 4, 2024). An “Egyptian source” denied the existence of border-crossing tunnels (al-Qahera al-Ekhbariya Telegram channel, August 5, 2024). A “source” in the Hamas ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip claimed that the tunnel discovered on the Philadelphia Axis had been inoperative since 2014 (al-Aqsa TV Telegram channel, August 6, 2024).
The opening of the tunnel on the Philadelphia Axis (IDF spokesperson, August 4, 2024)
The central Gaza Strip: IDF forces continued defending the Netzarim Corridor, carried out targeted raids to locate terrorist tunnels and facilities, and killed terrorist operatives in clashes and airstrikes (IDF spokesperson, July 31-August 6, 2024).
Attacks on Hamas facilities operating in civilian sites in the Gaza Strip
On August 4, 2024, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hamas command and control compounds in the Hassan Salama and Nasr schools in Gaza City. The IDF reported that the schools were used by Hamas’ al-Furqan Battalion for attacks and as a hiding place for terrorist operatives. Jabr Aziz, the commander of the al-Furqan Battalion, was killed in the attack on the Hassan Salama school. He had participated in the preparations and training of the battalion for the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre, and personally participated in attacking cities, towns and villages surrounding Gaza. Before the IDF attacked measures were implemented to reduce possible harm to civilians (IDF spokesperson, August 4, 2024). According to Palestinian reports, 35 Palestinians were killed in the attack and more than 100 were injured, while the search for the missing was still ongoing (al-Araby al-Jadeed, August 4, 2024). The civil defense personnel in the Gaza Strip reported at least 30 dead and dozens of wounded in the attack on the schools in the west of Gaza City (al-Aqsa TV Telegram channel, August 4, 2024). Hamas claimed that the schools were full of “displaced persons” and accused Israel of committing a “massacre” (Hamas website, August 4, 2024).
On August 3, 2024, Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas command and control compound in the Hamama school in Gaza City. The IDF reported that the compound was used by Hamas operatives as a hiding place and for attacks on IDF forces. Weapons were manufactured and stored in the school, and it was also used for weapons trainings and exercises. Before the attack, measures were taken to reduce possible harm to civilians (IDF spokesperson, August 3, 2024). Civil defense in the Gaza Strip reported 17 deaths in the attack on the Hamama school in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the west of Gaza City (al-Aqsa TV Telegram channel, August 3 2024).
On August 1, 2024, the Israeli Air Force attacked terrorist operatives operating in the Dalal al-Mughrabi School compound in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. Hamas used the site to hide terrorist operatives and commanders and to plan terrorist attacks. Prior to the attack, measures were taken to reduce possible harm to civilians (IDF spokesperson, August 1, 2024). Palestinian media reported that at least 15 people were killed and dozens were injured in the attack on the Dalal al-Mughrabi School in the Shejaiya neighborhood. The Palestinian media claimed the school was used as a shelter for the displaced and that part of the building collapsed during the rescue operations (Filastin al-A’an Telegram channel, August 1, 2024; al-Jazeera, August 1, 2024).
Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip
This past week there was an increase in rocket fire from the Gaza Strip attacking cities, towns and villages in southern Israel:
August 2, 2024: In the afternoon a rocket was fired from the Khan Yunis-Rafah area at Kiryat Malachi and fell in an open area; no casualties were reported. It was the first time a rocket had been fired at Kiryat Malachi since October 2023 (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 2, 2024). In the evening ten rockets were fired from the Khan Yunis-Rafah region at the communities near the Gaza Strip. One rocket was intercepted and the rest fell in open areas; no casualties were reported (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 2, 2024). In the evening eight rockets were fired from the Rafah region at the communities near the Gaza Strip. The rockets fell in open areas, there were no casualties (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 2, 2024). Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for firing two separate barrages of ten 114 mm Rajum short-range rockets at an IDF post (Hamas in Judea and Samaria Telegram channel, August 2, 2024). In the evening a rocket fired at a community near the Gaza Strip was intercepted; no casualties were reported (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 2, 2024) The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AAMB) and the military wing of the Palestinian al-Akhrar Movement claimed responsibility for the attack (elaqsa_1965 Telegram channel of the AAMB, August 3, 2024).
August 4, 2024: Five rockets were launched from the Khan Yunis area. One landed near the southern coastal city of Ashqelon; no casualties were reported (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 4, 2024). The Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, claimed responsibility for firing a barrage of rockets at southern Israeli cities “in response to the massacres committed against the Palestinian people and ‘resistance’ leaders” (Hamas’ Telegram channel , August 4, 2024).
August 5, 2024: 15 rockets were fired into the area surrounding Gaza. Israel’s aerial defense forces intercepted some of the rockets; hits were reported in the area. An Israeli civilian was slightly injured and a fire broke out (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, August 5, 2024).
Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits
* Distribution for 2024 begins in May
The hostages and a ceasefire agreement
“Informed sources” said that Hamas had frozen the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip following the elimination of Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, but claimed negotiations would be resumed. According to the “sources,” no decisions were expected to be made before Haniyeh’s successor had been named. Another “source” stated that Hamas did not want to stop the negotiations and it intended to renew them after Haniyeh’s replacement had been chosen (al-Sharq al-Awsat, August 4, 2024).
United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said action had to be taken for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to prevent further escalation in the Middle East. He called on all parties to conduct negotiations, stop escalating and find “reasons to reach an agreement” (State Department website, August 1, 2024).
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said killing Haniyeh derailed efforts to reach an agreement. He noted that efforts were ongoing to promote an agreement which would allow for a six-week ceasefire in the first phase, the release a large number of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip (The Hill, July 31, 2024). He also expressed confidence that the remaining gaps could be closed and that achieving a ceasefire was possible, even after Haniyeh’s death (al-Khaleej, August 2, 2024).
TheHamas-controlled ministry of health in the Gaza Strip reported that since the beginning of the war, 39,653 Palestinians had been killed and 91,535 injured (ministry of health in Gaza Facebook page, August 6, 2024, p.m.).
IDF forces carried out targeted attacks on terrorist operatives:
On August 5, 2024, Muhammad Muhasneh, a Hamas operations officer who dealt with smuggling, was killed in an airstrike. According to the IDF, he focused on smuggling military equipment to the Gaza Strip by sea, but was also involved in smuggling through tunnels and border crossings (IDF spokesperson, August 6, 2024).
On August 4, 2024, the Hamas government information office in the Gaza Strip reported that Abd al-Fattah al-Zara’i, the deputy economy minister in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah. He replaced Ihab al-Hussein, who was killed in an airstrike on July 7, 2024 (Hamas government information office Telegram channel, August 4, 2024). The IDF spokesperson confirmed that al-Zeriei was killed in an airstrike, adding that he was minister of the economy in the Hamas government and an operative in the military wing’s production headquarters responsible for improving Hamas’ weapons capabilities. He was also involved in the Hamas takeover of humanitarian aid delivered to the Gaza Strip and was responsible for distributing fuel, gas and funds for terrorist activities (IDF spokesperson, August 5, 2024).
Muhammad al-Jabari, responsible for the finances of the PIJ’s weapons manufacture, was killed in a targeted attack. According to the IDF, he oversaw the PIJ’s production of anti-aircraft missiles in the northern Gaza Strip, distributed funds to PIJ operatives, and participated in the organization’s attempts to restore its rocket production capabilities and other facilities (IDF spokesperson, August 2, 2024) .
On August 1, 2024, Isma’il Ayman Nofal was killed in an airstrike in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp. He was the son of Ayman Nofal, the commander of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades’ Central Camps Battalion, who was killed in a targeted attack on October 17, 2023 (Quds Agency X account, August 1, 2024). The IDF confirmed that Isma’il Nofal was killed in an airstrike in al-Nuseirat. He was an operative in Hamas’ military wing, fired rockets at Israel and participated in the Hamas attack and massacre on October 7, 2023 (IDF spokesperson, August 4, 2024).
On July 31, 2024, Palestinian media reported that correspondents Isma’il al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli attack on a group of correspondents near the home Isma’il Haniyeh in the al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City (Quds Agency Telegram channel, July 31 2024). The Hamas government information office announced the death of Isma’il al-Ghoul, an al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, and Rami al-Rifi, an al-Jazeera photojournalist (Hamas government information office Telegram channel, July 31, 2024). The IDF confirmed that an airstrike killed Isma’il al-Ghoul, an operative in Hamas’ military wing and a nukhba operative who participated in the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack and massacre. According to the IDF, he instructed Hamas operatives on documenting the attack and participated in documenting and distributing videos documenting Hamas terrorist activity against IDF forces (IDF spokesperson, August 1, 2024). Al-Jazeera TV denied that there was a connection between al-Ghoul and Hamas, and claimed that he was detained by IDF forces at Shifa Hospital in March 2024 and released after 12 hours, when no involvement in terrorist activities was found (al-Jazeera, August 1, 2024). The IDF then revealed a Hamas document from 2021 showing al-Ghoul was an engineer in the Hamas’ Gaza Brigade, and all attempts by Hamas and al-Jazeera to present him as an honest journalist were false (IDF spokesperson, August 3, 2024).
