Operation Iron Swords - Day 184 - 07 April 2024
“At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to
surrender and release every hostage. …
Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
Contents |
|
NEW - War Termination NEW - Operations NEW - Operations - Gaza NEW - Operations - Judea-Samaria NEW - Operations - Lebanon NEW - Operations - Syria / Iraq NEW - Operations - Yemen NEW - Operations Maps NEW - By-Standers NEW - Axis of Resistance NEW - Allied for Democracy UPDATED - By the Numbers |
The partial withdrawal from the city of Khan Younis comes exactly six months after Hamas launched deadly attacks on Israel. Israeli troops that pulled out of southern Gaza did so to prepare for future operations, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. Those operations include the planned ground assault on Rafah, he added in a statement from his office. "The forces are exiting and preparing for their next missions, we saw examples of such missions in the al-Shifa operation, and also of their coming mission in the Rafah area," Gallant said at a meeting with military officials. Israel's military said that it had pulled most of its troops out of southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade in the Hamas-run territory.
Israel had been warned by several allies, including the United States and Germany, against launching an offensive in Rafah due to a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than a million Gaza residents have been displaced to Rafah, one of the last safe places in the strip.
Thus, “only the Nahal Brigade remains in the southern Gaza Strip, which is carrying out the mission of securing the Netzer Corridor, in order to prevent civilians from returning to the northern Gaza Strip.”
The withdrawal of Division 98 from Khan Yunis four months after it began operations in Gaza's second-largest city, followed the similar withdrawal of nearly all Israel Defense Forces units from Gaza City two months ago, Anshel Pfeffer reported in Haaretz. "The IDF has now just one brigade-sized combat team in Gaza, which is securing the cordon cutting northern Gaza (including Gaza City) off from the rest of the Strip, where most of the uprooted Palestinian population is huddled.... From the start of the war, the IDF's planners said that a ground campaign to "destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities" could take as much as a year, and that it would include different stages, from large formations of troops maneuvering inside Gaza to mostly small-scale operations by mobile forces. That move towards smaller, mobile operations may now happen... The IDF has yet to start preparing a major population move, of around 1.5 million civilians, from the Rafah area to what it calls "humanitarian islands," which don't yet exist.... Netanyahu has been bigging up the Rafah operation ..."
The Israeli military has destroyed 19 of Hamas’ 24 regional battalions in Gaza over the past six months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed. In a statement ahead of a cabinet meeting on Sunday marking six months since the start of the Gaza war, Netanyahu said Israel was “one step away from victory.” “Today we mark six months since the war began… We eliminated 19 out of 24 of the Hamas battalions, including their senior commanders. We killed, wounded or captured a significant number of Hamas terrorists... We destroyed their factories manufacturing rockets, weapons, ammunition,” the prime minister said.
The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" quoted senior officers in the Israeli army as hoping that the Israeli army's withdrawal from the southern Gaza Strip would lead to the militants leaving their hideouts. The Israeli officers said that the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was due to combat fatigue, and not as signs of good faith towards the prisoner exchange deal negotiations. They stressed that there is an understanding and knowledge of the futility of a large Israeli army presence in Gaza, and that without advancing to new combat sites, the lives of soldiers will be at risk.
The same sources hope that the withdrawal will lead to the militants leaving their hideout, even if the price is launching missiles. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy said yesterday, " The war in Gaza continues while Hamas officials are still hiding, and we will reach them sooner or later." He continued, saying, "We are moving forward and will continue to kill more terrorists and destroy more militant infrastructure. We will not keep Hamas brigades standing in any part of the Gaza Strip," explaining that there are plans that the Israeli army will act according to once the decision is made.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that Israeli army forces left the southern Gaza Strip to prepare for future operations, including an operation in Rafah. Galant added, in an assessment of the situation in the Southern Command, that "the forces are leaving and preparing for their follow-up missions, and we have seen examples of these missions in the Shifa complex, as well as in the follow-up mission in the Rafah area." He continued: "We will reach a situation in which Hamas does not control the Gaza Strip, and does not operate as a military framework that poses a threat to the citizens of the State of Israel."
The Israeli Defense Minister noted that "the achievements of the 98th Division and its units are very impressive: striking terrorists, destroying enemy targets, warehouses, weapons, subways, headquarters, and communications rooms." He added: "All of these things were implemented in a very impressive way, and thus Hamas stopped operating as a military organization throughout the Gaza Strip."
The Israeli army announced that all brigades had left the southern Gaza Strip last night, except for one brigade whose mission is to prevent Palestinian civilians from returning to the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters reported that an army spokesman revealed "the withdrawal of all ground forces from the southern Gaza Strip, except for one battalion," without clarifying any other details. Al-Hurra's correspondent quoted an Israeli army official as saying, "The 98th Division, with its three brigades, left the city of Khan Yunis last night, after the operation there ended, following 4 months of fighting."
The Ynet website said that now only a few hundred fighters remained in the sector, while at the height of the ground maneuver the number ranged between 30 to 40 thousand. In this regard, the site noted that hours after the Israeli army withdrew, and just before one o'clock in the afternoon, five missiles were launched from the Khan Yunis area, and the Iron Dome system was activated and two of them were intercepted. The withdrawal of forces was a sign of the authority’s transition to the third and less violent phase of the fighting in Gaza, which includes more targeted and repeated raids, as was the case recently with the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Ynet confirmed that the withdrawal of the 98th Division from Khan Yunis indicates the end of the ground maneuver that began on October 27, while the army is now awaiting a decision from the political level regarding the possible move in Rafah, the last major stronghold of the Hamas movement, where the Israeli army says it includes 4 movement battalions.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby expressed his belief that the Israeli army’s announcement of withdrawal from the southern Gaza Strip is likely a “break” for its forces. Kirby told ABC in response to a question about the significance of this withdrawal: “It is difficult to know what it means now, and according to what we understand, and based on what they announced, it is actually a period of rest and regaining fitness for its forces (the Israeli army) that have been on the ground for four months".
The return of residents of the northern Gaza Strip was one of the most prominent points of contention in truce talks, as Hamas insists on adhering to the return of residents and withdrawing from populated residential areas, in order to reach any agreement, while Israel insists on rejecting that, claiming that the movement may rebuild its capabilities in these areas. The other domino in the plan is Lebanon, where the Americans are concerned about what is happening in the north, and fear Iranian retaliation following the targeting of Tehran’s consulate in Damascus.
The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said the United States this time cannot accept anything less than a hostage exchange and a ceasefire. It added that the next stages will include agreement on the northern border with Lebanon and normalization with Saudi Arabia. Sources familiar with the negotiations regarding the hostage deal say that it appears that "this time there will be action on the part of Hamas." The sources also explain that the United States has taken off its gloves and is more determined than ever to reach an agreement because many things.
The Hebrew newspaper indicates in its report that the Israeli War Council has significantly expanded the mandate granted to the Israeli team in accordance with the request of US President Joe Biden. Sources familiar with the negotiations for the deal show that the head of the CIA is expected to put a plan on the table, indicating that the United States is the bride of the event, the spearhead, and is not prepared for anything less than a hostage deal and a ceasefire. In this context, it stressed that there is enormous American pressure on Qatar and Egypt to exert pressure and threats on Hamas.
The sources stated that the Americans are tired of the procrastination of all parties, and they want to conclude a deal because this is the first domino in their plan, noting that it is consistent with the Americans’ contacts with Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. It also indicates that in Washington they want normalization to come from the ceasefire and the agreement. The Military Council of Ministers stated that another proposal is expected from the mediators, indicating in the context that instructions were issued to the Israeli negotiating team to study the circumstances under which an agreement could be reached with Hamas, and to present it to the War Council, which would approve or reject it.
Israeli TV N12 News reported cautious optimism in Israel hours after the departure of the delegation led by Mossad head Ded Barnea to Cairo, regarding the possibility of carrying out a new kidnapping deal. Sources familiar with the negotiations told News 12 that "this time is different, we are the closest to a deal in months", as we published last night (Sunday) in the "Main Edition". The reason why the deal is closer than ever is related to the heavy American pressure, after the Biden administration decided that they were entering the event completely. On the one hand, they are pressuring Israel to increase the humanitarian aid that goes into the Gaza Strip and to thin out the fighting forces on the ground. On the other hand, they put pressure on Qatar - which threatens Hamas with stopping economic aid.
Israel recognizes a slight shift by Hamas, who no longer insists on ending the war in the negotiation talks. Tonight, a new and very significant American proposal will be presented in Cairo, which will require concessions from both sides, and is expected to dismantle the main minefield regarding the return of residents to the northern Gaza Strip. The US proposal will most likely allow the residents to return to whole neighborhoods in the north of the Gaza Strip, and on the other hand, it should allow Israel political flexibility, so that it will be easier to pass it in the cabinet.
Therefore, this time the head of government and the war cabinet sent the team led by the head of the Mossad with a broad mandate, and with an important directive - to listen to the American proposal, understand what Hamas says about it, and if there is a possibility to start working and bring a deal. The Egyptian channel reports that the Hamas delegation is already holding meetings with senior Egyptian intelligence officials before the start of the quadrilateral negotiations.
An Israeli official told News 12 after the debate that "the days of the mandate are over." This time the delegation was given the ability to return with a document that says "this is the deal that Hamas will most likely agree to". If the delegation succeeds in bringing such a document, the political discussion in Israel will also begin - and it is estimated that he will have the majority of the government. A senior political official: "The delegation received the approval to find out to the end if it is possible to bring a deal that does not include the cessation of the war, and this can only be managed through continuous negotiations and without restrictions."
During the consultation, Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot told Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We need the hostage deal first of all because of the moral duty and because it is one of the main goals of the war. But the deal is also critical from a strategic point of view - it will help us promote a solution in the north, will allow us to restore international legitimacy and restore relations with the United States."
A high-level Egyptian source confirmed that the proposed truce regarding the Gaza Strip includes a detainee exchange deal and mechanisms for the return of the displaced, explaining that negotiation meetings between Hamas and the occupation are continuing. The source confirmed, "Negotiation meetings between Hamas and Israel are continuing under Egyptian sponsorship and with a Qatari-American presence. The Hamas delegation is also holding meetings with Egyptian General Intelligence officials before the start of the quadripartite negotiations."
He added, "There are intensive Egyptian efforts to bring viewpoints closer together to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip." He also explained that "there is an Egyptian-American-Qatari consensus on the necessity of finding a formula to reach a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip immediately."
Egyptian sources stated that “Cairo will host meetings tomorrow to discuss ways to restore calm in the Gaza Strip,” and also indicated that “William Burns, head of the CIA, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and an Israeli delegation will participate in the Cairo negotiations regarding the calm in Gaza.” Meanwhile, Hamas announced in a statement on Sunday that a delegation from the movement arrived in Cairo and met with the head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, Major General Abbas Kamel.
High-level Egyptian sources suggested that a “humanitarian truce” and temporary ceasefire agreement would be reached in the Gaza Strip during the days of Eid al-Fitr, which would be the second agreement between the occupation and the Palestinian resistance factions since the start of the war on the seventh of last October, as an agreement was reached. On November 24, it lasted a week.
The sources added to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that, “With the presence of the delegation of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and the head of the CIA, William Burns , in Cairo, the agreement is approaching strongly, and it is possible that the announcement will be made from Cairo.” Egyptian sources said that Cairo has received assurances that the head of the Israeli Mossad, David Barnea, will attend the meetings that will be held in the coming hours.
For his part, the leader of the Hamas movement, Bassem Naim , said in an exclusive statement to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “Expectations are still open to all options, and we hope that the failure that befell Netanyahu and his government over the course of 6 months, and the internal and external pressure, will push us to go to... A comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of all forces from inside the Gaza Strip .”
According to a high-ranking Egyptian source who spoke to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “officials in Egypt conveyed to the leadership of the Hamas movement a message of the necessity of seizing the opportunity of the American transformation, and the pressure of President Joe Biden, in order to reach a quick agreement in any way possible,” as the source put it. He stressed that "the American shift came after the incident of killing and targeting the relief team of the World Central Kitchen."
The same Egyptian source said, “All parties, as a result of the imposed American pressure, showed flexibility in the possibility of concluding a partial agreement with a temporary humanitarian truce for several days on Eid al-Fitr, outside the framework of the main agreement negotiations.” Regarding the extent to which a “real” change has emerged in international and regional positions regarding the war, which has entered its seventh month, Hamas leader Bassem Naim told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, “This is true, but the change is still too short to bring about the desired change,” adding that “At the official level, the change is still tactical and not strategic, with regard to the position on the Zionist entity and the Palestinian issue.”
Iran has reportedly communicated to the United States through the Sultanate of Oman, that the Islamic Republic intends to directly strike Israel, unless the U.S. guarantees an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza & no Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy said on Sunday that “the army is capable of dealing with any Iranian threat,” pledging to continue the war in Gaza until its goals are achieved. Halevy explained in a statement broadcast on television: “The IDF is capable of dealing with Iran as well, offensively and defensively. We have prepared ourselves for this as we have good defensive systems and the ability to act forcefully in confronting Iran in places near and far. We work in cooperation with the United States and other partners.” strategists in the region.
The Israeli Chief of Staff said in statements reported by Al-Hurra’s correspondent in Jerusalem on the occasion of the six-month anniversary of the war in Gaza: “The IDF forces are ready and operating in all arenas, whether in the south or north, in Judea and Samaria, or in more distant arenas.” He considered that Iran, since the outbreak of the war, "has been seeking to evade direct participation in it, but we are aware of its use, direction, financing, and transfer of knowledge to all its followers in the region." He stressed the continuation of the war in Gaza and the arrival “sooner or later” of the Hamas official “in hiding.” He continued in this regard: "We are moving forward and will continue to kill more terrorists and destroy more terrorist infrastructure. We will not keep Hamas brigades standing in any part of the Gaza Strip. We have plans and we will act as soon as we make the decision."
He stressed that in parallel, Israel "allows the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip." He accused Hamas of seeking "to seize humanitarian aid and prevent its distribution in order to restore its rule over the Gaza Strip." He also stressed the continuation of intelligence and operational efforts to return all the kidnapped persons as quickly as possible. He considered that the goals of the war had not yet been fully achieved, stressing the necessity of "returning all the kidnapped people to their homes, returning all residents of the northern and southern regions to their homes safely, and dismantling Hamas' capabilities throughout the Strip, in a way that allows a party other than Hamas to assume power."
He said: "Achieving some goals will take a long time and we will not hesitate until they are achieved. The mission of returning the kidnapped people is the most urgent and important and has an hourglass different from that of other missions."
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that Israel has “completed its preparations” to deal with any scenario that may arise with Iran, as it remains on alert for a possible attack in response to the killing of Iranian military leaders on April 1.
Air force fighter jets attacked a Hizbullah operational infrastructure in the village of Kila and launched rockets in the Yaron region of southern Lebanon. Following the alerts that were activated in the area of the city of Safed, the air defense fighters successfully intercepted one launch that crossed the territory of Lebanon. A number of additional launches were detected that crossed from Lebanese territory towards the Mount Dov area, there were no casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of the shooting.
Fighter jets attacked a military compound containing seven military buildings belonging to the Radwan force belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the Al-Khyam area, in addition, IDF forces attacked a military headquarters associated with the organization in the Kfar Tora area. IDF forces attacked the sources of gunfire in the areas of Kochba and Mis al-Jebel in southern Lebanon in response to launches detected earlier today towards the Golan Heights and the Manara area.
Earlier tonight, fighter jets attacked a military complex and three other military infrastructures of the air defense system that were used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Albaq area in response to the downing of the Air Force aircraft last night (Saturday). In addition, yesterday (Saturday) warplanes attacked a terrorist infrastructure and a military structure of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the areas of Aita al-Sha'ab and al-Adaisa during the day, and the IDF also attacked with artillery fire during the day in the area of Ya'atar.
Earlier today, a terrorist arrived via a dirt road in a car to an intersection near Nevi Elias in the Ephraim Brigade. The terrorist got out of the vehicle and opened fire at several vehicles that were there. As a result of the shooting, the IDF soldier was seriously injured and was referred for medical treatment at a hospital. The soldier's family has been informed, the IDF will continue to accompany her and her family members. In addition, a civilian was slightly injured. IDF forces in cooperation with the Air Force were deployed to the spot, surrounding the village of Nabi Elias and continuing the pursuit of the terrorist.
The fighters of the combat team of the commando formation fought in the 'Al Amal' neighborhood in Khan Yunis. The fighters searched buildings with informed intent, in foot raids to locate weapons, eliminate the enemy and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in the area. So far, more than a hundred locations have been scanned in the neighborhood and in every location a terrorist infrastructure has been found. During the fighting, the forces located a tunnel route of about 900 meters, inside the tunnel were found living rooms and many weapons, after an investigation by the Yalam unit, the fighters blew up the route. Next to one of the shafts, a terrorist was killed. Throughout the fighting, the fighters positioned themselves in strategic locations, eliminated terrorists and attacked combat compounds using precision weapons. In one of the cases, using a precision missile, the forces eliminated two operatives and a team commander of the terrorist organization Hamas.
According to the data published by the IDF today (Sunday), since the beginning of the war, approximately 12,000 terrorists have been killed in the Gaza Strip. What about those who are not on the list? Many of them managed to escape unhindered through Rafah. The exiled Palestinian influencer, Amjad Abu Kush, claimed " there is no one from the Hamas leadership, from the political bureau, who is actually in the Gaza Strip. The entire Hamas leadership voluntarily left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, and the rest left after October 7."
N12's conversation with the residents of the Gaza Strip and officials in Egypt reveals that under the auspices of the war and the high demand, the phenomenon of bribery is also gaining momentum. If before the war the corruption phenomenon of bribe payments to get a visa amounted to 3,000-4,000 dollars for coordination, now the same "mafia" that stands behind the bribes collects huge sums that also reach 7,000 dollars. When it comes to those close to Hamas, the exit procedure becomes extremely simple, under the guise of "medical treatment".
The Israeli army announced the withdrawal of all ground forces from the southern Gaza Strip , including the 98th Division and its three brigades from the Khan Yunis area after 4 months of fighting, leaving only the Nahal Brigade operating in the Netzarim Corridor to separate the north from the center and south in Gaza. In this context, the military and strategic expert, Colonel Hatem Karim Al-Falahi, says that the occupation attributed its withdrawal from Khan Yunis to preparing for the Battle of Rafah, indicating that it wants to withdraw these military sectors to restore their combat readiness for the coming period and use them elsewhere.
But Al-Falahi - during Al Jazeera's military analysis segment - said that the withdrawal process gives the occupation an opportunity to move civilians and displaced persons from the city of Rafah to Khan Yunis, reaching the street that separates the northern sector from the center and south. He explained that this geographical area has become very large to accommodate the numbers of civilians and displaced persons from Rafah in preparation for the expected military operation. Among the reasons for the withdrawal - according to Al-Falahi - is the occupation’s failure to achieve its goals of destroying the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and its military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades , and recovering prisoners detained in Gaza.
The military expert cited the recent Al-Zana and Hay Al-Amal operations in the city of Khan Yunis, during which the Al-Qassam Brigades said they killed 14 Israeli soldiers, which means there is exhaustion in the occupation army. Al-Falahi expected that Tel Aviv took Washington's advice on the necessity of leaving the region because it is considered a complete drain on the Israeli forces present inside the cities.
In his vision of the field scene after the withdrawal, Al-Falahi believes that the scenario of withdrawal from Khan Yunis is very similar to the scenario of withdrawal from Gaza, stressing that operations will return to it after moving to the third stage. He explained that the features of this stage are to stop the comprehensive ground invasion and concentrate in the buffer zones, then carry out limited qualitative incursions and then withdraw again. He added that the operations will be less intense, but more qualitative and focused, with air and artillery support. Based on intelligence information, in addition to activating assassinations of wanted leaders.
Regarding the implications of the continued launching of rockets towards the Gaza envelope area, Al-Falahi said that the Israeli military operation may have weakened the resistance factions, but they were not definitely eliminated. He pointed out that the missiles carry clear messages that the areas surrounding Gaza will not be safe as long as the fighting continues, adding that the resistance has the capabilities to enable it to reach these goals.
Regarding expectations regarding the invasion of Rafah, Al-Falahi believes that the operation may not begin in the near future, given the need for several weeks to transport civilians in Rafah, and that the operation requires coordination with Egypt. He continued, explaining: “It is too early to say that there is an operation towards Rafah, but there are preparations underway,” stressing that talking about it also falls within the context of pressuring Hamas to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
Following the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) withdrawal of ground forces from the Gaza Strip, Palestinians cautiously return to the devastated city of Khan Younis, signaling a fragile step toward normalcy amidst the aftermath of conflict. Months of intense fighting between IDF troops and Hamas militants have left the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis in ruins.
Director of the HAMAS Government Information Office in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Al-Thawabta, questioned “the occupation’s intention to withdraw from the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.” He added in a press statement, “What is happening on the ground is different from what the occupation declares to the media.” He pointed out that “the occupation closes all Gaza crossings and does not allow aid to enter, and that the aid that enters is fragments and small numbers of trucks have entered the Strip so far.”
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, commented on the Israeli army’s announcement on Sunday of withdrawing Israeli forces from Khan Yunis. Al-Qassam said, "The occupation entered most of the areas of the Gaza Strip and destroyed them completely. It boasts that it succeeded in dismantling the Hamas brigades, and every time the occupation returned to areas where it was supposed to find no resistance, it was surprised by violent and qualitative resistance." She added, "The occupation was forced to end its operations even before achieving its goals, examples of which include passports, Shifa, industry, and Khan Yunis." The Al-Qassam Brigades published a video clip under the title, “You will burn.”
Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories: Judea and Samaria and towards the Gaza Strip [COGAT] reported "322 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to Gaza today (Apr. 7). This is the highest number of aid trucks transferred to Gaza in one day since the start of the war. There is no limit to the amount of aid that can be facilitated for the civilians in Gaza."
Six months after the devastating onslaught by Hamas on Israel's southern communities, the government announces that 70% of the affected population has returned home. According to the Tekuma Authority, responsible for rehabilitating the south, at least 40,150 residents, including approximately 23,000 from Sderot, have resettled within 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of the border. Numerous locales, such as Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, and Kerem Shalom, remain uninhabitable due to heavy damage or ongoing security risks as determined by the military. Despite challenges, the government has allocated approximately NIS 2.25 billion ($600 million) of its NIS 18 billion ($4.7 billion) rehabilitation budget for the area's recovery over the next five years.
During an interview with the American channel ABC, World Central Kitchen founder José Andres opposed the findings reached by the Israeli army regarding the convoy raid, and said: “Every time something happens, we cannot include Hamas in the equation.” Andres added : “It is no longer the case.” “Regarding the seven men and women at World Central Kitchen who died in this unfortunate event, this has been happening for a very long time. It has been six months of targeting anything that seemed to move.” He continued: “This does not appear to be a war against terrorism. It no longer appears to be a war to defend Israel. In fact, at this stage, it is a war against humanity itself.” When the broadcaster asked him whether he was satisfied with the results of the report, he said: “The investigation must be much deeper (...) and I would say that the perpetrator of the crime cannot investigate himself.”
As warnings of famine mounted in the Gaza Strip, the administration of US President Joe Biden is scrambling to “put the finishing touches on its plan to establish a floating dock off the coast of Gaza,” to prepare deliveries of much-needed food and other humanitarian aid, according to the Washington Post. The newspaper reported that "four US Army ships are scheduled to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean within days, after they sailed from southeastern Virginia in mid-March." But the evolving circumstances amid the 6-month-long war have raised a new state of uncertainty about how these efforts will be implemented, according to the newspaper.
Among the challenges is the unstable security situation in the region, as Iran's pledge to respond to a raid attributed to Israel that targeted an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria has raised fears that American personnel will face increasing risks. American officials denied Washington's involvement in the attack, but Tehran asserts that the United States, as the main supporter of Israel, "must be held accountable," according to what the newspaper reported.
Military experts have warned that the US President’s administration’s plan to establish a floating dock off the coast of Gaza as part of a wide-ranging international initiative to deliver aid to the starving Palestinians in the Strip will endanger American service members who must build, operate, and defend it from attack, according to the Washington Post. Another variable is the recent Israeli attack on a humanitarian convoy belonging to the World Central Kitchen organization, which resulted in the deaths of 7 foreign aid workers.
While Israel acknowledged the strike and said the workers should not be targeted, the tragedy has complicated American efforts seeking to distribute an estimated two million meals, which will be unloaded from the floating dock daily. Last month, Washington announced its plan to establish a temporary floating port off the coast of Gaza, to deliver aid to the residents of the Palestinian Strip. The Pentagon stated that its construction will take up to 60 days, and will likely involve more than a thousand soldiers.
A senior official in the US Department of Defense, whose identity was not revealed by the Washington Post, warned that “it is too early to predict whether it will be possible not to use the sidewalk in the end,” but he acknowledged that the food distribution plan “is still unstable.” This official said, "The security plan for the pier has been reached in principle, as Israel has confirmed that its forces will provide great protection for its American counterpart."
The Biden administration, facing criticism for its unwavering support for Israel, has intensified pressure on Israeli leaders not only to protect civilians in their military campaign, but also to significantly increase the amount of food allowed into Gaza. The White House warned on Thursday that failure to respond to these demands “may lead to a change in American policy toward the war.” The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become increasingly dire, with people facing extreme hunger, prompting the World Health Organization to announce that parts of the Palestinian enclave could be heading toward complete famine by May. This classification means that many people have almost no food, leading to famine and death.
On March 8, the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, confirmed that it was preparing to establish a temporary port in order to deliver aid by sea to the besieged Gaza Strip, and stated that the process “will take several weeks.” A Pentagon spokesman said in a briefing to reporters: “We are in the process of identifying the sources and forces that will be deployed,” adding that “planning and implementation will take several weeks.” He added that the United States ultimately aims to provide two million meals to the citizens of Gaza daily, according to what Reuters reported.
The spokesman stressed that “working on the details with partners will include Israel when dealing with the security aspect” and that the United States will continue to coordinate with partner countries regarding the temporary Gaza port. The spokesman suggested that 100 American soldiers would be allocated for this purpose, but stressed that "there will be no American forces on the ground in the Gaza Strip."
A report by the American " NBC News " network documented a series of previous attacks targeting relief workers at World Central Kitchen and other humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip, since the outbreak of the war. The network revealed, based on documents, public statements and interviews, that relief workers and humanitarian infrastructure in Gaza “were subjected to several attacks” in the months preceding the raid that targeted World Central Kitchen employees last Monday, resulting in the deaths of 7 of them.
The repercussions of the killing of seven workers at the American charity World Central Kitchen as a result of an Israeli strike in Gaza are still escalating in light of reports and statements about the Israelis “deliberately” targeting the cars carrying them, which Israel denies.
NBC News said that the World Central Kitchen organization was subjected to two previous attacks last March, one of which occurred two days before the fatal incident. The first incident occurred on March 30, when World Central Kitchen said it believed “an Israeli sniper opened fire on one of its vehicles, damaging a side mirror, but no one was harmed.” A week before that, on March 23, a convoy belonging to World Central Kitchen was exposed to gunfire, amid a chaotic scene at the Kuwait Roundabout in Gaza City. The network quoted eyewitnesses as saying, "Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians who were gathering waiting to receive aid."
In footage that NBC News said was filmed, blood-stained bodies were seen lying among scattered boxes bearing the name “World Central Kitchen.” The organization said that in both incidents, the Israeli government coordination unit in the territories was informed of the movements as part of collision avoidance measures. The network revealed that during the past months, “a 1,000-pound (453 kilogram) bomb was dropped near a residential building for aid workers from the International Rescue Committee (IRC).” The International Rescue Committee's senior vice president for crisis recovery and development, Kieran Donnelly, said the organization "informs the IDF of its fixed locations, as well as its planned movements, through the Coordination Unit of Government Activities in the Territories." He continued: "However, on January 18, several IRC staff were injured when a bomb exploded a few meters from the IRC compound in Al-Mawasi, south of Gaza."
The British Broadcasting Corporation "BBC" reported that thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began to wonder how to feed their families after the "World Central Kitchen" organization suspended its operations, in response to the killing of 7 of its aid workers in an Israeli air strike. A United Nations assessment, seen by NBC News, concluded that the explosives used "were likely a 1,000-pound MK83 guided bomb, a munition produced in the United States."
The American Near East Refugee Assistance Organization (ANERA) was among the organizations that suspended its operations in Gaza, citing risks to the safety of its employees. On March 8, an Anera employee, Musa Shawa, was killed in an air strike while he was taking shelter with his family in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, according to NBC News. The network also quoted Doctors Without Borders as saying that "several of its employees were killed in military raids that targeted its sites, despite the Israeli army being notified."
Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has been subjected to more attacks than any other agency, resulting in the killing of 179 of its employees since October 7, according to NBC News. These attacks led to a reduction in the delivery of aid to the people of Gaza, who are suffering from hunger. Following the latest attack, at least four organizations stopped delivering aid to Gaza, including World Central Kitchen, due to the danger to their employees. It is noteworthy that Israel affirms its “commitment to international laws” and its work to avoid exposing civilians and relief workers to danger during its military operations in the Gaza Strip. NBC News reached out to the Israeli military for comment on the incidents reported by World Central Kitchen, as well as other incidents involving aid workers in Gaza, and did not receive a response to any of them.
Operational Update - Judea-Samaria
An Israeli doctor working in a field hospital to treat Palestinians detained at the Sde Timan military base revealed “unfortunate circumstances” surrounding “routine” amputations of prisoners due to handcuffs, according to a Haaretz report. The Israeli newspaper's report indicated that the doctor described, in a letter to the Attorney General and the Israeli Ministers of Defense and Health, the conditions to which prisoners are exposed and which "violate" professional ethics.
The doctor explained in the report published on Thursday that “just this week, two prisoners’ legs were amputated due to handcuff injuries, which is unfortunately a routine matter,” noting that inappropriate care for patients in the detention center “caused complications and sometimes deaths among patients.” He continued: "This makes us, as medical teams, and you, officials in the Ministries of Health and Defense, complicit in violating humanitarian law."
The Israeli army responded to these accusations, in a written statement to the American CNN network , and said that it works “in accordance with the law when it comes to the treatment of detainees. Every procedure is documented and reviewed, and we carry it out with great care for the sake of the detainees’ human dignity, and in accordance with Israeli and international law.” The statement stated that the shackles of detainees "are carried out in accordance with health procedures, their health condition, and the level of danger they pose, to ensure the safety of the forces and medical staff." He also pointed out that "any allegations of violence or humiliation will be provided with specific details, and we will work to examine them and deal with them."
CNN spoke with a source who said he had a medical background and had previously visited Sde Timan Hospital, where he confirmed that he saw detainees constantly shackled. He said on condition of anonymity that all the detainees from the Gaza Strip whom he saw in the hospital had their four limbs tied. The American Wall Street Journal published testimonies of former Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, some of whom said that they were forced to kneel for periods of up to 20 hours, and to stand in difficult physical positions, in addition to kicking, beating, and verbal attacks.
He explained that such a practice increases the risk of blood clots and other health problems. The American Network report explained that the hospital is located inside a military base near the city of Beersheba, southern Israel, and was established shortly after the October 7 attack. According to a report issued by the Israeli organization Physicians for Human Rights, the establishment of the “Sde Teman” hospital came after Israeli civilian hospitals refused to receive detainees from Gaza suspected of terrorism. In its report, the organization highlighted what it described as “ethical failures” in the field hospital, where “security forces in the hospital require that all detainees remain handcuffed and blindfolded at all times, even during treatment.”
While the majority have returned to their communities, around 60,000 evacuees from northern areas near the Lebanon border still reside in state-funded accommodations like hotels and temporary communities in cities such as Kiryat Gat, Mishmar Ha'emek, and Beersheba. The government continues its efforts to support those affected by the attacks and facilitate their return to normalcy.
Every day that goes by without Israeli settlers returning to the northern settlements means that "Israel" has already lost the war, the mayor of "Kiryat Shmona", Avichai Stern, said. In an interview with the Israeli KAN public broadcaster, Stern said the situation in the northern settlements "has not changed in half a year," adding, "History has taught us that when Hezbollah wants to shoot, it does so, and especially at us, not at Tel Aviv." Describing the reality of northern occupied Palestine, Stern said, "We are seeing a rate of fire, injuries, and a type of weaponry that we have not seen in previous wars."
IDF announced "Another phase of the Northern Command’s readiness for war was completed, centering on operational emergency storages for a broad mobilization of reservist and regular troops when required. This will enable the forces’ arrival at the front line in a short period of time for defensive and offensive missions. An in-depth learning process took place based on lessons learned from the fighting in the south, as part of improving readiness for the day commands are received."
In a statement titled "Readiness for the Transition from Defense to Offense," the military said the phase completed focused on logistics "for a broad mobilization" of Israeli troops. "The commanders of the regular and reserve units are prepared to summon and equip all the required soldiers in just a few hours and transport them to the front line for defensive and offensive missions," the IDF continued. The process was presented to the commanders in an operational conference chaired by the head of the Northern Command headquarters, Lt. Col. Shagiv Dahan and the commander of Division 210, Lt. Col. Zion Retzon.
The equipment and means in the warehouses are maintained by ICT and logistics and medical personnel of the technology and logistics department, and these enable the immediate mobilization of the reserve forces in an emergency and their arrival at the front line in a short time with all the equipment required for combat. The commanders of the regular and reserve units are prepared to summon and equip all the required fighters in just a few hours, and transport them to the front line for defense and attack missions. During the last months, an in-depth learning process took place based on lessons learned from the fighting in the south, as part of the improvement of readiness for command day.
The resistance targeted missile systems, artillery positions, barracks and sites of the Israeli occupation army , noting that the resistance has completed operations to respond to the Israeli attacks on Lebanese towns and villages through support and support operations for the people and the Palestinian resistance with a series of operations, as the operations today targeted the concentrations of occupation soldiers and not the sites. In itself, this afternoon, it targeted the vicinity of the Zabdin barracks, where there was a new gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers in this barracks and the vicinity of the Al-Manara barracks, in which it targeted a new gathering that was spreading in some of the woods surrounding this site, in addition to a new gathering behind the site of Ruwaisat Al-Alam, which is not visible from The Lebanese side with volcano missiles and appropriate missiles.
The Lebanese Hezbollah military media published a summary of its operations carried out against the Israeli army on the southern Lebanese border on Sunday, April 7, 2024. It said in a statement: “In support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistance carried out a number of operations against the positions and deployment of the Israeli army on the Lebanese-Palestinian border.”
The military media reported that the headquarters of the Air and Missile Defense Command in Kila Barracks, and the missile and artillery base in Yoav, were targeted with dozens of Katyusha rockets, in response to the Israeli attacks on the Bekaa region. It added that a new Israeli artillery position in the vicinity of the Al-Manara site was also targeted with artillery shells.
It was stated in the statement that an air attack was launched with an assault march on a new gathering of Israeli soldiers and its vehicles behind the Al-Samaqa site in the Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills, and its target was accurately hit. It also confirmed that the Zibdin barracks in the Lebanese Shebaa Farms were targeted with missile weapons.
Israeli forces began attacks in the early hours of this day, as military aircraft targeted the Al-Safari area and Wadi Al-Jinta in the eastern Bekaa, and these raids did not result in any casualties until now. Israeli warplanes continued their air attacks, targeting for the first time an area located between the towns of Janata and Tura near Deir Qanun al-Nahr, near the Tire district, which is relatively more than 35 meters (kilometers) away from the nearest point on the Lebanese-Palestinian border. No casualties were reported, and there was a strong raid on The town of Kafr Kalla and the town of Yaroun, and another raid on the town of Hula, in addition to the raid on the town of Aita al-Shaab. The occupation artillery continued its bombardment on the outskirts of the villages facing the occupation positions. At this moment, reconnaissance aircraft and armed drones are flying heavily in the sky of the border area.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, saluted the Resistance fighters on the Lebanese front, stressing that they were "at the highest level of readiness, morale is high, and the momentum is great."
"The achievements of this battle, of which the South Lebanon front is a part, will benefit all of Lebanon," Sayyed Nasrallah said, noting that it would bless its sovereignty on land, in the sea, and in the air. "Lebanon is in a position of strength, and we regret that there are those who are threatening war and setting dates for it," he added. Hezbollah's leader also affirmed that "the Resistance in Lebanon does not fear war, and it is fully prepared for any confrontation [...] we have not yet used our main weapons thus far."
"If they want war, we welcome them with open arms," Sayyed Nasrallah said. "The enemy knows what war with Lebanon means." He added, "We are in the midst of a battle in South Lebanon in which we are offering the best of our youth. It is a battle based on jihadist ethics and loyalty, and we will not hesitate." Sayyed Nasrallah concluded by saying, "We will continue the battle until the resistance and Gaza emerge victorious."
Operational Update - Syria / Iraq
The "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" announced on Sunday that it had targeted, with drones, the Western Yarden base in the occupied Golan, confirming the continuation of its operations. In a statement, the “ Islamic Resistance in Iraq ” said: “In continuation of our approach to resisting the occupation and supporting our people in Gaza, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against Palestinian civilians, including children, women and the elderly, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted on Sunday morning 4/7 / 2024, Western Yarden base in the occupied Golan in our occupied territories, by drone.”
The statement added: "The Islamic Resistance confirms that it will continue to destroy enemy strongholds." The "Islamic Resistance" announced at dawn on Sunday that it had targeted a vital target in the city of Eilat, "Umm al-Rashrash", with drones. The resistance factions in Iraq had claimed responsibility for bombing areas in occupied Palestine and American bases in Syria and Iraq in response to the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. The factions also warned the United States that they "will increase the number of armed operations in response to Washington's continued provision of military assistance to the Israeli army."
After a couple of weeks of reduced Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, ????CENTCOM reports that today coalition forces shot down a UAV and an anti-ship missile as well as destroying a missile launch site in Yemen.
The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Al-Sari'i, confirmed the implementation of 5 military operations within 72 hours in victory for Palestine and in response to the American-British aggression against Yemen. The Yemeni Armed Forces issued a statement read by Brigadier General Yahya Al-Sari’i, which said:
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful
God Almighty said: {O you who have believed, if you support you, Allah will support you and make your feet firm.} God Almighty has spoken the truth.
A victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country
The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out five military operations during the past 72 hours, as follows:
The naval forces, with the help of God Almighty, carried out a targeting operation against the British ship (HOPE ISLAND) in the Red Sea with a number of suitable naval missiles, and the hit was direct, thanks to God.
It also carried out a targeting operation against two Israeli ships that were heading to the ports of occupied Palestine, the first (MSC GRACE F) in the Indian Ocean, and the other (MSC GINA) in the Arabian Sea. The targeting operation was carried out with a number of ballistic and winged missiles, and the operation achieved its goals successfully, thanks to God.
With the help of God Almighty, the Yemeni Armed Forces’ Air Force carried out two military operations targeting a number of American military frigates in the Red Sea, using a number of drones, and the operations achieved their goals successfully.
The Yemeni Armed Forces continue to implement the decision to prevent Israeli navigation, or those linked to the Israeli enemy, or heading to the ports of occupied Palestine in the Red and Arab Seas and the Indian Ocean until the aggression is stopped and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.
God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs, the best protector, and the best helper
Long live a free, proud and independent Yemen, and victory belongs to Yemen and to all the free people of the nation
Sanaa, Ramadan 28, 1445 AH,
corresponding to April 7, 2024 AD
Issued by the Yemeni Armed Forces
Yemeni sources said that Washington has intensified its economic war on Sanaa by pressuring the government of the so-called Presidential Council to take new economic measures that tighten the siege on the Sanaa government. The Central Bank of Yemen condemned the positions issued by the American and British embassies regarding the bank’s issuance of the one-hundred-riyal coin, considering those positions as blatant and illegitimate interference in the affairs of the Republic of Yemen , and a continuation of the course of the economic war led by the countries of aggression against the Yemeni people for nine years.
Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi , a member of the Yemeni Political Council, indicated that the American military presence on some islands and coasts of Yemen will not prevent Sana’a from continuing its operations in support of Gaza.
The media affiliated with the Ansar Allah Houthi group had announced a direct support for the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, and considered it “the beginning of the liberation battle for the land of the Night Journey and the end of the Zionist occupation of the Arab and Islamic land of Palestine, from the river to the sea.” The Houthi media outlets, whether television, radio, press or digital, devoted large areas to live broadcasting and daily follow-up of developments in the events in Gaza, so that the military operations they carry out against Israeli targets with ballistic and winged missiles and drones add another dimension to media coverage, especially with the start of the attacks. Against Israeli ships in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden.
The momentum of the Houthi media in support of the resistance in Gaza increased further with the United States and Britain, on January 12, carrying out air and missile strikes on sites in the capital, Sanaa, and the city of Hodeidah, located on the Red Sea, and on other Yemeni governorates that have been under the control of the Houthis since 2014.
Mukhtar Al-Rahbi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the private Al-Mahriya Satellite Channel, said: “From the first moments of the Al-Aqsa Flood, we made a decision to support the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, led by Hamas and the Al-Qassam Brigades, and to permanently cover all the events of the Flood operation and the subsequent Israeli aggression and war of extermination.”
Al-Rahbi added in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, "We first froze the presentation of programs and series, and we started with a new program map, which is moral guidance with the resistance in the Gaza Strip, direct coverage and hosting of distinguished guests at home and abroad, to present the legitimacy of resistance to the Israeli occupation, and to reject the barbaric aggression against the people." "Palestinian."
Although Al-Mahriya Channel was opposed to the Ansar Allah Houthi group , it announced its support for the group’s attacks in the Red Sea against Israeli ships or those heading to them through the Red Sea. Al-Rahbi said that in the channel they support all Palestinian resistance movements, media and morally, and all parties that support the Palestinian resistance.
He added, "We have been classified as one of the Yemeni channels most supportive of the resistance and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land, restoring their legitimate rights to end the occupation, and establishing an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Holy Jerusalem as its capital."
With the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, the non-Houthi Yemeni media, with its various satellite channels, radio stations and electronic platforms, turned into a platform open around the clock to support the Palestinian resistance and cover the accelerating events in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian resistance and the oppression of Gaza united the Yemeni media with its various intellectual, partisan and political orientations and views, especially in light of the genocidal war carried out by the Israeli occupation army against the Palestinians.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Dr. Muhammad Qaizan, says, “The official Yemeni media, in its coverage of the Al-Aqsa flood operation and the Zionist aggression against Gaza, is based on its religious, Arab, and humanitarian responsibility against the Palestinian people, in order to liberate their land and expel the criminal occupation from all Palestinian lands, first and foremost.” Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and this is a consistent position of the Yemeni government and people throughout the history of the Arab and Palestinian conflict with the brutal Israeli occupation.”
He added to Al Jazeera Net that "the Yemeni official media and all private and partisan Yemeni media interacted to a great extent with the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, and saluted the heroic resistance men from all Palestinian factions, for breaking the prestige of the Zionist enemy and the qualitative development in armament, planning, steadfastness, surprising the enemy and defeating him, and consolidating the principle that the occupier No matter how arrogant or arrogant he is, no matter how strong and oppressive he is, the owners of the land are capable of defeating and expelling him.”
Qaizan pointed out that Yemeni media coverage emphasized the right of the Palestinians to continue resisting the occupier with all the tools and weapons available to the resistance, and that this is a legitimate right guaranteed by international laws and constitutions, and before that a religious duty to defend the homeland and die for it, according to him.
He stressed that the position of the Yemeni government strongly rejects the war of annihilation waged by the Israeli war machine against Palestinian civilians, and the scorched earth policy used by the government of the "Zionist entity" following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, and continues to call on the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations and the international community to do their duty in the face of the brutal aggression against Gaza Strip, stopping the war of extermination, and supporting the Palestinian struggle to regain their land.
Qaizan considered that the mass field movement in Yemen, especially Taiz, Ma’rib, Hadramaut, Al-Mahra and the rest of the Yemeni governorates, and the support and support campaigns for the Palestinian resistance, took up a large amount of media coverage in the Yemeni media, especially the official media, and emphasized the great importance that the Palestine issue represents in the hearts of the Yemenis, as their first and central issue, despite the difficult circumstances that the Yemeni people have been experiencing since the years of the coup and war.
Maps
|
All maps are lies. “Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential,” wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.
|
Bystanders
Axis of Resistance
Khamenei met with students in Iran today. Silence on retaliation for last Monday's killings of IRGC commanders in Syria.
The foreign minister of Iran slammed the opposition from the US, the UK and France to a UN Security Council statement in condemnation of the Israeli regime’s recent strike on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus as proof of their political hypocrisy. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Mohammed Abdulsalam, the chief negotiator of Yemen’s National Salvation Government, held a meeting in Muscat on Sunday.
Pointing to Israel’s fatal attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1, Amirabdollahian said, “There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran, apart from the legal and international measures taken, will use its rights recognized by the international law to punish the criminal aggressors and hold them accountable.” He also denounced the opposition from the US, the UK and France to a statement of the UN Security Council in condemnation of the Israeli attack on Iran’s diplomatic mission, saying such a stance clearly demonstrates the three Western countries’ “political hypocrisy”, brazen support for the Zionist regime’s crimes and adventurism, and encouragement of expansion of regional instability and insecurity.
Israeli writer Alon Mizrahi admitted that "what is becoming clearer at this unique moment is that the movement, which he described as the small Palestinian movement, not only defeated Israel, but also defeated the entire West, and changed the course of history during the past six months." The Israeli writer enumerated what he considered to be some aspects of the victory achieved by Hamas, saying: “It was victorious on the battlefield in the Gaza Strip, it was victorious in the battle to win public opinion, and it benefited amazingly from its reading of the Israeli mentality, and in addition it was able to use all its resources highly efficiently.”
The Israeli writer says that Hamas has not been destroyed or dismantled, and it still retains almost all the prisoners it took 6 months ago, and has not yielded to any pressure, and is still working and effective, in a small sector that is besieged and completely destroyed. The writer pointed out that history will judge the last six months as one of the most brilliant and amazing military achievements in all of military history, which is unimaginable, according to him. The writer blamed Israel, saying that the way it waged the war against Hamas made it (Hamas) a legend of the resistance that will remain alive in cultural memory throughout the ages. He concluded that no one thought they could succeed in this matter, but they did and changed history forever, noting that Palestine will never return to the shadows again.
The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, confirmed that the Israeli occupation was forced to end its operations in the Gaza Strip before achieving its declared goals. Al-Qassam explained that the occupation entered most of the areas of the Gaza Strip and tried to dismantle the resistance structure, but it found itself facing violent and qualitative resistance every time it returned to areas believed to be without resistance. Al-Qassam said that battles such as “passports, Al-Shifa Hospital, and Khan Yunis ” forced the occupation to end its operations without achieving its declared goals.
Allied for Democracy
As the war in Gaza entered its sixth month, a new Channel 12 poll revealed a deepening divide within the Israeli public regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's motives, with nearly half of Israelis (49 percent) suspecting political interests behind his actions. The findings underscore a growing sense of disillusionment and frustration with the government's handling of the prolonged conflict, particularly its failure to secure the release of over 100 hostages held captive since the October 7 massacre.
Despite mounting criticism, Netanyahu's main opponent, National Unity chair Benny Gantz, appears to be losing ground in the public eye. Amidst lingering discontent, Netanyahu's political position remains relatively stable, with the poll indicating a narrowing gap between him and Gantz. According to the survey, while 49 percent of respondents believe Netanyahu is acting out of political motives, only 32 percent attribute genuine concern for national security to his actions.
The sentiment regarding the government's efforts to secure the hostages' release reflects the prevailing skepticism among Israelis. Only 39 percent of respondents believe the government is doing enough, while a majority (56 percent) express dissatisfaction with its response to the hostage crisis. Some 41% of Israelis think Netanyhau is the one responsible for the tensions between the U.S. and Israel, while 30% say Biden is responsible, channel 12 poll finds. 21% said both are equally responsible, and 8% said they don't know.
Mizrahi ultra-orthodox yeshiva leaders, including members of the Shas Council of Sages, today (Sunday) published a scathing letter against the conscription. In the letter they wrote, among other things, that "any compromise will lead to destruction. Even guys who don't study are not allowed to enlist. We will not shy away from going to the prisons." In the letter, signed by the leading Sephardic rabbis, including Moshe Tzadaka and Moshe Maya, it is written: "It is unthinkable to agree on quotas, goals or civilian routes and the like, even for weak guys." In this hour of annihilation, we will not shy away from going to prisons, we are ready to surrender our souls." "Even a guy who is not in the framework of studies is not allowed to go to the army and all the different routes," the rabbis added. "It is forbidden to agree on any compromises on the recruitment issue, and one should not enter into negotiations on this at all. Any compromise will bring destruction for generations."
CNN network quoted an informed source as saying that US President Joe Biden threatened Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their last call, last Thursday. According to the American network, Biden threatened Netanyahu that if living conditions did not improve quickly for civilians in the Strip, he would reconsider the mechanism of the United States supporting the occupation through war. The source familiar with last Thursday's call noted that Netanyahu responded by saying, "Joe, we'll do it," but Biden insisted that the Israeli prime minister must announce the moves that evening.
Subsequently, the Israeli Security Council agreed to implement the three orders, namely opening the Beit Hanoun crossing in northern Gaza and the port of Ashdod to humanitarian aid, and a significant increase in supplies arriving through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the besieged Strip.
US officials declined to specify what “changes in US policy” might be considered, but a senior official told CNN that slowing the US supply of weapons to Israel would be the most likely change, pointing to a recently issued national security memorandum, which Establishes standards to which foreign governments receiving U.S. military assistance must adhere. But this official stressed that no decisions have been made, and that the issue of how the United States supports the current Israeli war is a complex issue, and he said that there are other tools that the American administration can use, including those related to large military aid or American behavior at the United Nations, in addition to To radically change Biden's public rhetoric about his administration's support for the war.
Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers
The Israeli army announced the number of deaths among its ranks, which reached 604 since the start of the war, and the death of 260 other soldiers during ground battles inside the Gaza Strip. The occupation army claimed , according to data it published about the first six months of the war, that 20 soldiers were killed by friendly fire. The IDF pointed out that a total of 3,188 soldiers were injured with varying injuries, including 497 seriously injured, including 27 still receiving treatment in hospitals, while the Air Force carried out about 950 evacuations for about 1,300 wounded.
The IDF pointed out that there are about ten thousand soldiers who were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress symptoms, and 82% of them returned to battle again, while 200 soldiers were enrolled in a rehabilitation center designated for soldiers who were unable to return to battle 72 hours after the event to which they were exposed. The emergency hotline received more than 3,800 phone calls seeking psychological assistance for soldiers, while more than 72,000 soldiers underwent rapid psychological treatment.
The IDF stated that about 300,000 reserve soldiers were recruited , about 51,000 of whom were women, and that the ages of about 24,000 reserve soldiers ranged between 50 and 70 years.
The IDF claimed that his forces attacked 32,000 targets in the Gaza Strip, including 3,600 military targets , while 3,250 rocket launchers were destroyed and seized , and about 4,250 infrastructure targets were destroyed. The IDF explained that more than 9,100 missiles were launched from the Gaza Strip , 3,100 from Lebanon , and 35 from Syria . The IDF stated that 4,600 citizens from the Gaza Strip were arrested , some of whom were released, and a number of others are still being arrested and being investigated.
The army claimed that it had assassinated 330 resistance fighters in Lebanon , including 30 leaders. The IDF pointed out that his forces targeted more than 1,400 sites in Lebanon, while artillery and ground forces attacked more than 3,300 other sites. In the West Bank, the army claimed that it had killed 420 Palestinians , that it had arrested 3,700 , including about 1,600 Hamas activists, and that it had demolished 19 homes of those who carried out operations.
- 75,886 Gazans injured, 28% adult male
- 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza
- 40,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
- 33,000 Gaza targets attacked
- 33,175 Gazans martyred
- 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]
- 15,000 rocket launched from Gaza
- 15,000 Gazan children martyred
- 14,793 Israelis injured [i24 TV]
- 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]
- 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]
- 11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023
- 9,920 Gazan women martyred
- 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
- 9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance
- 8,100 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th
- 8,000 Gazans missing under the rubble
- 6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12]
- 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]
- 5,500 IDF wounded [reports]
- 4,750 West Bank Palestinians wounded
- 3,484 administrative detainees
- 3,700 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
- 3,079 IDF wounded [IDF]
- 2,100 Gazan women are missing
- 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day
- 1,600 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas
- 1,160 Israelis killed on the first day
- 601 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war
- 456 West Bank Palestinians martyred
- 343 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon
- 256 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza
- 222 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon
- 126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers
- 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody
- 50 civilians killed in Lebanon
- 29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"
- 15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel
Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
