Operation Iron Swords - October 2024
Wars generally end with one side accepting that it has lost. So long as neither side gives up, then the war goes on.
Iran was the main backer and primary arms supplier to Hezbollah and groups with which it has common interests, such as Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and other armed groups in Iraq and Syria. Hezbollah and Israel had exchanged fire almost daily since the war between Israel and Hamas (designated a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries) began in the Gaza Strip on October 7. But tensions had risen after Shukr was killed on July 30 in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs. Shukr was killed hours before Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in a strike attributed to Israel. Tehran and Hezbollah vowed to avenge their deaths.
Netanyahu was seeking, in the current circumstances, to maintain the escalation while awaiting the results of the US presidential elections. The reformist Etemad newspaper considered that Israel seeks to drag Iran and its allies into a heavy-caliber war in the region, and therefore “they must not fall into this trap.” The newspaper stressed that “the best strategy for Iran and Hezbollah is to carry out asymmetric retaliation, use diplomatic and intelligence tools, and avoid entering into a direct war.”
The United States gave Israel a 30-day window to address the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said 15 October 2024. Miller added in a press briefing that the United States was interested in "seeing a change in the daily lives of Palestinians through this message" that it sent to Israel. "We understand the difficult circumstances in which Israeli forces operate in Gaza, but seeing people burning in a tent is horrific, and we have expressed our deep concern to the Israeli government about this pain," the US official said. The administration of US President Joe Biden demanded that Israel must increase the humanitarian aid it allows to Gaza within 30 days, "or risk losing the ability to obtain US arms funding."
Four Palestinians were burned to death on Monday morning in a fire that engulfed the tents of the displaced in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, as a result of an Israeli airstrike that also destroyed some of the hospital’s facilities, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health of the Hamas government in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned their Israeli counterparts in a letter dated 13 October 2024 that “changes must be made.” The letter, which reaffirms US policy on humanitarian aid and arms deliveries, was sent as conditions in the north of the Strip deteriorate. Miller added that the solution to security concerns about aid theft was not to punish innocent civilians by not letting in aid.
British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters stressed that "everyone knows that the conflict must end through negotiations, and no one believes that it will be resolved by military force alone." He continued: "We would like Israel to move in this direction after it has achieved accomplishments. There is an opportunity to do so in light of the feeling that Hezbollah is separating itself from the situation in the Gaza Strip."
The leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Osama Hamdan, said 15 October 2024 that the occupation forces continue to isolate the northern Gaza Strip and tighten the siege on it, describing what was happening in Jabalia and its camp as a complete genocide, calling on the international community and the United Nations to take urgent steps to save civilians in this area. Hamdan added, in a videotaped speech, that the occupation was bombing all aspects of life in Jabalia, preventing the recovery of martyrs and wounded, and preventing any aid from reaching the area, stressing that these developments are a prelude to implementing the so-called “generals’ plan” aimed at completely isolating northern Gaza, cutting off aid to those there, and considering them fighters to justify their killing.
Hamdan stressed that all the Israeli movements being monitored on the ground in the northern Gaza Strip “confirm that we are facing one of the most depraved and Nazi military plans in modern history, devised by leaders who have no morals or military honor, and which demonstrates blatant disregard for international laws.” He added that this plan “is the culmination of a whole year of brutal genocide in which the Nazi occupation army used all kinds of weapons and massacres that are shameful, but which did not enable it to achieve its goals and did not push the people to leave their land.”
He said that these practices are not war, but rather a violation of all international laws and norms, and that the international community must hold “this Zionist occupation accountable,” stressing that the values of humanity are suffering a major setback in light of the continued “arrogance and fascism of this occupation, which threatens the survival of the international system.”
Muhannad Hadi, the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian Territory, said that since the beginning of this month, the Israeli authorities have been increasingly working to deprive northern Gaza and cut off its access to basic supplies. He pointed out that the Erez and Western Erez crossings are still closed, no essential materials are allowed to enter from the south, and three new (Israeli) orders have been issued directing people to evacuate.
About 400,000 people live in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, during a phone call that "a plan proposed by former generals to impose a siege on northern Gaza is not being implemented," according to what the American website " Axios " reported, citing Israeli officials. Officials said Galant told Austin during their call that Israel "is not implementing the generals' plan, nor is it imposing a blockade on northern Gaza." They noted that Galant repeated this message in a call with the US ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority had previously quoted Israeli sources as saying that senior army officials were studying a plan to turn the northern Gaza Strip into a military zone and evacuate 200,000 Palestinians from the north to the southern Gaza Strip, in order to keep the area under full Israeli military control. The first step of the plan includes calling on civilians to evacuate to the south of the Gaza Valley, which has become a dividing line in Gaza since the start of Israeli military operations in the besieged Strip last October.
Any remaining residents would be considered “combatants,” meaning military regulations would allow troops to kill them, and they would be deprived of food, water, medicine and fuel, according to a copy of the plan provided to The Associated Press by its lead author, former Israeli national security adviser and general Giora Eiland. The plan proposes that Israel continue to control the north for an indefinite period, in an attempt to establish a new administration without Hamas, dividing the Gaza Strip into two parts.
The Israeli military said 30 trucks carrying flour and food from the United Nations World Food Programme were transferred from the Ashdod port through the Erez West (Zikim) crossing into northern Gaza, according to Axios. An Israeli official said this was the first aid delivery to northern Gaza since the first week of October. Israeli officials said that the delivery of aid through the private sector in Gaza had stopped, due to "relations between local merchants and Hamas."
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility 19 October 2024 for launching the Drone that was Intercepted earlier near the City of Eilat in Southern Israel, with them claiming to have Attacked a “Vital Target” near the City.
Hamas's armed al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for a shooting 02 October 2024 in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv that killed at least seven people. Two gunmen opened fire on passers-by at a light rail station in Tel Aviv on Tuesday in a suspected terrorist attack that killed at least seven people and injured nine others. Police said the attackers were residents of the Palestinian city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The attackers "began their killing spree when they entered the carriage of the light train that stopped at the station and fired at the passengers," police said. The two were armed with an M16 weapon, cartridges and a knife, and continued on foot until police "neutralised" them, it added. One of the attackers was shot dead and the other was seriously wounded, it said.
The Israeli government held a special memorial session 07 October 2024 to mark one year since the October 7 massacre during which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed renaming the subsequent conflict from "Swords of Iron" to "War of Revival" or “Resurrection War” [milkhemet hatahiya, or drain hamalhama - both very poorly attested, ]. “This is the war for our existence—the ‘War of Revival.' This is what I would like to call the war officially,” Netanyahu told his ministers. “This is the ‘resurrection war’ to ensure that October 7 never happens again,” Netanyahu said.
By mid-December 2023, Netanyahu was said to be considering changing name of war with Hamas to ‘Genesis War’ [Milhemet Bereshit ], ‘Simchat Torah War,’ or simply ‘Gaza War’. By late December 2023 A committee in the Prime Minister's Office had been set up to recommend a name for the ongoing war in Gaza. While military operations fought by Israel have often been given names such as Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, the formally recognized wars are given more straightforward names, such as the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
Surveys conducted at Tel Aviv University in October 2024 showed that the majority of the Israeli community was satisfied with the destruction caused in Gaza. According to these polls, about 75 percent of Israelis believe that the human losses in Gaza were completely justified and justified in order to achieve the goals of this war. 45% considered the amount of pressure exerted on Gaza appropriate, and 36.7% believed that Israel had exerted very little pressure on Gaza during a year of war.
LTC Nadav Shoshani, Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson, stated 17 October 2024 : "The Israel Defense Forces have successfully eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the head of the Hamas terrorist organization and the mastermind behind the October 7th massacre, bringing an end to a year-long pursuit. Sinwar was responsible for the horrific violence that day, including the murder, rape, and abduction of innocent civilians, ranging from babies to the elderly. His brutal attack tore through communities, claiming the lives of 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, 101 of whom remain in captivity today.
"For the past year, Sinwar sought to evade justice, hiding behind civilians in Gaza as he continued to wage war against the State of Israel. From his strategic planning of Hamas' tunnels and rockets to the horrific invasion of October 7th, Sinwar’s leadership has been defined by cruelty and brutality. But yesterday, he was left with nowhere to hide.
"In recent weeks, forces of the IDF and ISA, under the command of the Southern Command, have been operating in the southern Gaza Strip, following IDF and ISA intelligence indicating suspected locations of senior Hamas members. IDF soldiers of the 828th Brigade (Bislach) operating in the area identified and eliminated three terrorists. After completing the process of identification, it was confirmed that Yahya Sinwar had been eliminated, ending his reign of terror.
"This achievement would not have been possible without the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers and officers. Their dedication, even in the face of unimaginable risks, is a testament to their courage and resolve.
"Hamas’ remaining leaders are living on borrowed time. The path forward is clear: they must surrender and release our hostages. Yesterday’s action has made Israel, Gaza, and the entire region safer, but the mission continues. Yahya Sinwar may be gone, but Hamas still holds 101 hostages in Gaza. Until each hostage is returned home and the residents of northern and southern Israel can live in safety and security, our work will persist."
Kamala Harris made a statement 17 October 2024 on death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar: "Israel confirmed that Yahya Sinwar the leader of Hamas is dead, and justice has been served. And the United States Israel and the entire world are better off as a result. Sinwar was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent people including the victims of October 7 and hostages killed in Gaza. He had American blood on his hands. Today I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief. Sinwar was the mastermind of October 7 - the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust - a terrorist attack that killed 1200 innocent people and included horrific sexual violence and more than 250 hostages taken into Gaza, including seven Americans living and deceased who remain in captivity; a terrorist attack that triggered a devastating war in Gaza; a war that has led to unconscionable suffering of many innocent Palestinians and greater instability throughout the Middle East.
"In the past year American Special Operations and intelligence personnel have worked closely with their Israeli counterparts to locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders, and I commend their work. And I will say to any terrorist who kills Americans threatens the American people or threatens our troops or our interests - know this: we will always bring you to Justice. Israel has a right to defend itself and the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated. Today there is clear progress toward that goal. Hamas is decimated and its leadership is eliminated. This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza. And it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination. And it is time for "the day after" to begin without Hamas in power. We will not give up on these goals and I will always work to create a future of peace dignity and security for all.""
Donald Trump welcomed the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Asked by reporters if Sinwar's death would make peace in the region easier or more difficult to achieve, Trump said, "I think it makes it easier. I'm glad that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] decided to do what he had to do." Trump said that US President Joe Biden was urging Netanyahu to show too much restraint in the war against Hamas. "He's trying to hold him back and he probably should be doing the opposite actually," Trump said.
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers extended their condolences to the Hamas militant group after its leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed in combat with Israel. "It is with profound sorrow that we have received the news of the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar," the office of the spokesperson for the Taliban said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "We extend our deepest condolences to … Hamas." Afghanistan's de-facto government also called on "Muslims worldwide to stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine."
The Israeli government announced on 21 October 2024 that it was discussing "new ideas" regarding efforts to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip, following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. A government statement said that "new ideas" had been presented for the release of the hostages, while the Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted an official as saying that following the killing of Sinwar, "Qatar has now become the most important mediator in the negotiations, given that the most prominent Hamas leaders are in Doha." The official added that the offer that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about "is based on money and immunity for the liberators of the kidnapped, and these things can be provided in Qatar." In statements to the Times of Israel , an Israeli official said that Sinwar's body, which is being held by Israeli authorities, is "another bargaining chip" in the negotiations.
The Kidnapped Families Forum called on Netanyahu to hold a summit with mediators to reach a swap deal, adding that after the killing of Sinwar, "which was an obstacle to the deal, the time has come to return the kidnapped immediately."
Israel continued its military operations in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. The army said in a statement that the 162nd Division forces destroyed infrastructure and tunnel openings in the area and eliminated dozens of militants. In the central Gaza Strip, the army announced that airstrikes resulted in "the killing of a Hamas engineer and a number of other elements who posed a threat to the forces."
UN rights chief Volker Turk said 25 October 2024 the “darkest moment” of war is unfolding in northern Gaza. Turk pointed out that already “more than 150,000 people are reportedly dead, wounded or missing in Gaza” since the war there erupted just more than a year ago. “Unimaginably, the situation is getting worse by the day,” he said. “My gravest fear is, given the intensity, breadth, scale and blatant nature of the Israeli operation currently under way in North Gaza, that number will rise dramatically.” Turk warned that Israel’s policies in northern Gaza “risk emptying the area of all Palestinians”. “We are facing what could amount to atrocity crimes, including potentially extending to crimes against humanity.”
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for pressure on Israel to end “ethnic cleansing”, in strong remarks as he met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in London. Deploring the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza, Safadi told Blinken: “We do see ethnic cleansing taking place, and that has got to stop.”
Bob Woodward on 30 October 2024 disclosed on MSNBC, excerpts of notes reporting a closed-doors meeting this summer between Kamala Harris & Benjamin Netanyahu. Woodward statement: [Kamala] was tough with Netanyahu, in a way that he did not like at all, and then she’s saying, Look at what’s going on in Gaza - is unconscionable an unconscionable humanitarian disaster. Then she went out to the Press and said exactly the exact same thing and said, I will not be silent. Netanyahu was furious, but he knew she may be the next President of the United States; so he didn't say anything. So her willingness to go get in his face, the motto “I will not be silent” is one of the things she ought to wear around her neck with pride.
Netanyahu said Israel is trying to promote a small-scale deal to release several hostages in exchange for a short cease-fire in Gaza. Hamas is reportedly willing to accept an Egyptian proposal for a two-day truce that would include the release of four living hostages and Palestinian prisoners. In a letter addressed to Netanyahu and Israel's defense establishment, Defense Minister Gallant said Israel is conducting the war without a compass or "updated war goals," proposing the promotion of an alternative to Hamas in Gaza. Around 100,000 people are trapped in northern Gaza without medical or food supplies, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service told Reuters.
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