Operation Iron Swords - Day 86 - 31 December 2023
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NEW - Operations NEW - Operations Maps NEW - By-Standers NEW - Axis of Resistance NEW - Allied for Democracy UPDATED - Oasis of Martyrs UPDATED - Hostages |
The extremist minister, who leads the "Jewish Home" party, continued: "We must find countries that are willing to receive the residents of Gaza, and this should be through [Israel]." Smotrich expressed his refusal for the Palestinian Authority to take control of the Gaza Strip, saying: “They will rule there just like Hamas rules.” He added: "I support a complete change in the reality in Gaza, by holding a discussion about the settlements there." He went on to say: "We will have to rule there for a long time. We have to return to Gaza," referring to his support for re-settlement in the Strip.
This comes after the Hebrew newspaper "Israel Hayom" published that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, in a recent meeting with representatives of the Likud Party in the Knesset, that "Our problem is the countries that are ready to receive refugees. We are working to solve this problem."
Fearing a mass exodus, both Egypt and Jordan have refused to accept refugees from the embattled Gaza Strip. This also has to do with the fear that this could ultimately lead to permanent displacement. Smotrich is considered a champion of the vision of “Greater Israel” and is also committed to annexing the occupied West Bank. The Palestinians, on the other hand, claim the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem as the territory of a future state of their own. Israel conquered the territories in 1967.
In 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip and evacuated more than 20 Israeli settlements. For the United Nations, the Gaza Strip remains Israeli-occupied territory because it controls all entrances except for one border crossing. Israel maintains that the occupation ended with the withdrawal in 2005.
The USA is clearly against Israel reoccupying the Gaza Strip. They also reject the forced displacement of the 2.2 million Palestinians who live in the narrow coastal strip. The USA wants a reformed Palestinian Authority to take control of the Gaza Strip after the war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects this. He wants the army to maintain security control even after the war and calls for the demilitarization of Gaza.
U.S. Central Command [@CENTCOM] reported On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire.
U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.
The Yemeni armed forces affiliated with the Houthis issued a new statement announcing that the Maersk Hangzhou container ship had been targeted with naval missiles. It said in the statement, "The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces succeeded in carrying out a military operation targeting the Maersk Hangzhou container ship that was heading to the ports of occupied Palestine."
The Yemeni armed forces affiliated with the Houthis reported that they targeted the ship with appropriate naval missiles. It confirmed that the targeting operation took place after the ship's crew refused to respond to the warning calls of the Yemeni naval forces. It stressed in its statement that "the Yemeni armed forces confirm what they published in their previous statements regarding preventing the passage of all Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine, with their full concern for maritime traffic to all destinations except the Israeli entity."
The Houthi armed forces renewed their call to all countries not to be drawn into the plans of the United States aimed at igniting the conflict in the Red Sea, and stressed that they will not hesitate to confront any aggression against Yemen and its people.
The Yemeni armed forces in Sanaa reported that American forces attacked 3 boats and killed 10 members of the naval forces . A shipping source in the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah said that ten Houthis were killed and two were rescued, who were injured in the American bombing of Houthi boats that attacked a ship off the port. Another shipping source also confirmed the death toll, noting that four survivors arrived in Hodeidah with two wounded who were taken to Al-Samad Hospital.
Operational Update
Israeli Army Radio announced that the Israeli army decided to withdraw 5 combat brigades from the Gaza Strip. The radio said: “After evaluating the situation and the military operation, it was decided to withdraw 5 brigades of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip.” It indicated that out of the five brigades, two brigades were withdrawn from the reserve forces. Some of them include soldiers in regular service who will be transferred to further training, and some of them consist of reservists who will be released. The goal is to gain a breather in order to continue fighting.
IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari: Some of the reserve fighters will be released this week - we will still need them later this year. Hagari added that "the objectives of the war require prolonged fighting and we are preparing accordingly. Smart management of the forces, modernization and training. We are continuing the training in all places in the IDF." This will allow them to gain strength for the next activities in the coming year - we will still need them. We are preparing to continue fighting throughout the coming year."
In Gaza it was reported that the IDF dropped leaflets in the Khan Yunis area and called on the residents of five neighborhoods to evacuate: "The area you are in is a war zone. For your safety, you must immediately evacuate to the shelters in the neighborhood of A-Shabora, A-Zahor and Tel A-Saltan. you have been warned".
Islamic Jihad announced that there would be no deals with the Israeli occupation before stopping the aggression on the Gaza Strip. This comes as the Hamas movement believes that Benjamin Netanyahu must either submit to the resistance and be tried by the Israelis, or continue the war and be tried by the Qassam men. These statements come in light of the escalation of disputes inside Israel and calls to stop the war despite the inability to achieve its goals.
The fighters of the Magellan unit of the commando formation continue fighting in the Khan Yunis area in the southern Gaza Strip. The fighters work in cooperation with armored forces, engineering and the air force, and eliminate terrorists in face-to-face encounters. In addition, they are working to locate terrorist infrastructures in the area and destroy them.
Fighters of the Magellan unit raided with precise intelligence guidance a terrorist infrastructure from which shots were fired at our forces, located inside a civilian institution in the city of Khan Yunis. The building is allegedly used as an education office, a cultural center and a school, but during the raid the fighters located inside the building rocket launchers, documents and means of Hamas.
The IDF spokesperson today published additional documentation from the activities of the Sting Dog Unit in Gaza. The IDF explains that in a large number of cases the dogs of the unit are sent for a preliminary scan before the fighting forces raid terrorist infrastructures. The dogs manage to identify threats of various kinds and thus prevent damage to Israeli forces.
In addition, the dogs map houses, and locate weapons and explosives. "During a joint attack with the fighters of the 460th Brigade Combat Team in the Jabaliya neighborhood, Fighter A sent his dog Patrick to scan the area before the forces entered the building," the IDF said. "During the scan, Patrick located a terrorist who ambushed the forces at the entrance, neutralized thus preventing a collision. In another activity in the Rimal neighborhood, during a scan by the dog Toy, a corridor was found that connected the building where the fighters were staying to another building where a terrorist was lurking. Toy neutralized the terrorist and thus saved the force from operating in a structure that turned out to be vindicated."
In additional raids carried out by the soldiers of the intelligence-directed unit on buildings in the area, they located large quantities of weapons, including grenades and ammunition found in a wardrobe in the bedroom of the house. Encounters with terrorists, the destruction of terrorist infrastructure and the detection of shafts: this is how the fighting of the paratroopers in the Khan Yunis region looks like.
The IDF reserve fighters, the IOSH Special Forces, Special Forces and Engineers operated under the direction of the Shin Bet and the Security Forces throughout the night in a brigade operation in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp under the command of the Menashe Brigade. The forces uncovered and destroyed charges under and on the sides of the roads intended to harm our forces, in addition dozens of suspects were interrogated, five wanted persons were arrested and weapons and charges were confiscated.
During the operation, armed terrorists shot and threw explosives at the forces, who responded by firing. Also, the terrorists shot and threw explosives at the forces from inside the "Abu Bakr al-Tsadik" mosque. In addition, during the operation, aircraft attacked armed terrorists who shot and threw explosives at the forces and endangered them. Several terrorists were injured. Weapons and explosives were found in searches of the areas of the attacks. The wanted persons who were arrested were transferred for further investigation by the security forces, there are no casualties to Israeli forces.
During searches of operatives' houses on the outskirts of Shati, a force of the 14th TSK came across a kindergarten, inside it they found terrorist infrastructures that had been prepared in advance for the arrival of forces in the area.
Soldiers of the 179th Israel Defense Forces identified four terrorists carrying explosive charges and advancing towards them, an Air Force aircraft attacked and eliminated the squad. About half an hour later, the forces identified four additional terrorists in the area who were also eliminated in an airstrike.
At the same time, a suspicious vehicle containing terrorists was detected driving towards our forces in the south of Gaza City, an aircraft attacked the vehicle and eliminated the terrorists inside. Also, an Air Force fighter jet attacked a military building at the direction of the brigade's forces from which terrorists used a bomb on our forces.
As part of the activity of the reserve fighters of the 551st TDF to thwart terrorist threats in Beit Lahia, the forces identified three Hamas terrorists who had entered the building. With the assistance of the brigade's fire complex, the force closed a circle on the suspects by targeting an Air Force aircraft that attacked the terrorists.
The soldiers of the Bedouin GDS (585) under the command of the Southern Brigade operated in the southern Gaza Strip to locate terrorist infrastructure and uncovered two tunnel shafts, which they destroyed in cooperation with armored and engineering forces using tanks and D9.
Fighters of the Paratroopers Brigade Combat Team fighting in Khan Yunis identified three terrorists and with the help of targeting an aircraft eliminated one of them. After that, the two remaining terrorists were spotted with an RPG between two buildings and tanks fired at the Hebrews. Also, the fighters of the 7th Brigade combat team identified three terrorists and in cooperation with the attack complex, the fighters directed an aircraft and eliminated the three terrorists.
During the last day, the naval forces attacked terrorist targets as aid to the forces maneuvering in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Army Radio reported that the army's estimates indicate that the war will not succeed in completely eliminating the capabilities of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) to fire rockets towards Israel, specifically short-range missiles. The radio quoted army officials as saying that the deepening of the fighting and ground operations contributes to reducing the capabilities of Hamas and other organizations, but does not completely end them. It quoted military officials as saying that the army's ability to hit long-range missile launchers is better, but it is difficult to reduce the firing of short-range missiles on the "Gaza envelope" areas to zero. A senior officer told Israeli Army Radio that even after two years, residents of the "Gaza envelope" may hear sirens.
IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari There is no case that forces did not receive air support, the Noachba terrorists surrendered today in Khan Yunis. implicitly replied to Sarah Struck and said that " dozens of aircraft are over Gaza at any given moment. The ground forces work with the assistance of the Air Force, there is unprecedented cooperation on the battlefield. This is the strength of the IDF. There is no case in which a ground force did not receive assistance from the air. Dozens of wounded people were saved thanks to this. There is no change in the instructions to open fire - a soldier who detects a threat is required to remove the threat by any means. Alongside this, we adjust the fire policy all the time, to different areas. We are trying to reduce the harm to those who are not involved." Hagari also pointed out that in today's battles in Khan Yunis, Nokhaba terrorists were eliminated - and some of them even surrendered and handed themselves over to the IDF.
Chief of Staff Halevy also responded to the claims of a reduction in air aid to the forces operating in the Gaza Strip. In a conversation with reserve fighters in Gaza, Halevy made it clear: "Any move you make, you will receive the strongest possible fire support for it. Use the fire opening instructions wisely. The instructions to open fire do not tie anyone's hands, the instructions to open fire came to protect us from ourselves as well, and to work correctly so that we will be very effective in harming the enemy, and very, very controlled in harming ourselves."
At a depth of 20 meters, and with multiple rooms equipped with electricity and air technology systems, the tunnel, which is located under an apartment and branches off from it several mazes, was used by the leader of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, according to what the Israeli army said.
For weeks, the Israeli army has claimed that it is approaching Sinwar, but the most wanted man in Israel, nicknamed “the living dead man,” continues to evade attempts to arrest him, which deprives the Hebrew state of the moral victory it has been seeking since the start of the war almost 3 months ago, according to the newspaper’s expression. The Times of Israel.
The location of the hideout was located on the outskirts of Gaza City, where an engineering unit found a tunnel opening, according to what the Times of Israel newspaper reported. The army said that it found important evidence in the “apartment” that led to the conclusion that Sinwar had used it as a hideout in the past. He added that the depth of the tunnel is about 20 meters, and leads to a 218-meter-long tunnel with several mazes.
He pointed out that the tunnel features electricity, air purification and sanitation systems, as well as rooms for rest and prayer, and other equipment that would allow the Sinwar to remain hidden for a long time. The army said that its engineers later destroyed the tunnel, as it published a video clip from inside it, before it was blown up.
Israel placed Sinwar and three other Hamas leaders on its most wanted list for their role in planning the October 7 attack on towns in southern Israel. The Israeli authorities have offered huge financial rewards to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of Hamas leaders in Gaza. The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, topped the list in exchange for a reward of $400,000.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that Israel is ready to allow ships to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip , within the framework of a sea corridor proposed by Cyprus , and he identified 4 European countries capable of potential participation in this process. Cohen confirmed to radio station 103 FM when asked about the sea corridor that it “could start immediately.”
He added that Britain , France , Greece and the Netherlands are among the countries that have ships capable of directly reaching the shores of Gaza, which lacks a deep-water port. He seemed to indicate that he expected them to do so rather than unload aid into Israel. Cohen continued, "They asked us for the equipment to come through the Israeli port of Ashdod , and the answer is no. It will not come through Ashdod. It will not come through Israel. We want to disengage from security monitoring. This is the goal of this operation."
Under the arrangement first proposed by Nicosia last November, shipments would undergo security inspection at the Cypriot port of Larnaca before being transported to the Gaza coast, 370 kilometers away, rather than through Egypt or Israel. If the plan goes ahead, it will represent the first easing of the Israeli naval blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007 after the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) took control of the Palestinian Strip.
With the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, the idea may go some way towards meeting the United Nations Security Council resolution issued on December 22, which calls for the expansion of humanitarian relief mechanisms. A senior Cypriot official told Reuters that Britain and Greece had previously expressed their support for the Cypriot initiative, adding that Britain had offered ships capable of anchoring in shallow waters to approach the Gaza coast.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also supported the Cyprus plan, which will include the participation of Israeli security personnel in inspections in Larnaca. Many European and Arab donor countries send aid to Gaza through the Egyptian city of Al-Arish, which is close to the border with the Gaza Strip. Israel has been involved in monitoring these shipments, which some humanitarian agencies say delays the arrival of aid.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, announced in a statement on Sunday evening that it had shot down an Israeli Skylark-2 reconnaissance plane in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. The statement said: “The Al-Qassam Brigades shot down a Skylark-2 reconnaissance plane that was on an enemy intelligence mission in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.” The Al-Qassam Brigades also indicated that Israeli vehicles and soldiers were targeted in the Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip. The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, announced in a statement that an Israeli soldier had been sniped in Gaza City.
In solidarity with the Gaza Strip , Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon have been exchanging bombings with the Israeli army daily and intermittently since the eighth of last October, resulting in loss of life on both sides of the dividing “Blue Line.”
Israeli vehicles carried out raids on Lebanese border towns, causing the injury of 4 people, one of whom was in critical condition, according to an Al Jazeera correspondent. An Israeli warplane targeted a house in the town of Bint Jbeil, resulting in a person being seriously injured and leading to his death this morning. Another person was injured in the town of Kafr Kila, and two other people in the town of Aita al-Shaab, as a result of artillery shelling and an Israeli air attack. Artillery also bombed the areas surrounding the towns of Kafr Shuba and Hula, and the villages of Harfa, Al-Jabain, and Al-Naqoura.
In response to the attack, Hezbollah confirmed that it carried out an attack using a march on the Ramtha site in the occupied farms in Shebaa. He also attacked a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the critical location of Adathar, and targeted the Ramim barracks. It is noteworthy that Hezbollah announced, yesterday, Saturday, the killing of 4 of its members in confrontations with the Israeli army on the southern border of Lebanon. The party mourned Hassan Akram Al-Moussawi, Haider Muhammad Al-Mazawi, Rakan Ali Saif Al-Din, and Abbas Muhammad Al-Ajmi, who come from different towns.
On the other hand, the Israeli army announced that its forces targeted 3 cells suspected of belonging to Hezbollah through air strikes carried out by warplanes. His forces bombed areas in Lebanese territory, considering that they included Hezbollah military sites and infrastructure. In the same context, sirens sounded repeatedly in Kiryat Shmona and its surroundings, yesterday, Saturday, after monitoring the launch of anti-tank missiles from southern Lebanon. Israeli media reported that an Israeli was slightly injured as a result of an anti-tank missile falling near Kiryat Shmona.
IDF tanks and Air Force combat helicopters attacked three terrorist squads operating in Lebanese territory. Also, two launches from Lebanese territory towards Israeli territory were detected. The IDF attacked the sources of the fire with artillery.
Fighter jets of the Air Force attacked a number of terrorist infrastructures and military buildings of Hezbollah this morning (Sunday) in the area of the village of Ramiya in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah operates from the area of the village, which is used as a terrorist center for the organization to observe and carry out terrorist acts. Among other things, the organization fires at Israeli territory, exploiting the civilian population in the village area and using it as a human shield. In addition, IDF forces attacked Hizbollah military positions in the Amra and Elhiam areas last night. One of the positions is located in the area from which an anti-tank missile was fired at the Upper Galilee yesterday (Saturday).
The number of Israelis that evacuated northern occupied Palestine as a result of Hezbollah's operations has exceeded a staggering 230,000 settlers, The Wall Street Journal reported. Israeli media reported earlier this week that fears are mounting among settlers in northern occupied Palestine as the Resistance in Lebanon continues to carry out daily operations with no signs that it is deterred by any actions the occupation army is taking. According to WSJ, the October 7 operation has proven that deterrence "alone wasn't enough," which also applies to the long-standing understanding that the mutual destruction scenario has deterred a new war between the occupation entity and Lebanese Hezbollah.
Egyptian thinker and Nasserist leader Safwat Hatem said in an interview with RT that the situation on the Lebanese border is similar to the situation in June 1967, and is represented by the problem of “Who will strike the first blow and lose international sympathy?”
Therefore, Hatem expected that the military harassment between the two parties would continue, considering that “Israel may create an event to justify the first strike on Hezbollah,” and that “Israel’s calculations may reach the Samson option - that is, against me and my enemies,” and the entire region may be drawn into a new war.
He added: "This reminded me of the problem of the pre-emptive strike that was the subject of discussion in the Egyptian leadership in June 1967, and the problem of the international warnings to punish whoever initiates the first strike, which America and France launched at the time." The analyst considered that “Israel does not abide by any fixed law or rules,” so the Lebanese national forces must “fully prepare . ”
Israeli warplanes launched an aerial attack on the outskirts of Syria's Aleppo, as tensions escalate in the region with the Zionist regime keeping up its genocidal war in the besieged Gaza Strip. The strike occurred on Saturday at approximately 17:20 p.m. local time (1420 GMT), originating from the Mediterranean Sea, west of Lattakia, targeting specific sites south of Aleppo city, according to an unnamed military source quoted by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The military source confirmed that the attack resulted in no injuries, though there was some reported material damage. This incident follows closely after Syrian air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of Israeli missiles directed towards the capital Damascus just two days prior.
Maps
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All maps are lies. 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. Thes 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
Egyptian national security affairs expert, Mohamed Makhlouf, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech regarding the Philadelphia axis is provocative, suicidal, and an assault on the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Netanyahu said on Saturday evening that the Philadelphia axis must be in the hands of Tel Aviv and we control it, stressing that any arrangement other than that would not be accepted by Israel.
Makhlouf, who is deputy editor-in-chief at “Akhbar Al-Youm House,” pointed out that he believes that the purpose of Netanyahu’s statement was to drag Egypt early into a direct war in response to him, but we should not forget that Egypt always responds to those who cross the red lines in practice and not with statements, and we have As in the red line drawn in Sirte - Al-Jufra, the political leadership will not view this statement as a provocative statement as much as it is a suicidal statement for the Prime Minister of the Zionist entity, as he put it.
Makhlouf stressed, “This statement is just a desperate and desperate attempt by Netanyahu to suggest that he will continue to rule, and to flatter his society with sympathetic statements that will quickly cast a shadow on reducing the period of his presence in power in Israel, especially since he has stripped himself politically, economically, and militarily of the resistance movements in Palestine before his society.” How about a strong, organized, internationally recognized army like the Egyptian army? Therefore, I stand in solidarity with the idea of considering this statement as suicidal.”
Makhlouf warned the Israeli Prime Minister against approaching the Egyptian border, stressing that it is unacceptable, and that Egyptian territory has not and will not be penetrated, explaining that the Egyptian armed forces are in a state of complete readiness and complete vigilance, and will not allow any threat or penetration of its borders, no matter the cost.
More than two months after Hamas' unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, the Israeli government's allegations of sexual violence by Palestinian resistance fighters resurfaced as headlines in major international media outlets such as BBC, CNN, New Yorker, and New York Times. These outlets have published explicit stories of alleged sexual violence, including accounts of gang rape and mutilation.
This renewed focus on the issue comes after the Israeli army held exclusive screenings for invited journalists of what it claims are eyewitness accounts of alleged Hamas crimes. The 47-minute footage titled 'Bearing Witness to the October 7 Massacre' was screened on multiple occasions. However, Israeli officials have refused to share the footage with news agencies to report on and verify the contents independently.
Kubra Solmaz is a deputy producer at Turkish news enterprise TRT World contacted the UN, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, organisations which investigate sexual violence allegations in conflict zones, to reveal the methods, approaches, and procedures they employ for verification. "We are required to gather information from a wide variety of reliable sources (including civil society, victims' organisations, concerned states and non-state actors) to verify the veracity of the information we received," Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequence, tells TRT World. She emphasises the importance of verifying reports of sexual violence and conducting thorough investigations independently, as highlighted in two previous press releases addressing Israel's accusations of sexual violence attributed to Hamas – one on November 20 and the other on December 14.
When asked about the crucial steps that investigative teams deem essential in probing allegations of sexual violence in conflict zones, Lauren Aarons, Amnesty International's senior adviser on gender and conflict, concurs with the UN Special Rapporteur, emphasising the necessity to gather information from a diverse array of reliable sources. "We rely primarily on information we have collected ourselves, supported by other information we trust or have been able to verify," she states. "We also seek information from all other relevant sources to be able to develop a full, comprehensive and reliable understanding of the facts, as well as what needs to happen next to ensure justice and the rights of survivors."
Regarding the sources cited by the Israeli government for their evidence, they predominantly involve individuals directly associated with the Israeli government, security services, or seemingly civilian institutions with connections to Israeli government officials and institutions. Specifically, Israel's case relies on video testimony from a single eyewitness at the music festival, witness testimonies from body collectors of the Zaka organisation, military forensic teams, and army personnel, along with photographs suggesting potential sexual assaults on women. Additionally, testimonies from Hamas fighters were obtained through Israel's Security Agency Shin Bet, known for its use of torture to elicit fake confessions.
The rescue and recovery organisation Zaka, advertised as Israel's foremost non-governmental organisation in this field, it has 3,000 volunteers and receives funds from the Israeli government. This is also the same organisation that propagated a fabricated story about babies being beheaded by Hamas. Yossi Landau, the head of operations at Zaka, claimed to have seen bodies of beheaded babies, a statement that has been refuted even by Israeli newspapers. Furthermore, Zaka has become entangled in a web of scandals, with its leaders facing charges of sexual assault, rape, and child exploitation.
Cochav Elkayam-Levy is another figure portrayed by media outlets as the head of "the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas against women and children". She is also a law professor who has herself faced criticism for alleged human rights abuses. More specifically, she offered a guidebook-style legal rationale for the Israeli authorities' handling of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, particularly those held in administrative detention without trial. She proposed the controversial method of force-feeding, which is widely regarded as a form of torture and unequivocally contravenes fundamental human rights principles.
Elkayam-Levy is also the founder and director of the Dvora Institute, which works as a close advisory body to the Israeli prime minister's National Security Council. The advisory committee for the Dvora Institute includes a former director of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and three former officials in the National Security Council.
Not only are the sources in question but also the evidence presented during interviews, briefings and screenings of footage provided by the Israeli state raise concerns. Israel has consistently fallen short in furnishing news organisations with forensic evidence, concrete photographic proof, or victim testimonies, relying instead on inferences from its forensic teams and individuals mentioned above who evidently have ties to the Israeli government.
Currently, Israel's case relies on the video testimony of a sole eyewitness at the Nova music festival, detailing the purported gang rape, mutilation, and execution of one victim. News reports also indicate that Israeli police claim to have "multiple" eyewitness accounts of sexual assault, but they have not provided further clarification on the exact number. Furthermore, it has been reported that Israeli police have not yet interviewed any of the purported rape survivors.
Israeli government officials have yet to provide concrete information regarding the precise number of victims. In investigations by prominent international organisations into such allegations, details such as the number of victims and their testimonies, dates, times, and locations play a crucial role in identifying key patterns and specific details to substantiate the allegations. Reports from the UN, HRW, and Amnesty International on sexual violence incidents in conflict zones, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Libya, Iraq, Colombia, and numerous others in the last two years, have consistently included these critical pieces of information, a contrast to Israeli government's statements.
Amnesty International shared with TRT World the comprehensive array of evidence they gather and the meticulous steps taken to ensure the authenticity and reliability of such evidence. Their collection methods encompass interviews with victims/survivors to capture their experiences and eyewitness accounts, discussions with witnesses directly involved, consultations with parents or guardians, especially in cases involving children, dialogues with medical professionals, community leaders, first responders, police, social workers, and other relevant individuals.
Additionally, they scrutinise medical or forensic records and assess any available video evidence, photos, and satellite imagery. Moreover, their investigative approach incorporates statements from the forces accused of sexual violence and interviews or responses from national authorities or armed groups implicated in such allegations. Regarding the steps taken to establish authenticity and reliability, these encompass "identifying consistent patterns in accounts, aligning testimonies by survivors, witnesses and medical professionals, especially focusing on key patterns and particular details, videos and satellite imagery to corroborate certain aspects of reports, information from medical providers is sought, or other consistent with the patterns identified."
The Times of Israel asserts that the Israeli army will not provide forensic evidence, stating that "physical evidence of sexual assault was not collected from corpses by Israel's overtaxed morgue facilities." According to reports, it is now considered too late to gather conclusive evidence.
Samantha Pearson, the director of the Sexual Assault Centre at the University of Alberta in Canada, is among the individuals who have pointed out the lack of verification in these accusations. Alongside dozens of academics and civil society organisations, she signed a letter highlighting the "repeated and unverified accusation that Palestinians were guilty of sexual violence". The letter did not deny the occurrence of sexual violence but emphasised the insufficient evidence to support these accusations. What followed was even more intriguing, as Pearson was terminated from her position a few hours after signing this open letter.
Axis of Resistance
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei paid tribute to late Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani for reviving the front of resistance in the region. The family of General Soleimani met with Ayatollah Khamenei on Sunday ahead of the fourth anniversary of the martyrdom of the popular commander. At the meeting, the Leader attributed the promotion of the memory of General Soleimani and his characteristics to the admired martyr’s sincerity.
“The most important role and service of the great martyr has been the revival of the resistance front in the region,” Ayatollah Khamenei added. Associating the resistance shown by the people of Gaza against the Israeli onslaught for around three months to the existence of the resistance front, the Leader said General Soleimani had made a great deal of effort to revive the resistance front in a sincere, prudent, wise and moral manner. The Leader also praised the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani for his services after succeeding General Soleimani, adding, “The course of strengthening of the resistance front must continue.”
Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood will establish a new phase in West Asia, "which we are yet to witness, as it has been shrouded in destruction and chaos", the Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem said. The official explained that his outlook for the phase following the end of the war on Gaza will see a cultural and political renaissance in the region, as the public will lean toward "the language of Resistance."
Sheikh Qassem stressed that "support for the Resistance will grow" in the region and that a "new generation will draw strength from the pain and bitterness experienced" as a result of the Resistance's confrontation of the Israeli occupation.
In a speech delivered during an event held in the memory of late Hezbollah fighter Ali Moussa Zaraqet, Sheikh Qassem, emphasized that the impact of the Al-Aqsa Flood has profoundly affected the consciousness of every settler within the Israeli entity. The official acknowledged the transformative force of the Resistance's confrontation of invading Israeli forces, stating, "Al-Aqsa Flood has deeply penetrated the mind and heart of every individual in this Israeli entity, but we need some time to reap the results."
Highlighting the irreversible nature of the situation, he noted that certain outcomes are already emerging, such as psychological crises, complications regarding the future, and an overall sense of uncertainty about the future, among Israeli settlers. Sheikh Qassem went on to declare, "It is no longer possible to go back," emphasizing the inevitability of change. Providing a glimpse into what he sees as the future, Sheikh Qassem stated, "This is an introduction to the disappearance of this entity, God willing."
The high-ranking official also addressed developments in South Lebanon, saying that the Israeli occupation cannot forcibly implement the safe return of Israeli settlers to northern occupied territories, near the Palestinian-Lebanese border. "Israel presents numerous proposals concerning northern occupied Palestine and southern Lebanon, attempting to convey that it possesses" the choice "to facilitate the safe return of to the north."
In response to Israeli attempts to impose a withdrawal of Hezbollah forces, Sheikh Qassem stressed, "To them, we say: Israel is not in a position to impose its choices but is in a position to face the resilience of the Resistance in responding to its aggression. " Furthermore, he said that "Israel" has nothing to gain from carrying on or halting "the conflict" in the north. He explained that Israeli authorities must first cease the war on Gaza, in order for the Resistance in Lebanon to stop its attacks on Israeli positions.
Sheikh Qassem also warned Israelis against targeting civilians in Lebanon, saying that the Resistance would meet such actions with stronger responses. "If Israel persists, the response will be stronger." The official reiterated Hezbollah's "Duty to put an end to" the Israeli regime and its continued violation of sanctities."
"Despite knowing that the sacrifices we make are significant, these sacrifices are crucial and necessary, demanding even greater sacrifices to thwart a dangerous project against Palestine and the region," Sheikh Qassem concluded.
Allied for Democracy
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine raised questions concerning the Biden administration's uncapped transfer of US weaponry to "Israel", along with growing voices of condemnation from within the Democratic Party. The Democratic Senator said the transfer of munition must be overseen by Congress. “Just as Congress has a crucial role to play in all matters of war and peace, Congress should have full visibility over the weapons we transfer to any other nation. Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark.” He added that the government needs to know the grounds for this decision, which has been made for the second time in December alone.
Tim Kaine, a Democratic senator representing the state of Virginia, and who ran for vice president under Hillary Clinton in 2016, condemned the transfer of arms by the Joe Biden administration to Israel. Kaine's condemnation comes alongside calls from other members of the Democratic Party, who criticize the circumvention of congressional oversight in this arms transfer.
The Government of Israel requested 155mm ancillaries (fuzes, primers, and charges) that will be added to previously implemented cases. This amendment will increase the total case value above notification thresholds and thus requires notification of the entire case. The original FMS cases, valued at $96.51 million, included four thousand seven hundred ninety-two (4,792) rounds of M107 155mm artillery ammunition (MDE); fiftytwo thousand two hundred twenty-nine (52,229) rounds of M795 155mm artillery ammunition (non-MDE); and thirty thousand (30,000) M4 propelling charges (non-MDE), along with publications; associated technical documentation; and logistics support services, which have subsequently been delivered. The new estimated total cost is $147.5 million.
On Friday, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, had approved a sale of 147.5 million dollars worth of 155mm projectiles and related equipment, a major spike from what had been approved just earlier in terms of heavy munition and artillery. According to the US DSCA, Blinken “determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel” and that the sale was “in the national security interests of the United States” and "thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended."
Moreover, the statement reiterated "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives".
MK Danny Danon criticizing the conduct of the war: After the cease-fire agreement, with the renewal of maneuvering in the southern Gaza Strip, our policy changed. There was no massive population evacuation, the IDF significantly reduced the destruction of buildings and infrastructure and operates in a 'surgical' format. The result is a significant decrease in achievements This way we will not be able to reach the decision of Hamas and the return of all the abductees.
The debate is still raging in the Israeli media regarding the strategy of the war on the Gaza Strip and the transition to the next stage, with divided opinions as extremist government officials insist on its continuation until the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) is eliminated, while other experts oppose this.
'Israel Today' reported Netanyahu was asked at a cabinet meeting when the "day after" discussion would take place in Gaza, and he answered: "When the demilitarization of the Strip arrives, and only Israel can do that. When that stage arrives - it will also be discussed in the government."
Israeli Minister of Education Yoav Kisch said, “What is happening is not a military campaign, but rather a long and painful war in which we unfortunately pay heavy prices every day,” stressing that it is “an existential war for Israel.”
In turn, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, "Discussing the issue of the day after the war is within the framework that they are talking about, meaning ending the war and moving to the next day... I think we are far from ending the war with victory." He added, "For me, merely discussing this matter shows a weakness in determination, clarity, and going all the way toward annihilating Hamas."
As for Adi Karmi, a former senior employee in the Shin Bet internal security service, he stressed the need to establish an appropriate mechanism that would be decisive to end the war on Gaza, pointing out that the Gaza Strip is an example for the entire Middle East, “which will force us to change the way we fight in other regions.” He continued by saying, "I do not want to use the term resolution or victory, because the term victory after October 7 is completely inappropriate for the event...but an end point must be reached in which we have obtained the head of (the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza) Yahya Sinwar , or an agreement." To get them out of the sector, although I think they will not agree to that.”
For his part, Arab affairs analyst for the Israeli Channel 12, Ohed Himo, reviewed press reports that he said were important regarding what he called “Hamas’s understanding of reality.” He added, "Sinwar and the others are not broadcasting that they are living in a crisis. Hamas refuses to propose a deal that includes giving up power in Gaza on the one hand and on the other hand stipulates ending the war," before continuing by saying: "This means that Hamas and Sinwar believe that they will overcome the war while it controls... Gaza".
In turn, the former head of the operations department in the Israeli army, General Yisrael Ziv, believes that Israel "did not succeed in achieving important strategic achievements, neither at the level of the kidnapped (prisoners) nor at the level of destroying Hamas, and without these two achievements, Israel will not be able to withdraw back." He continued, saying, " Israel must change its strategy. Embarking on an additional tunnel war will not bring about the desired results, and that is in favor of Hamas. We are bleeding, and there is international criticism."
For his part, former Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horovitch highlighted the division that was tearing apart Israeli society before the attack of last October 7, and said that it was "damned matters like a judicial coup." He added, "If there were a responsible government in Israel, it would say: Enough, enough of this reeling. We are living in a war that must be won. We have kidnapped (prisoners) and people evacuated from their homes, and all of that must be addressed. It is enough to send the people into hysteria."
"As Prime Minister of Israel, I rejected a deal that would have led to the release of the soldier who was held captive by Hamas, Gilad Shalit, but today I say, “Release all Hamas prisoners, end the fighting in Gaza, return all the hostages and soldiers, and return the bodies that this movement has been holding for years.” . This is how Ehud Olmert began his article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in which he asserted that the chances of achieving the complete elimination of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) were non-existent from the moment Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that it was the main target of the war.
Even then, says Olmert, who was Israel's prime minister between 2006 and 2009, it was clear to everyone who managed the matter that the complete destruction of this organization was merely "wishful thinking that is not militarily possible even under conditions different from those in the Gaza Strip ."
Olmert pointed out that the most prominent thing that Israel suffered from the attack tunnels in the Gaza War in 2014 was enough to realize that this network of tunnels represents a real obstacle to any rapid and decisive military operation that could eliminate Hamas, “and even under more favorable conditions, Hamas will not be defeated easily.”
Olmert stressed that Netanyahu knew, from the beginning, that his rhetoric was baseless and would eventually collapse in the face of a military and humanitarian reality that would force Israel to reach a stage in which it would end its current military campaign, stressing that the time has come to acknowledge that the defeat of Hamas is out of reach. Rather, it is an acknowledgment that Israel has not yet reached the point of taking the initiative in this war.
To prove his point, Olmert says that the 2002 operation, at the height of the second intifada, did not lead to the elimination of “terrorist groups” in the West Bank, but it greatly reduced their activities, and “it took several years before we could say that the operation had truly ended.”
Regarding what is to come, Olmert warns that Israel faces difficult days ahead, with the increasing number of soldiers falling and the increasing painful scenes of destruction and devastation in Gaza, which “cast a heavy shadow on the State of Israel, and undermine the support and patience shown to us by even the most friendly countries.”
What should we do in this situation? Olmert asked, answering that he believes the time has come for Israel to express its readiness "to end the fighting, yes, to end the fighting, not to stop it and not to stop it for two, three or four days, the end of hostilities." Olmert warned that failure to do so immediately would mean that over time Israel would return only the bodies of its prisoners, as there would be none alive, adding that Israel must condition the cessation of hostilities on the release of all prisoners, and that Hamas has the bodies of Israelis that it has been holding since Years.
On the other hand, the former Israeli Prime Minister says, Israel will have no choice but to release all the Hamas prisoners it holds, especially since Netanyahu had agreed to release 1,027 people convicted of murder, including the “Nazi” Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar , among whom were residents. From East Jerusalem and Israeli citizens...all for one soldier.
Although I had rejected such a deal when I was prime minister, Olmert says, today I say, “Release them,” because the return of the Israelis who were “kidnapped” will only be in exchange. “Israel’s commitment to its citizens who were kidnapped from their homes, bedrooms, living rooms, and shelters is greater.” "It is shameful to make concessions to Hamas."
But Olmert stressed that he sees no chance that Netanyahu will ever agree to his proposal, because the current prime minister believes that his personal future, his survival, his political life, his legacy, his family, and his children all depend on the continuation of the war. Therefore, he is willing to make Israel burn to achieve his goals. Olmert concluded his article with a question addressed to the Israeli War Council: “Will any of Netanyahu’s colleagues in the Cabinet have enough courage and determination to do what is required now?”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected “with disgust” South Africa’s claim that it is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which was filed in the International Court of Justice. The ministry denounced the assertion that its actions in Gaza are “genocidal in character” as “baseless,” calling the claim an anti-Semitic “blood libel” and accusing South Africa of working with Hamas. “South Africa’s claim has no factual and judicial basis and is a despicable and cheap exploitation of the court,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said, adding, “South Africa is collaborating with a terror group that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel.”
Haiat blamed Hamas for the “suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” claiming that the militant group is “using them as human shields and stealing humanitarian aid from them.”
“Israel is committed to international law and acts in accordance with it, and directs its military efforts only against the Hamas terrorist organization and the other terrorist organizations cooperating with Hamas,” he continued, insisting, “Israel has made it clear that the residents of the Gaza Strip are not the enemy, and is making every effort to limit harm to the non-involved.”
South Africa’s filing alleges that “acts and omissions by Israel… are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent… to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group,” accusing the government of violating its obligations under the UN’s Genocide Convention.
The filing seeks “provisional measures” to protect against “further, severe and irreparable harm” to Palestinians in Gaza, including, but not limited to, a ceasefire and the cancelation of any orders aimed at depriving Palestinians of food, water, shelter, fuel, medical supplies, or other humanitarian needs. Those found to have engaged in “direct and public incitement to genocide” must also be punished, it said.
Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs
Palestinian armed group Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and deployed its militants to infiltrate Jewish settlements near the country’s border with Gaza on 07 October 2023. The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israel’s population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: “Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. That’s twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."
It is the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war, as the Palestinian resistance killed more than 1,200, wounded more than 5,132 others, and captured more than 250, most of them military personnel, some of whom were high-ranking officers in the army.
Regarding what is happening in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) representative Osama Hamdan said that the Israeli aggression there left 313 martyrs and injured more than 3,000, which is a continuation of the plans of the Netanyahu government.
The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to about 21,822 martyrs, and the killing of more than 7,700 Palestinian children. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The number wounded was 56,451. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 7,500, including including 4,700 children and women, and this number had not changes in recent weeks.
Lebanese Hezbollah announced the killing of one of its members in southern Lebanon during confrontations with Israeli forces, bringing the party's death toll to 134 since last October 8. The statement said, "With greater pride and honor, the Islamic Resistance mourns the martyr, the Mujahid, Ali Ahmed Saad Jibril, from the city of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, who rose as a martyr on the road to Jerusalem," according to the official Lebanese News Agency. The Israeli bombing led to the killing of a number of civilians, and 3 journalists.
Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.
The officially announced number of deaths among the Israeli army since the start of the ground incursion on October 27th to 177, and 505 deaths since the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on the 7th of the same month. Among them are 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 8 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza.
The Israeli army reported that 2,159 officers and soldiers had been injured since the beginning of the war, and that 329 of these wounded were seriously injured, 576 moderate, and 1,161 minor. Since the start of the ground incursion, the number of wounded rose to 921. The Israeli army reported that 198 of the wounded soldiers had serious injuries, 327 moderate injuries, and 349 minor injuries.
Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far.
At least 12,387 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV. The IDF updated the number of soldiers injured in the war and attacks on October 7 to 1,683.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far.
According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line.
Hostages
A Palestinian source told the pro-Qatari al-Arabi al-Jadid newspaper about the attempts to reach a new deal: "The internal consultation between the Palestinian factions is still ongoing to bring about an exchange deal and a ceasefire. So far, no formula for the agreement has been officially formulated. Hamas needs an official commitment from the countries that support In the agreement not to renew the fighting for any reason." An Egyptian source also told the newspaper that "a delegation of Egyptian intelligence visited Israel last Thursday, in an attempt to reach an agreement to end the war." It was also noted that she referred to specific matters in order to get answers from the Israeli side, when "matters are still complex".
According to the report, the Egyptian delegation tried to get an answer regarding Israel's willingness to completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, in the event of a comprehensive agreement. "The delegation returned without receiving any answers. Israeli officials emphasized that these points will be discussed in the cabinet, after which Egypt will respond."
The source stated that Egypt invited all the Palestinian factions to hold a new round of meetings in Cairo, after January 7th." He explained that Cairo "is working on more than one axis and is trying to bring the Palestinian parties closer together, in order to reach an agreement establishing the unification of the government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and consolidation One government that will accept responsibility."
Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 19 out of 135 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.
Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:
- Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war
- The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead
- 117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females
- 126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals
- Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen
- Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older.
- There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack
- Hamas had released 110 hostages so far – 86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.
Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.
According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas’ telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. “It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza,” he said.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) and the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission released a new tally of Palestinians detained by "Israel", revealing that the number of Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank has risen to 4,795. Some 150 women have been arrested thus far, both from the West Bank and the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948. Additionally, more than 255 children had been arrested. Israel said that, since the beginning of the war, approximately 2,550 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, approximately 1,300 of whom are affiliated with Hamas.
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