Operation Iron Swords - Day 130 - 13 February 2024

Contents

NEW - War Termination NEW - Operations NEW - Operations Maps NEW - By-Standers NEW - Axis of Resistance NEW - Allied for Democracy UPDATED - Oasis of Martyrs UPDATED - Hostages

The Israeli army published a short video clip showing the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, moving inside a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, accompanied by his sons and wife. The footage shows the Hamas leader, who is wanted by Israel, and his family members, being led by one of the members from one tunnel to another. Channel 12 had previously said that the video showed Sinwar in a tunnel under Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, surrounded by “his wife and two or three” of his children. Al-Sinwar appears to be in good health, carrying a bag, wearing a loose shirt and pants, and wearing “Adidas flip-flops,” according to the report.

The clip, which is about a minute long, was obtained from surveillance cameras installed by Hamas in the tunnels, and was obtained by Israeli army forces operating in Gaza City. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the video was taken on October 10 while chasing Sinwar. He added: "The hunt will not stop until we catch him, dead or alive. We are determined to catch him and we will do so." The spokesman revealed the arrest of family members of Hamas leaders, explaining that they "provide us with a large amount of intelligence information."

The clip dates back to the period before the loss of communications with Sinwar late last month. Israeli media confirmed earlier that Sinwar, who is considered the mastermind of the October 7 attack, had “lost contact” as he did not make any contact with the Qatari or Egyptian mediators. i24news channel quoted senior Israeli military officials as saying that special units were assigned to chase senior Hamas leaders, including Sinwar, inside tunnels at depths exceeding 20 meters underground.

Last Wednesday, the Israeli army announced the destruction of a tunnel in the city of Khan Yunis, and said that senior Hamas leaders were using it. The city of Khan Yunis, the birthplace of Sinwar, has witnessed intense bombing in recent weeks as Israel attempts to reach the masterminds responsible for the surprise attack launched by Hamas.

After being transformed into a “tent city,” Rafah, located on the southern tip of the Gaza Strip, is today the center of one of the worst humanitarian disasters in years, according to the Wall Street Journal. More than 1.3 million civilians, equivalent to more than half of the population of a sector, fled the fighting in the Palestinian Strip and gathered in Rafah, which was inhabited by about 300,000 people before the war, amid severe suffering and harsh humanitarian conditions, which led to increased international pressure on Israel, which Its forces are planning a possible ground movement in the border city with Egypt.

Four months after the start of the war in Gaza, many of the city's residents say that they have not received any aid, while some families are sheltering from the rain and cold with plastic sheets hung on the sides of the roads, after selling their tents for dollars to buy food. “We have to buy everything,” says Soha Arafat, who lives in a storage room in Rafah with her husband, five children and three other families. “We pay a lot of money just for food every day. We don’t have cooking gas. When we find firewood, we make a fire to cook the lentils or pasta."

According to the newspaper, aid transfers to the Gaza Strip face a number of obstacles due to the intensification of the war, the closure of the Gaza borders by Israel and Egypt, in addition to the strict inspections and restrictions imposed by Israel on goods heading to the besieged Gaza Strip. The lack of aid is also exacerbated by the large numbers of displaced people and the inability of the United Organizations to meet all needs, in addition to other obstacles related to chaos and the spread of looting in the Gaza Strip, according to the newspaper.

Israel, Egypt and UN organizations say they are doing their best to facilitate emergency handovers, and are exchanging accusations with each other regarding the crisis taking place inside Gaza. Fears are increasing that the Israeli army will launch a ground attack against Hamas members inside the city of Rafah, which Israeli officials say is the last stronghold of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where its fighters are taking shelter among civilians there, according to them. The United States and other European and Arab countries fear that such an operation would lead to large numbers of deaths, put pressure on already scarce aid, and leave displaced Palestinians with nowhere to go.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on the continuation of military operations and said in a statement on Monday that his country “will not waste any opportunity to free more hostages,” considering that “continued military pressure until complete victory” over the Hamas movement is achieved. "Necessary to recover all hostages."

The residents of the Gaza Strip are suffering from “unprecedented” levels of “famine-simulating conditions” as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, according to what the United Nations World Food Program reportedy. About 550,000 people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, while the crisis affects the entire population of the Strip, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Israel insists that it is taking broad measures to protect civilians, but it is forced to carry out military operations in civilian areas where Hamas, which launched the October 7 attack, is active, accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields, which the movement denies.

Finding clean water and food is a daily struggle for the population, who spend most of their days without eating any meal, according to testimonies and reports from the World Food Programme. Residents of Rafah said that the price of flour reaches ten times its price before the war, which prompts many to make bread from grains used to feed animals, while women limit the amount of water they drink to avoid standing in long lines in public toilets.

“I've never seen anything so desperate, so complex and difficult,” says Sam Bloch, director of emergency response at World Central Kitchen, a Washington-based nonprofit that delivers meals in crisis areas. Bloch said that when he arrived in Rafah last December, the city contained trees, but since then almost all of them have been cut down to use in cooking food, adding: “When I left, people were digging the roots of those trees to cook with them and make a cup of tea.”

War Termination

Efforts to reach a new deal to release prisoners became complicated after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected last week a proposal from the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) for a 135-day ceasefire that includes a phased exchange of detainees and prisoners from both sides, and the withdrawal of forces for the end of the occupation of Gaza. Netanyahu described Hamas’ perceptions of the deal as “fake.” Netanyahu stressed that the war will not end until the movement is “destroyed,” and that he will not accept any proposal that would allow it to maintain control over any part of the Gaza Strip , as he claimed.

A meeting was held in Cairo to discuss the truce in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners, with the participation of CIA Director William Burns, Mossad Chief David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and Egyptian officials. Cairo News Channel quoted a high-ranking Egyptian source as saying that the atmosphere of the Cairo meeting was “positive,” indicating that consultations would continue over the next three days.

The Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV channel reported, quoting a leadership source in the movement, that “the attack on Rafah means the destruction of the negotiations that have been going on for weeks,” and that “Netanyahu is trying to evade the obligations of the exchange deal by committing genocide and a new humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah.” Hamas confirms that it still demands that any agreement for detainees include a comprehensive ceasefire that would end the war in Gaza and lead to reconstruction efforts and lifting the siege, but Israel says it will not commit to ending the war as part of any agreement.

The Israeli delegation left the Egyptian capital, Cairo, after participating in talks on the truce in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners, according to what was reported by the Israeli media, which reported major disagreements between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of the security services. Israeli Channel 12 said that the delegation led by Mossad Foreign Intelligence Director David Barnea was leaving Cairo "with no indication of progress."

At the same time, Channel 13 quoted an Israeli official as saying that their delegation’s participation in the Cairo talks was a “courtesy,” in response to the request of US President Joe Biden. The same channel also reported that major disagreements preceded the Israeli delegation’s departure to the Egyptian capital, due to the head of the Mossad and the person in charge of the detainees’ file, General Reserve Nitzan Alon, putting forward the idea of ??submitting new proposals, which Netanyahu, his Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff opposed, according to the channel.

The official Israeli television channel “Kan” also reported that Netanyahu rejected a proposal to exchange prisoners with the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) prepared by the leaders of the Mossad and the Shin Bet. In this regard as well, Israeli Radio said that Netanyahu sent his personal secretary with the Israeli delegation to Cairo “to ensure that the head of the Mossad adheres to his mandate.”

After his meeting with the King of Jordan Monday, US President Joe Biden tweeted on the “X” platform, saying, “I give you my word, I am working day and night to return all detainees to their homes, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, end the terrorist threat, and bring peace to Gaza and Israel, and a lasting peace with... Two states for two peoples." Biden's "ambitious" statements came at a time when ways to reach a new deal to release prisoners became complicated after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected last week a proposal from the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) for a 135-day ceasefire that includes a phased exchange of detainees and prisoners from both sides, and the withdrawal of forces. The eventual occupation of Gaza.

Before a new round of negotiations was held in Cairo, Netanyahu described Hamas’ perceptions of the deal as “fake.” Netanyahu stressed that the war will not end until the movement is “destroyed,” and that he will not accept any proposal that would allow it to maintain control over any part of the Gaza Strip , as he claimed.

While the United States talks about efforts to reach a truce for at least 6 weeks between Hamas and Israel, sources indicate that there is a disagreement regarding the duration and nature of the potential truce, with reports of progress in mediation efforts.

Axios news website quoted officials as saying that US President Joe Biden believes that Israel should show more flexibility in the prisoner exchange issue. According to the same sources, Biden informed Netanyahu that Israel may have to release more prisoners for every Israeli detainee, while the Israeli Prime Minister says that he is ready to release 3 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli, as happened in the previous deal. The sources told Axios that Biden agrees with Netanyahu that Hamas's request to release thousands of prisoners is "exaggerated." Biden had held talks with Netanyahu by phone the day before Sunday, which lasted about 45 minutes.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that Washington is doing everything in its power to "return all kidnapped Israelis to their families." He added that the US administration is working with Egypt and Qatar on a proposal that would lead to the release of the remaining detainees in the Gaza Strip. Blinken said in a press conference at the conclusion of his recent tour in the region, “We had the opportunity to discuss - with the Israeli government - the response sent by Hamas to the proposal drawn up by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to release the remaining detainees and extend the humanitarian truce.”

He added, "What I can tell you is that while there are some clear issues that do not affect Hamas' response, we believe that it creates space to reach an agreement, and we will work on that relentlessly until we get there."

Arab analysts agreed that optimism regarding the Cairo Quartet negotiations regarding the Gaza war is misplaced, amid their assertion that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden are maneuvering and do not want a permanent ceasefire.

Professor of Political Science at An-Najah National University, Dr. Hassan Ayoub, says that optimism is misplaced, especially considering the series of American retreats that were previously issued by Biden and his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken , during the war. He added that the American administration is betting on the Israeli government achieving an achievement on the ground.

Ayoub continued - during his talk on the program “Gaza... What’s next?” In his episode dated (2/13/2024) - the strategic response of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) cornered the Netanyahu government and the Biden administration, indicating that the American administration does not want a negotiating process that ends with a permanent ceasefire, citing the shortening of the proposed truce period to 6 weeks. Instead of more than 100 days.

He stressed that this mechanism will not lead to stopping the war completely, suggesting that the Israeli diplomatic and military pressure “aims to grant legitimacy to a large-scale operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip , as well as to blackmail the resistance and pressure it to reach a deal with a maximum period of 6 weeks.”

He stressed that Netanyahu is buying time, as Israel's most important weapon , to establish a buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip, and to proceed with plans to exclude UNRWA, transfer residents, and empty the Gaza Strip, "therefore he is working to delay or disrupt the agreement on the deal." He warned that the pressures on Washington and Tel Aviv represent a source of strength for the resistance, as well as its ability to withstand and inflict heavy losses on the occupation army and the killings that detained prisoners are exposed to at the hands of the Israeli army, in addition to the approaching date for submitting Israel’s response to the demands of the International Court of Justice, and the pressures of opinion. International year.

However, Ayoub confirms that some regional parties are putting pressure on the resistance in order to soften its position on the siege on Gaza and the return of the population to the north, pointing out that putting Hamas between the options of a bad deal or invading Rafah “is an extremely dangerous matter, and it is a trap set for the resistance. The original is an Arab and international move to deter Israel about it.

In turn, the journalist writer specializing in Israeli affairs, Wadih Awawda, says that there is a gap between the optimistic reports issued by Washington, Cairo, and Tel Aviv, indicating that the Netanyahu government began proposing the so-called responsible deal and the irresponsible deal, coinciding with its exposure to great pressure from the families of the prisoners.

Awawdeh asserts that the gaps are large: “Netanyahu is working to mix accounts and maneuver to prevent any progress in the negotiations, especially the disagreement over the essential clause of stopping war or fighting,” noting that the right-wing government in Israel “has not fulfilled its lust for revenge, and wants to continue teaching the Palestinians a historical lesson after the Al-Aqsa Flood attack.”

He stressed that Israel's attempt to celebrate the liberation of two prisoners from Gaza comes "to compensate for the failure, raise the morale of the army and society, and also prepare public opinion that storming Rafah will not be difficult." He added, "Israeli decision-makers have special calculations, because stopping the war now is a strategic loss for Tel Aviv and threatens the future of the ruling coalition," but he stressed that the military establishment wants calm due to the exhaustion and stress to which the army has been exposed.

The Spanish newspaper El Confidencial published a report confirming that there are five obstacles preventing the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and Israel from reaching a ceasefire agreement. The author of the report, Ignacio Sombrero, before listing the five obstacles, pointed out that the indirect negotiations between the two sides did not stop, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s description of them as “illusory.” He also pointed out that these negotiations are continuing via electronic means through mediators from Egypt , the United States and Qatar , saying that more than 4 months after the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, Israel has not yet fully achieved its goals and it does not appear that it will achieve them.

He explained that the proposed agreement prepared in Paris stipulates, at a minimum, a humanitarian truce in 3 stages, the first period starting for 3 weeks and lasting in total for 135 days, during which a group of 132 Israeli prisoners will be released in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

1. The first of the five obstacles is that the Israeli Cabinet believes that the number of people Hamas is demanding to be released from Israeli prisons - i.e. 1,500 - is exaggerated. Hamas wants these three series of humanitarian truces to lead to a final ceasefire. On the other hand, Netanyahu refuses to do so because he wants to be free to resume the attack if he deems it necessary, and the Qatari and Egyptian mediators have told Hamas that when these truces end, international pressure will make it almost impossible for Tel Aviv to return to war.
2. Hamas demands that the Israeli army allow, in the first stage, free movement within Gaza and the return of 1.5 million civilians to the devastated north,
3. Hamas wants Israel to prevent the entry of settlers accompanied by the occupation forces into the so-called “Temple Mount” in Jerusalem , which effectively means storming the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque , as the Israeli government allowed them to do these raids starting in 2003.
4. Hamas also demands that all Gaza borders be opened for humanitarian aid to enter before the Gaza Strip is reconstructed, which could take at least three years. For its part, Israel wants to impose its control over what enters Gaza by land to prevent the entry of weapons through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. In parallel, Tel Aviv and Cairo will have to agree on how the Israelis will be able to monitor the tunnels between the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza. The writer commented that it is possible to reopen the Erez crossing , which is the border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, temporarily, but in any case the Palestinian labor force cannot return to work there.
5. finally the occupation’s withdrawal from the entire Strip, but the Israeli government is only prepared to withdraw its army from the main urban centers.

Sombrero indicated that Netanyahu would rather launch a major attack on Rafah and achieve complete victory than return the hostages, which is the preferred option by the majority of his government consisting of hard-line ministers, but not by public opinion. He added that an opinion poll published last week revealed that 51% of Israelis prioritize rescuing hostages, while only 36% prefer eliminating Hamas. The writer said that Netanyahu did not specify when the ground attack on Rafah should begin, and that Hamas's only reaction was to announce that any "large-scale military aggression" would put an immediate end to any negotiations.

Operational Update

the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, said that its fighters detonated an anti-personnel device against an Israeli force of 5 soldiers and clashed with a force of 7 soldiers from zero distance east of Khan Yunis, leaving them dead and wounded, the IDF announced that 18 soldiers were wounded in the ongoing battles in the Gaza Strip during The last 24 hours.

At dawn, the Israeli army stormed cities and towns in the occupied West Bank , resulting in the death of a Palestinian and the injury of others, according to eyewitnesses and Palestinian sources. The IDF carried out incursions in Ramallah and Al-Bireh (centre), Qalqilya (north), the city of Jenin and its camp (north), towns in the Hebron governorate (south), and a number of camps and towns in the Nablus governorate (north).

Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the occupation forces stormed, from several directions, the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank, and besieged the entrance to its camp. They also stormed areas in Hebron and raided homes there. The occupation forces conducted their patrols in Haifa Street and Al-Zahraa Street in Jenin, accompanied by bulldozers. They also surrounded the entrance to the Jenin camp, amidst gunfire with resistance fighters and intense flights of reconnaissance planes in the sky of the city. Sirens sounded in the city and its camp.

Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the occupation forces withdrew completely from the city of Jenin and its camp after a military operation that lasted 6 hours. Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the occupation forces also stormed the city of Qalqilya from its northern axis and besieged several neighborhoods.

In Hebron, the occupation forces stormed the town of Beit Ummar, and the areas of Ashkarah, south of the city of Yatta, and north of Hebron, where they conducted their patrols, raided citizens’ homes, searched them, and tampered with their contents. They also stormed the town of Al-Samu, south of Hebron, and raided a number of homes.

Settlers also attacked sheep herders in the village of Susiya in Masafer Yatta and prevented them from reaching their lands. They also searched a number of homes and destroyed the furniture inside, resulting in material damage to the property.

In Nablus, Al Jazeera's correspondent said that a group of settlers stormed the town of Huwwara, south of the city, and spread out in several neighborhoods, attacking Palestinians and their property, and burning several vehicles and homes, amid tight security protection by the occupation forces. They also chanted racist slogans before they withdrew from the town.

The settlers - under the protection of the occupation army - also attacked the town of Asira Al-Qibliya, south of the city of Nablus, assaulted residents, and burned a car and parts of two houses on the outskirts of the town.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that a number of Palestinians suffered varying injuries and cases of suffocation as a result of the occupation forces firing live bullets and gas bombs at them.

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement , reported that its fighters set up an ambush in the Ma'an area, southeast of Khan Yunis, killing and wounding members of an Israeli force. It stated that its fighters surprised the force's members with machine guns, anti-personnel shells, fortifications, and explosive devices, causing deaths and injuries among their ranks.

Al Jazeera Net polled the opinions of a number of analysts and experts to clarify the military and political goals that the Israeli army seeks to achieve by invading the city of Rafah, and the extent of its realistic success in achieving these goals.

The military and strategic expert, Brigadier General Elias Hanna, said, “The Rafah region has a different reality due to the geographical location first, the human structure second, and the Israeli mind third.” He added that Netanyahu linked the Rafah invasion to the success of the military operation in general. “If he is allowed to do so, he may succeed, and here he will have achieved his primary goal. If he is not allowed, he will blame those who were not allowed to go to Rafah.”

Meanwhile, Hatem Al-Falahi, a military and strategic expert at the Al-Rafidain Center for Strategic Studies (Rasam), said that the Netanyahu government is trying to go to Rafah for several reasons:

1. Complete control of the Rafah crossing and the Salah al-Din Corridor, an important area whose control would completely strangle Hamas.
2. Israel seeks to completely close the door to what it calls “providing Hamas with weapons that it is now using in the resistance.” This is a direct accusation against Egypt that it was allowing the smuggling of weapons to the movement.
3. Completion of the process of displacing the population of the Gaza Strip abroad, and this was a fundamental reason for the military campaign launched by the occupation army on the Strip since the seventh of last October.
4. Only the Rafah region remains to achieve the two goals announced by the Netanyahu government: releasing prisoners held by Hamas and eliminating the movement’s leaders.

As for the writer and political analyst Majid Ibrahim, he believes that the reasons that prompted the occupation army to enter the city of Rafah are due to the fact that “the Zionist aggression wants to complete what it started in the north and center of the Gaza Strip, and now wants to complete it in the south in the city of Rafah,” which he says has 4 Hamas brigades and wants to eliminate on her.

Ibrahim also explained that Netanyahu wants to achieve a military achievement in order to confront his political opponents who are lurking around him, in addition to the growing demands of the families of the prisoners, and his assurance to them that military force is what paves the way for the release of the prisoners and not anything else, and also in light of the street’s thirst for revenge since the events of the Al-Aqsa flood.

But Brigadier General Hanna returns and imposes a set of obstacles that restrict the Israeli army’s ability to invade Rafah, including the density of the civilian population in this area is estimated at about 1.5 million people. Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army to develop a military plan to evacuate the displaced.

Here, Hanna raises a number of questions that cannot be achieved realistically, as he says:

1. Who will evacuate this population density? Is it the same army? He answers that the Israeli army is an enemy of the population that is not loyal to it and therefore cannot evacuate such a large number.
2. Will the “Fatah regime” that used to rule Gaza do this? He answers that this is not possible because its employees would also be targets for Israel.
3. Is there an international body that will do this? He answers: This has not yet become clear, because the matter requires time and is surrounded by many complications.
4. Is there an area with infrastructure now ready to receive this population density? This is also not currently available.

Al-Falahi pointed out that the announcement of the campaign targeting the Rafah area is the same as the exchange deal that is being prepared now. If the objectives of this invasion are achieved, Netanyahu will not be forced to conclude this deal, and there will be no negotiations in the first place. However, if he fails to achieve these objectives, he will be Forced to make a deal with Hamas.

He added that the occupation army is carrying out direct aerial bombardment of the Rafah area in order to prepare the theater for military operations in this area, and this shows that Netanyahu is not serious about concluding any deal with Hamas during this period.

He said, "I think that the indicators of what is happening now regarding the details of the prisoner exchange deal indicate that the Western countries do not want to give anything to the Hamas leadership. They do not want a complete ceasefire, but only a temporary truce." Therefore, they do not work according to the principle of "all for all", but rather "they want the deals to be according to what happened in the last period, that is, for every one of the prisoners released by Hamas, in return there will be approximately 30 Palestinian detainees in the occupation prisons."

The researcher at the Rasam Center believes that "this deal is not sufficient for the resistance factions that endured this great destruction and these very large losses, and for this reason it is clear that they are not serious about concluding a real deal with Hamas." But Ibrahim believes that the operations in Rafah “come to try to improve Netanyahu’s negotiating position, in light of the prisoner exchange and ceasefire negotiations that reached the stage of the Paris Agreement,” and also in light of Hamas’ response to this document and its demands related to relief, aid, and the release of Palestinian detainees.

He also pointed out that Netanyahu will eventually be forced to concede after he fails in his mission in Rafah, and "he will be forced to seriously negotiate a ceasefire deal with increasing American pressure on him and internal and international pressure, especially since his continued targeting of civilians will increase the world's discontent with him."

As for Hanna, he says, “I believe that what is happening now is intimidation and a pressure operation to force the resistance to change its positions on negotiations,” and therefore the current bombing and targeting “is considered a special operation that Israel considered to be the liberation of two hostages, and it remains a simple special operation within a complex and large issue, and in preparation.” For the operation to release the two hostages, I do not believe that it was preparation for the major operation that Netanyahu spoke about.”

Regarding the American position on the Israeli escalation against the city of Rafah, Ibrahim said that Washington wants Netanyahu to “complete this final stage before the month of Ramadan,” and although it reveals objections to what the occupation army is doing, “it remains ineffective and does not go beyond the media and its goal is internal consumption as a result of the president’s calculations.” American Joe Biden of the Interior Ministry", while he himself gave Netanyahu the green light to invade the entire sector.

Regarding the Egyptian position, Ibrahim said that he "still adheres to his rejection of displacement, but at the same time, unfortunately, he does not succeed in exerting real pressure on the Zionist entity not to invade Rafah, and what this may represent - as some say - as a threat to Egyptian national security."

Not far from that, Al-Falahi said, “The United States gave the green light for this military operation, provided that there are guarantees regarding civilians.” There is no doubt that Netanyahu will give these guarantees to the American president, “because Washington is the main supporter of the Israeli government and is the one preventing the Security Council from Issuing any ceasefire decision throughout the past period.”

Al-Falahi concludes, "So, it is satisfied with the military operation, and what is happening in the region is taking place with very large American support and Western support, including France, Germany, Italy, and Britain."

But Brigadier General Hanna has another perception, as he says that “at the geopolitical level, Netanyahu needs approval from the sponsor, that is, from the United States,” and therefore its position “began to change somewhat from time to time during the past two days,” and contact took place between the president and Netanyahu. I do not think that Biden gave him that green light. Rather, he warned him of the consequences of entering Rafah, and therefore if he attacked, it would harm the relationship with America.

He also pointed out that Israel needs the Egyptian position given the common borders, including the movement of entry and exit of fighters, weapons, or even relief aid. There is also the Camp David Accords between Cairo and Tel Aviv, which is very important to Israel and must be preserved.

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

Political advisor to the international humanitarian aid organization Oxfam, Dirk Jan Galving, said that European countries must implement the decision of the Dutch Court of Appeal regarding stopping the sale of parts of the American F-35 fighter jet to Israel. The case concerns spare parts owned by the United States and stored in the Netherlands before being sent to partner countries, including Israel, under export agreements. Oxfam is one of the parties to the case in which the Dutch Court of Appeal issued a decision yesterday, Monday, suspending the sale of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, due to their “violation of international humanitarian law.”

The Dutch court considered that Israel did not adequately take into account the damage caused to civilians in its war on the Gaza Strip, adding that it ordered a halt to the export of F-35 fighter parts to Israel within 7 days. Anadolu Agency quoted Galving as saying that the lawsuit against the Dutch government aims “to ensure their compliance with their obligations under international law,” and stressed that “the parts presented by the Dutch government contribute to a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”

He considered that all countries are obligated "to fulfill their legal obligations regarding the impact of the decisions of the Court of Appeal in The Hague on sales of fighter parts, and to comply with the Geneva Convention and the Arms Trade Agreement." He added, "All of Europe must take a common position in line with the decision. The conclusions reached by the Dutch court must also affect other countries. Other European countries should, in principle, adopt the decision of the court in the Netherlands to suspend sales due to violations of international humanitarian law, and in terms of Technically, all European countries must adhere to the same legal rules.”

Regarding the consequences of the decision, Galving said, “I believe that this decision will put pressure on Israel and put an end to violations of international humanitarian law.” Oxfam Director Michel Servais expressed his hope that "this ruling will strengthen international law in other countries so that the residents of Gaza can enjoy the protection of international law."

Dutch government officials stated that they would appeal to the Dutch Supreme Court against the decision, in line with instructions from Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. The statement stated that the government believes that “the distribution of spare parts for American F-35 aircraft is not in violation of the law,” and confirmed that it will conduct consultations with “international partners.”

The Dutch authorities confirmed last November that it was not clear whether they even had the authority to interfere in the deliveries, which are part of a US-run operation to supply parts to all companies in the F-35 program. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35 aircraft, said in a statement that it is working to evaluate the repercussions of the Dutch court’s decision on its supply chain, but added that it is “ready to support the US government and its allies if necessary.”

The South African government said - today, Tuesday - that it has submitted an urgent request to the International Court of Justice to use its full authority in order to stop the military operation that Israel plans to launch in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Last month, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures in its power to prevent its forces from committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as part of a case brought by South Africa.

The South African presidency said in a statement, “The South African government, in a request submitted to the court yesterday (February 12), expressed its deep concern that the unprecedented military attack on Rafah has already led to widespread killing, harm and destruction and will lead to more.” The statement added that the attack on Rafah would represent a serious and irreparable violation of the Genocide Convention and the court’s decision issued on January 26.

Amnesty International warned of a real and imminent risk of genocide threatening the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip , as there is nowhere for civilians to go to escape the bombing. The international organization said - in a post on its account on the X platform - that the population of Rafah has multiplied five times since the start of the Israeli attack on Gaza on the seventh of last October.

The Israeli army is preparing to launch a ground operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, after forcing residents of the northern Gaza Strip to seek refuge there to escape the battles in the northern and central Gaza Strip. On Sunday evening, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that the Israeli army had approved an operational plan to launch a ground operation in Rafah, which is the last refuge for the displaced in the stricken sector.

Amnesty International confirmed that there is a real and imminent risk of genocide in Rafah, as there is nowhere for civilians to go to escape the bombing. On Monday morning, the Israeli army launched a series of violent raids on various areas of the city, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, including children and women, in clear disregard for international warnings about the consequences of invading the city, which is crowded with displaced people.

Many countries and organizations called on the Israeli authorities to stop their military operations in the city of Rafah , south of the Gaza Strip , and warned of the dangerous repercussions of the imminent attack on the city, which is filled with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who have taken refuge there due to the Israeli bombing and massacres against residents in the central and northern Gaza Strip.

China called on Israel to quickly stop its military operation in the city of Rafah, and warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the city if the fighting continued. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "China is closely following the situation in the Rafah area, and opposes and condemns actions that harm civilians and violate international law."

For his part, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the Israeli attacks on the city of Rafah, describing them as brutal and terrible. He said in a tweet on his account on the Canel said that 220 civilians were killed in the Gaza Strip within one day due to Israeli attacks, and he expressed his condemnation in the strongest terms for what is happening in Gaza.

In Germany, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her deep concern over Israel's announcement of its intention to launch a major military attack on Rafah. “I am very concerned about the Israeli government’s announcement of a large-scale ground military operation in Rafah,” Birbock said in a press conference on Tuesday.

In turn, Pakistan said that Tel Aviv is violating the measures ordered by the International Court of Justice last month, aimed at protecting the residents of the Gaza Strip from genocide, and expressed its condemnation of the Israeli attack on Rafah.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday, Monday, that the Rafah invasion will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and threaten efforts to reach a possible ceasefire. Islamabad urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take urgent measures to immediately end the Israeli aggression and put an end to the ongoing Israeli crimes against humanity.

In the same context, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, expressed his deep concern about the expected ground invasion by Israeli forces in the city of Rafah. The Public Prosecutor reiterated his emphasis on the importance of adhering to the laws of armed conflict, stressed the need to adhere to the rules of international laws governing wars, and warned against non-adherence to them. Khan noted that despite his continued messages, Israel's behavior and practices have not changed, and stressed that his office "is actively investigating any alleged crimes with the aim of holding violators of international law accountable."

Axis of Resistance

Highlighting Iran’s upper hand in all arenas of confrontation with the enemy, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps cautioned the adversaries that they will receive a major setback if they take any action against Iranian vessels. In a meeting with the retired and incumbent IRGC commanders and officials, held in Tehran on Tuesday, Major General Hossein Salami said the IRGC and Basij forces of Iran have checkmated the enemies in all arenas.

The IRGC has gained such great power that it emerges victorious in every battlefield, either the military war theater or the cyberwar against the enemy, he added. “If a war of ships erupts and they (enemies) hit our vessels, we will definitely hit the same number, or even more, of theirs,” the general warned. He also noted that the IRGC is capable of “forming power externally” and defeating the enemy in the exterior battlefields.

Highlighting Iran’s success in foiling the “international sedition” that emerged amid the riots of autumn 2022, Major General Salami said the IRGC has even disappointed the enemy’s plans for poverty in Iran and has engaged in schemes to address underdevelopment. In remarks in August 2023, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei described the IRGC as the biggest anti-terrorism organization in the world, saying the efficient and independent entity can carry out missions many armies of the world are incapable of doing. The Leader also commended the IRGC for its exceptional efforts, noting that the elite force effectively thwarted all those crises, safeguarding the Iranian people from their repercussions.

The United States lacks the sincerity in contribution to the political settlement of the war against Gaza, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said. In a meeting with his Qatari counterpart in Doha on Monday night, Amirabdollahian hailed the growing trend of bilateral relations between Iran and Qatar. He noted that cooperation and consultations between Iran and Qatar regarding the regional developments are constructive and serve the mutual interests of the two countries as well as the collective stability and security of the region.

Referring to the shared view of Tehran and Doha regarding the need to immediately end the Zionist regime’s war on Gaza and its genocidal campaign in the region, Amirabdollahian enumerated Iran’s latest diplomatic moves to achieve that goal. He also denounced the Zionist regime’s threat to launch a ground attack on Rafah, saying the US government announces plans on preventing the spillover of the war across the region but at the same time, it has not reduced its arms supplies to the Zionist regime, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.

The top Iranian diplomat added that reaching an agreement and a political solution to end the war on Gaza can come to fruition, provided that America chooses between the continuation of the war and a ceasefire in action, and not in words. He also praised the diplomatic efforts of Qatar in order to achieve a ceasefire and end the war on Gaza, noting that the US government is not sincere in helping find a political solution to the war.

He emphasized that Hamas and the Palestinian resistance showed their goodwill and prudence in sticking to the political solution, but it is clear that Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, still prioritizes the option of war, and the US government also practically supports the war.

Allied for Democracy

Robert House, a legal expert at New York University, believes that the agreement means an end to hostilities, and that this will lead to elections in Israel, which means an end to Netanyahu’s political career, so he will never agree to stop the war.

Martin Indyk - who is responsible for the peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians during the era of former US President Barack Obama and currently an expert at the Council on Foreign Relations - also attacked Netanyahu. He said in a tweet on the “X” platform, “Netanyahu’s insistence on absolute victory over Hamas, his rejection of its conditions for exchanging detainees, and his downplaying of the importance of returning them all indicate that he is no longer looking for a deal with the movement.”

Meanwhile, the families of those still detained and prisoners of war are appealing to the Israeli Prime Minister to approve the exchange deal.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

The American CNN network quoted a senior official in President Joe Biden's administration as saying that the rescue operation of two Israeli detainees in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip , Sunday, may have led to the death of about 100 Palestinians, "and we are concerned about it." The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that Tel Aviv informed Cairo during the liberation of the two detainees in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and assured it that the matter was an isolated event, and not the beginning of a comprehensive process.

For its part, the White House expressed its happiness with the success of the Israeli army in releasing the two Israeli detainees, and added that the crisis will not end in the Gaza Strip until the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas ) releases all detainees. The White House confirmed that US President Joe Biden and members of his team continue to work around the clock to ensure and secure the release of detainees. "We cannot confirm the killing of civilians in Rafah, but we do not want to see any civilian deaths, whether Palestinians or Israelis, and President Biden was clear about this. We want the war in Gaza to stop, and the first steps for that are an extended truce, the release of all detainees, and the entry of aid."

On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups present in the Gaza Strip carried out an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 persons, injuring thousands and abducting some 240 people, many of whom continue to be held hostage. It was the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war. Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of missiles at Israel Following this attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, by land, air and sea.

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."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant considered 05 February 2024 that half the number of Hamas militants were killed or seriously injured by Israeli army forces.

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 28,4730 martyrs, "including 12,300 dead children, 8,400 women, 340 medical personnel, 46 civil defense, and 124 journalists." He pointed out that "7,000 people are missing, 70% of whom are children and women, The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 68,146. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 8,000, including including 4,700 children and women, amid expectations that the toll will be double thi figures.

The IDF intensified its military operations in the West Bank, and increased the pace of incursions and raids into cities, towns, and camps, resulting in the martyrdom of 394 Palestinians, the injury of about 3,950, and the arrest of 5,780, according to official HAMAS sources. As of 17 January 2023, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank led to the death of 360 Palestinians, the injury of nearly 2,200, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the arrest of about 6,000, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.

More than 130 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon during exchanges of bombing operations with Israel.

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 total announced number of Israeli officers and soldiers killed had risen to 569 since the start of the war on October 7, including 236 killed since the ground invasion as a result of the ongoing clashes with the Palestinian resistance. Among them were at least 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 9 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.

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.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that 29 of the army's deaths were caused by "friendly fire" and operational incidents since the start of the ground war in Gaza, late last October. The Israeli authority explained that "18 army soldiers were killed by friendly fire, two were killed as a result of gunfire (without explanation), and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed in ammunition, weapons, or run-over accidents." The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed that 15 soldiers were killed in the Strip without their bodies being found.

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.

It was announced that soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip battles numbered to 2,864 since the beginning of the war, including 1,296 who had been wounded since the start of the ground attack on October 27, 2023.

The Israeli army reported that 407 who are still receiving treatment for their injuries in the Gaza battles, and the condition of 48 of them is serious. The number of injured among the Israeli army since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip on October 27 included 602 minor cases, 430 moderate cases, and 264 critical cases.

The Israeli army published new data about those wounded in the military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army announces that 540 soldiers were injured in the Gaza StripThe Gaza government announces that the Israeli army committed a “horrific massacre” in an area it claimed was safe According to army data, 540 soldiers, including 27 seriously injured, were injured in operational incidents since the start of the bombing of the Gaza Strip. There were also 21 accidental shooting incidents in the Gaza Strip, 54 bilateral shooting incidents and 31 traffic accidents. In addition, 388 incidents occurred, including ramming anti-tank rifles, anti-aircraft guns, weapons and machine guns.

At least 14,070 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV.

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.

An estimate by the Israeli Ministry of Defense expected that the number of soldiers with disabilities in the war taking place in the Gaza Strip since October 7 of last year would reach 12,500 soldiers. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense has dealt with 3,400 soldiers who were classified as disabled in the army since last October 7.

The Israeli army revealed that about 9,000 of its soldiers have received “psychological assistance” since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, and about a quarter of them have not returned to combat. This came according to a new statement revealed by the Army Medical Corps, according to Channel 12 and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the statement, nearly 9,000 soldiers have applied for psychological assistance since the beginning of the war, and approximately a quarter of them have not returned to combat.

The statement continued, "In total, about 13,000 regular and reserve soldiers required accompaniment or medical treatment at some level during the fighting, and thousands of them were injured in the battles."

Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel “cannot represent the truth,” due to a discrepancy between the Israeli army’s data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself.

In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the “Best Saying” program on RT channel, “The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive.”

He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation."

He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear."

Hostages

Israel announced 12 February 2024 that the total number of prisoners that the army was able to recover in exchange deals and through military operations is 126 people, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers.

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza.

Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 20 out of 136 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. By another count, 132 of them are still being held in Gaza, and 25 of them have been confirmed dead. 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.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on 07 February 2024 that 31 hostages detained in Gaza had died. He added in a press conference, "We informed 31 families that their detained relatives had died, and thus we announce their deaths."

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 Al-Qassam Brigades announced on 11 February 2024 that the continuous Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip during the past 96 hours led to the death of 2 prisoners and the serious injury of 8 others.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed that about 11,000 arrests were carried out by the Israeli army during the year 2023 in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, in addition to arrests from the Gaza Strip before the seventh of last October. The number of people arrested by the Israelis in the West Bank since that date has exceeded 7,000. The total number of prisoners in Israeli prisons exceeds 9,000 Palestinians. Palestinian prisoner institutions said 661 were classified as “unlawful combatants” from Gaza, and this is the number available only as a clear given.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said that there has been a significant increase in the number of Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli prisons since October 7, with 3,484 detainees recorded, including children and women. The club added in a statement that "this number was not actually recorded even during the years of the 1987 uprising."

Israel said on 14 January 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, over 2,960 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, over 1,350 of whom are affiliated with Hamas. On 08 January 2024 it was reported that more than 1,350 wanted persons had been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, more than 870 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

The institutions added in the statement that “the occupation arrested 210 women during the aforementioned period, and this statistic includes women who were arrested from the territories in 1948, and more than 355 children,” pointing out that “the outcome of the arrest campaigns includes all those who were arrested from homes, and through military checkpoints, Those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were detained.” It explained that "the number of arrests among journalists reached 50, of whom 35 remain in detention, and 20 of them were transferred to administrative detention."

The announced numbers of detainees do not include those who were detained from Gaza since the start of the operation in the Gaza Strip, as there is no accurate census of these numbers.

Israel has rejected international legal adaptations since 1967, and has treated the Palestinians as criminals, and tried them before military courts and not as prisoners of war. Because the POW is not tried, but is released when the war stops, or as a result of a political agreement.

But international humanitarian law sets clear conditions relating to the Palestinians, whether as prisoners of war or organized groups with one leadership and carrying a unified slogan, and these conditions apply to Palestinian resistance fighters, specifically armed groups. International law, through the Third Geneva Conventions, which relate to prisoners of war and armed conflicts, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which relates to civilians under occupation; Provide full protection to Palestinian prisoners and groups, including resistance factions.

The obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities became very different after the seventh of last October. They decided to cancel all trials in order to double the sentences issued against detainees, and now The scope of arguments before lawyers is very limited, due to military orders, and not according to legal data.