Operation Iron Swords - Day 140 - 23 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 biblical holidays for the Jews this year intersect with the second week of Ramadan and Tarawih prayers, which may open the door to a new battle in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Ramadan is celebrated Mar 10, 2024 – Apr 9, 2024. Tarawih, also known as Taraweeh, is a voluntary (nafl) night prayer performed by Muslims during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Tarawih prayers are a sunnah of the Prophet, which means that it was his practice to perform them. Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the survival of the Jewish people from annihilation in the 5th century BCE. The story is told in the Book of Esther and is known as the Feast of Lots. Purim dates are March 23–24, 2024.

An Israeli official told the Hebrew Channel 12: Our goal is to reach a prisoner exchange deal before the month of Ramadan.

Crowds of Israelis continued obstructing the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing from the Israeli side, and preventing the passage of aid trucks. The media advisor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ), Adnan Abu Hasna, said what increases the depth of the crisis are the restrictions imposed by Israel on the entry of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip. He says that Israel rejected 51% of the humanitarian convoys prepared by UNRWA and partner UN organizations. According to this official’s confirmation, aid trucks are piled up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, while Israeli demonstrators are protesting their passage on the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom and Al-Auja crossings, pointing out that during the last 10 days the rate of entry of trucks has not exceeded 60 per day, and it is required of UNRWA distributed it to 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, “which is impossible.”

The spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Raed Al-Nims, blames the Israeli occupation for the serious repercussions of the scarcity of aid coming to the Strip. He told Al Jazeera Net that this is due to the meticulous inspection procedures that consume a long time on the Israeli side, causing insufficient quantities to enter. The amounts of aid that the occupation allows to enter are not commensurate with the large needs of the residents of the Gaza Strip, as a result of the siege and the continuation of the aggression, and the settlers’ attacks on aid convoys and preventing their access to the crossings, according to Al-Nims.

Among the repercussions of the starvation policy pursued by the occupation, according to the spokesman for the Red Crescent, stand out are scenes of citizens stampeding on aid trucks to obtain what they can afford for their families and children.

Even before the outbreak of war, 500 to 600 trucks entered the Gaza Strip daily. Director General of the HAMAS Government Information Office, Ismail Al-Thawabta, told Al Jazeera Net, “The occupation began using the weapon of starvation and thirst in a clear war crime within a series of war crimes and genocide, as not a single grain of wheat entered the Gaza Strip until the humanitarian truce agreement came (last November).” After the calm, some trucks began to enter with a very small number that does not cover 3% of the population’s needs.”

The government official confirms that the occupation aims, with its starvation policy, "to strike the foundations of steadfastness and life and to fight our people for their livelihood, and thus to strike the popular incubator and the societal fabric." Al-Thawabta says, "What makes us surprised is that there are more than 500,000 tons of aid piled up on the other side of the crossing, but unfortunately it does not enter." He repeated his appeal "to the brothers in the Arab Republic of Egypt to open the Rafah crossing so that it can be a humanitarian corridor for the entry of aid to the people of the Gaza Strip who are consumed by hunger and thirst."

The head of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory, Rami Abdo, told Al Jazeera Net that Israel's starvation of civilians in the Gaza Strip will have long-term and irreversible effects, in light of international reports and experts confirming that the number of victims of starvation and the diseases associated with it may exceed the number of those killed by bombs and missiles.

Abdo relied on international reports and studies about the deteriorating reality, as 53% of Gazans suffer from an extreme emergency of acute malnutrition, while 26% of them, or about half a million people, suffer from famine and an increase in deaths resulting from hunger, malnutrition, or diseases. associated with them.

Political analyst Ibrahim Al-Madhoun agrees with those before him that the occupation is waging a war of starvation parallel to the military war, and the necessities of life have become almost non-existent, especially in Gaza City and its north. He said that this policy is one of the "killing tools" used by the occupation, "and today in Gaza, whoever did not die from the missile died of hunger, thirst, or illness due to the lack of medicines."

UNRWA said Hamas-run police stopped escorting convoys after Israeli strikes, and videoe has shown gunmen, believed to members of Hamas, steal trucks delivering humanitarian aid from Egypt. On 20 February 2024, the UN World Food Program paused even limited deliveries to northern Gaza, two days after they restarted, as their convoys faced crowds trying to climb aboard trucks, gunfire in Gaza City, the seizure of flour and the beating of a truck driver.

Before the war Gaza relied on 500 trucks with supplies entering daily, But according to the UN, from February 9-20, the daily average fell to just 57 trucks. “We are ready and willing to facilitate the entry of tens, if not hundreds of trucks every day,” Colonel Moshe Tetro, Head of Israel’s Coordination and Liasion Administration for Gaza, told a news briefing. “The bottleneck is not on the Israeli side.”

The continuing combat made it nearly impossible to distribute aid relief much beyond Rafah in the south of the Strip, where well over 1.2 million people now shelter in dangerously overcrowded conditions under plastic sheeting. “Areas beyond Rafah, it’s almost catastrophic assistance,” said WFP's regional Senior Communications Officer and Spokesperson Abeer Atefa, said 18 January 2024, amid “intense” Israeli bombardment of the occupied territory and rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian armed groups.

Catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity are reportedly intensifying across Gaza, with Save the Children reporting that families are forced to “forage for scraps or food left by rats and eating leaves out of desperation to survive,” amid rapidly declining aid supplies. Without an increased access to adequate food, water, sanitation, hygiene and comprehensive health and nutrition services for children and families, the risk of famine is projected to increase, the organization added. People in Rafah are reported to be stopping aid trucks to take food, highlighting the severity of their desperation and hunger. There is an urgent need to augment the fleet of delivery trucks to ensure the entire population's nutritional requirements are met and to improve healthcare services.

Ongoing airstrikes and heavy fighting in Gaza continue to affect the flow of food supply, posing challenges for the conduct of safe and efficient humanitarian operations. Frequent border closures, restrictions, and security concerns hinder the ability to ensure a consistent and dependable food supply.

The escalation of hostilities has substantially damaged critical infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water supply systems, exacerbating severe impediments to the efficient distribution of food.

TRTworld reported 23 February 2024 that satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies and released on February 21 show hundreds of humanitarian lorries unable to access besieged Gaza and queuing at the Rafah border crossing. The flow of aid entering Gaza has dried up to around 57 trucks a day on average in the past 12 days, according to the UN. Only four trucks could cross the border on February 17 compared to 500 before the war and 200 last month. The other crossing, Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem, has also been lately disrupted by Israeli extremists opposed to aid for Gaza. The leaders of several UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have urged Israel to provide food and medical supplies to Gaza, warning that civilians there are in "extreme peril" and that "famine is looming".

Humanitarian aid including only food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment is routed to Egypt and then forwarded to undergo Israeli security screening at either Nitzana or Kerem Shalom Crossings. From there, UN aid is sent to the Gaza Strip via Kerem Shalom, and the rest is sent to Gaza via the Rafah crossing in Egypt. A humanitarian aid delivery channel via Jordan is operational, and additional delivery channels are in the planning process. The volume of humanitarian aid is determined, among other factors, by the ability of humanitarian organizations within the Gaza Strip to absorb the aid.

Israel reported "25 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were inspected at Nitzana and transferred to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing yesterday (Feb. 22). Yesterday, (Feb. 22) 4 tankers of cooking gas designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, have entered the Gaza Strip.... 20 bakeries are operational in Gaza, providing over 2.5 million breads, rolls, and pita breads a day for the local population. Over the last 2 weeks, the number of operational bakeries went up from 10, to 12, to 15 and now to 20,..."

War Termination

There is no end to the war in sight, as both sides still see the other as an “existential threat,” and there is no clear path to any kind of “permanent peace” between them.

An official Egyptian source confirmed the end of the Paris meetings between Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel, regarding the truce in the Gaza Strip, and that efforts will continue during the current week. He added that there are new signs of optimism about the possibility of moving forward towards starting serious negotiations. Earlier today, talks began in Paris aimed at establishing a truce in Gaza to stop the fighting in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, and to release Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas, amid optimism from the mediators that they can move forward towards starting negotiations on Gaza. On Friday, Reuters quoted a source familiar with the talks as saying that the ceasefire talks began with the head of the Israeli Mossad meeting separately with each party, including Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

The newspapers "Haaretz" and "Yedioth Ahronoth" indicated that there are common interests for all parties in such a deal, including Hamas' desire to prevent or postpone the invasion of Rafah that Netanyahu and Gantz are threatening, and Israel's desire to prevent the "unity of the squares" scenario in Ramadan, prevent a regional war, and restore hostages, and the concern of Arab countries and the United States about the expansion of the war during Ramadan to other regions.

A senior Israeli official clarified to the Hebrew Channel N12: "There is optimism, but we are only at the initial stage. The attempt is to produce a basic outline with clear criteria of what is being discussed and what is not. There is no imminent deal yet, but the goal is to bring one before the month of Ramadan begins." Ramadan is celebrated Mar 10, 2024 – Apr 9, 2024. The mandate received by the Israeli delegation is broader than that received by an Israeli delegation in the past. There is Israeli flexibility regarding days of respite and humanitarian aid. An issue on which Israel will not agree is the cessation of hostilities. In addition, Hamas demands agreements regarding the restoration of the Strip and the return of the residents to the north.

Informed sources in the Hamas movement said in statements to Al-Sharq that the movement showed flexibility in the talks. The sources explained that the movement showed flexibility on three points: the duration of the ceasefire in Gaza, the number of prisoners of the first phase of the possible exchange agreement with Israel, and the limits of the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, in order to reach a cessation of war agreement.

Hamas is adamant that the first phase of the agreement will include an Israeli withdrawal from the heart of the cities in the Gaza Strip - which will allow residents to return to the area. It is claimed that senior Egyptian officials conveyed to Hamas Israel's willingness to agree to the removal of the barriers that split the Strip. The sources clarified: We have not backed down from the demand to release serious prisoners with long prison sentences.

The Hamas source said, "The movement's leadership does not mind a truce lasting only 6 weeks, at every stage," and attributed this to "making it easier for mediators to remove pretexts from the occupation and push toward reaching an agreement to stop the aggression." The source, who requested to remain anonymous, added, “Hamas also showed flexibility regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners who will be released in the first stage, so that it waived its requirement to release 1,500 prisoners in exchange for about 40 Israeli detainees of women, children, and elderly civilians.” Subjecting the number of prisoners to negotiation.”

The source did not clarify the number of Palestinian prisoners that Hamas would agree to release in the first stage, in exchange for 40 Israeli civilians who have been detained by the movement since last October 7. The source indicated that the movement expressed its willingness to show flexibility with regard to its agreement to postpone negotiations on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the north and east of the Gaza Strip, as well as Khan Yunis in the south, but it reiterated its “commitment that the first phase of the agreement include a withdrawal from the heart of the cities, allowing the return of the displaced from the south of the Strip.” To Gaza City and the cities of the north.

The source stated that Egyptian officials “conveyed to Hamas Israel’s readiness to agree to the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, as well as to agree to remove the military barriers that cut off the Gaza Strip, especially on Salah al-Din Street (the highway that connects the north and south of the Strip) and (Al-Rashid).” "coastal."

The source continued in his statements to Al-Sharq that the mediators in Egypt and Qatar have what he described as “some optimism about progress in the Paris meetings that may pave the way for ceasefire talks,” adding, “We expect a simple breakthrough, and I do not rule out a breakthrough during the next week in the negotiations.” Ceasefire and prisoner exchange. He stressed that Hamas "is open to discussing any initiative that achieves a cessation of aggression and an honorable prisoner exchange deal, including the release of leaders and senior prisoners with high sentences."

Just before the end of the meeting of the political-security cabinet, the Prime Minister distributed to the ministers the document "The Day After", which explains how the Gaza Strip will look after the war. The document, according to most cabinet members, does not renew anything. Now the question arises, why did it take so long to draw up such a document? A senior Israeli official in the cabinet told N12 yesterday (Friday) that "Netanyahu wrote a document to reassure the Americans. The content was intended not to anger Smotrich and Ben Gvir."

The source also claimed that Netanyahu also knows that those present in the Strip are Hamas and Fatah. Now the question arises as to how the United States will respond to this document and how the moderate Arab countries, which are in negotiations for a normalization agreement with Israel, will respond. We emphasize that when you read the "day after" document compiled by the Prime Minister, you get the feeling that it is an executive summary of his press conferences.

Netanyahu spoke about the security control in the Gaza Strip, which is of course a consensus, and emphasized that the control will be carried out through "local factors with administrative experience", who will not be identified with terrorist states or entities that support terrorism. In the cabinet, as mentioned, they did not fall off the chair. Moreover, let's recall that on January 4, about a month and a half ago, Defense Minister Galant used the term "local factors", as did Minister Gantz who formulated a similar plan. Even Prime Minister Netanyahu, in the closed chambers, allowed the IDF to act in this spirit in the aspects of humanitarian aid.

Netanyahu presented to the security mini-ministerial council ( the Cabinet ) a document of principles related to the policy of the day after the Gaza war, which includes Israel’s preservation of freedom to operate in the entire Gaza Strip without a time limit, and also includes the establishment of a security zone in the Strip adjacent to Israeli towns, “which will remain in place as long as there is a security need for it.”

The document stipulates that Israel will maintain the southern closure on the border between Gaza and Egypt “with the aim of preventing the re-arming of terrorist elements in the Strip.” It also includes a clause to close the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees ( UNRWA ) and to replace it with other international relief agencies.

Netanyahu stated that he also wants to implement a plan for what he calls “rooting out extremism” in all religious, educational, and social care institutions in the Gaza Strip, “with the participation and assistance of Arab countries that have experience in strengthening the fight against extremism on their lands,” as he put it.

The document stresses that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will not be possible until the demilitarization process is completed and the process of “de-radicalization” begins, a position that Netanyahu has not expressed publicly before. It also states that "reconstruction plans will be implemented with funding and leadership from countries acceptable to Israel."

The document does not clearly specify who Netanyahu envisions ruling Gaza after the war, but it says that “local elements with administrative experience” will be responsible for civil administration and public order in Gaza.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported (officially) that Netanyahu’s document includes Israel’s preservation of freedom to operate in the entire Gaza Strip without a time limit, and it also includes establishing a security zone in the Strip adjacent to Israeli towns. The Commission noted that Netanyahu's document also stipulates that Israel will maintain the southern closure on the border between Gaza and Egypt, and also includes a clause that UNRWA will be closed and that it will be replaced by other international relief agencies. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation confirmed that the ministers of the small security ministerial council did not vote to approve Netanyahu’s document.

For his part, the Axios news website reported that Netanyahu also wants to implement a plan for what he calls “rooting out extremism” in all religious, educational, and social care institutions in the Gaza Strip. The document also stipulates, according to Axios, that this plan will be implemented “as much as possible with the participation and assistance of Arab countries that have experience in strengthening the fight against extremism on their territories,” as he put it.

The document stresses that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will not be possible until the demilitarization process is completed and the process of “de-radicalization” begins, a position that Netanyahu has not expressed publicly before. It also states that “reconstruction plans will be implemented with funding and leadership from countries acceptable to Israel,” according to Axios. The document does not clearly specify who Netanyahu envisions ruling Gaza after the war, but it says that “local elements with administrative experience” will be responsible for civil administration and public order in Gaza.

Axios also quoted an aide to Netanyahu as saying that the goal of the proposed document is to present principles that would gain the greatest possible consensus. He added that consultations in the Israeli Cabinet would likely lead to changes before approving the document, he said. More than once, Netanyahu stressed that he wants “Israeli security control” over Gaza after the war. In his previous statements, he also said, "The day after the war, Gaza must be demilitarized, and there is only one force that can be responsible for that, which is the Israeli army."

He also affirmed on more than one occasion his categorical rejection of the Palestinian Authority taking over the duties of government in the Gaza Strip after the war. Netanyahu's statements in this regard contradict the American position, and the drawn scenarios sparked a dispute between him and US President Joe Biden.

Netanyahu reiterated his rejection of unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state, and stressed that Israel "categorically rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians. Such an arrangement will only be reached through direct negotiations between the two parties, without preconditions."

More than once, Netanyahu stressed that he wants “Israeli security control” over Gaza after the war. In his previous statements, he also said, "The day after the war, Gaza must be demilitarized, and there is only one force that can be responsible for that, which is the Israeli army."

He also affirmed on more than one occasion his categorical rejection of the Palestinian Authority taking over the duties of government in the Gaza Strip after the war. Netanyahu's statements in this regard contradict the American position, and the drawn scenarios sparked a dispute between him and US President Joe Biden .

The Palestinian presidency expressed its rejection of a plan put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the day after the war in Gaza , and stressed that the plan aims to continue Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian presidency stated - according to what was reported by the Palestinian News Agency - that Gaza will only be part of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and stressed that Israel will not succeed in its attempts to change the geographical and demographic reality in the Gaza Strip.

For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its strong rejection of Netanyahu’s plan, and said that it meant reoccupying the Gaza Strip and obstructing American and international efforts to establish a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called on the American administration and Western countries to quickly recognize the Palestinian state and support its full membership in the United Nations.

The Israeli War Council agreed to send a delegation to Paris to resume negotiations on an exchange deal for prisoners and detainees, according to what was reported by official Israeli media. Israeli Army Radio reported that the War Council approved sending a delegation to Paris to resume negotiations, while the Israeli Walla website reported that the Council agreed to expand the mandate granted to the negotiating delegation to Paris to include “negotiating and not just listening,” as was the case previously in the Cairo negotiations.

The official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that the negotiating delegation will be headed by David Barnea, head of the Israeli Intelligence and Special Operations Authority ( Mossad ). The decision comes at a time when Israeli media quoted informed sources as saying that there are “positive indicators indicating that the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) is softening its positions.”

Israeli Channel 12 also quoted sources in the "State Camp" party - headed by War Council member Benny Gantz - as saying that the party is concerned not to waste any opportunity to complete a prisoner exchange deal. Opposition leader Yair Lapid had previously promised to give the Israeli government what he called a "safety net" if it needed it in order to conclude the exchange deal.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during his meeting with Brett McGurk, the US President's Middle East advisor who is currently visiting Israel, that Tel Aviv will continue military pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. McGurk is visiting Israel as part of his tour of several capitals in the region, with the aim of advancing negotiations on completing an exchange deal for prisoners and detainees between Hamas and Israel.

In a related context, the White House spokesman confirmed - Thursday - that the talks being held by US President Joe Biden’s envoy regarding the release of detainees and what he described as a cessation of hostilities in Gaza are “going well.” John Kirby said, "Our initial indications from Brett (McGurk) indicate that the discussions are going well," explaining that the envoy visited Cairo - the day before yesterday, Wednesday - and was in Israel on Thursday to hold meetings with the government, as well as with the families of American detainees. He pointed out that the talks relate to “a long pause (in the fighting) in order to release all detainees” and “bring more humanitarian aid” into the Gaza Strip.

In a related context, the Axios news website quoted informed sources as saying that US envoy Brett McGurk informed the Israelis of the necessity of reaching an agreement with the Hamas movement and sending a delegation to the Paris talks. McGurk - who was currently visiting Tel Aviv - told the Israeli side that President Joe Biden's administration sees an urgent need to reach a prisoner exchange deal due to the conditions of Israeli detainees and the approaching month of Ramadan, according to what was reported by Axios.

According to the same sources, the American official urged Israel to send a delegation to the Paris talks scheduled to be held tomorrow, Friday, with the participation of CIA Director William Burns and Qatari and Egyptian officials. McGurk conveyed a message to the Israelis stating that there is progress in negotiations between Hamas and the Qatari and Egyptian mediators and that the movement is “ready to show flexibility,” according to the Axios report.

But the newspaper "Israel Today" quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israel had not received any message or information indicating that Hamas had made concessions or shown flexibility in the negotiations. According to the newspaper, the United States exerted very intense pressure on Israel to be more flexible and participate in the Paris meeting.

This is the second tour of its kind in Paris with the participation of the head of the CIA, to reach understandings regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners. The previous talks were held in the French capital late last month and resulted in setting a framework for a possible agreement, followed by a meeting in Cairo on February 13. The Cairo discussions ended with the departure of the Israeli delegation - led by Mossad chief David Barnea - without achieving progress, amid disagreements between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and security officials regarding negotiating powers and details of the potential deal.

While Israel and the United States want an interim agreement that includes a temporary truce during which Israeli detainees will be released, Hamas stresses that any agreement must lead to a final ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners. On December 1, a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel ended, concluded with Qatari mediation and Egyptian-American support, and lasted for 7 days, during which prisoners were exchanged and limited humanitarian aid was brought into the Strip, which is inhabited by about 2.2 million Palestinians.

A delegation from the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), led by the head of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, concluded a visit to Egypt that lasted several days to discuss stopping the war in the Gaza Strip. In a statement on the Telegram platform - today, Friday - Hamas said that its delegation held “several meetings with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel, and the assistants, where they discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, stopping the brutal aggression against our people, and the return of the displaced to their places of residence, and relief and shelter, especially in the northern Strip, and ways to achieve this.”

The statement added, "The prisoner exchange issue was discussed, as well as what the occupation is planning in Al-Aqsa Mosque in light of the occupation government's decision to prevent our people in the West Bank and the occupied interior from praying there during the month of Ramadan," according to the movement's statement. Haniyeh arrived last Tuesday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, at the head of a delegation from Hamas, to hold “discussions with Egyptian officials” about the situation in the Gaza Strip in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression for about 5 months.

Haniyeh's visit came while negotiations were continuing, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, between Hamas and Israel in order to reach a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and in light of international and regional concerns about the danger of Tel Aviv expanding its military operations in the city of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border, and crowded with displaced Palestinians.

Robert Wood, the US deputy delegate to the UN Security Council, said that his country has a draft resolution that will help the ongoing efforts to release detainees in the Gaza Strip , after Washington used its veto on a draft resolution to stop the Israeli war on the Strip. Wood added in statements to Al Jazeera, "We hope that our draft resolution will not collide with attempts to thwart it." The American diplomat described the draft resolution he was talking about as “the best available opportunity to end the war,” and said that the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) should not waste the opportunity and negotiate in good faith to end this war.

Last Tuesday, the United States used its veto against an Algerian draft resolution in the Security Council regarding the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which obstructed the demand for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian reasons. This is the third time that Washington has used its veto power since the start of this war.

Operational Update

“There were 24 regional battalions in Gaza — we have dismantled 18 of them,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign reporters. “Now, Rafah is the next Hamas center of gravity.”

A military operation in Rafah might only be possible at the end of March. This despite Netanyahu's attempts to speed up the operational plan. The reason for the delay is that an operation of this magnitude requires coordination with the Americans and reaching agreements, coordination with Egypt and a series of operations within the Strip. This without referring to the issue of refugees and the required evacuation of the population in the area.

The American newspaper "New York Times" quoted the commander of the Israeli "Nahal" Brigade as saying that " Israel did not completely defeat the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) in the northern Gaza Strip, and that it must do more there." It also quoted Israeli security officials as saying that the Prime Minister's goal was Benjamin Netanyahu's destruction of the movement is still a long way off. The commander of the Nahal Brigade considered that the return of the Israeli army to fighting in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital , west of Gaza City , to fight the militants who had regrouped, is evidence of the difficulty of eliminating Hamas.

Current and former Israeli officials said that Israeli forces will likely continue to invade northern Gaza to quell the Hamas insurgency for the foreseeable future, at least until some kind of post-war political settlement for Gaza is reached. According to an Israeli military intelligence officer, at least 5,000 fighters from the Al-Qassam Brigades are still present in the northern Gaza Strip. A number of Israeli leaders stressed to the newspaper that this force is enormous and will be able to attack ground forces and fire missiles at Israel.

The newspaper quoted Israeli security officials as confirming that thousands of Hamas fighters attached to the remaining brigades in Rafah and Deir al-Balah are still working above and below the ground. The New York Times quoted Israeli analysts as saying that in recent rounds of fighting, Hamas has avoided direct confrontations, which Israel considers a sign of weakness, but Western officials said that “Hamas’s decision not to engage in direct confrontations has a strategy behind it, which is represented in its belief that the survival of a large amount of its military strength in the war will represent a victory.”

The newspaper confirmed that Israeli security officials believe that Netanyahu's goal of destroying Hamas is still far-fetched. It added that American officials also believe that Israel will not be able to achieve its goal in the foreseeable future, which is to eliminate the military capacity of Hamas.

Intense Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea continues to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Ground operations and heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups also continue to be reported, particularly in Jabalya (northern Gaza), Gaza city, Deir al Balah and Khan Younis.

The fighters of the IDF 7th Brigade combat team continue to operate in the west of Khan Yunis and in the last day have eliminated more than ten terrorists through sniper fire and using a remotely manned aircraft. During the operational activity, an RPG missile was fired at an engineering tool of the force. The brigade fire complex identified the three terrorists who carried out the shooting, while carrying an explosive device and directed an Air Force aircraft that attacked and eliminated the terrorists, there were no casualties to our forces in the incident. In the last day, the Air Force forces destroyed a weapons warehouse, a war room and military buildings.

The fighters of the commando formation continue the fighting in the west of Khan Yunis. During raids on terrorist targets, forces from the Magellan unit located a weapons cache that contained dozens of rockets, charges and mortars. The battle team of the Givati Brigade went on an attack to destroy terrorist areas and eliminate terrorists in the Khan Yunis area. Before launching the attack, the Air Force, in cooperation with the brigade's fire complex, attacked operational buildings, sniping positions and ammunition depots.

The forces of Division 162 continue fighting and raiding terrorist targets in the Zeytun area in the north of the Gaza Strip. In the activity of the 401st Brigade's combat team in Zeytun, the fighters eliminated over ten terrorists by sniper fire and by means of remotely manned aircraft and combat helicopters, and located weapons and military equipment.

In the center of the strip, the battle team of the Nahal Brigade eliminated a number of terrorists throughout the last day. In one of the activities, the forces identified a squad of terrorists at an observation post of the organization in a strategic location, in order to harm our forces. The forces in the field and in the Gaza Division directed a combat helicopter which attacked the position and eliminated the terrorists. In addition, weapons were located and shafts were uncovered in the Zeytun area.

The Al- Quds Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement - said that it killed and wounded an Israeli foot force during an ambush in the Al-Taqaddum axis in central Khan Yunis. Before that, Al-Saraya said that it targeted an Israeli military vehicle with an RPG shell in southern Gaza, noting that it bombed with mortar shells the occupation crowds in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza.

The Al-Quds Brigades also reported that its fighters bombed sites where occupation vehicles and soldiers were gathered south and east of Gaza City in the center of the Strip with 60-caliber mortar shells, as battles intensified in the area. The brigades confirmed that they had placed two Israeli Merkava tanks in a tight ambush in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City in the central Strip. It added that it bombed a gathering of occupation soldiers and vehicles with mortar shells east of the Central Governorate.

For its part, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) - said that its fighters targeted a group of occupation soldiers inside a house south of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, leaving them dead and wounded. They also targeted an Israeli Merkava tank with an Al- Yassin 105 shell , southwest of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. In a report on its daily operations, Al-Qassam said that its fighters destroyed an Israeli troop carrier with an “Al-Yassin 105” shell in the Sheikh Nasser area of Khan Yunis, leaving its crew dead and wounded.

The Al-Qassam Brigades added that its fighters targeted an Israeli Merkava tank with an “Al-Yassin 105” shell in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, and an Israeli special force that was stationed in a house in the Al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Yunis, with an anti-fortification TPG shell. The Al-Qassam Brigades also confirmed that its fighters, along with the Mujahideen Brigades, bombed a gathering of occupation forces south of the Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City with mortar shells and clashed with members of the force with machine guns, leaving them dead and wounded.

The US Department of Defense ( the Pentagon ) announced that Minister Lloyd Austin discussed by telephone with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant the Israeli military operations against the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) in Khan Yunis , south of the Gaza Strip . The Pentagon said that Austin raised with Gallant the need for a plan to ensure the safety of more than a million people who took refuge in the city of Rafah , south of the Strip, before starting any operation there. He also raised the need to avoid clashes with humanitarian organizations and ensure that more aid reaches civilians.

During recent weeks, several statements were issued by US President Joe Biden and other officials in his administration, during which they expressed their concern about the upcoming Israeli military operation in Rafah, and the difficult humanitarian repercussions that might result from it, but these statements were not supported by any practical action to pressure the Israeli war government to dissuade it from... Invading the city, which houses 1,400,000 Palestinians, most of whom are displaced.

Politico newspaper had quoted 3 American officials as saying that the Biden administration would not punish Israel if it launched a military campaign in the city of Rafah, without providing protection to the Palestinians in the city. The newspaper said that the three officials - who preferred to remain anonymous - told it that Washington does not plan to rebuke Israel, which means that Israeli forces can enter Rafah and harm civilians in the city without suffering any consequences from the United States of America.

Arab observers feared that this information represents a green light from the American administration for the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move forward with his plan to invade the city, which is the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people, despite international condemnation and mounting warnings, which will result in massacres of innocent civilians.

The soldiers of the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Mageb operated tonight to arrest nine wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria. In the village of Zatra in the Etzion Brigade, the forces operated once again in the area from which the terrorists set out to carry out the attack yesterday (Thursday) in Ma'ale Adumim, and arrested two wanted persons. In the city of Tulkarm in the Menashe division, two wanted men were arrested, and in Daheisha in the Etzion division, the forces arrested three more wanted men. The wanted persons who were arrested were transferred to the security forces for further treatment, there are no casualties to Israeli forces.

In a joint operation by the IDF and the Shin Bet, last night (Thursday) the terrorist Yasser Hanon, a resident of Jenin, a terrorist of the Islamic Jihad and a former prisoner, was eliminated due to his involvement in military activities on behalf of the organization. He was eliminated at the direction of the Shin Bet and Iman and by means of a remotely manned aircraft of the Air Force. In recent months, Yasser had been involved in a large number of shooting attacks against IDF forces, Israeli settlements and military positions along the Seam area, including the settlements of Merev and Mvo Dotan, and the Salem crossing, Jalma and more. The terrorist was killed on his way to carry out another shooting attack.

So far, since the beginning of the war, around 3,200 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Emekim Division. Over 1,350 of them are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

On 23 February, an Israeli settler from an outpost associated with Nili settlement, near Qibya village (west of Ramallah), shot and injured a Palestinian man, with live ammunition reportedly after the settler brought his livestock to graze on cultivated Palestinian land. Also on 23 February, settlers from Bracha settlement raided the village of Burin in Nablus and set fire to a Palestinian vehicle. Since 7 October 2023, OCHA has recorded 583 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in Palestinian casualties (52 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (467 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (64 incidents).

The Israeli media devoted space to talking about the losses that Israel might suffer if a comprehensive war broke out with the Lebanese Hezbollah , at a time when other media outlets touched on criminal violations committed by occupation soldiers in the Gaza Strip. The Hebrew newspaper "Calcalist" published a report prepared by 100 senior commanders of the occupation army and government officials about the expected losses if a comprehensive, multi-arena war broke out. The report estimated that 3,000 missiles would fall on Israel daily, leading to the destruction of 100 sites daily in various regions, amid estimates of 2,000 Israeli deaths over a period of 21 days before international intervention stopped this war.

In another context, the Israeli Military Prosecutor, Colonel Yifat Tomer Yerushalmi, warned of criminal violations committed by occupation army soldiers in the Gaza Strip. The military official described these practices and statements as “unacceptable,” and considered them “behavior that deviates from the values of the army and the military establishment, and causes strategic harm to Israel and its army in the international arena.”

Fighter jets attacked a number of terrorist infrastructures of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Lavona area and a military building in the Kfar Kila area, where the organization's terrorists were operating. In addition, the IDF force attacked with tank fire to remove a threat in the Eyta al-Sha'ab area. Also, last night (Thursday), fighter jets attacked a military structure of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the area of ??Leyda along with other areas in the territory of Lebanon.

This week, a large-scale exercise of the cruise of the missile ships in the northern arena ended. The exercise simulated a broad and multi-armed combat in the northern naval arena, during which cooperation between the missile ships and the Air Force forces was practiced, as well as a joint exercise with the 193 squadron that operates the "Bat" helicopters.

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

Experts at the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that any transfer of weapons or ammunition to Israel for use in the war on Gaza would likely violate international humanitarian law and must stop immediately. The experts called on all states to ensure respect for international humanitarian law as required by the 1949 Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. The experts stressed that countries must refrain from transferring any weapons, ammunition or parts thereof, as well as export licenses and military aid if it is expected that they will be used in violation of international law.

The UN experts said that officials of countries involved in arms exports may be exposed to criminal liability if crimes are investigated in the future. The experts called on all countries not to collude in international crimes through arms transfers and to do their part to urgently end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

A group of German lawyers announced the filing of a criminal lawsuit - on behalf of Palestinian victims - against senior officials in the German government on charges of supporting genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The lawyers - who represent the families of two Gazans - said in a press conference in the German capital, Berlin, today, Friday, “We are filing a criminal complaint against German government officials on charges of aiding and abetting genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza by supplying weapons to Israel and issuing the relevant export licenses.”

The lawsuit was submitted to the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe, southwestern Germany, with support from the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy and the European Legal Support Center. Nadia Samour, a lawyer specializing in criminal cases, said that filing the lawsuit came after the recent decisions of the International Court of Justice regarding Israeli crimes in Gaza.

The lawsuit was filed against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz , Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Interior Minister Nancy Weiser, Justice Minister Marko Buschmann, and Development Minister Svenja Schulze. The lawsuit was brought against these officials in their capacity as members of the Federal Security Council, the body that approves weapons licenses, according to what was stated in a press conference announcing the complaint, but the decision to open an investigation remains with the German public prosecutor.

“We the living must remember the dead in Gaza, tell their stories, and fight for justice. We, the Palestinians in the diaspora, will not stand idly by and watch genocide committed against our families and our people,” says Nora Rajab, a Palestinian activist and one of those who filed the complaint in the case. The activist continued in a statement to the media: “We will use all available means, from street protests to lawsuits,” noting that with this step they aim “to hold the German government accountable for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza.”

According to a statement from the parties supporting the case, Germany, like any third party, is clearly obligated to “prevent genocide,” and officials must “use all legal means available to them to influence Israel to refrain from acts of genocide,” based on the decision of the International Court of Justice that He ordered Israel to take "interim measures to prevent the threat of genocide."

The same source indicates that German criminal law requires grounds for suspicion of the occurrence of a possible crime in order for it to be investigated, which is what appears, according to the communication, in the decision of the International Court of Justice, which indicates the existence of “grounds for preliminary suspicion regarding the crime of genocide.”

Germany recently stood against South Africa's lawsuit in the International Court of Justice against Israel, and was the only one that decided to intervene as a third party on behalf of Israel. Germany stopped its development aid to the Palestinians, and also recently decided to suspend any new support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ).

The suspicion of “aiding and abetting” appears in German financial, material, and logistical support decisions, as well as through “creating conditions conducive to the main crime,” which prompted the complainants to try to hold the German state accountable for “its complicity in the horrors being done to their families,” according to the report.

Nadia Samour, one of the lawyers who filed the lawsuit, stated - during the press conference - that there were 3 acts of “aiding and abetting” by the defendant German officials, which are new licenses to export weapons after the war, not canceling licenses that preceded the war, then political incitement acts, Manifested in official government statements, understood to support genocide.

The lawyer cited Chancellor Olaf Schulz saying in a government statement, after the outbreak of the war: “At this moment, there is only one place for Germany, which is to stand by Israel.” This comes at a time when there were already many indicators indicating that genocide had occurred in Gaza, According to her expression.

Schulz had stated last November that “Israel is a democratic state and has every right to defend itself against the terrorist Hamas movement,” and that “Israel is a state that respects human rights and international law and is committed to acting accordingly.” He recently stressed continued support for Israel, but With the necessity of “adherence to international humanitarian law.”

Several organizations in Europe decided to go to court, whether against Israeli officials or European governments, and these organizations achieved a “major victory” recently in the Netherlands after the decision of the Court of Appeal in The Hague to ban the export of parts of F-35 aircraft to Israel.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Gaza , Pascal Hunt , warned in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde that a large-scale Israeli military attack on Rafah would create an "absolute disaster." Hunt spoke about the horrific humanitarian situation in the Strip, with Israel threatening to launch a military attack on the city of Rafah, where there are more than 1.3 million displaced people. Regarding the extent of the International Committee of the Red Cross's ability to send aid to Gaza, Hunt said that this is not possible, especially after the killing of 14 Palestinian Red Crescent volunteers.

He explained that the security guarantees obtained by the committee are not sufficient, which has made the activity of humanitarian workers more complex, especially in light of the continuing war. Hunt stressed that there is an urgent need for very huge aid throughout the Gaza Strip, adding, “We spoke with parents who were crying because they saw the trucks passing and they had nothing left to give to their children. There are only 200 trucks passing through Rafah every day, that is, one truck for 10 thousand people."

Regarding Israel's intention to invade Rafah, Hunt replied, "We are terrified of that. When it bombed Rafah on February 12, within less than an hour, between 50 and 70 people were killed. This means that any large-scale military operation would be an absolute disaster." He continued that some are talking about a new population displacement, but that is not available today in Gaza, as there is no place for people where they feel safe, and the need for water, food, and health care is urgent, noting that the health system has collapsed in the Gaza Strip, and a hospital or Two work in Rafah.

Hunt confirmed to the French newspaper that, according to international humanitarian law, people can be displaced for security reasons, but this displacement must be temporary, but what is happening is that entire areas in Gaza City have been destroyed and entire neighborhoods in Khan Yunis as well, and if the same fate would befall Rafah.” What will be the future of the Palestinians in Gaza: living in tents for 10 years? According to Hunt, the Palestinians feel that the international community has completely abandoned them, especially humanitarian workers who believe that all countries have ratified the Geneva Conventions and must also abide by their provisions.

He stressed that the committee is still providing some of its simple services in Rafah despite the limited capabilities in light of the large size of the needs. Hunt quoted one Palestinian as saying, "We all feel as if we are on the list, but we do not know when our turn will come."

An assessment conducted by the US Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) cast some doubt on the validity of Israeli allegations that employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ) were involved in the attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) on October 7.

Israel accused 12 UNRWA employees of participating in the attacks launched by Hamas on the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip , and said that 10% of all employees of the UN agency belong to Hamas. This accusation prompted many countries, including the United States, to cut off the funding they were granting to the agency, which plays an important role in providing relief to Palestinians in Gaza during the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Strip due to the siege and war that has been ongoing for 140 days.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the US intelligence report issued last week assessed with “low confidence” that “a handful of agency employees may have participated in the attack,” and indicated that intelligence considered these accusations credible, although it could not confirm them. health independently. However, the US intelligence report explicitly questioned the validity of the accusations made by Israel against the UN agency of cooperation with Hamas on a broader basis.

A report published by the British newspaper "The Guardian" indicated that the report stated that although UNRWA coordinated with Hamas to provide humanitarian aid and work in Gaza, there was no evidence to indicate that it had entered into a partnership with the movement. She added that Israel "did not share the raw intelligence behind its assessments with the United States."

The newspaper explained that two informed sources - whose identities were not revealed - referred in this regard to the hatred that Israel has for UNRWA, and quoted one of the sources as saying, “A specific section mentions how Israeli bias distorts many of their assessments of UNRWA and says that this has led to distortions.” The newspaper reported that the 4-page report issued by the National Intelligence Council was distributed to US government officials last week.

It is noteworthy that UNRWA dismissed two workers in Gaza against the backdrop of Israeli accusations, and announced last January the opening of an independent investigation into the Israeli accusations regarding the involvement of its workers in the Hamas attack. UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara Al-Rifai said, “It is extremely important for us to conduct an independent investigation into these specific matters in the individual cases that Israel has brought to our attention.”

She added in statements to Agence France-Presse, "We have 33,000 employees, almost all of whom work hard and are very committed, and have worked at the agency for many years." Al-Rifai indicated that UNRWA received allegations from the Israeli government regarding 12 names in Gaza , and we had to verify these names in the records of the organization, which includes 13,000 employees in Gaza, and we were able to match 8 of these names.

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ), Philippe Lazzarini, warned yesterday, Thursday, that the agency had reached the breaking point, with Israel’s repeated calls to dismantle it and freeze donor funding in the face of unprecedented humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip. Lazzarini stressed - in a letter addressed to the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis - that UNRWA had reached the breaking point, and that its ability to carry out its duties in accordance with General Assembly Resolution No. 302, by which it was established in 1949, had become severely threatened.

Lazzarini expressed his fear that the region is on the verge of a massive catastrophe with serious implications for peace, security and human rights, if the agency cannot meet the needs of Palestinian refugees in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Lazzarini pointed out that the suspension by 16 countries of their funding, which amounts to a total of $450 million, will make the agency’s activities throughout the region at great risk, starting next March.

He stressed that the humanitarian agency “has filled, over decades, the void resulting from the absence of peace, or even a peace process,” calling for political support from the United Nations General Assembly to allow it to survive and move towards a long-awaited political solution, as well as reforming its funding method, which mainly depends on Voluntary contributions. Senior UN officials reiterate that UNRWA is irreplaceable in Gaza, where it forms the backbone of humanitarian aid.

The hearings held by the International Court of Justice in The Hague continued to discuss the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories. On the fifth day of the sessions, representatives of a number of countries deliberated on the platform, and the representative of the State of Qatar expressed his rejection of double standards, stressed that international law must be applied to everyone, and said that Israel has obstructed all peaceful solutions and continues to occupy the Palestinian territories and pursues a policy of apartheid, practicing it. A flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The representative of the State of Qatar stressed that the basis of the Israeli project is settlement and the imposition of settlers on the occupied territories, and pointed out that Israel exploited the war in the Gaza Strip to cover settlement activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank, which are witnessing a situation no less bad than the situation in Gaza. He explained that ending the apartheid regime requires creating a situation that gives the Palestinians their rights, and considered that the court is obligated to take into account all opinions that consider the Israeli occupation illegal.

For his part, the representative of the Sultanate of Oman said that the Israeli occupation is working to change the demographic composition in the occupied territories, and stressed that the world witnessed today one of the worst atrocities committed in the Gaza Strip. The Omani official said that the Palestinians have been living under occupation, oppression and daily humiliation for 75 years, and demanded that Israel’s violation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinians be examined, and that all activities that prevent the Palestinians from exercising their right be put to an end.

Secretary-General of Doctors Without Borders, Chris Lockyer, said that Israeli forces deliberately attack the organization's convoys, and that these attacks have become a recurring pattern for Israeli forces. Regarding the widespread food crisis, and the impact of the famine faced by the residents of the Gaza Strip, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, told Al Jazeera that humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza Strip intermittently.

Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, stressed the need to respect human rights and work to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. "There is no excuse for not protecting civilians and not getting aid into the Strip," Miliband said.

Middle East Peace Process Coordinator Tor Wensland also warned that Gazans are in grave danger due to a lack of aid.

Axis of Resistance

For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) said that “the Zionist enemy’s continued criminal bombing of citizens’ homes in Gaza is a continuation of the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing ,” and it considered the continued targeting of civilian homes to be “the occupying entity’s practical response to the pleadings against it in the International Court of Justice.” In a statement today, Friday, the movement issued a call to human rights institutions around the world “to document these crimes in order to prosecute the occupation and its Nazi leaders.”

Allied for Democracy

Israeli media focused on a new confrontation looming on the horizon between the occupation army and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich , who is also a minister in the Ministry of Defense according to the coalition agreements that paved the way for the formation of the current government. Military analysts warned of Smotrich's powers to appoint the Deputy Head of the Civil Administration in the Israeli Army, even though Defense Minister Yoav Galant and former Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi had previously opposed the matter. A number of senior officials in the Israeli security services believe that this appointment will lead to the introduction of partisan political considerations within the ranks of the army, and may harm the chain of command, in addition to reservations on the part of the current Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevy, especially regarding Smotrich’s responsibility for settlement expansion and the demolition of settlement outposts.

Attention is once again turning to the French capital, Paris, where talks begin to discuss reaching an exchange and calm deal in the Gaza Strip . Arab political analysts doubt the possibility of achieving any breakthrough due to the intransigence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the opinion of the academic and expert in Israeli affairs, Dr. Muhannad Mustafa, Netanyahu sent a delegation to Paris led by the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (Mossad) David Barnea, and the head of the General Security Service ( Shin Bet ) Ronen Bar, under pressure from the American administration and pressure from within Israel, especially the families of those detained by the Palestinian resistance. in Gaza. Netanyahu is betting - adds the academic and expert - on a decline in the position of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) regarding the talks to reach an exchange and truce deal in Gaza, compared to the conditions it previously set in Cairo.

Netanyahu believes that the starvation policy he is practicing against the Palestinians in Gaza and his threat of a military attack on Rafah (south of the Gaza Strip) have prompted Hamas to review its position. The leader of the movement, Osama Hamdan, said in a press conference today, “We dealt in a positive spirit with the mediators’ proposals on the basis of stopping the aggression against Gaza and lifting the siege, while Netanyahu is stalling and evasive and aims to disrupt reaching an agreement.”

The academic expert said that Netanyahu wants a deal and wants a truce in Gaza, but on his own conditions, the most important of which is that “in the first phase of the truce, no Israeli or international commitment to a ceasefire is made, so that Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, and that no one is released.” Palestinian prisoners.

What confirms the intentions of the Israeli Prime Minister is that, at the time when he sent a delegation to Paris and granted him powers, he is developing a political plan for the post-war on the Gaza Strip that is completely inconsistent with the minimum Palestinian national demands, as the academic and expert, who did not rule out, confirms in his interview with the “Gaza” program. ..What next?” - That Netanyahu is working to thwart the talks in Paris regarding reaching an exchange and calm deal in the Gaza Strip.

For his part, Dr. Hassan Ayoub, professor of political science at An-Najah National University, believes that Netanyahu anticipated the new round of discussions by two steps. The first was the decision taken in the government and voted on in the Knesset, regarding a categorical rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.

The second step relates to the document that Netanyahu announced and outlined his visions for the aftermath of the war on Gaza, the main clause of which is the continuation of the aggression on the Gaza Strip and the insistence on remaining militarily and security-wise in the Strip and not ending the siege.

Ayoub concluded that Netanyahu sent his delegation in response to American pressure, but he “put the cart before the horse” and set his preconditions, which means that there is no real chance for a breakthrough. He said, “Just as Netanyahu torpedoed the decision of the International Court of Justice related to Gaza, he will continue his intransigence with the support of the American administration. ” To get a deal that he can market to his far-right government.”

It is noteworthy that the previous round of Paris negotiations ended without achieving progress amid disagreements between Netanyahu and security leaders regarding negotiating powers. This time, Israeli media said that the Israeli delegation, led by the Director of Intelligence, has broad powers in managing the negotiating process.

Britain defended Israel before the International Court of Justice , saying that disputes between Israel and Palestine should not be resolved within the framework of the court's advisory function. This came in a speech by Dan Saroshi, a professor of international law at the University of Oxford, on behalf of Britain, before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, during hearings to discuss the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.

“The court should not resolve disputes between parties using its advisory jurisdiction,” Saroshi explained. “Instead, the advisory function of the courts is to provide legal advice to UN bodies requesting an opinion.” He added, "The current state of the questions raised in the court's opinion would create a situation against Israel." Saroshi pointed out that Israel's approval must be obtained in this case.

In turn, Sally Langrishe, Director of Legal Affairs at the British Foreign Office and its representative to the International Court of Justice, said that her country’s position on the conflict has been known for a long time, as “the two-state solution is the only solution that will guarantee self-determination for the Palestinians and protect Israel’s identity and security.” Langrish added that Britain wants an immediate halt to attacks in Gaza, and then progress towards a sustainable and permanent ceasefire.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced the necessity of a temporary humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to deliver humanitarian aid and release the hostages. The German news agency said: "We need a temporary humanitarian ceasefire to release the hostages and deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip." She added that the humanitarian situation there is "catastrophic now."

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said - Friday morning - that the relevant committee is expected to meet within two weeks to approve the establishment of 2,350 units in the Maale Adumim settlement (east of East Jerusalem), about 300 units in the Kedar settlement (southeast of East Jerusalem), and 700 units in the Efrat settlement. (South Jerusalem). The authority stated that the decision comes "in response to the shooting that took place on Thursday near the Maale Adumim settlement, which resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier and the wounding of at least 8 others with varying injuries."

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commented on a new settlement plan in the West Bank by saying that these settlements are “inconsistent with international law,” which reports described as a retreat from the “Pompeo Doctrine,” which added American cover to the settlements. The United States expressed "disappointment" after Israel announced that it intends to build 3,300 new settlement units in the West Bank and Jerusalem . The White House said that the settlements are "inconsistent with international law," which Blinken also repeated during a press conference in Buenos Aires with his Argentine counterpart, Diana Mondino, on Friday. “Our administration maintains staunch opposition to settlement expansion, and in our view this only undermines Israel’s security, not strengthens it,” Blinken said.

On the other hand, the US Secretary of State was asked during the press conference in Buenos Aires about the post- war plan for Gaza , which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented to the War Cabinet on Thursday evening. He said, “I have not seen the plan, so I refrain from answering.” But he added that there are "basic principles that we established months ago and that we consider very important." Blinken said that Gaza should not be a platform for terrorism, as he described it, and at the same time “there should be no new Israeli occupation of Gaza,” and the territory of the Strip should “not be reduced.”

Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State under President Donald Trump, announced in November 2019 that Washington no longer viewed the settlements in the West Bank as “inconsistent with international law,” thus changing the original American position that lasted 4 decades. A White House National Security Council spokesman said in a press conference that the Biden administration "simply confirms the basic conclusion" in this case. He added, "This is a position that has remained consistent with many Republican and Democratic administrations. If there is an administration that is inconsistent with this, it is the previous administration."

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

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.

A Hamas official based in Qatar told Reuters 19 February 2024 that the terrorist group estimates that 6,000 of its fighters have been killed by Israeli forces. That number is about half of the 12,000 terrorists that Israel said it has killed since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacre,

As of 15 February 2024, The Director-General of the HAMAS Government Information Office in the Gaza Strip , Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated "the toll of the aggression had risen to about 35,500 martyrs and missing persons, including 28,663 martyrs and 68,395 injuries. There are about 2,493 massacres committed by the occupation army. Among the martyrs were about 12,400 children, 8,450 women, 340 medical personnel, 46 civil defense personnel, and 126 journalists. There are approximately 11,000 wounded people who need to travel for treatment.... we received live testimonies stating that the occupation army committed field executions against more than 137 Palestinian civilian detainees in the Gaza and North governorates."

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 29,514 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 69,616. 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 402 [399?] Palestinians, including 102 children, the injury of about 4,545, and the arrest of 7,120, 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 202 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 575 since the start of the war on October 7, including 243 [235?] 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.

Haaretz newspaper quoted the Israeli Ministry of Defense as saying that the Medical Rehabilitation Department has treated more than 5,500 wounded since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7. Israeli Army Radio reported that the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense is preparing to receive 20,000 wounded this year, compared to 5,500 wounded received last year since the start of the war. It was announced that soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip battles numbered to 2,918 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 Strip. 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 14,377 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

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the destruction of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) is more important than the return of those he called kidnapped from Gaza , to which opposition leader Yair Lapid responded by saying that his position regarding the detainees is a “moral disgrace.”

Smotrich explained, "The return of the kidnapped people at all costs is not the most important matter, but rather the destruction of Hamas," adding, "Whoever calls for a (prisoner) exchange deal at any price will bring loss to Israel and reduce the possibility of returning the kidnapped ones," he said. Smotrich - who heads the "Religious Zionism" party - usually raises controversy with his statements, and he previously acknowledged to the families of Israeli detainees held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza that he cannot promise them to return all the prisoners alive. He added, "In my estimation, what is happening to manage this war is correct, and there is a clear policy that we will follow until the end, and we are prepared to pay prices for that."

The Israeli Finance Minister's statements quickly sparked a response from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who said that "Smotrich's position on the return of the kidnapped people is a moral disgrace." Lapid previously said that Israel "will neither be safe nor a moral state nor will it win the war unless the kidnappers return."

Lapid's statements coincided with previous statements by the Minister of Heritage in the Israeli government, Amichai Eliyahu, in which he said that "dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza is a possible solution." The Israeli opposition leader also previously called for the formation of a new government, and believed that the time had come for Benjamin Netanyahu 's government to step down , stressing that the person during whose term "the greatest disaster we have witnessed occurred must be removed from our lives."

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 was 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 7,100. 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 19 February 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, approximately 3,150 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, over 1,350 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization 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. As of 15 February 2024, the Director-General of the HAMAS Government Information Office in the Gaza Strip , Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated "the information available to us is that the occupation arrested approximately 2,600 people, including 99 medical personnel and 10 journalists."

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.