Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
Operation Iron Swords
Iron Swords - Legal
Iron Swords - Visual
Iron Swords - Oasis of Martyrs

Iron Swords - Hostages

Combatants

HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
PIJ (Palestinian Islamic Jihad)
IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard)
Islamic Resistance in Iraq

Hizballah

Ansar Allah [Houthi]

Israel

USA

Operation Iron Swords - Day 152 - 06 March 2024

NEW - War Termination
NEW - Operations
NEW - Operations - Gaza
NEW - Operations - Judea-Samaria
NEW - Operations - Lebanon
NEW - Operations - Syria / Iraq
NEW - Operations - Yemen
NEW - Operations Maps
NEW - By-Standers
NEW - Axis of Resistance
NEW - Allied for Democracy
UPDATED - By the Numbers

The war in Gaza continues for its 151st day, leaving more than 30,000 dead so far, while Hamas and Israel may or may not be close to reaching a ceasefire agreement before the month of Ramadan.

According to Israeli media, the fears of the Israeli security authorities regarding the upcoming Ramadan season in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem are rising, amid warnings from the Israelis that Hamas may exploit the most important time for Muslims as an opportunity to ignite the scene. The biblical holidays for the Jews this year intersect with the second week of Ramadan, which may open the door to a new battle in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Ramadan is celebrated Mar 10, 2024 – Apr 9, 2024. 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.

Prime Minister's Office Statement: "At a meeting of all security elements chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it was decided: Israel strongly safeguards freedom of worship for all faiths, at all sites in Israel, especially the Temple Mount; Ramadan is sacred to Muslims; its sanctity will be upheld this year, as it is every year. During the first week of Ramadan, the entry of worshippers to the Temple Mount will be permitted, similar to the numbers in previous years. A weekly assessment of the security and safety aspects will be held; a decision will be made accordingly."

At the end of the discussion it was decided that there will be no age limit for entering the Temple Mount, but there will be quotas.

The potential Republican candidate for the US presidential elections, Donald Trump, announced his support for the war that Israel has been waging on the Gaza Strip for 5 months, after he had previously criticized Tel Aviv, whether for killing large numbers of Palestinian civilians or for failing to prevent the attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas) . ) on October 7 last year. In a statement described by Agence France-Presse as the clearest yet, Trump answered “yes” in response to Fox News about whether he was in Israel’s camp.

In response to another question about whether he agreed with the way Israel was waging its war on Gaza, the former American president replied, “You must end the problem.” To justify his position, Trump said that Israel was subjected to a “horrific invasion” last October 7, and that this would not have happened if he were president. He considered that Hamas attacked Israel because it did not show any respect for the Joe Biden administration .

The Hill newspaper said that Trump had previously avoided expressing a clear position on the Israeli war on Gaza, and was content with recalling his administration’s positions in support of Israel. Last November, the former US president criticized Israel over its war on Gaza, describing what was happening as “terrible and terrible.” Trump also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galat, and spoke about the failure of Israeli intelligence to prevent the attack launched by Hamas. At that time, Israeli Channel 12 described the former US president’s statements as “surprising.”

War Termination

"Al-Quds" magazine claimed that according to the information received, Hamas in its first response to the negotiations of the past weeks in Paris and Cairo, during the recent trip of "Khalil al-Lahiya", a senior member of the Hamas political office to Cairo, in a written letter which was presented to "Abbas Kamel", the head of Egypt's intelligence agency, stated his demands as follows:

The list of the first group of Palestinian prisoners considered by Hamas for exchange is as follows:

A: 160 Palestinian prisoners who have heavy sentences or life imprisonment. This list includes these people: 1. Marwan Barghouti
2. Ahmad Saadat
3. Abdullah Barghouti
4. Ibrahim Hamed
5. Abbas Seyed
Other people under these sentences should be released regardless of the prison term and sentences issued, as well as their affiliation with different Palestinian groups or territories.

b) All women should be freed, regardless of the decrees issued, their orientation towards different Palestinian groups or the area of ??residence

c) All sick Palestinian prisoners, regardless of the issued orders, age and identity, including the Palestinian prisoner of the Zionist regime, "Walid al-Daqa", must be released from the prisons of the regime.

d) All elderly people (meaning people over 60 years old based on international definitions)

e) All children and minors should be released regardless of their sentence and identity (it means people under 18 years old based on international standards)

The second group of prisoner exchanges and future exchange operations: After the completion of the first prisoner exchange operation, the second exchange operation will begin simultaneously with the agreement for a ceasefire and the implementation of Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza and the reopening of all crossings for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza without Israeli supervision. If the above objectives are not fulfilled, the exchange operation of other groups, whether of living prisoners or the bodies of Zionist prisoners in the resistance prison, will be stopped.

At the end of this letter, while appreciating the efforts of the Egyptian side in order to achieve a ceasefire, Hamas has emphasized that Cairo cannot negotiate with the Israeli side regarding the conditions contained in this written message, because the aforementioned conditions, the demands of The final and unconditional Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) are considered.

The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) announced that it will continue to negotiate through mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement with Israel. Negotiators from Hamas, Qatar and Egypt are meeting in Cairo to try to reach an agreement regarding stopping the Israeli aggression for 40 days before the beginning of the next month of Ramadan, in the absence of an Israeli delegation.

Hamas stressed in its statement that it had shown great flexibility with the aim of reaching an agreement that would guarantee a comprehensive cessation of aggression. Despite this, it indicated that Israel is still evading the obligations related to this agreement, especially those related to a permanent ceasefire, the return of the displaced, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip , and providing for the needs of the Palestinian people. Hamas also explained that it would continue to negotiate through various mediators to reach “an agreement that meets the demands and interests of the Palestinian people.”

For his part, the leader of the Hamas movement, Osama Hamdan, stated that the movement presented during the past two days its vision of the proposal presented by the mediators to complete the prisoner exchange deal with Israel during the past two days. He stressed that Hamas is steadfast in its demands for a ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and the start of reconstruction operations.

Hamdan said that what Israel failed to achieve on the battlefield, it will not achieve at the negotiating table. He stressed, during a press conference in Beirut, that any prisoner exchange could not take place until after a ceasefire and the fulfillment of all Hamas’ conditions.

For his part, Hamas Political Bureau member Bassem Naim said that the problem of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip now lies in the person of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and behind him the American administration, because “were it not for the cover and opportunities that this administration gave to the Zionist government over the course of 5 months, These massacres and genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip would not have occurred, as it allocated $14 billion, supplied weapons to the occupation, used the veto, participated directly in managing the battle, moved aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, and participated in the information intelligence management of the battle. Therefore, it is leading the battle through Israel.”

Naim added - in exclusive statements to Al Jazeera Net - that this American position has nothing to do with the Hamas movement’s demands related to a ceasefire, because “Hamas does not have miraculous demands. We are talking about a ceasefire and not a humanitarian truce as the American administration wants. We are talking about the truth.” Withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, we are talking about the return of the displaced to their homes.” These are normal demands after the war. “What prevents people from returning to their homes from which they were displaced, even though they were already destroyed?”

He stressed that these are very natural and logical demands. On the contrary, the demands are supposed to be much harsher than this. The principle is that the occupation should be punished for the massacres and crimes it committed against our people and the infrastructure they destroyed.

During his meeting with Gantz, Blinken stressed the need for Israel to take urgent steps to expand the scope of delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, including by opening additional crossings. The US State Department said that Blinken stressed to Gantz during his meeting at the US State Department headquarters the need for a credible and implementable humanitarian plan before any major military operation in Rafah. Blinken also stressed that Washington supports steps aimed at promoting lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

For its part, the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed, during his meeting with Gantz, his deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. A Pentagon official said that the meeting was not scheduled in advance and that it was arranged suddenly. The Pentagon spokesman said that Gantz met with Austin and did not present any plans for a military operation in Rafah.

Axios quoted American officials as saying that Gantz was informed during his talks in Washington of the extent of President Joe Biden's administration's frustration with the Israeli government. Meanwhile, Israeli officials said that Gantz was surprised during his talks by the intensity of the criticism of Israel and the extent of the distance with the United States.

Axios reported, citing American officials, that the aid convoy disaster in Gaza was a turning point for the Biden administration, adding that during his meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Gantz faced severe criticism and difficult questions regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Israeli war strategy. Gantz said that during his meetings in Washington with the US Vice President and the National Security Advisor, he stressed the importance of completing “the mission of eliminating the threat posed by Hamas.” He added that he discussed finding a solution to transfer humanitarian aid in a way that reaches the population and not Hamas.

Gantz indicated that he stressed the necessity of achieving all the goals of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, which would provide a better future for the entire region, as he put it. He also stressed the importance of working to establish an international administration in cooperation with the countries of the region and as part of enhancing the normalization process. Gantz said that he assured Harris of his ultimate commitment to the return of Israeli prisoners, thanking the United States for the great pressure it is exerting.

Gantz's visit to the United States continues to raise more reactions, criticisms, and accusations inside Israel, as the Prime Minister's Office demanded that he not provide any assistance in organizing this visit. In this context, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his regret that Gantz traveled to Washington on his own without coordination with Netanyahu. Smotrich said that the only Israeli response to returning the detainees must be to return to a very intense war and actually enter Rafah instead of just talking, according to him. Smotrich stressed that pressure on Hamas, especially during the month of Ramadan, will make it kneel and return the detainees, according to his claim.

For his part, former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman renewed his criticism of the Netanyahu government, describing it as lacking the right to exist, as he put it. Lieberman added in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 that the government is causing frustration and that the motives of the people participating in it are political, according to him.

Gantz began a visit to Washington to meet with American officials and discuss a “temporary ceasefire” and “the need for a significant increase” in humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a White House official. Gantz is a minister without portfolio and a former defense minister, and a former rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his National Union party (center) leads by a large margin in voting intentions, at a time when the Israeli coalition government appears more fragile.

The Wall Street Journal quoted an informed official as saying that Gantz informed Netanyahu of his visit to Washington after setting the agenda, and that Netanyahu was surprised by Gantz’s visit and was extremely angry. It stressed that Gantz's visit to Washington reflects a sharp division in the Israeli political leadership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directed the Israeli embassy in Washington not to provide services to the minister in the War Council, leader of the State Camp party, Benny Gantz, or to accompany him on his visit to the United States, which he begins today. Israeli Army Radio, which reported the news, reported that those close to Gantz arranged the visit independently and without seeking help from the embassy in Washington.

A report by the " Wall Street Journal " revealed that Arab and American negotiators presented a proposal for a short-term truce in the Gaza Strip, in order to "buy time" with the aim of reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, at a time when negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement are complicated before Ramadan (starts March 10 or 11). The negotiators said, according to the newspaper, that “pushing for a shorter-term ceasefire, which may last for a few days, may prove to each side that the other party is serious about a long-term agreement.”

The Wall Street Journal quoted Egyptian officials as saying that Hamas is “trying to achieve a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, in addition to committing to a permanent ceasefire after the proposed six-week truce, in exchange for the release of... Release the living hostages held by it.

Israel has rejected these demands so far, which has made the negotiations thorny, as Hamas (listed on US terrorist lists) clings to the demand for residents to return to their homes “to use it as an important political victory,” according to the newspaper. The mediators also hope to persuade Israel to accept the completion of a humanitarian truce that will allow the flow of aid, in light of the scarcity of supplies in the Strip, especially in the north.

Operational Update

Although more than 5 months have passed since the Israeli operation in Gaza, the resistance is still directing successive strikes against the occupation forces, and the success of its operations indicates the state of impasse that the occupation army is experiencing, and the state of heavy bleeding that has occurred in it in terms of losses in officers, soldiers and military vehicles.

According to analysts, the emergence of serious crises in the occupation army is a strong indication of a profound failure during the war on the Gaza Strip. This also raises a major question about the reality of who is fighting the war, in light of talk about the presence of foreign soldiers on the battlefield, in addition to dozens of security companies and fighters. From mercenaries.

Writer and political researcher Moin Manna believes that the war on Gaza constituted a major failure for the occupation army and exhausted its forces, especially the ground forces, which have become dilapidated as a result of the resistance strikes, and reconstitution operations are taking place continuously. He pointed out that the repeated request for calm or a truce is a manifestation of the exhaustion to which the occupation is exposed in Gaza. Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, he said that the army was unable, despite more than 5 months of war, to achieve a real achievement in the Gaza Strip, neither at the level of tunnels, nor at the level of tactics, nor at other levels. He added that the occupation army's crises in the war on Gaza emerged through its inability to identify targets as a result of the intelligence blindness it faces, in addition to the tactical surprises it faces in the field.

The killing and wounding of thousands of soldiers during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and its subsequent ground invasion of the Gaza Strip reinforced the need for more human mobilization within the ranks of the occupation army. Israeli media reported that the army is suffering from a shortage in personnel, and that it needs about 7,000 additional officers, and Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted a statement from the occupying army that half of the required forces will be distributed on combat missions.

The statement revealed that although the army needed to promote 7,500 conscripts to compensate for the shortage among officers and non-commissioned officers, the government only allowed 2,500 to be promoted due to double the budget. The newspaper suggested that the process of compensating for the shortage of officers would be difficult, as it requires time and effort to train new officers. It is also noteworthy that the elite Givati Brigade decided to expel 9 soldiers from combat in the Gaza Strip, due to problems with operational discipline among the soldiers.

Israeli media reported that there was a fear among army leaders about the acceleration of the voluntary departure of army personnel, noting that this crisis comes “at a time when the army needs to increase the number of its forces in light of the significant increase in the tasks assigned to it.” The newspaper "Israel Today" indicated in a report that senior officers in the army are very concerned about the raging debate among young people who are serving, as well as among older permanent service members, who also report their desire to be discharged from service, due to the burden placed on them compared to soldiers. Precaution.

The report said that the burden falls not only on the fighters, but also on the vast majority of permanent service members, including combat support. It pointed out that the Israeli army leadership is particularly concerned about the effects of the war on the Intelligence Division, as many of its members feel responsible for the failure, and fear a mass resignation that will lead to a severe shortage of manpower in the division.

The Israeli Channel 14 also revealed a massive wave of mass resignations that included a large number of officers and officials in the department of the Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, in protest against the conduct of military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Press reports revealed that soldiers in the elite forces and reserve brigades announced their refusal to join the army to participate in the war on Gaza. The Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" reported in a report that a group of Israeli soldiers in the elite Givati Brigade refused to participate in the war on the Gaza Strip, accusing the army of neglecting their psychological and physical safety.

In this context, Israeli Radio indicated that there was a state of chaos at the organizational level in some reserve battalions. It added that soldiers left with the approval of the officers responsible for them, after it became clear that the army intended to bring them into the Gaza Strip to carry out combat missions for which they were not qualified, explaining that they were summoned at the end of last December.

In this regard, Manna points out that army members are now resorting to requesting legal advisors for fear of being killed by their colleagues if it is necessary to activate the Hannibal Directive, which is a measure used by the Israeli army to prevent the capture of its soldiers, even if it means killing them. It should be noted here that Israeli army data showed that dozens of soldiers were killed and hundreds injured by mistake since the start of ground battles in the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023.

The army is facing a crisis regarding the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government is “looking for a solution to end the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service.” Netanyahu added at the end of last month, "We will set goals for recruiting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the Israeli army and the national civil services. We will also determine means to implement these goals."

In 2018, the Supreme Court in Israel invalidated a law exempting religious Jews from conscription, and said that the need required all Israelis to share in bearing the burden of military service.

The new appointments recently issued by the Chief of Staff of the occupying Army, Herzi Halevy , to senior positions, aroused the dissatisfaction of retired soldiers and officers, led by Reserve Major General Yitzhak Brik, who strongly attacked the Chief of Staff and the commanders of the General Staff. “In any enlightened place in the world, the Chief of Staff and his generals would be immediately dismissed or forced to resign after any failure,” Brik said, adding that the lax leadership of the Chief of Staff and his generals, arrogance, arrogance, and complacency is what caused the terrible disaster, which is one of the worst disasters Israel has ever known since its establishment.”

Halevy had announced a series of changes in senior military positions, for the first time since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, during which a new commander was appointed for the multi-tasking unit, and new commanders were appointed for the Golani Brigade, the Southern Brigade in the Gaza Division, and the 1st Brigade. The list also includes 3 senior commanders with the rank of brigadier general, 11 new commanders with the rank of colonel, in addition to 26 others who were transferred between units at the same rank.

Israeli reports revealed deep differences between the government and the Israeli army, due to the government's management of the war and its post-war plans in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Channel 12 website said that a sharp confrontation took place between Chief of Staff Halevy and ministers in Netanyahu's government, who criticized the army's failure to achieve achievements in the war on the Gaza Strip, stressing that the ground attack launched by the army on the Strip "is not going well."

Deep disagreements had previously occurred between the Prime Minister and the army leadership regarding preparations to begin a military operation in Rafah, and according to a political affairs analyst on the Israeli Channel 12, Yaron Abraham, “Netanyahu is demanding the occupation of Rafah, while the Chief of Staff stresses the need to secure the appropriate conditions.”

The military spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, previously spoke for the first time during a media statement about the presence of “mercenaries” fighting with the Israeli army. A Washington Post report also revealed that American soldiers went to fight in Gaza and were killed after participating in the war alongside Israel. French MP Thomas Portes previously revealed that more than 4,000 Israeli soldiers participating in the war on the Gaza Strip are French with dual citizenship. A video clip circulated on social media showing heavily armed soldiers hiding behind a wall, speaking the Ukrainian language.

The presence of foreign soldiers and mercenaries may confirm the truth of the statement that the occupation army only announces a small percentage of the number of deaths resulting from resistance strikes in Gaza.

Operational Update - Gaza

Intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations as well as heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups continue to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure.

The provision of essential water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) services in Gaza remains severely hindered by the months-long cut in power supply across Gaza, limited fuel supplies for backup generators, the destruction of infrastructure, and access constraints. According to UNICEF, 81 per cent of households lack access to safe and clean water, with IDPs living in overcrowded collective centres or informal sites being among the most affected.

The military and strategic expert, Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, said that the ground battles in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip , have become based on skillful combat between the resistance and the occupation army, describing what is happening as an individual versus individual fight.

Al-Duwairi explained - during his analysis to Al-Jazeera - that the occupation operation in Khan Yunis underwent several fundamental changes in terms of assembling forces for operational purposes, as after every failure, forces are assembled and dealt with according to a short-time vision that revolves around re-responding to the defensive movements of the resistance.

He pointed out that the residential city of Hamad in Khan Yunis has two brigades out of 6 in the area, most of which are active and not reserve forces, revealing active resistance operations taking place as they are areas of the subsequent occupation forces, and hence the policy of "fighting from behind enemy lines."

The military expert pointed out that Gaza City is larger in area than Khan Yunis, and the construction is continuous and the defense was based on defensive partitions, while the area is smaller in the southern city and it contains paratroopers and special forces supported by tanks.

Major General Al-Duwairi confirmed that the current Israeli war on the Gaza Strip changed historical controversial concepts that were taught in Arab institutes, which state that Israel cannot wage a long war and that it is sensitive to human losses. He added that this war has changed perceptions, as Israel has the ability to continue a long war of attrition, but it is working to compensate for everything it loses around the clock, while the human losses are not fully announced, citing reports indicating that 16,000 people were killed in the ranks of the occupation forces, including Dual nationality.

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Islamic Jihad movement, broadcast scenes that it said showed its fighters bombing sites where Israeli soldiers and military vehicles were gathered in the northern Gaza Strip with mortar shells. The scenes showed fighters from the Al-Quds Brigades targeting occupation soldiers in their areas of deployment in the northern Gaza Strip.

IDF forces, under the direction of the Amman and the Shin Bet, killed Amar Atiya Darwish Eladini, the head of the Hamas terrorist organization's headquarters in the Central Camp area. Eladini served as an activist in the organization for decades. As part of his position, he was responsible for burying rockets and was also in charge of rocket launches from Operation Cast Lead to the current war. Eladini took a central part in the preparations for the murderous attack on 7/10, and during the fighting promoted the firing of trees against our maneuvering forces in the Gaza Strip and at the same time led TMS launches towards Tel Aviv and other surrounding settlements.

In addition, as part of joint strikes by the Air Force and the fire center of the Southern Command, a number of targets of the terrorist organization Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the northern Gaza Strip in the Jabaliya region were attacked in recent days in response to the recent launches towards the settlements of Otaf and Sderot in particular. Among the targets that were attacked, hideout apartments where many terrorists fortified themselves and where weapons were stored, additional IMD warehouses, launch pits and shafts in the area.

The forces of the 98th Division continue the "Crown of the West" operation in the Hamed neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis and eliminate terrorists in the area. Directing the fire complex of the Northern Brigade in the Gaza Division, a fighter jet attacked and killed two terrorists in the Beit Hanun area who fled to a military building. Fighter jets attacked two terrorists who took part in the massacre in Nir Yitzhak on October 7 and were in a military infrastructure. In addition, two platoon commanders and a squad commander of the Hamas Najaba forces who were in a military infrastructure were eliminated.

The Nahal Brigade's combat team continues to operate in the center of the Gaza Strip and eliminated about twenty terrorists during the last day through sniper fire, the targeting of a remotely manned aircraft and a fighter jet. In one of the attacks, as part of a sniper ambush initiated by the forces, the fighters killed 15 terrorists.

In another attack, the brigade's fire complex together with the Air Force and with intelligence guidance closed a rapid circle and a fighter jet attacked a terrorist infrastructure from which terrorists launched anti-aircraft fire at the troops. After the attack, the echoes of many explosions were seen, indicating that there was a large amount of ammunition in the area.

The combat team fighters of the Givati Brigade operating in the Hamed neighborhood in Khan Yunis identified a number of terrorists, a combat helicopter attacked and eliminated them. Later, the fighters identified an armed terrorist moving towards them and eliminated him.

The fighters of the commando formation continue to search the buildings in the Hamad neighborhood and eliminate terrorists. During the searches, the fighters located Kalashnikov-type weapons and cartridges. In searches around the neighborhood, the fighters of the 7th Brigade combat team located weapons and military equipment. The brigade fire complex targeted an aircraft that eliminated two terrorists identified in the area.During an ambush, the fighters of the Bislah brigade's combat team (828) identified five armed terrorists and killed them with short-range fire.

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

It is noteworthy that the Israeli occupation army, in parallel with its devastating war on the Gaza Strip, escalated arrest campaigns and raids into cities and towns in the West Bank, which left dozens of martyrs and thousands of detainees, according to Palestinian sources.

Palestinians were injured during confrontations with the occupation forces in Bethlehem in the West Bank , while Germany and the Palestinian Authority condemned Israel's approval of the construction of about 3,500 new settlement units, most of them in the Maale Adumim settlement , east of Jerusalem. Confrontations broke out between Palestinian youths and the occupation forces, which stormed the city of Bethlehem and the Dheisheh refugee camp in the city, on Wednesday evening, and fired live bullets.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that 4 people were injured during the confrontations in Bethlehem, and Palestinian websites reported injuries in the Dheisheh camp. Raids and arrests continue in West Bank cities and camps, as part of a broad Israeli escalation since the Palestinian resistance launched the Al- Aqsa Flood Battle on October 7th. In occupied Jerusalem , the Israeli occupation authorities demolished a wall and bulldozed land for the Burqan family in the town of Silwan, south of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque .

Local sources reported that the occupation police and municipal crews, accompanied by a bulldozer, stormed the Ain al-Loza neighborhood in the town of Silwan this morning, and began demolishing the wall and bulldozing the land under the pretext of building without a permit.

On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority and Germany condemned the approval of the Supreme Planning Authority in Israel for plans to build about 3,500 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "settlement settlements are invalid and illegal, and represent an explicit call for the continuation of the cycle of violence and wars."

The Palestinian statement also condemned the statements of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich , who "boasts that his period witnessed great prosperity and growth in the deepening of settlements." The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that the global failure to implement international legitimacy resolutions encourages Smotrich and others like him to continue undermining the opportunity to achieve peace.

For its part, Germany called on the Israeli government to immediately withdraw its approval to expand settlements, and considered such a measure a "dangerous violation of international law." The German Foreign Ministry said, "We strongly condemn the approval to establish more settlement units in the West Bank." Israeli media said today that the Supreme Planning Commission approved the construction of about 3,500 new settlement units in the West Bank. She indicated that the decision includes the settlements of Maale Adumim and Kedar, east of Jerusalem, and Efrat (south).

The United States, the European Union, and many Western countries have called on Israel - in recent months - to stop settlement activity and settler violence in the West Bank, as estimates indicate that there are more than 720,000 settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The Israeli occupation forces stormed the city of Nablus in the West Bank at dawn today, Wednesday, and conducted their patrols in the streets and besieged the eastern area. They deployed sniper teams in various locations and raided several homes in the city, hours after a boy was killed by bullets from the occupation army near the town of Huwwara, south of Nablus. Several other cities, including Hebron and Tulkarm, also witnessed similar raids.

Al Jazeera correspondent Montaser Nassar reported that the occupation forces stormed the eastern area of ??Nablus and pushed military reinforcements around Joseph's Tomb. The Palestinian Ministry of Health had previously announced the death of a boy who was shot dead by the occupation army near the town of Huwwara, south of Nablus.

For its part, the Israeli army said that a soldier was injured as a result of a stabbing attack carried out by a Palestinian boy near the Yitzhar settlement, south of the city. The Israeli Beilinson Hospital in Tel Aviv described the condition of the soldier injured in the operation as serious.

Today at dawn, the occupation forces stormed the city of Hebron, south of the West Bank, and conducted patrols in the city's streets. Al Jazeera's correspondent in Hebron said that the occupation forces raided a residential building near Al-Ansar Mosque in the center of Hebron, searched homes and arrested 4 Palestinian citizens, noting that the occupation forces' raid lasted two hours before they withdrew.

The city of Bethlehem also witnessed an occupation raid and raid on residential buildings, and the raids included the town of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem. An occupation military force raided several neighborhoods in Tulkarm and Qalqilya and launched raids and searches.

Correspondent Montaser Nassar explained that the night and dawn raids and arrest operations have been continuing in the West Bank on a daily basis since last October 7, as the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club announced that the occupation forces have arrested more than 7,340 Palestinians since that time, and imposed collective punishments through completely closed iron gates. In some West Bank towns and barriers between cities and towns of the occupied West Bank.

Operational Update - Lebanon

Fighter jets attacked a Hezbollah military structure in the Yaron region and another military structure of the organization in the Kafra region. In addition, IDF forces attacked to remove a threat in the Kfar Ham area. Earlier today, IDF forces shot down an explosive Hezbollah drone that was detected crossing Lebanese territory into the Metula area in the north of the country. Additional forces were dispatched to the scene, there were no Israeli casualties.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

The Iraqi Islamic Resistance has announced that its forces targeted Kiryat Shmona airport with several drones in the north of occupied Palestine. In a statement on Wednesday, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance said that as part of the second phase of its operations in support of the oppressed people of Gaza, its forces targeted Kiryat Shmona airport in northern part of occupied Palestine with several drones. The Iraqi Islamic Resistance also emphasized its continued operations against the enemy's positions. Earlier today, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance targeted the power plant of the Haifa Airport in occupied Palestinian territories. As Israel goes ahead with its genocidal war, regional resistance groups, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Ansarullah, and Iraq's Islamic Resistance keep targeting US and Israeli interests in an effort to exert pressure on the regime to end its bloodshed in Gaza.

Operational Update - Yemen

Theresa Fallon reported that 4 of 15 undersea communications cables in the Red Sea have been cut, affecting 25% of data traffic flowing between Asia and Europe. On 05 March 2024, officials reported that three or four cables under the Red Sea that provide global internet and telecommunications were cut by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Red Sea contains 17% of all international internet data traffic, so if all the cables are cut, it would disrupt Europe's communication with India and East Asia and hit North and East Africa. Andy Stone, Communications at Meta, reported "Earlier today, a technical issue caused people to have difficulty accessing some of our services. We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience." Facebook was once more a place to see questionable information, opinions and photos of people enjoying their wee lives.

Officials in the United States say undersea telecommunications cables in the Red Sea were cut, disrupting 25 percent of data traffic between Asia and Europe. A US official told the BBC they were attempting to find out if the cables had been sabotaged or if it was the result of an anchor dragging along the seafloor.

Four out of nearly 20 submarine cables in the Red Sea – Seacom, TGN-Gulf, Asia-Africa-Europe 1 and Europe India Gateway – were cut on Tuesday, according to HGC Global Communications, which operates on the cables. Officials are still trying to figure out how they were cut. Theories include that it could have been an anchor catching the cables or a deliberate disruption.

A commercial ship owned by a company in Liberia was subjected to a Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden, while Reuters quoted the owner of the targeted ship as losing contact with 20 members of the ship’s crew and 3 armed guards. The ship's owner indicated that it was drifting as a fire continued on board, after a missile hit it 50 nautical miles southwest of Aden, pointing out that the crew of the targeted cargo ship had left.

Three sailors are missing and four others were injured following an attack on a Barbadian-flagged American ship in southern Yemen. According to the international groupTasnim news agency , the British Maritime Trade Operations Organization, reported that a commercial ship was damaged in an attack in southern Yemen. Embry security company also announced that an American ship with the flag of Barbados received a warning to change course from the Yemeni army.

Following these incidents, Reuters news agency reported, quoting shipping sources, that three sailors were missing and four others were injured due to the attack on this American ship. The owner of the ship said that the vessel was hit by a missile, which is believed to have been fired from Yemen. A shipping source, who declined to be identified, said the crew apparently abandoned the ship. A US defense official said smoke was billowing from the ship True Confidence and a lifeboat was seen in the water near the ship.

In this context, military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi suggested that the ship was likely targeted by guided cruise missiles (land-sea) with a range exceeding 100 kilometers, or drones. During his analysis for Al Jazeera, Al-Duwairi ruled out hitting the target ship with ballistic missiles because they are not accurate in hitting moving targets.

He stated that there is no Houthi presence on the strip from Aden to Bab al-Mandab, as their presence is concentrated in the mountainous area, which is between 15 and 25 kilometers from the coast, while the distance between the city center of Aden and Ras Bab al-Mandab (Sheikh Saeed) is estimated at 160 kilometers. The strategic expert added that the Houthis control the vital mass of Yemen, from the outskirts of Marib to the Red Sea, and from the Saudi border north to the city of Taiz, while they have no presence at sea.

Regarding the ship’s crew leaving with lifeboats, Al-Duwairi revealed that it is on its way to sink within the next few hours and days, explaining that this depends on the hole caused by the injury and the amount of sea water flowing into it. Al-Duwairi again praised the Houthis' ability to employ their military capabilities to disrupt international trade in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, which was clearly reflected in shipping prices, which were severely affected. It should be noted that a British cargo ship - carrying combustible fertilizers - sank a few days ago in the Gulf of Aden after the Houthis targeted it with a number of naval missiles on February 18.

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

Oxfam spokeswoman Fatouma Shida said that Israel is using starvation in the Gaza Strip as a weapon of war, and considered dropping humanitarian aid by air not a solution. During an interview with Al Jazeera, Sheda described the situation in the Gaza Strip as a humanitarian catastrophe, stressing the necessity of a permanent ceasefire as the Palestinian people there are suffering from starvation.

She pointed out that the situation in Gaza is dangerous for 90% of civilians who suffer from food insecurity, pointing out that targeting humanitarian aid convoys is an ongoing Israeli pattern, the latest of which is the flour massacre on Al-Rashid Street. She stressed that Oxfam considers airdropping aid not a solution, even if it is a last resort, noting that humanitarian teams were working in the Gaza Strip, and called for the necessity of opening the crossings and bringing aid into Rafah (south) as well as northern Gaza.

The Oxfam spokeswoman said that it is impossible to understand the obstruction that is occurring in the ceasefire talks, and added, "We have seen the impact of increasing hostilities from the Israeli government and an imminent threat to invade Rafah." She warned of the death of 16 children due to hunger and the suffering of 300,000 children from acute malnutrition, before concluding her speech by saying that the situation is catastrophic, and that a ceasefire is urgent to contain the threat of famine.

The Regional Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) told Al Jazeera that 80% of the population of Gaza are classified as being in a state of disaster and famine due to hunger, and the entire population of Gaza is classified as being in an emergency state due to the low level of food security.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, accused Israel of deliberately bombing humanitarian convoys in Gaza despite knowing their routes. She pointed out that the Israeli occupation does not want any aid to reach those in need, and that it is waging a clear war of starvation. Fakhri called for imposing sanctions on Israel for ignoring the decisions of the International Court of Justice . He wondered why Washington dropped aid by air despite the chaos it caused?

United Nations experts also accused Israel of carrying out a starvation campaign in the Gaza Strip, and called on it to stop it immediately. Experts confirmed that Israel has been deliberately starving the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since October 8. They pointed out that Israel is targeting civilians searching for humanitarian aid and relief convoys, and called on it to put an end to what they said was a campaign of starvation and targeting of civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The experts said that Israel does not respect its international legal obligations, does not comply with the interim measures of the International Court of Justice, and commits brutal crimes. The UN experts warned against using humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip in negotiations to stop the war.

For his part, the spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations said that the enormous needs for food and medicine in Gaza make what reaches the Strip very limited. The regional spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Salim Owais, said that children in the Gaza Strip are paying the highest price for the war. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Owais called for urgent international action, noting that what is happening in Gaza is a test of human conscience.

An emergency meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday, Tuesday, called for an immediate and unconditional cessation of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip , and the opening of humanitarian corridors to bring aid into the Strip without obstacles. In his speech before the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed the need to take immediate action regarding Gaza, even if it was unilateral.

A closing statement of the meeting, in its special session to discuss the Israeli aggression against Gaza, called for providing humanitarian, medical and relief aid, providing water and electricity, and opening humanitarian corridors to deliver urgent aid to the Gaza Strip without obstacles and in an adequate manner. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation statement affirmed its categorical rejection and response by all means to any attempt to displace, expel, or forcefully transfer the Palestinian people from their land.

The statement also called on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to quickly complete the investigation into the war crimes committed by officials of the Israeli colonial occupation government against the defenseless Palestinian people. The ministers stressed the importance of bringing criminals to international justice, thanking South Africa, Comoros, Djibouti, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Chile and Mexico for referring the situation in the State of Palestine to the International Criminal Court.

The organization also called on member states that are members of the International Criminal Court to refer crimes committed in Palestine to the court as soon as possible.

Diplomatic sources told Al Jazeera that the United States distributed an amended draft resolution for the third time to members of the UN Security Council that supports diplomatic efforts to conclude a quick and urgent agreement for an immediate ceasefire for a period of 6 weeks in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the release of all “hostages” once the parties agree.

The sources added that the amended US draft resolution confirms the Council's full support for using the window of opportunity provided by the ceasefire to intensify efforts to create conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities and to establish lasting peace in accordance with Resolution 2720.

Washington said that it plans to allow time for negotiations on the draft resolution and will not rush to vote on it. The draft resolution requires the support of at least 9 countries for its adoption, in addition to the non-use of the veto power by any of the five permanent members of the Security Council (America, Britain, France, Russia, and China).

For its part, Reuters said that the version presented by Washington for the first time two weeks ago called for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the amended draft resolution currently presented to the Security Council reflects statements made by US Vice President Kamala Harris. The agency added that the US administration wants to link the ceasefire to the release of the remaining Israeli prisoners in Gaza, whose number Israel estimates at about 130.

The editor-in-chief of the British Middle East Eye website, David Hirst, said that it is time for Islamic countries to stop playing the role of spectators to what is happening in the Gaza Strip , and to rush to confront America and Europe to take initiatives to stop the Israeli war on Gaza. In his article on the website, Hirst stressed that Islamic countries must destroy, through actions, the pretext on which the “apartheid state” bases its commission of genocidal massacres in the Gaza Strip under the pretext of self-defense. He added that the United States and the European Union are not in a political mood that allows them to reject all proposals that may come to them, such as accepting other military forces on the ground, under the guise of peacekeeping operations or providing aid to the starving people in Gaza. Hirst added that what will motivate this is the fact that this year is an election year, which means a diligent effort to take balanced positions to attract the votes of angry voters, in addition to the fact that the United States, for example, is exhausted by the problems of the region after three decades of failed interventions, and it has become clear that its ability to intervene has diminished. Deterring the Ansar Allah group (Houthis ) in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and armed organizations in Iraq. He stressed that it is time for Israel to feel the pressure of the cold Western hand, highlighting that the size and strength of the shock can only reach it through its closest allies, and only then will it be ready to negotiate with the people of Gaza, whom it is doing everything in its power to crush. Hirst said that if he were in the place of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he would feel able to escape punishment and accountability, and he would continue his eternal war, in the absence of any real international pressure to hold him accountable and deter him. The British writer explained that in the absence of a decision to take strategic steps by Islamic countries, South Africa remains the only country moving in the direction of deterring Israel and stopping it from continuing its genocide in Gaza, despite the risks of being held accountable by Israel’s allies, especially the United States. Hirst quoted Faisal Dawji, former media director for the South African government, as saying, “We went to the International Court of Justice, looked around, and there was no one to support us.” He spoke of pressure on his country to withdraw the case before the initial ruling. Dawji said, "What is happening in the occupied territories is 10 times worse than the apartheid that we witnessed in South Africa, and the West is complicit in apartheid and genocide."

Axis of Resistance

The IRGC Quds Force commander said: Today, the resistance front, especially the Hamas forces, in the Al-Aqsa storm operation, relying on their faith and the weapons they have, have become aggressive and heroically challenged the Israeli army. Sardar Ismail Qaani, commander of the Qods Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who attended the last official meeting of the fifth term of the Assembly of Leadership Experts, pointed out that the defense of the oppressed has a special place in our religious culture and in this era The example of the oppressed are the Palestinian people, he added: Our Imam Azim al-Shan always emphasized on the defense of the oppressed Palestinian people, both during the suffocation of the previous regime and after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, when Islam gained sovereignty in the country. However, today the type of this defense is different from the past and according to the order of the Imam, the formation of resistance nuclei for the defense of the oppressed has been institutionalized.

Emphasizing that the cores of the resistance grew step by step with the blessing of the sincerity of the Imam (RA) and then the great efforts of the Supreme Leader to reach today's power, he added: "When you look closely at the situation of the Palestinian Mujahideen in the last two decades, you will see that the Palestinian youth who Once upon a time, they defended themselves with bare hands and stones, today the resistance front, especially the Hamas forces, in the Al-Aqsa storm operation, relying on faith and the weapons they have, have become aggressive and heroically challenged the Israeli army.

The commander of IRGC's Quds Force further pointed out that the occupying Quds regime exaggerates its successes with media tools and added: This is despite the fact that it had only one major victory in this war, which is that it killed about 40 thousand people. Most of them are women and children, while the Palestinian youth have been able to preserve their land and dignity and make Israel poor with their resistance.

Sardar Qaani emphasized that the destruction of Gaza will definitely be rebuilt, but the credibility and reputation of the occupying Jerusalem regime will not be restored, adding: This battle showed that the resistance front is a united group that has many capabilities, although it is still using all its capabilities. and it was also proved that no one can ignore the resistance front.

Bassem Naim, a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) in Gaza, said that the movement does not have miraculous demands for a ceasefire in the Strip, and that it “shows great flexibility regarding the issue of the prisoner exchange deal if the enemy agrees to its terms.” But the problem lies In the person of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and behind him the American administration.

He added - in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Net - that "if the American administration is concerned with reaching a ceasefire before the month of Ramadan and preventing a regional explosion, it has the tools to pressure the Zionist government to force it to accept an immediate ceasefire with the rest of the conditions presented by Hamas."

A member of Hamas's political bureau confirmed that the US administration knows very well that "Netanyahu is stalling and evading, and does not want to reach a ceasefire so as not to be held accountable for the failure of last October 7 and beyond, and the major repercussions on the internal Zionist community." Naim accused the American administration of being “contradictory with itself” as it “talks about a ceasefire, wants humanitarian calm and protects civilians, but in the political field it continues to obstruct the international will, and uses its veto more than 4 times to prevent reaching a ceasefire.”

The Hamas leader attributed this American contradiction to “internal electoral reasons. Therefore, they are seeking a temporary humanitarian ceasefire, but in reality this is considered a tactical change in the situation and not a strategic change in the battle, and therefore the ball is in the court of the American administration and in the court of the Zionist government until we reach a ceasefire.” This is possible if they accept the vision presented by the Hamas movement to reach a ceasefire.”

Regarding Hamas’ vision for a ceasefire that it proposes, Naim said that the American position has nothing to do with the movement’s demands related to a ceasefire, because “Hamas does not have miraculous demands regarding a ceasefire. We are talking about a ceasefire and not a humanitarian truce as the administration wants.” America, and we are talking about the right to withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and we are talking about the return of the displaced to their homes from which they were displaced.

Therefore, the problem of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip now, as a member of the Hamas political bureau says, “lies in the person of Netanyahu, and behind him is the American administration,” because “without the cover that this administration gave the Zionist government in terms of opportunities over the course of 5 months, these massacres and genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip would not have occurred.”

Naim added that the United States has allocated $14 billion to the occupation, supplies it with weapons, uses veto power in the Security Council, participates directly in managing the battle, moves aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, and participates in the information intelligence management of the battle, so it is the one leading the battle through Israel.

He concluded his statements by saying that Hamas's “demands are very natural and logical, and on the contrary, the demands are supposed to be much more severe, and the principle is that the occupation be punished for the massacres and crimes it committed against our people and the infrastructure it destroyed.” The second thing is that “Hamas also confirmed that it can show flexibility.” "It is significant regarding the issue of the prisoner exchange deal if the enemy agrees to these conditions."

American Jewish philosopher Judith Butler described the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) as an act of armed resistance against the oppression that Palestinians have been experiencing for decades. Butler explained, "We can have different views about the Hamas movement as a political party, or about the armed resistance, but I believe that the most truthful and historically accurate is that the events of October 7 (in reference to the Al- Aqsa Flood operation launched by the Palestinian resistance, led by the Hamas movement) are an act." "Armed resistance, not a terrorist or anti-Semitic attack."

While the American philosopher confirmed that the attack against the Israelis was “painful” for her, she said, “I would be stupid if I decided that the only violence in the scene is the violence practiced against the Israelis... violence against the Palestinians has been going on for decades.” Butler added, "What happened was an uprising stemming from a state of oppression, and against the state of violence towards them."

She continued, "Let us be clear. You can be with or against the armed resistance... with or against Hamas... but let us at least call it armed resistance, and then we will have a discussion: Are you doing the right things or doing them in the right way, or should strategies be changed?" Philosopher Judith Butler is one of the most prominent leaders of contemporary critical theory. She is an American Jew of Russian-Hungarian origins, born on February 24, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Allied for Democracy

On the eve of the sixth month of the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip , Israel seemed divided among itself regarding the priorities of the war, but it was unanimous among itself on the continued fighting of the Palestinian resistance factions - led by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) - with the compass of those in the sector being the recovery of all Israeli detainees.

Public opinion among the Israeli public supporting the war was formed as a result of the collective shock it received on October 7, 2023 with the start of the “ Al-Aqsa Flood ” battle, which formed a feeling of existential threat, and thus a widespread consensus that Israel was fighting a war without a choice, and this is what was promoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

On the basis of extremely broad Israeli public support for the war's goals and for the IDF's ground operations of returning all detainees, destroying the military arsenal of the Palestinian resistance, and ending Hamas' rule, Netanyahu maneuvered to prolong the war, which coincided with his personal political interest in remaining in the prime minister's chair and avoiding prosecution for corruption.

However, the high number of dead and wounded Israeli soldiers reflected the Israeli failure to eliminate Hamas militarily and politically, and this posed a major challenge to the internal community’s ability to withstand, amid the expansion of protests demanding the conclusion of a comprehensive exchange deal that would guarantee the return of all detainees, which cast a shadow over the political and partisan scene in Israel.

In light of the war and the ongoing debate regarding achieving its goals and the state of clash in the diplomatic and political tracks with the White House and Western countries, the Israeli political map is witnessing a state of division, between absolute and supportive support for Netanyahu and opposition to his policies in managing the war and the issue of detainees.

On the one hand, Netanyahu enjoys absolute support from the ruling coalition headed by the Likud Party , the ultra-Orthodox camp represented by the “Shas” party headed by Aryeh Deri , the “Torah Judaism” party headed by Moshe Gaffni, and the extreme right camp represented by the “Jewish Greatness” party headed by Itamar Ben Gvir . And the "Religious Zionism" coalition led by Bezalel Smotrich .

On the other hand, the opposition bloc expresses its reservations about Netanyahu’s approach to managing the war and places the detainees’ issue on the list of priorities, represented by the “There is a Future” party headed by Yair Lapid, the “ Israel Our Home” party led by Avigdor Lieberman , and the Labor Party headed by Merav Michaeli.

At a distance from all components of the Israeli political map, the Arab parties represented in the Knesset oppose the war. They are the Front and Change, headed by Ayman Odeh, and the United List, headed by Mansour Abbas. They call for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, and the start of a political process for the establishment of a Palestinian state with its capital. East Jerusalem is on the June 4 border alongside Israel.

In reading the contrast of these positions, political analyst Akiva Eldar says, “Continuing the war and the certainty that it is unlikely to achieve its goals - especially ending Hamas’ civilian rule and liberating the detainees - has reinforced the prevailing belief in the Israeli political scene that Netanyahu is using the prolongation of the war to make personal reconciliation to remain in power.”

The political analyst explained to Al Jazeera Net that "Netanyahu - who will not hesitate to dismantle the emergency government and dispense with the alliance with the National Camp headed by Benny Gantz - has so far enjoyed the support of the government coalition that relies on the extreme right and the Haredi parties, as this coalition of 64 members in the Knesset appears cohesive ." “With the exception of the position of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant , who opposes Netanyahu’s policies in managing the war.”

He pointed out that the convergence of the interests of the ruling coalition gives Netanyahu a lifeline, enabling him to continue maneuvering, continuing the war, and challenging the US administration, which is betting on Gantz as an internal pressure card, as he meets with Washington on everything related to war priorities.

Eldar recalled the tension and disagreements between Netanyahu and Gallant regarding everything related to the conduct of the war, responding to President Joe Biden’s demands regarding the exchange deal, implementing a temporary ceasefire, and making changes in the composition of the government coalition. The political analyst believes that Netanyahu - who is facing multiple internal crises centered around his failure to achieve the goals of the war - finds himself facing a turning point in his political career due to the Haredi recruitment law, which is the law that enjoys the support of the majority of political parties from the coalition and the opposition.

In turn, spokesman for the “Peace Now” bloc, Adam Clare, says, “With the passage of time and the fact that the war’s objectives were not achieved and the battles and clashes intensified in the northern and central Gaza Strip - the areas that the Israeli army claimed to control - positions varied regarding the priorities of the war, even within the emergency government.”

Clare - an activist in the movement calling for the liberation of detainees and stopping the war - explained to Al Jazeera Net that “these disagreements reflect the escalation of protests in the Israeli street and the demand to stop the war and restore all detainees at all costs, and have contributed to undermining general social solidarity and flexibility, and are now casting a negative light on the issue of detainees and support.” popular support for the war effort.

He added, "The long war and the military failure to achieve the war's goals contributed to causing cracks in the Israeli popular consensus regarding the continuation of the war, which expanded to additional fronts and became complicated with the vast majority of detainees remaining in captivity."

Clare pointed out that “the opposition disagrees with Netanyahu on the priorities of the war and not on the principle of fighting, and places the issue of liberating detainees at the top of its priorities, but it seeks to exploit crises, external pressures and all cumulative circumstances in order to replace Netanyahu in the current Knesset or go to early elections in light of the war and divisions.”

Recently, political differences and divisions have returned to the forefront in Israeli public discourse, according to a position issued by the Center for National Security Research at Tel Aviv University , which poses major challenges to social resilience in Israel.

According to the estimates of General Meir Alran, former assistant to the head of the Military Intelligence Service (Aman), and sociologist Anat Shapira, who drafted the situation assessment for the research center, “the continuation of the war and the return of disputes and divisions demonstrated the erosion of social solidarity and reduced confidence in the various Israeli systems and institutions and the way decisions are made, and cast "It casts a shadow of doubt on the motives of civil society organizations and parties."

Alran and Shapira believe that “policymakers and politicians in Israel must be very careful to avoid toxic and insulting political discourse, and avoid voting with political polarization on sensitive issues related to the war and over which there have been disagreements, such as the issue of detainees, which would deepen the rift in Israeli society and show The fragility of the home front.

In short, Alran and Shapira say in assessing the situation that “the return of toxic political discourse and division may be major negative factors in building the social capacity necessary for Israeli society to recover from the severe crisis and the repercussions of the war and the negative effects and accumulations, which would contribute to deepening the division in Israeli society, even with issues related to war and detainees.”

Minister in the Israeli war government, Benny Gantz , continues his meetings in Washington despite the attack on him by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies. Yesterday, Tuesday, he met with US Secretary of State and Defense Anthony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, who stressed the need to take urgent steps regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip . Axios quoted American officials as saying that Gantz was informed during his talks in Washington of the extent of President Joe Biden's administration's frustration with the Israeli government. During his meeting with Gantz, Blinken stressed the need for Israel to take urgent steps to expand the scope of delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, including by opening additional crossings. The US State Department said that Blinken stressed to Gantz during his meeting at the US State Department headquarters the need for a credible and implementable humanitarian plan before any major military operation in Rafah. Blinken also stressed that Washington supports steps aimed at promoting lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Gantz said that during his meetings in Washington with the US Vice President and the National Security Advisor, he stressed the importance of completing “the mission of eliminating the threat posed by Hamas.” He added that he discussed finding a solution to transfer humanitarian aid in a way that reaches the population and not Hamas. Gantz indicated that he stressed the necessity of achieving all the goals of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, which would provide a better future for the entire region, as he put it.

He also stressed the importance of working to establish an international administration in cooperation with the countries of the region and as part of enhancing the normalization process. Gantz said that he assured Harris of his ultimate commitment to the return of Israeli prisoners, thanking the United States for the great pressure it is exerting.

National Security Council officials watered down parts of Kamala Harris' speech on Gaza, NBC reported, citing US officials. NBC said Harris's original draft of her speech was harsher toward Israel over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Gantz's visit to the United States continues to raise more reactions, criticisms, and accusations inside Israel, as the Prime Minister's Office demanded that he not provide any assistance in organizing this visit.

In this context, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his regret that Gantz traveled to Washington on his own without coordination with Netanyahu. Smotrich said that the only Israeli response to returning the detainees must be to return to a very intense war and actually enter Rafah instead of just talking, according to him. Smotrich stressed that pressure on Hamas, especially during the month of Ramadan, will make it kneel and return the detainees, according to his claim.

Last Monday, Gantz began a visit to Washington to meet with American officials and discuss a “temporary ceasefire” and “the need for a significant increase” in humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a White House official. Gantz is a minister without portfolio and a former defense minister, and a former rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his National Union party (center) leads by a large margin in voting intentions, at a time when the Israeli coalition government appears more fragile.

The Wall Street Journal quoted an informed official as saying that Gantz informed Netanyahu of his visit to Washington after setting the agenda, and that Netanyahu was surprised by Gantz’s visit and was extremely angry. She stressed that Gantz's visit to Washington reflects a sharp division in the Israeli political leadership.

Netanyahu and those close to him had previously accused Gantz of arranging travel to the United States to meet with senior officials without coordinating with the Prime Minister in accordance with the internal regulations and without obtaining prior permission from him. Tensions raged between the two sides following previous accusations by Netanyahu of Gantz of circumventing the Prime Minister, communicating with the Americans behind him, and coordinating positions with the administration regarding the war and prisoner exchange deals. Since October 7, 2023 , Israel has been waging a devastating war on the besieged Gaza Strip, which has left tens of thousands of civilians martyred and wounded, most of them children and women, in addition to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and massive infrastructure destruction.

A group of Democratic representatives in the US House of Representatives informed President Joe Biden that the Israeli invasion of Rafah could violate Washington's requirements regarding the need for the use of military aid to be consistent with humanitarian principles and US law, according to the " Axios " website. The website said that more than 36 Democratic representatives sent a letter to Biden, reminding him of what was contained in a memorandum he signed last month demanding that any recipient of US military aid provide “written and reliable guarantees” that he would abide by international law.

The Democratic representatives stressed that the military operation that Israel intends to implement in Rafah is “likely to conflict” with the memorandum, pointing out the “absence of a credible plan” to protect Palestinian civilians. The lawmakers urged Biden to "use all available means to ensure that all beneficiaries of American aid are held accountable in accordance with the obligations included in the memorandum."

Among the signatories of the letter were Representatives Joaquin Castro from Texas, who led the campaign, Jamie Raskin from Maryland and Jan Schakowsky from Illinois, and others described by the Axios report as representatives who are allies and close to Biden. The report added that the letter will put new pressure on the Biden administration to consider suspending aid to Israel if it goes ahead with the process. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has until March 25 to report that Israel has signed the commitment sought by the memorandum, otherwise US arms transfers to Israel will be suspended.

Democratic members of Congress and officials in the Biden administration expressed concerns that launching a large-scale operation in Rafah, which includes more than a million Palestinians, could lead to a human rights disaster. Biden earlier informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his opposition to the operation without a plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

More senior allies of US President Joe Biden in the Senate are demanding that the United States act directly to stop the war in the Gaza Strip or at least alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians, while a number of them are adopting calls to reduce military aid to Israel. An Associated Press report revealed that recent days have seen opposition to the war swell within Congress , led by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and a small group of progressive Democrats in response to the rising civilian death toll in Gaza.

Senator Chris Coons - a close confidant of Biden in Congress - says, “The time has come to tighten up with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government regarding how it is managing the war.” According to the Associated Press, Israel still enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, and the possibility of reducing military aid is uncertain despite the influence exercised by these Democrats , but tensions may be evident tomorrow , Thursday, as Biden speaks to Congress about the conflict in his State of the Union address.

The report added that the war in Gaza is not the only issue in the Middle East that is creating opposition within the party, as some Democrats are seeking to enact legislation to force the administration to obtain permission from Congress to continue military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen , leading to a potential confrontation over the authority to wage war. However, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Democratic Caucus as a whole have largely stopped taking action on the US role in Middle East conflicts.

The Associated Press revealed that Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin told the committee late last year that no legislation related to the Middle East would be passed until the war in Gaza ended. Democrats are between two fires: the first is the increasing political opposition at the national level, especially among Muslim and Arab American voters due to the Biden administration’s support for the Israeli war on Gaza , and the second is that they are hesitant to oppose Biden’s approaches towards the war so that these criticisms do not contribute to weakening Biden’s arduous campaign. For re-election against former President Donald Trump .

In the past few days, Senator Chris Coons, a senator from Biden's home state of Delaware, called on the United States to cut off military aid to Israel if Netanyahu goes ahead with an attack on the city of Rafah without a clear plan to protect more than a million civilians sheltering there. Coons added, "Continuing American military support for Israel at current levels becomes unacceptable when Israel shows that it is not ready to listen to us." Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on Biden to deploy the US Navy to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. In turn, Senator Tim Kaine - a Biden ally - challenged the US strikes on the Houthis, saying that "American strikes are unlikely to stop attacks in the Red Sea ," and called on Israel to "change course."

Patty Murray, a senator from Washington , said in a sharp speech in the chamber hall, “Israel must understand that the large number of civilian casualties and the destruction they have caused in Gaza cannot continue,” stressing that this war is not in line with American interests and does not make Israel safer. . Biden's allies in Congress are trying to send a message that Netanyahu's behavior in the war is not in the interest of the United States , said Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

72,156 Gazans injured
40,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
33,000 Gaza targets attacked
30,717 Gazans martyred
15,000 rocket launched from Gaza
14,492 Israelis were injured [i24 TV]
13,430 Gazan children martyred
13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]
12,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]
11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023
9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
9,000 IDF psychological assistance
9,000 Gazan women martyred
8,000 Gazans missing
7,335 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th
6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]
5,500 IDF wounded [reports]
4,650 West Bank Palestinians wounded
3,484 administrative detainees
3,400 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
2,976 IDF wounded [IDF]
1,609 terrorists killed on the first day
1,500 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas
1,200 Israelis killed on the first day
575 Israeli officers and soldiers killed
431 West Bank Palestinians martyred
246 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza
202 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon
126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers
116 living hostages in Palestinian custody
50 civilians killed in Lebanon
29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"
15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel

Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation.

The Palestinian resistance says that the losses of the Israeli forces are much greater than what is announced. 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."

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.

Lord Roberts of Belgravia (Con) stated 08 February 2024 "My Lords, even if we were to take as accurate Hamas’s statistics and the 27,500 figure — there is no reason why we should; we do not do that with Putin or ISIS — if one subtracts the number of Gazans who have been killed by the quarter or so of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas rockets that fall short, one is left with a less than 2:1 ratio of civilians to Hamas terrorists killed, of whom there have been more than 9,000 so far. War is hell, and every individual civilian death is a tragedy, but — I speak as a military historian — less than 2:1 is an astonishingly low ratio for modern urban warfare where the terrorists routinely use civilians as human shields. It is a testament to the professionalism, ethics and values of the Israel Defense Forces."

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