Operation Iron Swords - Day 179 - 02 April 2024

“At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to
surrender and release every hostage. …
Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)

Contents

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

War Termination

The leadership of the families of Israeli prisoners held by Hamas, which is setting up a protest tent city in Jerusalem, warned of new “tricks” being followed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his management of negotiations with the Palestinian movement, such that their outcome would be similar to the obstruction and obstacles that have occurred so far. The families of the prisoners did not accept the statement of Netanyahu’s office with confidence, especially since Egyptian sources were quoted as confirming that “the Israeli delegation did not present anything new through which the tense situation in the negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement could be breached,” and that the mediators began working on a “path Alternative” in order to reach a three-day humanitarian truce starting by Eid al-Fitr, after the failure to reach a truce during Ramadan.

The leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), Izzat al-Rishq, renewed the movement’s rejection of any foreign presence in the Gaza Strip to monitor the ceasefire if it is agreed upon, stressing the people’s rejection of the presence of any non-Palestinian parties on their land. Al-Rishq’s statements, which were published on the movement’s Telegram platform, came to refute media reports that spoke of Hamas accepting the presence of UN elements monitoring the ceasefire and the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Rishq considered these reports to be baseless, noting that they were attributed to unknown sources. He explained that Hamas only demands the presence of international bodies and organizations, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ), to deliver aid and relief. He stressed, saying: "As for a ceasefire, if an agreement is reached, what is required are countries that will guarantee the agreement and guarantee the Israeli occupation's commitment to it, not monitoring elements. We affirm our people's rejection of the presence of any non-Palestinian parties on our land."

The White House said that Israel agreed to take American concerns into account regarding the attack it threatens to launch on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip , during a meeting held via video yesterday, Monday. The White House stated that the American side expressed during the high-level meeting its concern about “the various courses of action in Rafah,” and indicated that officials from both sides agreed to hold further discussions at the expert level in a meeting to be held early next week.

In a tense and critical video call, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly voiced serious reservations about Israel's proposed evacuation plan for Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. An Israeli official to News 12: "The Americans are talking In a completely different way from us, the gaps are deep". The representatives of the White House discussed last night with Minister Ron Dermer and the head of the National Assembly Tzachi Hanegbi the alternative proposals of the Biden administration for Israeli military action in Rafah. The video call between the parties lasted about two hours, and other Israeli representatives were present, including the Israeli ambassador in Washington Mike Herzog. Representatives from the American side also participated from the Pentagon.

At the end of the meeting, a joint summary statement was issued on behalf of the White House, according to which Israel will take into account the US's concerns about an operation in Rafah. But at the meeting, as N12 published for the first time in the "Main Edition", difficult things were said by the senior members of the American government. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said: "You are about to be responsible for the third famine crisis of the 21st century. This is not something we can accept as partners. The evacuation plan you have presented so far is neither impressive nor applicable."

American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken scolded: "According to your pace of action in bringing in humanitarian aid, it will take you 4 months to evacuate Rafah."

Dermer and Negbi clarified: "Hamas cannot be dismantled without entering Rafah. This is a condition that cannot be transferred to the fulfillment of the goals of the war."

Sullivan replied: "If there isn't an orderly plan for the day after, nothing will help you promote the dismantling of Hamas - not Rafah and nothing else."

Following the charged conversation, an Israeli senior official told News 12 that "the Americans talk about Rafah in a completely different way than we do. They are not ready to accept another Gaza or another Khan Yunis. They want action at the border, a siege of Rafah and spot raids. We want full entry to dismantle Hamas Next week Dermer will fly there for follow-up talks at the White House, but the gaps are deep."

The negotiations for the deal continue against the background of the return of the Israeli delegation from Cairo, and it seems that there is potential for progress. Israeli News 12 published in the "Main Edition" that the mediators, led by Egypt, submitted a new proposal to Hamas, which includes, among other things, Israel's new maneuvering space - as determined by the War Cabinet on the night between Thursday and Friday. This is with an emphasis on flexibility regarding the return of the displaced from the south of the Gaza Strip to the north.

Although this is not a simple proposal for Israel, at this stage it is not part of the proposal. In Israel, they are not ready to give up checking and filtering those passing through the buffer zone, to make sure that Hamas terrorists do not use the population to cross the axis. This proposal is part of the intense sequence of talks that we have been familiar with lately, in an attempt by the mediators to overcome the many and high obstacles between Israel's position and Hamas's position.

This time too, the mediators are waiting for Sinwar's response. If the response is positive, pressure will begin to build that will lead Israel to a point where there is no choice. An Israeli source emphasizes that "the expectation from the mediators is that they will continue to work to advance the move." At the same time, there is great disappointment on the Israeli side with the behavior of Qatar and Cape Town, who did not use any leverage on Hamas - as they presented to the Americans.

From the Arab media it emerges between the lines that this is a complex proposal, but with the potential for a relatively positive answer from Hamas already in the next two days. If indeed the contacts mature, a senior Israeli delegation of the head of the Mossad will leave.

The Prime Minister's Office announced on behalf of the Mossad the return of the negotiating delegation of the Mossad, the Shin Bet and the IDF. The announcement states that "Israel expects the mediators to work harder with Hamas to advance the negotiations in favor of a deal, the announcement states. "The State of Israel continues to make all the necessary efforts to release the abductees and abductees from the hands of Hamas and return them to Israel.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation " Makan ", citing an unnamed informed political official, revealed that the negotiators participating in the talks aimed at reaching a truce in the Gaza Strip enjoyed a "more flexible" position, pointing to "the possibility of making progress in the coming days." “If Hamas is interested in reaching an agreement, we can move forward,” the official said. “We have come a long way this time as well, and there is potential for progress in the coming days.”

On Sunday, indirect negotiations between Israel and the Hamas movement (classified as terrorist in the United States and other countries) resumed in Egypt, seeking to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip, after a series of negotiations through international mediators, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, during recent months, without achieving any results. It progresses, while both sides exchange accusations of obstructing it.

Senior Israeli officials participating in the negotiations stated, according to Makan, that “the Israeli delegation in Cairo presented to the mediators an updated and more flexible position regarding the return of residents to the northern Gaza Strip.” On Monday, France proposed a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council examining options for possible international monitoring of a truce in the Gaza Strip and proposals to help the Palestinian Authority assume responsibility. According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the participants in the Israeli mini-cabinet meeting on war affairs, on Sunday, addressed the issue of “Israel’s flexibility” in the negotiations, and discussed a “compromise solution” regarding the return of Gaza residents to the northern Gaza Strip, and the Israeli presence in the corridor that divides the Gaza Strip into In half.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, she stated, “Expectations are that the talks will not continue due to Hamas’ intransigence.” During the negotiations, Hamas demanded the release of the abductees in batches over a period of 6 weeks, during which a ceasefire would prevail, with a number of abductees being released every few days and not on a daily basis. According to Makan, this means that if a deal is reached, some of the kidnapped people expected to be released will remain in Hamas custody during the Jewish Passover holiday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Sunday to continue military pressure on Hamas, while showing flexibility in the talks, saying that "only this combination will lead to the release of the hostages."

Hamas says that any agreement must stipulate an end to the fighting and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian Strip. Hamas also wants to allow hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced from Gaza City and its surrounding areas, heading to the south of the Strip during the first phase of the war, to return to the north.

Operational Update

Abu Ali Al-Askari, “the security official for the Islamic Resistance, Kataib Hezbollah,” issued a statement yesterday, Monday, April 1, 2024, on his Telegram account, in which he said that Kataib Hezbollah is in the process of equipping the Islamic Resistance mujahideen in Jordan with weapons, anti-armor launchers, and tactical missiles. Abu Ali Al-Askari said in his statement: “ The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has prepared its equipment to equip the Islamic Resistance in Jordan to meet the needs of 12,000 fighters with light and medium weapons, anti-armor launchers, tactical missiles, millions of ammunition, and tons of explosives , so that we can be one hand to defend our Palestinian brothers and seek revenge.” “For the honor of Muslims that were violated by the sons of apes and pigs.” He added, "We are ready to begin preparations. It is sufficient for that to be recommended by the mujahideen of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Let us begin first by cutting off the land road that reaches the Zionist entity."

Operational Update - Gaza

In the last day, fighter jets of the Air Force attacked over 25 terrorist targets, including IML warehouses, and other terrorist infrastructures. Fighters of the 98th Division continue fighting in Khan Yunis, eliminating terrorists and destroying warehouses of military equipment. In the last day, the TSK Commando eliminated a number of terrorists through precise shooting, among other things, by sniper fire. TSK 7 fighters eliminated terrorist squads in the Kararat area of Khan Yunis, as part of the operation in cooperation with the Air Force, an aircraft attacked a number of terrorists from the air and a weapons warehouse.

The combat team of the commando formation is fighting in the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, the forces are raiding the terrorist infrastructure in the neighborhood in a precise and targeted manner. During the raids, the fighters locate many weapons and eliminate dozens of terrorists.

The military operations of the Israeli occupation army took an escalating turn in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip , during the past few days, the most recent of which was the bombing of the relief convoy belonging to the World Central Kitchen organization. In this context, the military and strategic expert, Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, says that the 162nd Division in the occupation army assumed responsibility for the northern sector and the central region of the Strip, after the 99th Division was repositioned in the Gaza envelope .

During his analysis for Al Jazeera, Al-Duwairi explained that one of the division's brigades was allocated to the central region, and its goal was to secure the region to limit the movement of Palestinian resistance faction fighters and prevent them from freedom of movement. The occupation operations in the Central Governorate can be described as having lasted for several weeks - which means from a military point of view - that the forces allocated to defend it could be employed in the northern or southern regions, according to Al-Duwairi.

The military expert added that to prevent the redeployment of these forces and to provide support to the north and south regions, a brigade was allocated, but it is unable to carry out military operations such as occupying or entering Deir al-Balah. But he added that this brigade will carry out specific operations, such as storming Al-Shifa Medical Hospital and other hospitals, pointing out that Deir Al-Balah was outside of military operations, except for limited operations.

Al-Duwairi reiterated his emphasis that the resistance’s defensive battle is based on geographical foundations. There are 8 Al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) - in the north with a combat efficiency ranging between 65% and 85%, 3 battalions in the central camps, 5 battalions in Khan Yunis, and 4 in Rafah, for a total of 22 active battalions.

World Central Kitchen is an American non-governmental organization that contributes to sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. The US-based NGO World Central Kitchen said seven members of the organization had been killed while traveling in a convoy in Deir el-Balah after unloading 100 tons of food aid at its central Gaza warehouse. The NGO, which provides fresh meals in response to conflict and natural disasters, has been supplying food assistance in Gaza, which the UN has warned is on the brink of famine. The WCK said the group was traveling in a “deconflicted zone” in two armored vehicles that were branded with the WCK logo and that it had coordinated their movements with the Israeli military. WCK said its workers came from Australia, Poland, the UK and Palestine. One had dual Canada-US citizenship.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson called for international condemnation of the Israeli regime’s airstrike on people working with the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) in the Gaza Strip. In a post on his X account, Nasser Kanaani said the “terrorist Zionist army’s targeted attack” on the convoy of the World Central Kitchen workers in the Gaza Strip deserves international condemnation. Offering his condolences to the families of the seven victims of the attack, Kanaani said the crime indicates that the Zionist regime is insisting on its plans for starving out Gazans, creating famine, the organized and targeted massacre of innocent civilians, and deliberate strikes on the international rescue teams, humanitarian institutions and non-governmental organizations. Such an anti-human approach reveals that the Zionist regime is not committed to any international rules and regulations or worldwide moral principles, he added.

For his part, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday that an Australian citizen was killed during the accident. Albanese said that volunteer Lala Al-Zaomi “Zomi” Francom was doing “very valuable work” distributing food in the Gaza Strip, stressing that his country “will seek full and appropriate accountability” for those responsible for her death. He continued: "I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Australian aid worker Zumi Frankum, who was killed in Gaza."

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its condolences to the family of the volunteer who holds its nationality. The ministry said in a post on the “X” platform on Tuesday: “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the volunteer who was providing aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.” She continued: "Poland objects to ignoring international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers."

Reuters also quoted Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski as saying that he requested an "urgent explanation" from the Israeli ambassador regarding the volunteer's killing. In turn, Britain called on Israel to investigate the killing of aid workers in Gaza. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Tuesday that news of the killing of aid workers, including a British citizen, in an Israeli air strike in Gaza was "extremely sad." Cameron added, according to what Reuters reported: “There have been reports of the killing of British citizens, and we are working urgently to verify this information and will provide full support to their families.” Cameron stressed that "humanitarian workers must be protected and able to carry out their work."

Meanwhile, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides called for an "immediate investigation" into the killing of the seven aid workers. Christodoulides stressed that the charity World Central Kitchen, whose employees were killed, is a "key partner" in the initiative to deliver aid to the Palestinian Strip by sea, adding: "We need to redouble efforts to deliver aid to Gaza."

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also condemned the Israeli raid that resulted in the deaths of aid workers, and called for an investigation to be opened. “I condemn this attack and call for an investigation to be launched as soon as possible,” Borrell wrote on the X website. “Despite all appeals to protect civilians and aid workers, we continue to see innocent people being killed.”

Egypt also condemned, in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the targeting of “international aid workers in the Gaza Strip,” demanding “an urgent and serious investigation that leads to holding those responsible for these systematic and deliberate violations of Palestinian human rights accountable.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Egypt affirms its rejection and categorical denunciation of Israel's continued targeting of organizations working in the humanitarian field, which play a vital and major role in confronting the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip."

The White House said on Tuesday that it was "outraged" by the Israeli bombing that killed seven aid workers at World Central Kitchen in Gaza, and that President Joe Biden had called the founder of the charitable relief organization to offer his condolences. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in a briefing to reporters, “We were outraged that we learned of an Israeli army bombing yesterday that killed a number of civilians working in humanitarian aid from World Central Kitchen.” Commenting on the killing of World Central Kitchen workers, Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the US National Security Council, said: “We are saddened and deeply disturbed by the strike that led to the killing of relief workers at World Central Kitchen in Gaza.” She continued: “Humanitarian relief workers must be protected as they deliver much-needed aid, and we urge Israel to quickly investigate what happened.”

In response to a question about whether the United States would condemn the Israeli bombing, Kirby said that the use of the word “angry” could be considered “a condemnation of the bombing itself.” For her part, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in the same press briefing that Biden told the founder of World Central Kitchen, Jose Andres, that he would make clear to Israel that aid workers must be protected. Kirby said that the Israelis "have already said they will bear this... There is accountability that must be borne here." "There are issues related to disengagement that clearly need to be identified and improved," he added. But he said that Washington would continue to ensure that Israel could defend itself.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that the raid was tragic and unintended, and the Israeli army pledged to conduct an independent investigation. The Israeli army announced that an “independent, professional and experienced body” would investigate the killing of 7 aid workers working for the World Central Kitchen organization in Gaza. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the incident will be investigated through a “fact-finding and evaluation mechanism,” which he described in a statement as “an independent, professional, and experienced body,” without providing details. ""Following the reports of the incident concerning the employees of the WCK organization in the Gaza Strip, the IDF began an in-depth investigation of the incident by the most senior ranks, in order to understand all the circumstances of the incident. The IDF makes great efforts to enable the safe passage of humanitarian aid, and works in full cooperation and coordination with the WCK organization in order to support their efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip."

Famous chef José Andrés, founder and president of the Washington-based non-governmental relief organization, said " These are people…angels…I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless…they are not nameless. The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives lost. Peace starts with our shared humanity. It needs to start now." The famous chef added, "My heart is broken and sad" over the killing of these volunteers.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday offered his condolences to the families and loved ones of the workers of the World Central Kitchen relief organization who were killed in a raid in the Gaza Strip, stressing that he asked the Israeli government to conduct a “quick and comprehensive” investigation. Blinken said at a press conference in Paris: “We spoke directly to the Israeli government about this specific incident. We asked for a quick, comprehensive and impartial investigation to understand exactly what happened.”

Blinken arrived in Paris on Tuesday after members of the non-governmental organization World Central Kitchen, which is based in Washington, DC, were subjected to an Israeli air strike in central Gaza, which increases pressure on the United States to take a tougher stance on the war between Israel and the Hamas movement. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance (Hamas), and regarding the arms supplies provided to the Hebrew state. But Blinken stressed on Tuesday that the United States is committed to Israel's security and enabling it to defend itself, noting that "weapons transfers to it are carried out with the approval of Congress." He said: “Since the first days of the conflict in Gaza, we have stressed that Israel must be keen to protect civilians,” adding that humanitarian workers must be protected.

A new report issued by the World Bank and the United Nations stated that the cost of damage to vital infrastructure in Gaza is estimated at $18.5 billion, equivalent to 97 percent of the gross domestic product of the West Bank and Gaza Strip combined in 2022. The report concluded that the damage to infrastructure facilities and structures affects all sectors of the economy, as residential buildings constitute 72 percent of the cost, while public service infrastructure, such as water, health, and education, constitutes 19 percent. As for the damage to commercial and industrial buildings, It constitutes nine percent of this cost.

The World Bank noted that "the destruction left a huge amount of debris and rubble estimated at about 26 million tons, which may take years to remove and dispose of." The interim damage assessment report used remote data collection sources to estimate damage to physical infrastructure in critical sectors between October 2023 and the end of January 2024, according to the World Bank website. The report addresses the economic impact on the population of Gaza, as "more than half of them are on the brink of famine, and the entire population suffers from severe food insecurity and malnutrition. There are more than a million people homeless, and 75 percent of the Strip's population has been displaced."

It pointed out that women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities were among the groups most affected by the war’s “catastrophic cumulative effects on their physical, psychological, and mental health, with younger children expected to face consequences that will affect their growth and development throughout their lives.” The report states that with 84 percent of hospitals and health facilities damaged or destroyed, and a lack of electricity and water to operate the remainder, residents have only minimal access to health care, medications, or life-saving treatments.

The report said, "The water and sanitation system has almost collapsed, and now provides only less than 5 percent of its previous services, forcing residents to rely on very small water rations to survive." As for the education system, “it has collapsed, with 100 percent of children out of school,” according to the World Bank. The report also indicates the impact on electricity networks and solar energy production systems, and the almost complete power outage since the first week of the conflict.

“With 92% of main roads destroyed or disabled, and communications infrastructure deteriorating, delivering basic humanitarian assistance to the population has become extremely difficult,” according to the report. The report identified the main measures for early recovery efforts, “most notably increasing humanitarian aid, food aid and food production, and providing shelter centers and rapid, comprehensive and cost-effective housing solutions for those who have been displaced, in addition to resuming the provision of basic services to the population.”

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

The soldiers of the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Special Forces arrested 22 wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria and in the Bekaa and Emekim Brigade. In an operation to counter terrorism in Qalandia in the Binyamin Brigade, the forces arrested a wanted person, interrogated many suspects and located an improvised explosive device.

In Nablus in Samaria, the fighters worked to arrest a wanted man, and after he tried to escape, the forces fired at him, a hit was detected, after which the wanted man was arrested. Four more wanted persons were arrested in the area of the division. In Khirbat Asala in the Ephraim Brigade, the fighters arrested a wanted man and confiscated weapons. In Jericho, in the Bekaa and Emekim Brigade, the fighters arrested two wanted men. The wanted persons who were arrested and the means of warfare that were confiscated were transferred to the security forces for further treatment, there are no casualties to Israeli forces. So far, since the beginning of the war, approximately 3,700 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, approximately 1,600 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

An aircraft attacked the terrorist squad that carried out the launches into the Western Galilee area in the Wadi Hamol area. During the day, IDF forces fired artillery to remove a threat in a number of areas, including the area of Misat and Ramish.

The series of Israeli attacks on the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem is still continuing, , with an increase in the pace of escalation, as it has become a scene for the Israeli occupation forces to carry out campaigns of incursions into towns and villages, raids on homes, and arrests of Palestinian youth who resist all of this. In the most recent of these attacks, the occupation forces stormed the Qalandia camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, where clashes broke out with the resistance fighters, during which a number of Palestinians were injured and others were arrested. The occupation forces also targeted press crews at the entrance to the camp with sound bombs, and raided Palestinian homes, including the homes of martyrs and prisoners, and tampered with their contents and assaulted them. On its inhabitants.

As for the West Bank, the occupation forces stormed the Old City of Nablus, and arrested a young Palestinian man after he was injured in his feet. They also stormed the villages of Urif and Madama, south of the city, and arrested a young Palestinian there. In Hebron, the occupation forces arrested fourteen-year-old Jihad Mahmoud Khalil after storming his home in Beit Ummar, north of the city, and stormed Dura in the south.

The Israeli incursions also affected eastern Qalqilya, where confrontations broke out between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli occupation forces in the town of Azzun, during which the occupation soldiers fired live bullets and sound bombs. The occupation army also stormed the town of Kafr Qaddum and raided a number of neighborhoods there. And to Jenin, where Israeli occupation vehicles stormed lands in the industrial zone northeast of the city, and occupation soldiers stormed the towns of Ya'bad and Araba, and launched a combing and search campaign in them.

Settlers, under the protection of the occupation forces, attacked a woman, farmers, and livestock herders in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. According to local sources, the settlers of "Givat Yair" and "Susya", which were established on citizens' lands and property in Msafer and Shifa Yatta, attacked the citizen, Samiha Ismail Salama Al-Nawajaa (50 years old), causing her to suffer bruises and bruises, after which she was treated in the field. The heavily armed settlers also attacked citizens, insulted them with obscene language, and chased away livestock herders and farmers. In Nablus, settlers attacked citizens' vehicles on the road near the "Yitzhar" settlement , after engaging in orgies. There was a heavy presence of occupation soldiers on the same street, which has become almost closed to vehicles bearing Palestinian registration plates.

Operational Update - Lebanon

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah announced , this evening, Tuesday, that it had targeted the " Gasher Haziv " settlement near " Nahariya ", northwest of occupied Palestine, with a Katyusha rocket launcher. It also announced the targeting of the "Al-Sammaqa" sites with appropriate weapons, and "Ruwaisat Al-Alam" in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with missile weapons, confirming that direct hits were achieved in the two sites. It reiterated that its operations come in support of the Palestinian people and their resistance, and in response to the occupation’s attacks on Lebanese villages.

Hezbollah's military media indicated that "the Islamic Resistance carried out a number of operations against the positions and deployment of the Israeli enemy army on the Lebanese-Palestinian border on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, according to the following":

Eastern sector (southern Lebanon):

1. - At 17:15: The Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kafr Shuba was targeted with appropriate weapons, and it was directly hit.
2. - At 18:15: The Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kafr Shuba was targeted with missile weapons, and it was directly hit.
3. - At 20:08: The Honin Barracks was targeted with appropriate weapons and was directly hit.

   Western sector (southern Lebanon) :

4. - At 01:25: A group of Israeli enemy soldiers were targeted inside the Al-Malikiyah site with artillery shells.
5. - At 05:45: A gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers was targeted at the Al-Malikiyah site with missile weapons, and it was directly hit.
6. - At 19:35: The “Gashrhaziv” colony near Nahariya was targeted with a Katyusha rocket launcher, in response to the Israeli attacks on the steadfast southern villages and civilian homes, most recently on the town of Yarin, and a woman was wounded there.

These targets come amid international and international fear of the expansion of the war in the region, especially after Israel bombed the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, in an operation that assassinated senior military advisors in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and others.

Israeli media reported that sirens were sounding in the Margilot settlement in the occupied Upper Galilee.

For his part, Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that about 30 missiles were fired from Lebanon towards the occupied territories, and the sounds of explosions were heard in the Western Galilee region. The correspondent pointed out that a Lebanese woman was injured in the raid carried out by an Israeli drone on the town of Yarin in southern Lebanon. He also pointed out that an Israeli artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of the town of Ramia.

In this context, Amit Sofer, head of the Regional Council in “Merom HaGalil” in the Upper Galilee, said today: “We are in an unbearable situation,” noting that “the settlers of the north continue to pay high prices,” while the accumulation of damages will lead to “an economic catastrophe.” Sofer added in an interview with the Israeli Channel 14: “We woke up to another tense morning. After every assassination of us... we feel the heightened state of alert that has characterized the region for several months, and we are looking at whether there will be a major response and at what level.”

IDF artillery, from its positions in Al-Zaourah in the occupied Syrian Golan, bombed and targeted the town of Al-Khiyam on its eastern and southern sides, specifically at the chalets area. The bombing targeted the Kafr Shuba Heights, Wadi Shebaa, and the Al-Sadani area located near Al-Habbariyah and Rashaya Al-Fakhar, noting that the sweeping with heavy machine guns was not limited to the woods and houses, but rather targeted farmers in the Ghajar area and Al-Wazzani farms.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

A member of the Iraqi Fatah Alliance, Ahmed Al-Kinani, revealed on Tuesday that the Iraqi resistance factions may run out of patience if the political solution does not work with the American side. The Iraqi "Information" Agency quoted Al-Kinani in a statement, saying: "The attacks carried out by America on the headquarters of the Iraqi factions are in violation of the governmental agreement." Pointing out that "the factions are committed to the government's decisions to use the diplomatic solution." He added: “The government is concerned about the issue of the Americans’ withdrawal from Iraq, despite the transgressions that are occurring on the part of the American side and its lack of commitment to diplomatic solutions.” He noted that “the Sudanese’s upcoming visit will discuss the issue of removing the American forces.” It is noteworthy that the Iraqi government has formed a specialized committee to manage the file of the Americans’ exit from Iraq, and it is continuing to work according to political controls.

A suspicious aerial target was detected that made its way to Israeli territory from the direction of Syria, the target was shot down in Syrian territory and did not cross into Israeli territory, the event is over.

The "Israeli Eye" program on Alalam News Network, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, shed light on the course of negotiations to conclude a prisoner exchange deal, holding Netanyahu responsible for the failure to conclude it, while Washington's decision to supply the entity with weapons warned, in addition to the acknowledgment of former Zionist military and security officials that the goal of eliminating resistance in Gaza had failed. The program discussed the Zionist aggression that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the martyrdom of seven advisors in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard , as the Hebrew media confirmed the Israeli entity’s responsibility for this attack.

Regarding the Zionists’ failure to disclaim responsibility for this terrorist attack, what is noteworthy is the Israeli correspondent’s talk about what he called “the war led by Iran against the occupation,” which has been more intense for more than half a year, that is, since the Zionist aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip , Zaher Abu Hamda, a follower of the matter, confirmed that The Israeli occupation is trying to some extent to transfer its failure from the Palestinian arena to other arenas. They hold Hajj Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis responsible for the attack on Eilat and Warrash in the south, and targeting the naval base. This is considered the largest security and intelligence defect to some extent and a military violation of the Zionist entity, especially In a sensitive center in a military base, and therefore he wanted to respond on more than one level. He wanted to say that the unity of the arenas is not only for the resistance axis , but also that I can fight on more than one axis, in more than one arena, and on more than one front, including the Iranian front. She was also in Syria.

Abu Hamda pointed out that the occupation admits that it is the perpetrator and that the method of implementation must be looked at in terms of using F-35 aircraft and using six missiles on a building belonging to the Iranian embassy in Damascus or the consulate or the neutral building of the Iranian embassy in Damascus. This is a multi-faceted message. Therefore, here it stops, according to what a Zionist official said in yesterday’s clip, that the occupation is the one behind this, and it is a message for this axis, the axis of resistance, to stop supporting Gaza and the Palestinian resistance.

Regarding the issue of security warnings by the Zionists and those spread around the world about attacks targeting them, Abu Hamdan explained that this is exaggerated, because it is the one who understands the Iranian mind and knows that Iran respects international laws and international conventions, noting that we have not previously witnessed an Iranian attack on any embassy, whether it belongs to the occupation or to the United States. United States or non-American, and if Iran responds, it will respond inside Palestine.

The program also touched on the former head of military intelligence in the Israeli occupation army , who indicated that during this attack, Iran is paying the price for its leadership of the axis of resistance and the fronts supporting open Gaza since the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood.

The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations stated in a letter to the Security Council that these horrible crimes and cowardly terrorist attacks are a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, international laws and the basic principle of immunity of diplomatic and consular places (as explicitly stated in the Convention Diplomatic relations of 1961, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, of 1973 are referred to.

Referring to the wide international consequences of such horrific crimes, which can escalate tensions in the region, the Iranian delegation asked the United Nations Security Council to take any necessary measures, including holding an urgent meeting to deal with this gross violation and prevent future acts of aggression. endanger the security and safety of diplomatic missions, and also ensure that those responsible for such criminal actions are brought to justice quickly. From the point of view of international law and existing conventions, this aggression of the Zionist regime has wide consequences for him, and it is expected that the international assemblies will prevent the repetition of such crimes against diplomatic headquarters in the world by entering into this issue.

Seyed Reza Sadr al-Hosseini , a senior expert on regional issues, in a conversation with Tasnim about the goals of the Zionist regime regarding this aggression, said: This is the first time that the Zionist regime has violated the treaties and conventions raised in the field of international law and the immunity of embassies and official offices of the country. carries out a military attack on the consular section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus. In the Vienna Convention, which was approved in 1961, it is explicitly stated that in the official places of embassies where the flag of a country is flying, this is the territory of that country and they are immune.

He added: In fact, the Zionist regime, with this act of its own and this open aggression and attack on the diplomatic places of our country, seeks to expand the war and after the possible expansion of the war by the Islamic Republic of Iran, international support for its next actions. Provide. Earlier, the former Mossad employee stated that Israel is looking for a full-scale war with the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to have an excuse to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

Sadr al-Husseini pointed out: The regime's efforts are to create conditions for Iran to delay the end of the Zionist regime, and in fact to carry out space construction, despite the support of murderers, neckbreakers and criminals such as the United States and some NATO member countries. to indicate that Iran has started the war.

This regional expert said about the consequences of this crime for the Zionist regime: It is a fact that the rationality ruling Iran will definitely deal with this criminal act and out of diplomatic custom with appropriate decisions. In fact, the main reason for this military operation against the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus is due to the numerous defeats the regime suffered from the Palestinian resistance and the Palestinian resistance, which according to the leaders of this resistance, fully benefited from the spiritual support of Iran and their biggest and most important supporter is the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He added: Last week, the main leaders of the Palestinian resistance came to Tehran and had talks and meetings with Iranian officials at the highest level. Based on this, the Zionist regime pointed the finger towards the Islamic Republic since the beginning of the successful Al-Aqsa storm operation, it wants to drag Iran into this war in a way, and considers the expansion of the war to be in its own interest for the continuation of its life.

Sadr al-Hosseini, in response to the question of what Iran's best reaction could be to this crime of the Zionist regime, stated: In this regard, some believe that Iran should not respond directly to the regime, and on the other hand, some believe that repeating these actions against The advisors of the Islamic Republic should push Iran in a direction to have a strong and direct reaction to protect its interests.

He continued: It seems that the Zionist regime is not to the extent that Iran wants to enter to respond to these criminal acts of the regime, but the resistance stream under the inspiration of the Islamic Revolution has proven how the war machine of this regime has been able to over the past 6 months. and seriously disrupt all the various strategic, economic, political, social and military affairs of the regime.

This regional expert stated: The actions of the world's public opinion during the past 6 months in the form of expressing their hatred against the Zionist regime, is self-explanatory of the fact that the Zionist regime is stuck in a dead end and a quagmire that does not need anything. It is not due to the presence of the Islamic Republic in the destruction of the Zionist regime. Rather, it is the resistance that has managed to bring the regime to this point of decline and overthrow. In these recent days, the actions that the Iraqi resistance took and hit the port of "Um al-Rashrash" or "Eilat" so hard and brought it to a complete shutdown, shows the capability that the Iraqi resistance can give similar answers to the Zionist regime if needed.

Sadr al-Husseini also pointed to the movements of the Yemeni resistance in the form of the Yemeni National Army against the Zionist regime and said: It has completely proven that not only the Zionist regime but also its two main supporters, the United States and the United Kingdom, have reached a strategic deadlock. In the geopolitical zone, it has reached the passage of Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea.

In the end, he stated: The circumstances are not in the Islamic Republic's hands, which need to deal directly with this cancerous tumor, but with the confidence that the nation has in its armed forces and the Commander-in-Chief, the necessary decisions must be made. This matter will be taken into account and there should be no circumstances in which it can be assumed that Iran will be indifferent to this inhuman act of the Zionist regime.

The meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus was held on Tuesday. Vasiliy Nebenzia, the representative of Russia, said in the emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus: We condemn in the strongest possible way the targeting of the embassy building of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which caused the death of its employees. We have never approved the attack on diplomatic centers and we condemn it.

He added: According to the 1963 convention, diplomatic immunity of embassy employees should be respected. The representative of Russia said: This was not the first action of Israel to attack civilians in Syria. Nebenzia continued: Over the past few months, Israeli planes have targeted various airports, including Damascus Airport, which has been the gateway for humanitarian aid from the United Nations. He added: "Despite the fact that American officials issue loud statements about this, they remain silent against Israel's actions."

The representative of China in the emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus said in his speech: Israel's action is a gross violation of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Twenty years ago, the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia was targeted by an American airstrike and several people were killed. This Chinese diplomat continued: We deeply understand the pain and sadness caused to the people of Iran due to yesterday's incident and express our sympathy to them. It should not be allowed to take such reckless actions against diplomatic places.

The representative of Slovenia emphasized in the emergency meeting of the Security Council: Slovenia is completely worried about the situation in the region. We ask all sides not to inflame tensions and show self-restraint. All parties must respect the Security Council Resolution 2728 and we must witness a ceasefire. He stated: It is necessary that all members of the United Nations adhere to the United Nations Charter.

The representative of Switzerland said in the emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria: these actions have greatly increased the level of tension in the region. He added: Resolution 2728 must be implemented and a ceasefire established in Gaza.

The Algerian representative also stated in the Security Council meeting: The timing of this attack, in the context of Israel facing international pressure for a cease-fire in Gaza, shows deliberate disregard for the request of the entire international community to end hostilities. He added: The purpose of such a deliberate action is clear: to respond to international pressure by escalating conflicts, it is clear that the purpose of this action is to drag the entire region into conflict, and it shows the sense of immunity by the occupying Israeli regime, which considers itself above international laws.

The Algerian diplomat said Israel's behavior is far from what we expect from a member of the United Nations. The Security Council must respond decisively to these pressures on the principles of the sovereignty of countries, the immunity of diplomatic places and the territorial integrity of countries. He continued that the integrity of our international order is at risk and there should be consequences for this flagrant disregard for the law so that we can maintain our collective commitment to the law.

The American representative in the emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus also claimed that, as the White House announced, Washington had no role in the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria. Repeating the White House's baseless anti-Iranian claims, he said: "The nature of the attacked building is still unknown to us, if it is diplomatic, it is unacceptable to us." The representative of the United States said: We still do not have detailed information about the target building, and if it is proven that this building belonged to diplomatic places, it will be condemned.

Most of the representatives participating in this meeting condemned Israel's attack, but the United States, England, France, Japan and South Korea did not agree to condemn the Israeli attack.

Zahra Ershadi, ambassador and deputy permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, spoke about the "threat to international peace and security" at the Security Council meeting regarding the crime of the Zionist regime and the invasion of the diplomatic headquarters of Iran in Damascus. The text of the Iranian representative's speech at the Security Council meeting is as follows:

"Yesterday, the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately informed the members of the Security Council about the latest clear violation of international laws by the Israeli regime in Syria. As reflected in the correspondence of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, our diplomatic facilities in Damascus were subjected to terrorist attacks by the Israeli regime on April 1, 2024.

"Seven missile attacks from the occupied Golan Heights specifically and deliberately targeted the diplomatic places of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the building of the consular section and the residence of the ambassador. Unfortunately, these heinous attacks led to the martyrdom of seven Iranian personnel, including senior military advisers, and the wounding of a number of others.

"Besides the complete destruction of the consular part of the building, the administrative parts of the embassy were also significantly damaged by the explosions. The final and exact death toll is still unclear because the diplomatic building was destroyed, and people were trapped under the rubble.

"Madam Speaker, the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns these horrible crimes and cowardly terrorist attacks. The Israeli regime has committed a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, international laws, and the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.

"Yesterday's crime of the Israeli regime is more than a crime. This crime and terrorist attack represents a clear insult to the accepted principle of the international community, that is, the immunity of representatives and diplomatic and consular places; The common principle, which is the cornerstone of international relations, is recognized and supported.

"This crime also clearly violates the fundamental principle of diplomatic and consular immunity, as well as the 1961 Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents.

"Madam President, the Security Council has consistently been unanimous in its clear condemnation of violent attacks on embassies and consular facilities of member countries. The Security Council has always emphasized that such reprehensible actions, regardless of the motive or agent, are unjustifiable.

"Considering the severe consequences of this reprehensible act, which can lead to the escalation of tensions in the region and potentially spark more conflict among other countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran asks the Security Council to strongly condemn this criminal act and illegal terrorist attack.

"Madam President, it is now quite clear that the destabilizing, irresponsible and ongoing crimes of the Israeli regime against the nations of the region are a real threat to regional and international peace and security. This regime has continuously ignored international laws, the United Nations Charter, humanitarian principles and human rights. The agenda of the Zionist regime is clear: escalation and continuation of the conflict while avoiding accountability and accepting responsibility.

"This regime has no red line for killing civilians and even using starvation as a method of war. The main goal of this regime is the illegal use of force to advance apartheid policies, ethnic cleansing, genocidal actions and military objectives in Gaza at any cost. Despite the repeated requests of the members of the Security Council, the Zionist regime continues its brutal and genocidal actions against the defenseless people of Gaza.

"Despite international pressure and UN Security Council resolutions, all of which call for a ceasefire, the Israeli regime has defied these resolutions and has instead focused on committing more brutal crimes without regard to international legal obligations.

"Just today, this regime killed the aid workers of the World Central Kitchen; Aid workers who, according to the deputy secretary general, "were heroes who died trying to feed the people of Gaza who were struggling with hunger."

"Unfortunately, the lack of accountability and inaction of the Security Council has only encouraged and encouraged this regime to continue its violations. The time has come for the Security Council, while accepting its responsibility, to deal with the real threat to international peace and security. The Security Council must quickly fulfill its duties against the reckless defiance of the Israeli regime. Immediate and effective measures should be taken to force this regime to fulfill its obligations.

"Madam President, the Islamic Republic of Iran has shown great self-restraint, but it must be acknowledged that such tolerance is accompanied by limitations. The occupying regime must accept full responsibility for the consequences of its crimes. The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its legitimate and inherent right based on international laws and the United Nations Charter to respond decisively to such reprehensible actions.

Operational Update - Yemen

The fall of a suspicious aerial target was detected outside the territory of Israel, from the northeast direction of the city of Eilat. The event has ended and its details are under review.

The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority announced that a shooting incident occurred on a ship off the coast of Hodeidah Governorate, western Yemen, overlooking the Red Sea. The authority said - in a statement on the “X” platform - that it received a report about an accident 150 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, on Monday evening. It stated that the ship's captain reported that an entity claiming to be from the Yemeni Navy welcomed them and asked the ship to activate its automatic identification system, and shortly after the welcome call, a member of the ship's crew reported that they heard what he suspected were gunshots. She explained that the authorities are investigating the incident.

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

Japan announced the resumption of its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ), stressing that the agency's role cannot be dispensed with in confronting the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip as a result of the war. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in press statements in Parliament that her country will end the freeze on its financial contributions to UNRWA, noting that approximately $35 million - of the originally planned funding - is ready for disbursement.

Kamikawa - who met with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Tokyo last week - stressed that the agency's role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is indispensable, even as it works to improve governance and risk management, as she put it. UNRWA has been under Western pressure since Israel accused 12 of the agency's 30,000 employees of participating in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th.

In light of these Israeli accusations, about 15 countries, led by the United States, the main donor to UNRWA, announced the suspension of their funding to the agency despite United Nations warnings that there is no alternative to carry out the agency’s work, especially with the escalating warnings of famine in Gaza. This led to a freeze in funding worth $450 million for the current year, which hampered the agency’s operations in Gaza. But some countries later retracted this decision, including Australia, Canada, Finland, and Sweden.

Axis of Resistance

Israeli warplanes launched a missile attack on the consular section of Iran’s embassy in Damascus on Monday evening, killing seven IRGC generals and military advisers. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei issued a message after the martyrdom of Iranian military advisers in an Israeli airstrike on the consular section of Iran’s Damascus embassy, saying the Islamic Republic will make the Zionist regime regret this crime. The following is the text of the Leader’s message of condolence:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The bold, selfless, general of Islam, Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, along with his honorable comrade, General Mohammad Hadi Haj-Rahimi, were martyred by the criminal act of the despised, usurping Zionist regime. May the peace and mercy of God and those that are beloved by Him be upon them and the other martyrs (who were assassinated) in this tragic event. May God’s curse and damnation be upon the leaders of the oppressive, aggressive (Zionist) regime.

Our martyrs have been granted a sign of the acceptance of their long-term struggle (against the oppressors) from the compassionate God, and they are now enjoying divine blessings in the company of the righteous and those who are beloved by God.

General Zahedi had been awaiting martyrdom since the 1360s AHS (1980s) when he was fighting in dangerous battlefields. They (the martyrs) have not lost anything and have received their reward. But the grief of losing them weighs heavily on the Iranian nation, especially those who knew them.

The evil Zionist regime will be punished by our courageous men. We will make them regret this and other crimes like it, by God's power and strength.

May God’s peace be upon His righteous servants.

President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi pledged that the Zionist regime’s crime of conducting Monday’s fatal strike on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus will not go unanswered. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Raisi said the usurping Zionist regime has brazenly violated international law by committing the terrorist crime of attacking the diplomatic building of Iran in Damascus.

Condemning the “inhumane assault in brazen violation of the international regulations”, the president said the Israeli regime has resorted to blind assassination attacks in an attempt at survival after successive defeats and failures in the face of the resistance front. The Zionist regime must bear in mind that it won’t be able to achieve its sinister objectives with such inhumane measures and will have to face the growing strength of the resistance front and also the free nations’ hatred and aversion to its illegitimate nature, President Raisi added. “This unfair crime won’t go unanswered,” the Iranian president warned Israel.

Raisi, while appreciating the Syrian President's expression of sympathy and condolence, considered this terrorist and criminal act to be a sign of the depth of desperation and helplessness of the Zionist regime and emphasized: "Undoubtedly, this regime and its supporters are responsible for this terrorist and brutal crime in Gaza." They will be punished for their shameful act and the punishment of the perpetrators of this crime is definite and unchangeable.

The president stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria have always considered this regime a cancerous tumor and disturbs security, peace and stability in the region and the world, and stressed the need to strengthen regional and international cooperation between the two countries to deal with the criminality of this regime. And he said: "Unfortunately, the passivity and weak position caused by the fear of some Arab countries has prevented the Islamic world from adopting a united position against the Zionist regime and has caused this regime to become more brazen in committing crimes."

Raisi described the crazy actions of the Zionist regime in the recent terrorist attack and the continuation of criminality in Gaza as the last attempts of this dying regime and added: Today it has been proven to everyone that the criminal Zionist regime, by violating all international treaties and regulations, None of the humanitarian and international principles are adhered to, and it is more unfortunate that America and some western countries continue to provide financial, weapon and media support to this regime.

By stating that Major General Shahid Zahadai has been the source of valuable and honorable services in the protection of high Islamic and human values in the region for many years and the pure and pure blood of him and his comrades will deepen the unbreakable bonds between the two nations of Iran and Syria, the President emphasized on the necessity He emphasized the development and promotion of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria in various fields against the wishes of the enemies of the two countries and two nations.

The Foreign Ministry of Iran called on the United Nations to show an urgent and necessary reaction to the Israeli regime’s fatal strike on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus and condemn the crime that has violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli airstrike that resulted in the martyrdom of seven Iranian military advisers at the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1.

The United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council and the UN secretary general, are expected to show a rapid and appropriate reaction against the Israeli regime’s actions that violate international law and threaten international peace and security, it said. The ministry called on the UN to condemn and abhor the Zionist regime’s criminal and terrorist activities.

It also noted that the governments and the international assemblies are expected to strongly condemn Israel’s “cowardly and despicable” attack that was in breach of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, of the UN Charter, and of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, adopted in 1973. The Foreign Ministry noted that the responsibility for the consequences of the criminal attack on Iran’s diplomatic mission in Damascus lies with the Zionist regime. “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the legitimate and inherent right, in accordance with the international law and the UN Charter, to respond decisively to such terrorist measures,” the statement added.

The Iranian foreign minister called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to show an immediate and appropriate reaction to the Israeli regime’s criminal strike on the consular section of Iran’s embassy in Syria that has killed several advisers. In a telephone conversation with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian condemned the Israeli regime’s fatal strike on Iran’s diplomatic building in Damascus.

The minister said the airstrike has violated the international law and the conventions of diplomatic and consular rights, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported. Amirabdollahian also called for an appropriate and immediate response from the OIC against the Israeli regime's crime.

For his part, Brahim Taha condemned the Zionist regime's history that is “filled with crimes” and strongly denounced its latest attack on diplomatic premises. He expressed solidarity with the Iranian government and people, offering condolences to the families of the victims of the attack. Brahim Taha also underscored the OIC’s responsibility in this matter.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine confirmed in a statement it issued in this regard: The barbaric move of the “Israeli” occupation state to target the Iranian consulate in Damascus constitutes a challenge to the international community and its laws and customs, in addition to being a targeting of a building that enjoys diplomatic immunity , and is located in the middle of the city’s crowded neighborhoods in Damascus. Which led to the destruction of the building and its occupants, causing severe damage to neighboring buildings and neighborhoods, and causing innocent casualties and injuries.

The Democratic Front added in its statement, commenting on the brutal Zionist attack that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus: “Israel,” as it celebrates the major arms and equipment deal with the United States, including F-35 fighters and highly destructive missiles and shells, is trying to regain, through its aggressive actions, some of its prestige, which It was trampled by the feet of Palestinian fighters in the battle of the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” and the humiliation that this caused to the army, which has no ability except to kill civilians and brutally target civilians in their homes, confirms once again the fascist and even Nazi nature of the racist regime in the occupying state.

She continued: While the Democratic Front condemns with all terms of condemnation and denunciation the Israeli crime against the Iranian consulate in Damascus, it extends its sincere condolences to the Iranian leadership in Tehran, which always stands by our people in their national struggle and their legitimate rights, and at the same time extends the deepest Feelings of solidarity with the Iranian and Syrian peoples, condolences to the families of the martyrs and victims, and a speedy recovery for the injured and wounded.

Allied for Democracy

Israeli anti-government movements set up tents in front of government headquarters and the Knesset in Jerusalem and closed the main street in the area after a massive demonstration in which tens of thousands participated, during which they called for the overthrow of the government.

The Israeli economic website The Marker said that the Israeli government will not be able to adhere to the budget deficit it has set for itself at 6.6% of GDP , and that the deficit is likely to reach 8% even if the security situation does not deteriorate further, and attributed this to the burdens of the war on the sector . In Gaza, in particular, the army maintains reserve soldiers whose number exceeds the prescribed levels. According to the website, the Ministry of Finance attributes the failure to adhere to the targeted deficit rates to the increase in the army budget, in which expenditures in some of its items exceeded initial expectations, making it necessary to adjust both expenditures and incomes during the year 2024.

The Ministry attributes the failure to adhere to deficit rates not to the decline in taxes, but to the increase in expenditures, especially defense ones, and it believes that the number of reserve soldiers serving in the army - despite the large demobilization operations that included entire battalions recently - is still double what was planned.

The Marker says that the influencing factor is thousands of regular soldiers who received additional service orders and were about to be discharged. They suddenly became reserve soldiers with very high salaries, which is what the army tried to avoid by proposing to extend compulsory service for men from 32 months to 36 months, but the law is the same as another proposal. To raise the age of discharge from reserve service - he is still imprisoned in the Knesset (Parliament) due to disagreements over the recruitment of Jewish extremists ( Haredim ).

The website quoted a military source as saying that issuing service orders for an additional 4 months after demobilization alone will cost between 470 and 542 million dollars by the end of next June. The Marker says that the army did not make a major effort after the outbreak of the war to control the financial costs caused by recruiting hundreds of thousands of reserve soldiers, which led the Ministry of Finance to conclude at the beginning of this year that military spending might get out of control, making it necessary to reduce expenses and adjust them in the budget. The site gave an example of one aspect of the high cost with data from the Ministry of Finance, which showed that a number of reserve soldiers combine - in order to double their incomes - their work in civilian life with their service in the army, for which they receive a full salary, even when it is on a shift basis.

The army believes that it can adhere to the defense budget, which was set at about $35 billion until the end of the year, but this depends on security developments and also on financial discipline. The Ministry of Finance cites another reason why it fears that the government will deviate too much from the expected budget deficit, which is poor planning, which has caused expenditures to spiral out of control in civilian ministries such as tourism, health, and social security due to the large expenses incurred from treating the many war wounded and from evacuations to hotels.

The website says that there is a broad consensus that the government will not be able to adhere to the original budget deficit, and that it was supposed to update the forecasts, but the ministry refrained from doing so due to lack of clarity of the picture and also so that the update would not occur less than a month after the budget was approved because that would undermine the government’s credibility. The Ministry of Finance believes that its forecasts for the budget deficit will be more accurate next month, and the issue of special American aid will also become clearer then.

Yesterday, in an evaluation conducted by the Central Bank, the Governor of the Israeli Central Bank, Amir Yaron, stressed the importance of wise financial management, calling for a comprehensive assessment of the needs of the defense budget. He added, "Israel intends to add about 20 billion shekels ($5.4 billion) to defense spending annually," noting the magnitude of the proposed increases. Yaron pointed out the necessity of forming a committee to determine the size of the defense budget, saying: “It must determine Israel’s defense needs in the coming years and formulate an appropriate multi-year budget program that takes into account all the repercussions on the economy.”

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will visit Saudi Arabia this week, where he will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to discuss a “potential huge deal” that includes normalization with Israel and a defense treaty between Washington and Riyadh, according to a report by the American “ Axios ” website. The website quoted four American and Israeli officials as saying that Sullivan's visit "comes as part of the White House's efforts to work on drafting a defense treaty between America and Saudi Arabia, and understandings related to the United States' support for a Saudi civil nuclear program."

The report added that American officials hope to reach a “bilateral agreement” with Saudi Arabia during the visit, which will then be presented to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that the Israeli side of the agreement “includes a commitment to a path that leads to a two-state solution.” The White House refused to comment to Axios regarding the report, while the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request from the site for comment on the issue.

An Israeli official told the American website: “There has been significant progress in the talks between the United States and Saudi Arabia regarding their draft defense treaty. They want to finalize their side of the deal before putting it on our table, and they are telling us: Accept it or leave it.”

The British Financial Times newspaper said that Saudi Arabia’s strategy towards normalization with Israel “upended” due to internal anger over its war in the Gaza Strip, and indicated that Riyadh “found itself standing between popular support for the Palestinians and American pressure to normalize relations with Israel.” Normalization talks stopped following the October 7 attack launched by the Palestinian Hamas movement on Israel and the Israeli response of devastating military operations in the Palestinian Strip. But talks have resumed in the past few months.

On Tuesday, Reuters quoted an American official as saying that Sullivan “intends to hold talks with the Saudi Crown Prince regarding this issue, but he does not expect to achieve a major breakthrough.” A second American official said that Sullivan would conduct broad consultations on a number of matters, explaining: “He has not visited Saudi Arabia for a while and there is a lot that can be discussed.”

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said on March 21 that the United States and Saudi Arabia had made “good progress” in talks on normalizing relations between the Kingdom and Israel, without providing a timetable for concluding an agreement. US President Joe Biden said during a campaign fundraising event in New York last week that the Saudis are “ready to fully recognize Israel,” according to Axios. Biden added: “But there must be a plan for Gaza, and there must be a path to reach a two-state solution. That should not happen today.”

Biden said that Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, are “ready to fully recognize Israel” in any future agreement, in response to criticism of his policies in the Middle East during an election event, Thursday, in New York. Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel, and did not join the Abrahamic Accords under which the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco normalized their relations with Israel. The Biden administration made strenuous efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalize relations.

Saudi Arabia set several conditions for normalization, including obtaining security guarantees from Washington and assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program. It also affirmed its demand for the establishment of a Palestinian state, something it reaffirmed after the war in the Gaza Strip. For his part, Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his refusal to establish a Palestinian state, despite American and international calls to implement the two-state solution.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

• 75,494 Gazans injured, 28% adult male
• 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza
• 40,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
• 33,000 Gaza targets attacked
• 32,916 Gazans martyred
• 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]
• 15,000 rocket launched from Gaza
• 14,793 Israelis injured [i24 TV]
• 13,750 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
• 9,920 Gazan women martyred
• 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
• 9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance
• 8,000 Gazans missing under the rubble
• 7,895 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th
• 6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12]
• 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]
• 5,500 IDF wounded [reports]
• 4,750 West Bank Palestinians wounded
• 3,484 administrative detainees
• 3,600 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
• 3,079 IDF wounded [IDF]
• 2,100 Gazan women are missing
• 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day
• 1,600 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas
• 1,160 Israelis killed on the first day
• 595 Israeli officers and soldiers killed
• 453 West Bank Palestinians martyred
• 255 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza
• 222 Hezbollah fighters 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

Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.