Operation Iron Swords - Day 189 - 12 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 UPDATED - Operations Maps NEW - By-Standers NEW - Axis of Resistance NEW - Allied for Democracy UPDATED - By the Numbers

Hordes of Israeli settlers attack villages in the West Bank hurling stones, firing their guns, and setting ablaze homes and cars. Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, attacked the homes of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank town of al-Mughayyir to the northeast of Ramallah, on Friday. Then, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that after withdrawing, the occupation forces re-stormed the West Bank village. Calls were broadcast via loudspeakers of mosques in the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, urging people to stay on high alert to defend the village against an ongoing IDF-backed settler attack on the village.

Multiple illegal settlers ransacked Palestinian property in al-Mughayyir, destroying and setting ablaze several cars, while opening fire from their rifles and guns on the homes of Palestinians in the village. At least one Palestinian man has been killed in the ongoing attack after he was shot by settlers in al-Mughayyir. Meanwhile, the people of the town of al-Mughayyir in the West Bank made appeals for help in extinguishing the raging fires in vehicles and residences following the brutal settlers' attack.

Palestinians called upon each other, via megaphones, to defend their town, which has come under a brutal attack. The Israeli Army Radio said that three Israeli soldiers were injured in confrontations with unarmed Palestinians who hurdles stones at them. Israeli occupation forces also raided a number of towns surrounding Nablus and Ramallah, in a surprise arbitrary detention campaign. Concurrently, illegal Israeli settlers also attacked the Palestinian Burqa town, near Ramallah, injuring at least three people who were physically assaulted and stoned.

War Termination

Members of the UN Security Council were unable to agree on the Palestinian bid for full membership in the United Nations, despite a majority of council members supporting the move. Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who currently presides over the council, stated that “there was no consensus” during Thursday’s closed-door meeting. The United States, a steadfast opponent of Palestinian statehood, reiterated its stance, emphasizing that the United Nations is not the appropriate forum for determining such matters. According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, the US believes statehood should result from direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Last week, Palestinians revived their 2011 application for full UN membership, sparking a formal review process by the Security Council’s ad hoc committee, which convened on Thursday. Despite this, the Biden administration made clear its opposition to the renewed bid.

“We have always made clear that, while we support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state… that is something that should be done through direct negotiations through the parties — something we are pursuing at this time — and not at the United Nations,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a press briefing. The US opposition carries significant weight, given its veto power in the Security Council. Palestine has held the status of a "non-member observer state” at the UN since 2012.

Following the Thursday meeting, a formal vote by the council is anticipated. Diplomatic sources suggested a vote could occur on April 18, at the behest of Algeria, representing Arab nations on the council. However, even if the bid garners the required nine of 15 votes, observers anticipate a US veto. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour reiterated his plea for recognition, stating, “All we ask for is to take our rightful place among the community of nations.”

On March 22, Spain, Ireland, Malta, and Slovenia released a declaration on the margins of an EU leader's conference, indicating they were "ready to recognize Palestine" when "the circumstances are right". Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated Friday 12 April 2024 that there were "clear signs" in Europe that regional nations were willing to recognize a Palestinian state. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who met with Sanchez, said that Norway is prepared to recognize a Palestinian state with other nations. Store told reporters during a joint press conference that "Norway stands ready to recognize the state of Palestine," adding that such a choice would need tight consultation with "like-minded countries".

"We have not set a firm timetable," the Norwegian leader stated. On his part, Sanchez explained that Spain was "committed to recognizing Palestine as a state, as soon as possible, when the conditions are appropriate, and in a way that can have the most positive impact to the peace process."

Sanchez emphasized that Europe's geopolitical interests are served by acknowledging a Palestinian state, a move that has faced resistance from "Israel" and its main allies. During a recent trip to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, Sanchez broached the topic of statehood, suggesting that Spain might formally recognize Palestine as a nation by the conclusion of June. Store said on Friday that he supported Sanchez's attempt to speak with other nations to "strengthen coordination".

The new Irish Taoiseach, Simon Harris, is set to meet with Sanchez, to discuss their joint plan to recognize Palestine as a nation state and their plans to force the European Union (RU) to assess "Israel's" human rights obligations.

The Israeli government's violation of human rights should cost the occupation its association agreement with the EU, which is an all-encompassing trade agreement between the bloc and the Israeli regime. Harris and Sanchez will look to enforce a clause that obliges the EU to suspend the agreement with entities that violate human rights law, which "Israel" has been blatantly doing since it launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Spain and Ireland have worked toward pro-Palestine issues since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, focussing on the rights of the Palestinian people to an independent state and criticizing Israeli violation of international law.

Operational Update

Iran could launch strikes against Israel within the next 24 to 48 hours in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 11. At least 13 people were killed in the attack on the embassy, which Tehran and Damascus both said was carried out by Israel. Seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members were among the victims, including two senior commanders of the Quds Force, Brigadier Generals Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.

Citing United States intelligence reports, an American official told The Wall Street Journal that Iran could launch retaliatory strikes within days, “possibly on Israeli soil” as opposed to Israeli interests elsewhere. The strike could come within the next 24 to 48 hours, the unnamed official said, adding that the Israeli military was preparing for a possible attack on either southern or northern Israel. However, the same report also quoted a person briefed by the Iranian leadership as saying that no final decision has been taken by Tehran.

Quoting an IRGC advisor, earlier in the week, the Guards provided Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with several options to strike Israeli interests. One of the options was a direct attack on Israel with sophisticated medium-range missiles, the advisor said. Khamenei has yet to decide on the plans. According to The Wall Street Journal, he is concerned a direct attack could backfire with the projectiles being intercepted and Israel responding with a massive retaliation on Iran’s strategic infrastructure.

“The strike plans are in front of the Supreme Leader and he is still weighing the political risk,” the adviser told the WSJ. Another report published by CBS News on April 12 said that a major retaliatory attack by Iran on Israel could come as soon as today. Citing two unnamed U.S. officials, the news network said that the attack could possibly include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside Israel. Tehran might opt for a smaller-scale strike in order to avoid a dramatic escalation.

Israel has been on high alert amid multiple threats and intelligence assessments that Iran is planning to retaliate against the attack on its embassy in Damascus. Senior Israeli officials, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, have already warned Tehran that Iran will hit back. Despite efforts by some the United Kingdom and some European countries to calm down Iran and contain the situation, Tehran will likely retaliate in order to re-establish deterrence with Israel. If the attack on the embassy goes unpunished, the next Israel strike could target Iranian territory.

"Besides the defense - we are also prepared for an attack with a variety of capabilities," declared the IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, "we have one of the best defense capabilities in the world." The IDF's preparations and preparations for the possibility of an Iranian response to the assassination of a senior Revolutionary Guards officer in Damascus have been completed. As part of the preparations for an attack on Israel, the IDF is taking a series of actions to try to detect Iranian launches and intercept them, including patrols of fighter jets in the air , the air defense system which is on high alert, as well as the intelligence collection.

The Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, completed a comprehensive situational assessment of the IDF's preparedness for all scenarios, together with the Deputy Chief of Staff, R. Amatz, R. Aman, the commander of the HA, the commander of the PAKAR and other commanders. The heads of the wings and arms reviewed the preparation and readiness in defense and attack, referring to possible scenarios and adjusting the operational response.

"The IDF is very strongly prepared to attack and defend against any threat," the Chief of Staff stated, "We have been at war and have been at a high level of readiness for about six months. The IDF continues to closely monitor what is happening in Iran and in the various arenas, while constantly preparing to deal with existing and potential threats in coordination with the United States Army. Our forces are prepared and ready at any time and against any scenario."

A situation assessment is now taking place together with the commander of the US Central Command, General (****) Michael Eric Kurilla.

Israel struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria on April 1 – killing seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, including two generals. Iran has since threatened a response to the deadly Israeli attack, prompting several countries to issue travel warnings to its citizens.

• France: The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs advised its citizens against travelling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
• UK: The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was more specific in warning against “all travel” to northern Israel, the Gaza Strip, areas near Gaza and the occupied West Bank – excluding occupied East Jerusalem and Route 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
• Russia: The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended its citizens “refrain from travelling to the region”, emphasising security risks in Israel, Lebanon and occupied Palestinian territory.
• India: The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi called on Indians not to go to Iran or Israel until further notice in view of the “prevailing situation in the region”.
• US: State employees in Israel and their family members are prohibited from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheba areas.

A senior official told News 12 that "the American support and its close cooperation with Israel is an additional layer of protection for the citizens of Israel." Israel does not wish to start a regional war against Iran, but understands that its response to a possible attack on Israel should send a message that it will not agree to a violation of its sovereignty. On the other hand, there are discussions on how to prevent this incident from igniting into a much larger campaign. There is an understanding that if the tensions with Iran flare up into a regional campaign, the US will intervene. Senior officials in the security establishment said that there is no doubt that the Iranian official who was killed was a "son of death", and in the list of assassinations, both of Israel and of the Americans, but added that "reaction scenarios were not taken into account This is probably due to the location where the official was killed in Damascus, which is considered the territory of the Revolutionary Guards.

US President Joe Biden warned Iran on Friday evening against launching any attack targeting Israel, stressing at the same time that he expected an Iranian attack to be imminent. Biden added: “Tehran will not succeed if it decides to use force in response to the Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate in Damascus,” and US President Biden stressed that the United States is committed to supporting and defending Israel. He said: "We will support Israel and help defend it. Iran will not succeed." He also called on Tehran not to use force in the current situation. When asked what message he would like to send to Iran now, Biden replied: “Don’t do it.”

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense said on Friday that his country will send additional forces to the Middle East, to provide additional protection for its forces stationed in the region, and said: “We are deploying additional forces in the region, to support regional deterrence efforts, and to enhance the security of American forces. We have no information.” Others we offer at the moment.

The Axios website reported, citing three sources, that “Iran conveyed a message to the Biden administration, via several Arab countries, earlier this week, stating that if the United States intervenes in the fighting between Israel and Iran, American forces in the region will be attacked .” CBS News quoted two unnamed American officials as saying, “A major Iranian attack on Israel is expected late today, Friday, with the possibility of using more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles against military targets inside the country.” .

Against the backdrop of potential escalation, the United States assures Israel in every possible way that it will support its allies in confronting any threats emanating from Iran and its followers.

Operational Update - Gaza

In accordance with the decision of the political level, in coordination with the IDF and the Israel Defense Forces, a number of first aid trucks including food were brought in yesterday for the first time through the northern crossing to the Gaza Strip as part of the efforts to increase the humanitarian aid routes to the Gaza Strip, and to the north of the Gaza Strip in particular. The trucks underwent a strict security check by the security officials of the land crossings authority of the Ministry of Defense at the Kerem Shalom crossing and accompanied by IDF forces.

A total of 147 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip yesterday (Apr. 11). 208 aid trucks were distributed within Gaza, 112 of which contained food. The content of 300 trucks is currently still waiting to be picked up by UN aid agencies on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom. 206 aid packages containing hundreds of thousands of meals were airdropped over Gaza yesterday, in conjunction with Egypt, the UAE and Jordan (Apr. 11). In accordance with the decision of the government of Israel, the first food aid trucks entered through the new Northern Crossing from Israel into Gaza yesterday, as part of efforts to enhance the humanitarian aid corridors to Gaza in general, and to the north in particular. 44 aid trucks from the private sector were coordinated to northern Gaza. 4 tankers of fuel and 4 tankers of cooking gas designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, entered the Gaza Strip yesterday (Apr. 11).

The battle team of the Nahal Brigade, Brigade 401 and other units under the command of Division 162, continue the raid aimed at eliminating terrorists and destroying terrorist infrastructure in the center of the Gaza Strip. As part of the operation, the Nahal Brigade's combat team raided several buildings of the terrorist organizations Hamas and GAP and located terrorist infrastructures.

In one of the operations, the forces raided the Abraham Elmakadema school in the center of the Gaza Strip. The forces located and neutralized a number of heavy charges that were ready for use and were hidden in the classrooms and school yard. In addition, they located an observation post that was used by the organization for terrorist purposes and a threat to Israeli forces.

"We are here in the heart of a seemingly innocent school, a special school," said Maj. Gen. 931, Lt. Col. Oz, "and in the heart of this school we have here a Hamas combat simulator, facilities that were waiting for our forces, who were already ready. During Today we managed to destroy and kill."

"You can see here a school, next to the school, a charge under the bin that was already ready," continued Maj. Gen. 931, "Further inside the school is a residence compound for Hamas, which you can see is a fresh residence compound where they slept, here you can see the two charges ready to our forces, under the staircase, and here the terrorists stayed with their water, and tried for their lives as soon as we got here."

Aircraft of the Air Force in cooperation with the Gaza Division and the Shin Bet attacked and killed yesterday (Thursday), Radwan Muhammad Abdullah Radwan, the head of internal security in the Jabaliya region of the terrorist organization Hamas, who also served as an operative in the organization's military arm. Radwan was involved in giving orders to the operatives of the terrorist organization and directed several takeovers by armed terrorists of humanitarian aid trucks in the northern Gaza Strip. His elimination harms Hamas' ability to attack and take over humanitarian aid in the Jabaliya region.

In addition, Hamed Muhammad Ali Ahmed, a commander in the military wing of the terrorist organization Hamas who simultaneously served as the head of the organization's internal security operations in Jabaliya, and another Hamas operative from the Jabaliya Battalion were eliminated.

The combat team fighters of the 401st Brigade and the Nahal Military Police, along with other units in the 162nd Division, continue the operation aimed at eliminating terrorists and the destruction of terrorist infrastructure in the center of the Gaza Strip. As part of the activity, the fighters eliminated a number of terrorists in the last day in face-to-face battles and air force aircraft attacks. The forces located and destroyed underground launch sites in the area, along with a number of ready-to-launch launchers used by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, the fighters raided terrorist infrastructures, where they located military equipment of the GAP terrorist organization.

During the last day, Air Force fighter jets attacked more than 60 terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including underground launch sites, terrorist infrastructures and military buildings where armed terrorists from the terrorist organizations operated. At the same time, the forces of the 215th Fire Brigade attacked many terrorist infrastructures with artillery fire as part of the forces' activities in the center of the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian strategic expert Major General Muhammad Abdel Wahed said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government team insist on storming Rafah, hoping to achieve military gain. He explained in an interview with RT, commenting on whether Netanyahu would storm Rafah despite Egyptian and regional warnings, that the decision-making circle around Netanyahu wants the aggression against Gaza to continue for many reasons. He added that there is another scenario that says that there is insistence on the part of Netanyahu and another group around him who owns the decision-making industry in Israel, and not Netanyahu personally, but rather from a group around him that represents the political and security elites and narrow decision-making circles, and this is a very important part, and by it we mean how to make decisions. The decision in Israel.

He added that all evidence confirms that an operation is supposed to be carried out in Rafah, and if this operation occurs, perhaps the Israeli side will be able to achieve some military successes from it, indicating that if the operation is stopped without entering Rafah, it is not possible to talk about any victory achieved for Israel, neither militarily nor politically, and it will be Hamas is the one who won this war and imposed its will, and therefore it is important for Netanyahu and his group to enter Rafah to achieve what they called complete victory or overwhelming victory. This sentence is always used by Prime Minister Netanyahu, as there is a paramount importance that Netanyahu and the extreme right see in entering Rafah.

He said that those who bet on the entry of the Israeli army into Rafah say that the Israeli army will be able to completely maintain security control over the Gaza Strip from the south, and will even be able to control the Rafah crossing with Egypt and close it as long as there is another alternative crossing, which is the sea crossing or an air port, which will help it work. The security arrangements that the Israeli army is working on are separating the north of the Gaza Strip from its south and creating a dividing line in the middle of the strip, and security arrangements by creating a buffer zone on the border and controlling the Philadelphia axis, thus completely tightening security control. This will achieve victory for Israel. The third part is that entering the Rafah crossing will make the region completely isolated and thus it will be easy to achieve the big goals of the Israeli government from the war, which were not announced, which are re-occupying the Gaza Strip again, taking security control of the Strip, implementing economic projects in the Strip, and displacing the Palestinians. This will be called voluntary displacement. They will provide facilities for this displacement by sea and through Cyprus, and there are countries with which it has been agreed to receive groups of Palestinians.

He added that any gains from a military operation in Rafah will enable Netanyahu to achieve political and economic gains, and the entry of the Israeli army into Rafah will achieve Israeli gains for him inside Israel, and Netanyahu can confront his rivals from the extreme right or from the opposition, such as Yair Lapid, whether the opposition is outside the government or from the opposition. Those within the mini-government, such as Benny Gantz, Eisenkot, and others. Therefore, Netanyahu will have achieved a great victory, as he justifies all of this by saying that he is the only prime minister in the history of Israel who was able to achieve this victory, and thus he will be able to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

The Egyptian strategic expert noted that with regard to the Rafah operation, it is important to know the American-Israeli differences, noting that the dispute is not strategic but a purely tactical dispute, a dispute over the details: The United States of America does not oppose a military operation in Rafah, but it wants some guarantees, that is, it wants a systematic targeting operation. Simple through aerial bombardment and specific operations on the ground to destroy Hamas and its combat capabilities.

He said that the Rafah operation has been going on for more than a month and a half, that is, there are specific operations taking place in Rafah on a daily basis. There is air bombardment, there are drones for reconnaissance, there are intelligence operations operating in full swing in Rafah, there is targeting of homes, hospitals and shops... All of this is to strike. Resistance men and completely beat their prisoners. There is an already ongoing process, and Netanyahu's political future is closely linked to the length of the military operation. The longer the military operation lasts, the more gains will be made for Netanyahu and the extreme right in power. They know full well that if the military operation ends or stops without achieving comprehensive victory, they will be put on trial, because there are major disasters that have not been revealed in Gaza and there are major errors in the management of the military operation, and therefore it is in the interest of the extreme right to prolong the conflict in Gaza. Thus, the above can be summarized, according to the Egyptian strategic expert. He said that if Netanyahu is able to achieve significant gains through negotiations that he can promote as if he had achieved victory over the Palestinian resistance, the Gaza operation will not be completed. But if he feels that the negotiations did not achieve the victory he was satisfied with, then a ground operation in Rafah will inevitably come. So the Rafah process depends on how the negotiations proceed.

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

The IDF, Shin Bet and MGB forces killed Muhammad Omar Daraema, the head of Hamas's terrorist infrastructure in Tubas, in a divisional operation in the Valley and the Valleys tonight. Muhammad was a central Hamas operative in the area and had been engaged in the promotion of significant terrorist operations against Israel in recent months. During the operation, Daraama shot at the forces who returned fire and killed him, the fighters confiscated many weapons found in his vehicle, including weapons and other military equipment.

During the brigade operation, terrorists threw explosives and fired at the force who responded by firing, hits were detected. The forces eliminated another terrorist after he tried to attack them, arrested two wanted persons and confiscated weapons. During the operation, the forces uncovered charges planted under the axles with the aim of harming our forces.

At the same time, the forces acted tonight to arrest five wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria. In Tulkarm in the Menashe Brigade, the forces arrested a wanted man and confiscated two M-4 type weapons. In the village of Anta in Benjamin, two wanted persons were arrested and weapons were confiscated, in the village of Pendakumia in the Samaria Division and in the village of Beit Awa in the Yehuda Division, the forces arrested two more wanted persons. 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.

Since 7 October 2023, OCHA has recorded 727 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in Palestinian casualties (72 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (578 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (77 incidents). The most affected governorates being Nablus (175 incidents), followed by Hebron (155) and Ramallah (145). Since 7 October 2023, at least 206 Palestinian households comprising 1,244 people, most of whom are herding families, including 603 children, have been displaced amid settler violence and access restrictions.

Initial results of a new OCHA closure survey show that some 114 new closures have been erected throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. These closures, which include checkpoints, earth mounds, roadblocks and road gates, have further disrupted Palestinians’ access to basic services, workplaces, and markets, as well as movement by aid workers to carry out assessments or deliver assistance. This brings to 759 the total number of movement obstacles in the West Bank. Intensified checks and more stringent access measures have also been reported since 7 October 2023, particularly at the entrances to Nablus and Tulkarm cities, and 29 permanent military checkpoints in H2 area of Hebron where non-registered civilians remain barred from accessing the area, except on Fridays during the month of Ramadan, and checkpoints only allow the movement of residents on foot between 7:00 and 19:00. Moreover, since 7 October, at least 81 Palestinians, including eight children, have been detained in or at checkpoints leading to H2 area and three Palestinian schools have remained closed, impacting at least 350 boys and girls.

Humanitarian organizations and local sources estimate that 12,000 Palestinians holding West Bank IDs crossed via checkpoints into East Jerusalem on the last Friday of Ramadan, which coincided with the ‘night of destiny’ (5 April), compared with about 98,000 last year. Measures announced by the Israeli authorities stipulated that access of Palestinians holding West Bank IDs to Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem was limited to children under 10 years of age, women over 50, and men over 55, with a valid one-day permit and magnetic card. In 2023, men over 55, women of all ages and children under 12 were allowed entry without a permit on Fridays during Ramadan. According to the Islamic Waqf, some 120,000 worshippers performed Friday noon prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque on the last Friday of Ramadan and about 200,000 performed the night and Taraweeh prayers.

Operational Update - Lebanon

The Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah announced that it fired “dozens of Katyusha rockets” at Israeli artillery positions on Friday, in an attack that it said was a response to Israeli attacks on towns in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has been exchanging fire on an almost daily basis across the border with the Israeli army since Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel on October 7, which led to the outbreak of war in Gaza.

Following the alerts that were activated in the north of the country, about 40 missiles were detected that crossed the territory of Lebanon, some of them were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, there were no casualties. The Israeli army announced, on Friday, that it "detected about 40 missiles fired from Lebanese territory, and some of them were intercepted." Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee said on the “X” platform that some of the missiles fell in open areas without causing any casualties. Adraee added that earlier on Friday evening, “the air defenses intercepted two Hezbollah bomb drones that infiltrated from the direction of Lebanon, where warnings were activated for fear of falling fragments of the interception.” Adraee pointed out that the Israeli army "detected the firing of several shells from Lebanon towards the area of ??the town of Ramot Naftali, without causing any casualties."

Earlier this evening, the air defense fighters successfully intercepted two explosive drones of the Hezbollah terrorist organization that crossed over Lebanese territory. A warning of missile and rocket fire in Ramat Naftali was activated for fear of interception fragments falling. In addition, a number of launches were detected that crossed from Lebanese territory to the Ramot Naftali region, there were no casualties. In the last few hours, IDF forces fired to remove a threat in several areas in southern Lebanon.

Fighter jets attacked military buildings of Hezbollah where terrorists were staying in the area of ??Aita al-Sha'ab. In addition, another Hizbollah military structure was attacked in the A-Taiba area in southern Lebanon. During the day, a number of launches were detected that crossed the territory of Lebanon into the Upper Galilee, there were no casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of the shooting. Further to the alerts that were activated in the Upper Galilee for fear of the infiltration of a hostile aircraft, it is apparently a false identification.

Israeli media revealed data related to the scale of confrontations in the northern front of occupied Palestine. Emphasizing that the battle in the North is an integral part of the multi-front confrontation, Yedioth Ahronoth considered Hezbollah far from defeat, noting that Hezbollah has launched 3,100 rockets and mortars, and 33 explosive drones since October 7. Additionally, it pointed out that Hezbollah has fired about 240 heavy rockets, ranging from 100 to 500 kg, causing severe damage. These bombs destroyed the headquarters of the al-Jalil Division in "Biranit".

Furthermore, Hezbollah has launched at least 700 anti-armor missiles, some of them advanced, which not only hit settlements and frontline positions of the Israeli occupation forces across the withdrawal line, otherwise known as the Blue Line, but also in strategic bases like the air traffic control unit in "Meron". Similarly, other locations were also targeted with the aim of destruction.

The website observed that seeing the destruction inflicted on "Kiryat Shmona" and other settlements is infuriating for the occupation government, adding that the strategic impasse does not seem to have a solution. Moreover, the Israeli newspaper affirmed that Hezbollah has not lost the confidence it gained over 20 years of growth. According to recent estimates, there are as many asa 200,000 rockets of various types, about 100,000 mortar shells of different sizes, and tens of thousands of Grad rockets capable of reaching Haifa, in addition to thousands of half-ton rocket shells with significant precision capabilities, constituting a threat not yet experienced by the Israeli occupation's homefront.

In a related context, Israel's Maariv indicated that the North is withering and collapsing, adding that Israel is currently abandoning the North. It further stated that the situation has largely stagnated amid internal battles, and a weakness in leadership, noting that settlers have been suffering from temporary housing solutions for six months now, and those who managed are now adapting to new places. The newspaper also pointed out that polls conducted on settlers from the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement showed that 40% of them do not intend to return, indicating that those who will return are those who have no choice, the elderly, the sick, the poor, and those in need of social care.

As Al Mayadeen's camera toured villages of South Lebanon near the border with occupied Palestine, it reported on the atmosphere of Eid al-Fitr there, showcasing how the Israeli occupation has failed to hinder the resilience of the Lebanese people in the south who remain attached to their land at all costs. Al Mayadeen Online's correspondent reported that in South Lebanon, many people from the villages on the front lines participated in the Eid prayer despite the dangers in the area due to the continuous Israeli violations and bombing. Amid her tour in Bent Jbeil, the correspondent emphasized that the movement flow there matches that of a typical Eid al-Fitr day in terms of the prayers and visits to the burial sites of their loved ones.

Even though the Israeli occupation's artillery targeted the outskirts of the towns of Alma al-Shaab and al-Naqoura, as well as al-Labbouneh and Wadi Hamoul in the western sector, Lebanese people have come to their villages on the borders to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr and confirm their presence, she added. According to our correspondent, intermittent Israeli artillery shelling also targeted the outskirts of the towns of al-Odaisseh and Blida, preceded by the firing of machine gun shells from the Bayad Blida site.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al Sudani wrote an article for Foreign Affairs reiterating his intention to end the US-led international coalition’s presence in Iraq and transition to a “comprehensive” bilateral relationship with the United States.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) warned on April 12 that it will directly respond to any foolish act by the United States and Israel in Iraq or any other country from the so-called “Axis of Resistance” “American criminality is increasing day by day in its support for the Zionist entity, and we hold the Americans fully responsible if their forces or the entity commit any foolishness in Iraq or the Axis countries,” the group said in a statement. “Our response will be direct wherever our hands reach. The IRI, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed armed factions, began launching attacks against Israel as well as against U.S. forces in Iraq and neighboring Syria on October 17 in response to the Israeli war on the Palestinian Gaza Strip -which broke out just ten days earlier- and Washington’s unwavering support for it.

The group suspended attacks against U.S. forces last February after the death of three American troops in a drone strike on a base in Jordan, reportedly upon a request from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Nevertheless, it escalated attacks against Israel starting from March. The latest warning by the group came amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran over the April 1 Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which claimed the lives of 13 people, including senior commanders and members of the IRGC.

Since the strike, the IRI has carried out at least 17 attacks against targets in Israel, mostly bases of the IDF and infrastructure, using suicide drones and cruise missiles. Recent reports suggest that Iran will very soon launch retaliatory strikes against Israel. Tahran has already warned the U.S. against intervening. The IRI warnings make it clear that any further escalation against Iran by the U.S. or Israel will be met with a response not only by Tehran, but also by its allies.

Operational Update - Yemen

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on April 12 that its forces intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) that was launched by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) from Yemen a day earlier. The missile was intercepted over the Red Sea, the command said in a statement, adding that there were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. "It was determined the ASBM presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels,” the statement reads.

The operations of the Yemeni Armed Forces will continue as long as the Israeli occupation entity continues its war and siege on Gaza, a member of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, told Al Mayadeen on Friday. Speaking with the news channel from the resting place of the founder of Ansar Allah, martyr Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, in Saada Governorate, the Yemeni official said that the people of Yemen are not intimated by the United States nor fear its threats of war.

"They used to [question] the martyred [founding] leader: 'How will you face America when it has missiles?'" he recalled. "We say to them today, here are our missiles terrifying the Americans." Al-Houthi noted that the US forces in the Red Sea are under persistent Yemeni pressure and "are having no rest .. and the American aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower is planned to return to the US." The Yemeni official expressed confidence that "God willing, the remaining [US] battleships and frigates will also be compelled to retreat and head back home." "The Americans are aware of the sincerity of our fighters' presence and actions on all fronts, and they know that the Yemeni people have disregarded their threats," the Supreme Council member said. "Their terrorism, statements, media, political, and intelligence wars do not intimidate us."

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

Khan Younis has become marred by profound destruction to homes, schools, hospitals, medical centres, roads and other civilian infrastructure, according to a UN inter-agency assessment mission to the area on 10 April that followed the withdrawal of Israeli troops. A UN warehouse and Nasser Hospital warehouse were among the buildings found to be significantly damaged, including substantial amounts of medications and trauma supplies that had been provided as humanitarian assistance. The hostilities have also rendered Nasser, Al Amal and Al Khair hospital non-functional, with assessments necessary to evaluate if specialized medical devices, CT scanners, oxygen plants, generators and solar panels are able to function again, according to WHO staff who described the destruction as "disproportionate to anything one can imagine.”

The UN team, comprised of representatives of OCHA, UNRWA, WHO, WFP, UNMAS and UNFPA, also reported that civilians who have returned to the area and those who stayed during the fighting are facing dire shortages of food, water and other critical supplies, collapsed services, and severe safety risks due to the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXOs), including 1,000-pound bombs found lying on main road intersections and inside schools. Among those at risk are thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who require a range of humanitarian support services, including health, water and sanitation, food, and specialized support for women and disabled people, reports the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, Jamie McGoldrick, during a visit on 9 April to an UNRWA school hosting tens of thousands of IDPs in Khan Younis.

Beyond crush injuries to the abdomen and chest, amputations to legs and arms and severe burns caused by bombardments on buildings and tents, and civilians being buried under the rubble, the MSF teams in Gaza have been witnessing cases of children with gunshot wounds caused by quadcopter drones and sniper fire. In a video posted on social media on 11 April, UNICEF spokesperson, Tess Ingram, described her encounter with a nine-year old girl, Juri, who was severely injured when the house of her grandparents was hit and has been at the European Hospital for 16 days with large, open wounds that cannot be treated in Gaza, hoping to be urgently evacuated outside of Gaza. Ingram stressed that all of this “cannot be acceptable to the world.” In a statement issued on 8 April, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) also highlighted the impact of the conflict on health workers, whose deaths have reportedly exceeded the total number of healthcare workers killed in conflicts globally in 2021 and 2022 combined. After six months of relentless conflict, “there is no safe place left in Gaza – not for healthcare workers, not for children, not for civilians, not for aid workers,” stressed MAP. According to MoH in Gaza, 489 health workers have been killed since the onset of hostilities.

Delays, access restrictions, and shootings are among the constraints aid providers face in Gaza, UNICEF said on 10 April when one of its humanitarian convoys was hit by live ammunition while delivering life-saving aid to northern Gaza, including therapeutic food for children at risk of malnutrition and preventable mortality. Between 6 and 12 April, 41 per cent (7 out of 17) of aid missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by the Israeli authorities (including one partially), 41 per cent (7) were denied or impeded including due to nearby hostilities, and 17 per cent (3) were cancelled by aid partners mainly due to logistical constraints. Facilitated missions involved rapid assessments, support to dignified burials at Al Shifa Hospital, and delivery of essential food supplies. Denied missions include two planned for 12 April, one of which planned to deliver about 24,000 litres of fuel to operate back-up generators at Al Ahli Arab Hospital.

Moreover, according to UNRWA, it continues to be disproportionately affected by access restrictions and was last able to deliver food to northern Gaza at the end of January. In southern Gaza, 91 per cent (31 out of 34) of aid mission requests to areas that require coordination were facilitated by the Israeli authorities (including one partially) and 9 per cent (3) were denied. On 11 April, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, underscored that the safety of aid workers and civilians in Gaza "remains paramount,” welcoming “all efforts to increase the amount and type of aid delivered for the people of Gaza, whether by air, sea or, most importantly, land.” Since 7 October, more than 20,000 truckloads of goods entered Gaza, constituting about a quarter of the truckloads that could have entered if the pre-crisis daily average of 500 truckloads had been maintained.

Axis of Resistance

The Israeli airstrike on April 1 targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in casualties including two senior Iranian military figures and five accompanying officers. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps identified Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi as among the seven martyrs of the attack. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has vowed that Iran will “punish” Israel and make the evil regime “regret” its crime of assassinating the country's military advisors in Syria, while President Ebrahim Raeisi condemned Israel's pattern of targeted assassinations in Syria, promising that the regime’s latest crime against Iranian military advisers in Syria “will not go unanswered.”

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari said that domination-seeking countries are striving to sow seeds of discord between the two countries. President Raisi congratulated the reelection of Zardari as president of the Republic of Pakistan and expressed hope that the bilateral relations between the two countries will be further expanded for securing the benefits of the two nations. Iran and Pakistan have a lot of potentials and capabilities to expand interactions, he said, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran hopes those potentials will be employed in the process of expanding ties. Raisi also hailed the faith and bravery of the youth of the Islamic Ummah (community) in rejecting various seditions, including ISIL sedition, emphasizing that the development of relations between the two countries is not welcome by the domination-seeking powers. Elsewhere in his remarks, Raisi pointed to the continuation of crimes and genocides of the Zionist regime against Palestinians in Gaza and noted that freedom-seeking and independent countries should cooperate jointly to stop the crimes of this child-killing regime.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian underlined retaliation as he conveyed to his German counterpart the necessity of "legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor" following Israel's recent airstrike on the Iranian consular section in Damascus. During a call between Amirabdollahian and Annalena Baerbock on Thursday, Iranian diplomat also expressed discontent over Germany's “neutrality” concerning the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The airstrike, which claimed the lives of seven Iranian military advisors, prompted Iran to vow retaliation against Israel for the attack on its diplomatic facility in Syria's capital. "When the Israeli regime completely violates the immunity of individuals and diplomatic places in violation of international law and the Vienna Conventions, legitimate defense is a necessity," Amirabdollahian asserted, as stated by Iran's foreign ministry in Tehran.

During their conversation, the two ministers discussed regional developments and bilateral relations, highlighting the importance of maintaining dialogue. "The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is always based on avoiding tension," emphasized Amirabdollahian. Iran expects Germany to unequivocally condemn Israel's crime in killing its military advisors, drawing a parallel with potential reactions to similar attacks elsewhere. Amirabdollahian pointedly asked, "If a similar missile attack had taken place on one of the diplomatic places in the war zone in Ukraine, would the reaction of the United States and Europe have been the same?"

Addressing Baerbock's calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and the failure to halt Israeli incursions, Amirabdollahian attributed the lack of progress to Germany's non-neutrality in the matter. "Israel is an occupying regime and Palestine has the right to legitimate defense. In this regard, the only way to solve the current problems is to end the genocide and war crimes in Gaza," he asserted.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on Iran to exhibit more self-restraint in the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike targeting the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria. In a telephone conversation with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Thursday night, Wong conveyed Canberra's deep concerns regarding indications suggesting Tehran's potential plans for a retaliatory military response against Israel. Wong emphasized the importance for Iran to utilize its influence in the region to foster stability, underscoring the necessity for de-escalation.

However, Amirabdollahian criticized the lack of condemnation from the UN Security Council regarding the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate, calling it as a violation of international law and conventions. He expressed frustration, stating, “Some Western governments do not condemn this terrorist act, which clearly violates international law and international conventions. Whilst they continue to support the crimes of Zionists, they are simply urging Iran to exercise self-restraint.”

Amirabdollahian further called for increased pressure on Israel to halt the ongoing genocidal war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemning the policies that perpetuate suffering among the residents of the region. In a social media post on Thursday, Amirabdollahian referenced discussions with counterparts from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, highlighting the imperative for holding the aggressor accountable.

He asserted, “When the Zionist regime tramples on international law and Vienna Conventions and violates the immunity of diplomatic agents and premises, and the UNSC is incapable of issuing a statement in condemnation of the terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, legitimate defense with the objective of punishing the aggressor becomes a necessity.” he Iranian foreign minister stressed that Iran seeks sustainable security in the region, which is “tied to controlling warmongering and deranged leaders of the Zionist regime and the viable cessation of this regime’s war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank."

The head of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) abroad, Khaled Meshaal, said that the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood may be the nation’s greatest battle in its contemporary history, stressing that Israel’s strength will soon be broken. This came in a speech delivered by Meshaal yesterday evening, Thursday, at the funeral home for the children and grandchildren of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh , in Doha, where he stressed that the leaders and the people are “one side, our destiny is one, and we pay the price together.”

Mishal continued, saying, "Contemporary history has recorded great battles for our nation in its struggle against colonialism, but I believe that the Al-Aqsa Flood is the greatest battle in our contemporary history in terms of its length, firstly, 6 continuous months, and God knows how long it will last, and God willing, the enemy's power will be broken soon." The head of Hamas abroad saw that this is not the final round, "but rather it is an important round, God willing, on the path to liberating Palestine and defeating the Zionist project. History will record that the steepest decline in the demise of the criminal Zionist entity occurred since October 7, at the dawn of this battle."

Allied for Democracy

Two analysts who spoke to the program “Gaza... What Next?” agreed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to escape forward through escalation and creating crises that prolong the war on the Gaza Strip , in order to ensure that he remains in power for a longer period. According to the academic and expert in Israeli affairs, Dr. Mahmoud Yazbek, Netanyahu wants to expand the conflict with Iran in order to frighten Israeli society so that it remains under his control. He said that the Israelis are living in a state of real terror because of the strike that Iran threatens in response to the targeting of its consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the death of 8 Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers.

The Palestinian writer and political analyst, Ahmed Al-Haila, went in the same direction by saying that the Israeli Prime Minister creates crises that prolong his stay in power. He initiated the bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus and is now exploiting this incident to promote to the Israelis that their security is threatened in light of Tehran’s threat to respond. Although neither Iran nor the United States of America want a regional war, Netanyahu is seeking this war, knowing that the Americans will participate in it to protect Israel, according to the trick.

Regarding the leaks revealed by the Israeli Channel 12 about Netanyahu’s obstruction of the exchange deal and negotiations with the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, the Palestinian writer and political analyst pointed out that Netanyahu is lying and deceiving, and this is something that is exposed to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which he said has not yet responded to the American paper. It adheres to its demands, the most prominent of which is stopping the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and bringing in aid before exchanging prisoners.

Al-Hila said that the Palestinian resistance was not defeated in the Gaza war, but rather the occupation was defeated, and Netanyahu failed militarily, in releasing those detained by the Palestinian resistance, and in providing security around Gaza. The leaks, transmitted by the Israeli Channel 12, came from members of the Israeli negotiating delegation, in which they confirmed that Netanyahu is obstructing the exchange deal and negotiations, and bypassing the heads of the negotiating delegation and the war council. Members of the negotiating delegation also accused Netanyahu of losing the opportunity to reach an agreement that would guarantee the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza two months ago.

According to the academic and expert in Israeli affairs, these leaks were intentional by the members of the negotiating delegation, because they realized the impossibility of progress in the negotiations, because Netanyahu’s interest conflicts with the possibility of reaching a prisoner exchange agreement and stopping the war. He added that stopping the war means dragging Netanyahu into investigating the reasons for his failure to repel the attacks of last October 7, and then opening the prison doors to him.

The Israelis, their press, and the media are aware that Netanyahu is obstructing the process of reaching an agreement that allows the return of prisoners. The academic and expert expected that the number of demonstrators against the Prime Minister will increase during a demonstration organized tomorrow in Tel Aviv. In the same context, the expert revealed - in his speech to the episode (4/12/2024) of the program “Gaza... What Next?” - that an opinion poll conducted by Channel 12 showed that about 84% of Israelis consider Netanyahu a failed leader.

With the rising death toll in Gaza, US Democrats felt the squeeze, and the pro-Palestine movement grew in popularity as a driving force in the US, The New York Times reported. Support for Palestine has evolved into a defining issue for the Democratic left, mobilizing a diverse range of organizations into the most important protest movement of the Biden administration. A huge new incarnation of the pro-Palestine movement is now powered by veteran — and often hard-line — activists, as well as mainstream Democratic coalition components, thanks to daily Zoom organizing sessions and grass-roots campaigning in key states.

Climate, housing, and immigration organizations are frequently opposing "Israel's" onslaught in Gaza, which began following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 and killed over 33,634 people and injured over 76,214. Labor activists have called for a ceasefire and Black religious leaders have made direct appeals to the White House. Young Americans are utilizing the internet to rally votes and write millions of letters to Congress. A growing alliance of advocacy groups is debating how to present its case at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

Maurice Mitchell, the national director of the Working Families Party, a leftist organization that has historically been primarily concerned with domestic matters, told The New York Times that “maybe there was an idea that over time, the movement would lose steam, or it was just like a campus thing or it was like a far-left sort of protest movement,” adding that the opposite was now happening.

The NYT conducted interviews with more than 30 activists who are active in the ceasefire campaign, as well as their opponents, revealing an effort that is becoming increasingly strong yet also disorganized and difficult to describe since no primary leader or group is leading the initiative. The movement consists of hundreds of groups, ranging from national to local, all of which are loosely connected in their desire for a ceasefire but may not necessarily agree on how or what would happen next.

US President Joe Biden, in an unprecedented statement from his administration, called on the Israeli occupation on Wednesday to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. While still sending arms to Israel which is besieging Gaza, Biden urged for the entry of aid, namely food and medicine, amid heightened Israeli aggression and increasing hunger and death due to the lack of medicine in Gaza. "What I'm calling for is for the Israelis to just call for a ceasefire, allow for the next six, eight weeks total access to all food and medicine going into the country," he said. He claimed that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan were all prepared to aid in delivering aid to war-stricken Gaza. "I've spoken with everyone from the Saudis to the Jordanians to the Egyptians. They're prepared to move in. They're prepared to move this food in. And I think there's no excuse to not provide for the medical and food needs of those people. It should be done now," Biden stressed after his administration spent six long months dehumanizing the Palestinian people.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

• 1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza
• 76,214 Gazans injured, 28% adult male
• 70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza
• 70,000 housing units completely destroyed
• 70,000 Israeli IDPs from Lebanon border
• 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza
• 43,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
• 33,000 Gaza targets attacked
• 33,634 Gazans martyred
• 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]
• 15,140 Israelis injured [i24 TV]
• 15,000 rockets launched from Gaza
• 14,520 Gazan children martyred
• 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]
• 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]
• 11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023
• 10,000 Gazans missing under the rubble
• 9,920 Gazan women martyred
• 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
• 9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance
• 8,365 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
• 4,700 sites targetted in Lebanon
• 3,484 administrative detainees
• 3,700 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
• 3,188 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
• 604 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war
• 456 West Bank Palestinians martyred
• 363 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon
• 260 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza
• 240 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon
• 126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers
• 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody
• 70 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.