Operation Iron Swords - Day 228 - 21 May 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

US Senate Chaplain Barry Black, during a session on the Senate floor, offered a prayer for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Black led an opening prayer from the Senate floor, expressing condolences for the people of Iran mourning the loss of President Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other officials who were aboard the helicopter that crashed in a mountainous region in the northwest of the country. “Lord, we pray for the Iranian people who mourn the death of their president,” Black said in the Senate. “We pray in your loving name, Amen.”

Amal Clooney, wife of the famous American actor, George Clooney , revealed that she was one of the legal experts who recommended that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seek to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and the leaders of the Hamas armed movement. The American human rights lawyer, of Lebanese descent, wrote about her participation in a letter published Monday on the website of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. She said she and other experts in international law unanimously agreed to recommend that ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan seek to issue arrest warrants.

Israel is not a member of the court, so even if arrest warrants are issued, Netanyahu and Gallant face no immediate risk of prosecution. But the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Israeli leaders to travel abroad. The United States and other countries include Hamas on the list of terrorist organizations.

The request represents the first time that the International Criminal Court has sought to prosecute a major ally of the United States or the leader of a democratic country, according to Axios.

US President Joe Biden, an ally of Israel, described the request submitted by the International Criminal Court prosecutor as “outrageous.” Biden said in a statement “Let me be clear, whatever this prosecutor means, there is absolutely no equality between Israel’s position and the position of Hamas”. Washington condemned what International Criminal Prosecutor Karim Khan said, as President Joe Biden considered the request to issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu “disgraceful,” and later stressed that Israel’s attack in Gaza “is not genocide.” Biden pledged "firm" support for Israel, adding, "We stand with Israel to eliminate Sinwar and the rest of Hamas' thugs." In turn, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken denounced the Attorney General's "shameful" request, warning that it endangered ceasefire efforts in Gaza.

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson accused the Biden administration of helping to advance the prosecution with its efforts to limit Israeli military operations in Gaza. Johnson said on Monday that the House may vote on sanctions against the International Criminal Court for seeking to obtain an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they move forward,” Johnson said in a statement.

According to what sources from the Republican Party reported to Axios , the vote is expected to come early this week. Republican Representative from Texas, Shep Roy, introduced a bill that would impose sanctions on International Criminal Court officials who investigate American citizens or their allies. The project has the support of nearly two dozen Republicans, including Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, chair of the House Republican Conference, according to the same source.

Axios reported that it is not only Republican lawmakers who reject the ICC's move, noting that Representative Cathy Manning (Democrat from North Carolina) said in a statement: "I completely reject the announcement of the ICC Prosecutor." Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from New York, a staunch supporter of Israel, said the decision to seek a subpoena against Netanyahu was “not law but politics", Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said there is "no equivalence" between Israel and Hamas and that equating them "demonstrates the ICC's gaping moral failure."

The vote will divide Democrats in the House of Representatives again over Israel. Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said in a statement that “the ICC must be allowed to conduct its work independently and without interference,” describing Khan’s allegations as “important.” Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, also said, “If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to Congress to deliver a speech, I will be happy to accompany representatives of the International Criminal Court to the House floor so they can execute the arrest warrant issued against him.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Tuesday that potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli and Hamas leaders could hinder ongoing efforts to secure the release of 128 hostages in Gaza. Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Blinken described Khan's announcement as "shameful" and "wrongful," emphasizing that it complicates negotiations for a hostage release deal."

There’s been an extensive effort to get that agreement. I think we've come very, very close on a couple of occasions. Qatar, Egypt, and others are participating in the efforts to do this. We remain at it every single day. I think there's still a possibility, but it's challenged by a number of events such as Khan’s announcement," Blinken stated. Republicans accused the Biden administration of failing to support Israel adequately, while Democrats argued that it was not doing enough to aid civilians in Gaza. Blinken was interrupted by protesters, one of whom approached him with a sign reading "criminal" before being removed by security.

War Termination

The situation is further complicated by comments from Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, who noted that Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks remain "close to a stalemate." While Al-Ansari refrained from directly commenting on the ICC's decision, he stressed the need for accountability for the killing of civilians. While the war in Gaza continues, behind the scenes the United States is making great efforts to bring about normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. After the United States announced yesterday that "great progress has been made," this evening (Tuesday) we revealed in the main edition the details of the proposal - and the reasons that led to the hesitation In Israel if to accept it.

Jake Sullivan, the US national security advisor, visited Saudi Arabia and from there continued to Israel. In a series of meetings he held with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, he conveyed a clear message to them: this move is possible, reach out to Saudi Arabia - and the ceremony or the solemn declaration will be soon He also added in their ears that "this is a historic opportunity".

The proposal includes normalization of Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia, but not only - but also a strategic envelope of a regional coalition with the US, as was the case on the night of the Iranian attack. In addition, the proposal promotes a hostage deal and also the possibility of peace in the north, which will be done by agreement.

But the price tag is what prevents Israel from "jumping on the offer". In exchange for normalization, Saudi Arabia demands that Israel provide a political horizon that reflects a two-state concept. At the same time, this is not a concrete offer but only a general commitment. Another demand that makes it very difficult to accept the proposal from Israel's point of view is to stop the war in Gaza.

Sullivan told this to the officials he was meeting with, and expressed frustration that Israel was not in a hurry to accept the offer. In the many meetings held, he conveyed a message according to which Israel actually has two options, "a significant victory that goes through normalization with Saudi Arabia and a hostage deal, or the continuation of the bastion in Gaza, an operation in Rafah - without victory and without hostages; you will never be able to eliminate every weapon holder who supports Hamas in the Strip."

At the beginning of the year, News 12 exposed the secret axis that Netanyahu is running during the war through Minister Ron Dermer in front of the White House on the issue. The same axis led to optimism in the US and a feeling in Washington that the Prime Minister would accept the offer, but now it seems that they do not recognize much enthusiasm. Therefore, it is estimated that President Biden will soon talk to Netanyahu on the subject.

At the beginning of the month it was reported that the US and Saudi Arabia were preparing to complete the extended defense agreement between the countries. John Kirby, the spokesman for the US National Security Council, said yesterday regarding the contacts with Israel that "we are very close as the Saudis said, I don't want to enter for the times".

As mentioned, Saudi Arabia insists on the same political horizon and Israeli commitment to a two-state solution. After the optimism expressed by Kirby, an official from the Saudi palace who spoke with N12 emphasized: "Without real guarantees for a two-state solution - there will be no normalization." According to the Saudi source, "(Israel) will not have peace with Saudi Arabia without recognition of a Palestinian state, therefore there is no normalization with the current Israeli government."

Operational Update

Operational Update - Gaza

According to the IDF, around 30 to 40 percent of Rafah is now under IDF control, while 60 to 70 percent of the city has been completely evacuated. UN estimates suggest that 900,000 people have been forced to flee from Rafah alone. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully evacuated approximately 950,000 Palestinian civilians from Rafah in the Gaza Strip in just two weeks since May 6, the military revealed on Monday. This large-scale evacuation was part of the ongoing Israeli military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas' control in the region. The remaining civilians, estimated at 300,000-400,000, are concentrated near the Tel al-Sultan area along the Gaza coast.

This evacuation was achieved despite earlier U.S. predictions that such a large-scale movement could not be accomplished without significant casualties or a lengthy timeframe of about four months. The majority of those evacuated have relocated to the northwest region of al-Muwasi, with smaller numbers moving to central Gaza and Khan Yunis.

The US Central Command said, on Tuesday, that more than 569 metric tons of humanitarian aid have so far been delivered to Gaza via a temporary floating dock, but it clarified that not all of the aid has reached the warehouses. Aid shipments began arriving at the dock established by the United States on the Gaza beach as of Friday, as Israel comes under increasing global pressure to allow more supplies into the besieged coastal enclave.

The United Nations said that 10 trucks loaded with food aid were transported from the dock site by UN contractors and arrived on Friday at a World Food Program warehouse in Deir al-Balah in Gaza. But only five trucks loaded with aid arrived at the warehouse on Saturday, after Palestinians took the loads of 11 other trucks during the trip, which passed through an area that a United Nations official indicated had witnessed a shortage of aid. The United Nations did not receive any aid from the dock on Sunday and Monday.

Critical supplies of food and medicine intended for Gaza are accumulating at the Egyptian border due to the continued closure of the Rafah crossing, creating significant disruptions in aid delivery efforts amid Israel's intensified military operations against Hamas. Despite initial successes, the U.S. pier initiative, designed to facilitate aid delivery, has seen inconsistent results with no recent aid shipments due to security concerns and logistical issues.

The Palestinian Information Center reported that the occupation aircraft and artillery continued their raids and violent bombardment at dawn today, Tuesday, in various parts of the Gaza Strip, targeting homes, displaced persons’ gatherings, and streets, killing dozens of martyrs and wounded. The occupation forces continue their ground invasion of large neighborhoods in Rafah, Jabalia, and other parts of Northern Gaza amid aerial and artillery bombardment and horrific massacres. The Civil Defense announced at midnight that its crews recovered a number of casualties as a result of gunfire from a Quadcopter aircraft at a group of citizens behind the Association for the Disabled on the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah Governorate.

Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed that Tel Aviv will not stop the war in Gaza due to the International Criminal Court's decisions to arrest Israeli officials. Israeli aircraft continue to bomb various areas of the Gaza Strip on the 228th day of the war, leaving dozens dead, wounded and destroyed. During the past 24 hours, Israeli bombing killed 85 people and injured more than 200, bringing the toll since October 7 to 35,647 dead and 79,852 wounded. Israeli forces also continue to invade the Jabalia camp for the ninth day and control by firepower the Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Riad Al-Saliheen Square, Ezbet Mallin, Al-Ajarma Street and the northern areas up to the Sheikh Zayed Towers. In Rafah, Israeli tanks crossed the Salah al-Din Gate on the border strip south of the city and blew up several houses in the Brazil neighborhood, east of the city, and were also stationed in the vicinity of al-Najjar Hospital.

The Chief of Staff in Bel Jabalia : "We want to bring the abducted alive home, and those who unfortunately are not alive back to the grave of Israel" Fighters of the 401st TDF under Division 162 continue the operation in Rafah. The fighters carry out targeted raids on the terrorist infrastructure and suspicious buildings from which Hamas terrorists fired at our forces. During this activity, the fighters killed dozens of terrorists in East Rafah who tried to approach our forces.

Majd 932, Lt. Col. Dotan: "We are currently in East Rafah, continuing to deepen the operation, we will continue to carry out the mission as long as necessary. During the last week, we cleared several areas here, and we located several shafts here which we destroyed." Fighters of Battalion 932 carried out an activity to destroy terrorist infrastructures. During the operation, the fighters searched a building and inside it they located many weapons including protective equipment, explosives, weapons, anti-tank missiles, equipment and tools intended for breaching fences. During searches of the area, the soldiers of the battalion located an underground shaft containing an ammunition depot with short-range anti-tank missiles, grenades, weapons and explosives. This warehouse was intended for terrorist attacks against our forces. The shaft and the amla were destroyed.

During an activity of the Givatiya Military Police in the Rafah area under the command of Division 162, a force from the Sabar Battalion located three armed terrorists who came out of Pir. The force arrested the terrorists and they were taken for further investigation.

MP in the Sabar Battalion, Capt. Uriel: "We have been fighting in Rafah for several weeks, killing terrorists and destroying terrorist infrastructure. During an offensive operation, on the Kasbahs in the area, we captured three terrorists, who had various weapons on them, including grenades, cartridges, vests and the like.

From a preliminary investigation in the field, the terrorists constituted an intelligence asset for the continuation of the fighting. We, the Givat Army, will continue to act and fight at the front - wherever we have to." After searches of the building, many other weapons were discovered, including clutch weapons, RPGs and cartridges. Also, additional tunnel shafts were located in the area and about 20 terrorists were eliminated in the last day. Givati TDF continues to operate and carry out raids in the area, locate weapons and eliminate terrorists.

460 TDF fighters carry out raids on terrorist infrastructures in the agricultural areas of Jabalia. As part of them, the fighters located many weapons, including vests, a 'Mag' type rifle, hand grenades, explosives and ammunition. During extensive searches and guided by intelligence, the forces arrived at the mosque where they located missiles and rocket launchers, which were destroyed. The forces of the 98th Division continue fighting in the heart of Jabalia. The fighters of the combat teams of the paratroopers brigade and the 460th brigade continue to operate in the area and have eliminated a number of terrorists in the last day. The fighters of the 7th Brigade combat team directed an Air Force aircraft that attacked and eliminated a terrorist squad that fired at the troops.

The forces of Division 162 continue fighting in Rafah. Givati Brigade forces identified a terrorist who fired mortar bombs at the forces, there were no casualties. The forces directed an aircraft that attacked and eliminated the terrorist. The fighters of the 401st Brigade combat team eliminated a number of terrorists, in joint circuit closures with the Air Force forces, and also located rockets and combat equipment in the area.

The forces of Division 99 continue to operate in the center of the Gaza Strip. The fighters of the 679th brigade's combat team identified a terrorist squad moving towards the troops, in a quick closing circle, an Air Force aircraft attacked and eliminated the terrorists.

During the last day, aircraft and fighter jets of the Air Force attacked and destroyed about 70 terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Among the targets attacked were military buildings, IDF sites and warehouses, missile launchers, observation posts, terrorist squads, and other military infrastructure.

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

The security forces began an operation to counter terrorism in Jenin, in the Menasha Brigade, and injuries to armed men were detected in the area. At 4:30 p.m This morning, the IDF forces of the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet launched an operation to counter terrorism in the Jenin area, following intelligence information from the Shin Bet indicating the activity of armed terrorists affiliated with the terrorist organizations Hamas and GAP and the presence of many terrorist infrastructures in the area. As part of the operation, the security forces conduct an exchange of fire with armed terrorists in the area and work to destroy terrorist infrastructures, terrorist attacks have been identified. Also, the security forces operated in the area to demolish the home of the terrorist Ahmed Barkhat, who carried out two shooting attacks, including the attack in Hormesh, on May 30, 2023, in which the late Meir Tamri was murdered. The terrorist was eliminated in an airstrike in March.

The Al-Quds Brigades - Jenin Brigade - affirmed on Tuesday that its fighters continue engaging Israeli occupation forces amid the incursion of the Jenin camp and its vicinity, with heavy fire. The Jenin Brigade announced that it detonated Improvised Explosive Devices in Israeli vehicles and against infantry forces on the outskirts and the inside of the camp. Confrontations against the Israeli occupation continue amid the IDF's incursion into the Jenin camp.

Israeli bulldozers deliberately continue demolishing Jenin's infrastructure, majorly in main and secondary streets, and across residential neighborhoods. Israeli forces launched a military offensive on Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday morning, killing seven Palestinians in the first few hours, including a child on his way to school, in addition to a teacher and a doctor while heading to work. The child was identified as Mahmoud Hamadneh, the doctor as Usaid Kamal Jabari, a general surgeon at the Jenin Governmental Hospital, and the teacher's name was revealed to be Allam Jaradat.

Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas affirmed that the massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the city of Jenin and its camp in the occupied West Bank will not weaken the resolve of the Palestinian people. In its statement, Hamas said that Resistance in the occupied West Bank is escalating despite the sacrifices. The group also pointed out that "the Jenin massacre is a continuation of the occupation's series of crimes involving killing, siege, and starvation in Rafah, Jabalia, and various areas of the Gaza Strip."

However, the Israeli crimes "will not weaken the steadfastness of our people and will not stop their Resistance and determined efforts to liberate their land and holy sites." Israeli media reported that over 1,000 soldiers are taking part in an attack on the area, which is expected to continue for several days.

According to The Guardian, the Israeli occupation forces are extremist settlers with intelligence on the whereabouts of assistance trucks headed to the Gaza Strip, in order to vandalize and stop the vehicles. Texts received by the Guardian from online chat rooms show members of "Israel's" security personnel are working together to restrict humanitarian supplies to Gazans.

The "barbaric scenes" according to truck drivers, happened after the Israeli forces accompanying convoys of settlers completely disregarded the attacks. A driver who was attacked at a checkpoint last week told The Guardian that this was in "full cooperation" between the IOF and the settlers, citing that the IOF was "present and watching what was happening." Palestinian truck drivers delivering aid to Gaza recounted "barbaric" scenes on Friday as their vehicles were obstructed and vandalized by Israeli settlers, hindering the delivery of vital humanitarian supplies to a population facing severe hunger.

The attack, which occurred on Monday at the Tarqumiya checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, saw drivers and contractors targeted. They also asserted that Israeli soldiers escorting the convoy did nothing to prevent the assault. The incident drew international condemnation after videos on social media showed Israeli settlers throwing boxes of essential supplies to the ground and setting at least one vehicle on fire.

This comes although aid agencies have reported famine conditions in Gaza, attributing them to Israeli restrictions on aid entering the territory. Humanitarian officials state that Gaza's population requires at least 500 truckloads of food, fuel, and other essentials daily, but they have received only a small portion of that, with weeks going by without one truck of aid coming into the enclave.

During Monday's attack, the Israeli soldiers escorting the convoy stood by and watched as the settlers went on a rampage. Even though they were present and watching what was happening. The army was at the service of the settlers. The drivers initially fled the scene but were attacked by armed settlers when they returned later to collect their belongings. Throughout this year, violence frequently broke out at crossings from Israel into Gaza, disrupting aid shipments to the territory. In March, the International Court of Justice instructed Israel to ensure unimpeded access of food aid into Gaza.

Operational Update - Lebanon

Last night (Monday), the IDF attacked and killed the terrorist, Kasem Skalawi, commander of the rocket and missile array in the coastal sector of the terrorist organization, using an Air Force aircraft in the Tsur region of Lebanon. Skalavi was responsible in his role for planning and executing many rocket firing plans towards the Israeli rear. As part of his position, he was involved in the promotion and planning of launching rockets and anti-tank missiles towards the State of Israel from the coastal area in Lebanon. In addition, warplanes attacked a Hezbollah launcher in the Ramiah area. Following the warnings in the Western Galilee region tonight, a number of individual launches were identified that fell in open areas.

Fighter jets attacked a series of Hezbollah targets in four different areas in southern Lebanon. Among the targets that were attacked, a Hezbollah terrorist cell in the Al-Adaisa area, a launcher used by the organization in the Halta area and Hezbollah military buildings in the Yaron, Marun al-Ras and Aita al-Sha'ab areas in southern Lebanon. A number of launches have been identified that crossed the territory of Lebanon towards a number of areas in the north of the country, there are no casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of the fire with artillery.

Lebanese Hezbollah published scenes of targeting a stability and positioning point for Israeli army soldiers inside the Ruwaisat al-Qarn site in the Shebaa Farms on the southern border of Lebanon. Hezbollah issued a statement in which it said that the "Islamic Resistance" targeted a positioning and stability point for Israeli soldiers at the Ruwaisat al-Qarn site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with a guided missile. He confirmed in the statement that the hit was direct, which led to a fire igniting in the targeted area.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

Operational Update - Yemen

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced on Tuesday that an American MQ9 drone was shot down “while it was carrying out a hostile mission in the airspace of Al-Bayda Governorate” in central Yemen. Saree said in a statement that the American march was shot down with a locally made surface-to-air missile , a few days after a plane of the same type was shot down in the airspace of Ma’rib Governorate, northeast of the country. He stated that the total number of aircraft shot down during the “Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad” battle of this type reached 5 aircraft. The military spokesman for the Houthis confirmed, "Continuing to develop our defense capabilities to confront the American-British aggression and achieve victory for the oppressed Palestinian people."

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

UN officials, including senior aid official Edem Wosornu, have expressed deep concern about the dire situation in Gaza, describing it as "a catastrophe, a nightmare, as hell on earth." Wosornu reported to the UN Security Council that over 82,000 metric tonnes of essential supplies are stalled because of the crossing's closure, which Egypt attributes to ongoing military threats.

France expressed its support for the independence of the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor general requested the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and others from the Palestinian Hamas movement. A statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry said, "France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight against impunity in all cases."

For its part, Germany said that it regrets that the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to request the issuance of arrest warrants against Netanyahu, his Defense Minister, and Hamas leaders gives a “false impression of equality” between the two parties. The German Foreign Ministry said that Israel has the right to defend itself provided that it applies international humanitarian law and its relevant obligations.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taiani said that equating the Israeli government with Hamas was "unacceptable." He added in television statements, "It seems to me really strange, and I would say unacceptable, to equate a government legitimately elected by the people in a democratic state with a terrorist organization that is the cause of everything that is happening in the Middle East."

Criticism of Israel's conduct in its war with Hamas reached a "new peak" when the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, announced that he was seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, on charges of crimes. They include “starvation,” “premeditated killing,” and “extermination and/or murder,” according to a Bloomberg report .

On Monday, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said that Israel had committed “crimes against humanity,” and accused it of launching a “widespread and systematic attack against Palestinian civilians.” Karim Khan also requested the issuance of arrest warrants against three senior Hamas leaders: Yahya Al-Sanwar, head of the movement’s political bureau in Gaza, Muhammad Diab Ibrahim “Deif,” commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the movement’s military wing, and Ismail Haniyeh, head of the movement’s political bureau, on charges of “genocide.” “Rape,” “sexual violence,” and “hostage-taking.” Khan stressed that "international law and the laws of armed conflict apply to everyone," adding, "No infantryman, commander, or civilian leader - no one - can act with impunity."

The ICC is the world's first permanent international war crimes court, and was established in 2002 under a treaty called the Rome Statute to hold accountable those who commit mass atrocities. Its 124 member states are committed to the immediate arrest of the wanted person if he is present on the territory of a member state, but the court has no means to implement arrest warrants, according to Reuters. The court, based in The Hague, has a prosecutor who can investigate and propose charging individuals with war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

The ICC can pursue cases when a state requests an investigation within its territory or into its nationals, when the United Nations Security Council requests an investigation, or when a panel of judges of that court authorizes an investigation initiated by the Prosecutor. The prosecutor must also ensure that local legal systems “do not truly seek justice,” and the court may not impose a death sentence. Those sentenced to imprisonment will serve their sentences in the International Criminal Court's detention center in a Dutch prison. Currently, there are 124 states party to the Rome Statute, and Israel and the United States are not members of the ICC, as are China and Russia. The ICC only intervenes when a state is unwilling or unable to do so itself, while Israel says alleged war crimes in Gaza are being investigated domestically.

The ICC Prosecutor accuses Netanyahu of, among other things, “starving civilians” as a means of war and intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations, both of which are war crimes. In addition, he is accused of "persecution as a crime against humanity."

The residents of the Gaza Strip are suffering from "severe hunger" as a result of the war between Israel and the Hamas movement, which is classified as a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries, amid accusations of the Israeli government using the "weapon of starvation" and Israeli denials, while specialists reveal to Al-Hurra website the meaning of that term and who benefits from it. The suffering of civilians in the Strip.

On Monday, Netanyahu confirmed that he “rejects with disgust” the request of the ICC prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant against him. Netanyahu said in a statement, “As Prime Minister of Israel, I reject with disgust the comparison of the prosecutor in The Hague between Israel,” a “democratic” state, and “the perpetrators of mass crimes in Hamas.” Netanyahu added, "With what impudence do you dare liken the monsters of Hamas to soldiers of the IDF, the most moral army in the world?" He considered that "it is like establishing moral equality after September 11 between President (George) Bush and Osama bin Laden, or during World War II between the FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Hitler."

Yahya Sinwar is accused of “genocide, murder, hostage-taking, rape and torture,” among other war crimes. Yahya Al-Sinwar is the leader of the movement in Gaza, and the Israeli army described him as “a dead man walking,” intending to kill him, and Israel confirms that he is “the architect of the October 7 attack.” Israeli statements indicating that the Hamas movement, classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries, is searching for an alternative to its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, raised several questions about who are the “replacements to the architect of the October 7 attack,” and the extent to which the war can be stopped if this change occurs. This is what was revealed by specialists who spoke to Al-Hurra website.

Yahya Al-Sinwar (61 years old), a former leader of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was elected as head of Hamas in Gaza in 2017, and is on the United States’ list of most wanted “international terrorists.” Sami Abu Zuhri, a prominent leader in the Hamas movement, said that the International Criminal Court’s decision to request the issuance of an arrest warrant against three leaders of the Palestinian movement “equates the victim with the executioner.” Hamas demanded the cancellation of the request to issue an arrest warrant for its leaders.

A panel of ICC judges will consider whether to accept Khan's request to continue the trials. In addition to accusing Netanyahu and Sinwar, Khan recommended filing cases against the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, and two other leaders of the Hamas movement, which is classified as a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries, namely the military commander, Muhammad Diab, Ibrahim al-Masri, “Muhammad Deif,” and the head of the Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh.

Ismail Haniyeh (60 years old) was elected head of the political bureau of the Hamas movement in 2017, succeeding Khaled Meshaal, but he was essentially a well-known figure as he assumed the position of Palestinian Prime Minister in 2006 after Hamas’ surprising victory in the legislative elections that year. Haniyeh, who is considered a pragmatist, lives in exile and spends his time between Turkey and Qatar, according to Agence France-Presse.

Muhammad Deif holds the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, and is considered the first public enemy of Israel, which attempted to assassinate him at least six times. Deif, whose real name is Muhammad Diab al-Masry, was born in 1965 in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza, and he has been on the United States’ list of “international terrorists” since 2015.

The court did not provide a time frame on when the decision is expected to be issued. In 2023, it took a panel of International Criminal Court judges just over three weeks to approve an arrest warrant request against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Can Netanyahu be tried for war crimes? According to Bloomberg, this is unlikely, and the International Criminal Court does not allow “trials in absentia.” It is “unlikely” that the court will lay its hands on him or any other Israeli official, and it relies on member states to “carry out arrests,” and Israel is not a party to the International Criminal Court. The court was unable to implement its order against Putin, but filing charges may restrict the countries to which Netanyahu can travel without fear of arrest. Even some ICC member states, such as Hungary, have said that arrest warrants issued by the court are not binding on their territories.

The “State of Palestine” is a party to the ICC, so in theory, some future ruling authorities in the Gaza Strip, where Sinwar and Al-Masri are believed to be hiding, could hand them over to the court. Ismail Haniyeh resides in Qatar, which is not a member of the International Criminal Court.

ICC judges have issued 46 arrest warrants so far and detained 21 people in its detention centre, while 17 people, including Putin and former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, remain at large. In the past, member states have not extradited suspects who entered their territories, including Al-Bashir, who has been wanted since 2005 on charges of war crimes and genocide, Reuters reported. Charges against seven people were dropped after their deaths, while judges issued ten convictions and four acquittals.

Axis of Resistance

An Israeli security expert, who served for 15 years as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), told Iran International that the war between Israel and Hamas is actually a war between Iran and Western values. “I truly believe that the ayatollahs of Iran are promoting a campaign which is a threat not only to Israel. It's not just Israel's problem, it's a global threat,” said Sarit Zehavi. Lieutenant Colonel Sarit Zehavi is the founder of the Alma Centre, which monitors and disseminates information about Israel's security challenges in the North to people outside of Israel. She briefs Washington officials, foreign delegations and policy makers from around the world.

While the world is familiar with ISIS and Al Qaeda as a radical form of Sunni Islam, what is lesser known is the Iranian ayatollahs – not the Iranian people – as a representation of radical Shiite Islam, according to Zehavi. She believes Iran wants to distribute its Islamic Revolution values around the world.

The Iranian regime, for example, has been militarily and diplomatically supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The alliance between Iran, Russia and China, forming to counter Western sanctions, is another threat to the economic and political basis of existing Western systems. Iran’s challenge to the West has only intensified with its controversial nuclear program. During this year's Iranian new year speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the US will have no choice but to leave the Middle East.

“What we experienced in the first seven months is the execution of the Iranian plan under the name unification of fronts. The Iranians wanted to create a multi-front campaign against the State of Israel and the Western presence here. It started from Hamas. We have Hezbollah launching missiles and drones as we speak,” said Zehavi.

Allied for Democracy

Military affairs analyst for the newspaper "Haaretz", Amos Harel, said that the intention of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, to issue an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, in addition to 3 leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), places Israel before a diplomatic reality the likes of which it has never faced. before. Harel added, in a news analysis in the same newspaper, that Khan's request puts the Israeli leadership for the first time, and in the short term, at risk of an international threat in the wake of its decision to continue the war in the Gaza Strip.

He added that if the arrest warrants were issued, the Israelis would likely find themselves facing a "flood" of diplomatic threats, with potentially far-reaching effects on the level of economic, scientific and commercial relations, and on other areas as well. Khan announced, on Monday, that he had submitted requests to issue arrest warrants regarding the situation in Palestine, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , his Defense Minister Yoav Galant , and 3 Hamas leaders: the Commander-in-Chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of Hamas, Muhammad Al-Deif, and the head of the movement’s Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh. In addition to the head of the movement in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar .

Harel considered that this step against Israel, which he described as a democracy and which is engaged in a war, was unprecedented, and threatened to hand over its prime minister and defense minister to the International Criminal Court if they visited the member states of the court. He claimed that there was a suspicion that the Public Prosecutor’s move was “reversed.” He sought to bring Israel's leaders to justice on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity , and added to the request the leadership of Hamas "to show a false image that suggests a neutral balance in the process."

The Haaretz military analyst believes in his article that the criminal prosecutor’s investigation has contradicted early expectations, as it targets only politicians and not the military, none of whom were included in the arrest warrants he intends to issue. Khan's move is likely to shed light on the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which is deliberating a resolution calling for an end to the war, according to the article, which Netanyahu's refusal to comply with is expected to put Israel on the path to imposing international sanctions against it, if the UN Security Council begins discussing it. the case.

Harel claimed that Israel is not like Russia or Iran , it is a “democracy” that depends entirely on its relations with the West, “and perhaps this situation is what bothers the far-right leaders in the government.” He pointed out that there is an imminent danger that is developing that may - in his opinion - negatively affect the lives of many Israelis, claiming that Sinwar may not worry much about the matter because he cannot visit Europe. But the writer goes on to say that one of the reasons for the development of these events stems not only from the double standards of the international community towards Israel, but also from the “foolish” behavior of its leaders.

Political analysts on Al Jazeera agreed that the Israeli-American dispute - which arises from time to time - is intentional confusion with the aim of giving Tel Aviv a new deadline to implement its plans to liquidate the Palestinian presence in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank , stressing that the two-state solution is not possible. According to the Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Washington is not incapable, but rather unwilling to end the occupation, remove settlements, and recognize a Palestinian state, indicating that its talk about a two-state solution is hypocrisy and a cover for Israel’s continuation of its plans.

Barghouti adds that the administration of US President Joe Biden is angry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for three reasons: the first is Netanyahu’s failure to achieve the goals of the war on Gaza, and its fear of his manipulation while waiting for Donald Trump to return to the White House, in addition to their view of Israel as a divided and internally fragmented state. He described the differences between the two sides as formal, pointing out that Israel anticipated the visit of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan by announcing the continuation of the war on Gaza and escalating the bombing there, in parallel with a major military operation in Jenin in the northern West Bank.

Sullivan wants from Israel “something formal and a false cover” about the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state as a justification for normalization with Arab countries - according to Barghouti - who also said that Israel does not accept that and refuses to show any flexibility in this framework. He stressed that Tel Aviv considers itself to be in the stage of resolving the conflict and liquidating the Palestinian issue and the entire Palestinian existence, stressing that the attack is not on the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) or Gaza, but rather on all Palestinians, which necessitates the need for the Palestinians to unite and put aside any divisions on the approach of struggle and resistance after the failure. Betting on negotiations.

In turn, Dr. Hassan Mneimneh, a researcher at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that the current Israeli plan is based on the systematic destruction of Gaza and the denial of the means of life there, in parallel with the gradual annexation of the West Bank and undermining any Palestinian presence there. Mneimneh agreed with Barghouti regarding Israel moving forward with its plans to liquidate the Palestinian presence, at a time when Washington is talking about “Arab gifts, settlements, or concessions” to persuade Israel to back away from some of its plans. He stressed that there is an American awareness that the two-state solution is not possible because the displacement of 700,000 settlers is considered impossible, adding that the Israeli government is capable of rigidity because the price is more concessions that Washington and the Arab countries are pushing for.

He pointed out that there is complete agreement - except for formalities - between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government, and the former realizes that Israel faces a dilemma as an authoritarian state in the region, pointing out that Washington is not concerned with the massacres being committed in Gaza if they contribute to displacement, “but it does not want to see hideous pictures.” . He concluded that Israel cannot pass over the opportunity to liquidate the Palestinian presence in Gaza and then the West Bank, while pointing out that Israel is not an American tool, but rather a cost and a high price that Washington pays to the world, citing Tel Aviv’s failure to defend itself in the face of “primitive Iranian marches.”

For his part, researcher in political and strategic affairs, Saeed Ziad, confirmed that the United States is committed to Israel's security and the elimination of Hamas, and it provides it with 40% of its military and financial campaign against Gaza, and always wants it to be victorious. He added that America is disappointed with Netanyahu, and not with the destruction, annihilation, and displacement of Gaza, as it cannot accept a defeated Israel, and the disagreement between the two sides is “a disagreement within one family, no matter how loud its echo.”

Ziad warned that Netanyahu has crossed all the red lines drawn by Washington in the region, as the latter is putting pressure on him, similar to the conference of War Council member Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Yoav Galant , in addition to its communication with Iran regarding a new nuclear agreement. He added, explaining that what bothers America about Israel is “the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance on the ground, and the field resistance of the occupation army.” He expressed his belief that Washington's talk about alternative methods to eliminate Hamas is definitely far from a military solution, in light of its conviction of the necessity of containing wars diplomatically and sitting at the negotiating table.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

• 1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza
• 79,652 Gazans injured, 28% adult male
• 70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza
• 70,000 Gaza housing units completely destroyed
• 70,000 Israeli IDPs from Lebanon border
• 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza
• 45,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
• 35,562 Gazans martyred
• 33,000 Gaza targets attacked
• 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]
• 15,140 Israelis injured [i24 TV]
• 15,000 terror operatives killed in Gaza [Israeli officials]
• 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
• 9,400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
• 9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance
• 8,665 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th
• 7,209 IDF injured admitted to rehabilitation [IDF]
• 6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12]
• 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]
• 5,500 IDF wounded [reports]
• 4,800 West Bank Palestinians wounded
• 4,700 sites targetted in Lebanon
• 3,850 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
• 3,600 administrative detainees
• 3,188 IDF wounded [IDF]
• 2,100 Gazan women are missing
• 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day
• 1,650 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas
• 1,160 Israelis killed on the first day
• 620 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war
• 468 West Bank Palestinians martyred
• 364 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon
• 274 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.

Some reports claimed that the UN cut in half its earlier estimates of women and children killed in Gaza. Initially, they reported 9,500 women and 14,500 children killed, but later revised it to 4,959 women and 7,797 children on 08 May 2024. The UN acknowledged its inability to independently verify casualty figures. The seeming discrepancy is that HAMAS had about 10K KIA bodies on hand for which they do not have positive ID. It is possible to report the gender and approximate age [ie, juvenile] without knowing the name of the deceased.