Account of the main events in the Israel-Hamas war and hostilities by the Iranian Axis This is a product by IDSF-Habithonistim’s Research Department | Updated May 18, 2024, Published May 20, 2024
Overview
Egypt announced that it has joined the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International House in The Hague.
Egypt is reconsidering its level of relations with Israel. According to the Wall Street Journal, Egypt is considering downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel, and including the potential recalling of its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
The IDF completed its operation in the Zeytun neighborhood of Gaza. The Nahal Brigade, the Carmeli Brigade and the multi-dimensional unit raided the Zeytun neighborhood in the center of the Gaza Strip, destroying terrorist infrastructures, rocket launch pits and Hamas headquarters that were used by Hamas for planning and carrying out terrorist activities.
Spain implements the embargo imposed by its prime minister on the sale of arms to Israel and from now on cargo ships are prohibited from docking even if part of their cargo includes materials that can be used by the IDF or the Israeli defense industries.
A week after US President Joe Biden, threatened that if Israel launched a large-scale operation in Rafah he would not supply it with bombs and shells, the US administration informed the Congress that it was promoting a new arms package to Israel worth a billion dollars.
In a public confrontation, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant demanded that neither Hamas nor Israel, but local Palestinian forces will run everyday lives in the Gaza Strip, and publicly demanded the Prime Minister to commit to that. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replied he would neither accept “Hamastan” nor “Fatahstan”, and that “the first condition to the day after is to destroy Hamas, no excuses”.
International
Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, announced that Ankara has submitted a request to join South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The announcement comes two days after Egypt announced its intention to support the lawsuit.
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that more than 1,000 Hamas operatives are being treated in hospitals across the country, and emphasized his position that the terrorist organization Hamas is a “resistance movement”. In a speech at a press conference, after talks in Ankara with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Erdogan said he was “saddened by the Greek view that sees Hamas as a terrorist organization.”
Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, said in a Senate hearing: “Israel has to do everything to survive, it’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids!” Referring to Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas who want to destroy Israel. After several days of uproar following his words, which led to Iranian condemnation of his words, said Graham: “I want to be clear, I support the transfer of weapons to Israel that gives them the ability to destroy the underground tunnels, bunkers and hiding places of the cowardly terrorists you support and finance, “The use of nuclear weapons in Gaza is not necessary, the use of bunker-penetrating bombs [weighing] 2000 pounds (almost a ton) is necessary.”
The Theological Seminary of Columbia University (UTS) announced it is divesting from Israel. This is the first academic institution to announce the move following the wave of protests sweeping campuses in the US and calling for the withdrawal of investments in Israel. According to the institution’s announcement, it is about to divest 110 million dollars from companies operating in Israel.
Spain implements the embargo imposed by its prime minister on the sale of arms to Israel and from now on cargo ships are prohibited from docking even if part of their cargo includes materials that can be used by the IDF or the Israeli defense industries. A ship carrying weapons was prohibited from anchoring on its way to the Mediterranean Sea in the port of Cartagena in southeastern Spain. Spanish Foreign Minister, Manuel Alvarez, approved the publications on the subject and said: “This is the ship ‘Marian Danica’, which is operated by the company ’H. Folmer & Co’, and according to the report, it is carrying about 27 tons of explosive material. The cargo comes from the city of Madras in India. Spain refused to authorize the ship to dock next week in Spain.” Alvarez explained that the refusal to dock the ship in Spanish ports is a continuation of the Spanish policy of banning the export of weapons to Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
Gaza Strip
The IDF spokesperson stated that during an activity east of Rafah, by the forces of the Givati Brigade under Division 162, terrorists were identified in the central logistics complex of the UNRWA agency next to UN vehicles.
The IDF completed its operation in the Zeytun neighborhood. The Nahal Brigade, the Carmeli Brigade and the multi-dimensional unit raided the Zeytun neighborhood in the center of the Gaza Strip, destroying many terrorist infrastructures, attack tunnels, a lathe for the production of anti-nuclear weapons, rocket launch pits and Hamas headquarters that were used by Hamas for planning and carrying out terrorist activities
Five IDF soldiers were killed in Jabalia by IDF tank fire. According to the incident investigation, soldiers from the 82nd Battalion fired 2 shells at a house that was used as a paratrooper battalion’s headquarters. They apparently identified a weapon barrel coming out of the building’s window, and mistakenly thought that it was terrorists. Five soldiers were killed and another 7 were injured in the grave incident
Hamas-political Bureau
The British “Times” magazine reported that based on “secret documents that the IDF seized in Gaza”, Hamas planned to establish a “security wing” in Turkey, which would be the basis for coordinating and carrying out terrorist operations against Israeli targets in neighboring countries, including those that are members of the NATO alliance. The document, printed under the title of “Establishing a base in Turkey”, was discovered in the home of Hamza Abu-Shanab, the chief of staff of Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. This report is in context of the possibility that the political bureau of Hamas will move from Qatar to Turkey and will be able to launch its terrorist activities from there with the cooperation and ‘blind eye’ of Erdogan.
Leaders of the political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal, met in Qatar with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, in a delegation that also included the Malaysian Foreign Minister.
During the meeting, the delegations discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, and the Malaysian Prime Minister confirmed that “Malaysia stands by the Palestinian people and their just cause”. Ibrahim also pointed out that “Malaysia sees Hamas as a national liberation movement.” and the Malaysian government’s boycott regarding work and cooperation with Israeli companies and support for efforts to bring aid to the Gaza Strip.
US role in the war
A week after US President, Joe Biden, threatened that if Israel launched a large-scale operation in Rafah he would not supply it with bombs and shells, the US administration informed the Congress that it was promoting a new arms package to Israel worth a billion dollars. The new arms package includes a potential transfer of $700 million worth of tank ammunition, $500 million worth of armored tactical vehicles and $60 million worth of mortars. US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that “we are continuing to send military aid. We delayed the shipment of 2000-pound bombs [around 900 kg]kg because we do not believe they should be dropped in densely populated cities.”
The Hamas Hostage Deal and Rafah Operation
The general secretaries and leaders of the “Palestinian resistance factions” met in Damascus, and in a video call with the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ziyad al-Nakhalah, and a member of the political bureau of Hamas, Hussam Badran.
They discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian situation, the efforts made to stop the war in Gaza and the failure of the last round of negotiations in Cairo.
Hussam Badran said that all the factions are now presenting a united national position in which they are addressing the whole world, and that there is a growing understanding of the Palestinian position, at the regional and international level. Badran added that many governments and nations have begun to support the Palestinians, and that Israel is “in a kind of isolation” and “Its position is no longer acceptable to the vast majority of international and regional parties.” “That’s why (Israel’s) invasion of Rafah in recent days is a form of rebellion in the entire world.”
Badran emphasized: “We call on all parties at the regional and international level to put pressure on Netanyahu and his far-right government to stop this ongoing aggression”
Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammad Al-Thani, said that there is an impasse in the talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. According to him, the Israeli operation in Rafah “moved things backwards.” Al-Thani added that “Qatar has not stopped mediating between Israel and Hamas, despite the difficulties. The Hamas offices in Doha will remain open as long as the war continues. The main dispute between Israel and Hamas is regarding the release of the hostages and the continuation of the war. There could be a deal within a few days, but there is no clarity on the Israeli side on how to bring about an end to the war.”
Operational
Talal Abu Zarifa, a member of the political bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was killed in an IDF attack in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
Abu Zarifa, a well-known figure in the Gaza Strip and one of the senior leaders who led the ‘return march’ violent activities on the Gaza border fence in 2018-2019.
Domestic Arena
This week Israel commemorated Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism, where 25,040 soldiers have fallen since the beginning of modern-day Zionist Jewish settlement in 1860, and 5,100 victims of terror.
This year’s Memorial Day was extremely tangible and more painful than ever, certainly for the younger generation under the age of 50-60 who did not experience the Yom Kippur and other difficult wars, as for the first time, they had to come to terms with the very high number of new casualties – over 1500 since October 7th.
As with every year, Memorial Day transitioned from sadness to joy with the 76th Independence Day celebrations of the State of Israel, which was established in 1948 on May 14th.
This year’s joy was mixed with profound sadness as Israel is again, confronted with a war for its survival and independence as it faces enemies on all fronts: Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen.
In a public confrontation, Israel Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant demanded that neither Hamas nor Israel, but local Palestinian forces will run everyday lives in the Gaza Strip, and publicly demanded the Prime Minister to commit to that. He said that if there is any Israeli control in Gaza on “the day after” he will refuse to remain Minister of Defense. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replied he would neither accept “Hamastan” nor “Fatahstan”, and that “the first condition to the day after is to destroy Hamas, no excuses”. Other members of his party, the Likud, and members of the coalition government strongly opposed this announcement, while the latter claim that on “the day after”, there must be an Israeli control in the Gaza Strop, and not by the Palestinian Authority or Hamas otherwise – the soldiers who have been killed in action, will have fallen in vain, and the situation that was on October 6 – will continue.
The Israeli government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to postpone the UN General Assembly’s decision to grant additional powers to the Palestinian Authority and upgrade its position in the organization.
Lebanon
Operational
Senior Hamas official, Khalil Al-Hayya, met in Lebanon with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah to coordinate the continuation of the war against Israel.
This week, the Lebanese front experienced an escalation as Hezbollah claimed to have showcased innovative, new weapons, allegedly introducing new capabilities such as the S5 rocket that the IDF would have a harder time intercepting. These claims have not been corroborated. The rate of fire from both sides has increased, as Hezbollah has been shooting directly and accurately at IDF soldiers. The terrorist organization also shot at citizens, and killed a citizen with a precision missile who had been bringing medical related donations to nearby soldiers.
Hussein Ibrahim Makki, a senior Hezbollah official, was eliminated in an anti-tank missile attack in the Tyre region of southern Lebanon. The assassination led to Hezbollah’s unusual attack on Ilaniya in Northern Israel. Makki was “the arm of Hezbollah Secretary General Nasrallah in Syria, responsible for coordinating supplies between Iran, via Syria to Hezbollah. He had close ties with Mohammad Zahedi, the senior Iranian IRGC official that was eliminated by Israel near the Iranian embassy in Damascus. It seems that Israel managed to thwart the supply line between Tehran and Beirut.
After consideration, Hezbollah has rejected the French proposal for a cease-fire with Israel. It has been reported that Hezbollah was most adamant in rejecting the section concerning the retreat of the Radwan commando forces 8-10 km to the north of the Israeli border.
Lebanese officials claim that Hezbollah is orchestrating the hostiliites in southern Lebanon and there does not seem to be a viable political solution on the horizon.
Deputy member of the executive council of Hezbollah, Sheikh Nabil Qaouk said that “the drones of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon are able to reach where they need to go in northern Israel, to Acre and beyond Acre, to Haifa and beyond Haifa.” Qaouk also added that “the resistance has proven that it is up to the challenge and has succeeded in breaking Israeli equations and laws in front of the whole world.”
On that matter, Hezbollah attacked 50 km deep in Israeli territory at a ’Tel Shamayim’ observation balloon in Ilanya. The apparent success of such a precise attack might be due to two main factors: Hezbollah’s intelligence gathering drones and collaborators with Hezbollah from within Israeli territory.
The attack on the IDF’s strategic facility in the north demonstrates Hezbollah’s expanded capabilities and that they have the potential break other warfare barriers with Israel.
The attack on the ’Tel Shamayim’ observation balloon is an unprecedented strategic achievement by Hezbollah. After some of the IDF’s observation devices along the border were destroyed by the terrorist organization, Hezbollah managed to disable a sensitive and advanced observation facility (which isn’t observing merely at the Lebanese area) using relatively primitive weapons.
In addition, the ability to insert an explosive drone deep into Israel without it being detected is also considered a significant achievement by Hezbollah, which apparently succeeded in locating vulnerabilities in Israel’s air defense systems.
In response to the launch of the UAV to Ilaniya, the Israeli Air Force extensively attacked Hezbollah targets in the Lebanese Beqaa valley.
Judea and Samaria
An ambulance driver, a citizen who lives in Jerusalem, tried to smuggle 8 illegal residents of the Samaria territories into Jerusalem. The illegal residents were arrested and transferred for further investigation at the Investigations and Intelligence Division of the Jerusalem envelope of the Border Patrol Unit.
There was a stabbing attack at the Yitzhar intersection south of Nablus. One man was moderately wounded following the attack. It took the IDF and the Shin Bet three hours to track down and arrest the suspect.
Middle East
Global Jihad
Two Muslims were arrested last week in Wigan and Bolton, UK, and were brought to court in Westminster, London. The two, Walid Saadawi (36) and Amar Hussein (50) are accused of being influenced by ISIS as they also planned to attack policemen and soldiers. According to the lawsuit, “the two wanted to use automatic weapons and cause a large number of casualties. Their main targets were members of the Jewish community in Manchester and representatives of law enforcement.”
Egypt
Egypt announced that it will join the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Israel responded in outrage at Egypt’s unusual step, and fears that the International Court of Justice will issue an order to stop the warfare in Rafah. Israel also accuses Egypt of violating previous agreements between the countries. Moreover, Egypt not only turned to The Hague, but at the same time closed the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid- in order to increase the international pressure on Israel, even though Egypt was not the one that stopped the aid.
Hamas responded that it appreciates Egypt’s joining South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ. In addition, the murderous organization called on other Arab and Muslim countries and all the countries of the world to take similar steps to support the Palestinian cause by joining the lawsuit filed against Israel, severing all ties with Israel, and isolating her internationally.
In addition, The Wall Street Journal reported that Egypt is considering downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel, and among other things is considering recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv. The report also stated that although Egypt is considering drastic measures including the recall of their ambassador, there is no intention to completely sever relations with Israel. “There is no plan to suspend relations or to trash Camp David. But as long as Israeli forces remain at the Rafah crossing, Egypt will not send even one truck to it.”
In response to that, the Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, said that “Egypt must be persuaded to reopen the Rafah crossing, the key is in its hands.” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri condemned Katz’s words and said that “Israel is trying to blame Egypt for the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, but this is a result of the Israeli attacks on the Palestinians.” He added: “Israel should bear responsibility, and allow humanitarian aid to enter the Strip through the crossings that are under its control. The IDF operation at the Rafah crossing and its takeover are the main reason for its closure.”
Jordan
According to Reuters, Jordan has thwarted the smuggling of weapons and additional ammunition that were transferred by pro-Iranian militias to a Muslim Brotherhood cell in the country, which maintains relations with Hamas in Gaza. The purpose of the weapons transfer was, among other things, to destabilize Jordan. A senior official in the Muslim Brotherhood said that they were recruited by the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, Saleh al-Aaruri – who was eliminated in Lebanon last January.
Iran
The adviser to the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and the head of the Strategic Council for Foreign Relations in Iran, Kamal Harazi, said that Iran “may change its nuclear doctrine if Israel dares to threaten it with its nuclear capabilities.” Harazi added: “We do not want nuclear weapons, and Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a fatwa prohibiting their production and use, but we will be forced to change this doctrine if we receive a nuclear threat from the enemy”.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdulahian, spoke at the Iranian-Arab Dialogue Conference in Tehran and said that “we have gone beyond the Iranian-Arab dialogues and entered the regional dialogues, and today we are in the phase of regional cooperation.” Abdulahian also added that the extent of meetings and communication between Iran and Egypt shows the mutual political understanding between the two countries regarding the effectiveness of dialogue and cooperation. Abdulahian emphasized that the Iranian strategy for regional cooperation includes Egypt. The two countries maintain tense relations following the coup d’état in 2013, and the current regime of Egyptian president, Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi.
A French source claims that Niger’s authorities, who previously banned the export of gold and uranium to France, are secretly dealing in uranium with Iran.
The updated estimates based on the stockpiles of enriched uranium that Iran has obtained so far show that Iran could produce 10 nuclear bombs in a short period of time.
According to the IAEA, Iran currently possesses 121 kg of 60% uranium, 712 kg of 20% uranium, and 4,700 kg of 3.5% uranium.
Yemen
The Houthis spokesperson, General Yahya Sarea said: “The fourth phase of escalation has begun… and we are preparing for battle if the US comes in by land.”
Sarea also added that “Yemen stands next to the axis of resistance at a time when the world has abandoned Gaza. The 5th and 6th stages are on the way.”
10 IDF soldiers and one civilian died this week in Gaza and in the northern front: Capt. Roi Beit Ya’akov, Sgt. GiladAryeh Boim, Sergeant Daniel Hamo, Sgt. Ilan Cohen, Sgt. Bezalel David Shashua, Sergeant Ira Yair Gispan, Sergeantmajor Ran Yavetz, Elad Feingerhot, First sergeant Nachman Meir Haim Vaknin, Sergeant Noam Bittan, and SergeantBen Avishy Of Blessed Memory
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