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 | July 22, 2024
Overview
A drone launched by the Houthis struck a building in the heart of Tel Aviv, near the American embassy. The attack resulted in one fatality and ten injuries.
Since the start of the war, Iranian proxies in Iraq, Yemen and from Iran itself have fired approximately 1,000 different weapons at Israel ranging from ballistic missiles to simple drones.
Israel struck western Yemen, reportedly with 25 F-35 jets targeting areas around the port city of Al-Hudaydah, causing extensive damage.
S. intelligence agencies have warned that Russia might participate in arming the Houthi rebels in Yemen with antiship missiles in retaliation for the Administration’s support of Ukraine.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled (by a majority of 11 judges to 4) that the Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria (sometimes referred to as the West Bank), is illegal and that the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council should act against it.
CNN reported that CIA Director William Burns assessed that Sinwar is under pressure from his military commanders to reach a deal with Israel and establish a ceasefire that ends the war.
The IDF Spokesperson published a summary of 263 days of ground maneuvering since October 28, during which 14,000 Hamas terrorists were killed or captured. In this period, 6 brigade commanders, 20 battalion commanders, and 150 company commanders were killed. So far, 37,000 targets have been attacked from the air.
There is confirmation that Mohammad Deif, head of Hamas’ military wing was eliminated in a strike last week.
The US has completely dismantled its dock from the new port in Gaza, which operated for only 20 full days since May 17.
68 members of Knesset voted for an official statement opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state. Only nine MKs voted against the resolution.
The Security Cabinet has approved extending mandatory military service back to 36 months, reversing the planned reduction from 32 to 30 months that was supposed to take place this month.
Yemen
The UAV Drone Attack in Tel Aviv
A drone launched by the Houthis struck a building in the heart of Tel Aviv, near the American consulate (it may have originally been targeting the consulate building). The attack resulted in one fatality and ten injuries.
A day later, the Houthis launched a barrage of a ballistic missile and four drones; the missile and three of the drones were intercepted by Central Command, while the fourth hit the country’s economic capital. A Houthi spokesman declared that the “Yafa” drone attack was due to the “genocide in Gaza” and struck occupied Jaffa, which, according to him, sits on Israeli Tel Aviv.
The strike was detected by the IDF but was not intercepted due to “human error”. Unusually, this drone did not directly fly into Israel but rather made a detour and approached Tel Aviv from the Mediterranean Sea. Another drone from the east was intercepted the next night. Israel is being threatened by drone attacks from all directions, which will likely peak if and when Israel launches a surprise strike against Hezbollah.
IDF spokesperson Hagari stated that the drone that hit Tel Aviv was an Iranian Samad-3 model that had been upgraded to extend its flight range. Throughout the war, numerous barrages have been fired at Israel, most of which were intercepted by American Central Command or the Air Force and the state’s air defense system (to be precise, there have been 86 attacks against Israel, including over 200 drones and cruise missiles, and 217 maritime attacks that severely damaged economic activity at the Eilat port).
The drone’s flight lasted 10 hours, carrying 10 kg of explosives, and bypassed American Central Command destroyers in the Red Sea by flying over Africa, the Sinai Peninsula, and from there to the eastern Mediterranean. Although it was under the air defense system’s sights for 6 minutes, it was not intercepted for reasons still unclear, striking a building 100 meters from the American Consulate.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Houthis are conducting a “force reconnaissance,” launching drone and cruise missile attacks against Israel to study its air defense system while learning from Hezbollah’s attacks and the conclusions drawn by the organization.
Since the start of the war, Iranian proxies in Iraq, Yemen and from Iran itself have fired approximately 1,000 different weapons at Israel ranging from ballistic missiles to simple drones. They have gained knowledge on Israel’s air defense systems as well as the region’s aerial defense systems, including the maritime coalition against the Houthis, which includes the Gulf countries, US, France and the UK, as they seek to penetrate them.
According to one publication, Iran’s proxies have amassed 5,000 different drones and missiles capable of striking the greater Tel Aviv region. Haifa, with its hospitals, refinery, power stations, and more, will be the target of Hezbollah’s attacks, which will fire thousands of rockets daily during a potential war, likely paralyzing transportation in the north and causing many fires.
The Houthis promised to continue their attacks. Due to the underwhelming response of the maritime coalition against the Houthis, their confidence, including demands from foreign countries continue. They have achieved a psychological success, deterring some tourists and foreign investors from Israel. They anticipate that this will enable them to deter Saudi Arabia from normalizing relations with Israel or the UAE from cooperating with Israel.
IDF’s Retaliatory Attack in Yemen
On Saturday, a day and a half after the Houthi attack, Israel struck western Yemen, reportedly with 25 F-35 jets targeting areas around the port city of Al-Hudaydah, causing extensive damage. The daytime strike was intended to send a message and restore Israeli deterrence. This is unprecedented and he first time that Israel attacked in Yemen, showcasing its capacity to attack over 2000 KM from Israel. The strike also contained a stark warning to the Iranian regime that Israel could strike Iran, which is closer to Israel than Yemen. Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement, ““From the beginning of the war, I made it clear that Israel will act against all those who attack us. This is why earlier today, I asked the Israeli cabinet to back my decision to strike against the Houthi targets in Yemen”.
US Report on Russia Arming the Houthis
U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that Russia might participate in arming the Houthi rebels in Yemen with antiship missiles in retaliation for the Biden administration’s support for Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with U.S. weapons, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. US Central Command chief Erik Kurilla was said to warn that US-led operations were “failing” to prevent Houthi attacks on the Red Sea. In a classified letter to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Kurilla reportedly called for potentially stronger military action and a “whole of government” approach that would step up diplomatic and economic pressure on the Houthis.
International
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled (by a majority of 11 judges to 4) that the Israeli presence in the West Bank is illegal and that the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council should act against it (i.e., impose sanctions to prevent Jewish settlement and promote the establishment of a Palestinian state). The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted a response: “The Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land – not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the ancestral lands of Judea and Samaria.”
Lebanese judge Nawaf Salam said, “Israel has violated Article 3 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the court concluded that Israel’s actions amount to racial segregation and apartheid.” Judge Salam added, “Israel has placed Gaza under its control as an occupying force.”
Salam used to be the Lebanese UN ambassador and voted hundreds of times against Israel, previously making harsh public criticism against it.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has published a comprehensive report stating that Hamas committed crimes against humanity on October 7. The organization, which usually takes a harsh stance towards Israel, unequivocally condemns Hamas in the report, stating that it committed war crimes and crimes against humanity on October 7.
The new Labor government in the UK announced that it would renew funding for UNRWA.
Gaza Strip
Diplomatic
There are reports that Hamas is experiencing morale breakdown among its commanders with pressure on Sinwar to accept the conditions for a hostage deal because of the suffering in Gaza. CNN reported that CIA Director William Burns assessed that Sinwar is under pressure from his military commanders to reach a deal with Israel to end the war. Sinwar is hiding in a tunnel beneath Khan Yunis and is concerned about his public image due to the lack of victory and significant civilian casualties. According to Minister Dermer and National Security Advisor Hanegbi, such a deal could come within two weeks under Israeli terms.
It was reported that Abu Dhabi agreed to send a peacekeeping force to the Gaza Strip as part of the day after (which could also lead Morocco and Egypt to send a force for policing purposes), provided the US is closely involved in the day after.
Operational
The IDF Spokesperson published a summary of 263 days of ground maneuvering since October 28, during which 14,000 Hamas terrorists were killed or captured. During this period, 6 brigade commanders, 20 battalion commanders, and 150 company commanders were killed. So far, 37,000 targets have been attacked from the air. The “tree of eliminations” of the senior leadership of the Hamas was published; most senior officials have been eliminated. On Sunday, sources have confirmed that Mohammad Deif was indeed eliminated.
The US has completely dismantled its dock from the new port in Gaza, which operated for only 20 full days since it became operational on May 17. It will be transferred to the Ashdod port, and from there humanitarian aid will be transported by trucks to Gaza through the Erez Crossing and the new 96 Route.
Netanyahu conducted a situation assessment in Rafah City alongside soldiers from the 162nd Division. He reviewed the logistics, medical, and technology arrays of the essential combat support units. Netanyahu stated that maintaining the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Route is crucial for continued pressure on Hamas to accept the hostage deal.
According to Arab media, an airstrike was also carried out in the Bureij camp, where the commander of the “Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades” terrorist faction (responsible for numerous rocket launches towards the envelope area in the past two weeks) was killed.
Under the direction of Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet, the Air Force attacked a building in Deir al-Balah used by the “Alkaara” company to transfer funds to Hamas. The day before, a Hamas operative involved in transferring funds for terrorist activities was eliminated in the area.
In a combined attack, the Air Force and the Shin Bet eliminated 20 Hamas terrorists from the Shati Battalion, including snipers, elite Nukhba forces, and reconnaissance operatives. Among those killed was a Nukhba terrorist who participated in the October 7 massacre and a sniper company commander responsible for numerous sniper attacks.
IDF troops are securing the transfer of trucks along the humanitarian route from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the “European” hospital. The terrorists exploited the fact that the troops were securing the food convoys intended for the local population and attacked them. The IDF closed the route for several hours but resumed operations to transfer food to civilians in the al-Mawasi area.
The tunnel route from which four terrorists emerged on June 6th towards Kerem Shalom for an attack, in which an IDF soldier was killed, was destroyed. This tunnel was part of a 3 km intricate route with blast doors and stay spaces, and part of the tunnel network under Rafah.
Despite statements about a possible withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor as part of an agreement with Egypt, the IDF’s Southern Command believes in the need to establish the Philadelphi Brigade headquarters with a permanent presence, including at the Rafah crossing (without the presence of the Palestinian Authority). However, this decision is reserved for the political echelon and no decision has been finalized.
Hamas is setting up improvised weapon production workshops in the humanitarian zone, but these are limited in scope.
The speed of tunnel destruction is increasing, and the lack of sufficient fuel is forcing terrorists out of the tunnels (since without ventilation, it is impossible to stay underground for long due to lack of oxygen and intense heat). The pressure on them to surrender is growing. This demonstrates the importance of denying fuel to the terrorist group as it fuels its war machine and allows Hamas to fight longer by staying in the tunnels. Without the creation of a reliable distribution mechanism, fuel that is intended to go to civilian purposes will end up fueling Hamas.
The commander of the Nahal Brigade operating in the Rafah area said in an interview that the destruction of the underground tunnels would take between two to four months, meaning the IDF presence on the route would be required until at least September-November 2024.
Hamas’ Use of UNRWA Facilities
Terrorist factions use schools throughout Gaza as assembly areas, attack planning sites, and interrogation and torture centers for possible collaborators. This explains the numerous IDF attacks against these schools in recent days.
Under Shin Bet and Military Intelligence direction, the Air Force attacked an UNRWA complex in the Zaitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City, which was used by Hamas militants and even served as the headquarters of Hamas’s Gaza Brigade. The Hamas military intelligence officer of the Gaza City Brigade was eliminated. He was responsible for intelligence gathering and preparation for the brigade’s operations during the massacre on October 7, as well as directing attacks against fighters during the maneuver.
The Air Force attacked an UNRWA school in the Nusirat camp where terrorists were located. Additionally, in western Khan Yunis, a company commander in the Islamic Jihad’s naval force was attacked and killed, along with 17 others.
In a raid on the UNRWA headquarters in central Gaza City, Division 99 led by the Commando Brigade captured not only weapons but thousands of documents and files of intelligence value. They captured many terrorists who fled to the location from nearby Sajaiya, destroyed an improvised mortar production center, and demolished a Hamas recruitment center established there during the war.
Domestic Arena
The Ultra-Orthodox Draft
The IDF is preparing to draft Ultra-Orthodox men, sending draft notices starting Sunday. It launched a website for the Ultra-Orthodox recruitment with the slogan: “Meaningful service, Ultra-Orthodox lifestyle, employment horizon,” presenting various possible service tracks from combat (like in the Border Police, Ultra-Orthodox Nahal Battalion, Tomer in the Givati Brigade, Hetz in the Paratroopers) to combat support roles such as drivers, technicians, or security guards in the Air Force, and more.
An Ultra-Orthodox rabbi and head of a Midrash (religious institution) announced the establishment of an Ultra-Orthodox “Hesder Yeshiva” (similar to national-religious Yeshivas) called “Tiferet Bachurim,” intended for Ultra-Orthodox studying Torah. As part of the arrangement of the planned track: participants would undertake one year of Torah study, two years of combat service (as a company in a combat battalion), and then another year of Torah study in the yeshiva. This initiative is currently being condemned by part of the Ultra-Orthodox community, but it could signal change in the Ultra-Orthodox community with regard to military service and create a pathway for the IDF to increase its manpower.
Political Arena
68 members of the Knesset voted for an official statement opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state (Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant, and Opposition Leader Lapid were absent from the vote). Even Labor was absent from the vote. This is an indication of a tectonic shift in Israel’s public opinion with regards to the possibility of the establishment of a Palestinian State; even most of the traditional Israeli Left does not openly support the establishment of a Palestinian State. Only 9 Members of Knesset voted against the resolution.
Hungary blocked a resolution by the EU consensus statement condemning that overwhelming Knesset vote, derailing the resolution that requires the support of all 27 member states. Joseph Borrell, the EEAS Chief, condemned the Knesset: “The EU deplores Knesset’s resolution opposing the strongly internationally supported two-state solution.”
The Knesset is going to a summer recess on July 28th until October. This means that the current coalition would be in place for at least 6 more months because even if the Knesset were to be dissolved at the end of October (very unlikely), Israeli law stipulates that elections need to be held 3 months later.
Netanyahu plans to bring released hostage, Noa Argamani, with him on his diplomatic trip to Washington where he plans to address both houses of Congress. Protestors are urging Argamani to refrain from joining the Prime Minister, and there are possible protests planned in Washington by opponents of the current Israeli government.
The Security Cabinet has approved extending mandatory military service back to 36 months, reversing the planned reduction from 32 to 30 months that was supposed to take place this month. The extension will last for 8 years due to the challenges of the war. Discussions are also underway to extend reserve service and raise the exemption age from reserve duty.
Lebanon
Operational
Hezbollah continues to attack Israel’s north, firing anti-tank missiles at targets in Metula and Yiron to damage radar systems, and launching numerous suicide drones in a single attack against the Bashan Division base. The air defense system intercepted many rockets and drones.
Hezbollah’s extensive attack on the Bashan Division base followed the Air Force’s elimination of a leading Hamas militant in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, followed by the elimination of a Hezbollah militant in the south of the country who was a leading engineer in the Shiite terrorist organization. The Air Force bombed two Hezbollah headquarters, one belonging to the Radwan Force, killing several of its elite operatives in the attack.
After the elimination of several Radwan Force members on Friday night, the next day Hezbollah attacked northern Israel 17 times, firing 70 rockets at the Galilee from morning until noon, along with mortar bombs, anti-tank missiles, and numerous drones. In response, the Air Force attacked terrorist infrastructures in southern Lebanon, including the rocket launcher used to attack the Abirim community, weapons depots, and more.
Judea and Samaria
Haniyeh spoke with Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, discussing the latest developments in the war in Gaza.
The Mujahideen Brigades claimed full responsibility for a terrorist attack by an East Jerusalemite with and Israeli ID. The attacker is reportedly part of the Daham unit, a terrorist cell composed of operatives living within Israel.
“Senior officials” in Hamas and Fatah reported that top leaders from both movements will hold reconciliation talks in China during the week starting July 20th.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa met with new British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who visited Ramallah. Lammy emphasized his country’s commitment to a two-state solution and efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Iraq and Syria
The Shiite militia in Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, threatened Saudi Arabia on Sunday, stating that it would pay the price for building the land bridge from the Emirates through it to Jordan and eventually to Israel, bypassing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The IDF attacked central headquarters and military infrastructures used by the Syrian army were targeted. According to reports from Syria, Muhammad Baraa Katerji was killed. He was a main economic artery for the Syrian regime and was on the US sanctions list for transferring oil to ISIS in Syria in the past.
Global Jihad
An ISIS attack in Oman marks the first-ever attack in the Sultanate. The organization claimed that three terrorists attacked and killed at least 35 Shiites. ISIS seeks high-quality, unexpected targets for its attacks. The attack took place during the important Shiite Day of Ashura, which ISIS views as heresy.
Iran
Iran is working on recruiting local Israelis as agents, intending to sew chaos. A 21-year-old man was arrested and charged with contact with a foreign agent. He was recruited with two men by a source who promised him thousands of dollars in exchange for various tasks, such as hanging incitement posters in Tel Aviv or buying and placing two 20-liter cans of fuel at different points in the country, apparently as preparation for attacks. The foreign agent’s goal was to cause destruction, devastation, and chaos in Israel.
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