Hamas-Israeli War 2023

[OPSSG]

Part 2 of 3: Updates on Operation Swords of Iron

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719066404035391658

10. Israel has done the impossible. May the rescue of Ori Megidish from ground operations against Hamas & the other terror groups be the 1st of many.

11. A Hamas propaganda channel (1.5 million followers) is spreading lies by claiming that the rescue of Ori Megidish did not occur & she was released from Gaza. Further, that she posted on her social media page 2 weeks ago. Problem is the page used as proof by Hamas, is not her!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719268592204566987

12. As the IDF probe the tunnel complex, the troops pulling security are static — wh. mean they are targets for counter attacks. Press in Gaza can’t report on rockets hitting Palestinians (i.e. make sure all rocket debris removed before pictures are taken) — all blame Israel.

13. War against the IDF is not going well for Hamas. NEW ORDER for the press in Gaza — report only if it makes IDF look bad.

14. As the ground war in Gaza starts in earnest, we should take a moment to reflect on certain countries that aid & support the narrative of Hamas, like Turkey, Qatar & Malaysia. During the 16,000 strong Palestinian solidarity rally at Axiata Arena on 25 Oct 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar claimed that he was threatened by Western powers for his criticism of the Israeli government following the war in Gaza.

(a) A “demarche” is frequently used in international relations and diplomatic affairs, in which a government may issue a notice to convey its official position or request to another government.​

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(b) Anwar said two notices, sent to Wisma Putra on 13 Oct 2023 and 30 Oct 2023, requested Malaysia change its position of refusing to recognise Hamas as a terrorist group. The other notice, received on 18 Oct 2023, involved Malaysia’s ambassador to Washington being called by the US state department to explain Putrajaya’s stand on the Palestine-Israel conflict.​

 

[Big_Zucchini]

I previously posted about Shani Luk's dead body being found, but since then different reports with different versions came in. One leading version is that a piece of her skull was found, indicating she was dead.

The report about the rescue of hostage Pvt. Ori Megidish is said to have been a mishap, and may hurt future efforts. The Shin Bet was highly involved and it seems the rescue was a dedicated effort and not a random finding.

Kidnapped Israeli soldier is rescued from Gaza in overnight operation, returns home

Pvt. Ori Megidish reunited with family after being freed in IDF mission hailed by defense minister as 'further proof' Israel can rescue hostages held by Hamas, other terror groups

www.timesofisrael.com

 

[Big_Zucchini]

IDF South Command Chief gives the order to attack, perhaps indicating that now begins the main effort in north Gaza.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719308149054664866

I speculate that we will see raids into the southern Gaza in the future, similar to the northern raids of last week.

Arrow 3 was reportedly used for the first time, to down a Yemeni surface-surface missile. The Arrow 3 kill-vehicle is exo-atmospheric.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719312952497512484

EDIT: There is still no confirmation that the interceptor was an Arrow 3. Arrow 2 has previously been operationally used to down Syrian munitions.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719346129601450278

Defense journalist Or Heller provides the following details:
1. Arrow 2 interceptor.
2. Interception at 100km from Eilat.
3. Exo-atmospheric interception.
4. SSM range over 1,000km, warhead hundreds of kg.

Some speculate it was a Shahab 3.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719337748140576843

 

[OPSSG]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719421973879517586

In any urban warfare scenario where the objective is to destroy militant C2 nodes, some collateral damage is inevitable. And my heart breaks to hear of air strikes killing many, like the air strike on 31 Oct 2023, at approximately 2:24pm local time, on the Jabalia Refugee Camp.

Former President Bush who was responsible for America’s disastrous war of choice in Iraq, was asked whether he thought Israel had to go into Gaza and destroy Hamas. He said they have no choice. It’s going to be ugly, but they have no choice.

An air strike on Tuesday on a Hamas target at Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza has killed a large number of people, according to eyewitnesses & medics in the enclave, as the IDF continued advancing into the Gaza Strip. The Guardian says that the target was Ibrahim Biari, commander of Central Jabaliya Battalion, who allegedly played a key role in planning the 7 Oct attacks on Israel.

​

(a) The air strike on 31 Oct 2023, at approximately 2:24pm local time, hit a major tunnel complex, underground command center. From the videos that emerged, the IDF didn't target the apartment building, they targeted tunnels beneath this neighbourhood. We can debate if “proportional” to military advantage gained.​

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(b) Video and satellite analysis by Bellingcat has confirmed the 2:24pm air strike. The IDF says the target of the Jabalia strike wasn’t a single Hamas commander— as implied by the CNN piece below — but multiple operatives and underground infrastructure.​

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(c) Jabaliya residents are claiming that several minutes after an Israeli airstrike the ground around them began to collapse, leading to massive casualties, many of whom fell into sinkholes along with structural frames of the apartment buildings.​

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719412278351507487

The IDF has been given the mission of destroying Hamas. The intensity of fighting will make the IDF look bad when civilians get killed.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer: You knew that there were innocent civilians in that refugee camp, right?​

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IDF spox: This is the tragedy of war. We told them to move south.​

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Blitzer: So you decided to drop the bomb anyway.​

The IDF’s ground movements have come more slowly than expected. Military specialists told Reuters on Monday that the IDF is possibly proceeding this way to draw Hamas fighters out of tunnels and densely populated areas, while also allowing for more time to negotiate for the release of hostages taken by militants.

 

[Feanor]

It was done. The result was 1,400 brutally raped, tortured, and murdered, and over 230 kidnapped.
I recommend to think outside the box. But if you want to discuss a solution for it, I'm all for, even if I do not have any concrete proposal. But again, it's best discussed in the other thread.

They weren't really granted independence as a sovereign nation state. They were granted wide autonomy. Give them complete independence the same way Syria or Jordan is independent from Israel. If Gaza doesn't control their territorial waters the way a nation-state would, if they are blocked from UN membership, and if their ability to conduct independent foreign policy is hampered by a lack of political recognition, then they're not really independent. I again point to the question I asked far back. Can they host a Chinese military base? Regardless of whether they would want to, regardless of whether China would want to. Syria is an independent country, if they want to host a Russian military base or Iranian para-military formations they can do so. Gaza can not. They are not an independent country.

The IDF has been given the mission of destroying Hamas. The intensity of fighting will make the IDF look bad when civilians get killed.

Yeah, it's the reality of this war. The nature of battlefield itself here will magnify civilian casualties. The issue that there is nowhere for them to go is also going to magnify the casualties. Last but certainly not least, Hamas is intentionally going out of their way to put civilians in harms way. Collateral damage is a reality and can't easily be avoided. I suspect part of the reason Israel is moving slower is to be more careful about collateral damage but no matter how careful they are, incidents like this will happen.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

(a) The air strike at approximately 2:24pm local time on the Jabalia Refugee Camp, hit a major tunnel complex, underground command center. We can debate if “proportional” to military advantage gained.

Reports of "sinkholes" (aka tunnels) leading to further collapse of structures, as well as munitions in the area, are likely serious contributors to the severity of this incident:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719363355360518250

Rumors of the planned endgame for Gaza are now popping up. I doubt Israel, the US, and regional entities have come to an understanding on the matter. I assume any finalization effort will culminate in official talks with Egypt.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719463535799840814

 

[Big_Zucchini]

They weren't really granted independence as a sovereign nation state. They were granted wide autonomy. Give them complete independence the same way Syria or Jordan is independent from Israel. If Gaza doesn't control their territorial waters the way a nation-state would, if they are blocked from UN membership, and if their ability to conduct independent foreign policy is hampered by a lack of political recognition, then they're not really independent. I again point to the question I asked far back. Can they host a Chinese military base? Regardless of whether they would want to, regardless of whether China would want to. Syria is an independent country, if they want to host a Russian military base or Iranian para-military formations they can do so. Gaza can not. They are not an independent country.

Independence is not a binary thing, and I dare say even in their current status they're more independent than some of their allies like North Korea.

They may not be recognized fully, but they have diplomatic missions and relations with Qatar, Iran, Russia, Lebanon, Turkey etc. Israel isn't entirely recognized, some have sanctions on it, particularly some Arab and African nations. The Abraham Accords are not as encompassing as they could be, even though Israel exists for as long as the western average life span.

Hamas is technically allowed to run whatever military policy it wants inside Gaza, as long as it doesn't bother Israel. But the subject of independence is not what Israel looks at when it comes to its self defense. Yes, Syria can host Chinese bases, but if those were Iranian bases, then no amount of Syrian sovereignty would save them.

I think we already went over this. Let me ask you this - how does the question of Gaza's independence/sovereignty affect anything?
They clearly have enough independence as well as aid to run things in Gaza to prosperity, which they miserably failed to do. I fail to see how any more, or less, independence would affect them.

 

[Feanor]

Independence is not a binary thing, and I dare say even in their current status they're more independent than some of their allies like North Korea.

They may not be recognized fully, but they have diplomatic missions and relations with Qatar, Iran, Russia, Lebanon, Turkey etc. Israel isn't entirely recognized, some have sanctions on it, particularly some Arab and African nations. The Abraham Accords are not as encompassing as they could be, even though Israel exists for as long as the western average life span.

Hamas is technically allowed to run whatever military policy it wants inside Gaza, as long as it doesn't bother Israel. But the subject of independence is not what Israel looks at when it comes to its self defense. Yes, Syria can host Chinese bases, but if those were Iranian bases, then no amount of Syrian sovereignty would save them.

It's not a bad argument in principle. One could also point to things like Abkhazia or Northern Cyprus. But ultimately sovereignty is a clear line to cut through the confusion. Either Gaza is sovereign or it isn't. Independence as a concept may be more nebulous but sovereignty less so. Syria can host Chinese bases, good. Can Gaza? Answer no and you've made my point. But can you really claim the answer is yes? You still haven't said anything about territorial waters either. At the end of the day we live in the Westphalian nation-state international system. Is Gaza a nation-state?

I think we already went over this. Let me ask you this - how does the question of Gaza's independence/sovereignty affect anything?

They clearly have enough independence as well as aid to run things in Gaza to prosperity, which they miserably failed to do. I fail to see how any more, or less, independence would affect them.

I'm not sure how true this nor well enough knowledgeable to argue. Perhaps they have enough and perhaps they don't. How one runs such a tiny territory, with the population they have (not only quantity but also who the population are) to prosperity is beyond me. To me it seems impossible. My point was, is, and remains; Gaza doesn't have independence as a nation state. Perhaps independence for them is a bad idea. But if so, make that argument. Pretending they are independent when they really aren't to me is counterproductive and muddles the issue.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

It's not a bad argument in principle. One could also point to things like Abkhazia or Northern Cyprus. But ultimately sovereignty is a clear line to cut through the confusion. Either Gaza is sovereign or it isn't.

If it has to be a binary option then Hamas in Gaza is sovereign. It is the de facto government and conducts the policy it sees fit.

Syria can host Chinese bases, good. Can Gaza? Answer no and you've made my point.

Can the UK host Chinese bases? Can Germany? The answer to that would be no. I have no idea why the metric has to be China if I gave an example of countries whose sovereignty doesn't come into question - that cannot host certain countries' bases.

You still haven't said anything about territorial waters either.

Nothing to be said IMO. Mongolia doesn't have territorial waters. Is it therefore not sovereign?

At the end of the day we live in the Westphalian nation-state international system. Is Gaza a nation-state?

I do not know what a nation state is. But if you wish to claim sovereignty is binary, it is up to you to define what sovereignty means. In my opinion every sovereign nation exercises a unique mix of sovereignty and non-sovereignty.

I'm not sure how true this nor well enough knowledgeable to argue. Perhaps they have enough and perhaps they don't. How one runs such a tiny territory, with the population they have (not only quantity but also who the population are) to prosperity is beyond me.

Beyond me as well. The Singaporeans probably know the answer to that though.

My point was, is, and remains; Gaza doesn't have independence as a nation state. Perhaps independence for them is a bad idea. But if so, make that argument.

I did make the argument that independence for them is bad. The withdrawal in 2005 was the perfect example of that. But can you explain your fixation on the topic of independence?

 

[Feanor]

If it has to be a binary option then Hamas in Gaza is sovereign. It is the de facto government and conducts the policy it sees fit.

Fair enough, I personally would also favor this interpretation. However this means that Israel is doing certain things outside the current war that are considered problematic (to put it mildly) between two independent sovereign states. And while you and I might agree on this interpretation, does Israel recognize the sovereignty of Gaza? What is the position of the Israeli government as to which country this territory belongs to?

Can the UK host Chinese bases? Can Germany? The answer to that would be no. I have no idea why the metric has to be China if I gave an example of countries whose sovereignty doesn't come into question - that cannot host certain countries' bases.

Don't be silly. Of course the UK and Germany can host Chinese bases if they so choose. They would face some political unpleasantness, but they absolutely have the right to do this as a sovereign country. It might be incompatible with their NATO membership, but their NATO membership is a voluntary surrender (as are all treaties) of some of their sovereignty. And they can exit NATO if they so wish. Even UN membership is a voluntary surrender of some sovereignty in order to be part of the organization. However any country can leave the UN if it so chooses.

Nothing to be said IMO. Mongolia doesn't have territorial waters. Is it therefore not sovereign?

Mongolia doesn't have a coastline. There are existing norms for how bordering separate countries handle territorial waters and what distance from their coast constitutes their territorial waters. Does Israel respect the territorial waters of the independent country of Gaza? You understand my point very well and are actively dodging it.

I do not know what a nation state is. But if you wish to claim sovereignty is binary, it is up to you to define what sovereignty means. In my opinion every sovereign nation exercises a unique mix of sovereignty and non-sovereignty.

I will point you to the encyclopedia Brittanica's article on sovereignty, specifically the part about sovereignty and international law. I don't agree about the unique mix. Countries surrender of sovereignty in regards to the imposition of external rules is generally voluntary. There are some vague exceptions to this mostly having to do with very strong historical precedent, but on the whole if Gaza is sovereign then Israel doesn't get to dictate things like control of their borders or territorial waters.

Sovereignty | Definition, Characteristics, Types, History, & Facts

Sovereignty, in political theory, the ultimate overseer, or authority, in the decision-making process of the state. Although the term was originally understood to mean the equivalent of supreme power, its application in practice often has departed from this traditional meaning.

www.britannica.com

Beyond me as well. The Singaporeans probably know the answer to that though.

I don't believe this is an accurate analogy by any means. Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. were from the outset in a very different situation from Gaza. As I said, I don't know that prosperity is even possible under the circumstances. That having been said, from a governance standpoint Hamas is garbage. Not much to disagree about there. If Gaza is independent, their prosperity or lack thereof is their own problem and nobody else's. And any aid they receive is a gift, not an obligation of any kind, and can be rescinded at any time, for any reason, and for no reason at all. Nobody is required to help a neighboring country if they don't wish to.

I did make the argument that independence for them is bad. The withdrawal in 2005 was the perfect example of that. But can you explain your fixation on the topic of independence?

It seems to me that Israel likes to operate in a grey area, generally not respecting the sovereignty of certain neighboring states when it doesn't suite Israel. This is reciprocated by many of them (arguably even provoked by many of them) but in general it is not acceptable for one country to bomb the territory of another country because that country hosts armed forces from a third country. That would be an act of aggression. If Belarus wants to host Russian troops, and Poland decides this is a good reason to bomb them, Poland would be the aggressor and in violation of the UN Charter, a voluntary agreement they signed. Yet Syria, Iran, Israel, the example above. I think cutting through a lot of the fog and drawing some clear lines could help. If Gaza is a piece of Israel with special autonomy then Israel has certain responsibilities towards its inhabitants. If Gaza is independent, then Israel has no more responsibilities towards the citizens of Gaza then it has towards the citizens of Russia, or Vanuatu. But again this would require respecting the sovereignty of Gaza, and allowing them to have their own foreign relations and control of their own borders. That especially includes coastlines. I won't go down the rabbit hole of the economic significance of coastlines, but I'm sure you can appreciate the strategic significance. If Gaza is a separate country but isn't allowed control of its own territorial waters, then that rather changes how things work.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

Fair enough, I personally would also favor this interpretation. However this means that Israel is doing certain things outside the current war that are considered problematic (to put it mildly) between two independent sovereign states. And while you and I might agree on this interpretation, does Israel recognize the sovereignty of Gaza? What is the position of the Israeli government as to which country this territory belongs to?

Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 is the de facto recognition of Gaza as an independent entity and whomever ruled it as its sovereign. Between 2005-2007 it was Fatah. Since then Hamas. Israel's refusal to enter, reoccupy, and and remove Hamas from power, is a de facto recognition of this status quo.

There is no act of Israeli policy toward Gaza that has no precedent or basis in international law and therefore the agreed-upon customs.

Don't be silly. Of course the UK and Germany can host Chinese bases if they so choose. They would face some political unpleasantness, but they absolutely have the right to do this as a sovereign country. It might be incompatible with their NATO membership, but their NATO membership is a voluntary surrender (as are all treaties) of some of their sovereignty. And they can exit NATO if they so wish. Even UN membership is a voluntary surrender of some sovereignty in order to be part of the organization. However any country can leave the UN if it so chooses.

So they can theoretically host Chinese bases but not practically due to their voluntary NATO membership?

Well what if I said Hamas could theoretically host Chinese bases but not practically because the IDF would see them as a threat due to Hamas's voluntary attacks on Israel?

But if Hamas had the military capability, they could host them nonetheless.

Mongolia doesn't have a coastline. There are existing norms for how bordering separate countries handle territorial waters and what distance from their coast constitutes their territorial waters. Does Israel respect the territorial waters of the independent country of Gaza? You understand my point very well and are actively dodging it

The subject of international waters is not decided on technicalities written somewhere. Rather it is the function of some agreement between one party vs the international community and its neighbors.

This is demonstrated in the Israeli-Lebanese EEZ dispute which was recently settled, the ongoing disputes between Greece and Turkey, and China and Taiwan.

Gaza has an EEZ which is untouched. It also has its own territorial waters. However there is currently a blockade. A blockade which is handled according to international laws and norms.

During times of peace, Israel eases the naval blockade as a mechanism to promote calm.

I will point you to the encyclopedia Brittanica's article on sovereignty, specifically the part about sovereignty and international law. I don't agree about the unique mix. Countries surrender of sovereignty in regards to the imposition of external rules is generally voluntary. There are some vague exceptions to this mostly having to do with very strong historical precedent, but on the whole if Gaza is sovereign then Israel doesn't get to dictate things like control of their borders or territorial waters.

There are rules that describe when a blockade is justified and how to handle it. Israel acts within these norms. There is no law that says a sovereign country cannot come under a blockade. Israel itself was under blockade for many years and still is. Yet none would question its sovereignty.

Gaza's independence began in 2005. Back then, there was no blockade whatsoever. It only occurred because of voluntary actions Hamas took, i.e. launching a war against Israel.

I don't believe this is an accurate analogy by any means. Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. were from the outset in a very different situation from Gaza

Gaza's situation is indeed very unique - its starting point was absolutely amazing. It had all the economical assets left by the displaced Israelis, infrastructure like water desalination and treatment, energy, telecom, provided by Israel. It had access to an international airport and a local one of its own. It also had access to Israeli sea ports, proximity to the Sinai tourism sites, and labor access to Israel with jobs that pay far higher than the Palestinian average.

Hamas has systematically destroyed all that. Doesn't mean they didn't have it though.

Israel is also a small nation that only really had its coastline to begin with, and surrounded by enemies. 0 natural resources. It succeeded. In the end, all you need is good people and you can succeed as well. Or at least, if not prosper, then at least be much better than they are today.

If Gaza is independent, their prosperity or lack thereof is their own problem and nobody else's. And any aid they receive is a gift, not an obligation of any kind, and can be rescinded at any time, for any reason, and for no reason at all. Nobody is required to help a neighboring country if they don't wish to.

That is exactly the point. I have no idea why so many believe the aid Israel, the EU, and the US provide, is obligatory.

It seems to me that Israel likes to operate in a grey area, generally not respecting the sovereignty of certain neighboring states when it doesn't suite Israel. This is reciprocated by many of them (arguably even provoked by many of them) but in general it is not acceptable for one country to bomb the territory of another country because that country hosts armed forces from a third country. That would be an act of aggression. If Belarus wants to host Russian troops, and Poland decides this is a good reason to bomb them, Poland would be the aggressor and in violation of the UN Charter, a voluntary agreement they signed. Yet Syria, Iran, Israel, the example above.

Part of one's sovereignty is the ability to make decisions of their own. In accordance with international laws, as well as unwritten natural laws, every country is eligible to wage war on anyone. However, under the same laws, it is equally eligible to find out the consequences of said war. Scholars refer to it as FAFO.

Since 1948 Israel and Syria are in a state of war which flared up and calmed down many times over. The closest they ever got to calm is ceasefire agreements. Egypt and Jordan took up the peace offers, Syria didn't.

So Syria used its sovereignty to declare and wage war on Israel. Israel used its sovereignty to help Syria find out the consequences. The current situation is just a continuation of that paradigm.

It is worth noting that Israel and Iran are also in a state of armed conflict.

Had Syria agreed to make peace with Israel, or Iran made peace with Israel, Israel would not bomb Iranian assets in Syria. Russia is no longer in an open state of war with Israel. Therefore Israel does not bomb Russian assets there.

I don't think that when international norms clearly permit and provide frameworks for warfare, it is right to accuse a warring party of disrespecting another warring party's sovereignty.

It is also not a good analogy IMO. Russia is hostile to Ukraine which is a partner of Poland. Belarus is Poland's neighbor. But neither Russia nor Belarus have taken offensive actions against Poland. In the Israel-Syria-Iran context, Syria chose in 1948 to invade Israel. It made that same decision until 1973, and since then has allowed foreign actors to do the same thing on its behalf. It actively refused peace and continues permitting mercenary and foreign militants to attack Israel from its territory.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

Israel reveals 10 soldiers were killed in yesterday's operation. Of them, 8 in an APC hit by an ATGM, and 2 in a tank that went over an IED.

Last time I heard this report it was 7 dead in the APC so it is likely the last one succumbed to his wounds.

הותר לפרסום: 11 חיילים נוספים נהרגו בקרבות ברצועת עזה

תשעה לוחמים של גבעתי ושני לוחמים בגדוד השריון 77 נפלו בקרבות בצפון רצועת עזה - בנוסף לשני לוחמי סיירת גבעתי שפרטיהם פורסמו אתמול. לוחמים מגדוד צבר של גבעתי נהרגו מטיל נ"ט ששוגר ופגע בנגמ"ש נמ"ר. עוד ארבעה לוחמים נפצעו קשה

www.ynet.co.il

A little escapism with an old video of Israeli soldiers doing the Yemenite Step dance, in an urban warfare training facility. Israel has a sizable Yemenite population.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719651710442885318

 

[OPSSG]

Israel reveals 10 soldiers were killed in yesterday's operation. Of them, 8 in an APC hit by an ATGM, and 2 in a tank that went over an IED.

May their memories & courage always be blessed!

 

[swerve]

...

Gaza's independence began in 2005. Back then, there was no blockade whatsoever. It only occurred because of voluntary actions Hamas took, i.e. launching a war against Israel.

Gaza's situation is indeed very unique - its starting point was absolutely amazing. It had all the economical assets left by the displaced Israelis, infrastructure like water desalination and treatment, energy, telecom, provided by Israel. It had access to an international airport and a local one of its own. It also had access to Israeli sea ports, proximity to the Sinai tourism sites, and labor access to Israel with jobs that pay far higher than the Palestinian average.

Hamas has systematically destroyed all that. Doesn't mean they didn't have it though.
...

The international airport in Gaza (Yasser Arafat International Airport) was destroyed by Israel in December 2001-January 2002, a few years before Israeli withdrawal.

 

[Ananda]

First Details Of Hamas' New Submarine Drone Weapon - Naval News

Underwater drones are increasingly a feature of modern warfare. Now footage of Hamas' own take on these vehicles, a form of limited scope torpedo, has emerged.

www.navalnews.com

H.I. Sutton put preliminary details on Hamas UUV. Off course it is like most Hamas weaponry is crude compare to Israel standard, even to Iranian ones. Not much going to change toward on potential break through against Israel Navy Blokade, but as most Hamas weapon seems that's not the main point.

They want to shown they can target Israel Navy or even commercial ships, and any potential hit will create big win for their propaganda cause. Both sides doing propaganda, however Hamas as the underdog only need to shown few good hits, while Israel need do much more.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

The international airport in Gaza (Yasser Arafat International Airport) was destroyed by Israel in December 2001-January 2002, a few years before Israeli withdrawal.

International airport is Ben Gurion in Israel, is what I meant. You are correct though, the Yasser Arafat airport was indeed destroyed before 2005. However, a lack of prior hostilities and a peaceful approach to Israel could have resulted in a restored airport.

Additionally, there were proposals to create a new seaport for Gaza, however Hamas's hostility made that un-feasible.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

Hamas say they are planning additional attacks similar to October 7th. Thing is, it's not really feasible in Israel at the moment. So who are they really threatening? I believe Europe and the US, where they have significant presence.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719722871952478551

 

[Big_Zucchini]

Israel beefing up southern defenses via Sa'ar 5 ships deployed to the red sea. The area is protected with at least one Patriot battery, and on higher tiers with the David's Sling and Arrow systems. The Sa'ar 5 ships equipped with 32 medium range Barak 8 surface to air missiles, and are capable of utilizing their available space for specialized systems, e.g. a naval Iron Dome launcher or soft countermeasures.
Aircraft are also deployed to counter incoming threats from the southern flank.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719610322066039263

 

[Big_Zucchini]

IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari says IDF has struck over 12,000 targets in Gaza, of which 1,200 (10%) were generated during ground combat, including hundreds in real-time.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1720004815256686902

After the famous fakes about the Al Ahli hospital blast and Jabalia, there are now fakes about IDF dropping phosphorus on Gaza. I believe it goes without saying that incendiaries are useless in built-up areas aside from generating smoke.

Except instead of seeing smoke shells, we see simple smoke grenades dropped from a rooftop:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1719975356461932956

 

[OPSSG]

Part 3 of 3: Updates on Operation Swords of Iron

15. IDF announces death of Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habaka, the highest-ranking IDF commander to be killed in battle inside Gaza, and the 18th service member to be killed since the beginning of the ground operation. Like many senior IDF officers, Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habaka is from the Arab Druze community.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1720023911843135761

16. The late Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habka was from the village of Yanoch. In an earlier battle, he arrived in Kibbutz Be’eri with 2 tanks & saved dozens of people — a place where 108 lives were lost due to the brutality of Hamas. Together with the rest of the forces, they repelled the Hamas terrorists & won the battle of Be’eri.

17. Separately, a reservist of the 679th "Yiftah" Brigade, a Givati Combat Engineer was seriously wounded in overnight operations in the northern part of Gaza.

18. Mosul civilian death toll was around 9,000 civilians over 9 months. According to Hamas controlled sources, the Gaza death toll stands at almost 9,000 in 26 days. The defending side was mixed in with civilians & civilian objects in both cases,