After Israeli government and army officials vowed to resume dismantling Hamas as soon as returning the abductees became exhausted, and while Hamas didn’t meet the Israeli demands for releasing more hostages, the exchange of fire was renewed this morning. The negotiations for the release of more hostages for another pause are still ongoing. Israel is still committed to the goals of the war which are; to bring to the release of the hostages held by Hamas and to eliminate Hamas military and political control over Gaza.
Swords of Iron in Numbers- updated data since Oct. 7:
Number of Israeli civilian fatalities: ~770
Number of IDF casualties: 395
Number of Israeli police casualties: 58
Number of ISA casualties: 10
Total Israeli casualties since Oct. 7: 1233
Israeli Hostages in Gaza: 137
Number of Israeli evacuees in the north: ~ 61,000
Number of rocket launches at Israel since the beginning of the war: ~ 10,300
Misfired rockets: over 1000 rockets shot by Hamas and other militant groups landed back in Gaza, causing death, injuries, and damage to Gaza civilians.
Hezbollah fatalities since the beginning of the war: 87
– Since the beginning of this week, Hezbollah mostly has abided by the Gaza ceasefire, although, according to various reports, its operatives remain active along the border conducting frequent intelligence reconnaissance. They continue to do it while wearing civilian clothes.
Thursday, November 30th, an unidentified aerial object was intercepted over the Galilee area, causing no injuries or damage
– South Lebanon, Saturday 25 Nov. the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported that Israeli gunfire struck one of its patrols in the southern region of the country, despite the existence of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has greatly reduced tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border. There were no injuries among the peacekeepers, but their vehicle was damaged. IDF policy during the cease-fire was not to enable Hezbollah military operatives’ presence next to the border with Israel – while Hezbollah deliberately carried out operational activity from next to the UNIFIL position.
– Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iran’s top diplomat, visited Nasrallah in an undisclosed location in Lebanon to discuss measures to cease Israel’s war in Gaza.
-Syria- Sunday, 26 Nov. reported Israeli airstrikes on Sunday rendered Syria’s Damascus airport inoperative just after flights had resumed, following a previous attack last month.
This week’s Middle East events:
Gaza:
The ceasefire in Gaza, which came into effect last Friday, lasted until Friday morning (Dec 1st) with only minor violations by Hamas terrorists. Since the Hostage agreement and ceasefire, Hamas has released 112 Israeli and foreign civilians, leaving 137 men, women, and children in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
IDF: “Fighting resumed in the Gaza Strip; Starting at 07:00 the Air Force in cooperation with the fighting divisions attacked over 200 terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip In recent hours, Air Force aircraft attacked a series of terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip, in the north of the Gaza Strip and in the south, in Khan Yunis and Rafih”.
Red Sea Arena:
–Yemen– Attackers hijacked the “Central Park,” an oil/chemical tanker, off the coast of Eden, just days after an Israeli-owned cargo ship, the CMA CGM “Symi,” was targeted by a UAV and less than a week after the Houthis in Yemen took over the cargo ship “Galaxy Leader.”
-29 Nov.According to local sources, a missile attack targeting US personnel deployed in Syria, near the gas field Conico in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor, resulted in direct hits.
– US Army Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that two ballistic missiles were launched from an area controlled by the Houthis in Yemen towards the warship USS Mason, which assisted yesterday in the rescue of the Israeli-owned tanker Central Park. Both missiles fell at short range in the sea and there were no damage or casualties.
–US Army Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Dwight Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now in the Persian Gulf.
– The UK is to send a second warship to the Gulf, in response to rising tensions in the Middle East. HMS Diamond – a Type 45 destroyer – is en route to join the frigate HMS Lancaster. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps stated that it is critical that the UK bolsters its presence in the region”
–Zim Shipping Company announced that in light of the security situation in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, they are diverting their ships from the Suez Canal, causing a delay of almost 30 days in the arrival of shipments and containers to Israel.
International events:
– UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres broke his silence on allegations of sex crimes carried out by Hamas terrorists on October 7, more than 50 days after the terror onslaught; “There are numerous accounts of sexual violence during the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas on 7 October that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,”
– US President Biden: “Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace. To continue down the path of terror, violence, killing, and war is to give Hamas what they seek. We can’t do that…”
– French Foreign Ministry spokesman: “We are working with the European Union on imposing sanctions on Hamas commanders.”
