We present here a diary of reported news from Israel and elsewhere about the Israel-Hamas war of 2023/2024, known in Israel as Swords of Iron. Our sources include Kan Israeli radio/TV, the IDF Spokesman, Israeli Kan TV/radio service, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Twitter/X (@IsraeliPM) and other sources considered reliable…
Wednesday March 6, 2024
- Situation: Israel’s war continues in Gaza with Hamas and on the Lebanon border with Hezbollah. Hostage release negotiations continue off and on, ahead of Ramadan which starts on March 10, 2024.
- The UN report on sexual violence: “Based on the information gathered by the mission team from multiple and independent sources, there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks in multiple locations across Gaza periphery, including rape and gang rape, in at least three locations. Across the various locations of the 7 October attacks, the mission team found that several fully naked or partially naked bodies from the waist down were recovered – mostly women – with hands tied and shot multiple times, often in the head. Although circumstantial, such a pattern of undressing and restraining of victims may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence.(Para. 12)
- “Key recommendations from the visit include: “to urge Hamas and other armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all individuals held in captivity and to ensure their protection including from sexual violence;”(Para. 20)
- Taken from “Mission report Official visit of the Office of the SRSG-SVC to Israel and the occupied West Bank 29 January – 14 February 2024”, published March 4, 2024.
- See: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/report/mission-report-official-visit-of-the-office-of-the-srsg-svc-to-israel-and-the-occupied-west-bank-29-january-14-february-2024/20240304-Israel-oWB-CRSV-report.pdf
- Comment: There rest of the UN report is too bad to copy here. This author also personally saw evidence at the IDF base in central Israel that received corpses on October 7. The Israeli Foreign Ministry recalled its UN Ambassador after the UN did not refer the report to the UN Security Council.
- Mount Meron: A Commission of Inquiry ruled in a report published today that PM Netanyahu bore responsibility for the death of 45 people in a stampede at a religious ceremony in 2021. Netanyahu commented after the report was published that he knew nothing about the safety arrangements at Mount Meron. Comment: The question many Israelis are asking is whether Netanyahu is equally responsible for the lack of security arrangements on and before October 7.
- Temple Mount: The Israeli government resolved not to impose significant limits the number of worshippers at the Temple Mount during Ramadan. Only Minister Ben Gvir objected.
Sunday March 3, 2024:
- Situation: Israel’s war continues in Gaza with Hamas and on the Lebanon border with Hezbollah. Hostage release negotiations continue off and on, ahead of Ramadan which starts on March 10, 2024.
- Contrast: The international press is highly critical of the deaths (above 100) last week relating to the food convoy incident. The US and Jordan have airdropped 38,000 prepared meals into. Israelis are oblivious to the international criticism because Israel was trying to truck in from Israel much more aid for far more people – why would the IDF want an incident? The (filmed) signs are the IDF fired warning shots in the air and and the feet of people considered threatening – these are apparently the people Gaza doctors report treating.
- Hostage negotiations: Reports suggest Israel and Hamas agree in principle on:
- One day pause in combat per hostage released
- Hamas prisoners to be released
- Humanitarian aid increase
- But they cannot agree on:
- Names of hostages and Hamas prisoners to be released
- Cessation of hostilities and IDF withdrawal
- Return of Gazans to North Gaza
- Benny Gantz, war cabinet minister: is travelling to the USA and UK despite Netanyahu’s opposition. It is assumed he will talk about the day after the war, which Netanyau largely refuses to discuss.
- Evacuees: the govt decided to extend government accommodation away from frontline homes and related financial support up to July 7, 2024. This tells us how long the war is expected to take….
- Call-up for the Haredis: Defense Minister Gallant wants to see coalition agreement on calling up more Haredis to the IDF. Otherwise, existing IDF conscripts may find themselves serving 36 months instead of 32 months at present.
- Boobytrapped house: At least 3 IDF soldiers died and many were injured when a rooky unit replacing an experienced unit walked into a boobytrapped house. They should have checked it out with IAF strafing or antitank missiles. One bang is good, two bangs is bad as it mean terrorists have planted explosives there.
