We present here a diary of reported news from Israel and elsewhere about the Israel-Hamas war of 2023, known in Israel as Swords of Iron. Our sources include the IDF Spokesman, Israeli Kan TV/radio service, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Twitter/X (@IsraeliPM) and other sources considered reliable…
Saturday November 18, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- When will there be a ceasefire? The Director of the Israeli National Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi explained: “For many long weeks, we withstood heavy international pressure to declare a ceasefire, to have humanitarian pauses, and all without the release of the hostages. And the Prime Minister insisted, also in his conversations with President Biden and with all the world leaders — with the support of all the members of the cabinet — that it was not possible. That is why we are at day 42 of the fighting and we did not agree to order IDF soldiers to stop their progress towards achieving our goals, not even for one minute. The central rule is: when we know that the hostages can be freed, and not in a manipulative way or for Hamas’s PR purposes, but rather a massive release of our hostages — only then will we agree to a ceasefire. “https://www.facebook.com/100044404147308/posts/pfbid038DdxLSqkCA38tgzDg7QjGUxSQuDgNw2R9npStSsodX17vzeDDpXwHskawThHBevHl/
- Biden and Qatar got the message – all hostages should be released: “President Biden spoke today with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar. The two leaders discussed the urgent need for all hostages held by Hamas to be released without further delay.”(White House X/Twitter)
- Hanegbi went on to explain the dangers of an epidemic: “Yesterday, in the early morning hours, the War Cabinet agreed to a special request by the United States to provide two tankers a day for the sewage system in the Gaza Strip, which is on the verge of collapse without electricity and without the capability to run the sewage and water systems operated by UNRWA. The decision was that we want to prevent the spread of diseases. We don’t currently need epidemics that will harm civilians there or our soldiers. If there is an epidemic, the fighting will be stopped.”
- How to dodge Hamas: “Hamas has lost its control over northern Gaza, and is trying to prevent Gazans from moving southwards for their safety. Residents who’s way is blocked, can contact the IDF through this number – +972 50-341-0322 or the designated Telegram channel – @gaza_saver.”(IDF X/Twitter)
- British doctor who worked at al-Shifa hospital says that a lower ward leading to a basement was off limits to medical staff. Clear implication was that it was under the control of Hamas, which struck fear in the hearts of everyone else.(IDF on X/Twitter).
- Fake News from The Electronic Intifada, 17 November 2023: “Israel has never explained how Palestinian fighters who crossed from Gaza on 7 October could have caused mass destruction to Israeli homes…with their light weapons”. Correcting the fake news: Hamas terrorists themselves filmed it. This author has seen victims of the October 7 massacre at the IDF base which struggled to identify badly burned corpses.
- There, the corpses were stored in refrigerated containers and given a number. In an effort to identify them, pathologists looked for two signs out of the following four: fingerprints, DNA, teeth, facial contours. Due to burning, fingerprints and DNA were often difficult, Due to dismembered body parts, matching them up was also sometimes difficult. The data was fed into computers and 1-2 days later, the corpse would hopefully be identified, the family informed and burial arranged. But sometimes, identification was difficult and took longer. Further difficulty was experienced in identifying non-Israelis such as Thailand agricultural workers and the Hamas terrorists from Gaza.
- All Hamas persons are doomed, wherever they may be in the world (PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at televised press conference, 18.11.23).
- After the war, neither Israel nor Hamas will rule Gaza. The war may take time (War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, televised press conference, 18.11.23). The Palestinian Authority is unable to rule Gaza (PM Netanyahu, same press conference)
- A place in the war government remains reserved for Opposition Leader Yair Lapid (War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, televised press conference, 18.11.23).
- The war cannot be conducted without humanitarian aid. Only a small amount of fuel has been allowed into Gaza and it won’t go to Hamas…(PM Benjamin Netanyahu at televised press conference, 18.11.23).
- Contrary to reports, the Shifa hospital was not given one hour to vacate, the hospital director asked for help vacating and medical supplies which the IDF then sent (IDF Spokesman in televised press conference).
Friday November 17, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- Around 1,200 Israelis murdered since October 7, including 372 soldiers. 237 held hostage by Hamas, four hostages released, one rescued (Jerusalem Post and others).
- Iran has told the FT and others it wasn’t notified in advance of October 7 and is not interested in scaling up the war (Galatz army radio and others).
- A hostage family march from Tel Aviv is approaching Jerusalem.
- Sunday’s weekly Israeli cabinet meeting is cancelled. This implies there is no hostage release deal to approve at this stage (Galatz army radio and others).
- 19 year old CPL Noa Marciano was abducted and murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Her body was found and extracted by IDF troops adjacent to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Earlier, the body of Yehudit Weiss was recovered her body from a building adjacent to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza. AK-47s, RPGs, and other military equipment were also found where Yehudit’s body was located. (IDF X/Twitter).
- Over 4,000 liters of water and 1,500 ready-made meals have been provided to Shifa Hospital by the IDF (IDF X/Twitter).
- More boxes of US food aid are now headed to Egypt before moving on to Gaza to increase the supply of food, water, and medicine, without diversion by Hamas (Biden on X/Twitter).
- CNN report/Israeli Foreign Ministry X/Twitter: “ (It’s) as if the rape of Israeli women, does not count as rape.” The United Nations and others have been silent about the sexual assault and gender-based violence Israeli women experienced on October 7.
Thursday November 16, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- Around 1,200 Israelis murdered since October 7, including 371 soldiers. 238 held hostage by Hamas, four hostages released, one rescued (Jerusalem Post and others).
- Latest list of Israel’s fallen here: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-763187
- IDF activity continues at the Shifa hospital in Gaza. Weapons were found but no hostages or senior commanders so far. Also found were computers with pictures of hostages after they were abducted (Kan radio). IDF soldiers also transferred medical supplies while conducting searches for terrorist infrastructure within the Shifa Hospital in Gaza (IDF X /Twitter). The IDF removed some corpses from Shifa for identification (Kan Radio)
- The IDF also captured the Gaza harbor and destroyed 10 tunnels found there (Jerusalem Post and others)
- Most Israeli Arabs are sickened by Hamas (according to Israeli radio).
Wednesday November 15, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- Around 1,200 Israelis murdered since October 7, including 368 soldiers. 238 held hostage by Hamas, four hostages released, one rescued (Jerusalem Post and others).
- A precise and targeted operation is being carried out against Hamas in a very specific area of the Shifa Hospital. The IDF says it is using soldiers trained specifically for this situation, and continues to do everything in its power to mitigate the risk to civilians.(IDF X/Twitter)
- Later the IDF Spokesman said the IDF found military supplies and uniforms of Hamas at the Shifa Hospital, which is completely against international law. No IDF hostages were found as the IDF waited until its operation was ready in order that patients would not be hurt. The operation continues at the Shifa hospital (IDF televised press conference).
- BBC Correction: “As BBC News covered initial reports that Israeli forces had entered Gaza’s main hospital, we said that “medical teams and Arab speakers” were being targeted. This was incorrect and misquoted a Reuters report. We should have said IDF forces included medical teams and Arabic speakers for this operation. We apologise for this error, which fell below our usual editorial standards. The correct version of events was broadcast minutes later and we apologised for the mistake on air later in the morning.15/11/2023. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications)
- Qatar is seeking to negotiate a deal between Hamas and Israel that includes the release of around 50 civilian hostages from Gaza in exchange for a three-day ceasefire. It is not clear whether either party would agree to such terms (Reuters & Jerusalem Post).
- How the White House website reported a call between President Biden and PM Netanyahu: “The President and the Prime Minister discussed at length ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, including many children and a number of Americans.” and here’s how it was reported on the Israeli PM’s X/Twitter account: “Yesterday evening, I spoke again with US President Biden. We will not let up. We will eliminate Hamas, achieve total victory and bring back our hostages, with your help and that of G-d.”
- Canadian PM Justin Trudeau urged Israel to exercise maximum restraint, the world is watching. PM Netanyahu replied on X/Twitter: “It is not Israel that is deliberately targeting civilians but Hamas that beheaded, burned and massacred civilians in the worst horrors perpetrated on Jews since the Holocaust…While Israel is doing everything to keep civilians out of harm’s way, Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harm’s way.”
Tuesday November 14, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- Around 1,200 Israelis murdered since October 7, including 365 soldiers. 239 held hostage by Hamas, four hostages released, one rescued (Jerusalem Post and others).
- Female Israeli soldier Naomi Marciano died in Hamas captivity.
- The IDF Spokesman called on Hamas to surrender so that all the Gaza hospitals can function properly.
- “We are doing everything we can to minimize harm to civilians, assist in evacuation, and facilitate the transfer of medical supplies and food. The IDF is in the process of coordinating the transfer of incubators from a hospital in Israel to Gaza.” (IDF X/Twitter)
- “There were 96 trucks of supplies two days ago, and 106 trucks yesterday. But we need to see more, and soon. We are aiming for at least 150 per day, every day. Let me be clear: Israel makes its own decisions. They are fighting an enemy embedded in the civilian population, which places innocent Palestinian people at risk. They have an obligation to distinguish between terrorists and civilians and fully comply with international law.”(President Biden X/Twitter Nov 10).
- The evacuation corridors will remain open between 09:00-16:00 for civilians through the Salah Al-Din route southward of Wadi Gaza. Additionally, all those located on the northern coastline, from 10:00-16:00, the evacuation corridor will remain (IDF X/Twitter, Nov 13).
- US President Biden said he believes a hostage release deal will happen and he is personally involved. PM Netanyahu replied soon afterwards: “If and when there will be something concrete to report – we will do so.”(Kan Radio & Israeli PM X/Twitter).
- A Hamas missile attack injured two people in South Tel Aviv. Initially it was reported they didn’t take shelter. They replied there was no shelter to take in their home or nearby despite past appeals to the government and Tel-Aviv municipality.
- Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated the ground campaign is continuing and expanding in Gaza and reminded everyone of the TV footage yesterday from the IDF Spokesman in the terror base where hostages were held under the Rantisi Hospital in Gaza. Gallant went on to ask what moral authority has Israel to stop the Gaza campaign after the second holocaust perpetrated on October 7 and stated “You will till the soil up to the last centimeter at the border”.
- Another Houthi missile barrage today (Nov 14) heading for Eilat was intercepted by the Chetz 2 anti-missile missile system.
- Nearly 300,000 Americans and Canadians demonstrated in support of Israel in Washington DC (Kan Radio & others)
Monday November 13, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- Around 1,200 Israelis murdered since October 7, including 363 soldiers. 239 held hostage by Hamas, four hostages released, one rescued (Jerusalem Post and others).
- The BBC quotes the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying the Shifa hospital in Gaza City “is not functioning as a hospital anymore) because of fuel and other shortages. The IDF says it delivered to the door of the hospital 300 liters of fuel in jerrycans, and filmed this.
- According to the WHO website (which apparently doesn’t mention the above), “some 12 children with cancer or other blood disorders have been evacuated, with their companions, from the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory to Egypt and Jordan so they may continue their treatment safely. Additional children are expected to be evacuated for cancer treatment as part of this initiative”(https://www.who.int/news/item/10-11-2023-children-with-cancer-evacuated-from-gaza-for-treatment-to-egypt-and-jordan)
- Israel wants to topple the Hamas government in Gaza, but today saw major changes in the British government indirectly caused by the Israel-Hamas war. UK PM Rishi Sunak dismissed the UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman after she wrote criticizing the Metropolitan Police for showing favoritism and not banning a pro-Palestine demonstration in London. Suella Braverman is replaced as Home Secretary by James Cleverley, UK who was Foreign Secretary and strongly supported Israel. New Foreign Secretary is ex-PM David Cameron who returns to the UK cabinet.
- David Cameron wrote today on X/Twitter: “The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted. We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard.”
- Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure was uncovered at the Quds University, and inside the Abu Bakr Mosque. Inside the residence of a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist, a large number of weapons were discovered in a child’s bedroom (IDF X/Twitter)/
- The IDF Spokesman, Daniel Hagari, presented filmed evidence from his own visit today (Nov 13, 2023) to the Rantisi hospital in Gaza showing that the hospital was used to hold hostages and other terror activities. A basement under the hospital was recently used as a prison for some of the hostages. Items in the basement included a baby bottle and a motorcycle used on October 7. An IDF robot also found in the basement an entrance to a tunnel.
Sunday November 12, 2023
- The ground campaign in Gaza continues. Skirmishes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border – 14 injured. Friction continues on the West Bank. Hamas missile attacks into Southern and Central Israel continue.
- Around 1,200 Israelis murdered since October 7, including 362 soldiers. 239 held hostage by Hamas, four hostages released, one rescued (Jerusalem Post and others).
- Latest list of Israel’s fallen: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-763187
- PM Netanyahu reiterated that the only ceasefire in Gaza that Israel would consider would be in return for the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Any peace must involve educating children about peace not war. Also the CEO of the Hamas Health Ministry, Yosef Abu Rish, refused to allow Shifa hospital to receive 300 liters of urgently needed fuel from the IDF (Kan Radio and IDF X/Twitter account).
- IDF forces discovered a copy of Hitler’s infamous book “Mein Kampf”—translated into Arabic—in a child’s bedroom used as a Hamas terrorist base in Gaza. The book was discovered among the personal belongings of one of the terrorists, featuring annotations and highlights (IDF X/Twitter account).
- President Isaac Herzog met with a delegation of the world Masorti movement and said: “Thank you for your support, solidarity, & all you are doing to stand up for Israel. We must work together to combat the terrible rise in antisemitism around the world.”
