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.
The First Two Weeks October 7 – 21, 2023
Saturday October 21, 2023
- Hamas released two hostages, Yehudit & Natalie Raanan, Israeli/US dual citizens, pursuant to a deal brokered by Qatar and others. Israeli sources complained this is not enough, the IDF spokesman says Hamas still holds over 220 – many of them are elderly, infants or women.
- In return, Israel enabled international aid to start entering Gaza on trucks via the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Israel. The trucks contain food, water and medicines but no fuel as Israel claims Hamas has in the past taken UNWRA fuel. Palestinian sources complained this is not enough
- Egypt reportedly doesn’t want to host Gaza residents on Egyptian soil.
- The IDF spokesman reported that in the last day, around 500 missiles were launched in Gaza aimed at Israel, but around 100 missiles (20%) misfired and landed in Gaza.
- No ground invasion by Israel into Gaza, only air attacks. Skirmishing between Israel and Hezbollah on Israel’s Northern border.
- Israeli TV showed pictures of missiles placed on apartment building rooftops.
- Around 100,000 people took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Thursday October 19, 2023 – Hamas high on drugs
- Hamas terrorists who carried out a surprise attack on October 7 were found to be under the influence of Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant that has been clandestinely produced in southern Europe and trafficked through Turkey to the consumer markets on the Arabian Peninsula. The pills were recovered from the pockets of many terrorists who lost their lives on Israeli soil. This stimulant drug, also known as the “cocaine for the poor,” allowed the terrorists to commit heinous acts with a sense of calmness and indifference. (Jerusalem Post: https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-769250)
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Thursday October 19, 2023 – BBC retraction
- BBC News Channel, 17 October 2023: We have reviewed our coverage of the immediate aftermath of an explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday night. During this our correspondent was giving instant analysis on the ground from Jerusalem in what was a confusing and difficult story. The programme repeatedly made it clear that it had yet to verify who was behind the blast, including in the questioning by the presenter. The correspondent said that the Israelis had been contacted and were investigating, adding “It’s hard to see what else this could be really given the size of the explosion other than an Israeli air strike or several air strikes” He then explained that in his experience as a reporter in Gaza that he had never seen explosions of this scale caused by rockets being fired out of the territory. He again stressed that the pictures had yet to be verified. We accept that even in this fast-moving situation it was wrong to speculate in this way, although he did not at any point report that it was an Israeli strike. This doesn’t represent the entirety of the BBC’s output and anyone watching, listening to or reading our coverage can see we have set out both sides’ competing claims about the explosion, clearly showing who is saying them, and what we do or don’t know. 19/10/2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedback/corrections_clarifications
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Wednesday October 18, 2023
- Today, President Biden traveled to Israel to stand in solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas that killed more than 1,300 innocent civilians, including at least 31 U.S. citizens. As the President made clear during the trip, Israel is not alone – and with U.S. support it will remain a safe, security, Jewish, and Democratic state today, tomorrow, and forever.
The President also addressed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and announced new humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinians, who are paying the price for Hamas’s terror and barbaric tactics. - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/18/what-they-are-saying-president-biden-visits-israel-following-hamas-terrorist-attacks/
- President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority declined to meet Biden in Jordan.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Tuesday October 17 / Wednesday October 18, 2023:
- Hamas blamed the Israeli air force for the death of 500 civilians at the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City
- The IDF checked and found the incident was caused by an Islamic Jihad failed rocket launch from a graveyard next to the hospital. To prove this, the IDF released photographs and an eves-dropped Hamas conversation. https://x.com/Israel/status/1714545680562184434?s=20
- Netanyahu said: “The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and not the IDF. Those who brutally murdered our children also murder their own children.”
- Joe Biden told Netanyahu that based on Pentagon intelligence analysis “the other team did it, not you.” Certain news media such as the BBC and Sky had to amend their earlier coverage critical of Israel.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Tuesday October 17, 2023:
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. “Mr. Prime Minister, we very much appreciate your coming here to be with the people of Israel. You stand with Israel and you stand in Israel at the time of great turmoil.”
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also met today with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: “Chancellor Scholz, thank you for coming to Israel. Thank you for your solidarity with Israel, you, the government of Germany, the people of Germany, in these trying times.”
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Monday October 16, 2023
- Netanyahu, quoting Biden: President Biden told you in English: ‘Don’t do it.’ I tell you in Hebrew: Be careful.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Friday October 13, 2023
- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Israel and met Netanyau, Gallant and IDF personnel. He reportedly contributed his experience as a past US General who helped defeat ISIS. Netanyahu reported: “Earlier today I met with the US Secretary of Defense. We are ensuring that the war will continue through munitions and weapons that are en route to Israel.”
- Ursula on der Leyen, President of the European Commission, visited Israel and met Netanyahu and others to convey her support. Some EU countries are reportedly less supportive of her and Israel.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Thursday October 12, 2023
- This author served with “Zaka” rescue and recovery personnel at the IDF base in Central Israel dealing with identification of corpses. I saw around 20 freezer containers each containing around 15 corpses in body bags, each bearing a temporary number on a pink sticker label. The policy is to obtain two pieces of identification evidence out of the following four: fingerprints, DNA, teeth and facial contours. Once identified, a corpse is released for burial.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a joint statement with Defense Minister Yoav Galant and National Unity Chairman MK Benny Gantz announced: “Citizens of Israel, this evening we have formed a national emergency government. The people are united and today its leadership is also united.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked @SecBlinken for his statement: “We are here; we are not going anywhere”. See picture: https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1712414554242609403?s=20. Also present: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Unity Chairman MK Benny Gantz and MK Gadi Eisenkot.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Thursday October 12, 2023 – Hamas terrorists were high
- Hamas terrorists who carried out a surprise attack on October 7 were found to be under the influence of Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant that has been clandestinely produced in southern Europe and trafficked through Turkey to the consumer markets on the Arabian Peninsula.
- The pills were recovered from the pockets of many terrorists who lost their lives on Israeli soil.
- This stimulant drug, also known as the “cocaine for the poor,” allowed the terrorists to commit heinous acts with a sense of calmness and indifference. Simultaneously, it kept them highly alert for extended periods and suppressed their appetite.
- Jerusalem Post report: https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-769250
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Monday October 9, 2023
- The Prime Minister’s Office: The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance (of the Hamas attack of October 7) from Egypt is absolutely false.
- Also from the Israeli PM’s office: Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS. And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel continued today.
Sunday October 8, 2023
- Following decisions made by the Security Cabinet, Israel began halting the supply of electricity, fuel and goods (see @IsraeliPM on X/Twitter).
- Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, all of whom expressed unreserved support for Israel’s right to defend itself as necessary (see @IsraeliPM on X/Twitter).
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch as coordinator for the captives and the missing.
- Hamas missile attacks in South and Central Israel occurred today.
Saturday October 7, 2023
- Commencing around 06.29 a.m, Hamas terrorists launch barrages of missiles, damage the border between Gaza and Israel and cross into Southern Israel. The terrorists massacre many Israeli civilians, rape some women and forcibly take many civilians as hostages back to captivity in Gaza.
- Many of the dead were later found to have died horrible deaths – some be-headed, some burnt. Graphic pictures may be found at the X/Twitter account of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (@IsraeliPM)
- The Hamas attacks surprised Israel completely. Talks were in progress about issuing more work permits enabling Gazan employees to work in Israel. Hamas had also been receiving cash support from Qatar and wanted more due to inflation.
- A number of Southern Israeli Kibbutzim and towns were devasted
- Hamas began a campaign of regular salvoes of missiles into Southern and Central Israeli civilian population areas.
- The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared the situation a state of war.
- The IDF began mobilizing reservist troops
- President Joe Biden condemned the Hamas attacks on TV
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Both leaders expressed full support for Israel’s right to defend itself (see @IsraeliPM on X/Twitter)
- The Israeli air force began a campaign of air attacks against Hamas military targets.
- The Israeli people began many voluntary efforts in support of affected families, evacuees from devasted Southern towns.
- Israeli deaths have been estimated at around 1400 plus plus 3,500 injured plus over 210 hostages – a complete tragedy. Many were at a music festival near Be’eri, many more at Kibbutz Aza.
- Palestinian deaths are said to be estimated at around 4000, also tragic – but it seems this number may well include around 2500 Hamas terrorists.
© IsraelOK.com. All rights reserved
