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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 19, 2023)

The IDF forces continued the integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, with fighting in Jabalia, Shejaiya and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip; there was also activity in Gaza City. In the southern Gaza Strip IDF forces continued taking control of Khan Yunis. Palestinian sources reported escalating intensity and accused Israel of attacking hospitals throughout the Strip. Senior Hamas terrorists reiterated that no negotiations were currently taking place and that any deal would be conditioned on a comprehensive ceasefire. Regarding the publication of the video in which three hostages were seen, Hamas claimed it was message sent to the Israeli public because "the Israeli leadership was indifferent and misleading the public" [sic].There were reports of aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing and the Kerem Shalom crossing.Hezbollah claimed responsibility for three attacks, one of which was a rocket barrage attacking Kiryat Shmona in response to an IDF attack during the funeral of a Hezbollah terrorist operative.Houthi sources, responding to the United States plan to establish a multinational force in the Red Sea, claimed they would be able to deal with such a force and reiterated that they only operated against Israeli ships or those whose destination was Israel.
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The organizations leading the pro-Hamas demonstrations in Britain since the outbreak of Operation Iron Swords

The Hamas movement does not have an official presence in the UK, but over the years affiliated institutions, associations and charity funds have been established, mainly camouflaged as Muslim Brotherhood activities or as organizations "supporting Palestinian rights." Key Hamas operatives are also based in Britain, led by Muhammad Sawalha, a former member of Hamas' political bureau who helped establish Hamas headquarters in Judea and Samaria.Since Hamas' terrorist attack and massacre in Israel on October 7 and the beginning of Operation Iron Swords, mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel have been taking place across the UK, where along with the calls for a ceasefire, the slogans "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and "Globalize the anti-intifada" are chanted. The protest is jointly organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Muslim Association of Britain and the Palestinian Forum in Britain, all longtime pro-Palestinian groups that participate in Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaigns against the State of Israel and have clearly anti-Semitic positions. Even though Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization in the UK, the pro-Palestinian organizations publicly expressed support for the October 7 attack and massacre and later for the "armed resistance" [i.e. violence and terrorism] against Israel.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 18, 2023)

The Hamas movement does not have an official presence in the UK, but over the years affiliated institutions, associations and charity funds have been established, mainly camouflaged as Muslim Brotherhood activities or as organizations "supporting Palestinian rights." Key Hamas operatives are also based in Britain, led by Muhammad Sawalha, a former member of Hamas' political bureau who helped establish Hamas headquarters in Judea and Samaria.Since Hamas' terrorist attack and massacre in Israel on October 7 and the beginning of Operation Iron Swords, mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel have been taking place across the UK, where along with the calls for a ceasefire, the slogans "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and "Globalize the anti-intifada" are chanted. The protest is jointly organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Muslim Association of Britain and the Palestinian Forum in Britain, all longtime pro-Palestinian groups that participate in Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaigns against the State of Israel and have clearly anti-Semitic positions. Even though Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization in the UK, the pro-Palestinian organizations publicly expressed support for the October 7 attack and massacre and later for the "armed resistance" [i.e. violence and terrorism] against Israel.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 17, 2023)

IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing mainly in Jabalia, Shejaiya and Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.: On December 15, 2023, during the fighting in Shejaiya, IDF forces accidentally killed three hostages. The IDF is investigating the incident, which occurred in a combat zone where there were many encounters with terrorists. The Palestinians repeatedly emphasize that there will be no hostage negotiations without a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and according to the conditions determined by the terrorist organizations.The situation in the Gaza Strip remains serious. Due to hardships in hospitals and the large number of wounded, a school in Deir al-Balah was converted into a field hospital.Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts, concentrations of forces on the northern border and civilian targets, using mainly UAVs. On December 16, 2023, two UAVs with explosive warheads crossed the border; one was intercepted by IDF forces and the other crashed into Margaliot, a moshav, killing a reserve soldier. On December 15, 2023, a stabbing attack of IDF soldiers near Nablus was prevented. There has recently been a significant increase in the activities of the Houthis against ships in the Red Sea. As a result, a number of international shipping and transport companies announced they would no longer sail that route. Seven people, including four suspected Hamas terrorist operatives, were detained in several European countries on suspicion of planning to attack Jewish institutions in Europe.
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Military-Terrorist Activities of the Houthis in Yemen during Operation Iron Swords

Since the beginning of Operation Iron Swords, the Houthi movement in Yemen has intensified its on against the State of Israel and on vessels sailing in the Red Sea near the coast of Yemen, launching 13 missiles and 34 UAVs, and attacking at least nine ships in the Red Sea area. The Houthis claim that the attacks are in response to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip and they will only stop when Israel stops attacking. For Iran, using the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen as proxies for another level of escalation, on the one hand, expresses its commitment to the concept of "uniting the arenas," especially in view of the Israeli ground attack in the Gaza Strip, and on the other, relieves it of the necessity of involving Hezbollah in an all-out confrontation with Israel, which could exact a heavy price from the organization and possibly from Iran itself .So far Iran has hidden its involvement in the Houthi attacks.
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Public opinion poll finds Palestinians in the West Bank more satisfied about Hamas’ activity than Palestinians in the Gaza Strip

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research published the results of survey conducted in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip in the midst of the war. The survey findings indicates a fundamental difference between the attitudes of the residents of the West Bank and those of the residents of the Gaza Strip and a completely different perception of reality. The survey findings also indicate broad public support for the October 7 Hamas attack, but the vast majority deny that Hamas committed atrocities against Israeli civilians.
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