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The Iron Swords War (Updated to 1 p.m., October 22, 2023)

Israeli Air Force airstrikes on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip continued, destroying several terrorist facilities, mainly belonging to Hamas. Meanwhile, the Palestinian terrorist organizations continue firing rockets at Israel, although at a relatively low pace. So far, more than 7,500 rockets have been fired at Israel. Several hundred launches fell in the territory of the Gaza Strip. Two abductees, a mother and her daughter, American citizens, were returned to Israel after negotiations mediated by Qatar. Israel's calls for the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate to the south have been met with opposition from Hamas, especially the evacuation of hospitals and UNRWA shelters. On October 21, 2023, the Rafah Crossing was opened to allow twenty trucks of humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. Attacks continued on the Lebanese border. Hezbollah terrorist operatives fired anti-tank weapons and shot small arms at IDF posts and civilian towns and villages. Six Hezbollah terrorists were killed. IDF forces continued counterterrorism activities. In Jenin, for the first time since the second intifada, a plane was used to attack a mosque where there were terrorist operatives who were en route to carrying out a mass-casualty attack. One Border Police fighter was killed and several were wounded.
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The Iron Swords War (Updated to 1 p.m., October 19, 2023)

Ground forces carried out targeted raids in the Gaza Strip to locate information about the abducted and missing persons. The Palestinian terrorist organizations continued launching rockets, for the most part in the afternoon and evening after the American president had left the region. Since the beginning of the war, more than 7,000 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel. An analysis indicated that so far about 10% of the launches were unsuccessful and the rockets fell in the Gaza Strip. So far, more than 1,400 civilian and soldier deaths have been reported; 203 civilian and soldier abductees are being held in the Gaza Strip by the terrorist organizations. The Gaza Strip: Sources in the Gaza Strip report a worsening humanitarian situation. Egypt agreed to open the Rafah Crossing for the entrance of a limited number of trucks, but for now the Crossing remains closed. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) criticized the American position, claiming it was biased in favor of Israel. PIJ spokesman Tareq al-Salami called on the Arab nations to invade the embassies of countries that support Israel, especially the American embassies, and burn them to the ground. The northern sector: Tensions continue mounting on the northern border. Since the afternoon of October 18, 2023, a number of rockets and anti-tank missiles have been launched and shots have been fired at IDF posts along the border. The IDF returned fire and attacked several Hezbollah terrorist targets. Hezbollah reported three deaths. Judea and Samaria: Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, detaining Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity, including senior Hamas operatives. On October 19, 2023, activity focused on the Nur al-Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. Iran: Senior government officials continue diplomatic contacts with Arab countries. The chief of the Iranian armed forces general staff spoke with the defense ministers of Russia and Qatar. According to reports
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The Iron Swords War (Updated to 1 p.m., October 18, 2023)

The IDF continued its activity in the Gaza Strip, mainly by conducting airstrikes on terrorist targets of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Terrorist facilities were damaged and several senior Hamas terrorist operatives were killed, the most prominent of whom was Ayman Nofal. In the evening the Palestinian Authority reported a hospital in Gaza had been hit by an airstrike which killed several hundred people. The incident immediately provoked a wave of angry reactions and accusations against Israel. The IDF investigation revealed the incident was a failed Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket launch and the damage was not as serious as represented by Hamas. American President Joe Biden emphasized that the attack had not been carried out by Israel. The Palestinian terrorist organizations continued firing rockets at Israel, including several barrages targeting the center of the country. So far 7,114 rockets have been fired at Israel. The IDF continued calling on the residents of the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City to evacuate to the south. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening. Egypt and Jordan have expressed concern that Palestinian refugees will more from the Gaza Strip into their territory. Several anti-tank missiles and rockets were launched into Israeli territory from Lebanon; Senior government officials in Iran continue their preoccupation with the Palestinian issue, claiming it concerns the entire international community.
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The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 17, 2023)

The IDF continued its activity in the Gaza Strip, mainly by conducting airstrikes against terrorist targets of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Several thousand terrorist targets have been attacked since the beginning of the war. Using precision-guided munitions, Israeli Navy ships attacked Hamas military-terrorist targets from the sea. Two barrages were fired at the Jerusalem area during the opening of the Knesset's winter session. About 6,930 rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of the war.So far, more than 1,400 civilian and soldier deaths have been reported, and 199 civilian and soldier abductees are currently held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the war, The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening. Tensions continued mounting in northern Israel. Iran has ramped up its threatening messages, apparently concerned that an Israeli ground attack could challenge Hamas' survival. Iran does not necessarily regard Hezbollah as its only option for an attack on Israel and might prefer other options, such as activating the pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias in Syria or Iraq.
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The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 16, 2023)

Israeli Air Force attacks on Gaza City continued after at least some of the residents of the northern Gaza Strip had responded to the IDF's calls to evacuate; during the past day there were more than 250 air strikes. The Palestinians reported the night of October 15, 2023, had been the worst since the outbreak of the war. The IDF displayed huge amounts of terrorist weapons and equipment which showed Hamas' intention to take over large sections of southern Israel and remain in the territory for an extended period of time.The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening. As of 1 p.m. on October 16, calls for a Tensions continued mounting in northern Israel. During the past day Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at IDF forces, killing an IDF soldier. A rocket barrage was launched at the settlements of the Western Galilee, for which Hamas' military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility. The IDF responded with air strikes, artillery fire and tank fire. Israeli security forces detained several dozen Palestinians suspected of terrorist activities. Mahmoud Abbas' feeble condemnation of Hamas' barbaric attack on the Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip was deleted shortly after it was issued.
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The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 15, 2023)

IDF forces continued to operate, primarily carrying out aerial attacks, against terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Several squads, including anti-tank squads, were captured on the border. A number of operatives of Hamas' military-terrorist wing were killed in the attacks, some of them released from Israeli jails in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal (2011). Rockets attacks continued, most of them targeting the Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip border and Ashkelon. A rocket was also fired at the Haifa area. Israel called on the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes and move to the central and southern Gaza Strip. Hamas tried to prevent the evacuation. In northern Israel several anti-tank missile and rocket attacks were reported from Lebanon and Syria. One Israeli was killed and several were injured. The IDF returned fire. As of now, tensions remain high. In Judea and Samaria Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities. The ministry of health in Ramallah reported 55 Palestinian deaths and approximately 1,200 wounded since the beginning of the war. The Iranian foreign minister held a round of meetings in Syria, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.
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