weekly report -14/10
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Israeli operation
On Thursday, October 17, Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader, was killed during an Israeli operation in southern Gaza, as confirmed by Israel and Hamas. According to the BBC, Sinwar, regarded by the UK, US and Israel as the “mastermind” behind the October 7, 2023 attacks, was a key target for Israel. According to CNN and Al Jazeera, Sinwar was found by Israeli troops by chance, after he had been evading detection by avoiding the use of electronic communications and, as claimed by the Israeli military, hiding in tunnels beneath Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called this the “beginning of the end” of the war in Gaza which, according to Netanyahu, “can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages”, as quoted by The Times of Israel. Qatar-based Hamas official Khalil Al Hayya in turn stated that the hostages “will not return... unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops”, as per Gulf News. The killing of Yahya Sinwar has been celebrated by certain world leaders, such as US President Joe Biden who characterized the event as “a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world”, and as an “opportunity for… a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike”, as cited by The White House. Many called for the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, for example German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, as per Reuters. Others, such as Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, Yemen’s Houthis, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have expressed their mourning and condolences for the death of Sinwar, according to Al Jazeera. While not providing a direct statement on the event, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “intolerable” on X shortly after the announcement of Sinwar’s death.
Sources: BBC, Gulf News, The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, CNN, The White House, Reuters, The Jerusalem Post
Northern Gaza under attack throughout the week
This week, Israeli forces have intensified their strikes on northern Gaza, focusing particularly on areas like Jabalia and Beit Lahia. On Thursday, October 17, Israeli air strikes on a school-turned-shelter killed 28 in Jabalia, one of the largest refugee camps in the territory. The Israeli military claimed that Hamas fighters were operating from inside the school, which Hamas denied by calling the allegations “nothing but lies” and “a systematic policy of the enemy to justify its crime”, reported Al Jazeera. According to Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, the attack on the school was the third on an UNRWA facility this week. On Friday, October 18, Israeli strikes killed at least 33 and injured 85 in Jabalia. Residents of Jabalia, cited by Reuters, said that Israeli tanks had reached the center of the camp, and that Israeli forces were “destroying dozens of houses daily”. Al Awda and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza were also hit on Friday, which exacerbated “an already alarming humanitarian crisis in Gaza”, as per UNOCHA. On Saturday, October 19, at least 73 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air strike on a residential area in Beit Lahia, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency cited by France 24. More casualties are expected as many victims might be trapped under the rubble. Israel's military claimed that the figure given by Gaza authorities and the information possessed by Israeli forces “do not align”. Israel’s intensifying military campaign in northern Gaza has sparked humanitarian concerns, with the UN's acting humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya stating that Palestinians have to “endure unspeakable horrors under siege by Israeli forces”, also calling for an end to these “atrocities”. For example the UNOCHA and Amnesty International have called for immediate humanitarian access to northern Gaza.
Sources: Reuters, UNOCHA, Al Jazeera, France 24, Le Monde, Amnesty International
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house hit by a drone
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, a drone launched from Lebanon targeted the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea, Israel. According to the Prime Minister’s Office cited by the Middle East Eye, neither Netanyahu nor his wife were present during the incident, and there were no casualties. The extent of the damage remains unconfirmed. The Israel Defense Forces, cited by The Times of Israel, stated that one drone hit the prime minister’s house and two others were intercepted. Al Jazeera stated that some of the more than 100 drones fired from Lebanon killed one person and injured 13 in Northern Israel. According to the BBC, Iran’s UN mission has stated that "the action in question has been carried out by Hezbollah in Lebanon”, after Hezbollah didn’t instantly claim responsibility. This episode occurred against the backdrop of increased tensions between Israel and actors like Iran-backed Hezbollah, with Israel preparing its response to Iran’s missile attack on October 1st. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu commented on the attack by stating that “the agents of Iran who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake”. He continued by saying that anyone who harms Israelis will pay “a heavy price”, reflecting the risk of escalation. Since the drone attack on Netanyahu’s residence, Israel has continued air strikes on different locations in Lebanon, including Beirut and dozens of villages and towns in southern parts of the country, as per France 24.
Sources: Middle East Eye, The Guardian, The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, BBC, France 24
