Reports on the Military Course of the War and More –>
Official Actions and Significant Occurrences
Hamas commenced a savage attack against Israel from Gaza in the early morning hours, sending over 2,000 terrrorists breaking through the security barrier between Israel and Gaza while firing thousands of rockets and committing numerous atrocities and war crimes. Over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered, the vast majority civilians. [Evidence of the atrocities and war crimes forthcoming]
Israeli Energy Minister orders the immediate disconnect of the water supply to Gaza.
Arutz Sheva (9 Oct 2023)Defense Min.: There will be no electricity, food, or fuel to Gaza.
Arutz Sheva (9 Oct 2023)
The European Commission announces an urgent review of its financial assistance for Palestine.
Press Release (9 Oct 2023)
EU Quickly Abandons the Aid Freeze to the Palestinian Authority.
Jerusalem Post (10 Oct 2023)
Reuters (10 Oct 2023)
US puts a hold on the disbursement of $6 billion to Iran as previously agreed.
Reuters (12 Oct 2023)
Gregg Roman, U.S. Denial of $6 Billion to Iran Is Its Latest Display of Pro-Israel Resolve, Middle East Forum (18 Oct 2023)
Israel restarts water supply to southern Gaza Strip.
Reuters (15 Oct 2023)
UN Security Council rejects Russian resolution on Gaza – 5 votes for, 4 against, 6 abstentions
In the early evening of 17 Oct 2023, a projectile exploded in the parking lot next to the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City. Hamas within a very short time blamed Israel and claimed more than 500 fatalities. World media immediately repeated the story without seeking any confirmation. Subsequent assessments have shown that the projective was much more likely an Islamic Jihad or Hamas rocket that failed and crashed into the parking lot, its remaining fuel exploding and igniting some of the vehicles. Moreover, the number of fatalities, unverified, has been viewed as greatly exaggerated.
- More detail and assessments
US Vetoes Draft Security Council resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses”
EU Parliament calls for the elimination of Hamas – 500 votes for, 21 against, 24 abstentions
- Resolution 2023/2899(RSP)) ¶ 1, p. 2
- Press Release
An American-Israeli mother and her daughter were reunited with family after their release by Hamas.
- Reuters (21 Oct 2023)
Hamas released two elderly Israeli women: Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85. Their husbands were still being held hostage.
- Jerusalem Post (24 Oct 2023)
The UN Security Council met in a day-long meeting on 24 Oct 2023 to discuss the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Shurat HaDin demanded in a letter signed by more than 1550 attorneys and 50 physicians that the International Red Cross take action in accordance with its obligations to secure the release and protection of the hostages taken by Hamas in violation of fundamental principles of international law.
Shurat HaDin’s letter followed a similar demand from 49 organizations sent to the ICRC on October 12.
UN Security Council failed to pass the US resolution even though it garnered 10 votes in favor. The Russian resolution received only 4 votes in favor.
UN General Assembly adopted a non-binding Jordanian resolution calling for an immediate and sustained ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza. The vote was 120 votes in for, 14 against, and 45 abstentions. An amendment, proposed by Canada and backed by over 35 Member States, including the US, seeking an explicit condemnation of Hamas, did not pass, failing to get two-thirds support.
- Documentation
Overnight, the IDF began a new phase of the war in Gaza, entering on the ground. This move followed two days of limited, temporary ground operations in Gaza.
Israel opened the second of three water piplines to the southern part of Gaza, allowing approximately 28.5 million liters of water to flow per day.
- World Israel News (29 Oct 2023)
The UN Security Council met again in emergency session on Monday afternoon (EDT) 30 Oct 2023 to discuss the ongoing Middle East crisis.
- France 24 (31 Oct 2023)
- Reuters (31 Oct 2023)
- Michael Horton, Houthi missile launches at Israel risk reigniting war in Yemen, Responsible Statecraft (30 Oct 2023)
Bolivia broke relations with Israel, and Columbia, Chile and Jordan recalled their ambassadors. Israel’s Foreign Ministry reacted, saying that the step “is a surrender to terrorism and the Ayatollah’s regime in Iran.”
- Israel Foreign Ministry (31 Oct 2023)
- Times of Israel [Bolivia] (1 Nov 2023)
- Times of Israel [Jordan] (1 Nov 2023)
Hezbollah Secretary Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah speaks on the war.
- Al-Manar English Website – All Scenarios Open (5 Nov 2023)
- Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center – 0verview, main points, reactions (7 Nov 2023)
- L’Orient Today – Nasrallah’s follow-up speech (11 Nov 2023)
- Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center – review of the follow-up speech (13 Nov 2023)
IDF facilitated the reopening of a humanitarian corridor in order to allow civilians in the northern Gaza Strip to move southward toward safety. Video clip
The U.S. House Representatives censured Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mi) for promoting false narratives regarding the 7 Oct 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. The vote was 228 in favor and 188 against.
- H.R. 845
- Voting Results
- Ethics Complaint Filed (19 Oct 2023)
The UN Security Council met again on 10 Nov 2023 to discuss the ongoing Middle East crisis. The head of the WHO briefed the Council on Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access.
Arab and Muslim leaders called for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza. However, Saudi Arabia played a pivotal role in rejecting a proposal to sever all ties with Israel.
The Biden administration extended a sanctions waiver to allow Iran to access upwards of $10 billion in electricity revenue held in escrow in Iraq.
- Associated Press (14 Nov 2023)
- Reuters (15 Nov 2023)
- Congressional Research Service, Moving the Money, Testimony (26 Oct 2023)
- Congress Should Take Away Iran’s $10 Billion Sanctions Relief, FDD (15 Nov 2023
- IDF – Press Release (15 Nov 2023)
- BBC apologizes for false accusation against the IDF
- The Jewish Chronicle (15 Nov 2023)
- Lt. Col. Richard Hecht – We Tried to Tell Them About Shifa Hospital (20 Nov 2023)
- IDF breaches blast door in Hamas tunnel under Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, Times of Israel (22 Nov 2023)
- Hamas tunnels under Shifa hospital – IDF video
UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for extended pauses in Gaza. There were 12 votes in favor and 3 abstentions (United States, Great Britain, and Russia). An amendment proposed by Russia that called for a “cessation of hostilities” was rejected, having received only 5 votes in favor with 1 vote against and 9 abstentions.
- Security Council Meetings Coverage (SC/15496)
- Jerusalem Post (15 Nov 2023)
- Minutes of the Meeting
- Resolution (S/Res/2712)
The UK House of Commons rejected two proposals, one calling for extended humanitarian pauses (183 for, 290 opposed), and a second calling for an immediate ceasefire (125 for, 293 opposed).
- UK House of Commons, Votes and Proceedings (15 Nov 2023)
- The Jewish Chronicle (15 Nov 2023)
- Statements by the Israeli Government and the Prime Minister (22 Nov 2023)
- Statement by Qatar (22 Nov 2023)
- Israeli cabinet approves partial Gaza hostage deal, Jerusalem Post (22 Nov 2023)
- Hezbollah says that pause will apply to it, Jerusalem Post (22 Nov 2023)
The UN Security Council met on 22 Nov 2023 to again discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. During the meeting, delegates praised the hostage deal and renewed the call for a humanitarian ceasefire.
- Meetings Coverage (S/15503)
- Minutes of the Meeting
Military operations ceased at 7:00 in the morning. The first release of hostages from Gaza occurred at 16:00.
- Hostages released on first day (24 Nov 2023)
- Hostages released on second day (25 Nov 2023)
- Hostages released on third day (26 Nov 2023)
- Hostages released on fourth day (27 Nov 2023)
- Hostages released on fifth day (28 Nov 2023)
- Hostages released on sixth day (29 Nov 2023)
- Hostages released on seventh day (30 Nov 2023)
The UN Security Council held a ministerial-level meeting on 29 Nov 2023 to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. There were calls for a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
- Meetings Coverage (S/15506)
- Minutes of the Meeting
- Ceasefire ends, rocket fire, airstrikes resume, Jerusalem Post (1 Dec 2023)
- IDF providing information to Gazans on how to move to safety, Arutz Sheva (1 Dec 2023)
- IDF – instructions and map
