Daily Recap: Hamas - Israel War October 15th, 2023 (18:00)

Key Updates

Dismantling Hamas capabilities

• The IDF continued to forcefully respond to Hamas’ horrific attacks, including neutralizing a Nukhba force commander responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre. Over 100 other sites were struck, including command and control sites, rocket launch sites, military compounds and more. 
• The IDF continues to work on mitigating the impact on civilians, calling on Gazan residents to move south via a new civilian corridor. 
• The IDF released video and audio recordings that show how Hamas is intentionally impeding these efforts, reflecting the barbaric nature of this ISIS-inspired and Iranian-backed terrorist organization.
• The IDF continued with preparations to intensify operations in the region. This includes logistical preparations to support the air, land and sea activities required to dismantle Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Northern Arena

• Attacks on communities and Israeli military positions along Israel’s northern border, including an anti-tank missile attack on the Israeli community of Shtula. The IDF responded toward the source of the fire and Hezbollah targets in the area. 

Additional Updates

• The IDF Chief of the General Staff spoke with his US Central Command counterpart, Gen. Michael Kurilla. The United States announced it was deploying a second carrier to the region - The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.

Key Data Points

• 1,300+ Israelis killed
• 279 families of fallen soldiers notified 
• 120 families notified of abducted family members
• 6,000+ rockets fired at Israel

Letter from Lt. Col. Richard Hecht

Some thoughts on choosing sides. 

Last week, there was much talk about the need for moral clarity. Events like the massacres of October 7th leave no question when it comes to choosing sides. But for those following Hamas’ attacks as closely as I am, the data points that inform this decision happen every day. Sometimes, they happen every hour. 

Beginning Friday, we instructed Gaza residents to move towards southern Gaza. But these residents are being held hostage by a Hamas that stands to win more from their deaths than their lives.

This isn’t just theory. Hamas first obfuscated the IDF’s warnings, calling them fake news. Then they physically prevented cars from driving, laying out blockades. Finally, they falsified an attack on a convoy to terrify their own civilians and galvanize world opinion. In their efforts to kill civilians, truth is just one more casualty. 

Ironically, Israel has evacuated both Israeli civilians, located in Israel’s south and, unfortunately, near the northern border with Lebanon, as well as instructed Gazan civilians to evacuate. As we prepare to intensify our operations against Hamas, against Yahya Sinwar’s death machine, I am reminded that clarity doesn’t just emerge from shaping events that rock the Western world. It emerges from dozens and hundreds of smaller events that take place every single day. You just need to know where to look and who to trust. 

Links

• Intelligence audio recording of phone call in which a Gaza resident explains how Hamas is preventing evacuation (Link) 
• Footage of Israeli Air Force strike on Billal Al Kedra, the Nukhba commander responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre (Video)
• Israeli strike on Hezbollah infrastructure following a Saturday attack along the border (Video)
• Bodycam footage from canine unit rescue of a family in Kibbutz Be’eri last week (Video)

• Arena Updates

  Defending Against Hamas

  Israeli forces continue to protect the southern communities in Israel. One attempted attack took place near Nir Oz on Sunday, following a number of isolated infiltration attempts throughout the weekend, including anti-tank fire fired at Nir Oz and an attempted infiltration near Zikim. In parallel, Israel completed the evacuation of southern communities in the vicinity of the security fence with the Gaza Strip, including Sderot. 

  Hamas rocket fire aimed at civilian towns and cities continued on Sunday, with over 6,000 rockets fired at Israel.  This included barrages towards Tel Aviv and Herzaliya as well as southern communities.  Active missile defense systems - including the Iron Dome - continue to play an important role in intercepting many of these rockets. 

  Strikes in Gaza

  The IDF is continuing preparations for a wide range of operational offensive plans in the Gaza Strip in order to dismantle Hamas’ military and civil capabilities. Some of the measures taken to prepare for intensified operations include drafting over 350,000 reservists, preparing Forward Logistics Centers to support combat units on the front, and facilitating the ongoing resupply of weapons and supplies. 

  In addition, IDF aerial strikes continue against Hamas in Gaza. On Sunday, these strikes included  Hamas administrative centers as well as strikes on over one hundred military targets. The IDF continues to prioritize strikes on senior Hamas personnel and those involved in Saturday’s attacks, including Billal Al Kedra, the Nukhba commander of the forces in southern Khan Yunis, who was responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre. 

  Sites were targeted throughout Zaytun, Khan Yunis, Jabaliya, Al-Furqan and Beit Hanoun, and included operational command centers, terrorist operatives, offensive tunnels, military, anti-tank launch posts, observation posts and more.

  Humanitarian Efforts

  As the IDF continues to dismantle Hamas capabilities and ensure that the horrific attacks on Israeli civilians are not repeated, it is also taking measures to mitigate civilian casualties and continues to urge Gaza residents to move south. Similar to Saturday, the IDF’s spokesperson to Arabic media published a recommended route for these movements. Despite these measures to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of Hamas’ horrific actions, Hamas is actively attempting to disrupt evacuations. On Saturday night, the IDF released aerial footage showing roadblocks created to prevent movement, as well as the recording of a phone conversation with a Gaza resident who said he was being prevented from relocating.

  Hamas is also waging misinformation campaigns to obfuscate its exploitation of  Gaza’s residents. One example of this is a convoy that Hamas claimed was attacked during the evacuations late last week, citing a location and time that the IDF had not acted in.

  Northern Arena

  Hezbollah aggression against both IDF forces and Israeli civilians continued throughout Sunday, including at least three separate anti-tank attacks into Israel on Sunday. This included an attack on the Israeli community of Shtula, which resulted in Israel casualties. In a separate incident, a number of Grad-type rockets were fired from Syria into Israel. The IDF is maintaining a zero-tolerance posture and has responded to these attacks, focusing on the sources of fire and on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. 

  Israel holds the Lebanese government accountable for any activities emanating from within its borders. These events follow a number of attacks on Israeli positions yesterday, including an attempted infiltration along with the firing of some 30 mortar shells in the Har Dov area yesterday. 

  In order to expand the IDF’s operational flexibility, the IDF instructed Israeli civilians within four kilometers of the border with Lebanon to evacuate. It is also operating technological means to obstruct GPS in the region. 

  Other Arena Updates

  The IDF remains in close contact with military counterparts in the United States and around the world. The Chief of the General Staff conducted a call with Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command. A second carrier strike group, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is joining the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which had deployed to the region on Tuesday. US munitions resupply are also underway. In addition, the Chief of the General Staff held calls with other military leaders around the world, including the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff .

   

  Actions to prevent expansion of hostilities against Israeli civilians continue in Judea and Samaria. Last night, 49 suspects were arrested in the area, including 33 Hamas operatives. Funds intended for supporting terrorists and a range of weapons, including assault rifles, handguns and magazines, were seized.