Daily Recap: Hamas - Israel War October 17th, 2023 (18:00) - Day 11

Overview

The IDF's response to Hamas’s brutal attacks continues, with the goal of dismantling Hamas, eliminating their administrative and military capabilities, and ensuring that the attacks of October 7 are never repeated.

As part of the effort to prioritize strikes on Hamas’ senior leaders, Aymen Nofal, the commander of Hamas’ central division in Gaza and Osama Mazini, the head of Hamas’ Shura Council, were both neutralized in Gaza.

Over 200 additional Hamas and Islamic Jihad sites were targeted including military outposts, command centers and a bank branch used to fund terrorist activities.

The IDF continues to urge Gazans to move south, focusing specifically on residents of Zaytoun. As reported earlier this week, Hamas has not only been actively preventing its residents from evacuating but has also gone to such lengths as to steal humanitarian aid from UNRWA.

The IDF continues to respond swiftly, exercising no tolerance for any Hezbollah attacks on Israeli civilian and military sites. Four terrorists were neutralized during an attempted infiltration at the north, and Hezbollah targets were struck in response to anti-tank missile fire and additional light arms fire.

Field Notes from Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, IDF Spokesperson to International Media

Hamas’ barbaric attacks on Saturday, October 7 continue to echo. Terror attacks along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip have been rebuffed by the IDF on a near daily basis. Simultaneously, the ongoing rocket fire against civilian population centers in Israel has millions of Israelis in its range.

These attacks - which the world now knows were carefully planned to maximize civilian death - are now being complemented by cruel psychological terrorism. Releasing videos of hostages while feigning the role of a humanitarian organization, all after the brutal murder of over 1,000 Israelis. Faking attacks on their own civilians to impede non-combatant evacuation. Evacuation that will save them from the well-fortified battle zone called Gaza City. Decrying supposed humanitarian disasters and lacking water for Gaza’s residents, all while stealing UN supplies intended for them and their hospitals. These terrorist tactics are right out of the ISIS playbook. They show a deprived, radical organization that targets Western civilians while hiding behind its own.

Hamas must be stopped. And it will be.

As our Chief of the General Staffs, LTG Herzi Halevi, told our soldiers today:

"The Israeli people have faced hardships before. The IDF was and still is the protector of the nation, and we are a generation of fighters that are another link in the chain of generations of protectors of the country. Our power, determination and unity will prevail in this chapter of history as well. The citizens of Israel trust in you. I trust in you. Be strong and of courage."

Key Links

• Chief of the General Staffs’ letter to soldiers (English, Hebrew)
• Targeting of the head of the Shura Council of Hamas, Osama Mazini (Video)
• IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari’s daily briefing (Hebrew video)
  Update on Hamas’ stealing fuel from UNWRA (Video, English)
• IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari speaks of how Hamas stole 6 days worth of fuel from UNRWA and Gazan civilian (https://twitter.com/i/status/1714045853793403039)

Arena Overview

IDF Activity in Gaza

• IDF fighter jets struck operational command centers, military infrastructure containing terrorist operatives and hideouts belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in Zaytun, northern Rafah, Jabalya, and Khan Yunis. 
  
  
• Over 200 Hamas and Islamic Jihad (PIJ) sites were attacked across the Gaza Strip including command posts, a bank used to fund terrorist activities, and a number of underground attack tunnels. The Israeli navy backed these efforts with attacks on a number of sites including operational posts and weapons storage facilities. 
  
  
• Strikes on senior Hamas leaders continued with the targeting of one of the most senior terrorist leaders in the war so far, Aymen Nofal, the commander of Hamas’ central division in Gaza, and former head of military intelligence. Nofal had directed many
  attacks on the Israeli homefront, including heavy rocket fire towards civilian areas, and oversaw weapons manufacturing and development.
  
  
• The IDF and ISA also killed Osama Mazini, the head of the Shura Council of Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. Mazini was responsible for Hamas prisoners and directed terrorist activities against Israel. (Video)
  
  
• Yesterday, dozens of enemy military command centers and mortar shell launching posts were destroyed by IDF fire, including the command center of Ali Qadi, one of the commanders of the Hamas “Nukhba” commando forces who was targeted several days ago.

Homefront and More

• 199 families have been updated about their abducted loved ones. The IDF is deploying all intelligence and operational measures to ensure their return. Yesterday, as part of its ongoing psychological terrorism, the Hamas released a video of one of the abducted hostages in Gaza. The IDF is accompanying the family closely.
• 299 families of fallen sodliers have been notified about their loved ones' being killed in combat. 

Defense of Southern Israel

• No attacks have taken place against against IDF forces or in Israeli towns over the past 24 hours.
• Hamas continues to fire barrages of rockets toward southern and central Israel, with sirens sounding in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Rishon Le’Tzion Be’er Sheva and southern Israel. Active missile defense, combined with passive missile defense measures like bomb shelters, are continuing to prove effective agains Hamas' deliberate attacks on the homefront.

Northern Arena

• A number of incidents took place along the northern border with Lebanon. In each, the IDF immediately responded towards the sources of fire. 
• On Tuesday afternoon, two anti-tank missiles were fired toward Israeli territory near Kibbutz Yiftah. The IDF responded with tank and artillery fire toward Hezbollah terrorist targets. 
• Earlier in the day, anti-tank fire was carried out toward an IDF post near the town of Metula. Additionally, an anti-tank missile was fired towards an IDF post along the Lebanon border. Light arms fire was also carried out toward a number of sites along the border fence. The IDF responded with artillery fire toward the source of fire
• Four terrorists were neutralized earlier this morning by IDF forces after attempting to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon. (Video)