Daily Recap: Hamas - Israel War October 20th, 2023 (20:00) - Day 14

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

Who is Hamas?

I'm not talking about the Hamas that invaded Israeli homes and massacred men, women and children. That Hamas has been well documented, unfortunately.  

I’m talking about the Hamas that attacked and destroyed the Erez Crossing that was used by thousands of Gazans every day to enter and work in Israel. The Hamas that attacked nine of the ten power lines through which Israel had provided some half of all power in Gaza. The Hamas that digs up water pipes and turns them into rockets. The Hamas that steals fuel from humanitarian organizations, and yes, the Hamas that positions its weapons and command centers in or near mosques, schools and homes in order to put its residents in the line of fire. 

The same Hamas that started this war and then prevented residents from finding cover by confiscating car keys and physically blocking roads in Gaza.

This is the Hamas we face. A perverse organization that has spent years pulling the residents of Gaza into war after war, all while endangering the people of Israel. 

We have the right - and the obligation - to defend ourselves. As I’ve said before - this is not a war that we started. It’s certainly not a war with the people of Gaza. But it’s a war that we were pulled into and it’s a war that we will win. 

Key Links

• These reservists' account of being dispatched to the City of Sderot on October 7th after terrorists infiltrated the city. 
• A message to the Jewish people in the diaspora from IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari:

Gaza

The IDF continues to prepare for the next stage of the war. We maintain our aim of destroying Hamas’ military and administrative capabilities and restoring security to the people of Israel. Six Forward Logistics Centers were deployed in southern Israel in support of these efforts.

Overnight, the IDF continued to strike Hamas targets while operating on both sides of the security fence to gather intelligence and maintain the IDF’s operational freedom of action.

Over one hundred targets were hit overnight, including a Hamas terrorist from Hamas’ naval commando who took part in the murderous massacres of October 7th. Other targets included an underground tunnel, weapons storage sites and dozens of operational command centers. Terror assets and weapons in a mosque in Jabaliya were destroyed as well.

The IDF continues to see southern Israel as a potentially active battlezone, with ongoing infiltration or attempted attacks along the border. Over the past few days, at least one terrorist was found alive in Israeli territory.

Northern Arena

In addition to the 30,000 residents of the northern border cities that have been evacuated, 22,000 residents of Kiryat Shmona were also evacuated in order to preserve operational flexibility when contending with the threat from Hezbollah. 

Rocket attacks and attempted infiltrations from southern Lebanon continue. IDF forces responded to the sources of fire as well as other Hezbollah military sites.

The IDF holds Lebanon responsible for all activity emanating from its borders.

Today (Friday), three Hezbollah terrorists were identified in the area of the border with Lebanon and were struck by aircraft (see video footage here). IDF snipers also targeted terrorists operating in the area of the border with Lebanon.

On Thursday night, in response to attacks along the border the IDF struck several Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, focusing on operational and intelligence positions. In addition, an IDF UAV struck Hezbollah terrorists who attempted to launch an anti-tank missile at IDF forces (video).

Homefront

Israeli southern and central communities continue to be the target for rocket attacks from Gaza, as well as northern communities from southern Lebanon.

The US Department of Defense also reported that its forces in the northern Red Sea had intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. This is an example of the aerial and missile defensive architecture that has been built in the Middle East.

To date, families of 306 IDF soldiers have been notified about their loved ones being killed in action and 203 families have been updated about their loved ones being abducted.