Israel Arrests Over 100 Hamas Operatives, Discovers Fortified Tunnel beneath Al-Shifa Hospital

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
19/11/2023 19h02

Israel's military has announced the arrest of more than 100 Hamas operatives in Gaza, who have been transferred to Israel for interrogation. The arrests come as part of Israel's ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas infrastructure in the region. Three of the captured militants were allegedly involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, commonly referred to as the Oct. 7 massacre.

The Hamas militants have reportedly disclosed vital information regarding the locations of underground tunnels, storage compounds, weaponry, and operational tactics used by the organization. This intelligence will be crucial in planning future military operations against Hamas.

In another development, Israel's government revealed that the cargo ship hijacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen is posing a threat to a key global shipping route in the Red Sea. The incident has raised concerns about the security of international trade in the region.

Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have uncovered a fortified tunnel beneath the Al-Shifa hospital complex in Gaza. The tunnel, which is 10 meters deep and 55 meters long, is designed to block Israeli forces from accessing Hamas command centers and underground assets. The IDF released a video showing a staircase leading to the entrance of the tunnel shaft, which ultimately leads to a blast-proof door with a firing hole. Alongside the tunnel, an assortment of weapons including RPGs, explosives, and Kalashnikov rifles were found in a nearby vehicle.

Meanwhile, hostage negotiations between Hamas and Israel have taken a positive turn, according to US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer. An agreement to release hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack may be within reach, but it would require a multiday pause in the fighting in Gaza.

In other news, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) estimates that Gaza requires 160,000 liters of fuel daily to maintain essential humanitarian services. However, Israel has only allowed the entry of nearly 70,000 liters per day, which falls short of meeting the minimum requirements.

Moving beyond the conflict, the Hamas-run health ministry announced that 351 cancer patients in Gaza will be transported to Turkey to resume their treatments. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the only oncology hospital in Gaza, was forced to shut down due to the ongoing violence.

Simultaneously, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, in coordination with the World Health Organization and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, evacuated 31 premature babies from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. They will be transferred to a UAE-run hospital in the Egyptian border city of Rafah for continued care.

Addressing the regional situation, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reiterated his call for Muslim countries to sever diplomatic ties with Israel, at least temporarily, as a means to isolate the country and weaken its support.

Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed hope for progress in the negotiations for the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas. He stated that there has been "good progress" in the past few days.

Israeli paratroopers and other forces conducted raids in the Sheikh Ijlin and Rimal areas of northern Gaza to identify and destroy Hamas infrastructure. The troops discovered approximately 35 tunnel shafts, a military base belonging to Hamas's military intelligence unit, ammunition depots, and seven rocket launchers.

In recent developments, Israel's air, sea, and land forces engaged enemies on two fronts, targeting infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon and that of Hamas in Gaza. While air-raid sirens sounded in Israel's southern and northern towns, mortar shell launches from Lebanon occurred in open areas.

As the conflict continues, Israel has announced that it is entering the "next stage" of its war against Hamas, with attention shifting to the city of Khan Younis in the south. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed confidence in locating top Hamas leaders and eliminating their influence. Residents of Khan Younis have been urged to leave the city and seek safety in a designated zone in the south, where humanitarian aid is available.

Overall, these latest developments underscore the intensifying efforts by Israel to weaken Hamas and dismantle its infrastructure, as well as the ongoing challenges and human suffering in the Gaza Strip. Efforts to reach a peaceful resolution and provide essential humanitarian aid in the region remain crucial.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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