Israel SitRep: Nov. 14, 2023

Today’s Issue: Gallant Says Hamas Has Lost Control in Gaza, IDF Forces Capture Gaza’s Parliament and Hamas Police HQ | IDF Finds Hamas Command Center in Rantisi Children’s Hospital | Israel’s Foreign Minister and Hostage Families Meet with ICRC President, Hostage Noa Marciano and Be’eri Resident Vivian Silver Are Confirmed Dead | Humanitarian Corridors in Gaza and ‘Tactical Pauses’ | Latest FDD Analysis

Gallant Says Hamas Has Lost Control in Gaza, IDF Forces Capture Gaza’s Parliament and Hamas Police HQ: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on November 13 that “Hamas has lost control in Gaza.” He added that “terrorists are fleeing south, civilians are looting Hamas bases, they have no confidence in the government.” A photo posted on social media on November 13 shows IDF soldiers inside the Gaza parliament building holding up Israeli flags. Another photo circulating on social media shows Golani Brigade soldiers holding flags inside the Hamas military police headquarters. In addition, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on November 14 that it captured the headquarters of Hamas commander Ayman Nofal, who was killed in an IDF strike.

IDF Finds Hamas Command Center in Rantisi Children’s Hospital: On November 13, the IDF announced that its troops raided the Rantisi children’s hospital and found a Hamas command center in the basement. The raid was carried out by the Israel Navy’s Shayetet 13 unit and the 401st Armored Brigade. According to IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, “Underneath the hospital, in the basement, we found a Hamas command and control center, suicide-bomb vests, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, RPGs, and other weapons, computers, money, etc.” Hagari added that there was evidence that the hostages had been held there and that the Hamas terrorists who carried out the October 7 massacre came back from the massacre to the hospital.

Israel’s Foreign Minister and Hostage Families Meet with ICRC President, Hostage Noa Marciano and Be’eri Resident Vivian Silver Are Confirmed Dead: Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is meeting today in Geneva with Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger to discuss the hostages. Several family members of the approximately 240 Israeli hostages are also attending. On November 13, Hamas published a hostage video showing Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old soldier, speaking to the camera four days after her capture. The video then cuts to an image of her dead body. Hamas claims that an Israeli airstrike killed Marciano on November 9. Vivian Silver, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri who was thought to be a Hamas hostage, has been confirmed to have died in the Hamas attack on October 7.

Humanitarian Corridors in Gaza and ‘Tactical Pauses’: In an announcement on November 13, the IDF stated that 200,000 Gazans have used humanitarian corridors since November 5 to head to the south of the Gaza Strip. IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee announced on November 14 that a humanitarian corridor is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Gazans wishing to depart for the south. He also stated that the coastal road will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow civilians access to Salah a-Din Street. The spokesman added that the IDF would have “tactical pauses” on November 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Daraj and Tuffah to enable evacuations.

Latest FDD Analysis:

“Israel’s Hunt for the Sinwar Brothers,” Jonathan Schanzer, Commentary

“Hamas commits war crimes in hospitals and mosques, but world says nothing,” Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“Palestinians don’t want to govern Gaza — here’s why,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, New York Post

“I’m Arab and I Don’t Understand Why the World Can’t Acknowledge Jewish Pain,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Newsweek

“Prevent the Gaza Conflict From Turning Into a Regional Conflagration,” Andrea Stricker, Al-Ain

“What do we know about hospitals in north Gaza? – explainer,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“The Ground War in Gaza Begins,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

“A month of war: A Journey across a traumatized landscape,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“The Iranian proxy war in Syria against the US, Israel grows,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Drones continue to define the Gaza war for the IDF and Hamas – analysis,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Spotlight on Syria, following fresh airstrikes,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post