Israel SitRep: Nov. 21, 2023

Today’s Issue: Israeli Cabinet to Meet Tonight to Approve Hostage Deal | Israel Announces It Captured Two Gazans Inside the Country a Month after the October 7 Attacks | IDF Forces Encircle Jabalya, Attack ‘Terrorist Targets’ | IDF Releases Footage of Elite Maglan Unit Operating in Gaza | Latest FDD Analysis

Israeli Cabinet to Meet Tonight to Approve Hostage Deal: According to media reports, Israel’s Cabinet will meet this evening to approve a deal for the release of some hostages. A senior official cited by Israel’s channel 12 stated that the agreement will include the release of 50 hostages — children and their mothers, along with other women. The official added that more hostages could be released in exchange for an extension of a ceasefire. The Israeli War Cabinet met on Monday evening at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv with the families of the hostages held by Hamas. During the meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told the families that the goal of destroying Hamas is equal to the goal of returning the hostages. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that the families of 12 of the hostages will meet in the Vatican today with Pope Francis.

Israel Announces It Captured Two Gazans Inside the Country a Month after the October 7 Attacks: Israel’s Border Police and Shin Bet announced on Monday that elite forces captured two Gazans in southern Israel a month after the October 7 attacks. The two men, one a Hamas operative and one a Gaza resident who entered Israel with a mob on the day of the attack, were captured in the southern town of Rahat, near Beersheba, which is a little under 20 miles from Gaza. The two were hiding in an abandoned house near Rahat. The police believe there may be other terrorists still in Israel gathering intelligence. They are investigating whether the two men had assistance that allowed them to hide for a month in Israel.

IDF Forces Encircle Jabalya, Attack ‘Terrorist Targets’: The IDF announced on November 21 that its 162nd Division has completed encirclement of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip and is prepared to continue operations. According to the announcement, the 215th Artillery Regiment and the Israeli Air Force attacked “terrorist targets” to “prepare the area for battle in the Jabalya region.” The IDF also announced that it attacked three underground tunnel entrances on the outskirts of Jabalya where terrorists were located. Also on the outskirts of Jabalya, fighters from the 401st Armored Brigade and Nahal Infantry Brigade fought terrorists with support from remotely manned aircraft and destroyed rocket launchers.

IDF Releases Footage of Elite Maglan Unit Operating in Gaza: The IDF has released footage showing its elite Maglan commando unit operating in the Gaza Strip. According to the army, the unit operates “deep in enemy territory” and focuses on “attacking and destroying specific targets and gathering accurate intelligence.” The footage released today shows the unit operating with Spike missiles and the Iron Sting guided mortar. The IDF says that in the course of Israel’s ground offensive, Maglan forces have attacked some 70 Hamas targets. Maglan troops, along with Commando Brigade soldiers, also found weapons in the home of a Hamas member in the Shati refugee camp and raided a school that had two tunnel shafts next to it. Maglan soldiers have destroyed rocket launchers, observation posts, and terrorist hideouts and killed terrorists.

Latest FDD Analysis:

“Israel’s modern warfare: How IDF tech closes the loop on terrorists,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iran reveals its role behind Hamas holding hostages – analysis,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Israel’s War on Terrorism,” Clifford D. May, Jonathan Schanzer, and Jacob Nagel, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“How Hamas Co-opts the Media,” Clifford D. May and Matti Friedman, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Israel faces winter storm, Houthi threats,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hamas Took Hostages to Al-Shifa Hospital,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Jordan, UAE to Set Up Gaza Field Hospitals After Six Weeks of War,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Clashes with Hezbollah Increase on Israel-Lebanon Border,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Two Gaza Terrorists Nabbed in Israel, One Month After October 7 Attack,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief