Israel SitRep: Feb. 12, 2024

Today’s Issue: Two Israeli Hostages Rescued in Overnight Raid in Rafah | IDF: Al-Jazeera Reporter Is Also a Senior Hamas Operative | IDF Facilitates Oxygen Delivery to Gaza’s Al-Amal Hospital, Captures Some 20 Terrorists Hiding There | IAF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon, IDF Arrests Over 17 in West Bank | Latest FDD Analysis

Two Israeli Hostages Rescued in Overnight Raid in Rafah: Early Monday morning, the IDF announced the rescue of hostages Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), both from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, in an overnight rescue mission in Rafah. The operation was carried out by the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Yamam counterterrorism unit. The two men, who had been held by a family in Rafah, were taken to Tel Hashomer medical center for further evaluation. In a press conference early Monday morning, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari noted that at 1:49 a.m., Yamam soldiers entered the apartment where the two were being held, then “hugged and protected” them with their bodies, removing them from the apartment under fire. The operation began at around 1 a.m., when Israeli forces, with the cover of airstrikes, raided the building. According to Hagari, the IDF was prepared for the operation but was waiting for the right conditions to carry it out. Relatives of the hostages said that they went hungry in captivity and lost a lot of weight.

IDF: Al-Jazeera Reporter Is Also a Senior Hamas Operative: IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee announced on Sunday that several weeks ago, the IDF found a computer in the northern Gaza Strip belonging to Muhammad Washah, which has photos showing that he is a “senior Hamas military operative” in the group’s anti-tank missile array. Washah, from the Bureij neighborhood of Gaza, has been reporting for Al-Jazeera, which has said he is one of its journalists. According to Adraee, in 2022, Washah began working on research and development of aerial weapons for Hamas, and the laptop found by the IDF has photographs linking him to the group. Adree stated: “In the morning, a journalist for Al-Jazeera, and in the evening, a terrorist for Hamas!”

IDF Facilitates Oxygen Delivery to Gaza’s Al-Amal Hospital, Captures Some 20 Terrorists Hiding There: The IDF announced on Saturday that it enabled delivery of 20 oxygen tanks and other medical equipment to the Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis, adding that the hospital is used as a hideout by terrorists and that the delivery required “intricate coordination.” In the past week, after intelligence revealed that Hamas was using the hospital, soldiers from the Givati Brigade, the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit, and other special forces operated in the area. On Sunday, soldiers found some 20 Hamas terrorists in the hospital. According to the IDF, soldiers were briefed before the operation about adhering to international law and protecting civilians, including patients, and medical equipment. The IDF coordinated with the hospital before the operation. No hospital staff or patients were hurt.

IAF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon, IDF Arrests Over 17 in West Bank: On Monday, Israeli Air Force jets attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. In one of the strikes, the IAF targeted a vehicle carrying Hezbollah operatives in the area of Maroun al-Ras. In addition, terror infrastructures were destroyed near Odaisseh and Khiam, and two military buildings in the area of Tayr Harfa and Maroun al-Ras were also struck, along with a military site. In the West Bank, near the village of Husan, Tabor Battalion troops shot and killed a terrorist who attempted to stab a soldier. The IDF also arrested 17 wanted persons in an overnight operation. Since the war began, more than 3,080 wanted persons have been arrested in the West Bank, over 1,350 of them with ties to Hamas.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian, FDD Event

Video, audio, and transcript: “Israeli Security: The Northern Threat and Other Challenges Ahead,” Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, Eyal Hulata, Enia Krivine, and Anna Schecter, FDD Event

“A moment of decision for Americans,” Bradley Bowman and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“PSA: “Iran + Iran ≠ anything other than Iran,” Bill Roggio and Thomas Joscelyn, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Israel attempts to assassinate two high-ranking Hezbollah commanders in south Lebanon,” David Daoud, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hezbollah rocket barrages target northern Israel,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Rafah in Israel’s sights as next Gaza moves loom,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israeli Forces Progress in Fight Against Terror in Khan Younis,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Texas A&M to Close Qatar Campus,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Wounds Hezbollah Commander in Drone Strike,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Biden to Host King of Jordan at White House,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Meta Removes Khamenei’s Instagram and Facebook Accounts,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Threatens Hostages Over Israeli Operation Against Rafah,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: Feb. 9, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report