Israel SitRep: March 18, 2024

Today’s Issue: IDF Raids Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Calls on Area Residents to Evacuate | At Weekly Israeli Cabinet Meeting, Netanyahu Rejects International Pressure to End the War | IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi Gives Update on 163rd Day of War | Amid Escalating West Bank Tensions, Troops Arrest 14 in Overnight Raids | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Raids Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Calls on Area Residents to Evacuate: The IDF carried out an overnight raid at Shifa Hospital in central Gaza, encircling the hospital and immediately engaging in an exchange of fire. According to a press briefing by IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the operation was based on intelligence showing that Shifa was being used by senior Hamas operatives “to command attacks against Israel.” Elite IDF units entered the hospital, arresting some 80 suspects and killing others. The IDF released footage showing shots being fired at soldiers from several hospital buildings and said that soldiers hit several terrorists in exchanges of fire. IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a call to people in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City and in the hospital and its environs to evacuate the area immediately and head to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone located on the coast of southern Gaza. In Hagari’s press briefing, he stated that the IDF would provide “food, water, and other supplies” to Shifa patients and that its forces include doctors “to assist those in need” and Arabic speakers to enable communication with patients.

At Weekly Israeli Cabinet Meeting, Netanyahu Rejects International Pressure to End the War: On Sunday, at the start of the Israeli Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement rejecting pressure from Western governments to end the war and insisting that Israel will undertake an operation in Rafah. Noting that “international pressure is increasing” and that some in the international community are attempting to end the war now, before Israel has achieved all of its objectives, the prime minister accused them of “hurling false accusations at the IDF, the Government of Israel and the Prime Minister of Israel” in an effort to bring about elections in order to “halt the war and paralyze the country.” Netanyahu stated, “If we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, this means that Israel will have lost the war, and this we will not allow,” adding: “Therefore, we cannot, and will not, succumb to this pressure.” The statement noted that Israel will operate in Rafah because this is necessary “to eliminate Hamas’s murderous brigades” and it is “the only way to use the military pressure necessary to free all of our hostages.”

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi Gives Update on 163rd Day of War: On Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi gave an update on the first 163 days of the war, stating that the IDF still has “a long way to go until the goals of the war are achieved.” He noted that in northern Gaza, the army is returning to areas in which it operated previously, using different methods and new intelligence, killing Hamas operatives, and destroying infrastructure. In Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the army is focusing its efforts on dismantling Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade and has captured a large number of high-ranking terror operatives for interrogation, killing many as well. Halevi added that those who are still alive are having trouble operating. He also referred to the IDF’s strike on Marwan Issa, deputy head of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, stating that “Hamas is trying very hard to hide” his fate, and adding that the IDF “will continue the effort to eliminate the senior officials,” which he called “a major goal in the war.”

Amid Escalating West Bank Tensions, Troops Arrest 14 in Overnight Raids: The IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police arrested 14 in overnight raids in the West Bank. In the Dheisheh refugee camp, two wanted individuals were arrested and many suspects were interrogated. Troops found a pistol in Yatta and another in Hawara. In Beitunia and in Al-Bireh, troops arrested a total of three individuals wanted for incitement to terror. Some 3,500 wanted persons have been arrested since the start of the war, more than 1,500 of them affiliated with Hamas. In a related development, Israeli security officials are concerned about possible escalation in the West Bank, where there have been incidents of terrorists luring troops to a specific location and then activating an explosive device. Last week, seven IDF soldiers were wounded by a remotely activated explosive device. On Saturday, a Hamas operative armed with an AK-47 rifle shot at Israeli residents of Hebron and was shot by security forces. Some of the incidents have been filmed by the terrorists, with the footage going viral.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, FDD Event

“Ali Khamenei’s Nuclear Ambitions and Weapons of Mass Distraction,” Clifford D. May, Mark Dubowitz, and Eyal Hulata, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Biden continues Iran’s access to $10 billion just weeks after its proxy killed three American soldiers,” Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“The Big Lies About Israel’s Big Bombs,” David Adesnik and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Commentary

“The Campus Antisemite’s Secret Weapon,” Antonette Bowman, Real Clear Education

“They don’t pass out candy in war, but they do air-drop meals,” Bill Roggio and Behnam Ben Taleblu, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“South African Foreign Minister Vows to Arrest Returning Israeli Soldiers,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Eyes Rafah Offensive, New Hostage Talks,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“IDF Strikes Terrorists in Response to Rocket Fire From Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Gaza-Born Israeli Citizen Commits Terror Attack,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Netanyahu: Halting Gaza War Means Losing It,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: March 15, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report