Israel SitRep: April 5, 2024

Today’s Issue: IDF Publishes Findings on Deaths of World Central Kitchen Aid Workers | IDF Continues Khan Younis Operations, IAF Strikes More Than 30 Gaza Targets | In Overnight West Bank Raids, Troops Arrest 13, Interrogate Suspects | Police and the Shin Bet Investigate Terror Plot Targeting Jerusalem | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Publishes Findings on Deaths of World Central Kitchen Aid Workers: The IDF on Friday released the findings of an investigation into the drone strike that killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen organization on April 1. According to the findings of the investigation, carried out by the General Staff’s Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, troops targeted the trucks in the aid convoy “based on the misclassification of the event and misidentification of the vehicles as having Hamas operatives inside them.” During the incident, IDF soldiers identified first one gunman, then another, in one of the trucks in the convoy. After the trucks unloaded their cargo at a warehouse, an IDF commander “mistakenly assumed” that the two were inside the trucks and did not realize that the trucks were from the WCK. The IDF stated that “the strikes on the three vehicles were carried out in serious violation of the commands and IDF Standard Operating Procedures,” adding: “Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees.” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi reviewed the findings and decided to dismiss two senior officers and reprimand three other top commanders.

IDF Continues Khan Younis Operations, IAF Strikes More Than 30 Gaza Targets: The IDF’s 98th Division is continuing operations in Khan Younis, where soldiers from the 7th Brigade’s combat team found military equipment and destroyed a booby-trapped building with tank fire as well as an underground terror infrastructure. At the same time, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes in the area, killing two terrorists inside a military building. Commandos eliminated several terrorists through airstrikes and tank fire and found weapons. Givati Brigade soldiers are continuing operations in the area of the Al-Amal neighborhood of Khan Younis, where they found IEDs and grenades. The 215th Artillery Regiment responded to projectiles fired from Gaza toward Ashkelon, Sderot, and Kfar Aza with artillery fire at the launch areas in northern Gaza. IAF fighter jets also struck several targets in the launch areas. In the past day, IAF jets have struck more than 30 targets in Gaza, including tunnel shafts, weapons depots, military buildings, and government buildings.

In Overnight West Bank Raids, Troops Arrest 13, Interrogate Suspects: In overnight West Bank raids, forces from the IDF, the Border Police, and the Shin Bet made 13 arrests. In Fahma, several terrorists shot at Haruv Reconnaissance Unit soldiers, who returned fire. During the operation, troops interrogated a large number of suspects. In Tulkarem, a terrorist threw explosive devices at Border Police soldiers, who shot and killed him. Troops also arrested three wanted persons suspected of terror activity. In Yatta, soldiers arrested five wanted individuals and found weapons. In Nablus, Kafr Malik, and Beita, another four wanted persons were arrested. Some 3,700 wanted persons have been arrested since the start of the war, about 1,600 of them members of Hamas.

Police and the Shin Bet Investigate Terror Plot Targeting Jerusalem: In the past month, the Shin Bet and the Jerusalem police have been investigating a plot to carry out attacks with a firearm and an explosive device. Two men who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and planned to carry out attacks against a police station in East Jerusalem have been arrested. They were also planning an attack near Teddy Stadium in West Jerusalem. Their original plan was to place a bomb there, but when they were unable to prepare it, they decided to carry out a shooting attack. The two connected with another man, who persuaded them to travel abroad for training, first to Africa, then to Iraq and Syria. A fourth man was arrested later in connection with the case.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

Video, audio, and transcript: “Turkey’s Local Elections: Outcome and Implications,” Guldem Atabay, Sinan Ciddi, Howard Eissenstat, Atilla Yesilada, Yavuz Baydar, and Jonathan Schanzer, FDD Event

“The Urgent Need for UN Reform,” Alan Goldsmith, FDD Memo

“Post-Erdogan Turkey Is Finally Here,” Steven A. Cook and Sinan Ciddi, Foreign Policy

“Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: April,” edited by John Hardie, FDD Tracker

“Is global jihad having a ‘comeback’? “They never left, bro.” Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Israel’s multi-front war takes shape,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israel beefs up air defenses, calls on reservists as Iran vows to avenge IRGC assassinations,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israel on Alert for Iranian Strikes After Damascus Blast,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Rejects Another Ceasefire Offer,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Apprehends Terror Cell That Plotted Attacks on Government Official,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief