Israel SitRep: April 12, 2024

Today’s Issue: IDF Eliminates Hamas Jabalya Internal Security Head and Hamas Military Wing Commander | IDF Eliminates Head of Hamas’s Terror Infrastructure in West Bank Town of Tubas | March-April IDF Recruitment Figures Show High Levels of Enlistment |

IDF Eliminates Hamas Jabalya Internal Security Head and Hamas Military Wing Commander: On Thursday, the Israeli Air Force, working with the Shin Bet and the IDF’s Gaza Division, eliminated Radwan Muhammad Abdullah Radwan, Hamas’s head of internal security in the Jabalya area in northern Gaza and an operative in Hamas’s military wing as well. According to the IDF, Radwan gave orders to Hamas operatives and directed several attacks by armed men on humanitarian aid trucks in the northern Gaza Strip, and his death harms the organization’s ability to take over humanitarian aid in the Jabalya area. In addition, Hamed Muhammad Ali Ahmed, a commander in Hamas’s military wing who was also in charge of operations in Hamas’s internal security in Jabalya, was eliminated yesterday along with a Hamas operative from the Jabalya Battalion.

IDF Continues Targeted Operation in Central Gaza, IAF Strikes More Than 60 Targets: The Nahal Brigade, the 401st Armored Brigade, and other units of the IDF’s 162nd Division are continuing their targeted operation in central Gaza, on the outskirts of the Nuseirat camp, to eliminate terrorists and destroy terrorist infrastructure. In the past day, soldiers killed several terrorists in close combat and through airstrikes. They also found and destroyed underground launch sites and several launchers that were ready for use. IDF troops also raided terrorist infrastructures in which they found military equipment belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israeli Air Force jets have struck more than 60 terrorist targets in Gaza in the past day, including military buildings and terror infrastructures, and the 215th Artillery Regiment has hit terror infrastructures with artillery fire.

IDF Eliminates Head of Hamas’s Terror Infrastructure in West Bank Town of Tubas: In an overnight operation, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police eliminated Muhammad Omar Daraghmeh, who was in charge of Hamas’s terror infrastructure in Tubas in the West Bank. According to the IDF, Daraghmeh, a major Hamas operative in the area, shot at troops during the operation and they returned fire, killing him. Soldiers confiscated a large quantity of weapons from Daraghmeh’s car, including guns and other military equipment. During the operation, other terrorists threw explosive devices at the soldiers and shot at them, and they returned fire. Another terrorist who attempted to attack the soldiers was also killed. Two wanted men were arrested, soldiers seized weapons, and troops discovered explosive devices buried under roads. IDF soldiers also arrested five wanted persons in the West Bank overnight.

March-April IDF Recruitment Figures Show High Levels of Enlistment: In the wake of the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza, the IDF’s March-April recruitment figures show record enlistment of female soldiers, high levels of recruitment for men, and a large demand for slots in the Combat Engineering Corps (22 percent more than originally planned for) and the Armored Corps (9 percent more). Young women are enlisting in large numbers in the Border Police (39 percent more than anticipated), the Artillery Corps (95 percent more), the Border Defense Corps’ light infantry units (58 percent more), and the search and rescue battalions of the Home Front Command (70 percent more). They are also enlisting in combat units in unprecedented numbers — 57 percent more than the army anticipated.

Latest FDD Analysis:

“Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Conricus and Emily Schrader, FDD Event

“How Iran Is Causing Chaos Beyond Just Israel and Palestine,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, The Daily Beast

“Danger knocking on the door of Lebanon’s Christians once again,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Arab News

“MSCI ESG Ratings May Violate State Anti-BDS Laws,” Richard Goldberg, FDD Policy Brief

“Hezbollah’s expected Response to IRGC-QF Gen. Mohammad Zahedi’s killing,” David Daoud, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israel’s Defense Minister details new humanitarian focus in Gaza,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Turkey Initiates Trade War With Israel,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel to Open New Aid Corridor Into Northern Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief