Israel SitRep: April 22, 2024

Today’s Issue: Aharon Haliva, Head of Military Intelligence, Submits His Resignation | IDF Kills 14 Terrorists and Arrests 15 in Counterterrorism Operation in Nur Shams | Suspect Arrested in West Bank Murder of 14-Year-Old Shepherd | Car-Ramming Attack in Jerusalem Leaves Three Lightly Wounded | Latest FDD Analysis

Aharon Haliva, Head of Military Intelligence, Submits His Resignation: The IDF announced on Monday that Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, head of Aman, the Military Intelligence Directorate, has submitted his resignation as a result of his responsibility for the events of October 7. In a joint decision with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and the approval of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Haliva will retire from the IDF after a replacement is appointed. In a letter to the chief of staff, Haliva wrote: “On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a murderous surprise attack on Israel with difficult and painful results. The Intelligence Directorate, under my command, did not live up to the task with which we were charged.” He added: “When the war began, I told you of my desire to take responsibility and to resign. Now, after more than six months have elapsed … I am asking to resign and to retire from the army.”

IDF Kills 14 Terrorists and Arrests 15 in Counterterrorism Operation in Nur Shams: The IDF on Sunday published a report on its counterterrorism operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank, near Tulkarem, which lasted for some 50 hours and involved large numbers of IDF and Border Police troops from the Haruv reconnaissance unit, Lotar counterterrorism unit, Duvdevan special forces unit, and the Yamas undercover unit. During the operation, troops killed 14 terrorists in close combat, detained 15 suspects, seized a large quantity of weapons, destroyed dozens of explosive devices, and demolished two laboratories for producing explosives. Nine IDF soldiers and one Border Police officer were wounded, some with minor injuries, some moderate. Palestinian media were reporting that Muhammad Jaber, also known as Abu Shuja’a, who commands a Palestinian Islamic Jihad wing in Tulkarem and is wanted by the Palestinian Authority and Israel, was killed in the operation. However, a video later showed him at the funerals of others who were killed.

Suspect Arrested in West Bank Murder of 14-Year-Old Shepherd: The IDF and Shin Bet have arrested a suspect in the murder of 14-year-old Jerusalem resident Binyamin Achimeir, who was tending sheep in the West Bank. According to the police, in the past day there was a “significant development” in the investigation, and overnight, troops raided the village of Duma in the West Bank and arrested Ahmed Dawabsha, 21. At the beginning of Dawabsha’s interrogation, he implicated himself in the murder, which took place ten days ago near the Malachei Shalom outpost, located near Ramallah. Achimeir’s body was discovered the next day. Dawabsha’s interrogation is continuing.

Car-Ramming Attack in Jerusalem Leaves Three Lightly Wounded: On Monday morning, two terrorists carried out a car-ramming attack in Jerusalem, lightly wounding three people. A video of the attack shows a car slamming into a group of three men, throwing two of them into the air. The two terrorists then exited their car holding a Carlo submachine gun and attempted unsuccessfully to fire the weapon, then fled as they abandoned it. Jerusalem police and Border Police officers were called to the scene and carried out widespread searches, including with a helicopter. The two attackers were later apprehended hiding in a closed store. Police Commissioner Yaacov Shabtai led a situation assessment at the scene of the attack.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Israel’s secret weapon,” Mark Dubowitz, Daily Mail

“Iran’s Nuclear Calculus Has Now Become More Dangerous,” Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh, The Wall Street Journal

“Jerusalem and Tehran Consider Their Options,” Clifford D. May, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Bradley Bowman, Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Iran’s Oil Exports Continue to Rise,” Saeed Ghasseminejad, FDD Policy Brief

“Israel contends with rocket fire, pushes more aid to Gaza,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“A Jihad for Knowledge,” Behnam Ben Taleblu and Ali Alfoneh, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Israel Carried Out Strikes in Iran, U.S. Officials Say,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Threatened to Reevaluate Nonproliferation Obligations if Israel Attacked Atomic Facilities,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Turkish Flotilla to Set Sail for Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Forces Kill 14 Terrorists in West Bank Raid,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Claims to Target Multiple Sites in Northern Israel,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief