Israel SitRep: May 8, 2024

Today’s Issue: IDF Spokesman: Fighting in Rafah Is ‘Precise’ Operation, Humanitarian Aid Being Increased | 18 Rockets Fired from Gaza, Six at Kerem Shalom Crossing | Israeli Forces Continue Operation in Rafah, Killing Terrorists and Destroying Terror Infrastructure | IDF Carries Out West Bank Raids, Including Lengthy Operation in Tulkarem | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Spokesman: Fighting in Rafah Is ‘Precise’ Operation, Humanitarian Aid Being Increased: On Tuesday evening, IDF International Spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani gave a video briefing about the IDF’s operation in Rafah, stating that on Monday night, IDF ground troops started “a precise, intelligence-based counterterrorism operation” in “limited areas in eastern Rafah.” According to Shoshani, the army has used phone calls, text messages, flyers, and media broadcasts to urge people in eastern Rafah to move temporarily to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone. He stated that the IDF has “coordinated an increase” in food, water, medicine, field hospitals, and tents, noting that “the quick movement of civilians away from areas that were under Hamas’s control enabled us to advance.” During the operation, IDF soldiers killed 20 terrorists, destroyed an “explosive vehicle,” and found “terror tunnel shafts,” and the army established control of the Rafah crossing on the Gazan side. Shoshani added: “Our mission remains the same: to bring home 132 hostages and to dismantle Hamas capabilities across Gaza.”

18 Rockets Fired from Gaza, Six at Kerem Shalom Crossing: On Tuesday, the Iron Dome intercepted five of 12 rockets fired from the Rafah area toward Re’im in southern Israel, and the other seven fell in open areas. Less than an hour later, Israeli Air Force fighter jets destroyed the launcher from which the rockets were fired. Earlier on Tuesday, six rockets were fired at the Kerem Shalom area from southern Gaza, causing no casualties. According to an IDF statement, “These projectiles prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” The statement added: “The IDF will continue to operate to enable the necessary security conditions to reopen the Kerem Shalom Crossing to provide humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians.” On Wednesday morning, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating aid for Gaza, announced that the Kerem Shalom crossing was reopened, and the IDF noted that “trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid are already arriving at the crossing,” adding that the Erez Crossing is also open to allow aid to enter Gaza.

Israeli Forces Continue Operation in Rafah, Killing Terrorists and Destroying Terror Infrastructure: On Wednesday, the IDF said that its troops — led by the 162nd Division, with guidance from the Shin Bet and Aman military intelligence — are continuing the pinpoint operation in eastern Rafah against Hamas. In the past day, soldiers from the 401st Brigade and the Givati Brigade had a number of clashes with terrorists, killing them and finding terrorist infrastructure along with tunnel shafts in various locations in the area. They also began the process of destroying the infrastructures and tunnel shafts. In one incident, Givati Brigade soldiers killed a man who was carrying an RPG. Troops from the 401st Brigade are also continuing to conduct raids on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing after intelligence indicated that the area is being used for terrorist activities. In addition, over the past day, Israeli Air Force aircraft have destroyed more than 100 terrorist targets in Gaza, including lookout posts, launching posts, military buildings, and other military infrastructures.

IDF Carries Out West Bank Raids, Including Lengthy Operation in Tulkarem: The IDF on Tuesday announced the completion of an overnight operation in the West Bank city of Tulkarem that lasted for more than 20 hours. In the operation, troops from the Duvdevan special forces unit, the Haruv reconnaissance unit, the Border Police, and the Shin Bet destroyed three laboratories for manufacturing explosives, and engineering soldiers found a number of IEDs that were buried under roads. During an exchange of fire, troops killed one armed man and made six arrests, also seizing dozens of gun parts and military equipment and searching more than 60 buildings. In the West Bank city of al-Dhahiriya, troops arrested a man who assisted the terrorist who carried out the attack in Gan Yavneh. In the Huwara area, troops arrested one and confiscated tens of thousands of shekels in terrorist funds. Some 4,000 wanted persons have been arrested since the start of the war, about 1,700 of them members of Hamas.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), FDD Event

“The ICC Had Better Be Ready to Reap the Whirlwind,” Richard Goldberg, The Wall Street Journal

“Biden may be holding up ammo to Israel — Congress must stop him,” Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“Israel’s boiling point (BONUS: Joe goes to a “protest”),” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“IDF asks Gazans to evacuate eastern Rafah ahead of offensive,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“IAEA Chief’s Visit to Iran Fails to Sway Tehran on Nuclear Cooperation,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“IDF Takes Control of Gaza Side of Rafah Crossing,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Ongoing Hezbollah Attacks Have Killed 22 Israelis Since October 7,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief