Israel SitRep: December 23, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Plans to Stay in Syrian Mount Hermon Through Winter, Racing to Complete Preparations | Two Jerusalem Men Indicted for Providing Information to Hezbollah; Nazareth Man Indicted in Separate Case | IDF Removing Unexploded Ordnance, Military Equipment, and Debris in Northern Israel to Enable Residents’ Safe Return | COGAT: 1,025 Aid Trucks Entered Gaza Over Past Week; Northern Gaza Patients Transferred to Other Hospitals | Latest FDD Analysis  

IDF Plans to Stay in Syrian Mount Hermon Through Winter, Racing to Complete Preparations: Israeli news website Ynet reports that the IDF is preparing to remain in the Syrian part of Mount Hermon, where Israeli troops have been stationed since the fall of the Assad regime, at least until the end of winter and is racing to complete preparations before the weather gets worse. The IDF is transporting tons of equipment and construction materials for two main outposts. One, at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet, will have reinforced buildings that can withstand snowfalls up to about 20 feet and will serve as barracks for soldiers. The second outpost will be a base near the summit of Mount Hermon, at over 9,000 feet, where there is an outpost that the Syrian army abandoned when the Assad regime fell. The IDF is cleaning and painting the compound there, repairing infrastructure, installing communications systems, an enormous water tank, and de-icing systems for military equipment, and will be bringing in a snow-melting machine. Both outposts will have hypothermia treatment facilities for soldiers who may require them.

Two Jerusalem Men Indicted for Providing Information to Hezbollah; Nazareth Man Indicted in Separate Case: On Sunday, two Jerusalem residents in their 30s were charged with providing information to Hezbollah during the war. The indictment states that Taar Asili and Abd al-Salam Qawasameh were in touch with Hezbollah operative “Diana” through WhatsApp and that even after discovering her connection to Hezbollah, they provided her with information. Asili sent “Diana” articles about the Israeli security situation, while Qawasameh sent her photos of Caesaria, the town where Prime Minister Netanyahu’s home is located. In addition, the indictment alleges that Asili bought a SIM card to make contact with a senior Hezbollah intelligence officer. Both men have been charged with contacting a foreign agent, as well as passing information to the enemy. Qawasameh, who was photographed with an assault rifle, has also been indicted on weapons charges. In a separate case, Nazareth resident Muhammad Saadi, 19, was indicted last Thursday for providing Hezbollah with information during the war. According to the Shin Bet and the Israel Police, Saadi was in touch with Hezbollah in recent years and was hoping to join the group.

IDF Removing Unexploded Ordnance, Military Equipment, and Debris in Northern Israel to Enable Residents’ Safe Return: The IDF on Sunday reported on an “extensive” operation it is carrying out in northern Israel to remove military equipment, unexploded ordnance, and debris in order to enable residents to return to their homes. Engineering and other troops are deployed in more than 40 towns in northern Israel as well as civilian areas and are cleaning up debris, removing military equipment, and using engineering tools to clear unexploded ordnance. The IDF says that the Northern Command’s Logistics and Home Front Divisions, working with their civilian counterparts and in close cooperation with local governments, have been working for more than a year to create the conditions for northern residents to return home.

COGAT: 1,025 Aid Trucks Entered Gaza Over Past Week; Northern Gaza Patients Transferred to Other Hospitals: On Sunday, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, published a weekly humanitarian aid update, noting that 1,025 trucks with food, water, shelter equipment, and medical supplies entered Gaza in the past week, while “aid organizations and the international community” collected 1,076 truckloads of goods from the crossings between Israel and Gaza and distributed them to warehouses and shelters. COGAT also reported on “medical response efforts” for northern Gaza hospitals after the IDF and health officials requested that these hospitals be evacuated. On Friday, in coordination with the World Health Organization, 87 patients, along with caregivers and “other individuals,” were transferred to other Gaza hospitals, while 16 patients and caregivers were transferred from Al Awda Hospital in coordination with the Red Cross. In addition, a delivery of 5,000 liters of fuel was made to Kamal Adwan Hospital.

Latest FDD Analysis:

“What Does Regime Change in Syria Change?” Clifford D. May, Jonathan Schanzer, Reuel Marc Gerecht, and Michael Doran, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: December,” John Hardie et al., FDD’s Foreign Policy Tracker

“The Options We Face in Syria – And What’s Good for Israel,” Eyal Hulata, Ynet News

“Welcome to ‘Paddystine’,’ Ben Cohen, Jewish News Syndicate

“Too Little, Too Late, By Biden on Iran,” Janatan Sayeh, Behnam Ben Taleblu, and Saeed Ghasseminejad, Real Clear Defense

“Turkey’s Overreach in Syria: Erdogan Is ‘Playing with Fire’,” Sinan Ciddi, 1945

“‘Slip of the Tongue’: Turkey Denies Ceasefire Deal with Kurds, as Erdogan Teases Expansionism,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Student Intifada’: FBI Arrests George Mason Student Plotting Mass Casualty Attack on NYC Israeli Consulate,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Crisis of Confidence’: Sweden Eliminates UNRWA Funding Despite Nearly Doubling Gaza Aid for 2025,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘We’ll Strike Without Hesitation’: Israel Warns Syria Factions Over Arms Smuggling,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: December 20, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report