Israel SitRep: Nov. 27, 2023

Today’s Issue: Third Set of Hostages Return to Israel, Palestinian Security Prisoners Released | Fourth Set of Hostages Scheduled for Release, but Israel Says Negotiations Are Ongoing; Negotiations on Ceasefire Extension Taking Place | Hamas Admits Five Senior Commanders Were Killed by the IDF Prior to Truce | U.S. and Allied Forces Free Tanker Seized in Gulf of Aden; Missiles Later Fired Toward a U.S. Ship and the Tanker | Latest FDD Analysis

Third Set of Hostages Return to Israel, Palestinian Security Prisoners Released: On Sunday evening, 14 Israeli hostages and three Thai citizens held by Hamas were returned to Israel. The 14 Israelis include nine children, two mothers, two other women, and one man — a dual Israeli-Russian citizen released at Vladimir Putin’s request. One of the hostages, 84-year-old Elma Avraham, is in critical condition and is being treated at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. Four-year-old Avigail Idan, a dual Israeli-U.S. citizen, was among those released. The Israel Prison Service on Sunday released 39 Palestinian security prisoners. All are women and minors from the West Bank or East Jerusalem, and all were charged with crimes related to terrorism, though none were convicted of murder. One of the prisoners released, Israa Jaabis, was on her way to Israel to carry out a suicide bombing in 2015 when she was stopped by police. She detonated a gas cylinder in her car, wounding a police officer and sustaining serious injuries herself. She was serving an 11-year prison term.

Fourth Set of Hostages Scheduled for Release, but Israel Says Negotiations Are Ongoing; Negotiations on Ceasefire Extension Taking Place: The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated on Monday that negotiations are still taking place over the list of hostages to be released today. According to reports, Israel is dissatisfied with the list of hostages to be released during the last phase of the initial four-day truce. An Egyptian source says that Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. negotiators are working to extend the truce, which expires today. Israel has again stated that for every additional 10 hostages freed, it will extend the truce by one day and release three times the number of Palestinians, for up to five additional days.

Hamas Admits Five Senior Commanders Were Killed by the IDF Prior to Truce: On Sunday, Hamas acknowledged the deaths of five of its senior commanders at the hands of the IDF. The statement was issued by the group’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The IDF then published a statement saying that before the truce took effect, its aircraft killed five senior Hamas commanders in Gaza: Ahmed Ghandour, commander of the Hamas Northern Gaza Brigade; Aiman Siam, head of the Hamas rocket array; Wael Rajeb, deputy commander of the Hamas Northern Gaza Brigade; Farsan Halifa, a senior operative in the Judea and Samaria headquarters of Hamas; and Rafet Salman, commander of the Combat Assistance Unit in northern Gaza. Ghandour, a U.S. State Department-designated terrorist since 2017, helped plan and carry out the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006. The IDF has already killed most of the others involved in the Shalit abduction.

U.S. and Allied Forces Free Tanker Seized in Gulf of Aden; Missiles Later Fired Toward a U.S. Ship and the Tanker: On Sunday, U.S. and allied forces freed a tanker in the Gulf of Aden with Israeli connections that was seized by “armed individuals.” The Liberian-flagged vessel, Central Park, is managed by a company owned by the Israeli Ofer family. According to an announcement by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday, an “unknown entity” was attacking the ship. After coalition forces demanded its release, five armed individuals attempted to flee in a small boat. The five eventually surrendered after pursuit by the USS Mason. The CENTCOM statement added that in the early morning hours of Monday, Sanaa time, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in the direction of the USS Mason, which helped free the tanker, and the Central Park. The missiles caused no injuries or damage.

Latest FDD Analysis:

“The unmaking of the United Nations,” Clifford D. May, The Washington Times

“Ten things Iran thinks it achieved on Oct. 7 – analysis,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iran, Houthis attack with impunity in Red Sea – analysis,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Fattah 2: Why is Iran showcasing an untested, ‘hypersonic’ missile? – analysis,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iraq parliament speaker accused of ‘normalization’ with Israel,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Three Weeks of Ground War in Gaza,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

“Al Jazeera Must Register as a Foreign Agent of Qatar,” Natalie Ecanow, The Algemeiner

“Israel and Hamas agree to four-day ceasefire for hostage and prisoner exchange,” LWJ Staff, FDD’s Long War Journal

“U.S. military launches second strike in Iraq in response to attacks by Iranian-backed militias,” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, FDD’s Long War Journal

“U.S. Weighs Re-Designating Yemen’s Houthis as Terrorist Group,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief