Israel at War: What happened on day 15?

The air force chief said he “wouldn’t want to swap places with our enemy and face an IDF division or brigade,” as the army continued with its plans for an invasion of Gaza.

Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar’s comments were made on Saturday during a briefing of squadron commanders in preparation for the invasion.

At the briefing, Bar also said the Israel Air Force has struck Hamas with thousands of missiles.

“We will come in with full force and strike them as if [it was] the first day of the battle,” Bar said. “Our role is to ‘embrace’ the land forces and say: ‘The enemy you are about to encounter met us before’” – meaning that the air force had worn down Hamas before the ground forces had to enter.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said, “Gaza is densely populated; the enemy has prepared a lot [for our invasion], but we are also preparing,” during a visit to Golani troops.

Israel Air Force drills with foreign forces in the ''Blue Drill'' exercise in October 2021. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner war cabinet, along with National Unity Party leader and war minister Benny Gantz, also met on Saturday. The content of the meeting is classified.

Earlier Saturday, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said one-fifth of the rockets fired by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have misfired in the last day, landing inside Gaza and killing civilians.

Over the course of the conflict, 550 rockets have been misfired into Gaza by the terror groups. “They are killing their own people,” he said.

The announcement came only a few days after Hamas accused Israel of firing a rocket that struck Gaza’s Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, killing dozens of people. The accusation was quickly dispelled by the IDF and independent, international investigators who found the rocket emanated from a PIJ misfire.

Weekend rockets with few hits

Over the weekend, Hamas continued its rocket fire on Tel Aviv and the Gaza corridor, but with even less success in hitting Israelis or disturbing daily life as compared to many other days in recent weeks.

Hagari said, however, that Israel is continuing to attack Hamas military targets in the northern Gaza Strip in preparation for an imminent ground invasion. Israel planned to enter Gaza last week, but delayed due to a variety of factors, including evacuating civilians, US pressure on humanitarian issues, tactical concerns about Hezbollah’s intention, and traps that Hamas might be setting. He said 700,000 residents had already moved to the southern Gaza Strip.

Hagari also updated the number of soldiers killed and hostages taken. He said Israel had been in touch with the families of 307 fallen soldiers so far. He also raised the number of hostages to 210, noting that the country constantly gathers intelligence and informs families as soon as they know something new.

“That number will continue to change, and we will update you every time we tell a new family” that their loved one has been kidnapped.

On Thursday, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon said a complex array of factors meant that the IDF had high certainty about a majority of its estimates, but that there were dozens or more cases that still required more examination of evidence, DNA testing, and other issues.

Some 765 civilians murdered by Hamas since the start of the war have so far been identified, the police said on Saturday.

The police, the IDF, and volunteers from ZAKA at the casualty identification station in Camp Shora have been working to identify the victims of Hamas’s massacre in the South for the past two weeks. They said the 765 victims who have been so far identified comprise approximately 75% of the Israeli civilians who were killed in the conflict.

Meanwhile, the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) on Saturday arrested 89 wanted terrorists in Judea and Samaria overnight, including 68 members of the Hamas terrorist organization.

Among those arrested were prominent and close associates of Saleh al-Arouri, who, from outside the area, manages military-terrorist networks in the West Bank. These included al-Arouri’s brother and cousin – both members of Hamas – and Abraham Suleiman from Nablus, a prominent Hamas operative and former prisoner.

In addition, the IDF demolished the home of Hamas terrorist Maher Shalon, who carried out the Almog junction shooting attack in February, which killed Israeli-American Elan Ganeles.

During the operation, several suspects threw stones at the forces and fired explosives, prompting the troops to respond with fire. Injuries were reported.

In addition, the army and Shin Bet said forces located and confiscated materials used for manufacturing weapons in the village of Qusra.

Since the start of the conflict on October 7, there have been 670 wanted individuals arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria region, as well as in the Jordan Valley and the Bekaa region, with over 450 affiliated with Hamas, the army said.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. 

An asylum seeker in Britain was arrested after committing a terror attack, according to British media. However, details on the attack are scarce as according to the Telegraph details have been "highly restricted for legal reasons".

However, some details have been published such as that after his arrest, the suspect told police that the attack had been done because "Israel had killed children in Gaza."

British politicians asked why the details of the attack had not been released, a security source at the Telegraph said "They may be downplaying it so that they don’t have repeat attacks or copycat attacks."

Reports that British Ministers also fear a political backlash if the migration crisis in the English Channel is seen to undermine security, may be contributing to the lack of information.

Migrants arrive into the Port of Dover onboard a Border Force vessel after being rescued while crossing the English Channel, in Dover, Britain. (credit: HANNAH MCKAY/ REUTERS)

Terrorism in the United Kingdom 

This would not be the first time that conflicts between Israel and Hamas have inspired terrorism in the United Kingdom.

In March 2023, 59-year-old Munawar Hussain was found guilty after he had attacked women with a knife at a Marks & Spencers store in Lancashire. Fortunately, both the women attacked by Hussain survived the ordeal.

Hussain had selected the store based on the shop’s “Israel links." Additionally, at the time of the attack, Hussain carried a note that read: “O Israel, you are inflicting atrocities on Palestinians and Marks & Spencer is helping you financially.

”Hussain said in court he had launched the attack so “Allah will not be upset with me or angry with me and he will be happy with me,”  the Jewish Chronicle reported.

More recently, since Hamas invaded and attacked Israeli civilians on October 7, the United Kingdom has issued a number of arrests for individuals supporting Hamas. 

Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization in the UK and supporting Hamas can result in a 14 year prison sentence under the Terrorism Act. 

📰 | Anyone carrying or displaying symbols supporting a proscribed organisation can expect to be arrested.

Officers policing a demo in London on Tuesday arrested a man for terrorism offences linked to support for Hamas. The investigation continues. https://t.co/rWOa3FC0Ge

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 20, 2023

Increased threat of Iran-backed terror

This comes several days after Ken McCallum, the head of the UK's domestic security service MI5, said that there was an increased terror threat from Iran-backed attacks.

McCallum clarified that for the most part Iranian activity in the UK was largely limited to targeting the regime's own internal enemies, dissidents, and Farsi media organizations.

"Terrorists can draw inspiration not just from things they see happening inside the UK but things they see happening in the Middle East or on the continent or elsewhere," he said.

" We would be silly not to be paying very close attention."

This comes just weeks after British Foreign Minister James Cleverly ruled out the UK declaring Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group despite its clear and numerous links to Hamas.

Jordan's King Abdullah said in his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday that the forced or internal displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime.

The summit is being held as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people.

More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, amid a growing humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Saturday that he rejected "attempts at forced displacement" of the people of Gaza by Israel.

The summit is being held in Egypt as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, amid a growing humanitarian crisis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet arrested 89 wanted terrorists in Judea and Samaria overnight, including 68 members of the Hamas terrorist organization, it said Saturday afternoon.

Among those arrested were prominent and close associates of Saleh al-Arouri, who handles military-terrorist networks in Judea and Samaria. These included al-Arouri's brother and cousin - both members of Hamas - and Abraham Suleiman from Nablus, a prominent Hamas operative and former prisoner. 

In addition, the IDF demolished the home of Hamas terrorist Maher Shalon who carried out the Almog Junction shooting attack earlier this year that killed Israeli-American Elan Ganeles. 

WATCH: IDF destroys the home of Hamas terrorist Maher Shalon who carried out the Almog Junction shooting attack earlier this year that killed Israeli-American Elan Ganeles.

Full story: https://t.co/FHsuSyjy1H pic.twitter.com/5zPbitbKxZ

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 21, 2023

During the operation, several suspects threw stones at the forces and fired explosives, prompting the troops to respond with fire. Injuries were reported.

IDF nabs materials used for manufacturing weapons

In addition, the army and Shin Bet said forces located and confiscated materials used for manufacturing weapons in the village of Qusra. 

Since the start of the conflict on October 7, 670 wanted individuals have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria region, as well as in the Jordan Valley and the Bekaa region, with over 450 affiliated with the Hamas terrorist organization, the army said.

Israel has focused its efforts since the October 7 Hamas massacre in the Gaza Strip. In addition, rocket escalations have come from Hezbollah in northern Israel. Nonetheless, part of its effort includes arresting Hamas and other operatives in the West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said "we won't leave, we will remain on our land" during his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday.

The summit is being held in Egypt as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, amid a growing humanitarian crisis.

The French Foreign Ministry called for a humanitarian truce to allow the delivery of aid to the civil population in Gaza, following the opening of the Rafah border crossing from Egypt, the ministry said on X on Saturday.

"France commends this first step," the post said.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held an operational situation assessment in the IDF’s 91st Division, together with the division commander, brigade commanders and soldiers stationed in the northern region. 

Gallant was briefed on the deployment of troops along the border and in nearby communities, as well as on defense and counterterrorism activities in the area. 

"Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and is paying a price for it. We must be vigilant and prepare for every possible [scenario]. Great challenges await us," Gallant told the soldiers. "Your duty is to prepare for defense and for anything else that may be required. We are in a war, we had no choice. We will act wherever necessary and we will win this war.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meeting members of the 91st Division, October 21, 2023. (credit: ARIEL HARMONI/DEFENSE MINISTRY)

'We will turn things around 180 degrees'

”Just two weeks ago, Hamas launched a war against us in the south. This war was designed to murder, kidnap, rape and harm children, Holocaust survivors, and women. Moreover, it [the attacks] was documented and published by Hamas, in order to deter the State of Israel," Gallant said. "We will turn thing around 180 degrees - the day of the attack will be remembered as the day that started the final and complete destruction of the Hamas terrorist organization.”

He added that, "The challenges ahead of us may increase, and we have to be ready for any scenario.  The State of Israel, the defense establishment and the IDF are proud of you, and above all, we trust you.”

Gallant later met with mayors and councils in the north and helped them reinforce the authorities for managing the situation on the home front.

The IDF announced on Saturday that it had been in touch with 210 families who had been abducted by Hamas.

"So far, messages have been delivered to the families of 307 IDF martyrs and 210 abductees. Our mission is to return all the abductees home," the IDF said.

An improvised explosive device was thrown just 30 meters away from Israel's embassy in central Nicosia, the Foreign Ministry confirmed Saturday morning. Security was strengthened after the attack, which took place around 1:30 a.m. local time. 

The report said that one person was arrested and three more are under inspection in connection to the attack. It caused no damages or injuries. The suspects have Syrian nationalities, local police told the press. 

"The matter is under investigation by the local authorities in Cyprus," the Foreign Ministry said.

The BBC quietly dropped its policy of referring to Hamas as "militants" on Friday according to British media.

The BBC told the Board of Deputies that it would no longer refer to Hamas as "militants". Instead, it will characterize Hamas as "a proscribed terrorist organization by the UK government and others", or simply as "Hamas".

The change was announced during a meeting between the BBC Director General Tim Davie and the Board of Deputies.

Although Davie announced that Hamas would not longer be referred to as militants he clarified by saying "What the BBC does not do is use the word terrorist without attributing it, nor do we ban words."

"We also confirmed that for some days we had not been using ‘militant’ as a default description for Hamas, as we have been finding this a less accurate description for our audiences as the situation evolves," he continued.

A member of the media walks at the area of Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, October 18, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMMED AL-MASRI)

The change comes just days after the BBC falsely accused Israel of conducting the Al-Ahli Hospital strike, which it claimed had over 500 dead in line with statements made by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

Subsequent investigations showed that the strike was caused by a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad missile and that the death toll had been greatly exaggerated with current estimates saying the dead numbered between 10 and 50.

Critics of the BBC have said that the BBC's total acceptance of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry's figures while dismissing Israeli claims is in contravention of its own editorial guidelines.

Several British publications have questioned whether the move was truly a result of a change of heart or if it was driven by the review of BBC funding which is coming up in the next week. It's speculated that British government ministers are planning to cap the license fee (the source of BBC funding) to the lowest possible rate of inflation. The new fee is expected to be announced in April 2024.

What is the BBC's policy?

John Simpson, who has worked at the BBC since 1970 and as World Affairs Editor since 1988, wrote an article outlining BBC policy in regards to calling groups terrorists.

He says "Terrorism is a loaded word" and that it is not the BBC's job to tell people who are the "good guys" and the "bad guys", this is part of the BBC's founding principle he claims.

He says that the BBC does point out that many governments have declared Hamas a terrorist organization, "that's their business".

"Our business is to present our audiences with the facts, and let them make up their own minds."

Simpson has no problem personally calling the actions of Hamas atrocities, "It's perfectly reasonable to call the incidents that have occurred 'atrocities' because that's exactly what they are."

The quibble arises when the BBC makes it into a statement, he highlights that during the Second World War, "BBC broadcasters were expressly told not to call the Nazis evil or wicked, even though we could and did call them 'the enemy'".

"We don't take sides. We don't use loaded words like 'evil' or 'cowardly'. We don't talk about 'terrorists'." Simpson claims that it is this "objectivity" that makes the BBC a world-renowned and respected media organization. 

However, it is exactly this "objectivity" that led the BBC not to question the actions and statements made by Hamas, one has to question whether the BBC is applying its standards of objectivity fairly or equally.