Israel at War: What happened on day 39?

The IDF is currently undergoing operations on Al-Shifa Hospital early Wednesday morning, according to an IDF statement.

"Based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Al-Shifa Hospital," the IDF statement said.

"The IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians," the statement continued.

"The operation was preceded by an effort to evacuate the hospital from the sick and homeless and even opened a special passageway from it. The hospital management was informed ahead of time about the (IDF) entrance to the complex... Incubators, medical equipment, and baby food are expected to be transferred to the hospital," the statement continued.

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike near the Indonesian Hospital that ran out of fuel and electricity, in the northern Gaza Strip, November 12, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Anas al-Shareef)

Gaza's health ministry spokesperson warned early Wednesday morning of a potential Israeli raid on the enclave's Al Shifa hospital complex, saying Israel informed Gaza health officials that its forces would raid the facility – something the IDF statement seemed to confirm.

Al-Shifa Hospital's terror infrastructure

United States National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have used some Gaza hospitals to store weapons, hold hostages, and are prepared to fight the IDF from medical facilities.

“We have information that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad used some hospitals in the Gaza Strip including Al-Shifa and tunnels underneath them to conceal and to support their military operations and to hold hostages,” Kirby said.

“Hamas and the PIJ members operate a command and control node from Al-Shifa in Gaza City. They have stored weapons there and they are prepared to respond to an Israeli military operation against that facility," Kirby continued.

Défense Minister Yoav Gallant completed a situational assessment in which he emphasized the progress of IDF soldiers in fighting in Gaza.

"The IDF forces work according to a plan and carry out the missions with precision, lethality and in coordination between the air, sea and land forces, using precise intelligence," Gallant said. 

"There is no power that Hamas has that is capable of stopping the IDF," he said. "The IDF is advancing to every point. Hamas has lost control of Gaza, terrorists are fleeing south, civilians are looting Hamas bases, and they have no confidence in the government."

Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners for Israeli women and children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported on Monday citing an unnamed high-ranking Israeli official.

The armed wing of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas said on Monday it told Qatari mediators the group was ready to release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in return for a five-day truce with Israel.

"Last week, there was an effort from the Qatari brothers to release the enemy captives from women and children, in return for the release of 200 Palestinian children and 75 women detained by the enemy," Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, said in an audio recording posted on the group's Telegram channel.

"The truce should include a complete ceasefire and allow aid and humanitarian relief everywhere in the Gaza Strip," he said.

Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners for Israeli women and children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported on Monday citing an unnamed high-ranking Israeli official.

The IDF published the names of another two IDF soldiers killed in Gaza. The names were released by the IDF on Tuesday morning, after the families of the soldiers had been informed.

One of the fallen soldiers, Staff Sergeant Roee Marom, 21, of Ra’anana, was a squad commander in the 906th battalion of the School for Infantry Corps Professions and Squad Commanders, also known as the Bislamach Brigade.

He fell in combat in northern Gaza.

The other fallen soldier, Raz Abulafia, 27, from Rishpon, was a soldier in the 6863rd battalion of the 12th division. He was killed serving in northern Gaza. 

The IDF demolished the home of one of the Hamas terrorists who conducted the shooting attack in Eli in which four Israelis were killed on Monday night.

🔴مراسل صفا: جانب اخر من لحظة تفجير منزل الشهيد مهند شحادة في قرية عوريف جنوب نابلس، والذي يتهمه الاحتلال بتنفيذ عملية "عيلي" والتي أسفرت عن مقتل 4 مستوطنين قبل عدة أشهر. pic.twitter.com/sNn7321Rhh

— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) November 14, 2023

According to Palestinian media, Israeli forces entered the town of Urif, south of Nablus, and demolished the home of Muhannad Shehadeh, one of the two terrorists who conducted the shooting aytack in June. The home of the second terrorist was demolished by the IDF in October.

IDF Chief Spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari revealed late Monday night an underground Hamas command center under the Rantisi Hospital which not only contained suicide vests, rocket-propelled grenades, and a variety of weapons but also signs, such as baby bottles, that Hamas had held Israeli hostages there.

He said there was evidence and independent separate intelligence that Hamas terrorists had returned directly to the hospital after their attacks and mass murders of Israelis on October 7.

Next, he noted that an IDF robot found additional terror tunnels, including electricity being siphoned off from the hospital for use by the terrorists underground.

A video showed the basement of the hospital which showed a location disconnected from the rest of the hospital where the significant terror explosives and armaments were kept.

The IDF is coordinating the transfer of incubators for newborns from an Israeli hospital to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, the IDF stated early on Tuesday morning.

The announcement comes as the IDF conducts an ongoing effort to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gazan hospital. 

“The IDF remains committed to upholding its moral and professional responsibilities to distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists,” the IDF spokesperson said. “The IDF is willing to work with any reliable mediating party to ensure the transfer of the incubators.”

IDF soldiers of the Golani Brigade shared a historic photo on Monday showing the Israeli flag inside the Hamas parliament building in Gaza.

In the moving picture, the team of soldiers can be seen proudly waving Israeli flags in the terrorist organization's legislative council building.

בניין המועצה המחוקקת (הפרלמנט) בלב העיר עזה: עד ה-7 באוקטובר - סמל מרכזי לשליטת חמאס במערכת הפלסטינית, והתמונה היום - לאחר שהאתר נכבש ע"י לוחמי גולני. ההשתלטות על המבנה מהווה הסמל הבולט ביותר עד כה לערעור ממשל חמאס ברצועה. pic.twitter.com/To1qfByiwL

— מיכאל Michael Milshtein/ميخائيل ميلشطاين (@michael_mils) November 13, 2023

Hezbollah’s recent surge in threats against Israel has reached an unprecedented pace, with Sunday standing out as one of the worst days since October 7 in terms of Israelis wounded. This heightened level of violence is particularly alarming, with both soldiers and civilians falling victim to attacks in the North.

The significance of these events lies not only in the toll they take but in the clear message they convey: Hezbollah remains undeterred, confident in its ability to strike Israel at will, choosing both the time and place for its attacks. To exacerbate matters, Hezbollah has broadened its strategy by enlisting other Iranian-backed proxies, notably empowering Hamas to launch assaults from Lebanon, thereby elevating the specter of a two-front war.

Israel’s immediate and primary objective is to concentrate efforts on defeating Hamas in Gaza. The urgency stems from the devastating massacre orchestrated by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the death of some 1,200 people and 239 held hostage. The imperative is clear: Israel must decisively defeat Hamas and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, and this remains the central focus without succumbing to distractions.

However, Hezbollah’s attacks are not merely a distraction. The toll is felt beyond the immediate battleground, with more than 40 communities and a city in northern Israel forced to evacuate. The displaced residents now find themselves in hotels and guest houses, their lives dramatically upended, with makeshift study areas becoming the norm for schoolchildren.

This upheaval is not lost on Iran, Hezbollah, and its various tentacles.