Israel-Hamas War: What happened on Day 98?

Over 700 of Hamas’s rocket launchers have been destroyed since the beginning of the war, the IDF announced on Friday afternoon. This has limited Hamas’s launching capabilities, the IDF said, which is expected to reduce risks to civilian populations in Israel.

Many of the rockets and launchers had been located and destroyed by IDF soldiers operating within the Gaza Strip and during targeted airstrikes. 

Weapons in civilian areas

The 100th Squadron, during an aerial intelligence gathering mission, identified Hamas terrorists firing from within a school and a mosque in the Gaza Strip. The squadron neutralized the launchers in both locations.

Footage of the IAF airstrikes was subsequently released released.

In a similar situation, forces from the Golani Brigade located loaded and ready-to-launch rocket launchers that Hamas had stored within a cemetery. Again, the soldiers neutralized the weapons. 

Rocket launchers located by the Golani Brigade (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

The IDF stressed that Hamas endangers both Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives by indiscriminately firing rockets at Israelis from rocket launchers located inside Gazan civilian buildings, including schools, mosques and residences. In past occasions, rockets launched by Hamas within the Strip have landed on civilian Palestinian populations.

In October, a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group landed on a hospital in Gaza, endangering the lives of Palestinian healthcare workers and patients. Similar misfires occurred in August when a PIJ rocket fell next to a clinic in Jabalya, killing two Palestinians.

Numerous groups, including Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem, have also in the past stated that Hamas's firing of rockets aimed indiscriminately at Israeli civilian populations is a war crime. 

In a 2021 report, HRW said, "The rockets and mortars that Palestinian armed groups fired lack guidance systems and are prone to misfire, making them extremely inaccurate and thus inherently indiscriminate when directed toward areas with civilians. Launching such rockets to attack civilian areas is a war crime.

"Hamas authorities should stop trying to justify unlawful rocket attacks that indiscriminately kill and injure civilians by pointing to Israel's violations," Eric Goldstein, HRW acting Middle East and North Africa director, said at the time, according to the BBC. "The laws of war are meant to protect all civilians from harm."

Reuters and Tzvi Joffree contributed to this report.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will make a statement to parliament on Monday about strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen, but there are no plans to hold a vote on support for the military action, his spokesperson said.

The United States and Britain launched strikes from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in response to the movement's attacks on ships in the Red Sea, a dramatic regional widening of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Asked if there were would be a retrospective vote on the strikes, Sunak's spokesperson said on Friday: "There are no plans for that. As we've said the deployment of armed forces is a prerogative power, and the government is under no legal obligation to seek formal parliamentary approval."

Following the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Jewish day schools and yeshivas in North America have experienced a historic influx, enrolling over 1,000 temporary Israeli students, a significant indicator of the changing educational landscape.

In the comprehensive Enrollment Trend Report released in January, key statistics paint a vivid picture of the educational shifts following the conflict. Authored by experts Amy Adler, Odelia Epstein, and Beth Rivkind, the report covers the period from October 2023 to December 8th, 2023, analyzing responses from 110 schools across the United States and Canada.

A notable finding is the nearly doubled number of inquiries from temporary Israeli students compared to the last report. "Ninety-five percent of schools reported receiving inquiries and/or enrollment from temporary Israeli students interested in transferring on a short-term basis to a Jewish day school," the study noted. This led to over 1,000 temporary Israeli students enrolling in the surveyed schools.

The report also highlighted an emerging trend of mid-year transfer interest from public and independent school students. This indicates a broader shift in educational preferences, possibly influenced by the geopolitical climate.

Furthermore, the schools' response to this influx has been immediate. Jewish day schools and yeshivas have swiftly adapted to accommodate these new students. The report commended the schools for their resilience and the community-driven approach in providing comprehensive support for the incoming students and their families.

The involvement of local Jewish organizations has been pivotal in this transition. 

In addition, thirty-nine percent of schools reported inquiries and or enrollment from public school students interested in transferring mid-year.

The top reasons schools reported that public school transfer families provided for transferring were: Wanting their child(ren) to be in a Jewish environment (73%); Fear of antisemitism in school or community (68%); Response from their current school around the war in Israel (32%); Twenty percent of schools reported receiving inquiries and or enrollment from independent school students interested in transferring midyear.

Top reasons schools reported that independent school transfer families provided for transferring were: Wanting their child(ren) to be in a Jewish environment (80%); Response from their current school around the war in Israel (50%), and fear of antisemitism in school or community (40%).

Turkey is providing documents for a case brought by South Africa against Israel at the UN's top court on a charge of committing genocide against Palestinian civilians, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, Erdogan said that Turkey will continue to provide documents, mostly visuals, on Israel's attacks on Gaza.

"I believe that Israel will be convicted there. We believe in the justice of the International Court of Justice," Erdogan said.

South Africa's Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, told Israeli reporters that "the arguments of the Israelis in The Hague are not convincing," Maariv reported Friday.
 

Jordan said on Friday Israeli "war crimes" against Palestinians were to blame for heightened regional tension and violence in the Red Sea, which it said threatened to ignite a wider war in the Middle East.

Israel, which since October has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has denied allegations that it has committed war crimes.

In comments after the United States and Britain launched strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the movement's attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the international community has failed to act to stop Israeli "aggression" against Palestinians which was endangering the region's security.

"The Israeli aggression on Gaza and its continued committing of war crimes against the Palestinian people and violating international law with impunity is responsible for the rising tensions witnessed in the region," Safadi said in remarks carried by state media.

Smoke rises during an explosion in central Gaza, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, January 9, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

The stability of the region and its security were closely tied, Safadi said.

"The international community is at a humanitarian, moral, legal and security crossroads. Either it shoulders its responsibilities and ends Israel's arrogant aggression and protect civilians, or allows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist ministers to drag us to a regional war that threatens world peace," Safadi said.

He said Israel was pushing the region towards more conflict "by continuing its aggression and its attempt to open new fronts," and that Israeli military actions against civilians in Gaza met the legal definition of genocide.

Israel on Friday rejected as "grossly distorted" accusations brought by South Africa at the U.N.'s top court that its military operation in Gaza was a state-led genocide campaign against the Palestinian population.

It has said its forces abide by international law while fighting Palestinian militants in Gaza who operate in densely populated civilian areas.

The IDF has struck again at Hamas infrastructure in Gaza over the past 24 hours, eliminating dozens of terrorists, including leaders of Hamas's Nukhba forces, the military stated on Friday morning. 

In Khan Yunis, an IDF fighter jet struck a Hamas military compound and killed seven terrorists. One of the terrorists killed was a Nukhba commander who took part in the October 7 massacre.

IDF troops eliminated dozens of Hamas terrorists in the past 24 hours, January 12, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

IDF troops in the area of the city located three armed terrorists who were exiting a Hamas compound and began to advance toward the soldiers, to which IDF troops responded with live fire. 

Additionally, in Khan Yunis, IDF troops also located a number of AK-47 rifles and RPG launchers and dismantled a weapons storage facility over the past day. 

IDF continues to locate Hamas tunnels 

The IDF also discovered a vast subterranean tunnel complex built by Hamas under Khan Yunis on Wednesday. Located by the Commando Unit, the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit, and Special Forces units, the tunnel was connected to an extensive underground tunnel network beneath a civilian area in the city.

After investigating the tunnel, the IDF confirmed that Israeli hostages had been inside the tunnel. Millions of shekels are estimated to have been invested in excavating the tunnel and equipping it with air ventilation systems, electrical supply, and plumbing. 

The IDF's 98th Division is simultaneously fighting underground and above ground in urban areas in the city. Engineering forces, the Yahalom Unit, special forces units and additional troops are leading the effort to locate tunnels, investigate and dismantle them with advanced technology and operational means.

Muhammad Abdel Salam, a senior spokesman for Yemen's Houthis vowed to continue to attack Israeli ships and ships "on their way to Israel," in a statement early Friday, garnering unwavering support from Iran.

The statement came in response to a series of strikes by the US and Britain on Yemen.

The Houthi spokesman called the strikes "barbaric." Iran followed suit.

Widespread condemnation from Yemeni, Iranian allies

Iran, an ally and financier of the Houthis, is accused of supporting their attacks. "These attacks are a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, and a violation of international law. These attacks will only add to the insecurity and instability in the region," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.

Hezbollah also responded in a statement ultimately blaming Israel for the attacks. "The American aggression confirms once again that the US is a full partner in the tragedies and massacres committed by the Zionist enemy in Gaza and the region."

An RAF Typhoon aircraft takes off to join the U.S.-led coalition from RAF Akrotiri to conduct air strikes against military targets in Yemen, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea, in Cyprus, in this handout picture released on January (credit: UK MOD/Handout via REUTERS)

Iraq's prime minister, Fadi Al-Shammari, warned of an escalation in increasing Middle East tension following the strikes on Yemen against Houthi targets, he told state media.

British Armed Forces minister James Heappey told Times Radio on Friday that the strikes were in self-defense.

The United States and Britain launched strikes from the air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the movement's attacks on ships in the Red Sea, a dramatic regional widening of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

As witnesses in Yemen confirmed explosions throughout the country to Reuters, President Joe Biden cautioned in a statement late on Thursday he would not hesitate to take further action if needed.

Here are some details about the Iran-aligned group.

A Houthi fighter stands guard during a ceremony at the end of the training of newly recruited Houthi fighters in Sanaa, Yemen January 11, 2024 (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS)

HISTORY

In the late 1990s, the Houthi family in far north Yemen set up a religious revival movement for the Zaydi sect of Shi'ite Islam, which had once ruled Yemen but whose northern heartland had became impoverished and marginalized.

As friction with the government grew, they fought a series of guerrilla wars with the national army and a brief border conflict with Sunni Saudi Arabia.

WAR IN YEMEN

The war began in late 2014 when Sanaa was seized by the Houthis. Worried by the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran along its border, Saudi Arabia intervened at the head of a Western-backed coalition in March 2015 in support of the Saudi-backed government.

The Houthis established control over much of the north and other big population centers, while the internationally recognized government based itself in Aden.

Yemen has enjoyed more than a year of relative calm amid a U.N.-led peace push. Saudi Arabia has been holding talks with the Houthis in a bid to exit the war.

But the Houthi attacks on Israel have increased the risks of conflict for Saudi Arabia.

HOUTHI ATTACKS ON ISRAEL

The Houthis say their attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea are a show of support for the Palestinians and Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, in its war against Israel.

The Houthi attacks have disrupted international commerce, forcing international shipping to take the long route around South Africa to avoid being struck. The increase in delivery costs is stoking fears it could trigger a fresh bout of global inflation.

The US said Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands supported the operation against the Houthis, and sought to present the air strikes as part of an international effort to restore the free flow of trade in a key route between Europe and Asia that accounts for about 15% of the world's shipping traffic.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE HOUTHI ATTACKS?

The Houthis are one part of what has been called the "Axis of Resistance" - an anti-Israel and anti-Western alliance of regional militias (Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis) backed by Iran.

The Houthis' slogan is "Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam."

LINKS WITH IRAN

The Houthis have built ties with Iran, but it is not clear how deep that relationship goes. The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of arming and training the Houthis, a charge both deny. The coalition also says Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah is helping the Houthis, an accusation it rejects.

While Iran champions the Houthis as part of its regional "axis of resistance," Yemen experts say they are motivated primarily by a domestic agenda though they share a political affinity for Iran and Hezbollah. The Houthis deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

Israel is the victim of genocide even as it battles false claims of genocide leveled against it by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.

“Today, again, we saw an upside-down world, in which the State of Israel is accused of genocide at a time when it is fighting genocide,” Netanyahu said in a video message from Jerusalem.

He spoke as Israel prepared to present a defense against South Africa’s allegations that the Palestinian fatalities in the Gaza war were part of a plan by Israel to eliminate the Palestinian people.

Israel is expected to explain how its military campaign was an act of self-defense to vanquish an enemy that sought to destroy its country and its people.

South Africa was able to bring the claim against Israel because the two states were signatories to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of Genocide.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest on the day judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hear a request for emergency measures to order Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands January 11, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/THILO SCHMUELGEN)

“South Africa’s hypocrisy screams to the high Heavens,” Netanyahu stated.

“Where was South Africa when millions of people were being murdered and uprooted from their homes in Syria and Yemen, by whom? By Hamas’s partners. The world is upside down. Where were you?” he said.

"We are fighting terrorists"

“We are fighting terrorists, and we are fighting lies,” Netanyahu said.

He referenced the October 7 massacre that sparked the Hamas war, in which Hamas-led terrorists killed over 1,200 people and seized some 250 as hostages. Some 110 of those captives have been freed and another 136 remain in Gaza.

Those who were killed on October 7 were in many cases, tortured, raped, dismembered, and or burned alive. Israel has said it was the worst single-day attack on Jews since the World War II Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed.

“Israel is fighting against murderous terrorists who committed horrific crimes against humanity: They slaughtered, they raped, they burned, they dismembered, they beheaded – children, women, the elderly, young men and young women,” Netanyahu said.

“A terrorist organization carried out the worst crime against the Jewish People since the Holocaust, and now someone comes to defend it in the name of the Holocaust? What brazen gall. The world is upside down,” he said.

The Foreign Ministry, which has a team at the Hague, posted on X a political cartoon that showed four bloodied female hostages with their hands tied behind their backs, sitting on the ground in front of the judges, who say to them, “What do you have to say in your defense.”

In Ramallah, Palestinians held a rally in support of South Africa’s case in front of a statue of former South African president Nelson Mandela.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh addressed the rally, stating, that South Africa’s “indictment against Israel was signed by South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa with the ink of Nelson Mandela’s legacy, Desmond Tutu, and Steve Biko. Colonialism, settlement, and the apartheid system that lasted from 1640 to 1994 in South Africa were defeated,” according to the Palestine News Agency, WAFA.

“Here we are facing genocide, destruction of homes, uprooting of trees, settler terrorism, a racist apartheid system, claims of racial superiority, forced displacement attempts, land annexation, and military occupation. Despite all this, we will triumph and achieve our right to self-determination,” Shtayyeh said.