Daily Recap: Hamas - Israel War October 28th, 2023

In this newsletter:

• Field Notes from the IDF Spokesperson for Foreign Media on the Shifa hospital
• Key media links, including a statement from the Chief of the General Staff
• Overview of today's events

Field Notes from Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, IDF Spokesperson to International Media

Yesterday, we released intelligence that Hamas uses Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza City, as a command center. The IDF declassified two intercepted phone calls supporting this, provided graphics, and then declassified segments from two interrogations of Hamas terrorists who had been detained during the October 7th attacks to prove it.

The intelligence that we declassified is new.

But the fact that Hamas has been abusing hospitalized civilians as human shields is not new at all. In 2014, a journalist detailed how Hamas terrorists interrogated him in a room in the hospital (although the publication would later unpublish the article at the journalist’s request for concerns of his own safety). This fact has actually become so commonplace that one reporter described the hospital in passing as “the de facto headquarters for Hamas leaders, who can be seen in the hallways and offices .”

We know that Shifa is being used - in flagrant violation of international law - as a terrorist headquarters. Reporters know it. And by releasing intelligence, we’re making sure that everyone else does. 

As we continue to intensify efforts to ensure that we cannot be threatened by the terrorist organizations on our borders, we know that they will continue to exploit Western morals and values. And we will beat them…without conceding the moral high ground.

Key Links

• Footage of the IAF thwarting an aerial threat identified in the area of the Red Sea.
• Video footage from last night’s Shayetet 13 activity
• Readout of the morning briefing conducted by Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, IDF Spokesperson ( Hebrew Video, English Transcript )
• On Friday evening, the IDF released intelligence information indicating that Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was being used by Hamas for military purposes. Additional support intelligence was released the following day. Information released includes:
  • A briefing from the IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari ( Video, English )
  • Intercepted intelligence calls ( I , II , III , IV ) 
  • Graphics
• A statement from Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi

Event Overview

Southern Israel

Nearly three weeks after the Hamas attack on the Israeli communities across southern Israel, overnight IDF forces intensified the military response by entering the northern Gaza Strip and expanding ground activities. IDF infantry, armor, engineer corps, and artillery forces, all supported by aerial elements, took part in these activities. A full statement by the IDF spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, on the activity is available here.

Overnight, over 150 military targets, including underground sites and tunnels, were struck by the Israeli Air Force. During the course of these strikes, two senior Hamas leaders were targeted:

• Ratib Abu Tzahiban, Commander of Hamas' Naval Forces of the Gaza City Brigade. Tzahiban had planned a naval infiltration on October 24th that was prevented by the Navy.
• Asem Abu Rakaba, the Head of Hamas' Aerial Array, who was responsible for Hamas' UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and aerial defense and had taken part in planning the October 7th massacre, specifically directing the terrorists who infiltrated with paragliders.

Northern Israel

Attacks on northern Israel continue with attempted rocket and anti-tank missile fire at Israeli positions. Yesterday rockets launched towards Israel landed in Syria. An IDF fighter jet struck Hezbollah military infrastructure in response. 

Earlier today, an IDF UAV targeted a terrorist cell that attempted to launch anti-tank missiles from Lebanon toward northern Israel, near Kibbutz Hanita. In addition, terrorists fired at an IDF post near Avivim and Kibbutz Misgav Am in northern Israel. No injuries were reported. Rocket and mortar shells were also fired In all cases, IDF forces targeted the source of the fire. On Saturday morning the IDF thwarted a surface-to-air missile that was fired from Lebanon towards an IDF UAV; the IDF responded towards the origin of the missile's fire.

Other Arenas

On Saturday morning, IAF forces identified an aerial threat in the area of the Red Sea. The IAF intercepted the hostile target - no threat was posed to civilians and no infiltration into Israeli territory was identified. So far, we have notified the families of 311 IDF fallen soldiers, and 230 abducted. Bringing home the hostages remains a top priority and a national effort.