Israel-Hamas Summary Report 30NOV23 11:45 PST - Hamas Claims Responsibility for Jerusalem Terror Attack (Patreon)

Hamas claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack in Jerusalem that left three dead, including a pregnant woman, and six wounded. Two terrorists identified as part of the Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades opened fire at a busy bus stop with an M-16 assault rifle and a handgun. Two off-duty Israeli soldiers and a civilian engaged the gunmen, killing both.

Shin Bet identified the terrorists as brothers Murad and Ibrahim Namer. Both were previously jailed for terrorism-related charges. Murad was sentenced to ten years in prison for planning terror attacks, and Ibrahim was jailed in 2014 for "undisclosed terror activity." It was unclear if Ibrahim was ever charged or held under Israel's controversial "administrative detention," which enables the courts to hold someone even though there is insufficient evidence to prosecute a criminal case. Neither was part of the ongoing hostage-for-prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel.

The three victims have been identified as Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73, Hanna Ifergan, 67, and Liviya Dickman, 24. Dickman, who was pregnant, was declared dead at the scene. Wasserman and Ifergan died later at the hospital. The six people wounded are still in hospital, with two in surgery.

National Security Minister of Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, accused Hamas of a cease-fire violation after the government of the Gaza Strip claimed responsibility for the attack. "With one hand, Hamas signs a ceasefire, with the other, it sends terrorists to murder Jews in Jerusalem." 

Asked by reporters if today's terror attack was a cease-fire violation in the eyes of Washington, White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said it wasn't.

The attack comes just hours after last minute negotiations extended the ongoing cease-fire another 24 hours. Hamas initially submitted a list of seven hostages and offered to return three bodies, which was rejected by Israeli. With only 20 minutes left, Hamas acquiesced, providing a list of eight names. Israel accepted the two Russian-Israeli nationals freed on November 29 as part of the November 30 release as "a show of goodwill."

Hamas later announced that ten hostages would be released and three yet-to-be-identified bodies returned. It is unclear who the other two hostages are and why the number changed. Hamas officials have repeatedly claimed they don't know where all the hostages are, and some are being held by up to three additional Hamas-aligned factions and terror groups.

At the time of publication, two Israeli hostages, both women, were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross and returned to Israel. It is unclear why only the pair were released. Hamas continues to block ICRC access to the remaining hostages as United States officials repeated their claim that this was part of the cease-fire agreement.

Breaking News: Just before publication, it was confirmed that six more hostages had been transferred to the ICRC and would be transported through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. There is no other information.

Tali Amano, daughter of hospitalized 84-year-old former hostage Elma Avarham, blasted the Red Cross for neglecting her mother during captivity. Under Article 5 of International Humanitarian Law, the ICRC is supposed to have access to hostages, prisoners of war, and non-combatant captives held due to war, whether external or internal. If a combatant blocks access to Red Cross monitors, they have no recourse beyond diplomacy to enforce IHL.

Family members of child hostages released by Hamas accused their captors of "branding" their children with a hot exhaust pipe. At least one child and a teenager reportedly had their legs burned severely enough to leave a permanent scar and allegedly were told that the mark would identify them if they tried to escape. We cannot independently verify the claim. 

A family member of freed hostage Mia Schem claimed that a Palestinian veterinarian treated her bullet wound in unsanitary conditions, and she may require additional corrective surgery. We cannot independently verify the claim.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held marathon meetings with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly demanding that Israel reduce the intensity of their attacks and advising that they don't have to win the war "in a matter of months."

Blinken also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. It is the first face-to-face meeting between the two after Abbas pulled out of peacetalks scheduled for October 18. The peace summit that was to include U.S. Jordanian, Egyptian, and Lebanese officials collapsed after Hamas falsely accused the Israeli Defense Forces of destroying the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, claiming an airstrike killed 500 people. Hamas officials then increased the number to 800 before claiming 471 died, then 250, later refusing to cooperate with numerous news agencies checking the veracity of the original claims.

Multiple independent investigations, including from our analyst team, concluded that a rocket fired by Hamas experienced a failure and crashed into a hospital parking lot. Al-Ahli Hospital was only lightly damaged, and the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem, which operates the hospital, confirmed on October 19 that the hospital remained open and fully operational.

Abbas and Blinken discussed the “urgent need for measures to improve the security and freedom of Palestinians in the West Bank," according to the U.S. State Department readout. Blinken highlighted U.S. efforts to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and again condemned Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. "The secretary reiterated that the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state."

Abbas asked for Washington to push for a durable cease-fire and reportedly provided Blinken with a list of documented Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

During today's White House press conference, Kirby told reporters that the United States did not support the establishment of a durable cease-fire but wanted ongoing negotiation to extend the current cease-fire to continue. Additionally, Kirby stressed the U.S. position for when Israel restarts military operations. "We have been very consistent and clear with our Israeli counterparts that we do not support a move to the south unless or until they have adequately accounted for the protection of innocent human life - civilian life in southern Gaza, with the understanding that there’s a whole heck of a lot more innocent civilians in southern Gaza than there were a week or two ago… What we’re urging Israel to do is to make sure there’s appropriate accounting for that and additional safety measures in place."

The press conference was cut short after a journalist representing an Angolan news agency asked why officials would not take an "African question" and continued to talk over Kirby and other reporters.

Adding to the tension in the Gaza Strip and Israel, the Iron Dome air defense system was activated for the first time since the early morning of November 24 for a "suspicious identification" in the south. Videos on social media showed interceptors launched, and there are unconfirmed reports that a drone was shot down. The IDF only confirmed that the Iron Dome had been activated, and the interceptor was launched over an unpopulated area so any debris would not cause damage or casualties.

United Nations OCHA reported that the Israeli Navy shelled a coastal region of the Gaza Strip on the evening of November 29 - 30, with no casualties reported. The latest report maintains there haven't been any serious cease-fire violations since November 24, and was issued before today's terror attack in Jerusalem.

For humanitarian aid, OCHA only reported, "On 29 November, as in previous days, significantly larger convoys than prior to the pause, carrying a variety of humanitarian supplies, fuel and cooking gas entered Gaza from Egypt." Between November 27 to 29, four settler attacks were reported in the West Bank. IDF forces reportedly killed four during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, including one child and a teenager. At the time of publication, additional details were not available.

Health officials reported that Hepatitis has started to spread in some UNWRA-run shelters, although they did not specify what type.

Editor's Note: There is a difference in the pathology, progression, transmissibility, and treatment for Type A, B, C, and E. 

Cases of skin infections, scabies, and lice are also reportedly increasing.

Five hospitals continue to operate in northern Gaza, including the previously mentioned Al-Ahli. Humanitarian aid, medical supplies, fuel, and water have reached all five facilities. Previously, Hamas had claimed that only Al-Ahli was operational, and the other four facilities were too severely damaged to accept patients. Hospitals in the north and south have increased their fuel reserves since November 24, but only have enough to maintain operations for seven to ten days.

Despite the uncertainty, Tel Aviv has signaled they are willing to extend the cease-fire another 24 hours as long as Hamas doesn't violate today's deal and there is an agreement to release another ten hostages on December 1. Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. officials are reportedly applying significant pressure on both combatants.

In New York City, elements within a Pro-Palestinian protest attempted to disrupt the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center, using similar tactics employed in Seattle on November 24. After protesting outside of News Corp (Fox News) Headquarters on 47th Avenue, approximately 500 protesters marched to Rockefeller Center. They attempted to break through police barricades, which resulted in several scuffles with law enforcement. Seven people were arrested, including a teenager. One was taken into custody and charged with felony criminal mischief. Five others received "desk appearance" tickets for misdemeanors, and the juvenile was released to their guardian.

Employment lawyers are reporting a sharp spike in inquiries from people who have been listed on the Canary Mission website. The controversial website lists the identities of people who have torn down Israeli hostage posters, organized or led Pro-Palestinian protests, or have shared content on social media that some would consider crossing the line of hate speech. Several lawyers expressed that the website is not breaking any laws, reminding people that the Internet is forever.