Intense Hezbollah rocket fire targets northern Israel just before Shabbat | Iran announces new ‘advanced centrifuges’ | IDF kills Hamas terrorists involved in Oct 7 massacre

16:44 - Hezbollah carries out intense rocket fire across northern Israel as Israelis prepare for Shabbat

In the hours before the start of the Jewish Sabbath, Hezbollah markedly ramped up its rocket fire across northern Israel, targeting Haifa, Nahariya, Ma'alot Tarshiha, Safed, Metula and numerous other towns and communities.

Since our previous update around 13:30, Hezbollah attacks triggered 18 separate rounds of alarm sirens.

13:43 - Germany won't commit on carrying out ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu

Following arrest warrants issued by the ICC against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the German government said it "took note" of the warrants but wouldn't commit to further concrete steps at the moment.

"The Federal Government was involved in drafting the ICC statute and is one of the ICC's biggest supporters. This attitude is also a result of German history," the German government stated.

"At the same time, a consequence of German history is that we have unique relations and a great responsibility with Israel."

"We will carefully examine the domestic steps. Any further action would only be taken if a stay by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Germany is foreseeable," the statement read.

13:36 - Rocket alarms sound near border in Galilee 'panhandle' and western Galilee

Over the last hour, rocket alarm sirens sounded in Metula in the Galilee "panhandle", as well as in Shtula and Zar'it. In addition, a drone infiltration alert was triggered in Margaliot.

There were no reports of casualties or damage.

🚨 Rocket Alert [13:36:56] - 2 Alerts:

• Confrontation Line — Zarit, Shomera

Population: 3,200 pic.twitter.com/OahiIZj5IN

— ILRedAlert (@ILRedAlert) November 22, 2024

13:01 - Over 45 Hezbollah rocket launchers were destroyed by IDF strikes this week

The IDF attacked and destroyed more than 45 Hezbollah launchers throughout southern Lebanon during the week, according to the military.

The destroyed launchers included some that had already been used to attack Israel, as well as ready-to-fire launchers aimed at Israeli territory.

Among them were the launchers used to attack Nahariya yesterday and the Haifa Bay area during the night, the IDF said.

מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו והשמידו מתחילת השבוע, בהכוונת פיקוד הצפון, יותר מ-45 משגרים של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה ברחבי דרום לבנון מהם בוצעו שיגורים לעבר מספר מרחבים בשטח הארץ, וכן משגרים מוכנים לירי שהיו מכוונים לשטח הארץ>> pic.twitter.com/g6G8FZMkGe

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 22, 2024

12:25 - Israel reportedly refuses French involvement in Lebanon ceasefire

Israel doesn't want French involvement in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah or the committee enforcing its implementation, Israel has told White House envoy Amos Hochstein, who is leading the mediation effort.

This was reported by the Saudi Al-Arabiya channel. In addition, Israel reportedly refuses to connect the ceasefire to the issue of the outstanding border disputes with Lebanon.

11:44 - 40 terror suspects arrested, 15 weapons confiscated in counterterror raids in Judea and Samaria this week

During the past week, Israeli security forces from the IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police arrested more than 40 wanted suspects throughout Judea and Samaria and confiscated more than 15 weapons, the IDF said.

During the last night, Border Police fighters located two weapons, ammunition, and additional equipment in a raid in Bethlehem.

In other raids, IDF soldiers arrested four wanted men, found military equipment and weapons, and confiscated tens of thousands of shekels in terror funds.

10:41 - IDF eliminates Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket commander

The Israeli Air Force killed the commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad's (PIJ) rocket array, Khaled Abu Daqqa, who was hiding in the humanitarian zone in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip.

Abu Daqqa "was a significant factor who carried out many terror attacks, managed and commanded the organization's terror operations that harmed the citizens of the State of Israel and IDF soldiers."

"On Oct. 7 and since then, the terrorist Abu Daqqa commanded the firing of the rockets at the towns surrounding Gaza and many activists who carried out the firing into Israeli territory," the military said, adding that precautionary measures were taken to prevent harm to civilians during the strike.

10:30 - After ICC decision: Hungary's PM Orbán says he will invite Netanyahu, vows to ignore arrest warrants

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary, despite the ICC's decision on Thursday to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Speaking to Hungarian state radio, Orbán said the warrants would “not be observed,” and vowed Netanyahu would be able to visit his country “in adequate safety.”

08:47 - IDF kills five Hamas terrorists who participated in Oct 7 invasion and massacre

The Israeli army announced that five Hamas terrorists who took part in the Oct. 7 invasion and massacre were killed in a recent airstrike in Gaza.

On the night between Wednesday and Thursday, the Israeli Air Force targeted a site in Beit Lahiya, where several Hamas terrorists had gathered, including members of the terror group’s elite Nukhba Force which led the invasion.

Among those killed were Jihad Mahmoud Yahya Kahlout, a Nukhba Force company commander, and Muhammad Riad Ali Oukal, a company commander in Hamas' regular forces.

According to the IDF, they commanded forces who murdered and kidnapped civilians in the Mefalsim area on Oct. 7, and in recent months led the fighting against Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip.

The other three killed terrorists were Anas Jalal Muhammad Abu Shakian, another Hamas commander; Nur al-Din Muhammad Yahya Abu Jadian, a Nukhba Force operative, and Sihab Hassan Ali Matar Adaim, a regular terrorist.

08:23 - Iran vows to launch new centrifuges in response to IAEA resolution

The Iranian regime vowed to launch “new and advanced” centrifuges in retaliation for a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, this week, that censured the regime for its lack of cooperation with the agency's monitoring measures.

Iran added: "Despite the retaliatory measure, “technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA will continue, as in the past.”

02:24 - IDF intercepts 5 rockets launched at Haifa

The IDF said that a rare overnight volley of five rockets was fired from Lebanon at the area of Haifa.

Several of the rockets were intercepted, according to the military. There were no reports of casualties or significant damage.

ירי לחיפה והקריות: הדי פיצוצים נשמעו באזור | תיעוד

אורלי אלקלעי

קרדיט: סעיף 27א pic.twitter.com/MtyAmJ9mXi

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 22, 2024