Israeli troops in Gaza
War
As of Saturday night, Nov 4, 28 Israeli soldiers have paid with their lives in the war against Hamas as of Friday afternoon.This includes one who was off duty bound for his home and ambushed in his private car in the West Bank.
According to military analysts Israel has surrounded Gaza city and is carrying out surgical air strikes and commando raids to specific locations.
Army Spokesman Gen. Daniel Hagari said that Israeli troops are in face to face fighting with Hamas terrorists. He also said that the support the IDF was receiving from the home front was energizing the troops.
According to the Times of Israel, nearly 50% of Israelis have volunteered somewhere during the first weeks of the war. Some went to the south to help famers pick their crops. Some to hospitals or hotels to help with those 125,000 displaced. Some gathering foodstuffs and supplies for the troops. Some were raising money for equipment for the IDF.
Hagari said that over 130 terrorists were killed in just the last few hours of fighting on Friday morning. He also said that there was a clear coordination between the air force, ground troops and naval forces in the fighting.
Among those killed were two Hamas battalion commanders. A Hamas official told a Lebanese news outlet that, “Israel is a country that has no place on our land.” Another Hamas official told the media that “We will continue attacks like that on Oct 7 until Israel is annihilated.”
Gen (ret.) Yosi Kupwaser, former intelligence chief of the central command, said that “If we do not destroy Hamas, they’ll return and attack again and again.”
Israel’s minister of defense, Yoav Gallant, told a press conference that “We have new technology to find every tunnel. The terrorists have two choices. Die in the tunnels or surrender.”
Gen (ret.) Israel Ziv told Channel 12TV that Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant “has his hand on the wheel and is steering the right course.”
Channel 12TV’s military correspondent Nir Dvori said that the IDF was encircling Gaza city. And that Israel had taken out the head of Hama’s anti-tank missile unit, the same unit that had attacked an Israeli APC (armored personnel carrier) killing nearly a dozen soldiers. Dvori also said that hundreds of terrorists have been killed, hundreds of tunnels blown up and value intelligence gathered.
Ohad Hemo, Channel 12TVs Arab affairs correspondent said that there was a fog of war on both sides of the battle. Reportedly, Hamas Gaza chief Yeheh Sinwar was not aware of all of the losses and destruction since he was hidden away in an underground bunker.
The Jerusalem Post’s Yonah Jeremy Bob reported that combined stages of the Gaza war may take several months. This could mean a mix of some months of all-out fighting, followed by a significant number of additional months of fighting against insurgency after the initial “victory.” This will not be several months of intense fighting, like now, but rather a combination of strategies followed by months of fighting. Hamas is not going to surrender, the report concluded.
As of now, analysts say that Hamas is not eager to engage in big battles, but waiting to spring ambushes. Reportedly 1,500 terrorists were killed in the first days of fighting and tens of thousands are still hiding in the tunnels under Gaza.
According to NPR (National Public Radio) those numbers will inevitably grow. This was the opinion of Gian Gentile, a senior historian at the Rand Corp, and a retired colonel in the U.S. Army who participated in urban warfare in Iraq in 2006. “That's in part because both Israel and Hamas view this as an existential battle.”
Speaking to NPR, Seth Jones, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, “"They're pushing in with ground forces, but their objective does not appear to be holding territory and setting up checkpoints…I think that is what they're doing, it's very specifically designed to go after infrastructure.”
"It looks like they're starting to push in to establish a presence on the outskirts that they can use to launch operations deeper into the city,” Sean MacFarland, a retired three-star general in the U.S. Army who conducted operations against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, told NPR. MacFarland thought Israel was not deploying enough troops to occupy Gaza City. “They only have about a brigade (several thousand troops) there now,” said MacFarland.
“If you wanted to physically control Gaza City, with the population size, all the roads, all the angles and everything else, it would require multiple divisions to do that.” (A division is composed of several brigades, each with 2,000 - 5,000 soldiers, and is split into several battalions, each with between 1,000 - 2,000 soldiers.) said Gian Gentile, a senior historian at the Rand Corp, and a retired colonel in the U.S. Army.
MacFarland said, going block by block to clear the city "would probably require more troops than the Israelis want to commit to that effort," in part because they need their forces in the north to protect the border with Lebanon.
Map of Israeli forces surrounding Gaza City
“I think the humanitarian conditions on the ground are an Achilles heel for the (Israeli) operation,” Alex Plitsas, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in the Middle East programs group, told NPR.
On Saturday night, former Knesset Member (Likud) and Minister of Defense Maj. Gen.(ret) Yitzchak Mordecai told Channel 12TV news that he’d been in touch with the military commanders, and had toured both the northern border and the southern border meeting with military leaders, sharing his experience when he was in charge of all three military commands, north, center, and south.
Mordecai said that Israel has to keep pushing Hamas, putting on pressure, until Hamas released the hostages, realizing they had a choice to give up the hostages or die. He thought the IDF was performing in an exemplary manner. He said the responsibility for who was to blame for the Oct 7 catastrophe would be sorted out after the war was over. He did point out however, that many of the military chiefs of various departments had already accepted responsibility, leaving open the question of Netanyahu’s avoiding admitting he might have been to blame.
Mordecai also said that he thought that both Avigdor Leiberman (Yisrael Beitanu) and Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) should be brought into the government if for no other reason then they could explain to the public what the war is about and defend and project Israel’s positions. Leiberman, former Defense Minister and Finance Minister, for the local Israeli citizens and Lapid, former Foreign Minister, for the international press and audience.
Israeli troops in Gaza, Nov 4, 2023
Nir Dvori, military correspondent for Channel 12TV news, said that the IDF is facing the last line of Hamas defense in Gaza City. He said there is no cease fire. No talk of cease fire. Military sources tell him important to continue with no let up.
Missiles
Hamas continued to fire missiles into Israel, driving those remaining in their homes in the Gaza settlements or those remaining in their homes along the Lebanese border into bomb shelters and safe room.
Yemen reportedly fired a missile that was intercepted by the Arrow missile defense system as it approached Eilat. And Hamas reportedly fired a missile 250 kilometers that was shot down by the Arrow missile as it approached Eilat.
Sirens also sounded on Friday and Saturday as far as Tel Aviv and surrounding suburbs. On Friday night the sky was lit by Iron Dome missiles defense projectiles that looked like fireflies on the dark night until the Iron Dome met the incoming missile from Gaza. Then the fireflies light up like a tiny bright suns one after another. Seconds later the thunder of the percussion rolled over the earth reaching tens of kilometers shattering the quiet night. No reports of injury.
Humanitarian Aid
As if to underscore what Plitsas said, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken flew into Israel on Friday morning, the third time he’s come to Israel since the start of the war. Media reports that the White House is very concerned about the humanitarian cost to the war and that President Biden, a staunch supporter of Israel and the war against Hamas, thinks that there must be an end to the fighting sooner rather than later.
According to Ynetnews, the American Secretary of State came out against the manner of the attacks in the Strip, and Hamas's use of civilians as human shields: "Biden emphasized that Israel should act according to humanitarian law." Blinken demanded to increase the income of humanitarian aid at the same time as the ceasefires, the Prime Minister clarified: "We oppose the transfer of funds and fuel to the Gaza Strip”
Blinken clarified that it is necessary to increase the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, at the same time as removing the foreign citizens from the Strip. "We have increased from 0 to 100 trucks passing through the Rafah crossing per day, but it is not enough. I talked with Israel about steps to expand the import of food, medicine, water, fuel and other essential equipment while taking steps to ensure that they do not reach Hamas."
According to Blinken, "Israel has raised concerns that we share about the exploitation of fuel by Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip. The cynicism of Hamas knows no bounds - fuel is being withheld from hospitals."
The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to curtail support of Israel due to the reportedly high toll of civilian casualties in Gaza. According to Army Spokesman Hagari, Israel maintains that they have strongly encouraged residents of northern Gaza and Gaza city to go south. Some Israeli commentators say that those who didn’t heed Israel’s warnings take their lives in their own hands.
Israel has been under pressure to allow fuel to enter Gaza. Israel has refused. Israel’s Army Spokesman, Gen. Daniel Hagari, provided evidence that Hamas was hoarding massive fuel reserves under the Shifa Hospital.
On Friday, the IDF released a recording of a call with a healthcare official in the Gaza Strip who admitted that Hamas was holding the fuel reserves in the Gaza Strip and is using it terrorist activities. In the recording, two men are heard saying there are between half a million and a million liters (roughly 132,000-265,000 gallons) of diesel stockpiled under the hospital.
The Army Spokesman also provided an intercepted phone call between a Hamas commander and the head of the what is assumed is the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza’s Beit Lahia with the commander repeatedly saying that Hamas was taking fuel from the hospital’s stocks “…for the sake of the country.”
Following a meeting with US Sec. of State Blinken, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel was not going to allow fuel into Gaza.
Hamas reportedly uses the fuel to power the underground generators that provide electricity to the massive military infrastructure hidden in tunnels beneath Gaza. And provide fuel for the rockets sent into Israel, and trucks, Jeeps and motorcycles. used to attack Israeli troops.
“Fuel is the life-blood of Hamas,” said MK Ze’ev Elkin, a government cabinet minister.
According to Ynetnews Hamas has pushed 100 women and children forward to act as human barriers. This tactic was used by Hamas’s Force 17 near Jabaliya. “We stand ready to face more instances of such cynical and hurtful use of civilians,” said an Israeli officer.
Tomer Hyman, former deputy intelligence chief, said he thought that Israel should allow humanitarian aid, food and medical supplies into Gaza. just to satisfy the international community, including the USA.
Criticism was leveled agains Prime Minister Netanyahu by Amos Malca, former head of military intelligence, speaking on Israel radio’s channel 103FM. Malca said “His judgement in the conduct of the war at the moment is flawed and tends towards a blame game and a plan to detach himself from responsibility…I see that he is not focused on conducting the fighting but rather on his own survival….there will be time to deal with who will run the commission of inquiry after the war, not now. He is not focused on combat.”
Malka said that the “IDF leaders and Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) are focussed on combat, and have said they could wait to investigate who was to blame over the Oct 7th lapses until after the war. “With courage and integrity, but right now they are exclusively engaged in conducting the war. They also use the word “responsibility” a word that has somewhat disappeared in Jerusalem.”
Israel has allowed trucks with food and medical supplies into Gaza on a daily bases.
On Saturday, Israel opened an humanitarian corridor however Hamas terrorists fired upon foreigners trying to leave Gaza with RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and other weapons.
Public Opinion
Public opinion has swayed towards Hamas. Recent reports in foreign press outlets cite the civilian damage the IDF is imposing on Hamas without a mention of the Hamas massacre of at least 1400 Israelis and kidnapping of 242 now held hostages. Or a mention of the 125,000 Israelis now “unhomed” by the Black Saturday War.
In polls, a Quinnipac poll of Americans showed that in general 50% approved of how Israel is handling the war and 35% disapproved. 43% were very concerned the war in Gaza could become a wider conflict, 41% were somewhat concerned. Among Democrats, 49% agreed with the way Israel handles the war, 33% disapproved. However, among Republicans 75% agreed Israel was handling the war correctly with only 14% disagreeing. However, among the 18-34 age group Israel only received a 32% approval, but among the 50+ age group Israel received a 58% approval rating.
In a NewsNation/Decision DeskHQ poll of US President Biden’s vocal suppor ot Israel, 52% of those polled approved. Among the “left-leaning” Data for Progress, 66% thought the US should call for a ceasefire and deescalation of violence.
Eva Illouz writing in Haaretz said that she was ashamed of his leftist friends and the left in general for coming out in support of Hamas and ignoring the fact that Hamas were mass murderers who massacred Israelis on Oct 7. She said that the older generation supported Israel but the younger generation saw the Palestinians as oppressed and that Hamas’ actions was a result of that oppression. According to Illouz, this behavior by the left was going to work against providing a solution to the Palestinian problem.
West Bank
Seven terrorists were killed in the West Bank city of Jenin, an Islamic fundamentalist stronghold. So far Israel has arrested hundreds of Palestinians who were suspected of terrorist activities and issued criminal indictments to over 35.
Israel is concerned that the West Bank will become an active front in the Hamas war.
North
Fire in Kryiat Shmona caused by a Hezbollah rocket
Hezbollah continues to fire rockets from Lebanon into Israel. Israel has responded with artillery fire and armed unmanned drones. As of today, Israel has reportedly killed 55 Hezbollah terrorists since the outbreak of the war. Israel has lost 6 soldiers in fighting in the north.
Israeli intelligence experts believe that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah is not interested in entering the Israel/Hamas war. Gen. (ret.) Dan Harel told Channel 12TV news that “Nasrallah is Lebanese. He knows what Isrel can do to Lebanon. He has no taste to lose what he’s build up in Lebanon because of Hamas.”
Zohar Palti, former head of Mossad intelligence bureau, told the same Channel 12TV news panel that for the last 23 years Israel hasn’t bothered Lebanon. Nasrallah has been living in a bunker since 2000, said Palti. He remembers what Israel can do to Lebanon. He is not in a hurry to get involved, nor allow Iran to push him into a war.
Amos Malka, former head of Military Intelligence, didn’t think that Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, wanted war. “But never say never.”,
Nasrallah gave a highly anticipated speech on Friday afternoon. But apparently, according to pundits, he did not declare that he was entering the war on a larger scale. In the first speech since the outbreak of the war, the Secretary General of Hezbollah threatened, but clarified: "The campaign is 100 percent Palestinian" Nasrallah called for a cease-fire and said that Israel must increase humanitarian aid”
In response, Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu said, "We refuse a ceasefire that does not include the return of our abductees"
Hostages
Hostage protest in Tel Aviv
Yoni Asher’s wife and two small daughters were kidnapped on Oct 7th when nearly 3,000 Hamas terrorists broke through the Israeli border fence, massacred over 1,400 people and took 242 hostages. Yoni Asher told Channel 12 TV news that he worries about his family. Worries if his daughters are warm enough, are getting enough food.
Yoni Asher and pictures of his two children.
Gilad Korngold;s son Tal, Tal’s wife Adi, and two grandchildren, eight-year-old Naveh and three-year-old Yahel were kidnapped in Gaza. The 88-year old Holocaust survivor, one of the founders of Kibbutz Be’eri, was in tears saying he didn’t; know if his grandchildren had blankets. “They were wearing pajamas when they were taken.” Korngold said he puts his trust in the army, and the Shin Bet. “They’re the only ones I trust.” He said that since the attacks on Oct 7th, not one person from the government had called to say, “Don’t worry.” Not a comforting word.”
According to the Daily Beast, Hamas showed photographs of Shani Look, we, who was abducted from the Re’em music festival on Oct 7th and paraded around by Hamas. Later, forensic scientists discovered part of a decapitated skull that was proven by DNA testing to be that of Shani Look.
The Israeli media also reported that US was sending in special forces to try to track down the location of the hostages. Reportedly, drones were now flying over N. Gaza seeing information on the hostages.
Channel 12TV Arab affairs reporter Ehuda Yaari said that Hamas wants a five-day ceasefire and will release some of the hostages. Sinwar says he doesn’t know where all of the hostages are being held.