Israeli ground forces entered Gaza for the third time in what Ron Ben Yeshai, veteran military correspondent of Ynet News called “modular in nature, designed to gradually increase pressure on Hamas's extremist leadership. This pressure is intended to compel not only Hamas but also those holding the captives to engage in comprehensive negotiations for their release.”
According to Ben Yishai, “Since Friday evening, the IDF has launched a ground operation in northern Gaza. Reports from Palestinian outlets and Arab media suggest that the IDF is concentrating on the outskirts of the northern Gaza Strip, particularly the suburbs of Gaza City, rather than its core regions. This phased operation sees the IDF entering and possibly exiting, only to return with reinforced troops based on the evolving objectives and challenges encountered during the operation in Gaza.
“…This type of operation is characteristic of a war in which forces move across enemy territory, employing fire attacks throughout. The direction of action and immediate operational goals change based on intelligence provided by the Shin Bet and the IDF Intelligence Division.
“…Every action undertaken by the IDF hinges on the high-quality intelligence furnished by the Shin Bet and the IDF's Intelligence Directorate. Additionally, it takes into account the operational assessments of on-site commanders and the decisions made by the limited war cabinet. After having personally observed the battlefield and engaged in discussions with key decision-makers, I can confidently attest to their ability to prudently steer this conflict. They are resolute in their approach, while also displaying immense consideration for the well-being of both the hostages and the soldiers currently engaged in operations within the Gaza Strip.”
Yaari also said that Israel had lost faith in negotiations with Hamas who always added another demand. Israel, according to Yaari, has to show resolve otherwise Hamas would have succeeded in showing Israel is weak and thus willing to negotiate at any cost.
Yaari also said that Israel would abide by the requests of the USA to make certain any collateral damage was limited. And that freeing the hostages was the primary objective, destroying Hamas secondary. “But this is not Mosul, Iraq,” Yaari pointed out. When the USA bombed Mosul from the air, but had Iraqi special forces on the ground cleaning out the tunnels. “Israel has to go into the tunnels themselves, not rely on others.”
The Times of Israel reported that the IDF stepped up the operations in Gaza amid rocket fire. Missiles were also fired from Lebanon. “The War Has Entered A New Phase,” according to the Times of Israel.
According to Roi Case, Channel 11 Kan TV Arab affairs correspondent, the IDF struck 150 Hamas tunnels and bunkers. Other reports state that the IDF killed the head of the Hamas ariel forces in the stepped up ground attack while the IDF incurred no injuries.
Massacre
A killer rampaged in a Lewiston, Maine killing at least 18 people and injuring 13 with an automatic weapon. A horrific event. Terrifying for those in the bowling alley and bar in Lewiston. Weapons experts say the shooter was a skilled marksman. The police mounted a manhunt is on for the killer.
An observes said, just Imagine that this killer was only one of 3,000 each with blood in their eyes, opening fire on whomever they saw. That’s what happened in the Jewish communities along the border with Gaza in southern Israel.
But in Lewiston the killer took no hostages. In Israel not only were 1400 Israelis killed and over 5000 injured but over 230 hostages were taken into Gaza. Some young women carried away on motorcycles, some hostages loaded into the back of white Toyota pick-up trucks. According to Alon Gefen, a former Shin Bet officer speaking on a panel on Channel 11 Kan TV, video footage of one of these pick-up trucks carrying two bodies in the bed of the truck entered Gaza thousands of Gazans followed behind the truck cheering. It is unknown if the bodies in the truck were those of hostages still alive or already dead.
Families protesting for the release of hostages
The TV panel was discussing the ethics and morality of the war, of hunting down the Hamas terrorists, of collateral damage should Israel invade Gaza, of innocent civilians and guilty terrorists, or justice and trials. One pundit said he doubted that Hamas was having similar thoughts over their blood-thirsty massacre of Jews in the Gaza border communities.
Some analysts say that there is a wide-reaching discussion in the government over the issue of negotiation for the release of hostages. Others pushed for the army to. invade Gaza to free the hostage. Some said to keep negotiating with Hamas, get as many out as possible, then perhaps invade.
One panel member pointed out that unless Hamas and their partners are eliminated, the Israeli border settlements along the Gaza fence will never be repopulated by Jews. Many members of these kibbutzim and moshavim, and even cities and towns, have said they won’t return to their homes unless Hamas is destroyed.
One expert on the panel said that Hamas has to be destroyed because otherwise “They’ll keep attacking when they get ready including more massacres (like the one that occurred on Oct 7, 2023).
On the discussion of what price to pay for the release of the hostages, someone said that Hamas is demanding the release of Hamas prisoners held by Israel. A former Shin Bet officer said that you could release them, and then track them down, one by one, and eliminate them.
Others thought that suggestion a bit too draconian for a civilized western country. “You think they care?” another answered. “We have to change the disk. Have to change our way of thinking. This is a new world. We have to act in ways they understand.”
Aleza Lavie, former Yesh Atid party Knesset member, said that this was a war of cultures. But that Israel could not forget morality and ethics. But she was reminded by Alon Gefen, a former Shin Bet officer, of what happened in 2011 when the Fogel family was massacred in the West Bank town of Itamar. “ISIS, that’s what they are, ISIS, killed them all including an infant only a few months old. Cut them up like meat in a butcher shop.”
Gen (reserves) Ayal Ben Reuven said “We are now in another world. This is not the time of Shalit (an Israeli soldier held by Hamas who was released in exchange for 1,000 Hamas prisoners, among them Yahya Sinwar, now head of Hamas in Gaza. We need to get the hostages back but not at any price. We won’t give up Jerusalem to get them back, but we must find a way. If not, Hamas will use these hostages as tools against us.”
Former Shin Bet officer Adi Carmi said that 50 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists have been killed in the West Bank since the war began. He thought that the “Nuchbah” the terrrorist squad that invaded Israel on Oct. 7th didn’t deserve a trial or human rights considerations until the war was ended.
According to Ynetnews, over 100 terror suspects have been arrested in the West Bank and 24 have been indicted. The media also reported that at least 70 Israeli citizens have been arrested for incitement since the start of the war. Three Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed in a firefight in Jenin.
Adi Carmi, former Shin Bet officer, said that so far 50 Hamas operatives have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war. He thought that “We have to show them our fierce will in the face of their inhumanity.”
Gen (ret.) Yogev said that Hamas has captured women and children and infants. “If we don’t deal with them the same thing will happen again. He thought Israel could release Hamas prisoners in exchange for the hostages, then track down each Hamas prisoner released and eliminate them.”
Public Opinion
The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire of hostilities in Gaza.
The Washington Post reported that after an investigation they determined that Israel did not drop any bombs on the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza.
A newspaper in Turkey labeled US President Biden a “Zionist Dog.”
In Jordan, Queen Raina spoke out in support of Hamas in the war. However, Ehud Yaari, Arab affairs correspondent for Channel 12TV news, pointed out that 3,000 Iraqi Shiite troops were on the border of Jordan that could be deployed into Jordan by Iran. And that a majority of the Jordanian population was Palestinian. Yaari said that Jordan had little choice but to publicly support Hamas if the monarchy wanted to stay in power and not be overthrown.
However, public sentiment among pro-Palestinians is still running high. In the USA, pro-Israeli students had to barricade themselves into the library at New York University to protect themselves against pro-Palestinian protesters. Brandeis University, and other universities, were criticized for not condemning the Hamas massacre on Oct 7.
Russia also seemed to be leaning in favor of Hamas. A Hamas delegation met in Moscow with Russian officials to discuss the situation in Gaza. Putin has been reported as saying that the war between Israel and Hamas can have devastating consequence and not just in the middle east. Putin also said that “Certain forces” were trying to draw other countries into the conflict. He went on to seemingly condemn Israel for causing a Humanitarian crises in Gaza.
Gaza’s UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has called for a cease-fire. He promised that any aid allowed into Gaza would not fall into the hands of Hamas.
Hamas has also called for a cease-fire in exchange for handing over hostages. However, according to media reports, Hamas claims they don’t know the location of all of the hostages, since different terrorist groups participated in the Oct 7 massacre and took prisoners to various locations in the Gaza strip.
WAR
Israeli armored column enters Gaza in limited incursion
Israel’s Army Spokesman Rear Admiral Dan Hagari told a press conference that Israel had attacked 250 Hamas targets overnight, including tunnels, rocket launching sites, command centers and drones. He said that 310 Israeli soldiers had died from the Oct 7, attack and 229 people were taken hostage including 54 Thai citizens, according to the Guardian newspaper, who worked for Israeli farmers. Over 100 Israelis were still listed as missing.
For the second night in a row.Israel also carried out a small incursion into the center of the Gaza strip. The column was led by D-9 armored tractors that cleared the path of mines and roadside bombs, then tanks and finally special forces from the Yahalom brigade and covered by Israeli aircraft from the sky.
Nir Dvori, military affairs correspondent said that not everything we see is what’s going on inside Gaza.
Reportedly, the column took out Hamas positions and terrorist bases along the path including a squad of Islamic Jihad terrorists that had opened fire using ant-tank weapons. Observers see this as a prelude to the massive invasion of Gaza by the Israeli army.
When asked about the troops invading, Gen (ret) Ayal Ben Reuven told the tv panel on Kan 11, that “I know what it’s like to sit and wait to attack. But we have to weigh everything. Our main goal is the return of the hostages.”
Illustration of Hamas headquarters beneath Shefa hospital in Gaza
Army Spokesman Hagari told the foreign press that Hamas was using hospitals, like the Shefa hospital in Gaza with 1500 beds and 4000 staff, as human shields. He showed an animation of the Hamas headquarters beneath the Shefa hospital. Hagari also said that according to international law once the hospital was used as a shield for terrorist activity it became a legimate target. He warned everyone in northern Gaza to leave including those who are in the Shefa hospital.
Col. (reserves) Didi Simchi said that “Using the word ‘hospital’ and ‘Shefa’ in the same breath is a joke… (Nazi) Dr. Mengele also had a hospital . We have to ignore that it’s a hospital and take it out. Beneath it sits Hamas’ central command.”
According to Gen (ret.) Eytan Yair, speaking on a Channel 11 Kan TV panel, the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists “Dig holes between buildings and put in a missile battery. Finding these launch sites will be difficult. We need a lot of intelligence gathering.”
Gen (ret.) Audi Simchi said “Whoever hasn’t left Gaza then the damage is on them. We’re at war.”
Gen (ret) Nadav Padan, former commander of the Central Region, said on Channel 11 Kan TV that the “Hamas story is very complicated. We have to go in as we did in 2014, we will have to go into every neighborhood and go neighborhood by neighbored to accomplish this. And he said that he didn’t know all the details of what happened on Oct 7, but the investigation would wait until the end of the war.
A group of Shaldag (Navy seal) fighters, who were one of the first groups to enter the Gaza settlements and confront the terrorists said that he was only sorry that he’d only managed to round up 40 members of the kibbutz. 17-year old Matan Segev said he’d been rescued from a burning house by the Shaldag soldiers.
Paratroop company commander Captain Yair
“His unit met with those rescued at a hotel in Tel Aviv where they were greeted with a round of applause, kisses and hugs. Captain Yair, the company commander of a Paratrooper unit, said, “We went house to house rounding them up.”
Chaim Yelin, of Kibbutz Be’eri appeared on Channel 11 Kan TV and said that it was good that there were people apologizing and asking forgiveness, although the top leadership of the government has still not done that. He also said that after 20 days he has still not acclimated to the tragedy of what happened. “It’s hard to accept that it was real. ..We want to go home. We want the government to do what needs to be done. It’s Israel or Gaza.
He was referring to a tv appearance by PM Netanyahu in which he said that after the war “ Everyone will have to answer for failures, including me. But he never took responsibility or asked forgiveness, according to the tv commentators.
Channel 12tv’s Danny Kasmoro said that there were 39 cabinet ministers and yet only a few even appeared at funerals for those who died on Oct 7.
Funerals and stories of bravery were broadcast every night on each channel. One report dealt with a 10-month old infant who was kidnapped.
Reportedly 46 residents of the southern town of Ofakim were killed when the town was attacked by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7th. One heroic story emerged from Ofakim of a woman who with her teenaged son took wounded from the midst of the fighting and drove them to a nearby field hospital then returned to evacuate other wounded, all while the terrorists fired at her car.
Gen (ret) Amos Yadlin, former head of Military intelligence, said that what is of interest is who rules after after the war.
Gen Yair Golan said that Israel needs the Palestinian authority to take over. but warned about not having unrealistic expectations. “We do not want to occupy Gaza. We don’t want Afghanistan either, with every one on the street carrying a rifle. We need to put in a Palestinian entity to take over.”
Reportedly, Israel has killed a score of Hamas commanders over the last few days. But according to Lazar Berman writing in the Times of Israel, “Targeting ‘b’ level operatives and bombing headquarters are not obstacles to the troops who will invade. He also discussed the rumored rift between the government and the IDF over when to invade.“If this is a deception, or a ruse to get Hamas to lower its guard, good, … If not, we’re in trouble.”
Tel Aviv building damaged by Hamas missile fire
According to the Wall Street Journal, 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists trained in Iran for the Oct 7 attack. The report stated that Iran supplied, weapons, money and technological knowhow to prepare for the assault on the Gaza settlements.
Two Israeli Army soldiers whose assignment was watching activity on the border through sophisticated camera told TV news outlets that they’d reported unusual activity by Hamas terrorists along the border at least a month before the attack. Later it was shown that the spots these soldiers mentioned had been used in the attack. The soldiers claimed that the higher-ups in the army had dismissed the Hamas presence on the border as ‘exercises.’
Missiles
Tel Aviv building damaged by Hamas missile fire
Saturday evening, at about the same time that the IDF entered Gaza for the third time with an armored column and ground troops, Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets on the Tel Aviv area.
One missile landed in a parking lot in Holon and set cars ablaze, however no one was reported injured.
At least fifteen missiles were counted judged by the number of rumbling booms caused by the missiles falling, or hit by the Iron Dome. The sky was lit with starlights that were in fact missiles that were met mid-air by the Iron Dome.
Friday morning saw more rockets fired at the Gaza settlements and as far Tel Aviv. Hamas fired rockets deep into Israel Thursday night hitting communities near Tel Aviv. One rocket landed near a quiet upscale village and took out an electric pole, causing a blackout.
According to Channel 12’s Ohad Hemo, 10 rockets fell on Thursday evening, four hit near Ramle, one between Ramle and Rishon LeZion.
Missiles also landed during the morning along the Gaza strip’s Jewish settlements, even though most had been evacuated. As of now over 125,000 Israelis have been relocated, including over 60,000 from Israel’s north.
Missiles and anti-tank rockets from Lebanon continued to fall on the northern border communities, most of which have already been evacuated. One commentator said this was the first time in Israel’s history that the borders, both north and south, have been denuded.
Mayors of towns along both borders have said publicly that unless the threat of rocket fire is removed, from Hezbollah in the north and Hamas/Islamic Jihad in the south, most of the residents would not return to their homes.
Volunteers
Gen (ret.) Nadav Padan is the head of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. He said that he’d been overwhelmed by the support he’d received. He’d seen over 130 million shekels in donations and already turned over 50 million to buy equipment.
Many others have gone down to the southern border to volunteer to pick the crops before they rot on the vine.
Others are volunteering in make-shift kindergartens where children who have been evacuated from dangerous places along one of the borders are being housed with their parents.