UPDATE:
Hostages release, first day
2nd Day of hostage release
26 hostages were released as of Saturday night Nov 25,2023. Hamas stretched the terms of the agreement, according to Channel 12TV news. On Friday, with the first release of 13, the hostages released were not those to be delivered. The fate of the nine-month-old infant is still uncertain.
On Saturday, the exchange was to have taken place at 16:00 but didn’t take place until 23:30 and then only, according to media reports, because US President Biden called the Qatar and Egypt to put pressure on Hamas.
Many of those released on Saturday night were kidnapped by Hamas on Oct 7th. 90 funerals were held at kibbutz Be’er for those murdered in the Oct 7th massacre.
One of the Red Cross ambulances bringing hostages cross into Egypt
A midnight deadline was set that should Hamas not abide by the terms of the exchange the IDF would resume the war in Gaza. At two minutes before midnight the hostages were delivered into the hands of Israel, put on Israeli helicopters and flown to one of six Israeli hospitals.
The hostages from both days release appeared in good health. One pundit said that was to be expected, Hamas wanted a photo op and delivering sick and wounded wouldn’t be good press. What happens when they get further down the list, the pundit asked. And of course, what happens with the soldiers? Over 200 hostages still remain in Gaza at the hands of Hamas.
Remember Gilad Shalit, the soldier who was kidnapped and taken to Gaza, said one observer. He was held for over five years and was finally exchanged for 1,100 Palestinian prisoners, one of whom was Yeheh Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza behind the Oct 7th massacre.
Thailand citizens released
Hamas also released 10 Thailand citizens held hostage. 39 Thailand citizens were killed on Oct 7th, and 20 captured. Most were either farm workers or care-givers to elderly. The release of the Thai citizens were a side deal negotiated by the Thai government with Hamas.
According to Amos Yadlin, former head of military intelligence, Israel has two goals, the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas. Israel had no option other than to go into south Gaza and clear out Hamas. He expected Hamas to drag out the release process as much as possible to prolong the ceasefire. But thought, even with international pressure, Israel had to resume the war. He also said that President Biden’s involvement was crucial in the release of the hostages.
The list of those hostages to be released for the third day was passed to Israel and forwarded to the families. According to Reshet Bet radio, Hamas said that those who were to be on the list but were substituted for others was because those on the original list could not be found.
THURSDAY NOV 23rd.
Tanks outside neighborhood in Gaza
A ceasefire was go into effect on Friday morning, Nov 24th at 07:00 Israel time. A hostage deal reached with Hamas that called for a four day ceasefire and the release of 50 hostages. The first 13 at 14:00 on Friday afternoon, Israel time. And then 10-12 each other day. And should Hamas continue releasing 10-12 a day, the ceasefire would continue as long as Hamas kept releasing hostages.
Hamas might decide not to honor the deal in which case the fighting would resume. According to Nir Dvori of Channel 12TV, Hamas’ goal was to stretch the cease-fire out as long as possible, even months, giving them time to regroup and rearm.
Meanwhile, until the cease-fire goes into effect, the war goes on. As of November 23, 2023 70 Israeli soldiers have died since the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) went into Gaza. 392 fallen since the start of the war on Oct 7, 2023 when over 3,000 Hamas terrorists broke through the Gaza border fence and invaded Israel massacring approximately 1,200 people and taking nearly 300 hostage. Among those killed between Oct 7, 2023 and when Israel entered Gaza on Oct 28, 2023 were 322 soldiers.
On Nov 22, 2023 Israel’s Army Spokesman Gen. Daniel Hagari provided detailed evidence that Hamas was using the al-Shifa hospital as a storage facility and command center and probably a place to hide some of the hostages. Photos were shown of artifacts like clothing and even Israeli army uniforms.
The IDF also led a press tour of the tunnel network beneath the al-Shifa hospital. There more evidence was provided to prove this was a Hamas command center, weapons storage depot, and perhaps a facility where hostages were held. One photo showed a collection of weapons spread out on the floor where they were found. The room was directly beneath the al-Shifa ER (emergency room.)
Electrical and phone box in tunnel with lines to the Shifa hospital
Hamas weapons found beneath Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital’s emergency room.
The various press outlets filmed and photographed the weapons cache as well as the tunnels. They discovered air conditioning units, tiled bathrooms, a finished kitchen, and an electrical box and telephone exchange linked to the hospital.
Reporters were also shown a bag marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of kibbutz Be’eri, the scene of some of the most horrific murders. Also in the photo were items taken from an IDF soldier, including a helmet, a bullet-proof vest and a an m-16 rifle. Proof, the army spokesman’s office said, that civilian hostages from kibbutz Be’er and soldiers were held captive beneath the hospital.
Hostage artifacts and Israeli army soldiers’ clothing found in tunnel
The fighting in Gaza continues. The IDF has moved into dangerous territory in the Jabalyia refugee camp and the Zeitun neighborhood. The army says they have destroyed over 400 tunnels and killed hundreds of terrorists.
Soldiers fighting in Gaza UN school
Weapons found hidden in UN school
However, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, as well as opposition leader Benny Gantz have said that the fighting will resume as soon as the cease-fire ends, until all the hostages are home and Hamas is no long running Gaza.
On Thursday, the IDF also arrested the head of Shifa hospital, Mohammad Abu Salmiya. Israel says that Shifa hospital was ‘under his direct management’ and that the hospital served as Hamas terror HQ.
The IDF also warned settlers along the Gaza border not to return to their homes during this pause in the fighting.
North
Rocket fire continued from Lebanon into Israel. Israel responded to each attack by striking at the site of the launch. So far Hezbollah has lost nearly 80 terrorists.On Thursday, Hezbollah fired 48 rockets into Israel.
One of the Hezbollah terrorists killed was Abas Read, the son of Mohamed Raad, the Hezbollah representative in the Lebanese parliament.
Rockets have landed in towns like Metulla and Kyriat Shmona, both have been evacuated, also in settlements like Shlomi, Hanita, and others. Most were empty of residents.
Inexplicably, Hamas has said they will join in the cease-fire with Hamas even though they have not been a part of any negotiations.
West Bank
According to Ynetnews,.the IDF has arrested more than 200 suspects over incitement to violence since Oct 7th, and seized weapons and hateful propaganda material. The IDF also arrested the owner of a car dealership in Ramallah who had a sign in the window of his business that said, “Anyone who brings a dead Jew will receive a car.” The dealer was arrested by IDF troops.
IDF also arrested 16 people on Sunday among them Tarek Abdallah Ahmed Salim, a senior Hams figure. Last week in what the IDF called Operation New Dawn, the IDF raided the village of al Maghagyir in the central West Bank and seized Hamas flags, confiscated propaganda material, and ordered the demolition of illegal buildings in the village.
In the West Bank village of Na-alin, that has a strong connection to Hamas, there was a Hamas flag in part of the village, and a call to lock the road Jewish settlers used to drive home.
Hostages
According to news reports, Israel and Hamas have agreed on the terms of the release of 50 hostages. The terms were brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar. Hamas has already balked at the deal demanding more and better terms. So have the Israelis, who wouldn’t agree until a list of names of hostages was released. But in the end the deal was reached. A list of the first 13 hostages to be released was passed to the Israeli government and then on to the families.
In exchange Israel was to release 150 Palestinian prisoners, teenagers and women but with no blood on their hands. And to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Plus, to cease from flying observation drones over Gaza during the hours of 10-4. Hamas also promises severe consequences for any violation of the agreement.
A massive rally is to be held in Tel Aviv on Saturday night calling for the release of the remaining hostages. Experts predict that Hamas will play psychological games with the Israelis and the families of the hostages during the cease-fire and long after. “Israel has to be prepared for these cynical games,” warned the experts.
Israel warns that in 2014, during the Tzuk Eytan operation in Gaza, Israeli soldiers were attacked during the cease-fire. Israel remains on guard.
One Israeli skeptic said that the US wouldn’t allow the IDF to resume fighting once the cease-fire was over. “This is the end of the fighting,” said the Israeli.
Another wondered about the “Elephant in the room.” He was speaking of the scores of Israeli soldiers captured by Hamas during the Oct 7th massacre. Many off duty or reserve soldiers were among the young Israelis killed or taken hostage at the Re-em music festival. Or captured while on duty at the watchtowers along the Gaza border.
“What’s going to happen to them? Will the IDF just let them rot in some hole in Gaza? Or dangle them like prizes in the face of the Israeli government, seeking terms to keep Hamas in power? Remember, Israel gave up 1,100 Palestinian prisoners just to get one soldier, Gilad Shalit, back.”
Hamas, according to media reports, is celebrating, thinking they’ve won the war and would return to power. Perhaps, said one observer, they’re planning to use these Israeli soldiers as bargaining chips.
Another thought that Israel had no choice but to get as many hostages back as they could when they could and then go on with the war to get back those Israeli soldiers that Hamas would probably never release, dead or alive, without a fight.
Public Opinion
It was no surprise that US Actress Susan Sarandon came out against Israel. She called for Palestinian support and against Israel supporting the signs that said, ’From the River To The Sea,” meaning cleansing the area from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean of Jews. The Creative Arts Agency, a leading talent agent in Hollywood, announced they were withdrawing representation of Sarandon.
One pundit wondered, “What happened to the genocide of those Jews killed int he Gaza settlements? And the children killed and kidnapped?”
The Creative Arts Agency, a prestigious talent agent, announced they were unhappy with their agent Maha Dakhil, who represents Tom Cruze, and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, among other big names, for supporting an Instagram post that read, “You’re currently learning who supports genocide.”
Dakhil added to the post, “That’s the line for me.” She shared a photo captioned “What’s more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening.”She later apologized for the comments. Screenwriter Alan Sorkin announced he was leaving CAA and going to a rival HME. “She’s not an anti-Semite,” Sorkin said. “She’s just wrong.”
According to Ynet news US companies from Starbucks to McDonalds are being boycotted by some Arab countries because of the US backing of Israel in the war. Reportedly, in Egypt sale of McDonalds is down 50%.
The South African parliament called on the government to shutter the Israeli Embassy.
In Michigan, Nazi graffiti was removed from the Gordon Beach, Michigan summer cottage of Rahm Emmanuel, former Chicago mayor and current US Ambassador to Japan.
Volunteerism
The spirt of the home front was still high. Israelis and Jews and even non-Jewish supporters of Israel, have been volunteering for everything, there are physicians coming to Israel to help in hospitals, women baking bread and meals for soldiers, Israelis donating clothing the soldiers might be needing, and many volunteers even going into the farms to help bring in the crops.
Eli Turgeman at his tomato hothouse on the Gaza border
A two hour drive from the center of the country past check-points and around roads closed by the military, 15 volunteers, organized through a group called Leket, arrived at the farm of Eli Turgeman at Moshav Ami Oz (My Strong People).
Eli said that normally he had 17 Thai workers picking tomatoes. He had 6 hothouses, but was only picking two. “The rest I had to leave to rot.” He had no choice. The Thai workers had left Israel, ordered home by the King of Thailand.
Volunteers at Eli Turgeman’s hothouse in Moshav Ami Oz
Volunteers came every day to help pick. “One Thai worker could pick 400 kilograms of tomatoes in an eight-hour shift. It took 15 volunteers to pick 800 kilograms in four hours.
At the end of the four hours of picking, Eli thanked everyone for helping him save at least one of his crops.
On the way back, Mario, a retired engineer and volunteer leader from Leket, pointed out that the road the mini-bus was traveling on had been cleared recently of the cars that were burned and shot up by Hamas terrorists. Cars that were parked by revelers at the Re-em music festival.
At another junction he pointed out the site of the Re-em massacre. Later at at junction, the bus passed the sign for Sderot, a city scores of kilometers from the border that had been the scene of fierce fighting. One volunteer was amazed to see first hand how far into Israel the terrorists had come.
Now the army was at nearly every junction, road blocks set up here and there, soldiers at traffic circles standing in the center in battle gear with M-16 rifles at the ready, peering closely at every car.
Back far from the front lines, in the center of the country quiet prevailed, but still a sense of unease. Not far away Israeli soldiers were fighting. Something hard to forget. Cease-fire meant a pause in fighting, said one observer. Just a pause. Time will tell.