Rocks, I said? Perhaps boulders is a more accurate metaphorical description of our situation.
It has been the expectation of the Israeli people in recent months that the war with Hamas would end decisively. We would finish the job, as our leaders, both political and military, have assured us we would.
We knew there was a high price, and it is one we were, and still are, prepared to pay. (More on this below.) But by the time we had entered the fourth month of battle – which is where we are now – we had thought there would be clarity as to the completion of our goals.
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That, however, it seems not to be the case. Consider (emphasis added):
“The Israel Defense Forces has shifted to a new and less intense phase of its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, giving in to repeated demands by the United States, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed to The New York Times on Monday.”
“Hagari said that the Israeli offensive had already started the transition to a campaign that would involve fewer ground troops and airstrikes.
“’The war shifted a stage,’ the army’s chief spokesman revealed…
“The IDF confirmation…came a day after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated Israel’s fight in Gaza would be shifting towards ‘different types of special operations.’
“In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Gallant said that the next chapter of the anti-terror operation would last ‘for a longer time,’ stressing that Israel is not abandoning its goals of destroying Hamas, freeing the remaining 120-plus hostages, and making sure Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip are no longer subject to attack.”
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And so, in the end, we will get where we need to go – recognizing that Hamas must be taken down – but the cost to Israel will be higher. We are likely to lose more soldiers with less air cover, and the drain on the nation will continue for an extended period of time.
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Following a situational assessment, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi told troops:
“We will be at war in Gaza, I don’t know if all year—we will be fighting in Gaza all year, that’s for sure.”
https://www.jns.org/idf-chief-fight-against-hamas-will-last-all-of-2024/
Not sure how to parse this statement – which showed up broadly in media. Does he mean that there will be military operations through 2024, although by the end they may not qualify as a full war?
Whatever the case, it will not be over any time soon.
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On Monday, Biden was giving a speech in a church in Charleston, SC, when protestors began shouting, “Ceasefire now!”
Biden’s response (emphasis added):
“I understand their passion, and I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383263
And so, there we are…
The question arises again and again regarding how much Israel truly needs to cave to US demands, in the face of the assistance the US has provided in the war and the hostile international environment.
Biden’s behavior towards Israel is schizoid, not that of a true friend.
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Last week, John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, who is generally fair in his assessment of Israeli actions in Gaza, said that “zero” is the right number of civilian casualties.
“We want to see them do more to reduce the impact on the civilian population and to protect innocent lives. I mean, we don’t want to see a single more civilian killed here.
“We continue to talk to our Israeli counterparts about…the manner in which they’re conducting military operations, with the foremost in mind the need to protect innocent civilian life…we have seen them act in ways that demonstrate that they are making an effort. That doesn’t mean that more can’t be done or more shouldn’t be done.” (Emphasis added)
https://www.jns.org/kirby-us-not-chipping-in-from-sidelines-giving-israel-report-card/
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Now Secretary of State Blinken is here. He has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu – at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv – and President Herzog and will be attending a meeting of the War Cabinet.
This is Blinken’s fifth visit since the war began. It would not be good if we went too long without an American official coming here to breathe down our necks. We apparently need constant reminders of what the US expects of us.
Tonight, the secretary of state held a press conference in Tel Aviv.
He acknowledged that fighting Hamas, which hides among civilians and “fires from schools and hospitals,” makes it “incredibly challenging” for Israel.
“But the daily toll on Gazans, particularly on children, is far too high.”
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But Blinken also met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today, and what Gallant told him significantly contradicts the messages reported upon above:
“Israel will ‘intensify and continue’ its military operation in the southern Gaza Strip until the Hamas leadership is found and the more than 120 hostages still held by the terrorist group are returned to the Jewish state.”
“intensify”
He briefed Blinken on “changes in combat tactics in the northern area of the Gaza Strip.”
https://www.jns.org/idf-to-intensify-southern-gaza-op-change-tactics-in-north-gallant-tells-blinken/
And so, are we to understand that the changes in combat tactics referred to above refer only to the north for now?
Gallant then posted on X that:
“We are determined to complete the war goals and strengthen regional stability in the Middle East by dismantling Hamas in the south and changing the security situation in the north [i.e., with Hezbollah].”
Reportedly, the exact Gaza location of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is known. He is believed to be hiding in the southern Hamas stronghold of Khan Yunis. However, he has surrounded himself with a large number of living hostages.
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“Nine IDF soldiers were killed in three incidents in Gaza on Monday, with eight soldiers wounded.
“Six of the killed soldiers and most of the wounded came from an incident with explosive material near the partially underground and partially above-ground Hamas rocket manufacturing factory uncovered by the IDF at al-Bureij in central Gaza.
“There was another incident in Khan Yunis in which two soldiers died and a third incident elsewhere in which another soldier died.”
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-781349
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This is the painful price we are paying for this war. A price, most of all, that our brave soldiers – who want to keep fighting!! – and their families pay. But these deaths touch the hearts of all Israelis.
The fact of the matter is that we’ve been doing some fantastic work thanks to the efforts of soldiers such as these. Among our achievements:
We have been assassinating Hamas and Hezbollah commanders at a significant rate:
Most notable was the assassination a week ago of major Hamas leader, Saleh Al-Arouri. The highest-profile Hamas leader killed by Israel since the assassination of its founder, Ahmed Yassin, 20 years ago, he was killed in a drone strike in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold. Al-Arouri believed he was well-hidden in a safe house. Not only did our Intelligence locate him, the strike that killed him was high precision.
This has rattled Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, hiding not far away.
Al-Arouri was commander of the military wing of Hamas in Judea & Samaria. He promoted closer ties with Iran and served as the Hamas liaison with Iran.
Just today we assassinated Ali Hussein Burji, commander of Hezbollah’s aerial forces in southern Lebanon, in an airstrike. He was responsible for dozens of drone attacks on Israel. This was after we had eliminated IRGC Senior Commander General Hassan Askari in an airstrike in Beit Jinn in southern Syria.
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The IDF has been uncovering and destroying command centers, a key element in dismantling Hamas capabilities.
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IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Saturday that the “dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip has been completed.”
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In recent days the Golani Brigade located the largest weapons production site discovered since the beginning of the war (located in Bureij, mentioned above). Components for long-range rockets that could reach the north of Israel were found, in addition to a host of other weapons. Part of the site, located above ground, stored completed rockets ready for use; the manufacturing was done underground. A tunnel system allowed distribution of the rockets to various parts of Gaza.
Take a look at these rockets:
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There are a great many additional issues to consider in my next postings.
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Here I share the beautiful people of Israel item for today. This illustrates the spirit of giving within Israel today.
The city of Sderot, only a mile from the Gaza border, was hit badly by terrorists on October 7. Since then, the majority of the city’s residents are living elsewhere, unwilling to return until it is safe.
In Sderot there is a Hesder Yeshiva (a yeshiva that combines religious study and service in the IDF). Many of the students and teachers were called up to fight after the massacre and are still in Gaza. Those students who remained were welcomed into another yeshiva, Shaalvim, temporarily.
Two weeks ago, 300 of the yeshiva’s 600 students returned. This likely includes some who have been released from fighting in Gaza. The residents have not yet returned, but the students are preparing to be a part of the rehabilitation process when they do.
Rabbi David Fendel, Dean of the yeshiva, said:
“The trauma experienced by some of the students and staff is unimaginable, but the Hesder [the yeshiva] is here for them. At the same time, the institution is preparing to play a key role in assisting in the rehabilitation process of the residents of Sderot once they return.
“Our enemies time and time again try to hurt us, and try to turn Sderot into a ghost town, but the power and light of Torah and chesed (acts of kindness) as personified by the Yeshiva will win out over the darkness.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383241
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel, my friends. Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our boys, and for the rescue of our hostages. Pray with a heart filled with hope.
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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
