There is so much we must do! My first focus is not with regard to going into Rafah (trust me, I will get to that), but something very different:
Those who love Israel must continue to put out information as broadly as possible to refute the incessant lies.
I am well aware that there are those who have swallowed the Hamas lies (eagerly promulgated by mainstream media) wholesale; they will never accept the truth, are not interested in truth.
But this does not exempt us from continuing to fight the good fight with all possible vigor.
The war is being fought on two levels.
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John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, served for 25 years as an infantry soldier and two tours in Iraq.
This past week he wrote a significant article in Newsweek: “Israel Has Created a New Standard for Urban Warfare. Why Will No One Admit It?”
I share sections of it here (with emphasis added) and urge you to read and share the entire article.
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“The Israel Defense Forces conducted an operation at al-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas terrorists recently, once again taking unique precautions as it entered the facility to protect the innocent; Israeli media reported that doctors accompanied the forces to help Palestinian patients if needed. They were also reported to be carrying food, water, and medical supplies for the civilians inside.
“None of this meant anything to Israel’s critics, of course, who immediately pounced. The critics, as usual, didn’t call out Hamas for using protected facilities like hospitals for its military activity. Nor did they mention the efforts of the IDF to minimize civilian casualties…
“In their criticism, Israel’s opponents are erasing a remarkable, historic new standard Israel has set. In my long career studying and advising on urban warfare for the U.S. military, I’ve never known an army to take such measures to attend to the enemy’s civilian population, especially while simultaneously combating the enemy in the very same buildings. In fact, by my analysis, Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history—above and beyond what international law requires and more than the U.S. did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The international community, and increasingly the United States, barely acknowledges these measures while repeatedly excoriating the IDF for not doing enough to protect civilians—even as it confronts a ruthless terror organization holding its citizens hostage. Instead, the U.S. and its allies should be studying how they can apply the IDF’s tactics for protecting civilians, despite the fact that these militaries would almost certainly be extremely reluctant to employ these techniques because of how it would disadvantage them in any fight with an urban terrorist army like Hamas…”
If you share nothing else, share this, with attribution to John Spencer and the link to the full article provided:
“…by my analysis, Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history—above and beyond what international law requires and more than the U.S. did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
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What makes this all more amazing is that – while adhering to precautions to avoid hurting civilians in the hospital – we are going a fantastic job routing out the terrorists, both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They hide in the emergency room, and in the maternity ward. Everywhere. They gravitate towards hospitals because they see this as a secure environment, where food, electricity and running water are available.
“The IDF has categorized the raid as one of its most successful operations in the entire war, due to the number of terrorists who surrendered, the number of terrorists killed in the hospital complex, and the intelligence gleaned from those being questioned…
“So far, more than 180 terrorists inside Shifa and around the compound have been killed in the battle, and more than 500 have been arrested, including a string of senior terror commanders.
“These Israeli military achievements will have ‘a huge effect on Hamas and Islamic Jihad,’ IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari (pictured) told journalists on March 25, adding that it was the most enemy combatants killed and captured in a single raid in the war, which will cause ‘severe damage’ to terror organizations in the northern Gaza Strip…
“’These terrorists provide us with valuable intelligence during their interrogations that will lead us to further operations,’ Hagari said on March 26. “And we keep on doing everything we can to kill the leadership of Hamas. And we are looking at following the intelligence … to other Hamas leaders whom we will capture or kill, I hope, in the future…’
”Remarkably, the IDF’s operation has seen no harm come to a single patient, doctor, medical staff member, or civilian seeking refuge in the hospital…
“The army also provided more than 1,000 types of medications, food and water to these patients, while assisting Palestinian medical teams.” (All emphasis added)
https://worldisraelnews.com/highly-successful-shifa-raid-is-hitting-hamas-hard-says-idf-commander/
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Among those killed at Shifa Hospital are a handful who had been let go in the Gilad Shalit deal of 2011, which saw the release of over 1,000 terrorists for Shalit – a horrible deal. Those released – most notably Sinwar – immediately returned to terrorism. The elimination of any of them is welcome news, and simple justice.
May the list include Sinwar soon.
See weapons hidden in the hospital (including in the maternity ward):
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/387669
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And then, switching gears: what Israel must do is go into Rafah. I have covered this ground and covered it: the existential necessity for Israel to do this.
“In Rafah there are suspected weapons-smuggling tunnels running into the Sinai, four Hamas battalions and an underground tunnel network for the Hamas leadership to fall back on unless the Iran proxy is destroyed.”
It has been looking encouraging. Israel has ordered 40,000 tents to be set up in a safe area of Gaza to which the civilians in the area of Rafah will be moved. And Israel has begun to circle the city.
Additionally, there are reports that Israel has notified the US and Egypt of what will be happening.
Very encouraging, even if it seems that this won’t take place until after the end of Ramadan, not far away now, on April 9.
But there are other complications.
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It has been announced that an Israeli negotiating team – consisting of officials from the IDF, Shin Bet and Mossad – have gone to Cairo to attempt once again to negotiate a deal.
“There is no new proposal, it is understood, and the negotiators will try to thrash out a deal based on a template already rejected by Hamas.”
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-israeli-delegation-departs-for-cairo-hostage-talks
Apparently, we are supposed to come up with “creative solutions” in the face of the Hamas intransigence.
“The issues in contention include allowing Gazans to return to the largely evacuated and abandoned Gaza City, as per Hamas demand; the IDF believes that this would see Hamas terrorists entrench themselves anew in the city.” Hamas fighters are not in uniform and can meld in with the civilian population.
Then there is the demand by Hamas that Israel withdraw from Gaza completely – something we will not do.
Add to this the concern that momentum for the Rafah operation will dissipate in the face of a ceasefire of six weeks or more. This is a time during which Hamas would be able to strengthen in Rafah, and the US would apply pressure to extend that ceasefire beyond six or so weeks.
From where I sit, this is a very bad scenario. Not everyone is excited about it: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi have reportedly said that now is not the time for flexibility.
Why then are we moving in this direction?
I see two significant reasons. One is internal. We are seeing large-scale anti-Netanyahu demonstrations by people demanding that Israel negotiate a release of the hostages.
My own take here is that the demands on Netanyahu are unreasonable. What the demonstrators fail to understand is that the more they demonstrate the more Hamas perceives that it has the upper hand in negotiations.
The bottom line, the existential bottom line, is that we must win this war. Of course the hostages matter and the pain of their families is horrific, but bringing them home by surrendering our victory cannot be an option.
It must be noted, as well, that the demonstrations are not all about the hostages: they are about bringing down Netanyahu.
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And then there is the Biden administration, which is so eager to slow the momentum of the operation in Rafah.
According to the Washington Post, citing Pentagon and State Department officials, the Americans have approved the transfer of billions of dollars in bombs and fighter jets to Israel. The new arms package includes 1,800 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK-82 500-pound bombs, along with 25 F-35s that were initially approved as part of a larger package by Congress in 2008. Israel requested the third squadron of 25 F-35s last July, which when delivered will bring the total size of the fleet to 75.
The bombs are expected to be delivered within the coming months; the additional fighter jets will take several more years.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-approves-transfer-of-over-2000-bombs-25-f-35s-to-israel-report/
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Yes, this is fantastic and very important for Israel. Some interpret this as a sign of a softening of Biden’s attitude towards Israel.
Many other analysts, however, understand that there has to be a quid pro quo. Anyone who imagines there is no cost to what the Americans are doing for us is advised to think again. Attempting once again to forge a hostage deal might be part of what is expected of Israel. I’m being advised that the pressure on our government is enormous.
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More to follow. On this issue, I can only say, Stay Tuned!
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There are reports that the delegation to go to Washington – cancelled by Netanyahu last week – may be on again. The US had extended another invitation and says it has been accepted. I have yet to see a confirmation from Israel.
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Additional information on the fallacious charges that the civilians of Gaza are starving because of Israeli failures:
“Israel’s Coordinated Office of Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT) accused the United Nations [specifically UNRWA] of failing to distribute humanitarian aid to Gazans in a post to X on Saturday showing a build-up of aid on the Gazan side of the territory’s border with Israel.
“’Again,’ the post reads, ‘the content of 400 trucks worth [of aid] is waiting to be picked up and distributed from the Gazan side of [the Keren Shalom crossing] post-Israeli inspection.’”
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Let your elected leaders in the US know that it is not only the progressive left that votes – that you are demanding support for Israel.
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel. Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our soldiers, 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.
