Truth, Lies & Videotape War: Days 12 & 13

Jerusalem Magazine Dashboard 5 Truth, Lies, & Videotape War: Days 12 & 13 LARRY PRICE OCT 19, 2023                          US President Joe Biden meets in Israel with PM Netanyahu and “War Cabinet” US President Joe Biden was in Israel on Wednesday, Oct 18, for a five-hour visit. He met with Israel’s “War Cabinet” in a safe room of the Kapinski hotel in Tel Aviv. Reportedly, Biden was in Israel to not only show support for Israel but also to insure that Israel stayed within the boundaries of acceptable conduct while conducting the war in Gaza. He said that the USA and Israel were democracies that respected the rule of law unlike the terrorists who did not. Biden also stressed that Israel needed to be sensitive to the humanitarian needs of the Gaza population. The war began when Hamas terrorists crashed through the Israeli border fence from Gaza with 2,500 fighters. By the latest estimates, Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,400, taking 203 hostage, including Americans, French, Argentinian and others, leaving 309 recovering in the hospital with over 80 in critical condition. The army spokesman also said that so far over 300 Israeli troops have been killed, including 70 from the Golan brigade. Biden said that the USA stands “Shoulder to shoulder” with Israel. He pointed out that “America has Israel’s back.” He also said that the USA had sent two aircraft carriers into the region. Analysts say this move was to deter Iran, it’s proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other enemies of Israel from assuming Israel was in a weakened condition due to this attack and the internal strife over the Judicial Reforms pushed by PM Netanyahu. The push for Judicial Reforms resulted in a month of protests that included reserve soldiers and pilots refusing to do their reserve duty. Biden also said the US was supplying Israel with unspecified advanced weaponry to defend itself. Observers say these supplies included sophisticated intelligence gathering equipment, access to US intelligence organizations, bunker buster bombs and planes to carry them, as well as ammunition to refill the Iron Dome missile defense system. Some analysts also said that Biden came to Israel, following on the heels of US Sec. of State Blinken and US Sec. of Defense Austin, because there is concern among the US hierarchy of Netanyahu’s ability to successfully manage the war. And to make certain the conflict didn’t spread and become regional. Analysts have said that Netanyahu has repeatedly placed politics over security, pointing to the errors stressing Judicial Reforms even when warned that this was weakening Israel strategically. Others point to the cabinet, and even the war cabinet, made up of Netanyahu cronies and yes men. Of late, Netanyahu formed a National Unity Government with opposition leader Benny Gantz. He also formed a smaller War Cabinet and allowed Gantz a seat along with former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. But it is unclear, say the observers, how much influence these military men have on the cabinet. Or even who is making the decisions. Some observers have begun to question Netanyahu’s fitness for his position citing mental health issues exhibited by a possible denial of the current reality. Netanyahu has also been criticized for not holding any press conferences. According to Danny Kushmaro of Channel12TV, “Netanyahu stands up and speaks and then leaves, never allowing any questions.” However, the government has so far not admitted any errors. Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi told a reporter firing questions at him as he walked through the Knesset, “Apologize? For what? We did nothing wrong.” Karchi was one of the voices calling for the Judicial Reforms and castigating those who joined the protests, including those in the military. Channel 12 TV’s political analysts Avraham Rabinovitch said that the Chief-of-Staff Herzi HaLevi, as well as the head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) Ronen Bar, and Maj. Gen Aharon Haliva, head of Military Intelligence, and others have all admitted they should have known of the impending attack. “Everyone but Netanyahu. Why doesn’t he go on TV and admit he made a mistake.” Rabinovitch then called on Netanyahu to resign. The Times of Israel reported that Tazachi HaNegbi, head of the National Security Council and a long-time Netanyahu ally, appeared on TV and admitted, “I was wrong,’ so were others, about Hamas being deterred.” Hanegbi also said that Israel wouldn’t negotiate until Hamas was destroyed. “Hamas will not be the ruler, the sovereign, in Gaza after the war.” When asked why Netanyahu had not taken responsibility for the catastrophe HaNegbi ignored the question and went onto other issues. The displaced Gaza Strip residents were also critical of the government. Channel 11 Kan TV’s Michael Steinman reported that many people had been relocated from their destroyed homes to hotels and hostels in the center of the country but were now told that the government wouldn’t pay for their housing past the end of the week. These displaced people were asked to raise the money themselves for their own housing. Or go home. “But they don’t have a home.” Videotape Channel 11 Kan TV news showed videotape taken from a body camera lifted from a Hamas terrorist killed in the fighting to clear the terrorists from the Gaza Strip settlements. The video showed Hamas terrorists on motorcycles, carrying RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and automatic weapons,  breaking through the three lines of defense the Israeli military had set up to stop attacks and thought impenetrable.  The terrorists used bolt cutters or explosives to get through two of the fences, each a hundred meters apart, and finally more explosives to blow holes in the 18-ft tall concrete wall. Then the video showed how easily the terrorists invaded the Israeli settlements, firing indiscriminately, killing defenseless men, women and children.  North According to Channel 11 TV news Ohad Hemo, Hezbollah was unaware of the planned Hamas attack. “Had Hezbollah been aware of the attack and coordinated an attack with Hamas the catastrophe would have been much greater. Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, that essentially controls Lebanon, has limited their attacks on Israel, being very careful not to escalate the tit-for-tat into a full-scale war.  Israeli media reports that Hezbollah has been warned that should they cross the red line of moderated response Israel will decimate Hezbollah and the parts of Lebanon they inhabit and call home. Hezbollah continues to fire missiles into Israel. A number were fired on Wednesday and Thursday. Israel has responded with artillery fire. “Israel is capable of fighting a war on two fronts without US aid,” said Tomer Hyman, former head of Israel’s military intelligence, on Channel 12 TV news.  Lies and Truth At 18:59 on October 17, 2023 an explosion occurred on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital grounds. Even now, according to CNN, it is unclear how many people were injured. NPR reported that the parking lot of the hospital had been used by Gazans seeking safety from Israelis aerial attacks on Hamas targets, thinking that the Christian hospital grounds were safe. But an explosion went off in the parking lot. The hospital building was untouched. Hamas immediately blamed an Israeli bomb. And issued a press release saying hundreds of Gazans were killed indicating that the hospital was hit and patients killed. The world’s media jumped on the story without checking the facts and news of the event and Israel’s culpability spread like fire on dry grass. The army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari appeared on TV saying Israel would investigate the explosion but had no knowledge of Israel’s culpability. Experts appeared on Israeli tv panels doubting Israel’s involvement. An Israeli bomb leaves a crater ten feet deep and twenty feet across. This explosion had no crater. Channel 12tv news looked at the footage they had from a video camera they’d recently set up in the southern town of Netivot with a clear view of Gaza.  In studying the video, that was shown on TV, they saw that the volley of rockets, launched by Islamic Jihad near a cemetery behind the hospital, went airborne except for one missile that misfired and fell onto the hospital grounds. The army spokesman showed this footage, as well and before and after footage of the hospital parking lot, and said that it was clear that an Islamic Jihad missile had misfired. “This was not unusual. Since they began firing rockets into Israel over 450 have misfired.” Islamic Jihad Missiles launched (left) and landing on hospital grounds (right)  The army spokesman also played audio that was captured by Israeli listening posts of a conversation between two Hamas operatives. The conversation made it clear that the explosion was called by an errant Islamic Jihad missile. U.S. President Joe Biden, in meeting with Israel’s “War Cabinet” told the press that the Pentagon had looked at their satellite images and confirmed that Israel had not caused the disaster. “It was the other team,” Biden said. Still, the fact that Israel wasn’t responsible had much less impact than the initial Hamas disinformation. No sooner had Hamas made the claim than international news outlets broadcast the video clips and information provided by Hamas without checking the facts.  Roi Case of Channel 11 Kan TV said, “The result was more than Hamas could have hoped for.” He added, “When Mohammed Dieff planned this attack, he thought that Hezbollah would join the war, and the Arabs in the West Bank, and Israeli Arabs in the north of Israel. That didn’t happen. But now, with this Hamas lie accusing Israel, there is an uprising of Arab support Dieff didn’t get when the Hamas terrorists invaded Israel.” Impact of Lies Media reports protests breaking out in France, England  and other places. In Tunis a synagogue was set on fire. In Argentina the Israeli and US Embassy’s were hit with bomb threats. Protests have been organized in Britain. A synagogue was firebombed in Germany in response to the explosion at the Gaza hospital.  New York City is reportedly a hub of pro-Palestinian support. “Kidnapped” posters calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been torn down around the city.  In France, Nice’s Algerian born footballer Youcef Atal has been suspended by the football team and reprimanded for showing support for Hamas.  In Britain, popular Liverpool soccer star Egyptian born Mohammed Salah has called for humanitarian aid for Gazans. The New York Times admitted that they’d been hasty in reporting that Israel was responsible for the explosion. NPR was lukewarm in their apology saying that all the information was not yet in. The Huffington Post wrote that Israel was apparently not to blame for the explosion but took decidedly pro-Palestinian slant to their reporting. Both NPR and the Huffington Post have a progressive market they need to please, said one observer. However, according to Ynetnews, even US progressive Democrat Ilhan Omar has said that Israel was not to blame for the Gaza hospital explosion. Channel 12TV news reported that the British now realize that all of the reports coming from Hamas are not reliable. The BBC, the commentator said, is another matter. Many outlets were not endorsing the US-Israel narrative. Rob Picheta’s CNN reported that “The devastating Gaza hospital blast is shrouded in uncertainty.”  The report also stated, “Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq issued statements condemning Israel and accusing its military of bombing the hospital.” CNN continued that even though Israel, backed by the USA have shown the blast to be a misfired missile, still  CNN reported, “Palestinian officials and several Arab leaders nevertheless accuse Israel of hitting the hospital amid its ongoing airstrikes in Gaza. Islamic Jihad – a rival group to Hamas – has denied responsibility.”  CNN also reported that “…thousands of protesters shouting anti-Israel slogans gathered in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, and Tunisia. Protests also rocked the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.” The worry, according to the Israeli media was that these denials, half-hearted or not, were too little too late. Those who had heard the original Hamas lies chose to believe them despite proof to the contrary. Qatar based Al-Jazeera still supports the Hamas false narrative. Egypt, Jordan and the PA declined to meet with US President Biden to discuss the present situation after the hospital explosion was blamed on Israel. Reportedly, the leaders of these countries feared an uprising by their own populations. Egypt has long been fighting the Islamic Brotherhood, a sister organization of Hamas. The Hamas lies could well inspire Hamas sympathizers to try to overthrow the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and the PA. One analyst pointed out that Muslims make up nearly a quarter of the world’s population. 6% of the population of Europe was Muslim, about 28 million people. European leaders were worried about these Muslims rising up and violently protesting the events in Gaza. Moslems make up 6.5% of Great Britain but according to the Guardian newspaper 39% live in poverty stricken areas.   One of the messages US President Biden carried to Israel was that Israel should not attack Hezbollah in the north because the US did not want to see this conflict spiraling into a world war, bringing in Iran and her allies, like Russia and China. On Thursday, October 19, 2023, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sumak flew into Israel. He said, “I want you to know that the UK and I stand with you. He said he absolutely defended Israel’s right to defend itself.” He also said that there should be humanitarian aid to Gaza.” Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Sholz had been in Israel earlier in the week with similar sentiments. Humanitarian Aid Egypt has agreed to open up the Rafiah border crossing to allow in humanitarian aid. Reportedly, 20 trucks of food and medical supplies are lined up at the border. At the outbreak of the war Israel cut off supplies, electricity and water to Gaza, although turned back on the water after a day. Electricity, according to media reports, has never been reliable in Gaza and many homes are powered by gas-driven generators. At the start of the war, Israel also bombed Hamas supplies going into Rafiah. But has agreed to allow the convoys pass. This despite fierce opposition by protest groups made up of the families of the Israeli hostages that have formed against the humanitarian aid.    Protest by some families of those held hostage Many in Israel, like ultra-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, are demanding that the international community concern itself with the hostage crises as a humanitarian issue not only supplies for Gazans. Still, US President Biden has made it clear he supports humanitarian aid for Gazans, many of whom he says are innocent civilians. Some media reports liken to Gazans to hostages themselves, hostages of Hamas. Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh  Atid party, told an international press conference today that the war wasn’t Hamas against Israel, but rather Hamas against Israel and the Palestinians and in fact Hamas against all of us. Like Isis. Israel has said it would allow in the humanitarian aid as long as it was not going to be used by Hamas. An Israeli spokesman reportedly said that should the goods wind up in Hamas’ hands, Israel would seal up the Rafiah crossing.  The War Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel Wednesday night, some landing as far as Tel Aviv. On Thursday, sirens sounded once again in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There were no reports of injuries. So far citizens have been evacuated from the Gaza strip, settlements and cities near the Gaza and Lebanese borders. Over 80% of the Southern seaside city of Ashkelon have been evacuated and the entire city of Sderot. The army spokesman’s office said that Israel destroyed hundreds of Hamas targets overnight, between Wednesday and Thursday, including missile sites, tunnels, intelligence infrastructure and various command centers. The IDF also killed  Rafat Abu Hilal, head of the Rafiah Military Wing of BPRC (Gaza Popular Resistance Group) the third largest terrorist organization in Gaza after Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Abu-Hilal was reportedly responsible for some of the groups that attacked the Israeli settlements.  According to the Times of Israel, the IDF also targeted several members the Nukhba commando force that led the Oct 7 slaughter in the Gaza Strip settlements.  According to Ynetnews, The IDF said on Thursday that security forces arrested some 63 Hamas operatives and 80 terror suspects who were detained in overnight West Bank raids including Hassan Yusaf, the head Hamas in the West Bank. This brings the number of West Bank suspects in custody since the Hamas attack on October 7, to 524.  The army spokesman along with military analysts said the upcoming battle in Gaza would be long and hard. Israel is still preparing for the invasion of Gaza. Troops are gathering on the border and being supplied with necessary equipment. 100,000 bullet-proof vests with ceramic inserts, and helmets, have yet to arrive from suppliers.   Suspected N. Korean RPGs with red strip The IDF has also shown evidence that some of the weapons used by the Hamas terrorists were made in north Korea, long a supplier of arms to the Palestinians.  Israel media says that so far Israel is playing by the rules set out by the USA mainly to continue receiving needed supplies for attack and deterrence. 

Tragedy and Revenge

Lutz family in Kfar Aza killed by Hamas terrorists in their home The tragedies are still nearly impossible to comprehend, said one observer. Entire families, like the Lutz family in Kfar Aza massacred in their own home. All day, and every night the Israeli public watches the news and there are always more horror stories. A mother and father, Yona and Ofer Levy appeared on Channel 12tv News telling anchorman Danny Kasharov, broadcasting outdoors from near the southern town of Sderot, how their daughter Inbar was kidnapped at the Re’em music festival. A clip of Inbar’s kidnapping was shown to the public, but Yona and Ofer asked the TV screen be turned off on Kasharov’s make-shift desk so they didn’t have to watch their daughter stuffed into the back of an SUV by armed Hamas terrorists. A commentator said one could only pity the poor girl since it didn’t take much imagination to picture what would happen to her. Apparently her mother Yona could. She was in tears, broken, sobbing, pleading with the government to do something to get her daughter back. Soon Kasharov was also in tears. He turned the broadcast back to the main studio and anchor Yonit Levi. The Army Spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari ,appeared on TV at 20:00 and announced that so far 199 hostages have been identified. Yaron Blum, a hostage negotiator, told Channel 12 TV that number was not the end. Other experts speculated that the announcement that 1,300 people were massacred in the Hamas invasion was also not final. Intelligence reports now say that approximately 3,000 Hamas terrorists broke into Israel on Oct 7, 2023. Some of the weapons captured by the Yalom unit The army has now evacuated all residents along the Gaza fence from a distance of 0-2km. Reportedly, some of the Hamas terrorists may still be roaming free and planning to attack. As the TV broadcasts goes on, said one pundit, the blood of those Israelis watching the horrific images starts to boil until only revenge would assuage their rage. Gen (ret) Israel Ziv, appearing on Channel 12tv news said, “I went and visited these settlements.The terrorists were in them for hours. They killed the residents in cold blood one after another.” During the prime time news broadcasts of all the station, there are four, Hamas fired a non-stop volley of rockets that reached as far as Tel Aviv. The rocket fire continued for the three hours of the extended nightly news. Danny Kasharov, of Channel 12 TV, said that the heavy attacks usually took place as the prime time broadcasts began. Most of the rockets were met by Iron Dome anti-missile missiles. Some fell on homes and apartment buildings. Ashkelon was hit hard absorbing scores of rockets. On Monday night the government announced that those residents of Ashkelon without safe rooms, 40% of Ashkelon, would be evacuated to government hotels in the center of the country.. The UN and others have worried that there would be a Humanitarian Crises in Gaza as Israel cut off electricity and fuel supplies and as more than 500,000 residents have fled, some to southern Gaza. Today, Israel allowed the Gaza border crossing into Egypt to open for several hours allowing the entry of fuel and food. Israel had already opened up the water supply they controlled. Israel was careful to stay within the law. And since Israel is not occupying Gaza, that is an independent entity with no Israeli troops inside, Israel cannot be accused of war crimes since they are not an occupying army. Israel has also made it clear that even if it were to invade Gaza Israel has no intention of staying and occupying Gaza and the 2.2 million residents there. Roi Case of Channel 1 Kan TV reported that UNRWA (United National Relief and Works Agency) said that Hamas had appropriated a shipment of humanitarian goods meant for the general population. UNRWA later denied the report. Critics said the denial came because the UNRWA officials feared reprisals from Hamas. “What happened to the humanitarian crises with our Israelis held hostage? Isn’t that a humanitarian crises?” asked one observer “Why isn’t anyone doing anything about that? Why isn’t the Red Cross demanding to see them?” “Why aren’t countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia demanding Hamas release the prisoners,” asked one of the families of the kidnapped Israelis. A heated debate took place on Channel 11 Kan TV between popular radio personality Jacki Levi and Channel 11 Kan’s political reporter Michael Shemesh. Levi said that five of his family members had been kidnapped by the Hamas terrorists and he was very angry. “Why didn’t the government know about the attack? Why haven’t they come on TV and apologized, asked Levi. Shemesh defended the government, and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Levi was having none of it and said, “There is no leadership in Israel. Uri Sharon, the military correspondent of Channel 11 Kan said that Netanyahu had met with families of those kidnapped. The screen showed the scene of Netanyahu greeting family members. Then a couple came in ostensibly uninvited. Sharon was skeptical and asked how could that possibly happen when no one was allowed anywhere near Netanyahu without a thorough background check. He hinted strongly that the scene was staged and the new arrivals were functionaries of Netanyahu’s Likud party. Avigdor Leiberman of the Yisrael Beitanu party spoke on a TV panel and said he was backing the National Unity Government but would not join the cabinet unless he could contribute to the scaled down and influential War Cabinet. “I don’t need to be minister number 37 in the general cabinet. I don’t want an office or a budget. I want to contribute.” Leiberman had been both Finance Minister and Defense Minister in the past. Leiberman also said that he’d visited the Israeli villages in the south and in one saw a bloody toy teddy bear and a little girl holding it with her brains blown out. “They are worse than the Nazis and the SS,” he said. Gen (ret.) Yisrael Ziv, also on the panel, said that the War Cabinet needed people with experience guiding the war especially as the Israeli invasion of Gaza approached. “I have no dealings with Leiberman, but he has a wealth of experience and the War Cabinet could use men like him who know how to manage a crises.” Some media reports state that Sarah Netanyahu, wife of the Prime Minister, is against allowing Leiberman a seat in the War Cabinet because he has strongly come out against Netanyahu for the Judicial Reforms push, that some say led to the present quagmire. Sarah Netanyahu also came under fire when the Civil Authority, in charge of hiring and firing government staff, was pressured to fire the Prime Minister’s Wife’s Chief of Staff for calling those who criticized the prime minister “Leftists” and “Traitors.” Meanwhile, Gen. Herzi HaLevi, the Army Chief of Staff, called a press conference today and publicly took blame for the failure to stop the Hamas terrorist’s attack. But he said that investigations would be carried out after the war but the goal now was to win the war and destroy Hamas. Channel 12 TV also ran clips from the army outposts along the Gaza border fence, with Israeli soldiers reporting on the Gazans setting fires and explosive charges and shooting at Israelis. These reports were being filed daily for nearly two weeks, but were not taken seriously by the army higher ups. Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) also appeared on TV and accepted blame for the intelligence failure of not catching the Hamas terrorists before they launched their attack. The media also ran clips of a Hamas Terrorist unit preparing for the attack, something the Shin Bet should have been aware of. Likud minister Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak told the media that in a normal country Netanyahu would resign.” The communities along the Gaza Strip have been evacuated. Some to hostels and some to hotels. However, many have to pay for the housing out of their own pocket since the government has still not allocated funds for their evacuation and relocation. Ehud Gilad, of the ‘Soldiers From ’73 War Association,’ whose members have volunteered to help with the refugees, said only volunteers and municipal authorities were dealing with the refugees. “The government is not here. The municipal authorities are filling the gap.” A social worker appeared on TV and said that there were thousands of refugees and the government had approached the social workers to volunteer to help them and to work for free. Minister for Culture and Sport, Miki Zohar appeared on TV and also admitted that the government had made mistakes. He denied there was chaos with the refugees but admitted he hadn’t gone to visit. When asked if he thought Netanyahu was to blame he said ‘You’d have to ask him.” There were also stories of great heroism. Small groups of men grabbed their weapons to defend their homes, killing terrorists before they themselves were killed. Some successfully defended kibbutz Re’em fighting off the terrorists, outnumbered 40 to 6, until they were luckily rescued by an Israeli unit supported by a tank. In one incredibly brave act, Corporal Matan Avargil and his unit were in a firefight with Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Nir Am when Avargil saw a hand grenade lobbed at his unit. Avergil ,without thinking, fell on the grenade, absorbing the blast, sacrificing himself to save his comrades. IRAN US Sec of State Anthony Blinken has returned to Israel after visiting the moderate Arab states in the region reportedly trying to cobble together some type of coalition to oppose Iran should that country decide to enter the war. Blinken has been sitting in on Israel’s War Cabinet meetings, and one critic said that Blinken’s presence makes it look as if Israel cannot handle this crises alone. Another pundit said perhaps Blinken is there because the US realizes Israel, under Netanyahu’s leadership, is incapable of handling this crises alone. To highlight the US commitment to Israel, the Army Spokesman said that the USA has sent the US Aircraft Carrier Eisenhower into the region to join the Gerald R. Ford attack group. The spokesman also said the US has supplied planes capable of carrying heavy bomb loads. Some speculate that these are aircraft that can carry the bunker-buster bombs that can penetrate reinforced concrete, weigh between 5 and 15 tones, depending on the ordnance and are dropped one after another in the same spot to reach maximum depth. These bombs can be used to decimate the underground bunkers where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his staff are hiding. Other commentators say that the reason Blinken is back in Israel after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had just left, was to show that America had a lot invested in Israel survival. Their presence and that of the American supplies, ships and planes, as well as a steady airlift of arms and ammunition, were meant as a warning to Iran and other actors like China and Russia, to stay out of the fight. Some are concerned should other state actors enter the fray this could easily lead to World War III. However, one Historian, Prof. S., who has written many books on war, said that “… So called statesmen have a habit of being drawn into conflicts because they feel committed to allies and friends. I think the main difference here is that many of the players have nuclear weapons, which might rein in their recklessness.” Meanwhile, the rumors are flying in the Israeli media that U.S. President Biden will make a snap visit to Israel in the next few days to show solidarity with Israel, and also, some observers say, to underline the warning to Iran, and other parties, that any attack on Israel will be met with a firm American response. Biden has become a favorite in Israel, according to observers, who say he is proving himself to be a true friend. One pundit used a quote of Biden’s saying that he’d taken each of his children to the Dachau concentration camp once they turned 14 to show them the face of evil. Biden has called the Hamas attack on the Israeli settlements “pure evil." HEZBOLLAH The Hezbollah terrorist organization, sponsored and controlled by Iran, is based in Lebanon. Hezbollah has been a concern for the Israeli army, not wanting to have to fight a war on two fronts, and give Iran an excuse to enter the war. Israel has been careful not to over-react to Hezbollah rocket fire. One missile landed in the northern border on Kibbutz Schtula killing a construction worker and injuring two others. Israel responded with artillery fire taking out a guard tower in Lebanon. This tit-for-tat went on during the day with five separate exchanges. However, both sides were careful not to go too far. Ohad Hemmo of Channel 12 TV called this a “War of Attrition.” He also said that, “If Hezbollah enters this war they’ll be set back 100 years” after Israel finishes with them. The government of Lebanon has told Hezbollah that Lebanon does not want Hezbollah entering the war. However, experts point out that the Lebanese government has little power over Hezbollah. According to Tomer Hyman, former head of Israel’s Military Intelligence, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was not put in power by Iran to defend Hamas leader Sinwar in Gaza, but to be the rear guard protecting Iran. “And he better no do anything to change those orders.” Just in case Hezbollah does enter the war, Israel has evacuated 27,000 Israelis from 28 settlements that are between 0-4 kilometers along the northern border, relocating them to government sponsored hotels and guesthouses. THE COMING BATTLE Israel has been pounding Gaza from the air for days. Pinpoint targets, said Nir Dvori, Channel 12 TV’s military correspondent. The Palestinians claimed that 3,000 Gazans have been killed in the fighting. Israel is repeatedly carrying out bombings aimed at buildings housing Hamas operatives and operations. Israel also captured hundreds of Hamas terrorists during the fighting to clear the Gaza border settlements and these prisoners have given Israeli intelligence several hundred new targets. Experts say that some of this intelligence information will be used to disable the traps Hamas has set for Israel once the ground invasion begins. But, say observers, Israel is in no hurry to rush into Gaza. Channel 12TV’s Nir Dvori said, first Israel will hit as many Hamas leaders as they can. Today they took out the head of Hamas’ military intelligence for Khan Yunis. In the last few days they’d taken out other mid-level Hamas operatives. 2.) Israel will continue to attack targets from the air. 3.) Then comes the land invasion. Dvori pointed out how important it was that Israel received legitimization from none other than the President of the United States to carry out this operation. According to Gen (ret.) Israel Ziv, “The army has to go into Gaza prepared. Supplied with all the equipment they need. Trained to do what they need to do.” Observers pointed out that the 350,000 reserve troops called up for the war were now undergoing exercises, collecting their necessary gear, learning their roles. “When they go in, they’ll go in ready,” said Ziv. An Hassidic father from the anti-Zionist Toldot Ahron group kisses his son a paratroop, going off to war. This only shows how solidly the home front is behind this effort.Even communities that were at odds have found themselves embracing. Fund-raising campaigns abound to collect money for the shortfall Israel’s soldiers have reported, like bullet-proof vests with ceramic plates, helmets, even Go Pro action cameras to record the activities. The sites like Jgive, a non-profit, has a list of organizations and army units asking for donations. Channel 12tv’s Danny Kasharov said that Hamas had picked the wrong generation to mess with. His colleague Nir Dvori said “The spirit of the Israeli soldiers will be the deciding factor in the war. That’s why Israel will win. The spirt is very high.” Pointing to the pro-Hamas protests in Britain, and the synagogues defaced in Germany, Gen (ret.) Yossi Peled told Channel 11 Kan TV that Israel has to win this war. He said that if the IDF doesn’t win, the Jews around the world would be in danger.”

Unconditional Surrender Expected: War Day 7, Oct 13, 2023

Approximately 1500 dead over 3000 injured so far from the Hamas invasion into southern Israel of over 2500 terrorists. Over 6000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza. Israel continues to bomb Gaza. The Israeli army has also warned residents of northern Gaza to evacuate the area within 24-hours. Hamas expects a massive ground invasion at any time. Hamas has told these residents not to leave. The army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagar has warned the residents of Gaza not to be used as human shields. Military analysts said that the air force is expected to bomb targets in northern Gaza irrespective if civilians are in buildings. While the UN warns of a humanitarian crises, Channel 12tv new’s Ohad Hamo said he has been in touch with people in Gaza and was told there is no humanitarian crises. “They have water and food and medicine. Israel knows it is important not to put Gaza into a humanitarian crises. Israel needs legitimacy in the international courts despite that the Judicial Reform activists said Israel’s courts should be able to be involved in military decisions.” Hamo also said that sources in Gaza said that Hamas “didn’t expect to be in this bad a situation within a week of their attack.” Hamo echoed other analysts saying that Hamas expected that their invasion would spark a general uprising among Israeli Arabs, Palestinians in the West Bank, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. “None of that happened,” said Hamo. “Plus the cruel way they butchered Israelis has isolated them from the international community.” Another report added that the Israeli army had found tents, shaving equipment, and other supplies indicating that Hamas had expected to stay in Israel for an extended period. Alon Davidi, the mayor of Sderot, one of the southern towns hit hard by the Hamas missiles and by terrorists, told Chanel 1tv news that he’d been going from funeral to funeral “The government shouldn’t listen to those saying the invasion of Gaza will take a heavy toll on Gaza. The area has to be cleared of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. A new era is needed. It’s either them or us.” However, some analysts who said that Hamas was an existential threat to Israel were exaggerating. “Hamas is not strong enough to destroy Israel, or the Jewish people,” analyst Shmuel Rosner told Channel 1tv news. “But we don’t want to have to hide in closets, pretending we’re not Jews.” Gen. Giora Eiland, former head of Military Intelligence, told a panel on Channel 12tv news that “In February 1943, US President Roosevelt met at the Tehran Conference with Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin. At that conference it was decided that the Nazi government of Germany would have to “Surrender with no preconditions.” Eiland said the same should be true of Hamas. “If Hamas sits on floors 4 & 5 with civilians above or below in the building, previously we’d inform the residents to clear out. This is not necessary in international law. If we want to have total war we must take the necessary steps. We can’t worry about humanitarian criticism.” In ’43 the USA and Britain understood this, said Eiland. He pointed out that Hamas hid their rockets and ammunition and headquarters under hospitals and schools. “What to do? The have to evacuate the hospitals. The international community should be called in to help do this.” Eiland said that in 1982 when Israel was at war with the PLO in Lebanon, PLO leader Yassir Arafat said that Beirut would be their Stalingrad. Israel proceeded to bombarded parts of Beirut into rubble. “I was a brigade commander then. When it came time for troops to enter Beirut, we just walked in. The PLO had fled.” He hinted that the same would be true of Gaza. As to Hezbollah entering the fray and making this a two front war he said, “As long as we don’t make make mistakes, Hezbollah will stay out.Every day that passes lessens the chance of their involvement.” A Hezbollah spokesman said later that Hezbollah would enter the fight “when we are ready.” According to Israel radio’s Reshet Bet, Hamas lobbed a long range rocket that fell, for the first time, in the port of Haifa. The rocket was intercepted by a David’s sling. However, missiles did fly out of the north today, landing in an open field in near Haifa. Sirens were heard in the north. The norther border town of Metulla was evacuated. The rockets were few from the North. Most were fired from Gaza. Hamas unleashed a fierce attack on Ashkelon on Friday morning lobbing over 60 rockets on the seaside city. An hour later another attack, with one rocket landing on a building with no injuries. Nir Dvori, military correspondent of Channel 12tv news said that since the war began over 1000 missiles had been fired at Ashkelon out of the total of 6000 fired at Israel. He said the attack this morning was meant to look for holes in the Iron Dome. Also, to catch Israelis in Gaza unaware. “It is Friday. People came out of their bomb shelters to shop and prepare for Shabbat. Hamas took advantage of that.” A poll conducted by Israel’s newspaper Maariv showed that support for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud party had dropped precipitously. If an election were held to day Benny Gantz’s National Unity party would win 41 seats (out of 120 Knesset seats) and Netanyahu’s Likud only 19. Asked who was better suited to lead Israel 48% said Benny Gantz and 29% Netanyahu. Those polled said that in spite of the Hamas attack, 72% still trusted the IDF. Gen. Giora Eiland was highly critical of Netanyahu’s 20-minute speech to the nation on Thursday night. “He spoke for 20-minutes and never sent a message of sympathy to those who had been attacked along the Gaza border.” Eiland pointed out that Netanyahu did take the opportunity to make clear that he’d not been informed of the impeding attack until a minute before it was launched.Rather, Netanyahu allowed the blame to fall on everyone else, the army, intelligence, even those in his own office. “Just not him when he is the one to blame. He is the one responsible. It’s a shame he’s trying to lay blame on the army, especially now, when the army is entering a big battle,” said Eiland. Eiland lauded Gen. Herzi HaLevi, who had appeared on TV earlier in the evening accepting blame for the Hamas attack, admitting the army and intelligence services had made mistakes. But, he said, the time for going into the deep investigation of what happened and who was to blame should be left until after the war. “Now is the time to fight and win.” News reports have been circulating that the USA had sent the Israelis a message six days before the Hamas attack that a major incident was coming. Reportedly, the Egyptians had warned Israeli officials of an impending major attack. However, PM Netanyahu has remained adamant that he knew nothing until a minute before the attacks. EIland said that Hamas made a critical error in thinking there would be a major uprising. “Through the horrific and sadistic acts they committed Hamas has isolated itself from the international community.” He said, however, that destroying Hamas as a military entity was possible but destroying Hamas completely was not since Hamas was also a religious movement and would, even if stripped of their military capability, still be around as a religious entity.” But, he added, “After their sadistic slaughter Hamas has to be destroyed.” The threat of terrorist attacks in the south is still on Israel’s radar. There are terrorists still roaming free after escaping the IDF sweep of the southern towns. Israel reportedly killed a number of terrorists in firefights over the last few days. This even though Army Spokesman has said that the south has been secured. There were also reports of two other incursions in the south, one near Kibbutz Zikim, the other near Nachal Oz, this by a terrorist flying an ultra-light aircraft similar to that used in the initial attack. Luckily for Israel, the Israeli people are not alone in this fight. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was in Israel on Thursday and told the Israeli people in a television speech after meeting with Israel’s PM Netanyahu, that “The USA stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel. As long as there is a United States Israel is not alone.” US Sec. of Defense Lylod Austin, (l) Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ® On Friday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was in Israel meeting with Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. The two appeared before the press following Austin’s meeting with Gallant. Gallant told the press that Austin was shown into the “well,” the defence ministry’s inner sanctum at Israel’s version of the Pentagon in Tel Aviv. Gallant told Austin, “When you say you stand with us, you show up.” Gallant said that he’d shared with Austin Israel’s operational plans and capabilities. He said that others have tried to destroy Israel in the past and didn’t succeed Now the attacker is the one being attacked.” He said, “We will keep fighting until we win.” Austin told the press, “I’m here to make something perfectly clear. We stand with Israel, with the soldiers, and the families of the hostages. some who are Americans…This is not the time for neutrality,” Austin said. “Anyone who wants peace in the region must isolate Hamas.” Austin said that the cruelty he saw committed by Hamas reminded him of Isis. “Who were bloodthirsty, cruel, and looking for death…Make no mistake, American will make sure that Israel has what it needs to succeed.” He pointed out that, “Democracies like the US and Israel respect the rule of law.” Austin also said, “This is the time for resolve, not panic. “ He said that the US had sent the Gerald R. Ford (aircraft carrier) strike group into the region. “The US Department of Defense stands ready to provide what is needed…And as President Biden said, anyone who is thinking of reprisals there is one word for them, ‘Don’t.’” “The US has Israel’s Back, Austin said, and ended with “Shabbat Shalom.” Former Israel Ambassador to the US, Danny Alon told Channel 1tv news, “Since 1948 there has not been a US government as supportive, who acted as quickly, as this one. What we have here is a ‘Pearl Harbor’ scenario, as the US sees it. Still he said the US expects Israel to provide a humanitarian corridor allowing Gazans to flee the impending attacks.