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.”