War Day 115: Reservists Sent Home, Many Terrorists Surrender

War Summary, Day One Hundred and Fifteen: Thousands of IDF reservists were sent home after serving in Gaza for two months, CNN reporters documented Hamas terrorists who surrendered being escorted by the IDF soldiers for questioning, and a large conference in Jerusalem today called for resettling the Gaza Strip.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

War Summary, Day One Hundred and Fifteen:

136 held captive in Gaza.
110 hostages freed.
11 hostage bodies rescued.
34 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
1,400+ Israelis murdered.
220 fallen soldiers in the battle in Gaza.
5 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
3 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
8,000 injured.
12,900 rockets fired at Israel.
187,533 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Hostage Updates:

After talks for a new hostage deal, the Prime Minister’s Office announced: “A short time ago, the intelligence summit in Europe ended with the participation of Mossad head Dedi Barnea, Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar, and Colonel (res.) Nitzan Alon, with the head of the CIA, the prime minister of Qatar, and the Egyptian minister of intelligence. The meeting was defined as a constructive meeting. There are still significant gaps in which the parties will continue to discuss as early as this week in additional mutual meetings.”

In contrast, the Saudi TV channel “Al-Hadad” reported that at the summit in Paris there was a “breakthrough in negotiations and a two-month ceasefire was agreed upon.”

It is possible that leaks like this are being made only to pressure Israel.

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas fired two rockets at Sderot, and one single rocket at Ashkelon. No hits or injuries were reported.

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes today!

Defense Minister Yoav Galant in a conversation with reserve fighters, “While the terrorists who enjoy luxury hotels and private jets are hardening their positions, the terrorists who are inside Gaza are surrendering above and below the ground, and are giving us sensitive information about Hamas.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that “the fighting in Gaza is going better than they expected. It took the US nine months to defeat radical forces in Mosul, who had no underground terrorist infrastructure. We are only in the fourth month in Gaza. The war will continue for many months.”

High-intensity fighting is ongoing in Khan Younis. The IDF is advancing forward at a quick pace, but with far more caution than previously, because of the high likelihood of hostages being held in the area—both above and below ground. The IDF troops are continuing with raids to gather intelligence and locate weapons storage and tunnel shafts. Each tunnel is carefully explored first by specialized cameras and robots, and then by the IDF troops, before being exploded.

CNN reporters documented Hamas terrorists who surrendered in Khan Younis being escorted by the IDF soldiers to Israel for questioning.

In Central Gaza, IDF troops came across several Hamas squad holdouts over the last few days, and battled each of them, ultimately eliminating the terrorists.

In Northern Gaza, IDF troops found another tunnel, and destroyed it. The troops also eliminated several more terrorists in the area. Gaza locals report heavy IDF operations in Gaza City today and late into the night, especially around Shifa Hospital.

As Hamas weakens, many Gaza civilians are feeling empowered enough to rebel against them. While these civilians are still very far from expressing friendship to Israel, they may be interested in helping topple Hamas, and therefore share helpful information with the IDF via the phone numbers which the IDF gave to civilians via dropped leaflets. This of course won’t be reported in the news, but it won’t be surprising to see the IDF go on more specialized targeted missions all over Gaza, based on intel.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

Once again, hundreds of activists blocked the Kerem Shalom crossing. According to the activists, “Not a single supply truck to Hamas passes. No aid passes until the last of the hostages returns.”

Only 10 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were successfully coordinated and transferred to shelters in northern Gaza. Yesterday, 4 tankers of cooking gas and 1 tanker of fuel designated for the operation of essential infrastructure in Gaza, have entered the Gaza Strip.

In line with the agreement reached with the US, Egypt and the UN, Kerem Shalom and Nitzana crossings continue to be closed on Saturdays. This is to facilitate the UN’s distribution of the goods on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom and the reception on the Egyptian side of Rafah.

16 trucks who made their way from Jordan were transferred to the Gaza Strip.
7 ambulances were transferred to the Gaza Strip after inspection, donated by Turkey.

12 bakeries, providing 2 million pita breads a day are operational.

Tens of thousands of Gazans moved west of Khan Yunis in the corridor for humanitarian purposes the IDF has opened.

Northern Front Updates:

As the last week of the month began, leaving just a few days left to Israel’s warning and deadline for a diplomatic solution, Hezbollah only continued to fire heavily on Israel’s communities in the far north. Three rockets landed in open areas right outside the city of Kiryat Shemona, and and at least two “suspicious aerial targets” were intercepted over Israel.

The IDF responded by striking several Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, including observation posts, a command center, and other military infrastructure.

Hezbollah announced the death of two terrorists. So far, Hezbollah has announced 173 of their own killed, although Israel estimates that the real number is higher.

Over the last couple weeks, thousands of IDF reservists were sent home after serving in Gaza for two months. Many were already give a return date in about a month from now, primarily to be in the north.

As with the start of the Gaza ground incursion, the IDF will not say exactly when they plan on entering Lebanon in order to fight Hezbollah up close, in the case of a failure to arrive at a diplomatic solution. More likely, we’ll first see increased IDF attacks from air long before soldiers are sent in person.

Houthi and Other War Front Updates:

Pro-Iranian militia attacked a US Army position in Jordan, killing 3 and injuring dozens.

Judea and Samaria Updates:

The IDF arrested ten wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria last night.

Palestinians report ongoing activity by the Israeli security forces throughout Jenin. Bulldozers accompanied by military vehicles entered the city and gunshots were heard in the area.

The Ministry of Education is examining the possibility of reducing the educational activities of UNRWA in East Jerusalem.

International Updates:

Algeria’s Foreign Ministry said that the UN Security Council accepted his country’s request and will convene on Wednesday to “give binding effect to the declaration of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the measures imposed on Israel.”

General Updates:

A large conference in Jerusalem today called for resettling the Gaza Strip, in an organized fashion. 15 members of Knesset and ministers were in attendance. This is a very controversial position, which not all Israelis support.