War Day 212: Israel “Ready to Stand Alone” After USA Withholds Arms, 3 Soldiers Killed

War Summary, Day Two Hundred and Twelve: Netanyahu says “Israel is ready to stand alone” in a bold statement, after America withholds arms shipments, three IDF soldiers ambushed near Rafah and killed, media company Al Jazeera office forcefully shut down in Israel.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

War Summary, Day Two Hundred and Twelve:

132 held captive in Gaza.
112 hostages freed.
12 hostage bodies rescued.
38 hostages confirmed murdered in Gaza.
1,498 Israelis murdered.
266 fallen soldiers in the battle in Gaza.
7 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
4 fallen soldiers in Judea & Samaria.
11,600+ injured.
13,600 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
90,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

• The U.S. is withholding arms shipments to Israel
• PM Netanyahu says Israel ready to stand alone
• Hamas fired at the Kerem Shalom Crossing, killing 3 soldiers
• Senior Hamas terrorist eliminated
• Defense Minister says Rafah entry is in the “near future”
• UN organizations say there is too much food in Northern Gaza
• Huge Hezbollah barrages caused extensive damage and one injury
• Terror attack prevented din Jerusalem
• Al Jazeera closed in Israel

Hostage and Negotiations Updates:

Amidst negotiations for a hostage release today, Hamas “leaked” many rumors about progress, in what appears to be an attempt to make it look like they made their best effort, and if talks fall through, it’s because of Israel. Among their rumors was that they were optimistic and positive about the latest offer and that the U.S. is pressuring Israel to accept and guarantee an end of the war. As usual, they emphasized that they will only agree to a deal which brings about the end of the war with a complete IDF withdrawal from Gaza, and Hamas’s continued rule of Gaza.

Prime Minister Netanyahu again emphasized that Israel is attempting to bring about a deal that will lead to the release of the hostages and a temporary ceasefire, but will not end the war with Hamas still standing, and able to carry out more massacres as they have threatened to do.

In the background of negotiations, is intense pressure from the U.S. and other countries on Israel to accept a deal, and end the war without a Rafah incursion. Adding to the ICC arrest threats, and U.S. admin threats to sanction IDF units such as Netzach Yehuda, Barak Ravid reported on Axios that for the first time since October 7th, the U.S. has stopped an ammunitions shipment intended for the IDF last week.

Ravid also reported that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Prime Minister Netanyahu in a meeting that “a major military operation” in Rafah would lead to the U.S. publicly opposing it and would negatively impact U.S.-Israel relations. The next day, White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Israeli leaders understand that President Biden “is sincere” when he talks about the possibility of changes to U.S. policy regarding the Gaza war “should they move ahead with some sort of ground operation in Rafah that doesn’t take into account the refugees.”

Hinting at the lack of support from the U.S. at this critical moment, and on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, PM Netanyahu met with survivors and said: “Tonight we will commemorate the millions of our brothers and sisters who were murdered in the Holocaust. These heroic survivors are right. In the terrible Holocaust, there were great world leaders who stood by idly; therefore, the first lesson of the Holocaust is: If we do not defend ourselves, nobody will defend us. And if we need to stand alone, we will protect ourselves in any way, we will overcome our enemies and ensure our security—in the Gaza Strip, on the northern border, everywhere.”

While negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release appear to be impossible and have fallen through, the U.S. and Egypt are still trying to make it happen, and there are reports that the head of the CIA will arrive in Israel this to talk to Netanyahu.

Gaza Front Updates:

Hamas fired a barrage of at least 14 rockets and mortars at the Kerem Shalom crossing, and an IDF staging area right next to it. The Kerem Shalom crossing is from where most aid is transferred to Gaza. The rockets were launched from an area near Rafah, some 350 meters from a civilian shelter. Three soldiers were killed, and eleven were wounded—two are in serious condition. The crossing was closed as a result of the attack.

The IDF announced the names of three fallen heroes:
Staff Sgt. Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, 19, from Ra’anana
Staff Sgt. Ido Testa, 19, from Jerusalem
Staff Sgt. Tal Shavit, 21, from Kfar Giladi

The soldiers were in position waiting to go into Rafah after repeated delays due to ongoing negotiations. The delays and their stationary position gave Hamas plenty time to plan and execute the devastating attack.

The 99th Division continues to operate along the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the north and south of Gaza, and allows troops quick access to essential areas where they continue to search for and eliminate Hamas holdouts.

In Northen Gaza’s Jabaliya, an airstrike eliminated three Hamas terrorists, including a deputy company commander.

In Central Gaza, an airstrike eliminated a senior commander of the Bureij Battalion—which has not yet been defeated—along with several more terrorists from the battalion. In the same area, an UNRWA facility was targeted in an airstrike, after Hamas terrorists repeatedly used it as a command and control center to attack IDF troops and humanitarian aid convoys. The facility was also found to be housing and supplying weapons to terrorists. The IDF says that the airstrike on the building was carefully planned and executed precisely so as to minimize harm to uninvolved civilians.

In another airstrike in an unspecified area of Gaza, the IDF eliminated three terrorists from Hama’s elite Nukhba force, who had participated in the October 7th massacre. Other airstrikes hit buildings used by Hamas and the PIJ, weapons depots, snipers, and a rocket launcher which was primed for an attack on Southern Israel.

Heavy airstrikes were carried out against Hamas targets in Rafah, following the attack on Kerem Shalom, and possibly in preparation for an imminent ground incursion.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited troops in the Netzarim Corridor today, and told them that Israel has “identified signs that Hamas does not intend to go for any [truce] framework. The meaning is clear: Intense action in Rafah in the near future, and in other areas, all over the Strip.”

Reports indicate that troops were again prepared to enter Gaza imminently—and if they don’t, it’s once again a response to U.S. pressure.

Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:

The IDF’s COGAT division reported on Twitter/X that after surging the delivery of humanitarian aid to 100 food trucks daily, UN organizations on ground in Gaza, including the World Food Program (WFP), have said that “the volume of goods transported to northern Gaza must be reduced since the quantities are too high in relation to the population.”

Israel has been facilitating the aid to Gaza via two routes in Northern Gaza, two routes in the south, and via international airdrops. The Kerem Shalom crossing was closed after Hamas fired rockets at it today at 1:30pm, leading to a huge lineup at the Rafah crossing from Egypt.

In addition to the daily aid deliveries, 4 WFP bakeries in northern Gaza produce 2.2 million pita loaves daily. A total of 26 bakeries are operational in Gaza, producing close to 5 million pita loaves a day.

Northern Front Updates:

Hezbollah in Lebanon fired well over 60 rockets on communities in Israel’s far north today, including a barrage on Kiryat Shemona which made multiple hits on cars, a home, an ambulance, and a charity center where volunteers were preparing food for elderly residents who are unable to evacuate from the city. A 65-year-old woman was treated for injuries from shrapnel. The barrages also caused fires and power outages.

Rockets were also fired from Syria into the Golan Heights, and hit open areas near Ramat Magshimim.

The IDF retaliated with heavy airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in several towns in Southern Lebanon, and shelled Hezbollah positions along the border. The launch site in Syria was shelled as well.

Judea and Samaria Updates:

In the Old City of Jerusalem, police spotted a young Arab woman acting suspiciously, with her hand hiding under her head covering. When questioned, she refused to remove her hand, and eventually pulled out a knife. She was arrested, with no casualties.

General Updates:

The Israeli government cabinet voted to close the Al Jazeera office in Israel, due to their support for terror organizations. Immediately after the vote, the channel went off the air in Israel, and police forced emptied the office.

Hezbollah made a direct hit on a family apartment in Kiryat Shemona today