War Summary, Day 332: Leaked document outlines Hamas’s psychological warfare strategy, Hamas releases horrific videos of hostages, Netanyahu maintains firm stance on Philadelphi Corridor, most Jewish Israelis agree with decision, Operation “Summer Camps” largest in 20 years, and Houthis bomb more ships – including a Saudi oil tanker.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
101 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
117 living hostages rescued.
37 hostage bodies rescued.
1,643 Israelis killed.
344 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
21 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
13 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
20,830 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Top Headlines:
- Leaked document outlines Hamas’s psychological warfare strategy
- Hamas releases horrific videos of hostages
- Netanyahu maintains firm stance on Philadelphi Corridor
- Poll shows most Jewish Israelis agree with decision to hold the corridor
- Car bombing attack averted in Judea and Samaria
- Operation “Summer Camps” largest in 20 years
- Houthis bomb more ships – including a Saudi oil tanker
Hostage Updates:
This morning, Channel 12 (and later in the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu) shared a photo of a document recently found in a tunnel where Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been hiding. The document contained four clear instructions to Hamas officials:
- Increase the production of photos and video clips showing the hostages in order to create psychological pressure [on Israel]
- Do everything to increase the psychological pressure on [Israeli Defense Minister Yoav] Gallant
- Push the line of thinking that Netanyahu is responsible for everything that happens
- Damage the Israeli narrative that the military ground operation aids the return of the hostages
Hamas terrorists have been diligently following these instructions. Today Hamas released a horrific “trailer” for videos taken of the six hostages shortly before their murder, stating that they’ll release the videos one at a time. The first video, of Eden Yerushalmi, was already released.
Hamas also released a video statement from terror spokesman Abu Obeida, in which he states that since the Nuseirat rescue, Hamas’s “new” protocol is to murder hostages if the IDF nears their location. (The protocol is, in fact, not new.) Following instructions, Obeida added, “Netanyahu’s insistence on liberating the prisoners through military pressure instead of concluding a deal will mean that they will return to their families inside coffins and their families will have to choose whether they are dead or alive.”
Netanyahu held a press conference and addressed the Israeli public on the issue of the hostages and the Philadelphi Corridor. Netanyahu first expressed his deep sorrow, and apologized for failing to bring them home alive. He then explained the status of negotiations, and reasons for refusing to give up on the Philadelphi Corridor. Amongst the main points, were:
(1) Controlling the Gaza-Egypt border is Hamas’s key to survival, and continued security threat to Israel. Since Israel left the Philadelphi Corridor in 2005, Hamas has used it to smuggle hundreds of thousands of weapons, including rockets which have rained on Israeli communities constantly, and the weapons used to perpetrate the October 7th attack. The second Israel vacates it, Hamas will once again use it for smuggling, not only with renewed underground tunnels, but above ground, via the Rafah Crossing.
(2) Hamas can also use the corridor to smuggle the hostages out into the Sinai. (The hostage deal currently on the table only returns between 15-20 hostages in the first 6 weeks. To bring about the release of the remaining 80-86 hostages, Israel is required to completely withdraw from Gaza, and guarantee a complete permanent ceasefire to Hamas, in addition to more terrorist releases.)
(3) Israel lost many (344) soldiers in battle inside Gaza, to stop the terror and smuggling, and apply pressure to get the hostages home. More soldiers would be sacrificed to retake the Philadelphi after evacuating.
(4) The ability to retake the corridor after evacuating is not only a question of military capability, but also of strategic and political ability. The goal of the deal mediators (USA, Egypt, and Qatar) is a permanent ceasefire, and they will not want to lose it once it’s started, even if Hamas doesn’t fulfill their side of the agreement, or begins to rearm. The world put immense pressure on Israel not to enter Rafah the first time, including the ICC threats. The pressure not to re-enter will be worse, and likely completely paralyzing. (Netanyahu didn’t spell it out, but the most likely scenarios include sanctions on Israel, and the inability to purchase the ammunition needed to fight Hezbollah and Iran.)
(5) The Israeli government voted on a clear decision against returning the Philadelphi Corridor, going back on that would be a strong reward to Sinwar for murdering hostages, and will encourage him to repeat.
Netanyahu noted that he gave into many other serious issues in negotiations for the sake of bringing the hostages home, but will not give up on this one. He also expressed that the war will only be over when Hamas no longer rules Gaza, and the IDF has thrown them out.
Netanyahu also delivered a short speech in English, likely addressing President Biden’s comments this morning that Netanyahu isn’t doing enough to bring the hostages home. Netanyahu pointed out that Israel has already agreed to multiple US proposals, including a new one on August 19th, when Secretary of State Blinken said that Israel accepted it, and it was now up to Hamas to do the same. And on August 28th, the deputy CIA director said that Israel shows seriousness in the negotiations.
“What has changed in the last 5 days?” Asked Netanyahu. “What has changed? One thing. These murderers executed 6 of our hostages. They shot them in the back of the head. That’s what’s changed. And now after this, we’re asked to show seriousness. We’re asked to make concessions. What message does this send Hamas? It says, kill more hostages, murder more hostages. You’ll get more concessions. The pressure internationally must be directed at these killers, at Hamas, not at Israel.”
This morning, before Netanyahu’s speech, Kann 11 News shared a poll, which had been taken the night before (following the retrieval of the hostages bodies). The poll asked Jewish Israelis for their opinion on the Philadelphi issue. 43% said that Israel needs to give up in the Philadelphi Corridor for the sake of a deal to bring hostages home. 49% said that Israel must not give up on the corridor for a deal. 8% were unsure.
Gaza Front Updates:
Hamas has not succeeded in firing any rockets into Israel since Thursday.
Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes in Gaza.
Three divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 252nd Division along the Netzarim Corridor, and pinpoint operations in Central Gaza and Gaza City; the 162nd Division in Rafah and along the Philadelphi Corridor; and the Gaza Division in the buffer zone.
The IDF has not been detailing recent activity in Gaza, while it considered options in response to the murder of 6 hostages.
There are four cities left where the IDF has not fully maneuvered to clear out Hamas, all in Central Gaza: Nuseirat, Deir al-Balah, Maghazi and Bureij. The IDF has done short and cautious incursions into these areas, but nothing to completely dismantle the local Hamas brigades. The two most likely reasons are (1) the high possibility of hostages being held in these areas, and the risk of them being murdered by their Hamas captors if the IDF nears, and (2) these areas are largely part of the designated humanitarian zone.
Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:
On the first day of the Polio vaccination campaign, 86,000 children under 10 were vaccinated by 470 teams.
208 trucks carrying humanitarian goods were transferred to Gaza.
94 trucks were collected from the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom: 70 by the private sector and 24 by the UN aid agencies. Approximately 450 trucks worth of aid are waiting for collection.
Northern Front Updates:
Hezbollah in Lebanon continued with heavy fire on Israel’s far north, including barrages of up to 20 rockets at a time.
The IDF struck several Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon, including 10 rocket launchers. The strike on rocket launchers resulted in multiple rockets firing into the Israeli border community of Arab al-Aramshe. Rockets headed to populated areas were successfully intercepted.
Judea and Samaria Updates:
Another car bombing attack was averted today, with a car bomb neutralized by Israeli security forces just outside the Jewish town of Ateret.
Operation “Summer Camps” is ongoing, and is now the longest large-scale operation in Judea and Samaria in over 20 years. The operation is aimed at giving the IDF “operational freedom” to be able to act and thwart terror attacks in the area, and more easily make arrests when needed. Primary areas of operation have been in Jenin, Tulkarem, the Far’a camp near Tubas, and Chevron.
So far, over 34 armed terrorists have been eliminated in the operation. A drone strike was used today against a group of armed terrorists who opened fire at IDF troops in Tulkarem.
Houthi & Iraqi War Front Updates:
The Iranian-backed Houthis attacked two crude oil tankers: the Panama flagged, Greek operated MV BLUE LAGOON I, and the Saudi owned MV AMJAD. In the attack, the Houthis used two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack uncrewed aerial system, hitting both vessels. Both vessels are laden with crude oil, including approximately two million barrels of oil on the Saudi ship.
US Central Command forces reported that salvage efforts are still underway for the Greek ship, which was bombed on August 22nd, and is still on fire and threatening the possibility of a major environmental disaster.
U.S. Central Command forces also reported destroying two missile systems in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
This update is sponsored by an anonymous reader, for the protection of our soldiers and the release of the hostages.
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