War Summary, Day 375: Sinwar has no interest in talks, Biden pressuring Israel to restore Hamas’s arms through UNRWA, Hezbollah fires 50 rockets at Tzfas, IDF captures more Hezbollah villages, IDF clears mines near Syrian border for possible action, UNIFIL refuses evacuation and aids Hezbollah, Israel hints at dramatic attack on Iran using new tech, and France and Spain push for arms embargo.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
101 held captive in Gaza.
36 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
117 living hostages rescued.
37 hostage bodies rescued.
1,686 Israelis killed.
355 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
46 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
14 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
27,450 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Hostages:
– White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby: “I wish I could tell you that there are fresh negotiations at hand. There aren’t, but that’s because Mr. Sinwar has shown absolutely zero interest in continuing that discussion.”
Gaza:
– Sirens in Kibbutz Nirim were a false alarm
– Northern Gaza remains split into two. The northernmost section, which includes Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and part of Jabaliya, are cut off from the main Gaza City area. Northern Gaza is also still separated from the rest of Gaza by the Netzarim Corridor.
– Channel 12 News showed video evidence of Hamas capturing 47 out of 100 trucks of aid on Tuesday. Hamas takes what they want, and then sells the rest. It is their primary income now, and what is allowing them to continue paying terrorists.
– Hamas is seeing some financial distress. Al Jazeera reports that Hamas lowered the salaries given to terrorists in Israel prison. Those who killed Jews now get ₪7k/month instead of ₪10k. Those who injured Jews now get ₪4k/month instead of ₪6k.
– Leaked documents from the Biden admin to Defense Minister Galant and Strategic Minister Dermer include threats of “implications” if certain conditions aren’t met within 30 days. The conditions severely hamper Israel’s ability to weaken Hamas, ensure they don’t rearm, and fully clear them out of Gaza. The main conditions in sum:
1. reaffirm that there will be no forced evacuation from Northern Gaza.
2. Reduce vetting and other restrictions in order to increase the amount of imported humanitarian aid.
3. Reduce the list of items which aren’t allowed into Gaza due to their dual use for terrorist purposes.
4. Restore full rights to UNRWA, despite their affiliation with Hamas.
5. Promote humanitarian ceasefires to allow civilian movement in combat areas.
Lebanon:
– Hezbollah rockets continued to rain on Northern Israel, today reaching as far as Haifa, with a midnight barrage of over 50 at the Tzfat area. Most rockets were either intercepted or landed in empty areas. One rocket landed in the courtyard of a home in Tzfat. Thank G-d, only a few light injuries were reported.
– The majority of injuries are from accidents while running to shelter. For those in heavy rocket areas: keep aware of your path to shelter wherever you go, and avoid panicked running. People are statistically more likely to get injured from running to shelter than from shrapnel injuries.
– Troops captured a few more Hezbollah-controlled villages today.
– The IDF is reportedly clearing land mines along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights. This may be a prelude to a maneuver in Syria, to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon from the east, and prevent weapons smuggling via the Syria-Lebanon border.
– The IDF released an interrogation of a captured Hezbollah terrorist, who described how Hezbollah terrorists “all ran away. From the beginning, they already ran away.” Asked about the elite Radwan forces, he said, “”They are of little faith, people without religion, they went in to get money, and that’s it, they ran away because they were afraid of the IDF. They planned to advance into the Galilee, but after the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, we didn’t see any of them anymore.”
– Troops captured three more terrorists today, including from Radwan.
– Several UNIFIL posts continue refusal to evacuate, particularly posts which are surrounded by Hezbollah infrastructure which is actively being used by Hezbollah to attack IDF troops and fire at Israel.
– While UNIFIL’s sole job was to prevent Hezbollah from arming or nearing the border, they have never once reported the Hezbollah posts or done anything about them. Now they stay as human shields for Hezbollah, and also observe and publish IDF movement in the area—which directly assists Hezbollah.
– UNIFIL’s behavior means that Israel will not agree to any ceasefire that relies on a foreign body to keep Hezbollah at bay.
– Maariv reports that last week the U.S. assured Lebanon’s Prime Minister that Israel will limit attacks in Beirut. Israel has not attacked Beirut since.
Iran:
– Increased signs that Israel’s attack on Iran will be dramatic, based off remarkable intelligence with help from agents in Iran. Israel may be using newly acquired weapons not previously seen.
– Minister Ben Gvir, who is typically in satisfied with anything less than complete military strength says “Netanyahu is making a courageous decision.”
– Israel is also enjoying keeping the Iranian regime on edge and paranoid.
– Components of the US’s THAAD defense system have arrived in Israel, the rest will arrive soon.
– Security cabinet meetings are scheduled for Sunday.
– In my own estimates: Unless a good opportunity opens up sooner, Israel won’t attack Iran before Sunday evening.
– Meanwhile: a large fire has broken out at the Shushtar oil refinery in Khuzestan, Iran. Officials say the fire is the result of a truck crash, in which the driver was killed.
Terror Attack:
– A terrorist opened fire on Route 4, south of Tel Aviv. He killed police officer Adir Kadosh, and injured four others.
– An armed civilian eliminated the terrorist.
– The terrorist was originally from Gaza, and had been in Israel illegally since before October 7th.
– The civilian hero: “I saw shooting, he shot at me, missed. I jumped out of the car and shot him. I got a firearms license thanks to Minister Ben Gvir and his reform. The lives that were saved today are no less thanks to him.”
International:
– International pressure is piling on Israel to stop fighting Hamas and Hezbollah. French president Macron, who with Spain is advocating for an arms embargo on Israel, said about Netanyahu today ““Lest he forget – his country was established by a UN resolution.”
– Netanyahu hit back, “A reminder to the President of France, it was not a UN resolution that established the State of Israel, but rather the victory achieved with the blood of heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors – including from the Vichy regime in France.”
– Macron might also want to remember that Israel has been the Jewish homeland long before the UN even existed—when G-d promised it to Abraham’s children, and when Moses brought the Israelites to the land. Israel’s right to exist has nothing to do with the UN.
Chag sameach! Wishing you a joyous Sukkot!
IMHO, we should make a demonstration outside the UN to answer Mr. Macron that eretz yisroel belongs to us as a promise from Hashem. Its great that he got to the heart of the issue.