DAY 111 OF THE GAZA WAR: Intense Fighting in Khan Younis, Netanyahu Disparages Qatar, Hostage Negotiations, Antisemitism in Westchester

Tel Aviv Diary, January 25, 2024

Most of the fighting in Gaza continues to be in Khan Younis, where the IDF is moving deeper into the Western sector of the city. As a result of the Army’s efforts, a large number of residents of the city have been moving out, heading South to Rafah. Among the many civilians, there have been many members of Hamas who hoped to blend in and escape alongside them.

Over the past two days, 100 Hamas members were apprehended while attempting to flee. During interrogations, they expressed their surprise at the IDF’s move to cut off the city. In addition, a tactic employed by the IDF in the tunnels has forced a significant number of Hamas members to emerge from the tunnels and surrender. The Army Chief of Staff traveled to Khan Younis to be briefed and meet with commanders.

IN THE NORTH

Hezbollah sent two suicide drones aimed at an Iron Dome Battery in the Hula Valley, both of which failed in their mission. In response, the Israeli Air Force targeted and bombed an airfield in Southern Lebanon at Kilat Jaber, a site used jointly by Hezbollah and Iran. Both these actions can be seen as a subtle escalation in this ongoing, low-intensity conflict.

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

I wish I could say with some level of certainty that I understand what is going on with the hostage negotiations. On one hand, as I wrote last night, it appears Hamas's demands exceed what Israel can ever accept. On the other hand, Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions today, especially his statement during a meeting with families of hostages, have been perplexing.

At that meeting with the Hostage families, Netanyahu stated, “Qatar, from my point of view, is no different in essence than the United Nations… and the Red Cross, [Qatar] is even more problematic.” Netanyahu added that despite his reservations, he is “open to engaging with any party that would help me get them [the hostages] home. I have no illusions about them [Qatar]. They have leverage [over Hamas] … Because [Qatar] funds them,” the Prime Minister acknowledged.

Netanyahu also raised his current frustration with the United States — specifically regarding a decision to “renew a deal to extend US military presence at a base in Qatar for another 10 years,” which Netanyahu said made him “very angry recently with the Americans.”

The public revelation of Netanyahu's statements in a private meeting is not entirely unexpected. However, the Israeli media's possession of a recording of his remarks for several days adds intrigue to the story. This is particularly notable given that the Military Censor initially blocked the release of this information. In a turn of events, Netanyahu’s office persuaded them to reverse their decision, allowing the tape's publication.

The strategic rationale behind Netanyahu's decision to publicly criticize Qatar, a key intermediary in negotiations with Hamas, is complex. The Qatari Foreign Minister has accused Netanyahu of jeopardizing the safety of innocent hostages for his own political gain. This accusation was echoed by some Israeli commentators, who suggest that a hostage deal might currently be contrary to Netanyahu's interests. They argue that any agreement leading to a significant pause in fighting or a potential end of combat — especially one that would involve the release of Palestinian prisoners convicted of murdering Israelis, might cause the far right-wing factions of his coalition to leave the government and, thereby, bring it down.

Conversely, should a substantive hostage release proposal emerge, public pressure to accept the deal could become overwhelming.

The ongoing discussions about a potential deal — which may not ever materialize —  have unfortunately sparked a debate about whether it's more critical to rescue the hostages or to defeat Hamas. On one side of the debate are the relatives of the hostages their supporters, who definitively prioritize the hostages’ safe return. Conversely, the relatives of fallen soldiers often argue, advocating for the defeat of Hamas to honor the sacrifices made by their loved ones so their deaths will not be in vain. It's a dreadful debate, which is deeply emotional and complex; however, at the moment, it remains purely theoretical.

STATE COMPTROLLER

Israel’s State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman has initiated an investigation into the events surrounding October 7th. Englman is examining both military and political shortcomings. Army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has requested Englman postpone the investigation until after the war. Halevi wrote to the Comptroller, stating:

The IDF is in the midst of an unprecedented war. The audit will divert the commanders' attention from the fighting, impair the operational investigation capability, and prevent drawing necessary lessons to achieve the war's objectives.

Netanyahu's office also requested that the Comptroller delay his investigation for six months. Comptroller Englman, often viewed as hesitant to address contentious issues, has shown stronger resolve following his son's injury in the early stages of the war, and refused both Halevi and Netanyahu’s requests.

THE HAGUE

Tomorrow, the International Court of Justice will issue its preliminary ruling regarding Israel’s intentions in the current Gaza War. The court's potential directives span a broad spectrum, ranging from instructing Israel to stop the war to insisting increased humanitarian aid be permitted into Gaza. I will write about the court’s ruling, regardless of its nature, in Saturday night’s update.

FALLING SUPPORT FOR AID FOR ISRAEL

Support for Israel is falling in New York. A November poll of New Yorkers indicated that 51% were in favor of aid to Israel, while 37% opposed it. This week, only 43% stated they support aid to Israel, while 45% said they now oppose it.

ANTISEMITISM HITS WESTCHESTER

It seems antisemitism has struck a place near my former home, close to where I grew up, in New Rochelle, NY. Last night, two stores were defaced, in the area known as “The Golden Horseshoe”, (a shopping center on the New Rochelle Scarsdale border). Vandals used black spray paint to write the words “Genocide Supporters” on the windows of the “Scarsdale Scoop Shop” and “Cheryl’s Closet”. Both stores had signs that read: “We Stand with Israel” in their windows

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BUSINESS

Israeli company Minute Media acquired the American company STN Video, which specializes in digitally distributing sports content. The companies did not disclose the acquisition value, but is estimated at around $150 million. Minute Media raised debt and equity of approximately $100 million for financing.

Minute Media reports that it has over 200 million monthly users, over 1,500 content creators, and 250 distribution partners across 14 global markets and in 10 languages. Minute Media has offices in New York, London, Tel Aviv, São Paulo, and Tokyo. The company has raised approximately $300 million from investors, including Battery, Qumra Capital, Goldman Sachs, Saban Ventures, La Maison, and others.