DAY 124 OF THE GAZA WAR: Four Months of War, Hostage Deal Far Off If Ever, Major Tunnel Complex Uncovered

Tel Aviv Diary, February 8, 2024

Today marks four months since of the onset of the current war in Gaza. Four months ago, missile alert sirens began to blare just before 7 AM, signaling the start of extensive rocket attacks by Hamas on Tel Aviv and across much of Israel. It has been four months since thousands of Hamas terrorists breached our border and swarmed into Israel, murdering 1,200 Israelis, and abducting more than 200 individuals, holding them captive in Gaza.

Four months ago, Israel was compelled to go to war. For those who see the glass as half-full, there are numerous achievements of the military to consider. The IDF eliminated 18 of the 24 Hamas combat brigades and undertook operations in Gaza City, quickly gaining control of the city, as well as much of the Gaza Strip with relative ease. Furthermore, IDF forces have effectively entered and engaged in combat inside Hamas’s tunnels.

However, if you are a person who sees the glass half empty, then the fact that the IDF has only been able to free one hostage has been a big disappointment. Moreover, Hamas continues to operate, and its senior leadership remains in tact. Additionally, this war has been costly: 227 soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza since the start of ground operations.

HOSTAGE DEAL, DOUBTFUL ANY RELIEF IN SIGHT

As I wrote last night, we received Hamas’s response to the proposed hostage release framework. Defense Minister Galant stated that the Hamas reply was an attempt to push Israel to reject the offer automatically. Hamas’s response outlined a three-phase plan, which entails: the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the release of 1,500 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, the reconstruction of Gaza, removal of the blockade on Gaza, and agreement to continued Hamas governance over Gaza. All these conditions are considered non-starters for Israel.

Nevertheless, Secretary of State Blinken, who is presently in Israel, encouraged Israel to persist with the negotiation process. During a press conference, Blinken stated that although Hamas’s response contains numerous unacceptable conditions, he believes there is still a space for negotiations. While the complete deal is not something that Israel can agree to, as proposed, there is speculation about the feasibility of proceeding with just the first phase to secure the release of some hostages. The viability of this approach remains uncertain. Further negotiations are expected.

After meeting with Blinken, Netanyahu held a press conference, during which he was incredibly combative and claimed that the Gaza war could only end with “a total Israeli victory”, asserting repeatedly that such an outcome is close at hand. When questioned about the withdrawal of many IDF troops from Gaza and the reappearance of Hamas in areas from which the Army has withdrawn, Netanyahu denied that this resurgence of Hamas was happening.

Addressing the issue of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, Netanyahu admitted that 60% of the aid was being intercepted by Hamas and stated that he had ordered the Army to find alternative means of aid distribution. The basic message of Netanyahu’s press conference was that reaching a deal on the release of the hostages was very unlikely and that victory over Hamas was more important.

Just a few minutes after Netanyahu's press conference, a number of freed hostages held their own media briefing. They offered poignant, heartrending pleas that action must be taken to bring the remaining hostages home before it is too late. One former hostage stated that it would be a stain on the history of Jewish people if the hostages are not returned home alive.

GAZA

Combat continued in Gaza. The most intensive fighting took place still in Khan Younis, where the Army unveiled another large underground Hamas tunnel in which hostages had been held.

Here is what the IDF spokesman stated about the fighting in Khan Younis:

IDF forces continue to raid terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, coordinating with Air Force units, and Naval Commandos, who attack and destroy terror objectives in the Strip.

The combat team fighters of the Paratroopers Brigade operating west of Khan Younis have eliminated dozens of terrorists over the course of the last day. In one incident, the combat soldiers encountered an armed terrorist cell and eliminated that cell during the battle.

Additionally, IDF fighters located many weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, hand grenades, and explosive devices.

In the area of western Khan Younis, combat soldiers of the Maglan unit killed several terrorists in close-range encounters, including three armed terrorists who fired anti-tank missiles at our forces. Egoz unit fighters raided several combat compounds, killed terrorists, and found weapons and tunnels.

In another operation in Khan Younis, the combat team of Brigade 646 identified a terrorist in the area and, in cooperation with the Air Force, eliminated him using aircraft. Later, three more terrorists were identified in the area and were killed in a subsequent attack.

Furthermore, combat team fighters of the Givati Brigade neutralized several more terrorists in the area, and found weapons alongside documents belonging to the Hamas terror organization.

LEBANON

Today was a very typical day of fighting, with Hezbollah firing missiles into Israel, and Israel responding by bombing Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Two soldiers were lightly wounded by a Hezbollah missile that struck near the border.

HANAN DRORI, SAD NEWS

There was some sad news this afternoon. Saturday night, I told the story of a soldier suffering from a fungal infection. The hospital reached out to Pfizer to try to gain access to an experimental drug. The drug arrived last night, but sadly, it was too late the soldier Hanan Drori, (26), had  died from the wounds he received originally in Gaza, on December 12, 2023.

NEW PLAN FOR IDF MANPOWER

The IDF has revealed its new manpower strategy, prompted by the realization from the current war that its forces need to be significantly expanded beyond recent years. During this war the IDF mobilized 287,000 reservists, of which 40,000 were women and 50,000 volunteers who were no longer obligated to do reserve duty. This was mobilization surpasses numbers from every previous war of Israel. Since the onset of the war, 500 ultra-Orthodox individuals have enrolled in a special program that allows older participants to complete basic training and then serve in the reserves. The updated plan mandates a three-year compulsory service, with reservists required to commit to double the time served in the past. Reserve duty will now extend until the age of 45.

OTHER MIDDLE EAST

The US Central Command reported that the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at ships today. None of the Houthi missiles hit their targets.

The US eliminated two senior Iranian-backed militia leaders in Baghdad tonight.

BUSINESS

IONIX, a cybersecurity company previously known as Cyberpion, has expanded its Series-A funding round by an additional $15 million, with contributions from Maor Investments in Luxembourg and existing investors such as Hyperwise Ventures, Team8, and U.S. Venture Partners (USVP). This latest investment boosts the total of Series-A to $42 million and the company's total funding to approximately $50 million since its inception. This funding round's expansion reflects a slight increase in the company's valuation compared to its initial phase in March 2022. IONIX specializes in developing a platform for Attack Surface Management, aimed at protecting organizational attack surfaces and identifying potential vulnerabilities. The platform is designed for immediate use without the need for installation, configuration, or adjustments, efficiently mapping both known and unknown assets and third-party solutions used by an organization, whether directly or indirectly connected.

Rider Dome, a company operating in the motorcycle fleet safety sector, announced (Wednesday) that it has successfully raised $2.3 million in a Seed funding round. The company has developed a safety solution for motorcycle fleets based on artificial intelligence and computer vision, which includes a real-time safety alert system for riders, combined with a comprehensive safety management system for motorcycle fleets. According to Rider Dome, the system is currently in use by large motorcycle fleets in Spain, Singapore, Indonesia, Mexico, and Kenya. The company stated that the funding round included participants such as Goldbell Investments, a leading mobility fund, a Tier-1 Automotive manufacturer, and private investors.

A PIECE OF HISTORY

The Uganda Plan

On April 23, 1903, at a meeting held by Theodore Herzl with the Colonial Secretary of Great Britain, Joseph Chamberlain stated that in his opinion, Uganda in East Africa seemed an ideal location for the resettlement of the Jews. At first, Herzl ignored the suggestion, fearing that it would endanger his negotiations for the establishment of a Jewish protectorate in Sinai. When Sinai plan fell through, Herzl pursued Chamberlain's offer.

In August 1903, Herzl received a letter written by Sir Clement Hill, Superintendent of African Protectorates, indicating Great Britain's willingness to consider Jewish settlement in East Africa. Hill asserted that this settlement could be politically independent, with a Jewish governor and a Jewish administration.

At the Sixth Congress, Herzl presented a summary of his negotiations with the British. Herzl claimed that the World Zionist Congress should not reject the plan to settle Uganda, but should investigate it, as it was a legitimate offer from the British Empire, an offer which conferred upon Zionism an important stamp of approval and legitimacy. The reaction of the Congress delegates was heated. Opponents said that only the land of Israel was the legitimate home for the Jewish People. Many threatened to withdraw, and the Russian delegation did, in fact walk out of the congress-hall for several hours. While the Congress voted by a majority to impanel a commission to investigate the British offer, it was apparent that acceptance of the offer to settle Jews in Uganda would undermine the Zionist movement. Herzl died ten months later; at the next Congress, the Commission reported back that Uganda was not suitable for Jewish settlement.