DAY 144 OF THE GAZA WAR: Escalation in the North, Municipal Elections, Shortage of Hospital Beds
Tel Aviv Diary, February 27, 2024
THE NORTH
The day began with a barrage of 30 rockets, mostly aimed at the Air Force radar on Mt. Meron. One anti-tank missile hit the Air Force facility causing some damage. Hezbollah stated that today’s rocket barrage was a response to Israel's attack yesterday on their anti-aircraft site.
Missile salvos continued throughout the day, with nearly 100 rockets and missiles fired at Israel from Lebanon. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. It was reported that, in response, the IDF conducted a strike inside Lebanon, 100 kilometers from the border. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, toured the Northern border today and said:
All the forces are sitting here to locate an enemy and attack them. We are not waiting for anything. We are saying the following — Hezbollah decided on the evening of October 7th that it is joining [the war] and they must pay a very heavy price for doing so. It is completely clear to us that we first need to take the enemy, create a strong barrier here, along with strong intelligence gathering. The IDF forces here are strong. There is a very strong combat readiness squad. There is security and there are protected spaces in homes within the settlements.
We would like to tell you, and I also think that we are taking the right steps, making it so that Hezbollah is not close to the fence. Once they are no longer close people will be able to return here. I think that if we act correctly, the residents will return here, first and foremost, due to security. In order for people to return here with security and quality of life, the state will know to make the necessary effort.
GAZA
Today was, once again, a day of intense fighting in both Khan Younis and in the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The IDF lost another officer today, Major Yiftach Shahar of Moshav Paran, in the Arava. Additionally, at least 11 soldiers were wounded.
According to both US and Israeli sources, Yahya Sinwar is thought to still be hiding somewhere below Khan Younis. The IDF spokesman repeated that Israel is determined to capture Sinwar, dead, or alive. Tonight, Hamas managed to launch a few rockets toward Ashkelon — the first salvo fired towards the city in ten days.
I have previously quoted Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib in the Israel Update. Alkhatib, a Palestinian living in California, and a strong critic of Hamas, harbors no particular affection for Israel. That being said, his words are both unexpected and interesting:
Multiple things are true simultaneously: The Israeli military kills civilians in its pursuit of militants and subsequently attempts to absolve itself of moral and operational responsibility by blaming Hamas's use of Gazans as human shields. And Hamas absolutely disregards the safety and well-being of Gazans by deliberately and nefariously placing its infrastructure and armaments among civilians and crowded neighborhoods and cities throughout the Gaza Strip.
The [Hamas] group gives itself the right to be anywhere it deems necessary in Gaza because the interests of the "resistance" far outweigh any harm done to innocent civilians in pursuit of the supposed "greater good" and the "liberation of Palestine."
Hamas's immoral decision to normalize the self-described "human shields" strategy has not only been incredibly destructive for Gaza's civilian population. It has also proved ineffective as the IDF loosened its rules of engagement to allow for more risky and deadly strikes on Hamas targets.
What began as Nizar Rayan's human shields strategy to protect militants' houses from Israeli bombing has sadly and ironically ended up with Hamas turning innocent and uninvolved Gaza civilians into its own "collateral damage."
WEST BANK
The IDF conducted in a major operation in the West Bank city of Tubas, where it successfully eliminated the head of the Islamic Jihad in that city. Such operations have been a nightly occurrence in the West Bank.
HOSTAGES
There has been no significant news regarding ongoing hostage negotiations, apart from both Israeli and Qatari sources downplaying President Biden's assertion that a deal could be reached by Monday. Hamas has yet to provide a response to the recent proposal, but they are expected to do so in the upcoming days. Details of the proposed agreement under discussion reportedly involves the release of a total of 40 Israeli hostages — including: 8 women initially expected to be freed in the first deal, 13 sick individuals with health issues, 15 elderly captives, and 5 female soldiers. In exchange, Israel is said to be considering the release of 15 Palestinian terrorist convicts with blood on their hands, and 47 other terrorists.
PRESIDENT BIDEN
In an interview on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, President Joe Biden expressed his hope that a deal to secure the release of our hostages could be reached by Monday. Biden went on to comment on the “incredibly conservative government they have, with [far-right National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir, and others.” The President stated with concern: “They’re going to lose support from around the world. And that is not in Israel’s interest.”
Most Israelis agree with President Biden about Ben-Gvir. However, it is widely believed that Netanyahu will never sever ties with him.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Municipal elections were held today in Israel. With majority of the country off from work and school, most used the day to go shopping, or to stand in line to try the first Shake Shack in Israel which simultaneously opened today in Tel Aviv. What most people did not do, however, was — vote. The only sector that turned out in droves is the ultra-Orthodox. In the weeks leading up to the election, the ultra-Orthodox seemed fully engaged in the electoral process, while the rest of the population was preoccupied with concerns about their children and other family members risking their lives in combat on the borders
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TEMPORARY CANCELLATION OF THE ISRAEL PRIZE
Minister of Education Yoav Kish canceled the Israel Prize this year for all categories, except “Civil Heroism” and “Mutual Responsibility”. Why? Because Kish discovered that Eyal Waldman had been selected as the winner in the category of Entrepreneurship and Technology. Waldman is the founder of Mellanox, which was sold to Nvidia for $4 billion, and has become a key factor in Nvidia's recent success. Waldman also recently lost a daughter, who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival, on October 7th. So, what is the issue with Eyal Waldman? Waldman was a vocal critic of the Judicial reform proposals that the Netanyahu government attempted to hastily push through before the war.
THE TAUB REPORT: ON HEALTHCARE
Israel's healthcare system is widely regarded as exceptional, featuring universal coverage provided through three competitive Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Despite its strengths, the system faces a significant challenge: the scarcity of hospital beds, which falls below the average for countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This shortage is particularly acute during the winter months, often resulting in hospitals operating beyond their capacity and necessitating that patients be accommodated in hallways.
The Taub Center's analysis sheds light on this issue, revealing that in 2022, Israel had only 2 hospital beds per 1,000 residents, inclusive of psychiatric hospital beds. Excluding psychiatric care, the figure drops to 1.77 beds per 1,000 people. This marks a slight improvement from 2021's rate of 1.75 beds per 1,000 people, but the trend over time has been a steady decline in per capita bed availability, despite a nominal increase in the absolute number of beds. This trend mirrors a global shift towards more community-based care, moving away from hospital-based treatments. However, the disparity between Israel and the OECD average remains stark, with Israel having 1.79 times fewer general hospital beds than the OECD average. This comparison underscores the critical need for Israel to address the hospital bed shortage to maintain their healthcare system's high standards.
Apart from the low number of beds for general hospitalization, there is also an unequal geographic distribution. As can be seen in Figure 10, the number of beds is highest in the Tel Aviv and Haifa regions, while in the North and South, it is the lowest (Ministry of Health, 2023e).
[Note: Not including psychiatric hospitalization beds.
Source: Nadav Davidovitch, Natan Lev, and Baruch Levi, Taub Center | Data: OECD, 2023e]
The healthcare landscape in Israel is experiencing a transition, balancing the demands of a new era while grappling with longstanding challenges. A notable concern is the decline in the availability of geriatric hospitalization beds, which decreased from 3.07 beds per 1,000 people in 2010 to 2.75 in 2022. Meanwhile, the provision of rehabilitation beds has remained steady, with approximately 0.1 beds per 1,000 population, consistent with figures from 2010 and 2000.
In terms of general hospitalization, Israel's occupancy rates have historically been higher than the OECD average. In 2021, the occupancy rate rebounded to about 89%, nearing its pre-pandemic level of over 90% and occasionally exceeding 95%. The dip in occupancy rates during 2020 was a reflection of decreased hospital activities amid the pandemic, a trend observed across many OECD countries.
Addressing these challenges, the Ministry of Health unveiled a strategic plan on December 27, 2023, for the expansion of hospital infrastructure. This comprehensive plan aims to add 1,790 acute hospital beds, 300 rehabilitation beds, and 245 psychiatric hospital beds in the coming years. Formulated as part of the Ministry's long-term strategic vision, the plan has been revised to accommodate the increased demand for rehabilitation and mental health services highlighted by recent conflicts. By 2028, this initiative is expected to increase the total number of general hospital beds to 17,500, marking an 11% rise. However, due to ongoing population growth, the per capita bed ratio will continue to be one of the lowest among OECD nations. Even with the plan's full implementation by 2028, the bed-to-population ratio is projected to remain at 1.77 beds per 1,000 people, underscoring the persistent challenge of enhancing healthcare capacity in Israel.
BUSINESS
Exodigo has created an innovative solution by developing technology that integrates data from various sensors to create a comprehensive three-dimensional subsurface map. This system not only reveals pipes and cables but also identifies potential hazards such as graves and sinkholes, providing a detailed overview that is invaluable for planners, engineers, and decision-makers. Traditional maps, based on original planning, often fail to reflect the reality of the existing underground infrastructure, leading to unexpected discoveries that can cause significant project delays and financial losses. Since its establishment in mid-2021, Exodigo has rapidly become a key player in supporting Israel's infrastructure projects, aiding in situations such as the mapping of a sinkhole on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv. The company's success is further highlighted by its recent $75 million Series A fundraising round, led by Greenfield Partners and investor Oren Zeev, bringing their total investment to $118 million, showcasing the high demand and trust in its groundbreaking mapping technology.
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A PIECE OF HISTORY
Arab Revolt
The Arab Revolt in Palestine was a response to the increasing number of Jewish refugees entering the region, which convinced the Arabs that they needed to act to prevent the Jews from becoming a majority in the land. The first phase of the revolt began with a general strike in April 1936 and was characterized by attacks on Jewish and British targets. The strike led to the Yishuv's leaders recognizing the need for economic independence, which led to the opening of the Tel Aviv port. The British initially used minimal force to combat the revolt. The second phase began in the summer of 1937, when a British district commissioner was murdered. In response, the British actively suppressed the revolt, including expelling the Mufti, cooperating with the Haganah, and developing a large Jewish police force. The revolt was ultimately quashed due to the tactics of Orde Wingate and his night squads, which included preemptive raids on Arab villages.
