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Israel today is still basking in the glow of yesterday's successful rescue. After so many months of only terrible news, everyone is collectively reveling in the joy brought by the long awaited reports of some good news. The media is filled of interviews featuring the relatives of those who were rescued. Notably, today, the parents of Andrey Kozlov, a recent immigrant from Russia, arrived in Israel to reunite with their son.
Amidst the celebration, some heartbreaking stories emerged, such as the story of Yossi Jan, who was found deceased in his apartment when his sister rushed over to notify him of his son's rescue. Additionally, it was revealed today that Noa Argamani’s mother was barely conscious when Noa was able to visit her in Ichilov Hospital.
Today’s foreign press coverage primarily focused on the Palestinians who were killed during our rescue operation. To avoid any misunderstanding, almost all of the Palestinian deaths occurred when Hamas attempted to prevent the hostages from leaving the area, and not when forces entered. The exact number of casualties remains uncertain. We have no idea exactly how many of the deceased were Hamas fighters, though it is likely that some civilians were also among those killed. I'm not sure what our critics expect us to do. One critic was especially difficult to believe. I heard a BBC interview with former International IDF Spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus. The interviewer asked Conricus why the Army couldn't give the civilians a warning that they were about to undertake a rescue mission.
Major publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many others, just accept Hamas's figures without scrutiny. It’s crucial for us to recognize that even though we might continue to ignore these repeated instances of misinformation, they have a profound cumulative impact on global public opinion.
The other big “surprise” revealed today was the fact that Almog Meir, Andrei Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv were held captive by a "journalist", whose father, a physician, resided in the same apartment. It's time to understand that most of the Gaza population either actively, or passively support Hamas. Hamas is not some foreign force that gained control of Gaza, but a group that enjoys considerable popular support. We have known this to be the reality in Gaza, going all the way back to Moshe Dayan's speech regarding the killing of Roi Rothenberg, which I shared on the ninth day of the war [here].
We need to acknowledge this reality and stop talking about “denazifying” Gaza. Unlike the Germans in WWII, who held no intrinsic animosity towards the United States, the people of Gaza harbor deep-seated hostility towards us. The responsibility for fueling these hateful, dehumanizing sentiments largely rests with their leadership and other Arab states. However, that fact is wholly irrelevant to a Gazan raised to blame us for everything. It is essential that we, and the world at large, recognize this truth and strategize accordingly.
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GANTZ DEPARTS EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT
Tonight, Former Defense Minister and leader of the National Unity Party, Gantz, announced that he and his party have resigned from the government. In his address, Gantz reiterated that they had joined the government during a time of national crisis, believing they could make a significant contribution. However, he now believes this is no longer the case, asserting that Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly prioritizes political motives over national interests. Gantz emphasized that although the war is going to be long, a change in strategy is essential to victory.
Gantz specifically highlighted three specific issues with Netanyahu’s leadership. First, Gantz criticized Netanyahu’s unwillingness to address the drafting the ultra-Orthodox into military service, as his coalition depends on their support. Second, while acknowledging that Sinwar and Hamas bear primary responsibility for the stalled hostage negotiations, Gantz has seemed sympathetic to the theory that Netanyahu has been sabotaging Israel’s own proposals. For instance, Netanyahu recently announced twice during Shabbat that Israel would not agree to end the war, despite intentionally leaving that option vague in the written proposal to encourage Hamas to negotiate.
Third, and most importantly, Gantz criticized the failure of the government to discuss a plan for the day after the war in Gaza. Minister of Defense Gallant presented a plan almost six months ago calling for local Palestinians, likely affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, to assume control. However, due to pressure from his right-wing support base, Netanyahu cannot even consider this possibility— effectively leaving the country mired in a war with no clear exit strategy. Back in 1994, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin understood these dilemmas. Shortly after the failed attempt to rescue Nachshon Waxman (a soldier kidnapped by Hamas in order to derail the peace agreement with the PA), Rabin stated in an interview, “Making a deal with Arafat was difficult, given the history of terrorism, but I came to the conclusion that it’s Arafat or Hamas.”
THE POLICE
The Police Force, under the overall direction of MK Ben-Gvir, continues to exhibit troubling behavior. During the period of protests against the weakening of the judiciary, there were incidents in which police utilized excessive force. Since the early days of the war, there have been protests conducted by the families of the hostages. As these demonstrations have grown, the Police have become more violent and less predictable, arresting some people for seemingly no good reason.
At a protest last night, Dr. Udi Barhav (72), a volunteer working with the hostages' families and assisting at demonstrations, bent over to help a demonstrator who had collapsed. Barhav was wearing a vest that clearly identified him as a medical professional. Despite his obvious uniform, Barhav was arrested and violently removed, as you can see from the video. For the first time, this overly aggressive and unwarranted arrest has brought long-awaited condemnations—not only from MK Yair Lapid and MK Gantz, but also from the Health Minister and even from the President. We’ll see if these denunciations make a difference.
GAZA
Gaza Division commander Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld announced his plans to resign from the Army. In his resignation letter, Rosenfeld stated “that on October 7th I failed in my lifetime mission to defend the Gaza border communities.” Rosenfeld will remain on the job until a suitable replacement can take over.
Combat continues in Gaza. The IDF spokesman described the fighting today as follows:
Forces of Division 98 continue fighting in eastern Deir al-Balah and eastern al-Bureij after participating in the rescue operation of the four hostages in the last 24 hours. During the operation, the forces eliminated many terrorists and destroyed terror infrastructure. Fighter jets and aircraft of the Air Force provided aerial fire support to the forces operating in the mission and attacked many terror targets in the area, including armed terrorists who posed a threat to our forces.
Fighters of Division 162 continue focused combat operations based on intelligence information in the Rafah area. During raids, the fighters located several additional tunnel shafts in the area, along with mortar launchers and other weapons.
In a raid on a military structure, Givati combat team fighters found numerous weapons, including rifles, RPGs, explosives, magazines, grenades, and additional military equipment. During the operations of Division 99 forces in the central part of the strip, an aircraft attack eliminated a squad of terrorists who were firing at our forces.
In the last 24 hours, several mortar launches were carried out from the area of the Islamic University in southern Gaza City towards IDF forces operating in the corridor area in the center of the strip; there were no casualties. In an aerial closure, aircraft attacked and destroyed the launcher that carried out the launches.
Fighter jets and aircraft of the Air Force attacked many terror targets in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours. In one of the attacks, an Air Force aircraft, directed by the 215 Fire Brigade, eliminated a tactical-level commander from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.
Vehicles used in rescue yesterday
THE NORTH
This morning, Hezbollah said that as a result of our actions in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, they plan to increase their attacks on Israel. Today was indeed a particularly violent day along the Northern border, with ten separate attacks. Luckily, no one was injured. Tonight, as I was about to publish this update, a drone entered Israeli airspace and was intercepted near Akko.
In the past 24 hours, Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. One ASBM struck M/V Tavvishi, a Liberian-flagged, Swiss owned and operated container ship. M/V Tavvishi reported damage but has continued underway. The second ASBM was successfully destroyed by a coalition ship. There were no injuries reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
Separately, Iranian-backed Houthis launched one ASBM and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden. Both missiles struck M/V Norderney, an Antigua and Barbados flagged, German owned and operated cargo ship. M/V Norderney reported damage but has continued underway. There were no injuries reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.
Additionally, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) over the Gulf of Aden. Later, USCENTCOM forces successfully destroyed two Houthi land attack cruise missiles (LACM) and one missile launcher in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.
BOOK REVIEW: “Live Like a Startup”
A friend of mine, Yaniv Rivlin, wrote an intriguing book, titled: Live Like a Startup. This book is exceptional in several respects. Notably, the English translation was only released recently, whereas the original Hebrew edition debuted a year ago. Live Like a Startup became a bestseller in Israel, a testament to both the book’s relevance and its resonance with Israelis today.
Live Like a Startup is a cross between an autobiography and a self-help book, subtitled: Take the Initiative and Transform Your Life. The book chronicles Yaniv's life journey, which has been marked by many unique experiences. Yaniv grew up in Katzrin, a small town on the Golan Heights, as far from the center of the country as you can get, with the exception of Eilat. Although Yaniv was not a standout high school student, he has received degrees from prestigious Universities both in Israel and the US.. Like many Israelis, Yaniv's time in the army proved transformative. Yaniv shares,
By the time I finished the Army, I was a completely different person. Not only had I broadened my understanding of Israel, but also myself. The guy who left the army at the age of 21 had far more confidence than the 18-year-old boy who was drafted three years earlier.
Regrettably, as a young man, Yaniv was forced to attend significantly more funerals of friends than the average reader of this newsletter would have during their youth.
However, at its heart, the book recounts the story of someone who never let an opportunity slip by untried. From becoming a summer counselor at camps in America, followed by studies at the Hebrew University, even though it was an academic stretch, to applying and securing a spot in the unique Canadian “Sauvé Scholars” program, Yaniv's journey is full of unique experiences. Yaniv was also involved in founding a startup, before studying at Harvard. Eventually, Yaniv returned to Israel, where he worked for the Shusterman Foundation for a while, before introducing “Bird” scooters to Israel
.
While not everything Yaniv did was successful, as his book illustrates, it's often the journey where you learn the most. Live Like a Startupis compelling and worth a read!
ECONOMY
According to data released today (Sunday) by the Ministry of Finance, the cumulative deficit over the past 12 months increased by 0.3% in May, reaching 7.2% of GDP, or approximately 138 billion shekels. In April, the deficit stood at 7%, while the deficit ceiling for the end of 2024 is set at 6.6%. This represents an increase of about 0.3% (rounded figures) compared to the deficit at the end of April.
However, a substantive examination shows that the deficit at the end of April was actually only 6.7%. The 0.3% increase was due to the deferral of tax payments for Passover. This means that in May, the deficit rose by more than half a percent. Despite the current deficit standing at 7.2%, the main estimates from the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Israel are that by the end of the year, the deficit will decrease and converge to the level set by law, which is 6.6%. All this, of course, assumes that a significant northern front does not develop.
On May 13, 1974, a group of three armed members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) infiltrated Israel from Lebanon. The terrorists crossed the border undetected into Israel.
Their first encounter with Israeli civilians occurred at Moshav Avivim, where they ambushed a van carrying Christian Arab women from a nearby village. They murdered two women in cold blood, signaling the start of their brutal campaign. The terrorist trio then proceeded towards Ma’alot, eventually reaching the town under the cover of darkness.
On the night of May 14, the terrorists infiltrated the Netiv Meir Elementary School, where a group of about 105 Israeli teenagers from Safed were staying during a school trip. The terrorists quickly overpowered the school’s guards and took the students and several teachers hostage. They fortified their positions within the school, preparing for a prolonged standoff.
The terrorists soon issued their demands: the release of 23 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. They set a deadline of 6:00 p.m. on May 15, threatening to execute the hostages if their demands were not met. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Golda Meir, was immediately thrust into a state of emergency. The situation was dire, with the lives of innocent children hanging in the balance. Israeli officials engaged in frantic negotiations with the terrorists, seeking to buy time while preparing for a possible military intervention. In parallel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) began formulating a rescue plan. Sayeret Matkal, an elite counter-terrorism unit, was tasked with the mission. They gathered intelligence on the school layout and the terrorists’ positions, aiming to conduct a swift and decisive assault.
As the deadline approached on May 15, the IDF finalized their rescue operation plans. The assault began at around 5:30 p.m., just before the terrorists’ deadline. The operation was meticulously planned to surprise the terrorists and minimize harm to the hostages. Snipers took up positions around the school, providing covering fire while breaching teams used explosives to create entry points.
Assault teams stormed the building from multiple directions, entering through windows and doors to confuse and disorient the terrorists. The teams moved quickly through the school, clearing rooms one by one using flash-bang grenades to stun and incapacitate the terrorists without causing undue harm to the hostages. The assault teams faced immediate and intense gunfire upon entering the building, particularly on the second floor, where most of the hostages were held. Despite the precision and speed of the assault, the terrorists began executing hostages as the IDF teams advanced.
The tragic outcome of the rescue operation was the death of 22 children and 3 adults. The terrorists, using the hostages as human shields, caused significant casualties before being neutralized by the IDF. All three terrorists were killed in the operation, but the cost in innocent lives was devastating. Once the building was secured, the focus shifted to evacuating the nearly 100 wounded.
Gantz resignation, is that going to have the effect of US communicating and encouraging Gantz to run against Netanyahu? Is US government encouraging that resignation?
Gantz resignation, is that going to have the effect of US communicating and encouraging Gantz to run against Netanyahu? Is US government encouraging that resignation?