DAY 27 OF THE GAZA WAR: Israeli Forces Are Deep in Gaza, North Heats Up
Tel Aviv Diary November 2, 2023
DAY 27 OF THE GAZA WAR
This morning, as I rode a scooter through Tel Aviv, I noticed an unusual sight: large teddy bears seated on benches throughout the city. Although I didn't stop to investigate, the mystery was solved when I reached Dizengoff Circle. Each teddy bear displayed a photo and name of one Hamas-held hostage.
In the city of Tel Aviv, one is frequently reminded of the hostages' plight. For instance, a symbolic empty table with settings for each of the hostages is a permanent fixture in front of the Tel Aviv Museum. Across from the Defense Ministry entrance, families of the hostages maintain a constant vigil. This evening at Habima Square, I observed another poignant installation. Beds were arranged, one to represent each hostage
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The families of the hostages have been diligent in keeping their loved ones at the forefront of public consciousness — throughout Israel, and around the world. However, over the course of the last 48 hours, the public's attention in Israel has somewhat shifted.
Presently, tens of thousands of Israeli families are anxious about their sons, husbands, and sometimes daughters, who are stationed in Gaza. Following yesterday's casualties, a singular worry pervades: Will their loved ones survive this war of necessity unscathed? Concern for the welfare of soldiers does not overshadow the hostages’ situation, but reflects an immediate fear for those currently in clear and present mortal danger. The prevailing hope and prayer is for the army to succeed in its operations, with the minimum number of casualties.
According to the IDF spokesperson, our military has already encircled Gaza City, and is pushing towards the center, targeting Hamas facilities.
Last night, Hamas laid an ambush for the troops, resulting in a fierce three-hour battle with a battalion of Golani soldiers. The Golani soldiers, protected within their armored vehicles, faced dozens of Hamas militants armed with RPGs and Kornet missiles. The encounter ended with at least twenty militants killed; while the Golani suffered several injuries, but no fatalities.
Sorrowfully, Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habaka, a Druze tank battalion commander, became the highest-ranking IDF commander to fall in this Gaza war. Habaka lost his life while coming to aid the Golani Brigade. Prior to the war, Habaka had emphasized the importance of unity and victory. His father, while mourning Salman’s loss, found solace in the knowledge that his son died defending their country
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The IDF spokesman depicted the nature of the conflict in Gaza succinctly:
In every engagement, no matter the difficulty, our soldiers emerge victorious. When we encounter strong resistance, we temporarily withdraw, call in air support, and then resume our advance.
The New York Times reported that the Biden administration is urging Israel to consent to brief cease-fires to facilitate the evacuation of foreign nationals. This suggestion poses considerable challenges, given that Israeli troops are deeply embedded within an urban environment. Their primary advantage lies in their mobility and their continuous movement; a ceasefire would potentially compromise security of our troops.
Meanwhile, concerns about Gaza’s fuel supply persist. When questioned about the possibility of allowing fuel into Gaza, the IDF Chief of Staff indicated that, despite warnings of a critical fuel shortage in Gaza’s hospitals over the past week, the hospitals have continued to operate. He assured that should the hospitals exhaust their fuel supplies, provisions would be made to ensure they receive more.
With hospital ships from the United States and France positioned off the coast, there has been some discussion of transferring patients from Gaza’s hospitals to these floating medical vessels. However, the logistics of successfully implementing such transfers remain uncertain.
Today, rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel notably reduced. There was a single barrage aimed at the center of the country, resulting in a direct hit on a house in a Moshav. While the home sustained significant damage, the residents, who had taken refuge in their safe room, were unharmed. To date, 8,000 rockets have been fired at Israel, resulting in eight fatalities from those attacks.
Amidst the intense conflict in Gaza, attention in Israel has also turned northward. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has been publicizing a speech he plans to deliver, scheduled for 3 PM tomorrow. In a precursor to his address, there has been a surge in rocket activity hailing from the north — including one projectile that reached as far as Tzfat and another that struck Kiryat Shmona, causing a fire. In the current clashes, Israel has neutralized at least 50 Hezbollah combatants.
The buildup to Nasrallah’s speech has created significant tension in Israel, with most analysts predicting Nasrallah will express solidarity with Palestinians and Hamas, but refrain from taking direct action. However, these analysts also recognize their prior misjudgments regarding Hamas, leaving them with little confidence in their current forecasts.
Army Chief of Staff Hertz HaLevi and the IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari have both issued warnings to the Hezbollah leader, advising against engagement. Halevi stated that less than half of Israel's Air Force capacity is currently deployed in Gaza, emphasizing that aircraft loaded with bombs are loaded and primed to retaliate should there be an assault from another front.
There was a terror attack today on the road near Nablus. Elkan Klein was returning home from army reserve duty when he was shot and killed in his car.
The security cabinet convened tonight, and over the objections of Finance Minister Smotrich agreed to transfer the Palestinian Authority their tax revenues. The cabinet decided to deduct the money that is normally sent by the PA to Gaza. Security officials have asserted that Smotrich’s delay in transferring the money was undermining the war effort.
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir is also creating difficulties by obstructing the PA's attempts to deposit funds into the canteen accounts of Palestinian security prisoners. In the meantime, Smotrich has proceeded to honor the original coalition agreements, allocating substantial funds to the ultra-Orthodox community, despite economists cautioning him about the likelihood of significant budget deficits in light of the war.
Yesterday, Politico published an article suggesting that President Biden does not anticipate Netanyahu will maintain his political standing, a sentiment that is widely shared in Israel today. The critical issue is not solely the events of October 7th, for which he, alongside others, must bear responsibility, but rather his overall poor management of the government during the war and its myriad of consequences.
Predicting the post-war political landscape in Israel is challenging (to say the least), due to the numerous and complex currents shaping the situation at present. The relationship between the ultra-Orthodox community and the state is expected to evolve. On one hand, as casualties increase, resentment may grow due to the perception that the ultra-Orthodox do not share the burden of service. On the other hand, a notable shift has been seen with a small, influential segment of the ultra-Orthodox community, previously exempt, now volunteering for IDF service— including the son of Shas leader, MK Arye Deri.
The dynamics of the relationship between Jewish-Israelis and Arab-Israelis is also shifting. Instances of racism against Israeli Arabs have surfaced since October 7th. Conversely, many, particularly the Bedouin in the Negev, have reaffirmed their commitment to Israel, following the atrocities of that horrific day. The deaths and abductions of Arab-Israelis, along with the chilling footage of Hamas militants discovering and then callously murdering an Arab-Israeli, shocked many. It is anticipated that the kinship between Israeli Jews and the Bedouin and Druze communities will emerge stronger than ever after the war.