Day 3 of The Gaza War: The Fear of a Second Front

Tel Aviv Diary June 9, 2023

As the third day of the war came to a close, attention increasingly shifted northward, as rising apprehension of a two-front conflict, anticipated to be grueling. Several incidents today heightened these concerns. Four terrorists attempted to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon, resulting in a firefight. Three terrorists were neutralized, while one retreated to Lebanon. Four Israeli soldiers sustained injuries.

Although the assailants were affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, their actions likely had Hezbollah's endorsement. In response, the IDF deployed attack helicopters targeting Hezbollah bases. Subsequently, Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of five of its members. Tonight, mortar rounds were launched from Lebanon, an act Hezbollah claims as retribution for their casualties. They have also hinted at further retaliations. The IDF retaliated with artillery fire.

Chaos erupted this evening, when a Home Front Command representative advised the public via television to stock up on water, essential foods, and batteries for a three-day period. This led to a frantic surge in supermarket visits. My own anxiety levels spiked considerably. Shortly after, an Army Spokesperson clarified that the announcement reflected routine Home Front  Command guidelines. Regardless of the clarification, the initial announcement triggered widespread alarm, with residents from my building and across the country rushing to stock up on essential supplies.

While today's focus was on the northern threat, heart-wrenching tales from the Gaza region remained prominent. Reports recounted harrowing survival stories, but also hair-raising accounts of those who tragically did not survive. Numerous reports emerged of parents speaking to their children mere moments before they were either fatally injured or captured.

For the first time, images of the road leading away from the outdoor dance party have been released, revealing a haunting scene of abandoned personal property, with charred cars lining its sides. Though the bodies have been cleared away, the scorched remnants of vehicles serve as a somber reminder of the horrendous tragedy.

Tonight's news was particularly heart-wrenching. Zaka, an organization responsible for attending to the deceased, reported they have retrieved 108 bodies from Kibbutz Beeri. It's been a while since I last visited Be’eri, but having spent considerable time at various Kibbutzim, it's inconceivable to think that more than 10% of Be'eri's inhabitants were mercilessly killed.

The official death toll from Saturday has now reached 900, a number everyone fears will continue to rise. Among these casualties, 85 are soldiers and 37 are police officers, though these numbers are also expected to increase. This one day loss is unparalleled in Jewish history, with the exception of the Holocaust. The death toll from this single day surpasses that of the entire three-year Intifada, and even the Six-Day War. The magnitude of this tragedy is still hard to grasp.

Additionally, many Israelis remain unaccounted for. The government claims to have identified most of the captured individuals, but uncertainties remain. Among the missing are 13 police officers.

There's a growing sentiment of frustration towards the government for their reluctance to meet with representatives of the missing Israelis, further fueling the public's anguish.

Today, the army confirmed its successful takeover of the Gaza border area. Although the IDF reports discovering approximately 1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters, sporadic and intense clashes with remaining fighters have raised concerns. Despite the secured status of the region, suspicions linger about a potential tunnel beneath the border, though no such evidence exists so far.

Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the nation tonight. He refrained from announcing the establishment of a National Emergency Government, a step many continue to hoped for. Instead, Netanyahu extended an invitation to the opposition to join his government, ignoring the ongoing negotiations to accomplish that task. Former Defense Minister Gantz's primary condition for participation in a National Emergency Government is the assurance he and other experienced military veteran generals from his party play a significant role in shaping policy. There's a growing public anger with Netanyahu’s inability to move quickly to form the National Unity Government; anger which spans the political spectrum.

In his remarks, Netanyahu drew parallels between Hamas and ISIS, predicting a similar fate for both. However, the fact the Prime Minister chose to gloss over the issue of Israeli hostages held by Hamas was a matter of great public concern.

Missile attacks persisted today, with a significant barrage targeting the Metropolitan Tel Aviv area, including Ben Gurion Airport. Thankfully, these missiles were successfully intercepted. A major assault was launched on Jerusalem; not all those missiles were neutralized. Direct hits were reported in Betar Illit, Har Adar, and the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, resulting in five casualties, one of which is in critical condition.

Amidst these challenges, the Israeli spirit remains undeterred. Thousands of volunteers are working tirelessly, providing food, electronic chargers, and other essential supplies to soldiers.

On the international front, solidarity continues to pour in. The Biden Administration conveyed to Congress its stance of unwavering support for Israel, regardless of the war's duration

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Lastly, a notable development today was the announcement on the size of the military reserve call-up: 300,000 Israeli have been called to duty, marking the largest mobilization in Israel's history. This move indicates the IDF's preparation for a potential two-front war and hints at a large-scale ground operation in Gaza – an eventuality many have dreaded, but which seems unaviodable given the gruesome recent events.