It’s hard to believe that today marks ten months since the war began. As I started to reflect and write about where we stand after the better part of a year, my thoughts felt all too familiar. I quickly realized that I had already captured these reflections in commemoration of the 300th day:
Today marks the 300th day of the war—a profoundly grim milestone. For 300 days, our hostages, those still alive, have been languishing in the custody of dastardly Hamas terrorists. For 300 days, we have been engaged in the longest war in Israel's history—with no end in sight. For 300 days, tens of thousands of Israelis have been refugees within their own country. For 300 days, those responsible for what is considered the darkest day in Israel's history still hold positions of power and command.
That being said … I want to zoom out a bit to take a broader assessment of our current situation and see where we stand. It's not a very good look. Our situation is far from promising. The country entered this war deeply divided by the government's attempt to enact what was perceived by many as a judicial coup. In retrospect, it’s peculiar that this issue divided the country so sharply, as it was largely based on a misleading narrative. While Israel indeed requires judicial reform, the measures proposed by the government in no way addressed the necessary changes. Instead, the proposed plan was essentially a power grab by an all-too-powerful executive looking to consolidate control without any checks and balances.
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The ruling coalition successfully framed the debate as mostly a “left-wing vs. right-wing” issue, although that was not the case. Then came the war, and at least for a while—despite all the numerous tragedies that took place—one positive outcome was a brief period of unity. Though it seemed like that unity might endure, somewhere in recent months, it has deteriorated over the issue of the hostages. Strikingly, those advocating for a hostage/ceasefire deal—including the families of the hostages—have been labeled as “leftists.” Under this narrative, wanting a deal equates to being a leftist, and many on the right-wing blame “leftists” for the war.
As a result, families of hostages are being attacked, a situation that is almost impossible to fathom but is undeniably happening. Much of this hostility has been fueled by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who continues to speak of total victory—a prospect that has long been deemed unachievable. Netanyahu has avoided securing a hostage deal for months and has effectively polarized the country over the issue. So, ten months into the war, the country is divided once again, while our 115 hostages remain held captive by Hamas … 306 days and counting…
Beyond those insurmountable challenges, we still lack a strategy for the governance of Gaza after the war. Ten months into the conflict, there has yet to be a single discussion by the government about “the day after” due to the political implications of such a discussion.
It has now been a week since the assassinations of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr and Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, and we continue to wait and worry. Following yesterday's speech by Nasrallah, it is evident that Hezbollah is planning an attack. Defense Minister Gallant remarked today that Nasrallah is unaware of the potential consequences his actions may bring upon Lebanon. Meanwhile, at an Air Force base, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi asserted that the Air Force is prepared for an immediate response if an attack comes. Here is a translation of what Halevi said:
I’ve just finished a few hours of visiting the base. I see the readiness at its peak, both for offense and defense. We will know how to launch a very rapid attack anywhere in Lebanon, anywhere in Gaza, anywhere in the Middle East, above ground or underground. I truly believe in the professionalism that the Air Force brings in utilizing intelligence, selecting the right munitions, and maintaining all aircraft, munitions, and equipment at the highest level of readiness with the best people. All these elements will work excellently for us.
We will send a very clear message to our enemies: those who attacked us, those who in every speech talk about how they will destroy the State of Israel, we will hit them, and we will continue to grow stronger. Yesterday, Yahya Sinwar received a new title. He is now the head of Hamas's political bureau. This title, “political,” will not absolve him from being a murderer involved in the planning and execution of the events of October 7. Therefore, not only does this change in his title not prevent us from searching for him, but rather, it also motivates us. We will strive to find him and attack him, so they will have to replace the head of the political bureau again.
We have carried out very important operations in recent weeks. We have killed the most senior commanders of our most problematic enemies, and we are not stopping.
At the moment, one of Israel’s biggest concerns is the possibility of a Hezbollah attack on military sites situated in populated areas. The prevailing belief is that Hezbollah aims to execute an attack that won’t escalate into a full-scale war. However, unfortunately, in this situation there are no guarantees.
I must say that there are so many conflicting reports, everything ranging from claims that the President of Iran has implored the Supreme Leader not to attack Israel to assertions that the attack is imminent. Therefore, it is realistically impossible to predict what will happen next, so we will just have to do our best to live our lives— and, of course, adhere to the safety guidelines of the Home Front Command.
WEST BANK
The IDF continued its activity in the West Bank today. Here is how the IDF Spokesman described their actions in Nablus:
Last night, forces operated in Nablus in the Samaria Brigade area, where they located and destroyed a warehouse containing various explosives, including heavy and throwable charges. During the operation, the forces responded with gunfire to terrorists who threw explosives and fired at them.
In Al-Eizariya in the Etzion Brigade area, forces seized two lathes used for weapon manufacturing and arrested three wanted individuals. Three more wanted individuals were arrested in Dheisheh and Doha.
In an operation in Qalandiya in the Binyamin Brigade area, forces arrested two wanted individuals and interrogated dozens of suspects. In Aqabat Jaber in the Jordan Valley and Samaria Brigade areas, three wanted individuals were arrested. Additional arrests were made in the Menashe and Ephraim Brigade areas, totaling three more wanted individuals.
The arrested suspects and confiscated weapons were handed over to security forces for further processing. There were no injuries to our forces.
Since the beginning of the war, approximately 4,400 wanted individuals have been arrested throughout the Judea, Samaria, and Jordan Valley divisions, with around 1,850 of them affiliated with the Hamas terrorist organization.
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