Day 330 of the War: Intense Clashes in Jenin, Gush Etzion Terror Attack, Bodies Recovered from Gaza, Hostage Families Protest, Netanyahu Ignored Warnings

Tel Aviv Diary August 31, 2024

ZOOM BRIEFING: Sunday, September 1 • 6 AM Israel /4 PM GB/ 11 AM EDT and 8 AM PDT.  Invitations will go out in the morning.

In recent days, the West Bank has become a significant front in the ongoing conflict.

Just a few days ago, Khaled Mashal, a leader of Hamas's political wing, called for the resurgence of suicide bombings in an interview. On Friday night, two explosive-laden cars departed Hebron, targeting the Gush Etzion area. At a gas station along the main road, one driver abandoned his vehicle, which then exploded. Nearby army soldiers responded, killing the driver and sustaining injuries to three of their own in the ensuing crossfire. Concurrently, a second driver attempted to breach the gates of the Karmei Tzur settlement. A security officer followed him and rammed his car into the terrorist's vehicle, causing it to explode. Though injured, the security officer was taken to a hospital and is in good condition. Authorities suspect a bomb factory in Hebron is the source of these explosives.

Following the attacks, the Army visited the homes of the bombers and detained several of their relatives. For a brief period, the Me’arat HaMachpelah site was closed to both Muslims and Jews; however, it was reopened later in the morning.

While conducting research for my book (on the history of Israel from 1995 to today), I came across a March 2002 statement made by Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent Hamas leader (who was recently assassinated in Teheran). During an interview with the Washington Post, Haniyeh stated that Palestinians have now gained the upper hand over Israelis because they have discovered their weak spot. Haniyeh commented during a period of ongoing suicide bombings, saying, "Jews love life more than any other people, and they prefer not to die.”

JENIN

Over the past two days, significant developments have also occurred in Jenin as part of an ongoing IDF operation. Yesterday, during a coordinated action by the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police in northern Samaria, a terrorist cell led by Wasem Hazem, head of Hamas's terror organization in Jenin, was identified. Guided by Shin Bet intelligence, the forces engaged the cell in a firefight. Hazem, responsible for orchestrating numerous shooting attacks, planting explosives, and promoting other terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria, was eliminated by undercover Border Police units.

Shortly after Hazem's elimination, an IDF aircraft targeted and eliminated two additional Hamas operatives, Misra Masharka, and Arafat Amer, as they attempted to flee the vehicle they had been in with Hazem. These operatives, who had also participated in shooting attacks targeting Israeli settlements, were found with M-16 rifles, a pistol, magazines, explosives, gas grenades, and tens of thousands of shekels in terror funds on their persons and in their vehicles.

The following day, IDF forces continued their operations in the Jenin refugee camp. Since the morning, they have eliminated three more terrorists in exchanges of fire, critically injuring another. Hamas confirmed that the deceased included its members, notably Mohammed Hariyush and Amjad Alkaniri, two prominent figures in the camp responsible for several shooting and bombing attacks

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During the last few hours, IDF forces have been conducting house-to-house searches in Jenin, seeking out terrorists, explosives, and additional weapons. Over the past three days, a total of 30 terrorists have been eliminated in Jenin, and the combat there continues. Tonight, it was announced that First Sergeant Elkana Navon (20) was killed in the fighting in Jenin. A second soldier was very seriously wounded

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As the situation in Jenin continues to deteriorate, it echoes previous IDF operations in the area, such as Operation Defensive Shield. Tonight, in the history section (see below), I will delve deeper into the Battle of Jenin in 2002 to provide additional context for the ongoing events in Jenin.

This evening, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi addressed soldiers stationed near Jenin:

We have no intention of allowing terrorism in Judea and Samaria to raise its head—and that's why we are taking the initiative to move from city to city, refugee camp to refugee camp, with excellent intelligence, very solid operational capabilities, a very strong aerial intelligence framework, and above all, with highly committed and determined fighters and commanders. I see exactly the dedication to the mission, and this is how we will protect the citizens of Israel, exactly in this way.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR OCTOBER 7

In a blockbuster story on Friday morning, renowned Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal reported that 79 days before the war, the Head of the Shin Bet (Security Services), Ronen Bar, held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, warning him of the impending danger of war. Although Bar did not specify that the threat would emanate from Gaza or the North—the commonly held assumption at the time—his warning was completely ignored.

The Likud party quickly responded to Eyal’s damning revelation, claiming that the Prime Minister had not received any specific warning of an attack from Gaza. It should be noted that the Likud did not deny the fact that the Security Services explicitly warned Netanyahu that war was on the horizon. However, the public largely dismissed this response, and it was accepted only by the Prime Minister's most steadfast supporters.

At the time of the horrific October massacre, Israel was embroiled in the midst of a contentious debate over judicial reform. Instead of heeding the warnings, Netanyahu dismissed them as yet another attempt to obstruct his judicial reform efforts. He should have put the reforms on hold, stating that they could wait and, at the very least, convened emergency meetings with military leaders to prepare for war on all fronts.

Regrettably, this did not occur. While the military certainly shares a major portion of the blame for not being adequately prepared, Netanyahu cannot continue to shirk his responsibility. This assessment of mismanagement and malpractice does not even take into account the years leading up to October 7th. Currently, 82% of the public supports the establishment of a National Commission of Inquiry into both the events that led to and those that followed October 7, while only 3% of the public are opposed. Prime Minister Netanyahu himself is the main opponent of the creation of the National Commission. It should be noted that while all the heads of the Army and Security Services have publicly taken responsibility for October 7th, Netanyahu has not.

HOSTAGES

Tonight, following widespread rumors circulated in Israel today, the Army confirmed that the remains of several hostages had been found in Gaza and were currently in the process of being identified and repatriated. The Forum of Hostage Families has called for a “Day of Rage” tomorrow, Sunday, September 1. During tonight's demonstrations advocating for the release of hostages, there were clear instances of police violence. In the video below, the sister of a hostage is being trampled.

On Thursday night, a security cabinet meeting extended into the early hours of the morning. The main topics of discussion were the ongoing hostage negotiations and the alleged critical strategic importance of the Philadelphi Corridor. During the meeting, the Security Cabinet decided to approve the maps that confirm the IDF's continued presence on the Philadelphi Route as part of a possible hostage release deal— with a majority of eight in favor, one opposed (Minister Yoav Gallant), and one abstention (Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir).

The Cabinet’s decision established that the IDF will maintain its presence on the Philadelphi Corridor. During the discussion, Cabinet Ministers indicated their belief that this decision brings the possibility of a deal closer, as it signals to Hamas that they will need to make concessions regarding the status of the Philadelphi Corridor, just as they compromised on their demand for a permanent end to the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the disaster of October 7th was made possible because the Philadelphi Corridor was not under Israeli control. Through this corridor, a massive amount of weapons were smuggled into Gaza, which the terrorist organizations then used. The Prime Minister emphasized that such a situation will not be allowed to happen again, asserting that this time, Israel is determined to maintain control over this border.

The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers also noted that before Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza in 2005, security officials claimed they would know how to handle the first rocket, which proved inaccurate after Hamas began launching rockets at Israel. Furthermore, Security officials also believed they could manage the withdrawal from Lebanon and the introduction of terrorist elements into Judea and Samaria as part of the Oslo Accords. These assessments, too, turned out to be incorrect.

Lastly, the Cabinet also discussed that, according to preliminary investigations by expert sources, most of the hostage casualties occurred within the first six months—soon after the Hamas attack—and not in the recent months.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the following was reported to have been said:

The Prime Minister presented maps in the Cabinet last night showing the reduction of forces in Rafah as part of a deal.

Gallant responded: “These are not the maps the Army presented and recommended; these are the maps prepared because you forced them on us.”

The Prime Minister banged on the table and said: “Bring the maps for a vote immediately. We will vote on this now in the Cabinet.”

Gallant replied to the Prime Minister: “You might as well vote to kill all the hostages.”

Some of the government ministers attacked Gallant for this statement.

In response to the quotes published from the cabinet meeting, the Families' Headquarters for the Return of the Hostages released the following statement:

The quotes from the cabinet meeting should keep every Israeli citizen awake at night. Every citizen should know that if they are kidnapped in their pajamas from their bed on a Saturday morning, their Prime Minister will do everything to keep his seat, even at the cost of abandoning them to death in Hamas tunnels in Gaza.

It would have been better for the country and its citizens if more ministers who were present at the meeting had shown responsibility and basic humanity, like the Minister of Defense.

We demand that the Prime Minister make a statement in which he announces that he has decided to give up on the lives of the hostages and on bringing back the bodies of the fallen and murdered for proper burial in exchange for a corridor that all security forces have determined could be temporarily vacated.

Gershon Baskin, who was involved in negotiating Gilat Shalit's release, shared his concerns and frustrations this morning. After October 7th, Baskin was in contact with Hamas regarding the release of hostages. However, Baskin was asked to cease his involvement after a few weeks. Here’s what Baskin posted:

In May of this year, I managed to convince our system to activate me again, I started sending messages and receiving answers officially and directly, but after two weeks, the system informed me to "stop." In my estimation, Netanyahu found out that I was operating a direct and secret channel that was very active and did not want such a channel.

About two weeks ago, the hostage families' forum asked me to try to conduct a direct negotiation with Hamas on their behalf. That's what I did, and within two weeks, I obtained agreement to a three-week deal—the release of all 107 Israeli hostages, the end of the war, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and an agreed release of the names and number of Palestinian prisoners. The entire Hamas leadership agrees to this outline, but our Netanyahu does not want to end the war. This is the situation today—Saturday, August 31, 2024.

IN GAZA

The intensity of the war in Gaza has diminished over the past few days. Airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza continued yesterday and today. This evening, it was reported that a soldier was critically wounded in central Gaza today.

The Army announced that phase one of combat in Gaza has temporarily concluded. Here’s the statement released by the IDF Spokesman regarding current operations in Gaza:

After approximately a month of above-ground and underground maneuvers, the 98th Division forces have completed their operations in the Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah areas. During the operation, the forces eliminated over 250 militants and destroyed dozens of terrorist infrastructures.

The Yahalom Unit, along with combat teams from the 7th Brigade and paratroopers, located and destroyed six tunnels, each up to six kilometers long. Some of the tunnels contained militant hideouts, weapons, and militants who were subsequently neutralized.

The 7th Brigade's combat team fought in the Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah areas, uncovering weapons and destroying dozens of ambushes and combat positions. The 77th Battalion forces raided a central Hamas stronghold in the Deir al-Balah area, where they found weapons, a rocket launcher, and intelligence documents. In cooperation with the Yahalom Unit, an underground passage that was part of the militants' combat network in the compound was located and destroyed.

The paratroopers' combat team fought in the ‘Hamad’ neighborhood in western Khan Younis and in the eastern neighborhoods of the city. The forces operated in a dense area with high-rise buildings.

IN THE NORTH

Today, the North experienced one drone attack and another barrage of rockets. Since last Sunday, when Israel launched a significant strike on Hezbollah targets and Hezbollah responded with heavy fire, the frequency of attacks in the North has decreased dramatically.

KAMALA HARRIS REITERATES STANCE ON ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS

Here is what Kamala Harris said about Israel and the Palestinians in her recent CNN interview:

Kamala Harris: Let me be very clear. I’m unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself, and that’s not going to change. But let's take a step back. On October 7—1,200 people were massacred. Many young people who were simply attending a music festival. Women were horribly raped.

As I said then, I say today: Israel has a right to defend itself—we would—and how it does so matters. Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. We have to get a deal done. This war must end, and we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out.

U.S. CENTCOM UPDATE [AUGUST 29,30]

In the past 48 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi missile system and one uncrewed aerial vehicle in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. They also  successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined these systems presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and 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.

ANTISEMITISM

In France: According to the popular newspaper “Le Monde,” the prosecution has charged a 33-year-old Algerian man with terrorism for attempting to set fire to a synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a town in the south of the country, one week ago. During the investigation, the defendant confessed to the act but insisted that he had no intention of killing anyone. He stated that his primary motive was to "only scare" and show "solidarity with the Palestinians."

In Pittsburgh: Two Jewish students wearing kippot were attacked at the University of Pittsburgh on Friday night.

NAFTALI BENNETT SPEAKS OUT

Public opinion polls indicate that if Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett were to reenter politics, his currently nonexistent party would receive the greatest number of mandates —by far—and would easily be able to form a government. On Friday, Bennett made remarks that garnered a great deal of publicity. Here is a transcript of Bennett’s comments:

During the past two years, I’ve been traveling across the country from Eilat to Metula, and increasingly, I have been encountering a trickle of people who are considering or have already decided on a “permanent relocation” abroad—or in plain Hebrew, they’re emigrating from the country.

These are doctors in specialization abroad who have postponed their return to Israel, high-tech professionals, and academics too. When I hear about an Israeli who has left the country, it pains me deeply, so I always ask to listen to the person and understand.

This trend started even before October 7, during the terrible year of 2023. There was a feeling among some in the public that—“the government hates me.” “Yes, you won. You’re allowed to implement your agenda, but why are you doing it out of spite and force, and everything is measured by how much you’ve managed to hurt us. Give us the feeling that you care about us, too.”

And then came October 7.

At first, the terrible attack actually caused the opposite effect of “fighting for the country.” Israelis from all over the world crammed into El Al planes to come to the country, fight, and volunteer. It was truly moving.

But as the months passed, despair began to seep back in across wide sections of the public. “Where is this going? Why are 80,000 Israelis from the north living as refugees in their own country for so long without any horizon? Is anyone even working on a plan to bring them home?

How do you explain to children the dying of hostages in captivity? The fact that an entire country is sitting in shelters, passively waiting for Iran or Hezbollah to be kind enough to fire their missiles at us?

Where is the famous Israeli initiative? Of the Six-Day War and Entebbe? Why is nothing here being managed?” Everything is mixed together.

“Why, despite both of us working, do we have no chance of ever buying a house here? “How did Israel become one of the most expensive countries in the world?”

“Why am I stuck in traffic all day?” “Why is there an entire sector that doesn’t enlist, whose children don’t enter Gaza, and whose representatives still mock us?” “Why do I have to fund groups that don’t go to work?”

“Why has the public relations arena been abandoned?” “How is Hamas outsmarting us?” “Why are government ministers busy with themselves day and night, constantly fighting among themselves and defaming IDF commanders?”

“Why are murder cases in Israel and agricultural thefts and vandalism are skyrocketing, and no one is dealing with it?”

“How, for Heaven’s sake, do they extend our children’s military service and reserve duty while simultaneously passing a law to exempt the ultra-Orthodox from military service altogether?… And mainly—what kind of future will there be here for my children in 10, 20, or 30 years?”

And then there are those who respond in this vein: “So go. We don’t need you. You’re just spoiled “privileged” people. If you’re leaving, it means you never really loved Israel. We’ll manage without you.”

So, No! We will not manage without you. Israel needs you very, very much. Israel is our only home.

Do you know what it’s like to be abroad on Independence Day, Yom Kippur, or Memorial Day when everyone else goes to work as usual? Or when your children come home speaking Greek, English, or Spanish, but Hebrew is fading away? Or when they celebrate Christmas and don’t know what Purim is? Or when you have to hide your Jewishness because it’s uncomfortable on the street?

We must not give up on Israel. It’s possible and necessary to fix the country. We didn’t pray for 2,000 years in the miserable diaspora to return to the Land of Israel just to lose it again.

I want to be clear: It will be good here again. We will defeat our enemies. We will restore security. We will bring back the displaced from Kiryat Shmona, Manara, and Shlomi home. Kibbutz Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Kissufim, and Nir Oz will flourish again.

We will bring the hostages home. We will care for the bereaved families and so many injured IDF soldiers. The North will prosper again. New communities will rise across the country.

The Iranian regime will collapse, along with it, the entire octopus terror apparatus, just was the case with as the rotten and disconnected Soviet regime.

The Israeli economy will return to conquer new heights. Israeli high-tech will once again lead, because we have the best entrepreneurs in the world here. The investors will return. The successes will return. We will take care to fix problems that seem unsolvable.

We will create a society where all sectors contribute. We will have a different leadership that cares for all the people, including those who didn’t vote for them.

I am sure we will succeed because we have a nation of lions. A nation with the most intelligence, courage, care, resourcefulness, and energy in the world. But all this depends on us not giving up now.

We will need to give more to the country.

More months in the IDF, more volunteering in the civil guard.

We will need to be tougher in a tough environment.

We will need to fight internally for change and unity.

We will need all parts of the nation of Israel.

If we do this, we will win.

So, just before you leave, stop.

Give it a chance.

Anyone considering leaving is welcome to send me a private message here, and

I will try to respond to as many of you as I can.

In short, we are staying and fighting on behalf of the country.

BUSINESS

The IDF will issue a tender to purchase 20,000 drones from Israeli manufacturers, valued at hundreds of millions of shekels. Due to the local industry’s inability to fulfill such a large volume of orders immediately, the deliveries will be staggered over time. Until now, the IDF has primarily used drones produced in China despite warnings from the U.S.

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A PIECE OF HISTORY

The Battle for Jenin 2002

The battle in Jenin, which began on April 2, 2002, was one of the fiercest confrontations during Operation Defensive Shield. Israeli forces, including the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police, initiated the operation to root out terrorist activities in the Jenin refugee camp. On the first day, the Israeli forces encountered heavy resistance, and Major Moshe Gerstner, a reserve company commander, was killed in the fighting. Despite securing the city by April 3, the battle in the camp was just beginning, with the Palestinian fighters, primarily from Islamic Jihad and Hamas, entrenched and prepared for intense combat.

The IDF's strategy initially involved using infantry to minimize civilian casualties, although tanks and helicopters were also employed. The Palestinian fighters, anticipating greater use of Israeli air power, were surprised by the ground assault and chose to engage in close-quarters combat.

Over the next few days, the IDF advanced through the camp, encountering heavy resistance, particularly in the fortified Hawashin district. The use of AH-1 Cobra helicopters, armored bulldozers, and Achzarit troop carriers was essential in clearing the way and dealing with booby traps and fortified positions.

On April 6, prominent militant leader Mahmoud Tawalbe and other fighters were killed in action, with conflicting reports about the circumstances of their deaths. As the battle dragged on, IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz pressed for a more aggressive approach, which included the use of antitank missiles and bulldozers to soften enemy resistance. Despite the challenging conditions, the IDF slowly advanced, but not without suffering significant casualties. On April 9, in what became the deadliest day for the IDF since the end of the 1982 Lebanon War, 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush, bringing the total number of Israeli casualties to 30 by the end of the battle.

The battle saw a change in tactics after the ambush, with Israeli forces relying more heavily on armored bulldozers and Achzarit APCs to clear the way, alongside increased missile strikes from helicopters. Despite calls from some officers to use F-16 jets to bomb the camp, the IDF High Command refused, preferring to avoid civilian casualties. The final stages of the battle saw the Palestinian resistance falter as their supplies dwindled, leading to the surrender of many fighters on April 11.

By the end of the operation, the IDF had captured or killed most of the Palestinian fighters, with some, like Zakaria Zubeidi, managing to escape. The battle revealed the well-prepared and determined nature of the Palestinian fighters, who had learned from previous encounters with the IDF. Despite the heavy losses, the IDF ultimately succeeded in its objectives, though at a significant cost.

In total, the Jenin battle resulted in the deaths of 52 Palestinians, including 38 armed fighters and 14 civilians, according to Israeli estimates. The IDF lost 30 soldiers during the operation, making it one of the most costly battles for Israel in recent memory. The battle in Jenin has since been studied by military analysts, including the US military, as a significant example of urban warfare.