DAY 334 OF THE WAR: Repeated Rocket Barrages on the North, Mass Demonstrations in Support of Returning Hostages Continue, New Field Hospital in Gaza

Tel Aviv Diary, September 4, 2024

Dear Readers,

I will be traveling to the US tonight and will be there for ten days. The timing of the diary posting may shift slightly. Also, there will be no diary entry on Monday the 9th.

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IN THE NORTH

This morning, Hezbollah fired 65 rockets at northern Israel, with many landing in the Kiryat Shmona area. Four rockets ignited fires, one within the city itself and another leveled a house. This destruction adds to the numerous homes lost over the past 11 months. This was Hezbollah's largest barrage since a major attack was thwarted ten days ago.

Further attacks occurred this afternoon along other parts of the confrontation line. Tonight, there was another major barrage targeting Kiryat Shemona. When Prime Minister Netanyahu was asked during his press conference on Monday night when residents of the North might return to their homes, he responded that providing a date would be irresponsible. Netanyahu explained that the only practical solution for allowing residents to return would involve an agreement with Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah has stipulated that they will only consent to a ceasefire if a truce is established in Gaza.

GAZA & THE CASE OF STAYING IN THE PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR

Currently, there is no end in sight for the war in the South. This is not due to ongoing combat but rather because we lack a practical strategy for ending the war, leaving us in a stalemate: no strategy, no hostages.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has been somewhat successful in convincing people of the importance of holding the border corridor with Egypt. Despite opposition from military leaders, former officials, and others who refute his claims, he is a master salesperson. It's remarkable how he achieves this by dismissing the Army's advice, citing their failure on October 7, while conveniently overlooking his own responsibilities.

DEMONSTRATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE HOSTAGES

For the fourth consecutive day, mass demonstrations have swelled in major cities across Israel, drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters over the past few days.

The Hostage Families Forum demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu stop wearing the yellow ribbon pin, a symbol of the campaign for hostage release. They criticized the Prime Minister, stating, "Stop creating a false impression of support and efforts to bring back the hostages, when in reality you are doing everything to thwart the deal.”

IDF CHIEF OF STAFF
On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, held a situational assessment in the central Gaza Strip and stated,

We must not give up on any of the war’s objectives. The IDF continues to defeat Hamas’s military wing and is doing everything to bring the hostages back alive. Every hostage we return alive now will have many more years ahead of them, and every terrorist will ultimately be eliminated.

DEFENSE MINISTER GALLANT

Amid increasing concerns of a third Intifada following several days of terror attacks, Defense Minister Gallant visited Israeli troops in the West Bank. Gallant stated, “At the moment, we are mowing the grass, but soon we will turn to addressing the roots of the problem.” It should be noted that the situation is certainly not helped by the change in the status quo that Ben-Gvir implemented on the Temple Mount, despite Prime Minister Netanyahu's continued assertions to the contrary.

IDF FACILITATES OPENING MORE FIELD HOSPITALS IN GAZA

The Israeli Army has been quietly, under the radar, doing some good things. The IDF has facilitated the establishment of a 12th field hospital in Gaza, operated by @MSF Belgium. The hospital currently has 25 beds and is expected to expand to 100 beds and 300 medical personnel. It contains an ER, surgery, orthopedic, and burn departments.

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS’ STRIKE

Today we marked the fourth day of the high school teachers’ strike. The issue remains unresolved, and the strike will continue tomorrow with no resolution in sight.

BACK TO CAMPUS

As college campuses begin their new academic year and many of last year's issues resurface, I thought it would be appropriate to share some historical context. Here are two quotes from a NY Times article, titled: "Harvard President Sees Rise In Anti-Semitism on Campus” by Karen Arenson:

Serious and thoughtful people are advocating and taking actions that are antisemitic in their effect if not their intent,'' said Mr. Summers, referring both to the push for divestment and to actions by student organizations at Harvard and other campuses to raise money for groups found to have ties to terrorist groups.