DAY 354 OF THE WAR: Another Day of Heavy Air Strikes Against Hezbollah, Four Israelis Lightly Wounded By Hezbollah Rockets, Justice Minister Gaslights Supreme Court
Tel Aviv Diary, September 24, 2024
It was another unusual day of warfare with Lebanon. We all went to bed, hoping not to be woken by an attack on Tel Aviv. Fortunately, we were not. However, Hezbollah continued firing rockets overnight, particularly around the area of Emek Yizrael. Thankfully, none of the overnight rockets caused any casualties, although attacks resumed to the same region in the morning. Areas just north of Haifa were also targeted, but Haifa itself was spared.
At 3 PM, an attack in the Dahiya—a Hezbollah stronghold in the suburb south of Beirut, within Lebanon's Baabda District—resulted in the death of a key figure, Ibrahim Qubaisi. The Army released the following statement regarding the incident:
The IDF Spokesperson announced that today, Tuesday, September 24, 2024, based on precise intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate, Israeli Air Force fighter jets targeted and eliminated Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi, the commander of Hezbollah's missile and rocket array, in Dahiya, Beirut. During the strike, other key commanders from Hezbollah’s missile and rocket units were also present with Qubaisi.
Qubaisi oversaw various missile units within Hezbollah, including its precision missile units. Over the years, and during the ongoing conflict, he was responsible for missile launches aimed at Israel’s civilian population. Qubaisi was a central figure in the missile field and was closely connected to Hezbollah’s senior military leadership.
He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and has since held several significant military positions in the organization, including a senior role in operations in southern Lebanon and commanding Hezbollah's "Badr" unit on the southern front. In his roles, Qubaisi was responsible for planning and executing numerous terror attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.
Additionally, it was reported that Qubaisi, responsible for the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli soldiers in 2000 during a patrol on Har Dov, played a significant role in the events (See today’s history section for additional background information).
Within the next hour, after the targeted killing of Qubasi, 105 rockets targeted the North, particularly near Safed. Although nearly all the rockets were intercepted, one house was damaged.
The central question concerns Hezbollah’s capabilities. To date, the number of rockets fired simultaneously has been limited, and none have targeted the country's center. It is uncertain whether this is because too many rockets have been destroyed, the command and control system has been disrupted, or if Hezbollah is deliberately conserving its resources. It appears likely that their capacity has been diminished, but this remains unclear. In total, Hezbollah launched 300 rockets at Israel today; thankfully only four people were lightly wounded. This evening three Hezbollah drones attacked an Israeli base South of Haifa, one of them caused minor damage.
Israel continues to target Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities, focusing on both short-range missiles and medium-range missiles capable of aiming at Tel Aviv. While Hezbollah's infrastructure in Beirut remains untouched, and no rockets have struck Tel Aviv or Ben Gurion Airport, substantial progress has been reported. According to the IDF, 1,500 targets have been hit, including the destruction of 400 medium rocket launchers—approximately half of them. The current challenge lies in converting these military achievements into strategic or diplomatic gains. To this end, Netanyahu has appointed Minister Ron Dermer to explore ways to resolve the conflict in the North.
The ongoing issue remains that Hezbollah continued to state that it will not cease its activities without an end to the conflict in Gaza. Today, Gershon Baskin reported that Hamas has agreed, as part of the deal to end the war, to relinquish control of the government in Gaza, in favor of a technocratic government.
Iran has called on the Arab nations to support Hezbollah, implicitly indicating that it does not plan to intervene directly. In fact, Iran has informed Hezbollah that this is not an opportune time for it to provide assistance. The new Iranian government is currently seeking ways to negotiate a deal that would limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
BIDEN SPEECH TODAY AT THE UN
We are also working to bring a greater measure of peace and stability to the Middle East. The world must not flinch from the horrors of October 7th. Any country -- any country would have the right and responsibility to ensure that such an attack can never happen again.
Thousands of armed Hamas terrorists invaded a sovereign state, slaughtering and massacring more than 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, in their homes and at a music festival; despicable acts of sexual violence; 250 innocents taken hostage.
I’ve met with the families of those hostages. I’ve grieved with them. They’re going through hell.
Innocent civilians in Gaza are also going through hell. Thousands and thousands killed, including aid workers. Too many families dislocated, crowding into tents, facing a dire humanitarian situation. They didn’t ask for this war that Hamas started.
I put forward with Qatar and Egypt a ceasefire and hostage deal. It’s been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council. Now is the time for the parties to finalize its terms, bring the hostages home, ensure security for Israel, and Gaza free of Hamas’ grip, ease the suffering in Gaza, and end this war.
On October 7th -- (applause) -- since October 7, we have also been determined to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire region. Hezbollah, unprovoked, joined the October 7th attack launching rockets into Israel. Almost a year later, too many on each side of the Israeli-Lebanon border remain displaced.
Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest. Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely. And that’s what working -- that’s what we’re working tirelessly to achieve.
As we look ahead, we must also address the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank and set the conditions for a better future, including a two-state solution, where the world -- where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalized relations with all its neighbors, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own. (Applause.)
Progress toward peace will put us in a stronger position to deal with the ongoing threat posed by Iran. Together, we must deny oxygen to terrorists -- to its terrorist proxies, which have called for more October 7ths, and ensure that Iran will never, ever obtain a nuclear weapon.
JUSTICE MINISTER LEVIN VS. THE SUPREME COURT
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who was behind the initiative to reshape the powers of the High Court and has consistently denied any responsibility for the division in the country in the year leading up to the war, has persisted in his efforts to reform the system. Over the past year, Levin has refused to convene the committee responsible for appointing judges into session to select a new President of the High Court.
After being ordered by the High Court, Levin proceeded to call a meeting but nominated all the court members for the position of President. It’s important to note that the prevailing system has traditionally been for the most senior justice to become the President. This approach is designed to minimize political maneuvering within the court and ensure that decisions are made impartially.
Levin is not in favor of the next judge in line, Justice Amit. All the justices, except Justice Amit and Justice Elron have requested to withdraw their nominations, but Levin insists that these cannot be removed. Consequently, this will allow the public to critique each justice during the period allocated for public comment on the nominations. This approach by Levin, driven by his fixation on the High Court, is both childish and damaging, and it has proven costly for the country.
ANTISEMITISM ON THE RIGHT
A very compelling, worthwhile article by Yair Rosenberg titled, “The Anti-Semitic Revolution on the American Right” deserves attention. While the overtly public antisemitic actions on the left, especially in the form of demonstrations, have garnered much attention, the developments on the right are equally alarming and have largely occurred out of the public eye.
AIR TRAVEL
Due to the current situation, Iberia, Wizz Air, British Airways, Baltic Airlines, and LOT Polish Airlines have temporarily suspended flights to Israel.
BUSINESS
Torq
The cybersecurity company Torq, formerly known as StackPulse, has raised $70 million in its Series-C funding round, led by Evolution Equity Partners. The company’s valuation for this round is estimated at around $600-650 million, doubling its value since the last fundraising round.
The round included participation from investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners, Notable Capital, Greenfield Partners, and Strait Capital. Several prominent angel investors also contributed, including Gili Raanan, Assaf Rappaport, Nadir Izrael, Yevgeny Dibrov, Tomer Schwartz, and Erin Fisher Dibrov.
The current funding round follows an expansion of the Series-B round from January, which raised an additional $42 million, bringing the total capital raised by the company in 2024 to $112 million. In previous rounds, the company raised another $78.5 million, with participation from Evolution Equity Partners, Insight Partners, GGV Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Greenfield Partners, bringing the total funding to $190.5 million.
Torq has developed an AI-based system that enables semi-autonomous handling of cybersecurity alerts, reducing the effort required from human teams. Torq employs about 180 people in Israel and the U.S. and plans to recruit approximately 130 more in 2025, focusing primarily on product and development staff in Israel and significantly expanding its sales teams in the U.S., EMEA, and APAC regions.
Electreon
Electreon, a company specializing in dynamic wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles, provided an update this morning on the performance of two dynamic charging systems it is developing for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes and highways.
Electreon announced significant technological progress in these two strategic solutions, aimed at global markets, particularly for public transportation on BRT lanes and for electric highways. The company believes these solutions represent the forefront of technology in its field, further solidifying its position as a leader in dynamic wireless charging for electric vehicles.
Following its recent victory in the first tender in Norway for establishing an electric road (the Trondheim project), Electreon developed an advanced wireless charging solution for public transportation operating on dedicated routes with fixed paths. The company reported that this solution is being successfully implemented.
According to a report completed on September 22 by the company’s Nordic operations manager, the system’s performance significantly exceeded the original tender requirements.
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A PIECE OF HISTORY
A Day of Stark Contrasts: A Terrorist Released and Terror Strikes
On October 7 2000, three Israeli soldiers were kidnapped while on patrol along the Lebanese border. At first, it was believed they were alive. However, it eventually became clear that Benny Avraham, Adi Avitan, and Omar Suwaeid had been killed, and their bodies were being held by Hezbollah in Lebanon. That same year, Hezbollah captured Elhanan Tannenbaum, a former Israeli colonel and businessman, after he traveled to Dubai for a business deal involving drugs.
The Sharon government collaborated with the German government to negotiate the release of Tannenbaum and retrieval of the soldiers’ bodies. On January 29, 2004, an exchange was took place, in which 400 Palestinian prisoners and 36 prisoners of various nationalities were freed. Among the most notorious terrorists to be released was Samir Kuntar, a member of the Palestine Liberation Front. Kuntar had been imprisoned in Israel since 1979 due to his role in an attack on Nahariya. During the incident, Kuntar killed a police officer before breaking into an apartment where he kidnapped a father and his 4-year-old daughter. The attack ended with Kuntar killing both hostages.
The deal faced considerable criticism. However, according to Gilad Sharon, his father clearly did not share this view:
But not my father: as far as he was concerned the man could sit in an Israeli prison, if that was what he had coming to him, but not in captivity in the hands of terrorists. Without doubt Israel paid dearly to make this deal, but the arrangement was made in accordance with the policy my father had adhered to since his days as a young officer: we do not leave our people in enemy hands.
On the same day, a suicide bomber targeted a crowded bus on Gaza Street in Jerusalem during the morning rush hour, killing at least 10 people and injuring over 50. The explosion caused widespread chaos and devastation. The attack occurred near the official residence of the Israeli Prime Minister, underscoring the severity of the incident. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in retaliation for Israeli military operations.
Among the survivors was Adam Meisels, a 16-year-old student who had just boarded the bus moments before the explosion. Recounting his experience, he described the immediate aftermath of the bomb detonation: “It was like a big fireball in front of me,” Meisels recalled, visibly shaken by the intensity of the blast. He was on his way to school when the explosion occurred, sending glass and debris flying everywhere. “I was thrown back, and I felt pain in my hand. Then I realized I was bleeding,” he said, recounting the moment he realized he was injured. Despite his injuries, he managed to escape the bus through a broken window.
The bombing left Jerusalem in mourning, with many attending funerals for the victims in the days that followed. It further heightened the fear of public transportation, as buses had been targeted in a string of similar attacks. The attack was another reminder of the ongoing cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, leaving residents on edge and prompting calls for increased security measures.
