DAY 391 OF THE WAR: Rockets Kill Seven in the Galilee, Another Iranian Spy Ring Disclosed, Iran Threatens to Attack, Update on Humanitarian Aid To Gaza

Tel Aviv Diary, October 31, 2024

Sunday, November 3, 6 PM Israel Time • 4 PM GB • 11 AM EST • 8 AM PST.

It was yet another difficult day in Israel, this time due to rocket fire from Lebanon, which claimed seven lives. The initial deadly strike took place in an orchard, resulting in the death of Kibbutz Dafna member Omer Weinstein (46) and four foreign workers. Later in the day, additional rockets targeted the Haifa Bay area. Tragically, a 60-year-old woman and her 30-year-old son were killed in an open field while harvesting olives.

These tragic deaths occurred following several intense barrages in the North. Questions are being raised about the absence of the Iron Dome during these attacks. Regrettably, both sets of victims were in open areas, which are not protected by the Iron Dome system. As we have seen before, “open areas” do not necessarily mean “empty areas.”

Tonight, the IAF intercepted two drones launched from Iraq before they could enter Israeli airspace. An additional drone that was dispatched from Lebanon was  shot down tonight over the northern Israel.

Here is the statement issued by the IDF Spokesman regarding the attack in Syria:

In recent months, the IDF has been conducting strikes to reduce the transfer of weapons from Iran through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s Ammunition Unit is responsible for storing weapons within Lebanon and has recently expanded its activities into Syria, specifically in the village of Al-Qusayr near the Syria-Lebanon border. By doing so, Hezbollah is establishing a logistical infrastructure to facilitate the transfer of weapons from Syria to Lebanon through border crossings.

The attack on the weapons storage facilities is part of a broader effort to target the infrastructure of Unit 4400, the Hezbollah unit responsible for the transfer of weapons from Iran through Syria to Lebanon, as well as the targeting of several crossings along the Syria-Lebanon border in recent months. These crossings are used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons.

With the support of the Syrian regime, Hezbollah is endangering the safety of Syrian and Lebanese civilians by establishing headquarters and forces within civilian areas in these countries.

IRAN

There is a barrage of conflicting reports about the likelihood of a potential Iranian attack on Israel. Some reports suggest an attack could occur before the election, others contend only after the election. Predictions regarding the scope of the attack vary between a missile strike, or perhaps a large scale drone assault launched from Iraq. With these contradictory reports surfacing almost simultaneously, it’s dizzying—and becoming overwhelming for those of us trying to keep track.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR CEASEFIRE WITH HEZBOLLAH/LEBANON

President Biden’s envoys, Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Defense Minister Gallant to discuss a possible agreement in the North. There is cautious optimism regarding Hezbollah’s willingness to accept Israel’s terms. Concurrently, Israel continues to exert substantial pressure on Hezbollah

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Today, the Israeli Air Force struck a Hezbollah command center in Syria. In what was once a rare admission, but is now becoming a more routine occurrence, the IDF has acknowledged responsibility for this attack.

IDF OFFICER TRAINING COURSE GRADUATION

Today, at the conclusion of the IDF officer training course, Netanyahu delivered a speech to the graduates. Here is a portion of Netanyahu’s remarks:

I am not setting a deadline to end the war, but I am setting clear goals for victory in the war. The ‘War of Revival’ is entering its second year. It is filled with successes, but also with painful costs. I am setting clear objectives for victory in this war. We are determined to complete the elimination of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, to bring all hostages—both the living and the dead—home, to eliminate any future threat to Israel, and to return residents to their homes…

… All of this is part of our absolute victory doctrine that guides us—clearly, strategically, and correctly. We chose to first focus on the military crushing of Gaza. In doing so, we have already brought home more than half of the hostages. We are committed to bringing them all back, and even at this moment, we are working toward that goal…

… We are dealing with the octopus’s arms while at the same time striking at the octopus’s head—Iran…

We are reshaping the Middle East. But let it be clear—we are still in the eye of the storm. Great challenges lie ahead, and I do not underestimate our enemies at all…

… I deeply appreciate the support of the United States; when possible—I say yes, but when necessary—I say no.

Both IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Gallant spoke as well, stressing the need to return all of the hostages

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101 HOSTAGES

Hamas has stated its refusal to accept any partial agreements, insisting on a deal that would end the war completely. It seems that while the Army and all of Israel’s defense agencies favor concluding the war in Gaza— believing no further objectives can be achieved—Netanyahu does not appear inclined to end it. It pains me to say this, but unless Netanyahu is willing to end the war, we are unlikely to see the hostages returned. Moreover, the longer this conflict drags on, the slimmer the chances become that our hostages will be returned alive.

ANOTHER IRANIAN SPY RING

Another Iranian spy ring was revealed. A couple from Lod was arrested after being caught photographing various sensitive sites. Additionally, they were accused of tracking a researcher for I.N.S.S. (an academic think tank staffed by numerous former military officers) whom the Iranians allegedly intended to target. In a separate incident, a man from B’nei Brak, formerly a yeshiva student who had accrued significant gambling debts, was arrested for tailing an Israeli nuclear scientist.

HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA

Two days ago, I published a chart showing a significant decrease in aid to Gaza in October. Only a third of the average monthly aid reached Gaza that month. I reached out to COGAT (The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories), the Army organization responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, to understand why this has happened and received the following response:

The State of Israel is working to allow and facilitate the introduction of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. From July to October, efforts to allow and facilitate the consistent introduction of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip continued around the clock, with daily communication and close collaboration with the international community at both field and headquarters levels. Since the start of the war, 55,530 humanitarian aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip, despite challenges posed by the evolving conflict. This operation has faced significant difficulties, including repeated attempts by the terrorist organization Hamas to divert aid for its own use, obstructing its full delivery to the residents of Gaza.

At the beginning of October, truck passage through the crossings was suspended due to Israeli holidays, commemorations of the October 7 massacre, and security alerts, along with operational constraints that prevented reopening the crossings after Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). It’s important to note that even when the crossings were closed, container collection was still possible from the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing. Additionally, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has been continuously monitored to ensure that the supplies brought in before the onset of the military operation in northern Gaza can support the population’s humanitarian needs.

A decrease in the amount of aid received by international organizations was observed even after the crossings reopened. This reduction resulted from the organizations' own circumstances and was not due to any restrictions, despite the significant security challenges involved in delivering aid. Thus, despite COGAT's efforts, the contents of 650 aid trucks are awaiting collection by the UN on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is worth noting that COGAT facilitated the entry of dozens of empty trucks, expanded and repaired aid routes, and extended collection hours to enable the UN to collect the aid.

In light of these accumulating circumstances, and in addition to the efforts made with the partners to facilitate the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip while fighting, the State of Israel, through COGAT, is working closely with the international community to increase the number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip. Several concrete steps have been agreed upon and are expected to be implemented in the near future.

These steps include expanding the routes for transferring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and establishing additional pathways in coordination with the United Nations. This will enable the efficient transportation of goods from the Kerem Shalom crossing to various areas within the Gaza Strip, thereby facilitating the distribution of humanitarian aid. Currently, the organizations are working to establish the route, with completion anticipated within the coming week. This effort is further supported by extending operational hours to collect and distribute aid in collaboration with the United Nations. It is made possible by the announcement of humanitarian pauses in relevant areas.

We emphasize that Israel is willing, and is working to allow and facilitate the transfer of aid to the Gaza Strip subject to the operational situation and security checks. Israel will continue its efforts and act in accordance with international law to allow and facilitate the introduction of humanitarian aid.

President Bill Clinton Israel and the Palestinians

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

Palestinian-American journalist and current fellow at the Atlantic Council, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, posted the following remarks today:

Arab nations, led by Jordan and Egypt, made numerous terrible decisions that severely harmed the Palestinian people in the aftermath of the 1948 Nakba following the official establishment of the state of Israel. They prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, which were under Arab control. They stopped Palestinian nationalists from creating a Palestinian government, opting instead to enforce Jordanian and Egyptian administration and custodianship (aka Arab occupation) of Palestinian lands.

Most importantly, they failed to repatriate Palestinian refugees who were in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and elsewhere to the West Bank and Gaza. Back then, the population was smaller, and the lands didn't have Israeli settlers, meaning that the Palestinian Territories could have absorbed all who were displaced in 1948. The refugee issue could have been solved almost immediately after the Nakba.

UNRWA, while well-intentioned and intended to be temporary, bolstered these disastrous decisions by the Arab nations who wanted to kick the can down the road regarding Palestinians' right of return. This would be the first of many mistakes that the Palestinian people are still paying for dearly to this day.

BUSINESS

NextSilicon

NextSilicon, an Israeli chip startup founded by Elad Raz in 2017, has emerged from relative obscurity to announce $303 million in total funding and a valuation of $1.5 billion. The company has introduced its Maverick-2 chip, targeting the supercomputing market with potential future applications in AI, positioning itself as a direct competitor to industry giant Nvidia.

The company's founder, Elad Raz, brings an unconventional background to the semiconductor industry, coming from a programming rather than hardware engineering background. After selling his previous company to Mellanox for $10 million, his exposure to the supercomputing market led him to develop a unique approach combining hardware and software solutions, despite initial skepticism from investors.

NextSilicon strategically chose to focus on the high-performance computing market, which Raz identified as a $20 billion opportunity with fewer competitors compared to the crowded AI chip sector. NextSilicon has secured funding from notable investors including Amiti, Aleph, Liberty Technology VC, and others, with plans to eventually expand into AI applications while maintaining its initial focus on supercomputing solutions.

Elbit

Elbit Systems Ltd. has launched its next-generation soldier radio, the E-LynX™ SR, at the International Dismounted Soldier Conference in London. This new multi-channel radio is the latest addition to Elbit Systems' renowned and market-leading E-Lynx lineup of Mobile Tactical SDR Solutions.

E-LynX™ SR Elevates Combat Connectivity: The product is designed based on extensive field experience and accumulated knowledge. It is meticulously engineered to meet the needs of the soldier while supporting the broader forces that communicate and process transmitted data.

The E-LynX™ SR is a scalable, lightweight, and user-friendly tactical communication device, designed with the soldier in mind. It is the most advanced model ever produced by Elbit in the Soldiers Radio category. This device delivers enhanced connectivity and advanced networking capabilities by using multi-channel technology. With broad frequency compatibility and multi-channel functionality, the E-LynX™ SR is interoperable with existing E-LynX™ systems and recognizes equivalent networks, optimizing operational efficiency across all battlefield levels—from individual soldiers to entire units. E-LynX SR can operate in wide spectrum range with different bandwidth, enabling full supports of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) devices such as robotics and autonomous platforms, further enhancing the force's capabilities and effectiveness in modern combat environments.

Its compact, wearable design ensures comfort and accessibility, easily integrating into a soldier’s vest or harness for maximum portability and ease of use. Equipped with a headset, the body-worn device enables continuous communication, allowing voice, data, and video transmission with minimal handling. Equipped with advanced resilience and spectrum-sensing features, the E-LynX™ SR enables uninterrupted communication by neutralizing jamming threats, optimizing the use of available frequencies, and reducing interference, all without interrupting user operations. The system also supports connectivity to cellular networks (4G/5G) and satellite communication, providing flexible backhaul solutions and increased bandwidth as needed.

Mind

MIND, an Israeli startup in the Data Loss Prevention sector, has just secured $11 million in seed funding led by YL Ventures, with additional backing from prominent cybersecurity industry executives. The company's innovative platform leverages artificial intelligence through its MIND AI system, which incorporates hundreds of algorithms to automatically classify, protect, and remediate sensitive data risks.

Founded by Eran Barak (CEO), Itay Schwartz (CTO), and Hod Ben Nun (VP of Development), the company builds on Barak's previous success with Hexadite, which Microsoft acquired for $100 million. The company currently employs approximately 25 people, with two-thirds of its workforce based in Tel Aviv.

The startup's solution comes at a critical time when AI applications like ChatGPT are increasing the risk of sensitive data exposure within organizations. MIND's platform offers comprehensive protection for data at rest, in motion, and in use, employing full automation for DLP programs and internal risk management. According to CEO Eran Barak, the platform addresses the growing challenge of sensitive data leakage in the AI era by automatically implementing optimal prevention measures in real-time. YL Ventures partner Justin Somaini has praised MIND's approach as the most innovative solution to contemporary data leakage challenges, highlighting the company's potential to lead the DLP field and combat emerging cyber threats.

Puls

Super, an American insurance company specializing in home systems and electrical products, has acquired the Israeli startup Puls in a stock-based transaction valued between $50-100 million, with the final valuation contingent on meeting specific targets. Founded in 2015 by Israelis Itai Hirsch and Eyal Ronen, Puls initially operated as an Uber-style platform connecting customers with home repair technicians across 40 U.S. cities. Despite raising approximately $100 million from prominent investors including Sequoia, Viola, Red Dot, and Temasek, the company faced significant challenges that led to the founders' departure and brought it to the brink of closure in early 2021.

Puls' turnaround began when COO Gabi Peles stepped in as CEO, securing a $15 million investment from Hanaco Ventures that effectively reset the company's ownership structure. Under Peles's leadership, Puls transformed its business model from a purely transaction-based service to include five-year insurance policies for household products, creating a recurring revenue stream. This strategic pivot, combined with new partnerships with property managers for direct tenant referrals, helped address the company's previous challenges of high customer acquisition costs and unsustainable economics, where they were spending $80 in marketing to acquire customers who only generated $60 in revenue. Today, Puls operates with approximately 40 employees and generates a quarter of its revenue from subscriptions, with 8,000 registered technicians on its platform.

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A PIECE OF HISTORY

Rocket Barrages and Terror Attacks

2007 ended and 2008 began with constant rocket fire from Gaza, primarily targeting Sderot, but by the end of 2007, also reaching Ashkelon. These attacks prompted further Israeli military responses in Gaza, which often resulted in Palestinian civilian casualties. Hamas effectively leveraged these incidents, especially through Al Jazeera, to attempt to shift global opinion against Israel.

After a year devoid of suicide bombings, on February 4, two suicide bombers attacked a shopping center in Dimona. One bomber succeeded in killing one individual and injuring eight others. The second bomber was apprehended before he could detonate his explosive belt.

On Thursday, March 6, 2008, a tragic incident unfolded at Yeshivat Merkaz Harav, when a gunman attacked students during their evening study session. At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, the attacker, identified as Ala Abu Dhaim, stormed into the yeshiva, a cornerstone institution for the religious Zionist community and a symbol of the national religious movement. Founded in 1924 by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the yeshiva promotes the ideology of reclaiming the land of Israel, and its students are considered the ideological backbone of the settler movement.

Armed with a Kalashnikov rifle and a pistol, Abu Dhaim murdered two people at the entrance before making his way to the first-floor library, where approximately 80 students were studying. There, he unleashed a torrent of gunfire, killing eight young men aged 15 to 26 and injuring at least nine others, three critically. Witnesses described the horror as the attacker moved through the library, “spraying” gunfire indiscriminately. Yitzhak Dadon, a part-time student, recounted that he shot the gunman twice in the head, although the police later clarified that an army officer passing by ultimately killed the attacker with assistance from undercover police officers in the vicinity.

The scene inside the yeshiva was one of devastation. Avi Katz, a volunteer from “Zaka”, (a medical organization responsible for collecting body parts for burial), described the harrowing sight of bodies strewn across the library floor, mixed with sacred Jewish texts. “I’ve seen terrorist acts before, but never like this,” Katz said, visibly shaken. He and a colleague attempted to save a wounded student until paramedics arrived. “They were shot one by one,” he reflected, underscoring the brutality of the attack.

While some Palestinians celebrated, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a standard condemnation of violence against civilians.

On Friday morning, the bodies of the victims were brought to the yeshiva for a final farewell before proceeding to burial sites within and outside Jerusalem. Rabbi Nachum Levy, a teacher at the yeshiva, expressed his frustration with the government’s response to such threats of violence and murder, calling for a firmer hand in dealing with violence “everywhere—in Gaza, the North, and within Israel.”

The Yeshivat Merkaz Harav attack came amidst a turbulent day in Israel. Earlier that Thursday morning, a roadside bomb along the Gaza border claimed the life of a Bedouin soldier, an IDF tracker from a village in the Negev, and severely wounded another. Additionally, eight rockets fired from Gaza struck southern Israel, with one landing directly on a house in Sderot, injuring four. These events renewed security fears and raised questions about how to address the persistent threats faced by Israelis in the country’s most vulnerable areas.