DAY 51 OF THE GAZA WAR:More Hostages Released;Optimism Ceasefire Can Be Extended and More Hostages Released. Houthis Seize Israeli Owned Ship, US Forces Reportedly Free It.

Tel Aviv Diary, November 26, 2023

Today was a better day than yesterday — when Hamas made us wait until almost midnight to see if they would actually release the hostages. In contrast, the hostages scheduled for release today were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas at the originally agreed upon time. By 7:00 PM tonight, all of the hostages who were expected to return today arrived back in Israel. Throughout the night, intensive negotiations were conducted to explore the potential extension of the ceasefire, which would, in exchange, include the continuation of the hostage release.

The hostages who returned today are: Chen Almog-Goldstein (48), and her three children, Agam (17), Gal (11), and Tal (9); sisters Ela (8) and Dafna (15) Elyakim; Yhe Brodutch family: Hagar (40), Ofri (10), Yuval (8), and Uriah (4); Avigail (3) Idan; Elma Avraham (84); and Aviva Siegel (64)

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Ron Krivoi, a 25-year-old Russian-Israeli dual national, was also released by Hamas as a goodwill gesture to Vladmir Putin.

Elma Avraham was helicoptered directly to the hospital in critical condition. Tonight, the hospital stated that her life was in endangered by Hamas, as Avraham was not given the critical medicine she has been taking regularly

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A personal comment: On October 14th, a week after the massacre, I heard that a father whose family had been kidnapped was standing in front of the Defense Ministry demanding they do something to bring back his family. His name was Avihai Brodutch, and his wife and three children had been taken hostage in Gaza. Brodutch was there with his dog, sharing his story with anyone who would listen. At first, there were just a handful of us there by his side. Later, hundreds arrived. It was exceptionally difficult talking to him. What could I say? What comfort could I possibly give him? However, his one man’s protest gained traction, and soon there were dozens of families protesting. This one man sitting in front of the Ministry of Defense turned into a national movement to return the hostages. Tonight, Brodutch’s family came home. After 51 days, his wife and three children were finally released by Hamas.

See picture of the reunited family

President Biden called the family of Avigayil Idan, the three-year-old who was orphaned by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, and whose story had captured the President’s imagination.

After today’s release, 177 hostages remain held by Hamas: 18 children (8 girls and 10 boys); 43 women (including nine aged over 60), and 116 men (including 16 aged over 60).

Tonight, Hamas has indicated it is willing to extend the ceasefire for an extra two or three days. Despite earlier reports by Hamas that they did not know where additional women and children were located inside Gaza, apparently they do now know how to find them. Reports tonight suggested that Islamic Jihad had turned over the women and children under its control to Hamas. We do not know whether or not this is true.

The Israeli war cabinet met this evening and let it be known that if Hamas is able and willing to release 10 hostages a day, Israel will be willing to extend the ceasefire, accordingly. Hamas is clearly hoping it can find a way to slowly release all the hostages, and then remain in power. Hamas hopes that the pressure on Israel from the world will stop Israel from restarting the war. They are only half right.

There is no question that the issue of hostages as a bargaining chip hits at Israel’s soft underbelly. We are undoubtedly willing to go far to get our hostages back. However, the profound desire to bring home all the hostages does not in any way decrease Israel’s determination to resume the warfare until Hamas is destroyed. After the October 7th massacre, I believe Israel will do everything in its power to dismantle Hamas, regardless of the level of international pressure exerted on the country. 90% of the public supports paying whatever price is required to destroy Hamas, certainly after the hostages are released.

One possible scenario I envision is that when it becomes apparent we are close to eliminating the remnants of the Hamas leadership (as we have successfully killed many of their senior leaders), we might consider allowing the remaining leadership to leave the Gaza Strip for a location overseas, in exchange for the safe return of the hostages still in captivity.

It should be noted that the ceasefire has been fully observed both in the North, as well as in Gaza. However, the Houthis continue to cause problems. Today, Houthis seized another ship owned by an Israeli industrialist. A report emerged of another Houthi attempt to capture an additional ship, but the US Navy successfully intervened to prevent seizure of this vessel.

Israel cannot allow the sea lanes to be closed. This evening a number of Arab media sites reported that US forces landed on the ship, freed the crew, and arrested the Houthis pirates who had seized the vessel. According to reports, there were no casualties caused during the operation.  This is a very important development.

Tomorrow, the Israeli government plans to approve the updated budget. Despite efforts to halt the process, the coalition plans to proceed with the transfer of funds that were agreed upon as part of their original coalition agreements. The special designated coalition fund includes an additional NIS 1.7 billion for ultra-Orthodox schools that don’t teach core subjects, as well as, an additional NIS 89 million to strengthen Jewish identity; NIS 294 million for settlements; and NIS 40 million for Torah groups.

Former Defense Minister Gantz has said his cabinet ministers will vote against the budget and has threatened to leave the government. However, as long as the war continues, they will remain. So, despite promises made by Smotritch and others that only funds for the war effort will be approved, they lied. The government intends to move forward with budget disbursements as per the agreements established in special coalition arrangements— which have nothing to do with the funding the war, or the rebuilding of the country, in its aftermath.