DAY 72 OF THE GAZA WAR: Too Many Unanswered Questions, Huge Tunnel Unveiled. Israelis Oppose Resettling Gaza, 60% 0f 18-24 Year Olds in US Think October 7th Massacre Justified
Tel Aviv Diary, December 17, 2023
The tragic events that took place on Friday continue to reverberate. Numerous obvious questions remain unanswered. Primarily, why did the IDF not investigate the building where the hostages had placed a sign that had been sighted two days prior? Even if there was suspicion the location had been set up to orchestrate an ambush on Israeli troops, why wasn't a robot or some other method of investigation employed? Furthermore, it is utterly perplexing why troops would fire upon individuals who were unarmed, shirtless, with their hands raised. Moreover, it is tremendously troubling that several soldiers fired a second time, even after a commander had ordered them to cease fire
.
It is important to note that the soldiers involved in Friday’s fatal hostage shooting were from a unit comprised of students from a squad commander course. These soldiers, often standouts in basic training, had not been in the army for long and possess limited experience. To complicate matters further, these soldiers have been engaged in continuous combat longer than any group of soldiers, during any other time in Israel's history. While visiting troops in Gaza, the Army Chief of Staff, Hertzi HaLevy emphasized that even if the individuals were Palestinians with their hands raised, they should not have been fired upon. The Army's policy is clear — the IDF does not fire on unarmed individuals. HaLevy urged soldiers to always wait and think before shooting
.
In Gaza today, fighting continued at all three central locations, with the heaviest conflicts in the cities of Khan Younis and Shuja’iyya. In contrast, Jabaliya seemed to be under greater control.
The Army announced the deaths of three more soldiers today in Gaza.
Yesterday, a Hamas tunnel that is five kilometers long, and wide enough for vehicles to drive through, was revealed by IDF Forces. The newly discovered underground tunnel ends 400 meters from the Israeli border at the Erez crossing. This massive concrete-encased tunnel is a significant engineering feat and the most alarming prospect is that Israeli intelligence had been previously unaware of this tunnel’s existence.
HOSTAGES
Relatives of the hostages have established a permanent encampment at the entrance of the Defense Ministry. There are talks about resumption of negotiations over release of the remaining hostages. However, these discussions seem futile, as Hamas has stated they are only willing to negotiate after a final ceasefire is in place — meaning, Hamas will only agree to release the hostages if Israel ends the war; a condition Israel is unlikely to accept.
NORTHERN BORDER
There are reports from Syria that Israel launched an attack in the Damascus area tonight.
Today was quieter than yesterday on the Lebanese border, but here’s what happened:
9:35 Anti-tank fire towards Sasa. A hit was identified in the kibbutz auditorium.
No physical injuries.
10:30 Anti-tank fire in the area of Mount Adir in the Sasa sector,
no property damage or physical injuries.
14:25 - Anti-tank fire towards the Moshav Dovav.
No property damage or physical injuries.
15:27 Anti-tank fire on an IDF outpost in the Avivim area.
No property damage or physical injuries.
15:30 Rocket fire towards the Margaliot sector.
Falls were identified in open areas. No property damage or physical injuries.
16:02 Anti-tank fire on an IDF outpost in the Avivim area.
No property damage or physical injuries.
16:22 Mortar fire towards an IDF outpost on Mount Dov.
Falls were identified in open areas. No property damage or physical injuries.”
AUSTIN & BROWN, ON NEXT STEPS
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, John Q. Brown Jr., have arrived in Israel to discuss the ongoing war and future developments. The primary focus of their discussions is not so much on Gaza, but rather on how to address the situation in Lebanon and the issue of the Houthis. As I mentioned yesterday, it is expected that Austin will announce the creation of a Multinational Force to protect international shipping routes. This force might include Australian, and even Japanese, ships.
RECENT POLLS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF GAZA & THE WAR
Two recent polls, one focusing on Israeli views and the other on American perspectives, offer insights into opinions on current key issues. Conducted by researchers from Hebrew University on December 7th to 9th, the Israeli poll reveals varied opinions regarding the future of Gaza. A majority of Israelis (56%) oppose annexing and resettling Gaza, while one-third (33%) are in favor, and a minority (11%) are undecided.
When considering governance options for Gaza, opinions are diverse: 23% of Israelis favor oversight by moderate Arab countries, 22% support Israeli military rule, and 18% each back control by an international force or annexation by Israel. Additionally, 7% are in favor of elections in Gaza, while 11% support control by the Palestinian Authority.
In the context of humanitarian aid during the conflict with Hamas, 40% of Israelis oppose allowing aid into Gaza (unless and until all of the hostages are released), whereas 37% support providing aid, and 23% remain undecided.
Regarding hostages, a majority of Israelis (57%) favor reaching an agreement for their release, with 41% endorse the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, and 16% suggest a reduction in IDF military actions. Conversely, 23% oppose negotiations for hostage release, and 20% are undecided.
US Poll by Harvard Caps, conducted December 13-14.
The report from Harvard conducted by Harris, which I have included, features a series of charts detailing all relevant responses. Of greatest concern, is the fact that 66% of respondents aged 18-24 years believe that the Hamas attacks were genocidal. Nevertheless, 60% of that age group thinks it was justified by the grievances of the Palestinians. It is imperative that we devise a strategy to connect with this group.
