Day 95 of Gaza War: Israel Grieves Nine Fallen Soldiers, Escalating Battle in the North, Blinken's Visit
Tel Aviv Diary, January 9, 2023
Last night the rumors were rife of a major casualty event in Gaza. It was disclosed that there were multiple casualties, including the esteemed singer/actor Idan Amedi, renowned for his role in “Fauda.” Amedi had been serving in the Army reserves in the Engineering Corps, since October 7th.
I anticipated waking up to distressing news. Initially, the reports were disheartening, but not as grave as I had feared, as it was announced that four soldiers had lost their lives. However, the solemnity in the voices of the TV announcers suggested that even worse news was imminent. True enough, a short while later, it was confirmed that an additional five soldiers had fallen, bringing the total of soldiers killed overnight to nine. Among them, six soldiers from the IDF Engineering Corps tragically perished in an accidental explosion. [I will expand on the details shortly]. Three additional soldiers lost their lives during an encounter with Hamas terrorists in Khan Younis.
Tonight, along with millions of Israelis, I received news about the fallen soldiers. We saw their pictures and heard about their lives. Since October 7th, I observed and listened to the life stories of over 500 soldiers, viewed portions of numerous funerals, and witnessed interviews with hundreds of grieving family members. This does not even encompass the accounts of civilian casualties, or the pleas from family members of those taken hostage (95 days ago and counting).
Over the past three months, I have shed more tears than throughout my entire adult life. Why am I sharing all this now?
One of my subscribers, someone I know and went to school with in my youth, sent an email to me today, explaining that she has unsubscribed from Tel Aviv Diary. My former classmate pointed out that while I do an excellent job describing events in Israel, I seldom, if ever, address the suffering in Gaza. She is right. I have not written about the hardships experienced in Gaza.
I believe the U.S. media is doing an “excellent” job covering the view from Gaza. I regularly watch the PBS Newshour, and since the third or fourth day of the war, every single broadcast starts with a focus on the suffering in Gaza. There is ample news available about the misery faced by Palestinians.
Tonight, when Secretary Blinken was asked by Al Jazeera why the U.S. does not insist on a ceasefire, his response was, “None of this would have happened if Hamas had not taken action on October 7th, and it would end in a minute if Hamas would disarm and release the hostages.”
I know that many innocents in Gaza have died, and I am very sorry for any innocent deaths, but I am out of tears. I am out of sorrow. It’s someone else's sorrow. If there was a way to dismantle Hamas without any civilian casualties, we would certainly do it. But “Jewish space lasers” only exist in the minds of crazy conspiracy theorists. Regrettably, there is no other way. It is profoundly sad. It is horrible. That being said, I will save my tears for our soldiers who are dying protecting me and my family.
Now, regarding what transpired during the tragic, disastrous accident yesterday: There was a significant tunnel complex that contained machinery to manufacture rockets. The IDF Engineering Corps had been tasked with the elimination of the tunnel. They had placed all the charges, and the ground troops had cleared the area. However, the Engineering Corps was not quite ready to initiate the demolition when a tank, which was providing protection for the troops, identified a nearby threat.
The Tank Corps received clearance to engage the target and fired two shells. It appears that the trajectory of the second shell intersected with an electricity pole, causing the pole to fall and spark a fire. This fire ignited the detonating cord and the explosives stored in the Engineering Corps truck, as well as the explosives placed in the tunnel. The resulting explosion tragically claimed the lives of six combat engineers and left 14 others wounded.
Intense fighting continues in Khan Younis, as Israeli troops plunge ever deeper into the tunnels and passageways that lie beneath the city.
Here is what the Army spokesman reported:
Over the past day, the combat teams of the 98th Division have expanded their maneuvering in the depths of Khan Younis, carrying out attacks in which approximately 40 terrorists were eliminated. They discovered a wide variety of weapons and significant pits. Among the weapons found by the Paratroopers Brigade combat team were 12 Kalashnikov rifles, four loaded RPG launchers, dozens of grenades, magazines, and vests.
The combat team of the Kfir Brigade raided an abandoned building in Khan Younis and encountered an armed terrorist. The forces fired at the terrorist and eliminated him.
During an operation by the Golani Brigade combat team in the Al-Maghazi area, in the center of the Strip, with intelligence guidance, a force from Unit 636 identified terrorists from the Central Camps Brigade in the area. The forces directed an aircraft from the Air Force, which attacked and eliminated the cell.
Naval forces have attacked military positions, warehouses, and vessels over the past day, which were used by the naval force of the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip.
IN THE NORTH
The North was highly active today. Hezbollah sent eight separate drones to attack targets in the Galil region. In one wave, Hezbollah dispatched four drones targeting the IDF’s Northern Command Headquarters in Tz’fat. Two drones were successfully intercepted, however, two managed to breach our defenses. One of the two breaching drones failed to detonate, while the second exploded, causing minor damage. The fact that these drones penetrated our defenses is a cause for concern.
In response to the barrage of drones, Israel targeted and eliminated the head of Hezbollah's drone unit using an Israeli drone. According to foreign sources, over the past 10 days, Israel has also killed the Iranian liaison with Hezbollah in Damascus, the Deputy Head of Hezbollah's field forces, the Hamas leader in charge of rockets from Syria and now the head of Hezbollah's rocket forces, in addition to Hamas leader al-Arouri in Beirut. It remains unclear how Hezbollah will respond to these incidents.
BLINKEN RETURNS TO ISRAEL
Secretary Blinken visited and conducted meetings with Israel's War Cabinet. In addition, also held separate discussions with the War Cabinet’s key members. During these conversations, Blinken urged Israel to consider allowing Gazans to return to their homes in Northern Gaza — a proposal that Israel has rejected, unless a hostage deal is reached.
The Secretary also expressed concern regarding reports of hunger in Gaza, despite Israel consistently allowing sufficient food to enter to meet the population’s needs. Sadly, it appears Hamas may be obstructing the distribution of this aid. Blinken urged the unity government to remain united. Moreover, Blinken asserted that he believes a diplomatic solution can be found for the Lebanese border. The current situation, in which so many people have been forced from their homes, is untenable.
A reader asked if I think Blinken (or the Americans, generally ) are naive enough to believe that this is the moment for a Palestinian State. I truly don't know. I don’t believe so. There is certainly no one here who believes that a Palestinian State is a viable possibility in the near term. To further complicate our relations with the Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority announced today that they intend to pay the usual salaries to the Hamas terrorists who were caught on October 7th and after. Below is the readout of Secretary Blinken's meeting with Defense Minister Gallant.
Readouts from his other meetings were very similar.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Israel. The Secretary reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to ensure the attacks of October 7 cannot be repeated. Secretary Blinken and Defense Minister Gallant discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages and the need to significantly increase the levels of humanitarian assistance reaching civilians in Gaza. Secretary Blinken urged Israel to take all possible measures to avoid civilian harm, protect civilian infrastructure, and effectively deconflict Israeli operations to ensure the distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout all of Gaza. The Secretary also stressed the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading, including by avoiding escalation in Lebanon or the West Bank.
GAZA “JOURNALISTS”
Regarding my assertion about journalists in Gaza – specifically, that they are either members of or indebted to Hamas – here is a link to an interesting article. It references a comprehensive study indicating that many of the so-called journalists who were killed do not actually qualify as journalists.
https://david-collier.com/the-lie-about-palestinian-journalists/
BUSINESS
Air France has announced that it will resume service to Ben Gurion airport at the end of the month. Still no sign of the American carriers.
DigitalOwl, a startup specializing in automation for personal insurance, reported today that it completed a $12 million funding round in December, led by RGA, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies. DigitalOwl has developed technology for analyzing medical records to shorten the processing time for policy approvals and claims, and to prevent decision-making errors. The company scans and summarizes the file, organizes the insured's complete medical history in chronological order and identifies red flags.
I subscribed to this newsletter because I wanted to understand the Israeli point of view - because how could regular citizens let their government and military get away with what they are doing to the Palestinian people. I was hoping to find humanity. It’s become clear to me that not only do you get completely different news than we get on social media in other countries, but that you have also been brain washed to see Palestinian lives are worthless. As you have written so openly here. Because of course you have, yourve accepted this occupation by living in Israel. You accept the continuous oppression of the Palestinians. Do you see the videos of IOF soldiers running over Palestinian children in their vehicles? While they are still alive? Snipers murdering women and children holding up white flags? Making disgusting racist jokes while they blow up entire neighbourhoods? Desecrating graves? Urinating on Palestinian bodies? Nothing I have seen from Hamas is as brutal and full of hate as the actions of these so called brave soldiers. Don’t you wonder why thousands all over the world take to the streets every week calling for a ceasefire? Israel’s reputation amoungst those who were uneducated before is now completely changed. The flag of Israel has become synonymous with the far-right, facism and hate. And please, this has nothing to do with religion. You may have the support of governments in the west but the people will never ever forgive and they will never forget.
Very glad to hear that Idan Amedi's condition has improved and he will live.
I'm on your side RE reserving your tears for the Israelis who have been killed and injured portecting their fellow citizens. Completely understandable.