DAY 345 OF THE WAR: Israel Confirms 3 Hostages Tragically Killed in November Airstrike, Houthis Fire Ballistic Missile at Central Israel, Inflation Increases in Israel

Tel Aviv Diary, September 15, 2024

Earlier today, the Army released a final report concluding that an investigation found Hamas-held hostages Sgt. Ron Sherman, Cpl. Nik Beizer and civilian Elia Toledano were likely killed as an unintended consequence of an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The precise cause of their deaths, however, remains uncertain. IDF forces recovered the bodies on December 15th, 2023; however, until now, the cause of death has not been officially declared.

On November 10, 2023, the IDF conducted an airstrike near the location where the bodies were later discovered. The target was Ahmed Ghandour, commander of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade, who was believed to be hiding in a tunnel in Jabaliya. The IDF stated that “the investigation’s findings indicate with high probability that the three were killed as a result of the IDF airstrike during the operation to assassinate Ghandour.”

HOUTHI BALLISTIC MISSILE TARGET CENTRAL ISRAEL

This morning, sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv suburbs and Modi’in, as an incoming missile approached. A surface-to-surface ballistic missile by the Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen targeted Central Israel. The IDF attempted to intercept the missile using the Arrow defense system and the Iron Dome. Although the missile was intercepted, the warhead was not destroyed and landed near Highway 1.

Shrapnel from the missile and the interceptors fell in open areas near the Ben Shemen forest, southeast of Ben Gurion Airport, igniting a fire. The missile, reportedly reaching hypersonic speeds, crossed into Israeli airspace just 11 minutes after its launch. This prompted sirens to blare across central Israel at 6:32 a.m., following the missile's launch from Yemen at 6:21 a.m.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the hypersonic missile was aimed at a military target near Tel Aviv. In a televised statement, Saree boasted that the missile successfully bypassed Israeli and American defense systems, causing widespread "fear and panic" across Israel. Contrary to Saree's claims, according to the IDF, the missile was not hypersonic. The Air Force acknowledged its failure to destroy the missile and is currently investigating the reasons behind this failure. It remains unclear why the missile was not intercepted further from Israel's borders.

IN THE NORTH

It was another day of near-constant attacks in the North, with Israeli planes conducting counterattacks on Hezbollah targets. Last night, IAF aircraft struck deep into Lebanon.

GAZA

The Air Force targeted another school in Gaza that was being utilized as a command post by Hamas. Prior to the attack, the Army had called on residents of the area to evacuate.

Here’s the statement issued by the Army regarding the air strike:

Air Force fighter jets recently carried out a targeted strike, guided by intelligence from Military Intelligence, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, on a Hamas command and control complex that was established in the area that previously served as the 'Aghazi Al-Shawa' school in Beit Hanoun.

Militants used the command and control complex as a hiding place and a staging area for launching anti-tank missiles at IDF forces and Israel in recent weeks. Numerous measures were taken prior to the attack to minimize the risk of civilian casualties, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.

The Hamas terror organization systematically violates international law, cruelly exploiting civilian institutions and the population as human shields for its terrorist activities. The IDF will continue to act with strength and determination against terror organizations that use schools and civilian institutions for shelter.

ECONOMY

The Consumer Price Index jumped by 0.9% in August. This is a sharp increase, as the initial forecasts predicted a rise of only 0.5%. Due to the high August index, inflation in Israel (the increase in the index over the last 12 months) now stands at 3.6%.

This means that the annual rate of price increases, which reached 3.2% in July and exceeded the upper limit of the Bank of Israel’s target range (1%-3%), is now accelerating to 3.6%. With such a rapid pace of price increases, the likelihood of a rate cut is becoming more distant, especially with the expected 1% VAT increase approaching in 2025. There is concern that the economy is out of control. The high inflation rate is unlikely to be impacted by the continued high interest rates.

Apple vs. NSO

Apple has asked a U.S. court to dismiss the lawsuit it filed three years ago against the offensive Israeli cyber company NSO Group. According to Apple, it will not be able to obtain the vital information necessary for the lawsuit regarding the use of Pegasus spyware to hack its users, and the lawsuit might further expose more information about Apple to NSO.

At the end of 2021, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO in California, claiming that it is a company of 'amoral mercenaries of the 21st century' whose tools encourage 'blatant and frequent violations.' Apple argues that NSO 'hid behind its anonymous clients and committed numerous violations of federal and state laws' through the use of tools that harmed Apple users, according to the lawsuit.”

INTERNATIONAL DRONE MARKET

From 1995 to 2023, the military drone market experienced significant growth, with distinct trends emerging across different sectors. Israel established itself as the leader in loitering munitions, while Turkey rapidly rose to dominance in attack drones despite only entering the market in 2018. Over the course of the last nearly three decades, Turkey's delivery of 48 shipments of suicide drones outpaced other significant players like China (34), the US (12), Iran (8), and Israel (6).

The United Kingdom emerged as the largest buyer of UAVs, with 9 deliveries, followed by Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, with 7 each. Recent conflicts played a crucial role in driving demand, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, which showcased the effectiveness of Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drones, which were sold to Ukraine. This conflict, along with others such as the Libyan civil war and the second Karabakh war in 2020, contributed to a sharp increase in drone sales.

The market peaked in 2022 with 98 transfers, a significant jump from just 27 in 2012, before slightly declining to 56 in 2023. This trend underscores the growing importance of military drones in modern warfare and the shifting dynamics of the global defense industry.

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A PIECE OF HISTORY

Cafe Hillel Bombing

The Café Hillel bombing in Jerusalem was one of the most significant suicide attacks of the Second Intifada. While many attacks that year resulted in numerous casualties, the bombing at Café Hillel on September 9, 2003, stands out, not just for the lives lost but also for the personal stories of those impacted. This attack was especially heartbreaking as it occurred on the heels of another lethal suicide bombing in Israel.

The Café Hillel bombing was perpetrated by a Hamas suicide bomber, who detonated his explosive vest inside the popular café in the German Colony neighborhood of Jerusalem. The attack claimed the lives of seven people, including Dr. David Appelbaum, a prominent Israeli emergency room doctor, and his 20-year-old daughter Nava, who was set to be married the following day. The timing of their deaths, on the eve of a major family celebration, highlighted the deeply personal impact of the conflict. Additionally, the attack injured over 50 others, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the violence.

This bombing occurred just hours after another suicide bombing on a bus in Rishon LeZion near the Tzrifim base, which claimed six lives. The back-to-back attacks left Israel reeling, emphasizing the risks civilians faced in public areas such as cafés and buses—frequent targets for militants. Café Hillel was a popular spot among both locals and tourists. It was not just a community hub but also a vibrant part of Jerusalem's social and cultural scene. Café Hillel became a powerful symbol of the personal and collective grief experienced during this turbulent period.

The Café Hillel attack exemplified Hamas's strategy during the Second Intifada, where suicide bombings were used to inflict maximum damage on civilian populations and undermine Israel's sense of security. The Israeli government responded to such attacks with heightened military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, seeking to dismantle militant networks and prevent future attacks. However, the psychological scars left by these bombings, especially those that occurred in quick succession, continued to shape Israeli public life and policy.

While many other bombings occurred throughout 2003, including the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station bombing and the Maxim Restaurant bombing in Haifa, the Café Hillel attack remains etched in the public's memory.