GAZA WAR DAY 116: Hostage Deal? Water in the Tunnels, Jenin, Lebanon, Blocking Aid to Gaza

THE HOSTAGE DEAL: FIRST STEPS

Today, the main story in Israel is the potential agreement for the release of hostages. This topic has been all over the news, but only today has it seemed more than mere speculation. There now appears to be a genuine possibility to make a deal, albeit only a possibility. The current discussion is focused on the first phase, which would involve a significant reduction in hostilities. In exchange, the sick, elderly, and women would be released. In return, a certain number of prisoners held in Israeli jails would be freed, although the exact number is unclear. Foreign media reports suggest around 2,000 prisoners in the first stage.

At this moment, right-wing elements of the government, namely Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, have stated their intent to bring down the coalition if terrorists with blood on their hands are released. They also threaten to topple the government if Israel’s military action in Gaza is halted. As a result of these threats, Netanyahu delivered a speech today asserting that Israel will not cease fighting in Gaza until achieving complete victory over Hamas and will not release thousands of prisoners. As usual, Netanyahu seems to be telling different people different things: on the one hand,  Netanyahu allowed negotiators to potentially consider an agreement that would allow the release of a significant numbers of prisoners; on the other hand, this same Netanyahu, in speaking to the right-wing audiences declares that such releases will not happen.

AN IMPOSSIBLE MORAL DILLEMMA

The discussion about a potential agreement with Hamas might be academic, as it is unclear whether they will accept the current plan.  Until now, Hamas's stance has been that no plan is acceptable unless it includes a complete end to the war with Hamas remaining in power. This presents an impossible moral dilemma.  On one side, there is the argument that the hostages’ lives are in immediate danger, and an agreement must be reached at any cost since they became hostages only because of a government's failure to protect its citizens. On the other hand, there is the question about the lives of all the soldiers who have fought and died in Gaza. Will their sacrifice be for naught? If Israel pulls out now, with Hamas still in power, we will have accomplished little but the physical destruction of large swaths of Gaza.  And, if we do pull out with Hamas still in power, and release large numbers of terrorists, it will be clear that Hamas has defeated Israel. 

GAZA

The majority of the fighting continues above and below ground in Khan Younis. The IDF destroyed the launcher that fired rockets at central Israel yesterday.

There is still hope that the leadership of Hamas or some of the hostages may yet be found in the tunnels under Khan Yunis. I have said for a few weeks that in all likelihood, both groups are now situated under Rafah, not under Khan Younis. However, I hope I am wrong and that one morning we will wake up to good news instead of more bad news regarding the search for Hamas leadership and the hostages. Unfortunately, I already know that tomorrow morning we will wake to the announcement of a death of some soldiers.

The IDF has now officially confirmed that it is using a water system to flood the tunnels. This information had been reported in the foreign press, but this is the first official confirmation by the IDF. Military correspondents were shown the water system in action. According to the army, it works and has successfully forced terrorists out of the tunnels. However, it has not been a game-changer; it's just one of the tools being used by the army.

LEBANON

It was mostly a quiet day in the North, with the usual rockets fired from time to time. The very nasty weather is playing a part in the relative quiet. Hezbollah's most effective weapon is a long-range anti-tank missile. However, it is a line-of-sight weapon, and in the current weather, that weapon is less effective. Tonight, three rockets were fired from Syria; they landed in open fields on the Golan Heights. At almost the same time, two anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon at Metula.

JENIN

The IDF and the police undertook an undercover mission inside a hospital in Jenin, which was being used as a base by terrorists planning an attack in the coming days on either a Jewish settlement in the area or an army base. Israeli forces, dressed as doctors and nurses, entered the hospital. They went directly to the room the terrorists were using and killed them. The operation was completed in ten minutes. None of the Israeli forces, hospital staff, or patients were wounded in the action.

BLOCKING AID TO GAZA

Protesters continued to try to block the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza at Kerem Shalom, but they were unsuccessful. There is a strange disconnect that does not only apply to these protesters but to others as well. When told that the reason we are allowing the aid into Gaza is because the US insists, they shrug and say we don't have to do what the US wants. Despite the facts that became even clearer in this war – that we are dependent on the US not only politically but also for receiving arms – some people, particularly on the right, seem to think we don't need the US and that we are independent. If only that were so.

REFORM IN PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

The Palestinian Authority has announced significant reforms. They include educational reforms to remove the incitement against Israel, judicial reforms to make the courts more transparent, and even some changes regarding the current policy of paying money to terrorist families. I am skeptical but hopeful that these changes can occur.

BUSINESS

Israeli travel-tech startup Duve announced Monday an internal Israeli acquisition of Easyway, a company operating in similar fields. Both companies specialize in managing the customer experience of tourism companies with their guests. The details of the acquisition deal were not disclosed and it is considered a relatively small transaction.

The acquired company, Easyway, attempted to raise additional funding in recent months, but the effort was less than successful, with only about $7 million raised,  leading to the sale. Following the sale, two of the founders - CEO Roy Friedman and CTO Assaf Ofer - will be leaving the company; only a small portion of Easyway's approximately 25 employees will transition to Duve.

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