Israel's Darkest Day

Tel Aviv Diary October 7, 2023

Today marks the celebration of Simchat Torah in Israel. Just yesterday, a prevailing question was whether there would be a second round of Torah dancing in Tel Aviv tonight—and if so, would it be co-ed. However, this evening, the streets of Tel Aviv are deserted. Bars and restaurants are shuttered. Throughout the day, many regular citizens donned uniforms and joined the tens of thousands called to reserve duty.

I woke up early, and headed out on a brief walk. Mere blocks from my apartment, I was jolted by two abrupt booms. Their origin was initially ambiguous, but the distant wail of air raid sirens soon clarified the situation: an attack was in progress. This was the onset of the war. I sprinted home.

In the subsequent three hours, over 2,000 rockets targeted various Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheva. These assaults acted as a smokescreen for a multifaceted ground offensive Hamas mounted against settlements and military bases. Israel was taken wholly off-guard. Hamas militants breached parts of the border fence, while others infiltrated Israel’s airspace using gliders.

Despite Israel's advanced defense mechanisms, the militants successfully stormed the IDF’s Gaza Battalion headquarters. The assailants overwhelmed 22 kibbutzim and towns, resorting to house-to-house armed attacks, executing numerous residents, and abducting others. Throughout this ordeal, repeated desperate pleas for military assistance echoed from besieged kibbutz members.

At the same time, militants seized a police station in Sderot, executing civilians in broad daylight. A comparable tragedy unfolded in Ofakim, where a family was taken hostage. In a nearby forest, a vast desert nature celebration was underway. This became another target for the Hamas attackers.

Throughout the day, Israeli reservists were mobilized, with thousands, especially from elite units, all rushing to the area surrounding Gaza. By the evening, control had been re-established over most areas, but fighting persisted, including a hostage situation in Kibbutz Be’eri and the siege of the S’derot police station. Rocket strikes continued into the night, some evading the Iron Dome, wreaking havoc in the Tel Aviv region. Current reports cite 250 fatalities and 1,500 injuries, with a large number of hostages. As of this writing (11 PM on October 7th, 2023), the full extent of what took place today is still unknown. All of these numbers are tragically expected to climb.

This heartbreaking day is poised to be remembered as Israel's bleakest. The colossal intelligence lapse preceding this day surpasses even that of the Yom Kippur War era. Despite a 2 billion shekel investment, the Gaza fence failed to thwart the massive Hamas incursion. Furthermore, the previously held belief that collaboration and concessions with Hamas could secure peace has been shattered.

As the crisis unfolds, the nation stands united. Those who previously criticized the government have now rejoined the ranks of the army and Air Force. Leaders like Gantz and Lapid have proposed a wartime coalition, but Netanyahu's stance remains uncertain

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The situation is grim. A comprehensive ground operation targeting Hamas seems imminent. Hamas’ savage declaration of war leaves Israel with no alternative but to respond vigorously. The presence of hostages further complicates matters. The impending conflict will likely be prolonged and costly.