REVISED DAY 340 OF THE WAR: IDF Actions in Gaza and the North, Father of Hostage Berates Netanyahu, Israeli VC Funds Raise the Lowest New Capital Since 2015

Tel Aviv Diary, September 10, 2024

I am resending this diary since something happened in the publishing process that added many random characters at the last minute. I apologize for that.

THE NORTH

The last days have seen severe fighting in the North. The IDF eliminated a significant Hezbollah member.  Three soldiers were lightly wounded by a drone on Monday. Today, a drone flew over the Galilee for 20 minutes before crashing. There were six rocket and drone barrages on both days.

Meanwhile, the recently appointed Project Director for the North, who took office last month and then went on vacation, presented a plan yesterday suggesting that not all residents would return to the North. His plan faced widespread criticism, and there are rumors that he might resign.

GAZA

Last night, all the notifications from Hamas reported that 40 people were Israel killed during an Israeli attack on the humanitarian zone. Today, however, only 17 bodies arrived at the hospital in Gaza, and it’s not clear whether any of the casualties were civilians. One report indicated that Hamas attributed the large discrepancy in casualty figures to the intensity of the IDF strike, claiming it was so severe that additional bodies were incinerated.

Here is the report issued by the IDF Spokesman regarding recent Army operations in Gaza:

During the night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a targeted strike based on intelligence against several senior Hamas operatives operating from a command and control center concealed within a humanitarian area in Khan Younis. Among those targeted was Samer Ismail Khader Abu-Dakka, head of Hamas's aerial division in Gaza.

Additionally, Osama Tabash, head of Hamas's observation and targeting department within its military intelligence, and Ayman Mahbouh, another senior Hamas operative, were also struck. These operatives were directly involved in the October 7th massacre and had been orchestrating further terror activities against the IDF and Israel in recent weeks.

Before the strike, extensive intelligence gathering and continuous aerial surveillance were conducted to confirm the presence of the operatives and other militants in the area.

The IDF emphasized that the figures published by Hamas's Gaza information office, known for disseminating false reports, do not align with the precise intelligence and weapons used in the operation. Despite IDF efforts to safeguard civilians by defining humanitarian zones, Hamas continues to embed its military personnel and infrastructure in these areas, systematically using civilians as human shields.

In a separate operation, the IDF reported eliminating Hamas’s Rafah Brigade Commander. Here’s the statement released by the IDF Spokesman regarding the operation:

In a joint operation between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet, fighters from the 401st Brigade identified several terrorist cells using drones. The forces directed airstrikes carried out by Israeli Air Force aircraft, which eliminated the militants. Among those killed were Mahmoud Hamdan, commander of the "Tel Sultan" battalion, and three additional company commanders from the battalion.

The operation and subsequent airstrikes neutralized the command chain of the "Tel Sultan" battalion and many other militants from the unit. Mahmoud Hamdan played a significant role in planning the October 7 raid into Israel and advanced the Rafah Brigade's preparations ahead of the IDF's entry into the area. Additionally, he initiated, led, and planned numerous terror attacks against the IDF and the State of Israel.

BBC BIAS NOW PROVEN

Another significant point of contention has been the BBC's coverage of the war. A recently published survey now substantiates these concerns.

GALLANT SPEAKS TO FOREIGN PRESS

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed the foreign press, stating:

Hamas as a military formation no longer exists. They have resorted to guerrilla warfare, and we continue to combat Hamas terrorists and pursue their leadership.

Gallant added, "Reaching an agreement also presents a strategic opportunity that could significantly alter the security situation on all fronts.”

WEST BANK

Israeli troops reentered Tulkarem today. According to a report by the IDF, Turkish-American human rights activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was most likely killed accidentally by the IDF. The IDF Spokesman issued the following statement on the incident:

IDF commanders have conducted an inquiry into the incident in which a foreign national, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, was killed at the Beita Junction in Samaria last Friday.

The inquiry found it highly likely that Eygi was hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her, but aimed at the key instigator of the riot. The incident took place during a violent riot in which dozens of Palestinian suspects burned tires and hurled rocks toward security forces at the Beita Junction.

Following the incident, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division (MPCID) launched an investigation. Upon its conclusion, the findings will be submitted for review by the Military Advocate General’s Corps.

Israel has sent a request to carry out an autopsy.

The IDF expresses its deepest regret over the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. Secretary Blinken demanded that Israel change the way it acts on the West Bank.

VIDEOS DETAIL CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH HOSTAGES HELD

The IDF released a video detailing the conditions in which Hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi were held. The IDF also confirmed that the positioning of the bodies suggests the hostages attempted to protect one another. It is believed that their two guards killed them, and Israeli troops likely killed these guards upon exiting the tunnel. There is consensus among the Israeli press that the Army released the video to increase pressure on Netanyahu to secure an agreement for the hostages' release.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU’S SHIVA VISIT TO THE DANINO FAMILY

Prime Minister Netanyahu made a shiva visit to the Danino family, whose son, Ori, was executed by Hamas last week. The Danino family is religious and affiliated with the Shas party.

Here is an excerpt from the Prime Minister and his wife Sara’s conversation with Ori’s father, Elhanan Danino:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: I want to tell you that we prayed and hoped to bring home (Ori) and the others, but we were unable to do so. I apologize to you that we couldn’t. He so deserved to be with you, and you to be with him.

Elhanan Danino: You people on high have to stop – stop! – dealing with nonsense and stirring up fights and disagreements. Without unity, we don’t deserve this country; there will be no rebuilding without this land.

Shut your office for 10 minutes a day and think about where your Jewish values are. Shut it down, send everyone out, no phones, nothing, spend time alone with your creator and think, where is God in your picture, where is the Jewish value that you bring? We have no right to exist in this land without the Almighty, who gave us this land. Don’t be Orthodox. Don’t even be a believer. The Holy One, Blessed Be He, connects us and allows us to live on this land.

This disaster happened because of the division and schisms we had here. It’s as clear as the sun that that’s what happened.

Don’t spend time on petty and cheap politics and spin. There is no price on human life. I’m appealing to you here on behalf of those [hostages] who are still there [in Gaza]. I don’t dare to think about what the Goldin and Shaul families [whose sons were killed fighting in Gaza in 2014 and whose bodies have been held by Hamas ever since], who I sat with over the past 11 months, are going through.

The Almighty had mercy on me, and gave me a miracle. It is a miracle that my son is buried on a holy mountain in the holy city. A miracle! I have to think it’s a miracle to bury a body intact? That’s become a miracle? What kind of a situation have you brought us to? That it’s a miracle for them to bury their brother? Where have we gotten to? What’s happened to you? Wake up, please! Strengthen unity, strengthen love of Israel. Stop the spin and nonsense, for goodness sake!

You are a leader. You were elected, sent to lead. Clear away all the nonsense. Too many other things have gotten in…

Netanyahu: What things?

Danino: Stop dealing with gathering Knesset seats — with surveys, what will bring [support], what won’t. Stop it. I truly don’t know if there was a deal [to be done to save Ori and other hostages] or not. I’m not getting into that. But forgive me, sir, this all happened on your watch. My son was murdered in a tunnel that was built on your watch [by allowing funds and dual-use materials into Gaza]. Forgive me, forgive me. You’ve been in power for many years. Very many. The concrete and the dollars went in [to Gaza] on your watch.

I won’t talk about my son. We accept the [Divine] verdict with love. But you are responsible for the lives of everybody…

I’m not part of the debate going on outside. We were silent for 11 months because we believe in the Almighty. Now, too, we believe in the Almighty. But I feel that nothing has changed.

Shut yourself in a room and think about the Jewish value that you bring — not the Jewish identity of the State of Israel — we’ll control here, control there. In the end, the Holy One Blessed Be He does everything. Strong as we were before this, on Simchat Torah we got a slap unlike any other. A slap. Neither the air force, nor the infantry [were any use]. My son was in the armed forces. Let nobody say I’m some dos [derogatory slang for ultra-Orthodox] who doesn’t believe in the army. I educated him to serve in the Army. I was in the Army.

Netanyahu: Where?

Danino: Moran (an artillery unit)…

Netanyahu: I won’t tell you what goes on behind closed doors. It won’t interest you that much either…”

Sara Netanyahu: You were pretty much alone [referring to Netanyahu].

Netanyahu: Alone… Against the whole world. Facing the president of the United States and people here, and facing military elements here.

Sara Netanyahu: And facing Army elements here.

Netanyahu: To fight and to explain. It’s not only Hamas. It’s not only Hezbollah. It’s an atomic weapon they’ll drop here on all of us… I enter [my office] every day and ask myself, Why are you here? What am I here for? Why?…

Danino: You didn’t do it [tackle Hamas] for 15 years…. 15 years you sat in silence. You did nothing.

Netanyahu: I didn’t sit in silence…

Danino: You equipped them with swords. You equipped them with tunnels and dollars… Did you come here to listen or to be listened to? Because what you have to say we’ve heard for 15 years.

LECTURE IN ELMIRA

You can watch my lecture from Elmira last night, which started a few minutes in. In the first half, I cover the history of antisemitism in America, and in the second segment, I discuss the current situation in Israel.

LATEST PUBLIC OPINION POLLS

The latest polls indicate that despite his efforts, Prime Minister Netanyahu has not significantly improved his chances in the upcoming election. According to last night’s poll, Netanyahu would only be able to assemble a coalition of 49, far short of the 61 needed to form a government.

ECONOMY

Only 10 Israeli VC funds succeeded in raising funds during the first half of 2024. Notably, two large funds accounted for $400m in H1 2024 funding, or 73% of the total amount, raising $200 million each: Red Dot Capital Partners and Vintage Growth Fund. Extrapolating the current trend to the rest of the year would result in 20 new funds for 2024, raising a total capital of $1.09 billion —the lowest since 2015.

BUSINESS

Odigos

The Israeli startup Odigos has developed an open-source application monitoring platform designed to solve the persistent challenges developers face when tracking the origin of bugs or crashes in microservices environments. Using a system based on eBPF technology, Odigos provides Distributed Traces, which allow developers to monitor actions across services without modifying their code. This data is collected in the OpenTelemetry format, making it compatible with over 30 monitoring systems and providing flexibility for users.

Odigos was founded in 2023 by Ari Recht (CEO) and Eden Federman (CTO), who have deep tech industry experience. Federman, a former senior engineer at Yahoo and Taboola, is also a leader in the OpenTelemetry community. The company’s platform is built for enterprises, offering enhanced performance monitoring companies and other environments. They have successfully raised $13 million in a seed funding round led by Ventures Guides, with participation from Salesforce Ventures, Mango Capital, and other industry leaders.

Discure Technologies

The Israeli startup Discure Technologies, which developed an implant to treat degenerative disc disease and spinal and joint problems, announced today (Tuesday) that it has raised $16 million in funding. Part of the round included a $5 million SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) investment, where the valuation will be determined in the next round. The new funds will be used to support clinical research in Europe and North America for regulatory approval of its product, designed to treat degenerative disc disease and expand the company’s team.

Supernova Invest, Bold Capital Partners, Synara Capital, U.S. hospital networks, and private investors backed Discure’s funding round. According to Discure, lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with more than 35% of cases linked to degenerative disc disease. Current treatments include painkillers and injections in the early stages and aggressive back surgeries in the later stages, which carry limited success rates and high risks of requiring additional surgeries.

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A PIECE OF HISTORY

Haifa Bus Bombing

On March 5, 2003, a suicide bombing took place on an Egged bus in Haifa, Israel, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. The bus was packed with students and soldiers when the bomber, a Hamas operative, detonated an explosive belt during rush hour, causing mass devastation. The explosion turned the bus into a “mangled wreck,” scattering bodies and debris. Many of the passengers were high school students on their way home. The attack was one of the deadliest during the Second Intifada.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes. One survivor recalled how the force of the blast "threw bodies into the air" and shattered nearby windows. Another account from a passenger who was seated toward the back of the bus described the chaos that unfolded after the explosion. He recounted seeing "fire, bodies everywhere, and blood" as people struggled to escape the wreckage. A local shopkeeper who was close to the scene described hearing a loud boom and rushing outside to see "people lying on the road, others were running, and the bus was still burning."

The Haifa bus bombing prompted a swift response from Israeli authorities, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon holding Palestinian leaders responsible for allowing Hamas and other terror groups to continue operating. Sharon vowed that Israeli military operations would continue in order to dismantle terror infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This incident led to increased Israeli military activity aimed at thwarting future attacks, heightening the tensions of the Second Intifada.

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