224 confirmed kidnapped.
4 hostages freed.
1,400+ Israelis (total) murdered.
51 police officers killed.
74% of killed civilians were identified.
4,800+ injured.
8,000+ rockets fired at Israel.
500,000+ Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
*Hostage & Injured Updates:*
There is currently a lot of effort going in to Qatar-brokered negotiations to release civilian hostages, but senior Israeli officials think the chance of it working are none. It seems to mainly be going on due to international pressure. Part of the negotiation terms includes agreements in which Qatar will distance themselves from Hamas. There are unconfirmed rumors that Israel agreed to pay a large fortune for a significant amount of hostages to be freed.
The security establishment explained that the ground invasion may put a severe risk to the lives of the hostages, and they’re still looking for the right solution to the complex situation.
Bloomberg reports that the Israeli security establishment has turned to the cyber and digital espionage companies NSO and “Kandiro” to assist in the effort to locate the abductees in the Gaza Strip.
Rabbi Moshe Ze’ev Pizem was hospitalized with a heart arrhythmia after overworking himself alongside his son Asher, to ensure that everyone in Sderot is fed. Thank G-d he is recovering well, and says he will soon get back to work.
*Gaza Front Updates:*
There were three very heavy barrages to the greater Tel Aviv area today, from Rechovot to Herziliya, including Kfar Chabad all three times (though they kindly forgot about us in Be’er Sheva).
A 1:30pm barrage resulted in a direct hit on a nine-story building in Pesach Tikva, causing a fire on the top floor. Firemen got it under control with no injuries. Miraculously the missile didn’t detonate, and firemen removed it safely.
A 10pm barrage to the center burned down an electric pole near Moshav Matzliach, which caused power outages in Rechovot and Satria.
Security camera footage from last night’s direct hit on an apartment building in Rishon Letziyon shows the family miraculously dodging the rocket with only 3 seconds to spare.
On Wednesday night IDF forces under the command of the Givati Brigade carried out a targeted raid using tanks in the territory of the northern Gaza Strip, as preparation of the area for the next stages of combat. During the raid, the forces located and attacked many terrorists, destroyed terrorist infrastructure, anti-tank positions, and carried out work to organize the area. The troops left the area at the end of the mission. The aim of the raid is to attack Hamas targets from within the Strip, and to strengthen the defense. The IDF says that this was a more extensive operation than the raids carried out so far in the past two weeks in the Gaza Strip. It appears to be the first time they entered with tanks since 2014.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the army will continue the limited ground raids in the Gaza Strip, “tonight as well, and it will continue all the more forcefully in the coming days.”
IDF released an audio recording of an IDF officer speaking to a Gazan man, during which he describes how Hamas is preventing people from evacuating from the northern part of the Gaza Strip by shooting at anyone who tries to drive south.
Four more top Hamas commanders were eliminated, as well as the deputy head of Hamas’s intelligence department, who together with Yahya Sinwar planned the murderous attack.
*Northern Front Updates:*
The IDF eliminated a terrorist squad that tried to launch anti-tank missiles at a post on the Lebanese border.
Seven people were injured in Ma’alat-Tarshiha after an IDF drone fell on their balcony.
Israel Hayom reported that reservists stationed along the northern border complained about a long approval process they are required to go through before they open fire on terrorist squads. They say that in most cases permission is received to shoot at the armed squads, but there were a few cases where the permission was not given, and the armed squads that were identified ahead of time fired at Israel and may have caused casualties.
It is suspected that these instructions come from the political echelon in an effort to avoid drawing further into a war with Hezbollah. The IDF spokesman denied that soldiers are being held back from firing, and pointed out that the IDF eliminated dozens of terrorist squads.
In the 21 days of fighting in the south, more than 60 anti-tank missiles were fired at Israel from Lebanon, as well as several hundred mortar bombs. There were also several attempts to infiltrate Israel, and in some cases even unmanned aircraft were flown at Israel, and a Hezbollah tried to intercept Israeli aircraft. In total, six soldiers and one civilian were killed on the northern border.
While Israel is trying to avoid a full war with Hezbollah, the IDF is still bracing for the possibility of a large escalation when they enter Gaza by land. In advance of this, the IDF is keeping the far north, including Kiryat Shmona, evacuated.
*Judea and Samaria Updates:*
The security forces arrested 60 wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria and the valleys tonight, of which 46 were Hamas operatives. Since the beginning of the war, about 1,000 wanted persons have been arrested, including 660 affiliated with Hamas.
Two Jewish shepherds were attacked by Palestinians near the Rimonim intersection in Binyamin. MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment and evacuated them to Shaare Zedek Hospital, a 25-year-old man in serious condition with a head injury, and an injured person in a minor condition.
*International Updates:*
The US is sending another 900 soldiers to the Middle East, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder announced. These are soldiers from units of the US air defense system, and according to Ryder the units will not arrive in Israel, but their purpose is to “assist in regional deterrence and strengthen air defense capabilities.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Abdul-Lahyan said today that if Israel’s bombing of Gaza does not stop, the US will not be immune from fire.
Israel condemned Russia following Foreign Minister Lavrov’s meeting with senior Hamas officials. “Israel sees the invitation of senior Hamas officials to Moscow as an obscene step that gives support to terrorism and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists. We call on the Russian government to expel Hamas terrorists immediately,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.
Yesterday the US House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning Hamas and ratifying US support for Israel. The motion passed with a majority of 412 supporters against 10 opponents. The motion states that the US condemns the support of Iran in Hamas and Islamic Jihad and calls for the imposition of sanctions against it.
*General Updates:*
The municipality of Sderot is considering canceling the payment of the property tax to the residents of the city until it is possible to live there again in accordance with the guidelines.
Netanyahu visited the Takuma office (responsible for the reconstruction of the communities destroyed by Hamas), and said that a law will be passed to give a lot of money for rebuilding, as quickly as possible.
Israeli real estate groups are already discussing the newest hot investment place: Gaza border communities.
Pictured: A 10pm rocket barrage to the center burned down an electric pole near Moshav Matzliach, which caused power outages in Rechovot and Satria.
©2023 Bruria Efune