Archive for month: January, 2024

News Update

Several rockets were fired from Syria into the Golan last night. The IDF struck targets in Syria in response. This morning rockets were fired from Lebanon at communities in the north. The IDF is responding with artillery fire. The IDF is reducing the number of soldiers deployed in communities along the Lebanese border.

As the fighting continues in Gaza, the IDF revealed that they are using newly developed technology to flood Hamas tunnels, without harming the surrounding ecosystem or fresh water supply. But there are between 350 and 450 miles of tunnels, many of which are porous and absorb water — so the job to flood them is extremely challenging, to say the least. Perhaps the pressure the IDF is putting on the terrorists, particularly the leadership, in (and under) Khan Yunis is compelling them to negotiate for a hostage release and cease fire. A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo today for talks.

IDF soldiers killed in Gaza:

Maj. (res.) Netzer Simchi, 30, of the 14th Armored Brigade’s 87th Battalion, from Masad.

Cpt. (res.) Gavriel Shani, 28, a team commander in the 646th Brigade’s 6646th Patrol Battalion, from Eli.

Warrant Officer (res.) Yuval Nir, 43, of the 646th Brigade’s 6646th Patrol Battalion, from Kfar Etzion.

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

Security forces arrested 14 terror suspects and confiscated caches of weapons overnight in raids throughout the West Bank.

Protesters, many of whom are relatives of the hostages, continue to attempt to block humanitarian aid from entering into Gaza, and into the hands of Hamas. Eighteen protesters were arrested at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

 

News Update

Iranian media and Syrian opposition sources reported Israeli strikes against the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in the region in the Saida Zeinab region, just south of Damascus, earlier today. Multiple casualties were reported.

On Sunday, a terrorist ran over, and seriously injured, a 20 year old soldier outside of the IDF Naval base in Haifa. The terrorist then crashed his car into the base walls and ran out toward the gate carrying an ax. He was shot and killed by troops.

The New York Times yesterday revealed a dossier provided to the United States government that details Israel’s claims against 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) who played a role in the Hamas attacks against Israel on Oct. 7 or in their aftermath. The U.N. said on Friday that it had fired 9 employees after being briefed on the allegations. Two of the 12 accused are dead. UNRWA employs 13,000 people, mostly Palestinians. According to the dossier, 10 of the employees were members of Hamas and 1 of the Islamic Jihad. Seven of the employees were UNRWA teachers.

The most detailed accusations in the dossier concerned a school counselor from Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, who is accused of working with his son to abduct a woman from Israel. A social worker from Nuseirat, in central Gaza, is accused of helping to bring the body of a dead Israeli soldier to Gaza, as well as distributing ammunition and coordinating vehicles on the day of the attack. The US, UK, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Australia and Romania all suspended their funding of UNRWA as a result of the dossier.  For more, click here. 

The NYTimes also reported yesterday how Hamas has used stolen Israeli weapons and unexploded Israeli missiles to build their arsenal. for more, click here. 

Hamas said today that releasing hostages it is holding would require a guaranteed end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and withdrawal of all IDF forces. Negotiations, led by the US and Qatar, are being held in Paris. US officials have expressed optimism that a potential deal is close. For more, click here. 

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

 

News Update

IDF air and ground operations continue throughout Gaza, with the major offensive focusing on Khan Yunis. Dozens of Hamas terrorists have been killed in the last day. [Unfortunately, thousands more still remain.]

The IDF continues to clear a 1 km wide buffer zone in Gaza along the entire length of the Israeli border. The US has expressed opposition to the move.  Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “We’ve been very clear about our opposition to the forced displacement of people. We’ve been very clear about maintaining in effect the territorial integrity of Gaza.”

An IDF reservist serving at the site of the disaster that claimed the lives of 21 soldiers yesterday claims that following proper IDF protocol could have saved most of the soldiers. For more, click here.

For a complete list of the IDF soldiers that have fallen since the start of the ground invasion, click here.

Qatar informed Israel yesterday that Hamas has temporarily suspended its efforts to reach an outline for a hostage deal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused Qatar of cooperating with Hamas. Meanwhile, a new restaurant has opened, on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, called October 7.

The Ministry of Energy is reportedly considering refusing to extend Israel’s water agreement with Jordan, due to several Jordanian officials, including the Queen, denouncing Israel. According to the current agreement, Israel provides Jordan with 100 million cubic meters of water, twice as much as the amount provided for in the treaty between the countries. The water is provided in exchange for electricity.

Some security officials are warning that preventing Palestinians from entering Israel to work could lead to a third intifada. For more, click here.

News Update

Troops working on demolishing Hamas structures came under RPG fire. A massive explosion occurred, killing 21 soldiers. The incident is being investigated.

IDF Soldiers killed:

1. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Matan Lazar, 32, from Haifa, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 6261st Battalion.

2. Sgt. First Class (res.) Hadar Kapeluk, 23, from Mevo Beitar, a squad commander in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

3. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Sergey Gontmaher, 37, from Ramat Gan, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

4. Sgt. First Class (res.) Elkana Yehuda Sfez, 25, from Kiryat Arba, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

5. Sgt. First Class (res.) Yuval Lopez, 27, from Alon Shvut, serving in the 205th Brigade’s 9206th Battalion.

6. Master Sgt. (res.) Yoav Levi, 29, from Yehud-Monosson, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

7. Sgt. First Class (res.) Nicholas Berger, 22, from Jerusalem, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

8. Sgt. First Class (res.) Cedrick Garin, 23, from Tel Aviv, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

9. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Rafael Elias Mosheyoff, 33, from Pardes Hanna-Karkur, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 6261st Battalion.

10. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Barak Haim Ben Valid, 33, from Rishon Lezion, a squad commander in the 261st Brigade’s 6261st Battalion.

11. Sgt. First Class (res.) Ahmad Abu Latif, 26, from Rahat, serving in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

12. Cpt. (res.) Nir Binyamin, 29, from Givatayim, part of the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

13. Master Sgt. (res.) Elkana Vizel, 35, from Bnei Dekalim, a squad commander in the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

14. Sgt. First Class (res.) Israel Socol, 24, from Karnei Shomron, of the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

15. Cpt. (res.) Ariel Mordechay Wollfstal, 28, from Elazar, in the 205th Brigade’s 9206th Battalion.

16. Sgt. First Class (res.) Sagi Idan, 24, from Rosh Haayin, serving with the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

17. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Mark Kononovich, 35, from Herzliya, of the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion.

18. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Itamar Tal, 32, of the 261st Brigade’s 6261st Battalion, from Mesilot

19. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Adam Bismut, 35, a squad commander in the 261st Brigade’s 6261st Battalion, from Karnei Shomron.

20. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Shay Biton Hayun, 40, of the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion, from Zichron Yaakov.

21. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Daniel Kasau Zegeye, 38, of the 261st Brigade’s 8208th Battalion, from Yokne’am Illit.

For a complete list of the 194 IDF soldiers that have fallen since the start of the ground invasion, click here.

Over 400 soldiers have been seriously wounded since the start of the ground invasion.

The IDF Meron air traffic control base located on Mount Meron sustained minor damage due to a series of rocket and missile strikes launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon, according to the IDF. No casualties were reported.

More rockets are being fired at northern Israel. The IDF is responding.

News Update

Yesterday, Kfir Bibas turned 1 years old in captivity in Gaza. We can only hope and pray that he is still alive and that he will be returned home with all of the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.

Several women recently released from captivity recounted the horrors they experienced to business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos and also to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. For more, click here.

The IDF conducting a search and rescue operation in a cemetery in Gaza and reportedly brought 21 bodies back to Israel. Some of them might be the bodies of Israeli hostages. Nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

IDF air, ground and naval forces continue to conduct operations throughout Gaza. An airstrike eliminated a high ranking Islamic Jihad commander responsible for psychological warfare. Troops also destroyed the main Hamas weapons production facility, which was spread among numerous tunnels and above ground structures.

IDF Soldiers killed in Gaza:

Staff Sgt. Ori Gerby, 20, of the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Herzliya.

For a complete list of the 194 IDF soldiers that have fallen since the start of the ground invasion, click here. 

IDF jets struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon yesterday and today, in response to rockets fired.

There are still a quarter of a million Israel displaced from their homes in the north and south who cannot return as long as Hezbollah and Hamas threaten Israel’s security. This situation cannot continue for much longer. The only definitive solution is to degrade Hezbollah’s and Hamas’ military capabilities to the point that it will be impossible for them to attack. The IDF is in the process of doing that in Gaza. Hezbollah is next.

Israel has launched a new website with information, photos and videos of the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre. The images on the site are very graphic and emotionally difficult to see, but it is important for the world to see the inhuman crimes that Hamas and their civilian supporters perpetrated that day. To view the website, click here.