Israel News for 4-8-2024
News Update
A female terrorist tried to stab soldiers at the Tayasir Checkpoint in the Jordan Valley this morning. Soldiers shot and killed the terrorist. No soldiers were injured.
The IDF has withdrawn all ground forces, except for 1 division, from Gaza, on the 6 month anniversary of the start of the war. The army said that the 98th division, which operated in Khan Yuni and conducted the Al-Shifa hospital operation, was being withdrawn to give the soldiers time to refresh and prepare for further operations. The Nahal brigade, comprised of several hundred soldiers, is the only one left in Gaza, guarding the main road intersecting Gaza and mounting targeted operations from there. At the peak of fighting, the IDF had over 20 brigades, comprising 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers, in Gaza.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said, “This is a long war where we cannot maintain the same force configuration at all times. We are changing forces and modes of operation. We will not allow Hamas brigades to remain active in any part of the Strip. We have plans, and we will act when we decide.”
The IDF has made clear that its withdrawal from Khan Younis is not linked to any pressure from the United States. Another factor contributing to the decision to withdraw is to give space for civilians to vacate Rafah in the event of a large-scale raid. It also will enable Khan Younis residents who fled to Rafah to return to their homes. The IDF is still preparing for a major operation in Rafah, where Hamas still has 5 active battalions.
This new phase of the war, which will be focused on targeted raids based on intelligence, could last for 3 to 4 years. Prime Minister Netanyahu opened Sunday’s cabinet meeting saying, “We are determined to achieve total victory in the war, return all our captives, complete the elimination of Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, and to ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
IDF soldiers killed in Gaza:
Cpt. Ido Baruch, 21, a commander at the Commando Brigade’s training base, from Tel Mond.
Sgt. Amitai Even Shoshan, 20, of the Commando Brigade’s training base, from Azri’el.
Sgt. Ilai Zair, 20, of the Commando Brigade’s training base, from Kedar.
Sgt. Reef Harush, 20, of the Commando Brigade’s training base, from Kibbutz Ramat David.
For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.
Rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah continue and the IDF is striking Hezbollah bases and launch sites in southern Lebanon. Last night a strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander.
The IDF is still on high alert due to the threat of Iranian retaliation for Israel’s elimination of several Revolutionary Guard generals and senior officers in Damascus last week.
[While Iran will have to make some show of retaliation, I think it has nothing to gain by doing something that escalates the situation into an all out war. Iran already is winning — Hezbollah rockets are keeping 100,000 Israel’s from returning to their homes in northern Israel, Hamas is still active and fighting in Gaza, US pressure is having a significant effect on Israeli actions in Gaza, and Iran continues to export billions of dollars of oil — so why rock the boat now?]
