Israel News for 7-19-2024
News Update
An upgraded Iranian UAV launched from Yemen by the Houthis exploded in Tel Aviv last night, killing a man, Yevgeny Perder, 50, and injuring 10 others. A preliminary investigation by the IDF found that the drone was detected during its flight but was not shot down due to human error. Israeli officials told Ynet that, “there will be a response to the shooting of the Iranian drone by the Houthis” and that they would not rule out the possibility of a retaliatory action on Yemeni soil, saying such action was “on the table.” The drone exploded across the street from the U.S. embassy building, which Israeli officials think might have been the target of the attack. U.S. forces in the region reportedly intercepted a ballistic missile and several drones launched from Yemen towards Israel.
An IDF strike in Lebanon last night killed Hebollah’s Radwan Force commander Ali Jaafar Maatuk and six other Hezbollah members. Additional strikes caused more Hezbollah casualties in various locations in Lebanon.
Sergeant First Class (res.) Efraim Ben Amram, 25, of the 53rd Battalion, 188th Brigade, died from injuries sustained in a Hezbollah drone attack on June 30 in the Golan Heights. Sixteen other soldiers were also injured in the attack.
Prime Minister Netanyahu visited IDF troops in Rafah. He emphasized that Israel’s control over the Philadelphia corridor and the Rafah border crossing would aid in the release of hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu is expected to meet with the cease-fire delegation to discuss and formulate policies to progress towards a deal.
In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, former President Trump said, “To the entire world, I tell you this: We want our hostages back, and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price.”
Yesterday I visited the area known as the Gaza Envelope, where the horrors of October 7th were perpetrated. The places I visited include Sderot, the site of the Nova festival massacre, the car graveyard and Kibbutz Alumim. I don’t have to tell you about what happened on October 7th, because you already have read and watched live footage and first hand accounts by survivors on YouTube and other media. What I can tell you is that actually seeing the sites and hearing testimony for actual survivors, face to face, brings the horrors to life in a very powerful way. You can actually feel and hear the voices of the young men and women crying out from the earth, sanctified by their innocent blood. And you can only begin to imagine the inhuman acts of depravity perpetrated by the hordes of terrorists — which I was told by many were way beyond anything that a normal human being could even contemplate, especially as relates to the inhumanity against the women.
The message that I came out with is one we are all familiar with from a different era: Never Again. Today, “Never Again” refers to Hamas, and the only way to accomplish that sacred mission to utterly destroy the military capability of Hamas and to prevent that satanic organization from ever ruling again, anywhere. Israeli forces have already killed or captured around 14,000 terrorists, estimated to be around 50% of the Hamas terror army. That means the mission of “Never Again” is far from complete. The fight must continue, because we can never let an October 7 happen again.
