Today’s Image
The polio vaccination campaign in Gaza started earlier today.
Gaza Rockets
No rockets fired from Gaza crossed into Israel over the last day.
Casualties
The IDF reports that one IDF soldiers was killed today, Staff Sgt. Elkana Navon - 20 (Z’’L). He was killed during operations in Jenin. Jenin is a city in the northern area of Judea/Samaria (West Bank) that has been a central operation point for Hamas. The IDF has been conducting operations there for months, uncovering tunnels arms storage facilities and arms manufacturing facilities.
Gaza Operations
The IDF reports that it located and killed Muhammed Qatrawi, who is the Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander of central Gaza. He was killed by a light grade missile fired from a drone while in a facility meeting with other combatants. You can see and read more here.
IDF troops have left the Khan Younis/Deir al-Balah area for the time being, completing their intended mission. I believe that they will be back in the not too distant future to deal with Deir al-Balah which remains a major stronghold for Hamas, as does Nuseirat. In summing up its recent Khan Younis operation, the IDF said that more than 250 Hamas combatants were captured or killed along. And 6 tunnels spanning about 6 km in total length were destroyed along with terrorist hideouts and weapons storage facilities. The IDF Arabic Spokesperson announced that the civilians from the area can return. You can read, see more here.
In the meantime, operations are continuing in Rafah, particularly the Tel Sultan neighborhood there along with isolated and very brief operations in specific neighborhoods of Gaza City.
This evening one of the Israeli TV stations reported that as part of the ongoing investigations into the events of October 7 it is believed that more than 6,000 Gazans entered Israel as part of the attack that day. Previously, the reported number was closer to 3,000. This same report placed the number of actually trained and armed Hamas combatants to be 3,800 with the balance citizens who participated in the terrible events of the day. You can read more here.
Lebanon Operations
Late last night, Friday, Hezbollah fired more than 40 rockets into the northwestern area of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea. The IDF reports that some of the rockets were intercepted, while others did light damage to some buildings without any injuries.
This afternoon, Saturday, a kamikaze drone launched by Hezbollah struck the community of Beit Hillel, on the northernmost tip of Israel. Immediately after, Israeli fighter jets struck the launch site with missiles.
Yemen Operations
The British UKMTO reported that two missiles fired by the Houthis narrowly missed a cargo ship targeted near the Gulf of Aden. The Greek flagged oil tanker, Sounion, continues to burn. Houthis refuse to allow safe passage of boats intending to put out the fires and tow the boat before its oil dumps into the sea.
It has been 46 days since the IDF struck Yemen’s port of Al-Hodeidah, and without any missiles fired from Yemen towards Israel.
Syria/Iran/Jordan/Egypt/Iraq/Turkiye
US CENTCOM forces report that they conducted raids in coordination with Iraqi Security Forces targeting ISIS units operating in Iraq. It was reported that seven US soldiers were injured in the operation.
IDF - Other
Late last night, Friday, suicide terrorists struck two established towns in Judea/Samaria (West Bank) by igniting cars they were driving containing explosives. In one case, the auto blew up at a gas station about 20 km south of Jerusalem. Troops were dispatched quickly and the terrorists was killed. Two nearby civilians were lightly hurt. In the second case, a car was intentionally exploded at the entrance gate to a village a bit north of Hevron. The assailant attempted to ram the car into the small town but was fired on by guards who neutralized him, but not before he triggered the explosives. One security guard was lightly hurt. Both assailants came from Hevron. Investigations are ongoing. IDF Intelligence believes that there is a third car with explosives waiting to attack.
Attempts by the IDF to comply with the recent Supreme Court ruling on drafting eligible ultra-orthodox youth into the IDF failed, resulting in less than 200 draftees in the most recent draft period. As a consequence, the government announced the extension of the reservist service periods, thereby increasing the service burden on many who also support the economic activity of the country. This issue is still festering and, in my opinion, is the one most likely to cause this government trouble in the fall when the parliament recess is over. You can read more here.
Aid
The polio vaccination campaign in Gaza has started with the World Health Organization and other aid organizations administering the vaccine provided by Israel to young children in Gaza, particularly those who missed out on the previous inoculation round about 10 months ago. These vaccines are being administered in the humanitarian zones carved out by Israel and during set hours during which there is a cease fire enforced.
Hostages/Ceasefire
The big news of the weekend is the decision by the Israeli Cabinet to prioritize holding onto the Rafah crossing by the IDF in any hostage/ceasefire negotiation. The Hostage Families Forum denounced the decision saying that this dooms any chance of reaching a negotiated settlement with Hamas and means that their loved ones will die in captivity. This move was opposed by Defense Minister Gallant.
To remind everyone, all the arms, equipment for digging tunnels and materials needed to build the rockets/bombs in Gaza were smuggled through this border. Much of it through tunnels below ground, but also smuggled through the above ground border crossing. Years ago, Egypt was motivated to prevent the arms from entering Gaza as well employing fairly effective means for preventing Hamas from re-arming. But, the money earned from the bribes associated with the smuggling became too lucrative for the Egyptian Army to resist. They and local Bedouin tribes in the Sinai, financially benefitted from enabling the vast amount of arms entering Gaza. There is an entire network built out and financed by Iran that moves materials through the Red Sea, into Sudan, smuggled into Egypt and then across the Sinai peninsula and ultimately into Gaza. This is not talked about a lot since Israel does not want to embarrass Egypt. But the reality is that Egyptian officials in the government are financially benefitting from this smuggling operation and permit it.
Everyone in Israel is aware of this problem - Egyptian collaboration with Hamas in smuggling arms into Gaza. Those in this government argue that the only way to stop it is if the IDF has a presence at the border crossing and has the ability to check cargo and search for tunnels. Those that argue against the government acknowledge the problem, prioritize the recovery of the hostages and convince themselves that the IDF can re-enter Rafah at a later point in time…. or place the recovery of the hostages over the security of the communities bordering Gaza.
And In Your Copious Spare Time…
This report in The Wall Street Journal is not about The War, but you might find it interesting anyway. It describes the contributions of the IDF’s CyberSecurity Unit and its impact on Silicon Valley.