The Gaza War: Day 80 . . . The War in the North

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Yom Shnee

Monday

13 Tevet 5784

December 25 2023

UPDATE 6:00 PM

160 Soldiers Have Fallen In The Gaza Ground War

Today, three more soldier deaths were announced by the IDF:

Master Sgt. (res.) Nitai Meisels, 30, from Rehovot, who served in the 14th Brigade of the Armored Corps, fell in battle in northern Gaza.

Sgt. Rani Tamir, 20, from Ganei Am, who served in the 50th Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, fell in battle in northern Gaza.

Sgt. Itamar Shemen, 21, from Lapid, who served as a soldier/paramedic in the IDF and as a volunteer in MADA, died of wounds sustained two days ago in southern Gaza.

May The Memories Of These Brave Soldiers Be For A Blessing.

Missiles and Mortars So Far Today

Rosh HaNikra, Shlomi (16:10); Moshav Beit Hillel (12:56)–in the north

Netiv HaAsara (11:32); Netiv HaAsara (11:17); Reim (11:08)–in the south

According to the IDF spokesman, the IDF launched “a significant attack” on Elta a Sha’ab in Lebanon in response to the Hezbollah fire.

In Syria

Brigadier General Radi Mousavi, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria was killed in an Israeli attack in Syria today.

As has been pointed out: “This is the most significant assassination carried out of the Quds Force since the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.”

Where The War Stands In Northern Gaza

This map from Warmapper—based on statements from the IDF—is a reasonably accurate picture of where things stand–the IDF says that it has operational control over Jabaliya. Use the legend to interpret the colors:

UPDATE 8:00 AM

On the Ground in the North

Yesterday afternoon there were numerous Hezbollah attacks on Israeli communities on or near the Lebanese border: Avivim, Baram (16:56); Margaliot (15:28); Arab Al Aramshe (15:12); Avivim (13:00); Avivim, Yiron (12:38); Avivim, Yiron (12:34).

These came amid reports that Hezbollah may be pulling its elite Radwan units away from the border because of the large number (they claim 123) of Radwan terrorists that have been killed by IDF artillery, tank, and airplane fire.

Nevertheless, the IDF delivered this message to residents in the area this morning:

“Dear residents,

In light of a situation assessment that has just been completed, it has been decided that the entrances to Kiryat Shmona from north to south (towards Metula and Kibbutz Gosher) will be closed to the exit and entry of vehicles today, Monday 12/25/23, starting at 06:00 am until further notice. It will not be possible to go up towards the cemetery in Kiryat Shmona.

In addition, the gates of the following settlements will be closed to the entry of citizens:
Shanir, Dan, Dafna, Maayan Baruch, Kfar Yuval, Shaar Yishuv, Kfar Giladi, Gosherim, Kfar Giladi, Metula, Beit Hillel – Rear Gate Road, Meshgav Am, Margaliot, Menara, Yiftah, Ramot Naftali, Dishon, Malkiah, Avivim, Yaraon, Baram and Dobb.”

On the Ground in the South 

Massive attacks from the IAF and artillery units last night on the Al-Maghazi, Al-Boreij,, and Al-Nuseirat neighborhoods. 

Our soldier continue finding vast caches of weapons in virtually every house and every building. This was in a Sheikh Radwan neighborhood school:

The Asinine Christmas Message of Pope Francis

Of course it is Christmas Day today, and we here at OneIsrael wish Christians everywhere a holiday of joy and peace.

Last night, Pope Francis issued this statement:

“Tonight our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once again rejected by the futile logic of war, through the military conflict that even today prevents him from finding a place in the world.”

What Pope Francis deliberately failed to note is that Bethlehem is almost completely shuttered and deserted today because the PLO declared weeks ago that there will be no celebration of Christmas this year. Specifically, the PLO said it was forbidding Christmas celebrations because it wants to declare its solidarity with the HamISIS Palestinians in Gaza.