Yom Shnee
Monday
20 Tevet 5784
January 1 2024
UPDATE 9:00 PM
Fell In Battle
Cpl. (res.) Amichai Yisrael Yehoshua Oster, 24, from Samaria, a fighter in the 7020 Battalion, Hasharon formation (5), fell in battle in northern Gaza.
Another Dead Hostage
Another “hostage” has been declared “dead”: Ilan Weiss, a 56-year-old resident Kibbutz Be’eri and member of its security team. His wife Shiri (53) and daughter Noga (18) were also taken hostage but released on November 25th:
Ilan and Shiri Weiss with their three daughters in better times.
May The Memories Of Amichai Oster And Ilan Weiss Be For A Blessing
All Missiles and Aircraft Penetrations Took Place in the North Today:
Avnei Eitan (21:00); Kiryat Shmona (18:12); Avivim, Dishon, Mt. Hermon Regional Council, Rehaniya (15:34); Betzet, Rosh HaNikra, Shlomi (14:10); Metulla (13:14); Avivim, Jish, Alma (11:56); Goren, Avdon (11:01).
In the attack at Shlomi, at least 6 soldiers were moderately wounded, 1 critically (other reports are that 11 were wounded).
A Follow-up To Our Reportage About The Decrease In Soldiers In Gaza
The IDF doesn’t seem to be able to make up its mind about why the number of soldiers is being decreased.
Yesterday, it was because in many areas, HamISIS terrorists had been cleared out so the Brigades are no longer necessary.
This morning, it was because it is important–for the sake of economy–for reservists to return home and to their jobs.
This evening, it is because of an agreement that Ron Dermer made with the Biden Administration.
Whatever the reason, a large contingent of reservists who have been released from service have scheduled a large demonstration in front of PM Netanyahu’s home to demand that he carry on the battle against HamISIS.
The Court Issues Its Ruling
As we previously reported was highly likely, the Israel Supreme Court has decided to invalidate the “Reasonable” Amendment to the Basic Law passed by the Knesset, in a decision announced late this afternoon.
The vote was 8-7 and is unprecedented. Never before has a Supreme Court deigned to rule a Basic Law or an Amendment to a Basic Law invalid.
As we also previously wrote, the ruling spells the end of Israeli democracy, as the Court has now completely usurped the power of the Knesset. There is no reason for a Knesset whatsoever.
UPDATE 10:00 AM
How about some good news?
Israel’s first baby for 2024 was born at the Wolfson Medical Center to Holon residents 29-year-old Coral Sargo and her husband Daniel. The baby arrived at 12:16 am this morning–just after the missile barrage on the city. Dr. Ilya Kleiner, director of delivery rooms at the Wolfson Medical Center, and midwife Raya Davidov is also in the photo. Coral said this: “The birth experience was amazing. At a time like this – this is our little victory!”
The World and Israel
The world celebrates; Israel is attacked ; photo on left are missiles fired from Gaza (photo source on photos: t.me/MTIAshram).
UPDATE 9:00 AM
It was bound to happen.
Just yesterday, another genius at the IDF General Command issued a statement saying that HamISIS had lost all capability to fire missiles at central Israel.
How the Palestinian terrorists in Gaza rang in the new year at exactly 12:00 am last night.
So . . . allow your humble servant to tell you a “funny” story this morning. Last night, we decided to drive from Ashdod to Tel Aviv to be with our daughter in Tel Aviv for the new year. Driving away from Ashdod usually means driving out of the war zone.
So what happened last night? It was the usual new year’s eve countdown, and we all stood up to hug each other. I happened to be standing beside the window facing south of the apartment. Five, four, three, two, one, we hugged, I looked out the window and . . . missiles flying everywhere. Iron Dome interceptors coming from east, missiles from Gaza headed straight for us.
There were no sirens . . . but we ran to the stairwell (my daughter’s apartment is on the top floor of an apartment building that has no bomb shelters). Next there were the explosive intercepts to which we are so accustomed in Ashdod.
This morning, there is no mention at all of the missiles that were intercepted here.
So much for no capability to fire missiles–just more disinformation from the IDF General Command.
Major Changes in the Wind: Good or Not?
IDF Chief of Staff Halevi made these announcements this morning:
*The IDF will decommission (send home) two reserve brigades.
*The IDF will decommission two “regular” brigades.
What is the rationale for this significant reduction in forces?
“The decision is the result of a decrease in the scope of the fighting: many Hamas battalions have been disbanded, more than 8,000 terrorists have been eliminated, and many areas in Gaza have been cleared of terrorist infrastructure, including tunnels, military shelters, hiding apartments, weapon depots and launch sites.
The IDF is interested in moving to the next stage in the campaign, and attacking in a more targeted manner, from the air and on the ground. According to estimates, more and more targeted operations and raids on terrorist strongholds in Gaza will be carried out from Israel – and not from inside Gaza. Accordingly, the reduction of forces is being done in an attempt to prevent large forces in the field Palestine to become a target for terrorist squads.”
On the face of it, this seems like a good turn in the war; however, the idea that “many areas have been cleared” seems far-fetched at best (“to prevent large forces in the field Palestine to become a target for terrorist squads”). One can only think that HamISIS head Yahya Sinwar must be smiling somewhere down in his tunnel-bunker.
Disconcerting Facts
The IDF released these figures this morning:
*170 IDF soldiers have now fallen in the Gaza ground operation.
*18 of our soldiers were killed in friendly fire incidents.
*11 of our soldiers died in “accidents” (weapons misfiring, run overs by tanks and APCs and others)
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.