The Gaza War Day 510; The War in the North

Thursday

Yom Chamishee

29 Shevat 5785

February 27 2025

UPDATE 8:00 AM ISRAEL TIME

As expected, the funeral of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel was an event of national and even international mourning; note the reddish-orange Brandenburg Gate, the Szechenyi Bridge in Budapest, the Empire State Building, and the Eiffel Tower below:

The eulogies were all tragically sad as family and friends remembered what a special person Shiri Bibas was. None of the eulogies was as moving as that of Shiri’s husband Yarden who described how the last time he was so close to Shiri was in their bomb shelter on October 7 when he asked her whether they should surrender to the terrorists or fight.

She answered “FIGHT!”

So he left to fight, but at the funeral he apologized to her that he was unable to protect her and the children.

Fittingly, Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel were all buried in the same casket (obviously, one wonders how much of them were left after rotting for more than a year in a Hamas tunnel).

It should be pointed out that the activities around the funeral were not without some controversy which began a few days ago when President Herzog wrote and spoke of his guilt and asked for “forgiveness” from the Bibas family:

“On behalf of the State of Israel, I bow my head and ask for forgiveness.”

To which Hagai Luber, the father of fallen soldier Yonatan Luber, replied yesterday:

“Out of deep pain and great love, we will accompany our loved ones Shiri, Kfir and Ariel – and not with apologies and requests for forgiveness. My son, Yonatan, was killed when he attacked terrorists who were shooting at his platoon. No one is to blame for his death except Hamas. No one needs to ask for forgiveness except Hamas. When you see us hurting and crying, don’t be confused – it’s not guilt, it’s sharing in our grief, which is also your grief. Thank you. I see with amazement the signs of forgiveness towards the Biebs family. I look at their beautiful faces and I have no need to apologize. I did not cause their deaths. I do not confuse pain with guilt. And you do not need to apologize either.”

On the Ground in Gaza

*The Palestinian savages in Gaza released the bodies of 4 more murdered Israelis last night:

So far, three of the bodies have been identified at the Forensic Institute at Abu Kabir. Subsequently, busloads of Palestinian terrorists (602 terrorists) were released from Israeli prisons.

*Another day, more attempted missile launches at southern Israel from the terrorists in Gaza.

Later, the IDF released this somewhat perplexing statement:

“Earlier today (Wednesday), a projectile launch that fell inside the Gaza Strip was identified. A short while ago, the IDF struck several launch posts in the area where the projectile was fired from.”

“A projectile launch” yet “several launch posts in the area” . . .

In any case, we heard the explosions from the IAF strikes here in Ashdod.

On the Ground in the North

One more Hezbollah terrorist bites the dust; one cannot help but see the irony of Qassem Soleimani’s picture being on the post with his hand over his heart as if to express regret (you remember that Soleimani died the same way):

From the IDF Spokesman concerning the above strike:

“The IAF conducted an intelligence-based strike and eliminated Mahran Ali Nasser Al-Din, a significant terrorist in Hezbollah’s Unit 4400.

Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 is responsible for smuggling weapons into Lebanese territory from Iran and its proxies, aiming to maximize Hezbollah’s weapons stockpiles. Since its establishment, Unit 4400 has established numerous smuggling routes along the Syria-Lebanon border.

During the war, the IDF conducted extensive strikes on Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 and its commanders, including the elimination of the commander of Unit 4400, Muhammad Ja’far Qasir, and his designated successor, Ali Hassan Gharib.

Mahran Ali Nasser Al-Din played a significant role in Hezbollah’s weapons smuggling operations, and he was directly involved in coordinating with smugglers operating along the Syria-Lebanon border.

This activity, which facilitates Hezbollah’s armament, constitutes a clear threat to the security of the State of Israel and violates the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon.”

In the Midst of Everything Else

For the past 48 hours, central and southern Israel have been subject to huge “explosions”–explosions so large that windows and doors are violently shaken and people have been sent running to bomb shelters.

It turns out that, according to the IDF, the explosions are actually sonic booms from IAF aircraft that are going through training exercises over Israel.

As usual, the booms have come as surprises since no one here informs anyone in advance of when such training is going to take place.

And so it goes in sunny but cold Israel this morning . . .

so far . . .