Wednesday
Yom Reva’ee
8 Tevet 5785
January 8 2025
UPDATE 9:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
May His Memory Be For A Blessing
Sgt. Ido Samiach, 20, from Mageni Tikva, a staff sergeant in Sayeret Nahal, Nahal Brigade, was killed in a firefight in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.
Sgt. Samiach is the third soldier from the Nahal Brigade who has fallen in the last 48 hours. The first two were killed when a terrorist fired an anti-tank missile into a building which they had entered.
On the Ground in Gaza
*The IDF Spokesman speaking last night:
“Earlier this evening, Air Force aircraft carried out several strikes in the Khan Yunis area, under intelligence guidance from the Military Intelligence Service, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, against a number of terrorists who took part in the murderous massacre by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7th in the country.”
*The IDF Spokesman this morning:
“The Kfir Brigade, under the command of the 162nd Division, has completed its mission in northern Gaza after three months of combat in the area.
During the mission, the troops eliminated numerous terrorists in airstrikes and close-quarters combat, some of whom participated in the October 7th massacre. They also located weapons, destroyed underground tunnel routes, and dismantled Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure.
The soldiers operated in multiple areas that posed a threat to IDF activity and Israeli border communities, including the Beit Lahia area and the terror stronghold in the Beit Hanoun area.
Since the beginning of the war, Kfir Brigade troops have operated in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and carried out counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria. The troops have now completed their mission in northern Gaza and are preparing for new missions. The troops of the 162th Division continue to operate in the area until their mission is complete.”
*Senior IDF officials sounded a warning yesterday that the ground maneuvers in Gaza “have reached a point of exhaustion.” They went on to say what we have noted repeatedly at OneIsrael: “We are returning to the same places. Returning to sites that we have already operated will exact heavy prices and lead to the fall of additional fighters.”
According to the same senior officials, it is time “to strive for agreements with Hamas.”
Israel Moves Away From Dependence
One facet of the 5-front war (Hamas/Gaza, Hezbollah/Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen) that Israel has been waging is the fact that Israel can no longer be dependent on other countries–especially the United States for weapons and other military assets. Despite having provided Israel with numerous munitions, President Biden has often blocked or threatened to block much needed military hardware such as attack helicopters not to mention 1000/2000 pound bunker busting bombs, and large artillery shells.
In some cases, Israeli soldiers have lost their lives because the IAF was running out of bombs and soldiers had to enter booby-trapped houses and buildings before they were cleared.
Yesterday, to begin the address this situation, Israel took two steps in conjunction with Israel-based Elbit Company in a $1 billion shekel deal:
1. Elbit will provide the IDF with thousands of “heavy” bombs of the type that the Biden Administration has withheld. In fact, Elbit may actually create a 2000 pound bomb production line.
2. Elbit will work with the IDF to create a facility to produce materials essential for manufacturing propellants and explosives for missiles.
These steps come on the heels of a previous deal with another Israeli defense contractor to produce thousands of assault rifles to replace the U.S. M4.
All of this is good news. Too often in the past, Israel felt comfortable in outsourcing its purchases of military equipment. In essence, a succession of governments foolishly bought into the idea that we could rely on others to supply the armaments we need.
Thank You Speaker Johnson!
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson issued a statement yesterday declaring that the House will vote this week on applying sanctions to senior officials at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
These sanctions are in response to the actions taken in the ICC against PM Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant.
It is important to note that even in situations in which President Biden threw Israel under the bus, the U.S. House has always had our back.
Speaking of President Biden
In case you missed it, President Biden just ordered the Pentagon to release 11 prisoners in Guantanamo Cuba to the country of Oman.
Most of those being released are terrorists from Yemen.
What do you think will happen when they arrive in Oman?
Within an hour they will be on a plane to Sana’a where they can rejoin the Houthis.
A few hours after arriving in Yemen, they will begin participating in the Houthi missile firing against American vessels and against Israel.
Sometimes, the insanity of the Biden Administration defies comprehension.
And so it goes this morning in Israel . . . so far . . .
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.