Yom Shleeshee
Tuesday
8 Kislev 5784
November 21 2023
UPDATE 6:00 PM
A momentous night here in Israel: a hostage deal is on the table. It is being considered by the War Cabinet at this moment, the Political-Security Cabinet at 7 pm, and the entire Cabinet at 8 pm.
The details of the deal remain vague, but apparently are mainly:
*the release of 53 women and children “live” hostages in return 150 Palestinian prisoners–female and “minor children” (older teenagers). The only hostages released will be those with an Israeli identity card.
*these hostages and prisoners will be released in groups (supposedly around 10 hostages per day) during a 4-5 day “truce” (aka ceasefire)
*the truce (aka ceasefire) may be extended by 2 days dependent on the release of more hostages
*Israel agrees to bring 300 trucks of humanitarian aid per day, as well as fuel for hospitals
*Israel agrees to stop gathering intel from the air (via drones and aircraft) for 6 hours every day of the truce
On the Ground in the North today
The IAF killed Khalil Haraz, the Deputy Head of HamISIS in Lebanon, this afternoon in a missile strike on the car in which he was riding. Another 3 terrorists were killed at the same time.
Amputees
The Ministry of Health revealed today that 200 severely wounded Israelis from the massacres on October 7 are in rehabilitation. 30 of these are amputees.
Missiles and Mortars So Far Today
In the center and south:
Netiv Ha’Asara (04:13); Nirim, Nir Oz (12:59); Mivtahim, Yesha (13:02); Ein Hashlosha (14:45); Kfar Aza, Saad (14:57); Ashkelon (16:55)
In the north:
Kibbutz Dan, Dafna (07:21); Baram (11:20); Beit Hillel, Kiryat Shmona (16:05); Beit Hillel, Kiryat Shmona (16:10); Hanita, Yaara (16:15)
UPDATE 10:00 AM
On the Ground in Gaza
It has been a busy night and morning.
*The IDF has increased the number and intensity of attacks in central and northern Gaza possibly in advance of the five day ceasefire that is being discussed.
*One focus has been the Nusirat neighborhood.
*Elsewhere, Division 36 forces including Golani fighters, tanks from the 188th Brigade, and engineering forces have nearly completed taking control of the Zeyton neighborhood following 4 days of fierce fighting. Commanders estimate it will take another 72 hours to complete the job at which time the forces will turn toward the Jabaliya neighborhood.
The fighting has taken longer than expected because of the necessity of destroying the tunnels and for another reason. According to Division 36 Commander Brig. Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa: “During the last days of division 36’s fighting in the Zeyton neighborhood, we constantly encountered the enemy hiding behind children and women and behind sensitive civilian infrastructure. The forces of the division, including Golani’s combat team, the combat team of the 188th Armored Brigade and the combat team of the Infantry School Brigade, operated within a complex war scene within the built-up area, exposed the terrorists hiding in the civilian space and eliminated many terrorists.”
*The IDF now has the Jabaliya neighborhood surrounded.
The Shifa Situation
As we reported last night, the concrete door blocking the underground tunnel area at the hospital has been breached. Reports this morning are that “many things” have been found that have not been revealed to the public.
In the North
In the past two days President Biden’s emissary Amos Hochstein has arrogantly informed Israel that a widened war involving Lebanon is not acceptable to Washington.
In this context, Hochstein has apparently told us that our citizens on the northern border will just have to suffer daily attacks as are happening now.
Apparently, based on the assumption that Hezbollah is not going to expand the war, the IDF General Command has decided to release thousands of reserve soldiers that have been in place in the north since they were called up.
The military censor will not permit disclosure of how many reservists are now going home.
What is the bottom line? Are we going to end up with a situation like we had on the southern border for the last 15 years? Will citizens of Metulla and Kiryat Shmona be willing to return to their homes under these conditions?
And what happens if Hezbollah’s not expanding the war is just a ruse?
Back to a Failed Concept
It was a mere 5 weeks ago that our government declared that at the end of the war a no man’s land would be established between Gaza and Israel.
This morning comes news that the directions for opening fire along the border have been returned to the way they were: “it is forbidden to shoot at ‘unarmed people’ who approach the border fence.”
A Correction?
There are conflicting reports today about whether the laser “Magen Or” system was actually used yesterday.
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.