Yom Shleeshee

Tuesday

21 Tevet 5784

January 2 2024

UPDATE 10:00 PM

Follow-up To The Elimination of Al-Arouri in Beirut

There are conflicting announcements about how many were killed in the attack (ranging from 4-7) and who else was killed. Hezbollah is already threatening to attack Israel with long-range missiles. We will see what the night will bring.

IDF Announcement

Sgt. Sufian Dagash, 21, from Magar, a fighter in the 601st Engineering Battalion, ‘Designing the Iron Tracks’ (401), fell in battle in northern Gaza.

May His Memory Be For A Blessing

PTSD

More than 1,600 IDF soldiers have developed symptoms of PTSD since the ground operation in  Gaza began about two months ago according to data from the IDF.  According to that data, 76% of the soldiers returned to combat after initial treatment by soldiers in the field or by mental health officers attached to the units which constantly monitor the soldiers. 

Missile Fire Today

In the South:

Kissufim (21:32); Sderot, Nir Am (17:48)

In the North:

Matat (17:57); Shlomi (17:38); Misgav Am (15:36); Arab Al Aramshe (15:25; Iftach, Mt. Hermon Regional Council, Ramot Naftali (11:20).

Can You Believe This?

How quickly Israel slips back into its pre-October 7 ideas.

This morning, a directive went out from the Faculty of Computer Science at Tel Aviv University that lecturers should not come to class wearing the dogtags remembering the hostages or any mention of “Together We Will Win” because it “may cause a discussion about the war and evoke harsh reactions.”

Tonight the families of hostages went to TAU and handed out dogtags to everyone on campus.

WARNING! WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!

WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!

This update contains a particularly gory photograph.

UPDATE 7:00 PM

Breaking News

Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy of Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Lebanon. He was in charge of the activities of the military wing of Hamas in Judea and Samaria and the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas. He was a founding member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (which means that we will almost certainly receive missiles tonight). He is the most senior HamISIS figure killed to date.

Warning!Warning!Warning!Warning!Warning!Warning!Warning!Warning!

What was left of al-Arouri after a missile fired from a drone hit his location:

Observations

9 Reasons Why We Think The War In Gaza Is Winding Down

1. Because the IDF says so. The IDF spokesman says that while intense fighting continues in Khan Younis–and perhaps Rafah, other locations have been “cleaned.” While we don’t necessarily believe that, Defense Minister Galant says that we are moving to targeted “raids” in northern Gaza and elsewhere–with many of those raids originating from outside of Gaza.

2. Because politics is replacing war as the main conversation in the country. The trump card that the High Court of Justice played yesterday invalidating the “Reasonableness Amendment” was specifically designed to revive the anti-government protest movement, and today has seen its leaders suddenly popping up and doing just that.

3. Because the government is redefining what “total victory over Hamas” means. Obviously when government and IDF spokespeople come out and say that years from now the residents of the Gaza border communities will still be hit by missiles from Gaza, this is not the promised total destruction of the terrorists.

4. Because the feeling of unified national anger in the weeks after October 7 is fading. Fewer flags are on cars, on buildings, and elsewhere. This fading unity bodes poorly for continued fighting.

5. Because the northern border with Lebanon continues to ominously loom. So far, it has been mainly tit for tat, but there seems to be a growing recognition that something has to be done about Hezbollah or else northern Israel will be depopulated.

6. Because our government is not able to standup to the international pushes for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. It is simply impossible to eradicate HamISIS while supplying them with all the necessities of life. Everyone here believes that Israel has become a vassal state of the United States, and that Joe Biden is running the war.

7. Because despite all of our efforts, we have been unable to rescue one hostage from the tunnels. Whatever else you want to say about HamISIS, it has done a masterful job of burying the hostages underground in Gaza. We earnestly pray that a successful rescue mission will happen, but it seems less likely as time goes by.

8. Because despite all of our efforts, all of the most senior leaders of HamISIS and Islamic Jihad are alive and well. We seem no closer to eliminating Sinwar, Haniyeh and others that we were 3 months ago. Update: perhaps the killing of Al-Arouri tonight will turn the tide.

9. Because the media’s nonstop playing of soldier funerals and pieces on hostages has traumatized Israel. This is a country with PTSD.

 —-

Special Announcement:

As regular readers know, OneIsrael has been giving 4 updates daily since the beginning of the war. Beginning tomorrow, we are going to scale that back to one a day. The fact is that the IDF tightly restricts what can be reported from Gaza, and in the north we have a daily back and forth with Hezbollah.