The Gaza War Day 320; The War in the North

Yom Reva’ee

Wednesday

17 Av 5784

August 21 2024

 

May Their Memories Be For A Blessing

As everyone knows by now, the bodies of the six men above were “rescued” by IDF and Shin Bet Forces from a deep tunnel under the “Humanitarian Area” near Khan Younis in central Gaza. It was a complex operation which involved going down multiple booby trapped tunnels.

The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition and had to be identified at the Abu Kabir Forensics Lab.

How the men were murdered is still unknown. The family of Yoram Metzger say that they were told by the IDF that he was shot. Other reports suggest suffocation from a fire in the tunnel. It was reported last night that the bodies of 4 terrorists were also found.

This morning there is a full-on search for more bodies, and some news media have said that already two more bodies have been found. This is completely unconfirmed. 

Following are descriptions of these men who were murdered by HamISIS which were released to the media:

Haim Perry:

“The 80-year-old was kidnapped on the morning of October 7th from Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was an entrepreneur and peace activist who contributed with his activities to the development of culture and art in the Western Negev. He was the father of five children and the grandfather of 13 grandchildren. His wife, Asanat, is the chairman of the kibbutz’s board of directors who survived the massacre after she says her husband saved her life in the terrorist events of October 7.”

Yagav Buchstab:

“The 35-year-old from Kibbutz Nirim was kidnapped together with his wife Rimon Kirsht Buchstab, who was released in the kidnap deal in November, after 50 days in captivity. On July 22, it was announced that his death was determined to be in the custody of Hamas. The people of Nirim described Buchstab as a humble and simple man, who loved life in the kibbutz. As a sound technician by profession, he had a strong passion for music, and from a young age he played the guitar and bagpipe as well as other instruments, some of which he built himself. With his wife Rimon, he raised five dogs and five cats, some of which he collected for rehabilitation.”

Nadav Poplewell:

“The 51-year-old was the son of Hana Perry, who was released from Hamas captivity, and the brother of Roy, who was murdered on October 7. Last May, Hamas published Popplewell’s first photograph from captivity, in the shadow of the negotiations for the hostage deal that took place last month. On June 3, it was announced that he had been killed in Hamas captivity.”

Alex Danzig:

“Kidnapped on October 7 from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz; shortly after he had a heart attack and was in a precarious medical condition. He was born in 1948 in Warsaw, Poland, the son of Holocaust survivor parents. In 1957 he immigrated to Israel with his family and later made his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. A historian, educator and farmer, he had Polish citizenship and dedicated his life to Holocaust education. He was one of the founders of the trips to Poland, and in his 30 years of work at Yad Vashem, he trained thousands of guides to teach about the Holocaust. Kidnappers who were with him in Gaza testified that he spent his time in captivity giving lectures on history to the other abductees. He was a lover of reading and history, and a fan of many sports.”

Yoram Metzger:

“The 80-year-old, a resident of Nir Oz who worked at the Nirlat factory and in recent years at the garage, was the father of three sons and the grandfather of seven grandchildren. Metzger was kidnapped on October 7 with his wife Tami from their home in Nir Oz. Tami, 78 years old, was released as part of the fifth round for the release of abductees. On June 3, it was announced that he had been killed by Hamas.”

How many hostages are left?

After the rescue of the 6 bodies, the government believes that 109 “hostages” are still in Hamas captivity. It is estimated that 57 are alive and 52 are dead. However, as evidenced by recent attempts at a ceasefire/hostage release deal during which Hamas has had trouble coming up with even 33 live hostages, the actual number of dead may be far greater.

Where do the ceasefire/hostage negotiations stand?

All indications this morning are that they are going nowhere fast. Despite the next mini-summit taking place tomorrow and Friday in Cairo, PM Netanyahu made it clear for the hundredth time yesterday that Israeli troops will remain in the Philadelphi and Netzerim Corridors, and Hamas made it clear that there will be no deal until every Israeli soldier leaves Gaza.

What is Israel doing in the face of Hamas intransigence concerning the hostages?

Releasing more captured terrorists back to Gaza. Yesterday morning, Israel released another 40 Gazan terrorists back to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

Just unbelievable.

On the Ground in the North

Yesterday, Defense Minister Gallant stated that the “balance of gravity” has slowly shifted from Gaza to the North.

As well it should in the face of the terror that Hezbollah is unleashing. Yesterday alone more than 100 more missiles and drones exploded all along the border from Rosh HaNikra to the Golan. This morning has already seen a massive attack on the area just north of Tzfat and at Katzrin where 4 direct hits hit homes. So far, one Israeli has been reported wounded.

From the IDF Spokesman this morning:

“Overnight, IAF fighter jets struck a number of Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in the area of Beqaa in Lebanon.

Following the strikes, secondary explosions were identified, indicating the presence of large amounts of weapons in the facilities that were struck. Additionally, the strikes targeted a compound that was used by Hezbollah’s Aerial Defense system and posed a threat to IAF aircrafts . . .

Following the missile attack on the area of Ya’ara yesterday (Tuesday),the IAF struck the Hezbollah launcher from which the projectiles were launched in the area of Abou Chach yesterday (Tuesday).

In addition, the IAF struck a Hezbollah terrorist in the area of Wadi Hamoul in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the IAF struck Hezbollah military structures in the areas of Ayta ash Shab, Ramia, and Tallouseh in southern Lebanon.”

On the Ground in Gaza

The IDF Spokesman concerning the operation to retrieve the six bodies:

“Last night (Monday), the Paratrooper Brigade Combat Team, including the soldiers of the 75th Battalion and the Yahalom Unit, in a joint operation with the ISA, completed the operation to rescue the bodies of hostages in the Khan Yunis area.

In the operation, the bodies of hostages Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Haim Perry and Alexander Dancyg, were rescued and returned to the State of Israel.

During the operation, the forces located a tunnel shaft about 10 meters deep leading to an underground tunnel route where the bodies of the hostages were found. The soldiers of the Yahalom Unit and the ISA investigated the route and neutralized the obstructions, blast doors, weapons, explosives and hideouts used by the terrorists.

The rescue was carried out after prolonged combat in a built-up area and in multi-story buildings, in which the forces carried out operations and searches that led to the elimination of terrorists and the destruction of terrorist infrastructure.

The rescue operation was carried out under the command of the 98th Division and was enabled by accurate intelligence from the ISA, the intelligence units and the Hostage Task Force in the Intelligence Directorate (J2).”

The remarks of IDF Chief of Staff Halevi yesterday concerning the “rescue” of the six bodies:

“Last night, in an operation that didn’t happen by chance, that was based on intelligence that was followed for a very long time and had developed, we had information about a location where our deceased hostages were located, and went to bring them out from a tunnel, ten meters underground, to reach, dig, locate the tunnel, enter, and bring back our people, that we would very much have liked to bring back alive, but even bringing a body for burial in Israel is a very, very important task. It is a mission, and tonight we completed this mission for six of them. We are very determined to fight Hamas, very determined to return all the hostages, whoever we can alive, and we will also be very, very determined and persistent in bringing back those no longer alive for burial in Israel.”

On the Ground in Israel

More information was released yesterday about the failed suicide bomber attack in Tel Aviv several nights ago. The bomb was 8 kg, and the bomber intended to blow up the synagogue.

Apparently, he walked up to the door of the synagogue, was unable to gain entrance, turned around and walked a short distance away, and accidentally blew himself up.

Another terror attack was thwarted on Highway 85 at the Gilon Junction near Karmiel this morning.

And so it goes in Israel this Wednesday morning . . .