Saturday
Yom Shishee
14 Kislev 5785
December 14 2024
Special Notice: OneIsrael’s Chanukah Fund For Soldiers
Chanukah (Hanukkah) begins on December 25 and ends on January 2. We have begun accepting donations for a Chanukah Fund for Our Soldiers. OneIsrael will be working with organizations to lift the spirits of our soldiers by bringing them warm clothing, souvganiot (doughnuts), and latkes.
Please donate by clicking the “donate button” on the right of this page.
The View from Ashdod
We were awakened several times during the night by the sound of planes roaring overhead, presumably on their way to Gaza or Lebanon or Syria. As I write at this moment, there is a drone circling overhead. Is it an Israeli drone or a Houthi drone? We just don’t know.
On the Ground in Gaza
*At 21:42 last night, incoming missile sirens sounded for Sderot and the surrounding area:
A few hours later, the IDF declared it was a false alarm. This declaration came after residents reported hearing 2 explosions.
*At 20:59 last night, incoming missile sirens sounded for the area from the Gaza border to south Ashkelon:
At least 2 missiles were fired out of Gaza by Palestinian terrorists. There were no Israeli injuries; Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
After the Ashkelon missiles, the IDF issued this evacuation order to these areas (in red) of Gaza from which the missiles were fired:
*At 03:27 this morning, the IDF issued this statement:
“A short while ago, with the direction of IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF conducted a precise strike on Hamas terrorists who were planning to commit terror attacks against IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip and against Israeli territory in the immediate future.
The terrorists were operating inside a command and control center embedded within a compound that previously served as the ‘Yaffa’ School in Gaza City.”
Your humble servant assumes that this IAF strike accounts for one of the times we heard planes overhead last night.
On the Ground in Syria
*One of 17 Israeli strikes targeting missile warehouses and Nasiriyah Airport in the Qalamoun mountain outside of Damascus. The targets included tunnel complexes built by the Iranians.
*From the IDF Spokesman yesterday afternoon:
“The 474th Brigade Combat Team, including engineering, armor, paratrooper, and Egoz Unit forces are conducting defensive missions in the Area of Separation in Syrian territory and along the border. The troops have been deployed to strategic positions in the Area of Separation to strengthen defense in the area.
During scans, IDF paratroopers located a variety of weapons, including anti-tank missiles, military vests, ammunition, and additional military equipment.
Simultaneously, the 474th Brigade is strengthening the engineering barrier on the Syrian border and continuing its defensive missions to ensure the security of Israeli citizens, particularly the residents of the Golan Heights.”
*A funny sight: the Russians continued their pullout from Syria yesterday–note the Syrian waving the sole of his shoe at the trucks:
The Photo of the Morning
A photo this morning of the three summits of snowy Mt. Hermon–now under the total control of the IDF.
On this note we will end today’s blog and wish all of our soldiers
and you dear readers:
Shabbbat Shalom!
(Please don’t forget to donate to our Chanukah Fund for Soldiers)
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.