Yom Shnee
Monday
24 Tishrei 5784
October 9 2023
UPDATE 8:30 PM
Updated toll: 900 Israelis are dead and 2600 are wounded.
The IDF has released the names of 12 more IDF soldiers who have died–bringing to 85 the total number.
35 policemen and policewomen have also died.
What happened in Lebanon this afternoon has become clearer: 10-12 terrorists infiltrated in two squads. Three were killed, it was feared that one fled to Lebanon, several were injured, one of them critically and another seriously. The Islamic Jihad took responsibility.
Hamas is upset because the IDF has apparently ceased giving warnings before bombing Hamas-related buildings, and says that it will execute a hostage each time it happens.
Terrorists seem to be active between Kibbutz Mishmar Hanegev and Rahat. Another alert has been issued for Zikim.
According to military sources, more than 1,000 terrorists have been killed.
UPDATE 6:30 PM
The Siman Tov family: Yonatan and Tamar and their 3 children Shachar, Arbel, and Omer–one of many families massacred by Palestinian terrorists on Saturday. They lived in Nir Oz. It is believed that they were ordered out of their bomb shelter and shot one by one in the head.
The first of hundreds of burials took place today.
Central and southern Israel have been hit once again by heavy volleys of missiles in the last two hours fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. In the most recent volleys:
*There were direct hits in Beitar Illit near Jerusalem. 8 Israelis were wounded.
*A missile hit a mosque in Abu Ghosh.
*A missile hit an undisclosed location in Ramallah.
Two American Hercules have landed in Israel in the past few hours presumably bringing munitions.
UPDATE 4:30 PM
Terrorists have now infiltrated into Kibbutz Sufa close to the Gaza and Egyptian borders and are being engaged by IDF forces.
Another attempt by terrorists to infiltrate at Zikim has been thwarted.
A Lt. Col in Israeli special forces reports that his soldiers have killed hundreds of terrorists in the Gaza border communities.
Click here to see Israeli aircraft hitting an area around the Islamic University in Gaza.
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The world reacts . . .
The European Union, Germany, and Austria have suspended all funds to the Palestinians.
Azerbaijan and Albania, two predominantly Muslim countries, have announced that they stand beside Israel.
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We’ve made little mention of Iran since the war began, but there is no doubt that Iran has supplied the expertise and some of the materiel for the terrorists. A large number of news outlets have reported that Iran gave Hamas “the green light” for the attack last Monday in Beirut.
And there is virtually no doubt that Iran has given Hezbollah the go ahead to carry out attacks in the north. Simply speaking, Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah doesn’t get out of bed in his bunker every morning unless Tehran gives him permission.
OneIsrael mentions this because sirens for incoming missiles have sounded on the Israel-Lebanon border in the last hour–though the circumstances remain unclear. What is clear is that a terrorist infiltration from Lebanon took place near Yeara and was repulsed. 3 Israelis were wounded.
The residents of Kiryat Shmona have been told to stay inside and lock their doors.
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It was thought for a few fleeting hours earlier today that we might have a unity government of sorts which would see Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, and even Avigdor Liberman sign on.
“Of sorts” because at least in Gantz and Liberman’s case, they indicated that they might be willing to join “outside the government”–in other words, to support the government without being actually part of it.
But what should have one second to decide in the midst of this national emergency has gotten bogged down in politics with Gantz in particular making extraordinary demands for his participation (he demands an absolute veto on any military decisions and the exclusion of Cabinet members from decision making!). Only Liberman’s offer seems unconditional–he merely wants Netanyahu and Gallant to make a public statement that they are committed to the utter destruction of Hamas.
We’ll see what evolves in the coming hours but this is no time to be playing politics.
UPDATE 2:00 PM
The death total has risen to 800 Israelis murdered.
ZAKA teams have entered Kibbutz Be’eri. So far, they have found 20 murdered Israelis. The collection of bodies is going slowly because the terrorists booby-trapped houses.
An amazing post from a combat helicopter pilot who just finished fighting for 48 straight hours gives us our first picture of what the fighting has been like:
“I just finished 48 hours in the squadron, sending here to convey the situation to you from the field.
We were also caught by surprise, the first helicopter formation took off for the Gaza border area about 45 minutes after the breach of the fence. All the pilots came directly from home, grabbed helicopters, and just took off to the area, without knowing what was happening.
We arrived and it was madness! A breached fence, no one to talk to, full of targets. It looked like a zombie attack from the movies. We identified and eliminated tens to hundreds of terrorists in the first hours.
We hit tractors on the fence, motorcycles with armed men, ISIS-style vans, and dozens of terrorists who walked.
. . . We fired all the missiles and shells, returned to the base to arm ourselves, and took off again, and again, and again. Personally, I was in the air for 12 hours in the first 24 hours.
I’ve been flying operational for 25 years, I’ve never experienced anything like this, not in Lebanon, not in 2014. The terrorists came prepared for us; they made anti-aircraft missile ambushes, fired anti-aircraft missiles and what not.
Later, when troops arrived, we worked directly with the fighters on the ground, fought like lions; we did crazy close assistance: firing missiles inside kibbutzim at terrorists, accompanying our soldiers with fire and attacking non-stop.
I never imagined that we would have to use fire inside the territory of the State of Israel!
The ground forces fought like lions, and we worked closely with them to provide protection.
The most important thing right now is that civilians not walk around the area, not use vehicles because the military control in the area is getting tighter, so any vehicle that is not in contact with the army can be marked as terrorist.
You can all be very proud of all our fellow pilots and our brothers who are fighting on the ground. A little more and we will have full control of the area.”
Kolakevod to this brave pilot and all of his comrades and our troops on the ground!
UPDATE 1:00 PM
A massive series of terrorist missile volleys hit here in Ashdod and elsewhere in southern and central Israel at 12:35 pm.
There were 4 direct hits in Ashdod—all within a mile of our house. A 50-year-old woman was critically wounded.
As always, we ran to the bomb shelter when the sirens suddenly screamed out–and I started recording on my phone . . .… you can click here to see and hear what happened next. Please note that the “clicking noises” you hear in the bomb shelter were actually concussive blasts over the house. We were sure that our house had been hit, but fortunately it wasn’t.
UPDATE 12:00 PM
It’s about time . . . Defense Minister Gallant just issued this statement:
“I have ordered a total siege on Gaza. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly. I ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.”
Thank goodness that we have finally come to our senses.
Can you even begin to imagine the tragedy that has befallen Israel?
More Israelis were murdered on one day, Saturday (at least 750), than in the 2006 war with Hezbollah (165), and the 1982 Lebanon War (654).
The IDF Spokesman at 11:30:
“The IDF is now in full control of the Israeli communities along the Gaza border, but there still may be terrorists in the area. It’s now time to go on the attack.”
It is estimated by the IDF that 40 terrorists are still at large.
There has been another attempt to infiltrate by sea the Israel base at Zikim (just south of Ashkelon). The terrorists were killed.
It has become tragically obvious that a number of kibbutzim were completely destroyed such as Nir Oz and Be’eri.
300,000 reservists have been called up–the largest reserve call up in history.
Sderot has been without electricity and water since Saturday.
Israel has partially reopened Ben Gurion Airport–the announcement: “Today 222 international flights from the following destinations will land in Israel (partial list): Greece: 29 incoming flights; Turkey: 29 incoming flights; Cyprus: 25 incoming flights; Italy: 13 incoming flights; USA: 11 incoming flights; United Arab Emirates: 11 incoming flights; Spain: 10 incoming flights; Germany: 9 incoming flights; France: 8 incoming flights; United Kingdom: 6 incoming flights.”
There are reports from all over the world of Israelis desperate to return to Israel to serve in the IDF reserves. For example, this morning 200 Israelis in Sri Lanka pleaded for a plane to bring them home.
Places to donate.
There are many wonderful organizations who are on the front lines trying to save Israelis. You might want to donate to one:
Magen David Adom MDA: Israel’s national emergency service. In the past few days alone, a number of MDA personnel attempting to save wounded Israelis have been murdered by terrorists. You can donate here.
ZAKA: this is the group that evacuates wounded and recovers bodies. They just issued a statement that they are running out of protective equipment, helmets, gloves, body bags, and other equipment. Here is where you can donate.
UPDATE 10:00 AM
It is infuriating to hear senior members of the government led by PM Netanyahu describe the purpose of this war as to “degrade the capabilities of Hamas to the point that they cannot attack us”.
Degrade the capabilities? How many times have we heard this horse manure before over the years?
Hamas needs to be wiped off the face of the planet.
What evolved in the last decade was the idiotic idea that Hamas was the good guy and Islamic Jihad the bad guy. What has happened in the last 48 hours has forever laid that humanitarian/liberal nonsense to rest.
Hamas is just as evil as it ever was. Hamas is populated by barbaric murderers who enslave women and children, massacre whole families and communities, and even cut off the heads of children in those communities (yes, there are plenty of such photos on gleeful Palestinian media today).
Once again, Hamas needs to be wiped off the face of the planet–not degraded.
An outpouring of support in Israel and around the world . . .
It has been heartening to see the communities around Israel that have rallied in support of those in the South. The residents of numerous Druze communities have called on southern Israelis to come live with them. Countless hotels have opened their doors. Long lines of blood donors are in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The ultra-orthodox community has set up donation and help centers in their neighborhoods.
And what about the Israeli flag on British government buildings, the Eiffel Tower, the Brandenburg Gate, and other locations–all support is gratefully appreciated at this dark hour.
In the last hour:
IDF forces have killed 2 terrorists in a shootout in Sderot, and 4 more terrorists in another firefight in Sha’ar Hanegev.
Three more missile volleys struck southern Israel in the last hour.
Terror in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem
In the last 24 hours, here are some of the terror attacks on Israelis:
Palestinian terrorists in a vehicle opened fire on Israelis near Efrat.
An explosive drone exploded over Sde Ephraim this morning.
A Palestinian terrorist driving a large tractor tried to run over soldiers at Hevron. He was shot and killed.
A Palestinian terrorist tried to stab Israelis at the Jerusalem Tunnel Checkpoint. He was shot and killed.
Two terrorists armed with knives and disguised as Jews (wearing a kipa and Star of David necklace) were captured at a Pisgat Ze’ev synagogue in municipal Jerusalem just prior to an attack.
Palestinian terrorists fired at Israeli security forces at the Qalandiya Crossing.
Palestinian terrorists fired at the Hinanit community in northern Samaria.
Palestinian terrorists fired at Israelis at Kiryat Arba.
Palestinian terrorists fired at Israelis at the Sheep Junction near Hatmar Yehuda.
UPDATE 8:00 AM
Six “hotspots” where Hamas terrorists are firing on Israelis still exist along the Gaza Border: Be’eri, Nirim, Alumim, Sha’ar Hanegev, Nir Oz, and Holit.
The IDF attacked 800 targets in Gaza last night; here in Ashdod we heard the roar of planes and concussive blasts of bombs all night long. But, as we have written before, we are no longer interested in how many targets were hit and how many buildings were destroyed, we want to know how many terrorists we have killed.
Another 16 IDF soldiers have been murdered.
At least 150 Israelis have been kidnapped to Gaza.
The death toll remains “at least 750” with more than 2,400 wounded.
Another 250 missiles were fired at southern Israel overnight–bringing the total fired to more than 5,000 since the war began (although one estimate this morning is that 11,000+ have been fired). It is believed that Islamic Jihad and Hamas still have 25,000 missiles in their arsenal.
New information from two days ago:
The Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist commando force (Nuvka) that entered Israel numbered between 800 and 1000.
They breached the security fence in 80 places—these breaches are still wide open.
They infiltrated 20 communities.
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.