War Summary, Day 667: Netanyahu, ministers, and IDF debating the next steps, Hamas moves to put Israel in a psychological corner, troops in Gaza systematically destroying Hamas infrastructure, 23,000 tons of aid delivered to Gaza, Houthis launch 3 UAVs at Israel, and IDF operates to keep weapons out of Syrian border area.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

50 held captive in Gaza.
28 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
57 hostage bodies rescued.
1,916 Israelis killed.
459 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
32,360 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Netanyahu, ministers, and IDF debating the next steps
– Hamas moves to put Israel in a psychological corner
– Troops in Gaza systematically destroying Hamas infrastructure
– 23,000 tons of aid delivered to Gaza
– Houthis launch 3 UAVs at Israel
– IDF operates to keep weapons out of Syrian border area

Hostages:

Israel is at a major crossroad, and Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government cabinet need to decide what is next. Their next meeting and vote is scheduled for Tuesday (as of now).

Sources told Israel Hayom that Israel and the U.S. have come to the understanding that Hamas is not interested in a deal. Because of this, the source says that Netanyahu is pushing for a military solution that will return the hostages and defeat Hamas, while providing humanitarian aid in Hamas-free zones.

Some cabinet ministers, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, are pushing for a plan to encourage voluntary immigration—but this plan is facing difficulties, since no third country has committed to opening their borders to Gazans.

When it comes to defeating Hamas while saving the hostages, there is a disagreement over the method. In one method, which builds upon the method until now, the plan is to surround and siege Hamas strongholds where hostages are being held, until the individual terrorists surrender and hand over the hostages. The other method is to enter all areas by force, attempting to rescue the hostages in operations, while immediately eliminating all terrorists.

The first method will be very slow, with no guarantees, and has largely failed until now. It would only be different this time if the civilians evacuate to the Hamas-free areas, and Israel isn’t coerced into delivering aid to Hamas once their food supplies run out. The second method is quicker, and has a near guarantee of destroying Hamas, but there is a high risk that the hostages will be killed by Hamas.

***

After two horrific videos of emaciated hostages, Hamas’s spokesman in Gaza, Abu Obeida, published a cynical offer:

“Al-Qassam Brigades [Hamas] is ready to respond positively to any request from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food and medicine to the enemy prisoners.

“We stipulate for such cooperation a permanent opening of humanitarian corridors for uninterrupted delivery of food and medicine to all our people across Gaza, and a complete cessation of all enemy aerial operations during prisoners’ [hostages] supply transfers.

“Al-Qassam Brigades don’t deliberately starve prisoners [hostages], but they receive the same rations of food as our mujahideen [terrorists] and civilians receive. They won’t be offered special privileges while our people suffer starvation and siege.”

Of course, Abu Obeida is taking the world for fools—even in Hamas’s own video, a strong and healthy arm of a terrorist is seen. The terrorists are known to have large food supplies in the tunnels, and as previously released hostages report, the terrorists eat excessively while intentionally starving the hostages.

Now he also relies on the fools to think that his offer is kind. But at it’s core, he’s demanding unchecked deliveries of supplies to Hamas, and free mini ceasefires during which Hamas can reposition and move around hostages unseen—in exchange for zero guarantee that Hamas will actually deliver anything from the ICRC to the hostages.

Hamas’s offer here is meant to force Israel between a rock and a hard place: Either look like the government is refusing an opportunity to send food and medicine to starving hostages, or allow Hamas a significant tactical advantage with no guarantees of any return.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes!

While the political echelon and top IDF brass deliberate over the next moves in Gaza, troops on ground are focusing on deepening their accomplishments in areas deemed safe to operate. This ensures that whatever comes next, Hamas can’t easily retake control of lost ground.

This is a methodical process: Before approaching, search each area with drones, and destroy any risks from afar. Then approach and search more closely. Any building with signs of use by Hamas—from tunnel shafts, weapons storage, sniper points, etc, is then destroyed. This is usually over 90% of the infrastructure. Soldiers also search for more tunnel shafts which may have been missed. There is always a shocking number of tunnel shafts.

Buildings are destroyed either by airstrikes, tank fire, or bulldozers. Lately, the Air Force has been using newer bombs designed to destroy large blocks of Hamas infrastructure in one powerful explosion—but this is a new development and still limited in supply.

In rare occasions, buildings are destroyed with planted explosives. This was done more frequently in the past, out of necessity, when the previous U.S. administration held back deliveries of bombs and bulldozers purchased by Israel. It is very dangerous and too many soldiers were killed when explosives detonated too soon.

Humanitarian Aid:

Over the past week, over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid on 1,200 trucks entered Gaza.
1,200 trucks were successfully collected by the UN and international organizations.

Despite this progress, the IDF says that hundreds of trucks remain inside Gaza, waiting to be picked up and distributed by the UN and international organizations.

Today, in cooperation with the IDF, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, France, Germany, and Belgium dropped a total of 136 pallets of aid over Gaza, to deliver directly to civilians.

Separately, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distributed over 1.5 million meals today. Since May, the GHF has delivered nearly 105 million meals in Gaza, without allowing Hamas to steal a single truck. The UN still refused to work with the GHF.

Yemen:

The Houthis in Yemen launched three UAVs (attack drones) towards Israel. Two fell short long before reaching Israel. The third was intercepted over Bnei Netzarim, in southern Israel.

Syria:

In an overnight operation, IDF forces in Syria raided four areas simultaneously. The troops interrogated suspects in weapons trafficking, and located numerous weapons that the suspected were trading, right on Israel’s border.

Division 210 is stationed on Syria’s southern border, where their mission is to prevent the establishment of terror groups in the area from where they could be a threat to Israel’s border towns.

Dedicated to my sons, Noah and Yehoshua, by an Anonymous reader.

WATCH:

Watch a terrorist launch mortars at IDF troops from inside a tent in a designated humanitarian zone. Published today.

From Netanyahu today.