Shalom all,
Israel Update – Day 30 of the War.

As of this writing, the number of Israeli soldiers killed in action since the beginning of the ground offensive stands at 33.

Hamas supporters try to downplay the use of civilian facilities to hide rocket launchers and olisther weapons. But, the IDF is constantly finding new locations of weapons in civilian areas. Today, they found a Hamas rocket launcher complex near an amusement park and swimming pool in the Gaza Strip. See the videos <https://www.timesofisrael.com/> and <https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byhz3xr76#autoplay>. Some things just speak for themselves and need no further comment.

While Israel does everything possible to minimize civilian casualties, Hamas does just the opposite. Israel notified civilians to vacate areas in the northern Gaza Strip and to move south, where there is sufficient food and medical supplies and to get out of harm’s way. Hamas threatened the civilians who wanted to leave the northern area and even killed some, apparently as a demonstration of what would happen to other civilians, if they listened to the IDF. <https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryjyna7qa>.

Following the interrogation of Hamas terrorists who were involved in the massacre of Black Shabbat and who were captured by the IDF, it was learned that the attack was actually planned to take place earlier this year during the Passover celebration, particularly during the Seder meal. It was delayed by Iran for reasons probably related to the negotiations with the U.S. that freed up some $6 billion. The October date was most likely chosen because of its proximity to the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and because it was on the most joyful holiday of the year. <https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-771830#771830> Apparently, the original intention was to do a repeat of the Passover Eve Massacre that took place at the Park Hotel in Netanya, in 2002.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, met with “Palestinian” Authority President, Mahmud Abbas, today and discussed, among other things, the P.A.’s possible assumption of responsibility of the Gaza Strip after Hamas is eliminated. Abbas again declared, “We will fully assume our responsibilities within the framework of a comprehensive political solution that includes all of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.” <https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/palestinian-territories/1699189071-abbas-pa-s-return-to-gaza-depends-on-comprehensive-solution-to-conflict> In other words, they want to establish an independent “Palestinian” state in the heartland of Israel that is connected to the Gaza enclave. Such a move will effectively create a corridor across Israel from the southwest to east by northeast, that will divide Israel into north and south of the “Palestinian” state. From a worldly, political point of view, that would be setting the stage for a repeat of the 7th of October, only this time with armed militants already in the middle of the country. Additionally, Abbas constantly makes commitments that are never fulfilled. This one, to “fully assume [their] responsibilities” is just another empty commitment that will be filed away alongside the multitude of empty commitments made by officials of the P.A. over the years. The reality is that the P.A. does not even fulfill its responsibilities now to its own people in the area of Judea and Samaria and the likelihood that it would able to do so in Gaza is nil.

The war is ongoing in Gaza and it is expected that the IDF will totally encircle Gaza City within the next 48 hours. The fighting will then take on a new dimension in order to force Hamas out of its holes. Urban warfare will, of necessity, be slow and carefully planned out before executed. 

Hamas supporters tend to grab hold of certain “statistics”, which they play like a broken record. But, when push comes to shove, they usually fail in their arguments because of lack of knowledge and outright falsehoods. When pushed hard enough, they will admit that the “Palestinians” claim that “all” of Israel is their land. Attached is a link to a short debate worth watching and listening to. <https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSNDxHPaW/> Listen to the incredible lack of historical knowledge at 2:44-2:46 minutes into the debate, and then to the admission made at the end by the person debating against Ben Shapiro. His arguments were to the point and factual and his questions back to the female debater were cogent and elicited the sought-after admissions.

One more interview, conducted a little over a week ago, is very much worth listening to. This time, it is conducted by Piers Morgan, who interviewed Mosab Hassan Yousef, more widely known as “Son of Hamas.” Yousef is totally pro-Israel and anti-Hamas. Pay attention to the questions asked by the interviewer. Yousef’s responses included, among other things, that Hamas “opened up the gates of hell on the Palestinian people [and] “Hamas’s cause is a sick one …only God knows what will happen text, if Hamas is not finished.” <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8YYmrgAeqw>. If you know someone who is blaming Israel for every evil in the Middle East, forward these two interviews to them.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing,
Marvin