As of this writing, the number of Israeli soldiers killed in action since the beginning of the ground offensive stands at 48. 

The war: In addition to capturing the building housing the parliament of Hamas, members of the elite Golani Brigade also captured the Hamas military headquarters and displayed the Israel flag. The IDF is moving slowly and cautiously, but steadily, striking some 200 Hamas targets since yesterday. These targets included naval assets, command posts, anti-tank missile launch pads and weapons product facilities. This same unit. the Golan Brigade, lost 41 of its members in the Hamas massacre of Black Saturday. 

As a result of the advances made by the IDF in the northern Gaza Strip, the frequency and number of rockets launched from the enclave have diminished considerably, although not entirely, as Hamas still managed to fire off a number of missiles towards Ashkelon today, as well as towards Tel Aviv, south and central Israel. It’s cousin, the Hezbollah, continues to be an increasing annoyance in the north, causing the IDF to become occupied in retaliatory strikes.

The IDF is highly motivated in pursuing the twin goals of eliminating Hamas and returning all of the hostages who were taken captive on 7th October. After Rantisi Children’s Hospital came under the control of Israeli forces, a tunnel was discovered under the hospital, which is believed to be one of the locations where the hostages, or at least some of the younger hostages, were held. On the floor of the basement, the IDF found diapers, a baby bottle, women’s clothing and a rope tied to a chair. In the same location, among other things, a cache of weapons was discovered, including rockets, grenades and explosive belts. The tunnel led to the home of a senior Hamas naval commander. A 6-minute video of a walk-through of the tunnel by the IDF Spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, is included in this report .

Hostages: The on again – off again “negotiations” regarding the release of the hostages still leaves the Israeli public without answers regarding the whereabouts of the hostages and their physical condition. While the International Red Cross is supposed to finally get into the picture, it is doubtful that it will accomplish much. The negotiations are complicated by the number and identity of the “players”. It is believed that of the 238 individuals being held hostage (one less than yesterday, following the disclosure that one was killed – apparently after being abducted), Hamas is holding about 180, some 40 are being held by “Palestinian” Islamic Jihad (“PIJ”) and about 20 are being held by unaffiliated, and unknown, mob families. While some reports indicate that a deal can be reached within the next few days, that report, like many before it, appears to be unfounded, at least for the moment. Approximately two hours before the posting of this update, Ziad Nakhaleh, the PIJ chief, said that “the conduct of negotiations with regard to the hostages that we detain and Israel’s reactions will probably push the Islamic Jihad out of the deal…Islamic Jihad can keep its hostages [while waiting] for better conditions.” The “conditions” mentioned by Nakhaleh remain undisclosed. And, after 5 and a half weeks of war, the identities and fate of most of the hostages held by Hamas, the PIJ and the “unaffiliated, and unknown, mob families” remain unknown.

Notwithstanding the position taken by the PIJ, according to a report by the Reuters News Agency and Israel Hayom , the spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas (headed up by Yehya Sinwar, who is Number 1 on Israel’s “Most Wanted List”), said that the terrorist group discussed the freeing of 70 hostages in exchange for a 5-day truce, which “should include a complete ceasefire and allow aid and humanitarian relief everywhere in the Gaza Strip.” The Jerusalem Post put it slightly differently, reporting that Hamas said that it was “ready to release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza”in exchange for a five-day truce with Israel . 

The number of hostages agreed to be released by Hamas increases with the IDF’s military gains, which is an excellent reason for Israel to keep the pressure on and not make any concessions. However, the demand by relatives and non-relatives for the return of the hostages is becoming more vocal daily and they are lashing out at the government, believing that Israel is not pursuing serious negotiations to free the hostages. Efforts to gain international support are also increasing, as photos of the hostages are being posted on web sites, social media, lamp posts, bulletin boards, trucks and on a vast number of other locations. Yet, the Israeli government has repeatedly indicated that there will be no break in the fighting without the return of ALL the hostages. With some hostages being held by two terrorist organizations and some by a number of “unaffiliated, and unknown, mob families”, the question naturally arises whether the release of ALL of the hostages is even possible. 

Who we are missing!! Photos of the hostages, from the youngest to the oldest, male, female, civilian and military, Jew and non-Jew are being printed, distributed and posted in countries around the world. The efforts of the families affected and those who are working alongside with them want these pictures to be part of everyone’s thoughts. A photo array can be seen here. But, not everyone wants the posters to be displayed and there are widespread, ongoing efforts to remove the posters, or tear them down. As noted by Emily Benedek, in her article The Art of the Teardown, appearing in Tablet Magazine, where she quotes another writer: “There is no possible justification for such heartlessness,” wrote Jeff Jacoby in The Boston Globe. “The whole purpose of the fliers is to heighten awareness of the Israeli (and other) civilians kidnapped by the Hamas terror squads—to put names and faces to the hostages, all with one goal: to bring them back home. How can a project so heartfelt and humane trigger such a poisonous response?

“The barbarity of the Hamas attack on innocents was thus impossible for those who hate Jews to process, so they didn’t. Rather, they attempted to deny the evidence by throwing away photos of the real-life Jewish victims, in a vain yet chilling attempt to resolve their own logical impasses. “Precisely because the massacre and abductions had been so unspeakably horrific, Jeff Jacoby wrote, “it was necessary to reinforce the narrative of Jewish villainy.”

Her article is worth reading, as it gives an insight into the mindset of the anti-Israel and pro-“Palestinian” throng, and reveals various reasons concocted by people in an attempt to justify their efforts to remove from sight, and therefore from mind, the reality that war crimes were committed by Hamas, by “Palestinian” Islamic Jihad, and by presently nameless “Palestinians”, who aligned themselves fully and completely with the atrocities committed on Black Saturday.

Keeping the focus on the real inhumanity: In a further effort to keep the atrocities of the 7th of October in the forefront of the eyes and minds of people who can influence other people, Israel screened a video of the slaughter and barbarity to members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The screening of the approximately 45-minute graphic video was organized by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It left lawmakers stunned and in shock. Some were visibly shaken, others were openly crying and trying to comfort one another. Some left the screening in tears shortly after it began. Present at the screening were some members of the House who are pushing for a ceasefire in the present Gaza war. 

At least for some of those who were in attendance, the screening accomplished its purpose. According to Jewish Insider, one representative commented: “How anyone could call for a cease-fire after watching that — they’re not understanding what is actually happening.” Another representative said, in part: “Seeing the video footage of people celebrating the killing of Jews shows what we’re up against. And the fact that anybody would encourage or condone what Hamas did that day. It’s outrageous…It’s unbelievable seeing footage like that in the year 2023, in places we’ve all been.” Many compared the content of the video to the Holocaust, while some responded with “Never Again” and “Israel must do everything it needs to do to obliterate Hamas. Period”, as well as “I think it’s important to see and to make sure that our colleagues see because there should be no mistake about what Hamas is.” The U.S. Senate will be given the opportunity to see the video and experience its own abhorrence and revulsion this coming Thursday.

Maybe after both houses of Congress have viewed the barbarity of Hamas in real time, and the atrocities will be imprinted in their memory banks, that they will act to decrease the pressure from the U.S. for Israel to be kind to our local terrorists.

The Dry Bones Blog, 24 October, 2023 <blog@mrdrybones.com>

And lastly, a timely word of wisdom about … bacon!

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing!

Marvin