Shalom all,

As of this writing, the number of Israeli soldiers killed in action since the beginning of the ground offensive stands at 51. 

As the war draws to a close on its 41st day, news reached us that a brother in the Lord who was a member of a local congregation in Haifa fell victim this morning to a terrorist’s bullet. Many of the members of the congregation are personally known to us and this loss hits close to home. Please pray for the family of  “A.F.” during this difficult time of loss. He was 20 years old. The funeral will be held tomorrow at the Military Cemetery in Haifa.

The fighting continues in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including both in and around Al-Shifa Hospital, which is the largest hospital in the enclave that consists of several buildings. Units of the IDF were going building by building and checking floor by floor, while medical staff and hundreds of patients were still present. According to the IDF Spokesman, so far, not a single member of the medical staff was injured in this activity.

The IDF found laptop computers left behind by Hamas that contained significant information, as well as photos of hostages taken after they were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. In addition, stockpiles of weaponry were found, along with a map showing points of entry to, and exits from, the hospital. The IDF spokesman for foreign media said, “At the end of the day, this is just the tip of the iceberg…Hamas aren’t here because they saw we were coming. This [the items found] is probably what they were forced to leave behind. Our assessment is that there’s much more.”

A team from the BBC accompanied the IDF forces going through areas of Al-Shifa Hospital. Ynet News stated that “The report [of the BBC team] said that the soldiers operate with the understanding that there are many more terrorist infrastructures in the compound that are well buried. Already now, after scanning some of the buildings, weapons, intelligence materials, including information related to the events of October 7, military technologies and military equipment, command posts and means of communication all belonging to Hamas have been located….From the moment the hospitals were exposed a few weeks ago, Hamas worked to hide terrorist infrastructure and hide evidence. It is a complex, ongoing and developing activity led by a special unit and new information is constantly being discovered.” The use by Hamas of hospitals as a terror base is a clear violation of international law! But, nobody is doing anything about it.

Among the many things “discovered” was the body of 65-year old Yehudit Weiss, who was one of the hostages taken by Hamas and murdered in Gaza. At the time she was abducted, she was in the middle of treatment for breast cancer. Yehudit’s husband, Shmulik, was murdered in the terrorist massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri. They had five children and five grandchildren. Yehudit completed her studies as a nurse and worked with young children at Kibbutz. Her body was found in a building adjacent to the Al-Shifa Hospital. Following the discovery of Yehudit’s body, the IDF issued a statement, which included, in part: “The national task before our eyes is to locate the missing and return the abducted persons home.”

One of the women who was taken hostage was pregnant and gave birth while in captivity in Gaza. A million thoughts must be going through her mind, as well as the minds of other hostages who may be near her and aware of the birth. Questions arise concerning the well-being of the mother and of the child, of the trauma that must be experienced by members of the family who were looking forward to the arrival of the newborn. What can be done? Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, wrote a letter to Jill Biden, the wife of the U.S. President, stating: “You can only imagine, as I do, what must be going through the young mother’s mind as she is being held with her newborn by these murderers…Hamas also abducted a 10-month-old. A baby. He became kidnapped even before he learned how to walk or talk…We must speak out on behalf of these children [her letter referred also to the 32 children being held hostage by Hamas]…We must call for the immediate release of them and all those being held…This nightmare that began over a month ago must end. These children need our help.” Mrs. Netanyahu sent letters also to the wives of the French President and the British Prime Minister. Maybe you know someone who could, and would be willing to, help.

As the war continues, there are occasional events that will bring a smile to our faces. One of them is that the Israeli Air Force destroyed the home of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas politburo. Haniyeh spends most of his time in a luxury hotel in Qatar, where he maintains an office, protected by the Qataris. We all remember Qatar … the country that is acting as the “impartial mediator” in the “negotiations” for the release of the hostages, in exchange for no small price that Israel will be requested to pay. But, former Israeli Chief of Staff and member of the present War Cabinet, Benny Gantz, said that Israel will eliminate ALL of the Hamas leaders who were responsible for the massacre of Black Saturday, whether they are in Gaza or found elsewhere in the world. Haniyeh’s people destroyed the homes, and lives, of many Israelis. It is only fitting and proper that Israel will destroy Haniyeh’s home, as well as those of other Hamas leaders, and, eventually, the Hamasnikim as well. So, Ismail Haniyeh, your days are numbered … and may that number be small!

Reports from various sources say that Hamas has agreed, in principle, to the release of 50 women and children. The “demand” on Israel is for a 3 to 5 day pause in the fighting and the release of an unspecified number of “Palestinians” held in Israeli prisons. Israel has yet to agree to this. It needs to be remembered that Israel has repeatedly said that there will be no pause in the fighting without the return of ALL of the hostages. The relatives of the hostages are divided in their demands. Some want their loved ones back, no matter what and whatever the cost, even if means that a partial deal is worked out. Others want ALL of them back. As one mother said: “How can I look my neighbor in the eyes if my daughter is returned, but her son continues to be held hostage?” The big question is whether the government will yield to internal, as well as external, pressure and agree to a ceasefire in exchange for the return of only some of the hostages, or whether it will follow through with its oft-repeated commitment to the nation not to stop fighting unless ALL the hostages are returned. As long as the “Palestinian” Islamic Jihad still refuses to return the hostages who are held by it, and we don’t even know the non-affiliated Gazans who are holding about 20 of the hostages, the government cannot follow through on its “commitment”.

The war is far from over, but governments, ours and others, are busying themselves with “the day after” – what will be the fate of the Gaza Strip when the war is over? Politicians so often try to put the cart before the horse. But, at some point, we will need an answer. So, here is a suggestion:

The Dry Bones Blog <blog@mrdrybones.com>, 1 November, 2023

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin