Shalom all,

The number of IDF members killed in action since the beginning of the ground offensive is up to 104.

“Vanguards of the Al-Aqsa Flood”: While the Israel-Gaza War attracts most of the world’s attention, few pay attention to non-“war” militancy and even fewer pay attention to events that, in themselves, are non-combatant. But, while much of the western world sleeps, the perpetrators of evil continue to plan and plot, with the goal of perpetrating acts of terror.   MEMRI, The Middle East Media Research Institute, reported on December 5th that one day earlier, the Lebanon office of Hamas, located in Beirut (yes, they DO have a location in the capital of Lebanon), released a statement announcing the establishment of a new group, called “Vanguards of the Al-Aqsa Flood”. As noted by MEMRI, the statement pointed out that this “new group” was formed “to emphasize the role of the Palestinian people, in all places it is found, in resisting the occupation by all available and legitimate means, to complete what was achieved by the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood,’ to side with the steadfastness of our Palestinian people, our valiant resistance and the sacrifices our people have made, and to strive for the participation of our men and youth in the project of resisting the occupation and to benefit from their capabilities and abilities of their knowledge and skills.”  It also called upon young “Palestinians” to join the group and become involved in “shaping the future of your people and liberating Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.” One would have to ask why Hamas, the terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip that is succumbing to the military advances of the IDF, would make a public announcement of the establishment of a “subsidiary”, calling “Palestinians” wherever they are, to join its terrorist ranks and goals. The answer should be obvious. They are planning a replay of their invasion and massacre of October 7th, only this time, in the north, from Lebanon instead of from Gaza.

The announcement was not received with joyful shouting, but with opposition. According to Khaled Abu Toameh, writing for Gatestone Institute International Policy Council, Lebanese leaders expressed criticism and warnings that involvement with Hamas would have disastrous consequences for the country, that has experienced severe economic crisis over the last four years. The last thing they would want is to be plunged into another war with Israel. Some even called for the expulsion of Hamas leaders from Lebanon. At the same time, there is a widespread recognition that the presence of Hamas, and even the issuance of its above announcement, could only happen with the knowledge and consent of Hezbollah and with the supervision of Iran. There is growing opposition in Lebanon, as well as by many Middle-East Arabs, of being manipulated by both Hamas and Hezbollah, proxy-puppets of Iran, and being drawn into a holy war with Israel. May this “opposition” to Iran’s tactics increase beyond any expectation of any terrorist organization.

With all of the attention focused on this detail or that, we could easily lose sight of the bigger picture, namely, that the goal of the Hamas leaders is not just the ethnic cleansing of Israel from the river to the sea, but the establishment of a global, Islamic caliphate, with its capital in Jerusalem.

Back to the Hamas group based in Gaza: The IDF’s successes in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip has caused many Hamas leaders and fighters to seek refuge in areas in the south. It was widely believed that among those who “headed south” was Hamas chief, Yahya Sinwar. The IDF captured Yousef al-Mansi, the Hamas minister of communications, who informed the Israel General Security Service (Shabak) that Sinwar is very “unpopular” in Gaza. As noted in World Israel News, al-Mansi told Shabak: “People are saying, ’Sinwar and his group have destroyed us. We have to be rid of them”, adding: “Everyone hates Sinwar…[and people are] praying night and day that God should free us from him” and his fighters.

IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari reported Saturday night that from the interrogation of Hamas terrorists who surrendered to the IDF, it was disclosed that the Sinwar-led leadership of Hamas denies the reality on the ground and that, “The higher-ups complain that the Hamas leadership is out of touch with the tough situation they are in on the ground…There is a ‘widespread feeling that the Hamas leadership underground does not care about the public in Gaza who are above ground’.” 

The information provided by the terrorists who surrendered helps the IDF to refine their targets. But, the best information would be for some of the terrorists to reveal where Sinwar is hiding. While the elimination of Sinwar would not necessarily bring about a dismantling of Hamas, it could convince other leaders of Hamas to leave the Gaza Strip for pastures elsewhere, like Egypt or Qatar.

Qatar, as you will remember, was the lead negotiator that brokered the hostage-release/prisoner exchange/ceasefire agreement. In an effort to keep Qatar as the lead negotiator, P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu kowtowed to them and agreed not to order targeted killings of Hamas leadership residing in Qatar, who enjoy the hospitality and protection of the Qatari government. The Qatari school system promotes antisemitic and anti-Israel content in all levels of “education”. During the course of prayer at a Qatari School, an Imam cursed the Jews and called them enemies of Allah. At an elementary school in Doha, the capital of Qatar, a students’ artwork exhibition included a display entitled “The Traits of the Jews” and described them as “arrogant, jealous, deceitful, corrupt, prophet-killers, divided and polytheistic.” Qatar will continue to provide financial support to Gaza. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, stated in an interview with CNN: “Our mandate is our continuous help and support for our brothers and sisters of Palestine. We will continue to do it systematically as we did it before.”

From all the countries in the world, couldn’t we have found a negotiator who was genuinely impartial? If there really are no impartial potential negotiators, then I would recommend that Lithuania, one of the most Israel-friendly and supportive countries in the world, should be part of the negotiations, if and when they should resume. I would also recommend Argentina.

Argentina is becoming Israel-friendly: Defying expectations, Javier Milei, a self-declared “anarchy-capitalist” was elected as Argentina’s new President last month. In his inaugural speech yesterday, he referred to the story of the Maccabees and stated, in part: “It is not by chance that this assumption takes place in the holiday of Hanukkah, the festival of light, and that the same celebrates the true essence of freedom…The war of the Maccabees is the symbol of the victory of the weak over the powerful, of the few over the many, of the light over darkness and overall of the truth over untruth.”  Milei, who is not Jewish, said he is interested in converting and has been studying with an Argentinian rabbi. For his first visit to a foreign country, he is planning to visit Jerusalem and has promised to move Argentina’s embassy from Herzliya to Jerusalem. Undoubtedly, he has appropriated God’s clear message: “I will bless those who bless you.” (Genesis 12:3)

May we be worthy of their sacrifice: That is the essence of a mother’s statements at the funeral of her son, who was killed in combat. I’ve attended many funerals in Israel, too many, in fact. They included the funerals of soldiers, some of whom I knew, others whom I related to, in a sense, as family. Emotions swell, tears flow, the heart beats, as thoughts race through my mind of another life that ended barely before it began. Sometimes, the words stated during a time of loss are able to encourage others to look forward, to press on, to accomplish what others began, but were not able to complete because their lives were cut short. In his moving article: When it finally hit home, Avi Mayer describes briefly, among other things, some words of a sister: 

“It was so clear to you…As soon as we had a sense of what had happened, you went to pack a bag. You didn’t even wait for the official word. You just left, even though you didn’t have to. It was clear to you that if your country is in trouble, and if your friends are fighting, you have to be there.” 

This was followed by the words of the soldier’s mother, as she stood by the fresh grave of her son. As Mayer reported it:

Finally, Sarit approached the lectern. “Here lies pure gold,” she began. She described Ben as having lived life to the fullest, a “dream child.” “You managed to connect to everyone, to see the good and the funny in each person,” she said. “I once told you that if you were to stand next to an electrical pole for more than five minutes, you two would also become good friends.” Ben, she said, had dedicated his life to the security of Israel, and had lived a life of value and meaning, but never at the expense of family or friends. “Thank you, Ben, for living a full life,” she said. “Thank you for making us proud, thank you for all the laughter and friendship with me, the silly humor we shared, thank you for being here with us in all your fullness. You are still with us and always will be.”

Then she looked up and addressed the tear-streaked faces around her.

“And now to you, to all of you, to all of us, to the Jewish people in the Land of Israel,” she said forcefully. “As a storyteller, I tell you: our story has a happy ending. We are going to win. We have no other choice. We are a people who want to live, unlike our enemies, lowly and miserable, cowards, Nazis and their accomplices, who sanctify death. We will live, and thrive, and build.”

“And our leaders must be worthy of us, of the Israeli spirit that beats within each of us, of the Israeli spirit that beats within our incredible soldiers,” Sarit continued. “If our soldiers have managed to put themselves aside and the nation at the center, it is incumbent upon our leaders to do the same. Leaders who don’t understand that, leaders who go around with arrogance, should make way for those who do know what to do. Because we have to win. It’s either us or them. It’s either the Nazis and their accomplices or us.”

“Do you hear, people of Israel?” she said, her voice rising. “World, do you hear? Do you hear, lowly enemies who desire death and evil? Am Yisrael Chai – the Jewish people live, forever and ever and for all eternity, standing tall and with our heads held high. Now more than ever, be strong, believe, demand the good, insist on the good, and we will win.”

Tonight, we lit the fifth candle of Hanukkah. And we prayed. May we add to our prayers: “He who blessed our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, may He bless our soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces!” (Mi sheh berech avoteinu, Avraham, Yitzchak v’Yaakov, hu yivarech et hayilenu, Tzavah Hahagana l’Yisrael!)

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin