Israel Weekly News Roundup Nov. 3 2023
Entering Week 5 of the Israel - Hamas Gaza War
Israeli Army Intensifies Ground Operation in Gaza
Utilizing non public intelligence, the Israeli Defense Army (IDF) has intensified its ground operation deep into the Gaza Strip. This operation is costly for both IDF, and Palestinian lives. At least 24 Israeli soldiers have died in combat. Israel still stands by the objective to eliminate Hamas operators and infrastructure in Gaza. The cost of the war in Gaza to the Palestinians is heavy. About one million people have fled to the southern Gaza strip where all of them live in tents in temporary refugee camp provided by UNRWA (United Nation Relief and Work Agency) for Palestinian refugees.
1,400 Israelis were murdered by Hamas operators in the attack of October 7th, 242 are considered hostages, 40 bodies have not yet been identified and dozens more are still missing. An IDF spokesperson announced on Wednesday that 3,000 Hamas operators participated in the attack, 1,000 of them were killed by Israeli forces, 200 were captured and 1,800 managed to get back to Gaza.
The human toll among the Palestinians is extremely high. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 9,000 dead, almost half of them are children.
It is still unclear how long it will take for the IDF to achieve its end goal of destroying Hamas’ ability to operate in Gaza.
Meanwhile, there is escalation from a new direction: The Yemenite Houtis launched a ballistic missile towards Israel. Israeli army air jets managed to hit it. There is fear among American and Israeli decision makers regarding the ability of other extreme countries or non-state players to open further violent fronts against Israel.
Hizbollah has also intensified its’ attacks on northern Israel. Larger missiles were launched towards towns and communities in the north, causing damage to a house which was hit directly. Israel retaliated using the air force to bomb targets in Lebanon.
US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken In Israel
Blinken comes to Israel for the third time since the war in Gaza began on October 7th. Blinken met PM Netanyhau and participated in the meeting of the war cabinet. The US is closely following the developments of the war, and American official army senior staff are monitoring decision making processes. The US is also providing an enormous amount of military aid. Blinken wants to make sure that Israel provides a humanitarian corridor to transfer medicine, food and other immediate supplies to the one million Palestinians who fled their homes in northern Gaza and liv in temporary tents in the south. Blinken also wants to analyze a plan for the day after the war.
An Israeli Female Soldier Was Released By Israel Forces
An Israeli army surveillance soldier who was captured from the army base on the border with Gaza on October 7th, was released by Israeli special forces from her captivity in Gaza. Ori Magidish, a 20 year old soldier, served as an observer at the base that was supposed to safe guard the Israeli border communities from such an attack by Hamas. The surveillance soldiers claim that they alerted their officers about suspicious activity on the Palestinian side of the border prior to October 7, but their alerts were ignored. Her release was received with great joy by her family and her home town. She was instructed by the army not to give any interviews and not to reveal any information of her whereabouts while in Gaza.
Hamas Released A Short Video of Three Female Hostages
A short video depicting three women who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th, was released earlier this week. They looked tired and were dressed in Arabic style dresses. Only one of the women spoke. She blamed PM Netanyahu claiming that he is responsible for the situation and that he neglected protecting his citizens. In a united decision, all Israeli mainstream media outlets decided not to run the video, saying they don’t want to play to Hamas propaganda. They all showed the photograph of the women, and reported on the content of the video.
PM Netanyahu Met With Representatives of The Families of the Hostages
PM Netanyahu met for the second time with representatives of the families of the hostages. The families are protesting in key locations in the main Israeli cities, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding that the release of the hostages should be the top priority on Israel’s agenda. Some of the families demonstrate to raise awareness, others travel to the US to advocate for the release and pressure the US administration to put pressure on Qatar which is the main country that has any leverage on Hamas.
It is important to say in this context that Israel holds 6,000 Palestinian prisoners and there may be a deal on the table in which all hostages will be traded for all Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
PM Netanyahu Held a Press Conference with Questions for the First Time
For the first time since the beginning of the war on October 7th, PM Netanyahu held a press conference. Until now, PM Netanyahu has preferred to record himself addressing the people of Israel or delivering a live broadcast. Actually, PM Netanyahu has not granted any interviews or press conferences in Hebrew to the Israeli media since he was elected and formed his government late last year.
PM Netanyahu Tweeted a Post Accusing the Army, Then Deleted it and Apologized
In the ongoing debate on who is responsible for the major crisis on October 7th, until now, PM Netanyahu is the only senior official who has not admitted and taken any responsibility for the security and intelligence failure. All other officials have admitted to their responsibility, including the army chief of staff, the head of the army intelligence, and the head of the Shin Bet secret service. PM Netanyahu has only stated that everybody will have to answer questions including himself.
Late on Sunday night, after the press conference, while the army was launching its ground operation, PM Netanyahu held a long consultation with his people, including his wife Sara. At the end of the consultation he tweeted on social media platform X that the army misled him and that the army intelligence agencies are responsible for what happened on October 7th. Hours later, after heavy criticism, he decided to delete the tweet and he apologized for the accusations.
During Wartime Israeli Arab Citizens Are Under Scrutiny and Tensions Between Jews and Arabs on the Rise
As the Hamas-Israel war continues, Arab citizens are under greater scrutiny, especially with regards to what they post on social media. According to the police, one hundred Arab citizens were held for questioning and 44 were indicted in a rapid process for sharing or liking pro-Hamas posts on social media outlets. Minister of interior Moshe Arbel (Shas) is promoting legislation that will facilitate revoking the citizenship of those found guilty of condoning terror.
An Arab-Israeli film and TV actress from Nazareth was detained and later charged for supporting terror via her social media posts that she published on October 7th. Haifa University suspended more than twenty Arab students for social media posts. A senior cardiologist was suspended over posts from several years ago, citing a verse from the Quran. A college of education fired an Arab lecturer over posts expressing agony over the situation of civilians in Gaza.
Public polls show that 83% of Arab citizens condemn the Hamas attack on Israeli communities near the Gaza border, where Arabs were also killed, injured, and abducted. Yet, tensions between Jews and Arabs has intensified and incitement against Arab citizens is on the rise. In some cases, Jews refuse to receive services provided by Arab workers, and the mayor of Givatayim, a large city near Tel Aviv has ordered all construction work to stop as construction workers are predominantly Arab. In Netanya, a group of Jewish residents stormed the dormitories of the city college, where Arab students reside, chanting “death to Arabs”. The residents claimed that the attack on the dormitories came after provocations by Arab students.
The Minister of Interior, Moshe Arbel (Shas) sent a letter to the mayor of Givatayim, urging him to resume construction work and allow Arab workers to return to work. The letter said: “There is a strict prohibition against harming a person’s livelihood on the basis of origin, nationality, or religion. Such decisions crush the fabric of common life in the country… and play into the hands of the enemy.”
Tensions Increase in the West Bank, Despite Security Forces Warnings
While the IDF focuses large forces at the Gaza border, in Gaza, and on the northern border, Jewish militants are seeking to raise tension levels in the West Bank. Senior security officials have repeatedly warned against the lack of proper government response to settlers’ violence and its implications.
An armed Jewish settler, and IDF reserve officer, shot and killed a Palestinian farmer while he was harvesting olives. He was detained and indicted for “negligent homicide”. A group of IDF soldiers were caught on camera detaining, abusing, and humiliating several Palestinian men. A Jewish settler was killed when armed Palestinians shot at his car.
Minister of Finance Betzalel Smotrich (Jewish Power) refuses to transfer tax monies that belong to the PA, despite the recommendations of senior security officials. Israel collects the funds from Israeli businesses and institutions who employ Palestinians with work permits from the West Bank. Smotrich claimed that he refuses to “fund terrorists”, while senior security officials said that withholding the funds will only further deteriorate an already highly charged and tense arena.
A Surge in Anti-Israel Sentiments Around the World
Anti-Israel demonstrations are being held in the USA, Europe and around the world, as the Hamas-Israel war continues and news of the casualties and devastation in Gaza spread. Pro-Hamas and Pro-Palestine demonstrations in Ivy league campuses continue. In NYC, pro-Palestinians tore down photos of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Prominent scholars, artists and thought leaders issued letters supporting a humanitarian ceasefire and condemning Israel for committing war crimes against uninvolved civilians.
Anti-Israel sentiments also give rise to antisemitic hate speech and attacks on Jewish students on campuses in the US. In Sweden, a teenager called to “kill and rape all Jews”. An angry mob stormed the terminal at the Dagestan airport in Russia, planning to attack Israeli passengers. The Israeli foreign ministry has issued a travel alert for Israelis planning on travel to Russia following the incident.
On the international diplomatic front, Bolivia has announced it is cutting diplomatic ties with Israel, and Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel.
For Further Reading
Ground operation: Here, here, here, here
Hostage release: Here, here, here,
Video of hostages: Here, here, here, here
PM Netanyahu press conference and tweets: Here, here, here
Hostages: Here
Arab citizens: Here, here, here, here
The Ambassador gave us a GREAT interview at JEWDICIOUS. Thank you, Michael!! https://tinyurl.com/3s9yvy7j