Friday, August 30, 2024

Israeli Intelligence Countered Hezbollah’s Plans and Prevented Regional War

by Ron Ben Yishai ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 27 August 2024 | Early intelligence indications from the IDF’s [Israel Defense Forces] Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) about Hezbollah’s extensive preparations for a strike on Israel, including the center of the country, prevented potentially severe damage and a possibility of significant casualties during the terror group’s attack on Sunday.

The warning, sounded after information from Israeli intelligence agencies, enabled the IDF to carry out a preemptive strike on thousands of rocket launchers of various types in Lebanon, which were intended to target strategic military sites in central Israel, including the Gush Dan region. Following this, the IDF intercepted drones that were en route from Lebanon to southern Israel, intended to strike targets in central Israel.

There’s yet been no confirmation of reports saying Hezbollah intended to target the runways at Ben Gurion Airport, but foreign reports suggest this was one of the terror group’s targets, along with a few other IDF bases in the central region.

In any case, the IDF’s preemptive strike disrupted Hezbollah’s plans to launch a combined rocket and drone attack on the holy Shia day of Arba’een, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in the Battle of Karbala.

This event in the Shia world is comparable to that of Tisha B’Av [the ninth day of the Hebrew month Av, the date on which both Temples were destroyed and known as the saddest day in Judaism], and Hezbollah likely aimed to carry out its attack on this day to achieve surprise, assuming Israel wouldn’t expect an attack on a holy Shia day that would disrupt the holiday for most of Lebanon’s Shia population.

Hezbollah needed to reposition its missile and rocket launchers in a way that advanced them to southern Lebanon to shorten Israel’s warning time during such an attack and in order to strike targets in the central part of the country with heavier rockets than those typically stationed in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah was preparing for a combined attack of rockets and strike drones, and the IDF’s preemptive strike not only destroyed these assets but also disrupted the attack’s timeline. A coordinated attack of rockets and drones requires precise synchronization between the slower-moving drones and the faster ballistic rockets.

Hezbollah’s targets

Overall, it appears that Hezbollah intended to operate primarily in the north to avoid sparking a regional war that might have erupted if it had launched a widespread attack in the central region. However, the terror organization attempted to maintain the equation set by its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, saying that an attack on Beirut—where Israel recently eliminated Fu’ad Shukr, effectively Hezbollah’s chief of staff—would lead to a response in Tel Aviv.

Yet, according to reports, the number of targets chosen in the central region was limited and included only military targets, reflecting Hezbollah’s clear intention, likely influenced by Iranian demands, to avoid a full-scale war.

Another interesting fact is that Hezbollah opened fire from southern Lebanon alone, including the area between the Litani River and the Awali River, with the clear intention, likely again following Iranian demands, that Israel in its response would avoid striking the Beirut and the Baalbek regions, where Hezbollah’s heavy missiles such as the Fateh-110 and Zelzal are located.

The Iranians appear to want Hezbollah to avoid risking these heavy and precise missile systems, which would be necessary if Israel were to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.

It seems that after extensive discussions and disagreements, Tehran and Hezbollah decided to act separately, each according to its capabilities and strategic calculations. The Iranians are particularly concerned about the presence of large US naval and air task forces in the region, and as a result are recalculating their course of action to avoid confrontation with such forces.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah decided on a retaliatory strike based on thousands of planned launches rather than a massive, high-quality strike on the central region. Only a few targets were designated in central Israel, primarily to uphold the Beirut equals Tel Aviv dogma.

What comes next?

The current escalation’s status remains unclear. Hezbollah claimed the morning’s launches were just the first phase of its attack and that it struck 11 targets in the north with approximately 320 launches.

The damage in the north wasn’t severe, and in this initial stage, according to the terrorist organization, no Israelis were killed by Hezbollah fire. Some injuries were reported due to interception debris that fell within Israeli territory and into the sea.

The next steps will be determined by the Security Cabinet, considering the ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal are currently Israel’s top priority. Another crucial factor is the unequivocal American demand that Israel avoid any action that could ignite a regional war. US President Joe Biden’s administration doesn’t want to get involved in a conflict that might require strikes on Iran and lead to a prolonged war so close to presidential elections in the US.

These two considerations are critical. To alleviate American concerns, Washington was notified well in advance that Israel intended to carry out a preemptive strike to thwart Hezbollah’s attack. Consequently, the White House’s statements were in line with this, mainly expressing support for Israel and its right to defend itself.

The Americans haven’t given up on a hostage release deal, which they believe should also lead to a ceasefire in the south. Israel intends to fully cooperate on this matter, not only because the Americans are demanding it but also because bringing the hostages home and then focusing on the situation in the north is a top Israeli interest.

However, chances of a significant breakthrough in the talks are slim, as Hamas announced on Saturday that it rejects Israel’s proposals regarding the Philadelphi Corridor and doesn’t foresee a near-term deal.

It’s quite possible Hezbollah’s decision to act was a response to the declaration that negotiations on the hostage deal had reached a dead end, although it isn’t certain this was the case as Hezbollah operates primarily based on its own considerations.

Ending the war of attrition

Negotiations for a hostage deal will continue, but Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar likely still hopes for a regional war that would relieve him from the military pressure the IDF is currently exerting in Gaza.

Until he gives up on this hope, a deal is unlikely. However, if Israel acts decisively in the coming days and Sinwar sees that Hezbollah has concluded what it calls its “revenge strike” against Israel, effective discussions on a hostage release deal and a ceasefire might resume. In any case, a deal won’t happen for several weeks.

Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for the possibility that Hezbollah will attempt to compensate for its failure with another day or two of fighting. The dilemma facing officials is how to prevent a situation where Israel enters another tense and fearful period of awaiting an attack, which Hezbollah might view as the second or third phase of its “revenge strike.”

One option is for Israel to tell Lebanon that any further attempt to launch a retaliatory strike against it will automatically trigger a full-scale war by Israel against Lebanon. Of course, such a declaration would need to be coordinated with the US and, most importantly, the government must be prepared to back up such diplomatic declarations with actions.

In any case, Israel mustn’t allow Hezbollah to keep it in a state of readiness and uncertainty as it has in recent weeks and in the slightly longer term. The situation in which the north is subjected to a war of attrition and continuous attacks must be brought to an end.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on August 25, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: אלון טלמור / IDF Spokesperson's Unit /CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for the protection of all Israeli intelligence personnel who are embedded behind enemy lines. Give thanks also for the advanced technology that allows collection of information remotely. Pray that the disagreements that led Iran and Hezbollah to act independently would result in more division between these two forces.

Scripture

So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: “Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.”

- Numbers 10:35

IDF Launches Major Anti-terror Operation in Biblical Heartland

by Yoav Zitun, Einav Halabi, Elyasaf Kosman, Lior Ben Ari ~ Ynetnews

Thursday, 29 August 2024 | Israeli security forces continued their extensive counterterrorism operation on Wednesday evening, targeting terrorists and dismantling explosives in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] and the Jordan Valley.

Hundreds of soldiers, including undercover units and Border Police forces, with significant air support, operated in the Jenin and Nur Shams refugee camps near Tulkarm, as well as in the nearby city of Tubas. A large-scale raid was also carried out in the Far’a refugee camp in the Jordan Valley.

According to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces], at least nine terrorists were killed, while Palestinian sources reported 11 fatalities. The IDF noted that three terrorists were killed in an airstrike in Jenin, two more were killed by undercover Border Police units in the same area, and four others were eliminated in Far’a, also in an airstrike. The military wings of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah [leading secular Palestinian party] issued separate statements claiming that their operatives had planted explosives in an attempt to target Israeli forces. No casualties were reported among Israeli forces during the raids.

The IDF is using bulldozers to uncover roadside explosives, a process that often requires the destruction of the roads themselves. Footage from Jenin showed a terrorist planting an explosive device on the side of a road. It is unclear what became of him. Other footage from Jenin revealed bulldozers uncovering explosives and subsequent detonations occurring near or directly beneath them.

Kamel Abu al-Rub, the governor of Jenin, claimed that Israeli forces had encircled the city, destroyed infrastructure and blocked access routes to hospitals. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that the main hospital in Jenin was blocked with dirt mounds as part of the operation.

IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani explained to foreign media that the goal was to prevent terrorists from fleeing to hospitals and hiding there, a tactic they have used before. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, Israeli forces also surrounded the main hospital in the Tulkarm area and conducted checks on ambulances attempting to reach various hospitals.

Wednesday evening, the IDF released new footage from the operation, including a drone video showing an “operations command center” and an explosives lab set up inside a mosque in the Far’a refugee camp in the Jordan Valley. The terror compound within the mosque was identified by Duvdevan unit soldiers. In the video, a soldier explains that they entered the site with a drone and discovered a command room with cameras, images of armed “martyrs” and photos of terrorists. The command room was wired to cameras broadcasting the outside surroundings to screens inside.

In another part of the mosque, the soldiers found the explosives lab, which contained devices used for making explosives, including a welding machine and a sack of potassium. Inside a smaller room, they also discovered several ready-to-use explosive devices “simply connected to cables and ready for activation.” The IDF also released an image of a uniform worn by one of the terrorists killed in Jenin, complete with a vest, magazines and an M-16 rifle, which is being checked to determine if it was stolen from the IDF.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi addressed the operation in the afternoon during a visit to the Jordan Valley and Emek HaYarden Brigade. The IDF reported that Halevi toured the site where a terrorist who shot at the Beka’ot settlement two weeks ago was killed and held a situational assessment with commanders regarding the eastern border and security efforts in the West Bank and Jordan Valley. Later, he met with local council leaders from the Jordan Valley, Emek HaYarden, Emek HaMaayanot and Megilot Dead Sea regions.

“The IDF is fighting in seven arenas with very different characteristics,” Halevi said. “We are here to first and foremost strengthen security, and then to reinforce the sense of security. There is great importance in the readiness of emergency response teams, and we are working to bolster them, investing significant resources in doing so. We will be here as much as we can with more forces and resources to build a better security infrastructure that will create better security for the communities. This will happen thanks to the partnership between us and you.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on August 28, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: IDF/wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for the IDF forces tasked with eliminating the leaders of terrorist groups who pose significant threats to Israel’s security. Pray for accurate intelligence to reveal the hiding places of terrorists and weapons in Judea and Samaria—Israel’s biblical heartland. Pray for the Israeli citizens who call Judea and Samaria home, as they live with the daily possibility of terror attacks.

Scripture

The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance.”

- 1 Chronicles 16:16–18

30,000 New Immigrants since October 7 Massacre

by Etgar Lefkovits ~ JNS

Thursday, 29 August 2024 | Nearly 30,000 new immigrants have arrived in Israel since the October 7 massacre, according to figures released on Tuesday by the World Zionist Organization [WZO].

The wave of aliyah [immigration to Israel] coincides with the nearly 11-month war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and a surge in worldwide anti-Semitism. The war began after the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, wounding thousands and abducting 250 others. Of these, 108 are still being held captive in Gaza.

“On October 7, a war erupted not against the State of Israel but against the Jewish people,” said WZO Chairman Yaakov Hagoel, who greeted the latest group of French immigrants upon their arrival at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Monday. “Today, in many countries around the world, it is hard to be a Jew, whether at school, at work or at prayer.”

Hagoel noted that Israel has seen a “dramatic increase” in aliyah in the wake of the massacre, which, he said, “is a testament to the recognition of the global Jewish community that Israel is not just a refuge, but a beacon of hope and faith.”

Russia tops list; big increase from France

Most of the immigrants who made aliyah since the war came from the former Soviet Union, with nearly 17,000 from Russia and more than 900 from Ukraine, according to figures from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. About 2,400 olim [immigrants] came from the United States and some 1,600 from France.

Immigration from North America in the first seven months of the year is up 16% compared with the same period from the year before, while the numbers from France represent a 50% hike, according to data from the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency for Israel.

The number of Israelis who emigrated from Israel has fallen during the war after peaking during the summer of 2023 when the country was awash in turmoil over the contested judicial overhaul.

About 63,000 Israelis who left the country between November and May have not yet returned, compared to 67,000 in the same period before the war broke out, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Future potential

A recent report details a 355% increase in potential immigrants opening aliyah files in France, compared to the same period last year. In the United States, the number of immigration files rose by 62%, totaling 6,000 people, while Canada saw an 87% uptick, or some 800 people, expressing their desire to move to Israel.

“The strong response we are witnessing through this wave of aliyah is a powerful affirmation of our collective resolve to stand with Israel, now more than ever,” he said.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on August 27, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: WZO/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the dramatic increase in the number of Jewish people immigrating to Israel and also for the many applications that have been opened for future aliyah. Pray that these new Israeli citizens will be quickly absorbed into the fabric of the country and will feel at home in their new surroundings.

Scripture

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.

- Isaiah 43:5–6

Netanyahu Denies Report that Israel Open to UN Mission Patrolling Gaza–Egypt Border

by Joshua Spurlock ~ The Mideast Update

Friday, 23 August 2024 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally denied reports twice in a span of two days this week that Israel is prepared to relinquish control of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, also known as the Philadelphi Corridor.

One report, from the Qatari Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper, claimed that as part of the ceasefire-hostage negotiations with Hamas, Israel was open to allowing a collection of international forces—including a United Nations monitoring team—to watch the border, while gradually withdrawing Israeli troops from the area.

On Thursday, Netanyahu’s office put out a statement that said, “The report, according to which the idea of stationing a multi-national force along the Philadelphi Corridor is being considered, is incorrect. Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on the principle that Israel control the Philadelphi Corridor in order to prevent Hamas from rearming itself, which would afford it the capability of repeating the atrocities of October 7.”

In a press release just one day earlier, Netanyahu denied reports that Israel was willing to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, with the Prime Minister’s Office saying, “Israel will insist on the achievement of all of its objectives for the war, as they have been defined by the Security Cabinet, including that Gaza never again constitutes a security threat to Israel. This requires securing the southern border.”

The Philadelphi Corridor has been a crucial weapons smuggling region for Hamas, who had built a large array of more than 150 tunnels under the border. That includes at least one tunnel in the area that was 3 meters (almost 10 feet) high and large enough to drive a jeep through, according to an August 4 post on the IDF’s [Israel Defense Forces] account on X.

The current negotiations center around release of the 105 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, kidnapped as part of the Gaza group’s terror rampage on October 7 that also murdered around 1,200 Israelis. In response to the attack, Israel launched the current Gaza war to defeat Hamas and recover the hostages, with the sides now locked in ongoing negotiations on swapping hostages for terrorists in Israeli prisons and a ceasefire.

Not surprisingly, control of the border is a key negotiating point for Hamas, who wants to rebuild their Gaza terror army and infrastructure. While Israel is under significant pressure to compromise on the border—Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported an international peacekeeping force was previously suggested by United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken—there are also voices inside Israel backing Netanyahu’s position to hold the crossing.

The Jerusalem Post editorial on Thursday formally came out in opposition to relinquishing control of the Philadelphi Corridor. In a post to his X account promoting the column, Jerusalem Post Editor-In-Chief Zvika Klein wrote: “Netanyahu’s firm stance on securing the Philadelphi Corridor is crucial for Israel’s safety. Past mistakes can’t be repeated—only an IDF presence will prevent Gaza from becoming a fortress again.”

Meanwhile, in a strategic analysis published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA), retired Israeli brigadier general Yossi Kuperwasser argued that Israel’s presence on the border to prevent weapons smuggling and more is “essential.” In the column, Kuperwasser said the odds that international or Arab forces could “effectively meet this challenge are paltry. This idea was tried in the past and failed miserably.”

In 2007, for example, the European Union monitors charged with the Rafah Crossing ended their mission after Hamas took over Gaza. A post to X on Thursday by the JCPA on their latest analysis said: “Pulling out from the #Philadelphi_corridor? Think again. Israel’s presence here is the frontline against terror, blocking a flood of weapons into #Gaza. Abandoning it would be a gift to extremists and a disaster for regional stability.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, without directly commenting on the ongoing talks with Hamas, highlighted the importance of the IDF’s work on Egypt–Gaza border during a visit on Wednesday to the Philadelphi Corridor. He said that over 150 tunnels had been destroyed in the region.

“I gave an immediate directive to the IDF to destroy remaining tunnels,” said Gallant. “It is critical to remember the goals of the war and to achieve them—regarding Hamas, regarding the hostages [held by Hamas], and we also understand why we are looking toward the north.”

Source: (This article was originally published by The Mideast Update on August 15, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today.)

Photo Credit: Idobi/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Intercede for Prime Minister Netanyahu as he firmly implements the Security Cabinet decision that “Gaza will never again constitute a security threat”—and that this requires Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor, previously a well-known smuggling route of weapons to Hamas. Pray for unity within the Israeli government as pressure from the global community increases.

Scripture

Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

- Psalm 62:1–2

Israeli Forces Rescue Hostage Alive from Southern Gaza

by JNS

Wednesday, 28 August 2024 | Israeli forces have rescued a hostage alive from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] and Israel Security Agency [ISA] said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, from the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev Desert, was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza in a “complex operation” by the IDF Shayetet 13, 401st Brigade and Yahalom, together with ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division. He was alone at the time of his rescue.

The father of 11 is in stable condition and was undergoing medical testing at Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, according to the military. His family has been updated and the IDF is accompanying them.

Soroka said that “he is fully conscious and in good general condition, and has already met with a family member with great excitement.”

He was held in captivity for 326 days since being abducted by Hamas from Mivtachim on October 7.

His rescue leaves the number of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza at 108, including 104 of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 34 of whom are known to be deceased, according to the military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Alkadi, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Welcome home, Farhan Kadi. I congratulate the IDF and Shin Bet [Israeli internal security agency] on another successful rescue operation. We are working tirelessly to return all of our abductees,” Netanyahu said in video remarks.

“We do this in two main ways: through negotiations and rescue operations. Both ways together require our military presence in the field and unceasing military pressure on Hamas. We will continue to act like this until we bring everyone home,” the Prime Minister continued.

“Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages,” the military said.

IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement, “We will not be able to publish everything about the rescue” to, among other things, protect the security of the hostages still in the hands of Hamas.

“The wonderful news of his return is a sign of light among the darkness for the families of the hostages and the people of Israel,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group advocating for the return of the abductees.

“We wish to thank the wonderful forces of our IDF who helped Qaid return home safely,” the forum said”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commented on the rescue operation, saying, “Within the bold and determined operations of the IDF and ISA forces deep in the Gaza Strip, our fighters succeeded in rescuing Kadi and returning him to his family in Israel. This operation joins a series of impressive operational activities, bringing us to achieve all the goals of the war.”

‘Doing everything to save the abductees’

IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi completed a situational assessment following the rescue, that included the commander of IDF Southern Command and other senior military and intelligence officers.

“We are doing everything to save all the abductees. IDF and ISA forces demonstrate courage, determination and initiative in complex operations in the field,” Halevi said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog congratulated the IDF and ISA “for a successful rescue.”

Hamas did not distinguish between Jew and Arab on October 7, noted Herzog, adding, “This is a happy moment for the State of Israel and Israeli society as a whole. I wish for the immediate and speedy return of our 108 hostages who are being brutally held captive in Gaza.”

Last Tuesday, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages kidnapped on October 7 from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In an operation involving the IDF and ISA, the bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on August 27, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Courtesy/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Rejoice for this “sign of light among the darkness,” asking the Lord to encourage the families of the remaining hostages with hope. Pray for those held hostage in unthinkable conditions, asking the Lord to strengthen them and fill them with His presence as they wait for the day of their freedom.

Scripture

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

- Deuteronomy 6:4–5

Intelligence and Cyberwarfare: Israeli Locations Hezbollah Targeted for Destruction

by Sa'ar Hess, Lior Ben Ari ~ Ynetnews

Monday, 26 August 2024 | In a twist reminiscent of a spy novel, Mossad’s [Israeli intelligence agency] secretive headquarters and a top-tier intelligence-gathering unit, coupled with a base allegedly masterminding GPS disruptions across the Middle Eastern skies, were thrust into the limelight by none other than Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah. He claimed these were the chosen targets of the terrorist organization’s morning assault, an attack largely thwarted by IDF’s [Israel Defense Forces] preemptive maneuvers.

In his address, Nasrallah named the Glilot area near Tel Aviv and the Ein Shemer base close to Hadera as prime targets for their UAV assault, with a barrage of hundreds of rockets intended to create a diversion for the UAVs. The goal, he asserted, was military retribution linked to the assassination of Fu’ad Shukr and an attack in Haifa—perilously close to Tel Aviv.

Nasrallah detailed, “Glilot, just about 68 miles [110 km.] from the Lebanon border and a mere mile [1.6 km.] from Tel Aviv, was our central target. This location is closely associated with Mossad, Military Intelligence and Unit 8200. We also earmarked a secondary target, the Ein Shemer base for air defense and missile forces, 45 miles [72 km.] from Lebanon and 25 miles [40 km.] from Tel Aviv.”

In a video released by Hezbollah, the base’s location was pinpointed, with annotations highlighting that it hosts Arrow, David’s Sling and Iron Dome batteries, alongside the headquarters of the Menashe Brigade and a UAV testing airfield.

Ein Shemer Air Force Base, founded by the British Army near a kibbutz in 1943 and named after it, ceased to function as an airbase soon after the War of Independence, transitioning to an immigrant camp. Over two decades ago, following much contention, an Arrow missile battery found its home there. The airstrip in the vicinity serves as a launchpad for UAVs from Israel Aerospace Industries.

Last month, the New York Times shed light on the University of Texas researchers’ identification of the Ein Shemer base as the epicenter of GPS disruptions plaguing the Middle East. Researchers indicated that these assaults, known as “spoofing,” manipulate GPS signals, leading aircraft systems to misidentify their location. Consequently, planes often appeared on flight tracking sites as being over Beirut, when in reality, they were elsewhere entirely. Researchers expressed confidence that the source of these GPS disruptions, which also impact navigation-based services in Israel, stems from the Ein Shemer base. The IDF refrained from commenting on the report.

In the early 2000s, a UAV school sprouted at the base, and by 2004, it was publicized in the Air Force magazine that UAV operators conducted practical studies there. A few years later, the school was relocated.

The Glilot Camps in Ramat Hasharon encompass the central base of Unit 8200—the signals intelligence arm of the National Intelligence Directorate—the Military Intelligence School and military colleges. Nestled nearby is the once-clandestine Mossad headquarters.

The Hezbollah video asserted that “Glilot is the main base of Military Intelligence, incorporating the central hub of Unit 8200, which is responsible for SIGINT and cyber operations, alongside a military intelligence base and military colleges. It also comprises the communications battalion of the Military Intelligence Directorate.”

Shortly after the War of Independence, the IDF began establishing bases in the area, with Unit SM 2—later renamed 8200—relocating to the base in 1952. Sixteen years ago, a decision was made to evacuate most of the Glilot compound as part of the IDF’s move to the Negev. After numerous delays, this transition is anticipated to occur over the coming years in several phases.

According to Hezbollah, the UAV launches targeting Glilot and Ein Shemer were merely a “first stage” response to the assassination of the terrorist organization’s Chief of Staff, Fu’ad Shukr. He met his end late last month in an Israeli strike in Dahiya, Beirut. The Wall Street Journal reported this operation succeeded due to a breach of the organization’s internal network, coupled with a phone call luring him to the seventh floor of the building where he resided and worked.

Nasrallah recounted that Shukr conversed with him just hours before his demise. On the eve of the assassination, a Hezbollah source told the newspaper, “Shukr received a call from someone instructing him to go up to his apartment—five floors up. Around 19:00, Israeli ordnance was deployed into the apartment and three floors below—resulting in the deaths of Shukr, his wife, two other women, and two children.” The Hezbollah source suggested the request for Shukr to ascend to the seventh floor, making him an easier target, came from “someone who likely breached Hezbollah’s internal communication network.” This might explain Nasrallah’s choice of an intelligence base as a target.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on August 26, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: OpenStreetMap contributors, sdo216/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Offer thanks to the Lord that He shielded the named targets of Glilot and the Ein Shemer base through the IDF’s preemptive attack. Pray for confusion to interrupt any other plans of the enemy to destroy infrastructure—military or civilian—in the Land of Israel. Pray that, just as in the days of Hezekiah, the Lord will defend His people.

Scripture

Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: “He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against it.”

- 2 Kings 19:32

Round One Goes to Israel

by Ilse Strauss

Wednesday, 28 August 2024 | It was over before we woke up.

For almost a month, Israel was on high alert, waiting for the sirens to start. We waited for the “imminent” revenge promised by Iranian and Hezbollah top leadership for the death of Hezbollah’s second-in-command Fu’ad Shukr in a pinpoint strike in Beirut—which Israel claimed—and the demise of Hamas’s leader Ismail Haniyeh in a pinpoint attack in an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stronghold in the heart of Tehran—which Israel neither confirmed nor denied but is blamed for nonetheless.

Hezbollah, the Iranian terror proxy perched on Israel’s northern border, aimed to inflict the opening act of their punishment at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

In preparation, the terror army embedded thousands of their rocket launchers within villages and towns across southern Lebanon, nestling them next to civilian sites like mosques, schools, gas stations and UN compounds.

Yet things didn’t go according to plan.

Shortly before 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, more than 100 Israeli fighter jets took to the skies, launching over 100 virtually simultaneous preemptive strikes to destroy thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers and over 6,000 missiles and drones across more than 40 launch areas in southern Lebanon—all in under half an hour.

The terror army was still able to fire hundreds of rockets and UAVs on northern Israel, causing air raid sirens to scream throughout areas of the Golan and Galilee. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hezbollah’s offensive included 230 rocket launches and 20 UAVs. None of these caused any casualties and only minimal damage was inflicted.

And just like that, the opening act was over, all before Jerusalem even woke up.

Israel used immense intelligence capabilities to preempt the attack, and in the process, thwarted what could have been a significant assault on Israel and the spark that ignited a full-scale war in the Middle East.

“I see this as a miracle,” a veteran journalist confided in me hours later. “God thoroughly thwarts Hezbollah’s plan, delivers his people from a huge attack that easily could have turned into a regional war, and makes a mockery of Hezbollah.”

Hezbollah did take responsibility for Sunday’s attack. Head of the terror group, Hassan Nasrallah, released a formal statement, describing the operation as the first step in avenging his second-in-command and hailing it as a great success. Apart from Hezbollah’s cronies in Tehran, few believed him. In fact, the attack’s rather lackluster performance sparked a wave of online mockery from around the Arab world, focusing on the fact that the only thing the terror group managed to hit was a chicken coop.

There’s a number of takeaways from Sunday morning, especially for the global community who seems poised to point an accusatory finger at Israel.

First, according to the IDF, out of the 230 rockets and 20 UAVs that crossed into Israeli territory, 90% of the launches “were from the heart of a civilian area.” The army backed up their claim by releasing infographics showing sites of rocket launchers in southern Lebanon located a mere 150 meters from a school, 160 meters from a mosque and 160 meters from a UN building. Dozens more were placed nearby.

Hezbollah’s placement was no accident. In fact, the terror group chose their locations with the utmost care, ensuring that if Israel retaliated to the attack, the casualties would be civilians, sparking condemnation and outrage against the Jewish state.

Second, Israel’s preemptive strike prevented a potential large-scale war in the region. Why? Any country calculates the response to an attack on the sovereignty of its people based on factors like the loss of civilian life or damage to infrastructure inflicted. And the higher the civilian casualties, the harsher the response. Israel is no different. Preventing an escalation thus entailed thwarting any strikes on major Israeli population centers or infrastructure—and then retaliating in a way that struck only Hezbollah terror targets while causing minimal damage to the non-Hezbollah Lebanon. The latter was a particularly tall order, seeing that the terror group went to great lengths to embed their infrastructure among civilian sites.

According to the Jerusalem Post’s senior military correspondent and intelligence analyst Yonah Jeremy Bob, Israel’s efforts prevailed. “In the balance of unwritten rules between Israel and Hezbollah, this would be a massive Israeli strike that still showed restraint and was not per se ‘offensive,’ but rather was a preemptive and narrowly tailored defense.”

Third, there’s more to come. For the time being, Iran seems to be steering clear of the frontlines. Perhaps the mullahs have taken the admonitions to heart that a war with Israel would decimate its economy. More likely, Tehran has decided to invest its time, resources and energy into its nuclear efforts, thus posing an existential threat to Israel, the region and beyond.

Hezbollah has continued in much the same way it has for the past 10 months, unleashing what it called a “swarm of UAVs” on the western Galilee.

The attack on Sunday morning amounted to an embarrassment for Hezbollah, and by extension, its terror puppet masters in Tehran. This is not something over which to gloat.

The first round of the battle went to Israel, and more to the point, the God of Israel. But the war is far from over.

Photo Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Let’s echo the words of the veteran journalist, “I see this as a miracle. God thoroughly thwarts the plans of Hezbollah…” while crying out for continued vigilance with regard to future attacks. Pray that Israelis throughout the Land will acknowledge this preemptive attack as a miracle from God and put their trust in Him.

Scripture

For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.

- Deuteronomy 32:3–4

IDF: 90% of Hezbollah Rockets, Drones Fired from Civilian Areas

by JNS

Wednesday, 28 August 2024 | Nearly all of the hundreds of rockets and drones Hezbollah fired at Israel early Sunday were positioned in civilian areas of Lebanon near mosques, schools, gas stations and United Nations sites, the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] said on Monday night.

Out of the 230 rockets and 20 UAVs that crossed into Israeli territory, 90% of the launches “were from the heart of a civilian area,” according to the army, which provided an infographic showing sites of rocket launchers in southern Lebanon located just 150 meters (492 feet) from a school and 160 meters (525 feet) from a mosque in the village of Tallouseh, and one placed 525 feet from a UN building in the Hanniyeh area, with dozens of others nearby.

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization places its terrorist infrastructure in the middle of the civilian population while using Lebanese civilians as human shields,” the IDF said.

The Israeli Air Force [IAF] destroyed thousands of launchers and more than 6,000 missiles and drones in a preemptive strike that prevented a much bigger attack from Iran’s Lebanese terror proxy.

On Monday night, Hezbollah launched what it said was a “swarm of UAVs” on the Western Galilee and Hula Valley.

The IDF confirmed that several “suspicious aerial targets” were detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory after sirens sounded in the Upper Galilee and a little over 20 minutes later in the Western Galilee. The IDF aerial defense array intercepted most of them, with falls identified. No injuries were reported in either attack.

Hezbollah’s drone attack came early on Monday, after Israel conducted a series of strikes in southern Lebanon, including one that targeted a Hamas commander in the Sidon area. Lebanese media outlets reported that the intended target was Nidal Hleihel and that he was seriously injured when two missiles struck his car as he left his house and headed to his vehicle.

“Earlier today, the IAF struck a Hezbollah military structure and terrorist infrastructure sites in the areas of Meiss El Jabal, Khiam, Hajir and Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said on Monday night.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on August 27, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Image 1: Flash90/jns.org

Photo Credit: Image 2: IDF/jns.org

Photo Credit: Image 3: IDF/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Continue to pray for the commanders and soldiers of the IDF who often put their own lives on the line in order to protect civilians. Pray for the Lebanese citizens as well as those in Gaza, who are at the mercy of terror organizations that do not value human life. Pray that the Lord will encourage and strengthen the IDF as it battles for the security and safety of its own people with an enemy who hides among its civilian population.

Scripture

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

- Deuteronomy 30:19

The Middle East: A Story of Journalistic Failure

by Nils A. Haug ~ Gatestone Institute

Thursday, 29 August 2024 | On May 15, 1948, five Arab armies started a war—and lost. From that time on, many Arabs have called this loss a nakba (catastrophe). Ever since then, they have been seeking sympathy for losing a war that they began. If they are unhappy, perhaps they should not have started a war in the first place.

On that May 15, forces from Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, and Iraq “swooped in…just hours after British forces withdrew from Palestine and Israel had declared its independence.” Until then, anyone born there was a Palestinian. Christians were Palestinians, Jews were Palestinians. The “place of birth” on every passport was stamped “Palestine.”

Arabs who fled during the fighting had likely assumed, based on broadcasts they were hearing, that leaving the area would make it easier for the Arab armies to kill the Jews. The plan presumably was to return soon to collect the spoils and take possession of a swiftly conquered land.

When the Arab armies were defeated, and some of the people who had fled tried to return, they were told they had not been loyal and were refused admittance. It is the Arabs who fled and their descendants who now call themselves Palestinians. They are simply Arabs who fled Israel at the time and were not allowed back.

The well-kept secret, of course, is that according to none other than the late senior official of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Zoheir Mohsen, the “Palestinian people does not exist:

“The Palestinian people do not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva, and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.”

A 2019 article by Professor Timothy Benton notes: “The founding of the PLO, now known as Fatah, had nothing to do with the desire for statehood. Throughout the charter it states again and again its sole goal is the destruction of Israel, nothing more. Thus started the Palestinian narrative. They needed a story behind their need.”

The Arabs who did not leave Israel during the War of Independence and their descendants still live there as Israeli Arabs, full citizens with the same rights as Jews, except exempt from military service. Israel did not want anyone fighting his brother. These Israeli Arabs now make up 20% of Israel’s population and hold prominent positions in medicine, business, journalism, the judiciary, representation in Israel’s parliament and even on Israel’s Supreme Court. The claim of apartheid is a libel. By contrast, Arabs who had fled to Lebanon in 1948 are still prohibited from holding any number of worthwhile jobs. Some Arabs call that the real apartheid.

Israel, during that war and in the years after, welcomed roughly the same number of Jewish refugees who were expelled or fled from Arab states, as there were Arabs who fled from Israel—roughly 700,000 for each side. Unlike the Jews, however, the Arab countries refused to let their Arab “brothers” in as full citizens and demanded that they could only “return” to the country they had just willingly left. Since that time, many Arab countries and enemies of Israel have used these souls and their descendants as political pawns to protest that Israel refused to let them in after they had started a war to exterminate it.

In 1967, the Arabs started another war—and lost. Israel, after warning Jordan not to enter the war, a warning Jordan ignored. retook land, including parts of Jerusalem, which Jordan had captured in the unlawful, earlier war. Israel also re-entered its historical homeland, Judea and Samaria, on the west bank of the Jordan River, which separates the two countries. This was when the calls began claiming that Jerusalem and the West Bank were supposedly “occupied”. They had indeed been “occupied”—illegally, by Jordan since the war of 1948. What is never said, of course, as at least one of the names denotes, is that the supposed “occupiers,” the Jews, have historically been “occupying” this land for nearly 4,000 years.

Nevertheless, calls for Israel to end its supposed “occupation” began to emanate not only from Islamist media but even from supposed journalists in the West. Sadly, these allegations are never based on history or facts but appear to come from ideological myths generated by theories of social justice and real or imagined victimhood.

History and facts reveal a number of erroneous assumptions about Israel’s purportedly unlawful “occupation of Palestinian lands.” When Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, for instance, described the unilateral recognition of a state of Palestine as “an investment in the only solution that can bring lasting peace in the Middle East,” he showed an abysmal grasp of reality. Neither the Palestinian Authority [PA] in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] nor Hamas in the Gaza Strip nor the Palestinians in general are seeking a two-state solution. They are quite openly seeking a one-state solution: displacing Israel.

How these one-sided articles, proposals and beliefs come about, apart from blatant anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, might be worth looking into.

Some blame can be attributed to a failure to apply the basic principles of journalism, namely, investigating the facts and then seeing where they lead. In today’s kinetic news train, journalists often do not have the time, or possibly think they do not have to bother with, investigating the real story—the history and facts—behind popularized assumptions. They might also be told by their editors, explicitly or implicitly, what stories to bring and what not to bring.

At crucial times in a polarized society, such as the present, independently-minded writers—those with a critical outlook, integrity, and an objective, unbiased, attitude essential for the common good of their audience—appear to be an endangered species.

This brings attention to the land question.

In the view of Islamists, “Palestinian land” extends from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean), giving birth to the fashionable slogan favored by an anti-Zionist crowd of dedicated deconstructionists, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Why the neighboring territory of Jordan, on the other side of the river, is not included in the land claim is not explained. The land that comprises Jordan, according the Balfour Declaration, was officially pledged as “a national home of the Jewish people.” Jordan, therefore, is rightfully Occupied Israel. If Israel were a fraction as expansionist as Iran and the Palestinians, it should be claimed as such.

The Wall Street Journal published its July 4, 2024 online edition with a piece titled, “Israel Has Seized More Land This Year Than in Any Year in the Past Three Decades”. This refers to those portions of the West Bank, more correctly described as Samaria and Judea or the “heartland” of Israel. Israel cannot “seize” its own land. There is a historical, legal and ethical warrant for acknowledging Israel’s legitimate rights of ownership to all of its land, including Gaza, the West Bank and Transjordan (Jordan), as originally purposed not only by the Balfour Declaration but also in the San Remo convention of 1920. This allocation was further partitioned by Winston Churchill in 1921 to accommodate claims by the Hashemite Emir Abdullah.

Claims to territory are generally validated through various factors, including international law. In the case of Hebrew–Jewish claims to the land, validation also comes from Israel’s history, its ancient documents, religious texts, tradition, archaeological findings and Jews living in the same land for more than 3,600 years. The Jews have maintained their historic language, culture and religion over nearly four millennia, and are the only remaining tribe in the region that can prove its ancient heritage and identity.

All these factors and more give credence to Israel’s claims of legitimacy, namely, that the Jewish people are rightful owners of all of Israel. It therefore takes a strong dose of purposed cognitive dissonance, religious fanaticism, ignorance, naiveté or even anti-Semitism to deny Israel’s claims. When taking all these considerations into account, it is understandable that renowned international law expert Jacques Gauthier urges the Jewish people of Israel: “Never allow people to tell you that you are trespassers. It’s your land; it’s been given to you in law.”

The March 28 recognition by Norway, Ireland and Spain of a non-existent Palestinian state—one without a functioning government, a definable border or even a viable economy—has been shown to reflect an anti-Semitic bias by those nations when compared to the attitudes of Europe’s other countries, which do not, at present, accept the legitimacy of a non-existent Palestinian state.

Although 145 UN members “currently recognize a Palestinian state, this doesn’t make it so,” wrote author James Sinkinson. What exactly does the recognition of such a state entail in practice? Exclusive Islamist ownership of the land? What areas of land are these nations referencing exactly? Do they validate the legitimacy of radical Islamism and a jihadist government with its own military? Who has jurisdiction to make these decisions? What about the Jews and their claims? Will the result be a jihadist, Islamist, Palestinian Gaza and West Bank with a little bit of land in between for Jews so that they are eventually squeezed or murdered out of existence? Will these countries try to force this recognition onto Israel?

With these questions and more, “recognition” makes no sense. All it does is to expose these countries’ historic anti-Semitism, raise false expectations and create the danger of more deaths far from the countries making these unnecessary, sanctimonious, cost-free claims. Unilateral recognition of “Palestine” will inevitably result in yet another failed state, inhabited by jihadi terrorists, openly eager to repeat the terror of October 7, 2023 on Israel’s population.

On July 17, 2024, Israel doubled down on its rights to the land. Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state or any part of one “on any piece of land west of the Jordon River.” The situation is now clear. There is no chance of Israel agreeing to a so-called “two-state solution” to the Palestinian question. The Oslo Accords, having died a long time ago, are now officially dead.

Therefore, when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made a finding on July 19, two days after the Knesset resolution, to the effect that “the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replied: “The Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land, including in our own capital Jerusalem, nor in Judea and Samaria, our historical homeland. No absurd opinion at The Hague can deny this historical truth or the legal rights of Israelis to live in their own communities in our ancestral home.”

George Mason University Law Professor Eugene Kontorovich, a specialist in international law, notes that “all the arguments that make Israel out to be an occupying force collapse under the weight of a single, simple fact. A country cannot occupy territory to which it has a legal claim.”

Journalists deceive their audience by endorsing, without investigative effort, the standpoint of many political leaders in the West. Compliance with editorial culture can be a mitigating factor, yet journalists worthy of the name are prepared to expose the real story.

When the UN recognized “Palestine as eligible for statehood,” noted the French–Canadian attorney and scholar Jacques Gauthier, “many people wouldn’t be following this falsehood if they knew the true narrative.”

Accordingly, it is the task of journalists of courage always to carefully investigate the validity of each party’s claim. Should they do so in this instance, the outcome becomes clear: the land belongs to the Jewish people, and those they graciously welcome there. As this is not the conclusion that many writers and their editors seek, the propaganda of a Palestinian victimhood theory will in all likelihood persist. As an attempted solution, Newsweek now displays on its website a “Fairness Meter,” asking readers to indicate the level of bias or fairness (factuality) of a published article. Perhaps more news sites might consider a like idea.

To counter the prevailing “conventional wisdom” that often impedes the truth of a story, it is time, as James Bennet wrote, for journalistic “courage combined with a critical approach, objectivity, fairness, and integrity” to again take a rightful place in restoring public trust in the media. These requirements are particularly necessary in matters of international importance such as the intentions of Russia or China, or the claims of Iran and its proxies such as the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas. It is time for realism and truth to dominate the narrative, not idealism and ideology.

Nils A. Haug is an author and columnist. A Lawyer by profession, he is member of the International Bar Association, the National Association of Scholars, a faculty member at Intercollegiate Studies Institute, the Academy of Philosophy and Letters. Retired from law, his particular field of interest is political theory interconnected with current events. He holds a Ph.D. in Apologetical Theology. Dr. Haug is author of ‘Politics, Law, and Disorder in the Garden of Eden – the Quest for Identity’; and ‘Enemies of the Innocent – Life, Truth, and Meaning in a Dark Age.’ His work has been published by First Things Journal, The American Mind, Quadrant, Minding the Campus, Gatestone Institute, National Association of Scholars, Israel Hayom, Jewish News Syndicate, Anglican Mainstream, Jewish Journal, Document Danmark, and others.

Source: (This article was originally published by The Gatestone Institute on August 25, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Orionist/wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for an awakening in the media to the blatant anti-Semitism that is being put forward as truth, as the content of many articles supports the untruthful narrative of Palestinian victimhood. Pray for those journalists who are investigating facts, observing objectively and speaking out against the biased view of Israel put forth in today’s media.

Scripture

Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.

- Psalm 25:4–5

Meet the Elite Medics Who Saved Lives on October 7

by Korin Elbaz-Alush ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 28 August 2024 | The Egoz Unit was among the first to be deployed to southern Israel on October 7. “That day, I was supposed to fly on a mission to the US,” says Captain Dr. G., the unit’s medic, who was one of the first to arrive at the Kissufim outpost along with the unit commander. “When I heard the initial alerts about terrorists infiltrating, I quickly gathered my equipment and headed south.”

During the first day of the war, Captain Dr. G. treated 37 wounded, both civilians and soldiers, under fire, saving their lives. One of the most significant moments for him was when he heard the radio report about the grave injury of the unit commander, Lt. Col. M.

“They evacuated him in an armored vehicle, and when I opened it to assess his condition, I thought he was dead,” he recalls. “His injury was extremely severe, and we decided to start surgery in the field. I managed to stabilize him, and he was flown by a 669 helicopter to Soroka Medical Center. It was one of the most critical injuries I’ve ever treated.”

Dr. G. has treated casualties under fire before, but “I’ve never encountered such intensity and numbers,” he says. “You operate on autopilot. Rockets were falling just 50 meters [164 feet] from us, and there was no time to think about yourself or process what was happening. The goal is to do as much as possible in as little time as possible, to save as many lives as you can.”

Captain Dr. Y., a physician with the Duvdevan Unit, was on his way to Kfar Aza when he encountered the horrific scenes and realized it was an “unprecedented event, something we were not prepared for.” The first person Dr. Y. treated was a severely wounded police officer, marking the beginning of two days of evacuating the injured under fire, stabilizing them and transporting them to the hospital.

“There were many complex rescues,” he recalls. “We rescued a member of the emergency response team from a roof through an attic and an injured reservist lying on the grass in a kill zone, surrounded by armored vehicles. Decisions were made with limited resources, and we had to consider the broader picture, knowing that using equipment for one injured person could prevent treatment for another.”

One of the moments that will stay with Dr. Y. was treating his best friend from the unit, who was critically wounded and later died from his injuries. “It was incredibly difficult,” he says. “We always trained for mass-casualty events, but the human mind couldn’t conceive of something as devastating as what happened. But one thing that helps me cope is knowing that we truly saved lives, and there were very significant moments of light during the fighting. After seven years of studies and more years of training, we always talked about saving lives on the battlefield, and suddenly, it was real.”

After the first days of fighting, Dr. Y. and other military doctors trained with senior medical professionals in Israel. “I can say with certainty that we are more prepared now than we were before. Protecting soldiers and civilians is the essence of the job,” he says. “Every soldier in the field needs to know that there’s a medic behind him who will take care of him when needed, and I try to give them that push forward—that no matter what happens, we will win.”

Captain Dr. D., a physician with the Maglan Unit, was deployed on October 7’s morning to the Nahal Oz sector, where he stayed with the unit for three days, treating the wounded and helping clear the area of terrorists.

“In the morning, I was conducting reserve call-ups when I started getting calls from soldiers in the field about the wounded,” he recalls. “I handed off the call-ups to another team and headed out. Every time we encountered a wounded person, we stopped and treated them. When we arrived at Nahal Oz, the mission was to retake it. The main challenge was evacuating the wounded.”

After clearing the kibbutz, the forces began going house to house to evacuate residents and take them to gathering points. “They were terrified after what they had been through, but seeing the soldiers gave them strength. Together with a Givati reconnaissance unit, we did everything we could to calm them and be there for them,” Dr. D. says.

What stands out most in his memory is the spirit of unity and determination. “On my way to the unit, I picked up my deputy, who reported that reserve duty attendance was at 100%, and even those who weren’t called up tried to get there as quickly as possible to help. There were paramedics and doctors over 50, and even those who were abroad and immediately notified that they were coming. It was very touching and showed our strength. Beyond that, I have a deep personal love for Gaza border towns. It’s the most beautiful area in Israel, and seeing it after the horrors, burned and battered, is heartbreaking.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on August 27, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the brave doctors and medics who risked their own lives in order to save the wounded on that tragic and horrible day in October. Pray that they themselves would experience healing of the memories of what they saw and experienced that day and those that followed.

Scripture

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.

- Psalm 131:2–3