Israel’s 32nd Day of War

32 days into the war and everything continues apace.

Hamas terrorists in Southern Lebanon fired some 30 rockets at Israel on Monday night, triggering air-raid sirens in cities, including Haifa, Nahariya and Akko.  “Approximately 30 launches were identified from Lebanon towards northern Israel over the last hour. The IDF is responding with artillery fire towards the origin of the launches,” the Israel Defense Forces said. The military intercepted several rockets. Most of the projectiles fell into the Mediterranean Sea. The Hamas terrorist organization in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it “struck the occupied city of Nahariya and southern Haifa in northern occupied Palestine [i.e., Israel] with 16 missiles.” Later on Monday, the IDF struck targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces is intensifying its maneuvers in Gaza City against Hamas, military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated, adding that the growing number of Hamas terrorists and field commanders being eliminated is creating pressure on the terrorist army that rules the enclave. Addressing IDF efforts to demolish the underground terror tunnel network dubbed “the metro,” Hagari said that Hamas, which deliberately places tunnel shafts under hospitals, mosques, schools and humanitarian sites, is systematically losing its underground access.  “We are working—going from one tunnel to another, placing weapons there, and using a range of means to destroy this infrastructure, including through new ways soon,” said Hagari. “There is no place where Hamas will be free from IDF’s offensive capabilities.”

As of today, 34 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat since the start of the war.  In the last days a number of top Hamas commanders have been killed including Wael Asafe, the architect of Hamas’ October 7^th invasion into Israel and Jihad Shahade, another top Hamas commander.

The political leadership of Israel is now looking at “day after” scenarios.  In an interview given to ABC Television last night, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel will need to maintain security control of Gaza for some period after the hostilities end and Hamas is vanquished. Within Israel, of course, we are beginning to see large demonstrations demanding that Netanyahu resign. A recent poll found that 77% of those polled agreed that he should resign now. Clearly, some of us would prefer not to see political upheaval here in the middle of a war. You can see the interview here…… https://t.co/zjSKIi5FJF

US President Joe Biden, in a phone call on Monday, urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to declare a humanitarian pause in Gaza, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Israel has set the release of all 241 hostages taken by Hamas as the condition for any pause in its military operations. In talks with Egypt and Qatar, Hamas political leaders at times expressed willingness to release some civilian hostages, while leaders of the group’s military wing opposed the idea.

In the US, national Jewish organizations are calling on Jews from around the country to travel to Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14 for a mass pro-Israel rally they hope will rival major Jewish demonstrations in 2002 and 1987 in size and impact. The March for Israel has three goals. Participants will be demanding the return of the 241 hostages Hamas terrorists abducted during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. They will also be calling for efforts to combat antisemitism, which has spiked worldwide since the attack. And they will be demonstrating their support for the unabashed backing Israel has so far received from both parties in Congress and the Biden administration.

Finally, Rabbi Danny Gordis’ daily blog ended with this item: “It was but a small news item yesterday when it was reported that the IDF is stocking up on winter equipment for the soldiers. The point was one that we’d all thought about but hadn’t focused on… this isn’t nearly over. The dread and the worry of the family and friends of almost half a million women and men now serving (170,000 standing army and 350,000 reservists) is going to continue—perhaps for a long, long time.”

We hope he is wrong but, as always, we prepare for the worst and hope for the best and may the good Lord protect our troops.