Israeli bites
“Swords of Iron” day 47
Today, I am starting this newsletter on a more personal note. Earlier today, I visited kibbutz Almog, which is situated above the Dead Sea. Yehuda Kopolevitz Almog, a Third Aliyah pioneer, founded this kibbutz in 1977.
It is important to note that the population of this community is not religious and they embrace individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Since the 7th of October, more than 500,000 Israelis residing in the southern and northern regions of the country have been displaced from their homes.
In response to this crisis, Kibbutz Almog kindly provided shelter to the majority of residents from Kibbutz Shuva, a small religious kibbutz located near the Gaza border.
I volunteered to bring happiness to the numerous families and children affected by this situation and It was truly remarkable to witness the generosity of the original residents of kibbutz Almog, who are not religious themselves, as they opened their doors to thousands of religious families in need.
Today, I came to understand the truth behind the saying "together we are stronger, together we will win" when I witnessed it firsthand. Regardless of religious or secular beliefs, political leanings, or any other differences, we, as the Jewish people, stand united as one. Even in times of despair and sadness, we find solace and hope in our collective bond. Only by joining our hearts and souls can we conquer the darkness that seeks to extinguish us and our spirits.
Today more than ever, we stand united together and open our doors and hearts to our brothers and sisters.
The IDF has published the names of 4 additional soldiers who died while fighting Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Cpt. (res.) Arnon Moshe Avraham Benvenisti Vaspi, 26, an officer of the Givati Brigade’s Reconnaissance Battallion, from Yesud HaMa’ala.
Staff Sgt. Ilya Senkin, 20, a soldier of the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion from Nof Hagalil.
Cpt. Liron Snir, 25, a team commander in the Golani Brigade’s Reconnaissance unit, from Ofra.
Staff Sgt. Eitan Dov Rosenzweig, 21, of the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Alon Shvut.
Arena Overview
Southern border - Gaza
The soldiers of the Givati infantry Brigade conducted operational activity at the headquarters of Hamas’ Northern Brigade, which is located in the Sheikh Zayed area in the northern Gaza Strip. Sheikh Zayed is a neighborhood in which many senior operatives of the Hamas terrorist organization live and many Hamas outposts that are used, among other things, by Hamas’ Nukhba forces and are located in the heart of the civilian population.
The soldiers carried out operational activity at the outpost, where they located several tunnel shafts, including a strategic tunnel shaft 50 meters deep and 7 meters wide.
As part of the IDF’s activities in Gaza over the last day, IDF aircraft struck approximately 250 Hamas terror targets. Among the targets struck were dozens of terrorists, rocket launchers, and terrorist infrastructure.
IDF troops conducted targeted raids in the area of Beit Hanoun. During the operation, the troops located numerous weapons, AK-47 rifles, axes, ammunition an anti-tank missile hidden under a baby’s crib stored inside a civilian residence. IDF troops also engaged in combat and eliminated a number of terrorist cells. This finding is further proof that the Hamas terrorist organization uses Palestinian civilians as human shields.
Northern border
This morning, IDF aircraft identified and struck three armed terrorist cells in the area of the border with Lebanon. Aircraft also struck a number of Hezbollah terror targets, including military infrastructure and structures used for directing terrorist activity.
Three anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanese territory toward Metula in northern Israel were identified. No injuries were reported. In response, IDF soldiers are striking toward the source of the fire in Lebanon.
Mortar shells were fired at an IDF post in northern Israel. No injuries were reported. IDF artillery struck the source of the fire
Additional Areas
The Israeli government has agreed to a 4-day ceasefire and the release of 150 Arab prisoners in exchange for 50 Israeli hostages being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. All of the 50 Israeli hostages released are babies, children, and women.
The ceasefire was reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and the United States and it will be implemented tomorrow at 10 am.
But remember this: the Arab prisoners who will be released in the impending deal are convicted terrorists who are in prison because they tried to murder Israelis. The Israelis who will be freed are innocent civilians being held hostage by terrorists. There is no equivalence.
Timeline and operational updates
Wednesday 22nd of November
08:05 AM Israel's Justice Ministry releases the list of Palestinian prisoners as a part of the ceasefire deal. The document has 300 names. 150 prisoners are expected to be released at the first stage of the deal. 287 people are men under 18, other 13 are adult women. None of the people mentioned were convicted of murder. The charges include attempted murder, aggravated assault, minor offense.
09:00 Hezbollah will also adhere to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
09:30 IDF continues fighting terrorists from land, air and sea in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported conducting raids in Jabalya, Beit Hanoun and other areas of the Gaza Strip. “The IDF ground troops also conducted targeted raids in Sheikh Za'id in northwest Jabalya. During the targeted raids, Hamas spotters were identified in the area and killed.”
12:00 PM The IDF revealed that around 400 tunnel shafts have been located and destroyed since the start of war, disclosing operational footage from the Yahalom special forces unit who have taken a significant part in exposing and destroying the tunnel shafts. “The terrorist organization Hamas makes use of civilian intermediaries and builds underground terrorist infrastructures in the heart of civilian neighborhoods, near residential areas, schools, hospitals, cemeteries and agricultural areas,” the IDF statement concluded.
04:30 IDF says air force shot down a cruise missile over the Red Sea near the southern city of Eilat. Army says no infiltration into Israeli territory was identified.
09:09 Houthis in Yemen claim responsibility for the attack on Eilat earlier today, saying they launched multiple cruise missiles at various targets in the southern Israeli city. “The Yemeni armed forces will continue to carry out their military operations until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank stops,” said the Houthi’s military spokesman.