GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 92

Taking Control Of Gaza

North Gaza Success

According to an IDF spokesman, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has totally taken apart Hamas’ fighting apparatus in northern Gaza as we read in this report from The Times Of Israel:

On the eve of the three-month mark of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday evening it had completed the dismantlement of Hamas’s “military framework” in the northern Gaza Strip.

Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at a press conference that the military was now focused on dismantling Hamas in central and southern Gaza.

The IDF also took out a key Hamas leader today as well:

Saturday also saw the IDF and Shin Bet say that the commander of Hamas’s Nuseirat battalion in central Gaza, Ismail Siraj, and his deputy, Ahmed Wahaba, were killed in an airstrike in the Strip. The battalion was responsible for the attacks on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and the massacres that took place there and in other border communities.

Taking apart the ability to stage another October 7th attack was a major announcement:

At his press conference, Hagari said that battles and sporadic rocket fire could still occur in northern Gaza, but the terror group’s infrastructure was out of action and could no longer carry out large-scale attacks.

Central and Southern Gaza still needs attention, though:

He noted that towns in central Gaza were “dense and full of terrorists,” while Khan Younis in the south has an “underground city of branching tunnels.”

“There are no shortcuts when it comes to fighting terror,” Hagari said. “We attacked, and will continue to attack, and continue to deepen the achievement in these areas, but it takes time,” Hagari said.

“It will take time. The fighting will continue throughout 2024. We are working according to a plan to achieve the goals of the war: to dismantle Hamas in the center and south, and continue all efforts, intelligence and operational, and military pressure, to return the hostages,” Hagari said.

Iran Faces Trouble At Home

Most everyone agrees that Iran is the true puppet master in the Middle East as they provide training, arms, and intelligence to all of its proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis to name a few. But they like to keep from entering the fighting personally. However, in what may prove to be just the distraction Israel may need to mount a surprise attack on their nuclear plants, ISIS may be mounting a comeback of sorts by attacking southern Iran as we read in The Times Of Israel:

ISIS claims responsibility for a pair of explosions that killed at least 84 people near the grave of General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq four years ago.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber accused Israel of having a hand in the attack, saying that “the representatives of the Zionist regime” had spilled blood with the blast.

But the US already indicated yesterday that the explosions appeared to be the modus operandi of ISIS.

ISIS has gone on to take responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels.

To many, the logic could be religious in nature attack is one of Sunni Muslim extremists attacking Shia Muslims. Regardless of the reasons why, it targeted a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who is looked as an icon by supporters of the country’s religious leaders. However Soleimani also was key in destroying ISIS which may also be why the bombings happened. Even if ISIS was behind the bombings, the Iranian leadership may still use it as inspiration to attack Israel and even United States military sites in the region.

Child’s Play? Cages For Hostages?

As if we needed more proof that the terrorists in Gaza were training their children to grow up to hate Israel, the IDF found a jigsaw puzzle with the caption “Liberate Palestine” on it and showing kids with weapons attacking Israel. It is truly disturbing to see the puzzle illustrated with cartoon children figures with guns, on tanks and ships all appearing to shout as they attack Israel from all sides. Add to this that the IDF found another example of inhumane treatment of hostages as we read in this short report from The Times Of Israel:

Israeli forces found cages in the Gaza Strip that may have been used by Hamas to hold hostages kidnapped during the terror group’s October 7 onslaught, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The television report cited unspecified intelligence findings indicating the cages were likely used to imprison hostages and move them to different locations, and may have also been used by Hamas to hold Palestinian prisoners.

When US presidential candidate Nikki Haley recently suggested that Palestinians relocate to countries that support Hamas, she may be offering the best short term option for Gaza, an option that many in Israel’s more conservative wing also support. Demilitarizing the area and eliminating the terrorists is a major piece of the strategy, but getting this indoctrination out of the civilians is the hardest piece and one that may not be something that can be done. Can a post-war Gaza be possible if the citizens want their children to grow up to be suicide bombers? Can these people really co-exist with Israelis who aren’t perfect but want true peace? Only God can change those hearts and that’s how we should pray.