tunnels

2024-05-08

Herzi Halevi is one of the most disappointing chiefs of staff since the establishment of the State of Israel. His failure is evident in the military's preparatio for war, in the conduct of the war, and in the fatal damage to the values and morals and the ethical code of the army on which generations of fighters were raised. Halevi's method of choosing the next generation of commanders to follow him is neither moral nor ethical. It also causes irreparable damage to the IDF and the country as a whole by the public losing confidence in IDF commanders and the entire army. Halevi was appointed chief of staff by his close associate Benny Gantz and brought upon Israel a terrible disgrace and disaster, the likes of which had not been seen since the establishment of the state. Thousands were murdered, thousands of wounded are trying to recover, hundreds were kidnapped by Hamas into tunnels, and more than a hundred thousand were displaced from their homes. These facts cannot be debated, and yet Halevi continues to hold his title, thanks to his accomplices, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This group could bring us total destruction. It is simply unimaginable how this group that should have stood trial continues to manage the country and the war for us. These three and all their followers should resign from their jobs, sit in their homes until the end of their days, and atone for their sins. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi (credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT) When Halevi was the head of the military intelligence, at the beginning of March 2017, he estimated that Hamas or Hezbollah were not interested in a military conflict 'in the near term'. He argued that Israeli deterrence reduces the likelihood of an initiated war. When Halevi was the commander of the Southern Command, an internal IDF document was published in August 2021. The document describes the defense system and reveals the depth of the failure and the destructive concept that dominated military thinking in recent years. In the three years from 2018 to 2021, Herzi Halevi served as commander of the Southern Command. During this time, the defense plans against Hamas deteriorated without measures to deal with the hundreds of kilometers of Hamas tunnels. The operational discipline on the border with the Gaza Strip also deteriorated. Halevi advocated that Hamas was deterred and, therefore, did not come across as a threat to Israel. Aviv Kochavi and Hatzi Halevi at the exchange of chiefs of staff ceremony in January 2023 (credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) One of the reasons that the IDF did not enter Rafah at the same time as Gaza City at the beginning of the war when the world was still with us and the attack was still possible was that there were no concrete attack plans. These plans require years of preparation, training the forces, studying the area in detail, and allocating forces to tasks within the cities and villages in Gaza. The study of land-air-sea combined with combat was not done at all. This is the reason the IDF planned its entry in an attack on Gaza City only while moving at the same time to mobilize the forces. Halevi must take direct responsibility for the lack of war plans neither in defense nor in attack. In February 2020, during Halevi's tenure as commander of the Southern Command, he joined the former director of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen, on a secret trip to Doha, the capital of Qatar. There, the two met with Mohammad bin Ahmad Al-Musnad, the national security adviser of the Emirate of Qatar, and with Mohammad al-Emadi, Qatari businessman. In response to this meeting, MK Avigdor Liberman stated on Channel 12, "The head of the Mossad together with the commander of the Southern Command on Netanyahu's behalf, begged the Qataris to continue pouring money into Hamas after March 30." During the days of Halevi as commander of the Southern Command, the process of tightening the instructions to open fire on the border of the Gaza Strip that began in early 2018 continued. The depth of the perimeter near the border where Gazans are not allowed to enter was reduced from 300 meters to 100 meters, and severe restrictions were imposed on shooting at unarmed Gazans. The IDF refrained from shooting Gazans who crossed the fence and those throwing Molotov cocktails. In mid-2019, restrictions were even imposed on shooting at armed men approaching the fence for fear of harming Hamas fighters who are controlling the riots, according to the understanding of Halevi. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi at the Northern Command (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) During the years of Halevi's tenure as chief of staff, the IDF's broken organizational aspects deepened: lack of discipline, failure to verify orders, failure to control and follow up on decisions made, failure to learn lessons, and unreliable investigations. The culture of lying rose to monstrous proportions, and the standards of performance fell below all criticism. In most army units, routine practices and orders were not followed. One of the many examples is the failure of the units in operational employment on the border lines to be on alert at dawn. Anyone who did not carry out this order in the past was dismissed, and it was in our hands on the morning of the Hamas attack on the settlements surrounding Gaza on October 7, 2023.  The conduct of Halevi, at three o'clock in the morning and the decisions he made were disastrous for the people of Israel. He remained complacent despite all the warnings that were before his eyes. This was not an error in judgment, but a concept deeply embedded in his personality. This is how he conducted himself as commander of the Southern Command, and this is how he acted as chief of staff and instilled in his subordinates this severe pattern of action. The failed management of the war by Halevi is a huge failure that Israel has not experienced since the establishment of the state. Instead of starting the war on the Gaza Strip with full force in both Gaza City and Rafah, Halevi acted only in a column in the Gaza Strip. The war has been going on for a very long time to such an extent that forces have lost their strength both in terms of resources and in terms of mental strength. After half a year of war with hundreds of dead and thousands of wounded, many seriously, the IDF captured 80% of the Gaza Strip. Within a short time, Hamas returned through the tunnels and retook control of all the territories abandoned by the IDF. In other words, we lost the war. The IDF's raids will not lead to a victory over Hamas but to a war of attrition that could last for years. The fighting forces will wear out because they have no replacements due to the cutting of six divisions in the last twenty years by the chiefs of staff who decided that the big wars have all passed, and it is possible to be satisfied with a small, technological, and smart army. The situation has reached such a point that our forces cannot eradicate Hamas and not even stop its re-establishment. The same is true for Hezbollah. As long as we fight a war with Hamas that no longer has a purpose, Hezbollah will continue to exhaust us in the North. This fighting will bring Israel to the collapse of the army, the economy, international relations, and society. The slogans of Bibi, Gallant, and Halevi that the IDF will not stop fighting until it achieves all the war's goals are empty slogans and massive deception to the public. Their only goal is to continue the fighting at any cost. Again, this is a war in which we have already been defeated.  Halevi's attack on the "spirit of the IDF" and the values of the IDF and the norms upon which generations of fighters were raised. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Golani commanders in the north (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) Considering these grave failures, why doesn't Halevi resign now and appoint a replacement? Halevi will go down in history for his failure to prepare the army for war and the terrible failure on October 7. Additionally, he will be remembered worldwide for his failure to conduct the war without achieving its goals, in which he, Bibi, and Gallant are responsible This chief of staff has failed at immoral and unethical levels that we have not known before. I am receiving very difficult testimonies from senior officers in the army who have lost complete trust in their commander, the Halevi, who does not set a personal or ethical example. Herzi Halevi receives backing for his nefarious actions from his fellow retired generals who were an integral part of the reasons for the disintegration of the army and the failure that occurred. One of the retired generals who had a significant part in wearing down the army has become one of the spokesmen for the army. They should be in prison for criminal negligence. In conclusion, has only one way to stop itself on the slippery slope toward the abyss, and that is to end the war, take a time-out, and release the hostages. We must restore the army, the economy, international relations, and society. The officials responsible for the terrible disaster we experienced must be fired.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-03

As negotiations between Israel and Hamas reach a critical juncture, the Palestinian militant group is carefully considering its response to a proposed agreement brokered by Egypt and validated by Israel.  The agreement, described by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as "extremely generous," aims to address key points of contention between the two parties and pave the way for a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Hamas is grappling with significant points of disagreement that have yet to be resolved. These include demands for a definitive end to fighting without conditions, the release of "heavy" Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, and clarifications regarding the reconstruction of Gaza, particularly regarding materials that could be repurposed for military use. The first point of contention revolves around the timing and conditions of negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is pushing for a revised clause that includes a written commitment to halt fighting without any preconditions, while Israel remains reluctant to make such a pledge. The release of Palestinian prisoners, particularly those serving life sentences, is another sticking point. Sinwar opposes Israel's demand to prevent these prisoners from returning to the West Bank, insisting on their right to be resettled in their homeland. Additionally, Hamas seeks clarity on the reconstruction of Gaza, particularly regarding the types of materials and equipment that will be allowed into the territory. While the proposed agreement prohibits the entry of items that could be used for military purposes, such as materials for rebuilding Hamas tunnels, Sinwar demands clear guidelines to ensure that essential reconstruction efforts are not hindered. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-02

Families of hostages took to the streets on Thursday morning, staging a dramatic protest that disrupted traffic on the Ayalon routes towards the north. Clutching a poignant sign that read, "Either Rafah or a deal. We choose life!" the protesters demanded immediate action for the release of their loved ones. In Jerusalem, women gathered in front of the Israeli Prime Minister's residence, placing large photos of individuals abducted and held captive by Hamas. This symbolic gesture aimed to draw attention to the plight of those kidnapped and to pressure the government for their safe return. The women's protest, advocating for the release of the abductees, emphasized the emotional toll of the situation. "A very grim morning, Prime Minister of Israel," they declared, highlighting that individuals kidnapped during the government's tenure have endured 209 days in captivity within Gaza's tunnels.  This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. The message was clear: as Prime Minister, the responsibility lies with the government to secure their release. "We choose life," read a sign held by protesters in Tel Aviv, where families of hostages also demonstrated, blocking traffic on Thursday morning. The demand was straightforward: either Rafah or a deal. The reference to Rafah underscores the strategic importance of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, suggesting that its reopening or involvement in negotiations could facilitate a resolution. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-29

Gazan fatality data shows a massive deterioration in the reports' accuracy, according to a recent analysis from the published on Tuesday. Since early November, the Hamas-controlled Gazan Health Ministry has been relying on media reports to supplement its own data collection systems. The use of media reports for Gazan fatality data now sits at nearly two-thirds of deaths; this has been on the rise steadily and has made up the majority of data since at least late December. The author of the analysis, Gabriel Epstein, explains that the media reports are difficult to trust as they are "more difficult to verify, regularly lack the details necessary to determine the identities or disposition of those killed, and may double-count or miss many fatalities." Epstein between the media reports and the central collection system (CCS) used by the Gazan Health Ministry. He shows that media reports disproportionately feature women and children, with 91.6% of the recorded deaths being women and children, whereas the CCS had that figure at 48.3% of deaths being women and children. Graph showing discrepancies in fatality data collection by different sources in Gaza. (credit: WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY) Epstein says some of the discrepancies can be explained by media reports being unlikely to record combatant deaths for a variety of reasons but that the recorded discrepancy is too large to be explained by this factor alone. He also gives some leeway in the divergence from Israel's figure of 13,000 combatants killed due to many of the combatant deaths being unrecordable by non-IDF sources, for example, those killed in the tunnels. The CCS shows a sharp decrease in fatalities since November, with only 286 recorded from March 1 to 18, compared to 5,192 from November 3 to December 11. There was also a prominent increase in the proportion of men recorded dead by the CCS, rising from 33.2% of deaths in October to 70.3% in March. Epstein attributes this proportional increase to several factors, such as the "shift from a primarily air-based campaign to ground fighting, the mass evacuation of civilians from the north to Rafah governorate, and the decreasing intensity of fighting in areas where the central collection system is still functioning." This reduces the total number of civilians killed and should lead to an increased concentration of male deaths in the figures, as adult men are the primary demographic of combatants. Epstein gives several conclusions on how best to use the fatality data from Gaza while maintaining a skeptical view of them. His first recommendation is to pair the use of the data in conjunction with scrutiny and with the appropriate caveats and to make clear the number of men killed is understated and the number of children killed is overstated. Second, he dismisses the popular figure that 72% of those killed were women and children, instead saying that if media reports are excluded, the figure rests at 58%, and 48% following November 3. For the 72% figure to be accurate, women and children would have to make up about 90% of deaths recorded from media reports, which he called "implausible" as men comprise 25% of the population and should make up a higher percentage of deaths due to being combatants. His final recommendation is that existing data is too limited to provide a definitive conclusion on the true death toll and the civilian-combatant ratio. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-22

Assad Awad, the military commentator from the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, appeared on the channel on Thursday. He addressed the situation in Israel’s north and analyzed the IDF's tactics in the region. Awad addressed Israel’s conflict between Hezbollah and Iran. Speaking on the conflict, Awad suggested, "Israel was surprised by the extent of the tunnels in Gaza and the military methods [of Hamas,] and it has adopted a new strategy for regional deterrence," he said at the outset. In the initial stage, according to Awad, "Israel severely hit to the region and destroyed many weapon shipments that were on their way from Iran. "In the next stage, warehouses in eastern Syria were attacked and destroyed. [The warehouses] contain[ed] weapons that could have been deployed to the border with Israel within hours. In fact, it undermined lines to Hezbollah and Iranian militias in the region.The exterior of a house damaged by a rocket fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, near Israel’s border with Lebanon in northern Israel. March 19, 2024. (credit: CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS/REUTERS) "All these actions may serve as a prelude to more significant activities, which may include the tunnels or at least disrupting the fortifications along the border with Lebanon, stretching over 79 kilometers, as well as in the Golan Heights area, which is expected to be much more challenging.” Awad went on to clarify that "Geographically, the Golan Heights area – facing Shebaa Farms, is a tough terrain considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Israeli airstrikes will not be advantageous there, and Israel will need to show creativity in finding new operational tactics." In his remarks, he referred to the Mountains Brigade, which will begin its operations in the coming weeks - at the height of the war, and will operate in the sectors of Mount Hermon and Mount Dov.  “Forces in the Mountains Brigade participated in the 2006 war and come with a deep familiarity with Hezbollah's tunnels,'" he said. "In recent weeks, Hezbollah has begun building tunnels from Syria to Lebanon, aiming to transfer weapons from the arsenals, but at this stage, there is no benefit in tunnels. I estimate 70%-80% of the arsenals have been destroyed,” Awad theorized. “This is expected to delay any plan Hezbollah seeks to implement, and this may be Israel's opportunity.” Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-20

The IDF’s 646th Reserve Brigade, during its operations over the past months, destroyed a “strategic” subterranean Hamas tunnel route that ran from northern to southern Gaza, stated on Tuesday.  The IDF has been conducting extensive work in the tunnels beneath Gaza in recent weeks. On Monday, the IDF published footage recovered from a tunnel showing footage of the kidnapping of the Bibas family. The footage was dated to the early days of the war. Last week, in another Hamas tunnel, the IDF recovered footage of as he fled with his family. The brigade completed its mission in Gaza last week, the IDF noted. Following the completion of its activities, the commanding officer of the 646th Reserve Brigade, Colonel Elad Shushan, stated, "We reached every hideout above and below ground in the Gaza Strip, and today, the terrorists know that there is no safe hiding place and that their fate is sealed.” IDF Brigade 646 troops operate in the Gaza Strip. February 20, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Over the course of its activities, in addition to destroying the key Hamas tunnel, troops in its brigade’s combat team have killed numerous terrorists and located weapons. At the beginning of the 646th’s activities , the brigade operated against terror targets in central Gaza areas, including el-Bureij, Nuseirat, and the “Towers” neighborhood belonging to Hamas members, the IDF stated. Upon completing their missions in these areas, the brigade moved on to operate in southern Gaza and the Khan Yunis area. During the 646th’s activities in the "Abasan" area, the brigade also completed an operation where it killed numerous terrorists, confiscated a large quantity of weapons, and detained dozens of terrorists who were hiding among the civilian populations, the military reported. “It is our duty to embrace and support the bereaved families and the wounded and to accompany them forward,” Colonel Shushan stated. “Dear soldiers, I am proud of you for the strength of spirit and resilience you have shown. I am sure that this is what our fallen would expect from us. We will continue with all our might. The mission is not yet complete, and I have no doubt that the brigade will stand ready whenever and wherever required." Last week, shortly before the completion of its mission in Khan Yunis, the 646th, operating in the city, to strike at and eliminate terrorists as IDF commandos operated nearby to raid terror targets. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-13

Israel has footage  showing Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, in the tunnels beneath Khan Yunis, a source confirmed to i24NEWS. The video marks Sinwar's first appearance since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7th. The footage was taken from Hamas security cameras within the past few days, showing Sinwar with women and children in the tunnels. Analysis of the video indicates that Sinwar appeared to be in good condition before swiftly departing the scene following the recording. According to senior Israeli military officials, special units have been tasked with pursuing senior Hamas figures, including Sinwar and Muhammad Deif, within the underground network. These units are engaging in unprecedented operations at depths exceeding 20 meters underground, reflecting the complexity of the conflict's subterranean dimension. This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Recent discoveries in Sinwar's hideouts within the documents believed to be authored by the Hamas leader. While the contents of these documents remain undisclosed, their recovery underscores the intensity of Israel's efforts to track and neutralize high-ranking Hamas operatives. Security sources  has been out of contact with Hamas for approximately 10 days, raising questions about his involvement in negotiations and decision-making within the organization. ...قراءة المزيد

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