The southern front:
The IDF spokesperson said that the fighters of the Egoz unit are operating in the heart of Khan Younis. They are locating weapons and attacking anti-tank positions, observation posts, and terrorists. At the same time, a force from Givati is raiding terrorist infrastructure in the city of Bani Suheila tructure, terrorist gathering sites, and a Hamas military contact location.
The commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, held a situation assessment with the commanders of the Golani Brigade, which suffered heavy losses. Finkelman sought to strengthen them and said: "Yesterday you proved that 'after me' is not a slogan, but an order from us commanders to lead forward at the head of the forces even when it comes at a heavy price. You are the generation of victory."
Prime Minister Netanyahu visited IDF facilities in the south of the country. He conveyed a message to the fighters: "We will continue until the end, until victory, until the destruction of Hamas."
The Mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, told Defense Minister Gallant on behalf of the residents of Sderot, that the residents will not return to the city until the security threat is destroyed.
The name of an IDF soldier who fell yesterday in the southern Gaza Strip was released for publication:
HYD.
May his family be comforted among the nation he protected.
Another fighter was seriously injured.
The Arabic-language IDF spokesman reported that since the outbreak of the war, Hamas terrorists have fired 116 mortars from inside a humanitarian aid area the IDF had demarcated for the residents of the Gaza Strip. 38 of them fell within the Gaza Strip.
The IDF spokesman described the difficult battle in Shejaia that took place two days ago. He said that the ground force was accompanied by 20 Air Force aircraft, and that the fighters in the Strip always have a strong aerial cover. He stated that there has been no change in combat policy.
Qatar has pledged 50 million dollars for humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.
IDF forces continue to operate in the Shaja'iya neighborhood, the Jabaliya refugee camp and the Khan Yunis area. The fighters eliminated terrorists, raided Hamas strongholds, and uncovered tunnel shafts and weapons.
Dozens of Hamas terrorists left the Kamal Adwan hospital in the Jabaliya refugee camp holding their weapons over their heads and surrendered to the IDF. The terrorists were arrested and transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation.
The IDF published a proclamation throughout the Gaza Strip calling on residents to provide information on the leaders of Hamas in exchange for a large monetary reward. For information about Yahya Sinwar, the IDF offered a sum of 400 thousand dollars.
Egyptian officials said that Israel has turned to the Egyptians for help renewing negotiations for the release of abductees. CNN, however, reported that Hamas refuses any request for negotiations as long as there is no ceasefire.
The northern front:
IDF forces attacked several Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, as well as several terrorist squads on the border and inside Lebanon. The IDF spokesman noted that several launches from Lebanon were detected, some of which fell in Lebanese territory and some in open areas in Israel. There were no casualties.
The IDF attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon this morning. Later, a rocket was fired towards the Upper Galilee, to which the IDF responded with more fire.
The West Bank:
IDF soldiers have been in action for over 40 hours in Jenin. The Air Force attacked a terrorist squad that threw explosives at soldiers during an arrest. According to an Arab report, several terrorists were killed and wounded.
In Israel:
The wounded terrorist who was being treated in a hospital in Israel, about whom we reported today, has been transferred to a military facility for further treatment.
The Israel Post website was briefly taken down following a suspected hack by anti-Israeli elements. The Israel Post Authority stated that the matter is being handled; normal service has been restored.
Minister Gadi Eisenkot attended yesterday's War Cabinet meeting, during the "shiva" week of mourning for his son who fell in battle.
On a positive note:
In a speech by the president-elect of Argentina, known for his uncompromising support for Israel, he said, "It is not a coincidence that the presidential inauguration takes place during the Hanukkah holiday. The Maccabean war is a symbol for the victory of the weak over the strong, of the few over the many, of light over darkness, and above all, of truth over fiction".
The organization "Happy Gluty - Home for the Happy Celiac" operates a service preparing and sending gluten-free meals for celiac soldiers and evacuees all over the country. Thousands of meals have been donated so far.
In the elevator of a building in the city of Bnei Brak, pages with chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) were hung on the walls, so that the users of the elevator would take advantage of the time and pray for the soldiers and hostages.
The Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra decided to dedicate its Hanukkah concert to the evacuees staying in Jerusalem. The evacuees were provided free admission.
The southern front:
The IDF spokesperson said that the fighters of the Egoz unit are operating in the heart of Khan Younis. They are locating weapons and attacking anti-tank positions, observation posts, and terrorists. At the same time, a force from Givati is raiding terrorist infrastructure in the city of Bani Suheila tructure, terrorist gathering sites, and a Hamas military contact location.
The family of Tal Chaimi, 41 years old from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, received notification of his murder in captivity.
May his memory be a blessing.
The family of Joshua Luito Molal, a foreign worker from Tanzania who was taken hostage by Hamas on Simhat Torah, received a message that he is no longer alive
The commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, held a situation assessment with the commanders of the Golani Brigade, which suffered heavy losses. Finkelman sought to strengthen them and said: "Yesterday you proved that 'after me' is not a slogan, but an order from us commanders to lead forward at the head of the forces even when it comes at a heavy price. You are the generation of victory."
Prime Minister Netanyahu visited IDF facilities in the south of the country. He conveyed a message to the fighters: "We will continue until the end, until victory, until the destruction of Hamas."
The Mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, told Defense Minister Gallant on behalf of the residents of Sderot, that the residents will not return to the city until the security threat is destroyed.
UNRWA (the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees) said that the humanitarian aid it provides in the Gaza Strip is "on the verge of collapse" after more than 130 of its people have been killed.
Defense Minister Gallant stated that the IDF is striking Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, reaching many goals and moving toward a victory over Hamas. In a situation assessment Prime Minister Netanyahu conducted with the Shin Bet, he noted that he recognizes the beginning of Hamas' break.
The name of an IDF soldier who fell yesterday in the southern Gaza Strip was released for publication:
Master Sergeant (res.) Rav Elisha Loewenstern, 38 years old from Harish, from the 8104th Battalion, HYD.
May his family be comforted among the nation he protected.
Another fighter was seriously injured.
The Arabic-language IDF spokesman reported that since the outbreak of the war, Hamas terrorists have fired 116 mortars from inside a humanitarian aid area the IDF had demarcated for the residents of the Gaza Strip. 38 of them fell within the Gaza Strip.
The IDF spokesman described the difficult battle in Shejaia that took place two days ago. He said that the ground force was accompanied by 20 Air Force aircraft, and that the fighters in the Strip always have a strong aerial cover. He stated that there has been no change in combat policy.
Qatar has pledged 50 million dollars for humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.
IDF forces continue to operate in the Shaja'iya neighborhood, the Jabaliya refugee camp and the Khan Yunis area. The fighters eliminated terrorists, raided Hamas strongholds, and uncovered tunnel shafts and weapons.
Dozens of Hamas terrorists left the Kamal Adwan hospital in the Jabaliya refugee camp holding their weapons over their heads and surrendered to the IDF. The terrorists were arrested and transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation.
The IDF published a proclamation throughout the Gaza Strip calling on residents to provide information on the leaders of Hamas in exchange for a large monetary reward. For information about Yahya Sinwar, the IDF offered a sum of 400 thousand dollars.
Egyptian officials said that Israel has turned to the Egyptians for help renewing negotiations for the release of abductees. CNN, however, reported that Hamas refuses any request for negotiations as long as there is no ceasefire.
The northern front:
IDF forces attacked several Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, as well as several terrorist squads on the border and inside Lebanon. The IDF spokesman noted that several launches from Lebanon were detected, some of which fell in Lebanese territory and some in open areas in Israel. There were no casualties.
The IDF attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon this morning. Later, a rocket was fired towards the Upper Galilee, to which the IDF responded with more fire.
The West Bank:
IDF soldiers have been in action for over 40 hours in Jenin. The Air Force attacked a terrorist squad that threw explosives at soldiers during an arrest. According to an Arab report, several terrorists were killed and wounded.
In Israel:
The wounded terrorist who was being treated in a hospital in Israel, about whom we reported today, has been transferred to a military facility for further treatment.
The Israel Post website was briefly taken down following a suspected hack by anti-Israeli elements. The Israel Post Authority stated that the matter is being handled; normal service has been restored.
Minister Gadi Eisenkot attended yesterday's War Cabinet meeting, during the "shiva" week of mourning for his son who fell in battle.
On a positive note:
In a speech by the president-elect of Argentina, known for his uncompromising support for Israel, he said, "It is not a coincidence that the presidential inauguration takes place during the Hanukkah holiday. The Maccabean war is a symbol for the victory of the weak over the strong, of the few over the many, of light over darkness, and above all, of truth over fiction".
The organization "Happy Gluty - Home for the Happy Celiac" operates a service preparing and sending gluten-free meals for celiac soldiers and evacuees all over the country. Thousands of meals have been donated so far.
In the elevator of a building in the city of Bnei Brak, pages with chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) were hung on the walls, so that the users of the elevator would take advantage of the time and pray for the soldiers and hostages.
The Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra decided to dedicate its Hanukkah concert to the evacuees staying in Jerusalem. The evacuees were provided free admission.