GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 115

Peace Is Hard To Get

Half Down – Half To Go

The Minister of Defense for Israel stated that the numbers aren’t looking too good for Hamas as we read in this article from i24news.tv:

During a conversation with IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) artillery fighters at the Gaza border, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conveyed crucial information about the ongoing conflict.

Gallant emphasized that approximately a quarter of Hamas terrorists have been killed, with an additional quarter wounded.

Gallant said their days are numbered:

He stated, "The hourglass is turning against them," highlighting the challenges Hamas faces, including limited supplies and ammunition.

He would go on to say that the IDF isn’t stopping anytime soon:

Galant emphasized the long-term nature of the conflict, stating, "We are in a long war, but in the end, we will break Hamas." He outlined three primary goals: eliminating Hamas, returning kidnapped individuals, and maintaining unity within the Israeli population.

Galant also encouraged Israelis to stay focused on how they can help end the war:

The Defense Minister stressed the importance of national determination and unity, urging everyone to focus on shared objectives and avoid divisive elements. Gallant concluded his speech to the soldiers by emphasizing the significance of empowering the forces through "unified action and projecting a united front" against the challenges posed by Hamas.

We Should Have Expected This

Hamas is said to have rejected the latest offer from Israel as a new hostage deal is on the table as we read in a report from The Times Of Israel:

Hamas on Monday evening appeared to reject a new framework for a hostage deal that had been agreed to by Israel, saying it would not accept any agreement that did not include an end to the war and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza.

The terror group issued a statement alongside a smaller terror group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, insisting Israel must halt its “aggression” and pull out of Gaza before any exchange deal takes place.

A senior Hamas official added that the terror group wants a “complete and comprehensive ceasefire” in Gaza.

The Israel offer isn’t much different from what we already know which would stop fighting for about a 30-45 day pause with the release of the remaining hostages in phases. Hamas would get a substantial number of terrorist released and increased humanitarian aid. The terrorist group won’t even talk details until the fighting stops completely. Israel is said to be open to ceasing fighting for a longer time:

Israel Hayom reported that the Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs told their Qatari, Egyptian, and American interlocutors that Israel is willing to be flexible on the length of a ceasefire, the number of prisoners released, and the amount of humanitarian aid let in, but will not under any circumstances agree to end the war — a condition Hamas has hitherto insisted on.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and some Israeli officials offered this about the negotiations:

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement that did not deny that Israel had agreed to a framework for a hostage release, but did say that “the reports about a deal are incorrect and include [ostensible] conditions that are not acceptable to Israel.”

Israeli officials told The Times of Israel on Monday that they are being cautious. “There is still a long road ahead,” one official said.

Calls For Gaza Resettlement

At a conference in Israel a group of the government endorsed measures to take back the Gaza strip:

In front of an impassioned audience of thousands of right-wing activists, 11 government ministers and 15 coalition lawmakers pledged Sunday night to rebuild Jewish Israeli settlements in the heart of the Gaza Strip, with some also encouraging the emigration of the Palestinian population after the war with Hamas is over.

Speaking amid a carnival-like atmosphere at the Jerusalem International Convention Center, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of the ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, extolled the virtues of creating new settlements, declaring: “God willing, we will settle and we will be victorious.”

Another member added this:

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the extreme-right Otzma Yehudit party, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not present, and the audience that it was “time to return home to Gush Katif” — the name of the Israeli settlement bloc in Gaza that was evacuated in the 2005 Disengagement.

Smotrich and Ben Gvir, together with six coalition MKs, signed what was dubbed the “Covenant of Victory and Renewal of Settlement,” which pledged that the signatories would “grow Jewish settlements full of life” in the Gaza Strip.

The talk of Palestinians moving to other parts of the world would be voluntary, they said.

Reversing A Mistake

The conference, which was met with criticism as one would expect was not shy about their opinions about putting things back the way they were before the area was given totally to the Palestinians back in 2005:

Sunday night’s conference was organized by the Nachala settlement activist group and the West Bank’s Samaria Regional Council and its head Yossi Dagan.

The event’s express purpose was to serve as a rallying cry to the general public and the government to take advantage of the current war, in which the Israel Defense Forces has asserted control over large parts of the Gaza Strip, and begin to build Jewish settlements in the coastal enclave once again.

Part of correcting the mistake, of recognizing the sin of the conception that brought upon us October 7 and brought upon us the expulsion [ of settlers from Gaza in 2005], is to return home… [We] are returning home, to Gush Katif and northern Samaria,” said Ben Gvir, also referencing four settlements in the northern West Bank that were also evacuated in 2005 as part of the disengagement.

Bringing Peace To Israel

We keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem and speakers at the conference voiced how it will happen starting with Ben-Givir:

Endorsing the idea of getting Palestinians to leave Gaza, the hardline minister added: “We need to return home, to rule the territory, and yes, also to offer a moral and logical solution to the humanitarian problem: encourage emigration and [pass a] death penalty law [for terror convicts].”

Smotrich also spoke up:

Smotrich was somewhat more cautious than Ben Gvir and did not explicitly call for the construction of settlements in Gaza in his speech, although he heavily hinted that he favored such a path.

He said that Israel could either “once again run away from terrorism” or “we settle the land, control it, fight terrorism and bring security to the entire State of Israel.

“Without settlement, there is no security. And without security on Israel’s borders, there is no security in any part of Israel.”

Concluded the finance minister: “God willing, together we will be victorious; God willing, together we will settle and be victorious.”

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, said this fitting comment:

“We must settle Gaza, with security forces and settlers who will wrap them and this land in love.”

Can Both Palestinians And Israelis Live Side By Side?

It is a fair question and is at the heart of the Arab and Israel conflict going all the way back to 1948 when Israel became a nation again. The two state solution, so called also makes this assumption, but history and even the events of October 7th are examples that whatever the secret sauce for peace, no one has found it. The elements to end the struggle are well known, actually. If Arabs will openly acknowledge that the nation of Israel exists and that they have a right to land in the Middle East, that would help. And if they stopped indoctrinating their people to hate Israel, that too would help. The entire Arab world has said that these three things will not be done and it isn’t a new development. The etymology of the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” speaks to their feeling that Israel doesn’t have a right to exist and that only when Arabs occupy the land of Israel will they be satisfied. While some refute that, terrorists will tell you exactly what it means. So how can this struggle be resolved? A good start would be to stop attacking Israel and taking them hostages. From what I’ve seen so far, that is next to impossible. But not totally impossible. On this we must keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem.