The war in Gaza is not over. It has, however, moved into new phases. While US Secretary of State Blinken is hopping around the region trying to keep the war from expanding into something bigger, Israel has been releasing reservists to return to civilian life and changing focus for the IDF in 2 of the three areas of Gaza. In the south, around Khan Yunis, there is still organized Hamas military activity. The IDF is operating there in the manner I described earlier, with focused specific raids aimed at locating hostages (and freeing them) and Hamas leaders (and eliminating them). But in the center IDF units are involved primarily in cleaning up. Hamas equipment and documents are being collected and underground tunnels being located and mapped. Northern Gaza is under full Israeli control. IDF activity is mainly limited to destroying Hamas tunnels and facilities.
One example of an event in Gaza was the discovery by the IDF of a complete Hamas manufacturing facility for rockets underground. For me, it brought to mind the World War II allied discovery of Nazi factories dug into mountain sides for building the V-1 and V-2 missiles. Most of you are not old enough for that to be meaningful, but I was reminded of the similarity of Hamas to the Nazis as an embodiment of extreme hatred and cruelty,
The activities of the IDF in the north, facing Lebanon, including air attacks, supported by excellent intelligence and cooperation, resulted in a couple of notable blows at hostile military leaders. Wassim Al-Tawill of Hezbollah and Hassan Aqasha, a Hamas leader, were both killed, The names won’t mean anything to you, but their loss will certainly affect terrorist plans and operations in Lebanon and Syria.
There has also been some diplomatic activity with regard to South Africa accusing Israel of genocide. I may write about that tomorrow.
Wetherhorn 