Israel at War: What happened on day 19?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted for the first time that he would have to answer for the military failure that occurred on October 7, when Hamas caught the IDF by surprise and infiltrated southern Israel.

“This failure will have to be investigated to the last degree. Everyone will have to give answers,” he said. “Myself included.”

The admission came on the 19th day of the war, and after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other top brass in the military had already admitted to one of the bigger military fiascos since the creation of the state.

“Citizens of Israel, October 7 was a black day in our history,” but the issue of accountably can only occur after the war is over, Netanyahu said.

"Everyone will have to give answers, myself included."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the October 7 Massacre

“As prime minister, I am responsible for securing the future of the country, and now my role is to lead the State of Israel and the people to a crushing victory over our enemies. 

“Now is the time to join forces for one goal: To charge forward to victory,” Netanyahu said.

Qatar's prime minister said on Wednesday that the only way to reach a peaceful solution in Gaza is to keep communication channels open.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who is also the minister of foreign affairs, added in a press conference with the Turkish foreign minister in Doha that Qatar will continue coordinating with Turkey and regional partners to de-escalate the crisis.

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said while inspecting military units in Suez on Wednesday that Cairo is playing a very positive role in de-escalating Gaza crisis.

Sisi also said that in light of current events it is important to "use capabilities wisely.," adding that the army's role is to secure Egyptian borders.

He added that it is very important to rely on a diplomatic solution for the Palestinian cause.

Jared Kushner, one of the chief US architects of a series of normalization agreements between Israel and Arab nations, said on Wednesday that the Abraham Accords were more important now than ever in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"Israel has to have its security... Palestinians have to have the opportunity to live a better life," said Kushner, who founded global investment firm, Affinity Partners. He was a senior adviser to former US President Donald Trump as well as his son-in-law.

The IDF and the Shin Bet eliminated Taysir Mubasher, the commander of Hamas' North Sector Battalion in Khan Younis, who over the years led a number of deadly attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens, the army said on Wednesday. 

Taysir Mubasher served for a time as the commander of Hamas's naval force and held several positions in the munitions production system. He had significant experience coordinating terror attacks and was considered close to senior members of Hamas, in particular Muhammad Daf, the head of the military branch.

Mubasher was responsible for several terror attacks in Israel

Mubasher was responsible for a number of murderous attacks against IDF soldiers and citizens of the State of Israel over the years, including the attack on the Atzmona pre-military program in March 2002, in which five students were murdered and many others injured.

It also appears from intelligence information that Mubasher produced the explosives that were detonated from a terror tunnel beneath the Orhan outpost in June 2004, as a result of which IDF soldier Sgt. Roi Nissim was killed and others were injured. In addition, Mubasher directed the attack at the Vered outpost in June 2003, and was involved in the infiltration attack on Zikim's beaches during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Wednesday the 2023-2024 national budget was "no longer relevant" given the Gaza war and would be amended, and sounded unfazed by S&P Global's downgrade of Israel's outlook to "negative" from "stable."

While putting the direct cost of the war at around 1 billion shekels ($246 million) a day to Israel, Smotrich said in an Army Radio broadcast that he did not yet have an assessment of the indirect costs on an economy partly paralyzed by the mass mobilization of military reservists and extensive Palestinian rocket salvoes.

Smotrich described the S&P downward revision from "stable" published on Tuesday as "alarmist" and said he did not anticipate major Israeli deficits despite the crisis.

Governor of the Bank of Israel Amir Yaron speaks during a press conference at the Bank of Israel offices in Jerusalem, on January 2, 2022. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Bank of Israel head stays on for war

He praised Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron, who was due to have stepped down but extended his tenure due to the crisis, for "functioning above and beyond." But Smotrich would not be drawn on whether Yaron should be formally kept in office.

"We don't have time to breathe, so we're not dealing with this (question) now," he said.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah hosted Hamas terror commander Saleh al-Arouri and Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in a meeting that pro-Iran media praised on Wednesday. This is the “axis of resistance” as Iran terms it and Al-Mayadeen media, which is pro-Iran, said that the meeting relates to continued “coordination” between the terror groups. Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel on October 7. Hezbollah has joined the fighting by firing dozens of missiles and rockets at Israel over the last weeks.  

 The report about the meeting includes claims that Hezbollah’s leader received the other two terror leaders. Nasrallah and Nakhalah are the chiefs of their organizations, while Arouri is a deputy within his movement. “The meeting between Sayyed Nasrallah, Al-Nakhalah and Al-Arouri reviewed the ongoing confrontations on the Lebanese border with occupied Palestine, and the recent events in the Gaza Strip since the start of Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ and the developments that followed at every level.”  

 The meeting therefore focuses on what Iran has wanted over the last several years, the desire to “unite” the fronts against Israel. “During the meeting, an assessment was made of the positions taken internationally and regionally and what the parties of the resistance axis must do at this sensitive stage.” The terror masterminds discussed ways to achieve “victory” the report said.

They also discussed how they might stop Israel’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Nasrallah, and the two others agreed to continue coordination and hold “follow-up” discussions on a “daily or permanent basis.” This appears to be an attempt to unify operations on a greater level than in the past. In the past Hamas, Hezbollah, PIJ and Iran have met in Lebanon in similar meetings, usually before attacks on Israel, but they have not appeared to seek daily coordination.  

 Nasrallah praised the members of Hezbollah who have been killed since October 7 as “martyrs on the road to Jerusalem.” This is a reminder that Iran has dubbed some of its military drills “road to Jerusalem” drills. Al-Mayadeen pointed out that Hezbollah began its attacks on Israel on October 8, joining the battle Hamas began on October 7 when it massacred 1,400 people in Israel. The report says that this has led to “unprecedented” losses for Israel, the largest since 2006. Clearly Hezbollah is saying it has joined the war as part of a second front. The report said that this Hezbollah threat and activity had deterred Israel from “acting decisively in Gaza.”

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters through a screen during a rally marking al-Quds Day, (Jerusalem Day) in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon April 14, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER)

Al-Arouri has been involved in the worst attacks

Al-Arouri is a veteran terrorist who was involved in the kidnapped and murder of three Israelis in 2014, which led to the 2014 war that year between Israel and Hamas. In late August Arouri warned of “all out war” on Israel. It turns out he was hinting at the October 7 attack. At the time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned that anyone who tried to harm Israel would “pay the full price.”  

Arouri has often travelled to Turkey and Lebanon in the past. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center noted in 2014 that “al-Arouri is a senior Hamas operative based in Turkey. On August 20 2014.” Other Hamas leaders are based in Qatar. 

The Hezbollah leader met al-Arouri and Ziyad al- Nakhalah in September. Nasrallah met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Arouri in April as well. Since October 7 Iran has also mobilized militias in Syria and Iraq to threaten the US and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have launched rockets targeting Israel. The rockets were shot down by a US warship and other air defenses in the region.

The US is moving more air defenses to the region. In addition Saudi Arabia has evacuated some personnel from Lebanon and some countries are calling on people to leave. It appears many countries are concerned about escalation. The terror leader meeting in Lebanon overnight, which appears like something out of the Godfather where the heads of the five families gather, is clearly an ominous cloud over the region.   

 Pope Francis on Wednesday renewed his calls for the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants and for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip.

"I am always thinking about the grave situation in Palestine and Israel. I encourage the release of hostages and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza," he said during his weekly audience.

Francis recalled that he will lead on Friday special prayers for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, in what he said last week would be a "a day of fasting, prayers, penance."

The Golani brigade's battalions 51 and 13 faced the brunt of the Hamas attack on October 7 in many sectors along the Gaza border. The two battalions also suffered heavy casualties among the more than 300 IDF soldiers killed on the first day of battle. Now the battalions are training and preparing for the next step. An announcement from the IDF described the brigade as moving from defense to preparation for offensive operations. "We will train, prepare and study the enemy - that's the only way we will win,” the announcement noted. 

(All photos credit: IDF)

The two battalions, the 13th and Battalion 51st were holding the line on October 7 along much of the Gaza border. “The forces fought hard and stubborn battles against hundreds of terrorists in the Kissufim and Nahal Oz sectors,” the IDF said in a statement. “The battalions, which suffered many losses, are currently undergoing in-depth training and extensive training for the next phase of combat.” 

These 19 days have certainly been tough on the unit. Moving from the unprecedented losses of October 7, and seeing the aftermath of the massacre when they helped liberate communities along the border, to preparing for the next phase. Throughout Israel, the 300,000 reservists who have been called up have been preparing. For instance, Givati, another infantry brigade, has also been doing refresher courses on urban combat.  

"The heroism of the fallen of the 13th Battalion accompanies us in every step we take"

Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg

"The heroism of the fallen of the 13th Battalion accompanies us in every step we take,” said commander of the 13th Battalion, Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg. He said the unit is preparing for the next step in Gaza with tough training. They will “fight and win.” This is the motto across Israel. The whole country is draped in flags and preparing for victory. “This time, we are the ones who will be surprised. We will arrive with intense concentration, with all the advanced capabilities and the high standard of the battalion, and we will be the ones who win,” the battalion commander said.  

The commander of the 51st had similar sentiments. Lt. Col. Meir Ohayon described how, three weeks have almost passed “since that murderous Saturday when the battalion fought, repulsed and did its best to fulfill the mission. In that hour of testing, the battalion's fighters demonstrated extraordinary courage and fighting spirit.”

He said that the unit is using every minute they have to train and prepare. “We don't forget our values, we are in the battle for our house. There will be a maneuver, and when it arrives, we will win,” he said. The “fight for the house” has become another slogan in Israel, describing this war as existential, similar to 1948.

The two Golani battalions have been described by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as fighting like lions on the first day of the battle against overwhelming odds. Battalions are usually made up of several companies of soldiers, several hundred fighting men. On October 7, along with other units on the border, they faced up to 2,900 attackers from Gaza who came in several waves and attack 29 points along the border, seeking to destroy 20 Israeli communities.  

These battalions were on the line when the battle began, and now, instead of retiring to rest and recuperate, they are preparing to be part of the tip of the spear when Israel decides to finally make the next move.  

During extensive attacks on the Gaza Strip in the past day, hundreds of Hamas military and government targets were destroyed, the IDF announced Wednesday morning.

Among the targets that were destroyed were tunnel shafts, military headquarters, ammunition depots, and mortar bomb and anti-tank missile launching positions. Additionally, infrastructures that make it difficult for Gaza residents to evacuate to the south of Gaza, such as Hamas blockades, and military headquarters responsible for the imprisonment of Hamas opponents were attacked.