Swords of Iron, three months of War: Huge demonstrations asking for the return of the hostages
In the north, dozens of launches at IDF posts, including a flight control unit
Dan Arkin
| 07/01/2024
Crowds participated in demonstrations yesterday, calling for a deal to release the abductees. There is no real progress on a new agreement, but there are talks and signs that priorities are changing and that the release of abductees is climbing to first place in the itemized goals of the war.
Some of the meetings included a delegation from the families of the abductees in Qatar, which met with its Prime Minister; a Shin Bet delegation visited Egypt; and American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is arriving in Israel on Monday, January 8, for discussions on the abductees, the ‘day after,’ and the situation in Lebanon.
Over the weekend, the security elite descended into the Khan Yunis tunnels. The IDF chief of staff, the commander of the Southern Command, the head of the Shin Bet, the head of the security forces, and other officers were present. Major General Herzi Halevi told the fighters that military pressure would convince Sinwar to agree to a hostage release or an exile deal.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said yesterday, "The war cannot stop until we achieve all the objectives. We must put everything aside and continue until complete victory has been achieved" (the IDF has stated that control of the northern Gaza Strip has been completed).
Yesterday (Saturday) was a day of battle in northern Israel. Hezbollah fired about 40 missiles into Israeli territory, the IDF returned fire, and the Israeli Air Force attacked several high-quality Hezbollah targets.
Residents in Northern Israel noticed the return of the giant balloon in the north, part of the Tal Shamayim (Sky Dew) defense system, whose job is to observe threats from great distances and provide warnings. Until now, the system has not worked due to a malfunction.
Tal Shamayim was developed by the "Homa" directorate within the Ministry of Defense in cooperation with the American Missile Defense Agency MDA). IAI-Elta makes the system radar.
Over the weekend, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Hagari summarized three months of fighting and stated that the IDF found 70 million intelligence files, maps, computers, and documents in the Gaza Strip; 40,000 weapons were found; there were eight kilometers of tunnels in Jabaliya alone; and 8,000 terrorists were killed in the fighting.
The Sky Rider Unit operates in the Gaza Strip and beyond. They launch their drones, control them, gather intelligence and pass information on to the IDF fighting units.
One of the teams consists of four Sky Rider fighters in the reserves. They were recruited from various places in Israel and abroad and reestablished their team in the south. "We are in constant contact and cooperation with the battalion, accompanying the forces and warning them of any threat it cannot see on its own," one of the fighters shared on the IDF website.
Sjy Rider teams work with the brigades and divisions in the Gaza Strip. Some of the teams are inside the Gaza Strip. They receive a mission, two female fighters launch a helicopter, and two are in the operating room to control the vehicle, see the contract, and deliver it.
The fact that they are close to the forces is significant because this way, the distance that communication must travel is reduced, and its circuits are secure.
In one case, the Sky Rider team helped the 13th Battalion fighters of the Golani Brigade get out of a difficult situation. In bad weather and fog, the fighters were surrounded by an enemy force - Rochash fighters were the only ‘eyes’ of the Golani fighters, helping them to withdraw safely from the dangerous situation.
In the north, dozens of launches at IDF posts, including a flight control unit
Crowds participated in demonstrations yesterday, calling for a deal to release the abductees. There is no real progress on a new agreement, but there are talks and signs that priorities are changing and that the release of abductees is climbing to first place in the itemized goals of the war.
Some of the meetings included a delegation from the families of the abductees in Qatar, which met with its Prime Minister; a Shin Bet delegation visited Egypt; and American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is arriving in Israel on Monday, January 8, for discussions on the abductees, the ‘day after,’ and the situation in Lebanon.
Over the weekend, the security elite descended into the Khan Yunis tunnels. The IDF chief of staff, the commander of the Southern Command, the head of the Shin Bet, the head of the security forces, and other officers were present. Major General Herzi Halevi told the fighters that military pressure would convince Sinwar to agree to a hostage release or an exile deal.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said yesterday, "The war cannot stop until we achieve all the objectives. We must put everything aside and continue until complete victory has been achieved" (the IDF has stated that control of the northern Gaza Strip has been completed).
Yesterday (Saturday) was a day of battle in northern Israel. Hezbollah fired about 40 missiles into Israeli territory, the IDF returned fire, and the Israeli Air Force attacked several high-quality Hezbollah targets.
Residents in Northern Israel noticed the return of the giant balloon in the north, part of the Tal Shamayim (Sky Dew) defense system, whose job is to observe threats from great distances and provide warnings. Until now, the system has not worked due to a malfunction.
Tal Shamayim was developed by the "Homa" directorate within the Ministry of Defense in cooperation with the American Missile Defense Agency MDA). IAI-Elta makes the system radar.
Over the weekend, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Hagari summarized three months of fighting and stated that the IDF found 70 million intelligence files, maps, computers, and documents in the Gaza Strip; 40,000 weapons were found; there were eight kilometers of tunnels in Jabaliya alone; and 8,000 terrorists were killed in the fighting.
The Sky Rider Unit operates in the Gaza Strip and beyond. They launch their drones, control them, gather intelligence and pass information on to the IDF fighting units.
One of the teams consists of four Sky Rider fighters in the reserves. They were recruited from various places in Israel and abroad and reestablished their team in the south. "We are in constant contact and cooperation with the battalion, accompanying the forces and warning them of any threat it cannot see on its own," one of the fighters shared on the IDF website.
Sjy Rider teams work with the brigades and divisions in the Gaza Strip. Some of the teams are inside the Gaza Strip. They receive a mission, two female fighters launch a helicopter, and two are in the operating room to control the vehicle, see the contract, and deliver it.
The fact that they are close to the forces is significant because this way, the distance that communication must travel is reduced, and its circuits are secure.
In one case, the Sky Rider team helped the 13th Battalion fighters of the Golani Brigade get out of a difficult situation. In bad weather and fog, the fighters were surrounded by an enemy force - Rochash fighters were the only ‘eyes’ of the Golani fighters, helping them to withdraw safely from the dangerous situation.
