Israel at war: What happened on days 56-57?

The IDF 551st Brigade combat team completed a mission in Jabalya, in the Gaza Strip, on Saturday, having killed Hamas terrorists and destroyed terror infrastructure, the IDF said.

The neutralized infrastructure included tunnels and subterranean structures.

During the operation, which had began before the initiation of the now-ended cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, IDF troops identified and destroyed a Hamas terror tunnel which extended tens of meters below the surface of the earth.

A Hamas tunnel in a school

The tunnel had been located in the courtyard of a school compound.

Another tunnel was located and destroyed in the home of a Hamas naval force activist, the IDF stated.

Soldiers of the 551st Brigade, along with Israeli special forces, also worked to eliminate subterranean infrastructure north of Jabalya, where Israeli troops subsequently Isolated and secured a an area to facilitate further IDF activity.

Also, along with the air force and artillery units, IDF troops destroyed numerous pieces of Hamas combat equipment, including weapons, explosives, launchers, and ammunition.

The IDF issued a call on Saturday for Gazans living in the southern Strip to evacuate to the direction of Al-Mawasi and Rafah ahead of planned operational activity, Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced.

#عاجل سكان قطاع غزة لقد استأنف جيش الدفاع العمل بقوة ضد حماس وباقي المنظمات الإرهابية في قطاع غزة. نرجو إخطاركم بما يلي:

في منطقة شمال القطاع:

⭕️سكان جباليا والشجاعية والزيتون والبلدة القديمة في غزة.
⭕️سكان جباليا المقيمين في البلوكات الآتية: 1772، 1808، 1811، 961، 963، 760.… pic.twitter.com/kfaAtl3xG1

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) December 2, 2023

Israel is open to considering more future pauses in its war in Gaza to allow for the release of hostages kept by Hamas, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Friday citing an Israeli official.

"We can negotiate while we still fight," the official was quoted as saying.

The IDF struck over 400 terror targets across the Gaza Strip since the resumption of the war in Gaza, following a seven-day humanitarian truce with terrorist group Hamas.

Some 50 of the 400 targets attacked were targeted as part of an air raid on Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF said. Israeli naval forces used precision-guided missiles to strike Hamas terror infrastructure, as well as naval equipment, located near the Khan Yunis harbor.

In the northern Strip, Israeli forces from the 401st Brigade struck down a terror cell and directed aerial fire targeting several terror targets in the Jabaliya area.

The IDF released footage of the strike that can be viewed below.

צה״ל תקף ביממה האחרונה מעל ל-400 מטרות טרור ברחבי הרצועה.

במהלך הלילה, תקפו מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר מעל ל-50 מטרות בתקיפה נרחבת במרחב ח'אן יונס>> pic.twitter.com/USFVvHYYhr

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 2, 2023

IDF destroys Gaza mosque used by Islamic Jihad as operational HQ

In addition, forces from the 215th Artillery Brigade operated across the northern Strip, directing aerial strikes against a terror cell that planned to ambush the forces.

The Brigade also raided a mosque used by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group as an operational headquarters.

The terror-infested mosque was later destroyed by Israeli Air Force fighter jets.

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Saturday that it is unfortunate that violence in Gaza has started again.

"It's unfortunate that the violence has started again. We hope that as soon as possible, more hostages can be liberated. We hope that the humanitarian access could be a permanent humanitarian access," he told reporters at the COP28 Summit in Dubai.

IDF artillery and aerial forces struck the source of rocket fire from southern Lebanon early on Saturday morning, the Israeli military said.

(JTA) – A series of Jewish professors across the country have faced lawsuits, termination and suspension after making pro-Israel remarks that administrators say crossed the line into threatening speech.

Faculty members at New York University, the University of Southern California and Johns Hopkins University are among those who have been recently caught up in such controversies, as the campus climate around Israel continues to ferment in the weeks following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s war against the terror group in the Gaza Strip.

“This current situation has really been time for me to put my money where my mouth is as a free-speech attorney,” Samantha Harris, an attorney representing one of the professors, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Cases of universities disciplining pro-Israel rhetoric since Oct. 7 have been relatively rare, as some of the most prominent campus controversies have involved the reverse. Some schools, under pressure from pro-Israel donors, politicians and legal aid groups, have taken a series of actions against pro-Palestinian students, faculty and events.

Leaders of Cornell University condemned a professor who praised the Hamas attacks as “exhilarating”; he later took a leave of absence. The University of Arizona recently suspended two professors who praised Hamas as a “resistance group” and questioned whether it is antisemitic, according to a recording posted by a pro-Israel social media account.

THE TRUSTEES GATE at George Washington University (Illustrative). (credit: Sabrina Soffer)

And the heads of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, George Washington University, Columbia University and other schools have suspended pro-Palestinian student groups or disciplined students who participated in disruptive protests. The U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office recently opened a series of investigations into universities over their handling of campus antisemitism cases, including some that took clear action against anti-Israel activities. The presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania are testifying before Congress next week as lawmakers seek to question whether they have responded forcefully enough to antisemitism.

But the cases of these three men — all at private colleges, and two of whom work in life sciences — show that strident pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian rhetoric has also occasionally been subject to consequences on campus. The offenses range from stray harsh words about Hamas to a professor tweeting multiple times that all Palestinians are “animals.”

An NYU director, fired over retweets, sues the hospital

The former director of NYU’s cancer research center is suing the hospital for firing him over a series of online posts he shared about Hamas and its supporters in the West.

Dr. Benjamin Neel was booted from that position earlier this month over his posting of political cartoons depicting Hamas calling for “death to all Jews,” and for caricatures showing Westerners, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, supporting the atrocities Hamas committed. He remains a tenured professor and the head of a laboratory at NYU, according to The New York Times. Neel’s attorney did not respond to questions sent via email.

NYU Langone Health fired Neel at the same time as it also fired another doctor for social media activity praising Hamas’ attack. Neel’s lawsuit, filed Nov. 16, claims that this made his own termination “a casualty” of the university’s “ill-considered plan to feign the appearance of even-handedness.”

In a statement to JTA, NYU maintained that it had proper standing to fire Neel from the cancer research center over what it said was a clear violation of the university’s code of conduct, social media policy and commitment “to providing a safe and inclusive environment, free of discrimination, for all of our employees and patients.”

“Dr. Ben Neel, as a leader at our institution, disregarded these standards in a series of public social media posts and later locked his Twitter/X account,” NYU spokesperson Steve Ritea said. “NYU Langone stands by our decision and looks forward to defending it in court.”

One of the arguments put forth by Neel’s attorneys is that his own pro-Israel speech pales in comparison to that of some of his more senior Jewish colleagues in private emails to him, who described other universities in insulting terms for failing to discipline anti-Israel speech. But NYU said Neel was acting “hypocritically” by including these emails in his lawsuit.

“Some of those emails were critical of specific decisions by university leaders for not taking a stronger stance on the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks and for not holding accountable those who engaged in discriminatory speech,” Ritea wrote. “Hypocritically, Dr. Neel is now lashing out for being held accountable for such conduct.”

At Johns Hopkins, a doctor is placed on leave over “disturbing” tweets

Another university hospital has also taken disciplinary measures against a Jewish program director and professor for his incendiary social media posts.

Johns Hopkins Medicine placed the director of its pediatric cardiac critical care program, Dr. Darren Klugman, on leave over a series of posts he wrote shortly after Oct. 7 that advocated violence against all Palestinians. Klugman is also a medical school professor.

Klugman’s posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, painted all Palestinians as “morally depraved” and “savage animals,” and called for them to be murdered or displaced. “Time to reclaim every inch of Israel for Jews,” he wrote on Oct. 8, according to screenshots published by the university’s newsletter and other outlets.

In one reply to a user who had suggested that Israel was calling for a “large-scale slaughter” and to “spread out massacres over a year to displace Palestinians,” Klugman wrote, “G-d willing.”

Klugman has since apologized for his posts, writing in a letter to colleagues, “These messages in no way reflect my beliefs, me as a person, a physician, a friend, or colleague.” His X account is no longer active.

Kim Hoppe, a spokesperson for Johns Hopkins Medicine, told JTA that Klugman will remain on leave while the university conducts “a thorough investigation” and called his posts “deeply disturbing.”

“Statements that explicitly threaten or extol violence against groups or individuals on the basis of national origin, race or religion violate our policies and do not represent our values,” Hoppe’s statement continued.

An online petition calling on Johns Hopkins to “remove” Klugman has garnered more than 8,000 signatures. In the Jewish conservative magazine Commentary last week, Washington Free Beacon writer Daniel Halper implored Johns Hopkins to “forgive Dr. Darren Klugman,” Klugman helped treat his daughter, who was born with congenital heart defects.

“His apology should be accepted,” Halper wrote. “As the father of a Klugman patient, I know he means it. Why? Because I witnessed with my own eyes how he delivered medical care.”

A USC professor is barred from campus over filmed anti-Hamas remarks

While Klugman was placed on leave over explicitly anti-Palestinian posts, a USC economics professor, John Strauss, was asked to stay off campus after students filmed him calling for the death of Hamas.

Strauss was also informed by USC’s provost that he is under investigation following several student complaints filed against him through the university’s Equal Employment Opportunity/Title IX office. Harris, his attorney, says it’s wrong for USC to be investigating him.

“I do not think the investigation is appropriate,” said Harris, a former attorney with the campus free-speech legal group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “University administrations perform absolutely no gatekeeping function when it comes to student complaints. They simply are categorically unwilling to say to a student, ‘No, I’m sorry, we have policies that protect the right to free speech.’”

Harris wouldn’t comment on Strauss’ legal strategy.

Strauss was filmed telling students, “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they are. Every one should be killed, and I hope they all are killed.” He made his remarks at a campus pro-Palestinian protest.

Some students and pro-Palestinian groups later claimed online that Strauss had been referring to all Palestinians, rather than just Hamas, and that he had stepped on their memorials to Gazans killed by the Israeli military. But Strauss told the Los Angeles Times that he wasn’t referring to all Palestinians and did not step on the memorial deliberately.

“I am Jewish and very pro-Israel, so I shouted, ‘Israel forever. Hamas are murderers,’” he said.

Harris told JTA that Strauss’ speech should be protected: “Saying ‘I hope people die’ is not a threat.”

Strauss will still be permitted to teach students virtually through the current semester, which ends this week. A USC spokesperson told JTA that Strauss “has in no way been disciplined for engaging in protective speech,” describing his removal from campus as “a precautionary measure” that’s “designed to minimize disruption in the classroom and to ensure a safe environment for both him and students.”

Harris disputed USC’s characterization of its actions toward Strauss. “It clearly is being considered a disciplinary measure,” she said. She also pointed to what she said was a “perceived double standard” in which universities are more willing to discipline inflammatory pro-Israel speech than pro-Palestinian comments, pointing to recent USC protests in which students chanted, “There is only one solution: intifada, revolution.”

“As far as I know, the people who chanted that are not under investigation,” she said.

A petition demanding USC bring Strauss back to campus has more than 19,000 signatures, while a competing petition demanding he be fired has a little over 7,200.

Matthew Nouriel, a Jewish and queer social media influencer, known for their pro-Zionist posts on X and Instagram, spoke at a Los Angeles community event a week ago, of which their speech went viral.

Nouriel spoke of atrocities and conflicts happening in other nations, his family's history in Iran, and criticized those who only wish to acknowledge the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The same people who claim to speak for brown and queer people are the ones attempting to erase my brown queer perspective because it doesn't fit their narrative. Those who claim to be speaking for people like me have convinced themselves that the same ideology that sees my fellow LGBTQ+ Iranians hung from cranes is the ideology they're supposed to defend."

Nouriel's full speech, which was praised by other Zionist influencers such as Hallel Silverman and Hen Mazzig, can be seen below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matthew Nouriel (@matthewnouriel)

"The same people we pleaded with to join us over the past year as we desperately fought for freedom in Iran, remained silent," they continued.

"Those who claim to be speaking for people like me have convinced themselves that the same ideology that sees my fellow LGBTQ+ Iranians hung from cranes is the ideology they're supposed to defend."

Matthew Nouriel

"And now they're on social media, in the streets, in droves violently demonstrating on behalf of the same ideology that forces my Jewish-Iranian family out of Iran."

Highlighting anti-Zionists' hypocrisies

Nouriel also begins to highlight other worldwide conflicts and incidences, stating that those who protest Israel would turn a blind eye to the other wars and atrocities happening in other countries. Examples of countries he names include Sudan, Armenia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria, as well as the Uhygurs in China.

They conclude by saying "If the only time you take to the streets is to stand against the only Jewish country in the world, you're not a freedom fighter, you're not a liberal, you're just a f***ing antisemite."

As part of the war effort, the civil defense branch of the protest group Brothers in Arms, released a video in collaboration with the Israeli gaming industry, calling for the release of hostages.

The video shows clips of the game Fortnite with voices teasing each other and asking for help from teammates as is common in online gaming communities. 

Before the camera pans over to a headset placed on the table, one of the voices asks "Or, are you here man?" and "Where are you, Or?"

"Or is AFK [away from keyboard]. He's been kidnapped by Hamas." reads the video.

The video shed light on one of the hostages from Israel, Or (16), and his younger brother Yagil Yaakov (13), who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.

''He didn't answer, so I understood.'' Destruction in Nir Oz, from which Ohad Monder was kidnapped on October 7 (credit: REUTERS)

For them, this is no game

The video reads "For them, this is no game" and then encourages the viewer to retweet the video with the hashtag #FordstillAFK.

The video was created by the civil defense branch of the protest group Brothers in Arms in collaboration with the Israeli gaming industry and calls on the global gaming community to help spread awareness of the kidnappings.

Brothers in Arms is a well-known protest group originating in early 2023 to protest and oppose the judicial reform being carried out by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It became a prominent group often at the front of the protests with its members wearing t-shirts and holding banners bearing the group's name. 

On October 7, that all changed, the group's leadership called for an immediate halt to protests and a return of all available reservists to duty to help defend the country.

Members of the group have helped the war effort in multiple ways from helping the rehousing programs for displaced citizens to replacing foreign farm workers in the South to helping with the identification of missing persons in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre.

A protester with a Palestinian flag self-immolated on Friday outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, injuring a security guard who attempted to intervene, authorities said.

The person, whom officials did not identify, is in critical condition, Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference. The guard's condition was not immediately clear.

"We believe this building remains safe, and we do not see any threat here," the chief said. "We believe that was an act of extreme political protest."

The protester arrived around 12:17 p.m. at the office building, which houses the consulate as well as several businesses, and used gasoline, police said.

The FBI's Atlanta office said it was coordinating with local law enforcement. The consulate and the Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"We are saddened to learn of the self-immolation at the entrance to the office building," the consul general of Israel to the southeastern US, Anat Sultan-Dadon, told ABC News. "It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way. The sanctity of life is our highest value."

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes as it seen from Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, December 1, 2023 (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

A resumption of hostilities

Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-long truce collapsed.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after the militant group attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 15,000 Gazans have been killed during Israel's assault, Palestinian officials say, which has destroyed much of the enclave.

The conflict has prompted hundreds of protests and rallies across the US, both in support of Palestinians as well as Israelis.