Swords of Iron: Here is what happened on days 3, 4 and 5

More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing in Israel, the BBC reported on Monday, citing an official source.

Celebrities, both from Israel and abroad, are continuing to post about the attacks on Israelis by Hamas on social media.

Gal Gadot, who posted early in the attack, has added even more posts and stories to her account, asking for donations and support.

One of the most emotional posts came from Lucy Aharish, a Muslim Israeli-Arab television presenter and actress who is married to Jewish Israeli actor Tsahi Halevi (Fauda, Line in the Sand). She posted a story on Sunday to her Instagram in Hebrew,  showing a picture of Halevi sitting with their toddler son, that read: “To everyone who asks me, with cursing and blasphemy, I don’t respond. My love, who is more dear to me than anything, went out to defend [the country] and there is no rest."

"My heart is broken, [as] the that the worst possible news about more and more dear children has arrived.  The heart crashes at the sight of the horror and the slaughter that has been carried out by animals and sub-humans against the innocent. There can be no forgiveness, no excuse, no defense. I just want to write that I wish those who are wounded a speedy recovery. And to everyone whose family is not with them, I wish faith that they will be reunited soon. And to the hero soldiers, the warriors and the civilians who fight for [our] home, take care of yourselves, each and every one of you, and may you return to your homes whole and safe. To those who have lost loved ones, I share in your sorrow, may the heavens comfort you and may their memory be a blessing.”

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A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot)

Israeli/American actress Natalie Portman posted on her Instagram account, “My heart is shattered for the people of Israel. Children, woman and the elderly have been murdered and abducted from their homes. I am in horror at these barbaric acts and my heart is pounding with loave and prayer for the families of all affected.” Like many of those posting in support of Israel, she disabled comments on her account.

Israeli actor, Tomer Capone, known around the world for his starring role on the action series, The Boys, posted a story to his Instagram in which he tried to explain to his fans what it’s like to be awakened by a rocket alert siren. Stumbling over his words, he said he had never posted video to Instagram  before, but said, “It’s not an alarm clock,  it’s a f***ing alarm that sounds like a nuclear, alarm, that sounds like the end of the world is coming.” He went on to detail how Israelis fleeing to their safe rooms were slaughtered by Hamas.

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A post shared by Tomer Capone (@tomercapone)

Actress/director/Jeopardy host Mayim Bialik posted a message on her Instagram account, @missmayim, denouncing the attacks, which read, in part, “There are not words to communicate the immense pain and horror Israel is experiencing as hundreds are dead, thousands are wounded, and kidnapped families are now living all of our worst nightmare.” She called for prayers for peace and for the kidnapped soldiers and civilians, noting that she as family members who are Israeli soldiers, and closed with the words, “Am Yisrael Chai,” in Hebrew.

Two of America’s most influential television creators, David Simon, who made The Wire, and Jenji Kohan, who produced Orange is the New Black, are known for their left-wing views but rarely comment about political issues outside of the US. This time, however, they chose to weigh in. Simon, on his X account, wrote that while he supported the two-state solution, he questioned the idea that “intentionally targeting women and children, or parading the naked body of a female victim on a truck through the streets while men spit on her somehow achieves morality.”

Kohan put up a post and a multi-part Instagram story about the tragedy, one portion of which read, “Murdering Jewish people is not fighting for human rights,” followed by a photo of several Israeli flags.

Celebrities with family ties to Israel speak out

Another well-known left-wing activist, actress/comedian Sarah Silverman, whose sister is a rabbi in Jerusalem, posted on social media about the attacks. A recent story of hers featured CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s interview with a mother whose children were kidnapped by Hamas, and Silverman posted a statement by Iranian-born activist and entrepreneur Mandana Dayani, that read, “Never in my years as an activist, have I seen other activists, upon seeing footage of little girls being killed and dragged through the streets, immediately find the burning need to go on the Internet and justify their deaths. ‘Oh, here all the reasons that girl was burned alive!’

For complete clarity, the only reason you do this, is because you have been made to believe that the killing of Jews can even be justified. Because every civilization has taught that while the life of a Jew is less valuable than your own. It’s the Hitler playbook. Your antisemitism is not unconscious. It is so deeply rooted in your bones and you are so comfortable with it, you are not even able to consider its impact on your friends.”

Comedian/actress Amy Schumer also reposted Dayani’s statement, as well as a quote from Dr. Sheila Nazarian, “If you are silent when terrorists murder Israelis, stay silent when Israel defends itself,” and footage of Israelis being taken prisoner by Hamas at the music festival.

Model Kylie Jenner shared a post on as an Instagram story from @StandWithUs over the weekend that said, “now and always we stand with the people of Israel,” but quickly deleted it in response to criticism, according to reports. Her account, which has 399 million followers, is one of the most popular on Instagram. Now, it features only her usual glamour photos, but the comments on her recent innocuous posts are filled with calls to boycott her products in the Middle East over the now-deleted story. While a few posted comments were supportive of Jenner, some featuring Israeli flags, most showed Palestinian flags and were filled with insults, telling her to stick to posts about cosmetics. Others called her a name which apparently they deem as a supreme insult: “Zionist.”  

Israel is suspending production at the Tamar gas field off its southern coast and will seek alternative fuel sources to meet its needs, the energy ministry said on Monday following three days of violence in the region.

Chevron CVX.N, which operates the field, confirmed it had been instructed by the ministry to shut down the field, located some 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) off the city of Ashdod along Israel's southern Mediterranean coast.

Israel's largest offshore gas field, Leviathan, continues to operate normally, Chevron said.

Chevron, Tamar field's operator, owns a 25% stake, while Isramco ISRAp.TA hold 28.75%, the UAE's Mubadala Petroleum 22%, Tamar Petroleum TMRP.TA 16.75%, Dor Gas 4% and Everest 3.5%.

The World Bank on Monday told its staff it was gravely concerned about the "shocking escalation" of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Saturday and hoped for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict.

The memo, a copy of which was viewed by Reuters, cited what it called "devastating loss of life, destruction and heavy toll on civilians being incurred on both sides."

"We hope for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict and end to the violence. The World Bank and our development partners have long worked to support the poorest, most vulnerable people in the West Bank and Gaza, and we remain committed to building the foundations for a more stable and sustainable future."

Egypt has been in close contact with Israel and Hamas to try to prevent further escalation in fighting between them and ensure the protection of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants, two Egyptian security sources said on Monday.

Egypt had urged Israel to exercise restraint and Hamas to hold its captives in good condition to keep open the possibility of de-escalation soon, although successive Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip made mediation difficult, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Palestinian fighters took dozens of hostages in an attack launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including soldiers and civilians, children and the elderly. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was holding more than 30 of the captives.

Israeli fighter jets, helicopters and artillery have been pounding the Gaza Strip as Israel battled to clear out Palestinian fighters who crossed from Gaza.

Egypt's Sinai Peninsula shares a border with the Gaza Strip and with Israel, and Cairo has acted as a mediator between Israel and Palestinian groups in previous conflicts.

Tourists return to Israel

Some 7,000 Israeli tourists have returned from Sinai to Israel since the fighting erupted, the Egyptian security sources said. The Red Crescent has also delivered some medical aid to Gaza from Sinai through the Rafah crossing, they added.

On Sunday, two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian guide were shot dead at an archaeological site in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria.

The Egyptian policeman accused of carrying out the killing has been referred to a military court, one of the security sources said.

EgyptAir flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv have been suspended indefinitely, while flights from South Sinai's Sharm el-Shiekh to Tel Aviv were continuing to operate on Monday, allowing Israeli tourists to return home, Egyptian airport sources said.

Due to requests for breast milk due to the absence – and even horrendous murders – of nursing mothers and the recruitment of mothers of nursing babies, the Health Ministry has published new instructions. 

The would-be recipients include wounded babies and newborns of wounded women. 

In light of the initiatives on social networks to donate breast milk, the ministry said it encourages donations of breast milk through its mother’s breast milk bank in a process where the portions are tested and are safe for consumption by the babies. 

Eligible are babies up to the age of six months who need mother’s milk due to the absence of their mother due to the situation – wounds, kidnapping or death – or the mother has been called to military reserve duty. 

Mother’s milk can be provided for babies over the age of six months and up to the age of one year due to the absence of their mother because of her military service and who cannot consume baby formula due to allergy or intolerance and whose family have a document testifying to this from a medical authority.

Mother with newborn baby in the nursing pillow (credit: INGIMAGE)

Infants up to the age of one year because of the war can get mother’s milk donations if they are required to assist in their recovery and a physician confirms this. 

Also included are babies with any medical condition such as cancer that requires breast milk and whose family’s request is approved by a medical specialist. 

In a situation in which there is no information about the babies’ nutrition, there is priority in giving breast milk, the ministry said. These criteria may change depending on the security situation and the available stock.

Families or medical officials who care for babies who meet these criteria, and women who are willing to donate breast milk, can contact the Breast Milk Bank at milkbank@mda.org.il; on WhatsApp 0526344101; or by phone to 073-260200.

The ministry said it encourages breastfeeding women to continue do so in an emergency, as breastfeeding has been proven to prevent disease and reduce stress. Breastfeeding women who need help with breastfeeding or information regarding nutrition are invited to contact the Tipat Halav (well-baby) clinics’ hotline at *5400 extension 9 on Sundays from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m

Working in healthcare 

Meanwhile, due to the situation, the ministry has shortened the process of accepting new employees into the health system. This is to assist as much as possible in the treatment of the many injured and hospitalized in the hospitals and clinics. 

The ministry has published a temporary order effective until the end of October for the admission of workers and volunteers to the health system. This includes employees and volunteers who approved for working in the health system but have not yet completed the set of vaccinations required for this. They can start work in a shortened process in which, after getting vital vaccines to protect themselves and patients, they can later complete the entire vaccination schedule. They can get their shots at the Health Ministry district offices and other institutions at the cost of the hospital or clinic that employ them

Teams at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa have begun cleaning and preparing its -3 floor in the protected Sammy Ofer Hospital at the request of the Home Front Command. 

This does not involve moving wards and patients there, the hospital stressed, but to be ready in the event of  developments in the north that will require protected medical care for the sick, injured, and medical teams. 

Capabilities of the floor

The floor can contain about 700 beds in an emergency and function independently in terms of electricity, water and oxygen supply. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the floor was first used operationally as a COVID-19-protected hospital. 

In the first phase, the teams are engaged in installing toilets, showers, air conditioning and communication lines. Rambam is the main medical tertiary medical center in the north, and in the event of an emergency, injured and sick people from all over the north will be referred to it, including dialysis patients and other urgent medical cases. 

Imaging of the future of Rambam Health Care Campus (credit: Totem Imaging and Animation Ltd)

Tens of thousands of Israelis wait to return home, left stranded by the mass-cancellation of flights operated by foreign airlines, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on Saturday, when the terrorist organization launched a shock attack that killed more than 700 Israelis, and saw over 100 more kidnapped and brought back to Gaza.

In light of this, Israeli airlines are continuing their efforts to shuttle these stranded travelers, many of whom are reservists called up by the IDF, left without a way to report for duty.

El Al has announced the addition of two new rescue flights to depart on Tuesday: one bound for Frankfurt from Tel Aviv departing at 4:45am, and another from Frankfurt back to Tel Aviv departing at 9:30am.

Israir as well has announced a new regimen of daily rescue flights which will begin operation on Tuesday: five daily flights from Athens to Tel Aviv and back to Athens, and three daily flights from Larnaca to Tel Aviv and back to Larnaca.

An El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport. (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Israir manages logistical turbulence

Israir’s new scheduled flights were announced following a variety of logistical issues. According to a statement from the airport, some of the company’s flights were intended to be operated by aircraft and crews leased from other providers; but these crews are reportedly hesitant to remain in Israel between flights as planned.

“In light of Operation Swords of Iron and the fighting in Gaza, the company's production capacity has been damaged. This damage may be reflected in some of the Company's flights, which were planned to be carried out using leased aircraft that were leased for short periods. There is concern that some of these flights will be canceled, due to the fact that the foreign crews operating these flights have asked to leave Israel immediately,” Israir said in a statement.

The airline noted that some of its pilots have been recruited from reserve duty in order to join the IDF’s war efforts, resulting in the need to “operate on a smaller flight schedule than originally planned."

As well, Israir’s customer service call center is located in Sderot, which is one of the epicenters of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Its inoperation has presented an additional challenge for the airline as it tries to coordinate customers’ flights.

El Al continues to offer cancellations

As of the latest announcement Sunday night, El Al flights are remaining operational, “in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces.”

In response to the current situation, El Al is offering the following options for passengers:

Passengers already traveling: Those who have started their journey and want to change their return flight until October 21, 2023, won't incur reservation change fees or fare differences in the same service class.

Passengers already traveling with return flights until October 21, 2023: They can postpone their flight to Israel without reservation change fees. However, fare differences may apply for flights departing after October 21, 2023.

Passengers who haven't started their travel: For those with departure dates on or before October 21, 2023, they can change or freeze their tickets without reservation change fees. Fare differences may apply for flights after October 21, 2023. Alternatively, they can receive a voucher at no additional cost.

United Hatzalah (UH), Israel’s free emergency rescue organization, has 1,500 of its nearly 7,000 members operating in the Gaza periphery and treated well over 1,000 people –civilians  and soldiers– so far. Its logistics teams are moving large amounts of medical equipment to the organization’s medical personnel deployed in the various areas in the south of the country but it needs the public’s help in collecting additional equipment.

Among them are oxygen cylinders, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) bags (for manual ventilation and rescusitation); bandages and gauze pads, portable chargers, hygiene products, closed water bottles, dry food products that don’t require cooking, disposable utensils and more. Citizens, companies, suppliers and others who wish to help are asked to contact Doron Daniel immediately at 050-348-1221.

Hundreds of UH doctors, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians are continuing to provide medical assistance to the thousands of wounded in the south and center of the country and are working hand-in-hand with Israel Defense Forces medical units in the field.

The helicopters of the medevac unit of United Hatzalah and Lahak Aviation evacuated under fire nine seriously injured people on Saturday to hospitals in central Israel, and more on Sunday. 

United Hatzalah first responders (credit: UNITED HATZALAH‏)

Medical teams deployed nationwide

UH medical teams deployed in and around the various scenes of fighting transported approximately 300 people to various hospitals using dozens of ambulances that arrived to reinforce the south in addition to rescue vehicles. It has brought bulletproof vests, helmets, medical equipment such as bandages and tourniquets, and additional medical personnel from the north and the center of the country to assist in the most hard-hit regions of the Gaza periphery.  

UH president Eli Beer said that “In these difficult times, I want to send my support to the hundreds of volunteers who have been providing medical assistance in the various. We will increase the medical personnel and equipment in the south of the country as much as necessary and will continue to provide assistance as needed. I call on the general public to be careful and obey the directives of the Home Front Command. Please enter safe rooms during Red Alert warning sirens and wait there for about 10 minutes, these are instructions that save lives.”

Some 2,506 Israelis have been wounded since the war with Hamas began on Saturday morning, the Health Ministry announced on Monday. 

This includes 23 in critical condition, 353 in severe condition, 486 in moderate condition, and 1,243 in light condition.