Israel at war: What happened on day 41?

There is a debate at the highest levels of the government and the IDF about whether the military should already begin its invasion of southern Gaza or whether this must wait for an interim deal on hostages, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Numerous leaks have been made about terms that Israel or Hamas wants as the sides negotiate what might be an interim deal getting significant numbers of Israeli civilian hostages back, but not all hostages, for some kind of pause and prisoner exchange, but not necessarily that Hamas has demanded.

Whether Israel agrees to a deal or not which Hamas has been desperate for, even the possibility of being close to a deal may currently be slowing the push into southern Gaza, the Post understands.

The concept is that this is a unique tipping point where the IDF has mostly taken over northern Gaza and could make a natural pause.

A pregnant Israeli woman, kidnapped by Hamas during their October 7 attack, has now given birth in Gaza, according to a letter sent by Sara Netanyahu to First Lady Jill Biden on November 16.

The pregnant woman was kidnapped along with approximately 240 others. 

“You can only imagine, as I do, what must be going through the young mother’s mind as she is being held with her newborn by these murderers,” the prime minister's wife wrote in the emotional plea. 

Netanyahu also wrote of the 32 children being held hostage by the terrorist group and how they “are surely suffering from untold trauma… having witnessed the brutal murder of their parents and siblings on the horrific October 7.” 

“Hamas also abducted a 10-month-old. A baby. He became kidnapped even before he learned how to walk or talk.”

An Israeli woman carries an Israeli flag as she passes in front of a graffity calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, on November 12, 2023 (credit: GILI YAARI /FLASH90)

“We must speak out on behalf of these children,” Netanyahu concluded. “We must call for the immediate release of them and all those being held. We must demand the Red Cross visit them immediately. They have yet to do so.

“This nightmare that began over a month ago must end. These children need our help.”

Netanyahu also sent letters to Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron; Akshata Murty, wife of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the spouses of other world leaders, according to Ynet.

How are the hostages?

Little is known about how the hostages are being treated or where they are being held. However, Hamas has claimed that some hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to Reuters, a claim that cannot be substantiated. 

On Monday, The Jerusalem Post reported that 19-year-old Noa Mariano had been killed. Marciano was taken to Gaza alive by Hamas and held hostage. 

Shortly after the October 7 attack, Hamas released footage of the terrorists holding the child hostages but little is known about their current health status.

Israeli security forces foiled a shooting attack on Route 60 just south of Jerusalem on Thursday morning, according to initial reports.

Three terrorists approached the checkpoint by the southern Jerusalem tunnels leading to Gush Etzion and opened fire.

Five people were reportedly injured, one critically.

The terrorist was shot and neutralized. 

This is a developing story.  

The residence of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which was used as terrorist infrastructure, was hit by an airstrike on Wednesday night as IDF troops continue to operate in the Gaza Strip, the IDF revealed.

Haniyeh, the Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, is based in Qatar but his Gaza residence often served as a meeting point for Hamas's senior leadership to direct terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. 

Cache of weapons found by the IDF in Shati camp, November 16, 2023 (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The Israeli military also announced that during the battle to control the Shati refugee camp, IDF troops located and destroyed a Hamas naval forces weapons cache, containing diving gear, explosive devices, and weapons.

IDF troops also struck terrorists and located weapons including explosive belts, explosive barrels, RPGs, anti-tank missiles, comms equipment, and intelligence documents. 

Fallen soldiers

The IDF also announced two fallen officers on Thursday morning. Captain Asaf Master and Captain Kfir Itzhak Franco were named by the IDF as having fallen in battle in Gaza.

Master, 22, from Kibbutz Bahan, was a captain in the 601st Battalion, 401st "Iron Tracks" Armored Brigade.
Franco, also 22 and from Jerusalem, was a captain in the 51st Battalion, 401st "Iron Tracks" Armored Brigade. He is survived by grandparents, parents, and two sisters. He was engaged to be married.

CNN published on Wednesday night a new video documenting the first moments of the attacks by Hamas terrorists on October 7, which was obtained from the body camera of one of the terrorists.

Exclusive: Video from Hamas militant shows early moments of the October 7 attack on Israel https://t.co/rysOfTBoS8 pic.twitter.com/i0Zwa31hcF

— CNN (@CNN) November 15, 2023

In the video, the terrorist is seen joining others and breaking through the security fence into Israeli territory as the sun rises. He then drives a car towards the Gaza border communities while other terrorists are seen riding motorcycles armed with guns and missiles.

Later, the terrorist is seen going down a tunnel where guns and other military equipment are then removed. The terrorists are organizing and handing out instructions. They then run through an open area while shooting indiscriminately.

Terrorist killed approaching IDF base

A few seconds after the shocking recording of the killing of an Israeli soldier, the terrorist points the GoPro camera at himself and says that he is 24 years old, a father to children, and asks Allah for victory and that he should warrant the death of a martyr.

Later in the recording, as the terrorist approaches an IDF base, he can be seen loading he gun and firing. After approaching the gate to the base he is shot and killed. In the last seconds of the recording, only his gun is visible on camera, the terrorist himself is apparently dead.

Captain Asaf Master and Captain Kfir Itzhak Franco were named by the IDF on Thursday morning as having fallen in battle in Gaza.

Master, 22, from Kibbutz Bahan, was a captain in the 601st Battalion, 401st "Iron Tracks" Armored Brigade.

Franco, also 22 and from Jerusalem, was a captain in the 51st Battalion, 401st "Iron Tracks" Armored Brigade.

Israeli president Isaac Herzog said Israel cannot leave a vacuum in Gaza and would have to maintain a strong force there for the near future to prevent Hamas from re-emerging in the strip, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

"If we pull back, then who will take over? We can't leave a vacuum. We have to think about what will be the mechanism; there are many ideas that are thrown in the air," Herzog said in an interview with the FT.

"But no one will want to turn this place, Gaza, into a terror base again," he added.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had made it clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a two-state solution was the only answer to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict and that occupying Gaza would be a mistake.

Biden told reporters he was doing everything in his power to free hostages held by the Hamas militant group in Gaza, but that did not mean sending in the US military.

Biden said he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the Israel-Hamas war, and that "it cannot be allowed to get out of control." The meeting between the two was in San Francisco and reportedly lasted four hours. 

Biden: "Hamas is committing war crimes"

"Hamas commits a war crime when it places its headquarters under a hospital," Biden said. "Israel did not enter with many soldiers, and we told them that they should conduct themselves carefully."

Biden also said that "Hamas beheaded babies and burned women alive. The Israelis did not carpet bomb the hospital, they brought in soldiers and they also brought equipment that helps the hospital and gave a warning to the medical staff. This is different from indiscriminate bombings."

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden continues to back the Israeli military operation in Gaza. While this is not easy, especially with protests on campuses and on the left of his party, it is the right thing to do, maintains the writer. (credit: LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS)

"Hamas has already publicly said that they intend to attack again as they did. To think that they will simply stop and do nothing is unrealistic. They use tunnels to enter the hospital, among other things, and Hamas said they would do it again. So I ask a rhetorical question - what would America do in this situation?" Later he was asked about the Al-Shifa hospital - and he replied that he was absolutely certain that Hamas had a headquarters under the hospital. 

Biden also clarified at a press conference after meeting with Jinping that "The Israeli operation in Gaza will continue until Hamas can no longer harm Israel."

"Hamas has already publicly said that they intend to attack again as they did. To think that they will simply stop and do nothing is unrealistic."

US President Joe Biden

Biden said that he is doing everything he can to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, but said that does not mean he will send US military to the area.

"I am very involved in the negotiations for the release of the hostages," he said. "The Qataris have cooperated well, I hope this is going to happen."

US Capitol Police officers in riot gear clashed with dozens of demonstrators who gathered outside the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in Washington on Wednesday evening to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

The protest was organized by three advocacy groups and held in an area near the US Capitol. Lawmakers who were inside the DNC building said police had evacuated them from the area.

Protesters linked arms in front of the DNC building's entrance, where some sang: "Which side are you on?" Officers pushed and pulled the protesters to try to remove them from the area, at one point shoving one protester down a staircase leading to the entrance.

Police also used pepper spray and fired projectiles containing chemical irritants.

People hold electronic candles as police officers keep watch during a multi-denominational event hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America, IfNotNow Movement and Jewish Voice for Peace calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Washington. (credit: LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS)

"Illegally and violently protesting"

US Capitol Police said approximately 150 people were "illegally and violently protesting." It said six officers were treated for injuries, ranging from cuts to being pepper sprayed and punched.

"One person has been arrested for assault on an officer," Capitol Police said on social media.

The organizers rejected allegations that demonstrators were violent.

Public demonstrations - both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel - have rippled around the world since Hamas gunmen rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israel, and taking about 240 hostages back to Gaza.

Congressman Sean Casten said he was evacuated from the DNC building after it "was surrounded by protesters who had blocked all modes of ingress and egress."

He added: "We were rescued by armed officers who did not know the protesters’ intent; they knew only that Members of Congress were inside, could not leave, and that protesters would not let police through."

A DNC spokesperson said officials were monitoring the situation outside the DNC headquarters and were in touch with US Capitol and local Washington police.

The organizers of the protest were IfNotNow, which urges US Jewish groups to end their support of Israel's policies toward the Palestinians, Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that advocates for Palestinian independence, and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Jewish Voice for Peace wrote on social media that the protesters had gathered to lay out candles for Palestinians killed during Israel's bombardment and to call for a ceasefire.