Israel is winning on the ground

Nahal Brigade commander says Gaza terrorists put up a strong fight, but are no match for IDF • Two IDF officers killed Tuesday, raising toll to 29 dead soldiers plus one declared missing • Foreign agricultural worker killed in mortar attack in south.

Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff

Col. Uri Gordin (center) stands over the opening of a tunnel in Gaza

“We are at war, and in war the other side puts up a fight. We are taking strong action against them and we intend to win. We win every encounter,” Col. Uri Gordin, the commander of the Nahal Brigade, told reporters on Tuesday.

Gordin, a former commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal, assumed command over the Nahal Brigade two months ago. On Thursday he led his troops into northern Gaza.

“The brigade has targeted many terrorists and destroyed a lot of infrastructure, starting with ammunition stores, all the way to tunnels and other [Hamas] infrastructure,” Gordin said.

“The soldiers are fighting strong, with steadfast spirits. I think that these soldiers’ parents, siblings and friends have a lot to be proud of.

“We have excellent youth. It is a generation with a bright future, a group that is successful in eliminating Hamas on its own turf and destroying tunnels designed to attack Israeli citizens. We have quite a few casualties, with two soldiers killed [from the Nahal Brigade]. I regret each death.

“We will continue fighting until we complete our mission. We are highly motivated to restore security to the residents of the south. In terms of mapping and destroying the tunnels, we have not completed the task yet, but we will get there.”

Meanwhile, two Armored Corps officers were killed Tuesday as the Gaza ground operation continued for a sixth day, raising the IDF death toll to 29. Dmitry Levitas, a platoon commander, was killed by sniper fire. Company commander Nathan Cohen, 23, was also killed.

One Golani soldier, Oron Shaul, has been declared missing.

Also Tuesday, a foreign agricultural worker was killed when mortar shells were fired into a greenhouse in the Eshkol region in southern Israel.

The Iron Dome defense system intercepted 16 rockets from Gaza throughout the day out of at least 55 fired. One rocket scored a direct hit, destroying a house in Yehud. There were no casualties.

The Israel Air Force struck at least 236 targets in Gaza, including 100 targets in Shujayyia, in the span of one hour overnight Monday. According to Palestinian media, 639 people have been killed and over 4,000 have been wounded since the start of the operation on July 8.

Over the last few days, the fighting has concentrated mainly in the Shujaiyya province of Gaza. The IAF dropped 20 one-ton bombs on the neighborhood over the course of the night, with IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Motti Almoz saying, “Hamas has sustained a significant hit in Shujaiyya.”

“I’m not saying that this battle is over,” he said. “We have enough soldiers and enough presence in the field, but the reports that the Hamas defensive efforts are in trouble are accurate.”

The decision to massively bomb Shujaiyya was made after two days of bloody fighting there, during which Golani troops faced anti-tank missile attacks, bunkers and booby-trapped houses.

The aim of the one-ton bombs, dropped only 250 meters (273 yards) from the Israeli soldiers on the ground, is to clear their path to allow them to advance toward tunnel openings, through which the tunnels are ultimately destroyed.

Some experts contend that these bombs were used too late, and that if they had been used before the ground forces entered, lives would have been spared. In response, a senior IDF officer said Tuesday: “It is easy to be wise in hindsight. It is very problematic to define bombing policy in Gaza. We did not want to harm civilians. Excessive bombing could undermine the entire operation. That is the Gaza challenge. Fire power is not the answer everywhere in the Gaza Strip.

“In order to avoid a Shujaiyya 2,it was decided that the only way to allow the forces to confront the tunnels was to address the infrastructure. Since almost all civilians have evacuated Shujaiyya, it became possible to use more force in a less surgical manner. It was a dramatic aerial operation that has never been done before in Israel, bombing within 250 meters of our soldiers,” he said.

July 23, 2014 | 42 Comments »
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42 Comments / 42 Comments

  3. honeybee Said:

    He’s a consummate ” back-side kisser” , he use to it.

    He is now heading to Paris after failing to have “truce” between terrorist Hamas and Israel.

    If he allowed himself to be humiliated in Egypt, there is a potential for others to follow. Let him enjoy humiliation! 🙂
    Sooner or later, all of anti-Semites and those who want to destroy Israel will end up in humiliation/destruction. This is a historical fact notwithstanding what we currently or/and in the future may see.

  5. AbbaGuutuu Said:

    Thanks honeybee for posting something that made the phoenix ecstatic

    I loooooooooovve making phoenix ecstatic. Cause he’s so cuuuuute and he speaks French !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. the phoenix Said:

    @ honeybee:
    @ AbbaGuutuu:
    I LOVED that piece!!!!
    True or not (and I don’t see why it won’t be true) it just made me ecstatic!!!!
    Botox boy should have been spread eagled ….
    🙂

    Thanks honeybee for posting something that made the phoenix ecstatic. I had some ecstatic moment after watching Sean Hannity Show tonight: Sean and his guests exposed the bias from US mass media, US Administration, UN, Erdogan Of Turkey and others against Israel regarding the ongoing Hamas initiated war.

  7. honeybee Said:

    have you ever seen his wife, he married for money.

    I know his wife is very rich. He might have married her either for money or some other factors that we may not be able to know unless we hear about it directly from him or her.
    Is getting married for the sake of money comparable to the alleged humiliation he might have faced in Egypt? In diplomacy, you try to make even your arch enemies happy in order either to win him/her to your side or to neutralize them as much as possible. Based on this and diplomatic protocols/norms, it is hard to accept what was written on the referenced website as ‘true’.

  10. honeybee Said:

    For your edification: http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/egypt-went-out-of-its-way-to-humiliate-john-kerry/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=egypt-went-out-of-its-way-to-humiliate-john-kerry

    In diplomacy, there is a well established protocol that should be maintained. You treat your enemies differently than when you face him/her in a war zone.

    It is very hard for me to believe that Senator Kerry accepted such humiliation. There is no way to prove what was written on that website is “accurate”. It seems to me what was written was a fabricated lie.
    Even if I am not representing a USA (a Super Power), I refuse to go through such humiliation for the sake of my own dignity. 🙂

  11. honeybee Said:

    ” nations do not have friends, they only have interest ” ukn

    That is true in international relations. Nations in alliances even if they sometimes may have different interests could maintain their friendships (Example: NATO member countries who refused to fight in Iraq along with USA) instead of becoming enemies. Such relationships are not expected between Israel and most Arab/Muslim countries.

  14. AbbaGuutuu Said:

    Egypt under Sisi is a friend of Israel. America’s policy towards both Israel and Egypt has not changed. I don’t think their is a reason for concern at this moment regarding America’s relation with both Israel and Egypt.

    The current US Administration sympathies more with Arabs/Muslims than Jews and Christians. Since the majority of Americans support Israel, the Administration would be forced to side with Israel on critical issues. Rhetoric and some officials childish acts aside, I have not seen any basic policy changes AGAINST ISRAEL.

  15. the phoenix Said:

    I understand this sentence, abbu’yah , for what it says.
    What I am more interested in, is in what it implies.
    Are there any points with which you do not agree?
    And if so, …. What might they be?

    How are you doing my friend? Thanks for your question.
    There are points with which I do not agree with yamit82.
    yamit82 Said:

    Not sure America really is aiming for a ceasefire. Their geopolitical interest in our region is to restore the three way Egypt Israel America axis.

    America is aiming for a cease fire. If a cease fire is not achieved, there is a potential for those in Judea and Samaria to be more radicalized thereby removing Abbas from power. I do not think America has Plan B if Abbas is removed from power. I have seen a report that says “Abbas has sent his families to Amman. “
    Egypt under Sisi is a friend of Israel. America’s policy towards both Israel and Egypt has not changed. I don’t think their is a reason for concern at this moment regarding America’s relation with both Israel and Egypt.

    yamit82 Said:

    Jordan and the Saudis are now dependent on Israel to do what they once believed America would do for them.

    Is there any Arab country which recognized Israel as a Jewish state? None. Saud Arabia and other Arab and Muslim countries do not want to coexist with a Jewish state.
    Jordan wants to have a close relation with Israel because its King would be removed from power (as the majority of Jordanians are Palestinian Arabs) without the help he gets from Israel and USA. Saud Arabia hates the current US Administration’s discussions with Iranians instead of taking a military action to destroy its nuclear infrastructures. It may cooperate with Israel if it could destroy Iran’s nuclear capability. Let us not confuse a potential for a temporary dependence on Israel as though it would change their dependence on USA.

    Every country in the world works for its own interest.
    The interests of USA as superpower could be different from that of Israel or/and nay other country.
    Arabs, Muslims, and anti-Semites prefer endless warfare with the only Jewish state rather than living in peace by refusing to recognize its rights to exist. This is a historical fact. No matter what pressure it may face, Israel should not allow Hamas to come out of the mess/losses it has created with any resemblance of “victory”.

  16. @ AbbaGuutuu:

    There are some vital points in yamit82?s assessment with which I agree.

    I understand this sentence, abbu’yah , for what it says.
    What I am more interested in, is in what it implies.
    Are there any points with which you do not agree?
    And if so, …. What might they be?

  17. honeybee Said:

    Excellent assessment.

    There are some vital points in yamit82’s assessment with which I agree.

    As Israel is engaged in a struggle not only against Hamas but Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and anti-Semites, it is naive to think that some Arab countries would be a friend of Israel once their common and temporary interests of weakening/destroying Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran are met.

  19. yamit82 Said:

    Not sure America really is aiming for a ceasefire. Their geopolitical interest in our region is to restore the three way Egypt Israel America axis.

    yamit82 Said:

    Both Jordan and the Saudis no longer trust America for their protection and the Saudis miscalculated by backing anti Assad rebels who became a threat to the Saudis. Jordan and the Saudis are now dependent on Israel to do what they once believed America would do for them.

    Geo-politically, it would be in the best interest of USA to maintain best relations with Israel, Egypt as well as others in the Middle East. USA has military bases in Qatar.
    With all its problems USA has still influence not only in the Middle East but globally as the only super power.
    The mistrust that you have mentioned by some countries is mainly due to ill experienced leftists in power who do not know how to deal with domestic and international crisis. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar etc. have reasons to look up to USA for various reasons. Some Arab countries may cooperate with Israel for a very limited period of time in order to weaken Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. They all have deep seated hatred for Israel/Jews.
    With all its problems, USA is still the only superpower which can regain its proper place in the world by changing the current US Administration.
    Depending on the opinion of the international community (which is so fluid), I won’t be surprised if Secretary Kerry continues to use all sorts of pressure to force Israel to prematurely stop the war unless Israel totally rejects them vehemently until its objectives are met.

  20. @ yamit82:

    In short America is still a player but weakened and distrusted player with almost no influence on any of the players

    Would that include Israel?

  23. @ AbbaGuutuu:

    Not sure America really is aiming for a ceasefire. Their geopolitical interest in our region is to restore the three way Egypt Israel America axis. Letting Israel destroy Hamas if that’s in Israels cards would align itself more with American regional interests. Way back to Egypt for Obama is through Israel. Both Jordan and the Saudis no longer trust America for their protection and the Saudis miscalculated by backing anti Assad rebels who became a threat to the Saudis. Jordan and the Saudis are now dependent on Israel to do what they once believed America would do for them. The CIA instigated Arab Spring destroyed that reality and we are now operating on a different regional alignment and configuration. In short America is still a player but weakened and distrusted player with almost no influence on any of the players.

  25. honeybee Said:

    @ yamit

    Is all that bombing near you?

    Nope about 25 miles away as the crow flies. Had 4-5 rocket alerts and one landed nearby killing an Arab and injuring some of his family.

  26. It seems to me US is trying to force Israel stop fighting the war initiated by Hamas prematurely by stopping flight to and from Ben Gurion International Airport. FAA has not taken similar steps on Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Giving a victory to terrorist Hamas by hurting Israel economically is unfair and injustice. It should be resisted and Israel should be allowed to defeat Hamas decisively once and for all on its own terms as a sovereign state.

  27. @ honeybee:

    I saw on TV a homemade video of Israel attacking Gaza with the background of the above song. Couldn’t find it to post so I included two to try for a similar effect. Didn’t workout but that was my thoughts at the time. 😉

  37. @ yamit82:

    I saw Maher video today and was going to post it for, but I lost it. Loki II has been giving me problems. Any how now I can watch it thanks. Glad you posting and are OK. I fret.

  38. My two cents worth:
    Israel decided it would fight a war with Hamas while demanding that the IDF only use one hand. This to satisfy foreign interests.
    The suggestions of Feiglin and others, to destroy the enemy with only one concern in mind: the safety and security of its soldiers and civilians, were quickly dismissed as extremist.
    15 days later, that’s right 15 days later, Israel has lost over 30 soldiers needlessly, has only killed less than 300 terrorists (out of an army of 6-10,000), is still taking in 100+ rockets a day, has still to kill a Hamas leader, is now suffering of an almost shutdown airport and is widely thought of as a modern day Nazi war machine. What Israel has achieved so far, at a great cost, is very little.
    The problem is that for this to be considered a successful operation, Israel must destroy Hamas and reoccupy Gaza. In order to achieve this, Israel has to go all out and the way they are performing now, that would mean hundreds of Israeli casualties.
    What happens if Hizbullah gets smart and opens a new front in the north against Israel now? while Israel is bleeding. What happens then??
    How long can Israel absorb this war, the disruption to its daily life and economic activity, the disruption to its airport???
    Israel is getting punched around. I don’t like it and I am very upset with the leadership that keeps on sacrificing its soldiers in the altar of preventing civilian casualties of our enemies.
    I have mixed emotions right now; on one hand I can’t believe what I’m seeing, Israel incapable of beating a modest enemy without incurring major losses, on the other hand, my anger towards the leadership and on another, the real possibility of other fronts opening up.
    In short: not good.

  40. Israel Defense Forces Reportedly Issues Call to Evacuate Second Hospital in Gaza
    http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/23/israel-defense-forces-reportedly-issues-call-to-evacuate-second-hospital-in-gaza/

    Tel Aviv Airport Still Open: Israeli Carriers El Al, Arkia and Israir Flying as Normal, Along With 22 Foreign Airlines, Including British Airways, Aeroflot
    http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/23/tel-aviv-airport-still-open-israeli-carriers-el-al-arkia-and-israir-flying-as-normal-along-with-22-foreign-airlines-including-british-airw

    British Airways Defies Tel Aviv Flight Ban; US Airways to Resume Flights on Thursdayays-aeroflot/
    http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/23/british-airways-defies-tel-aviv-flight-ban-us-airways-to-resume-flights-on-thursday/

  41. The IDF is doing an outstanding job! Hopefully they will be able to complete their mission. This proves that a two state solution is not the answer.

  42. Breaking news (from walla):
    A hospital in gaza that was used as command room for Hamas and jihad

    ‘The decision to attack Waffa hospital in sejayiah, was taken after Idf has identified prolonged firing [of anti tank and light weapons ] from within towards our fighters in the region. Prior to the attack, the Idf has warned about its intention to bomb’
    (WHYYYYY????! … the phoenix).