Operation: Saxon Needles; Month 2, Week 4, Day 4.

Today (30/11/23) sees the start of the 28th Conference Of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Needless to say, I'm on a bit of a pivot. A pivot not entirely unrelated to the pivot I found myself on during COP27. The security situation in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula in the wake of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

I do though have a quick moment to contemplate the difference between diplomacy and war.

COP20 took place in Lima, Peru back in 2014. Its closure was seriously delayed by the behaviour of the Ugandan delegation during the closing session of the Durban Platform. In a row over financing the Ugandan delegation essentially filibustered the closing vote, dealing with procedural matters relating to the next meeting. For the best part of eight hours.

Needless to say this was rather annoying. However as it was a diplomatic event everyone had to remain patient and polite. Any criticism had to be extremely subtle and in Latin.

This was in complete contrast to an incident I remember from the 2016/17 Battle of Mosul. An incident the US alluded to in the October 1st 2017 (1/10/17) Las Vegas Strip/Mandalay Bay Shooting.

Although I can't remember the exact address an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fireteam was holed up in a multistory apartment building in the east of the city. I think it might actually have been a single ISIL fighter equipped with a medium machine gun.

They too were being extremely annoying.

So we just dropped a big bomb on their heads. They were a lot less annoying after that.

And yes. We did destroy the entire apartment building in the process.

Then there was the March 17th 2017 (17/3/17) US airstrikes on the western al-Aghwat al-Jadidah of Mosul. 

There ISIL were making extensive use of Suicide-Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (S-VBIEDS). Essentially truck bombs of the size of the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing or the Provisional Irish Republic Army (PIRA) bombing of London's Docklands in 1996. ISIL would drive these bombs at Iraq forces in an attempt to kill them.

On March 17th the US conducted an airstrike against one of these S-VBIED's to stop it reaching its target. The airstrike detonated the truck bomb. Destroying the entire city block of al-Aghwat al-Jadidah and killing the 278+ civilians who were in that city block at the time.

So given the mess the US made of not only the Battle of Mosul but also of Mosul itself. You'd think they'd be quietly grateful of the opportunity for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to show them how to do it properly in Gaza. 

17:00 on 30/11/23 (UK date).

Operation: Saxon Needles; Month 2, Week 3, Day 2.

On October 7th 2023 (7/11/23) the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) launched an attack on Israel. This saw Hamas temporarily seize control of some 480km² (260miles²) of Israeli territory along the border with the Gaza Strip.

Within the area under its control Hamas set about systematically taking a large number of hostages, both civilian and military. Something which prime facie (at first sight) appears to be the Crimes Against Humanity of; "Imprisonment," "Enforced Disappearance" and; "Other Inhumane Acts[...] Causing Serious Injury to Body or to Mental or Physical Health." Contrary to Article 7.1(e),(i),(k) of the Rome Statute (1998).

Hamas also set about killing every person they could find within that area that they did not want to take hostage. Something which prime facie represents the further Crime Against Humanity of; "Murder." Contrary to Article 7.1(a) of the Rome Statute (1998).

Although not all of those Hamas killed were Jews the vast majority of them were. Making a strong prime facie case that Hamas had also committed the Crime Against Humanity of; "Extermination", commonly referred to as; "Genocide" with the purpose of persecuting a Ethnic/Religious Group. Contrary to Article 7.1(b),(h) of the Rome Statute (1998).

The accusation that Hamas has committed Crimes Against Humanity is further strengthened by the manner in which it carried out its killings. Which not only seemed to show an understanding of the religious beliefs of the group they were targeting but also a desire to use those religious beliefs to inflict the maximum suffering.

Although I think it is a fundamental human truth, shared between all cultures and religions. The sanctity of the human body is particularly important within Judaism. The Torah states that the human body is created B'tselem Elohim (in the image of God) and remains the property of God. Humans are merely given the right to occupy that body for the duration of their lives. They have no more right to damage or destroy it than a tenant has the right to smash up an apartment they are renting.

This sanctity of the human body even extends into death. If a body is less than whole it cannot be returned to God. Through a funeral as defined by Jewish religious law, Halach.

In killing victims they believed to be Jews Hamas paid special attention to making sure their bodies were damaged and destroyed to the greatest extent possible. In order to maximise the pain experienced by their survivors by trying to deny them even burial and mourning rites.

It is certainly one of the more bizarre arguments I've heard over recent weeks. Whether Hamas deliberately burned a Jewish baby alive by putting it in an oven and then switching the oven on. Or whether Hamas deliberately burned a Jewish baby alive by setting fire to the entire house around it.

It might just be my delicate leftwing sensibilities showing. However I don't think there's a right way to deliberately burn any baby alive.

A great many of the bodies of those killed by Hamas were not just beheaded they were completely dismembered, cut up into multiple small pieces. Those small pieces were then burnt in an effort to cremate them. Something which is also forbidden under Halach.

As a result it has been very difficult to tell what is a body part. Let alone how many bodies those parts add up to. The gruesome work of recovering, tallying and identifying those killed is not so much being done by the Israeli police but Archaeologists from the Israeli Antiquities Board.

Due to the sheer complexity of the task Israel has not yet been able to give a final death toll nor a final total of those kidnapped. What they thought were the remains of many different bodies have turned out to be the remains of just one body. While what they didn't think were human body parts have turned out to be the remains of people they thought had been kidnapped.

One such example is Vivian Silver who was a Director of the legendary Israeli Human Rights charity B'Tselem. Whose name was specifically chosen to remind more religious, extremist, Israeli Jews that all of mankind is created in the image of God. Even Palestinian Muslims living on the Israeli Occupied West Bank.

With no evidence of a body or any contact from her Vivian Silver was considered missing, presumed kidnapped. However on November 14th (14/11/23) it was confirmed that remains found in her burned out home in Kibbutz Be'eri belonged to her. Confirming that she had been killed on October 7th.

Likewise on November 19th (19/11/23) the remains of the 12 year old Liel Hetzroni had also been found at Kibbutz Be'eri. The delay in identifying them being due to them being dismembered and burned. Then mixed in with the dismembered and burned remains of Liel's twin brother Yanai Hetzroni, her aunt, Ayala Hetzroni and grandfather Avia Hetzroni.

On September 11th 2001 (11/9/01) the US suffered one of the worst, if not the worst, terrorist attacks in history. Over 23 years later, to this day, I still don't think the US is able to provide a final, comprehensive death toll. It certainly hasn't been able to identify all of those killed.

Almost immediately as Hamas launched its attack the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched a counter-offensive. This included ground operations within Israel and airstrikes within the Gaza Strip.

With the Israel-Palestine Conflict there is a concept known as; "The War Between The Wars." Everyone involved knows that there is going to be another round of fighting. So they use the time between rounds of fighting to prepare for the next round of fighting.

Particularly for the IDF this means the maintenance of what's known as a; "Target Bank." A detailed intelligence picture of enemy military assets and what they do. Which ones will have to be destroyed and when in order to achieve particular military objectives.

The initial airstrikes that the IDF carried out in Gaza were what's known as; "Suppressive Fire." They destroyed Hamas military assets within the target bank. In order to prevent those military assets being able to join Hamas' war against Israel. A particular focus was on Hamas' Nahkba Commando force which led the ground attack into Israel. Over 1,000 members of the Nahkba force were killed in the first week of IDF airstrikes.

The IDF also paid particular attention to killing senior commanders who were part of Hamas' Command & Control system. In order to stop that Command & Control system from functioning in its efforts to continue its attack against Israel.

So this image of the IDF going on some sort of revenge fuelled rampage could not be further from the truth. They've been conducting a highly professional military operation against well researched targets in order to achieve clear military objectives.

By the early hours of October 10th (10/10/23), after a little over three days, the IDF had been able to completely expel Hamas from Israeli territory. From then onwards the IDF's airstrikes in Gaza began to evolve. From suppressing the enemy to shaping the battlefield. While the IDF continued to carry out strategic strikes against Hamas' Command & Control systems and military resources it began to focus much more on tactical targets. Individual fighting positions like bunkers, tunnels and, particularly, rocket launching sites.

Hamas has long focused the bulk of its operations in North Gaza. Its Parliament, the official seat of its government is located in Gaza City. The most northerly city in Gaza. Primarily this is because Hamas' main purpose is to attack Israel and kill Israelis. North Gaza is closer to central Israel, important cities like Jerusalem and the capital Tel Aviv. It is much easier to Hamas to deliberately fire rocket artillery at civilians in those cities from North Gaza than from South Gaza.

Being well aware of this the IDF knew that the bulk of its airstrikes were going to have to be directed against North Gaza. As that is where the bulk of Hamas' Command & Control systems and fighting positions are.

So as early as October 13th (13/10/23), just six days into the war they'd had imposed on them, the IDF started instructing civilians to evacuate North Gaza for their own safety. Using a variety of means including telephone calls, Direct Messages on Social Media and, the more traditional, airdropped leaflets.

Unfortunately Atrocity Propaganda has long been a central part of Hamas' military strategy, really since its formation in 1987. It deeply embeds its military forces into the civilian population. In order to make its military forces indistinguishable from the civilian population. The War Crime of; "Perfidy." Contrary to Article 23 of the Hague Convention (1907).

Hamas' widespread Atrocity Propaganda has been likened to the use of Human Shields. Itself a War Crime, contrary to Article 8.2(b)(xxiii) of the Rome Statute (1998). However it goes far beyond and is far more horrific than that.

I think most of us have a vague concept of what a Human Shield is. We've all seen it in some TV show or other. The baddie is cornered by the goodies who have got their guns draw. So the baddie grabs a hostage and holds them in the way of the goodies' guns. Knowing that the goodies won't risk hurting the hostage to kill the baddie.

Hamas's objective is not to use Palestinian civilians to stop the IDF from attacking them. Hamas' objective is to force the IDF to kill as many Palestinian civilians as possible. To allow Hamas to scream; "Atrocity!" and demand that action is taken to punish Israel.

If Hamas can't get the IDF to kill enough Palestinian civilians then Hamas will simply lie about the number of Palestinian civilians being killed. If that doesn't work then Hamas will simply murder Palestinian civilians itself.

We were given a good example of Hamas' Atrocity Propaganda at work on October 17th (17/10/23). When a rocket fired by the Hamas allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PiJ) struck the al-Alhi Hospital. Hamas immediately claimed that this had been an Israeli airstrike and the over 850 civilians had been killed. Once it had been explained to Hamas that we had all seen the evidence and could all clearly see that it was a PiJ rocket the death toll suddenly fell to below 500. Still a massive overstatement of the actual death toll of around 15.

So Hamas responded to the IDF's instruction for civilians to evacuate the North of Gaza by instructing them to stay where they were. Dismissing the IDF's instructions as propaganda. Something which I'm sure all those Western media outlets who been slavishly repeating Hamas' statements must have seen and heard for themselves.

Hamas' attempts to keep civilians in the firing line however extended much further that simply telling them to ignore the IDF's instructions. Hamas forcibly stopped civilians from leaving the Combat Zone by threatening them with imprisonment and beatings. Administering beatings and stealing people's cars so they couldn't leave. On October 15th (15/10/23) Hamas even bombed a convoy carrying civilians leaving the Combat Zone. Obviously blaming it on an IDF airstrike.

A key event occurred on November 10th (10/11/23) when the Commander of Hamas' Naser Radwan Company, Ahmed Slam, was killed by an IDF airstrike. In the school at al-Buraq where he had established his command centre. Ahmed Slam was specifically tasked with keeping 1,000 Palestinian civilians prisoner at the al-Rantisi Hospital, where Hamas had a major military base. Ahmed Slam's killing finally allowed those 1,000 Palestinians to flee. Joining a total of around 200,000 Palestinian civilians to flee the combat zone as Hamas' control of the area collapsed.

As early as October 14th (14/10/23), seven days after the war that had been imposed upon it, the IDF began mounting ground operations within the Gaza. Initially these were small, reconnaisance raids, intended to assess the terrain and search for the hostage. The largest of these operations came on October 26th (26/10/23). It was accompanied by a raid by the IDF's elite naval Special Operations Forces (SOF) Shayetet 13 in South Gaza targeting Hamas' own naval SOF's. It did not turn about to be a battle of the elites.

The IDF launched the main part of the ground element of its counter-offensive on October 28th (28/10/23) with its troops entering on three axis; Beit Lahia in the North-West, Beit Hanoun in the North-East and Juhar al-Din in the East. From that point onwards the IDF's airstrikes began to focus much more closely on providing; "Close Air Support" to its ground troops.

This Eastern, Juhar al-Din axis' task was to push West, splitting Gaza into two sections. North Gaza, the Combat Zone and South Gaza, the Non-Combat Zone. On October 30th (30/10/23) it reached the central Salah al-Din Road. On November 6th (6/11/23) it reached the coastal al-Rashid Road, completing its task and dividing Gaza into a Combat Zone and a Non-Combat Zone.

Having taken control of the Salah al-Din Road the IDF then opened a Humanitarian Corridor along it on November 5th (5/11/23). To allow civilians to flee from the Combat Zone into the Non-Combat Zone under a Daily Ceasefire operating between 13:00 and 16:00 (local). Unfortunately on that first day the IDF were not in full control of the area. This allowed Hamas to attack the Humanitarian Corridor with artillery and mortar fire. In a further effort to trap Palestinian civilians within the Combat Zone.

Fortunately by the following day, November 6th (6/11/23) the IDF had been better able to secure its control over the Salah al-Din Road. Allowing Palestinian civilians to use it without fear of attack by Hamas. That Humanitarian Corridor and the Daily Ceasefire has been in place ever since.

The North-West, Beit Lahia axis and the North-West Beit Hanoun axis advanced South clearing their way into Gaza City. On October 31st (31/10/23) they entered the Jabalia district of Gaza City.

The key series events occurred on November 9th (9/11/23) and November 10th (10/11/23). On November 9th (9/11/23) the IDF captured Hamas' so-called; "Outpost 17" in the Jabalia district. This triggered a collapse of Hamas forces in Jabilia. Giving the IDF control over the area city. 

On November 10th (10/11/23) the IDF captured Hamas' so-called; "Badr Outpost" in the coastal Shati district of Gaza City. The loss of this large complex of fighting positions and bases triggered another significant collapse of Hamas forces. Giving the IDF control over that area of the city.

By November 13th (13/11/23) 10 of Hamas' 24 battalions in North Gaza Combat Zone had lost what is known as; "Combat Effectiveness."

You can almost think of any conventional military force as being divided into small teams. From as; "Fire Team" made up of 3 people. All the way up to a; "Division" made up of 12,000 people. Although different militaries use different sizes and structures. A Hamas Battalion is 1,200.

I think we all know that a football team is made up of 11 players. If a player misbehaves during a match they can be sent off. If five players from the same team get sent off then the 6 remaining players are no longer considered to be effective as a team. So have to forfeit the match by a score of 2-0.

It's similar concept with the teams military forces are divided into. If enough members of one of these teams is killed, wounded or captured then it is no longer effective in combat. It has lost its combat effectiveness. Although, obviously if you have lost half a Division of 12,000 then you still have a pretty effective Brigade of 6,000.

With Hamas all but defeated as a military force in the North Gaza Combat Zone. The IDF then set to work clearing and securing the more politically sensitive Hamas facilities in the Combat Zone.

Central to Hamas' strategy is Atrocity Propaganda. The War Crime of; "Perfidy." They deeply embed their military forces within the civilian population in order to maximise the number of Palestinian civilians killed. A significant part of this strategy is the 480km (300 mile) network of underground tunnels and bunkers Hamas has constructed beneath civilian buildings across Gaza. The so-called; "Gaza Metro."

It is a particularly nasty element of Hamas' Atrocity Propaganda that they have deliberately built many of the largest bunkers and main nodes of this tunnel network under not just civilian buildings but hospitals. Particularly the al-Rantisi Hospital and the al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza.

In the summer of 2014 the IDF fought a small skirmish against Hamas in Gaza; "Operation: Protective Edge." This grew out of an IDF operation against Hamas in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank; "Operation: Brother's Keeper." What caused Brother's Keeper to expand into Protective Edge was an attempt by Hamas to use a tunnel from Gaza to kidnap and kill Israeli civilians at Kibbutz Sufa. Forcing the IDF to go in to destroy the parts of the Gaza Metro which reached into Israel.

It was very much the rhythm of Protective Edge. That Hamas would loudly condemn the; "Evil, Genocidal, Zionist IDF!" for attacking a Mosque or school. Then three hours later the IDF would show the World the tunnels and weapons they had recovered from that Mosque or school.

That Hamas had a large military installation at/under al-Shifa hospital was known about even then. Gaza's economy actually took a significant hit when Hamas started building it around 2012. At that time Gaza's economy was heavily reliant on goods smuggled via tunnels from Egypt. That business was shut down when Hamas forced all the tunnel builders to move North.

Hospitals have a special protected status under the Laws of War, Article 18 of the First Geneva Convention (1884). However that doesn't mean you can just call any building a hospital and stop your enemy from attacking it.

To have; "Protected Status" a hospital has to be registered as such with all parties to the conflict and the International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent (ICRC). Only the ICRC can afford a hospital Protected Status. It can only do so if certain conditions are met. The main one being that it is not being used for; "Harmful Acts."

The First Geneva Convention doesn't actually define; "Harmful Acts." Leaving it entirely up to the attacking force to decide. However it is customarily understood to mean the presence of any combatants - those in military uniform, the presence of weapons or the use in support of any military activity - other than the provision of medical treatment.

Protocol I (1977) to the Geneva Conventions attempts to narrow the definition of Harmful Acts to exclude; "Small-Arms and Ammunition" which are incidental to the hospital's function. However neither Hamas nor Israel are party to that Protocol. So it does not apply here.

Even if an attacking force decides that a hospital no longer has Protected Status as it is being used for Harmful Acts they can't just attack it. Instead they have to notify all parties to the conflict and the ICRC that they no longer consider it as having Protected Status. They then have to allow time for it to be evacuated.

On October 27th (27/10/23) the IDF informed all parties to the conflict, the ICRC and the entire World that it no longer considered al-Shifa to have Protected Status. Publically sharing some of the evidence it had that Hamas was using al-Shifa for Harmful Acts. Things which go far beyond the definition in Protocol I (1977), let alone the much border customary definition of the First Geneva Convention.

Yet Hamas refused to evacuate al-Shifa. Instead forcing uninjured civilians to remain there. Not really in the hope that it would prevent their military complex being attacked. More in the hope that the maximum number of Palestinian civilians would be killed when Hamas' military complex was attacked.

Worse than that the ICRC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) also refused to evacuate al-Shifa. It would be nice to believe that was simply because they were too afraid of Hamas to evacuate the hospitals. Sadly though I think it's because those supposedly neutral bodies have to come to not only support Hamas but its Atrocity Propaganda.

What is considered "Ample Time" is not really defined in the Laws of War. However I think that it would be hard to argue that the three weeks, 21 days, the IDF left between revoking al-Shifa's Protected Status and launching its operation were not sufficient.

In launching its operation to clear and secure al-Shifa the IDF didn't bomb it from the air, as the Laws of War permit it to. Instead it began its attack by opening a Humanitarian Corridor on November 12th (12/11/23). To allow civilians to evacuate along al-Wadha Street to the Salah al-Din Humanitarian Corridor.

When the IDF finally moved in on al-Shifa they didn't really do so treating it as a military operation. Instead they treated is as a civilian policing operation. Using the approach any Western police S.W.A.T team would use if they had to clear a hospital that had been overrun by a group of gunmen. Slowly clearing the building room-by-room, floor-by-floor. Placing the safety of civilians, patients, medical staff and even the gunmen above the safety of their own forces.

You were able to tell that the IDF had been able to take control of al-Shifa by November 19th (19/11/23). The ICRC and the WHO realised that, after three weeks of claiming it was impossible, they were suddenly able to evacuate patients from al-Shifa after all. An event which coincided with the realisation that they couldn't claim they'd been martyred in an IDF Atrocity.

Just as you could tell that Hamas had all but collapsed as a military force within the North Gaza Combat Zone by November 12th (12/11/23). By the 200,000+ Palestinians who were suddenly able to evacuate to safety in the Non-Combat Zone.

There is still some intense close quarter fighting going on in the North Gaza Combat Zone and the IDF is still taking casualties. However this is really just a mopping up operation now. With the IDF attempting to fully secure an area over which they have operational control.

 

 

 

20:17 on 21/11/23 (UK date). 

 

Operation: Saxon Needles; Month 2, Week 2, Day 5.

I appreciate that I'm probably going to need to address the ground element of Israel's counter-offensive. Although that's probably going to be little more than my interpretation of the Wikipedia page at this point.

Prior to that I will need to address the suppressive fire which Israel started laying down on October 7th (7/10/23).

It turns out though. This is all quite a lot more complicated than a Eurovision Song Contest, an Oscars or an Olympic Ceremony. If I mess this up then quite a fair bit more than feelings end up getting hurt.

However, drunk as I am. Much as I'd rather be watching TV instead.  I feel I have no option other than to address the November 16th (16/11/23) claim by Human Rights Watch (HRW). That it has not seen any; "Harmful Acts" which would warrant the complex at al-Shifa losing its; "Protected Status" under Article 18 of the First Geneva Convention (1864).

All legal matters very quickly get very complicated. Matters of International Law are much more complicated that matters of Domestic Law.

I think we all have some experience of Domestic Law. The Government passes a law. If you don't obey that law then the Government sends in the police to kick in your front door and drag you off to prison. Some people are lucky enough to get a say in who makes up the Government which passes the laws, every five years or so. That though is your only say in what laws apply to you.

Within International Law nations are very much able to choose which laws apply to them and which don't. Protocol I (1977) to the Geneva Conventions is a very good example of this. While 177 nations have agreed that this law does apply to them. None of those nations are parties to this current Israel-Hamas War. So that law does not apply to this war.

However the 1977 Protocol attempts to build on the 1864 Geneva Convention by defining a; "Harmful Act." It defines it as anything more than; "Incidental Small-Arms and Ammunition." That is to say small-arms and ammunition which are within the protected site by accident. 

So if a wounded soldier is brought in, unconscious, with their rifle, bullets and grenades etc still strapped to their belt. Then that is not enough to constitute a; "Harmful Act." Particularly if those weapons are secured and locked away by the hospital staff.

As I've said the 1977 Protocol does not apply to this war. Meaning we have to revert to the 1864 test of; "Harmful Acts." Simply whether there were any weapons at the site at all.

It is very well documented that Hamas weapons have been found at the al-Shifa site. In such a volume and manner that is far from incidental to the site's operation as a hospital. So not only has it failed the basic, 1864, test of; Harmful Acts. It has also failed the enhanced, 1977, test of; Harmful Acts.

As a result there is absolutely no basis in International Law for anyone to refer to the site at al-Shifa as a; "Hospital." Let alone a; "Hospital Protected Under the Laws of War."

Just as there are absolutely no grounds for anyone to pay any further attention, let alone money to Human Rights Watch.

23:43 on 17/11/23 (UK date).

Operation: Saxon Needles; Month 2, Week 1, Day 1.

To be read as a direct continuation of; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2023/11/operation-saxon-needles-week-4-day-6.html

Obviously there are questions over how the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) was able to surprise the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) with this attack.

There is an example I always use to illustrate the challenges of this type of intelligence work. It involves the current Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

On July 7th 2005 (7/7/05) the British city of London came under attack by Al Qaeda. Which detonated near simultaneous suicide bombs on three Underground Rail (Metro/Tube) trains and a bus. Killing 52 civilians and wounding 784.

As the Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in London on July 7th (7/7/05). He was supposed to be travelling though the city from his hotel to an appointment when the bombs went off. Except his ISF security team held him in his hotel room. At the time I don't think they even told him why.

The Israelis seeming to have prior knowledge of The 7/7 Attacks spawned all sorts of lunatic conspiracy theories. About it being an inside job to smear Muslims, carried out by a global Jewish conspiracy. It also caused a rather major spat between Israeli and British intelligence. With Britain being angry that Israel didn't warn them in advance about the attack.

It is just one of the many, many ways that the people who are now demanding some mythical Laws of War are followed wouldn't dream of following the actual Laws of War themselves. They don't issue a formal declaration of war. Warning the governing authority in the area of an impending attack, allowing them to take steps to protect civilians under their authority.

Al Qaeda definitely didn't hand out leaflets to the civilians travelling on those trains and that bus. Warning them they were going to be attacked. Al Qaeda didn't send those passengers Text (sms) messages 10 minutes in advance. Al Qaeda most certainly didn't knock on the roofs of those trains and that bus to warn the civilians aboard that the attack was imminent.

So in trying to guard against an attack like October 7th (7/10/23) you're not looking for a clear, incontrovertible piece of evidence that an attack is imminent. Instead you're looking for that small thing or pattern of small things which seem out of place. That subtle change in the weather, the atmosphere, the ambiance, which gives you an uneasy feeling.

Obviously there is enough of an uneasy feeling you can get to hold your high value protectee at their hotel room door. If it turns out you're wrong then you can easily explain it away as a last minute telephone call.

While there's an uneasy enough feeling that will prompt you to warn an ally. Bearing in mind that in the world of espionage the first thing they'll do isn't to thank you. They'll tell you they don't believe you. In order to ask you a lot of follow up questions in the hope of getting access to your source. If the ally in question is Britain that will, probably, quickly lead to your source being killed.

Then there's an enough of an uneasy feeling you get to prompt you to cancel a popular public holiday. Suspend all normal life across your entire country. In order to call 360,000 reservists back into full military duty.

Finally there's that really uneasy feeling you get. When you've got to call up the reserve officers from the Mak'am.

Hamas, or technically its armed wing - the Qassam Brigades, is the standing army in Gaza. They have been since 2005. During that time it has fought numerous military clashes with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). So the day that the ISF doesn't have intelligence that there is a standing army in Gaza that aspires to attack them. That's the unusual day. That's the day alarm bells start ringing.

The kidnap of Israelis in order to ransom them has been a longstanding tactic of various Palestinian armed groups since the 1960's. The massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Germany was originally planned as a kidnapping. It was the bungled German response which turned it into a massacre. It seems that barely a week went by in the 1970's and 1980's without Palestinians hijacking a civilian plane or ship in order to kidnap hostages for ransom.

In the summer of 2014 the IDF and Hamas fought a short skirmish is Gaza; "Operation: Protective Edge." This began as a clash between the IDF and Hamas on the Israeli Occupied Palestinian West Bank; "Operation: Brother's Keeper." That began with Hamas kidnapping, torturing and murdering three Israeli teenagers. In what seems like a botched attempt to take those hostage and ransom them. 

What caused Brother's Keeper to expand into Protective Edge was an attempt by Hamas to use tunnels to infiltrate Kibbutz Sufa. Although the attack was thwarted by the IDF we have to assume it was an attempt to massacre some Israeli civilians while taking other Israeli civilians hostage. In order to ransom them for Hamas combatants being held in Israeli prisons.

During the course of Protective Edge Hamas killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped their remains from the battlefield, an actual War Crime contrary to Article 3 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Hamas is still trying to ransom those remains in return for Hamas combatants being held in Israeli prisons.

So, again. The day that the ISF doesn't have intelligence that the standing army in Gaza has aspirations to kidnap Israelis to use as hostages for ransom. That's the day that starts giving you an uneasy feeling. That's the day alarm bells start ringing.  

Looking back with the benefit of hindsight though there were warning signs which may have been missed. I certainly missed them.

For example I heard about the big military parade in Gaza City on October 4th (4/10/23). In which various new types of rockets and other weapons were flaunted. However I didn't see it as anything out of the ordinary. Certainly not a warning sign of an impending attack.

Likewise I heard the saga over the fires near Kibbutz Be'eri which started around September 29th (29/9/23). Whether they were just wildfires or part of a Hamas attack using incendiary balloons - a tactic which, incidentally, I think I accidentally helped invent back in 2016. Again I didn't make the connection between that and an impending attack. Particularly if the IDF was right and they were just wildfires. Thanks to Climate Change wildfires really aren't that unusual anymore.

There were more clear warning signs. However these occurred in Syria and Iraq. Which aren't the ISF's primary area of responsibility.

On October 6th (6/10/23) the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist terror army in the Sudetenland area of Syria launched a drone attack against a graduation ceremony at a Syrian Military Academy in the Homs Province. Killing over 100 and wounding more than 300. 

This was simply the largest in an escalating pattern of similar drone attacks by the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist terror army against the Syrian part of that Stop-Line. A clear sign that the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist terror army was growing impatient to break through the Stop-Line which has been holding them back since 2014.

The attacks by the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist terror army occurred alongside increased air and artillery attacks by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) part of the Stop-Line. Those attacks significantly increased following the questionable suicide bomb attack in Ankara or October 1st (1/10/23). 

By October 5th (5/10/23) these Turkish attacks on the SDF part of the Stop-Line had escalated to the point the TSK launched a drone attack against US troops forming part of the Stop-Line in the Shangri-La area of Syria. This forced those US troops to shootdown the Turkish drone. Another clear sign of the Muslim Brotherhood's state-sponsors growing impatience to smash through the Stop-Line which has been holding them back since 2014.

Again though. I did not make the connection between those events and an imminent attack by the Muslim Brotherhood's Hamas on Israel.

Within the Israel-Palestine Conflict there is a concept known as; "The War Between The Wars." All sides know that there's going to be another armed conflict. So spend their time between the armed conflicts drawing up plans and preparing for the next armed conflict.

The October 7th (7/10/23) attack seems to be a plan that Hamas have been working on for years. In the hope of being able to put it into action during one of the coming armed conflicts. Making it even harder to predict and prevent it seems to have been taken off the shelf and put into action in very short order.

One of the main targets of the attack was the rave near Kibbutz Re'im. Although it was advertised in advance not even the organisers knew exactly where it was going to be until the Wednesday (4/10/23). Giving Hamas less than two days to refine its plan.

Hamas named their attack; "Operation: Al Aqsa Flood." A clear reference to what should have been Israel's 2023 Eurovision Song Contest entry. "Unicorn" by Noa Kirel. 

As a sick joke, as part of that Hamas-Qatar alliance's attempt to use the charade of hostage negotiations to protect Hamas from Israel's counter-offensive. They took to releasing hostages two-by-two. Just as Noah is said to have loaded the animals into his Ark. All the animals except for the Unicorns.

Unicorn by Noa Kirel rather heavily trolled Miley Cyrus. Or rather her sister Noah Cyrus. Who aimed for the exotic Hebrew name; "Noa" yet missed.

If the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest had gone ahead. Then it would have been just a small part of the big comeback by the US. The US which is currently suffering under the Muslim Brotherhood puppet regime, the Biden Regime.

This big comeback was supposed to have started with Rihanna's performance at the Half-Time Show of the 2023 Super Bowl. Things really started to go wrong for the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. When I was assisting Rihanna with her Diamonds World Tour. She went on to date the Saudi Arabian national Hassan Jameel.

The Super Bowl was almost immediately followed by the release of what was supposed to be Miley Cyrus' big comeback album. Which would carry through to the Eurovision Song Contest, which should have taken place around May 2023. At the same time the Biden Regime was supposed to be conducting its Big Spring Offensive against Ukraine, the Donbas Republics and Russia. In the hope of collapsing the Russian supported part of the Stop-Line which has been holding the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist terror army back since 2014.

Obviously none of that actually happened. Only increasing the Muslim Brotherhood's frustration. Particularly at the US Biden Regime it has invested so heavily in.

However all these things went wrong for the Muslim Brotherhood back in the Winter/Spring of 2023. Possibly the last person to deal with it even I'd finished with what would have been Israel's 2023 Eurovision entry by July 2023.

What seemed to add the final impetus was the horrific events in Derna, Libya on September 10th (10/9/23) and September 11th (11/9/23). Which many on the ground likened to the Biblical flood which Noah protected all those animals from with his Ark. The failure to install a Muslim Brotherhood puppet regime in Libya is one of the big areas of the Muslim Brotherhood's frustration at the US Biden Regime.

Seemingly backed by the entire nation state of America Miley Cyrus released another single towards the end of August. One which wasn't on her supposed comeback album released around the time of the Super Bowl.

What The CIA have been trying to do with Miley Cyrus is rather similar to what Hamas has been trying to do with hostages like Gilad Shalit or Hadar Goldin. Occasionally they release photographs, video or audio files intended to make the blood boil. Miley Cyrus should count herself lucky that Maxx Morando is the worst thing the CIA can imagine to do to a person. Whereas I earned my spurs amongst much more creative types.

Unicorn by Noa Kirel also touched on the 2018 movie "Entebbe." This tells a version of the story of; "Operation: Thunderbolt." In which the IDF rescued 248 passengers aboard Air France Flight 139 in 1976. One of the many occasions in which Palestinian armed groups kidnapped Israeli civilians in order to hold them as hostages for ransom.

"Entebbe" (2018) is the second Western movie to be made about Operation: Thunderbolt. The first being; "Raid on Entebbe" (1977). The contrast between the two movies shows a possible shift in Western attitudes towards Israel in the years between them being made.

Operation: Thunderbolt was absolutely epic in military terms. I know quite a bit about the actual operation. Yet every time I re-watch either of the movies I'm still on the edge of my seat. Convinced that there's no way the IDF are going to be able to pull it off. There is no military reason why the IDF should have been able to pull it off.

The 1978 movie reflects this. It's sort of a triumphant celebration of the might of Israel and its military. While the tone of the 2018 movie suggests that Western leftists feel they can't say nice things about Israeli and its military. If they do then they have to temper it with this really weird modern interpretive dance subplot. Along with characters in every scene delivering thudding speeches about how Israel must seek a negotiated peace with the Palestinians.

One of the lead roles in the 2018 movie is played by German/Spanish/Brazilian actor Daniel Brühl. German Nazi guilt and its role in attitudes to the Israel-Palestine Conflict seems to be a recurring theme in Brühl's work. In 2022 he Executive Produced the German/US TV Show; "Munich Games."

Munich Games tells the entirely fictional story of a football match between a German team and an Israeli team. Arranged to mark the 50th anniversary of the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympics. The Israeli team become the target for a 1972-style terrorist plot. However reflecting a Western leftist sense that you can't say bad things about Palestinians or Muslims. It turns out that it's really a neo-Nazi plot. A false flag attack intended to smear the reputations of Palestinians and Muslims.

Personally I didn't think Munich Games was much good. There's six episodes in the first season. Nothing happens in the first five of them. However the Muslim Brotherhood has seemed keen to promote it throughout 2023. Such as Israel making it to the semi-final of the Qatar-funded FIFA Under-20 Men's World Cup. The 2023 Women's World Cup intended to be another part of the Muslim Brotherhood's big comeback. Another part which just didn't happen. 

Another motivator behind Hamas' attack was, undoubtedly, this talk of a possible military alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia. Which is said to involve Saudi Arabia formally recognising and establishing diplomatic ties with Israel. Rumours of this possible agreement starting leaking out from mid-September 2023 onwards.

In May 2017 Qatar attacked a concert by Ariana Grande at the Manchester Evening News Arena (MENA) in Manchester, UK. This was intended to intimidate Britain into not opposing the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamist terror army in Syria and Iraq.

Britain cowered meekly at Qatar's feet. While Saudi Arabia expelled Qatar from the community of Gulf Arab states. To the point that Saudi Arabia began digging a canal to physically remove Qatar from the Arabian Peninsula. Particularly through the 2022 FIFA World Cup, along with the support of the Biden Regime. Qatar has been slowing weaselling its way back into the Arab world. 

Qatar is very opposed to a military alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia. Not because they want to ruin the Biden Regime's chances of re-appointment in 2024. Although it has underperformed for the Muslim Brotherhood they wouldn't want to go so far as to ditch the Biden Regime. Nor is Qatar remotely concerned about the potential effects Saudi recognition of Israel would have on the Palestinians.

Qatar is simply opposed to having its ego further dented. The small progress it has made into making its way back into the Arab world being dwarfed by an alliance between Saudi Arabia and the US. Underlining that not only isn't Qatar a global power it's not even amongst the top powers in its own region.

Of course Miley Cyrus appeared with Ariana Grande at the; "One Love Manchester" memorial concert. About a week after the MENA bombing.

In naming its attack; "Operation: Al Aqsa Flood" Hamas claimed it was a retaliation for Israeli attacks on the status quo at the Al Aqsa/Temple Mount compound. Again, this underlined to me that Hamas' actions have absolutely nothing to do with the Israel-Palestine Conflict.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Israeli Occupied East Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam. It is built on the site of the First and Second Jewish Temples. Which is the holiest site in Judaism.

The current status quo is that Muslims, be they Arab, Palestinian or from anywhere else in the World, are allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound. Whereas Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the holiest site in their religion. A detail which makes it really hard for me to explain this. In such a way as to make it sound as though Muslims are the ones who are having their Freedom of Religion oppressed.

The Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound is a massive flashpoint within the Israel-Palestine Conflict. The Second Intifada is sometimes referred to as; "The Al-Aqsa Intifada." Having been triggered by Ariel Sharon storming the compound to offer Jewish prayers. The Friday where there isn't a riot at the Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound or a week where there isn't a stabbing attack. Those are the unusual times that set off alarm bells.

Over the past year or so there haven't been any notable attacks on the status quo at Al-Aqsa. It has been almost unsettlingly quiet. Not in a way that would indicate that Palestinian resources are being saved for a big attack. It just seems that everyone in Israel/Palestine is absolutely frazzled due to the 2018-Present Political Crisis.

There have been some isolated reports of Jews claiming they've been able to pray at the Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound. However they're talking about being able to pray silently, heard only in their own heads. Also most of the reports have been about the Israeli Police arresting Jews on suspicion that they might have been praying. Something the Israeli Police will never be able to prove, yet they've made the arrests anyway. 

Hamas' attack took place on Simchat Torah which comes at the end of the holiest period in the Jewish religious calendar. As Simchat Torah fell on a Friday Jews weren't even allowed to visit the holiest site in their religion. As access to the Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound was closed to everyone except Muslims. So they could conduct their usual Friday prayers. Something which, again, doesn't sound to me as though Muslims are the one's having their Freedom of Religion oppressed.

So Hamas' claim to be retaliating for Jewish attacks on the status quo at Al-Aqsa. That bore so little relation to reality you think it was probably written in somewhere like Minnesota or Michigan, rather than Gaza.

That 2018-Present Political Crisis was undoubtedly a factor in Hamas' choice to attack. Over the summer an increasing number of Israeli reservists had been resigning from their service with the IDF in protest over the proposed Judicial Reforms. Hamas clearly thought this meant they wouldn't turn up to help Israel defend itself. Those reservists have already given Hamas its response.

Further underlining the challenge of identifying the threat of an imminent attack on the Gaza border. In 2018 launched its; "Great March of Return." In which on every Friday they would march up to the Gaza Border Fence/Buffer Zone and try to break through it.

These weekly Hamas attacks on the Gaza Border Fence/Buffer Zone sort of fizzled out amid the Pandemic. At the end of August 2023 Hamas resumed these weekly attacks. 

A key event occurred on the weekend of September 23rd (23/9/23). In which a Qatari delegation met with a Hamas delegation in Egypt and handed the Hamas delegation a lot of money. In the region of US$1million. Hamas then didn't mount an attack on the Gaza Border Fence/Buffer Zone on Friday September 29th (29/9/23). Hamas then resumed it attacks on Friday October 6th (6/10/23). Before launching its big attack on Saturday October 7th (7/10/23).

Obviously ultimate responsibility for Israel's security lies with the Israeli Prime Minister and the Israeli Cabinet, acting as the Executive Branch. I would be rather pleased if it turns out this was all Itamar Ben-Gvir's fault. As I've said, he's the last person anyone would want in the role of National Security Minister.

In practical terms though. Like all large organisations the Israeli government and ISF are only able to function through delegation. Meaning that if you go far enough down the Chain-of-Command. Then there is someone's whose main job is assessing security along the Gaza border from, say Midnight to 8AM. It's then someone else's main job from 8AM to 4PM. Then someone else's main job from 4PM to Midnight.

If, in doing their main job, all of these people have seen warnings about an imminent attack. Then passed those concerns all the way up the Chain-of-Command. Only for the Executive Branch to refuse to attend security briefings. As they refused to attend security briefings on Lebanon over the summer.

Then that would a major scandal. Not only will people have to resign. I'm pretty sure some people will have to go to prison.

Unless information of that nature emerges though. Obviously the ISF will have to examine this. Not really to see what went wrong, just to see what could have been done better. However I'm not currently seeing any indication of any major mistakes. The sort of thing that would constitute a dereliction of duty. Any mistakes that have been made are mistakes that I've made myself.

It must also be said that not only did the IDF's response work. It worked really well.

As soon as I heard about the attack I knew, from experience, that it was going to take two to three days to sort out. During that time my role was to remain as quiet as possible while focusing on my sector. To allow everyone else to focus on their sectors.

Assessing the situation on Sunday (8/10/23) through to Monday (9/10/23) I felt confident enough to continue with my week as scheduled. Such as going to a hardware store to pick up a pretty ominous sounding selection of building supplies. 

The plan was that I'd be treating you to this series of lengthy essays that week. Before getting prepared for the start of the ground element of the Israeli counter-offensive.

Then we had that mad week. In which every idiot on the planet seemed to descend on Israel/Palestine with no idea what they were doing. All adamant they didn't want to hear from the guy who was doing this on October 6th (6/10/23).

As a result I'm not as across the ground operation as I'd like to be. However from what I have seen my only concern is that the IDF isn't being anywhere near aggressive enough. Aggression is really the entire point of war. Controlled aggression is how you win the bloody things. Although I don't want to go into too much detail. As the IDF still has the option of remedying the problem, without me pointing it out to all and sundry.

Obviously I will be working on this full time now. However I'm already getting the distinct impression that the best way for me to help is to keep quiet. Stay out of the IDF's way.

Leave it to the people who, clearly, know what they're doing.

21:03 on 6/11/23 (UK date).

Operation: Saxon Needles; Week 4, Day 6.

To be read as a direct continuation of; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2023/11/operation-saxon-needles-week-4-day-5.html

Not only didn't the Muslim world leap to Hamas' aid and recreate the 1973 War. Hamas wasn't even able to hold the territory it had seized for very long.

That Saturday (7/10/23) was a day of epic battles, fire-fights and tales of derring-do. Not only am I sure that medals will be awarded and battalion legend was written. They might even make a few movies about it.

Take for example The Battle of Sufa Base. Immediately as the Hamas attack began an all female squad from the Caracal (Desert Lynx) Battalion raced from Battalion HQ to the base in armoured vehicles, under artillery fire. 

Arriving at the base they found it had been overrun by Hamas. The IDF soldiers on the base who were still alive had been taken hostage and were being held in the central dining hall by Hamas fighters armed with anti-tank missiles.

Rather than losing their heads and rushing in to storm the base, likely getting everyone killed. They established a perimeter around the base and waited for reinforcements to arrive. While they were waiting Hamas sent for its own reinforcements. For the next four hours that squad of 12 held off wave-after-wave of Hamas attacks. Earning 100 confirmed kills between them, how success is determined in battle.

Eventually reinforcements in the form of Shayetet 13 - "The Unit," the actual unit -arrived to relieve them. After 14 hours the remaining Hamas fighters were killed, the hostages were released and the base was secured.

Then there was The Battle of Kibbutz Be'eri, scene of one of the worst massacres of the day. Within two hours a 20 strong unit of IDF Special Operations Forces (SOF's) arrived and started doing battle with hundreds of Hamas fighters. After 8 hours further IDF reinforcements arrived and cleared the Kibbutz of Hamas fighters.

They cleared the Kibbutz everywhere except for the main dining hall. Where Hamas had gathered 50 civilian hostages. The IDF responded to this in the same way that any civilian police S.W.A.T team would respond to a barricaded person/hostage call. 

They surrounded the building and waited until the terrorists realised that they didn't have any choices. Their only options were the ones the IDF were prepared to give them. 18 hours after the start of the attack the terrorists surrendered and the hostages were freed.

Those are clearly not the actions of a military which is traumatised, panicking and generally losing its sh*t.

The Battle of Kibbutz Sufa itself was the longest engagement of the attack. Lasting until the early hours of Tuesday (10/10/23) when Hamas' offensive was brought to an end and all of Israeli territory was liberated. Although the IDF did have to spend the next week or so responding to Hamas stragglers who'd be left behind the line.

Unfortunately Hamas seemed to understand that its primary aspiration was unlikely to be realised. So in launching the attack Hamas also planned to take a large number of hostages. Each one representing an ongoing Crime Against Humanity. Contrary to Article 7.1(e),(i),(k) of the Rome Statute of 1997.

The current total of hostages stands at 242. However the Israelis are still recovering bodies from places like Kibbutz Be'eri. So the final total could be as high as 294. Or 882 Crimes Against Humanity currently being committed by Hamas.

It is this taking of hostages which further underlined to me. That Hamas' actions have absolutely nothing to do with the Israel-Palestine Conflict.

To those familiar with the Israel-Palestine Conflict there is an absolutely legendary Israeli Human Rights organisation called; "B'Tselem." Its name being taken from the Biblical Book of Genesis. That all of mankind is created in the image of God (b'tselem elohim).

B'Tselem was established in 1989 with the stated goals of; Documenting Israeli Human Rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank. Combating the denial of the existence of those Human Rights violations. Whilst fostering a Human Rights culture within Israeli society.

B'Tselem is really hated to the Israeli right and the Settler community. In 2011 then Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu demanded a parliamentary investigation of B'Tselem. Declaring;

"They are clearly not concerned with human rights. They spread lies, they slander and incite against the State of Israel and Israeli soldiers.[...] They are abetting terrorism and their only objective is to undermine Israel."

In 2014 B'Tselem's Executive Director, Hagai El-Ad addressed the UN Security Council (UNSC). He demanded that the UN take action to stop illegal Israeli settlements on the Occupied Palestinian West Bank. As they were compromising any hope of a Two-State Solution and peace between Israel and Palestine.

The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu responded by banning Israelis from doing their National Service with B'Tselem. National Service being the civilian alternative of Israel's Compulsory Military Service.

One of the current Directors of B'Tselem is Vivian Silver. She was taken hostage by Hamas amid the horror of Kibbutz Be'eri. Or we hope she was. No-one's heard from her since and we've yet to find her body.

On October 23rd (23/10/23) Hamas released two of its hostages. One of whom, Yocheved Lifshitz, is a lifelong peace activist who has spent the last decade volunteering to drive sick Palestinians from Gaza for Cancer treatment in Israel.

I can see no crime that either of these women have committed against the Palestinian people, either individually or collectively. They are simply Jews.

Again. This is the desperate last roll of the dice by an organisation for whom it hasn't been their day, their week, their month or even their year. So I don't doubt there were all sorts of wild aspirations buzzing around inside their heads.

However Hamas' initial aspiration in taking hostages seemed to be that while the Muslim world wasn't prepared to rush to their aid on the battlefield. It would still be prepared to rush to Hamas' aid in the diplomatic arena. Hamas' parent organisation, the Muslim Brotherhood, has certainly invested heavily in the US Biden Regime.

So the hope was that when the UN Security Council (UNSC) inevitably met on the issue, as it did on the Sunday (8/10/23). The UNSC would impose an immediate ceasefire on Israel to protect Hamas. That would then allow Hamas to force Israel to release all of the Hamas combatants held in Israeli prisons in exchange for some of the civilian hostages Hamas seized.

Failing that Hamas were hoping that it could use the charade of negotiations over the hostages to delay and disrupt Israel's counter-offensive. To that end foreign and dual-national hostages are particularly valuable. As they can be leveraged to get their governments to exert pressure on Israel on Hamas' behalf.

Hamas were, understandably, very concerned with delaying the ground element of Israel's counter-offensive.

On Sunday (29/10/23) Hollywood movie star Angelina Jolie took to Social Media. To demand that Israel ceases its bombing of Hamas. I called her out on this. Asking what her plan was to end Hamas' ongoing Crimes Against Humanity without using bombing?

That wasn't a cheap shot. In the past I have called in airstrikes. I have done actual Carpet Bombing. I have also seen what airstrikes I have called in have done to civilians. Iraq and Syria are full of buildings that I've helped destroy.

So if Angelina Jolie, or anyone else, has a plan of how to end Hamas' ongoing Crimes Against Humanity without me having to do that again. Then I genuinely, desperately want to hear it.

Likewise I have sent troops into ground combat. Knowing that not all of them will come back. Reassured only by the knowledge that they've chosen to go out there knowing that not all of them will be coming back. Some of them will, inevitably, be killed.

It is certainly not something that I want to have to do again. However I know there is no way of bringing Hamas' ongoing Crimes Against Humanity to end without doing it. If Angelina Jolie or anyone else knows better. Then I really want to hear from them.

The only alternative I can think of is that rather than calling on Israel to ceasefire. They instead use their time calling on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally surrender. As Hamas is obligated to do under actual Customary International Humanitarian Law.

Ideally Hamas still wants the protection of ceasefire imposed on Israel. Failing that it definitely wants stop Israel from launching the ground element of its counter-offensive. Failing that it wants to delay the ground element of Israel's counter-offensive for as long as possible. In order to secure the protection of a ceasefire.

As I've said airstrikes are an essential and valuable part of any military counter-offensive. However there is only so much you can achieve without those famous; "boots-on-the-ground." Eventually you just run out of things to bomb. At which point it not only starts looking cruel, it actually becomes cruel.

It is fair to assume that a key part of Hamas' strategy is; "Atrocity Propaganda." It has been a core part its strategy since the group was formed in 1987. This is something I term; "The Martyr Mentality." It was best summed up by a Palestinian negotiator during the Second Intifada; "Our Suffering Is Our Victory!".

The idea is that the more suffering Palestinian militants like Hamas can inflict on the Palestinian people. Then the more footage they'll have of suffering Palestinians. Which will motivate people in Western Democracies to come out in protest in favour of groups like Hamas. Pressuring their governments to put pressure on Israel on behalf of groups like Hamas.

This strategy hasn't worked for the Palestinian people for the last 75 years. I really don't know why they still think it's going to work for them now.

Already this war has given us a clear example of how Hamas' Atrocity Propaganda is supposed to work. The events at Al-Ahli Hospital on October 10th (10/10/23).

Firstly. Israel warned staff at the hospital that was in a combat zone and should be evacuated. The staff refused. Deciding that the suffering of their patients would be their victory.

On October 10th (10/10/23) and explosive projectile struck the hospital. Palestinian authorities immediately declared that it was an Israeli airstrike and over 800 civilians had been killed.

It was then made clear to the Palestinian authorities that we could prove that it was a Palestinian rocket, not an Israeli airstrike. The deathtoll immediately fell to below 500. In reality it was closer to 15.

It really shows the difficult position that Israel is in. That everyone has looked at the evidence and agreed that it conclusive proved that it was a Palestinian rocket and the Palestinians simply lied about the deathtoll. Yet that hasn't stopped Hamas' supporters from continuing to tell the lie of an Israeli airstrike on the hospital.

Likewise it seems to be being repeated as fact by Hamas supporters, particularly western leftists, that Israel is; "Carpet Bombing Gaza!" Take it from someone who has actually done carpet bombing. Israel really isn't carpet bombing Gaza.

For a start Israel doesn't even have the aircraft you need to do carpet bombing. Although they've got a few F-35 Lightning's Israel's main ground attack aircraft is the F-15 Eagle. To do carpet bombing you need a strategic bomber like a B-52. Israel simply doesn't have B-52's or any equivalent aircraft.

Carpet Bombing is just as it sounds. You are trying to cover the ground with bombs, as if they were a carpet. In carpet bombing you don't even count the number of individual bombs you're dropping. Instead you count the "sticks" of bombs you are dropping. A single stick is typically 24 230kg bombs. An aircraft like the F-15 Eagle can only carry a maximum of 4 230kg bombs.

If Israel had been carpet bombing the Gaza Strip for nearly five weeks. Then the Gaza Strip simply wouldn't be there anymore.

It is similarly being claimed as fact that; "Israel is Committing War Crimes in Gaza!"

A; "War Crime" is an act which contravenes a specific; "Law of War." So anyone claiming that war crimes are being committed anywhere should have absolutely no problem telling you exactly which law of war they think is being broken.

21:11 on 2/11/23 (UK date).

Operation: Saxon Needles; Week 4, Day 5.

This is probably best understood as a direct continuation of; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2023/10/operation-saxon-needles-week-4-day-3.html

So. On Saturday October 7th (7/10/23) the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) launched an attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

The attack began at around 06:30 (03:30 GMT) with a massive barrage of rockets and other explosive projectiles. Hamas claim they fired over 5,000 while Israel detected only 3,000. 

To give you some perspective. In 2019 Israel hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. This prompted the different armed groups in Gaza to collectively fire around 700 rockets and explosive projectiles. At the time that was considered a lot. Enough to prompt around 300 Israeli airstrikes in Gaza in response. On May 2nd (2/5/23) the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PiJ) armed group fired 102 rockets and other explosive projectiles from Gaza into Israel. That the most number in a single day that anyone could remember.

So if there is a precedent for even 3,000 rockets and other explosive projectiles being fired from Gaza into Israel. Then in my twenty years of monitoring the conflict I certainly don't know what it is.

Under the cover of this bombardment some 2,900 Hamas fighters launched a ground assault into Israel. Hamas would like you to believe that they invaded by Air, Sea and Land. As if they'd, somehow, recreated the D-Day Landings from World War Two.

Hamas did certainly manage to land fighters in two small inflatable boats at Zikim. They were also able to scatter a small number of Paraglider-born fighters across southern Israel. The bulk of their attack force though was land based. The standard Islamist version of mechanised infantry. So fighters on pick-up trucks, pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns (Technicals) and motorcycles.

Although I've not been able to map it myself. Hamas' ground force entered Israel at seven points. Which I assume were the five border crossings, running north-to-south; Erez, Nahal Oz, Karni, Sufa and Karem Shalom. Along with two areas where they smashed through the central Border Fence/Buffer-Zone using explosives and construction diggers.

Hamas's ground force then attacked, overran and held the posts of the Israeli Security Forces. So IDF bases, guard and observation posts along with Israeli police stations. From just south of Ashkelon in the North, Ofakim in the East and Nir Yitzhak in the South. Although the lines are jagged and bulging this gave Hamas control of around 480km² (290miles²) of Israeli territory.

As I've said. This was really the desperate last roll of the dice by an organisation which has spent the last decade on the ropes. Despite being over two years into what they thought would be their great comeback. With absolutely nothing to show for it. So I don't doubt there were all sorts of wild aspirations running through their heads.

However Hamas' primary aspiration seems to be to hold the territory which they had seized.

The attack came the day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War. Within Israel that war is known as; "The Yom Kippur War." However like all Jewish religious festivals Yom Kippur is calculated in accordance to a Lunisolar Calendar. In 1973 Yom Kippur fell on October 6th (6/10/1973). So across the Arab world the 1973 is known a; "The October 6th War", or simply; "The October War." 

Hamas seemed to believe that if it held its ground in Israel then everyone would rush to its aid. Recreating the 1973 War and its aim to wipe Israel from existence. In the early stages of the attack Hamas issued a public call to its allies to do just that.

What Hamas seem to have overlooked in this aspiration is that during the 1973 War Israel faced the nation state of Egypt. Which, according to quick Wikipedia figures, had 800,000 troops. Along with 41,000 thousand armoured vehicles, 1,100 heavy artillery units and 400 combat aircraft.

Israel also faced the nation state of Syria. Which had 150,000 troops, 1,100 armoured vehicles and 600 heavy artillery units. Israel also faced the nation state of Saudi Arabia. Which had 23,000 troops. The nation of Morocco which had 5,500 troops, 30 armoured vehicles and over 50 combat aircraft. Along with the 1,000 troops sent by the nation state of Cuba.

Hamas military strength is believed to be a maximum of 40,000 fighters. It is believed to posses somewhere in the range of 100,000 rounds of heavy artillery ammunition, rockets and other explosive projectiles. That is 100,000 rounds of ammunition. Not 100,000 heavy artillery units.

Operating in the other part of Palestine, the Occupied West Bank the dominant armed group is Lion's Den. Rather than being a formal group this is more a loose collection of extremist members of other armed groups. They're believed to number around 100, armed only with small-arms. They do not have any rounds of heavy artillery. They certainly do not have any armoured vehicles or combat aircraft.

To the North of Israel, in Lebanon, the dominant armed group is Hezbollah. They're estimated to have around 60,000 fighters along with 150,000 rounds of heavy artillery ammunition. Again, they don't have any armoured vehicles and they certainly don't have any combat aircraft.

Aside from failing to notice that, even in their wildest dreams, Israel would be facing a far smaller force than it did in the 1973 War. Hamas also seems to have failed to notice that Israel won the 1973 War. So decisively and comprehensively that it took until 1979 for Israel to return the Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt.

Whilst waiting for the Muslim world to spring into action. To help them Free Palestine, from the River to the Sea. Hamas turned their attention to the communities living in the area of Israel they had just seized control over.

The majority of the communities is this part of Israel are what are known as; "Kibbutz." Which literally translates as; "Gathering" or; "Clustering" although is more accurately translated as; "Commune." They are something which I think are entirely unique to Israel.

The most accessible cultural jumping off point I can think of to explain a Kibbutz is probably the 2023 hit TV Show; "The Last of Us." Central to the story is the "Joel" character's journey across a post-apocalyptic America to find his long-lost brother; "Tommy."

At the risk of spoiling a TV show which I feel I'm the last person on the planet to have caught up with. In episode 6; "Kin"  Joel does eventually find Tommy. Living in a utopian community hidden in the wilds of the US State of Wyoming.

Tommy and his new wife Maria show Joel around the community. Explaining that they all work together to grow their own food, make their own clothes and raise all of their children together. Something which Joel disparagingly dismisses as; "Communism."

To which Maria replies; "Yes, we live on a commune." "We are quite literally Communists."

Obviously this type of Communist Collective Farming has developed a, I think deservedly, bad reputation. Thanks to Josef Stalin's; "Great Plan For The Transformation of Nature" in the Soviet Union. Along with Chairman Mao's; "Great Leap Forward" in China. Where the State's forcing of people onto Collective Farms led to widespread famine and death.

However Kibbutz are different from that. They're established by the people who choose to live on them. Certainly no-one is being forced to live on them by the government. The first Kibbutz pre-date the State of Israel by about 40 years.

So rather than being Communist Kibbutz are more Anarcho-Syndicalist or; "Anarchist;" "Libertarian-Socialist."

All of which is so very far Leftwing. I doubt any of the Western Leftists who are currently posing for Palestine and demanding the destruction of Israel even know that things can get that Leftwing.

Obviously what is portrayed in The Last of Us is part of an entertainment show, rather than a documentary about Kibbutz. In real-life the buildings in Kibbutz tend to be typical of any other type of mid-20th Century home. Rather than a TV set intended to invoke memories of the US' Wild West. The walls around Kibbutz tend to be normal sized for a security wall and made out of concrete. Rather than towering edifices made out of logs.

Hamas also turned its attention to what is being politely described as a music festival. Happening close to the Re'im or; "Friends" Kibbutz.

It is Hamas' focus on the Kibbutz and the 'music festival' which showed me that their actions have nothing to do with the politics of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Issues such as the Two-State Solution, the Status Quo at Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount, the illegal Settlers on the Israeli Occupied West Bank.

This was nothing more than an attempt to erase Israel and Jews from the face of the Earth.

The attack came at the end of the most important part of the Jewish religious calendar. A period where a number of the so-called; "High Holidays" are clustered together.

It starts with; "Rosh Hashanah" or; New Year. In which God looks at people's behaviour over the course of the last year. Then uses it to decide what the future will hold for them in the year to come. Then, a week later, you have; "Yom Kippur" or; "The Day of Atonement." On which, with the plan for their next year in hand. God asks if there's anything from the previous year anyone would like to apologise for?

A few days later you have the weeklong festival of; "Sukkot." Which literally translates as; "Shack" or; "Shanty." It's a reference to the makeshift shelters Jews lived in during their Biblical exodus from Egypt. However it's really more of a festival celebrating the autumn harvest. Somewhat like the European Animist festival of; "Samhain" or; "Halloween."

The final day of Sukkot is; "Simchat Torah" or; "The Dancing of the Scrolls." This celebrates God's gift of the Bible/Torah.

Haredi Jews and Settlers celebrate Simchat Torah by dancing around with Torah scrolls. In places like Al-Aqsa and Occupied East Jerusalem. Taunting Palestinians with their dreams of expelling them from their lands and fulfilling the Biblical promise of a Greater Israel.

While another part of Israeli Jewish society take Simchat Torah as an excuse to have a borderline illegal, drug fuelled three day Psychedelic Trance Rave. The; "Tribe of the Stars" dance party.

That is certainly an aspect of Israeli culture which I remember from my younger days. I almost feel as though I was participating in that Rave online. As we all used to do, back during Covid.

Over the years I have grown familiar with the type of people who live in Southern Israel, around city of Sderot. I like to think they have grown familiar with me.

The typical explosive projectile that is fired into Southern Israel from Gaza is the Qassam Rocket. These are poorly welded water pipes packed with Ammonia Nitrate, Fuel Oil (ANFO) explosive. They are based on the Soviet; "Grad" or; "Hail" rocket.

Grad rockets are something you may have grown familiar with from footage of the Biden Regime's wholly illegal war against Ukraine, the Donbas Republics and Russia. They look like dozens of tubes on the back of a truck. Out of which multiple rockets are fired really quickly. The Grad system is what's known as an; "Area Weapon." The idea is that you quickly blast dozens of rockets into an area the size of a football pitch. In order to kill everything within that area. 

So rather like how no-one has even been much bothered by a single hailstone. One Qassam rocket being fired a day into an area the size of Southern Israel is more of an act of criminal violence. Rather than an act of war. Rather like how every time there's a shooting in somewhere like the UK or the US. It is a matter for the police rather than the military.

So for decades I've been telling the people who live in Southern Israel that they have to put up with occasional Qassam rocket fire. It is a perfectly valid form of Palestinian protest against the way that other Israelis behave like absolute di*ks towards the Palestinians.

For the most part. The people who live in Southern Israel agree with me and the Palestinian protests. Despite the fact they're the ones who have to run to the bomb shelters. Due to the fact that some of their fellow Israelis behave like absolute di*ks towards the Palestinians.

Within the area they had seized control of. Hamas then set about systematically exterminating every living thing. In the most wanton and horrific ways imaginable. And I do mean; "Extermination." In the full legal and moral sense.

Particularly in the run-up to the 20th anniversary of the September 11th 2001 (11/9/01) Terror Attacks. The US seemed to become utterly obsessed with a 1999 incident from my childhood. In which a nominally Muslim Delusional Schizophrenic attacked my childhood Catholic Christian Church with a pair of Samurai swords.

That is still far from one of the worst things I have ever seen.

A strong contender for one of the worst things that I have ever seen is the 2015 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) video; "Healing The Believer's Chests." In which ISIL burned alive the Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasabeh they'd been holding hostage. Eight years later I can still vividly remember how he bravely relied on his training as the flames came towards him. Then retained the presence of mind to breath the flames deep into his lungs.

One of my more distinguishing features is third degree burn scars on the palms of my hands. Somewhat in the style of the Stigmata Jesus Christ wore after being nailed to the cross. So I know, almost literally first hand, that burning is the worst form of pain that you will ever experience. If you've ever suffered sunburn or caught your hand on a pan while cooking. You might have a small idea of the pain I'm talking about.

If you ever do find yourself in a situation where you are to be burned alive. The correct medical advice is to breath the flames as deeply into your lungs as you can. That will destroy your lungs and kill you. Before you fully experience the pain of being burned from the outside in.

Imagine being in a situation so bad. That's the choice you have to make.

As they rampaged through Southern Israel Hamas fighters took many parents and their young children and bound together with barbed wire. They then burned them alive, together. So each could hear the screams of their loved ones as they burned.

Due to them being prepared to support Palestinian's legitimate right to protest. Almost all buildings on Kibbutz have a; "Safe-Room." Sometimes described as a; "Panic Room" this is an armoured room people can lock themselves in if they come under attack.

As they marauded through Hamas fighters tried to break their way into these safe-rooms. Where they were able to get the doors open they either sprayed the room with gunfire or chucked in grenades. All to exterminate those within.

Where Hamas fighters couldn't get the doors of the safe-rooms open. They simply set fire to the buildings around them. Burning their occupants alive with each hearing the screams of their loved ones as they died.

I could sit for what would feel like eternity giving every gruesome detail of every horrific atrocity Hamas committed that day. Every person they shot. Every person they stabbed. Every person they beheaded. Every person they raped. Every person they burned alive.

I could tell you of all the pregnant women they held down. Forced to watch as they cut the babies from their wombs. Then beheaded those babies in front of them. Leaving those mothers with that as their last memory as they slowly bled to death.

However those atrocities happened nearly five weeks ago. Yet I still don't think we can even begin to tell you how bad it truly was. We may never be able to tell you how bad it truly was.

January 27th 2023 (27/1/23) marked the 78th Anniversary of the end of the Nazi Holocaust.

To this day, particularly in Israel. There are Holocaust survivors who still can't talk to you about how bad it truly was.

18:34 on 1/11/23 (UK date).