(Last updated: November 13, 2018)
Today, Israel mourns. One of our IDF officers, an unidentified Lt Col, was killed either last night or early this morning in a firefight against Hamas fighters inside Gaza.
Last night, sirens sounded in southern Israel as Hamas and its 'friends' fired at least 17 rockets into Israel. The rockets were probably a response to the IDF attack above in which a senior Hamas official was killed, along with our Lt Col.
When these IDF missions occur, we typically hear there were no IDF casualties. Today, we heard bad news: one IDF officer killed, one IDF soldier seriously wounded.
As bits of information trickle across the news, the possibility occurs that this IDF mission might have been ambushed. It's just a suggestion, gleaned from curious tidbits of news.
We may never find out what happened. Israeli and IDF officials won't offer any details about the incident which took this unnamed soldier's life.
We don't worry about such a silence. We have bigger issues to focus on--rockets coming into Israel.
Now, still Monday, late afternoon, sirens sound repeatedly in southern Israel. A couple of cellphones in our house have apps that sound a distinct alarm when a 'red alert' siren goes off in Israel to announce an incoming rocket being fired at Israel. Those apps have been sounding now almost non-stop for the last 30 minutes.
It isn't yet 5pm Monday afternoon, November 12, 2018. Will today be the start of another war with Hamas? We may not have to wait too long to find out.
As more rocket alerts began to sound just a while ago, the s'faradi shul I belong to sent out a message that, translated, told everyone we are all obligated to spread the call to pray; the message came with a part of Tehillim included. Given the number of rocket alerts we're getting, it's a good suggestion.
Eight minutes ago a news brief appeared to declare that the IAF (Israel Air Force) is "attacking length of Gaza". Just one minute ago, a news brief popped up with just a headline: 80 terror missiles launched into Israel in less than an hour.
When the 2014 war with Gaza began in 2014, Hamas and 'friends' fired into Israel more than 1,400 rocket/mortars over a single seven-day period that bracketed the beginning of that war (here). Now, Israel sees 80 incoming missiles in less than an hour?
What does that suggest?
Hamas is insane. Is it signalling war? That's the 64-dollar question for Israel. I really don't think Israel will wait as long as it did in 2014 before responding in force.
Conventional wisdom in Israel (for many of us) is that our politicians will have to 'grow a pair' in order to stop this nonsense and protect us and our sovereignty. So far, Israel has been getting attacked every weekend for more than 7 months--and has done little in response.
Israel has to be strong. It seems afraid what the world will think if it responds to these rocket attacks. Perhaps Israel should declare its allegiance to HaShem, and forget about the EU and the UN.
Apparently, Israel is afraid. It's afraid to speak HaShem's name.It's afraid what the nations might say if we defend ourselves.
That kind of fear is not a good sign. It's a sign of weakness. It's a signal to Hamas to attack--which is exactly what's happening right now.
One of my children has just come to me to say she's receiving red alert notices that indicate that rockets from Gaza now reach into the Dead Sea area. That's our area.
If a local siren goes off for us, she reminds me, we can't ignore it. We'll have go immediately to our building's bomb shelter. I told her, yes, that's the plan.
So we wait. A new headline has just popped up: approaching 100 rockets coming into Israel in less than an hour.
Stay tuned.
May HaShem give Israel the resolve it needs to defend this Holy Land.
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