“Dave Bender is feeling worried.”
October 7, 2023 ·https://www.facebook.com/505025445/posts/10160900270740446/?rdid=YH9UJSZzxDIFcJ38
Oct 7, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from the Kirya in Tel Aviv:
"Citizens of Israel,
We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered – first of all – to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out. At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war and we will win it."
Update: 23:30 IST:
A very dark night here: over 250 Israeli Jews slaughtered, upwards of 1,500 wounded by two-legged Iranian-backed monsters, and scores taken hostage - men, women, teens, children, infants, and the elderly, and dead and dying - within Gaza and in multiple hostage situations nearby within Israel.
As of this update, massive IDF forces are en route to Gaza. Meanwhile, the IDF Northern Command says the "Army is preparing for Hezbollah to join the war on Israel, forces in northern Israel are being significantly bolstered," since the Iranian-backed terror proxy declared today that any IDF ground attack in Gaza would entail their entering the fighting.
Besides "thoughts and prayers" for our and our troops' well-being, sharing this post, telling family and friends about what's really going on - including your local congresscritter or gov'mint' rep', would really be useful at this moment.
Thank you.
Update: 20:00 IST:
A truly massive barrage of rockets just now into central Israel, and the Tel-Aviv - Gush Dan area.
I am writing this from our safe room in the Galilee and have been hearing jets and assorted aerial vehicles overhead since early this morning - which is rare for a Shabbat. It's just a note that the war Israel is fighting doesn't stop at the Gaza Periphery - but extends throughout the country. The Iranian-backed local proxy, Hezbollah, today, demanded UN so-called "Peacekeeping Forces" evacuate the area they patrol in Lebanon - about 15 km from where I'm typing this. That means they intend to join in the battle currently being waged in the south, including Hamas cells aiming at yours truly, along with family, friends, neighbors, and the rest of us.
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Shabbat Shalom and Shalom to Shabbat - we are in our safe room, and I'm on our village security team and continually updated and may be called away to help with immediate affairs.
Israel is at war; "Yom Kippur II" or "Simchat Torah I" - call it what you will. This dastardly monstrous attack is no less than Israel's 9/11.
I will not update or spread rumors here - don't you in comments, either. I will just say that you need to understand that this is a centimeter from all-out war, locally, and - who knows - regionally.
There are hundreds dead and wounded, others - scores -taken hostage, dead and alive, in villages along the Gaza border and elsewhere.
Thousands of rockets (well over 3k) were fired in parallel across cities, towns and villages across southern and central Israel.
Hundreds of Hamas and other terrorist groups invaded Israeli territory from Gaza and have taken hostages at several locations, civilians and - possibly others.
A terrified Israeli mother clasping a small child and infant to her chest are among the hostages now held by Hamas within Gaza - I watched the video the Iranian-backed two-legged monsters proudly shared with the world.
Another video shows a captive aged Israeli grandmother, forced to hold her abductors' Kalashnikov rifle and make a "V" sign with her hand. She may be dead or still alive in Gaza as of this update.
Hamasholes also shared videos of whole families of Israeli civilians slaughtered in their living rooms. I won't mention the piles of Israeli bodies being paraded around Gaza in open pickup trucks to lustily cheering crowds.
"ISRAEL AT WAR.
Update 4.20 pm.Saturday.
Shocking information that should shock the US Administration, and all Americans.
One of the vehicles driven by Hamas Palestinian terrorists that drove into Israel today was seized by Israeli forces in the streets of Sderot.
It had a machine gun attached to it.
By its licence plates, this was one of the military vehicles gifted by the US to the Palestinian Authority as part of American support for the PA security forces.
Except this armed American gift found its way to Hamas in Gaza and was driven today by Palestinian terrorists into Sderot to kill and kidnap Israelis." (via Barry Shaw)
A guy in uniform in a small car, roared up to our synagogue just as we were about to begin a public kiddush and "Hakafot" for the Simchat Torah holiday, came in and alerted several guys to get their gear and get moving. He ran back out to his still-running car and roared off to alert another Shabbat-observant community that wasn't using cellphones and weren't updated while in synagogue.
My neighbor across the street and cut-up who sits behind me in synagogue last night, just - kipa on his head and overnight bag in his hand - jumped into his semi-trailer and was called up for idf logistical support duties.
I'm here posting this on Shabbat, God forgive me, but I need to share the gravity of the circumstances. I'm claiming temporary insanity - that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Israel is responding and will, no doubt, respond greatly, locally and elsewhere.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Saturday, 7 October 2023), at the Kirya in Tel Aviv [translated from Hebrew]:
"Dear citizens of Israel,
This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war.
We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all of us.
Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday.
What happened today is unprecedented in Israel – and I will see to it that it does not happen again. The entire government is behind this decision.
The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote (https://allpoetry.com/On-The-Slaughter): 'Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan'.
All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into islands of ruins.
I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.
At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control.
I embrace and send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families whose loved ones were murdered today in cold blood and endless brutality.
We are all praying for the well-being of the wounded and all those who are being held hostage. I say to Hamas: You are responsible for their well-being. Israel will settle accounts with anyone who harms one hair on their heads.
I appeal to the residents of the south: We all stand alongside you. We are all proud of your heroism and your fighting.
To our beloved IDF soldiers, police officers and security forces personnel, remember that you are the continuation of the heroes of the Jewish people, of Joshua, Judah Maccabee and the heroes of 1948 and of all of Israel's wars. You are now fighting for the home and future of us all. We are all with you. We all love you. We all salute you.
To the medical and rescue teams, and the many volunteers who came out in force today in a long list of places, the people of Israel salute you. With your spirit, we will overcome our enemies.
Today, I spoke with US President Biden and with other world leaders in order to ensure freedom of action for Israel in the continuation of the campaign. I thank President Biden for his strong and clear words (https://www.whitehouse.gov/.../statement-from-president.../). I thank the President of France, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and many other leaders for their unreserved support for Israel.
I now appeal to all citizens of Israel.
We stand together in this campaign.
This war will take time. It will be difficult. Challenging days are ahead of us. However, I can promise one thing: With the help of G-d, the forces that we all have in common and our faith in the Eternal One of Israel, we will win."
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*The IDF launched Operation "Iron Swords"*
* IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari: "At these times, the IDF is flooding the south and surrounding settlements with many operational forces - operational commanders are arriving to manage the fighting in all the centers; At the same time, we started a broad reserve recruitment for all formations in the IDF*
This morning (Saturday) about 2,200 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
At the same time, several incursions were made towards the territory of the State of Israel in the south of the country.
In response, the IDF launched Operation "Iron Swords".
The Chief of Staff announced an extensive mobilization of reserve forces.
Many IDF forces, including special units, have been deployed to the area surrounding Gaza and are fighting in a number of different centers in the area of the division in order to protect the residents of the south.
Dozens of Air Force fighter jets attacked targets of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip a short time ago.
The IDF spokesman is again asking the public to obey the instructions of the Home Front Command, which save lives."
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The October 7th War: my first FB post