I was listening to Richard Kemp who was talking about the statistics of war : not our war but all wars. He explained that in most wars the ratio of civilian deaths to fighters averages at 9:1. In this war we hear from the Hamas health authority that 23,000 Palestinians have been killed. We know that at least 8,000 were Hamas fighters.
The numbers do not take into account those many Palestinians killed by the rockets of Hamas that fall short and those who had died from natural causes or just as a consequence of war but not at the direct result of Israeli shelling or shooting.
The figure that emerges is a ration of around 1.5:1 of civilians against Hamas militia, which is in fact, exceptionally low and unheard of in warfare. Theses figures tell of story of an army that has taken extraordinary care not to harm civilians.
The number of Israeli soldiers injured is very high in comparison to those who have fallen and has past the 8,000 mark, It seemed strange to me that we have so many injured while the Palestinians have so many dead.
The answer was given when I listened to a zoom by our friend Tuvia Book who is a medic in the field in Gaza. Israel has the most amazing field medics that evacuate the wounded within minutes. Every unit has an in-house medic who tends to the injured immediately and they are then evacuated to a unit that has a doctor.A helicopter can be on the ground within minutes and take off in around 40 seconds, rushing the injured to hospital. This is why our wounded live and are given the best care.
Hamas who have run the Gaza Strip since 2007 have invested next to nothing in facilities for the people and spent the vast majority of the EU funds on building tunnels and amassing personal fortunes. The difference between Israel and Hamas is the difference between life and death. We sit on diametrically opposed sides of value and morals.
The medical care in Israel is both efficient and easy to access. This efficiency has been replicated in the field and is saving thousands of Israeli lives every day.
In Eilat I experienced my first code red. It was the first in 6 weeks and its really strange how as soon as the siren has finished people just go back to what ever they were doing. Being rocketed and bombed has became a normal part of daily life for many Israelis, especially in the south . That is a very sad state of affairs. I just couldn’t imagine rockets on London and everyone just carrying on as usual.
Eilat is one of the safest places in Israel. Until last week we would have thought that Ra’anna was also safe, until there was an infiltration of terrorists who killed one, and injured 16 others including 8 children. Therefore, it seems that no where is immune to the tentacles of Iran, that are reaching even into our high streets and homes.
Fighting is continuing in Khan Younis, where the IDF has destroyed six missile launchers ready to launch with loaded rockets. In the north of Gaza, the IDF have uncovered numerous rocket producing facilities, warheads, launching pads and explosive devices.
It is reported that 5 IRCG members have been killed in Syria and 2 members of Hamas eliminated in Lebanon.
Sirens were heard last night in the north and in Haifa.
The Houthi firing from Yemen and the Red Sea continue to attack international shipping vessels. The US have carried out 3 or 4 missiles strikes but the Houthi are yet to be deterred. Prices worldwide will feel the consequences of ships having to take a longer route around India.
136 hostages remain in Gaza and we still have no information as to their condition. Medical supplies have been sent into Gaza with a promise that some medications will reach the hostages, but as the promise is made by Hamas, the reality is that no one knows if the hostages are alive or if they will receive much needed medication.
The youngest hostage Kfir Bibas has now passed his first birthday in captivity. It is very hard to even think about the hostages, as it has been so 104 days since they were kidnapped and we know from videos many were injured and we know from the ones returned that they are being tortured and starved.
It was reported that senior IDF members have stated that the dual object of destroying Hamas and rescuing the hostages are mutually incompatible, as by destroying the Hamas we will likely kill our own hostages as the leaders are using them as a human shield against Israeli strikes.
The families of the hostages are demonstrating outside the Prime Minister’s home to try to pressurise the government to stop sending aid into Gaza and to do more to bring them home.
The EU are now placing sanctions on Hamas which is a great first step to cutting off their funding.
Israel is losing patience with Hezbollah and the constant rocket fire, and has put a deadline on Hezbollah to move north to the Litani river by the end of January . If not achieved Israel will begin military operations against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. America and France have been pressurising Israel to give diplomacy a chance.
While President Herzog was at the World Economic Forum in Davos, criminal charges of war crimes were lodged against him.
Sadly, we face another week with a war on many fronts and while we are severely damaging the enemies, we have not yet destroyed their capabilities to attack us .
Shavuah Tov