In the midst of the 14th day of the war in Israel, the situation remains highly charged. A relentless barrage of airstrikes and artillery fire continues to pound Gaza, while on the ground, infantry and commando soldiers stand ready for further orders. Across the border in Southern Lebanon, both Hezbollah and Hamas cells show signs of escalating rocket fire directed towards Israel. Additionally, tensions remain palpable in Judea and Samaria.
Throughout the night spanning Thursday to Friday, Israeli Air Force fighter jets launched attacks on more than 100 operational targets belonging to various terrorist organizations within the Gaza Strip. These precision strikes aimed to dismantle tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses, and numerous operational headquarters. In a significant development, the IDF, in conjunction with Shin Bet, successfully eliminated a terrorist affiliated with the Hamas naval force, a key figure involved in the deadly surprise attack on townships near Gaza. Simultaneously, a coordinated effort thwarted a terrorist squad associated with the terrorist organization's air force, which had been planning to launch missiles at aircraft.
כלי טיס מאויש מרחוק חיסל הלילה מחבל בשטח לבנון. כמו כן, חיל-האוויר תקף הלילה מספר תשתיות צבאיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בתגובה לשיגורים שבוצעו אמש (ה') לשטח ישראל. pic.twitter.com/YFoAdEfsHi
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 20, 2023
Overnight, the IDF also took action against several Hezbollah infrastructures in response to over 40 rocket launches directed towards Israel on Thursday. In a separate operation, an IDF remotely operated aircraft targeted and neutralized a terrorist within Lebanese territory.
In a statement made from the Oval Office, US President Joe Biden articulated his request to the divided Congress to approve an "unprecedented" aid package for Israel, rumored to be valued at $14 billion. President Biden did not explicitly mention the financial figure in his address but stressed that it represented a "wise investment" that would secure the United States for generations to come. He additionally addressed the issue of humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that, per agreements with Israel and Egypt, these vital supplies would not fall into the hands of Hamas. President Biden underscored his conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing the "critical need" for Israel to adhere to the laws of war. Furthermore, he cautioned against repeating the mistakes made by the United States during the aftermath of a past disaster, stating, "When I was in Israel, I said that when America experienced the hell of the twin disaster, we also acted out of rage. While we were fighting and seeking justice. We made mistakes. So I warn the Israeli government not to be blinded by rage."
An Israeli Bedouin Arab IDF combat soldier threatens Hamas: "You murdered our brothers and sisters. We are coming to Gaza to cleanse it of your evil. Arabs of the Negev are neither with you nor with your hypocrisy, you don't believe in Allah." #StandWithIsrael #Gaza pic.twitter.com/qdkNgJpzbi
— Eretz Israel (@EretzIsrael) October 19, 2023
Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat conveyed in an interview with CNN that "the government of Israel made a decision, gave the IDF a green light to wipe out Hamas - now it's up to the army." Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the resolute message that needs to be sent to Israel's adversaries, particularly in light of preparations for a potential ground operation in the Gaza Strip: "No matter who you are, you will never be able to get close to Israel's border."
