Arlene Kushner | March 20, 2025
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In my last posting on March 17, I asked how much longer the impasse with Hamas could last and concluded by writing we would act in Gaza shortly: “I have a strong level of confidence that this is what will transpire.”
I was thinking of a move that might take place in days or a week. I did not remotely imagine when I wrote that “shortly” would mean a couple of hours, literally. But the bombing attack on Gaza began in the pre-dawn hours of March 18.
I was certainly not alone with regard to being in the dark on the timing. Very, very few people knew because the element of surprise was important. It is part of what made the attack so effective.
“Military sources revealed that the plan to resume hostilities was developed and kept highly classified to create an element of surprise and tactical deception that Hamas was unprepared to counter.
“The IDF has placed Hamas military wing senior officials, mid-level commanders, and terror infrastructure firmly in its crosshairs.” (Emphasis added)
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/03/18/under-cover-of-darkness-israels-planned-return-to-gaza-war/
In the first hours of the attack at least five high-level leaders were taken out, causing disarray and surely some panic. Other key leaders have subsequently been eliminated.
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The plan for the aerial attack had been laid out by the IDF and approved by political leadership. Here we see Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir:
Ma’ayan Toaf /GPO
The Prime Minister’s Office put out an official announcement:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF to take strong action against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.
“This follows Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators.
“The IDF is, at this time, attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip in order to achieve the objectives of the war as they have been determined by the political echelon including the release of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength. The operational plan was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405522
The Trump administration had been informed before the attack began and was on-board.
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In the early hours, there was a sense in some quarters that this attack was a short-term maneuver intended to push Hamas to agree to release hostages. The assumption here was that there might be a reset: with Hamas finally agreeing to release hostages and Israel, in turn, agreeing to a ceasefire of some weeks and to the release of more terrorists with blood on their hands from our prisons.
But as time evolved, and the attacks intensified, it became increasingly clear that this was not the case.
Without a doubt, concern for bringing home the hostages remains a prime concern during this time, but it is hardly the only concern. A major war goal is taking down Hamas, rendering it incapable of ever harming Israelis again and removing it from a position of control in Gaza.
And in this regard it is imperative for everyone to understand the broader situation:
Over the course of the 15 months of the war, the IDF took out some 18,000 to 20,000 terrorists. But Hamas has been doing recruiting; they were particularly active in this regard during the recent six-week plus ceasefire. Hamas now has some 18,000 to 20,000 new recruits – they have replenished their numbers.
What is more, it became apparent, especially during the sorties when the air attacks began, that these recruits are scattered throughout Gaza.
And most significantly, Defense Minister Katz told a group representing residents of the Gaza border region, “There are constant preparations being made by Hamas for an invasion [into Israel], similar to October 7.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-846537
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Israel security and military agencies have been severely criticized for ignoring intelligence regarding what was going to transpire on October 7.
We dropped the ball then. But hopefully now the lesson has been learned. There are signs that Hamas is planning to attack again. Do we allow a ceasefire to be sustained for extended periods of time, giving them an opportunity to build their strength and tighten their plans? Do we opt to ignore this information and focus just on the hostages?
Or do we hit them hard and take them out?
I am grateful, indeed, that we have a defense minister who, after delivering the above information, provided an answer: “We must strike them and completely finish the job through both offense and defense. This is the goal that drives me.”
X @sentdefender
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Tuesday evening, the prime minister addressed the nation. His words were reassuring (emphasis added):
“This is just the beginning. We will continue to fight to achieve the goals of the war and the promise that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel. From now on, negotiations will only take place under fire.
“We extended the ceasefire in the weeks in which we did not receive any hostages, we sent delegations to Doha, we accepted the proposal of US envoy Witkoff, but on the other hand Hamas rejected every proposal. I accepted the recommendation of the IDF and the security establishment to return to fighting…
“To those who criticize Israel, I ask, what would you do if terrorists murdered and kidnapped your children? You would do what we are doing. In the face of pure evil, free societies have no choice but to fight. So, I want to assure all our friends around the world, Israel will fight and Israel will win. We will bring our people home and we will destroy Hamas.
“We will not relent until we achieve all these vital goals, and we will not rest until we give our country a future of peace, prosperity and hope.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405568
GPO
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And so, what of the hostages and the chances now for getting them home?
There are relatives and friends of the hostages, as well a cadre of leftists, who sounded an alarm about the fact that we are returning to fighting in Gaza. They charged that this was an abandonment of the hostages, who can only be saved via a ceasefire deal.
What is ignored is the fact that a ceasefire has not brought a deal to secure additional hostages, while it increased risks to Israel. Hamas had been getting the benefit of an unofficial ceasefire, giving nothing in return. They hedged, they equivocated, they lied, and they bought time. Each day of that unofficial ceasefire gave them additional time to recruit, regroup, and plan their attack – and they paid no price for this.
Yesterday (Wednesday) in Jerusalem there were large and unruly demonstrations demanding that the government go back to a ceasefire immediately.
AP
And yesterday was the day in which I totally lost patience with them. They shriek and scream and block traffic, all the while exhibiting no concern for the security of the people of Israel.
I heard one brief interview of a demonstrator who claimed that by going back to war we were condemning to death the 59 hostages still held in tunnels by Hamas. But wait! All but 22 of the 59 are already believed dead. Facts do not matter.
What the demonstrators blithely ignore is that it is still a stated goal of the government to secure release of the hostages: no one has given up on them. Negotiating with Hamas did not work, it is time to apply serious military pressure. Already there is a muted tone from Hamas: We never said we wouldn’t accept Witkoff’s plan. And this is just the beginning. The idea is to push them militarily to surrender the hostages for their own sakes. Katz says there will be “total destruction” unless the hostages are returned.
At the same time:
“The IDF will not strike areas in Gaza where hostages are held, despite renewed operations, sources confirm. The military maintains its long-standing rule, avoiding attacks even where there is potential doubt about hostages’ presence.” Instagram the_jerusalempost
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A number of possible tactics are being suggested for convincing Hamas that it would be unwise to kill the remaining living hostages. I do not know what will work, or what tactics might be utilized – for example threatening to execute one major terrorist in prison for every hostage that is killed. What it is important to know is thought is being given to all of these issues.
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What it is also exceedingly important to know is that this was not really a demonstration about the hostages – it was a left-wing anti-Bibi demonstration that conflated the hostage issue with other political issues.
Unfortunately, these people either do not understand or do not care that they give comfort and encouragement to Hamas with their behavior.
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Yesterday (March 19) the attack in Gaza intensified as ground operations were begun:
“Over the past day, IDF troops began targeted ground activities in the central and southern Gaza Strip in order to expand the security zone and create a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza. As part of the ground activities, the troops expanded their control further to the center of the Netzarim Corridor.
“Simultaneously, it was decided that the Golani Brigade would be stationed in the Southern Command area and would remain ready for operations in the Gaza Strip…”
Katz says that soon the population will again be evacuated from the combat zones.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405615
Today, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced that over the past few hours, IDF troops began conducting ground activity in the area of “Shabura” in Rafah.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405680
IDF Spokesperson
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Please share the information provided in this post: there is a barrage of misinformation and the attacks on Israel have become more shrill again.
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I ask for prayers for Israel’s wellbeing.
Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.
Pray for the safety of our brave troops.
Pray that the hostages will be brought home.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
The separation of men and women especially sets them off. They call this gender apartheid and say they don’t want a Jewish Iran. Ironically, it’s the same thing that set the Arabs off on the Temple Mount in the 20s. I remember getting into an argument with a woman who repeated Hillary Clinton’s slander comparing Israel with Iran because of what turned out to be one trial gender segregatedbus line in a Haredi neighborhood. Mostly, they have no idea what’s going on even when they visit. She was quoting a friend who went there briefly and misinterpreted what she saw. She was a socialist who said she performed in Israel in 1967.
@Sebastien
Sorry, not sure why that happened. It’s back now.
@Peloni. Thanks. Now, the next one disappeared.
The Jewish left in Israel and the U.S. argues that judicial and Deep State tyranny are democratic because the will of the people would deliver clerical fascism. The “secularists” are by no means all secular, and supporters of religious Zionism aren’t all religious. But, those who defend both Israel and democracy are those who defend the Jewish character of the state. Jabotinsky wrote that quip in 1940, the year he died, to Chaim Weizman, who was a socialist.
@Sebastien
It’s back. Thanks for letting me know.
@Peloni Comment disappeared
fquigley No, it answers everything. 80 years ago, it was mainly the secularists who defended the land, today it’s the religious Zionists so that’s who deserves our support. Jabotinsky used that metaphor in a letter to Chaim Weizman, who was a socialist in 1940, the year he died, same year as Trotsky, coincidentally.
The danger in discussion like on israpundit
Smith was being presented as a SECULARIST
Without my writing this would have stood as being true
The danger to truth of Sebastien Zorn is that he decided to be totally silent
Silent at the critical point
He talks in a false way. His modus operandum has a falseness in its essence.
The APPEARANCE is of being the GREAT ZIONIST
The essence is very different
Balfour only hinted at it…Jews must not be made to live with Antisemitism
Sebastien Zorn
Jabotinsky was correct but his remark answers nothing
YOU consistently lie.
I am not prepared to do that. I will not follow anyone there.
Rafi
I commend you for doing that. I am for the pursuit of KNOWLEDGE wherever that takes me. Remember we are not given any breaks. But Judaism is rebellious and that helps free questioning.
When one does a check via google AI says that between 9 to 12% of the population are Atheists. By the way Ben Gurion as an atheist but had a Bible on his desk which he knew in great depth.
@Sebastien
It’s back. Thanks.
@fquigley
Jabotinsky
Sebastien Zorn
“Smith, the secular writer, described a radically different vision for Israel. “It can’t be a Jewish state. It will be a country of all its citizens. Israel-Palestine. A multicultural entity where all faiths can equally exercise their religions without infringing on one another’s rights” said Smith, who has three children. ”
In answer to Smith
It is a Jewish state. A state for the Jews.
Smith who is presented as a secularist introducing something else altogether, he wants a state with islam having equal share.
The name for that is not SECULARIST it is SUICIDE
Total confusion on meanings
And Smith should be answered with two names
Hitler; Haj Amin el Husseini – to state the case in short form
Other way to answer Smith is to teach him history, or to expose his ignorance of he cannot learn history
Arabs with their history have to have no power at all is the only wise thing for Jews. No power or presence. Jews must live alone and unmolested.
Having accepted and achieved that reality then create or make the Jewish state a secular state using the American Constitution as model
(My idea of true Marx and Trotsky here)
To be even clearer since events like this are officially state events then the secular separation of state and religious practice must be applied.
(So finally Smith in your link is not SECULARIST he is something else…perhaps a liquidationist)
@fquigley
Really? Where?
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fearing-religious-takeover-activists-see-secular-awakening-in-yom-kippur-fray/
@fquigley
Your comment is back. Thank you for alerting me.
By the way, I think Arlene is an important voice for Israel. While you object to the use of the word ‘Left’ being used to describe those who Arlene describes using that term, it is embraced by those she is describing as well as those who oppose them.
Peloni my comment did not appear
This article is being much praised on Israpundit. That’s a shame because it is bankrupt. Nowhere does Kushner even bother to do a proper analysis of Hamas as representative of the Arabs.
It is greeted with this piece of bombast from “Keelie”
“Excellent Arlene!!!! And lets not forget that when Hamas is utterly destroyed there will be no need for pro-Hamas riots all over the world. ( I do understand that there are many other reasons that can be conjured up for hating Jews, but that will make one less reason.) ”
But the article in question is controlled by a narrative which is misleading (misinformation)
Which misinformation is the contention that there is THE LEFT which is the enemy off Israel.
No it is never the left. This is a very common slander by people like Kushner because the term the left leads to thinking that socialism or communism is the belief system here.
So since Kushner uses the term then most people will link them to Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky.
And that’s a lie.
To finish off Kushner finished her article with this:
“I ask for prayers for Israel’s wellbeing.
Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.
Pray for the safety of our brave troops.
Pray that the hostages will be brought home”.
Surely there are plenty of ATHEISTS among the people of the Jewish nation who believe that while they stand for freedom of religion also know that prayer is a useless activity…and more particularly useless against Hamas.
Excellent Arlene!!!! And lets not forget that when Hamas is utterly destroyed there will be no need for pro-Hamas riots all over the world. ( I do understand that there are many other reasons that can be conjured up for hating Jews, but that will make one less reason.)