Israel at war: What happened on day 23?

The White House pushed on Sunday for a humanitarian pause to the Gaza war and stressed the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians, even as it underscored Israel’s right to eliminate Hamas’s terror threat.

“It is important for Israel to distinguish between going after terrorist targets, to take out terrorists who continue to threaten Israel, and going after civilians,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation.

The IDF struck several Hezbollah terrorist cells and infrastructure in southern Lebanon on Sunday after a number of rockets were fired toward northern Israel throughout the day.

On Sunday afternoon, three rockets were fired from Lebanon toward Rosh Pina and nearby areas, just east of Safed. Two of the rockets were intercepted and one fell in an open area. No injuries were reported. The IDF struck the site where the rockets were launched from in response.

The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) issued a report on Sunday saying that top Iranian and Hamas officials had met at least four times in 2023 leading into the October 7 invasion of the South.

In addition, top officials from Iran and Gaza’s terror rulers also spoke by telephone at least four times this year.

Multiple Israeli officials have told The Jerusalem Post that although Tehran did not give an explicit order to carry out the October 7 massacre of 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, Hamas could not have succeeded in such a sophisticated and perfectly synchronized operation without Iranian funding, logistics assistance, provision of weapons, and training.

The IDF and Palestinian terrorists clashed near the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday afternoon, according to Israeli media.

All of the terrorists in the area were killed by Israeli forces. No Israeli personnel were injured.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday would not acknowledge differences between the US and Israel over the military assault on Gaza, but emphasized that Washington was being candid with its ally.

Faced with growing outcry over Israel's bombardment of Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7 attacks inside Israel by Hamas terrorists, Sullivan said, "We do not stand for the killing of innocent people, whether it be Palestinian, Israeli or otherwise."

United Nations peacekeeping force UNIFIL said on Sunday that one of its members was injured after shells hit the mission's base near the village of Houla on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Saturday.

The Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon have been exchanging fire on a daily basis since the start of the Gaza conflict three weeks ago.

UNIFIL said on Saturday that its headquarters near the Lebanese coastal town of Naqoura was also damaged by a shell that landed inside the base.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that reports the Palestinian Red Crescent had received warnings from Israeli authorities to immediately evacuate al-Quds hospital in the Gaza Strip were "deeply concerning."

"The Palestinian Red Crescent report of evacuation threats to Al-Quds hospital in Gaza is deeply concerning," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on social media platform X.

"We reiterate - it's impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives."

Pope Francis on Sunday called for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and renewed an appeal for the release of hostages held by the militant group in Gaza.

"Let no-one abandon the possibility of stopping the weapons," he said at his weekly blessing in St. Peter's Square.

"Ceasefire ... we say 'ceasefire, ceasefire'. Brothers and sisters, stop! War is always a defeat, always," he added.

Universities from across the United States and around the globe, totaling more than 100, banded together to express their solidarity with Israel in opposition to the actions of Hamas. This information emerged from a press release disseminated by Yeshiva University in New York.

The coalition boasted a rich diversity, encompassing public and private universities, faith-oriented institutions, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Their collective statement not only articulated support for Israel but also underscored their concerns for Palestinians who endured hardships under Hamas governance in Gaza. Furthermore, it signaled a commitment to uphold ethical standards.

The coalition's declaration unambiguously proclaimed, "We Stand United with Israel Opposing Hamas." It denounced Hamas' actions as ruthless and cruel, characterizing them as manifestations of hatred and terror. During those challenging times, the coalition stressed the need for moral discernment and compared opposing Hamas to confronting malevolence.

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY president Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman. (credit: Courtesy Yeshiva University)

Berman: college presidents are 'laying a moral foundation'

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, the president of Yeshiva University and the driving force behind the coalition, highlighted the pivotal role of university leadership in echoing the ideals of academia in such tumultuous circumstances. He asserted, "When presidents unite, it brings an unparalleled strength, laying a moral foundation essential for constructive dialogue. It's an honor to align with the endorsers of this statement, who are resolutely focused on shedding light on the truth during these turbulent times and safeguarding our academic communities against aggression and prejudice."

The coalition shared that they welcome other presidents and chancellors from universities around the world to amplify their collective voice.

Rain-soaked soldiers and their equipment over Saturday night, in one of the first major rainfalls since the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7.  

The conflict is set to continue into the winter amid changing weather conditions. The impact of weather on warfare should not be underestimated just because much of the modern world has isolated itself from harsh conditions. Historically, weather has turned the tides of decisive battles and the outcomes of whole wars. Storms have destroyed fleets and cold has crippled infantry.

As the Levant enters winter, the effects on combatants and civilians will become more pronounced, and military planners and humanitarian organizations will need to prepare to address the associated challenges.

The most immediate weather change will be rain. Rain will create mud, difficult terrain for some vehicles to traverse, slowing down movement. Some vehicles can get stuck, which in the front makes them vulnerable targets, and within friendly territory delay the delivery of vital supplies.

Some aerial vehicles may be grounded by heavy rain. Flying in rain will be a challenge for the modified commercial drones that compose Hamas’s air force. These drones, used for reconnaissance, directing mortar fire, and dropping bombs, will have difficulty flying in heavy rain, could suffer damaged electronics, and reduced visibility.

Israeli soldiers near the Israeli border with Lebanon, northern Israel, October 16, 2023. (credit: Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

'Mud and rain will put a damper on all combatants'

Cameras and optics, those that remain following the Hamas attacks, may also see reduced visibility during rain.

Infantrymen will have their uniforms and equipment soaked with rain, making their loads all the more heavy. Mud can be as troubling to foot soldiers as to vehicles, weighing down boots and even temporarily stopping them. Laying down in mud, which may be necessary in stake-outs and combat, will be an unpleasant experience without proper gear. If the mud enters weaponry, it may lead to jams and inability to discharge.

Mud and rain will put a damper on all combatants. The winter will also bring the cold, with nights already becoming a bitter ordeal. Morale cannot be discounted as a war resource. While armies may march in their stomachs, they fight with their hearts. Hamas supporters may be under the impression that their suicidal terrorists would be immune to such demoralisation, but that someone is willing to die does not mean he is ready to suffer.

Hamas may also suffer flooding in their vast network of subterranean tunnels. Without knowing too much about their systems, heavy rainfall could cause death and render some passages impassable.

If there is enough rain, it could cause flooding above ground as well, threatening civilians in Gaza. If this water is left to stand, waterborne illness could proliferate. Disease has shaped the course of war as much as any storm, and tightly packed soldiers and internally displaced persons are prime vectors for transmission. 

Heat and cold each pose their own threats

Unprotected from cold and rain, soldiers and civilians alike are in danger of hypothermia. In the developed world, we often consider cold a minor hindrance, since we have protective clothing and shelter. For those without, cold weather can easily be a death sentence.

Soldiers can also encounter the opposite problem of overheating, in which they may layer on warm clothing like leggings and thermal shirts, but may be unable to remove them when forced into action. The exertion and the layers may lead to heat exhaustion. In cold periods, soldiers may also find themselves not feeling the need to rehydrate as often, and may only discover their lack of water once they’ve dehydrated during strenuous activity.

During cold nights and hot days, fog may present a problem in the mornings. Fog is a natural smoke screen that can conceal movement not just for soldiers in its midst, but also cameras and aircraft flying above. This reduces the ability of helicopters, warplanes, and drones to provide aerial support to infantry and armor during the already perilous low-visibility dawn hours. 

These are just some of the considerations that NGOs helping refugees and IDF officers will need to take into account in the coming days. Experts in different armor, air, naval, and ground warfare technologies and specializations will no doubt be able to identify more challenges, so a wide variety of viewpoints should be considered before winter has fully come.

The writer is an IDF infantry reservist serving in the Gaza periphery towns that have been attacked by Hamas.