A video that will do your heart good: An Israeli soldier with a pack of playing cards with photos of Hamas terrorists throwing away the cards with photos of those eliminated like Deif, Haniya, al Auri etc. His big smile is driving Palestinians crazy! Watch it here.

With all the blah, blah about the Philadelphi Corridor, Israel has no intention of leaving. I’d like to also point out, that long before Israel captured Philadelphi, there were negotiations with Hamas that went nowhere. So leaving the border isn’t the sticking point that the crazed Israeli protestors are making it out to be. Also, the US just announced that Hamas has just “hardened” its positions, introducing new demands.

Amit Segal published a video last night showing that asphalt paving on the Philadelphi Axis is in full swing, even during the night, with a large number of Israeli construction vehicles. According to our friend Abu Ali, Palestinians on social media are very unhappy about this incontrovertible evidence Israel is wisely digging in for the long term. Some of their reactions:

1. “They have to work at night because there is heavy traffic during the day.”

• “Really nice work (شغل نظيف). Don’t forget to install traffic lights.”

• “The PA and Hamas held the area for 30 years and didn’t pave such an asphalt road…”

• “Dear Egyptians, congratulations on your new neighbors…”

The vaccination campaign of Gaza children continues in Khan Yunis after being completed in Deir al Balah. Good for Israel!

The Gazans are running out of acceptable cash. Because of the widespread rumor of counterfeiting – we don’t know if it’s true or who started it – merchants in Gaza refuse to accept what they fear are counterfeit ten shekel Israeli coins. A Gazan journalist appealed on social media to the Governor of the Palestinian Central Bank, complaining there is a severe cash crisis in the Gaza Strip because the merchants do not accept ten shekel coins nor do they accept worn bills. “The bills have been worn out in the war for 11 months. Neither we nor our clothes look the same after 11 months…The Palestinian governor must issue a notice that this money can continue to be used and after the war it will be replaced with a new one of the same value.” (Thank you Abu Ali!)

Guess that tons of cigarettes recently allowed into Gaza will find fewer buyers (not!)

Israeli sanitary products have come into Gaza. The soap brand Neka 7 is being sold by the Gazans as commemorating the massacre. Time to switch brands!

Four supply trucks containing tents, foodstuffs, dates, water, flour, fava beans and chickpeas that entered the Gaza strip early in this morning were commandeered by unknowns. Nothing is now known about who is responsible, or the fate of the drivers and the security force that accompanied them, according to Israel Today.

The IDF front against the terrorists embedded in West Bank towns is far from over. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank updated from last Wednesday, the IDF operation began in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas has resulted in 39 dead and 145 injured. Cumulative in the West Bank since the beginning of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health: 691 dead and about 5,700 wounded. May their numbers increase!

Many people are fed up with Netanyahu’s lack of initiative in pursuing the war in the North. I understand that the IDF is stretched over multiple fronts, but something will have to be done soon.  Today’s front page headlines in (Bibi hating) Yediot Achronot): 115 rockets a day from Lebanon, and the government is still focused on the Gaza-Egypt border. Israelis in the Upper Galilee and Golan are losing patience as they wait for the government to keep its long-held promises to “send Lebanon back to the Stone Age.”

One of the Prime Minister’s biggest foes is Gadi Eizenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff, who has been urging Israel to leave the Philadelphi Corridor.  In 2017, as Chief of Staff, Ezenkot said this: “We are taking the underground terrorist infrastructure [in Gaza] seriously, but I don’t think it is an existential or strategic threat.” Hello? Giving us more “sage” advice?

The entrance to the tunnel where the bodies of hostages Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alex Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and MSG Ori Danino were recovered was located next to stuffed animals and wall art of cartoon characters in a children’s play area.  It was located in an area surrounded by the enemy and extensively booby-trapped. You can see it here.

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