We’ve had 14 days straight of rain and finally the sun is shining. But more on that later.

The IDF is doing a stellar job of flooding some of the Northern Gaza tunnels and filling in more. Terrorists dressed as civilians have been venturing back into Northern Gaza ‘to check on their properties,’ but it has turned out to be a most deadly ruse on two separate occasions.

Mostly Northern Gaza is cleared. The same with Southern Gaza. The IDF have surrounfed the Hamas stronghold of Khan Younis. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “We are completing our mission in Khan Younis , we will also reach Rafah and we will kill every terrorist there.”

The Israeli military, so far, has been skirting around fighting around large civilian populations, trying to minimize the number of casualties. They have limited their air strikes and drone surveillance at the behest of the Biden administration. This means the soldiers are going home to home looking for terrorists, arms, tunnel shaft openings and information. They haven’t been disappointed.

In almost EVERY home, many have to be cleared before entering because they are mined with explosives, the IDF soldiers have found massive amounts of weapons. These include guns and ammo: from pistols (homemade Don Karlo’s), rifles, automatic weapons, grenades, to RPGs. Sometimes they are hidden in kitchen pantries and children’s bedrooms.

Very surprisingly, in almost EVERY home they have uncovered tunnel shaft openings leading to the wider underground “Gaza Metro System.” The underground tunnels are much more extensive then Israel ever imagined, being longer totaled that the London or NYC metro. Each home has an opening leading to multiple layers underground of passageways. (Confirming, unfortunately, the idea that most Gaza residents are at least complicit, if not full blown militants).

The Times of Israel reported in mid January that the Gaza tunnels stretch for at least 350 miles- with up to 6000 separate shafts found thus far. It’s like a giant complex ant farm. And Gaza is only 140 square miles in area.

All of this is being extensively recorded and documented by the IDF for posterity, as it will be defense in probable international court cases. Several tunnels are wide enough for large trucks to pass through. Others are equipped with bathrooms, kitchens, meeting rooms, storage facilities, dungeon-like jail cells, surgical/medical facilities.

Speaking of which:

We’re you aware that there were 83 hospitals in Gaza????? 83!!!! UN sponsored hospitals. Italian Hospital. Scottish Hospital. French Hospital. Irish Hospital. On and on and on it goes. 83 hospitals. In all of the Northern Israel from Haifa up, there are only 16 (some are very small private hospitals). In all of the hospitals, weapons, uniforms and tunnels have been found. With all of their vast medical network, Gazans traveled regularly every day into Israel for treatment- cancers, pediatric, cardiology, even reconstructive plastic surgery for women who have had acid thrown at them.

Speaking of surgeries and recovery, Israel has been blessed with some miraculously quick recoveries. Not always complete, but miraculous nonetheless.

Part miracle, part perspicacity. Mayan goes to physical therapy daily. The 21 year old lost both legs in a tunnel explosion, but it is not stopping him. He is totally determined to overcome all odds and get on with life. He will receive prosthetic legs within the month.

On the morning of 7 October, the Golan family was awakened by red alert missile firings. That was nothing new for them as they were residents of Kfar Aza. But it didn’t stop. Soon they heard the noise of gunfire. And Arabic cursing outside their window. Speaking with family members on the phone, they were told to lock themselves inside their safe room.

Evyatar Hogeg, the brother of Elliah stayed in touch with his sister, her husband, Ariel and their 18 month baby, Yael for over six hours. Then Elliah said, “Pray for us. They are inside.” That was the last he heard until he received a call from Sheba Medical Center telling him to go to the ER immediately. The family was there, but in bad shape. Hamas had attempted to burn them alive.

Elliah had 3rd degree burns over 60% of her body. She also suffered extreme laryngeal and respiratory distress . Ariel, her husband had 2nd and 3rd degree burns over his extremities and lower torso. The baby, Yael also had burns over her head, limbs and body and was rushed to the pediatric burn unit. Elliah and Ariel were in the ICU of the burn center, sedated and intubated… placed into temporary comas.

The baby was the first to wake up after 2 1/2 weeks. She was cared for by her grandmothers who took turns at her side. Bandaged over most her body, she is now fairly active and beginning to speak.

Ariel woke up next by hearing his daughter’s voice. When she was able to have visitors, the Sheba staff wheeled Ariel in his hospital bed to see his baby. Soon he, too, was up and walking on crutches with daily rehab. His desire was to see his wife.

Elliah still remains heavily sedated, but is off the ECHO breathing system. Her husband pleads with her,”We are waiting for you. We want you to be strong. We will hear your voice again soon. Enough. Come on. Come back.” He strikes her head. She recognizes him, but still has a long way to go and needs all our prayers.

Ariel now stays with Yael, eats meals with her, and his bed has been moved so they share a room in the hospital. He says, “We didn’t survive all this for only two of us to go back. It must be all three of us. It can’t be otherwise.”

Evyatar, Elliah’s brother commented that “The people doing these atrocities are not people who want freedom. They just want blood. Jewish blood. Whatever happens, we’re waking up in a different country. We’re not going to be the same Israel. Maybe, just maybe, it will be a good thing. A loving Israel, a united Israel.”

Please pray for this family. It will be a long haul for all.

Baltimore’s Elman Retina Group’s Dr. Sid Schechet Heroically Restores Sight to Wounded Israeli Soldier
Beer Sheva, Israel – Feb. 1, 2024 – (BJL) Sid Schechet, M.D. of the Elman Retina Group, took two weeks off from his busy practice to volunteer as a retina surgeon at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva. Soroka is the major trauma center for wounded soldiers. Since arriving on Monday, Dr. Schechet has been operating non-stop for more than twelve hours daily, helping to restore vision to severely wounded soldiers and anyone else in need. He has shared innovative surgical techniques he developed with the excellent staff in Israel. Dr. Schechet also arranged for a special laser valued at $200,0000 to be shipped to Israel, which allows for the repair of retinal tears in the ICU in soldiers that cannot be moved to the Eye Clinic. Periodically, he shares his experiences with the Elman Retina Group staff members. Here is one such story.

“I hope all is well on the home front. Today was another doozy but filled with miracles in so many ways. Here’s a nice quick story:

This young hero is a soldier who sustained a bilateral open globe with metallic foreign bodies. He was blasted by Hamas while sleeping with his team, and unfortunately, they all died. He was the lone survivor, with injuries from top to bottom. I honestly didn’t know what would happen to him after I repaired his severely damaged eyes earlier in the week. I was scared for when he’d first awaken to hear what happened to his team and to then to open his eyes only to realize he had no vision.

He woke up last night and realized what happened to his team and that he couldn’t see. Despite this, he immediately requested to return to his battalion to continue fighting against the terrorists. Today, when I examined him again, he miraculously could see parts of the letters I brought from my kids made for wounded soldiers. We both cried. It’s been stuff like that every second, exhausting but very uplifting.”

Given the extent and severity of his injuries, Dr. Schechet was concerned that the soldier, despite the surgical repair, would never be able to see anything again, but the Ribono Shel Olam ( the creator off the world) thought otherwise.

Our G-d truly is good and merciful. There are thousands of victims. People are suffering not only physically but emotionally and mentally. But Israelis are a resilient, determined bunch. There is so much support here in hospitals, with social services, rehab specialists, psychologists and of course, the miraculous from Above that we all depend upon.

As an update to this story : I just found out the main leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, living a life of opulence and luxury in Qatari exile, has a sister who lived in Gaza. She is now in an Israeli hospital being treated for an aggressive form of cancer. I’m sure she will get the best of treatment and then be released back to Gaza…. To commit acts of terror as did Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar?????

Today John and I took a long walk, the longest is ages, We went to a nearby mountaintop village. Absolutely spectacular!!!!! The scenery. The sun. The flowers. The homes. Birds chirping. It was such a peaceful break.

Tomorrow I will feature this community. I hope to be starting something new- because there is so much antisemitism, most Israelis are still more than convinced Israel remains the safest place. I will be featuring a different community: a moshav or kibbutz, a village or city, each with a unique flavor. If anyone is interested in making Aliyah, I’ll be more than glad to help. In the meantime, my weekly “Get to know the places better…” Come travel the Land with me vicariously.