October 9, 2023 - Israel At War

Here is everything you need to know about what's happening in Israel right now

Today is October 9, 2023, and here is the latest about what is happening in Israel. If you enjoy these daily updates, and want access to more, exclusive content, or to support my work, then please consider becoming a monthly subscriber by clicking the button below.

We have now entered the third day of the war in Israel, and here is everything you need to know. With war, there is a lot of information that is often difficult to compartmentalize into easily digestible reads. And, with the news moving at a fast pace, news is often missed and information is often interpreted incorrectly at first. To the extent any information changes, you will be the first to know.

1) Nine Americans Killed

We have confirmation this morning that at least nine Americans have been killed as a result of the terrorist attacks. Many of these Americans were part of the over 260 individuals killed while attending a music festival in Southern Israel as the attacks began. This number remains fluid, however, with U.S. officials cautioning that more Americans are missing, and the death toll may continue to rise in the coming days. It is believed that several Americans may be in Hamas custody and are being held hostage. Please say a prayer for those impacted and their families.

2) Israel Moves Closer to a Ground Invasion

As of this morning, Israel has yet to begin a ground invasion of Gaza, although all signs point to one beginning in the near future. During the past twelve hours, we have seen a significant deployment of Israeli battle tanks to the Southern border near Gaza. In addition, Israel is currently conducting strategic airstrikes across Gaza, including destroying several city blocks in the northern regions in anticipation of a possible ground invasion. 

According to reports, during a conversation with President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a ground invasion will occur. He said: "We have to go in. We can't negotiate now. We need to restore deterrence.” President Biden did not push back against Netanyahu's statement. Should a ground invasion occur, it will be the first time Israeli boots go on the ground in Gaza since Israel left Gaza in 2005 and will mark a time of uncertainty for Israel as once the ground invasion is over, questions will remain about the security and enforcement mechanisms for the IDF in Gaza. 

3) Hezbollah Prepares To Get Involved

Meanwhile, Hezbollah is preparing to get involved in the war from the North, and Israel is increasing its military presence along the border of Lebanon. Previous reports have suggested that Hezbollah's redline for getting involved in a war with Israel is the ground invasion of Gaza. With that almost certainly occurring in the next 24-48 hours, we should expect Hezbollah to attack from the north. Hezbollah, like Hamas, is a terrorist organization backed by the Iranian Government. In preparation for a possible incursion by Hezbollah, Israel has already begun striking several Hezbollah targets this morning, and will likely continue these attacks throughout the day. As part of these strikes, Hezbollah confirmed that one of its operatives was killed due to an Israeli strike, and they will respond in accordance with the "rules of deterrence." What the response is remains unclear as of this hour. 

4) Iran Behind The Attacks

In bombshell reporting, the Wall Street Journal confirmed that Iran and the Iranian regime helped fund and support the attacks by Hamas. This new reporting confirms what many have speculated, especially given the breath and scope of the attack. According to the Wall Street Journal, Iranian leaders gave the green light for the attack during a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon earlier last month. Iran has also historically supported and funded Hezbollah, which is expected to get involved in the war soon. One important note. There remains significant misinformation about whether the United States released Iranian funds that were later transferred to fund this attack. That is untrue. None of the money released as part of a recent hostage negotiation has been used to date and can only be used for humanitarian purposes by groups designated for the same.