An Emergency National Security Cabinet meeting of the Israeli government was held overnight during the late Friday night to early Saturday morning period. No official declarations were issued from the meeting. However, a source, probably the Government Secretary, leaked the news that a decision had been made at the meeting to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza.
The decision to withdraw is still officially secret. Israel will not pursue a ceasefire with Hamas nor will it send a delegation to Cairo for negotiations. The decision to unilaterally withdraw is based on the deterrence against Hamas created by the Operation Protective Edge.
The IDF told refugees to return to Beit Hanina and Beit Lahiya in North Gaza. This implies that the leak is correct, and IDF is indeed withdrawing.
Hadar Goldin may have been deliberately killed by IDF in a Hannibal Option operation after he was taken prisoner.
Operation Protective Edge lasted 25 days.
Israel
67 killed, 64 soldiers, 3 civilians
423 wounded, 400 soldiers, 23 civilians
Palestinians
~1,450 killed, ~1,150 civilians and ~300 militants
~8,900 wounded, ~6,850 civilians and ~2,050 militants
The ratio of killed was 25-1 in Israel’s favor and the ratio for wounded was 20-1 in Israel’s favor. This was a lot lower than in past operations, when the figures have been more like 100-1. This shows that the Palestinians are getting stronger, and they are killing and wounding more Israelis for every Palestinian casualty, evening the score somewhat.
Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza, before and after. Good Lord, that looks like the photos of German cities after US bombing raids. That does not look good at all. Looks like a catastrophe.
