π️Lonny's War Update- October 232, 2023 - May 25, 2024 (cont)π️
π️Day 232 (cont) that 125 of our hostages in Hamas captivity
**There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!**
“I’ve never met them,But I miss them. I’ve never met them,but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them,but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!ΧΧΧ Χ Χ¦ΧΧΧ Χ’Χ Χ©ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧΧ€ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧͺ
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*7:00pm- north- Two anti-tank missiles hit two houses in Metula and cut off central electricity in the street, extensive damage on the spot; no injuries
*
Hostage Updates
- Today is Maxim Harkin's 36th birthday. Maxim , 35, from Tirat Carmel was abducted on 7.10.23 from the Nova Music Festival and is still in captivity. His mother Talia Harkin: "They stole my life and stole my son from me."
Talia Harkin, Maxim's mother, immigrated to Israel from Ukraine with her children because she found a home and security in Israel, which she did not feel in Ukraine. On October 7th, after the black Saturday and the difficult news that her son Maxim was abducted, the security was swept from under her feet. Since then, she has lived in frustration, anxiety and fear. -- There have been no signs of life of Maxim since his abduction
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- Israel Officially Announced: Negotiations for Prisoner Exchange Deal to Resume This Week: The Mossad chief presented Israel's new proposal, formulated by the Israeli negotiating team, to the heads of the CIA and Qatar's government • Israeli and foreign officials confirmed that indeed the negotiations will resume, but no date has been set for a joint meeting of the mediators with Israel and Hamas
Israel officially announced today (Saturday) that negotiations for a hostage/prisoner exchange deal will open next week. However, foreign officials were surprised by the wording of Israel's announcement to return to negotiations for the prisoner exchange deal, as they claim no date has been set to resume the talks.
The Israeli statement read: "The Mossad chief returned to Israel this morning after a meeting he held with the heads of the CIA and Qatar's government. In the meeting, the three discussed building an infrastructure designed to allow progress toward opening renewed negotiations for the release of the hostages. At the end of the meeting, it was decided that already in the course of this coming week, negotiations will open on the basis of new proposals led by the mediators - Egypt and Qatar and with the active involvement of the United States."
Israeli and foreign officials confirmed that indeed the negotiation talks will resume, after at least two weeks of stalled negotiations following an exchange of drafts between the parties. However, according to at least one official - no date has been set for a joint meeting of the mediators with Israel and Hamas. Another official claims a round of meetings of the Mossad chief, CIA head and mediators is expected later this week.
According to a source privy to the details, Barnea presented the new Israeli proposal formulated by the Israeli negotiating team to CIA head Burns and Qatar's prime minister. In parallel, Burns presented possible solutions to issues that were in dispute during the previous round of negotiations. Another meeting is expected to take place during next week, which an Egyptian representative is also expected to join. As part of this, informed Egyptian sources told the Al-Sharq Saudi channel that another meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday in Cairo.
The entire security leadership - the Chief of Staff, Mossad head, Shin Bet head, as well as Defense Minister Gantz and Ministers Gantz and Eisenkot support promoting the deal, arguing that it is necessary at this time. Senior security officials believe that even if a ceasefire outline is agreed upon, Israel will be able to resume fire if necessary, after a few months.
At the same time, ministers in the security cabinet support an Israeli compromise regarding the demand on the number of captives to be released from Hamas captivity - if such a deal is implemented. According to sources involved in the matter, there is Israeli insistence on additional issues in dispute with Hamas. Moreover, the activity of the security forces in Jabaliya is expected to continue in order to examine if there is still a possibility of locating captives in the area. link It should be noticed that Netanyahu's name does not show up as one of the supporters of the promoted deal. He is the only one who has absolute veto power and there is always the risk that he will call the negotiators and again, limit their negotiating power. We will have to wait and see if there will be any real movement here.
Relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza say the only way to bring their loved ones home is by ending the ongoing war, in a press conference in Tel Aviv. “The conditions for a deal have not changed, the only way to return the hostages is by ending the war,” says Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage, and demands the government to reach a deal to return the captives.
Omri Lifshitz, whose son Oded is a hostage, said that the families of captives are living an “ongoing nightmare.” “There are hostages alive in Gaza, we want to bring them back home alive. All of us, with the exception of some cold-hearted ministers, watched the horrific video of the abduction of observation soldiers,” he says, saying no parent should have to witness such scenes. “The government of Israel abandoned them on October 7 and is continuing to abandon them now,” he says.
Ayala Metzger, whose father-in-law Yoram was taken captive, stresses that security officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, say in closed-door meetings that returning the hostages must be a priority over the efforts to eliminate Hamas.
Yifat Calderon, whose cousin Ofer is held by Hamas, accuses Netanyahu of preventing a deal and calls on other ministers in the cabinet to pressure the prime minister to reach an agreement. “Because of Netanyahu our sisters and daughters are being raped in Gaza. Because of Netanyahu our parents, brothers, and sons are exposed to torture, hunger, and death,” she says.
Or Gat, whose brother Carmel is held hostage, highlights public demand for an agreement, and warns ministers that “history will judge every one of you.” link
People walking next to large pictures of pictures of people who were murdered in captivity in the Gaza Strip, as part of a protest calling for their release, near the Prime Minister's official residence in Jerusalem, May 23, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
- Another Saturday night, another demonstration for the hostages. There is no end to the absurdity that we have to demonstrate for the government to do what they should have done a long time ago, BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME!!
Hostage Updates
- Today is Maxim Harkin's 36th birthday. Maxim , 35, from Tirat Carmel was abducted on 7.10.23 from the Nova Music Festival and is still in captivity. His mother Talia Harkin: "They stole my life and stole my son from me."
Talia Harkin, Maxim's mother, immigrated to Israel from Ukraine with her children because she found a home and security in Israel, which she did not feel in Ukraine. On October 7th, after the black Saturday and the difficult news that her son Maxim was abducted, the security was swept from under her feet. Since then, she has lived in frustration, anxiety and fear. -- There have been no signs of life of Maxim since his abduction
- Israel Officially Announced: Negotiations for Prisoner Exchange Deal to Resume This Week: The Mossad chief presented Israel's new proposal, formulated by the Israeli negotiating team, to the heads of the CIA and Qatar's government • Israeli and foreign officials confirmed that indeed the negotiations will resume, but no date has been set for a joint meeting of the mediators with Israel and HamasIsrael officially announced today (Saturday) that negotiations for a hostage/prisoner exchange deal will open next week. However, foreign officials were surprised by the wording of Israel's announcement to return to negotiations for the prisoner exchange deal, as they claim no date has been set to resume the talks.The Israeli statement read: "The Mossad chief returned to Israel this morning after a meeting he held with the heads of the CIA and Qatar's government. In the meeting, the three discussed building an infrastructure designed to allow progress toward opening renewed negotiations for the release of the hostages. At the end of the meeting, it was decided that already in the course of this coming week, negotiations will open on the basis of new proposals led by the mediators - Egypt and Qatar and with the active involvement of the United States."Israeli and foreign officials confirmed that indeed the negotiation talks will resume, after at least two weeks of stalled negotiations following an exchange of drafts between the parties. However, according to at least one official - no date has been set for a joint meeting of the mediators with Israel and Hamas. Another official claims a round of meetings of the Mossad chief, CIA head and mediators is expected later this week.According to a source privy to the details, Barnea presented the new Israeli proposal formulated by the Israeli negotiating team to CIA head Burns and Qatar's prime minister. In parallel, Burns presented possible solutions to issues that were in dispute during the previous round of negotiations. Another meeting is expected to take place during next week, which an Egyptian representative is also expected to join. As part of this, informed Egyptian sources told the Al-Sharq Saudi channel that another meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday in Cairo.The entire security leadership - the Chief of Staff, Mossad head, Shin Bet head, as well as Defense Minister Gantz and Ministers Gantz and Eisenkot support promoting the deal, arguing that it is necessary at this time. Senior security officials believe that even if a ceasefire outline is agreed upon, Israel will be able to resume fire if necessary, after a few months.At the same time, ministers in the security cabinet support an Israeli compromise regarding the demand on the number of captives to be released from Hamas captivity - if such a deal is implemented. According to sources involved in the matter, there is Israeli insistence on additional issues in dispute with Hamas. Moreover, the activity of the security forces in Jabaliya is expected to continue in order to examine if there is still a possibility of locating captives in the area. link It should be noticed that Netanyahu's name does not show up as one of the supporters of the promoted deal. He is the only one who has absolute veto power and there is always the risk that he will call the negotiators and again, limit their negotiating power. We will have to wait and see if there will be any real movement here.
Relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza say the only way to bring their loved ones home is by ending the ongoing war, in a press conference in Tel Aviv. “The conditions for a deal have not changed, the only way to return the hostages is by ending the war,” says Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage, and demands the government to reach a deal to return the captives.
Omri Lifshitz, whose son Oded is a hostage, said that the families of captives are living an “ongoing nightmare.” “There are hostages alive in Gaza, we want to bring them back home alive. All of us, with the exception of some cold-hearted ministers, watched the horrific video of the abduction of observation soldiers,” he says, saying no parent should have to witness such scenes. “The government of Israel abandoned them on October 7 and is continuing to abandon them now,” he says.
Ayala Metzger, whose father-in-law Yoram was taken captive, stresses that security officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, say in closed-door meetings that returning the hostages must be a priority over the efforts to eliminate Hamas.
Yifat Calderon, whose cousin Ofer is held by Hamas, accuses Netanyahu of preventing a deal and calls on other ministers in the cabinet to pressure the prime minister to reach an agreement. “Because of Netanyahu our sisters and daughters are being raped in Gaza. Because of Netanyahu our parents, brothers, and sons are exposed to torture, hunger, and death,” she says.
Or Gat, whose brother Carmel is held hostage, highlights public demand for an agreement, and warns ministers that “history will judge every one of you.” link
People walking next to large pictures of pictures of people who were murdered in captivity in the Gaza Strip, as part of a protest calling for their release, near the Prime Minister's official residence in Jerusalem, May 23, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)- Another Saturday night, another demonstration for the hostages. There is no end to the absurdity that we have to demonstrate for the government to do what they should have done a long time ago, BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME!!
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Gaza
UK warns ICJ ruling will incentivize Hamas to keep hostages, hold out in Gaza: The British government criticizes the International Court of Justice for ordering Israel to halt military operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah that would risk the destruction of the civilian population sheltering there, saying the ruling would strengthen the Hamas terror group. The ICJ, which is the highest UN body for hearing disputes between states, made the emergency ruling on Friday in South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide. “The reason there isn’t a pause in the fighting is because Hamas turned down a very generous hostage deal from Israel. The intervention of these courts –including the ICJ today — will strengthen the view of Hamas that they can hold on to hostages and stay in Gaza,” a UK foreign ministry spokesperson says. “And if that happens there won’t be either peace, or a two-state solution.” link The IJC ruling was definitely a prize to Hamas. If the ruling was conditional on the release of the hostages, it would have been a reasonable ruling but to separate the two was very political and damaging to the negotiations and indeed, provides Hamas with a feeling that they can continue to hold the hostages for as long as they want. To be honest, they have that feeling anyway but this strengthens their hand.
UK warns ICJ ruling will incentivize Hamas to keep hostages, hold out in Gaza: The British government criticizes the International Court of Justice for ordering Israel to halt military operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah that would risk the destruction of the civilian population sheltering there, saying the ruling would strengthen the Hamas terror group. The ICJ, which is the highest UN body for hearing disputes between states, made the emergency ruling on Friday in South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide. “The reason there isn’t a pause in the fighting is because Hamas turned down a very generous hostage deal from Israel. The intervention of these courts –including the ICJ today — will strengthen the view of Hamas that they can hold on to hostages and stay in Gaza,” a UK foreign ministry spokesperson says. “And if that happens there won’t be either peace, or a two-state solution.” link The IJC ruling was definitely a prize to Hamas. If the ruling was conditional on the release of the hostages, it would have been a reasonable ruling but to separate the two was very political and damaging to the negotiations and indeed, provides Hamas with a feeling that they can continue to hold the hostages for as long as they want. To be honest, they have that feeling anyway but this strengthens their hand.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah
Fighter jets of the Air Force attacked several military buildings of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the regions of Al-Adaisa, Yaron and Marfiin in southern Lebanon. During the day, the IDF forces carried out artillery fire to remove a threat in the areas of El Matamura, Wadi Hamool, Rashia El Fuhr and Tswana.
Fighter jets of the Air Force attacked several military buildings of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the regions of Al-Adaisa, Yaron and Marfiin in southern Lebanon. During the day, the IDF forces carried out artillery fire to remove a threat in the areas of El Matamura, Wadi Hamool, Rashia El Fuhr and Tswana.
West Bank
- In the heart of Jabalya: the combined combat of armor, engineering and infantry:
The combat team of the 7th Brigade fought in the heart of Jabalya in intense battles against terrorists hiding in crowded alleys, and terrorist infrastructures built in the area. In the past week, the fighters raided a fighting area in the heart of a dense neighborhood near the shelter, which was used by Hamas forces to organize, stay and store ammunition. During the raid on the fighting compound, the forces encountered booby trapped buildings and terrorists.
The fighters located many weapons in the compound, machine guns, Kalashnikov rifles, explosives, RPG projectiles and more. At the end of the fighting, the forces destroyed the fighting complex. 
The combat team of the 7th Brigade fought in the heart of Jabalya in intense battles against terrorists hiding in crowded alleys, and terrorist infrastructures built in the area. In the past week, the fighters raided a fighting area in the heart of a dense neighborhood near the shelter, which was used by Hamas forces to organize, stay and store ammunition. During the raid on the fighting compound, the forces encountered booby trapped buildings and terrorists.
The fighters located many weapons in the compound, machine guns, Kalashnikov rifles, explosives, RPG projectiles and more. At the end of the fighting, the forces destroyed the fighting complex.
Politics and the Region
Anti-government protesters are demanding immediate elections in Rehovot, as weekly nationwide demonstrations kick off around the country. Former left-wing Meretz party MK and deputy IDF chief of staff Yair Golan, who is campaigning to lead the Labor party, rails against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech to protesters, saying that for years he has “escaped from decision-making.” “He is the king of status quo. He won’t change anything, and won’t work to repair anything. All his resources are invested only in his survival,” he says, adding that this way of governing has led to a “series of failures,” among them, the Hamas massacre on October 7. link Yair Golan was Deputy Chief of Staff of the IDF before retirement. On October 7, he put on his uniform, took his weapon and drove south to fight the Hamas terrorists. He is one of many heroes of October 7 and after the fighting, he was a regular volunteer helping hte farmers in the south after all the foreign workers left.
A Hamas terror cell planned to carry out terror attacks on the Israeli embassy in Berlin and a US military base in Germany, the Welt am Sonntag German newspaper reports. The targets were found on the smartphone of a terror suspect, who was arrested in Berlin in December, and accused by prosecutors of looking for places to hide weapons for the terror group, the outlet reports, citing sources in the German security services. According to the report, the suspect, who has Lebanese origins, received his instructions from Hamas officials in Lebanon. The Prime Minister’s Office revealed in January that Hamas runs a network of operatives in Europe commanded by terror leaders in Lebanon, and aimed to attack Jewish and Israeli targets abroad. link One day the rest of the world will wake up and understand that the fight against Hamas and Hizbollah is not just Israel's fight. The Iranian backed terror organizations are at war with the West. Israel is just the current battleground.
"Ulpan Shishi" Poll: The Government is Not Doing Enough for the Captives
Participants in the "Ulpan Shishi" poll were asked "Is the government doing enough to release the captive women and men?", 67% of all respondents answered that it is not doing enough. 55% of them define themselves as right-wing and 45% as supporters of the Netanyahu bloc. Additionally, 64% believe that Israel's top goal at this stage of the war is to recover the captives. 46% of them are supporters of the Netanyahu bloc. This, as opposed to 30% who see defeating Hamas as the top goal. link
Anti-government protesters are demanding immediate elections in Rehovot, as weekly nationwide demonstrations kick off around the country. Former left-wing Meretz party MK and deputy IDF chief of staff Yair Golan, who is campaigning to lead the Labor party, rails against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech to protesters, saying that for years he has “escaped from decision-making.” “He is the king of status quo. He won’t change anything, and won’t work to repair anything. All his resources are invested only in his survival,” he says, adding that this way of governing has led to a “series of failures,” among them, the Hamas massacre on October 7. link Yair Golan was Deputy Chief of Staff of the IDF before retirement. On October 7, he put on his uniform, took his weapon and drove south to fight the Hamas terrorists. He is one of many heroes of October 7 and after the fighting, he was a regular volunteer helping hte farmers in the south after all the foreign workers left.
A Hamas terror cell planned to carry out terror attacks on the Israeli embassy in Berlin and a US military base in Germany, the Welt am Sonntag German newspaper reports. The targets were found on the smartphone of a terror suspect, who was arrested in Berlin in December, and accused by prosecutors of looking for places to hide weapons for the terror group, the outlet reports, citing sources in the German security services. According to the report, the suspect, who has Lebanese origins, received his instructions from Hamas officials in Lebanon. The Prime Minister’s Office revealed in January that Hamas runs a network of operatives in Europe commanded by terror leaders in Lebanon, and aimed to attack Jewish and Israeli targets abroad. link One day the rest of the world will wake up and understand that the fight against Hamas and Hizbollah is not just Israel's fight. The Iranian backed terror organizations are at war with the West. Israel is just the current battleground.
"Ulpan Shishi" Poll: The Government is Not Doing Enough for the Captives
Participants in the "Ulpan Shishi" poll were asked "Is the government doing enough to release the captive women and men?", 67% of all respondents answered that it is not doing enough. 55% of them define themselves as right-wing and 45% as supporters of the Netanyahu bloc. Additionally, 64% believe that Israel's top goal at this stage of the war is to recover the captives. 46% of them are supporters of the Netanyahu bloc. This, as opposed to 30% who see defeating Hamas as the top goal. link
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's OfficeJoin my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0
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