๐️Lonny's War Update- October 308, 2023 - August 9, 2024 ๐️
๐️Day 308 that 115 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!ืืื ื ืฆืืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืืืืคืื ืืืืช
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*7:45pm yesterday - north- rockets- Margaliot*5:55am - south - rockets - Ashkelon, Zikim
*6:20am- north - rockets - Kiryat Shemona, Manara
*9:40am - north - rockets - Metulla, Kfar Yuval - at least 5 rockets fell in open areas in Metulla
*11:45am - north -= rockets - Kiryat Shemona, Margaliot
*12:30 - north - rockets- Kiryat Shemona, Tel Hai, Maayan Baruch, Kfar Giladi, Kfar Yuval - more than 15 rockets were fired from Lebanon. Most were intercepted while at lesast 2 impacted the city, causing damage
Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on August 9, 2024. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)
*2:00pm - south - rockets - Kissufim, Ein Hashlosha*4:05pm - north - rockets - Avivim, Yiron
*6:20am- north - rockets - Kiryat Shemona, Manara
*9:40am - north - rockets - Metulla, Kfar Yuval - at least 5 rockets fell in open areas in Metulla
*11:45am - north -= rockets - Kiryat Shemona, Margaliot
*12:30 - north - rockets- Kiryat Shemona, Tel Hai, Maayan Baruch, Kfar Giladi, Kfar Yuval - more than 15 rockets were fired from Lebanon. Most were intercepted while at lesast 2 impacted the city, causing damage
*2:00pm - south - rockets - Kissufim, Ein Hashlosha
Hostage Updates
- Important read: My brothers blog from a couple of days ago Link I recommend reading or rereading for this next part to be in context.
Hostage Updates
- Important read: My brothers blog from a couple of days ago Link I recommend reading or rereading for this next part to be in context.
US, Egypt and Qatar call on Israel and Hamas to finalize deal ‘without further delay’
The US, Egypt and Qatar are releasing a joint statement in which they say a deal to halt fighting in Gaza and free hostages is all but completed and should be finalized without delay.
“It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal,” says the statement published by Qatari state media.
According to the statement, after working “tirelessly” for months, the mediators are ready to present Israel and Hamas with a final proposal, with only the details for implementing the agreement yet to be worked outamssent a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties,” says the statement, which is signed by US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
They call on Israel and Hamas to restart talks in Cairo or Doha on Thursday in one week to seal the final details and begin implementing the deal “without further delay.”
There is no comment from Israel or Hamas.
According to what details are known, the sides are heading toward agreeing to a three-phase agreement that would begin with the release of some civilian hostages and the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza.
The Mediators and the Rules of the Game:
I can't claim that the joint statements of the US, Egypt and Qatar is a direct result of my attempts to get them to change the rules of the game, but I think I may have influenced them to some extent. The Egyptian Head of Intelligence and the Qatari PM received my proposal on July 28. Someone in the NSC in the White House received it the following day. I didn’t expect them to accept all of what I proposed, but the main part - telling Israel and Hamas - enough is enough and the rules of the game are changing - is what the three mediators essentially did. Now they need to put their bridging proposals on the table (I sent them a bridging proposal as well) the main one being that the whole deal needs to be done in 6 weeks - all 115 hostages will be released, the war will end, Israeli will withdraw from Gaza, the Philidephi corridor will be sealed hermetically on the Egyptian side with American inspection and technology if needed, a large number of Palestinian prisoners will be released to their homes, it will be determined how to operate all of the crossings into Gaza for significantly increased humanitarian aid, and they will have a plan for a regional determination for the legitimate governing of Gaza. There are more details, but these are the main elements of the bridging proposal I sent. (Gershon Baskin, August 9, 2024)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced an Israeli delegation will attend ceasefire-for-hostage negotiations with Hamas on August 15, after the United States, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday issued a joint call for talks to resume next week with the aim to swiftly conclude a deal.
“It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal,” said the statement signed by US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.The statement said that after working “tirelessly” for months, the mediators are ready to present Israel and Hamas with a final proposal, with only the details for implementing the agreement yet to be worked out. full article
A ceasefire and hostage-release agreement between Israel and Hamas won’t be possible unless US President Joe Biden exerts more pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, two Arab officials from mediating countries told The Times of Israel.
The officials charged that Netanyahu is the main obstacle to an agreement at this stage of the talks, which hit an impasse last month after Hamas caved on its main demand and the premier responded by issuing a series of new conditions.
The admission from the Arab officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that frustration among Qatari and Egyptian mediators has extended beyond Israel to the United States. One of the Arab officials lamented that Washington is the only party with enough leverage over Jerusalem to sway Netanyahu, but that is has thus far refrained from fully exploiting its role as Israel’s main security benefactor.
One way to apply pressure on Netanyahu would be for the US to publicly blame the Israeli premier for the lack of an agreement, the Arab official said.
For over a month, the US called out Hamas as the sole obstacle to a ceasefire, asserting that Netanyahu was standing by the Israeli proposal that he authorized in late May. full article
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen says there needs to be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, adding to international pressure for a truce deal between Israel and Hamas.
“We need a ceasefire in Gaza now. That’s the only way to save lives, restore hope for peace, and secure the return of hostages,” von der Leyen writes on X.
“Thus I strongly support the efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to help achieve the peace and stability the region needs.”
In a joint statement Thursday, the three countries’ leaders invited the warring parties to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo “to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says the country agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire talks on August 15.
The families of eight American citizens held hostage by Hamas call for a deal to be reached to free their loved ones, after the US issued a joint appeal with Egypt and Qatar for Israel and the terror group to resume negotiations next week in order to swiftly seal an agreement.
“We are appreciative to President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for their continued leadership and mediation in the international efforts to bring our loved ones home,” the families say in a statement.
“A responsible agreement is on the table, and the negotiations must be finalized,” they add, saying “the time is long past due to bring all the hostages home, end the plight of Gaza’s civilians and avert a major regional war. World leaders must not waver at this crucial moment.”
Gaza
A three-kilometer-long tunnel in the Netzarim Corridor area of the central Gaza Strip was recently destroyed by combat engineers, the IDF says.
According to the IDF, the tunnel included several floors and branching paths.
Inside the tunnel, troops found several rooms where weapons and other equipment were stored, which the IDF says were used by Hamas operatives to reside for long periods.
After combat engineers investigated the underground passages, the tunnel was blown up.
The IDF confirms launching a new ground operation in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, following what it says is “intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area.”
The offensive is also aimed at preventing terror groups in the Gaza Strip from regrouping, the IDF says.
The operation is being carried out by the 98th Division, which withdrew from Khan Younis for the second time just last month, following a week-long operation there. The division previously operated in Khan Younis for four months earlier this year.
The IDF says the division’s troops are battling Hamas above and below ground, while locating weapons and infrastructure.
More than 30 airstrikes were carried out in Khan Younis as ground forces with the 98th Division pushed into the city in the southern Gaza Strip over the past day, the IDF says.
The targets included weapons depots and Hamas staging grounds, along with operatives including snipers, and mortar launching squads.
Meanwhile early this morning, one rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip at the Ashkelon area. The IDF reports the rocket was successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome.
A three-kilometer-long tunnel in the Netzarim Corridor area of the central Gaza Strip was recently destroyed by combat engineers, the IDF says.
According to the IDF, the tunnel included several floors and branching paths.
Inside the tunnel, troops found several rooms where weapons and other equipment were stored, which the IDF says were used by Hamas operatives to reside for long periods.
After combat engineers investigated the underground passages, the tunnel was blown up.
The IDF confirms launching a new ground operation in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, following what it says is “intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area.”
The offensive is also aimed at preventing terror groups in the Gaza Strip from regrouping, the IDF says.
The operation is being carried out by the 98th Division, which withdrew from Khan Younis for the second time just last month, following a week-long operation there. The division previously operated in Khan Younis for four months earlier this year.
The IDF says the division’s troops are battling Hamas above and below ground, while locating weapons and infrastructure.
More than 30 airstrikes were carried out in Khan Younis as ground forces with the 98th Division pushed into the city in the southern Gaza Strip over the past day, the IDF says.
The targets included weapons depots and Hamas staging grounds, along with operatives including snipers, and mortar launching squads.
Meanwhile early this morning, one rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip at the Ashkelon area. The IDF reports the rocket was successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
Mikhail Samara, 27, who was critically injured by a malfunctioning Iron Dome interceptor missile on Tuesday, amid a Hezbollah drone attack on the Western Galilee, has succumbed to his wounds, hospital officials say.
Samara, originally from Kafr Yasif and a student in the Czech Republic, had arrived in Israel recently to visit his family.
Mikhail Samara, 27, who passed away on August 9, 2024 from injuries caused by a malfunctioning Iron Dome interceptor missile during a Hezbollah drone attack. (Courtesy)May his memory forever be a blessingAmid the attack on Tuesday, an Iron Dome interceptor missile missed one of Hezbollah’s explosive-laden drones and hit the Route 4 highway near Nahariya.
Samara was critically injured by shrapnel from the interceptor impact, and taken to Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya for treatment. Earlier today, he died of his wounds, the hospital says.
Another 19 people were wounded amid the attack, mostly with minor injuries, including six soldiers, when one of the drones impacted a nearby army base.
Two Hezbollah operatives were killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Naqoura earlier today, the IDF says.
The operatives had been spotted by troops of the 146th Division leaving a building in use by the terror group, and a short while later a drone attacked them.
Hezbollah has confirmed their deaths.
Mikhail Samara, 27, who was critically injured by a malfunctioning Iron Dome interceptor missile on Tuesday, amid a Hezbollah drone attack on the Western Galilee, has succumbed to his wounds, hospital officials say.
Samara, originally from Kafr Yasif and a student in the Czech Republic, had arrived in Israel recently to visit his family.
Mikhail Samara, 27, who passed away on August 9, 2024 from injuries caused by a malfunctioning Iron Dome interceptor missile during a Hezbollah drone attack. (Courtesy)May his memory forever be a blessingAmid the attack on Tuesday, an Iron Dome interceptor missile missed one of Hezbollah’s explosive-laden drones and hit the Route 4 highway near Nahariya.
Samara was critically injured by shrapnel from the interceptor impact, and taken to Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya for treatment. Earlier today, he died of his wounds, the hospital says.
Another 19 people were wounded amid the attack, mostly with minor injuries, including six soldiers, when one of the drones impacted a nearby army base.
Two Hezbollah operatives were killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Naqoura earlier today, the IDF says.
The operatives had been spotted by troops of the 146th Division leaving a building in use by the terror group, and a short while later a drone attacked them.
Hezbollah has confirmed their deaths.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
Politics and the War (general news)
Police are not probing the recent break-in to two IDF bases by a far-right mob, a senior police official tells the Haaretz daily.
Last week, far-right lawmakers and activists breached the Sde Teiman base after nine soldiers were taken from there by Military Police for questioning for allegedly abusing a Palestinian detainee.
They then broke into the Beit Lid base, where the soldiers were taken for questioning.
The officer says police have made no arrests and have no intention of probing the incidents, as the IDF has not requested any investigation.
Police say they are waiting for the IDF to supply evidence of a crime.
However, a security official tells Haaretz that police have ample evidence, including films taken by officers at the scene.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has been accused of ordering police not to intervene in the base invasions.
- "IDF Preparations for Preemptive Strike, and the Scenario That Will Change War Objectives
Israel is conveying a message that it is ready for recent events to escalate into a full-scale war, and is also preparing for a preemptive strike against Iran or Hezbollah • Escalation in the north will require updating the war objectives that defined the southern front as "central" and the northern front as only "secondary"
In the shadow of peak readiness for an attack, the War Cabinet convened yesterday (Thursday) evening for a discussion in the "Pit" at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. The political echelon is defining full freedom of action for the military to act according to the situation, and they are preparing for the possibility of a preemptive action even before a response from Iran or Hezbollah.
Preemptive Strike, Before the Response
* The IDF has prepared a significant response action, which is not necessarily limited to Lebanon only.
* The scenarios they are preparing for include rocket fire and also infiltration from land and sea.
* Israel seeks to convey a message with this - readiness for the possibility that recent events will escalate into a full-scale war.
Change in War Objectives?
* The assessment is that if Hezbollah demonstrates capabilities it hasn't shown before, this will force Israel to open the northern front.
* The implication is that a change in war objectives may be required - as the Cabinet defined Gaza as the main arena, and the north as a secondary arena.
* Some argue that this might be an opportunity for Israel to advance a hostage deal, "reduce" the effort in the south, and shift attention to the north.
Message Exchanges - Also from Washington
* CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) announced that American F-22 aircraft have arrived in the Middle East as part of the preparations for threats from Iran and its proxies.
* The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. has conveyed direct and indirect messages to Iran that its new government and economy would suffer a "devastating" blow if it carries out a wide-scale attack.
* According to the report, the U.S. messages were not intended to signal that it intends to attack Iran, but to clarify that it would not hesitate to use military force to defend Israel, as was the case in April.
Home Front Command Guidelines - Routine
* The military has meanwhile clarified that at this stage routine is maintained and sufficient warning will be given to the public when necessary.
* Defense Minister Gallant held a situation assessment at the Home Front Command and emphasized: "We must continue with a routine way of life".
* According to Gallant, "We are conducting ongoing situation assessments on things, we are on high defensive readiness". link
Police are not probing the recent break-in to two IDF bases by a far-right mob, a senior police official tells the Haaretz daily.
Last week, far-right lawmakers and activists breached the Sde Teiman base after nine soldiers were taken from there by Military Police for questioning for allegedly abusing a Palestinian detainee.
They then broke into the Beit Lid base, where the soldiers were taken for questioning.
The officer says police have made no arrests and have no intention of probing the incidents, as the IDF has not requested any investigation.
Police say they are waiting for the IDF to supply evidence of a crime.
However, a security official tells Haaretz that police have ample evidence, including films taken by officers at the scene.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has been accused of ordering police not to intervene in the base invasions.Israel is conveying a message that it is ready for recent events to escalate into a full-scale war, and is also preparing for a preemptive strike against Iran or Hezbollah • Escalation in the north will require updating the war objectives that defined the southern front as "central" and the northern front as only "secondary"
In the shadow of peak readiness for an attack, the War Cabinet convened yesterday (Thursday) evening for a discussion in the "Pit" at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. The political echelon is defining full freedom of action for the military to act according to the situation, and they are preparing for the possibility of a preemptive action even before a response from Iran or Hezbollah.
Preemptive Strike, Before the Response
* The IDF has prepared a significant response action, which is not necessarily limited to Lebanon only.
* The scenarios they are preparing for include rocket fire and also infiltration from land and sea.
* Israel seeks to convey a message with this - readiness for the possibility that recent events will escalate into a full-scale war.
Change in War Objectives?
* The assessment is that if Hezbollah demonstrates capabilities it hasn't shown before, this will force Israel to open the northern front.
* The implication is that a change in war objectives may be required - as the Cabinet defined Gaza as the main arena, and the north as a secondary arena.
* Some argue that this might be an opportunity for Israel to advance a hostage deal, "reduce" the effort in the south, and shift attention to the north.
Message Exchanges - Also from Washington
* CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) announced that American F-22 aircraft have arrived in the Middle East as part of the preparations for threats from Iran and its proxies.
* The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. has conveyed direct and indirect messages to Iran that its new government and economy would suffer a "devastating" blow if it carries out a wide-scale attack.
* According to the report, the U.S. messages were not intended to signal that it intends to attack Iran, but to clarify that it would not hesitate to use military force to defend Israel, as was the case in April.
Home Front Command Guidelines - Routine
* The military has meanwhile clarified that at this stage routine is maintained and sufficient warning will be given to the public when necessary.
* Defense Minister Gallant held a situation assessment at the Home Front Command and emphasized: "We must continue with a routine way of life".
* According to Gallant, "We are conducting ongoing situation assessments on things, we are on high defensive readiness". link
Hamas has demanded the release of top Fatah figure and convicted terror operative Marwan Barghouti in the first phase of a proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel, Sky News Arabia reports.
According to the report, mediators — including the United States — accepted the demand for the highly popular Palestinian leader to be among the first security prisoners released in exchange for the Gaza hostages, should Israel and Hamas finalize a deal that has been in the works for months.Barghouti is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his part in planning three terror attacks that killed five Israelis during the Second Intifada.
Citing unnamed sources, Sky News Arabia says Hamas has demanded Barghouti’s release as the terror group knows it cannot return to power in the Gaza Strip and sees the former head of Fatah’s Tanzim terrorist faction as a useful ally it could trust to run the Strip according to its liking.
The terror group was previously said to have demanded Barghouti’s release during negotiations for a deal that ultimately fell through back in March. link There will be many who will say that this is a terrible thing as Barghouti is serving multiple life sentences. He was a leader of the second intifada and was sentenced for planning terror attacks during that time. He personally has never killed or injured anyone but was a leader. Barghouti is also one of the recognized leaders of the Palestinians and if elections were to be held in the West Bank, he probably has the best chance of being elected President, even from within prison. Barghouti is very much a pragmatist and knows Israel and Israelis very well. My brother knows him personally has been in contact with him directly prior to and indirectly since his incarceration. He is possibly one of the best leaders for guiding the Palestinians in this next phase of rebuilding Gaza, peace discussions with Israel and working to end the 100 year Israel/Palestine conflict. Netanyahu and his government, of course will say exactly the opposite because Netanyahu has spent his career claiming that there is no partner for peace on the other side, which is the main reason we got October 7. He will continue to deny that there are Palestinian partners for peace and he would be more than content continuing in this way to the detriment of the future of both peoples. And this is just another reason that both peoples need new leadership who will search for that path to peace and not look to keep us in a state of war and continue to occupy another people and prevent them from basic human and civil rights.
The Region and the World
- The UK-based Telegraph reports that new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian is fighting hardliners to tone down the scale of Tehran’s response to Israel over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
According to the report, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is pushing for a missile attack on Tel Aviv and other cities targeting military facilities.
But Pezeshkian, fearing all-out war with Israel, is pushing for Iran to instead hit undisclosed Mossad spy bases hidden around the region.
“He has suggested targeting somewhere related to Israel in the Republic of Azerbaijan or [Iraqi] Kurdistan and let these countries know before that and get done with the whole drama,” an aide tells the paper.
An IRGC official says nobody in the organization, which is loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is paying much attention to Pezeshkian.
“The number one consideration is still striking Tel Aviv with Hezbollah and others at the same time,” the official says. “There has been discussion within the forces on how to block Mr. Pezeshkian’s efforts. Almost everyone believes what he is insisting on is not in the revolution’s reputation.”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin phoned Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday and discussed the US steps taken in the Middle East to defend Israel and a Gaza ceasefire deal, Austin says on social media platform X.
“The US F-22 Raptors that arrived in the region today represent one of many efforts to deter aggression, defend Israel and protect US forces in the region,” Austin posts.
He adds: “I also stressed the importance of concluding a ceasefire deal in Gaza that releases the hostages.”
Personal Stories
According to the report, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is pushing for a missile attack on Tel Aviv and other cities targeting military facilities.
But Pezeshkian, fearing all-out war with Israel, is pushing for Iran to instead hit undisclosed Mossad spy bases hidden around the region.
“He has suggested targeting somewhere related to Israel in the Republic of Azerbaijan or [Iraqi] Kurdistan and let these countries know before that and get done with the whole drama,” an aide tells the paper.
An IRGC official says nobody in the organization, which is loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is paying much attention to Pezeshkian.
“The number one consideration is still striking Tel Aviv with Hezbollah and others at the same time,” the official says. “There has been discussion within the forces on how to block Mr. Pezeshkian’s efforts. Almost everyone believes what he is insisting on is not in the revolution’s reputation.”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin phoned Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday and discussed the US steps taken in the Middle East to defend Israel and a Gaza ceasefire deal, Austin says on social media platform X.
“The US F-22 Raptors that arrived in the region today represent one of many efforts to deter aggression, defend Israel and protect US forces in the region,” Austin posts.
He adds: “I also stressed the importance of concluding a ceasefire deal in Gaza that releases the hostages.”
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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