π️Lonny's War Update- October 453, 2023 - January 1, 2025 π️
π️Day 453 that 100 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!!!”
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
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
*12:00am- south-Gaza envelope- rockets- Netivot, Shibolim, Maagalim - 2 rockets launched from central Gaza
Ushering in the new year, the Hamas terror group launches rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel.
Sirens sound in Netivot and surrounding communities, located some 10 kilometers from Gaza.
Hamas takes responsibility for the fire, saying it targeted Netivot.
On New Year’s last year, the terror group fired at central Israel.
This year, celebrations in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and in much of the country are going ahead normally, despite the pains of almost 15 months of war.
Ushering in the new year, the Hamas terror group launches rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel.
Sirens sound in Netivot and surrounding communities, located some 10 kilometers from Gaza.
Hamas takes responsibility for the fire, saying it targeted Netivot.
On New Year’s last year, the terror group fired at central Israel.
This year, celebrations in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and in much of the country are going ahead normally, despite the pains of almost 15 months of war.
Hostage Updates
- Further disgrace of this government
Einav Zangauker barred from Knesset over ‘unacceptable behavior’; she says MKs ‘afraid to hear’ about hostages
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker and a prominent voice in the fight to secure a deal for the release of those held captive in Gaza, is prevented from entering the Knesset due to “serious violations of order.”
The Knesset Spokesperson’s office says Zangauker has, “despite her repeated promises, continued to seriously violate order.”
“She prevented the proper conduct of committee discussions; she attempted to throw a glass bottle at a guest; and if that were not enough, in the presence of the Knesset security commander, she threatened that she would stab a guest if she had a knife,” the statement says. “This is unacceptable behavior that cannot be allowed.”
It is unclear if Zanguaker has been barred permanently.
In response, Zanguaker says the government is “trying to silence the families of the hostages.”
“How is it logical that my son was kidnapped on the watch of 120 Knesset members, and I don’t have the right to visit them in the building?” she says, according the Kan public broadcaster.
“The Knesset is afraid to hear what happens to the kidnapped men and women while they transfer budgets and trade jobs between themselves,” she says.
Matan Zangauker was taken captive by Hamas terrorists to Gaza on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)
- Hostage deal talks reach impasse with agreement unlikely before end of Biden’s term
Discussions to secure a hostage-ceasefire deal have reached a dead end, Arab mediators tell the Wall Street Journal.
The impasse means that is unlikely an agreement will be secured before the end of the Biden administration, the report says.
According to the mediators, the sides were mulling a 60-day truce that would see up to 30 hostages released while Israel would set free Palestinian prisoners and increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The outlet says “both parties hardened their positions,” with Israel insisting that only living hostages be freed and refusing to approve some of the Palestinian prisoners named by Hamas, while the terror group for its part returned to insisting on a path toward the end of the war sparked by its October 7 onslaught.
The mediators tell the Journal they expect both sides to return to the negotiating table after US-president elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. link Most of this impasse is due to Netanyahu's obstinance and his constantly adding new demands to the negotiations, this time the list of living hostages. Yes, of course, we should get this list, but Hamas needs a week of ceasefire to be able to put this list together (reasons described in my comments in lower article. However, even without this list, a deal can be made and we can already get some hostages home while Hamas can put together the list during this initial ceasefire. This doesn't serve Netanyahu's personal interest, though, so he sticks to it without any flexibility and no care that hostages are dying.
With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recovering from surgery earlier this week, the security cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow night has been canceled, aides to two of the ministers in the forum tell The Times of Israel.
The cancellation comes as attempts to reach a hostage release deal with Hamas grind to a halt.
There are currently no Israeli teams in Doha or Cairo working on an agreement, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel, and there is currently no plan to send one. link Of course the meeting was cancelled and it goes without saying that there are no Israeli teams currently working on an agreement. Why 'of course' and why does it go without saying that no Israeli team is in Doha or Cairo? Because this damned failed government doesn't see the hostage issue as being as critical as dividing up spoils between their interest groups and finding ways to make life harder for all Israelis with the new taxes and higher prices while they do nothing to cut their own spending on worthless and meaningless ministries. Why should they worry if the hostages are freezing in the hell of Gaza, if they are eating more than a pita a day (of less), is they are sick, being tortured, raped, killed? They all have their government cars and drivers, their cushy offices, all of their perks, and they even get to go home to their families and eat good meals with them every single day. So what good reason do they have to consider the situation of the hostages and make sure that everything possible is done to get them home? They have failed to do that for 453 days. Why should today be any different?
- Girlfriend of hostage Matan Tzangauker pleads with PM to end war in exchange for captives
Speaking to Channel 12, hostage Matan Tzangauker’s girlfriend Ilana Gritzewsky pleads with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to end the war in Gaza in exchange for the release of the remaining 100 hostages.
Netanyahu has rejected the trade-off to date, pushing for a more limited deal that would see the release of only some of the hostages while allowing Israel to resume fighting afterward. Hamas has rejected this exchange until now.
Gritzewsky is interviewed alongside Jewish Agency chief Doron Almog who also expresses his support for ending the war and releasing Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
- Suleiman Maswadeh (Channel 11 News): Hamas is offering a one-week ceasefire, at the end of which it will provide Israel with a list of hostages it can release. During that week, no hostages will be released, the IDF will remain in Gaza, and Gazan displaced persons will not return to their homes. - this should be immediately accepted if Netanyahu continues to insist on having a list of the live hostages Hamas does not know where all the hostages are or what their status is. The hostages are being held in numerous locations and have been moved many times in addition, with the aerial bombing, hostages have been wounded or killed and Hamas doesn’t know their location or situation as the Hamas captors have also been wounded or killed . And the additional issue is that other groups have been holding hostages and Hamas doesn’t have the information about those hostages they actually need this time to locate as many hostages as possible without being targets of the IDF . The main issue though is Netanyahu’s insistence on this list before completing a deal instead of trying to get as many living hostages released as soon as possible and not waiting for the list to do so. Every day they are there, they are dying .
Hostage Updates
- Further disgrace of this government
Einav Zangauker barred from Knesset over ‘unacceptable behavior’; she says MKs ‘afraid to hear’ about hostagesEinav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker and a prominent voice in the fight to secure a deal for the release of those held captive in Gaza, is prevented from entering the Knesset due to “serious violations of order.”
The Knesset Spokesperson’s office says Zangauker has, “despite her repeated promises, continued to seriously violate order.”
“She prevented the proper conduct of committee discussions; she attempted to throw a glass bottle at a guest; and if that were not enough, in the presence of the Knesset security commander, she threatened that she would stab a guest if she had a knife,” the statement says. “This is unacceptable behavior that cannot be allowed.”
It is unclear if Zanguaker has been barred permanently.
In response, Zanguaker says the government is “trying to silence the families of the hostages.”
“How is it logical that my son was kidnapped on the watch of 120 Knesset members, and I don’t have the right to visit them in the building?” she says, according the Kan public broadcaster.
“The Knesset is afraid to hear what happens to the kidnapped men and women while they transfer budgets and trade jobs between themselves,” she says.
Matan Zangauker was taken captive by Hamas terrorists to Gaza on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy) - Hostage deal talks reach impasse with agreement unlikely before end of Biden’s term
Discussions to secure a hostage-ceasefire deal have reached a dead end, Arab mediators tell the Wall Street Journal.
The impasse means that is unlikely an agreement will be secured before the end of the Biden administration, the report says.
According to the mediators, the sides were mulling a 60-day truce that would see up to 30 hostages released while Israel would set free Palestinian prisoners and increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The outlet says “both parties hardened their positions,” with Israel insisting that only living hostages be freed and refusing to approve some of the Palestinian prisoners named by Hamas, while the terror group for its part returned to insisting on a path toward the end of the war sparked by its October 7 onslaught.
The mediators tell the Journal they expect both sides to return to the negotiating table after US-president elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. link Most of this impasse is due to Netanyahu's obstinance and his constantly adding new demands to the negotiations, this time the list of living hostages. Yes, of course, we should get this list, but Hamas needs a week of ceasefire to be able to put this list together (reasons described in my comments in lower article. However, even without this list, a deal can be made and we can already get some hostages home while Hamas can put together the list during this initial ceasefire. This doesn't serve Netanyahu's personal interest, though, so he sticks to it without any flexibility and no care that hostages are dying.
With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recovering from surgery earlier this week, the security cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow night has been canceled, aides to two of the ministers in the forum tell The Times of Israel.
The cancellation comes as attempts to reach a hostage release deal with Hamas grind to a halt.
There are currently no Israeli teams in Doha or Cairo working on an agreement, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel, and there is currently no plan to send one. link Of course the meeting was cancelled and it goes without saying that there are no Israeli teams currently working on an agreement. Why 'of course' and why does it go without saying that no Israeli team is in Doha or Cairo? Because this damned failed government doesn't see the hostage issue as being as critical as dividing up spoils between their interest groups and finding ways to make life harder for all Israelis with the new taxes and higher prices while they do nothing to cut their own spending on worthless and meaningless ministries. Why should they worry if the hostages are freezing in the hell of Gaza, if they are eating more than a pita a day (of less), is they are sick, being tortured, raped, killed? They all have their government cars and drivers, their cushy offices, all of their perks, and they even get to go home to their families and eat good meals with them every single day. So what good reason do they have to consider the situation of the hostages and make sure that everything possible is done to get them home? They have failed to do that for 453 days. Why should today be any different?
- Girlfriend of hostage Matan Tzangauker pleads with PM to end war in exchange for captives
Speaking to Channel 12, hostage Matan Tzangauker’s girlfriend Ilana Gritzewsky pleads with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to end the war in Gaza in exchange for the release of the remaining 100 hostages.
Netanyahu has rejected the trade-off to date, pushing for a more limited deal that would see the release of only some of the hostages while allowing Israel to resume fighting afterward. Hamas has rejected this exchange until now.
Gritzewsky is interviewed alongside Jewish Agency chief Doron Almog who also expresses his support for ending the war and releasing Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
- Suleiman Maswadeh (Channel 11 News): Hamas is offering a one-week ceasefire, at the end of which it will provide Israel with a list of hostages it can release. During that week, no hostages will be released, the IDF will remain in Gaza, and Gazan displaced persons will not return to their homes. - this should be immediately accepted if Netanyahu continues to insist on having a list of the live hostages Hamas does not know where all the hostages are or what their status is. The hostages are being held in numerous locations and have been moved many times in addition, with the aerial bombing, hostages have been wounded or killed and Hamas doesn’t know their location or situation as the Hamas captors have also been wounded or killed . And the additional issue is that other groups have been holding hostages and Hamas doesn’t have the information about those hostages they actually need this time to locate as many hostages as possible without being targets of the IDF . The main issue though is Netanyahu’s insistence on this list before completing a deal instead of trying to get as many living hostages released as soon as possible and not waiting for the list to do so. Every day they are there, they are dying .
Captive: A conversation with Nili Margalit
Since Nili Margalit returned from captivity, she feels like her life has split in two. There is Nili, the former, who lives in Nir Oz surrounded by friends and family, and Nili Margalit the nurse, who survived captivity and is known for how she cared for the adults who were with her in the tunnel in Gaza. Since her return, she has also been trying to rehabilitate herself, and in small steps is learning how to live again. This time, we are in conversation with Nili Margalit. This time, we are in conversation with Nili Margalit. Margalit, 41, worked as a nurse in the emergency room at Soroka Hospital. The stress and heavy workload of her job were balanced by life on the quiet, pastoral kibbutz where she was born, Kibbutz Nir Oz. She lived there in her own house with her dog, Nechi, surrounded by friends and family.
On the morning of October 7, Nili spoke to her mother on the phone. Both of them had already heard shouts in Arabic and gunfire, but they did not say goodbye. "It took me a very long time to understand what was happening, I believed I lived in the safest place in the world." Nili was quickly kidnapped by the IDF in her home. The terrorists who entered took her to the kibbutz's cold club and drove her towards Khan Yunis. "I remember the crowd running towards Nir Oz - young people, women and children," she says. "Suddenly I saw a boy driving a tractor that looked exactly like my father's tractor." At this point, Nili's father had apparently already been murdered, and his body was kidnapped to Gaza
Inside Khan Yunis, she was put in a car with Tami Metzger, also from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and taken down to the Gaza tunnels. "We arrived in a large room and I saw a lot of people from Nir Oz in it, it was crazy. I know everyone there." The terrorists divided the hostages in that space into groups, and Nili found herself in a group that was mostly older people, almost all from Nir Oz. And Nili, as a nurse by profession who works in the Soroka emergency room, immediately took on the role of nurse. "I explained to them that these were older people who needed medication regularly, so I took on the responsibility of taking care of them. I asked for a list of medications and made sure they took them." According to Nili, this is also what helped her survive. "My mind was constantly working, I was thinking about what would happen next if some of the medications ran out, I was running scenarios in my head. That's what kept me going."
The moment of release as part of the deal came as a surprise. Nili actually did not meet the criteria for release, and she did not know what would happen to her. But on the 55th day of her captivity, she was informed that she was leaving for Israel. That moment of release was mixed with great sadness, when, in her turn as mediator between the hostages and the terrorists, she had to tell Yardan Bibas that Hamas claimed that his wife Shiri and his children Ariel and Kfir were killed in an IDF bombing. "After that, they forcibly took me out, and it was very difficult to know that he was staying there and that I could not be with him at this moment," she says. "I could not try to help and tell him to remain in the faith that they were okay and to be strong."
Returning from captivity was very difficult. "In the first few days, I felt like I was back in hell. I knew how to deal with captivity, but suddenly all the stories from October 7 came to me, I found out about friends who were murdered and kidnapped, that my house was burned down. And in fact, I came back and immediately we sat Shiva (mourning) for my father." Right after her release from captivity, Nili and her family were informed that her father had been murdered and that he was considered a kidnapped person who was not alive. His body is still in Gaza.
Since her return, Nili feels like she is "holding out her cheek for more and more slaps." The kidnapped people who were living in captivity and are no longer alive, including members of the kibbutz, the adults who were left behind and murdered in the Gaza tunnels even though they could have returned in another deal after her. "They could have returned alive, and the Israeli government chose not to return them, to sacrifice their lives. It's a very resounding slap that we wake up with every day." In fact, Nili feels that her rehabilitation depends on the return of the other kidnapped people. "Our security will not return until they return. At the most basic level, I can't move on because I don't even know who I should be mourning, who is alive and who is dead." And alongside that, she is taking small steps in her rehabilitation, with ups and downs. "It's a Sisyphean process, but I find things that fulfill me. It helps." Link
Captive: A conversation with Nili Margalit
Since Nili Margalit returned from captivity, she feels like her life has split in two. There is Nili, the former, who lives in Nir Oz surrounded by friends and family, and Nili Margalit the nurse, who survived captivity and is known for how she cared for the adults who were with her in the tunnel in Gaza. Since her return, she has also been trying to rehabilitate herself, and in small steps is learning how to live again. This time, we are in conversation with Nili Margalit. This time, we are in conversation with Nili Margalit. Margalit, 41, worked as a nurse in the emergency room at Soroka Hospital. The stress and heavy workload of her job were balanced by life on the quiet, pastoral kibbutz where she was born, Kibbutz Nir Oz. She lived there in her own house with her dog, Nechi, surrounded by friends and family.
On the morning of October 7, Nili spoke to her mother on the phone. Both of them had already heard shouts in Arabic and gunfire, but they did not say goodbye. "It took me a very long time to understand what was happening, I believed I lived in the safest place in the world." Nili was quickly kidnapped by the IDF in her home. The terrorists who entered took her to the kibbutz's cold club and drove her towards Khan Yunis. "I remember the crowd running towards Nir Oz - young people, women and children," she says. "Suddenly I saw a boy driving a tractor that looked exactly like my father's tractor." At this point, Nili's father had apparently already been murdered, and his body was kidnapped to Gaza
Inside Khan Yunis, she was put in a car with Tami Metzger, also from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and taken down to the Gaza tunnels. "We arrived in a large room and I saw a lot of people from Nir Oz in it, it was crazy. I know everyone there." The terrorists divided the hostages in that space into groups, and Nili found herself in a group that was mostly older people, almost all from Nir Oz. And Nili, as a nurse by profession who works in the Soroka emergency room, immediately took on the role of nurse. "I explained to them that these were older people who needed medication regularly, so I took on the responsibility of taking care of them. I asked for a list of medications and made sure they took them." According to Nili, this is also what helped her survive. "My mind was constantly working, I was thinking about what would happen next if some of the medications ran out, I was running scenarios in my head. That's what kept me going."
The moment of release as part of the deal came as a surprise. Nili actually did not meet the criteria for release, and she did not know what would happen to her. But on the 55th day of her captivity, she was informed that she was leaving for Israel. That moment of release was mixed with great sadness, when, in her turn as mediator between the hostages and the terrorists, she had to tell Yardan Bibas that Hamas claimed that his wife Shiri and his children Ariel and Kfir were killed in an IDF bombing. "After that, they forcibly took me out, and it was very difficult to know that he was staying there and that I could not be with him at this moment," she says. "I could not try to help and tell him to remain in the faith that they were okay and to be strong."
Returning from captivity was very difficult. "In the first few days, I felt like I was back in hell. I knew how to deal with captivity, but suddenly all the stories from October 7 came to me, I found out about friends who were murdered and kidnapped, that my house was burned down. And in fact, I came back and immediately we sat Shiva (mourning) for my father." Right after her release from captivity, Nili and her family were informed that her father had been murdered and that he was considered a kidnapped person who was not alive. His body is still in Gaza.
Since her return, Nili feels like she is "holding out her cheek for more and more slaps." The kidnapped people who were living in captivity and are no longer alive, including members of the kibbutz, the adults who were left behind and murdered in the Gaza tunnels even though they could have returned in another deal after her. "They could have returned alive, and the Israeli government chose not to return them, to sacrifice their lives. It's a very resounding slap that we wake up with every day." In fact, Nili feels that her rehabilitation depends on the return of the other kidnapped people. "Our security will not return until they return. At the most basic level, I can't move on because I don't even know who I should be mourning, who is alive and who is dead." And alongside that, she is taking small steps in her rehabilitation, with ups and downs. "It's a Sisyphean process, but I find things that fulfill me. It helps." Link
Gaza and the South
- IDF says it killed elite Hamas commander who led Oct. 7 attack on Nir Oz
A commander in Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, who led the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 terror onslaught, was killed in a recent drone strike, the military and Shin Bet say.
According to the IDF, the terrorist Abd al-Hadi Sabah, commander of the Nukhba platoon in Hamas’s West Khan Younis Battalion, was killed in a strike in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.
The IDF says Sabah was among those who led the invasion into Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, during which terrorists kidnapped and murdered dozens.
During the war, Sabah was involved in numerous attacks against IDF troops in Gaza, the army adds.
In the strike on the humanitarian zone, the IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm.
The elimination of Sabah is part of an effort led by the Shin Bet to track down and kill all of the terrorists who took part in the October 7 onslaught.
- IDF says senior Islamic Jihad rocket commander killed in recent Gaza drone strike
A senior commander in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group was killed in a drone strike earlier this month in the Gaza Strip, the IDF and Shin Bet say.
The target of the strike, Anas Muhammad Saadi Masri, served as the commander of the northern Gaza sector in Islamic Jihad’s rocket division, according to the military.
Masri was considered by the military to be a prominent commander in Islamic Jihad, responsible for numerous attacks on Israel and IDF troops.
On the October 7, 2023, onslaught and during the war, Masri was responsible for Islamic Jihad’s rocket fire from the northern Gaza Strip at Israeli border communities and for commanding the operatives who carried out the attacks, the army says.
The IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm in the strike at the beginning of December.
45 sick Gazans, 100 family members cross into Israel en route to UAE for medical treatment
Palestinian health authorities say 45 patients and wounded people have been evacuated for treatment outside the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
They left the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis early this morning and traveled through the Kerem Shalom Crossing into Israel. They will receive treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
The patients are accompanied by over 100 of their relatives, according to the hospital.
Among them was a 10-year-old boy, Abdullah Abu Yousef, suffering from kidney failure. The child was accompanied by his sister after the Israeli authorities reportedly rejected his mother’s application to join him. Israel says it screens escorts for security.
“The boy is sick,” says his mother, Abeer Abu Yousef. “He requires hemodialysis three to four days a week.”
IDF Decision Amid Global Criticism: Jebaliya Hospital to Be Sealed Off
Despite previously allowing medical institutions to resume operations after raids targeting terrorist organizations operating within them, the IDF has decided to seal off the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza permanently. Patients and medical staff have been transferred to the Indonesian Hospital. Meanwhile, at Shifa Hospital, Hamas has recently undertaken extensive renovations as it seeks to reassert its control.
In an unprecedented move, and amid international criticism, the IDF is sealing off Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jebaliya to render it unusable even after the operation concludes. In previous cases, hospitals in Gaza raided by the IDF were allowed to resume activities post-operation. For example, Shifa Hospital has recently undergone significant renovations by Hamas.
The IDF evacuated hundreds of patients and staff members from the large medical institution to the nearby Indonesian Hospital. "The hospital had become a Hamas terror base. We accurately and carefully evacuated approximately 600 uninvolved individuals after thoroughly screening for terrorists," said an IDF spokesperson following the operation over the weekend. "Fighters from the 401st Brigade, operating under the 162nd Division and Unit 504, completed a focused counterterrorism operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital. Forces arrested over 240 terrorists, neutralized 20, and dismantled powerful explosives planted at the site."
The troops conducted a swift and covert raid, encircling the hospital building, located in the heart of the camp, in under an hour. The operation, however, drew sharp international criticism. Leading global news outlets extensively covered the event.
The BBC headlined: "Israel Forcibly Evacuates Gaza Hospital and Arrests Medical Staff." The report emphasized that the hospital director, Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, was detained by Israel on suspicion of Hamas affiliation, "without providing evidence." The British broadcaster also cited the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health, which reported as of Friday that "50 people, including hospital workers, were killed in airstrikes near the hospital."
The New York Times reported: "The IDF Forced Patients and Medical Staff to Leave a Hospital in Northern Gaza." A nurse working at the hospital told the American newspaper that Israeli soldiers ordered female staff and patients to evacuate without initially issuing the same order to men.
The Case of Shifa Hospital
Shifa Medical Center, Gaza's central hospital, which has recently undergone extensive renovations, experienced the most significant raid of the war. Over 200 terrorists were killed, and hundreds more were arrested in the surrounding area. In September, five months after IDF forces withdrew from the hospital, its emergency department reopened, despite having previously been a site where hostages were held and even executed. The hospital now operates on a partial basis.
Buildings within the Shifa hospital complex served as emergency assets for Hamas's operational command center for Gaza City. During the fighting, weapons and other materials were transferred to the hospital's underground levels. The IDF discovered numerous weapons caches within the hospital complex, including in the MRI building, where an operational tunnel shaft and a weapons-laden van were also located.
Additional findings included:
- A weapons depot, ammunition, and an interrogation room in the cardiology department.
- Explosive devices in the physiotherapy department.
- Another explosive device and communication equipment in the Qatari building.
The findings underscore the dual-use nature of medical facilities by Hamas, intensifying the global debate over the IDF's actions during the ongoing conflict. link These are more examples of Hamas rebuilding itself and continuing its control in Gaza and it is all because Netanyahu refuses to allow the Palestinian Authority to come in and rule Gaza. Due to Netanyahu's refusals and his total lack of strategic planning, Gaza will be a never ending war with soldiers killed daily, 2 million Gazans remaining refugees living in the worst possible conditions with no hope for rebuilding their lives or the their homes, and of course, no deal to bring the hostages home. Netanyahu is the blight on Israel who, for the sake of keeping his coalition together and remaining prime minister, will continue to forsake the good of the country for his own self interests. And unfortunately, he has a slew of willing idiots to back him because of their own self interests in staying in power.
The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichai Adraee, tweets a warning for residents of central Gaza’s al-Bureij to evacuate ahead of expected airstrikes, after rockets were fired from the area at midnight, as 2025 began.
“Terrorist organizations are once again firing rockets from this area,” says Adraee. “For your own safety, move immediately to the humanitarian zone.”
IDF says troops destroyed medium-to-long-range rocket factory in south Gaza’s Rafah
The IDF says troops operating in southern Gaza’s Rafah located and destroyed a rocket manufacturing facility.
The find was made by reservists of the Kiryati Brigade, which has been operating in Rafah under the Gaza Division for the past month.
At the site, the military says the troops found medium-to-long-range rockets, along with other weapons.
A commander in Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, who led the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 terror onslaught, was killed in a recent drone strike, the military and Shin Bet say.
According to the IDF, the terrorist Abd al-Hadi Sabah, commander of the Nukhba platoon in Hamas’s West Khan Younis Battalion, was killed in a strike in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza.
The IDF says Sabah was among those who led the invasion into Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, during which terrorists kidnapped and murdered dozens.
During the war, Sabah was involved in numerous attacks against IDF troops in Gaza, the army adds.
In the strike on the humanitarian zone, the IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm.
The elimination of Sabah is part of an effort led by the Shin Bet to track down and kill all of the terrorists who took part in the October 7 onslaught.
A senior commander in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group was killed in a drone strike earlier this month in the Gaza Strip, the IDF and Shin Bet say.
The target of the strike, Anas Muhammad Saadi Masri, served as the commander of the northern Gaza sector in Islamic Jihad’s rocket division, according to the military.
Masri was considered by the military to be a prominent commander in Islamic Jihad, responsible for numerous attacks on Israel and IDF troops.
On the October 7, 2023, onslaught and during the war, Masri was responsible for Islamic Jihad’s rocket fire from the northern Gaza Strip at Israeli border communities and for commanding the operatives who carried out the attacks, the army says.
The IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm in the strike at the beginning of December.
45 sick Gazans, 100 family members cross into Israel en route to UAE for medical treatment
Palestinian health authorities say 45 patients and wounded people have been evacuated for treatment outside the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
They left the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis early this morning and traveled through the Kerem Shalom Crossing into Israel. They will receive treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
The patients are accompanied by over 100 of their relatives, according to the hospital.
Among them was a 10-year-old boy, Abdullah Abu Yousef, suffering from kidney failure. The child was accompanied by his sister after the Israeli authorities reportedly rejected his mother’s application to join him. Israel says it screens escorts for security.
“The boy is sick,” says his mother, Abeer Abu Yousef. “He requires hemodialysis three to four days a week.”
IDF Decision Amid Global Criticism: Jebaliya Hospital to Be Sealed Off
Despite previously allowing medical institutions to resume operations after raids targeting terrorist organizations operating within them, the IDF has decided to seal off the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza permanently. Patients and medical staff have been transferred to the Indonesian Hospital. Meanwhile, at Shifa Hospital, Hamas has recently undertaken extensive renovations as it seeks to reassert its control.
In an unprecedented move, and amid international criticism, the IDF is sealing off Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jebaliya to render it unusable even after the operation concludes. In previous cases, hospitals in Gaza raided by the IDF were allowed to resume activities post-operation. For example, Shifa Hospital has recently undergone significant renovations by Hamas.
The IDF evacuated hundreds of patients and staff members from the large medical institution to the nearby Indonesian Hospital. "The hospital had become a Hamas terror base. We accurately and carefully evacuated approximately 600 uninvolved individuals after thoroughly screening for terrorists," said an IDF spokesperson following the operation over the weekend. "Fighters from the 401st Brigade, operating under the 162nd Division and Unit 504, completed a focused counterterrorism operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital. Forces arrested over 240 terrorists, neutralized 20, and dismantled powerful explosives planted at the site."
The troops conducted a swift and covert raid, encircling the hospital building, located in the heart of the camp, in under an hour. The operation, however, drew sharp international criticism. Leading global news outlets extensively covered the event.
The BBC headlined: "Israel Forcibly Evacuates Gaza Hospital and Arrests Medical Staff." The report emphasized that the hospital director, Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, was detained by Israel on suspicion of Hamas affiliation, "without providing evidence." The British broadcaster also cited the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health, which reported as of Friday that "50 people, including hospital workers, were killed in airstrikes near the hospital."
The New York Times reported: "The IDF Forced Patients and Medical Staff to Leave a Hospital in Northern Gaza." A nurse working at the hospital told the American newspaper that Israeli soldiers ordered female staff and patients to evacuate without initially issuing the same order to men.
The Case of Shifa Hospital
Shifa Medical Center, Gaza's central hospital, which has recently undergone extensive renovations, experienced the most significant raid of the war. Over 200 terrorists were killed, and hundreds more were arrested in the surrounding area. In September, five months after IDF forces withdrew from the hospital, its emergency department reopened, despite having previously been a site where hostages were held and even executed. The hospital now operates on a partial basis.
Buildings within the Shifa hospital complex served as emergency assets for Hamas's operational command center for Gaza City. During the fighting, weapons and other materials were transferred to the hospital's underground levels. The IDF discovered numerous weapons caches within the hospital complex, including in the MRI building, where an operational tunnel shaft and a weapons-laden van were also located.
Additional findings included:
- A weapons depot, ammunition, and an interrogation room in the cardiology department.
- Explosive devices in the physiotherapy department.
- Another explosive device and communication equipment in the Qatari building.
The findings underscore the dual-use nature of medical facilities by Hamas, intensifying the global debate over the IDF's actions during the ongoing conflict. link These are more examples of Hamas rebuilding itself and continuing its control in Gaza and it is all because Netanyahu refuses to allow the Palestinian Authority to come in and rule Gaza. Due to Netanyahu's refusals and his total lack of strategic planning, Gaza will be a never ending war with soldiers killed daily, 2 million Gazans remaining refugees living in the worst possible conditions with no hope for rebuilding their lives or the their homes, and of course, no deal to bring the hostages home. Netanyahu is the blight on Israel who, for the sake of keeping his coalition together and remaining prime minister, will continue to forsake the good of the country for his own self interests. And unfortunately, he has a slew of willing idiots to back him because of their own self interests in staying in power.
The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichai Adraee, tweets a warning for residents of central Gaza’s al-Bureij to evacuate ahead of expected airstrikes, after rockets were fired from the area at midnight, as 2025 began.
“Terrorist organizations are once again firing rockets from this area,” says Adraee. “For your own safety, move immediately to the humanitarian zone.”
IDF says troops destroyed medium-to-long-range rocket factory in south Gaza’s Rafah
The IDF says troops operating in southern Gaza’s Rafah located and destroyed a rocket manufacturing facility.
The find was made by reservists of the Kiryati Brigade, which has been operating in Rafah under the Gaza Division for the past month.
At the site, the military says the troops found medium-to-long-range rockets, along with other weapons.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
The Israel Defense Forces says it carried out an airstrike yesterday on a Hezbollah cell in south Lebanon that was transferring weapons from a warehouse to a vehicle.
The military does not say how many operatives from the terror group were targeted, nor where the strike took place. It says both the vehicle and weapons depot were hit.
“The IDF continues to be committed to the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon, is deployed in southern Lebanon and will work to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” the military says. video
Israel has taken responsibility for a commando raid against an Iranian missile manufacturing site deep in Syria in September, an operation already widely attributed to the IDF.
Members of the Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit raided the Scientific Studies and Research Center, known as CERS or SSRC, in the Masyaf area on September 8, and demolished an underground facility used by Iranian forces to manufacture precision missiles for Hezbollah.
The site lies about 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Israel, though only about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Syria’s western coastline.
The IAF commandos rappelled down from helicopters and raided CERS during the operation.
The troops removed documents and then laid explosives to destroy the underground facility.
During the quick raid, Israeli aircraft struck numerous targets in the surrounding area, reportedly killing at least 14 people and wounding 43.
The raid was dubbed internally by the military “Operation Deep Layer.”
The Israel Defense Forces says it carried out an airstrike yesterday on a Hezbollah cell in south Lebanon that was transferring weapons from a warehouse to a vehicle.
The military does not say how many operatives from the terror group were targeted, nor where the strike took place. It says both the vehicle and weapons depot were hit.
“The IDF continues to be committed to the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon, is deployed in southern Lebanon and will work to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” the military says. video
Israel has taken responsibility for a commando raid against an Iranian missile manufacturing site deep in Syria in September, an operation already widely attributed to the IDF.
Members of the Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit raided the Scientific Studies and Research Center, known as CERS or SSRC, in the Masyaf area on September 8, and demolished an underground facility used by Iranian forces to manufacture precision missiles for Hezbollah.
The site lies about 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Israel, though only about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Syria’s western coastline.
The IAF commandos rappelled down from helicopters and raided CERS during the operation.
The troops removed documents and then laid explosives to destroy the underground facility.
During the quick raid, Israeli aircraft struck numerous targets in the surrounding area, reportedly killing at least 14 people and wounding 43.
The raid was dubbed internally by the military “Operation Deep Layer.”
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
- Top West Bank cop accused of faking probes of settler violence to please Ben Gvir, gain promotion
The Department for Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) lifts a gag order on the name of one of the senior police officers suspected of severe misconduct involving a systematic refusal to investigate incidents of suspected Jewish nationalism attacks, in order to earn advancement on the police force.
The officer named in the scandal is head of the Judea and Samaria District investigations and intelligence department Commander Avishai Muallem. Alongside Muallem, another senior police officer from the same district whose name has not yet been disclosed is being investigated, while Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi is also a suspect in the affair.
DIPI states that Muallem, together with the other senior office from his district, is suspected of having “carried out irregular activities in the framework of their positions with the goal of influencing their advancement in the Israel Police, while deviating from the path for dealing with cases of nationalistic crime.”
Yaakobi is suspected of having informed Muallem that he was the subject of an undercover DIPI investigation, before the investigation was made public.
According to Ynet, DIPI suspects Muallem of conducting sham investigations into acts of Jewish nationalistic crimes in the West Bank merely to give the appearance that an investigation had been conducted without bringing the perpetrators to account.
The scandal was broken open earlier this month when DIPI officers raided Muallem’s home earlier this month, arrested him, and detained Yaakobi for questioning.
Muallem’s lawyer Ephraim Dimri claimed that the investigation was politically motivated and said Muallem was implementing orders by more senior officials and “the policies of the minister responsible for him,” in reference to ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Yaakobi claims that he did not violate any laws in informing Muallem about the investigation.
Ben Gvir’s office said in response to the publication of Muallem’s name that “what DIPI is investigating is fulfilling the minister’s policies, which is adherence to equal policies: the law for a hilltop youth is the same as for a left-wing youth.”
The statement added that when Ben Gvir became minister he “made clear that there will not be selective persecution of right-wing people,” and that the days of “unlawfully harming the hilltop youth” had ended.
“Hilltop youth” refers to radical settler activists who establish illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank. Many of these activists have also been involved in violence against Palestinians, as well as theft, destruction and arson of Palestinian property.
Few of these crimes are prosecuted, with the High Court of Justice recently acknowledging this reality as well.
The Department for Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) lifts a gag order on the name of one of the senior police officers suspected of severe misconduct involving a systematic refusal to investigate incidents of suspected Jewish nationalism attacks, in order to earn advancement on the police force.
The officer named in the scandal is head of the Judea and Samaria District investigations and intelligence department Commander Avishai Muallem. Alongside Muallem, another senior police officer from the same district whose name has not yet been disclosed is being investigated, while Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi is also a suspect in the affair.
DIPI states that Muallem, together with the other senior office from his district, is suspected of having “carried out irregular activities in the framework of their positions with the goal of influencing their advancement in the Israel Police, while deviating from the path for dealing with cases of nationalistic crime.”
Yaakobi is suspected of having informed Muallem that he was the subject of an undercover DIPI investigation, before the investigation was made public.
According to Ynet, DIPI suspects Muallem of conducting sham investigations into acts of Jewish nationalistic crimes in the West Bank merely to give the appearance that an investigation had been conducted without bringing the perpetrators to account.
The scandal was broken open earlier this month when DIPI officers raided Muallem’s home earlier this month, arrested him, and detained Yaakobi for questioning.
Muallem’s lawyer Ephraim Dimri claimed that the investigation was politically motivated and said Muallem was implementing orders by more senior officials and “the policies of the minister responsible for him,” in reference to ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Yaakobi claims that he did not violate any laws in informing Muallem about the investigation.
Ben Gvir’s office said in response to the publication of Muallem’s name that “what DIPI is investigating is fulfilling the minister’s policies, which is adherence to equal policies: the law for a hilltop youth is the same as for a left-wing youth.”
The statement added that when Ben Gvir became minister he “made clear that there will not be selective persecution of right-wing people,” and that the days of “unlawfully harming the hilltop youth” had ended.
“Hilltop youth” refers to radical settler activists who establish illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank. Many of these activists have also been involved in violence against Palestinians, as well as theft, destruction and arson of Palestinian property.
Few of these crimes are prosecuted, with the High Court of Justice recently acknowledging this reality as well.
Politics and the War (general news)
Without Control and Governance: Hamas Losing Grip in Northern Gaza
The IDF continues operations in several areas of the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi and Netzarim routes, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun. These efforts aim to neutralize militants, destroy terrorist infrastructure, and expand the buffer zone for security purposes. Here's a detailed account of the ongoing operations, their connection to negotiations, and Hamas' growing concerns.
Without Control and Governance: Hamas Losing Grip in Northern Gaza
The IDF continues operations in several areas of the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi and Netzarim routes, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun. These efforts aim to neutralize militants, destroy terrorist infrastructure, and expand the buffer zone for security purposes. Here's a detailed account of the ongoing operations, their connection to negotiations, and Hamas' growing concerns.
Fighting Continues in Gaza
The war in Gaza remains active across multiple fronts today (Tuesday), as the IDF intensifies its destruction of Hamas' infrastructure and neutralizes terrorist operatives. A significant expansion of operations is underway in Jabalia, now a central theater in northern Gaza.
Philadelphi Route, Netzarim Route, and Rafah
In the Philadelphi corridor and Rafah area, the IDF is enlarging the security zone and expanding the buffer area. These efforts include demolishing Hamas' remaining infrastructure and clearing parts of Rafah's outskirts, including built-up areas, to enhance security.
Intelligence-driven operations also target the Netzarim route, which has been widened to a breadth of 7 kilometers. Throughout this zone, the IDF is systematically dismantling the military infrastructure established by Hamas.
Jabalia and Beit Hanoun
In northern Gaza, IDF troops are actively engaging in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun—key areas where Hamas has sought to rebuild its military and civilian presence during the conflict. These locations now represent the primary arena of IDF activity.
Beyond targeting militants and Hamas facilities both above and below ground, these operations aim to ensure the safety of residents in Israeli communities near the border. The military actions are designed to clean northern Gaza of Hamas-controlled areas that pose a threat to Israeli civilians.
Neutralizing Key Targets
The IDF also targets Islamic Jihad militants. In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet revealed the elimination of Anas Mohammed Saadi Masri, commander of the rocket unit in northern Gaza.
"Air Force aircraft, guided by intelligence from Military Intelligence, Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, attacked and eliminated Masri earlier this month," the statement read.
"Masri was a key figure responsible for orchestrating numerous terrorist attacks, directing operations that harmed Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Since October 7, he commanded rocket fire from northern Gaza toward Israeli communities and oversaw many militants involved in these attacks. Prior to the strike, extensive measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including precision intelligence and aerial reconnaissance."
Gaza: Territory Control, Rocket Fire, and Negotiation Link
As part of its military pressure on Hamas, the IDF now controls over 30% of the Gaza Strip. This territorial control serves multiple purposes, including leveraging Hamas into negotiating the release of hostages.
Hamas views the IDF's northern Gaza operations as a "loss of military control and governance in Gaza." This has led to attempts by militants to flee areas like Jabalia, as observed this week. On the other hand, the IDF plans to escalate its presence and expand its forces in the region.
Meanwhile, as IDF forces advance deeper into Gaza, there is increased rocket fire toward Israel. These launches appear to be last-ditch attempts by terrorist organizations to use their remaining stockpiles before they fall under IDF control. link
The Region and the World
- Turkish officials say Israel 'betting on wrong horse in Syria'
Ankara stressed Jerusalem's skepticism of de facto Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani) is 'beneficial to the Iranian snake' and that cooperation in the region could better both country's positions
Senior Turkish officials warned on Sunday that Israel was “betting on the wrong horse in Syria” for its skepticism toward Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani) and risks missing a rare opportunity to collaborate with the new regime that “seeks to maintain stability in the country.”
“Chaos in Syria is beneficial to the Iranian snake; the Iranians have an interest in reigniting the civil war. Peace in Syria is bad for the Ayatollahs,” Ankara officials said. They assert that Israel is making a mistake by dismissing al-Golani.
“Israel ignores his positive overtures and actions, such as seizing weapons and his statements against Iran and Hezbollah. Israel and Turkey share mutual interests in Syria and both should cooperate to advance them,” the officials said.
The officials added that, contrary to various reports, it was Israel that approached Turkey with a proposal for a military coordination mechanism between the two nations. Israel suggested dividing Syria into three geographic zones reflecting each side’s interests: Turkey would have interests in the northern sector, requiring Israeli pre-approval for operations there.
Israel would have freedom of action in the south, while both sides would need to notify each other before operating in the central region. According to the officials, Turkey agreed to dialogue but rejected the geographic division proposal.Turkish officials highlighted that the coordination mechanism between Jerusalem and Ankara worked effectively during the war in Lebanon, citing instances where Turkey shared coordinates of Turkish evacuation convoys and Israel refrained from striking areas they were located in. “There’s no reason it shouldn’t work just as effectively in Syria just as coordination worked well in Lebanon,” they said.
Ankara expressed anger over Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s statements in favor of Israeli cooperation with the Kurdish minority in Syria. “Israel is once again betting on the wrong horse and doesn’t understand that the Kurds controlling the Iraq-Syria border are the ones enabling Iran to smuggle weapons into Syria and Hezbollah in exchange for money,” they said. According to them, the “Iranian snake” benefits from Syria's instability as Tehran has an interest in prolonging the conflict. “Israel and Turkey should have a shared interest in achieving stability as quickly as possible,” they added.Since Bashar Assad’s fall and the end of the war, a significant escalation has been taking place in northern Syria between Turkish-backed rebel groups and local Kurdish forces, some of which are supported by the U.S. Turkish air force jets. Turkish forces have been striking Kurdish targets in the region and reports indicate that Ankara is amassing forces near the Syrian border in preparation for a possible ground invasion.
The conflict between Turkey and the Kurds has persisted for over 40 years. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) issued an intriguing statement on Sunday quoting its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.
In the statement, Ocalan hinted at a willingness to lay down arms and end the Kurdish struggle against Turkey. Ankara has repeatedly stressed in recent weeks that it won’t allow the People's Defense Units (YPG) Kurdish militia, which it considers the PKK's military arm, to operate in the "new Turkey."
Turkey has conducted several operations against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an umbrella organization led by the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria since 2016. Turkey-backed rebel groups have captured Kurdish villages near the border in recent weeks. Ankara views the current situation in Syria as an opportunity to expand its influence in the country and push the Kurds away from the border — after the Kurds established a significant degree of autonomy in northern Syria during the civil war, close to Turkey’s southern border. link. Turkey is definitely right in its assessment that Israel is missing an opportunity with the new government in Syria. Instead of simply dismissing them, we should be actively engaging with them with a view that they are actively stabilizing themselves and the country, and have had meetings with some of our major allies, including the US. The Syrian leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa has made quite a few statements signaling potential openness to communications with Israel. He has said that Syria will not be used as a launching ground for attacks on any of its neighbors and has said that they are looking for peace and quiet with Israel. Instead, our failed government and our new foreign minister, who like Netanyahu puts his own self interests in place of those of the country, have made statements against the new government calling them names and making pessimistic statements about its ability to rule and maintain order. I don't agree with Turkey's position on the Kurds. They have actively and militaristically been attacking the Kurds for decades and see their presence on the Syrian-Turkist border as a threat. The Kurds and Israel have had friendly relations for a long time and that should continue.
Personal Stories
Gadi Moses
Ankara stressed Jerusalem's skepticism of de facto Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani) is 'beneficial to the Iranian snake' and that cooperation in the region could better both country's positions
Senior Turkish officials warned on Sunday that Israel was “betting on the wrong horse in Syria” for its skepticism toward Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Golani) and risks missing a rare opportunity to collaborate with the new regime that “seeks to maintain stability in the country.”
Gadi dreams of celebrating emotional milestones with his grandchildren, such as their Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, and enlistment in the IDF. He also dreamed of traveling through South America with his partner, Efrat. Efrat Katz, of blessed memory, was murdered in the surprise attack.
Matan had a plane ticket for a trip abroad two days before Passover. He had planned to celebrate his discharge from the IDF with his family.
Ohad has a big dream—to climb Mount Everest. But in the period leading up to the war, he dreamed of something small and simple: to reap the fruits of his hard work and spend time with his family.
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
The HeadShoham SmithAuthor.
There once was a head (of state) who headed everything and forged ahead (seeking credit), always making sure to have the state flag and his esteemed wife by his side. He insisted he must receive the questions before each interview, record these interviews in advance (and never on Saturday), and ensure everything was edited before broadcast, so that the result would not look like this:- Mr. Prime Minister.- I am!- Definitely. Not one of your citizens denies that. And this is exactlywhat I would like you to address. So, would you agree with me thatyou are the head of state?- Definitely.- And on that unfortunate date were you head of state?- Can you refresh my memory? It’s so weak when it comes tounfortunate events.- We noticed that. By the way, is this why you don't often makecondolence calls?
- Says who?- Recently, a bereaved father pointed this out. His daughter, a soldier, afield observer, was murdered on that date you forgot.- Can’t you let that go already?- If you don’t mind, sir, we are talking about the greatest disaster inJewish history since the Holocaust.- That is unfortunate. But we are dealing with a cruel enemy, one thateven the cursed Nazis pale in comparison to –- Sir, I will agree with you that the enemy is cruel. I will point out thatfor years you and your government nurtured them, allowed them to arm themselves, dig tunnels, make plans, and when they put them into practice, the army was unprepared –- And what does that have to do with me?- You are the head of state, sir.- I don't understand.- Sir, if you please, the responsibility is yours.- You're so tiresome. I already said, the enemy –- Is cruel. We agree on that. Therefore, because the enemy is cruel andhas kidnapped people from their beds in pajamas, the elderly,women, children, a toddler and a baby –- The redheads, I recall. Who did they vote for?- Sir? A toddler and a baby...- Now they are a toddler and a baby.- We fear for their lives.- War is no picnic.- And what about the enemy's babies and toddlers?- Collateral damage. I consulted my wife, a child psychologist –- This is a war crime, sir. But we will focus on our babies. Why didn'tyou do everything in your power to rescue them from hell?- The redheads?- Everyone.
- No! Enough is enough! I will not listen to your treacherous, sour-grapes, self-indulgent talk. We must be hardy and content with little.- Sir, you and your wife are no paragons of frugality...- Well, of course, because we are heads of state!- I'm glad we're back to the starting point. Do you deny thatpreeminence goes hand in hand with responsibility?- I am in favor of sharing the burden.- You don’t say!- The hostages must understand they have a historical rolein the redemption of the people of Israel.- You mean they should be willing to die for our country?- Ready and willing!- If so, why don't you reach out to the families, who are consumedby worry, and simply tell them honestly: my wife and I have decidedto abandon them.- “Abandon”. Please do not exaggerate. Each and every hostage hassome chance to return in a heroic operation that, with a little luck,will bear my given name.- Sir, their chances of returning in a casket are far greater.- I don't engage in speculation.- Is that so? And who claimed that releasing terrorists in exchangefor hostages would lead to the future killing of Israeli civilians?- You are exhausting me.- Sir, we citizens are also exhausted. And to be honest,we feel bereft of protection –- Go to a shelter.- We expected the State of Israel to protect and shelter us. After all,what are states for? Maybe you can tell me, sir? And what are wefighting for? Until when?- Until I decide.
- In the meantime, they are dying there.- Don't people die here? I'll tell you a secret, we're all going to die.You value life too much.- Are you yourself in good health?- Why are you asking?- Your chair...- What did you say?- It’s shaking.
- Says who?
- No! Enough is enough! I will not listen to your treacherous, sour-grapes, self-indulgent talk. We must be hardy and content with little.
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
Join my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0
Twitter - @LonnyB58 Bluesky - @lonny-b.bsky.social
Twitter - @LonnyB58
Comments
Post a Comment