Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
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Hostage Updates
From October 7th we knew that in order to return all the hostages we would have to negotiate with Hamas. Despite this, the first and most important goal of the Israeli government since that terrible Saturday was to eliminate Hamas from all of its military and governmental capabilities. We knew that the army and the Shin Bet might be able to rescue some of the hostages, but not all of them. We said that there was no chance of another Entebbe operation and that ultimately we would have to reach a deal with Hamas. In our unreal reality and in direct contradition of the Israel war goals, if we want to return the remaining 94 hostages, we need Hamas to continue to control Gaza, at least until the last of the hostages is released.
In my opinion, this is what the Israeli government should do in the face of this unbearable reality: We must pressure the Americans to pressure Qatar and Egypt to obtain Hamas's agreement to shorten the time frame for the implementation of the current deal. The deal which will extend two to three months is a bad deal and works against the chances of survival of the hostages who are still alive. Shortening the implementation time requires Israel to agree to an end to the war, because Hamas will not agree unless it involves an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the entire Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel must act, together with the Americans in coordination with Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Morocco, and of course Saudi Arabia, to exert pressure on Mahmoud Abbas to appoint an independent person as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, a person who is not corrupt, who is morally and practically against violence and the armed struggle, and who is prepared to lead Gaza to a reconstruction that will allow the Palestinians to live a life of dignity. Mahmoud Abbas and the PA cannot control Gaza, they barely control the West Bank. It would be best if Abbas moved aside - he could be president until his death, but the powers of government would be transferred to a worthy Palestinian person who is acceptable to the Palestinian street. Even if that is not possible, it would also be good if there was a temporary government in Gaza only, legally linked to the Palestinian Authority, but in fact independent of it, for a period of two to three years until the Palestinians can hold elections for a new government for the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. The temporary government in Gaza would be a non-Hamas government and it would work to lead the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza. The most important key to all of this is the understanding that eliminating Hamas as we know it is not a military act - it is a diplomatic and political act. The Palestinian struggle against Israel will not end until the Palestinians achieve independence in a Palestinian state next to the State of Israel - mainly in the territories occupied in 1967. This may sound delusional to most Israelis now and maybe also to most Palestinians, but it must be our main lesson from October 7. This terrible war will not be the last war until Israeli control over another people comes to an end. Seven million Palestinians living between the river and the sea in the same area where seven million Israeli Jews live cannot live together in peace as long as one side has full control and full national rights while the other side does not have those same rights. If President Trump is truly serious about his statement that he will bring an end to wars, then he will embrace the understanding that the two-state solution is the only solution that exists that allows both peoples to receive territorial expression of their identity. It is less important that we do not have leaders in Israel and Palestine now who will lead us to peace. The new president's American pressure will bring about the change that we need in Israel and in Palestine. And even if that does not happen, we - the Israeli and Palestinian peoples will be obliged to bring in these new leaders - because if not, then what was until now is what will be our future - and this should not be acceptable to any of us. (Gershon Baskin, 20 January 2025)
Families of the freed hostages say the three are doing well after return from captivity
This handout photo shows family members of the three released hostages speaking at Sheba Medical Center, in Ramat Gan on January 20, 2025 (Paulina Patimer/ Hostages Forum)
Parents and siblings of the three released hostages, Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, and Romi Gonen, say all three young women are doing well, while thanking the Israeli government, the negotiators, US President Donald Trump, and the Israeli people for their support and assistance in bringing the young women home.
“Doron is smiling, she is here, we are starting to deal with her recuperation. She is okay, she is strong and brave,” says Yamit Ashkenazi, Steinbrecher’s sister.
Ashkenazi says her sister is surrounded by family, friends, and all of Israel, and in particular thanks their home community of Kibbutz Kfar Aza for its ongoing support.
Ashkenazi relays a message from her sister, asking Israelis to keep rallying and calling for the return of all the hostages.
“The fact that I returned home doesn’t mean the others don’t have to come home,” Ashkenazi quotes her sister as saying. “Go out to the streets. We have to complete all stages of the deal.”
Tom Damari, the brother of freed hostage Emily Damari, thanks the soldiers and reservists, as well as those who fell in battle “so that we could hug Emily again.” He also thanks the government, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, government hostage envoy Gal Hirsch, the friends and family of Emily, and God.
“Am Yisrael Chai,” says Damari.
His mother, Mandy Damari, a British citizen, reports that her daughter is in high spirits, saying in English that Emily is “an amazing, strong, and resilient young woman.”
She thanks former US president Joe Biden in addition to Trump and other leaders and negotiators around the world, as well as the British government for its ongoing support.
“To the thousands that have messaged our family the last 24 hours, all of you have played a role. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” she says.
The final speaker is Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of Romi Gonen, who is a familiar face in the struggle for the hostages’ release.
She names and speaks about Romi’s friends from the Nova desert rave who were killed on October 7, 2023.
Leshem Gonen thanks Israeli and world leaders who helped put the ceasefire in place, and mentions the bereaved, the soldiers, and their families, as well as the injured, saying it is her wish to support them all.
“We are the Israeli nation, a special nation that wants peace,” she says. “There are 94 more of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, we are brave and courageous and we will get them back. Let us hold hands and win.”
A Hamas spokesman announces the terror group will not release the next batch of hostages until next Sunday, and will provide the names of the captives to be freed then a day earlier.
The deal states that Hamas will release the second group of hostages on the seventh day of the ceasefire-hostage agreement. As the deal entered into force yesterday, the seventh day of the agreement would be Saturday. Link. There is never an end to Hamas’ psychological terror. Hamas later made a statement that they will release the 4 female hostages on Saturday. We have to be very circumspect with everything they say and not trust anything.
Hostages were only told yesterday they were being freed; they knew families were battling for them
Released hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were only told by their captors hours before their release yesterday that they were going home. “We only got the news about our freedom yesterday. We didn’t believe it,” they have said.
According to comments by the three freed hostages approved for publication by the Israeli military censor, and reported by Channel 12 news, some of them did not see daylight for long periods of their captivity and were held underground.
Some of them were kept in humanitarian areas of Gaza for part of their captivity.
Released hostages Emily Damari reunites with her mother shortly after returning to Israel after 471 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, January 19, 2025. (IDF)
They were not held alone, but were separated from others at some point, they have said. When together, they cooked for each other and looked after each other all the time.
Sometimes they got medicines they needed. One of them underwent a medical procedure without anesthetic.
They saw or heard TV and radio some of the time, and knew of the struggle being waged on their behalf and that their families were battling for them, they have said.
Some of them heard broadcasts about what had happened on October 7, 2023, when Hamas invaded and they were abducted. “We understood that our families survived, but we discovered that we had lost a lot of friends,” they were quoted saying.
Released hostage Doron Steinbrecher reunites with her mothers shortly after returning to Israel after 471 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, January 19, 2025. (IDF)
One of them said, “I didn’t think I’d return. I was sure I would die in Gaza.”
They have said that they were “scared to death” during their transfer from Hamas terrorists to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City yesterday — both because of the gunmen surrounding them and the Gazan mob.
Daniel Aloni, who was freed from Hamas captivity, on the release of the hostages: "We must not misinterpret their smiles."
Daniel, who was held in captivity for 49 days, described the moments of terror during her release: "We thought we would die in a lynch mob. How can one oppose the deal after seeing the images?"
"We are not sinking into euphoria of joy," said Daniel Aloni, who was held captive for 49 days alongside her daughter, Emilia, in an interview with the program At Noon with Esti Perez Ben-Ami on Kan Reshet Bet, two days after the release of the three hostages Doron Steinbacher, Romi Gonen, and Emily Damari. Aloni warned: "We must not mistake their smiles and strength. These girls went through hell, a nightmare we can't even begin to imagine."
Aloni described the moments of terror during her release in the first hostage exchange deal: "We saw how the Gazans attacked the Red Cross vehicles with such barbarity, shaking them and pounding on them. There was an awful sense of horror and fear that if we had survived until that moment, this was where we would die."
She recounted how she shrank in fear upon seeing the crowd surrounding the vehicles two days ago: "Very few people guarded the girls compared to the large Gazan crowd that had gathered around."
In response to critics of the deal, Aloni said: "I understand there are differing opinions. I fully understand that this deal comes at a very heavy price. We are releasing terrorists with blood on their hands, and many bereaved families feel their children died in vain. But sadly, we cannot bring back the dead, and there are so many living people there who can still be saved."
"There will always be an opportunity to fight," she added. "This is like a Catholic marriage with our neighbors. Until there is an alternative government, until there is a real solution for coexistence between the two nations, we will always find ourselves at war. But if people can be saved along the way, we must. This is likely the only chance at this time while most of them are still alive."
Ahead of the next round of releases on Saturday, Aloni shared a personal message: "Sweet, beautiful, brave Arbel, I hope Saturday will be your special day. To Ariel and David – we won’t let up for even a moment. An entire nation stands behind us, and we are tirelessly working to bring you out. Stay strong; your day will come too." link
My brother's interview on Democracy Now - We continue our coverage of the long-awaited Gaza ceasefire by going to Jerusalem to speak with Israeli activist Gershon Baskin, who has experience negotiating with Hamas, including during this latest conflict. Baskin says while it’s heartening to see captives returning home, the ceasefire agreement is “a bad deal” because of how fragile it is. “Hamas would not have agreed to enter into this two- or three-phase deal without having guarantees … that in fact the war would end,” says Baskin. “But we don’t know that, because Netanyahu has given alternative promises to members of the government that Israel reserves the right to return to war.” Youtube link Transcript of the interview below:
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMYGOODMAN: Gershon Baskin, you’re in Jerusalem right now. If you could respond, overall, to how the ceasefire was achieved? Talk about the three Israeli women, as well as the 92 Palestinians who were released.
GERSHONBASKIN: Right. The ceasefire deal that was negotiated primarily in Doha over the last weeks happened because Donald Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu to make the deal now. He wanted this deal done before he entered the White House. The deal was actually almost the same deal that was presented by President Biden way back in May. And cynically, it wasn’t achieved until a day — a few days before January 20th, when Donald Trump takes the Oval Office. Steve Witkoff, the Middle East emissary of Donald Trump, worked hand in hand with Brett McGurk from the Biden administration to make sure that the deal was done in Doha. And as I said, it’s more or less the same deal that was presented back in May.
I have to comment. It is a bad deal. It is a bad deal for Israel. It’s a bad deal for the Palestinians. It’s a deal which will take months to implement and create a lot more suffering for the families, for the families of hostages, for the families of prisoners. And the chances of it derailing in the Gaza Strip are very high.
The three women who were released are Romi Gonen, 24 years old; Emily Damari, 28 years old; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31 years old. Two of them were from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, next to the Gaza Strip, and one of them was taken from the Nova festival on October 7th. They’re all civilians. None of them are military. None of them had anything to do with the Israeli occupation. They were Israeli citizens trying to live their lives.
AMYGOODMAN: And the Palestinians that were released, and then the additional, what, I think, 1,890 Palestinians who will be released, to underscore what Tala was just saying about the — well, they were all women and children, but the overall — the overwhelming majority had not been tried or charged.
GERSHONBASKIN: Yeah, I understand there are about a thousand administrative detainees who will be released in this first part of the deal for 33 of the Israeli hostages. Ninety-four hostages will remain in Gaza until the negotiations are completed on phase two, which will begin on day 16 and are supposed to be completed by day 30, before we enter another 42-week period. Hopefully, it will happen. Hopefully, the ceasefire will hold. And this is supposed to lead to an end to the war.
It seems to me that Hamas would not have agreed to enter into this two- or three-phase deal without having guarantees both from Qatar and from Egypt, through the United States, that in fact the war would end and will not continue beyond this first phase of the first 42 days. But we don’t know that, because Netanyahu has given alternative promises to members of the government that Israel reserves the right to return to war if the negotiations don’t end up moving in the direction that they want.
AMYGOODMAN: And the significance of Ben-Gvir, along with another MK, a member of Knesset, or known around the world as member of parliament — the significance of the far-right member of the Cabinet and member of the Knesset, Ben-Gvir, quitting?
GERSHONBASKIN: Right. Well, Ben-Gvir also admitted that he was successful in holding up this deal for months, which should be criminal. And he should be treated as criminal in the eyes of the Israeli public. I started by saying that this is a bad deal, but a bad deal is better than no deal. Certainly, Ben-Gvir’s resignation from the Cabinet and not being our minister for national security is a cherry on the cake that was unexpected. And it certainly made the deal a little bit sweeter for us Israelis who would like to live in a normal country. Ben-Gvir is a danger to our society. He’s a danger to our democracy. I think he’s a danger to the entire region. And the further away he is from power, the better it is for all of us.
AMYGOODMAN: Does he remain in the parliament, in the Knesset, or just quit as a Cabinet member?
GERSHONBASKIN: He just quits as a Cabinet member. He remains in the parliament. But a number of the parliamentarians from his party became members of parliament in what’s called the Norwegian [Law] here. When ministers enter the government, they can resign their Knesset seat, their parliament seat, and bring in additional people from the party. Apparently, two of the members of his party now have to also be removed from the Knesset, which is also a blessing.
AMYGOODMAN: And Bezalel Smotrich did, ultimately, though he threatened to leave, remain.
GERSHONBASKIN: Yeah, he remained. He cynically put out a tweet on X congratulating the return of the hostages, that he tried to block. He voted against the deal. There is no end to the cynicism within the Israeli government.
AMYGOODMAN: Tala, if you can talk about the release of Khalida Jarrar, a Palestinian parliamentarian, a member of the PFLP, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine?
TALANASIR: Yes. So, Khalida was released also yesterday. She was completely isolated from the outside world for four — five months now. She was released with a horrible — in a horrible condition, actually, because of the isolation, because of the starvation imposed at least her and other women prisoners, because of the lack of personal hygiene tools, the confiscation of clothes and electrical appliances, the denial of medical care. So, she was released in a very horrible situation. And people around the world saw the pictures of how she was released. And it’s not only about Khalida Jarrar, but it’s also other women prisoners who were also released in a very bad situation. And they were subjected to different torture and ill-treatment methods, which led to them lose so much of their weight. They were starving inside the prisons, and that’s why we saw them in this horrible situation.
AMYGOODMAN: I want to thank you both for being with us. Of course, we will continue to follow this extremely closely. Tala Nasir is lawyer with Addameer, the Palestinian prisoners organization. She’s speaking to us from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. And Gershon Baskin, longtime backchannel negotiator with Hamas in ceasefire deals.
Gaza and the South
Rescuers find dozens of bodies in Gaza rubble amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Palestinian officials estimate 10,000 bodies are under the debris covering Gaza after the devastating 15-month war.
Buildings lie in ruins along as-Saftawi Street in Jabalia in northern Gaza [Omar al-Qaittaa/AFP]
Palestinians have recovered dozens of bodies buried under rubble in Gaza and are searching for thousands more as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold for a second day.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera on Monday that the bodies of 97 Palestinians have been recovered in the destroyed city of Rafah in southern Gaza since the ceasefire took effect the previous day with the release of the first three captives held by Hamas and 90 Palestinians from Israeli jails.
Israeli attacks on Gaza killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded more than 111,000, according to local health authorities.
But the Palestinian Civil Defence agency said it estimated there are 10,000 bodies under destroyed structures across the strip.
At least 2,840 bodies were melted and there are no traces of them, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson of the Palestinian Civil Emergency Services in Gaza.
Meanwhile, many displaced residents returning to their neighbourhoods found them almost unrecognisable due to the devastation from more than 15 months of war.
“[The level of destruction] was a big shock, and the amount [of people] feeling shocked is countless because of what happened to their homes. It’s destruction, total destruction,” Mohamed Gomaa, who lost his brother and nephew in the war, told the Reuters news agency.
“It’s not like an earthquake or a flood, no no. What happened is a war of extermination.”
Meanwhile, more than 630 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Monday, with at least 300 of those trucks going to the enclave’s north, where the UN said famine looms.
With a growing flow of aid into the Palestinian enclave, residents flocked into markets with some expressing happiness at the lower prices and the presence of new food items like imported chocolates. “The prices have gone down, the war is over and the crossing is open to more goods,” Aya Mohammad-Zaki, a displaced woman from Gaza City sheltering in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, told Reuters.
Attention is also starting to shift to the rebuilding of the coastal enclave, which the Israeli military demolished in retaliation for Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Those assaults killed 1,139 people with about 250 taken captive into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
A UN damage assessment released this month showed that clearing more than 50 million tonnes of rubble left in the aftermath of Israel’s bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2bn.
A UN report from last year said rebuilding Gaza’s shattered homes could take at least until 2040 but could drag on for many decades. The debris is believed to be contaminated with asbestos because some refugee camps struck during the war are known to have been built with the material. A UN Development Programme official said on Sunday that development in Gaza has been set back by 69 years as a result of the conflict.
Isolated incidents as ceasefire largely holds Residents and officials in Gaza said on Monday that, for the most part, the ceasefire appeared to be holding – although there were incidents of violence. Two Palestinian civilians, one of them a teenage boy, were killed by Israeli snipers in Rafah, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Eight Palestinians, including children, were also injured on Monday as a result of Israeli gunfire in Rafah. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots towards people who approached soldiers deployed according to the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Elmasry, a media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said Israeli media are now increasingly focusing on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war on Gaza.
“They’re calling this a spectacular failure,” he told Al Jazeera, stressing that Netanyahu failed to fulfil his promise to eliminate Hamas.
“And now he has to watch on all the TV screens Hamas fighters dressed in their fatigues escorting Israeli captives to their vehicles,” the academic added. “He’s watching as Hamas will continue to govern Gaza and oversee the security situation, the humanitarian aid situation and all elements of this ceasefire. Hamas has not been eliminated, and this is very embarrassing for Netanyahu.”
Rafah residents hesitant to return from shelters to wrecked homes
Hamas police and security forces have been operating in Gaza today, the second day of a ceasefire-hostage deal with Israel in the war-battered territory, AFP journalists note.
Hamas’s deputy interior minister for the territory, Mahmud Abu Watfah, inspected armed police, some in fatigues and others dressed in black, before they patrolled the bombed-out streets of Gaza City.
“We care about the comfort and protection of those who sacrificed with the resistance and paid a heavy price for this bloody war,” Abu Watfah says.
Many Palestinians say they feel hesitant about leaving the shelters they fled to after being displaced by war and returning to the wreckage of their former homes in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza.
“We wanted to come back to put up a tent during the ceasefire. As you can see, it has become a ghost town. There is no water. There is nothing. There is even no leveled ground you can stay on,” says Hussein Barakat.
Footage shot by The Associated Press shows displaced residents digging through rubble with bare hands. Youssef al-Sharqawi sifts through the ruins of his destroyed home to try and retrieve clothes for his five children, including his infant son who has struggled to tolerate the winter’s cold at night.
Mohammed al-Ballas, another displaced Rafah homeowner, says that without basic necessities — including water and electricity — it will be difficult to return home in Rafah for good. Pointing at collapsed buildings, piles of rubble, and destroyed roads, he says he will remain in his shelter for now because there isn’t even space to erect a tent in the ruins of his former neighborhood
“Even if you tried to tie up an animal here, it would not live,” he says. linkThis article is from Al Jazeera, which is obviously biased against Israel but so much of this article is true. Gaza has been massively devastated and there are thousands of bodies buried under the rubble and will never be found. This includes an, as of yet unknown amount of hostages as well.
Hamas security forces move to swiftly reassert control over Gaza during ceasefire
Masked Palestinian gunmen guard trucks loaded with humanitarian aid in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, January 20, 2025. (Ali Hassan/Flash90)
Hamas police and security forces have been operating in Gaza today, the second day of a ceasefire-hostage deal with Israel in the war-battered territory, AFP journalists note.
Hamas’s deputy interior minister for the territory, Mahmud Abu Watfah, inspected armed police, some in fatigues and others dressed in black, before they patrolled the bombed-out streets of Gaza City.
“We care about the comfort and protection of those who sacrificed with the resistance and paid a heavy price for this bloody war,” Abu Watfah says.
He says they also want “to control the situation on the ground in case of any chaos. This was achieved from the first hour of the deployment of the ministry of interior (forces) and the security forces.”
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
Will Water Bring Peace? Israel’s Rare Opportunity with Syria’s New Regime
Following the fall of Assad's regime, Israeli experts are proposing cooperation in water resource management with Syria’s new government, which is grappling with a severe water crisis. A professor from Ben-Gurion University stated: "This is an opportunity for Israel to extend a hand to Damascus and assist with knowledge and capabilities to resolve the sensitive water issue."
The discussion around Assad’s regime collapse in Syria last month and the unfolding situation has primarily focused on security and geopolitical aspects. The central questions occupying Israel, the Middle East, and the world are whether the leader of the jihadists in Syria, Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa, known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, is a "wolf in sheep’s clothing," whether he will return to the path of jihad from which he emerged, or if he will take the country a step closer to the West.
Additionally, attention is drawn to the sectarian tensions in the country: the fate of the Alawites, whether Turkey—considered the big winner of the coup—will attack Kurdish regions, and how long the IDF will remain in the buffer zone positions it captured immediately after the regime’s fall. However, there is another critical angle that has not received enough attention and presents Israel with an opportunity to strengthen ties with whoever leads its northern neighbor. Leading experts from Ben-Gurion University in the Negev offer professional insights into how Israel can "earn its place" with the emerging regime in Syria, which for decades has struggled unsuccessfully with a severe water shortage.
Documentation of the water shortage that hit Damascus.
A Syrian girl fills a water bottle in the Syrian refugee camp in Bein Issa
Groundwater from the Mizrahi Hermon aquifer, abundant from a depth of about 1.5 km in the Shamir wells in the Hula Valley
The Shared Water Challenge
Prof. Eilon Adar, a groundwater hydrologist at the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University, argues that the change in the Syrian regime may open the door to advancing cooperation on water issues, which are of mutual interest to both sides. "Syria and Israel share groundwater from the Eastern Hermon Aquifer, which feeds the Banias and Dan springs, supplying over 70% of the water to the northern Jordan River, as well as the Barada Valley springs, the primary water source for the Damascus Basin," Prof. Adar explained.
He noted that for four decades, the Damascus Basin, including the capital city, has faced a severe water shortage. "A drastic reduction in spring flow due to climate change in our region has increased reliance on groundwater extraction, much of which is replenished by rainfall and snow on the Eastern Hermon massif. Unregulated groundwater pumping beyond natural recharge levels has led to a sharp drop in groundwater levels, drying up many wells, significantly harming agriculture (food production), and causing an economic and social crisis that has driven villagers to nearby towns and Damascus," Prof. Adar said.
A Shared Resource, A Shared Solution
According to Prof. Adar, rebuilding the Damascus Basin's economy will require authorities to address the water issue by seeking alternative water sources. The most accessible water source for them is the groundwater reservoir at the edges of the Hermon Aquifer, a transboundary aquifer located at the mountain’s eastern slopes, providing water to Syria (the Barada Valley springs in the Damascus Basin) and Israel (the Dan and Banias springs feeding the Jordan River).
"In this case, Syria uses water upstream, while Israel relies on it downstream of the natural flow," Prof. Adar explained. "It is appropriate for Israel and Syria to cooperate, as both countries have natural rights to this shared reservoir, which contains a vital economic resource essential for our survival," he said. Prof. Adar added that Syria has an interest in collaboration to maximize water yields, while Israel has proven expertise in developing and managing groundwater resources. link
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
IDF says dozens of settler extremists involved in overnight West Bank riots, troops also attacked
A Palestinian stands beside a truck that was torched in an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Jinsafut, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
An initial IDF investigation into a settler attack on two West Bank Palestinian villages last night has found that dozens of assailants were involved, and troops also came under attack.
The probe found that “dozens of Israeli civilians, some of them masked, arrived at night al-Funduq area… set fire to property and caused damage.”
The IDF says that upon receiving the report, soldiers and police officers were dispatched to the scene.
The assailants involved in the attack on al-Funduq and the adjacent village of Jinsafut “threw stones and attacked the security forces,” the army says.
The head of the IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, says in a statement, “Any violent riot harms security and the IDF will not allow it.”
The IDF does not mention an incident that occurred amid the settler attack, in which a police officer opened fire on two settlers, badly wounding them.
The Justice Ministry’s Department of Internal Police Investigations and the IDF Military Police are jointly investigating the incident.
The police officer reportedly told interrogators that the two settlers were masked, brandishing stones, and were threatening him and other forces.
“They sprayed me with pepper spray, I was afraid they would lynch us and I fired a few shots in the air,” he is cited as saying according to Haaretz.
Palestinians say 21 people were wounded in the attacks.
Katz condemns settler rampage in West Bank, calls on settler leaders to condemn violence
A Palestinian man inspects the damage at his shop on January 21, 2025, after it was burnt in overnight Israeli settler attacks in Jinsafut village in the West Bank. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Responding to last night’s settler attack on two West Bank Palestinian villages of al-Funduq and Jinsafut, Defense Minister Israel Katz tells the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that he “strongly condemns any attack and violence against Palestinians” and regrets the shooting of two Israeli men by a police officer during the attack.
“Law enforcement authorities must enforce the law and arrest and prosecute anyone who violates the law. There should be a criminal procedure and not administrative orders, and settlers should be treated the same as [people involved in] any other incident anywhere in the State of Israel,” he says.
He calls on settler leaders to “condemn any violence of this kind.”
Katz warns of an increasing threat to settlements, stating that “our enemies recognize here now that this is the only arena that is open today.”
“We are committed and the IDF is committed, in accordance with my directive, to act forcefully to protect all the settlers and settlements against Palestinian terrorism and to act with great force in order to thwart terrorism,” he adds.
No arrests yet in last night’s settler rampages; cop who shot rioters held
Israel has yet to make any arrests in the latest settler rampages last night in the northern West Bank.
Israeli assailants attacked the villages of Jinsafut and al-Funduq, setting fire to homes and vehicles.
Two of the suspects were shot and badly injured by a police officer.
That officer was detained for questioning before being released to house arrest.
Israel’s failure to rein in settler violence led the US to begin issuing sanctions against violent extremists in the West Bank last year. That regime was ended by US President Donald Trump on his first day of office yesterday. linkUnfortunately, this is not a surprise to anyone with this failed criminal government. Violence of settlers against Palestinians is not only accepted, it is encouraged and all the time that Ben Gvir was Minister of Internal "Insecurity", the police were given direct instructions not to do anything against the settlers. Ben Gvir's resignation only went into effect today, so it is no wonder that the police are still ignoring this violence. Defense Minister Katz has made matters worse by stopping the practice of Administrative detentions by the army of these violent settlers and Trump's cancellation of sanctions against the violent settlers and groups is adding salt to the wound.
Politics and the War (general news)
IDF chief Halevi’s resignation letter: ‘Oct. 7 failure will remain with me for the rest of my life’
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi visits Israel's border with Syria on December 7, 2024. (IDF)
The full text of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi’s letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz, announcing he intends to resign on March 6.
Subject: Conclusion of My Tenure as the 23rd Chief of Staff of the IDF
For the past four decades, the mission of safeguarding the security of the State of Israel has been my life’s calling. From my early days as a soldier and young commander to my role as Chief of Staff, I have taken pride in being part of the IDF, regarded it as an exemplary organization, and felt the heavy responsibility of being among the defenders of Israel and its citizens.
I was fully aware that upon assuming command of the IDF, I was entrusted with the immense responsibility of ensuring that the military would be prepared to withstand the ultimate test of war, deter its enemies, and where threats were not preemptively neutralized, act as a shield between the enemy and Israeli civilians.
On the morning of October 7, under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect Israel’s citizens. The State of Israel paid a heavy and painful price — in lives lost, in hostages taken, and in those wounded both physically and emotionally. The courageous acts of many — security forces personnel, IDF soldiers and commanders, and brave civilians — were not enough to prevent this great disaster. My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will remain with me for the rest of my life.
The IDF was able to rise from an extremely difficult starting point and wage an intense campaign for over a year and three months across seven different fronts. The military achievements of the IDF have altered the Middle East. The IDF inflicted severe damage on Hamas’s military wing, created the conditions for the return of hostages, dealt an unprecedented blow to Hezbollah, and significantly weakened Iran and its regional activities.
The IDF continues to protect the residents of the Golan Heights from within the Syrian buffer zone and has successfully dismantled most of the Syrian army’s capabilities. In the West Bank, the IDF operates effectively every day and night in counterterrorism missions.
These achievements far exceed any goal discussed with the political leadership regarding warfare in each of these arenas, and their significance is even greater given the interconnected nature of these fronts.
These achievements, first and foremost, belong to the IDF’s commanders and soldiers — my subordinates. IDF troops, both in active duty and reserves, from all sectors of Israeli society, stood up to fight this just war, fought with bravery and sacrifice, and emerged victorious in every encounter with the enemy.
These accomplishments came at a heavy cost. We suffered the loss of some of our finest warriors, the bereaved families grew in number, and the war has left deep wounds and scars on many. The IDF will always remain committed to these families and to the memory of the fallen.
The war’s objectives have yet to be fully achieved. The IDF will continue to fight to dismantle Hamas’s governance and military capabilities, to secure the return of all the hostages, and to strengthen the security conditions that will allow the safe return of residents to their homes in the south and north.
The IDF has initiated and implemented an unprecedented and extensive investigation process during wartime, aimed at learning and improving, strengthening combat and defense capabilities, and as part of its commitment to the bereaved families, to the hostages and their families, and to the entire public.
These investigations are thorough, truthful, and in-depth, currently in their final stages, and have already yielded critical lessons that have been integrated into force deployment and military preparedness.
In recognition of my responsibility for the IDF’s failure on October 7, and at a time when the IDF has recorded extraordinary achievements and restored Israel’s deterrence and strength, I request to conclude my tenure on March 6, 2025.
This decision was made long ago. Now, with the IDF holding the upper hand in all theaters of combat and with another hostage return agreement underway, the time has come.
In the time remaining, I will finalize the investigations and continue strengthening the IDF’s readiness for the challenges ahead. This will ensure a smooth and structured transition of command to my successor.
I will always be a soldier of the State of Israel.
Herzi Halevi Chief of the General Staff link. There is no question that Halevi needs to resign. The problem is the timing. He, the head of the Shin Bet and Mossad all need to resign but not before we get rid of Netanyahu. Netanyahu should not be the one to pick the new heads of all the security services after October 7. He carries the lion's share of the blame, the responsibility, the culpability and should never be allowed to choose our future security heads or the direction of our security. He failed for years and his failures brought us October 7
Opposition chiefs urge Netanyahu to follow Halevi’s lead and resign
The heads of the Knesset’s opposition parties call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to follow IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi’s example and resign.
“I salute…Herzi Halevi. Now let the prime minister and his entire disastrous government take responsibility and resign,” tweets Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.
“After the resignation of the [IDF] chief of staff, I call on the prime minister and the other members of the cabinet to take responsibility and follow him home,” says Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman.
“Thank you, Herzi. Netanyahu, now it’s your turn,” says The Democrats’ Yair Golan.
Halevi is “first and foremost a warrior” who “fought for the country his entire adult life,” says National Unity chief Benny Gantz, himself a former IDF chief of staff.
“The chief of staff is responsible for the [military failures that led to the] October 7 disaster and is also responsible for the IDF’s tremendous recovery,” he tweets. “He took responsibility from the first moment, exercised it on the battlefield and is now also exercising his public responsibility in a manner worthy of appreciation.”
Gantz calls on Netanyahu to establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7 and to “lead the State of Israel to elections so that a government can be established that will regain the public’s trust.” Link Hezi Halevi has taken responsibility for October 7 since the very beginning of the war. So did the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad as well as other senior IDF officers. Unfortunately, the person who is most responsible, Netanyahu has refused to take any responsibility and is doing everything he can to both pin all the responsibility on the army and security services and preventing an Official Independent State Commission of Inquiry because he knows he is most responsible and doesn't want that to happen.
Following IDF chief’s lead, Southern Command head says he too plans to resign over responsibility for failures ahead of Oct. 7
The head of the IDF Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, has notified Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi that he intends to resign from the military.
Finkleman cites his responsibility for the IDF’s failures in the lead-up to the October 7, 2023, onslaught as the reason for his resignation.
The announcement comes after Halevi announced he would resign in March.
Smotrich: Religious Zionism staying in government ‘to make sure the war doesn’t end’
Though celebrating the return of the hostages, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich maintains his opposition to the ceasefire and condemns what he claims are efforts to “silence” this position.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his Religious Zionism party’s weekly faction meeting at the Knesset, Smotrich lashes out at those who he says are working to “delegitimize, demonize and dehumanize” people like him.
“We were a small, sober, realistic, determined minority who warned of the consequences of the withdrawal” from Gaza in 2005. In 2011, “they demonized us in the face of the euphoria of an entire nation that surrendered to the campaign in the Shalit deal,” he says.
“When the evil of Hamas lives, exists, breathes,” then the “next massacre” is only a matter of time, Smotrich asserts. “That is why I insisted, demanded and received an unequivocal commitment from the prime minister, defense minister and the rest of my cabinet colleagues: We are not stopping this war a moment before realizing its full goals, which include destroying Hamas on the civilian, military and government levels and returning all the hostages to their homes.”
“We are staying in the government to make sure that the war does not end a moment before complete victory,” he says.
Smotrich also welcomes Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, stating that he hopes and believes “that very soon we will hear more good news from the United States” on issues ranging from Iran to West Bank settlement.
“We are taking advantage of two years of a right-wing government with full backing in the White House with both houses of Congress, and with God’s help, they are an opportunity for historic changes,” he says.
Smotrich also calls for the replacement of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
“I want to say that I have great respect for the chief of staff and the other IDF commanders. Can anyone argue with their many years of contribution? People sacrificed their best years of their time and energy for the security of the State of Israel. In this war too, there were very great achievements in everything that concerns the use of IDF power,” he says.
However, under his watch “Hamas brought in 15 months of humanitarian aid that maintained the civilian population’s dependence on [Hamas],” Smotrich argues, saying that Halevi “bears personal responsibility for this matter.”
“I really love him as chief of staff. I want to hug him. Every time I meet him I know that he hasn’t slept a single hour a day since the beginning of this war. It’s not an easy struggle,” the far-right leader continues.
But, he says, Halevi and his colleagues “have some aversion to anything that smacks of occupation. Military rule is a word that some have outlawed from the Israeli lexicon. There is no way to defeat Hamas and bring security to the citizens of Israel without doing this.” linkI don't know where to start in responding to all the horrible lies that Smotrich has stated. Starting with the withdrawal from Gaza, we ending up where we are because of Arik Sharon's absolute refusal to work with the Palestinian Authority on an organized handover. Instead, he wanted all hell to break lose so he wouldn't have to deal with the Palestinian issue and negotiating with them. And we got what he sowed. Next is the distribution of humanitarian aid for the last over 15 months. Hamas is there because of Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben Gvir. Had Netanyahu accepted what all of the security heads said so many times, there would have been an alternative Palestinian governing body, the PA and Hamas ideology would have been replaced by hope in a new future without Hamas for all Gazans. The PA would have been backed by security forces from Egypt, the Gulf States and possibly European and American forces to oust Hamas from any possibility of continuing to rule Gaza and be a military terrorist threat to Israel. Netanyahu's refusal with the backing of Smotrich and Ben Gvir has been the best thing that has happened to Hamas throughout the war. And when Smotrich talks about victory, that is a load of crap. There is no victory without the hostages coming home. We saw and experienced that in November 2023 with the first hostage deal and we lived it again 2 days ago with the release of the 3 woman hostages. Everyone in Israel was glued to the TV watching every moment of their release and praying that they would get to Israel and be healthy (relatively). These are the only moments of joy that we have experienced in 15 months. These are the only moments of victory. Smotrich and Ben Gvir have warped ideas of what victory is and they have no regard for the value of the lives of the hostages or for their families and also don't give a damn that the majority of Israelis want the hostages home even at the cost of ending the war. They only have their warped extremist messianic agendas and don't care who pays the price for it.
The Region and the World
Personal Stories
Former hostage, partner of fallen soldier find love together in relationship blessed by soldier's father
Almog Meir Jan, rescued from Hamas captivity, is now in a relationship with Osher Hanum, former partner of fallen soldier Amit Ben Yigal; The couple has received blessings from Amit's father: 'She deserves to love and be loved' Almog Meir Jan, who was rescued from Hamas captivity in June during "Operation Arnon," is now romantically involved with Osher Hanum, the former partner of Sergeant First Class Amit Ben Yigal, who was killed five years ago when a stone was thrown at his head during an operation in a Palestinian village. The two have been dating for about six months.
Almog and Osher
Baruch Ben Yigal, the fallen soldier's father, told Ynet he approves of the relationship. "When we marked six months since Amit’s passing, Osher and I stood together at his grave, and I told her that I wish her the best in the world, and that, God willing, she’ll invite us to her wedding. I told her she deserves to love and be loved, and I would be happy to hear that she’s in a relationship. I think this is the best thing that could happen. She’s a young woman who went through a tragedy."
"I was very happy to hear about her relationship," he continued. "The kind-hearted Almog also attended the opening of the synagogue we dedicated in Amit’s memory and the ceremony where we brought in a Torah scroll. They came together. We are close to them, and we are so happy and supportive of them. My dream is to see Osher walk down the aisle, and I will dance all night at her wedding because she deserves it. I hope God grants me the opportunity to see her under the wedding canopy and the blessings of marriage."
Amit Ben Yigal
The grieving father added: "We are a supportive, loving, and embracing family. We only want her to be happy and to have the best and most joyful life. We’ve had enough sorrow. We deal with this sorrow every day, all day, so we only want the best for her."
Almog Meir Jan’s emotional speech at Hostages Square
Almog Meir Jan was rescued on June 8 from the Nuseirat camp along with Shlomi Ziv, Noa Argamani, and Andrey Kozlov. About a week ago, he appeared at Hostages Square for the first time since his rescue and gave an emotional speech about the long period he spent under the constant threat of terrorists controlling his life.
"It has been 210 days since that Saturday when I was taken out of hell, but I’ll never forget the sight of the outstretched hand toward me, the hand that saved my life," he said. "Arnon and his team will forever remain in my heart." Arnon Zamora fell during the operation to rescue the hostages, and the operation was renamed in his memory
He urged progress on a hostage deal. "The outstretched hand for the hostages and their families is a deal that must be signed, a deal to save their lives, to save all of our lives," he said, adding that: "As long as all 100 of our hostages have not returned home safely, there is no recovery, no continuity and no future." link
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Let Us Say: No More.
Chen Arieli
Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and human rights activist.
There is a copious amount of poison running through our collective veins as a nation, flowing by order of Netanyahu, so much that we are enveloped in the despair he inflicts, so deeply entrenched in it, that we are unable to find hope. In his calculated use of misdirection and smokescreens, he has turned us all into hostages of his rule, blinding us to the most urgent and acute national responsibility - bringing the hostages home NOW.
How have we normalized having a Prime Minister so willing to abandon anyone who doesn’t serve his interests or bolster his power? A Prime Minister who operates a machine of political assassination against anyone who refuses to bend to his will? A Prime Minister who pits us against one another? When did we allow this poison to seep through our bones, when did we stop believing that a different reality is possible? What can we even expect from Netanyahu’s legacy of implementing a continuous policy of fear and chaos, of division and fomenting discord?
We’ve reached a point where the word “abandonment” has become so ubiquitous that it has seemingly lost all meaning. We have become so used to the neglect characterizing Netanyahu’s long tenure in office that we should have seen the signs; he isn’t abandoning the hostages, their families and the nation itself only now; for years he has been neglecting our children, Israeli women, members of the LGBTQ community, and Israeli Arabs.
What more needs to happen in this land in our time, and what will remain after his demise? Our country direly needs a respite from this horrible reality, fresh air to breathe instead of the stifling air in the tunnels of Gaza. The abandonment of the hostages is a terrifying symbol of the state of the entire country. Systematic neglect is Netanyahu’s legacy.
When he stands on international podiums, speaking eloquent English, Netanyahu prides himself on his supposed fight for LGBTQ rights in Israel. But here at home, time and again he abandons us in favor of his Messianic cronies. He builds coalitions with zealots who wreak havoc on all those who believe in equality and freedom. He props up political yes-men who systematically exclude women from decision-making processes, who prioritize war over human lives and Israel’s future. During Netanyahu’s rule he paved the road of abandonment and neglect, of warped narratives, of fearmongering and destabilization of everything that doesn't revolve around him.
Abandoning the hostages in Gaza is his worst feat yet. It symbolizes the abandonment of our future in this country, of our ability to seek hope beyond the horizon. Neglecting the Israeli homefront, leaving Northern Israel to burn, abandoning displaced citizens to their fate, with no home to return to.
We must dust off this shroud of abandonment and understand that it all begins and ends with Netanyahu’s worldview, which will live throughout history in his name. But we have the power to say: No more. Releasing the hostages is our most pressing responsibility - not just to bring them back home, but to bring us all, as a nation, to our true home. This is our opportunity to rid this country of Israel's “leaders” who took it from us, and to rebuild a society founded on hope, justice and social solidarity, instead of resigning to abandonment and despair.
Acronyms and Glossary
COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories
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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Released hostages Emily Damari reunites with her mother shortly after returning to Israel after 471 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, January 19, 2025. (IDF)
Released hostage Doron Steinbrecher reunites with her mothers shortly after returning to Israel after 471 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, January 19, 2025. (IDF)
Documentation of the water shortage that hit Damascus. 
A Syrian girl fills a water bottle in the Syrian refugee camp in Bein Issa 
Groundwater from the Mizrahi Hermon aquifer, abundant from a depth of about 1.5 km in the Shamir wells in the Hula Valley
Almog and Osher
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