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Hostage Updates
Some hostages’ families say IDF told them loved ones may be dead, as per Hamas ‘list’
After Gazan terror group says eight hostages set to be released in coming weeks are dead, relatives say the military gave them grim assessment of their loved ones’ fate
Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzik is held hostage in Gaza, speaks during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on January 28, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Family members of several hostages who are set to be released from Gaza in the coming weeks expressed dread over their loved ones’ fates on Tuesday after Hamas conveyed information saying that eight of those 33 hostages are dead.
Following the release of the information those families were informed by the military that Hamas’s information aligned with previous military assessments and there were dire concerns about their fates.
Hamas provided a list — reportedly only numbers, without names — reporting how many of the hostages from among the 33 to be released in the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire are alive. Hamas was required to provide information about the hostages’ status as part of its obligations under the deal with Israel signed earlier this month.
The hostages’ family members confirmed that Gal Hirsh, the government point man on hostages, had reached out to them in recent days and said that while the terror group’s information was incomplete, it lined up with the assessment of Israel’s intelligence services.
“It’s not exactly data. It’s Hamas saying [the number of] ‘alive,’ ‘released,’ and ‘dead,'” specified Yizhar Lifshitz, whose father Oded Lifshitz, 84, is on the list of the initial 33 to be released.
“There’s a grave concern for his life after this last indication,” the hostage’s son said, speaking to the Ynet news outlet. “The last sign of life for him was on Day 25.”
On that day, Lifshitz said, “he was alive, with someone from the kibbutz, [being held] in the same apartment, but he didn’t feel well. They took him, and he’s basically disappeared since then, from us and probably from Hamas too. It doesn’t bode well.”
A poster advocating for the release of hostage Oded Lifshitz hangs in his daughter Sharone Lifschitz’s home in London, January 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Hamas terrorists kidnapped Oded Lifshitz, along with his wife Yocheved Lifshitz, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, during the terror group’s October 7, 2023 cross-border onslaught, which started the war. His wife was released after 20 days in captivity.
Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzik Elgarat is also among those slated for release, angrily told a Knesset committee on Tuesday, “my brother was left to die,” citing Hamas’s document.
“We know more today about the list that Hamas sent. I won’t speak for others, but we’ll probably receive him as one of the slain,” Elgarat said.
“It was possible to save him, if you’d accepted the earlier deal,” he continued, and lamented the government’s insistence on applying military pressure to Hamas rather than agreeing to a ceasefire deal earlier.
“Who will be held accountable for this decision that killed 40 hostages?” he asked.
The deal agreed to earlier this month, which went into effect on January 19, is based on a proposal that the US presented in May 2024. Far-right politicians who oppose the current deal have claimed responsibility for that agreement not going through in May, although the government and the US have blamed Hamas.
Separately, in an interview with Ynet on Tuesday, Elgarat called for living hostages to be prioritized over the return of bodies, after noting that his brother, set to be released in the coming weeks, is likely dead.
“We should bring home the living first, and after that, in the end, we’ll return the fallen. If someone isn’t alive, does it matter what [phase of the deal] he’s [released] in? He’s not alive anymore,” he said.
So far, seven hostages have been freed as part of the current deal, which mandates the release of 33 so-called “humanitarian hostages” during its first 42-day phase, with fighting stopped in the Strip.
As those hostages — women, children, elderly people, and sick people — are gradually released, Israel is to release some 1,904 Palestinian security prisoners, including more than a hundred serving life sentences for terror attacks
The three-phase deal’s later phases are to see negotiations with the stated goal of reaching a “sustainable calm” in the enclave, alongside the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza, the release of more Palestinian security prisoners, and an Israeli withdrawal from the Strip.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when some 3,000 Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking 251 hostages, amid acts of brutality and sexual assault.
At least 34 of the 87 hostages still in captivity have been confirmed dead by the IDF, and the bodies of 40 others have been recovered throughout the course of the war. linkNot all of the 8 dead hostages in this phase of the hostage deal could have been saved and brought back alive but many could have. The same with some of the 34 who have been confirmed dead as well as many others who were killed in captivity and their bodies were already brought back to Israel. All of those who could have been saved if an earlier deal was made, their blood is directly on the hands of Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben Gvir. Netanyahu could have made a deal or even continued the November 2023 deal but he valued and still values his personal and political position over the lives of every single hostage. Smotrich and Ben Gvir were the people directly responsible for preventing a deal by threatening the weak prime minister with bringing down his government, with Ben Gvir being so proud that he, personally prevented a deal being made for the last 14 months. Each one of them should be sent to replace the hostages and remain in captivity forever. They don't deserve anything better.
Islamic Jihad releases propaganda video with sign of life from hostage Arbel Yehud
Israel says Hamas list shows 18 of remaining first-phase hostages are alive, 8 are dead; delegation from terror group arrives in Cairo to discuss Gaza ceasefire deal implementation
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group released a propaganda video Monday evening of civilian hostage Arbel Yehud, who is due to be released on Thursday.
In the video, Yehud says the date is January 25, meaning it was apparently filmed on Saturday.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas have previously issued similar videos of hostages held by them, in what Israel says is deplorable psychological warfare.
The family asked that the media not broadcast the clip or images from it.
In the video, Yehud reassures her family that she is “okay,” and says she hopes to return home soon “like the other girls.”
Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, Yehud was supposed to have been released over the weekend, as she is a civilian, but Hamas instead released four IDF surveillance soldiers: Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Liri Albag.
Israel announced Sunday night that the dispute over Yehoud’s release had been resolved, with the terror group set to release six hostages in two batches this week, including Yehoud and the last remaining surveillance soldier, Agam Berger.
Hostages Arbel Yehoud, left, and Agam Berger, held by terrorists in Gaza since October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)
The fate of Yehud was briefly a major sticking point in the deal’s implementation, with Israel blocking the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza after Hamas released the four female soldiers on Saturday. Under the ceasefire and hostage release deal, the terror group was required to prioritize the release of civilian women.
Once the dispute was resolved, Israel allowed Palestinians to cross the Netzarim Corridor and return to northern Gaza starting at 7 a.m. Monday morning. According to Hamas, “more than 300,000 displaced” Palestinians returned to the north throughout the day.
This aerial photo shows displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim Corridor, from the southern Gaza Strip. (AFP)
Yehud is being held by Islamic Jihad, which was reportedly falsely describing her as a soldier and demanding more prisoners be released in return for her. The Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday evening that PIJ agreed to classify her as a civilian, helping resolve the crisis.
Yehod, 28, and her boyfriend Ariel Cunio, 26, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.
18 alive, 8 dead
Israel said Monday that Hamas finally sent a list detailing the conditions of the remaining hostages, which showed that 18 of the 26 remaining hostages still to be freed are alive and eight are dead, but did not specify which are alive or dead.
Government spokesman David Mencer conveyed the Hamas information to journalists on Monday.
Thirty-three hostages are being freed in phase one of the deal, including the seven living hostages who have gone free since the implementation of the agreement began on January 19.
The 33 hostages set to be returned in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Row 1 (L-R): Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Arbel Yehoud, Doron Steinbrecher, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas; Row 2: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy, Ohad Ben-Ami, Gadi Moshe Moses; Row 3: Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon, Eli Sharabi, Itzik Elgarat, Shlomo Mansour, Ohad Yahalomi, Oded Lifshitz; Row 4: Tsahi Idan, Hisham al-Sayed, Yarden Bibas, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Yair Horn, Omer Wenkert, Sasha Trufanov; Row 5: Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, Avera Mengistu, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov. (all photos courtesy)
Hebrew media reported Monday that some of the families of the hostages slated to be released were being informed that there is concern for their loved ones’ lives.
Among those whose fates are unknown are Shiri Silberman Bibas, her husband Yarden Bibas, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir.
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that there were “grave concerns” for their lives.
Speaking to Kan, Yarden’s sister Ofri Bibas said the family is still waiting to receive any concrete information, and that “there is no difference between what we knew yesterday and what we know today.”
“We have known that there is grave fear for their lives, since Hamas’s announcement at the end of the previous deal,” she said, referring to the terror group’s claim in November 2023, that Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir had been killed.
She appealed to the public to refrain from spreading “false and unverified news,” and said her family “needs information to come to us from official sources, not from the media and WhatsApp groups.”
Shiri Bibas (center) and her sons Ariel, 4, (left) and baby Kfir, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)
Whether hostages are alive or dead inside Gaza has been a heartbreaking uncertainty for their families, who have pushed Israel’s government to reach a deal to free them, fearing that time is running out.
Eighty-seven of those abducted by Hamas in the October 7 onslaught remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.
In addition to the seven hostages released during a ceasefire that began this month, Hamas released 105 civilians during a weeklong truce in late November 2023, and four hostages were released before that.
Liri Albag gives a thumbs-up sign to a large crowd of Hamas operatives and supporeters, alongside fellow Israeli hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, before they are released by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City, January 25, 2025. (AP Photo)
Eight hostages were rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 40 hostages have been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the Israeli military, as they tried to escape their captors.
Hamas is also holding two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the body of an IDF soldier who was killed in 2014. The body of another IDF soldier, also killed in 2014, was recovered from Gaza this month.
Hamas delegation in Cairo
A high-ranking Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Monday evening, saying it aimed to discuss the implementation of all three phases of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The Hamas statement said the delegation includes senior leader Mohammed Darwish and other prominent members of its leadership council and negotiating team.
The terror group said meetings with Egyptian officials will focus on ensuring progress in the ceasefire’s implementation and addressing any challenges in the ongoing exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The Hamas delegation will also meet with Palestinian prisoners released under the ceasefire’s six-week first phase that began just over a week ago.
Egypt is a key mediator in ceasefire talks and part of the joint committee implementing the deal.
The Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo as US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is on a diplomatic trip in the region, in part to work to secure the implementation of the second and third phases of the ceasefire deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) meets then-US president-elect Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff at his office in Jerusalem, January 11, 2025. (Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson)
Witkoff is slated to visit Israel this week, after visiting Saudi Arabia.
Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office is planning for the premier to travel to Washington next week to meet with Trump, two sources familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel.
The trip has not been finalized and will be dependent on Netanyahu’s health, as he recovers from prostate surgery, but the plan is for him to depart on Sunday and return on Thursday.
If he travels, Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet Trump in his second term, a gesture from the US president to the Israeli leader, in return for him acceding to pressure to reach a deal in Gaza.
They saw friends murdered, or slowly die; freed hostages share ordeals
Four freed girls say terrorists guarding them forbade crying or holding hands but they found ways to support each other; they picked up Arabic and used black humor to process their experiences Since their release from Hamas captivity on Saturday, the four IDF lookouts have been telling their families about the long months when they were held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. "The are talking all the time about their experiences. They are telling all, perhaps out of a sense that they have to let it all out," some who have been with the girls, said.
They were aware of the events during the Oct. 7 massacre because they were abducted by the terrorists, relatively late and understood the magnitude of the atrocities. People around them said they spoke of what had transpired in the shelter that they were in, where they watched their friends slowly die or be murdered and that had a significant effect on them. They also said they used black humor to communicate and are spending the time at the Beilinson Hospital to be together surrounded by close friends and family.
The girls have picked up good Arabic language skills and occasionally drop a word in Arabic in their sentences. A few of them contacted other hostages that were free, who had been with them in Gaza. All the girls have met up with friends and Liri united with her partner Nir, and was happy to see him on his feet after he was badly hurt in a terrorist ramming attack and has been in a wheel chair. After he was operated on last March, he was able to walk with the help of crutches.
Liri Albag and Partner Nir
Naama Levy was held hostage on her own for a long time until she was united with the other girls. Then she asked them if they were really alive. Four of the girls tried to pass the time with physical exercise despite to difficult condition they were held in and the lack of food.
The terrorists who guarded them did not allow them to hold hands or cry but they found ways to support each other. Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev were together most of the time and although they had known each other before their abduction the bond between them grew stronger
Earlier deputy chief of the Israeli military's medical corps, Colonel Dr. Avi Banov said that some of the hostages released from Gaza so far during the current cease-fire had been held in Hamas tunnels for up to eight months straight, deprived of daylight and with little to no human contact.
Son of hostage Oded Lifshitz says there is ‘grave fear’ for his elderly father’s life
A poster advocating for the release of hostage Oded Lifshitz hangs in his daughter Sharone Lifschitz's home in London, January 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Yizhar Lifshitz, the son of hostage Oded Lifshitz and former hostage Yocheved Lifshitz, tells the Ynet news outlet that there is “grave fear” for his 84-year-old father’s life, after more than 15 months in Hamas captivity.
Yesterday, Israel said that a Hamas list showed eight of the 26 hostages still to be freed in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal are dead.
While the list did not provide the status of each individual, and instead showed only how many of the 26 hostages are alive, officials have said that the Hamas document matched Israel’s existing information.
Yizhar says his mother Yocheved heard the updates regarding the number of living hostages “and understood that the chances of him being alive are slim.”
He says that the last time there was a sign of life from Oded was on the 25th day of his father’s now 480-day captivity.
He urges Israel to continue to implement the hostage-ceasefire deal in full, rather than abandon it before the final phase.
Gaza and the South
In my opinion, it should be clear that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza as long as Hamas controls Gaza. No country, including the Arab countries, will pay to reconstruct Gaza if Hamas governs there. Even Qatar will not agree to finance the reconstruction if Hamas controls Gaza because there is no point in reconstructing a place that will be destroyed again. Hamas is aware of this and if there are other Palestinians who think otherwise, they do not understand the new reality. (Gershon Baskin January 27, 2025)
EU ministers agree to revive Rafah border mission
Egyptian army soldiers guard their side of the Rafah crossing, closed since early May, on July 4, 2024. (Giuseppe Cacace / AFP)
The European Union will restart a civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says.
“Everyone agrees that EUBAM Rafah can play a decisive role in supporting the ceasefire,” Kallas says.
“Today, EU foreign ministers agreed to redeploy it to the Rafah Crossing Point between Gaza and Egypt. This will allow a number of injured individuals to leave Gaza and receive medical care,” she adds.
Team of US and Egyptian contractors begins checking vehicles traveling to northern Gaza
An Israeli tank is seen in the background as displaced Palestinians travel toward Gaza City through the Netzarim Corridor from the southern Gaza Strip on January 27, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
An Egyptian official says Egyptian contractors, along with a US firm, are running checkpoints that inspect vehicles heading to northern Gaza via the Salah a-Din road to ensure no armed terrorists travel the route.
The contractors are part of an Egyptian-Qatari committee implementing the ceasefire, according to the official, who speaks on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
An Israeli official says that the inspections began today and were a key demand of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during negotiations.
The official says that the vehicle checkpoint is designed to stop heavy arms flowing to northern Gaza.
The Israeli official described the team operating the inspections as “multinational,” but gave no further details except to say it included a private American security firm.
The official says Israel will continue to act against violations of the ceasefire terms.
President tells reporters he hoped el-Sisi who is a 'friend' would agree to his idea to remove Gazans to neighboring countries during rebuilding in the Strip as the U.S. provides Egypt with much aid; says will discuss two-state solution with Netanyahu soon
Rubio speaks with Jordan’s Abdullah after Trump suggested kingdom take in Gazans At first, this just sounded like another stupid and illegal idea by the criminal Trump and that it would go away once he got pushback by Egypt and Jordan. But it is not going away and he is continuing on in this greatly illegal idea of forcible transfer of millions of refugees. From the moment that Trump floated this sick idea, our extremist, messianic politicians immediately announced they were in favor and want to make it happen. It totally fits their messianic ideologies of ridding the West Bank and Gaza of all Palestinians and making it jewish territory to be annexed to Israel. They, of course want to rid Israel proper of our Arab citizens but that is a much harder thing to do, at least for now. They see in Trump their natural partner who will let them get away with their most extreme ideas and plans with full support and no pushback whatsoever. Although Netanyahu probably sees the major problems of this idea, there is a very good chance that he will not only go along with it, but throw his full support behind it. For him, it solves so many problems. If he supports this illegal endeavor of forcible transfer of millions of Palestinian refugees, his most extreme former minister, the criminal Ben Gvir would most likely run back to the government and his ministries and would go along with ending the war. Ben Gvir couldn't imagine a better solution than getting rid of the entire Gazan population. This would save Netanyahu's government and enable the ending of the war, which is supposed to bring back all the hostages. If, however, this sick idea gains ground, Hamas could refuse to conclude any deal. None of these parties cares anything about international ramifications which would be many, including but not limited to: total embargo of everything to Israel as was done to Apartheid South Africa, barring Israelis from entering many countries, issuing international court arrest warrants for every soldier, every reserve soldier and every politician to start, a third intifada fought not only with lethal weapons but fought by every Palestinian in Gaza, the West Bank and within Israel with whatever they can get their hands on to fight forced transfer, and that would also mean thousands more being killed and maimed on both sides, and with the return of the criminal Ben Gvir to his Internal 'Insecurity' minister which he has turned into his private militia, the violence and arrest of anyone demonstrating against all of this craziness. This could break apart Israeli society and the country. But what do these messianics care, they get what they want, a State of only Jews who can settle wherever they want.
Trump’s proposal for moving Gaza’s population sparks accusations of ‘ethnic cleansing’
Trump calls on Jordan & Egypt to take Gazans, drawing controversy. Israeli right applauds, left condemns as “ethnic cleansing.” Jordan and Egypt reject the plan, citing security risks
Trump spoke aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One on Saturday.
“It’s a mess. It’s a real mess,” the American President told reporters when referring to the Gaza Strip and calling on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Jordanian King Abdullah II to allow for the entry of Gaza residents into their countries.
What could be referred to as displacement by some or relocation by others made Trump’s call contentious.
In the Israeli right wing, his call was welcomed. On the left, amongst those who favor a political solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the American leader was condemned and ridiculed.
“I really want to believe that this is not a serious story. I want to believe that if Trump did say this, it is the result of the last conversation that he had with some crazy Israeli settlement leader,” Gershon Baskin, a social and political activist, posted on his social media accounts Sunday. “I hope that he understands that what he is suggesting is ethnic cleansing and should never even be whispered as a wish.”
Ultra-nationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called it “a great idea.”
“For years, statesmen have been proposing unworkable solutions such as partitioning the land and a Palestinian state that have jeopardized the existence and security of the only Jewish state in the world,” Smotrich posted on his X account. “I will work closely with the Prime Minister and the cabinet to ensure that there is an operational plan to implement this as soon as possible.”
Smotrich represents a far-right sector of the current coalition, which has also called for the re-settlement of Gaza with Jewish inhabitants. Israel withdrew its army and settlements from the Gaza Strip in 2005 after decades of controlling the Strip. Hamas, an organization dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state, violently took over in 2007, removing the Palestinian Authority (PA) from power just two years after Israel left Gaza.
Response to suggestion
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment on Trump’s suggestion. He has, however, dismissed notions of resettlement since they surfaced in the immediate aftermath of the war. Netanyahu’s relationship with the previous American administration, led by former US President Joe Biden, was fraught. With the backing of a more pro-Israeli White House, the Israeli leader might feel less restricted in supporting such policies.
Trump’s suggestion comes after a week of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The war began with a surprise attack executed by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. During the attack, approximately 1200 were killed, thousands more injured, and around 250 people were taken hostage by the terrorist group. Ninety hostages remain in captivity; some of them are slated for release as part of the current ceasefire. Others, whose fate is unknown, may be released in the second phase of the ceasefire should it be successfully negotiated in the coming weeks.
Israel retaliated with full force and launched a massive offensive in the Gaza Strip, openly stating its intention to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and remove it from power. According to the Gaza-run Hamas health ministry, over 47000 Palestinians have been killed in the war and approximately 110000 injured. The United Nations (UN) data shows that almost 1.9 million of the 2.1 million population in the coastal territory have been displaced during the war.
One Gazan resident, Osama, told The Media Line, "I do not see that you can see peace outside your country, even if your country is destroyed, even if we live in a tent in the middle of the street. We cannot live in peace outside my homeland, Gaza."
"The people of Gaza are fighting for an idea, a land, and a homeland. No human being can abandon their homeland, whatever the cost and whatever the circumstances," he continued. "Israel tried to displace us and ethnically cleanse us under bombardment and displacement, and that does not succeed because they are fighting an idea and a belief."
During the conflict, Israel, Egypt, and Jordan successfully maintained their relations, often strained throughout the years because of the Palestinian issue.
Gaza borders both Israel and Egypt. Both have imposed a strict blockade on the territory since Hamas took over. Gaza’s crossing to Egypt in the southern city of Rafah is considered one of the entry points that enabled Hamas to accumulate military power, both by smuggling arms through the official border and also through a network of cross-border tunnels that cross into Egypt.
“Trump with simplicity is saying these countries should take the refugees – something that should have happened from day one of the war,” Yishai Fleischer, spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron in the West Bank, told The Media Line. “Egypt cynically blocked the border and did this in order to create pressure on Israel and to make it look bad.”
Egypt has played a critical role during the war. It has helped mediate the current ceasefire and has operated as a funnel through which humanitarian aid has entered Gaza. Egypt has accepted an estimated 100,000 Palestinians throughout the war, including many injured for treatment.
“Egypt vehemently opposed a massive displacement of Gazans to Egypt due to internal security reasons and the concern that the Palestinian issue would be resolved at the expense of its national interests,” Dr. Ofir Winter, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at Tel Aviv University, told The Media Line.
Jordan and Israel share a 480-kilometer-long border, which is Israel’s longest. It is estimated that around half of Jordan’s population is of Palestinian descent, making relations with Israel a contentious issue in the Hashemite Kingdom. Tipping the balance by increasing the Palestinian population in the kingdom is an unwanted outcome for the King. Throughout the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Jordan has tried to position itself as the guardian of the Palestinian cause.
“Like Egypt, Jordan also has a deep concern that the solution to the Palestinian problem will come at its expense and by making it an alternative homeland for the Palestinians. This is perceived as an existential threat to the future of the kingdom,” Winter explained. “While it has taken in Palestinian refugees since 1948, it is the Kingdom's desire to maintain its own unique national identity. This means it seeks the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.”
The US President's suggestion appeared to ignore the deeply fragmented Palestinian leadership. Instead, Trump focused his call on Jordanian and Egyptian leaders. The US is largely vested in the region, supplying ample financial and defense aid to both countries. This could be used as leverage to pressure them to open their borders.
“Trump’s statement could be perceived as a threat that will incentivize both countries to take a more active role in solving the Palestinian issue in order to avoid the nightmare in which they will be asked to take in a significant number of refugees permanently,” Winter said. “The scenario by which Palestinian refugees are forced upon both countries is against both of their fundamental beliefs and is therefore unrealistic.”
The discourse in Israel and Trump's suggestion largely ignore the will of Palestinians.
“Yes, see, we go to Egypt and Jordan with all love, but this matter is optional,” Osama told The Media Line. “No one can impose anything on me or displace me. Our grandfathers and fathers do not abandon their home, even if it is destroyed, and they do not leave their streets and neighbors, but there are some young people who can think about immigrating to Europe because it has many opportunities for the future.”
“There might be Palestinians who would want to leave Gaza, but I believe the majority doesn’t,” Mossi Raz, a former left-wing Israeli member of parliament, told The Media Line. “If people want to relocate willingly, that is one thing, but to talk about forcible transport – that is impossible, and it won’t happen.”
Raz said he could not foresee the US sending troops to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt or Jordan should they refuse to leave.
“It may solve a personal problem for some of Gaza’s residents, but it will not solve the Palestinian issue,” said Raz. “The conflict will only be mitigated through a political solution. This has been proven yet again in the past year - there is no military solution to the conflict, only a political one in which both sides will need to compromise.”
“This is mostly talk and no action,” Raz added.
Israel is currently governed by the most right-wing government to ever rule. Its far-right policies have been condemned consistently by the majority of the international community. Netanyahu and his partners rule out the establishment of a Palestinian state, making Trump's latest idea music to their ears.
“I believe that the Palestinian people, especially the people of Gaza, do not care who controls the country after the genocide,” Osama continued. “This is my belief that we yearn for it, and it will provide us with lasting peace, because in Gaza we have gone through many wars, and we need to live above the land in all comfort and security, whether the Palestinian Authority or others, it does not matter, the most important thing is the people.”
“Palestinianism – a replacement effort against Israel – needs to stop,” said Fleischer. “Finding them (the Palestinians) homes and a decent life elsewhere is an incredible opportunity for this region that can calm down the whole Jihadist track to eat away at our land and replace Israel.”
Throughout his previous term, Trump has offered non-traditional views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He recognized Israeli sovereignty over east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, departing from decades of international consensus on those territories. He also sponsored peace between Israel and several Gulf states, abandoned years in which it was believed such relations could not be forged without solving the Palestinian conflict beforehand. Yet the war in Gaza catapulted the decades-old conflict back to the headlines, showing it could not be ignored as a major element of the political reality in the region.
“On the one hand, it is important to try and create out-of-the-box political solutions for Gaza and the Palestinian problem,” said Winter. “On the other hand, coercing a solution that is considered a red-line for both Egypt and Jordan could create tensions and endanger peace agreements.”
Now, at the start of a new era in the White House, Trump’s often out-of-the-box ideas will be tested. link
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
Lebanon says 2 killed as protests against Israeli presence erupt for a second day
Locals shout slogans against Israel soldiers blocking a road leading to their southern Lebanese village of Maroun el-Rass, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Firing by Israeli troops killed two people and wounded 17 in the second day of deadly protests in southern Lebanon, health officials say, as residents displaced by the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah attempted to return to villages where Israeli troops remain.
The shooting came a day after 24 people were killed and more than 130 wounded when Israeli troops opened fire on protesters who breached roadblocks set up along the border.
Under a US-brokered ceasefire on Nov. 27, Israeli forces were to withdraw from southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah was to move north of the Litani River by Jan. 26. While the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers had already deployed in several villages before the deadline, Israel remained in over a dozen villages, saying that the Lebanese military had failed to deploy.
The United States and Lebanon announced later yesterday that the deadline to meet the ceasefire terms had been extended to Feb. 18.
Protests resumed today particularly in eastern border villages, where residents again attempted to return home. Israeli troops opened fire, killing one person in the town of Odaisseh and wounding seven others across four southern villages, the Health Ministry reports.
The Israeli military has blamed Hezbollah for pushing people to protest and says soldiers fired warning shots when demonstrators approached.
IDF again warns Lebanese civilians not to return to southern border villages
Lebanese citizens attempt to return to their villages in southern Lebanon, January 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
The IDF again warns Lebanese civilians against returning to villages in southern Lebanon, where troops are still deployed as a ceasefire deal has been extended by several weeks.
“Residents of Lebanon, as you know, the IDF has recently redeployed to various locations in southern Lebanon, per the ceasefire agreement, to gradually enable the effective deployment of the Lebanese army, and dismantling and removing the Hezbollah terror group, with its operatives and infrastructure, from southern Lebanon,” Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, says on X.
“I remind you that the agreement period has been extended and IDF forces are still deployed on the ground. The deployment process is taking place gradually and in some sectors, it is being postponed and requires more time to ensure that Hezbollah cannot re-establish its strength there,” he says.
“Hezbollah, as usual, puts its narrow interests above the interests of the Lebanese state and tries through its mouthpieces to heat up the situation, despite being the main reason for the destruction of the south,” Adraee says.
The IDF spokesman adds that “until further notice, all previously published instructions remain in effect,” and the military will update when it is safe to return to the border villages.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
The Fighting in Tulkarm Continues: The Decision Behind the Operation and the Newly Targeted Organization
The IDF forces continue to fight in the northern West Bank city following the strike on a senior figure that initiated the special operation. Over 17 terrorists have been neutralized so far, including in Jenin, and large quantities of weapons have been seized. Israel has identified an escalation in terrorist activities in the area, leading to the decision to act. Here is the new terrorist organization in focus: “The mission – to neutralize as many militants as possible.”
The Operation Expands to Tulkarm Eight days have passed since the IDF launched Operation "Iron Wall" in Jenin, which yesterday (Monday) expanded to Tulkarm. Since the operation's expansion, two terrorists have been killed, and six others injured. Four were arrested by the IDF, and approximately 20 explosive devices found by the forces were destroyed. Since the start of the operation in Judea and Samaria, over 17 terrorists have been neutralized, more than 30 suspects arrested, and a large amount of weaponry confiscated.
The Emergence of a New Terror Organization and the IDF's Preventative Measures In Tulkarm, a new terrorist group has arisen, replacing the "Lion's Den." Dozens of armed militants have organized under a new group named the "Tulkarm Battalion," or "Al-Kateeba" for short. This organization operates in refugee camps in northern West Bank and nearby villages near Jenin. Funded by external sources, the IDF is working to cut off financial transfers to the group, which relies on organizational affiliation to sustain itself.
IDF Estimate: The "Kateeba" includes over 100 armed militants.
Composition: Primarily young men in their teens and twenties from northern West Bank.
Structure: The group has established command rooms, observation posts, and explosive labs.
Goals: To carry out attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.
The IDF's Response
The decision to launch the operation followed the cessation of fighting in other fronts, allowing the IDF to focus on northern Samaria. The defense establishment aims to engage militants deep within Palestinian territory, disrupt terror cells, and prevent attacks before they can occur. Recent months have seen a significant increase in the capabilities and boldness of terrorist organizations in northern West Bank, prompting decisive action. Lessons learned from October 7th emphasize that preemptive strikes are necessary and defensive measures alone are insufficient.
The operation seeks to preserve the IDF's operational freedom across The West Bank, dismantle terror infrastructures, and weaken the "Kateeba" before it grows stronger. The fighting involves multiple units, including the elite Egoz Unit and Haruv Reconnaissance Unit, which have gained extensive operational experience since the war's onset.
Key Developments
The operation began yesterday afternoon, following an announcement by the IDF and Shin Bet about an Israeli Air Force strike in the Tulkarm area. Shortly afterward, it was revealed that Abu Atiwi, the leader of Hamas's Tulkarm terror cell, was killed. Footage shows the vehicle carrying the senior militant being identified and struck from the air.
Abu Atiwi had been involved in numerous shooting attacks, including one at the Ramin junction on July 16, 2024, where three Israeli civilians were injured.
Voices from the Field
Lt. Col. D, commander of the Haruv Reconnaissance Unit, commented on the operation:
"Our mission is to neutralize as many militants as possible, locate enemy infrastructure, destroy it, and establish a better security reality. The decision to launch the operation came after a ceasefire in other arenas."
Brig. Gen. A, commander of the Menashe Brigade, added:
"The central goal of the operation is to dismantle the Jenin Battalion. It requires extensive time and effort to comprehensively neutralize all the battalion's capabilities."
Maj. R, engineering officer of the Menashe Brigade, described the challenges in Jenin:
"The area is 800 by 850 meters, almost 1,300 targets, all densely packed. On top of that, you have the entire world of explosive devices we often hear about and encounter in the field. As long as we maintain this momentum, we will succeed. The trend is positive."
This extensive operation, one of the largest in recent years in The West Bank, signals the start of broader actions in northern Samaria. The soldiers on the ground understand that their current efforts are just the beginning, with more large-scale operations expected soon. link
Politics and the War (general news)
Exposure | The Plan to Thwart a State Inquiry Committee
A year and three months have passed since the outbreak of the war, yet a state inquiry committee has not been established. This report reveals Prime Minister Netanyahu's involvement in thwarting such a committee and his proposal for a political inquiry committee, the ministers who initially supported a state inquiry but later retracted, and the disgraceful treatment of bereaved families by members of the Knesset. Secret recordings from closed-door meetings are now exposed.
Fifteen months have passed since October 7, and a state inquiry committee is nowhere in sight. Tonight (Monday), on the "Main Edition," we revealed how the Prime Minister acted to prevent its establishment and how he backed an alternative proposal—a political committee.
The recordings exposed for the first time reveal how bereaved families are forced to plead with Knesset members, who, in turn, use the law as leverage to achieve their real goal—control over who will head the committee.
Menashe Mansouri, father of Roya and Noural, who were killed at Nova, shared: "We know there were gunshots inside the shelter, grenades in the shelter, and a fire inside, but regarding Roya and Noural, we don’t know how their lives ended or how much they suffered." Sigal, the girls' mother, added: "I always console myself with the thought that their souls were freed, and they no longer suffered. But I want to know what happened—minute by minute."
By October 2023, the entire nation was in shock. But Netanyahu already knew what he didn’t want: a state inquiry committee. On October 23, just two weeks after the war began, Netanyahu and his close circle planned to establish a governmental inquiry committee instead of a state one after the war. They intended to justify this decision by citing precedent—such as the Winograd Committee established after the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
Outwardly, Netanyahu gave the opposite impression, suggesting a state inquiry committee was inevitable, merely a matter of timing. "After the war, all of us, everyone, will have to answer tough questions, myself included," Netanyahu said in a speech at the end of October 2023. "A terrible failure occurred here, and it will be thoroughly investigated—I promise you. Not a single stone will remain unturned."
Rafi Ben Shitrit, who lost his son, Staff Sergeant Elroi, in the battle of Nahal Oz, said: "Perhaps I was too naive, but I genuinely believed that within two or three months, a state inquiry committee would be established. We heard them say: ‘Once the war ends, once the hostages return, we will establish a state inquiry committee.’ They themselves said it. I thought it was a given, no need to fight for it."
Menashe Mansouri echoed: "They promised a state inquiry committee—Yuli Edelstein, for instance. Miki Zohar visited during our mourning period, and even then, he said a state inquiry committee was necessary."
A state inquiry committee is intended for situations where public trust in the executive branch is severely damaged. Typically, the government establishes the committee and defines its scope, but once established, the committee operates independently. The president of the Supreme Court appoints the chair and members, and the committee has full investigative powers, including summoning witnesses, questioning them, and collecting documents. Committees usually consist of an odd number of members—often three—to ensure decisions are reached.
In a January 27, 2024 speech, Netanyahu stated: "I have already expressed my opinion that investigations and inquiries should be conducted after the war, certainly not during it, and my opinion hasn’t changed." However, public sentiment was starkly different: polls showed that 92% of the public supported a state inquiry committee, with four out of five Israelis demanding its establishment.
Nevertheless, intentions and reality diverged. According to a source close to Netanyahu: "When Netanyahu saw the polls, he realized he would have no choice but to establish a state inquiry committee. However, he planned to do so close to the next elections to prevent the succeeding government from dictating the committee’s mandate. He wanted to define a broad mandate—starting from the 2005 disengagement—to convey shared responsibility, including his predecessors."
By mid-2024, Netanyahu openly mocked the idea of investigations during wartime. In a July 2024 Knesset speech, he referenced the Battle of Waterloo: "I deeply respect this investigation. I want to report that one battalion lacked so many sterling pounds, and there’s still the unresolved issue of jam jars in another battalion. We haven’t yet reached the full truth."
Politically, the turning point came with petitions to the Supreme Court (Bagatz). Netanyahu’s circle realized they could no longer wait until the end of his term and decided to act. A source close to Netanyahu explained: "The Supreme Court will force the establishment of a state inquiry committee. Sara Netanyahu refused to hear of it. She believed the judges would do everything to pin the blame on Netanyahu and demanded an alternative solution be proposed immediately."
Thus, the idea of creating a new type of committee—a political inquiry committee—was born.
Political Inquiry Committee
For the mission of establishing a political inquiry committee, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, his candidate for the Supreme Court, Dr. Rafi Biton—who also drafted the initial law—and Guy Levy, the Prime Minister's political spokesperson, were recruited. However, no Member of Knesset (MK) wanted to advance the law until a volunteer was found: MK Ariel Kallner from Likud.
When asked if Netanyahu had explicitly requested him to submit the bill, Kallner replied:
"No, absolutely not. I spoke about this already in July in the plenary. I’ve been working on this; it’s our commitment to the future of this state. We must fix things, and for there to be a fix, there must be trust."
MK Kallner claims this is an independent initiative and also his own wording. But according to details we uncovered, Netanyahu's involvement in the legislation to establish the committee—which is also supposed to investigate his own government—is very deep.
Bereaved families who met with Kallner in an attempt to persuade him to abandon the bill were surprised to find that the meeting was run by none other than Guy Levy, the Prime Minister's spokesperson. Both Levy and Kallner told the families they would not allow a situation where the President of the Supreme Court would be the one to select the composition of the state inquiry committee.
Structure of the Political Inquiry Committee
The same political inquiry committee Netanyahu plans to establish, according to the original proposal, would include two chairpersons and six members. If there is no agreement about them, half would be appointed by the opposition and half by the coalition.
Rafi Ben-Shitrit, who lost his son Staff Sergeant Elroi, said:
"Essentially, what they want to set up here is a parity committee, where the coalition's representatives will 'protect' the current coalition, and the opposition's representatives will protect the previous coalition. They’ll argue, fight, until the end of time, until the Messiah comes or Pushkin dies, and in the end, there will be no resolution, no conclusions, and no recommendations."
Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan commented on the political inquiry committee:
"Ultimately, the goal is that those sitting on the committee to investigate the tragedy that affects all of us will be acceptable to the entire Israeli public, not just half of it."
"Two years ago, they shouted from every podium and microphone that a state inquiry committee was needed regarding the Pegasus spyware affair," added Ben-Shitrit. "'The citizens of Israel demand answers, no whitewashing, no sugar-coating, no cover-up,' Netanyahu said in February 2022."
"The Supreme Court is in a serious conflict of interest in this context," said MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan, explaining:
"That means, it has no conflict of interest in the Pegasus affair—it can investigate; it’s still the Supreme Court. There are 2.5 million citizens here who don’t trust the Supreme Court, and rightly so; the Supreme Court has diminished its own value over the past decades."
Ben-Shitrit, who lost his son, claimed:
"How come then a state inquiry committee was needed, but now it isn’t? It’s very simple—they’re trying to evade responsibility."
Dudi Amsalem declared in the Knesset in December 2024:
"We will not establish a state inquiry committee. We will establish a people’s inquiry committee."
"They Spit on the Bereaved Families"
At this stage, the illusions of Menashe Mansouri, who lost his two daughters in Nova, were shattered:
"They’re spitting on the bereaved families, on the families of the fallen, on the soldiers' families, and on the reservists."
It also emerged that the political inquiry committee planned by the coalition is supposed to be established only six months after the law to establish it is approved. The law has yet to be submitted, and 15 months have already passed since the war began.
When a representative of the bereaved families asked MK Kallner and Guy Levy why they needed to wait six months, Kallner replied:
"Our goal is for the war to end before then, all right? But we’re saying, so no one will accuse you tomorrow morning of prolonging the war—when will you declare its end? As long as a single bullet is being fired."
He later added to the families' representative that even if the war doesn’t end, the inquiry will begin after six months.
Netanyahu himself previously explained the importance of timing when it comes to an inquiry committee:
"Every day that passes without a state inquiry committee increases the likelihood of investigation disruption, witness coordination, and evidence tampering," he said in February 2022. "That’s why we demand, clearly and loudly, a state inquiry committee now."
Timing Matters
In the past, inquiry committees were established soon after events:
- The Agranat Committee was established 27 days after the Yom Kippur War ended.
- The Kahan Commission, which examined the Sabra and Shatila events, was established a month and 11 days afterward.
- The Shamgar Commission, which investigated the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, was established after a month and three days.
- The Shamgar Commission, which investigated the assassination of Rabin, convened after four days.
- The Winograd Commission, though not state-mandated, investigated the Second Lebanon War and was established after a month and three days.
"The October Council"
At this stage, the bereaved families already understood what they were up against, and last November, a core group of 15 families decided to establish the October Council—to fight for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. They launched the initiative with a march between the disaster sites. “In what world do children go to dance, to rejoice, and are murdered?” said Menashe Mansouri, the father of Norel and Roya, who were murdered at Nova. “I have one child left, 15 years old. How can I be sure it’s safe to raise him here without a proper investigation?”
Eleven hundred families have already joined the October Council, and by now, they understand it’s not going to be easy. The very same people who initially promised them a state commission of inquiry are now saying the exact opposite—the chain of command has shifted.
Ministers Who Supported and Then Opposed a State Commission of Inquiry:
- Minister Eli Cohen: In November 2023, he stated, “The day after the war ends, we need to establish a state commission of inquiry to examine everything necessary.” However, in December 2024, he rebranded the commission: “There absolutely needs to be an inquiry commission; I call it an objective one.”
- Minister Miki Zohar: In August 2024, he claimed, “It’s clear. There will be a state commission of inquiry, no question at all.” By December, he said, “Its name—whether state or something else—is, in my opinion, less the issue.”
- Minister Gila Gamliel: In July 2024, she declared, “A state commission of inquiry will deeply examine the matter.” Later, she argued for a “broadly agreed-upon inquiry commission.”
- Minister Nir Barkat: In August 2024, he said, “I believe there should be a state commission of inquiry to investigate everything.” Yet, by 2025, he asserted, “The term ‘inquiry commission’? Unequivocally, yes.”
- Minister Avi Dichter: In July 2024, he said, “There will be a state commission of inquiry when the time is right.” But in December, he claimed, “The law establishing a state commission of inquiry isn’t scripture. It’s a law passed by the Knesset, and laws passed by the Knesset can be amended.”
- Minister Miri Regev: In January 2024, she stated, “At this point, we need to do one thing: establish a state commission of inquiry.” By September 2024, she asked, “Who will head the inquiry commission? If it’s a judge, there’s a big problem here.”
Criticism from Bereaved Families
Rafi Ben Shitrit, who lost his son Staff Sergeant Elroi z”l in the battle at Nachal Oz, shared, “I was chairman of a Likud branch; I’ve toured the primaries. I know exactly how this works. They must echo the messages, align with Miami or Balfour, or they’ll find themselves sidelined.”
Treatment of Bereaved Families in the Constitution Committee
What pains the families no less is the treatment they receive. On January 1, they decided to go to the Knesset to make their voices heard. They arrived at the Constitution Committee after some had spent all night preparing their speeches. The discussion, scheduled for 10:00 AM, began 35 minutes late.
MK Simcha Rothman, chair of the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, seemed pressed for time, with only 20 minutes left to discuss the issue of Jewish administrative detainees. “Unfortunately, the confidential discussion ran over, so we have less than half an hour for this meeting,” Rothman told the families. After just two speakers from the bereaved families, Rothman lost patience and asked them to wrap up their remarks.
The bereaved representatives were left speaking to an empty chair. “I find it hard to accept that I have to fight for the justice of my daughters,” said Menashe Mansouri. Rothman, perhaps realizing the potential damage, sent Knesset security to remove the cameras. When that didn’t work, he ordered the families’ microphones shut off and adjourned the meeting. Yehezkel Baram, grandfather of Neta Baram z”l, who fell at the Nachal Oz base, left the meeting in tears, saying: “My grandson is dead. They died together, protecting one another. We’re a right-wing country; I’m a leftist traitor. I fought in all the wars here. But that’s it. That’s what there is.”
Confrontations in the Finance Committee
This week, in the Finance Committee, bereaved representatives were rebuked when they sought a meeting with the committee chair. “You don’t arrange a meeting with me in a session like this. There’s a proper way,” said MK Moshe Gafni, chair of the Finance Committee. Coalition members’ responses broke the families who attended. The peak came when Gafni scolded the bereaved parents for only now demanding a state commission of inquiry, saying that until now, “You’ve been asking for the release of the hostages.”
“They Can Dream of a State Commission of Inquiry”
Last month, in a Knesset plenary session, MK Distal-Atbaryan said: “The military leadership, the judicial elite, and the media top brass—one protects the other. They can dream of getting a state commission of inquiry.”
After making those remarks, the bereaved families coincidentally encountered Distal-Atbaryan in the Knesset cafeteria. They were surprised to find that, in her view, she was the real victim of the situation: “Do you want me to start unloading what I’m going through? I can’t even get a word out. It’s death. The whole speech was about the case of the attorney general’s son who stole a vest.” MK Kalner and other Knesset members joined the cafeteria meeting, attempting to convince the families to work together and choose who would investigate the disaster.
A source in Netanyahu's office spoke about the situation there today: "Sara Netanyahu is pushing to advance the Kalner Law, but the majority is in doubt. The families don't understand that they've already lost. Even if a state commission of inquiry is established, Netanyahu has already damaged its legitimacy so much that he will be able, when the time comes, to evade its conclusions by claiming it is biased."
"October 7 was carried out by Hamas—the leaders and security forces didn't do it intentionally. They made a mistake. But what they are doing to us now, at this moment, they are doing knowingly and intentionally," concluded Menashe Mansouri. "Right now, I feel angrier at our leaders than I did on October 7." link
Haredi lawmakers tell PM he has their support to carry out hostage deal in full Unfortunately, the article doesn't tell the whole story that these Haredi parties have stated that their support is there but it is against getting their draft exemption law passed. There is nothing altruistic in their statement, just more of their hypocrisy.
The Region and the World
Iran purchases number of Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets
Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander says, amid Western concerns about Tehran and Moscow’s growing military cooperation.
This is the first time an Iranian official has confirmed the purchase of Su-35 jets. However, Ali Shadmani, who was quoted by Iran’s official Student News Network, does not clarify how many jets were purchased and whether they had already been delivered to Iran.
“Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces… The production of military equipment has also accelerated,” the deputy Coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters says.
Earlier this month, Iran and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership which did not mention arms transfers but said the two will develop their “military-technical cooperation.”
Iran’s air force has only a few dozen strike aircraft, including Russian jets as well as aging US models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Personal Stories
Avraham Munder, 79: Doting grandfather and amateur singer
Kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, slain in March 2024 and his body recovered in August 2024
Avraham Munder (Courtesy)
Avraham Munder, 79, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, along with his wife, daughter and grandson.
Avraham’s wife, Ruti, his daughter Keren and grandson Ohad were freed from captivity in late November. Upon their release, they found out that Avraham had been kidnapped and not murdered, as they had feared, after they had seen him forced to kneel on the ground while they were driven away.
In late August 2024, Avraham’s body was recovered by IDF troops from a tunnel in Khan Younis, and returned to Israel, along with those of Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger and Nadav Popplewell.
Until his body was recovered, his family had held out hope that he was still alive. His family was later informed that he had likely been killed in March 2024, shot dead by his captors.
Avraham was buried on August 21, 2024, in Kibbutz Nir Oz in a joint ceremony alongside the reburial of his son, Roee, who had initially been laid to rest in Kibbutz Metzer in October 2023, without any of his immediate family present. Avraham is survived by his wife, Ruti, daughter, Keren and siblings Arye and Shoshi.
Born and raised in Givatayim, he came to the kibbutz as part of a pioneer youth group to establish and develop the community. There he met Ruti, and they remained together in the home they loved for close to six decades. A kibbutz eulogy said that Avraham had worked at the Nirlat factory and was “known for his warm nature and deep love of singing… we will forever remember Avraham for his clear voice, warm smile, and boundless love for his family and kibbutz.”
At his funeral, Avraham’s sister, Shoshi Ben Ezra, said she couldn’t understand how her “sensitive and kind-hearted brother, a man of labor and peace, whose love for his kibbutz and his country flowed was in his blood, spent the last months of his life in a tunnel with the feelings of abandonment and betrayal.”
His daughter, Keren, said that “Roee and I were just two siblings, but Mom and Dad hosted and took care of dozens of young people from Israel and abroad with a wide heart and openness — immigrants, adoptees, volunteers, new families, everyone fell in love with you, with your kindness, your sociability.”
“You were a modest and direct dad, pedantic and organized, never leaving any task for tomorrow, hardworking, alarmingly precise,” she wrote. “A dad who knew so much, English and French and even math. A dad who played ball and marbles with me, who brought me a stamp album… with the warmest embrace, the highest sensitivity, the best listener, acceptance, unconditional love.”
Her son, Ohad, “turned you into the happiest grandfather, he got to receive huge doses of love from you, you would enjoy just watching him sleep,” added Keren. “And you enjoyed every smart or funny sentence out of his mouth, taking pride in him and showing him off.” She wanted, she said, to remember not his health troubles and the horrible circumstances of his death, “but all our moments together, watching soccer games, rehearsals for choir, hearing your beautiful voice among all the others, reading us stories.”
Speaking at his funeral, his wife, Ruti, thanked him for the 62 years that they shared, “58 of which we lived together, a full life, together in harmony despite our differences.”
“We did everything together, we raised children, we traveled around Israel and the world, we watched soccer games and Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball games and all that we did with love and respect… You were a hardworking and exacting man of labor. You loved to sing, you would take part in ceremonies and holiday gatherings and sometimes sing in different groups. You loved the songs of Nat King Cole and Arik Einstein and many others. You were so sensitive and there were songs that even moved you to tears.”
Ruti said Avraham “was a loving husband to me and a loving father to Keren and Roee. You were a war family man to the whole extended family. You accepted me as I am, you made me feel loved and appreciated. We’ve been missing you already for so long.”
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Netanyahu’s Historical Precedent
Gali Mir-Tibon
Author and Historian.
As a historian and researcher of the Holocaust, I am shocked by the events that have taken place under Netanyahu’s rule, unprecedented in Israeli history.
For the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel, parts of our homeland were taken by the enemy on October 7th, 2023.
Regardless of sophisticated American weaponry, regardless of the support offered by the leading world powers, regardless of compulsory military service which affords the army the bravest and finest minds of our children, our enemies took the Gaza Envelope and drove the inhabitants of the Galilee from their homes.
The Netanyahu government, which speaks of Greater Israel, narrowed down the borders, making the country smaller than ever before.
For the first time since the establishment of the State, our enemies no longer live in fear of us. For the first time since the establishment of the State and under Netanyahu’s rule, we have lost our faith in the ability of the State to protect us from our enemies. The Jewish State, established after the Holocaust, with the goal of saving Jews, has become under Netanyahu’s rule, the most dangerous place for Jews.
Israeli citizens are buying personal defense weapons and homes abroad; the middle class in Greece, Romania, Cyprus, and the more affluent, in London and the U.S. Netanyahu is reestablishing the diaspora after 75 years of Israeli sovereignty. Under Netanyahu’s government a historical upheaval is taking place - that of the destruction of values: Zionism is being annihilated and Israelis are leaving Israel for the diaspora.
In the 1948 War of Independence, within a few months the small country fought for its life and freed all its hostages. Today, our hostages, held by Hamas, living under subhuman conditions - proof of which is the number of hostages murdered in captivity - have become Netanyahu’s punching bag and scapegoat. In addition, Netanyahu is inciting his supporters against them. The high-intensity war ended months ago. Since then, the Israel Defense Forces has been engaged in counter-insurgency pinpointed operations.
Netanyahu is afraid that the return of the hostages will prove to the citizens of Israel that there is no longer any reason to postpone elections, an inescapable conclusion following the catastrophic blunder - one that surpasses that of the Yom Kippur War - in which soldiers, not civilians, fell. This catastrophe brought in its wake bereavement, anxiety, disgrace and humiliation, of a kind unknown to us before.
From the historical perspective, Benjamin Netanyahu is the most dangerous person vis-a-vis the security of the State of Israel. He approved transferring over one billion US dollars to the murderous organization, Hamas, ignored the threats of rockets, the burning fields, the cries of children in the Gaza Envelope, and has fortified our enemies over years, until October 7th.
On October 7th we experienced the worst pogrom in the history of the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The person under whose rule these horrors took place, the person under whose rule women and children and infants hid in smoke-filled rooms, searched for cover under bushes and in the fields, the person under whose rule more than 1,000 Israelis were murdered, women and young girls were raped, citizens were taken captive, and their southern homes looted undisturbed, is Netanyahu. He is the one.
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
Join my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0 Twitter - @LonnyB58
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group released a propaganda video Monday evening of civilian hostage Arbel Yehud, who is due to be released on Thursday.
Hostages Arbel Yehoud, left, and Agam Berger, held by terrorists in Gaza since October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)
This aerial photo shows displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim Corridor, from the southern Gaza Strip. (AFP)
The girls have picked up good Arabic language skills and occasionally drop a word in Arabic in their sentences.
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