π️Lonny's War Update- October 487, 2023 - February 4, 2025 π️
π️Day 487 that 79 of our hostages in Hamas captivity
**There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!**
“I’ve never met them,But I miss them. I’ve never met them,but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them,but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!ΧΧΧ Χ Χ¦ΧΧΧ Χ’Χ Χ©ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧΧ€ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧͺ
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*7:15am terror attack in West Bank
7 injured, 2 critically, in shooting at checkpoint near Tayasir in the northern West Bank, medics saySeven were wounded in the shooting attack at an army checkpoint near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir, first responders say.
The Rescuers Without Borders emergency service says two are listed in critical condition, and five others are moderately and lightly hurt.Screen grab from a video of a gun battle between IDF troops and a gunman at an army checkpoint and compound near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir on February 4, 2025 (Video on social media used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)Screen grab from a video of a gun battle between IDF troops and a gunman at an army checkpoint and compound near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir on February 4, 2025 (Video on social media used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)The Palestinian gunman who opened fire on IDF troops near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir earlier this morning managed to breach into a military compound adjacent to a checkpoint.
The facility includes lookout positions and several other buildings.
An exchange of fire took place inside the site, before the gunman was killed.
At least eight were wounded in the attack, including two listed in critical condition.*IDF confirms two reserve soldiers killed in West Bank attackSergeant Major (res.) Ofer Yung, 39, from Tel Aviv, a Squad Commander in the 8211th Battalion and Sergeant Major (Res.) Avraham Tzvi Tzvika Friedman, 43, from Ein HaNatziv, were killed in action after terrorist opened fire at West Bank checkpoint
Ofer Yung and Avraham Tzvika Friedman MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A REVOLUTION
Two IDF reserve soldiers were killed in a shooting attack at the Taysir checkpoint in the West Bank after the terrorist entered the post and ambushed them, the IDF Spokesperson reported on Tuesday. Eight other soldiers were wounded, two seriously and the rest suffering minor injuries.
One of the fallen soldiers was Sergeant Major (res.) Ofer Yung, 39, from Tel Aviv, a Squad Commander in the 8211th Battalion. The second soldier is Sergeant Major (Res.) Avraham Tzvi Tzvika Friedman, 43, from Ein HaNatziv, a reservist soldier in the 8211th Battalion, Efraim Regional Brigade. The wounded were evacuated to Israeli hospitals.
The checkpoint had 11 soldiers and a commander on duty. At dawn, as the checkpoint opened for inspections, the first soldier who stepped out of the guard post was ambushed by the attacker, who also targeted another soldier. A close-range firefight ensued, lasting several minutes. The soldiers fired from inside the rooms and the guard area, while the attacker shot from the entrance of the guard post.
Rapid response teams were called in and a force led by a platoon commander fired at the terrorist from outside the post. He then tried to flee between buildings but was intercepted by another unit.
After several minutes of gunfire, one soldier threw a grenade that hit the terrorist. He was neutralized and then eliminated by two other soldiers. A UAV tracked him from the air but he was ultimately taken down by ground forces. The IDF described the attack as "a very serious incident" and said, "Lessons will be learned."
Taysir is one of the "five villages," along with Tamun, Tubas, Fara'a, and Aqaba - an area where the IDF is operating as part of Operation Iron Wall in northern Samaria, which has expanded in recent days. In recent months, terrorism has increased in those villages and includes planting explosive devices on roads and using weapons to carry out attacks.At the beginning of the week, the IDF spokesman announced the expansion of activity in the area, and the entry of forces from the Bislah brigade combat team into the Palestinian village of Tamun, along with Tubas, Taysir, Fara'a and Aqaba.
Hostage Updates
- ABC Australia radio interview with Gershon Baskin about the fragile hostage deal link to interview
- Days after her release from Gaza, Agam Berger attends IDF ceremony for her sister Bar
Days after being released from Hamas captivity, former hostage soldier Agam Berger attends an IDF ceremony for her sister Bar, who completed a military course.
Bar Berger is now going to serve as a mashakit tash, or noncommissioned officer responsible for service conditions — a sort of social worker for soldiers.
Agam is seen placing a purple aiguillette, worn by a mashakit tash, on Bar’s shoulder. video
- Hamas says ‘ready’ for talks on second stage of Gaza deal, asks mediators to make sure Israel doesn’t ‘stall’
Hamas is ready to begin talks on the details of a second phase of the ongoing truce in Gaza, two officials from the Palestinian terror group tell AFP.
“Hamas has informed the mediators, during ongoing communications and meetings held with Egyptian mediators last week in Cairo, that we are ready to start the negotiations for the second phase,” one Hamas official says on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
“We call on the mediators to ensure that the occupation adheres to the agreement and does not stall,” they add.
A second official says the terror group is “waiting for the mediators to initiate the next round.”
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel — the first phase of which came into effect on January 19 — indirect talks to hammer out the details of phase two were due to start today.
The 42-day phase one revolves around the release of 33 Israeli hostages kidnapped in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre, in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian security prisoners, including hundreds serving life sentences.
The second phase is expected to cover the release of the remaining hostages and include discussions on a permanent end to the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said he will begin discussions about the second phase with US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff today.
The premier is currently in Washington and is due to meet Trump tomorrow.
Trump says he has ‘no guarantees’ Gaza ceasefire will continue; Witkoff: It’s holding for nowUS President Donald Trump says, “I have no guarantees that the Gaza ceasefire will hold,” while his Mideast envoy says the hostage-truce deal between Israel and Hamas is holding for now.
Trump’s remark appears to be an extension of his admission on his first day in office that he had no confidence that the ceasefire would hold.
Trump and US special Middle East envoy Witkoff make the remarks to reporters at the White House. link This is a very troubling statement and is giving Netanyahu an easy exit from the hostage deal and not continuing to Phase 2. Trump is so unpredictable and changes his thoughts and mind depending on who was in the room with him last. Netanyahu is a star talker and can possibly wind trump around his finger. However, the one thing that Trump doesn't want is for Gaza to be part of his Daily Presidential Briefing but will be open to hearing how Netanyahu will make sure Gaza won't occupy his time or energy.
**Netanyahu to Propose to Trump: Iran and Saudi Arabia Before the Hostages**
Netanyahu intends to propose to President Trump to address normalization and the Iranian nuclear issue before Phase Two of the hostage deal. This proposal could delay the implementation of Phase Two by several months.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to propose to U.S. President Donald Trump a change in priorities in the Middle East, suggesting that an attack on Iran be prioritized before completing the hostage release deal. This was revealed tonight (Monday) during the main news broadcast. According to sources familiar with the discussions taking place at the White House, Netanyahu will ask Trump to approve an attack on Iran first, a move that would lead to a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, and only then complete Phase Two of the hostage deal.
This proposal means delaying Phase Two of the hostage deal by several months, risking the lives of the hostages still held by Hamas. According to those sources, Netanyahu is making a significant effort to convince the American president.
The delay in the decision to send the negotiation team to continue talks on Phase Two, along with reports of replacing the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet in managing the negotiations in favor of Ron Dermer, are linked to this move. Only after the meeting will we know if there is a shift in priorities that could dramatically affect processes in the Middle East and, of course, the fate of some of the hostages.
Upon his departure to Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu said: "It is possible to expand the circle of peace. The fact that this is Trump's first meeting with a foreign leader is very significant—it reflects the strength of the alliance and the bond between us, a bond that brought about the Abraham Accords, which President Trump led." Netanyahu refused to answer Channel 12's question about whether there will be a second phase to the hostage deal.
After the hostage deal pursued by the new U.S. administration was set in motion, the U.S. marked a new goal—normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration is interested in using the discussion on Phase Two of the hostage deal as a bridge to normalization between the two countries.
Families of hostages not included in Phase One of the deal fear that the deal will not progress to Phase Two, leaving their loved ones behind. Lishay Miran, the wife of Omri, who is held captive in Gaza, shared the difficult emotions that accompany families in this situation. "It means waking up in the morning and telling Roni over and over again that Mom couldn’t bring Dad back." link Netanyahu continues to show and prove that he doesn't give a damn if the rest of the living hostages die in captivity. He doesn't care that the majority of Israelis want the hostages brought home immediately and that bringing them home is the only true victory from this horrible war, not killing more Hamas terrorists, not destroying more buildings in Gaza, not even enabling all the northern and southern residents to return to their homes. They themselves, who have been refugees in their own country for 16 months, say that the first and most important thing is to bring home all of the hostages. Most Israelis are ready for the war to end, especially if it means that the hostages will be brought home. Netanyahu doesn't represent the majority of the public, nor does his government. They are representing themselves and are only concerned about their self interests and their political futures. Most people are relying on Trump pushing Netanyahu but with these statements, Trump is already putting us on notice that his pressure on Netanyahu is far from guaranteed. This is very troubling.The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) denies a Channel 12 news report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to ask US President Donald Trump to carry out a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and close a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia before moving on to the second stage of an ongoing hostage release-ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
“It is a total lie that harms the families of the hostages,” says the PMO.
The report had claimed that the plan would entail postponing the second stage of the deal with Hamas, currently in its initial phase, for several months, and that Netanyahu’s reported deliberation over removing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar from the Gaza negotiating team is related.
As per the terms of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, negotiations for the second phase of the agreement were meant to begin today.
The second phase of the deal is expected to include the return of all the remaining living hostages — including men under the age of 50 and male soldiers — held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for a yet-to-be-determined number of Palestinian security prisoners and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip. link. Once again, we are tasked with choosing to believe the PMO and Netanyahu over anyone else, my choice is always to believe anyone else. The lies that come out of the PMO and Netanyahu's mouth are always worthy of being suspect. The joke that, unfortunately is not so much of a joke is "How do you know if Netanyahu is lying?" "His lips are moving"
After Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump envoy, PM’s office says team heading to Doha in coming days
WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in Washington with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz to discuss the next phase of the hostage release deal underway with Hamas.
In the wake of the meeting, Israel is preparing to send a mid-level team to Qatar this weekend to discuss “technical details related to continuing to carry out” the agreement, says Netanyahu’s office.
The meeting was “positive and friendly,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Netanyahu is joined by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, and Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman. link While I am very happy that the negotiating team will head to Doha, but not immediately as it should be, I am mortified that our prime minister has to be spurred to do this by the American administration and it isn't an automatic response by a caring leader. His prime interest should be to get all the hostages home as soon as possible, especially as the one who is most responsible that they are even hostages to begin with. But he takes no responsibility, not even 16 months after he brought about the worst catastrophe in the history of the state and the worst for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. How could he not send the negotiators? How could he let the rest of the living hostages behind to die horrible deaths. We have already lost so many of them who could have been saved if he made a deal earlier but he let them die and be killed. Their blood is directly on his hands and any leader who cares for his people would be horrified by the thought that he is directly responsible for their deaths, but he just doesn't care.
**Father of Abductee: "I Met with Dermer, and He Opposes the Deal"**
Alon Nimrodi has not seen his son Tamir, who has been held captive by Hamas for 487 days. In an interview with the "Seder Yom" program, he addressed reports that Netanyahu wants his confidant to lead the negotiations, shared the sense of despair felt by the family, which has not received any sign of life from Tamir, and expressed a glimmer of hope that Trump might lead a change in favor of the deal.
Alon Nimrodi, the father of Tamir Nimrodi, who has been abducted in Gaza for 487 days, was interviewed today (Tuesday) on the "Seder Yom" program with Yoav Krakowsky on Kan Reshet Bet. He spoke about the sense of despair he feels, given that his son is expected to be released only in Phase Two of the deal.
Alon claimed that he recently spoke with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who was slated to replace the Mossad chief and lead the talks in Doha, and came away with the impression that Dermer is not interested in advancing the deal. "He's militant. You can't replace Ronen Bar and Dedi Barnea with someone new," he argued. "We don't know what will happen there behind closed doors."
"I'm happy for those who have returned, but I'm overwhelmed with emotions. My son is in a less important category, along with 63 others," he lamented. He also shared that since October 7, the family has not received any sign of life from their son Tamir.
Tamir Nimrodi and his family.(Photo: Courtesy of the family)Nevertheless, what gives him confidence is the fact that Trump is applying pressure: "His madness is good for us at this stage. Bibi is a bit afraid of him and also needs him. With Biden, it was easier for him to handle."
Finally, Alon wanted to send a message to his son: "My dear and beloved Tamir, we are fighting for you and for all the hostages. We miss you terribly and want you to come home. The longing is intense, but we are very close. We are in the midst of an agreement, and we won't let it fall apart. We will continue until you return home. To all the abductees listening to me now, know that the struggle is ongoing, and we are not giving up on you."
**Will Dermer Replace Bar and Barnea?**
This morning, it was reported on the "HaBoker HaZeh" program on Kan Reshet Bet that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to appoint Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to lead the negotiations for Phase Two of the agreement, even though Dermer is hesitant about direct contact with Qatar.
The Prime Minister's Office announced this morning that Israel is preparing to send a working-level delegation to Doha this weekend to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement, namely Phase Two. Upon Netanyahu's return to Israel, he will convene the security cabinet to discuss Israel's positions regarding Phase Two of the deal. link
Hamas says talks on second phase of Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal have started
Hamas says talks on the second phase of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal have begun.
“The second phase negotiations have begun,” the statement from the Palestinian terror group reads, additionally claiming that Israel is “evading and delaying” the agreement’s implementation on the issue of humanitarian aid.
The announcement of the restarting of talks apparently refers to discussions between Hamas and mediators.
Israel flies in family members of Thai hostages freed from Gaza last week
The Foreign Ministry is flying family members of the five Thai hostages released from captivity in Gaza last week.
The families will arrive tomorrow, says the Foreign Ministry, and will be reunited with their loved ones at the Shamir Medical Center near Tel Aviv. The visit has been coordinated with the Thai embassy in Israel.
Sathian Suwannakham, Pongsak Thenna, Bannawat Seathao, Watchara Sriaoun, and Surasak Lamnau were kidnapped to Gaza during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and endured 482 days in captivity.
The families will stay in Israel until the freed hostages can return home to Thailand, says the ministry.
“Israel was overjoyed last Thursday to see the freedom of the Thai hostages restored, after being held in cruel captivity in Gaza,” says Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in a statement.
“I wish them and their families a good life, health, and freedom. We are still waiting for the remaining 79 hostages, who are held by the terror organizations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.” link It's good that we have brought family members to Israel to be with them, but it should have been done as soon as we received the list of their names that they were being released. The hostages should have had family members greet them after almost 16 months in brutal captivity.
With tight embraces and tears, the relatives of the recently released Thai nationals arrive at the hospital to see their loved ones for the first time since they were set free by terrorists in Gaza.
Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Lamnao Surasak were released on Thursday after 482 days in captivity, in a side agreement alongside the hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Lamnao’s mother and the brothers of Sriaoun and Seathao landed in Israel from Thailand this morning, along with Thenna’s nephew.
Daughter says Keith Seigel was held in inhumane conditions, starved; sorry to those who lost lives so hostages could return
Former hostage Aviva Siegel, whose husband Keith Siegel was released from Hamas captivity over the weekend, speaks from Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, with her daughter, Shir Siegel on one side and Keith’s brother, Lee Siegel, on the other.
“Our Keith returned to us, how good it is to have him home!” says Aviva Siegel.
“For me, to see Keith with us, living, breathing, eating, smiling, being emotional, is the most amazing, the hugest, the most unbelievable thing,” she says.
Siegel thanks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the negotiators, the government, the cabinet, and the US government, as well as former US president Joe Biden, for their support and work in bringing Keith, a US citizen, home to Israel.
Her daughter, Shir Siegel, offers a longer message, relating that her father, who returned thin and weak, but walking on his own two feet, was held in inhumane conditions in Gaza for 484 days, by evil terrorists who abused him emotionally, and physically.
Keith Siegel barely saw daylight, was starved for long periods of time, and held in solitude for periods of time, says Shir.
Released hostage Keith Siegel reunites with his family at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) on February 1, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)“I always knew my father was strong, but I never realized how strong,” she says. “My father didn’t just survive captivity; he overcame it by acting with determination and faith.”
Shir Siegel says that her father told his family that the few times he was exposed to the media during his captivity, he was strengthened by seeing Israelis and the army fighting to bring the hostages home. He was also broken by seeing the division, violence, and incitement in Israeli society.
“One of the first things my father said after coming home was, ‘What can I do to help bring everyone home?'”
“With teary eyes and a hoarse throat, my father isn’t willing to give up. Even though he is very weak, and with a long rehabilitation in front of him, he wants to do what he can to bring them out of hell,” she says.
Siegel says Israeli society must look at those returning from captivity and learn about ourselves as a nation, society, and people.
She also says that since his return, her father asked them to tell him what happened in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, their home, on October 7, 2023, and to go over the list of names of the 64 people who were killed.
“He couldn’t believe that so many of his friends and neighbors were killed,” she says.
Shir Siegel asks those present to bend their heads, to beg forgiveness.
“I’m sorry to those who lost their loved ones so that my father and the other hostages could come home,” she says. “I’m sorry to those who received a knock on the door [informing them of the death of a loved one] so that we would receive life. I’m sorry to the citizens, soldiers, and security forces who sacrificed their lives for us, for the State of Israel. I’m sorry and thank you. And another I’m sorry for the hostages who were alive and were killed in captivity. The dream was to see them with us at home, and it shouldn’t have happened this way.”
Shir Siegel also refers to the ongoing hostage release-ceasefire deal with Hamas, and says that that while she knows that not every Israeli agrees with it, she hopes “we, as Israelis, as Jews, as people and a society, will learn how to deal with the complexities and most importantly, to be unified after this complicated period.”
In hospital, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Agam Berger, Liri Albag attend concert in their honor
(L-R) Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Liri Albag and Daniella Gilboa watch a concert in their honor at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, February 4, 2025 (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
The five surveillance soldiers recently released after they were held hostage in Gaza for almost 16 months, attend a concert in their honor at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Agam Berger and Liri Albag watch as the musicians play a number of songs including “Hallelujah.” VIDEO
Gaza and the South
- **Who Will Rule Gaza? The Question at the Heart of the Negotiations on Phase Two, Scenarios, and the Delegation's Trip to Doha**
Netanyahu met with envoy Wittkopf in a meeting described by the Prime Minister's Office as "positive," after which it was announced that a delegation would head to Qatar. Israel refuses to accept Hamas or the Palestinian Authority ruling the Strip, with Smotrich demanding its conquest after Phase One, and Trump potentially pressuring for a halt. The Israeli entanglement is heating up as difficulties arise in advancing foreign rule supported by Arab states.
The images from the cynical hostage release rallies in recent weeks leave no doubt. After a year and five months of war, Hamas—though weakened—still rules the Gaza Strip, its residents, and continues to manage daily life, despite Israel's goal of dismantling its governing capabilities.
Tonight, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, in one of the most fateful meetings ever between an Israeli prime minister and an American president. Prior to this, Netanyahu met in Washington with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Wittkopf.
**Netanyahu Meets with Wittkopf**
"The meeting was positive and friendly," stated the Prime Minister's Office, announcing that following it, Israel is preparing to send a working-level delegation to Doha this weekend "to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement." The statement also noted that upon Netanyahu's return from the U.S., he will convene the security cabinet to "discuss Israel's positions regarding Phase Two of the deal, which will guide the continuation of negotiations."
Over the weekend, Israel explained that the format of the talks on Phase Two will not resemble the days leading up to the hostage deal, with Israeli delegations in Cairo and Doha—but despite this, a delegation will still head to Qatar. The negotiations are expected to take place through "shuttle diplomacy" by Wittkopf between the mediators and Israel. One of the central questions ahead of Phase Two is the fate of Hamas's rule—and whether control of the Strip will remain in its hands in the future.
**The Philadelphi Corridor and Saudi Arabia: Smotrich's Red Lines for Netanyahu**
The question of the "day after" in the Gaza Strip is also expected to arise in tonight's meeting between Netanyahu and Trump—and the answer may be reflected in a larger deal that includes normalization with Saudi Arabia. In any case, for now, four possible models of control in the Strip in the "day after" are being considered—each with significant complexities for both Israel and the residents of Gaza. These are the options:
**Hamas Rule** One possibility, though it seems the least likely to Israel, is the preservation of Hamas's rule in the Strip—with its thousands of members. The terrorist organization has thousands of armed fighters, alongside security forces, police, and government officials—as well as local municipal workers dealing with clearing the rubble. During the war, most avoided appearing in public as Hamas members, instead moving in civilian clothing—but with the ceasefire in effect, the uniforms have returned.
**Gaza City** Hamas terrorists. The ceasefire ended, and they returned to the streets in uniforms. Preserving Hamas's rule in the Strip would make it difficult for the terrorist organization to rebuild, as reconstruction would require years of foreign aid and donations. In recent months, Hamas has repeatedly discussed establishing a "civilian committee to manage Gaza," headed by Palestinian technocrats alongside the Palestinian Authority. However, the terrorist organization refuses to dismantle its military wing—essentially attempting to maintain a "Hezbollah model" in Gaza, something the Palestinian Authority opposes.
Moreover, the possibility of Hamas rule contradicts Israel's war objectives and endangers Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition—unless he agrees to rely on a safety net from opposition parties. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who decided to remain in the government during Phase One of the deal, set a condition that Israel would resume fighting after the end of Phase One—and continue the war to destroy Hamas's governing and military capabilities, alongside calls for a full conquest of the Gaza Strip.
**Israeli Conquest** Calls for an Israeli conquest of the Gaza Strip were voiced last week by Smotrich at his faction meeting, joined by Jewish Power chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said he would support the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Strip.
The IDF, it should be recalled, currently holds a small part of the Netzarim corridor, alongside the Philadelphi Route and a buffer zone in the Strip. On the 22nd day of the agreement, the army will be required to withdraw from the last part of the Netzarim Route, and on the 42nd day—when Phase One ends—it must begin the withdrawal process from the Philadelphi Route and complete it by the 50th day, according to the agreement.
**IDF Soldiers Securing Humanitarian Aid Trucks in Gaza** An Israeli conquest may require soldiers to distribute food. Securing aid trucks. The release of all hostages and the advancement to Phase Two are conditional on these steps—which may complicate Smotrich's desires, raising the possibility that Israel will not move to Phase Two and will instead resume the war until the full conquest of Gaza and the establishment of military rule there, which may require IDF soldiers in the Strip to also deal with civilian issues like garbage disposal, food distribution, and more.
A conquest of the Strip could also harm Netanyahu's efforts to advance normalization with Saudi Arabia and would likely require full backing from the U.S. under Trump—who has sought to end the war and release all hostages.
**Return of the Palestinian Authority** The Palestinian Authority is considered the only Palestinian alternative to Hamas, but it is not accepted by Israel's leadership. Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently distanced himself from any Palestinian rule in the Strip, claiming that even the operation of the Rafah crossing under the agreement is being handled by Palestinians who are not affiliated with the Authority—but this morning, Ynet revealed that this is not the case.
The PA, it should be noted, has demonstrated governance weaknesses in Jenin and other cities in the West Bank—even in its own operations against Iranian-backed terrorist groups. The PA insists that only it will rule Gaza after the war—after being violently ousted by Hamas in 2007—but it is unclear whether it can manage the Strip. During the war, Israel attempted to initiate various plans involving Gaza clans, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant proposed a "bubble" plan dividing the Strip into several dozen districts—but the clan plan failed, and Gallant's plan—as far as is known—has not advanced.
In any case, the operation of the Rafah Crossing by PA officials, according to the New York Times, has sparked speculation that Netanyahu, under pressure from Trump and Arab leaders from Gulf states, may give Abu Mazen's people a larger role in managing the Strip—possibly in cooperation with international forces or "contractors."
**International Force** "Contractors" have been operating in Gaza since last week, when Israel withdrew from most of the Netzarim corridor, allowing Gazans to return to the northern Strip. The return of pedestrians was allowed without inspection, but Israel conditioned the return of vehicles to the northern Strip on security checks, conducted by an international corporation that includes a company employing Arabic-speaking Americans.
**American Inspection Team at the Netzarim Crossing** Inspection teams for vehicles returning to the northern Strip. Saudi Arabia and the UAE will not support such rule without a Palestinian state.
For now, this is a very limited presence of foreign forces on the ground in the Strip, with no real involvement from Arab states except for Egypt and Qatar—the mediators. Nevertheless, over the past year, various plans and aspirations have circulated in Israel to introduce foreign forces into the Strip, which would effectively manage Gaza and take on administrative roles.
Israeli sources quoted in the New York Times clarified that the use of foreign forces today could expand geographically, with the support of leading Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. However, they may require the involvement or blessing of the Palestinian Authority. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed signaled this officially, stating last September that the UAE "is not willing to support plans for the 'day after' the war in Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state." link
- IDF says it fired warning shots at Gazans breaching ceasefire in several incidents
The IDF says it fired warning shots after Palestinian suspects approached troops in several areas of the Gaza Strip today.
In one incident in central Gaza, the military says soldiers shot a suspect who did not withdraw after warning shots were fired.
Additionally, a drone strike was carried out in central Gaza as a warning to prevent a car from driving to the Strip’s north via an unapproved route, the IDF says.
Vehicular traffic is only permitted on the Salah a-Din road, where a private company is inspecting Palestinian cars heading north.
At sea, the military says the Israeli Navy spotted a Palestinian vessel that went out past a maritime boundary. After warning shots, the vessel returned to the coast of Gaza, the IDF adds.
The IDF says it fired warning shots after Palestinian suspects approached troops in several areas of the Gaza Strip today.
In one incident in central Gaza, the military says soldiers shot a suspect who did not withdraw after warning shots were fired.
Additionally, a drone strike was carried out in central Gaza as a warning to prevent a car from driving to the Strip’s north via an unapproved route, the IDF says.
Vehicular traffic is only permitted on the Salah a-Din road, where a private company is inspecting Palestinian cars heading north.
At sea, the military says the Israeli Navy spotted a Palestinian vessel that went out past a maritime boundary. After warning shots, the vessel returned to the coast of Gaza, the IDF adds.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
- IDF probe of West Bank attack finds gunman armed with M-16 managed to sneak up to military post
According to an initial IDF probe of this morning’s shooting attack, the Palestinian gunman managed to sneak up to a military post at a checkpoint near the West Bank village of Tayasir, where he opened fire on troops just before 6 a.m.
The assailant was armed with an M-16 assault rifle and two magazines, and wearing a tactical vest.
The IDF’s probe has found that the gunman approached the army post on foot undetected, where he surprised two soldiers who were getting up to open the Tayasir checkpoint for Palestinian traffic.
The soldiers, who were in full military gear, exchanged fire with the gunman at close range at the entrance to the post, which includes a watchtower.
Amid exchanges of fire that lasted several minutes, the gunman managed to enter the post itself and reach the entrance to the watchtower.
A backup team then arrived at the scene and opened fire on the gunman from outside the army post, causing him to flee.
During the gunman’s attempts to run away from the post, one soldier hurled a grenade at him, and others opened fire, killing the assailant.
- IDF terrorist hunt expands in West Bank amid fear that most released prisoners are returning to terrorism
IDF expands operations in the West Bank, raiding Tamun village to dismantle arms smuggling and terrorist havens; Counterterrorism efforts also intensified in Jenin and Tulkarm, with troops demolishing terror infrastructure, and confiscating weapons to suppress growing threats
Alongside the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the hostage deal, the IDF expanded its operations in the West Bank early Sunday, announcing its entry into the Palestinian village of Tamun, which has recently become a hub for explosive-related terrorism.
Later in the afternoon, the IDF announced that, as part of its counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank, it had demolished buildings in Jenin used as terror infrastructure. Dramatic footage captured the moment of the explosions, and Palestinian sources reported that close to 20 buildings had been destroyed in Jenin's refugee camp.
The demolitions followed a mapping process of buildings where terror infrastructures, explosives labs, and surveillance tools – such as closed-circuit cameras – were discovered. Among the destroyed buildings was the one where Haruv Reconnaissance Unit soldier First Sergeant Liam Hazi from Rosh HaAyin was killed. So far, IDF troops have conducted searches of more than 1,000 buildings during this operation in the West Bank.
A joint statement by IDF and Shin Bet revealed that, to date, the counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank has resulted in the elimination of over 35 terrorists and the arrest of more than 100 wanted individuals. Additionally, preemptive airstrikes have killed more than 15. Troops have confiscated dozens of weapons, destroyed hundreds of explosives, and neutralized dozens more planted along roads to target soldiers.
The operation in Tamun began before dawn with ground maneuvers focused on a rapid entry into the village for searches, arrests and fortification. Heavy equipment, including bulldozers and excavators, was used to clear paths for ground troops, who began searching for weapons and detaining suspects.
Tamun is part of the "Five Villages" area, which also includes Tubas, Tayasir, Far'a, and Aqaba. In recent months, terrorism originating from these villages has intensified, including planting roadside bombs and using smuggled weapons for attacks. The proximity of Tamun and Tubas to Israel's eastern border has made them key points for arms smuggling by terror groups such as Iran and Hamas. Many arms dealers, including criminal elements, frequent the border area to collect weapons smuggled from Jordan.
The villages have also become a haven for terrorists fleeing security forces. Many retreat to these villages before continuing on to Jenin or Tulkarm.Now, with the operation expanded to include Tamun, IDF is operating in three key locations in the eastern West Bank: the refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm, and the village of Tamun. The goal is to maintain aggressive and sustained pressure on the terror groups that have grown in the area in recent years. Another goal, following the hostage deal, is to prevent celebrations by released prisoners in cities and villages. Due to the military presence, such celebrations have significantly decreased, and no large armed parades have been reported so far.
- Footage apparently shows settler extremists vandalizing Palestinian hamlet in West Bank
The B’Tselem human rights organization publishes footage from an attack last night against the Palestinian hamlet of Susiya in the South Hebron Hills region of the West Bank, apparently by Israeli extremists, likely settlers from nearby settlements.
Assailants punched holes into a water tank, and punctured the tires and smashed the windows of a car.
According to B’Tselem, several homes were attacked including that of Nasser Nawaj’ah, a B’Tselem field researcher who lives in Susiya.
Rural Palestinian communities in the West Bank have been hit by a wave of extremist attacks over the last month, with numerous incidents of arson, vandalism and assault.
Susiya itself has been repeatedly attacked by extremist settlers in recent years. video of settler violence
According to an initial IDF probe of this morning’s shooting attack, the Palestinian gunman managed to sneak up to a military post at a checkpoint near the West Bank village of Tayasir, where he opened fire on troops just before 6 a.m.
The assailant was armed with an M-16 assault rifle and two magazines, and wearing a tactical vest.
The IDF’s probe has found that the gunman approached the army post on foot undetected, where he surprised two soldiers who were getting up to open the Tayasir checkpoint for Palestinian traffic.
The soldiers, who were in full military gear, exchanged fire with the gunman at close range at the entrance to the post, which includes a watchtower.
Amid exchanges of fire that lasted several minutes, the gunman managed to enter the post itself and reach the entrance to the watchtower.
A backup team then arrived at the scene and opened fire on the gunman from outside the army post, causing him to flee.
During the gunman’s attempts to run away from the post, one soldier hurled a grenade at him, and others opened fire, killing the assailant.
The B’Tselem human rights organization publishes footage from an attack last night against the Palestinian hamlet of Susiya in the South Hebron Hills region of the West Bank, apparently by Israeli extremists, likely settlers from nearby settlements.
Assailants punched holes into a water tank, and punctured the tires and smashed the windows of a car.
According to B’Tselem, several homes were attacked including that of Nasser Nawaj’ah, a B’Tselem field researcher who lives in Susiya.
Rural Palestinian communities in the West Bank have been hit by a wave of extremist attacks over the last month, with numerous incidents of arson, vandalism and assault.
Susiya itself has been repeatedly attacked by extremist settlers in recent years. video of settler violence
Politics and the War (general news)
- The Democrats chair Golan blames Netanyahu for Hamas’s recovery in Gaza via ‘policy of neglecting security’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saved Hamas by declining to advance an alternate government for the Gaza Strip, Yair Golan alleges.
Speaking with reporters ahead of The Democrats’ weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Golan says that the terror group’s “recovery in Gaza is a direct result of Netanyahu’s continued policy of neglecting security.”
“His refusal to introduce a governing alternative to Hamas in Gaza stemmed from his preference for Smotrich and Ben Gvir in the coalition over the safety of the hostages and soldiers, thereby allowing Hamas to continue to control the Strip and restore its status. I want to be clear: The IDF severely damaged Hamas, but Netanyahu, who did not care about an alternative government, saved it. Hamas needs to be eliminated – not saved,” Golan says.
“Victory over Hamas will not be achieved solely through military force – it requires a complementary, determined and strategic move in the regional arena. As long as Hamas remains the sole governmental address in Gaza, any achievement on the battlefield will be temporary, and a future military campaign is only a matter of time.”
Welcoming the pending appointment of Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir as the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, Golan says that the senior officer will have to both rehabilitate the armed forces and engage in a “struggle against a corrupt and corrupting political echelon, which has abandoned the security of the country in favor of political interests and the pursuit of power.” link Yair Golan was Deputy Chief of General Staff before retiring from the IDF. On October7, he put on his uniform again, took his weapon and went to the Gaza envelope to fight the Hamas terrorists. This he did while Netanyahu was still in shock, not functioning and one of the first things that Netanyahu did on October 8 was to convene his public relations team (also known as the poison machine) to figure out how he needed to distant himself from the attack and atrocities. This is the striking and fundamental difference between these two people. One goes to risk his life to fight for his nation and save as many people as possible, the other goes to fight for himself and only for himself.
Yair Golan is absolutely correct in his statements about Netanyahu's neglect causing Hamas to recover and still maintain its very strong foothold in Gaza. The army did everything it needed to do and handed the political aspects over to Netanyahu on a silver platter. Hamas militarily was severely weakened as was their governing ability. A non neglectful leader would have done everything to place a viable alternative governing body to replace Hamas and actually get rid of them. Instead, Netanyahu tried multiple and ridiculous attempts to have others take on that role, from criminal gangs to tribal leaders who have been in bed with Hamas throughout. He wanted to try virtually anything except the only real solution, the PA or people who have been associated with the PA, and he has left us with Hamas as the defacto government left in Gaza after they slaughtered 1200 people on October 7 and we have lost over 400 soldiers since the land incursion. Netanyahu is nothing less than a criminal and needs to be gone from our lives forever.- Danon backs EU lawmakers’ call for disbanding UNRWA after ex-hostage says she was held in UN facilities in Gaza
Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon voices support for a letter written by European lawmakers demanding that UNRWA be removed from the United Nations, and tells Channel 12 that the agency should be disbanded and funds allocated to alternative aid organizations.
The letter to UN chief Antonio Guterres, signed by dozens of lawmakers from 14 European countries, came after Mandy Damari revealed that her daughter Emily was held by the Palestinian terror group Hamas at UNRWA facilities in Gaza during her 15 months of captivity.
“UNRWA has contravened all its missions and has helped a terrorist organization to hide hostages, which is politically, morally and legally highly reprehensible,” the lawmakers write.
They call for UNHCR (UN High Council for Refugees), the UN agency mandated to aid all other refugees around the world, to take responsibility for the Palestinians as well.
Damari, a dual British-Israeli national, is one of 18 hostages — civilians, soldiers, and Thai nationals — kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, who have been released during a ceasefire that began in January.
Responding to the letter, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini writes, “Claims that hostages have been held in UNRWA premises are deeply disturbing and shocking. We take any such allegations extremely seriously.”
He calls for an “independent investigation” and claims the UN body was “forced to vacate all its installations in the north of Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, on 13 October 2023 and has, since then, had no control over them.”
“I repeat our call for the immediate release and safe return of all hostages,” he adds.
An Israeli ban on the UN agency for Palestinians because of its ties to terror organizations, including Hamas, came into effect last week.
Israel has provided evidence that some UNRWA employees were actively involved in Gaza terror groups and participated in Hamas’s October 7, 2023, invasion and slaughter. Israel has also provided evidence that the agency’s schools incited hatred of Israel and glorification of attacks against Israelis. link UNRWA is rife with problems. Hamas has used UNRWA facilities for its terrorist activities from clinics, to schools, to hospitals. Many of the UNRWA employees have been active terrorist members of Hamas and that has been proven. UNRWA, even before the war has been a large factor of perpetuating the Palestinian refugee situation. In every other country, refugees, once they are resettled and building their new lives, stop being refugees. The Palestinians have been political pawns by the Arab world and Palestinian leadership for decades and keeping them refugees has been politically motivated at the expense of the 'refugees'. Jordan is the only country in the Middle East that actually absorbed the refugees and gave them citizenship. All the other countries kept them as refugees. Now, with the almost total destruction of Gaza, there are now 2 million new and real refugees who need aid, rebuilding and resettlement until they can move back to their rebuilt homes. At that time, they should stop being refugees and be on the way to being integral parts of building their new futures. And it should be with UNRWA.
- **Emily Was Held in UNRWA Facilities, the Secretary-General Responded: "The Allegations Are Disturbing and Shocking"**
Despite Emily Damari's testimony, Lazzarini refused to take responsibility: "UNRWA was forced to evacuate its buildings in Gaza and has had no control over them since." Last Friday, the "UNRWA Law" came into effect. The father of Yonatan Samerano, whose body was abducted by an employee of the organization: "I am a victim of UNRWA—and my son's blood is on the hands of the UN Secretary-General."
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, responded on his X account to the testimonies that Emily Damari was held in the organization's facilities, calling the allegations "disturbing and shocking." In a post he published, Lazzarini called for the establishment of an investigative committee to examine all such claims but distanced himself from responsibility: "UNRWA was forced to leave all its buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on October 13, 2023, and has had no control over them since."
The harrowing testimony about the location where Emily was held was revealed last Friday during a phone call her mother, Mandy, had with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It adds to numerous disturbing testimonies about the involvement of UNRWA employees in terrorist activities over the past year. Israel revealed that 12 UNRWA employees were directly involved in the October 7 massacre, seven of whom were teachers. Since then, it has been discovered that Hamas terrorists have repeatedly used UNRWA infrastructure and buildings as bases for their operations.
A low point was reached when it became clear that the person who abducted the body of Yonatan Samerano, of blessed memory, to Gaza was a social worker employed by UNRWA—the UN agency for Palestinian refugees operating since 1948. Yonatan's parents participated today (Monday) in a protest outside the organization's headquarters in Givat HaTachmoshet, following the enactment of the law against UNRWA last Friday. His father attacked the head of the organization: "My son's blood is on your hands. This 'humanitarian' organization refused to meet with us, refused to respond, and refused to acknowledge its responsibility."The late Yonatan Samrano was kidnapped by a UNRWA employee who is a Hamas operative
**"I Stand Here with a Broken Heart"**
"I stand here with a broken heart, with unquenchable rage, with endless pain. My son was abducted to Gaza by a UNRWA social worker. Not by 'fighters,' not by 'activists,' but by despicable murderers, human monsters—all of whom, without exception, were brainwashed in UNRWA schools," said Kobi Samerano at the protest. Kobi continued to attack the organization: "Those UNRWA schools do not teach mathematics—they teach how to murder Jews. Those schools have no history—they have lessons in hatred. Those schools, beneath which you won't find a basement—you'll find weapons depots and terror tunnels."
The UNRWA head addressed Emily's testimony from her captivity and claimed the organization "takes such allegations seriously." In a post on X, he wrote: "We have repeatedly called for the establishment of an independent investigative committee to examine all claims of misuse of UN facilities by armed Palestinians, including Hamas members." Lazzarini called in his statement for the immediate release and return of all hostages to Israel.
**The UNRWA Law Came into Effect Last Friday**
The "UNRWA Law," passed by a large majority of 92 Knesset members, came into effect last Friday. The law states that UNRWA will no longer be able to operate within the territory of the State of Israel. Additionally, another bill that passed mandates a complete severance of relations between Israel and UNRWA, a move that also significantly impacts the organization's activities outside the country.
**UN Secretary-General Calls for Reversal**
UN Secretary-General AntΓ³nio Guterres called last week for Israel to reverse the law—"There is no substitute for UNRWA." He warned that enforcing the new law would severely harm Palestinians in Gaza, as the agency provides critical humanitarian aid to many Palestinian refugees.
MK Yulia Malinovsky from Yisrael Beiteinu, one of the initiators of the law, spoke at the protest outside the organization's headquarters in Givat HaTachmoshet: "I will pursue UNRWA as Elie Wiesel pursued the Nazis, because they are Nazis. We changed a reality that has existed here since 1967. It was very difficult; there was opposition from the international community, from Blinken to the foreign ministers of European countries."
**European Parliamentarians Demand Action**
Meanwhile, members of parliament from 14 different European countries wrote to the UN Secretary-General last week, demanding that "UNRWA be removed from UN agencies." Among the countries represented were France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and others.
In their letter, they noted that they were sending the letter following the disturbing testimonies about hostages being held in the organization's facilities: "UNRWA violated its mandate by aiding a terrorist organization in hiding hostages." The parliamentarians added that since UNRWA is partially funded by European budgets, they demand the cessation of the organization's activities and propose transferring the UN's work with Palestinian refugees to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- Gantz: Hamas must be replaced, Gaza Strip must be demilitarized before it is rebuilt
The Gaza Strip must not be rebuilt before it is demilitarized, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz declares.
“The transition to phase two of the hostage deal must include the replacement of the Hamas regime and the demilitarization of Gaza,” the former war cabinet minister tells reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.
“The reconstruction efforts in Gaza must be conditioned on the replacement of the Hamas regime. Either Gaza will be demilitarized – or it will remain demolished. That must be the condition for reconstruction, in coordination with the United States and the world.”
Gantz insists that Israel must ensure that Hamas is not able to access humanitarian aid meant for Gazan civilians and argues that “even after the Hamas regime is replaced, it will remain the strongest military force in Gaza – we must not allow for that to happen.”
“Once it is replaced and is cut off from its financial sources, we must hunt every Hamas terrorist in every last tunnel and hideout,” he argues.
He adds that it is now also time “to dismantle the Iranian nuclear project.”
“We must not miss the opportunity. Coordination with the Americans is crucial… We must continue bringing our hostages home, dismantle Hamas, weaken Iran and advance normalization with Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries – and all of this can happen in the next few months. That is what real victory means.”
- Far-right minister says party will topple government if PM continues to 2nd phase of deal
Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock warns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against continuing on to the second phase of the hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Speaking with Army Radio, the far-right minister says that “if Netanyahu decides to go in this disastrous direction” then her party will “make sure that the government does not continue to exist.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of Strock’s Religious Zionism party, has previously threatened to quit the coalition if Israel does not resume fighting Hamas at the end of the current 42-day first phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal.
Yesterday, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid pledged that the government won’t fall over continuing with the agreement, repeating that his party would provide a political safety net. link These are the same scum (yes, I say scum behold I cannot hold my tongue about them any longer) who have been and still are willing to let all the hostages die in order to achieve their messianic extremist ideologies. Settlements in the West Bank and Gaza and purging all those areas of all the Palestinians. For them, so what if a few handfuls of 'leftist' hostages die in Hamas captivity. They are certainly not going to admit any culpability that October 7 happened on their watch and one of the reasons some of the Gaza soldiers were redeployed at that holiday to the West Bank is so these same extremists could have a Sukkah in the middle of a Palestinian village to show that they, the messianic extremists are the bosses and have all the power over the Palestinians. They are loathsome.
- Gantz: Hamas must be replaced, Gaza Strip must be demilitarized before it is rebuilt
The Gaza Strip must not be rebuilt before it is demilitarized, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz declares.
“The transition to phase two of the hostage deal must include the replacement of the Hamas regime and the demilitarization of Gaza,” the former war cabinet minister tells reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.
“The reconstruction efforts in Gaza must be conditioned on the replacement of the Hamas regime. Either Gaza will be demilitarized – or it will remain demolished. That must be the condition for reconstruction, in coordination with the United States and the world.”
Gantz insists that Israel must ensure that Hamas is not able to access humanitarian aid meant for Gazan civilians and argues that “even after the Hamas regime is replaced, it will remain the strongest military force in Gaza – we must not allow for that to happen.”
“Once it is replaced and is cut off from its financial sources, we must hunt every Hamas terrorist in every last tunnel and hideout,” he argues.
He adds that it is now also time “to dismantle the Iranian nuclear project.”
“We must not miss the opportunity. Coordination with the Americans is crucial… We must continue bringing our hostages home, dismantle Hamas, weaken Iran and advance normalization with Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries – and all of this can happen in the next few months. That is what real victory means.”
- Far-right minister says party will topple government if PM continues to 2nd phase of deal
Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock warns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against continuing on to the second phase of the hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Speaking with Army Radio, the far-right minister says that “if Netanyahu decides to go in this disastrous direction” then her party will “make sure that the government does not continue to exist.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of Strock’s Religious Zionism party, has previously threatened to quit the coalition if Israel does not resume fighting Hamas at the end of the current 42-day first phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal.
Yesterday, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid pledged that the government won’t fall over continuing with the agreement, repeating that his party would provide a political safety net. link These are the same scum (yes, I say scum behold I cannot hold my tongue about them any longer) who have been and still are willing to let all the hostages die in order to achieve their messianic extremist ideologies. Settlements in the West Bank and Gaza and purging all those areas of all the Palestinians. For them, so what if a few handfuls of 'leftist' hostages die in Hamas captivity. They are certainly not going to admit any culpability that October 7 happened on their watch and one of the reasons some of the Gaza soldiers were redeployed at that holiday to the West Bank is so these same extremists could have a Sukkah in the middle of a Palestinian village to show that they, the messianic extremists are the bosses and have all the power over the Palestinians. They are loathsome.
The Region and the World
- Trump will watch documentary of Hamas Oct. 7 atrocities before meeting Netanyahu tomorrow
US President Donald Trump will watch a documentary of Hamas October 7 atrocities before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says the Ynet news outlet.
According to the report, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff saw the footage while in Israel last week and was left shocked, and decided that the president should view it as well.
The 47-minute IDF compilation of footage from Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, which saw some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border into Israel to kill some 1,200 people and seize 251 hostages, mostly civilians, amid acts of brutality and sexual assault, will be shortened to 20-30 minutes for the US president, Ynet reports.
The footage, first screened for foreign journalists in Israel on October 23, 2023, includes harrowing scenes of murder, torture and decapitation from the Hamas slaughter in southern Israel, including raw videos from the terrorists’ bodycams.
Gaza sick, wounded could get medical care in Japan, PM Ishiba says
The Japanese government is considering offering medical care in the world’s fourth-largest economy for sick and wounded residents of Gaza, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says.
Ishiba tells a parliament session that his administration is working on a policy to provide support in Japan for “those who are ill or injured in Gaza.”
He says that educational opportunities could also be offered to people from Gaza, which is under a fragile ceasefire with Israel.
Personal Stories "They Talked About Their Children": The Hostages Who Were with Ofer and Yarden Tell of Their Time in Captivity
In a narrow, dark cell, deep underground, 16 Israeli hostages were held in inhumane conditions. • Adina Moshe and Jimmy Pacheco, who spent a short time in captivity with Yarden Bibas and Ofer Calderon, reveal how they managed to survive 484 days in Hamas tunnels: from improvised Zumba workouts to Filipino language lessons.
"Four Pairs of Flip-Flops for 16 People"
Yarden Bibas and Ofer Calderon were released yesterday after 484 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Adina Moshe, who was held with them and released in the previous deal, describes in a special interview the unbearable conditions. She reveals how the hostages turned the underground hell in the tunnels into a place where survival was possible—though barely.
Adina, who recognized that Yarden, Ofer, and another hostage were being held separately from the rest, did not hesitate to issue a firm demand to a Hamas captor: "Release them, bring them to us." In those dramatic moments, she realized that Ofer's daughter, Sahar Calderon, was also in nearby tunnels, and in a moment of bravery, she acted to reunite the father and daughter.
Adina Moshe: "They had conversations between them about the children. It was wonderful. He didn't let him go for a moment".
Alongside them was also Jimmy Pacheco, a Filipino caregiver whose story begins with a terrible tragedy. On October 7, he was taking care of 80-year-old Amichai Ben Zvi from Nir Oz when terrorists broke into the house. "Run, save yourself, you have nothing to do with this, hide," Amichai pleaded with Jimmy, but the devoted caregiver refused to abandon him. "I won’t leave you alone," he replied firmly. Moments later, Amichai was murdered before his eyes, and Jimmy was taken captive.
In the dark, humid tunnels, a special bond formed between Jimmy, Yarden, and Ofer. "Jimmy’s mattress was right next to Yarden’s," Adina recalls. "They had conversations about their children, and it was wonderful to hear. He simply didn’t leave his side for a moment." On hot nights, when the humidity and overcrowding became unbearable, Jimmy came up with a creative solution. "He took a flip-flop at night and used it to fan Yarden’s face," Adina recalls.
Confinement complex for abductees in tunnels in Gaza, archive. | Photo: IDF spokesman
Jimmy himself spoke about the special connection that developed between them: "Yarden is very close to me. Since the night of October 7, I’ve been with him and Ofer in that small room." To pass the endless time and maintain sanity, Jimmy began teaching his fellow hostages the Filipino language. Together, they even improvised Zumba workouts in the cramped space.
But within this extraordinary survival story lies a painful tragedy. Out of the 16 hostages held in those tunnels, five were shot to death by their captors after the IDF attacked the area: Nadav Popplewell, Yagov Buchstab, Haim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Alex Danczig. link
Romi said: "I knew you would get me out, I did everything to come out alive."
Romi Gonen was abducted on October 7th from the Nova party, held captive for 471 days, and returned home during the first phase of the current deal. Since the war began, her sister Yarden has frequently participated in panels on "Avri and Sharki" and called for the return of the abductees. Yesterday, she was interviewed for the first time on the show since her sister's return and spoke about her new life: "She is beginning to recover and open up, listening to herself."
Romi Gonen was held captive in Gaza after being abducted from the Nova party in Re'im on the morning of October 7th. After 471 days, the 24-year-old returned home along with Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher as part of the first phase of the hostage deal currently taking place. During the long and difficult period her family waited for Romi's return, her sister Yarden appeared on many programs and called for a hostage deal to bring the captives home.
Yesterday (Saturday), Yarden Gonen was interviewed on "Avri and Sharki" after participating in the show's panel many times—this being the first time since her sister's return. "Remember how I always told you that Romi would do everything to survive and that she is strong?" she said to hosts Avri Gilad and Yair Sharki. "Well, she is strong, and she did everything to survive. She told us: 'I knew you would get me out of here, I did everything to come out alive.'"
"We sit and talk about life, her experiences from Gaza," Gonen shared about her sister's return. "She was barely exposed to television, she got to hear some of us. When she returned, she said: 'Dad, I came back alive,' she heard our father who in every interview would say that Romi would return alive. This is our family motif, she heard it and it kept her going."
Where are you focused now?
"To accompany my sister in the long rehabilitation process she is expected to undergo. Romi is okay on her own, but she went through hell and has a long recovery ahead. My ultimate goal is to continue pushing until the last hostage is returned."
How terrible are her stories?
"99.9%. We're talking about captivity by a terrorist organization, you can't expect anything less. The luck is that beyond her strength, she wasn't alone. She was with Emily, and they have a friendship you can only dream of. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer issued a statement earlier this week saying that hostages held together came out in better health, that's the lesson of the Jewish people. If soldiers know how to get into a tank regardless of whether they agree with each other, the hostages did it there—so we must do it here."
What did you understand about the captivity experience?
"That there's no way to understand and that we will never understand. This is our legacy and history as the Jewish people. We must listen to every word that comes out of their mouths and keep it with us, as a respect to them and their families, and also to learn for the future."
As mentioned, Gonen has been on the show dozens of times in the past year and maintained optimism. "There were also tough times. Now I can breathe deeply, after 471 days, even if I don't see my sister or send her a message—I know she is in a safe place with people who love her," she said. "Along with that, every time there's huge excitement, we must see all the families gain this wonderful thing, the closing of the circle. We must not stop, we have been blessed with miracles in these two weeks."
Did Romi watch the release on Saturday?
"Romi, Emily, and Doron watch every day. It's important to them, whether they know the person being released or not. They don't necessarily watch together every time, but they provide a support circle."
What does she do all day?
"Starting to recover, exposing herself to what's happening, listening and sharing stories. Taking a bit of a breather before the surgeries she is expected to undergo. Each one does what feels good for them. She is listening to herself at levels I could only pray she would be. I want to ask that you give them privacy and time to breathe." link
US President Donald Trump will watch a documentary of Hamas October 7 atrocities before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says the Ynet news outlet.
According to the report, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff saw the footage while in Israel last week and was left shocked, and decided that the president should view it as well.
The 47-minute IDF compilation of footage from Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, which saw some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border into Israel to kill some 1,200 people and seize 251 hostages, mostly civilians, amid acts of brutality and sexual assault, will be shortened to 20-30 minutes for the US president, Ynet reports.
The footage, first screened for foreign journalists in Israel on October 23, 2023, includes harrowing scenes of murder, torture and decapitation from the Hamas slaughter in southern Israel, including raw videos from the terrorists’ bodycams.
Gaza sick, wounded could get medical care in Japan, PM Ishiba says
Ishiba tells a parliament session that his administration is working on a policy to provide support in Japan for “those who are ill or injured in Gaza.”
He says that educational opportunities could also be offered to people from Gaza, which is under a fragile ceasefire with Israel.
"They Talked About Their Children": The Hostages Who Were with Ofer and Yarden Tell of Their Time in Captivity
In a narrow, dark cell, deep underground, 16 Israeli hostages were held in inhumane conditions. • Adina Moshe and Jimmy Pacheco, who spent a short time in captivity with Yarden Bibas and Ofer Calderon, reveal how they managed to survive 484 days in Hamas tunnels: from improvised Zumba workouts to Filipino language lessons.
"Four Pairs of Flip-Flops for 16 People"
Yarden Bibas and Ofer Calderon were released yesterday after 484 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Adina Moshe, who was held with them and released in the previous deal, describes in a special interview the unbearable conditions. She reveals how the hostages turned the underground hell in the tunnels into a place where survival was possible—though barely.
Adina, who recognized that Yarden, Ofer, and another hostage were being held separately from the rest, did not hesitate to issue a firm demand to a Hamas captor: "Release them, bring them to us." In those dramatic moments, she realized that Ofer's daughter, Sahar Calderon, was also in nearby tunnels, and in a moment of bravery, she acted to reunite the father and daughter.
Adina Moshe: "They had conversations between them about the children. It was wonderful. He didn't let him go for a moment".
Alongside them was also Jimmy Pacheco, a Filipino caregiver whose story begins with a terrible tragedy. On October 7, he was taking care of 80-year-old Amichai Ben Zvi from Nir Oz when terrorists broke into the house. "Run, save yourself, you have nothing to do with this, hide," Amichai pleaded with Jimmy, but the devoted caregiver refused to abandon him. "I won’t leave you alone," he replied firmly. Moments later, Amichai was murdered before his eyes, and Jimmy was taken captive.
In the dark, humid tunnels, a special bond formed between Jimmy, Yarden, and Ofer. "Jimmy’s mattress was right next to Yarden’s," Adina recalls. "They had conversations about their children, and it was wonderful to hear. He simply didn’t leave his side for a moment." On hot nights, when the humidity and overcrowding became unbearable, Jimmy came up with a creative solution. "He took a flip-flop at night and used it to fan Yarden’s face," Adina recalls.
Jimmy himself spoke about the special connection that developed between them: "Yarden is very close to me. Since the night of October 7, I’ve been with him and Ofer in that small room." To pass the endless time and maintain sanity, Jimmy began teaching his fellow hostages the Filipino language. Together, they even improvised Zumba workouts in the cramped space.
But within this extraordinary survival story lies a painful tragedy. Out of the 16 hostages held in those tunnels, five were shot to death by their captors after the IDF attacked the area: Nadav Popplewell, Yagov Buchstab, Haim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Alex Danczig. link
Romi said: "I knew you would get me out, I did everything to come out alive."
Romi Gonen was abducted on October 7th from the Nova party, held captive for 471 days, and returned home during the first phase of the current deal. Since the war began, her sister Yarden has frequently participated in panels on "Avri and Sharki" and called for the return of the abductees. Yesterday, she was interviewed for the first time on the show since her sister's return and spoke about her new life: "She is beginning to recover and open up, listening to herself."
Romi Gonen was held captive in Gaza after being abducted from the Nova party in Re'im on the morning of October 7th. After 471 days, the 24-year-old returned home along with Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher as part of the first phase of the hostage deal currently taking place. During the long and difficult period her family waited for Romi's return, her sister Yarden appeared on many programs and called for a hostage deal to bring the captives home.
Yesterday (Saturday), Yarden Gonen was interviewed on "Avri and Sharki" after participating in the show's panel many times—this being the first time since her sister's return. "Remember how I always told you that Romi would do everything to survive and that she is strong?" she said to hosts Avri Gilad and Yair Sharki. "Well, she is strong, and she did everything to survive. She told us: 'I knew you would get me out of here, I did everything to come out alive.'"
"We sit and talk about life, her experiences from Gaza," Gonen shared about her sister's return. "She was barely exposed to television, she got to hear some of us. When she returned, she said: 'Dad, I came back alive,' she heard our father who in every interview would say that Romi would return alive. This is our family motif, she heard it and it kept her going."
Where are you focused now?
"To accompany my sister in the long rehabilitation process she is expected to undergo. Romi is okay on her own, but she went through hell and has a long recovery ahead. My ultimate goal is to continue pushing until the last hostage is returned."
How terrible are her stories?
"99.9%. We're talking about captivity by a terrorist organization, you can't expect anything less. The luck is that beyond her strength, she wasn't alone. She was with Emily, and they have a friendship you can only dream of. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer issued a statement earlier this week saying that hostages held together came out in better health, that's the lesson of the Jewish people. If soldiers know how to get into a tank regardless of whether they agree with each other, the hostages did it there—so we must do it here."
What did you understand about the captivity experience?
"That there's no way to understand and that we will never understand. This is our legacy and history as the Jewish people. We must listen to every word that comes out of their mouths and keep it with us, as a respect to them and their families, and also to learn for the future."
As mentioned, Gonen has been on the show dozens of times in the past year and maintained optimism. "There were also tough times. Now I can breathe deeply, after 471 days, even if I don't see my sister or send her a message—I know she is in a safe place with people who love her," she said. "Along with that, every time there's huge excitement, we must see all the families gain this wonderful thing, the closing of the circle. We must not stop, we have been blessed with miracles in these two weeks."
Did Romi watch the release on Saturday?
"Romi, Emily, and Doron watch every day. It's important to them, whether they know the person being released or not. They don't necessarily watch together every time, but they provide a support circle."
What does she do all day?
"Starting to recover, exposing herself to what's happening, listening and sharing stories. Taking a bit of a breather before the surgeries she is expected to undergo. Each one does what feels good for them. She is listening to herself at levels I could only pray she would be. I want to ask that you give them privacy and time to breathe." link
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Muki TsurEducator and Researcher.
Democracy is not a situation, it is a challenge; a difficult regime that is under constant and unrelenting peril. Democracy is never assassinated - it commits suicide. When considering the various dangers faced by Israeli democracy, it may come naturally to mention Benjamin Netanyahu - and this is hardly by chance. He who spent a lifetime in evasion, limps fervently on a journey replete with his own interests, while eschewing others.The man who was brought up on deterministic and steadfast principles has become a man controlled by opportunity. The evolution of zealous theories into instrumental tools to serve one’s interests is not accidental -it is the legacy of numerous regimes. Netanyahu became the Neo-liberals’ prophet of doom, leaving his victims entranced. The original idea was embodied in the “teach the people to fish” proverb and was brought to fruition in the hundred-year-old French caricature in which the fish hold fishing rods on the banks of the river and humans flounder in the water. Netanyahu succeeded in turning the poor into a coalition of dependents on the one hand, and an economically besieged population on the other.Human emotions have now become commodities. Cynical stakeholders have stifled dialogue, considered essential in democratic societies, and turned it into a deafening silence that breeds violence and increases gaps between citizens and communities. There is a calculated nurturing of widespread misunderstanding, a conversation that intends to overpower and overtake, shouting without listening, resulting in turning those different from you into enemies in order to solidify the regime’s rule. Jews without democracy will not survive in the modern era, nor will Judaism. Jews have the unique ability to meld complex, un-meldable identities, the ardor of youth and the religion of sober maturity.The growth of Israeli society depends on connecting a minority within the Jewish people with a society that includes the larger Jewish community, and brings with it a growing responsibility and an opportunity to take the Israeli democratic lifestyle, based on partnerships, and turn it into one that cultivates identity politics. Netanyahu jumped on the bandwagon and turned it from an attempt at cultural integration without cultural erosion, to a political tool to serve his interests.A noteworthy chapter in this evolution concerns the memory of the Holocaust. In its essence, the memory of the Holocaust is a tribute to the collective responsibility for human life. It reminds us of our responsibility to uphold democracy and resist totalitarian regimes that evolve into racism and genocide. The memory of the Holocaust demands that we cultivate bravery over fear, uphold boundaries to power and nurture a peace-seeking society. Leveraging the memory of the Holocaust to spread fear and vengeance is a threat, not an opportunity.Israeli society will build itself anew. I hope it will be able to avoid the dark avenues we are all tempted to turn to for solace in times of trauma. Trauma is a closed circuit, broken only by crisis which introduces the need for rectification. The pinwheel of opportunism and zealotry is ubiquitous in the Middle East, but Israel must encourage new winds - both internally and externally. During times of war, this pinwheel becomes increasingly challenging as war presents difficult, critical moral questions with which the pinwheel struggles to deal. We see this clearly and dramatically with the hostage issue. Resolving this issue requires bravery, prioritization that may expose inherent weaknesses, the admission of failures and a long-term vision. Benjamin Netanyahu lacks all of these crucial abilities.
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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