π️Lonny's War Update- October 514, 2023 - March 3, 2025 π️
π️Day 514 that 59 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
*10:00- Haifa- terror attacked at central bus station- stabbing- 2 terrorist neutralized - a 70 year old man was killed, at least 6 injured-4 in serious condition
Police: Haifa terrorist returned to Israel last week after several months abroad, victim was fatally stabbed in back
Police confirm that the perpetrator of a stabbing terror attack in Haifa this morning is a Druze citizen of Israel from Shfar’am, who returned to Israel a week ago after spending several months abroad.
Hebrew outlets name the attacker as Jethro Shaheen, around 20 years old. There is no confirmation of his identity from authorities.
The terrorist stabbed five people, killing a man in his 60s and injuring four others, according to a statement from law enforcement. The victim has not been publicly named.
The assailant was shot dead at the scene by a security guard and armed civilian.
The victim in his 60s was fatally stabbed in the back multiple times, police say, contradicting earlier reports suggesting he may have been shot dead by civilian gunfire directed at the terrorist.
Hostage Updates
Slain hostage Itzik Elgarat to be buried today at Kibbutz Nir Oz; family says service open to public
The funeral of slain hostage Itzik Elgarat is to be held at 2 p.m. outside his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, from which he was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.
The service will be open to the public and media. The burial at the kibbutz cemetery will be private.
Elgarat is survived by two children, a brother and two sisters.
His body was transferred to Israel by Hamas last week under the hostage-ceasefire deal.
The kibbutz said Elgarat, who was abducted at 68, “came to Nir Oz following his brother and became a beloved figure in the community. For years, he served the kibbutz with dedication as a groundskeeper and was responsible for plumbing, gas, and steam maintenance.
“He was an integral part of the social fabric, loved spending time at the local pub, hosting friends, and connecting different generations. His great love for soccer and backgammon was well known, and he shone in local games, always with a smile and a warm spirit.”
Coffin of slain hostage Itzik Elgarat arrives at his Kibbutz Nir Oz home ahead of funeral
Brother at funeral of slain hostage: ‘The state abandoned you to your death’Thousands attend the Kibbutz Nir Oz funeral of slain hostage Itzik Elgarat, whose siblings issue emotional tirades against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government they accuse of abandoning their brother to his death in Gaza.
“Itzik, unfortunately, you were right. Your last words before you were abducted were ‘Dani, this is the end, this is the end.’ You already knew, and we didn’t want to believe it,” says Dani Elgarat.
“We fought with all our might to prove you wrong. We failed. We didn’t do enough,” says Elgarat, a prominent figure in the fight to secure the release of the hostages.
“Netanyahu defeated us and you didn’t return from captivity. The enemy who caused your death was not the one who abducted you, but the one who abandoned you,” he says.
“You managed to survive the kidnapping, the kidnappers, and the injury for many months,” he says.
“Finally Netanyahu subdued you through the torpedoing [of the hostage deal] and abandonment. This is the end of the Jewish state that did not fulfill its duty and stood by while your blood was spilled. It abandoned you to Hamas to die for the sake of ‘power, honor, and money.'” he charges.
“You were correct that it was the end. But not only of your life. This is also the end of the democratic state that deprived you of your freedom, your dignity, and your human and civil rights. This is the end of the value of mutual responsibility and the value of life in Israeli society. Values that distinguished us from our enemy, and now we have become like them,” he says.
Rachel Danzig, Elgarat’s sister, praises her brother for his bravery on October 7, 2023, as terrorists swarmed Kibbutz Nir Oz.
“You, Itzik, fought them with a fierce heart. They took you alive. I believed so much that you would return alive. You left too soon. They tortured you, they starved you, you left in great agony that only bloodthirsty murderers can inflict,” she says.
“We were unable to save you and our friends. We were unable to save you from an evil government,” she says.
- Netanyahu apologizes to recently released hostage Eli Sharabi: ‘Sorry that it took us so long’“I am sorry that it took us so long,” says Netanyahu in a phone conversation, according to the Prime Minister’s Office transcript. “We fought hard to get you out, and your brother and the entire family fought hard too.” link Lies, lies, lies. Netanyahu lies with every cell of his body when he says that 'we fought hard to get you out'. If he really would have fought hard, Eli would have come home so much earlier and his brother Yossi would also have been released before he was killed in captivity. Netanyahu has done all he can to kill every hostage deal that was possible so he could do all he wanted for his own personal interests. His lies are sickening and even worse when he lied in the face of someone who suffered almost 500 days in the hell of Hamas captivity to find out that his wife and 2 daughters were killed on October 7 after he was taken hostage and that his brother Yossi was killed in captivity.
Netanyahu today spoke to Eli Sharabi following his in-depth and painful interview on Uvda last week. Without that interview and the follow up invitation to the White House, I highly doubt that Netanyahu would have called Eli Sharabi because what happened to Eli and his family are a blaring example of Netanyahu’s abandonment. Netanyahu refuses to give the negotiating team the mandate to even begin discussing phase 2 of the agreement even though the agreement, signed by Netanyahu specifies that negotiations on Phase 2 were supposed to begin in day 16 of phase 1, almost 4 weeks ago. He doesn’t want the war to end and he refuses to speak of the day after always saying that we will deal with the day after in the day after. One would think that this stupid statement was made by a stupid man. Netanyahu is not stupid. He never had a strategic plan except where it comes to his personal interests and this statement most likely has to do with his personal self interests and definitely not the interests of the State. The interests of the state demanded dealing with the day after shortly after the war began, but that couldn’t be done because of Netanyahu’s obstinance and continuing in his tragically distorted objective to never dealing with a Palestinian partner to end the conflict. That is what brought us to October 7 and will lead us to future October 7’s. He wants us to believe that we must live in the conflict forever and if it means we go to war every few years, have citizens and soldiers killed, hostages taken, tortured and killed, that’s alright because he is protecting us. Netanyahu is killing us. He is the worst and most irresponsible prime minister in the history of Israel and has lost any moral compass that he may have had once upon a time. Now, all of his actions revolve around him, his political survival, trying to rehabilitate his permanently stained place in the history books and remain in power no matter what. This is his legacy.
- A source involved in the negotiations with the families of hostages stated that if Israel does not commit to discussing the second phase, Hamas will not release any more hostages.
The families of the hostages met with a member of the negotiation team and expressed their feeling that not enough is being done to bring their loved ones back. They questioned the source about the government's conduct and the extent of its concern for the hostages. "My brother's life is on the line—why aren't you turning over every stone?" cried a family member. The source emphasized that decision-makers are influenced by public sentiment but revealed that the negotiation team has not been given a mandate to address the gaps in the second phase.
The families of the hostages are fearful and anxious, especially after hearing the testimonies of Eli Sharabi on "Uvda," which highlighted the life-threatening dangers their loved ones face. In the background, there has been no progress in the deal. The families requested to speak with a source within the negotiation team who is well-informed, hoping to understand the current state of affairs. Last night (Sunday), during the prime-time news, we published excerpts from this difficult conversation.
A family member of a hostage held by Hamas addressed the source: "We see the government's conduct and are worried. The government's insistence on returning to war, delaying the release of prisoners, my brother's life is at stake—why aren't you turning over every stone?" The source from the negotiation team responded: "The professional level strongly opposed the delay in releasing prisoners; it was a decision made by the political echelon against professional considerations."
Another family member asked: "Don't they hear on the news about the torture and suffering of the hostages? They hear and know everything, yet they delay negotiations on the second phase, even at the cost of human lives?" The source replied: "In the most sensitive and closed discussions we hold, public voices influence decision-makers. The conditions of captivity that the public is exposed to, the pressure from the ground—all of these have an impact. Those involved in the negotiations understand the implications of every step, including the far-reaching consequences for the hostages if we return to fighting."
The family member added: "They know and hear everything, yet they refuse to discuss the release of all the hostages." The source said: "The negotiation team has not been given a mandate to address the gaps in the second phase. There are resolvable issues, but until we can discuss ending the war and the day after in Gaza, we cannot guarantee the release of all the hostages."
The same family member continued and asked: "So what is the significance of extending the first phase?" The source answered: "There is no feasibility to it. If Israel does not enter negotiations on the second phase and commit to ending the war, Hamas will not release any more hostages."
One of the families that spoke with the source in the negotiation team told Channel 12 News last night that, in fact, the Israeli government had already committed on the 16th day to begin discussing the second phase—but so far, no real discussions have begun, and the government is "endangering our loved ones and effectively violating the agreement," according to the family. Last night, the families of the hostages reiterated in their statement that the first priority must be the release of hostages whose lives are in danger—and only then deal with Hamas. link
- Omri's daughters have grown accustomed to speaking to his picture. Elkana's son drew him in kindergarten: "The children are also in captivity."
Growing up in an impossible reality: Alma and Roni saw their father, Omri, being kidnapped before their eyes, and this has both physical and emotional consequences. When Ram David sees an airplane, he asks them to bring his father back. Elkana: "He drew him in color—and us in black and white, because we are sad." Amid the uncertainty of the ongoing negotiations, the children of the hostages in Gaza are also paying the price.
Nearly a year and a half after the war began, there are still children living in an impossible reality. Alongside those coping with the loss of their parents, there are also those whose fathers were kidnapped by Hamas, and they do not know when, or if, they will ever see them again. A new legal document, submitted by Prof. Dana Pugach and attorney Shelly Aviv-Yaari, sheds light on another aspect of the ongoing crisis.
Rebecca Buchbut, Elkana's wife
The drawing by Ram David, Elkana's son.
"The impact on the children is not only emotional but also a continuous violation of their basic rights under international law," emphasizes the document, which is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international conventions. It argues that Israel is obligated to recognize the rights of these children and consider them a central factor in efforts to secure the release of the hostages. "This is not just a matter of pity or compassion," said Prof. Pugach, "but a real legal obligation of the state to act to protect the rights of the children, who have themselves become indirect victims of terrorism."
"What is it like to live without a father? It's telling him all the time that Dad will come back, so he has hope," said Rebecca Buchbut, the wife of Elkana, who was kidnapped in Gaza, and the mother of four-and-a-half-year-old Ram David. "It's explaining to him that we are looking for Dad. It's listening and comforting when he says and cries that he misses him and that he is sad. When he sees an airplane in the sky, he asks—bring me my dad. It's dealing with abandonment anxiety because he is afraid that I too will 'go to Gaza.' It's constantly feeling his absence and the things they used to do together.
"The child is also in captivity. He is growing and developing, going to the park and playing—but he is in captivity. We cannot move forward until his father returns. He is so small, but he understands and absorbs everything, and his father is with him all the time. He says—I love summer like Dad, I love warm water like Dad. He said that they probably stole his wallet with the money, so he is saving all his money for him. On Family Day, he drew us in kindergarten—Elkana happy and colorful, and us in black and white, because we are sad, and he knows it," she described.
Rebecca added: "I know that Elkana is holding on, that he knows he has a wife fighting for him, that he has a child waiting for him. He will be shocked to see this big, pure, magical child who refuses to give up on his father. I encourage him, the imagination, and the hope. No one will take away my hope."
Lishi Levi-Miran (Photo: Ella Dagan)
Roni and Alma, the daughters of Lishi Levi-Miran and Omri Miran, are also waiting for their father, who was kidnapped before their eyes. "I do everything so that, alongside the pain, sorrow, and difficulty, our daughters live with joy," said Lishi. "However, Roni and Alma were also hostages, and they saw their father taken from them, and this has physical and emotional expressions. Roni is three and a half years old, and the conversation about her father is constant, about missing him. She remembers almost every detail and keeps talking about what happened that day, who was there, why they came to us. She talks about him, and also to him, speaking to his picture.
"Alma doesn't really know him, only from pictures and posters. She was only six months old on the day when her basic right to grow up with a father was taken away. And they are still there, on that day. And along with the great sadness—I say and know—Omri will return, on his feet. There is no other option, and the hope is that we are getting closer to that day. We must bring him back; he has two daughters waiting for him at home. We must bring everyone back," Lishi shared.
Roni and Alma with Omri's picture (Photo: Ella Dagan)
"The groups of hostages are divided in the public consciousness into several groups—the women, the elderly, the sick, and everyone else," explained Prof. Dana Pugach, from Ono Academic College and the law firm Pugach Kedem-Baruch, which represents victims of serious crimes, including children. "After almost a year and a half, all the hostages are no longer in a fit and healthy state. But there are groups that need more spotlight, like the fathers of children. A clear statement needs to be made here—that the deal must be completed, among other reasons, due to considerations of the rights of family members, especially young children.
"International and Israeli law strongly recognizes the rights of children; the Convention on the Rights of the Child is used in many legal contexts. My expectation is not from Hamas to suddenly recognize the rights of children, but from the State of Israel, which owes it to the children, and from the international community, to recognize the need to protect their interests. As lawyers, we have been thinking from the beginning about legal arguments that could help them. The law cannot solve everything, but the harm, the feeling of the families—is one of lack of control. These actions, in our view, are also about restoring control." link
Growing up in an impossible reality: Alma and Roni saw their father, Omri, being kidnapped before their eyes, and this has both physical and emotional consequences. When Ram David sees an airplane, he asks them to bring his father back. Elkana: "He drew him in color—and us in black and white, because we are sad." Amid the uncertainty of the ongoing negotiations, the children of the hostages in Gaza are also paying the price.
Nearly a year and a half after the war began, there are still children living in an impossible reality. Alongside those coping with the loss of their parents, there are also those whose fathers were kidnapped by Hamas, and they do not know when, or if, they will ever see them again. A new legal document, submitted by Prof. Dana Pugach and attorney Shelly Aviv-Yaari, sheds light on another aspect of the ongoing crisis.
"The impact on the children is not only emotional but also a continuous violation of their basic rights under international law," emphasizes the document, which is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international conventions. It argues that Israel is obligated to recognize the rights of these children and consider them a central factor in efforts to secure the release of the hostages. "This is not just a matter of pity or compassion," said Prof. Pugach, "but a real legal obligation of the state to act to protect the rights of the children, who have themselves become indirect victims of terrorism."
"What is it like to live without a father? It's telling him all the time that Dad will come back, so he has hope," said Rebecca Buchbut, the wife of Elkana, who was kidnapped in Gaza, and the mother of four-and-a-half-year-old Ram David. "It's explaining to him that we are looking for Dad. It's listening and comforting when he says and cries that he misses him and that he is sad. When he sees an airplane in the sky, he asks—bring me my dad. It's dealing with abandonment anxiety because he is afraid that I too will 'go to Gaza.' It's constantly feeling his absence and the things they used to do together.
"The child is also in captivity. He is growing and developing, going to the park and playing—but he is in captivity. We cannot move forward until his father returns. He is so small, but he understands and absorbs everything, and his father is with him all the time. He says—I love summer like Dad, I love warm water like Dad. He said that they probably stole his wallet with the money, so he is saving all his money for him. On Family Day, he drew us in kindergarten—Elkana happy and colorful, and us in black and white, because we are sad, and he knows it," she described.
Rebecca added: "I know that Elkana is holding on, that he knows he has a wife fighting for him, that he has a child waiting for him. He will be shocked to see this big, pure, magical child who refuses to give up on his father. I encourage him, the imagination, and the hope. No one will take away my hope."
Roni and Alma, the daughters of Lishi Levi-Miran and Omri Miran, are also waiting for their father, who was kidnapped before their eyes. "I do everything so that, alongside the pain, sorrow, and difficulty, our daughters live with joy," said Lishi. "However, Roni and Alma were also hostages, and they saw their father taken from them, and this has physical and emotional expressions. Roni is three and a half years old, and the conversation about her father is constant, about missing him. She remembers almost every detail and keeps talking about what happened that day, who was there, why they came to us. She talks about him, and also to him, speaking to his picture.
"Alma doesn't really know him, only from pictures and posters. She was only six months old on the day when her basic right to grow up with a father was taken away. And they are still there, on that day. And along with the great sadness—I say and know—Omri will return, on his feet. There is no other option, and the hope is that we are getting closer to that day. We must bring him back; he has two daughters waiting for him at home. We must bring everyone back," Lishi shared.
"The groups of hostages are divided in the public consciousness into several groups—the women, the elderly, the sick, and everyone else," explained Prof. Dana Pugach, from Ono Academic College and the law firm Pugach Kedem-Baruch, which represents victims of serious crimes, including children. "After almost a year and a half, all the hostages are no longer in a fit and healthy state. But there are groups that need more spotlight, like the fathers of children. A clear statement needs to be made here—that the deal must be completed, among other reasons, due to considerations of the rights of family members, especially young children.
"International and Israeli law strongly recognizes the rights of children; the Convention on the Rights of the Child is used in many legal contexts. My expectation is not from Hamas to suddenly recognize the rights of children, but from the State of Israel, which owes it to the children, and from the international community, to recognize the need to protect their interests. As lawyers, we have been thinking from the beginning about legal arguments that could help them. The law cannot solve everything, but the harm, the feeling of the families—is one of lack of control. These actions, in our view, are also about restoring control." link
- Emily Damari Underwent Surgery Again: "In Gaza, They Stitched My Fingers Together"
Emily Damari, a survivor of captivity from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was shot on October 7 while trying to protect her dog. During her captivity, she did not receive proper medical treatment: "I was held in tunnels with an open wound, and by some miracle, I didn’t contract a serious infection." At a hospital in Gaza, the nerves in her fingers were stitched together. At Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital, her complex injuries were treated: "It went much better than I expected, but recovery will still take time."
Emily Damari, a survivor of Hamas captivity, recently underwent several complex surgeries to treat the severe injuries she sustained on October 7, which were not properly addressed during the 471 days she was held captive by Hamas. "The pain and scars symbolize freedom, hope, and strength for me," she told British media today (Sunday).
The 28-year-old Emily was shot on the morning of Black Saturday when Hamas terrorists stormed her home in the Dor Tza'ir neighborhood of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She recounted that during the violent takeover of her home, the terrorists shot and killed her dog, Chucha, while she was hugging her, injuring her left hand and right leg in the process.
"The surgery on my hand and leg went much better than I expected," Damari said in an interview, thanking the medical team at Sheba Tel Hashomer. "My recovery will still take time, and my hand will never fully heal, but the excruciating pain I felt for a year and a half after my nerves were stitched together during the first surgery I underwent at Shifa Hospital in Gaza—is gone."
Emily before the operation
Emily shared that the surgeries were far more successful than anticipated. "The doctors and nurses did an amazing job. The terrible pain I had for a year and a half—due to poor treatment in captivity—has significantly decreased. Now, with rehabilitation and physiotherapy, I hope my hand will regain better function than before," she said.
The gunshot wound in her leg was also not properly treated in captivity. Emily recounted that for four months, she was held in tunnels with an open and infected wound. Hamas provided no medical assistance other than an expired bottle of iodine. "It’s nothing short of a miracle that she didn’t contract a life-threatening infection," said her mother, Mandy.
Beyond her recovery process, Emily is focused on the hostages still held by Hamas, particularly her close friends Gali and Ziv Berman. "Even though my injuries were not simple, I know there are people in captivity in much worse condition than me, both physically and mentally. All the hostages must return home as soon as possible," she said.
Immediately after her release from captivity, Emily was documented in her first video call with her brother Tom, making a "V" sign with her injured hand and a wide smile, becoming a symbol of resilience and positivity. "I’ve fully embraced my injured hand, the pain, and the scars. For me, they symbolize freedom, hope, and strength," she shared.
Once she completes her recovery, Emily hopes to visit the UK to personally thank the many supporters who stood by her and fulfill another dream—returning to the stands of Tottenham, the football team she supports, and meeting the fans who stood by her. Meanwhile, she continues her recovery journey and reminds the world of the urgency in securing the release of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza.
Gaza and the South
Gaza and the South
- Cairo proposes 2-week extension of first truce phase, including return of 6 hostages
Qatari-owned newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports, citing Egyptian sources, that Cairo has proposed to Israel and Hamas to extend the first phase of the ceasefire by two weeks, which will include the release of six Israeli hostages, during which time the sides will hold negotiations on the proposed second phase.
The report says three of the Israelis would be living hostages, and three would be bodies, according to the proposal.
The report says an Israeli team is expected to arrive in Cairo soon to discuss the offer.
- US backs Israeli position in hostage talks, but doesn’t say Witkoff behind proposal
The White House says it backs Israel’s approach in the hostage negotiations, but does not specifically confirm Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterization of the proposal Jerusalem decided to back last night for a new hostage release framework as one crafted by the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.
Earlier today, an Arab official denied to The Times of Israel that Witkoff is behind a proposal announced by Netanyahu’s office last night. That proposal would abandon the second phase framework that Israel and Hamas had agreed to for a new outline of releasing the remaining 59 hostages in two batches toward the beginning and end of the Ramadan and Passover holidays that run through March and April.
The Arab official said the plan Netanyahu described as Witkoff’s was “more of an Israeli plan.”
Asked to comment on the claim, White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes avoids responding directly, instead sending a statement that expresses support for the position of Israel, which decided to stop the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the first phase of the deal expiring yesterday.
“Israel has negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists. We will support their decision on next steps, given Hamas has indicated it’s no longer interested in a negotiated ceasefire,” Hughes says.
Israel and Hamas were supposed to begin negotiations regarding the terms of phase two a month ago, but Israel refrained from doing so, as it requires — in exchange for the release of the remaining living hostages — a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and permanent ceasefire, which Netanyahu has ruled out, despite signing onto those terms.
Saturday was also supposed to see Israel begin to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza, but Netanyahu’s office already said last month that it would not be complying with this requirement.
The Arab official says Hamas made clear before and after Netanyahu’s announcement that it was only prepared to release additional hostages as part of the framework that the sides agreed to in January. link It appeared that Trump would be the one to put the necessary pressure on Netanyahu to get all the hostages back home and quickly. It was this pressure that pushed Netanyahu to agree to the Phase 1 of the agreement. But there are a number of elements that changed all that. It has been said by many that many of Trump's decisions are based on the last person in the room who convinces him and he goes accordingly with talk and action. Netanyahu knows that and makes sure to be that last person in the room (by phone or video) and he knows exactly how to spin Trump. Add to this the fact that Hamas sent a Gazan woman's body and not Shiri Bibas. This was outrageous and Netanyahu used it in his talk with Trump and Trump's immediate reaction was to say that Netanyahu can do whatever he deems necessary with getting advice from him. This was Netanyahu's green light from Trump to do whatever he wants including ending the agreement and going back to war. He got Trump to state on a number of occasions that Israel must finish off Hamas and that goes exactly according to Netanyahu's only real goal of his war and not getting back the hostages. There are 2 very concerned influencers on Trump who are pushing to get the hostages home as soon as possible, Steve Wycoff and Mirian Adelson both major donors to Trump. Without Wycoff as Trump's appointed emissary, it is doubtful that any real pressure would be put on Netanyahu by the current US administration. However, even that pressure is not immediate. Wycoff has delayed his return to the area so he will be present at Trump's State of the Union address and that gives Netanyahu more time to deliberate and not do anything to get the hostages home. And they don't have time!!!!
- Next potential steps to pressure Hamas include cutting electricity to Gaza, resuming war
Israel is planning to incrementally pile on pressure on Hamas to accept a new proposal extending the ceasefire deal’s first phase and securing the release of all the hostages the terror group is holding, in addition to Sunday’s halt to aid entering the Gaza Strip, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
The report says the next stages of Israel’s “maximum pressure” plan, said to have been drafted over the past few weeks, is to again move the Gazan population from northern Gaza to the territory’s south — as had been the case for most of the war — and later, if needed, cutting all electricity to the Strip.
The final planned measure is reportedly a full return to the war, this time with the heavy bombs withheld by the previous US administration as well as the billions worth of arms and military equipment the new administration is sending Israel.
- Israel’s halt of Gaza aid ‘alarming’ — UN humanitarian chief
The United Nations humanitarian agency’s head condemns Israel’s suspension of aid into Gaza, which he says is contrary to international law.
“Israel’s decision to halt aid into Gaza is alarming. International humanitarian law is clear: We must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid,” OCHA head Thomas Fletcher writes on X.
Egypt condemns Israel for halting Gaza aid, accuses it of using ‘starvation as a weapon’
Egypt, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, condemns Israel’s closure of Gaza crossings to aid supplies and accuses Israel of using “starvation as a weapon.”
Earlier, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the claim Gazans could face starvation, saying this was “a lie during this whole war.”
“We saw that when our hostages were released, the terrorists and the crowd looked perfectly fine. The only ones that looked that they were starved were our hostages,” he said.
IDF says it struck vessel identified as threat after crossing maritime border off Gaza coast
The IDF says it struck a suspicious vessel that passed a maritime boundary set by the military off the coast of northern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip earlier today.
Before the strike, warning shots were fired at the vessel, which the military says was identified as a threat.
It is unclear whether the vessel sank or remained afloat.
The IDF has repeatedly warned fishermen, swimmers, and divers not to enter the sea along the entire Strip during the ceasefire.
Separately, the IDF says troops opened fire on two suspects who approached them in the southern Gaza Strip and “posed an imminent threat.” Palestinian media reported two dead in the incident.
Qatari-owned newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports, citing Egyptian sources, that Cairo has proposed to Israel and Hamas to extend the first phase of the ceasefire by two weeks, which will include the release of six Israeli hostages, during which time the sides will hold negotiations on the proposed second phase.
The report says three of the Israelis would be living hostages, and three would be bodies, according to the proposal.
The report says an Israeli team is expected to arrive in Cairo soon to discuss the offer.
The White House says it backs Israel’s approach in the hostage negotiations, but does not specifically confirm Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterization of the proposal Jerusalem decided to back last night for a new hostage release framework as one crafted by the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.
Earlier today, an Arab official denied to The Times of Israel that Witkoff is behind a proposal announced by Netanyahu’s office last night. That proposal would abandon the second phase framework that Israel and Hamas had agreed to for a new outline of releasing the remaining 59 hostages in two batches toward the beginning and end of the Ramadan and Passover holidays that run through March and April.
The Arab official said the plan Netanyahu described as Witkoff’s was “more of an Israeli plan.”
Asked to comment on the claim, White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes avoids responding directly, instead sending a statement that expresses support for the position of Israel, which decided to stop the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the first phase of the deal expiring yesterday.
“Israel has negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists. We will support their decision on next steps, given Hamas has indicated it’s no longer interested in a negotiated ceasefire,” Hughes says.
Israel and Hamas were supposed to begin negotiations regarding the terms of phase two a month ago, but Israel refrained from doing so, as it requires — in exchange for the release of the remaining living hostages — a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and permanent ceasefire, which Netanyahu has ruled out, despite signing onto those terms.
Saturday was also supposed to see Israel begin to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza, but Netanyahu’s office already said last month that it would not be complying with this requirement.
The Arab official says Hamas made clear before and after Netanyahu’s announcement that it was only prepared to release additional hostages as part of the framework that the sides agreed to in January. link It appeared that Trump would be the one to put the necessary pressure on Netanyahu to get all the hostages back home and quickly. It was this pressure that pushed Netanyahu to agree to the Phase 1 of the agreement. But there are a number of elements that changed all that. It has been said by many that many of Trump's decisions are based on the last person in the room who convinces him and he goes accordingly with talk and action. Netanyahu knows that and makes sure to be that last person in the room (by phone or video) and he knows exactly how to spin Trump. Add to this the fact that Hamas sent a Gazan woman's body and not Shiri Bibas. This was outrageous and Netanyahu used it in his talk with Trump and Trump's immediate reaction was to say that Netanyahu can do whatever he deems necessary with getting advice from him. This was Netanyahu's green light from Trump to do whatever he wants including ending the agreement and going back to war. He got Trump to state on a number of occasions that Israel must finish off Hamas and that goes exactly according to Netanyahu's only real goal of his war and not getting back the hostages. There are 2 very concerned influencers on Trump who are pushing to get the hostages home as soon as possible, Steve Wycoff and Mirian Adelson both major donors to Trump. Without Wycoff as Trump's appointed emissary, it is doubtful that any real pressure would be put on Netanyahu by the current US administration. However, even that pressure is not immediate. Wycoff has delayed his return to the area so he will be present at Trump's State of the Union address and that gives Netanyahu more time to deliberate and not do anything to get the hostages home. And they don't have time!!!!
Israel is planning to incrementally pile on pressure on Hamas to accept a new proposal extending the ceasefire deal’s first phase and securing the release of all the hostages the terror group is holding, in addition to Sunday’s halt to aid entering the Gaza Strip, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
The report says the next stages of Israel’s “maximum pressure” plan, said to have been drafted over the past few weeks, is to again move the Gazan population from northern Gaza to the territory’s south — as had been the case for most of the war — and later, if needed, cutting all electricity to the Strip.
The final planned measure is reportedly a full return to the war, this time with the heavy bombs withheld by the previous US administration as well as the billions worth of arms and military equipment the new administration is sending Israel.
The United Nations humanitarian agency’s head condemns Israel’s suspension of aid into Gaza, which he says is contrary to international law.
“Israel’s decision to halt aid into Gaza is alarming. International humanitarian law is clear: We must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid,” OCHA head Thomas Fletcher writes on X.
Egypt condemns Israel for halting Gaza aid, accuses it of using ‘starvation as a weapon’Egypt, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, condemns Israel’s closure of Gaza crossings to aid supplies and accuses Israel of using “starvation as a weapon.”
Earlier, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the claim Gazans could face starvation, saying this was “a lie during this whole war.”
“We saw that when our hostages were released, the terrorists and the crowd looked perfectly fine. The only ones that looked that they were starved were our hostages,” he said.
IDF says it struck vessel identified as threat after crossing maritime border off Gaza coast
The IDF says it struck a suspicious vessel that passed a maritime boundary set by the military off the coast of northern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip earlier today.
Before the strike, warning shots were fired at the vessel, which the military says was identified as a threat.
It is unclear whether the vessel sank or remained afloat.
The IDF has repeatedly warned fishermen, swimmers, and divers not to enter the sea along the entire Strip during the ceasefire.
Separately, the IDF says troops opened fire on two suspects who approached them in the southern Gaza Strip and “posed an imminent threat.” Palestinian media reported two dead in the incident.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
- Nasrallah's Son: "My Father Fell into Severe Depression After the Assassination of Fuad Shukr and the Beeper Operation"
Jawad Nasrallah revealed that Israel's intense attacks not only affected the Hezbollah Secretary-General but also severely damaged the morale of the entire terrorist organization. "Anyone who met him after the beeper operation said he was no longer with us," Jawad recounted.
Nearly half a year has passed since the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Today (Sunday), an interview was published on the Lebanese TV program *Panorama Today*, in which Jawad Nasrallah, Nasrallah's son, shared that his father fell into severe depression following the assassination of Fuad Shukr and Israel's large-scale beeper operation. "Anyone who met him said he was no longer with us," he said.
Jawad further claimed that Israel's intense attacks caused deep distress for the Hezbollah leader before his assassination, to the extent that it affected the organization's functionality and directly undermined the morale of its operatives. link
- Syria announces committee to draft ‘transitional’ constitutional declaration
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announces the formation of a seven-member committee to draft a constitutional declaration for the country’s transition after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
A statement from the presidency announces “the formation of a committee of experts,” including one woman, tasked with drafting “the constitutional declaration that regulates the transitional phase” in Syria, adding that “the committee will submit its proposals to the president,” without specifying a timeframe.
- Nasrallah's Son: "My Father Fell into Severe Depression After the Assassination of Fuad Shukr and the Beeper Operation"Jawad Nasrallah revealed that Israel's intense attacks not only affected the Hezbollah Secretary-General but also severely damaged the morale of the entire terrorist organization. "Anyone who met him after the beeper operation said he was no longer with us," Jawad recounted.Nearly half a year has passed since the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Today (Sunday), an interview was published on the Lebanese TV program *Panorama Today*, in which Jawad Nasrallah, Nasrallah's son, shared that his father fell into severe depression following the assassination of Fuad Shukr and Israel's large-scale beeper operation. "Anyone who met him said he was no longer with us," he said.Jawad further claimed that Israel's intense attacks caused deep distress for the Hezbollah leader before his assassination, to the extent that it affected the organization's functionality and directly undermined the morale of its operatives. link
- Syria announces committee to draft ‘transitional’ constitutional declaration
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announces the formation of a seven-member committee to draft a constitutional declaration for the country’s transition after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
A statement from the presidency announces “the formation of a committee of experts,” including one woman, tasked with drafting “the constitutional declaration that regulates the transitional phase” in Syria, adding that “the committee will submit its proposals to the president,” without specifying a timeframe.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
Politics and the War (general news)
Yarden Bibas Joins Demand for a State Inquiry Commission: "Investigate Deeply and Thoroughly the Conduct of Negotiations"
Yarden Bibas, alongside 200 other families of hostages and survivors of captivity, has joined the call for the establishment of a state inquiry commission. Yarden has joined the "October 7 Families Council," an organization demanding the creation of a state commission of inquiry, according to a statement released by the organization. Tomorrow, the Knesset will hold a special discussion in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the need to establish such a commission.
According to a statement from the "October 7 Council," a body representing over 1,500 bereaved families, families of hostages, and families of survivors, more than 200 families of hostages and survivors have joined the call today. Among the new signatories are Yarden Bibas, along with Gali, the wife of the late Tzachi Idan; Mushit, the daughter of the late Shlomo Mansour; Orly, the mother of Daniela Gilboa; Shai, the father of Omer Vankert; Irina, the mother of Karina Ariev; and many others.
The new signatories have endorsed the following declaration: "We, the families of the hostages, demand that the Israeli government immediately establish a state commission of inquiry to thoroughly, deeply, and transparently investigate, among other things, the conduct of negotiations for the return of our loved ones. Only a state commission of inquiry can provide us with answers, offer some solace to our souls, and prevent the next disaster."
The organization demands that the commission investigate whether opportunities to return hostages were missed over the past year and examine the efforts made in this regard. "The past week has once again highlighted the failure regarding the hostages—heartbreaking funerals. How many of them could have been saved had the state fulfilled its commitments?"
At the end of last week, the IDF's investigations into the events of October 7 were published. The findings revealed a widespread intelligence and operational failure. The investigations exposed a long-held misconception among the heads of the security establishment: viewing Gaza as a "secondary arena," heavy reliance on the barrier, and the belief that the terrorist organization was deterred and interested in a settlement.
Following the publication of the investigations, pressure has mounted on the government to establish a state commission of inquiry to investigate, among other things, the role of the political echelon in the colossal failure that led to Black Saturday. President Isaac Herzog, during his eulogy for the late Shlomo Mansour, called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry: "The only way to rebuild trust and ensure that we learn and draw the existential lessons is through a state commission of inquiry, according to the law, and I reiterate my call for its immediate establishment."
"An Equitable State Commission of Inquiry" – The Proposal Presented by a Likud MK
MK Ariel Kallner (Likud) last week presented the principles of the coalition's proposed law for a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, under the title "An Equitable State Commission of Inquiry." According to the proposal, the commission will consist of nine members—six of whom, professionals from various fields, will be chosen by 80 Knesset members. If an 80-member majority is not achieved, the representatives will be selected in a balanced manner between the coalition and the opposition—each side choosing three Knesset members. The six representatives will then select two representatives from the families of victims, and all eight will choose a chairperson by a simple majority.
The composition of the commission will be as follows:
- 2 individuals qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
- 2 senior retired security officials.
- 2 individuals with extensive managerial experience in large systems.
- 2 representatives of bereaved families and families of hostages.
- 1 committee chairperson.
According to Kallner's proposal, two members of the commission will have the authority to summon any individual and investigate any body. Additionally, the commission's discussions will be broadcast live. The commission will be granted all the powers accorded to a state commission of inquiry under the law. link Having the Knesset appoint a commission is having the cat guard the milk. They are not capable of investigating themselves, the government that was on watch on October 7 and secondly, there is no way to and this limited commission might have powers to inquire, it is basically guaranteed that there would be limitations of who they could investigate and that there is no way they would be given the powers to charge crimes, determine politicians that would not be able to continue to be in public positions or even to make these recommendations to the required bodies to act on. The only commission that should be and has to be is an independent official state commission of inquiry headed by the President of the Supreme Court or someone he appoints. The direct purpose of having a Knesset appointed commission is to make sure that the government would not be placed in a position of responsibility for October 7 and would make absolute sure that Netanyahu would be immune to the commission in all ways.
- The Biggest Conceptual Failure - by Gershon Baskin, The Times of IsraelBut even when understanding all of the errors and conceptual fallacies, the biggest conceptual mistake of them all is believing that Israel can control or occupy the Palestinian people for 56 years and expect to live in peace. Furthermore, that Israel could lock more than 2 million people in a territory like Gaza for 20 years with abhorrent poverty and expect to have quiet. How do Israelis not see this, even today, 16 months into the war? How could the people of Israel, who have been so willing to fight, to die, and to kill for their territorial expression of their identity, expect that the other people living on this land would do less? How is it possible that Israel has had so little respect for the Palestinian people’s desire and ambition for freedom, self-determination and dignity? Israelis would never agree to live under the conditions that Israel has subjected millions of Palestinians to live under. No amount of military pressure, threat of arrest, poverty or physical abuse would have ever convinced Israelis to give up their fight for freedom, self-determination, and dignity in a country of their own. Why do Israelis so underestimate the same from the Palestinian people? link
- Yair Golan: Deadly Haifa attack shows ‘profound failure’ of right-wing government
The deadly terror attack in Haifa “illustrates the profound failure of the full right-wing government,” declares The Democrats chairman Yair Golan.
“This is a government that does not guard the security of its citizens because it is preoccupied with political survival instead of running the country,” Golan writes on X, arguing that Israel “needs courageous and responsible leadership now.”
“Full right-wing government” is a catchphrase used by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to refer to the fact that it is the most right-wing in Israel’s history, pursuing hawkish policies.
- Top IDF officer: We treated Gaza threat with utmost seriousness, but with incorrect conclusions
Channel 12 also airs recordings from remarks made by Head of Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman at the same meeting with local councils heads.
Finkelman says that the night before the attack was “a sleepless night” for him, as he reviewed the odd intelligence signals coming from Gaza, which the IDF famously decided were concerning but not exceedingly urgent, thus missing its chance to prevent the Hamas-led onslaught.
“I stayed up all night conducting ongoing situational assessments,” Finkelman tells local leaders in the recording. Finkelman insists he was not blasΓ© about the troubling signs. “I challenged and questioned intelligence officials, four different independent officials. The picture they presented to me consisted of two key elements: first, that this was not something imminent in the immediate timeframe. Second, that Hamas’s offensive force, the Nukhba, was operating as usual — it was not in any emergency state.
“These were the intelligence realities I received. By the way, regardless of that, the commander is responsible for everything, including intelligence,” he adds, apparently referring to his ultimate responsibility.
“We took several actions, which in hindsight were of course insufficient. We redeployed commanders to the sector, though not all of them, and that is how it caught us at 6:29,” he says.
Finkelman stresses that the conversations were ongoing throughout the night. “This wasn’t just one or two discussions, it was an entire sequence. We treated it with utmost seriousness. Of course, with incorrect conclusions, but with utmost seriousness.”
Finkelman also defends the conduct of the troops who responded to the attack as it unfolded. Though communities were left defenseless as marauding terrorists spread throughout the region, murdering and committing atrocities, the insufficient forces who were there fought bravely, he said.
“Everyone sought to engage [the enemy],” he says. “We had exceptional cases where they didn’t, and we also investigated and examined those, and we can point them out. I think this was a terrible day in terms of its outcomes. But… the people of Israel and the security forces sought engagement. They ran into gunfire to save civilians.”
He adds that he “made a mistake in something related to you, the civilians. I think the way we handled your evacuation from the communities — both in terms of speed, method, and even attitude — was not good enough, and I see this as my personal mistake.” link
IDF chief: I know the last words of many people murdered on Oct. 7 were ‘Where’s the IDF?’
Outgoing IDF chief Herzi Halevi has acknowledged that he and the IDF thought Hamas was entirely incapable of carrying out the kind of broad surprise attack it mounted on October 7, 2023, and that he was less concerned by the threat from Gaza than the dangers on every other Israeli border.
In remarks broadcast tonight by Channel 12, Halevi says the IDF’s conception “collapsed” on October 7, and that he knows that the last words of many Israelis murdered that day were, “Where is the IDF.”
Halevi, who is stepping down later this week having taken personal responsibility for the failures, made the comments when presenting the results of the IDF’s own probes into its October 7 failures to southern local council chiefs last week.
At the start of the broadcast recording, he stresses that he, as head of the IDF, and the IDF as a whole, failed to protect the people of Israel. “I know lots of people were murdered, and their last words were, ‘Where is the IDF?’ I know that. It’s very hard for us [to know that].”
He says the IDF “expected something very different of ourselves,” and had never thought anything like October 7 could happen. Obviously, it would have acted differently if it had known this could happen, he says.
“We considered Hamas to be a limited military force. We didn’t see a scenario of a wide surprise [Hamas] attack as a realistic scenario. And if there was to be something like that, our assumption was that we would get a warning ahead of time from [military] intelligence,” Halevi says.
The assessment was that a combination of intelligence warnings, plus the security fence, plus the protection afforded by IDF troops, offered appropriate protection, he says. This assessment “collapsed.”
“When I ranked the borders, I put the Gaza as the last border that needed attention,” Halevi says. “”We felt that the subterranean barrier was very high quality, that intelligence gathering was advanced, that the topography was helpful, and we put the northern border as the most grave [priority]… facing Hezbollah.”
“We thought our situation overall was good.”
- Government approves new boss at directorate tasked with rehabilitation of south
Just days after the State Comptroller criticized the lack of a full-time boss at the Tekuma Directorate, the government approves the appointment of Aviad Friedman, a former Housing Ministry director general it says has led strategic processes in infrastructure, housing, and public services in senior positions in government and the private sector.
The directorate, established after the deadly invasion of southern Israel by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023, is tasked with the region’s rehabilitation.
The Tekuma directorate has been without a full-time director and deputy since August, when Brig. Gen. (Res) Moshe Edri and his deputy left their posts.
Yossi Shelley, director of the Prime Minister’s Office, was sent to run it in addition to his regular duties. In November, it was announced that he had been appointed ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
That same month, responsibility for rehabilitating the Gazan border in the south and the Lebanese one in the north was moved from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Finance Ministry. MK Ze’ev Elkin was appointed a minister there with overall responsibility for both regions. link. This corrupt and failed government has failed the Israeli public in every regard but their failure to deal properly with the bodies they have appointed to rebuild the destruction of October 7 and the whole war in both the south and the north, where large parts of complete communities were destroyed. When things seemed to be working at a relatively decent level, Sa'ar and his party joined the failed coalition and as part of the political price, Zeev Elkin was appointed minister with overall responsibility. With that appointment, nothing was defined and there were decision issues and power problems, which then led to the resignation of the director of the northern rehabilitation. As always with this government, politics are more important than the public and rehabilitating the north and south.
Eisenkot seeking centrist party union in next elections, may want to lead it
National Unity MK Gadi Eisenkot is seeking to unite centrist parties in the next elections, possibly under his leadership, Haaretz reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.
They say Eisenkot is seeking to prevent former prime minister Naftali Bennett — widely expected to run in the next national vote — from winning opposition votes.
They add that Eisenkot and Lapid are “talking a lot” and that “it’s clear to everyone that Eisenkot has decided that in the next election, he will not be an ineffectual number two.”
The report noted that National Unity leader Benny Gantz does not currently plan to step down from the party’s leadership.
Yarden Bibas Joins Demand for a State Inquiry Commission: "Investigate Deeply and Thoroughly the Conduct of Negotiations"
According to a statement from the "October 7 Council," a body representing over 1,500 bereaved families, families of hostages, and families of survivors, more than 200 families of hostages and survivors have joined the call today. Among the new signatories are Yarden Bibas, along with Gali, the wife of the late Tzachi Idan; Mushit, the daughter of the late Shlomo Mansour; Orly, the mother of Daniela Gilboa; Shai, the father of Omer Vankert; Irina, the mother of Karina Ariev; and many others.
The new signatories have endorsed the following declaration: "We, the families of the hostages, demand that the Israeli government immediately establish a state commission of inquiry to thoroughly, deeply, and transparently investigate, among other things, the conduct of negotiations for the return of our loved ones. Only a state commission of inquiry can provide us with answers, offer some solace to our souls, and prevent the next disaster."
The organization demands that the commission investigate whether opportunities to return hostages were missed over the past year and examine the efforts made in this regard. "The past week has once again highlighted the failure regarding the hostages—heartbreaking funerals. How many of them could have been saved had the state fulfilled its commitments?"
At the end of last week, the IDF's investigations into the events of October 7 were published. The findings revealed a widespread intelligence and operational failure. The investigations exposed a long-held misconception among the heads of the security establishment: viewing Gaza as a "secondary arena," heavy reliance on the barrier, and the belief that the terrorist organization was deterred and interested in a settlement.
Following the publication of the investigations, pressure has mounted on the government to establish a state commission of inquiry to investigate, among other things, the role of the political echelon in the colossal failure that led to Black Saturday. President Isaac Herzog, during his eulogy for the late Shlomo Mansour, called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry: "The only way to rebuild trust and ensure that we learn and draw the existential lessons is through a state commission of inquiry, according to the law, and I reiterate my call for its immediate establishment."
"An Equitable State Commission of Inquiry" – The Proposal Presented by a Likud MK
MK Ariel Kallner (Likud) last week presented the principles of the coalition's proposed law for a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, under the title "An Equitable State Commission of Inquiry." According to the proposal, the commission will consist of nine members—six of whom, professionals from various fields, will be chosen by 80 Knesset members. If an 80-member majority is not achieved, the representatives will be selected in a balanced manner between the coalition and the opposition—each side choosing three Knesset members. The six representatives will then select two representatives from the families of victims, and all eight will choose a chairperson by a simple majority.
The composition of the commission will be as follows:
- 2 individuals qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
- 2 senior retired security officials.
- 2 individuals with extensive managerial experience in large systems.
- 2 representatives of bereaved families and families of hostages.
- 1 committee chairperson.
According to Kallner's proposal, two members of the commission will have the authority to summon any individual and investigate any body. Additionally, the commission's discussions will be broadcast live. The commission will be granted all the powers accorded to a state commission of inquiry under the law. link Having the Knesset appoint a commission is having the cat guard the milk. They are not capable of investigating themselves, the government that was on watch on October 7 and secondly, there is no way to and this limited commission might have powers to inquire, it is basically guaranteed that there would be limitations of who they could investigate and that there is no way they would be given the powers to charge crimes, determine politicians that would not be able to continue to be in public positions or even to make these recommendations to the required bodies to act on. The only commission that should be and has to be is an independent official state commission of inquiry headed by the President of the Supreme Court or someone he appoints. The direct purpose of having a Knesset appointed commission is to make sure that the government would not be placed in a position of responsibility for October 7 and would make absolute sure that Netanyahu would be immune to the commission in all ways.
The deadly terror attack in Haifa “illustrates the profound failure of the full right-wing government,” declares The Democrats chairman Yair Golan.
“This is a government that does not guard the security of its citizens because it is preoccupied with political survival instead of running the country,” Golan writes on X, arguing that Israel “needs courageous and responsible leadership now.”
“Full right-wing government” is a catchphrase used by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition to refer to the fact that it is the most right-wing in Israel’s history, pursuing hawkish policies.
Channel 12 also airs recordings from remarks made by Head of Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman at the same meeting with local councils heads.
Finkelman says that the night before the attack was “a sleepless night” for him, as he reviewed the odd intelligence signals coming from Gaza, which the IDF famously decided were concerning but not exceedingly urgent, thus missing its chance to prevent the Hamas-led onslaught.
“I stayed up all night conducting ongoing situational assessments,” Finkelman tells local leaders in the recording. Finkelman insists he was not blasΓ© about the troubling signs. “I challenged and questioned intelligence officials, four different independent officials. The picture they presented to me consisted of two key elements: first, that this was not something imminent in the immediate timeframe. Second, that Hamas’s offensive force, the Nukhba, was operating as usual — it was not in any emergency state.
“These were the intelligence realities I received. By the way, regardless of that, the commander is responsible for everything, including intelligence,” he adds, apparently referring to his ultimate responsibility.
“We took several actions, which in hindsight were of course insufficient. We redeployed commanders to the sector, though not all of them, and that is how it caught us at 6:29,” he says.
Finkelman stresses that the conversations were ongoing throughout the night. “This wasn’t just one or two discussions, it was an entire sequence. We treated it with utmost seriousness. Of course, with incorrect conclusions, but with utmost seriousness.”
Finkelman also defends the conduct of the troops who responded to the attack as it unfolded. Though communities were left defenseless as marauding terrorists spread throughout the region, murdering and committing atrocities, the insufficient forces who were there fought bravely, he said.
“Everyone sought to engage [the enemy],” he says. “We had exceptional cases where they didn’t, and we also investigated and examined those, and we can point them out. I think this was a terrible day in terms of its outcomes. But… the people of Israel and the security forces sought engagement. They ran into gunfire to save civilians.”
He adds that he “made a mistake in something related to you, the civilians. I think the way we handled your evacuation from the communities — both in terms of speed, method, and even attitude — was not good enough, and I see this as my personal mistake.” link
Outgoing IDF chief Herzi Halevi has acknowledged that he and the IDF thought Hamas was entirely incapable of carrying out the kind of broad surprise attack it mounted on October 7, 2023, and that he was less concerned by the threat from Gaza than the dangers on every other Israeli border.
In remarks broadcast tonight by Channel 12, Halevi says the IDF’s conception “collapsed” on October 7, and that he knows that the last words of many Israelis murdered that day were, “Where is the IDF.”
Halevi, who is stepping down later this week having taken personal responsibility for the failures, made the comments when presenting the results of the IDF’s own probes into its October 7 failures to southern local council chiefs last week.
At the start of the broadcast recording, he stresses that he, as head of the IDF, and the IDF as a whole, failed to protect the people of Israel. “I know lots of people were murdered, and their last words were, ‘Where is the IDF?’ I know that. It’s very hard for us [to know that].”
He says the IDF “expected something very different of ourselves,” and had never thought anything like October 7 could happen. Obviously, it would have acted differently if it had known this could happen, he says.
“We considered Hamas to be a limited military force. We didn’t see a scenario of a wide surprise [Hamas] attack as a realistic scenario. And if there was to be something like that, our assumption was that we would get a warning ahead of time from [military] intelligence,” Halevi says.
The assessment was that a combination of intelligence warnings, plus the security fence, plus the protection afforded by IDF troops, offered appropriate protection, he says. This assessment “collapsed.”
“When I ranked the borders, I put the Gaza as the last border that needed attention,” Halevi says. “”We felt that the subterranean barrier was very high quality, that intelligence gathering was advanced, that the topography was helpful, and we put the northern border as the most grave [priority]… facing Hezbollah.”
“We thought our situation overall was good.”
Just days after the State Comptroller criticized the lack of a full-time boss at the Tekuma Directorate, the government approves the appointment of Aviad Friedman, a former Housing Ministry director general it says has led strategic processes in infrastructure, housing, and public services in senior positions in government and the private sector.
The directorate, established after the deadly invasion of southern Israel by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023, is tasked with the region’s rehabilitation.
The Tekuma directorate has been without a full-time director and deputy since August, when Brig. Gen. (Res) Moshe Edri and his deputy left their posts.
Yossi Shelley, director of the Prime Minister’s Office, was sent to run it in addition to his regular duties. In November, it was announced that he had been appointed ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
That same month, responsibility for rehabilitating the Gazan border in the south and the Lebanese one in the north was moved from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Finance Ministry. MK Ze’ev Elkin was appointed a minister there with overall responsibility for both regions. link. This corrupt and failed government has failed the Israeli public in every regard but their failure to deal properly with the bodies they have appointed to rebuild the destruction of October 7 and the whole war in both the south and the north, where large parts of complete communities were destroyed. When things seemed to be working at a relatively decent level, Sa'ar and his party joined the failed coalition and as part of the political price, Zeev Elkin was appointed minister with overall responsibility. With that appointment, nothing was defined and there were decision issues and power problems, which then led to the resignation of the director of the northern rehabilitation. As always with this government, politics are more important than the public and rehabilitating the north and south.
Eisenkot seeking centrist party union in next elections, may want to lead it
National Unity MK Gadi Eisenkot is seeking to unite centrist parties in the next elections, possibly under his leadership, Haaretz reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.
They say Eisenkot is seeking to prevent former prime minister Naftali Bennett — widely expected to run in the next national vote — from winning opposition votes.
They add that Eisenkot and Lapid are “talking a lot” and that “it’s clear to everyone that Eisenkot has decided that in the next election, he will not be an ineffectual number two.”
The report noted that National Unity leader Benny Gantz does not currently plan to step down from the party’s leadership.
The Region and the World
-
59 Hostages Remain in Gaza - Their Stories (5 a day)
Avintan Or Aged 32, Tel Aviv 
Avintan is the second of seven siblings. He grew up in Shiloh and lived in Tel Aviv. The abduction video of Avintan and his partner, Noa Argamani, who were attending a party in Re'im, sent shockwaves around the world. Noa was taken away on a motorcycle with Hamas terrorists, screaming, "Don't kill me," as she was separated from her partner. After two years together, Avintan and Noa had planned to move in together soon. He successfully completed a degree in electrical and computer engineering at Ben-Gurion University and worked at Nvidia. During his studies, he volunteered with the Perach mentoring organization and in the pediatric oncology department at Soroka Hospital. He loved reading books, always enjoyed hosting, cooking, and taking care of his friends. Noa was rescued in a special operation by the IDF and Shin Bet after 246 days in captivity. The first time Avintan's mother, Ditza, met Noa was after her rescue. She later shared: "We were very happy to meet her. It was a very warm and deep hug, filled with so much unspoken emotion. We hoped she knew more about him, and she hoped we would tell her things that intelligence had shared or that we had learned over the months—but at that moment, we were all disappointed."
Judy Weinstein-Haggai, of blessed memory Aged 70, Nir Oz 
Judy is believed to have been kidnapped along with her partner, Gadi. The two went out for a morning walk in the fields of Nir Oz during the attack, and since then, there has been no word from them. They made contact from the field, asking for help, and later made another phone call to a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, during which Judy said that Gadi had been seriously injured and they needed assistance. Since then, they have not been in contact with their family. Judy worked as an English teacher. In recent years, she acquired new tools to help students in the surrounding area who suffer from anxiety, working with them through mindfulness, meditation, singing, and puppet theater therapy. Her children say that every student was a whole world to her. The couple were parents to four children. On December 22, 2023, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that the family had received confirmation that Gadi had been murdered in Hamas captivity and that his body was being held in Gaza. On December 28, 2023, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that Judy had also been murdered and that her body is being held by Hamas.
Aviv Atzili Aged 49, Nir Oz 
Aviv Atzili, of blessed memory, fell in battle on October 7th while fighting with the emergency response team of Kibbutz Nir Oz. His wife, Liat, was also kidnapped. Aviv was the father of Aya (18), Neta (20), and Ofri (22). Aviv went out to fight the terrorists while his wife remained in the safe room with their dog. In the early hours, he was still in contact with Liat, updating her on the situation. Aviv was a lifelong member of Kibbutz Nir Oz and managed the agricultural machinery sector of the kibbutz. His youngest daughter, Aya, was staying at Kibbutz Lotan in the Arava that morning. His sons, Neta and Ofri, were in their apartments on the kibbutz. The children and their grandmother, Talma, Aviv's mother, were safely evacuated. On November 30, 2023, the day after Liat's return from captivity as part of a hostage deal, the family was informed that Aviv had been killed in the battles of October 7th, and his body is being held by Hamas.
Tamir Adar Aged 38, Nir Oz 
Tamir, of blessed memory, the grandson of Yafa Adar, was kidnapped from Nir Oz. He was married to Hadas and the father of two children—Neta, aged three and a half, and Asaf, aged seven. Tamir left his family in the safe room and went out to fight the terrorists. He worked at the Ramon Foundation as a social leader and ran educational programs at the Yuvalim School in the Besor region. Recently, he decided to fulfill a dream and work in agriculture on the kibbutz, close to nature and the fields he loved so much. He also joined the kibbutz's education committee. Tamir's grandmother, Yafa Adar, was released from captivity in the first phase of the hostage deal on November 24, 2023. On January 5, 2024, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that Tamir had been murdered, and his body is being held by Hamas.
Arieh Zalmanovich Aged 85, Nir Oz 
Zalman (Arieh Zalmanovich), of blessed memory, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was the father of Boaz and Yoav and the grandfather of five grandchildren. He was one of the founders of the kibbutz. Contact with Arieh was lost at 9:30 AM on Saturday, when he spoke with his family for the last time. He was born in Haifa and came to the kibbutz with a Nahal group. A man of the land, a farmer at heart, he worked in agriculture and field crops, specializing in growing wheat in the Negev's conditions. In recent years, he continued to wear his work clothes every morning and rode his mobility scooter to have coffee and spend time with the younger farmers. A man of books with vast knowledge of history and the Land of Israel, he disappeared without his glasses and hearing aid. On December 1, 2023, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced his murder. His body is being held by Hamas.
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
Join my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0
Twitter - @LonnyB58 Bluesky - @lonny-b.bsky.social
Twitter - @LonnyB58
Comments
Post a Comment