There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!
אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
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Hostage Updates
Witkoff presented new proposal for Gaza ceasefire extension to Israel, Hamas
After arriving in Doha earlier this week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff has presented Israel and Hamas with a new outline to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Axios reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. The proposal, which differs from a previous outline put forward by Witkoff, would extend the current ceasefire by several weeks, until the end of both Ramadan and Passover, in exchange for the release of additional hostages, Axios says. At the same time, Israel would also be required to resume the flow of humanitarian aid into the war-torn Palestinian enclave, it says.
One source with knowledge of the proposal’s contents says that Hamas will be required to release at least five living hostages and return the bodies of nine others on the first day of the extended truce.
Citing two named sources, Axios reports that the extension, should all parties agree to implement it, will give the US additional time to negotiate a more concrete, long-term truce agreement.
Should a long-term ceasefire agreement be reached, the report says that Hamas will be required to hand over all remaining hostages, living and dead, on the last day of the temporary truce extension, before the concrete ceasefire comes into effect.
Citing two unnamed sources, Axios says that the extension, should all parties agree, will give the US additional time to negotiate a more concrete truce agreement.
According to the report, Israel has given “a positive response” to Witkoff’s latest proposal, while Qatar and Egypt are still awaiting Hamas’s response after delivering it the details of the outline last night. linkThis is an even worse proposal than the previous one which called for the release of 10 living hostages (although I did hear one report that said the 10 would be living and dead). In this proposal, only 5 living hostages would be released. And what of the other 19? They remain in the hell of Hamas tunnels and torture while they take more and more time to discuss the possibility of reaching some kind of agreement that once again will be drips and drabs leaving our hostages in hell. We need a plan and an agreement that explicitly spells out the return of all hostages, hopefully at once, and if it's not at once, the agreement must state unequivocally when the last hostage returns home. Anything that does not include all the hostages and tells when the last hostage will be home is unacceptable, and Steve Witkoff knows that.
Families of hostages express ‘serious concern’ over reported US outline for Gaza truce extension
The families of the Gaza hostages have been left with “serious concerns” amid reports that US special envoy Steve Witkoff has presented a new proposal to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by several weeks in exchange for five living and nine slain hostages, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum says.
“The reports about the outline for the return of just a few hostages raise serious concerns among the families of the hostages that their loved ones will be left in captivity for a long and undetermined length of time,” the forum says.
The forum demands a “comprehensive and immediate agreement that will return all 59 hostages in one fell swoop and leave nobody behind.”
“Otherwise, the living hostages who remain in the tunnels will be sentenced to death, and we will not be able to locate and return the dead for burial,” it adds.
Witkoff proposes limited hostage release deal to allow further negotiations
Analysis: Officials say Trump's envoy is committed to the release of all hostages but understands Netanyahu's political situation; the prime minister's refusal to proceed to phase 2 could disrupt the U.S. grand MidEast plan that includes normalization with Saudi Arabia Israeli officials said on Thursday that there has been some progress in the talks to bring about a hostage release taking place in Doha. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a limited release of three to five live hostages and three to five bodies of hostages in exchange for a 50-day truce to be used for further negotiations. Witkoff proposes limited hostage release deal to allow further negotiations
Analysis: Officials say Trump's envoy is committed to the release of all hostages but understands Netanyahu's political situation; the prime minister's refusal to proceed to phase 2 could disrupt the U.S. grand MidEast plan that includes normalization with Saudi Arabia
Israeli officials said on Thursday that there has been some progress in the talks to bring about a hostage release taking place in Doha. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a limited release of three to five live hostages and three to five bodies of hostages in exchange for a 50-day truce to be used for further negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy left Qatar for Moscow to discuss a cease-fire in the war with Ukraine but left his team behind to continue the negotiations.
The officials who spoke with Witkoff said his commitment to the release of the hostages is deep and comes from "a mystical place, a Jewish place." They said Witkoff has the absolute support from the president, who trusts him to make decisions. "His heart is in it and he will do everything to bring the hostages back."
They said the envoy wants a larger deal and to see all of the hostages home, as does Trump. According to the officials, the president was told which of the hostages was alive, adding that the Americans were unenthusiastic about small releases. If Trump agrees to them, they said, it would be because Israel refuses to move to phase two of the deal signed in January and the insistence of Hamas to end the war while refusing the notion of exile for its leaders. According to one official familiar with the details, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is the reason for limited releases and a selection process of which hostages should be freed.
Implementing phase two of the deal is critical for the grand American plan to reshape world order. According to the plan, Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia in May to advance normalization and expand the Abraham Accords to include more Arab and Muslim nations.
The sky is the limit in the eyes of the Trump administration who are discussing the addition of Lebanon and Syria to the accords. If the White House sees Netanyahu as a stumbling block in their plan, we would inevitably see Trump and Witkoff inform the prime minister, "it is over."
But for now, the Americans understand Netanyahu's political predicaments and know that agreeing to move to phase two of the deal would rock the foundations of his coalition and might result in early elections in Israel. Such an event would delay the plans for Saudi Arabia.
While Witkoff may agree to limited releases in exchange for further weeks of the cease-fire, separate and apart from phase two, Netanyahu's problems with his far-right coalition partner, Bezalel Smotrich, are already exasperated after his promise that there would be no lull in the war without the release of hostages, has already been broken. linkAs always, it is Netanyahu's personal political interests that are keeping the hostages in Gaza and left to die. He has no shame, no heart, no soul. He only cares about staying prime minister and everything esle can go to hell.
Netanyahu to meet on hostage talks Saturday night, as Witkoff seeks to extend ceasefire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene top aides and security chiefs on Saturday night for a situational assessment on the hostage talks in Doha, according to Hebrew media reports.
If no breakthrough is achieved by then, the reports say, Netanyahu will bring his negotiating team home.
Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal for further hostage releases and an extended ceasefire, as set out during negotiations in Qatar, provides for five living and 10 dead hostages to be returned, Channel 12 reports.
The ceasefire would be extended for a further 42-50 days, and the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza would be resumed.
In the course of the extended ceasefire, discussions would take place on “final summations” — an apparent reference to the end of the war.
Israel, the Channel 12 report says, has demanded that a larger number of living hostages be freed.
Hamas, for its part, presented a demand that the US guarantee that there will be discussions on phase two of the current deal, which provides for the full withdrawal of the IDF and the end of the war.
If the sides cannot reach an agreement on the basis of the new Witkoff proposal, the report says the mediators are expected to push Israel and Hamas toward a smaller interim arrangement, under which a “solitary few” living hostages would be freed and the ceasefire maintained.
The purpose of the smaller arrangement would be to buy more time for negotiations and avoid the complete collapse of the talks and a return to the fighting.
“If there is no progress in the next 48 hours, the Israeli delegation will return to Israel,” it quotes a senior Israeli source as saying.
Channel 12 also says that Israel’s demand for Hamas leaders to go into exile is “off the agenda” given the “stubborn opposition” from Hamas’s leaders in Gaza. It quotes sources in Israel’s negotiating team saying this demand is not going to be raised as an option in the ongoing talks.
Amid reports of sidelining, US official tells ToI Boehler to continue supporting Witkoff’s efforts in Mideast
US hostage envoy Adam Boehler will continue assisting Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, a senior US official tells The Times of Israel following reports that Boehler has been sidelined from the Israel file amid frustrations in Jerusalem with his decision to hold unprecedented, secret talks with Hamas.
“Adam’s role is hostages across the world,” the senior US official tells The Times of Israel.
“He and his team will continue to support the team in the Middle East led by Steve Witkoff,” the senior US official says.
Boehler’s talks, leaked to the media last week, were largely aimed at securing the release of five American-Israeli hostages.
The talks were approved by Witkoff, but Israel was not fully informed ahead of time, a second US official says.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top aide, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, lashed out at Boehler during a call last week, hours after finding out about the latest meeting with Hamas, the second US official says.
Boehler conducted a series of media interviews on Sunday during which he defended the talks but also hit back at Dermer’s frustration, arguing that the US has its own interests at play.
Dermer has since lobbied other Trump officials to have Boehler removed from the Israel file, the second US official says.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Boehler’s talks were a “one-off” and that the main channel for hostage negotiations would remain the one led by Witkoff.
**Omer Shem Tov: "There were difficult moments, I imagined the return"**
Omer Shem Tov, who was recently released as part of the latest hostage deal, spoke at a special ceremony held in Herzliya. "I am free," Omer shared, "I never lost hope for a moment." He recounted the difficult experiences in captivity, the loneliness and hunger, and emphasized, "We must bring everyone back." Mia Regev, another released hostage, said, "We waited for this moment, and we won’t stop until all the hostages return."
Omer Shem Tov, who returned to Israel in the recent deal, arrived this evening (Thursday) at a special ceremony at Rocker Square in Herzliya. During the event, he delivered a speech and removed the poster calling for his return. The ceremony was also attended by Mia and Itay Regev, who were released in the first hostage deal.
Omer Shem Tov was released from Hamas captivity after 505 days. He began his speech with the traditional Jewish blessing, "Shehecheyanu," thanking God for bringing him to this moment. "I am Omer Shem Tov, and I am free. I don’t have much experience on stage, and the last time I stood on a stage was on Hamas’s stage, so forgive me if I’m emotional," Omer said, jokingly adding, "If anyone wants a kiss, they can come here," and kissed his mother. Omer told the hundreds of attendees, "I am free."
"I never lost hope for a moment. I always believed I would return home, even though there were difficult times," Omer shared, recounting how his captors separated him from Itay Regev. "After Itay was released, I felt very alone. I was in a tunnel with no food and no light. On the 50th day, after days in complete darkness, I prayed to God to take me out of there because I couldn’t take it anymore. After five minutes, the captor moved me to another tunnel."
"I realized that in the tunnel, there’s a bad situation and a very bad situation. I spent 450 days alone. I imagined how I would lay my head on my mother’s lap. I imagined us sitting in the living room watching a movie. The imagination became reality. I understand how urgent it is to bring back those who are still there."
"We must bring everyone back—the living for rehabilitation, and the deceased for burial," he added. "We need to do this now. I want to thank you for not giving up on me, for embracing my amazing family. Every prayer or energy you sent me—I felt it. It’s because of you."
He concluded his speech by thanking those who fought for his release, saying, "Mom, Dad, how lucky I am that you’re my family—I love you so much. I’m adjusting to a new life I didn’t know. I thank you. Thank you for understanding that I need a little more time—Am Yisrael Chai (the people of Israel live)."
Omer Shem Tov at the ceremony in Herzliya | Photo: Herzliya Municipality Spokesperson
**The Shem Tov Family**
"We waited for this moment for so long. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming here, supporting, and spreading love," said Itay Regev. Mia added, "We all waited for this moment, and it’s finally happening. It’s emotional to see all of you here, as we do every Thursday. And we won’t stop until everyone returns."
**"He was alone, and that saved him"**
Last week, Omer’s parents, Malki and Sheli, spoke about the conditions of his captivity. "He understood that to survive, he needed to connect with his captors," they said in an interview with Channel 12 News. "He was alone for 450 days in the tunnels, and from his stories, we understand that the loneliness might have saved him."
"What a joy to finally do this interview, pure happiness," said Malki Shem Tov, Omer’s father. "It’s been a week since Omer returned, and the smile hasn’t left our faces." Sheli, his mother, added that for her, the experience was similar in intensity to giving birth to her son: "It’s like when my children were born, and they were next to me—I didn’t sleep the first night he was back. I sat on a chair next to his bed, held his hand, and just watched him breathe all night."
The parents described what their son shared about his captivity: "At first, they took him to a very small and cramped tunnel, where he stayed for about 40 or 50 days. He said it was very difficult there. He couldn’t even stand or stretch his arms to the sides, and it was pitch dark. He said there was a moment when he thought he had gone blind."
The food he received in that tunnel was also of poor quality and quantity: "They gave him little food. And the water—salty. It started with a pita, two pitas, then one pita, then half a pita, and there were days when he only had one biscuit to eat. He said that at some point, you just get used to it, that you need to save that biscuit for the whole day and eat it slowly. These are Holocaust-like stories."
According to Malki and Sheli, Omer was later moved to a more spacious tunnel, where he spent about 400 days, "the tunnel we saw on TV, with white ceramic walls." His parents said that the loneliness was very hard for him, but it might have also saved him, as it made him realize early on that his way to survive was to connect with his captors. link
Thousands gather in Hostages Square to read Book of Esther on Purim eve
Thousands come to Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Thursday night for the Purim eve reading of the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the biblical heroine Queen Esther saving the Jewish people from extermination in what is now modern-day Iran.
The gathering, which includes Israelis from different communities, sectors and denominations, includes a call for the return of the 59 remaining hostages in one release.
Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of freed hostage Romi Gonen participates in the event.
Meanwhile, hundreds gather at Begin Road, a short walk away from Hostages Square, where hostage family members and supporters are spending a sixth night in the encampment as they continue calling for the release of all the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Gaza and the South
**Sinwar Documents Revealed: A Detailed Plan to Destroy Israel, with Nasrallah's Approval**
Secret letters from Hamas leaders captured in the Gaza Strip reveal that after Operation "Guardian of the Walls," Hamas decided that the destruction of Israel was an achievable goal in the near term. Sinwar requested $500 million from Iran to "uproot the imaginary entity." Terrorists from Jordan and Syria were supposed to join the attack. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) states that the blow Hamas suffered has set back the "annihilation plan."
A new study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, authored by Dr. Uri Rost, a researcher and lecturer at Sapir College, reveals the strategic shift in Hamas's thinking in the years leading up to the October 7 attack. The study, based on numerous documents captured in Gaza during the fighting, shows how Hamas's concept of "destroying Israel" evolved from a distant religious vision to a practical operational plan. The documents reveal internal correspondence and letters between Sinwar and senior Iranian and Hezbollah officials, reflecting their belief that "Israel has become more vulnerable than ever" and that "the resistance has grown stronger."
### "Palestine After Liberation": The Ideological Shift After 2021
According to the study, prior to Operation "Guardian of the Walls" (May 2021), Hamas was aware of its military and political limitations, and thus the idea of "destroying Israel" remained a distant vision. The guiding principle for the organization was "not losing is winning"—focusing on survival while causing limited damage to Israel.
However, after the operation, a book published by Hamas's military wing stated: "The enemy's defeat has become as close as an archer's target. The resistance and its political and military leadership have laid out a comprehensive plan for the 'Second Time Assurance' system." At a conference held in Gaza in September 2021 under Sinwar's auspices, titled "Assuring the End of Days—Palestine After Liberation," the Hamas leader declared: "We are advancing toward a tremendous strategic victory that will have strategic implications for the future of the region, the (Islamic) nation, and the entire world... We see liberation before our eyes and are preparing for what comes after."
### "Close to Fulfilling the Divine Promise": Documents Found in Gaza
One of the most significant captured documents is a letter sent by Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Marwan Issa in June 2021 to the commander of Iran's Quds Force, explicitly stating: "This imaginary entity is weaker than people think. With Allah's help, your assistance, and the support of our nation, we are capable of uprooting and removing it in the near future... We are confident in Allah that we are close to fulfilling the divine promise."
In this document, Hamas leaders requested $500 million from Iran over two years to achieve their goal. "To achieve these grand goals that will change the face of the universe, with Allah's help, we urgently need financial assistance of $20 million per month for two years, equivalent to $500 million over two years," they wrote.
Another document from January 2019, written by Sinwar's office, examined the relationship between Hamas and Iran, identifying each side's interests and shared goals. The highlighted section, under the heading "What do we want from them?", stated: "Reaching a joint defense agreement that includes the Quds Force, Hezbollah, and Hamas to prepare for the war of liberation of Al-Quds and to activate all fronts against the common enemy, Israel, while preparing a practical plan to be implemented in an attack on the enemy from all fronts."
A fascinating document revealed in the study is a letter Sinwar sent to Saed Izzadi, head of the Palestinian branch of the Quds Force, in July 2021. The Hamas leader in Gaza wrote that the "resistance" forces were on the verge of a "tremendous strategic victory that will have strategic implications for the future of the region, the (Islamic) nation, and the entire world." He added that they were on the brink of this victory and the realization of the "Second Time Assurance." The study notes that this term refers to Quranic verses suggesting that the Jews' second gathering in the land and the corruption they would cause would lead to "Allah's promise to put an end to them."
### Sinwar's Plan: Three Scenarios for an Attack
In a June 2022 letter to Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's political bureau, Sinwar outlined three scenarios for an attack on Israel:
1. **First Scenario (Preferred):**
A broad attack in which all components of the "Axis of Resistance" (except Iran) would attack Israel with the goal of "toppling the occupation state and bringing about its end."
According to Sinwar, Hezbollah agreed to allocate a third of its capabilities to this attack.
The timing of the attack should be linked to a Jewish holiday, preferably Passover, as during holidays "Jews increase their incursions into Al-Aqsa and their acts of aggression and prayers."
2. **Second Scenario (Intermediate):**
Hamas leads the attack, with Hezbollah participating partially alongside other forces.
According to this scenario, Israel would suffer significant damage, many of its citizens would seek to emigrate, and the "liberation of the West Bank and prisoners" would be achieved.
Sinwar noted that this would also lay the groundwork for Israel's eventual elimination in the future.
3. **Third Scenario (Minimal):**
Hezbollah is not a direct participant, and the main burden falls on Hamas.
Forces from the "Axis of Resistance" and fedayeen from Jordan and Syria would join.
According to the document, "this is the minimum scenario Hamas can settle for," and it does not require approval from Iran's leader but only from Nasrallah and Hezbollah.
Sinwar wrote: "This is a scenario of necessity, in which we enter with all our strength and 'explode' the situation in the West Bank and within the interior (inside the Green Line)."
Additionally, the document emphasized the urgent need to establish a "Hamas military force" in Lebanon consisting of 250 fighters, which could use Hezbollah's operational infrastructure to launch raids from Lebanon into Israel. This force was required in case the third scenario was chosen, and possibly also for the second scenario. Sinwar stressed that the matter "cannot tolerate delay, hesitation, or procrastination" and requested Haniyeh to quickly coordinate a visit to Tehran because "this major issue cannot be handled in Lebanon alone due to its importance."
### Nasrallah Approved the Plan
Two weeks later, on July 1, 2022, Haniyeh updated Sinwar on a secret meeting organized by Saed Izzadi with Nasrallah, where the scenarios for a campaign against Israel were presented. According to Haniyeh, Nasrallah expressed explicit support for the first scenario—the most comprehensive one—and noted that it was a realistic plan that could be implemented. Haniyeh concluded in his letter that the first scenario, in which all components of the "Axis of Resistance" would attack Israel, had been agreed upon by the main players—Iran and Hezbollah—and that the matter would be presented to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
### Escalation of Discourse on "Israel's End"
In January 2023, Haniyeh addressed Hamas's executive committee in Doha, describing Israel's right-wing government as "dangerous" and estimating that the conflict was approaching a "breaking point." Referring to Israel's internal crisis, he claimed that "this government, as much as it poses threats to the Palestinian people, carries the seeds of the internal explosion of the entity, and the contradictory statements we see and hear, as well as the protests, indicate that the entity is in an unprecedented internal state."
A few months later, in April 2023, Sinwar boasted in a conversation with Mohammed Nasser (Abu Amr) that "the brothers in Gaza have the ability to change the face of the Middle East," noting that Operation "Guardian of the Walls" was a "picnic" compared to what was planned for the future. He added that a future attack would be "so powerful that it would blow the enemy to pieces" and that "the Ramadan system means a comprehensive explosion, the fall of regimes, and a blow to the occupation."
### Iran's Support for "Removing Israel from the Map"
During a visit by a Hamas delegation to Iran in June 2023, led by Haniyeh and Saleh al-Arouri, further expression was given to these plans. According to a document from Hamas's Department of Arab and Islamic Relations dated July 6, 2023—just three months before the surprise attack—Haniyeh emphasized to his hosts that the Gaza Strip was the "base of resistance" and that Hamas was prepared for the new campaign against Israel.
According to the document, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated in the meeting that "the resistance has become stronger than ever, while Israel is weaker than ever." The commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, went a step further, stating that the Iranians see "signs and the possibility of removing Israel from the map" and claimed that the resistance's capabilities "are growing in a way that will gradually push Israel into a corner."
### Conclusion
The study estimates that "the severe blow suffered by Hamas and most components of the 'Axis of Resistance' is expected to set back the 'annihilation plan' for Israel, returning it to the level of a vision." However, the report warns that "in the long term, if Hamas manages to recover and receives assistance from Iran, it cannot be ruled out that the movement will once again engage in the idea of 'destroying Israel' as an achievable plan in its view." link
IDF says it carried out strike on terror operatives trying to plant bomb in central Gaza
The IDF says it carried out a drone strike against a group of terror operatives in the central Gaza Strip today after they were spotted trying to plant a bomb in the ground.
US, Israel have spoken to 3 East African countries about resettling Gazans under Trump plan
The US and Israel have reached out to officials of three East African governments to discuss using their territories as potential destinations for resettling Palestinians uprooted from the Gaza Strip under President Donald Trump’s proposed postwar plan, American and Israeli officials say.
The contacts with Sudan, Somalia, and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland reflect the determination by the US and Israel to press ahead with a plan that has been widely condemned and raised serious legal and moral issues.
Because all three places are poor and, in some cases, wracked by violence, the proposal also casts doubt on Trump’s stated goal of resettling Gaza’s Palestinians in a “beautiful area.”
Officials from Sudan say they have rejected overtures from the US, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland tell The Associated Press that they were not aware of any contacts.
Under Trump’s plan, Gaza’s more than 2 million people would be permanently sent elsewhere. He has proposed the US would take ownership of the territory, oversee a lengthy cleanup process, and develop it as a real estate project. link It's one thing for Trump to continue with his insane Trump Gaza plan but it is another for Israel's failed government to, not only go along with the plan but to be actively involved by talking to countries to take in the Palestinians and to set up a department in the IDF to aid Gazans in leaving. This is nothing less than ethnic cleansing and it is immoral and totally illegal for us to be involved.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
New temporary Syrian constitution, based on Islamic code, promises to uphold women’s rights
Syria has kept a central role for Islamic law in a constitutional declaration issued today, which guarantees women’s rights and freedom of expression during a five-year transitional period, according to a summary read on TV.
The declaration is designed to serve as the foundation for the interim period being led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a Sunni Islamist who spearheaded a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad from power in December.
Islamic jurisprudence will be “the main source” of legislation, according to the summary read out during the signing ceremony. This seems to differ from the previous constitution which called it “a main source” of legislation.
“We have kept Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation among sources of legislation,” says the summary, read out by a member of the committee that drafted the declaration. “This jurisprudence is a true treasure that should not be squandered,” it says.
Sharaa, who has promised to run Syria in an inclusive way, has been grappling with the biggest test of his leadership in the wake of a wave of sectarian killing in the coastal region, blamed on fighters aligned with his government.
He appointed the committee to draft the declaration less than two weeks ago.
The declaration guarantees women’s “right to education and participation in work, and guaranteed them political rights” and provides “for freedom of opinion, expression, media, publication and the press,” according to the summary.
“We hope that this will be a good start for the Syrian people on the path of construction and development,” Sharaa says in televised remarks during the signing ceremony.
Sharaa in February said it would take four to five years to hold a presidential election.
Syria’s previous constitution, which became law in 2012, was suspended in January.
Israel hit home of Islamic Jihad leader Nakhaleh, terror operative says. A Palestinian Islamic Jihad member at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Syria tells The Associated Press that the attack on the outskirts of Damascus targeted the home of the group’s leader Ziad Nakhaleh. Ismail Sindak says the apartment has been empty for years, adding that Nakhaleh is not in Syria. Asked whether anyone was killed in the strike, Sindak says “the house was empty.” It is not immediately clear where Nakhaleh is but he is believed to spend his time between Lebanon, Iran and Syria. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, says the targeted building is located in the suburb of Dummar, northwest of the capital, and was inhabited by Palestinians. It says one person was killed.
IDF confirms strike on Hezbollah weapons facility in northeastern Lebanon
The IDF confirms carrying out an airstrike against a Hezbollah “strategic weapons” manufacturing and storage facility in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley a short while ago.
“The IDF will continue to work to remove any threat to the State of Israel,” the military adds.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
Settlers said torching homes in central West Bank Palestinian village
Palestinians from Khirbet al Marajim report that dozens of settlers have invaded their village in the central West Bank village and have set several homes on fire.
IDF troops shoot dead two suspects trying to cross into Israel from Jordan
The IDF shot dead two suspects from Jordan who crossed into Israel near the northern town of Beit She’an, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
The two suspects were part of a group of eight who were trying to cross into Israel together. The other six suspects were arrested by Israeli troops.
The eight were identified by IDF cameras, and troops nearby were alerted. When the soldiers arrived at the scene, two of the suspects jumped out of the bushes. The sudden movement led the troops to believe that they were under threat, so they opened fire.
The pair of suspects succumbed to their wounds, while the other six were taken into custody for questioning.
Citing an initial IDF assessment, Kan says that all of the suspects appeared to be migrants looking for work.
No IDF soldiers were injured during the incident.
Politics and the War (general news)
‘I’m overwhelmed, it's an emotional rollercoaster’: IDF presents residents with findings on Nir Oz massacre Military and outgoing IDF chief Halevi apologize for systemic failure during the October 7 massacre on the kibbutz where one in four residents was killed or kidnapped, as survivors and bereaved families demand accountability and answers The IDF on Thursday presented residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz with its findings in the investigation into the October 7 Hamas massacre on the kibbutz, which suffered the results of the military’s most severe failures.
"We salute you. The alert squad is supposed to handle a small problem for a short time until the IDF arrives quickly – and we didn't arrive," Halevi said.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Eran Niv, who headed the probe was also there and he too began his presentation with an apology. Residents were required to leave their phones at the entrance to the hall where they gathered to hear the inquiry's conclusions. Mental health professionals were stationed outside to provide support.
Among those present were former hostages from the kibbutz, including Gadi Mozes, Adina Moshe, Nili Margalit, Tami Metzger, Ada Sagi and Margalit Moses.
"It didn’t tell us much new. They were completely open and kept apologizing. They said, 'We failed,' — and that word came up 13 times," a Nir Oz resident told Ynet. "There’s a lot of anger and tough questions from the residents. I feel awful, but they’re answering all our questions. They’re telling us everything they know, but they can only provide information about themselves — we need a state commission of inquiry."
(Photo: AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Daniel Lifshitz, grandson of former hostage Oded Lifshitz, who was murdered in captivity and whose remains were returned to Israel, said before the meeting began that the main question was why no one came to Nir Oz. "We need the names of those responsible for this catastrophe. I want to see full accountability," he said.
"It's important to finish this investigation and keep up the pressure to bring the hostages home. We just want to understand what happened — how is it possible that our internal security team fought for hours against hundreds of terrorists when they were trained for, at most, a 15-minute battle against a few dozen? There’s a huge gap here that needs serious answers."
Yael Ader, mother of Tamir Ader, who fought in the kibbutz’s alert squad, was murdered, and kidnapped, told Ynet she wanted to know that former chief of staff Halevi remains committed to securing her son’s return.
"Even after they resign, they must stay committed as citizens. My children didn’t get to say goodbye to him and he needs to be brought back so they can. That’s the duty of the Israeli government and everyone who was in office on October 7."
She said she told Halevi at the end of the six-and-a-half-hour briefing that if her son is not brought home, "all of this was for nothing." Halevi responded that Tamir's actions weren’t in vain because the local squad saved lives.
"It was important that they didn’t shy away from the discussion. They stood there, spoke honestly and apologized," Natan Bahat, one of the kibbutz founders, said. "They admitted it was a systemic failure, a mindset. They kept repeating the word ‘failure.’"
(Photo: REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)
Nir Oz, which was left completely unprotected during Hamas’s surprise attack, was at the center of the assault on Gaza border communities. Hundreds of terrorists stormed the kibbutz and occupied it for hours.
By the time IDF forces first arrived, there was no one left to save. The terrorists and looters had already left after and there was no battle between the IDF and the terrorists, unlike in other communities.
The death toll was devastating: 57 people were murdered, including at least seven who were kidnapped alive and murdered in captivity. Some 76 were abducted and five hostages from Nir Oz remain alive in captivity: Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, David and Ariel Cunio and a Thai national.
Nine of the Nir Oz residents who were murdered in captivity are Judih Weinstein Hagga, Aryeh Zalmanovich, Eliyahu Margalit, Gadi Hagi, Yair Yaakov, Ronen Engel, Aviv Atzili, Tamir Eder and Amiram Cooper. link
Ex-Shin Bet chief says he is sitting on trove of incriminating information about Netanyahu; PM accuses him of blackmail
During a wide-ranging interview with Channel 12 that aired earlier this evening, former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman says he is sitting on a trove of information regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that he will share with the public someday if he deems it necessary.
He had hinted earlier in the interview at disagreements he had with the premier during his tenure from 2016 to 2021 — in particular, surrounding the matter of Qatari money being allowed into the Gaza Strip — but says toward the end that he is “currently keeping everything that happened between myself and the prime minister” out of the public sphere.
But, he says, “it’s quite clear that I have a great deal of knowledge, which I can put to use.”
Pushed to clarify, Argaman says that, “If the State of Israel or if I come to the conclusion that the prime minister has decided that he is going to act in contradiction to the law, then I will not have a choice and I will say everything I know and have withheld myself from saying until today.”
In response to Argaman’s comments, Netanyahu accuses the former Shin Bet chief of blackmail.
“Tonight, another dangerous red line was crossed for Israeli democracy,” the PMO says. “Never, in the entire history of Israel, and the history of democracy, has the former head of a secret service carried out blackmail against a sitting prime minister on live television.”
“The criminal mafia-style threats will not deter me,” says Netanyahu. “I will do whatever is necessary to ensure Israel’s security.”
Netanyahu also turns on the current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, whom he has reportedly been preparing to fire, and accuses him of also taking part in a blackmail campaign against him “through media briefings in recent days.”
“The only goal is to try and prevent me from making the decisions needed to restore the Shin Bet after its abysmal failure on October 7,” says the premier.
The Shin Bet pushes back against the “serious accusation” of blackmail.
“Shin Bet head Ronen Bar devotes all of his time to security matters, efforts to recover the hostages, and the defense of democracy,” the security agency says. “Any statement to the contrary is devoid of any truth.” linkI can't count the number of times that I have said this: whenever there is a choice between believing Netanyahu or his office or anyone else, the choice is easy; believe anyone else. Lying is second nature to him and always when the subject at hand can be damaging to him and his self image. There are so many proven true anecdotes about his actions and talk that it is a well known fact that he cannot be trusted. He is the epitome of the old joke "how can you tell if he is lying? He's moving his lips." When Netanyahu was the protege of his mentor Moshe Arens, who was deeply tied to Netanyahu's father, and Moshe Arens was Israel's Foreign Minister, he had Netanyahu appointed his deputy. The US Secretary of State, James Baker learned very quickly who he was and forbade Netanyahu from entering the State Department. He knew then that Netanyahu was a consummate liar and not to be trusted at all. link to Baker stating that he barred Netanyahu from State Dept. Anyone who has worked closely with Netanyahu gets to know up close who he is and that he can't be trusted. That is one reason we continue to hear former IDF Chiefs of Staff, former Shin Bet and Mossad chiefs, former and current politicians who served under Netanyahu all talk about the fact that he doesn't keep his word about anything and is a pathological liar.
Ex-Shin Bet chief says PM ‘bought peace in Gaza with Qatari money,’ but always knew it would backfire someday
Former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, who served in the post from May 2016 until October 2021, asserts that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to “buy peace [in Gaza] with Qatari money,” even though it was clear that the strategy would eventually backfire.
Argaman, during a wide-ranging interview with Channel 12, says that Netanyahu decided in 2018 to allow Qatari money into the Gaza Strip after the Palestinian Authority cut off funding to Hamas, leaving Israel fearful of unrest in the coastal enclave.
“The State of Israel wanted peace in the Gaza Strip and was looking for ways to bring in the money, and they chose Qatar because Qatar agreed to it,” Argaman says, adding that he believed the idea to be a “very serious mistake” from the get-go.
He says that Netanyahu nevertheless went ahead with the plan, despite the security service’s stance, as “the strategy of his government was peace in the Gaza Strip.”
“We bought peace with Qatari money — it was clear to everyone that this would backfire on us one day,” he says. “The prime minister knew, the cabinet knew, the issues were presented more than once or twice.”
He acknowledges, however, that the Shin Bet, as well as the IDF, “should have done everything in their power to stop the Qatari funds” from flowing into Gaza.
During the interview, Argaman also touches on the ongoing investigation — which has been placed under a sweeping gag order — into ties between members of the Prime Minister’s Office and Doha, and allegations that hundreds of thousands of dollars had flowed from Qatar to figures linked to the premier.
Asked whether the alleged ties, should they be proven to be true, could have occurred without Netanyahu’s knowledge, Argaman says the prime minister “knows everything that happens in his office, nothing happens without his approval.”
“I think the first person who should have jumped to demanding a Shin Bet investigation…into whether there were Qatari ties to the prime minister’s office, is the prime minister himself,” says the ex-Shin Bet chief.
Argaman doesn’t hide his distaste for the Qatari government during the interview, telling Channel 12 that he believes forging ties with Doha is akin to “dancing with the devil.”
“Qatar is part of the Shiite axis,” he says of the majority Sunni nation. “They’re the ones that allowed Hamas to build its terrorist army in the Gaza Strip. If, god forbid, it managed to gain control of the Prime Minister’s Office, it would mean that it influences the prime minister, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the State of Israel’s policy toward Hamas in general, and the hostage deal specifically.”
“That sounds to me like a catastrophe, and I hope that there’s nothing true about it,” he says of the allegations.
Argaman also tells Channel 12 that he believes the ongoing investigation into his office is the reason that Netanyahu has yet to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, as doing so could be flagged as a conflict of interest.
He urges Bar to hold off on resigning over the failures leading up to the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught — although he says Bar should eventually do so — as he does not believe Netanyahu would make an apolitical decision regarding his successor.
“I am extremely afraid of the possibility that an appointment made by this government, an appointment made by this prime minister, could be a political appointment,” Argaman says.
The Region and the World
Personal Stories
Testimonies from Captivity by Returned Hostages
**Aviva Siegel**
Age 62, released after 51 days in Hamas captivity:
*"The terrorists brought inappropriate clothes, doll-like clothes—and turned the young female hostages into puppets on strings, to do with as they pleased, whenever they pleased... There wasn’t a minute when we weren’t experiencing some form of abuse, in every way... The boys also go through what the girls go through, but at least they can’t get pregnant. It’s unbelievable that they’re still there."*
**Louis Har**
Rescued by special forces along with Fernando Merman after 129 days in Hamas captivity:
*"They told us that by tomorrow or the day after at the latest, we’d be out... They said they were almost done with the women and children, and then they’d start with the men. On the day we were supposed to be released, at seven in the morning, the IDF started bombing. We looked at each other and said, ‘That’s it, we’re not getting out.’"*
**Amit Shani**
Age 16, released after 54 days in Hamas captivity:
*"I thought a deal would take four or five days, but it dragged on... At one point, they came in and said, ‘There’s a good chance you’ll die tonight. Write your last letter.’ Everyone wrote a letter. We didn’t know if they were just saying it or if it was because of the bombings or something they were planning to do..."*
**Liat Atzili**
Age 49, released from Hamas captivity after 54 days. Her husband, Aviv, was murdered and is still in Gaza:
*"There was one day when I turned on the TV and saw a headline that Hamas was threatening to execute hostages. That night, I had a conversation with myself and said, ‘It’s possible you won’t leave here alive.’"*
**Daniel Aloni**
Age 45, released with her six-year-old daughter Emilia after 49 days in Hamas captivity:
*"They take you down into the tunnels... First of all, it’s complete darkness... Insanely damp. Your clothes are constantly wet, stinking, there’s no air... When we entered the next tunnel, I saw the injuries—people so badly beaten, with open wounds, bruised faces, limping, people who had seen their loved ones murdered and ended up there. And my daughter saw all of this too."*
Acronyms and Glossary
COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
IPS - Israel Prison System
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
🎗️Day 260 that 120 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!!!” There is no victory until all of the hostages are home! אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית
🎗️Day 361 that 101 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 There is no victory until all of the hostages are home! אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית
🎗️Day 239 that 125 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!!!” There is no victory until all of the hostages are home! אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית
Omer Shem Tov removing the hostage poster | Photo: Channel 12 News
Omer Shem Tov at the ceremony in Herzliya | Photo: Herzliya Municipality Spokesperson
**The Shem Tov Family** 
(Photo: AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
(Photo: REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)
Age 62, released after 51 days in Hamas captivity: *"The terrorists brought inappropriate clothes, doll-like clothes—and turned the young female hostages into puppets on strings, to do with as they pleased, whenever they pleased... There wasn’t a minute when we weren’t experiencing some form of abuse, in every way... The boys also go through what the girls go through, but at least they can’t get pregnant. It’s unbelievable that they’re still there."* 
Rescued by special forces along with Fernando Merman after 129 days in Hamas captivity: *"They told us that by tomorrow or the day after at the latest, we’d be out... They said they were almost done with the women and children, and then they’d start with the men. On the day we were supposed to be released, at seven in the morning, the IDF started bombing. We looked at each other and said, ‘That’s it, we’re not getting out.’"* 
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