🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 530, 2023 - March 19, 2025 🎗️
🎗️Day 530 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!אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*7:00pm - Negev area - Ballistic missile launched from Yemen. It was intercepted by the Air Force long before it reached Israel's borders. We are anticipating more launches from Yemen in response to the US attacks on the Houthis, the stop to the humanitarian aid to Gaza and the renewed bombing of Gaza
Hostage Updates
- Rescued hostage Noa Argamani laments resumption of Gaza strikes: ‘All hopes explode’
Rescued hostage Noa Argamani responds to Israel’s resumed strikes in Gaza, urging action to save those still in captivity.
Upon hearing the news of last night’s renewed campaign, Argamani writes on X that “all hopes explode in an instant” for the return of the remaining hostages.
She addresses her partner, hostage Avinatan Or, saying, “I’m sorry, Avinatan… for 529 days, you haven’t seen daylight. I’m sorry that you were left behind.”
Argamani, who was rescued and brought back to Israel by the IDF last June, recalls her own captivity in Gaza, describing how the end of the weeklong November 2023 ceasefire ended her hope of returning home: “Suddenly, all the dreams of going home, of hugging family and friends — shattered in an instant…One moment, the ceasefire was gone, and with it, the hope that I would get out of there alive.”
“Too many hostages who were taken alive — were murdered in captivity. We must save every living soul!,” says Argamani.
“This is our mission. We cannot leave them behind.”
"Fighting Resumes
Two words, and so many emotions inside. Suddenly, out of the silence, all hopes explode in an instant.
Two words, but for the hostages inside, they mean explosions and noises that bring back the fear of dying.
I remember how, in November '23, we heard the word hudna—a ceasefire—for the first time. And suddenly, we started seeing things move, people being released. Every day that passed, the terrorists looked at me and said, "Tomorrow, you'll go home."
Every day, I held on to that hope. I told myself there was no way I wouldn’t make it out alive. But then, in a single moment, we started hearing the explosions again.
Suddenly, all the dreams of going home, of hugging family and friends—shattered in an instant. The thought of seeing the light again felt so far away.
One moment, the ceasefire was gone, and with it, the hope that I would get out of there alive.
I’m sorry, Avinatan. I’m sorry that for 529 days, you haven’t seen daylight. I’m sorry that you were left behind.
We must save them!
Too many hostages who were taken alive—were murdered in captivity.
We must save every living soul! This is our mission.
We cannot leave them behind." - Noa Argamani on X - Air force dismisses reservist navigator for saying ‘the state again abandoned its citizens’
An Israeli Air Force reservist navigator who posted on social media this morning that he would not show up for reserve duty because of the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip, has been dismissed from the military.
The reservist, Alon Gur, wrote in his post that he told his superiors that “a line was crossed; at the point where the state again abandons its citizens in broad daylight; in which the cynical and cold political considerations exceed every other consideration; where human life has lost their value; where a government assassinates its own gatekeepers in every way possible; where the king becomes more important than the kingdom; No more.”
The IDF in response says: “The aircrew member’s reserve service was permanently terminated.”
Hostage families warn resumption of hostilities in Gaza ‘killing the captives’
Families Forum demands meeting with Netanyahu, urges public to protest outside his office as he confers with security chiefs; smaller, hardline Tikva Forum welcomes renewed strikes
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Tuesday sounded a desperate plea for the lives of their loved ones after Israel launched a deadly surprise attack in the Gaza Strip, ending the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas.
The Forum slammed “the government’s decision to sacrifice the 59 captives” left in Gaza — alive and dead — and called on the public to join an emergency protest outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem starting at 11 a.m., as the premier huddles with security chiefs about the resumption of hostilities.
“There is nothing more urgent,” the Forum said, adding that “military pressure will lead to the killing of living hostages and the disappearance of the fallen.”
Israeli airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday killed at least 326 people, according to the Strip’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The attacks followed the expiration on March 2 of the ceasefire deal’s 42-day first phase, which saw Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages.
The deal was supposed to then transition to the second phase, which would have seen Israel withdraw from Gaza and Hamas release the remaining living hostages. However, Netanyahu, whose coalition’s right-wing flank has threatened to topple the government if Israel withdraws, has held off on negotiating the second phase, despite the deal requiring the commencement of talks on day 16 of the first phase.
In a statement on the airstrikes early Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office said the renewed attack aimed to further Israel’s war aims of dismantling Hamas and freeing the hostages.
Smoke rises after an airstrike on Gaza city, March 18, 2025. (Ali Hassan/Flash90)Many hostages’ families have argued that the aims contradict each other. The Families Forum said the statement from Netanyahu’s office was “complete misdirection,” adding: “Military pressure endangers hostages and soldiers.”
“The greatest fear of the families, of the hostages and of Israeli citizens has been realized,” said the Forum. “We are horrified, furious and scared by the intentional shattering of the process of returning our loved ones from the terrible Hamas captivity.”
Addressing the government, the Forum continued: “Why aren’t you fighting in the negotiations room? Why have you backed out of an agreement that could have brought everyone home?”
The Forum also demanded the prime minister, defense minister and security chiefs meet with the families and explain “how it will be guaranteed that the hostages won’t be harmed from the military pressure, and how [the government] plans to bring them back.”
“The hostages’ families have been begging for some time to meet with elected officials. Their pleas went unanswered,” the Forum said. “Now it’s clear: Elected officials didn’t meet with [the families] because they were planning to scuttle the ceasefire.”
The Forum also asked US President Donald Trump to “keep acting, as he’s declared and acted until now, for the release of all hostages.”
“The ceasefire must be resumed. Many lives are at stake,” it said. “There will be no security, no victory and no redemption until the last hostage returns home.”
Speaking to Hebrew media, freed hostages and family members slammed the renewed hostilities in Gaza.
Yehuda Cohen, father of captive soldier Nimrod Cohen, was quoted by the Ynet news site saying that “Netanyahu is again working for the elimination and murder of the hostages, including my son, in order to stay in office.”
Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Hamas captivity in June and whose boyfriend Avinatan Or remains in Gaza, simply posted a broken heart emoji. So did hostage Omri Miran’s wife, Lishay.
In an interview with Kan public radio Tuesday morning, Lishay Miran accused the government of violating the agreement with Hamas, and urged the public to join the Families Forum’s demonstration in Jerusalem.
“Am I going to be sitting shiva soon?” she asked, referring to the weeklong Jewish mourning period after the death of a family member. “I’m no longer ashamed to ask that question. Do I need to prepare?”
Omri’s father Dani Miran told Army Radio that he was “horrified” to learn about the resumption of hostilities.
“For me, this is a black day,” he said. “I thought my son was going free in a week.”
He also assailed Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who assumed the role of IDF chief of staff earlier this month.
“This chief of staff was picked [to carry out] the government’s agenda,” said Dani Miran. “And its agenda is war.”
Avinatan Or, Nimrod Cohen and Omri Miran are among the 24 hostages still thought to be alive, who would have been released in the ceasefire’s second phase. All are young men abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas invaded southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.
Terror groups in Gaza are also holding 35 captives whom the IDF has confirmed to be dead. These include the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in the 2014 Gaza war.
The smaller Tikva Forum of hostages’ families welcomed the attack on Gaza, saying that “if the attack that began this morning continues forcefully and without pause, we’ll be able to return all our loved ones at once.”
“The past few weeks have proved what we said the entire time — Hamas will never return the hostages of its own accord,” the Tikva Forum said, calling for Israel to seize parts of Gaza and cut off power and water to the Strip.
- Released hostages from the recent deal demand a return to negotiations: "I know how afraid the hostages in Gaza are"
Survivors of captivity shared firsthand accounts of the urgency in returning the hostages and the feeling of being left behind during the previous ceasefire breakdown. Sasha Trufanov: "The government is abandoning the hostages to their fate." Yair Horn, whose brother Eitan remains in Hamas captivity: "A third of me is still in Gaza, still in hell." Yarden Bibas visited the Hostages Square for the first time.
Survivors of captivity who returned in the current deal held a press statement this evening (Tuesday) at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. The first survivor to speak was Sasha Trufanov, who said, "The government is abandoning the hostages in the tunnels." Yair Horn followed, stating, "My younger brother Eitan was left behind; military pressure won't save the hostages." Keith Siegel recounted, "I witnessed severe and barbaric acts of violence." Yarden Bibas, another survivor, arrived at the square for the first time but did not speak. The statement comes amid the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip tonight.
"All my life, I was told there's no one wiser than someone with experience. And here I am, standing before you as a survivor and released hostage, telling you: military action endangers the lives of the hostages and directly harms them," Trufanov began. "Yet, this morning, I was horrified to learn that decision-makers are choosing not to listen. Since my return, and especially since this morning, I can't stop thinking about my friends still there—Ariel, David, Rom, and all my fellow hostages, male and female, who I am sure are enduring hell because of the decision to resume fighting."
He added, "The collapse of the ceasefire brought me back to the difficult days when my life was in daily danger, and the phrase 'the army has resumed fighting' or 'the deal fell through, your government doesn't care about you' would come, along with the realization that I was about to enter an even darker and more difficult period than before." Trufanov called on the government to move to phase two of the deal. "What happened to phase two? Why are we willing to abandon them there for an unknown period in the tunnels?" he wondered.
"The decision-makers' plan to prolong the fighting and exert military pressure on Hamas for the return of the hostages assumes that the hostages have endless endurance to survive there. They are not posters; they are human beings, and their time is running out," Trufanov continued. "Every minute there is an endless hell and a risk of death."
Statement by the Survivors of Captivity
Yocheved Lifshitz, Yair Horn, and Yarden Bibas at the Hostages Square, this evening.
Next, Yair Horn, who also returned from captivity in the recent deal, spoke. "I am here tonight to tell you that we must return to the negotiating table and achieve a ceasefire. Military pressure will not save the hostages; we know this firsthand," he said. "We are here to support all the families of the hostages and all the hostages still held in Gaza. I want you to hear from me that I, and all the other hostages, cannot truly move on and heal as long as they are in captivity," he emphasized.
"My younger brother Eitan was left behind in hell, and I feel like a third of me remains there," Horn continued. "To the decision-makers, I say: Do not forget that the vast majority of the Israeli public supports a deal to return the hostages. We call on the mediating countries and the international community to pressure Hamas to release all the hostages immediately and demand that all parties urgently return to the negotiating table."
Alex (Sasha) Trufanov"The decision-makers are not listening." Sasha Trufanov.
Keith Siegel, another survivor, then spoke, detailing the harsh conditions he endured in captivity. "For 484 days, I was there. I was subjected to subhuman conditions—no air, no light, no sanitation, not enough food or water, in tunnels where I couldn't even stand," he recounted. "I was completely cut off from everyone I love, and I didn't know which of my beloved family members and friends survived the horrific massacre."
Yair Horn"A third of me remains in Gaza, remains in hell." Yair Horn.
Siegel clarified, "I witnessed barbaric and cruel acts of violence that I didn't believe were possible against human beings in this era." He added, "On December 1, 2023, five long days after Aviva was separated from me and released, the ceasefire collapsed. In one moment, there was a deafening noise of fighter jets, missile fire, and bombs falling very close to the abandoned apartment where I was held alone, locked in a room, with no way to defend myself. Thoughts about what might happen in the next moment wouldn't leave me, and I felt the immediate danger to my life."
Keith Siegel"I was exposed to barbarism I didn't believe existed." Keith Siegel.
"I remember how the terrorists immediately became cruel, very agitated, and the treatment worsened in an instant," Siegel continued. "One of the terrorists came in, pointing a weapon at me, and started beating me. He was very angry and took everything out on me. He kicked, cursed, and spat on me. I experienced severe violence. Today, a year and four months later, the ceasefire has collapsed again. I think about the 59 hostages still held in Gaza. How afraid they are, not just of the terrorists' cruelty and IDF attacks, but also of the collapse of negotiations that would prevent their return home."
Siegel addressed U.S. President Donald Trump, asking him to continue pushing for a deal to release the hostages. "I will forever be grateful for saving me from the hell in Gaza. I know that even now, you will not give up on a deal that will bring the release of all 59 hostages still there." Before the statement, survivors Margalit Moses and Yocheved Lifshitz, along with representatives from Kibbutz Nir Oz, demonstrated outside the Kirya gates, chanting, "Military pressure is killing the hostages." link
Hostage Updates
- Rescued hostage Noa Argamani laments resumption of Gaza strikes: ‘All hopes explode’
Rescued hostage Noa Argamani responds to Israel’s resumed strikes in Gaza, urging action to save those still in captivity.
Upon hearing the news of last night’s renewed campaign, Argamani writes on X that “all hopes explode in an instant” for the return of the remaining hostages.
She addresses her partner, hostage Avinatan Or, saying, “I’m sorry, Avinatan… for 529 days, you haven’t seen daylight. I’m sorry that you were left behind.”
Argamani, who was rescued and brought back to Israel by the IDF last June, recalls her own captivity in Gaza, describing how the end of the weeklong November 2023 ceasefire ended her hope of returning home: “Suddenly, all the dreams of going home, of hugging family and friends — shattered in an instant…One moment, the ceasefire was gone, and with it, the hope that I would get out of there alive.”
“Too many hostages who were taken alive — were murdered in captivity. We must save every living soul!,” says Argamani.
“This is our mission. We cannot leave them behind.”
"Fighting Resumes
Two words, and so many emotions inside. Suddenly, out of the silence, all hopes explode in an instant.
Two words, but for the hostages inside, they mean explosions and noises that bring back the fear of dying.
I remember how, in November '23, we heard the word hudna—a ceasefire—for the first time. And suddenly, we started seeing things move, people being released. Every day that passed, the terrorists looked at me and said, "Tomorrow, you'll go home."
Every day, I held on to that hope. I told myself there was no way I wouldn’t make it out alive. But then, in a single moment, we started hearing the explosions again.
Suddenly, all the dreams of going home, of hugging family and friends—shattered in an instant. The thought of seeing the light again felt so far away.
One moment, the ceasefire was gone, and with it, the hope that I would get out of there alive.
I’m sorry, Avinatan. I’m sorry that for 529 days, you haven’t seen daylight. I’m sorry that you were left behind.
We must save them!
Too many hostages who were taken alive—were murdered in captivity.
We must save every living soul! This is our mission.
We cannot leave them behind." - Noa Argamani on X - Air force dismisses reservist navigator for saying ‘the state again abandoned its citizens’
An Israeli Air Force reservist navigator who posted on social media this morning that he would not show up for reserve duty because of the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip, has been dismissed from the military.
The reservist, Alon Gur, wrote in his post that he told his superiors that “a line was crossed; at the point where the state again abandons its citizens in broad daylight; in which the cynical and cold political considerations exceed every other consideration; where human life has lost their value; where a government assassinates its own gatekeepers in every way possible; where the king becomes more important than the kingdom; No more.”
The IDF in response says: “The aircrew member’s reserve service was permanently terminated.”
Hostage families warn resumption of hostilities in Gaza ‘killing the captives’
Families Forum demands meeting with Netanyahu, urges public to protest outside his office as he confers with security chiefs; smaller, hardline Tikva Forum welcomes renewed strikes
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Tuesday sounded a desperate plea for the lives of their loved ones after Israel launched a deadly surprise attack in the Gaza Strip, ending the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas.
The Forum slammed “the government’s decision to sacrifice the 59 captives” left in Gaza — alive and dead — and called on the public to join an emergency protest outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem starting at 11 a.m., as the premier huddles with security chiefs about the resumption of hostilities.
“There is nothing more urgent,” the Forum said, adding that “military pressure will lead to the killing of living hostages and the disappearance of the fallen.”
Israeli airstrikes across Gaza early Tuesday killed at least 326 people, according to the Strip’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The attacks followed the expiration on March 2 of the ceasefire deal’s 42-day first phase, which saw Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages.
The deal was supposed to then transition to the second phase, which would have seen Israel withdraw from Gaza and Hamas release the remaining living hostages. However, Netanyahu, whose coalition’s right-wing flank has threatened to topple the government if Israel withdraws, has held off on negotiating the second phase, despite the deal requiring the commencement of talks on day 16 of the first phase.
In a statement on the airstrikes early Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office said the renewed attack aimed to further Israel’s war aims of dismantling Hamas and freeing the hostages.
Smoke rises after an airstrike on Gaza city, March 18, 2025. (Ali Hassan/Flash90)Many hostages’ families have argued that the aims contradict each other. The Families Forum said the statement from Netanyahu’s office was “complete misdirection,” adding: “Military pressure endangers hostages and soldiers.”
“The greatest fear of the families, of the hostages and of Israeli citizens has been realized,” said the Forum. “We are horrified, furious and scared by the intentional shattering of the process of returning our loved ones from the terrible Hamas captivity.”
Addressing the government, the Forum continued: “Why aren’t you fighting in the negotiations room? Why have you backed out of an agreement that could have brought everyone home?”
The Forum also demanded the prime minister, defense minister and security chiefs meet with the families and explain “how it will be guaranteed that the hostages won’t be harmed from the military pressure, and how [the government] plans to bring them back.”
“The hostages’ families have been begging for some time to meet with elected officials. Their pleas went unanswered,” the Forum said. “Now it’s clear: Elected officials didn’t meet with [the families] because they were planning to scuttle the ceasefire.”
The Forum also asked US President Donald Trump to “keep acting, as he’s declared and acted until now, for the release of all hostages.”
“The ceasefire must be resumed. Many lives are at stake,” it said. “There will be no security, no victory and no redemption until the last hostage returns home.”
Speaking to Hebrew media, freed hostages and family members slammed the renewed hostilities in Gaza.
Yehuda Cohen, father of captive soldier Nimrod Cohen, was quoted by the Ynet news site saying that “Netanyahu is again working for the elimination and murder of the hostages, including my son, in order to stay in office.”
Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Hamas captivity in June and whose boyfriend Avinatan Or remains in Gaza, simply posted a broken heart emoji. So did hostage Omri Miran’s wife, Lishay.
In an interview with Kan public radio Tuesday morning, Lishay Miran accused the government of violating the agreement with Hamas, and urged the public to join the Families Forum’s demonstration in Jerusalem.
“Am I going to be sitting shiva soon?” she asked, referring to the weeklong Jewish mourning period after the death of a family member. “I’m no longer ashamed to ask that question. Do I need to prepare?”
Omri’s father Dani Miran told Army Radio that he was “horrified” to learn about the resumption of hostilities.
“For me, this is a black day,” he said. “I thought my son was going free in a week.”
He also assailed Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who assumed the role of IDF chief of staff earlier this month.
“This chief of staff was picked [to carry out] the government’s agenda,” said Dani Miran. “And its agenda is war.”
Avinatan Or, Nimrod Cohen and Omri Miran are among the 24 hostages still thought to be alive, who would have been released in the ceasefire’s second phase. All are young men abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas invaded southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.
Terror groups in Gaza are also holding 35 captives whom the IDF has confirmed to be dead. These include the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in the 2014 Gaza war.
The smaller Tikva Forum of hostages’ families welcomed the attack on Gaza, saying that “if the attack that began this morning continues forcefully and without pause, we’ll be able to return all our loved ones at once.”
“The past few weeks have proved what we said the entire time — Hamas will never return the hostages of its own accord,” the Tikva Forum said, calling for Israel to seize parts of Gaza and cut off power and water to the Strip.
- Released hostages from the recent deal demand a return to negotiations: "I know how afraid the hostages in Gaza are"Survivors of captivity shared firsthand accounts of the urgency in returning the hostages and the feeling of being left behind during the previous ceasefire breakdown. Sasha Trufanov: "The government is abandoning the hostages to their fate." Yair Horn, whose brother Eitan remains in Hamas captivity: "A third of me is still in Gaza, still in hell." Yarden Bibas visited the Hostages Square for the first time.Survivors of captivity who returned in the current deal held a press statement this evening (Tuesday) at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. The first survivor to speak was Sasha Trufanov, who said, "The government is abandoning the hostages in the tunnels." Yair Horn followed, stating, "My younger brother Eitan was left behind; military pressure won't save the hostages." Keith Siegel recounted, "I witnessed severe and barbaric acts of violence." Yarden Bibas, another survivor, arrived at the square for the first time but did not speak. The statement comes amid the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip tonight."All my life, I was told there's no one wiser than someone with experience. And here I am, standing before you as a survivor and released hostage, telling you: military action endangers the lives of the hostages and directly harms them," Trufanov began. "Yet, this morning, I was horrified to learn that decision-makers are choosing not to listen. Since my return, and especially since this morning, I can't stop thinking about my friends still there—Ariel, David, Rom, and all my fellow hostages, male and female, who I am sure are enduring hell because of the decision to resume fighting."He added, "The collapse of the ceasefire brought me back to the difficult days when my life was in daily danger, and the phrase 'the army has resumed fighting' or 'the deal fell through, your government doesn't care about you' would come, along with the realization that I was about to enter an even darker and more difficult period than before." Trufanov called on the government to move to phase two of the deal. "What happened to phase two? Why are we willing to abandon them there for an unknown period in the tunnels?" he wondered."The decision-makers' plan to prolong the fighting and exert military pressure on Hamas for the return of the hostages assumes that the hostages have endless endurance to survive there. They are not posters; they are human beings, and their time is running out," Trufanov continued. "Every minute there is an endless hell and a risk of death."
Statement by the Survivors of Captivity
Yocheved Lifshitz, Yair Horn, and Yarden Bibas at the Hostages Square, this evening.Next, Yair Horn, who also returned from captivity in the recent deal, spoke. "I am here tonight to tell you that we must return to the negotiating table and achieve a ceasefire. Military pressure will not save the hostages; we know this firsthand," he said. "We are here to support all the families of the hostages and all the hostages still held in Gaza. I want you to hear from me that I, and all the other hostages, cannot truly move on and heal as long as they are in captivity," he emphasized."My younger brother Eitan was left behind in hell, and I feel like a third of me remains there," Horn continued. "To the decision-makers, I say: Do not forget that the vast majority of the Israeli public supports a deal to return the hostages. We call on the mediating countries and the international community to pressure Hamas to release all the hostages immediately and demand that all parties urgently return to the negotiating table."
Alex (Sasha) Trufanov"The decision-makers are not listening." Sasha Trufanov.Keith Siegel, another survivor, then spoke, detailing the harsh conditions he endured in captivity. "For 484 days, I was there. I was subjected to subhuman conditions—no air, no light, no sanitation, not enough food or water, in tunnels where I couldn't even stand," he recounted. "I was completely cut off from everyone I love, and I didn't know which of my beloved family members and friends survived the horrific massacre."
Yair Horn"A third of me remains in Gaza, remains in hell." Yair Horn.Siegel clarified, "I witnessed barbaric and cruel acts of violence that I didn't believe were possible against human beings in this era." He added, "On December 1, 2023, five long days after Aviva was separated from me and released, the ceasefire collapsed. In one moment, there was a deafening noise of fighter jets, missile fire, and bombs falling very close to the abandoned apartment where I was held alone, locked in a room, with no way to defend myself. Thoughts about what might happen in the next moment wouldn't leave me, and I felt the immediate danger to my life."
Keith Siegel"I was exposed to barbarism I didn't believe existed." Keith Siegel."I remember how the terrorists immediately became cruel, very agitated, and the treatment worsened in an instant," Siegel continued. "One of the terrorists came in, pointing a weapon at me, and started beating me. He was very angry and took everything out on me. He kicked, cursed, and spat on me. I experienced severe violence. Today, a year and four months later, the ceasefire has collapsed again. I think about the 59 hostages still held in Gaza. How afraid they are, not just of the terrorists' cruelty and IDF attacks, but also of the collapse of negotiations that would prevent their return home."Siegel addressed U.S. President Donald Trump, asking him to continue pushing for a deal to release the hostages. "I will forever be grateful for saving me from the hell in Gaza. I know that even now, you will not give up on a deal that will bring the release of all 59 hostages still there." Before the statement, survivors Margalit Moses and Yocheved Lifshitz, along with representatives from Kibbutz Nir Oz, demonstrated outside the Kirya gates, chanting, "Military pressure is killing the hostages." link
- At Knesset meeting, Smotrich says hostages’ families are heard ‘too much’ Far-right finance minister argues with daughter-in-law of slain hostage, orders her to ‘get out’ of committee room, calls guards to eject protesters
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the voices of relatives of hostages held in the Gaza Strip are heard “too much,” as he argued with Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of slain captive Yoram Metzger, during a Knesset committee meeting Tuesday.
It was the latest heated clash between coalition members and the families of hostages held by terror groups in Gaza that have in the past seen shouting matches, meetings aborted, and family members ejected or barred from attending the gatherings, with government members appearing indifferent or antagonistic to the families.
During a special committee session held for families of reservists and security service members, Metzger decried the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip and urged the government to reach a deal to return the hostages held by terror groups.
“We thought that we were serving in the Israel Defense Forces and not the army of God’s vengeance. In these very moments, we are murdering hostages, and there is a deal on the table,” she said, adding that the government has chosen “to bury more hostages and soldiers, something that nobody wants.”
“There is a deal on the table, go discuss it,” she urged.
Apparently frustrated at their presence in the meeting, Smotrich, a far-right minister who voted against the hostage release and ceasefire deal, asked the relatives of the hostages, “Why do you think you are allowed to shut others’ mouths?”
“We heard you. Get out. We are continuing. Stop thinking you have the right to take control of the conversation and not allow others to think differently from you. We too paid a price. Let’s not have a competition,” he said.
Smotrich then called in Knesset guards to escort the hostages’ relatives out of the room.
Another relative present in the committee said, “Nobody is hearing us anywhere,” before a Knesset guard approached to escort him out.
“We hear you too much,” Smotrich said.
The altercation came amid the collapse of a ceasefire that halted 15 months of war that began on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group Hamas led some 5,000 attackers to invade southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting hundreds as hostages, mostly civilians.
A complex ceasefire was reached in January that included the phased release of hostages. Smotrich opposed the deal but agreed to support it on condition that the war to destroy Hamas resumed after the first of its three stages, even though some hostages would still be left in Gaza.
Families of those still held in Gaza fear that their loved ones could be killed or left to languish in captivity.
Throughout the war, the families of October 7 victims and hostages have been attending Knesset committee meetings where they are granted time to voice their opinions. However, committee chairs have often pushed back against the families over remarks they make or for taking up too much time.
Earlier this month, a Knesset meeting on establishing a state commission of inquiry into the failure surrounding the Hamas attack — which is opposed by the government — was marred by violent clashes between hostages’ family members and Knesset guards.
Yoram Metzger, 80, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7. In June 2024, the IDF confirmed that he had been slain in captivity.
In August 2024, his body was recovered by IDF troops from Gaza and returned to Israel for burial, alongside those of Yagev Buchshtav,Nadav Popplewell, Avraham Munder, Chaim Peri, and Alex Dancyg. An IDF investigationdetermined that the six were shot dead by their captors in mid-February 2024. Link. Bezalel Smotrich is one of the most vile members of Knesset that there are. He is a known racist, extremist, messianic and doesn't give a damn about the lives of the hostages or their families. Up until yesterday, he, at least gave a little lip service to pretend sympathy but that has been all there is. Months ago, he went to Kibbutz Nir Oz, the kibbutz that was on the front lines of the October 7 massacre and had 1 in 4 people either killed or kidnapped and still has hostages in Gaza. He was shown around by some survivors and when he spoke with the cameras ever present, he even pushed out what looked like it might be a tear. He said that he would take all that he saw and heard that day and make sure it was in his thoughts when he would make fateful decisions about hostage deals. It was bullshit on that day and it is bullshit today. He continued to threaten to bring down the government if a deal bringing home all the hostages and ending the war was made. And yesterday, the complete and real Smotrich came out. He doesn't want to hear any more about the hostages or from their suffering families. He has always been willing to sacrifice all of the hostages for his messianic goals of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza and expelling all the Palestinians from all of the areas under our control. He would also love to expel all Arab citizens from Israel and has not hidden that ever. When his wife gave birth in a Jerusalem hospital, they refused to share a room with any Arab woman who also gave birth. They were afraid of being contaminated. Racists par excellence.
This is a person who should never hold a public office, yet Netanyahu, in his desperation to put together a government (before the war) normalized Smotrich's extremism as well as Ben Gvir's and will continue to do anything to keep them in the government to remain prime minister. We saw that again yesterday when the corrupt and failed cabinet approved the return of Ben Gvir and his racist party back into the government and back to their ministries even though the Attorney General told Netanyahu not to because Ben Gvir is being investigated for his illegal actions in the Ministry of Internal "Insecurity" before he resigned over the hostage deal. Smotrich and Ben Gvir are 2 rotten peas in the same pod which should be thrown to the trash heap instead of being welcomed with open arms by the criminally indicted prime minister.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the voices of relatives of hostages held in the Gaza Strip are heard “too much,” as he argued with Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of slain captive Yoram Metzger, during a Knesset committee meeting Tuesday.
It was the latest heated clash between coalition members and the families of hostages held by terror groups in Gaza that have in the past seen shouting matches, meetings aborted, and family members ejected or barred from attending the gatherings, with government members appearing indifferent or antagonistic to the families.
During a special committee session held for families of reservists and security service members, Metzger decried the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip and urged the government to reach a deal to return the hostages held by terror groups.
“We thought that we were serving in the Israel Defense Forces and not the army of God’s vengeance. In these very moments, we are murdering hostages, and there is a deal on the table,” she said, adding that the government has chosen “to bury more hostages and soldiers, something that nobody wants.”
“There is a deal on the table, go discuss it,” she urged.
Apparently frustrated at their presence in the meeting, Smotrich, a far-right minister who voted against the hostage release and ceasefire deal, asked the relatives of the hostages, “Why do you think you are allowed to shut others’ mouths?”
“We heard you. Get out. We are continuing. Stop thinking you have the right to take control of the conversation and not allow others to think differently from you. We too paid a price. Let’s not have a competition,” he said.
Smotrich then called in Knesset guards to escort the hostages’ relatives out of the room.
Another relative present in the committee said, “Nobody is hearing us anywhere,” before a Knesset guard approached to escort him out.
“We hear you too much,” Smotrich said.
The altercation came amid the collapse of a ceasefire that halted 15 months of war that began on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group Hamas led some 5,000 attackers to invade southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting hundreds as hostages, mostly civilians.
A complex ceasefire was reached in January that included the phased release of hostages. Smotrich opposed the deal but agreed to support it on condition that the war to destroy Hamas resumed after the first of its three stages, even though some hostages would still be left in Gaza.
Families of those still held in Gaza fear that their loved ones could be killed or left to languish in captivity.
Throughout the war, the families of October 7 victims and hostages have been attending Knesset committee meetings where they are granted time to voice their opinions. However, committee chairs have often pushed back against the families over remarks they make or for taking up too much time.
Earlier this month, a Knesset meeting on establishing a state commission of inquiry into the failure surrounding the Hamas attack — which is opposed by the government — was marred by violent clashes between hostages’ family members and Knesset guards.
Yoram Metzger, 80, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7. In June 2024, the IDF confirmed that he had been slain in captivity.
In August 2024, his body was recovered by IDF troops from Gaza and returned to Israel for burial, alongside those of Yagev Buchshtav,Nadav Popplewell, Avraham Munder, Chaim Peri, and Alex Dancyg. An IDF investigationdetermined that the six were shot dead by their captors in mid-February 2024. Link. Bezalel Smotrich is one of the most vile members of Knesset that there are. He is a known racist, extremist, messianic and doesn't give a damn about the lives of the hostages or their families. Up until yesterday, he, at least gave a little lip service to pretend sympathy but that has been all there is. Months ago, he went to Kibbutz Nir Oz, the kibbutz that was on the front lines of the October 7 massacre and had 1 in 4 people either killed or kidnapped and still has hostages in Gaza. He was shown around by some survivors and when he spoke with the cameras ever present, he even pushed out what looked like it might be a tear. He said that he would take all that he saw and heard that day and make sure it was in his thoughts when he would make fateful decisions about hostage deals. It was bullshit on that day and it is bullshit today. He continued to threaten to bring down the government if a deal bringing home all the hostages and ending the war was made. And yesterday, the complete and real Smotrich came out. He doesn't want to hear any more about the hostages or from their suffering families. He has always been willing to sacrifice all of the hostages for his messianic goals of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza and expelling all the Palestinians from all of the areas under our control. He would also love to expel all Arab citizens from Israel and has not hidden that ever. When his wife gave birth in a Jerusalem hospital, they refused to share a room with any Arab woman who also gave birth. They were afraid of being contaminated. Racists par excellence.
This is a person who should never hold a public office, yet Netanyahu, in his desperation to put together a government (before the war) normalized Smotrich's extremism as well as Ben Gvir's and will continue to do anything to keep them in the government to remain prime minister. We saw that again yesterday when the corrupt and failed cabinet approved the return of Ben Gvir and his racist party back into the government and back to their ministries even though the Attorney General told Netanyahu not to because Ben Gvir is being investigated for his illegal actions in the Ministry of Internal "Insecurity" before he resigned over the hostage deal. Smotrich and Ben Gvir are 2 rotten peas in the same pod which should be thrown to the trash heap instead of being welcomed with open arms by the criminally indicted prime minister.
Gaza and the South
- Airstrikes in Gaza signal an end to Hamas-Israel ceasefireIDF says it killed Hamas’s de facto PM in Gaza and other top officials - Radio interview with Gershon Baskin on the Public Radio Network "The World"
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says a series of Israeli airstrikes killed some 400 people overnight. This effectively ends the ceasefire the two sides had maintained. Gershon Baskin is an Israeli peace advocate and negotiator— he’s been in touch with Hamas for years and follows Israeli politics closely. Host Marco Werman caught up with him on the phone as he was heading to the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin for a meeting. link
Palestinians inspect their damaged house following an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
- Renewed Gaza strikes put focus on Trump’s failure to end the war, former Israeli negotiator says
A former Israeli hostage negotiator who once acted as a channel to Hamas said Israel’s renewed strikes on Gaza show US President Donald Trump’s failure to live up to his promise to end the war there.
Trump is “doing the opposite,” Gershon Baskin said.
“The renewal of the war is a failure of Trump to end the war as he promised,” Baskin said. “Trump could end the war and force the deal that will bring the hostages home and end the war.”
During presidential campaigns, Trump repeatedly promised to end the war in Gaza once he assumed office.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier that Israel notified the Trump administration ahead of its strikes in Gaza. Hamas has said that Israel’s coordination with the United States confirms Washington’s “complicity in the war.”
For the remaining living hostages in Gaza, the resumption of the war is “a death sentence,” Baskin said.
Of the 58 hostages kidnapped on October 7, fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Baskin added that the renewed war in Gaza ensures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival, and enabled him to bring back far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir into his coalition. link
IDF says it targeted major Hamas command center in overnight strike
The IDF says that in one of its overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, it targeted the main command center of Hamas’s Daraj-Tuffah Battalion, located in Gaza City.
The command center had been used by Hamas to plan numerous attacks against Israel and troops, the military says.
After the initial strike: IDF operations in Gaza and preparations to expand the operation
During the night, approximately 20 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip were attacked, and waves of attacks have continued since • The military is preparing to expand the operation, with decisions to be made based on Hamas's actions • Gaza reports claim the IDF attacked a UN facility, but the IDF spokesperson clarified that the report is false • Updates from the conflict zones
The attack that surprised Hamas yesterday (between Monday and Tuesday) was the opening strike, aimed in part at carrying out targeted assassinations of the military and political leadership of the terrorist organization. Currently, the IDF is conducting "maintenance operations," such as targeting terrorist cells attempting to move from place to place. Throughout the day, several waves of attacks were carried out in the Gaza Strip, including in the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, the Nuseirat refugee camp, and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.
The IDF is currently focused on aerial attacks. The Air Force announced this morning that it struck 20 Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip overnight. Among the targets was the headquarters of a Hamas battalion in the Tuffah area, from which numerous terror activities against Israeli civilians and IDF forces were planned. In areas where the IDF identifies Hamas attempting to regroup, train, or resume weapons production, it carries out strikes.
During the day, reports emerged from Gaza that the IDF attacked a UN building in Deir al-Balah, resulting in casualties among UN personnel. The IDF spokesperson clarified, "Contrary to reports, the IDF did not attack a UN facility. The IDF calls on media outlets to exercise caution with unverified reports." Hamas's Gaza Health Ministry claims that since yesterday, 436 people have been killed and 678 injured in IDF strikes.
As was the case yesterday, this morning the IDF spokesperson issued an evacuation notice to residents of Beit Hanoun, Khirbat Ikhza'a, and Greater and New Abasan in the Gaza Strip. "The IDF has launched a strong attack against terrorist organizations," the spokesperson stated. "These areas are dangerous combat zones. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the designated shelters in western Gaza City and Khan Yunis."
Simultaneously, the military is preparing to expand the operation. The decision to do so will also depend on how Hamas acts. The Chief of Staff has already approved plans for continuation with Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the IDF is ready to implement further stages of the operation as needed.
Gaza residents evacuate from Beit Lahiya (Photo: Reuters)The military understands that the current developments increase the likelihood of rocket fire from Gaza and Yemen, and this is being taken into account. However, it is important to remember that Hamas and Islamic Jihad do not have a large stockpile of rockets. They have already fired the vast majority of what they had, but the IDF estimates that sporadic rocket fire remains possible.
**Joulani's attempt to seize weapons from Assad's army**
The activity in Syria focuses on two main areas: destroying weapons left behind by the Assad regime and thwarting terrorist organizations that threaten to act against Israel. For example, in Khan Arnabeh near Quneitra, the IDF identified an attempt by the new Syrian regime of Joulani to transport artillery left by Assad's army. The IDF neutralized this threat as well.
At the same time, the military is also focusing on attacks in the southern Syrian Golan, in the Daraa region. The IDF identified terror activities by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the city's refugee camp, as well as their readiness to carry out attacks against Israel. The IDF struck these targets.
**Acting against all violations: Attacks in Lebanon**
Under the radar, Israel continues to operate in Lebanon as well. The IDF closely monitors Hezbollah's activities and acts against any violation it identifies. Recently, the military detected attempts to move weapons from place to place and efforts to rebuild terror infrastructure, such as weapons depots and previously attacked military assets. In each case, the IDF acted against these targets.
Vehicle attack in southern Lebanon, this week
**Terror alerts in Judea and Samaria, wanted terrorist eliminated**
There are currently numerous terror alerts in Judea and Samaria. The IDF continues its routine operations in the area. Last night in Nablus, an IDF force ambushed a terrorist cell in a vehicle, killing one of them and injuring another. The military does not allow terrorists freedom of movement and neutralizes threats as soon as they are identified.
The IDF announces that it eliminated the de-facto prime minister of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and several other top officials in the terror group today.
Hamas earlier announced the deaths of Issam Da’alis, the head of the governmental activity monitoring committee, a position roughly akin to prime minister; Ahmad al-Khatta, the director-general of Hamas’s justice ministry; Mahmoud Abu Watfa, who headed the terror group’s interior ministry, responsible for Hamas’s police and internal security services in Gaza; and Bahjat Abu Sultan, head of Hamas’s internal security forces.In a statement, the IDF says it targeted and killed those four senior Hamas officials, as part of a wide-scale bombing campaign against dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip since early this morning.
The strikes have targeted mid-level Hamas commanders, members of the terror group’s politburo, and its infrastructure. Islamic Jihad members and infrastructure have also been targeted.
The IDF says the strikes are aimed at “causing a blow to the military and governmental capabilities of the Hamas terror organization, and remove a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”
Da’alis, the de-facto Hamas prime minister, had replaced Rawhi Mushtaha following his killing by Israel in July 2024.
The military says that as part of his role, Da’alis was “entrusted with the functioning of the Hamas terror regime in the Gaza Strip” and coordinating all the branches of the organization.
The IDF says it can also confirm that al-Khatta, Abu Watfa, and Abu Sultan were killed in airstrikes today.
How Hamas Used the Ceasefire to Rebuild and Prepare for Another Attack | Special Project
In the two months since the ceasefire began, Hamas has worked to strengthen its power and control in Gaza. It has recruited fighters for water distribution units, planted explosives, and sent children to the contact line with the IDF to test its responses. Additionally, the terrorist organization has amassed significant wealth through the influx of humanitarian aid, which it plans to utilize. Leading experts spoke with Channel 12 News about Hamas's preparations to resume fighting and the pressure points for the return of hostages still held by Israel.
The two-month ceasefire, which ended on the night between Monday and Tuesday, was for Hamas a long countdown to the resumption of hostilities, given the gaps in negotiations that led to a deadlock in recent days. The terrorist organization also used the agreement to demonstrate its presence on the ground. However, beyond the glaring theater of terror we witnessed during the release of hostages, behind the scenes and beneath the surface, the declaration of the ceasefire was the signal to accelerate reconstruction—primarily of its military wing.
Dr. Michael Milstein, a researcher at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, explained that Hamas is rebuilding its frameworks and command centers—and also appointing new commanders. "It is also improving all its civilian capabilities, reestablishing itself as the entity that essentially controls the entire public space," he said. "And a crucial aspect for the future is that Hamas also controls the education system."
**Hamas Training**
Hamas terrorists in military exercises
According to Arab sources, Hamas has ensured the appointment of new commanders to replace those who were eliminated, rehabilitated damaged tunnels, and, most importantly, recruited fresh blood—thousands of Gazans who have replenished its manpower to approximately 25,000. Dr. Harel Horev, also a researcher at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, described: "These new recruits were often enlisted for water distribution units, ensuring some form of supply—or for very low wages, sometimes around $30-50 per month."
The new recruits underwent an accelerated training process through manuals to be ready in a short time to carry out guerrilla attacks against Israel. "During the ceasefire, Hamas continued recruitment, improved roads, collected remnants of ammunition that could be reused, and sent squads to plant explosives to prepare for an Israeli offensive," added Dr. Horev.
In the past month, preparations have moved to the field, focusing on the contact lines with IDF forces along the Gaza border. Almost daily since the start of Ramadan in early March, Hamas has attempted to lay the groundwork for resuming hostilities by deploying explosive-planting squads, which were thwarted, and by testing the IDF's readiness across the Strip. Alon Eviatar, an expert on Palestinian terrorism, confirmed: "We know of children, youth, and women Hamas sends to the contact line with the IDF to test the troops' activity and response when encountering civilians."
But an equally important component of the agreement that Hamas has used for its recovery is the economic aspect. "The war was one of the most lucrative events in Hamas's history," said Eyal Ofer, a researcher on Gaza's economy. "Hamas essentially charged protection fees for every truck from merchants and organizations distributing food—amounting to roughly 20,000 to 50,000 shekels per truck."
"Hamas currently holds capital of about 4 billion shekels in the Gaza Strip," Ofer continued. "Additionally, Israel allowed Qatar to bring 978 fuel trucks into Gaza—each truck worth about a million shekels for Hamas. This means Hamas has about a billion shekels it can use to pay salaries for a year."
Hamas's insistence on relocating the population back to areas devastated by the war under the agreement will certainly not help the thousands left homeless—but from the terrorist organization's perspective, it serves its interests. "Their understanding is that if the northern Gaza Strip is repopulated, it will be much harder for the IDF to operate and maneuver on the ground," explained Dr. Milstein.
Hamas, especially during wartime, is embedded within the population, using it as a human shield and mobilizing it to generate international pressure and make it difficult for Israel to act against it. Dr. Milstein added: "Through its proxies, both civilian and security-related, Hamas continuously maintains control over Gaza's territory—without any alternative emerging in its place. Seventeen months after the war began, Hamas remains the dominant force in Gaza, with no alternative."
To avoid a direct confrontation that would deplete its forces and severely damage it, Hamas is striving for attrition—applying military pressure against Israel's operations. Alon Eviatar explained: "Rebuilding all its frameworks serves the idea of endless friction with the IDF, in a way that the IDF, on behalf of the State of Israel, will say that to release hostages, it is willing and forced to end the war."
But Israel has more tools in its arsenal beyond what was activated last night. There are also pressure points on the terrorist organization that could make it more flexible, thereby advancing the war's objectives, primarily the release of hostages—through a deal. "Hamas cannot be defeated by simply dismantling battalions or collapsing tunnels," said Eyal Ofer. "During the ceasefire, Israel allowed Hamas to bring in tractors, which are crucial for starting reconstruction. The important long-term goal is not to allow it to rebuild. This is what will enable Israel to manage its policy toward the Gaza Strip while applying pressure that will need to be maintained for decades."
Dr. Horev argued: "When Hamas offers only the soldier Idan Alexander in exchange for 50 days of ceasefire, it's clear that it feels very stable and that Israel is not threatening it. This must be broken and undermined, even if we want a hostage deal. I assume that if Israel moves to a much more aggressive approach, we will know it is a strategic move that does not necessarily advance a hostage deal but rather a much broader strategic goal—in line with the war's objectives."
Gazans moving back to Northern Gaza
Dr. Milstein added: "The bitter truth is that a choice must be made: either toppling Hamas, which means taking control of all of Gaza because Hamas will not collapse from airstrikes alone—or releasing hostages through a deal. The two cannot go hand in hand. We have already learned from the 'scientific experiment' we have had here for almost 17 months—more and more force and pressure on Hamas do not ultimately yield flexibility and the release of hostages."
Eyal Ofer concluded: "The most important thing for Hamas in the first hostage deal was the return of displaced persons to the northern Gaza Strip. In exchange, Hamas agreed to release all female hostages. We must adopt exactly the same method—we need to make the Gaza population relocate to the southern Strip and not allow them to return until all hostages are released."
Even if there is no alternative to Hamas and its ability to control the population for many years, it is possible to inflict multi-dimensional systemic damage on its military framework alongside its economic framework and territorial control—just as the IDF weakened Hezbollah in Lebanon. link There is one and only one reason and person responsible for the fact that Hamas is still the only real force and governing body in Gaza. That person is Netanyahu. Since the beginning of the war, he has refused to allow a Palestinian alternative to enter Gaza to begin to take over the governing of Gaza and therefore replace it and give the Gazans and real alternative to a better future. The population is more desperate than it has ever been, after we have destroyed 80% of the buildings and infrastructure and Hamas has almost exclusive control of the humanitarian aid that has come in to Gaza (also Netanyahu's blunder). Therefore, it is incredibly easy for Hamas to recruit new fighters. They offer a pittance in salary and access to food and water for their families, a veritable lifeline for them and their families. Who wouldn't take up that offer to save their families?- More strikes reported in Gaza, as death toll said to mount
Gazan sources report ongoing airstrikes in several areas of the Strip, as an overnight bombardment appears to continue apace.
Attacks by Israeli aircraft are reported around Khan Younis in Gaza’s south, as well as several areas south of Gaza City near the northern end of the Strip.
At least 10 deaths are reported in the strikes. Quds news, a Gazan outlet linked to Hamas, says the death toll in the renewed Israeli offensive is up to 429. Hamas-controlled health authorities had earlier put the death toll at 408.
Neither figure can be confirmed.
There is no comment from the Israeli military. Israeli officials said Tuesday that the army was only firing on terror targets.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says a series of Israeli airstrikes killed some 400 people overnight. This effectively ends the ceasefire the two sides had maintained. Gershon Baskin is an Israeli peace advocate and negotiator— he’s been in touch with Hamas for years and follows Israeli politics closely. Host Marco Werman caught up with him on the phone as he was heading to the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin for a meeting. link
Palestinians inspect their damaged house following an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A former Israeli hostage negotiator who once acted as a channel to Hamas said Israel’s renewed strikes on Gaza show US President Donald Trump’s failure to live up to his promise to end the war there.
Trump is “doing the opposite,” Gershon Baskin said.
“The renewal of the war is a failure of Trump to end the war as he promised,” Baskin said. “Trump could end the war and force the deal that will bring the hostages home and end the war.”
During presidential campaigns, Trump repeatedly promised to end the war in Gaza once he assumed office.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier that Israel notified the Trump administration ahead of its strikes in Gaza. Hamas has said that Israel’s coordination with the United States confirms Washington’s “complicity in the war.”
For the remaining living hostages in Gaza, the resumption of the war is “a death sentence,” Baskin said.
Of the 58 hostages kidnapped on October 7, fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Baskin added that the renewed war in Gaza ensures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival, and enabled him to bring back far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir into his coalition. link
IDF says it targeted major Hamas command center in overnight strike
The IDF says that in one of its overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, it targeted the main command center of Hamas’s Daraj-Tuffah Battalion, located in Gaza City.
The command center had been used by Hamas to plan numerous attacks against Israel and troops, the military says.
After the initial strike: IDF operations in Gaza and preparations to expand the operation
During the night, approximately 20 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip were attacked, and waves of attacks have continued since • The military is preparing to expand the operation, with decisions to be made based on Hamas's actions • Gaza reports claim the IDF attacked a UN facility, but the IDF spokesperson clarified that the report is false • Updates from the conflict zones
The attack that surprised Hamas yesterday (between Monday and Tuesday) was the opening strike, aimed in part at carrying out targeted assassinations of the military and political leadership of the terrorist organization. Currently, the IDF is conducting "maintenance operations," such as targeting terrorist cells attempting to move from place to place. Throughout the day, several waves of attacks were carried out in the Gaza Strip, including in the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, the Nuseirat refugee camp, and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.
The IDF is currently focused on aerial attacks. The Air Force announced this morning that it struck 20 Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip overnight. Among the targets was the headquarters of a Hamas battalion in the Tuffah area, from which numerous terror activities against Israeli civilians and IDF forces were planned. In areas where the IDF identifies Hamas attempting to regroup, train, or resume weapons production, it carries out strikes.
During the day, reports emerged from Gaza that the IDF attacked a UN building in Deir al-Balah, resulting in casualties among UN personnel. The IDF spokesperson clarified, "Contrary to reports, the IDF did not attack a UN facility. The IDF calls on media outlets to exercise caution with unverified reports." Hamas's Gaza Health Ministry claims that since yesterday, 436 people have been killed and 678 injured in IDF strikes.
As was the case yesterday, this morning the IDF spokesperson issued an evacuation notice to residents of Beit Hanoun, Khirbat Ikhza'a, and Greater and New Abasan in the Gaza Strip. "The IDF has launched a strong attack against terrorist organizations," the spokesperson stated. "These areas are dangerous combat zones. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the designated shelters in western Gaza City and Khan Yunis."
Simultaneously, the military is preparing to expand the operation. The decision to do so will also depend on how Hamas acts. The Chief of Staff has already approved plans for continuation with Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the IDF is ready to implement further stages of the operation as needed.
The military understands that the current developments increase the likelihood of rocket fire from Gaza and Yemen, and this is being taken into account. However, it is important to remember that Hamas and Islamic Jihad do not have a large stockpile of rockets. They have already fired the vast majority of what they had, but the IDF estimates that sporadic rocket fire remains possible.
**Joulani's attempt to seize weapons from Assad's army**
The activity in Syria focuses on two main areas: destroying weapons left behind by the Assad regime and thwarting terrorist organizations that threaten to act against Israel. For example, in Khan Arnabeh near Quneitra, the IDF identified an attempt by the new Syrian regime of Joulani to transport artillery left by Assad's army. The IDF neutralized this threat as well.
At the same time, the military is also focusing on attacks in the southern Syrian Golan, in the Daraa region. The IDF identified terror activities by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the city's refugee camp, as well as their readiness to carry out attacks against Israel. The IDF struck these targets.
**Acting against all violations: Attacks in Lebanon**
Under the radar, Israel continues to operate in Lebanon as well. The IDF closely monitors Hezbollah's activities and acts against any violation it identifies. Recently, the military detected attempts to move weapons from place to place and efforts to rebuild terror infrastructure, such as weapons depots and previously attacked military assets. In each case, the IDF acted against these targets.
Vehicle attack in southern Lebanon, this week
**Terror alerts in Judea and Samaria, wanted terrorist eliminated**
There are currently numerous terror alerts in Judea and Samaria. The IDF continues its routine operations in the area. Last night in Nablus, an IDF force ambushed a terrorist cell in a vehicle, killing one of them and injuring another. The military does not allow terrorists freedom of movement and neutralizes threats as soon as they are identified.
The IDF announces that it eliminated the de-facto prime minister of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and several other top officials in the terror group today.
Hamas earlier announced the deaths of Issam Da’alis, the head of the governmental activity monitoring committee, a position roughly akin to prime minister; Ahmad al-Khatta, the director-general of Hamas’s justice ministry; Mahmoud Abu Watfa, who headed the terror group’s interior ministry, responsible for Hamas’s police and internal security services in Gaza; and Bahjat Abu Sultan, head of Hamas’s internal security forces.In a statement, the IDF says it targeted and killed those four senior Hamas officials, as part of a wide-scale bombing campaign against dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip since early this morning.
The strikes have targeted mid-level Hamas commanders, members of the terror group’s politburo, and its infrastructure. Islamic Jihad members and infrastructure have also been targeted.
The IDF says the strikes are aimed at “causing a blow to the military and governmental capabilities of the Hamas terror organization, and remove a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”
Da’alis, the de-facto Hamas prime minister, had replaced Rawhi Mushtaha following his killing by Israel in July 2024.
The military says that as part of his role, Da’alis was “entrusted with the functioning of the Hamas terror regime in the Gaza Strip” and coordinating all the branches of the organization.
The IDF says it can also confirm that al-Khatta, Abu Watfa, and Abu Sultan were killed in airstrikes today.
How Hamas Used the Ceasefire to Rebuild and Prepare for Another Attack | Special Project
The two-month ceasefire, which ended on the night between Monday and Tuesday, was for Hamas a long countdown to the resumption of hostilities, given the gaps in negotiations that led to a deadlock in recent days. The terrorist organization also used the agreement to demonstrate its presence on the ground. However, beyond the glaring theater of terror we witnessed during the release of hostages, behind the scenes and beneath the surface, the declaration of the ceasefire was the signal to accelerate reconstruction—primarily of its military wing.
Dr. Michael Milstein, a researcher at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, explained that Hamas is rebuilding its frameworks and command centers—and also appointing new commanders. "It is also improving all its civilian capabilities, reestablishing itself as the entity that essentially controls the entire public space," he said. "And a crucial aspect for the future is that Hamas also controls the education system."
**Hamas Training**
The new recruits underwent an accelerated training process through manuals to be ready in a short time to carry out guerrilla attacks against Israel. "During the ceasefire, Hamas continued recruitment, improved roads, collected remnants of ammunition that could be reused, and sent squads to plant explosives to prepare for an Israeli offensive," added Dr. Horev.
In the past month, preparations have moved to the field, focusing on the contact lines with IDF forces along the Gaza border. Almost daily since the start of Ramadan in early March, Hamas has attempted to lay the groundwork for resuming hostilities by deploying explosive-planting squads, which were thwarted, and by testing the IDF's readiness across the Strip. Alon Eviatar, an expert on Palestinian terrorism, confirmed: "We know of children, youth, and women Hamas sends to the contact line with the IDF to test the troops' activity and response when encountering civilians."
But an equally important component of the agreement that Hamas has used for its recovery is the economic aspect. "The war was one of the most lucrative events in Hamas's history," said Eyal Ofer, a researcher on Gaza's economy. "Hamas essentially charged protection fees for every truck from merchants and organizations distributing food—amounting to roughly 20,000 to 50,000 shekels per truck."
"Hamas currently holds capital of about 4 billion shekels in the Gaza Strip," Ofer continued. "Additionally, Israel allowed Qatar to bring 978 fuel trucks into Gaza—each truck worth about a million shekels for Hamas. This means Hamas has about a billion shekels it can use to pay salaries for a year."
Hamas's insistence on relocating the population back to areas devastated by the war under the agreement will certainly not help the thousands left homeless—but from the terrorist organization's perspective, it serves its interests. "Their understanding is that if the northern Gaza Strip is repopulated, it will be much harder for the IDF to operate and maneuver on the ground," explained Dr. Milstein.
Hamas, especially during wartime, is embedded within the population, using it as a human shield and mobilizing it to generate international pressure and make it difficult for Israel to act against it. Dr. Milstein added: "Through its proxies, both civilian and security-related, Hamas continuously maintains control over Gaza's territory—without any alternative emerging in its place. Seventeen months after the war began, Hamas remains the dominant force in Gaza, with no alternative."
To avoid a direct confrontation that would deplete its forces and severely damage it, Hamas is striving for attrition—applying military pressure against Israel's operations. Alon Eviatar explained: "Rebuilding all its frameworks serves the idea of endless friction with the IDF, in a way that the IDF, on behalf of the State of Israel, will say that to release hostages, it is willing and forced to end the war."
But Israel has more tools in its arsenal beyond what was activated last night. There are also pressure points on the terrorist organization that could make it more flexible, thereby advancing the war's objectives, primarily the release of hostages—through a deal. "Hamas cannot be defeated by simply dismantling battalions or collapsing tunnels," said Eyal Ofer. "During the ceasefire, Israel allowed Hamas to bring in tractors, which are crucial for starting reconstruction. The important long-term goal is not to allow it to rebuild. This is what will enable Israel to manage its policy toward the Gaza Strip while applying pressure that will need to be maintained for decades."
Dr. Horev argued: "When Hamas offers only the soldier Idan Alexander in exchange for 50 days of ceasefire, it's clear that it feels very stable and that Israel is not threatening it. This must be broken and undermined, even if we want a hostage deal. I assume that if Israel moves to a much more aggressive approach, we will know it is a strategic move that does not necessarily advance a hostage deal but rather a much broader strategic goal—in line with the war's objectives."
Dr. Milstein added: "The bitter truth is that a choice must be made: either toppling Hamas, which means taking control of all of Gaza because Hamas will not collapse from airstrikes alone—or releasing hostages through a deal. The two cannot go hand in hand. We have already learned from the 'scientific experiment' we have had here for almost 17 months—more and more force and pressure on Hamas do not ultimately yield flexibility and the release of hostages."
Eyal Ofer concluded: "The most important thing for Hamas in the first hostage deal was the return of displaced persons to the northern Gaza Strip. In exchange, Hamas agreed to release all female hostages. We must adopt exactly the same method—we need to make the Gaza population relocate to the southern Strip and not allow them to return until all hostages are released."
Even if there is no alternative to Hamas and its ability to control the population for many years, it is possible to inflict multi-dimensional systemic damage on its military framework alongside its economic framework and territorial control—just as the IDF weakened Hezbollah in Lebanon. link There is one and only one reason and person responsible for the fact that Hamas is still the only real force and governing body in Gaza. That person is Netanyahu. Since the beginning of the war, he has refused to allow a Palestinian alternative to enter Gaza to begin to take over the governing of Gaza and therefore replace it and give the Gazans and real alternative to a better future. The population is more desperate than it has ever been, after we have destroyed 80% of the buildings and infrastructure and Hamas has almost exclusive control of the humanitarian aid that has come in to Gaza (also Netanyahu's blunder). Therefore, it is incredibly easy for Hamas to recruit new fighters. They offer a pittance in salary and access to food and water for their families, a veritable lifeline for them and their families. Who wouldn't take up that offer to save their families?
Gazan sources report ongoing airstrikes in several areas of the Strip, as an overnight bombardment appears to continue apace.
Attacks by Israeli aircraft are reported around Khan Younis in Gaza’s south, as well as several areas south of Gaza City near the northern end of the Strip.
At least 10 deaths are reported in the strikes. Quds news, a Gazan outlet linked to Hamas, says the death toll in the renewed Israeli offensive is up to 429. Hamas-controlled health authorities had earlier put the death toll at 408.
Neither figure can be confirmed.
There is no comment from the Israeli military. Israeli officials said Tuesday that the army was only firing on terror targets.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
- After strikes, Syria accuses Israel of seeking to undermine ‘stability’
The Syrian foreign ministry condemns a series of deadly Israeli strikes a day earlier, accusing Israel of seeking to sow instability in the country.
A foreign ministry statement denounces “in the strongest terms the recent Israeli airstrikes on Daraa,” in southern Syria, adding that “this aggression is part of an Israeli campaign against the Syrian people and the stability of the country.”
- Israeli jets target former Syrian army outposts in Homs area — security sources
Israeli jets targeted former Syrian army outposts in the central Homs province, two security sources say.
- After strikes, Syria accuses Israel of seeking to undermine ‘stability’The Syrian foreign ministry condemns a series of deadly Israeli strikes a day earlier, accusing Israel of seeking to sow instability in the country.A foreign ministry statement denounces “in the strongest terms the recent Israeli airstrikes on Daraa,” in southern Syria, adding that “this aggression is part of an Israeli campaign against the Syrian people and the stability of the country.”
- Israeli jets target former Syrian army outposts in Homs area — security sources
Israeli jets targeted former Syrian army outposts in the central Homs province, two security sources say.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
- IDF arrests 3 suspects, confiscates weapons during operation in Nablus
Israeli soldiers are conducting an operation in the northern West Bank city of Nablus as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts, according to an Israel Defense Forces statement.
During the operation, troops arrested three wanted individuals, interrogated dozens of suspects and confiscated weapons, the IDF says.
The IDF has been carrying out a major offensive in the northern West Bank, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, since January 21.
Israelis attend a protest march against the decision of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire head of Shin Bet Ronen Bar, on Road number 1 near Jerusalem, March 18, 2025. (Yonatan SIndel/Flash90)
Israeli soldiers are conducting an operation in the northern West Bank city of Nablus as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts, according to an Israel Defense Forces statement.
During the operation, troops arrested three wanted individuals, interrogated dozens of suspects and confiscated weapons, the IDF says.
The IDF has been carrying out a major offensive in the northern West Bank, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, since January 21.
Israelis attend a protest march against the decision of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire head of Shin Bet Ronen Bar, on Road number 1 near Jerusalem, March 18, 2025. (Yonatan SIndel/Flash90)
Politics and the War (general news)
- Anti-government protest march moves from Knesset to Netanyahu’s home
Israelis attend a protest march against the decision of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire head of Shin Bet Ronen Bar, on Road number 1 near Jerusalem, March 18, 2025. (Yonatan SIndel/Flash90)
An Israeli man marchs on a highway toward Jerusalem to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet security service, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Thousands of anti-government protesters are marching to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Jerusalem following a mass rally outside the Knesset.
Anti-government protesters march to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Jerusalem on March 19, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)Demonstrators from across the country flocked to the capital this morning to protest the resumption of fighting in Gaza and Netanyahu’s attempts to sack Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Activists leading the march hold a large banner that reads: “Enough of the government of destruction” as they proceed down Ben Zvi Boulevard toward the Rehavia neighborhood.
Police close the road to traffic in one direction, but cars headed the other way demonstration are at a standstill.
“Why is he still here, why are they still there?” protesters chant, referring to Netanyahu and the hostages, respectively.
Police brought out a water cannon but have not used it against protesters.
- Captured Gaza records show that Iran, Hezbollah plotted with Hamas to destroy Israel
New study, based on classified documents, reveals terror group’s shift from defense to a multifront assault plan, culminating in October 7 invasion; warns Hamas will try again if it recovers
Head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh (left) and Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar (right) at a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the terror group, in Gaza City, December 14, 2017. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
In the years leading up to its invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamas developed a concrete plan to destroy the Jewish state, in full coordination with Hezbollah and Iran, according to classified documents published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
The Hamas documents reveal that in the lead-up to October 7, Iran was a critical player in funding Hamas’s plan to destroy Israel, that the Gaza-based terror group pushed for a coordinated attack from multiple fronts, and that its leader Yahya Sinwar believed that his military force could push Israel toward collapse.
Hamas’s devastating large-scale attack, which caught the nation off guard, involved coordinated land, sea, and air assaults, marking a significant escalation in its long-standing goal to destroy Israel. Despite years of military buildup in Gaza and strategic shifts, Israeli intelligence had not anticipated the scale or suddenness of the attack, leaving security forces badly unprepared.
Before 2019, Hamas’s military operations were primarily framed in defensive terms, focusing on strengthening its infrastructure in Gaza to withstand future conflicts, as outlined in a Hamas document titled “The Movement’s Strategy 2013-2017.”
The document also discussed a “realistic plan” of “implementing popular resistance in Palestine,” by initiating an intifada in the West Bank or “mobilizing… forces… to carry out jihad,” as well as “pursuing Jews and military personnel in international forums.”
Hamas terrorists attack the IDF’s Nahal Oz base on October 7, 2023, as seen in footage released by the terror group. (Screenshot: Telegram)However, a significant shift in dialogue emerged in 2019, with a revolution in Hamas’s thinking taking place in 2021, the internal documents recovered from Gaza show.
In 2019, the terror group began to emphasize coordination with Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah under a “joint defense agreement,” according to a document authored by the office of then-Hamas political bureau chief Sinwar. It laid out plans for a multifront war against Israel, with the ultimate goal of “liberating al-Quds [Jerusalem].”
Three attacks scenarios
Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021 was the pivotal moment in Hamas’s strategic evolution, according to former IDF Intelligence Research Division chief Itai Brun.
The operation was an Israeli military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure in Gaza, following escalating violence and rocket attacks from the Strip.
The month after the operation, Sinwar, then-Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, and Deif’s deputy, Marwan Issa, sent a letter to Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Guard Corps, requesting $500 million over two years to fund its war effort: “We are confident that by the end of these two years or during them, if Allah wills, we will uproot [Israel], and together we will change the face of the region.”
Deif and Issa were killed in Gaza in separate IDF airstrikes last year. Sinwar was killed by an IDF tank shell in Rafah last October.
The head of Hamas’s military wing Muhammad Deif in an undated photo. (Israel Defense Forces)The documents reveal that Hamas was fully committed to this proposal by 2022, with Sinwar presenting a concrete plan for a multifront confrontation with Israel in a letter to then-political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran last July, describing three possible scenarios.
The first, described by Hamas as the “preferred scenario,” detailed a large-scale military campaign against Israel involving all “Axis of Resistance” actors, excluding Iran.
This scenario was described as a “sudden confrontation from all fronts” with the timing “linked to one of the Jewish holidays,” specifically referring to Passover. It also mentioned “reasonable participation from Yemen, Iraq, and Syria” and “guerrilla operations beyond the Jordanian borders,” alongside Hezbollah’s full force.
The second scenario — or the “intermediate scenario”— designated Hamas as the central actor in the attack. Hezbollah would only use “a quarter or a third of its power, keeping the remaining forces for deterrence and the strategic campaign,” while other “axis forces engage from the other fronts.”
A crowd greets Islamic Jihad and Hamas terror operatives as they arrive for the handover of hostages to the Red Cross in the south Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025 (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)The third and final scenario, described as a “scenario of necessity,” placed the preponderance of the fight on Hamas’s shoulders, with Hezbollah merely playing an indirect role by allowing the “activation of [Hamas] forces with increasing efficiency from Lebanon.”
The 2022 letter also discussed the possible establishment of a Hamas combat unit in Lebanon, with a minimum of 250 fighters, that could use Hezbollah’s operational networks to conduct raids into Israeli territory.
In Haniyeh’s response to Sinwar, he revealed that Iran and Hezbollah ultimately endorsed the first scenario, envisioning a coordinated, multifront assault on Israel: “[The first scenario] was approved in the discussion we held with our allies; we are awaiting its final review in additional meetings, particularly with the Iranians, and we will follow up on the necessary preparations for it as outlined above.”
The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, boasts about the terror group’s close relations with Iran and Hezbollah, in an interview with Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV, May 21, 2018. (Middle East Media Research Institute via YouTube)In the months before October 7, Hamas leaders continued to discuss an attack. In April 2023, Sinwar told Hamas political bureau member Muhammad Nasser that Operation Guardian of the Walls had been a “walk in the park” for Israel in comparison to potential campaigns in the future, and that the next attack would be “so powerful that it will shatter the enemy into fragments.”
Openly discussing the ‘liberation’
The documents align with public statements made by Hamas and its allies in the years leading up to the October 7 onslaught.
In a September 2021 conference held in Gaza titled “Promise of the Hereafter – Post-Liberation Palestine,” Palestinian factions openly discussed governing the entirety of Israel’s territory, “from the river to the sea.”
The concluding statement from the conference outlined the steps needed to launch the new Palestinian state, including how to deal with the Jews and the weeding out of informants to “purge Palestine and the Arab and Islamic homeland of the hypocrite scum that spread corruption in the land.”
Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group listen to a speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon, March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)Similarly, in a May 2023 speech marking the anniversary of the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, then-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared, “Today, hope is greater than ever for the liberation of Palestine from the sea to the river, for prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
He further claimed that “[Israel’s] home front is weak, fragile, anxious, always ready to pack up and leave.”
Nasrallah was eliminated in an IDF airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut last September.
If Hamas recovers, will likely try again
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center suggested that Israeli intelligence may have dismissed such statements as mere bravado rather than credible threats.
The study concluded that while Hamas and its allies suffered severe setbacks in the current war that began on October 7, their ambition to destroy Israel has not disappeared.
“In the long run, if Hamas recovers, it is not improbable that the movement could once again regard destroying Israel as a practical plan,” the study warned.
Hamas gunmen stand in formation ahead of a hostage release in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)The assessment came at the tail end of a ceasefire that paused fighting in Gaza for some two months.
The ceasefire ended early Tuesday morning, as the IDF launched a wave of airstrikes across Gaza under the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused Hamas of repeatedly refusing to release Israeli hostages and vowed a forceful response.
The fighting resumed amid reports of the rehabilitation of Hamas in Gaza, with National Unity Party MK Gadi Eisenkot, alongside fellow opposition members who sit on the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, saying they had been informed that “Hamas has over 25,000 and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has over 5,000 armed terrorists.”
An Israeli man marchs on a highway toward Jerusalem to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet security service, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Thousands of anti-government protesters are marching to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Jerusalem following a mass rally outside the Knesset.
Anti-government protesters march to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Jerusalem on March 19, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)
Demonstrators from across the country flocked to the capital this morning to protest the resumption of fighting in Gaza and Netanyahu’s attempts to sack Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Activists leading the march hold a large banner that reads: “Enough of the government of destruction” as they proceed down Ben Zvi Boulevard toward the Rehavia neighborhood.
Police close the road to traffic in one direction, but cars headed the other way demonstration are at a standstill.
“Why is he still here, why are they still there?” protesters chant, referring to Netanyahu and the hostages, respectively.
Police brought out a water cannon but have not used it against protesters.
New study, based on classified documents, reveals terror group’s shift from defense to a multifront assault plan, culminating in October 7 invasion; warns Hamas will try again if it recovers
Head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh (left) and Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar (right) at a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the terror group, in Gaza City, December 14, 2017. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
In the years leading up to its invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamas developed a concrete plan to destroy the Jewish state, in full coordination with Hezbollah and Iran, according to classified documents published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
The Hamas documents reveal that in the lead-up to October 7, Iran was a critical player in funding Hamas’s plan to destroy Israel, that the Gaza-based terror group pushed for a coordinated attack from multiple fronts, and that its leader Yahya Sinwar believed that his military force could push Israel toward collapse.
Hamas’s devastating large-scale attack, which caught the nation off guard, involved coordinated land, sea, and air assaults, marking a significant escalation in its long-standing goal to destroy Israel. Despite years of military buildup in Gaza and strategic shifts, Israeli intelligence had not anticipated the scale or suddenness of the attack, leaving security forces badly unprepared.
Before 2019, Hamas’s military operations were primarily framed in defensive terms, focusing on strengthening its infrastructure in Gaza to withstand future conflicts, as outlined in a Hamas document titled “The Movement’s Strategy 2013-2017.”
The document also discussed a “realistic plan” of “implementing popular resistance in Palestine,” by initiating an intifada in the West Bank or “mobilizing… forces… to carry out jihad,” as well as “pursuing Jews and military personnel in international forums.”
However, a significant shift in dialogue emerged in 2019, with a revolution in Hamas’s thinking taking place in 2021, the internal documents recovered from Gaza show.
In 2019, the terror group began to emphasize coordination with Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah under a “joint defense agreement,” according to a document authored by the office of then-Hamas political bureau chief Sinwar. It laid out plans for a multifront war against Israel, with the ultimate goal of “liberating al-Quds [Jerusalem].”
Three attacks scenarios
Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021 was the pivotal moment in Hamas’s strategic evolution, according to former IDF Intelligence Research Division chief Itai Brun.
The operation was an Israeli military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure in Gaza, following escalating violence and rocket attacks from the Strip.
The month after the operation, Sinwar, then-Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, and Deif’s deputy, Marwan Issa, sent a letter to Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Guard Corps, requesting $500 million over two years to fund its war effort: “We are confident that by the end of these two years or during them, if Allah wills, we will uproot [Israel], and together we will change the face of the region.”
Deif and Issa were killed in Gaza in separate IDF airstrikes last year. Sinwar was killed by an IDF tank shell in Rafah last October.
The documents reveal that Hamas was fully committed to this proposal by 2022, with Sinwar presenting a concrete plan for a multifront confrontation with Israel in a letter to then-political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran last July, describing three possible scenarios.
The first, described by Hamas as the “preferred scenario,” detailed a large-scale military campaign against Israel involving all “Axis of Resistance” actors, excluding Iran.
This scenario was described as a “sudden confrontation from all fronts” with the timing “linked to one of the Jewish holidays,” specifically referring to Passover. It also mentioned “reasonable participation from Yemen, Iraq, and Syria” and “guerrilla operations beyond the Jordanian borders,” alongside Hezbollah’s full force.
The second scenario — or the “intermediate scenario”— designated Hamas as the central actor in the attack. Hezbollah would only use “a quarter or a third of its power, keeping the remaining forces for deterrence and the strategic campaign,” while other “axis forces engage from the other fronts.”
The third and final scenario, described as a “scenario of necessity,” placed the preponderance of the fight on Hamas’s shoulders, with Hezbollah merely playing an indirect role by allowing the “activation of [Hamas] forces with increasing efficiency from Lebanon.”
The 2022 letter also discussed the possible establishment of a Hamas combat unit in Lebanon, with a minimum of 250 fighters, that could use Hezbollah’s operational networks to conduct raids into Israeli territory.
In Haniyeh’s response to Sinwar, he revealed that Iran and Hezbollah ultimately endorsed the first scenario, envisioning a coordinated, multifront assault on Israel: “[The first scenario] was approved in the discussion we held with our allies; we are awaiting its final review in additional meetings, particularly with the Iranians, and we will follow up on the necessary preparations for it as outlined above.”
In the months before October 7, Hamas leaders continued to discuss an attack. In April 2023, Sinwar told Hamas political bureau member Muhammad Nasser that Operation Guardian of the Walls had been a “walk in the park” for Israel in comparison to potential campaigns in the future, and that the next attack would be “so powerful that it will shatter the enemy into fragments.”
Openly discussing the ‘liberation’
The documents align with public statements made by Hamas and its allies in the years leading up to the October 7 onslaught.
In a September 2021 conference held in Gaza titled “Promise of the Hereafter – Post-Liberation Palestine,” Palestinian factions openly discussed governing the entirety of Israel’s territory, “from the river to the sea.”
The concluding statement from the conference outlined the steps needed to launch the new Palestinian state, including how to deal with the Jews and the weeding out of informants to “purge Palestine and the Arab and Islamic homeland of the hypocrite scum that spread corruption in the land.”
Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group listen to a speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon, March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Similarly, in a May 2023 speech marking the anniversary of the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, then-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared, “Today, hope is greater than ever for the liberation of Palestine from the sea to the river, for prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
He further claimed that “[Israel’s] home front is weak, fragile, anxious, always ready to pack up and leave.”
Nasrallah was eliminated in an IDF airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut last September.
If Hamas recovers, will likely try again
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center suggested that Israeli intelligence may have dismissed such statements as mere bravado rather than credible threats.
The study concluded that while Hamas and its allies suffered severe setbacks in the current war that began on October 7, their ambition to destroy Israel has not disappeared.
“In the long run, if Hamas recovers, it is not improbable that the movement could once again regard destroying Israel as a practical plan,” the study warned.
The assessment came at the tail end of a ceasefire that paused fighting in Gaza for some two months.
The ceasefire ended early Tuesday morning, as the IDF launched a wave of airstrikes across Gaza under the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused Hamas of repeatedly refusing to release Israeli hostages and vowed a forceful response.
The fighting resumed amid reports of the rehabilitation of Hamas in Gaza, with National Unity Party MK Gadi Eisenkot, alongside fellow opposition members who sit on the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, saying they had been informed that “Hamas has over 25,000 and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has over 5,000 armed terrorists.”
The Region and the World- Houthis claim missile attack on US carrier in Red Sea
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels say they launched an attack on an American aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, their fourth time firing on US warships in 72 hours.
The Houthis’ military spokesperson says the operation entailed “a number of cruise missiles and drones, targeting the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and a number of enemy warships.”
There is no immediate comment from American military officials on the claim.
- UK parliament group publishes landmark report to combat Oct. 7 denial
The UK parliament’s Israel friendship group releases a 318-page report that aims to establish an incontrovertible historical record of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led atrocities in southern Israel.
“The purpose of commissioning our report has been to chronicle the events of 7 October with clarity and meticulous, fact-checking precision, to ensure it is never forgotten,” says Lord Andrew Roberts, an influential historian who chaired the report.
The report gives a unique “catalog of events,” providing an unprecedentedly comprehensive timeline of the massacre, a source familiar with the project tells The Times of Israel. It will be officially launched in the British parliament later today, The Times of Israel has learned.
Compiled by the UK-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group based on research that began in January 2024, the publication outlines the atrocities committed by the Hamas terror group against Israel on October 7 and 8, using survivor testimonies, open-source evidence, and interviews with relatives of hostages and victims, as well as expert analysis from government and security officials, first responders, and medical and military professionals in Israel and the UK.
The report determines that 7,000 individuals participated in the massacre, and includes information on the nature and scale of the murders, including Hamas’s youngest victim, a fetus shot in the womb, as well as its oldest victim, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor killed in his safe room by a grenade.
The document corroborates a previous report by the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence, confirming that sexual violence occurred at multiple attack sites on October 7. Hamas and other groups committed “acts of rape, gang rape, forced mutilation, sexualized torture, forced nudity, and posting sexualized images of victims on social media without consent,” says the report.
Introducing the document, Roberts likens the falsification of the events of October 7 to Holocaust denial, saying, “Hamas and its allies, both in the Middle East and equally shamefully in the West, have sought to deny the atrocities, despite the ironic fact that much of the evidence for the massacres derives come from film footage from cameras carried by the terrorists themselves.”
British historian Niall Ferguson comments on the publication, saying, “Those who wish to understand the repulsive, pathological nature of antisemitism should read the report. Those who doubt the truly evil character of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad must read it.”
Personal Stories
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels say they launched an attack on an American aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, their fourth time firing on US warships in 72 hours.
The Houthis’ military spokesperson says the operation entailed “a number of cruise missiles and drones, targeting the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and a number of enemy warships.”
There is no immediate comment from American military officials on the claim.
The UK parliament’s Israel friendship group releases a 318-page report that aims to establish an incontrovertible historical record of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led atrocities in southern Israel.
“The purpose of commissioning our report has been to chronicle the events of 7 October with clarity and meticulous, fact-checking precision, to ensure it is never forgotten,” says Lord Andrew Roberts, an influential historian who chaired the report.
The report gives a unique “catalog of events,” providing an unprecedentedly comprehensive timeline of the massacre, a source familiar with the project tells The Times of Israel. It will be officially launched in the British parliament later today, The Times of Israel has learned.
Compiled by the UK-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group based on research that began in January 2024, the publication outlines the atrocities committed by the Hamas terror group against Israel on October 7 and 8, using survivor testimonies, open-source evidence, and interviews with relatives of hostages and victims, as well as expert analysis from government and security officials, first responders, and medical and military professionals in Israel and the UK.
The report determines that 7,000 individuals participated in the massacre, and includes information on the nature and scale of the murders, including Hamas’s youngest victim, a fetus shot in the womb, as well as its oldest victim, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor killed in his safe room by a grenade.
The document corroborates a previous report by the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence, confirming that sexual violence occurred at multiple attack sites on October 7. Hamas and other groups committed “acts of rape, gang rape, forced mutilation, sexualized torture, forced nudity, and posting sexualized images of victims on social media without consent,” says the report.
Introducing the document, Roberts likens the falsification of the events of October 7 to Holocaust denial, saying, “Hamas and its allies, both in the Middle East and equally shamefully in the West, have sought to deny the atrocities, despite the ironic fact that much of the evidence for the massacres derives come from film footage from cameras carried by the terrorists themselves.”
British historian Niall Ferguson comments on the publication, saying, “Those who wish to understand the repulsive, pathological nature of antisemitism should read the report. Those who doubt the truly evil character of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad must read it.”
My Blog in The Times of Israel
All of Israel is responsible for one another כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה
The returning hostages talk about their time in the tunnels and about the other hostages who were with them. We have heard incredible stories of their interactions with each other and even with their barbaric terrorist guards.
Omer Wenkert told about how each one of his fellow hostages had a job to do, cleaning, dividing food, talking to the guards, etc. and it became routine, no questions or comments, they just did it.
Or Levy told the parents of Hersh Goldberg and Aner Shapiro first about Aner’s amazing bravery in the migunit and how he taught them, under fire, what to do if he missed picking up a grenade and throwing it out or if he was injured or killed. He stressed to them ‘keep your eyes on the ground.’
And Hersh who said every day — ‘When there is a why, you can always find the how,’ which was central to the book by Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. And it turns out Rachel had heard this story earlier, in a meeting with Or.
Rachel: “At some point, there were seven of them held together, and Hersh repeated this phrase to each of them. And each of them tried to figure out, what is my ‘why’? Or what is my ‘what.’ And for Or, it was his son. For each of them, it was something different. When Hersh was taken from that tunnel, for the rest of the time they were together, Eliya, Or, Alon, and Eli, they repeated this every day for the next 440 days. They would say it every day until the day he (Or) was released. So, it was an amazing thing to hear.”
Eli Sharabi shared so much of how, with his fellow hostages, they relied on each other, telling stories, keeping each other sane and alive.
Aviva Segal talked about how Liri Elbag brought Keith out of a deep depression when she wasn’t able to, and Amit Sosana told of how Liri saved her life when she was being tortured by the terrorist guards.
Every single one of the returned hostages have shared their incredible life enhancing, lifesaving experiences. From the first hostage releases in November 2023, when the barbarians were holding children as hostages, we heard of other hostages who sought to protect them, the children who were not their own children, and they gave of their own tiny scraps of food to the children.
When we hear of other cases of captivity around the world and in history, there are so many situations that are ‘dog eat dog’, survival of the fittest, take care of number 1. Of course, there are exceptions where others also have shown this shared responsibility and caring, but it is not universal.
The hostages and returned hostages are people who went through the worst day of their lives on October 7 and then continued in that hell for all the time they were in captivity. And they knew, without anyone saying anything to them what Mutual Responsibility ( ערבות הדדית) is. They lived it, they embodied it, they survived together because of it.
Hearing all of these stories and I’m sure there will be so many more, one has to wonder where it all came from. It is our culture, our education, our living as a shared society that has engrained this in us.
In our normal lives, we can see it daily as well. If a person falls on the street, immediately others nearby will come over to help them up, or call an ambulance and stay with them until it comes. It can be as simple as opening a bag of Bissli and offering it to those around you, to strangers. To us in Israel, it seems like the natural and normal thing to do but it is not so in much of the world. I remember being a trip with my family in the US and I took a nasty fall. There were many people around me who saw me fall. Not a single one came over to help me or even see if I was alright. They went about their business as though I didn’t exist. This has never been the case in Israel.
My daughter recently told me about a famous actress she is working with. This actress, ‘Y’ was sitting at a coffee shop drinking her coffee and noticed a young man who seemed a bit lost, not in direction but in his lack of calmness. She went over to him, a total stranger and asked a simple question, “Do you want to talk?” He responded with thanks and said he was fine. Despite this, Y gave the young man her cellphone number and told him to call if he wanted to talk. Y is sufficiently famous that everyone around her knows who she is. Later that evening, the young man did call. He had been back from fighting in Gaza and just can’t find his place. Y noticed something amiss and offered him her help with all the seriousness in the world. She saw someone in need and offered of herself. Y regularly gives trauma care to hostage families and Nova survivors and their families. Besides the fact that Y is truly an amazing woman along with being a great actor, she breaths ערבות הדדית every second of every day. She is Israel.
These actions, this caring, this being there for each other, doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It is something that is instilled in us from an early age or for me as an immigrant, part of my acclimation into our culture. We are not only taught this in school, in youth organizations, in the army, we are witnesses to it, we are recipients of it, we are givers to it all the time. It is natural and we are not surprised by it but we do appreciate it and I don’t believe that we take it for granted. Our returned hostages have shown us the ideals of this real value and it shows that, even in the most horrid situations, we are there for each other.
Hundreds of thousands express this every day and every Saturday night when we leave our comfortable homes and go to the demonstrations, because we feel that the hostages are our own and we bear the responsibility for them, for their families and to make sure that we get them home. When people see the tape with the number of days the hostages have been in captivity on my shirt daily, and the shirts that I buy from the hostages family forum that I wear every day together with the hostage dog tag, and yellow hostage pin and yellow wrist bands on my hand, I sometimes get asked if I have someone there in Gaza. My answer is the same as so many people, “they are all mine.” And nobody finds this a strange answer. They may not express it the same as I do, but most people feel the same way. We are responsible for each other.
So, I ask myself constantly, if this is one of our greatest values as a people, as a nation, how is it that this value, this feeling, this righteous responsibility is so missing from the place that it should be felt, expressed and acted on more than any other place in the country, the government? Isn’t that why we elect them, to serve the people, to care for the people, to be responsible for the people in the best of times and mostly in the worst of times?
Ezer Weitzman, when he was president visited with the family of every fallen soldier and every person who was killed in a terror attack. Of course, the numbers were nowhere near the numbers we face today, but he did it, not only because he felt it was his duty as president, as Citizen number 1, but because he was able to sympathize and empathize, to feel the pain of others. He was a bereaved father and understood the horrendous pain of losing the people we hold so dearly and he acted accordingly and gave comfort to so many.
A country can be measured by so many things but one very important, yet overlooked one is the compassion of the elected leaders for those who elected them. Unfortunately, I have not been able to see any compassion by the majority of those who make up our government. I see purposeful blindness and deafness to the hostages’ continuous suffering, to the plight and trauma of the hostage families, to the families of those who survived or were killed on the worst day of our history. I see apathy and worse, evil contempt among some of them. And I see that they care so much about their own self-interests that they fail in every way to care for the most important things that are around them and us daily since October 7. They are too busy dividing up money for their political strength and personal future, passing laws to give them immunity from crimes they commit as elected servants, to protect themselves and their failed and corrupt coalition, and above everything else, to do all they can do to prevent a State Commission of Inquiry to investigate how October 7 happened, who was responsible and what must be done to make sure it never happens again.
Where are their feelings of responsibility for the other, and I don’t mean the other in the government but the other being the entire population, the people and state they are elected to serve. We, the nation, the people feel and act with this joint responsibility daily, hourly; it is an integral part of our lives and we have seen it more than ever following October 7.
Our government is elected and paid to act on this responsibility at the highest levels and they have failed miserably at the most important job they are there to do and at the most critical times.
Leadership is not about talking. Leadership is about doing, action, working to make all of our lives better and the best way to do that is to understand and act on that value, that principal that which must be the guiding light of everything they do; that we are responsible for each other. Only when we have leaders who can live that value will we have leaders who are worthy of us because we are certainly worthy of that kind of leadership. link
The returning hostages talk about their time in the tunnels and about the other hostages who were with them. We have heard incredible stories of their interactions with each other and even with their barbaric terrorist guards.
Omer Wenkert told about how each one of his fellow hostages had a job to do, cleaning, dividing food, talking to the guards, etc. and it became routine, no questions or comments, they just did it.
Or Levy told the parents of Hersh Goldberg and Aner Shapiro first about Aner’s amazing bravery in the migunit and how he taught them, under fire, what to do if he missed picking up a grenade and throwing it out or if he was injured or killed. He stressed to them ‘keep your eyes on the ground.’
And Hersh who said every day — ‘When there is a why, you can always find the how,’ which was central to the book by Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. And it turns out Rachel had heard this story earlier, in a meeting with Or.
Rachel: “At some point, there were seven of them held together, and Hersh repeated this phrase to each of them. And each of them tried to figure out, what is my ‘why’? Or what is my ‘what.’ And for Or, it was his son. For each of them, it was something different. When Hersh was taken from that tunnel, for the rest of the time they were together, Eliya, Or, Alon, and Eli, they repeated this every day for the next 440 days. They would say it every day until the day he (Or) was released. So, it was an amazing thing to hear.”
Eli Sharabi shared so much of how, with his fellow hostages, they relied on each other, telling stories, keeping each other sane and alive.
Aviva Segal talked about how Liri Elbag brought Keith out of a deep depression when she wasn’t able to, and Amit Sosana told of how Liri saved her life when she was being tortured by the terrorist guards.
Every single one of the returned hostages have shared their incredible life enhancing, lifesaving experiences. From the first hostage releases in November 2023, when the barbarians were holding children as hostages, we heard of other hostages who sought to protect them, the children who were not their own children, and they gave of their own tiny scraps of food to the children.
When we hear of other cases of captivity around the world and in history, there are so many situations that are ‘dog eat dog’, survival of the fittest, take care of number 1. Of course, there are exceptions where others also have shown this shared responsibility and caring, but it is not universal.
The hostages and returned hostages are people who went through the worst day of their lives on October 7 and then continued in that hell for all the time they were in captivity. And they knew, without anyone saying anything to them what Mutual Responsibility ( ערבות הדדית) is. They lived it, they embodied it, they survived together because of it.
Hearing all of these stories and I’m sure there will be so many more, one has to wonder where it all came from. It is our culture, our education, our living as a shared society that has engrained this in us.
In our normal lives, we can see it daily as well. If a person falls on the street, immediately others nearby will come over to help them up, or call an ambulance and stay with them until it comes. It can be as simple as opening a bag of Bissli and offering it to those around you, to strangers. To us in Israel, it seems like the natural and normal thing to do but it is not so in much of the world. I remember being a trip with my family in the US and I took a nasty fall. There were many people around me who saw me fall. Not a single one came over to help me or even see if I was alright. They went about their business as though I didn’t exist. This has never been the case in Israel.
My daughter recently told me about a famous actress she is working with. This actress, ‘Y’ was sitting at a coffee shop drinking her coffee and noticed a young man who seemed a bit lost, not in direction but in his lack of calmness. She went over to him, a total stranger and asked a simple question, “Do you want to talk?” He responded with thanks and said he was fine. Despite this, Y gave the young man her cellphone number and told him to call if he wanted to talk. Y is sufficiently famous that everyone around her knows who she is. Later that evening, the young man did call. He had been back from fighting in Gaza and just can’t find his place. Y noticed something amiss and offered him her help with all the seriousness in the world. She saw someone in need and offered of herself. Y regularly gives trauma care to hostage families and Nova survivors and their families. Besides the fact that Y is truly an amazing woman along with being a great actor, she breaths ערבות הדדית every second of every day. She is Israel.
These actions, this caring, this being there for each other, doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It is something that is instilled in us from an early age or for me as an immigrant, part of my acclimation into our culture. We are not only taught this in school, in youth organizations, in the army, we are witnesses to it, we are recipients of it, we are givers to it all the time. It is natural and we are not surprised by it but we do appreciate it and I don’t believe that we take it for granted. Our returned hostages have shown us the ideals of this real value and it shows that, even in the most horrid situations, we are there for each other.
Hundreds of thousands express this every day and every Saturday night when we leave our comfortable homes and go to the demonstrations, because we feel that the hostages are our own and we bear the responsibility for them, for their families and to make sure that we get them home. When people see the tape with the number of days the hostages have been in captivity on my shirt daily, and the shirts that I buy from the hostages family forum that I wear every day together with the hostage dog tag, and yellow hostage pin and yellow wrist bands on my hand, I sometimes get asked if I have someone there in Gaza. My answer is the same as so many people, “they are all mine.” And nobody finds this a strange answer. They may not express it the same as I do, but most people feel the same way. We are responsible for each other.
So, I ask myself constantly, if this is one of our greatest values as a people, as a nation, how is it that this value, this feeling, this righteous responsibility is so missing from the place that it should be felt, expressed and acted on more than any other place in the country, the government? Isn’t that why we elect them, to serve the people, to care for the people, to be responsible for the people in the best of times and mostly in the worst of times?
Ezer Weitzman, when he was president visited with the family of every fallen soldier and every person who was killed in a terror attack. Of course, the numbers were nowhere near the numbers we face today, but he did it, not only because he felt it was his duty as president, as Citizen number 1, but because he was able to sympathize and empathize, to feel the pain of others. He was a bereaved father and understood the horrendous pain of losing the people we hold so dearly and he acted accordingly and gave comfort to so many.
A country can be measured by so many things but one very important, yet overlooked one is the compassion of the elected leaders for those who elected them. Unfortunately, I have not been able to see any compassion by the majority of those who make up our government. I see purposeful blindness and deafness to the hostages’ continuous suffering, to the plight and trauma of the hostage families, to the families of those who survived or were killed on the worst day of our history. I see apathy and worse, evil contempt among some of them. And I see that they care so much about their own self-interests that they fail in every way to care for the most important things that are around them and us daily since October 7. They are too busy dividing up money for their political strength and personal future, passing laws to give them immunity from crimes they commit as elected servants, to protect themselves and their failed and corrupt coalition, and above everything else, to do all they can do to prevent a State Commission of Inquiry to investigate how October 7 happened, who was responsible and what must be done to make sure it never happens again.
Where are their feelings of responsibility for the other, and I don’t mean the other in the government but the other being the entire population, the people and state they are elected to serve. We, the nation, the people feel and act with this joint responsibility daily, hourly; it is an integral part of our lives and we have seen it more than ever following October 7.
Our government is elected and paid to act on this responsibility at the highest levels and they have failed miserably at the most important job they are there to do and at the most critical times.
Leadership is not about talking. Leadership is about doing, action, working to make all of our lives better and the best way to do that is to understand and act on that value, that principal that which must be the guiding light of everything they do; that we are responsible for each other. Only when we have leaders who can live that value will we have leaders who are worthy of us because we are certainly worthy of that kind of leadership. link
“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!!!”
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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