🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 540, 2023 - March 29 2025 🎗️
🎗️Day 540 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
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- ’60 Minutes’ to air Yarden Bibas’s first interview on Sunday evening
CBS’s “60 Minutes” is set to air Yarden Bibas’s first media interview since he was freed by Hamas last month, the Ynet news site reports.
The interview will be broadcast on Sunday evening.
Released hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, and Tal Shoham, are also interviewed.
The parents of hostages Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, who were held with Shoham and Omer Wenkert, and forced to watch their release, also speak to CBS for the report.
According to assessments by Israeli officials, Yarden’s wife Shiri was “brutally” murdered along with her two boys, Ariel, 4, and baby Kfir, nine months, in November 2023. The three were buried last month.
Bibas has since joined protests calling for a deal to free the remaining hostages — he has said he is “petrified” for his friends left in Gaza, and that news of the resumption of fighting in the Strip has triggered flashbacks to his captivity.
The bereaved husband and father has also joined calls demanding the formation of a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding October 7.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the establishment of a state commission of inquiry, the body that enjoys the broadest powers under Israeli law, to investigate the failures that enabled the deadly Hamas attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, claiming that all investigations must wait until the fighting in Gaza ends.
- Egyptian officials said to be cautiously optimistic over potential renewal of hostage-ceasefire deal
- Hamas may be open to freeing some hostages in exchange for Eid al-Fitr truce
Israeli TV says still unclear what terror group will demand for small batch of captives, among them Edan Alexander; Hamas said to want ceasefire so it can crack down on Gaza protestsIsraeli television reported Friday that mediators see a willingness among some senior Hamas members to release a small number of hostages to secure a truce during the Ramadan-ending holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
The Kan public broadcaster acknowledged that it was still unclear what Hamas will ask in return for those it releases, though it did say that the freed hostages would include American-Israeli IDF lone soldier Edan Alexander, with the United States and Qatar intensively involved in the proposal.
Another Kan reporter said the deal was less about Eid al-Fitr and more to do with the protests that have broken out against Hamas throughout Gaza over the past several days.
Hamas wants to crack down on those participating in the protests and cannot do so due to Israel’s resumed operations in Gaza, as the military is targeting terror operatives that it spots out in the open, according to the report.
A ceasefire, even of several days, would allow for Hamas to rein in the protests, which have been a major source of distress within the Palestinian terrorist organization, the network claimed.
Kan’s report came a day after a senior Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that Qatar presented Hamas with a new US proposal to restore the ceasefire through the release of Alexander, in exchange for which President Donald Trump would issue a statement calling for calm in Gaza and the resumption of negotiations for a permanent end to the fighting sparked by the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Hamas already refused an earlier proposal from US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff, which sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, insisting on sticking to the terms of the deal signed in January, which was due to enter its second phase on March 2. That phase envisions the release of all remaining living hostages in exchange for a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to stop the war until Hamas’s military and governing capabilities have been dismantled and has accordingly refused to enter the second phase, instead pushing for an extension of the phase one temporary ceasefire. After more than two weeks in a holding pattern, Israel renewed intensive military operations throughout Gaza on March 18.
Hamas has yet to respond to the latest US proposal, but Qatari mediators told the terror group that compliance would create goodwill for them with Trump, making it more likely that he will push Netanyahu to agree to a permanent ceasefire, the diplomat added.
How Israel will respond to it is also unclear.
Amid the talks with mediators, a senior Hamas official said Friday that the negotiations were gaining momentum.
“We hope that the coming days will bring a real breakthrough in the war situation, following intensified communications with and between mediators in recent days,” Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, said in a statement.
The talks aim to “achieve a ceasefire, open border crossings, and allow humanitarian aid in,” Naim said.
Most importantly, he said, the proposal aims to bring about a resumption in “negotiations on the second phase, which must lead to a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of occupation forces.”
- 69% of Israelis, 54% of coalition voters back ending war in exchange for hostages — poll
Breaking with government, clear majority appears to prioritize captives; Ron Dermer denies report he has not met hostages’ families since taking lead on negotiationsSixty-nine percent of Israelis support ending the war in exchange for a deal that releases all remaining hostages in Gaza, compared to 21% who oppose such a trade, according to a poll aired by Channel 12 Friday.
Even among coalition voters, a majority (54%) back such a move compared to 32% who oppose it.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has long refused any suggestion of ending the war in exchange for the return of the 59 remaining hostages, saying the fighting can only end when the Hamas terror group is removed from power and can no longer pose a threat to Israel.
Of those 59 hostages, 24 are still believed to be alive.
The government also refused to hold negotiations on a potential second phase of the ceasefire deal — though it had agreed to do so under the original agreement. The second phase would have seen the release of the remaining living hostages in exchange for a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The deal’s third phase envisioned the release of bodies held by both sides.
Netanyahu instead has sought to secure the release of additional hostages through an extension of phase one’s temporary ceasefire, which would allow Israel to later resume fighting against Hamas. The government argues that agreeing to end the war now in exchange for the remaining hostages would allow Hamas to remain in power. Hamas has so far refused such a deal.
On March 18, Israel renewed intensive military operations throughout Gaza, saying it would no longer grant Hamas respite if it did not continue releasing hostages.
The resumption of fighting in Gaza without the return of the hostages, along with other contentious steps taken by the government against the judiciary and the security establishment, triggered a wave of mass protests throughout Israel, with reports of over 100,000 Israelis demonstrating nationwide last Saturday. FULL ARTICLE - Alon Ohel’s parents ask to meet Netanyahu, say hostage is losing sight, life in danger
Idit and Kobi Ohel say they’ve received information on son’s condition from freed hostages, urge him not to resume aid to Gaza until Hamas frees hostages from tunnel
Alon Ohel and his mother Idit, pictured before October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)
The parents of hostage Alon Ohel urgently requested a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him that their son is suffering life-threatening injuries and is on the brink of becoming blind, in a letter to the premier made public on Thursday.Citing information received from hostages released earlier this year during the first stage of the ceasefire with Hamas, Idit and Kobi Ohel wrote to the prime minister that they fear for their son’s life and asked to meet with him to determine how to ensure his release.
“Hamas blatantly lied, they did not release all the humanitarian wounded, and thus violated the first phase of the agreement,” Ohel’s parents wrote, noting that Hamas was meant to release all captives in the humanitarian category, including wounded and sick hostages, as part of the first stage of the deal. “[Freed captives] Eli Sharabi and Or Levy say explicitly that Alon is on the brink of blindness and his life is very much in danger.”
Netanyahu called the parents on Friday, Channel 12 reported. While he told them he was aware of Ohel’s condition, he did not provide any optimism regarding the chances for a deal in the near future, the network said. It was unclear whether he had agreed to meet the couple in addition to the call.
The 33 Israeli hostages — only 25 of whom were alive — who were freed in January and February 2025 were drawn from a list provided by Israel to Hamas during early rounds of negotiations, and included women, the elderly, and those Israel knew had been wounded.
“The testimonies of Eli Sharabi and Or Levy are shocking, Hamas is blatantly lying,” Alon’s parents said in their letter. “We demand that any resumption of humanitarian and medical aid to the Gaza Strip is conditional on the captives being released from Hamas tunnels and receiving clear and supervised medical treatment that will save their lives.”
Israel halted aid to Gaza after Hamas refused to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal by releasing more hostages. Last week, the military renewed operations in Gaza as the ceasefire collapsed, sparking fears among hostage families that their loved ones’ lives would be in increased danger.
The Ohel family whose son, Alon, featured in the poster, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)
Last month, Idit Ohel told Channel 12 that Sharabi and Levy were held with her son for the duration of their captivity. Their return from Gaza in February was the first time that Ohel’s family received confirmation that he is still alive since he was abducted 539 days ago from the Nova music festival.“He has shrapnel in his eye, he has shrapnel in his shoulder, he has shrapnel in his arm. Alon has been bound in chains, this entire time, and he had almost no food — at most one pita a day, over a very, very, very long time, more than a year,” an anguished Idit Ohel told Channel 12 at the time.
Hamas terrorists abducted Ohel — then 22, a pianist with plans to study jazz in Tel Aviv — alongside Levy and Eliya Cohen, who have both been released. Also abducted from the same bomb shelter was Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was murdered in Hamas captivity in August 2024.
Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 59 hostages, including 58 of the 251 people abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They include the bodies of at least 35 confirmed dead by the IDF.
Hamas released 30 hostages — 20 Israeli civilians, five soldiers, and five Thai nationals — and the bodies of eight slain Israeli captives during a ceasefire between January and March. The terror group freed 109 civilians in 2023, and eight hostages have been rescued from captivity by troops alive, while the bodies of 41 have also been recovered.
Egyptian officials tell Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar outlet that Cairo is cautiously optimistic about the possibility of progress for the renewal of the hostage-ceasefire deal, especially with the approach of the Ramadan-ending holiday of Eid al-Fitr,
The officials tell the outlet, which is affiliated with the Hezbollah terror group, that Egypt is working to accelerate the negotiations by presenting “realistic proposals that enjoy American and Qatari support.”
Sources familiar with the negotiations tell Al-Akhbar that the Egyptian proposal includes “a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately 50 days, in exchange for the release of five Israeli [hostages] and a number of Palestinian prisoners, along with the activation of a mechanism for the entry of sufficient quantities of aid [into Gaza], including food, medical supplies, and basic necessities for civilian relief.”
A senior Egyptian official tells Al-Akhbar: “Cairo is seeking that all parties, including Washington, push Israel toward making genuine concessions that would guarantee reaching an agreement.”
Israeli television reported yesterday that mediators see a willingness among some senior Hamas members to release a small number of hostages to secure a truce during Eid al-Fitr.
The Kan public broadcaster said that the freed hostages would include American-Israeli IDF lone soldier Edan Alexander, with the United States and Qatar intensively involved in the proposal.
Another Kan reporter said the deal was less about Eid al-Fitr and more to do with the protests that have broken out against Hamas throughout Gaza over the past several days.
Hamas wants to crack down on those participating in the protests, and it cannot do so due to Israel’s resumed operations in Gaza, as the military is targeting terror operatives that it spots out in the open, according to the report.
Kan’s report came a day after a senior Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that Qatar presented Hamas with a new US proposal to restore the ceasefire through the release of Alexander, in exchange for which US President Donald Trump would issue a statement calling for calm in Gaza and the resumption of negotiations for a permanent end to the fighting sparked by the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
- Hamas-run health ministry says 896 Palestinians have been killed since Israel renewed Gaza strikes 10 days ago
The Hamas-run health ministry says 896 Palestinians have been killed since Israel renewed intensive military operations in Gaza on March 18.
The office doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel says it seeks to avoid targeting civilians while Hamas operates among them.
Israel flouting international law with forced evacuations in Gaza, UN says
The UN Human Rights office accused Israel of violating international law by forcibly displacing Palestinians in Gaza under “mandatory evacuation orders.”
The Israeli army has issued what the UN describes as 10 mandatory evacuation orders, covering large areas across Gaza, since it resumed its war against Hamas on March 18, breaking a two-month-old ceasefire amid rows over terms for extending it.
“These evacuations fail to comply with the requirements of international humanitarian law,” UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan says.
Israel’s mission to the UN in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has previously denied violating humanitarian law in Gaza, blaming Hamas militants for harm to civilians by operating among them. Hamas denies this.
“Israel is not taking any measures to provide accommodation for the evacuated population, nor ensure that these evacuations are conducted in satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition,” Al-Kheetan’s statement adds.
Over half of northern Gaza appears to be under such orders, it says, while those who have been newly displaced from the south of the enclave in the Rafah area and forced to go to coastal Al Mawasi were not guaranteed safety there.
“We are deeply concerned about the shrinking space for civilians in Gaza who are being forcibly displaced by the Israeli army from large swathes of territory,” it adds.
With US focus elsewhere, PM said to task Mossad with finding countries that will take in Gazans
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly directed the Mossad intelligence agency to identify countries that would be willing to take in large numbers of displaced Palestinians from Gaza.
While several countries have taken in small numbers of sick Palestinians — mainly children — for treatment, no country to date has agreed to host a significant number, nor do Gazans appear interested in leaving en masse.
Nonetheless, Israel is seeking to advance the effort, with some of its biggest being Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. While Israel insists that Palestinians are not being forced to leave, critics of the effort accuse Jerusalem of trying to whitewash ethnic cleansing.
The Israeli effort received a tailwind from US President Donald Trump, who last month announced his plan for the US to take over Gaza and relocate the entire population of two million people. He has since softened the half-baked proposal, clarifying that no Palestinians will be forcibly evicted.
But Axios reveals that the US is not actively working to advance Trump’s plan and that its Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is focused instead of restoring the ceaseifre and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has tried to fill the vacuum, holding talks with the conflict-plagued East African countries of Somalia and South Sudan, along with Indonesia and other countries, about them taking in Palestinians, Axios reports, citing two Israeli officials and a former US official. Those talks have yet to bear fruit.
The Palestinian Authority and the Arab world has pushed back vehemently against efforts to relocate Gazans, arguing that Palestinians should be allowed to remain on their land and that moving them elsewhere will simply spur more conflict and extremism elsewhere.
Israel and the US have argued that Gaza is not a safe place to live after nearly a year and a half of Israeli bombardment targeting Hamas and that Palestinians should be given the opportunity to move elsewhere. But Israel’s refusal to publicly commit to allowing Palestinians who leave the ability to return has led to further questioning of its motives.
World Central Kitchen says IDF strike hit one of its Gaza distribution sites, killing a volunteer
IDF says it has carried out 25 strikes throughout Gaza, 15 in Lebanon today
The Israeli Air Force carried out over 25 strikes in the Gaza Strip today, targeting terror operatives and infrastructure belonging to Hamas and other terror groups, according to the military.
In Lebanon, another 15 Hezbollah targets were hit by the IAF, including a building in Beirut which the military says was used by the terror group as drone storage site.
Chemical weapons inspectors granted access to Assad-era sites in Syria, say sources
Chemical weapons inspectors have been taken by Syria’s caretaker authorities to previously unseen production and storage locations dating from the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled three months ago, sources say.
A team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) visited Syria from March 12-21 to prepare for the task of locating and destroying remnants of Assad’s illegal stockpile. Five locations were visited by inspectors, some of which had been looted or bombed.
Among them were locations that had not been declared to the watchdog by the Assad government, they said. The team was given access to documents and detailed information about Assad’s chemical weapons program, the sources say, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential details.
“The Syrian caretaker authorities extended all possible support and cooperation at short notice,” the agency says in a summary of the visit posted online. The OPCW was provided with security escorts and had “unfettered access” to sites and people, it says. No additional details were made public.
The cooperation signals a dramatic improvement in relations from the past decade, during which Syrian officials under Assad stonewalled OPCW inspectors.
The visit illustrates that Syria’s interim authorities are making good on a promise to work with the international community to destroy Assad’s chemical weapons, said a diplomatic source briefed on the matter.
The destruction of any remaining chemical weapons was on a list of conditions the United States has provided to Syria if it wants to see sanctions relief, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Three inquiries – by a joint UN-OPCW mechanism, the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification team, and a UN war crimes probe – concluded that Syrian government forces under Assad used the nerve agent sarin and chlorine barrel bombs in attacks during the civil war that killed or injured thousands.
Assad and his Russian military backers always denied using chemical weapons in the conflict, which began in 2011 and left hundreds of thousands dead.
Assad-led Syria joined the agency under a US-Russian deal following a 2013 sarin gas attack that killed hundreds. Around 1,300 metric tons of chemical weapons and precursors were destroyed.
Experts at the OPCW believe there are still undeclared stocks and want to visit more than 100 locations where they are believed to have been made or stockpiled by forces under Assad. The OPCW is preparing to open a field office in Syria, where a recent surge in violence has triggered heightened security concerns.
The OPCW, a treaty-based agency in The Hague with 193 member countries, is tasked with implementing the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.
Israeli, Palestinian shepherds wounded in West Bank violence; IDF only arrests Palestinians
Twenty-two residents of the southern West Bank Palestinian village of Jinba have been arrested by the IDF, a resident of the hamlet tells The Times of Israel, with the army saying it detained Palestinians involved in a violent confrontation with Israeli settlers.
But footage from the scene shortly before the arrival of the IDF shows dozens of settlers raiding the village, attacking residents and property. Three Palestinians were injured in the assault, including a 15-year-old who is in serious condition.
Politics and the War and General News
- Dozens of medical reservists said to refuse return to Gaza combat
Dozens of reservists from the Medical Corps have declared their refusal to return to combat in the Gaza Strip, citing ethical and legal aspects and the extension of the conflict “beyond all reason,” Kan news reported this evening. - Poll: 70% of Israelis don’t trust gov’t, 66% think it’s more concerned with special interest groups than general public
Asked if they trust the current Netanyahu government, 70% of respondents said they do not, compared to 27% who said they do. Even among coalition voters, just 51% said they trust the government, compared to 36% who said they do not, according to a poll aired on Channel 12.
Asked what impact the budget passed this week by the coalition will have on Israelis’ pockets, 54% of respondents said it’ll harm their personal financial situation, 20% said it will not have an impact and only 7% said it will improve their standing.
Asked who the government is more concerned with — ultra-Orthodox Israelis and other sectors affiliated with the coalition or the entire public — just 24% of respondents said the latter, with 66% of the public saying the former groups.
Asked about the judicial overhaul legislation that the government has been advancing, just 34% of respondents said they back it, compared to 50% who said they do not and 16% who said they weren’t sure.
Asked who is better suited to serve as prime minister, 35% of respondents said Benjamin Netanyahu, compared to 26% who said Opposition chair Yair Lapid, and 33% who said neither of them, according to a poll aired on Channel 12.
When Netanyahu was polled against National Unity chair Benny Gantz, the former received 34%, compared to the latter, who received 26% — a particularly low figure for Gantz, who has long polled ahead of Lapid. Thirty-five percent of respondents said neither Netanyahu nor Gantz is suited to serve as premier.
National Unity’s No. 2 Gadi Eisenkot fared slightly better against Netanyahu, receiving 29% and dropping the “neither” category to 29%.
Polled against the left-leaning Democrats chief Yair Golan, Netanyahu received 37%, compared to the former’s 21%, while 37% said neither of them.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett is the only politician polled who performed better than Netanyahu in a head-to-head matchup, receiving 38%, compared to the current premier’s 31%, while 24% of respondents said neither of them is suited for the position.
The outlet reported that a letter on the subject was signed by medical professionals of various ranks, including doctors, paramedics, mental health officers and nurses.
The reservists said the war is causing harm “to civilians on both sides, to Israel’s social fabric, and to the country’s long-term survival.”
They also noted “the takeover of territories and the call to settle them” in Gaza, “in violation of international law.”
The military is believed to be facing a growing problem of reservists not showing up for duty, both due to fatigue from many rounds of reserve duty over the past 16 months and due to rising anger at the hard-right government’s external and internal policies.
- Israel Must Be Wary – And Act: Qatar’s Next Move
Qatar’s leaders have not given up despite the setback they suffered in the Gaza war—a crisis that endangered their entire "pincer doctrine." Very quickly, they have already begun influencing the process that will shape the Middle East in the coming years, deepening their foothold in the Trump administration. Documents seized in Gaza leave no doubt about Qatar’s deep involvement in Hamas’s military buildup. **Dr. Udi Levy**, a former senior Mossad official, in a special column with new revelations.
The War That Exposed Qatar’s Double GameThe Iron Swords war put Qatar in the spotlight—but not in the way it had hoped. For over two decades, Qatar expected Middle Eastern crises to earn it praise as a mediator and problem-solver. Instead, this war caused significant damage to Qatar, cracking its carefully crafted image worldwide.For more than 20 years, Qatar has employed its "pincer doctrine": one arm embraces the West, while the other undermines it. The embrace comes through diplomacy, money—lots of it—strategic investments, bribes to politicians, and PR campaigns. The destructive arm includes Al Jazeera, a global propaganda machine, influence in universities, the spread of radical Islam rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood, terror financing, and incitement of revolutions in the Muslim world.This doctrine worked brilliantly, turning a tiny emirate into a major global influencer. But Iron Swords has put this strategy at risk, exposing Qatar’s destructive side in a way that threatens the emirate itself. Qatar failed to deliver what was expected—it didn’t secure the hostages' release or help end the war. Why? Because its rogue proxy, Hamas, defied its patron and refused to play by Qatar’s rules. Now, Qatar faces a real dilemma.Israel Brought Qatar Back from Regional IsolationIn May 2017, Qatar faced a severe crisis when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt imposed an economic blockade—even threatening military action—over its support for terror, ties to Iran, and radical Islamist incitement. Yet, just a year later, Israel made an inexplicable decision to allow Qatari cash into Gaza, effectively legitimizing Qatar and breaking the Gulf boycott—despite shared Israeli-Gulf interests in countering terror and Iran.Documents seized in Gaza during the war reveal Hamas’s greatest fear in 2017: that the U.S. would force Qatar to cut ties with the group. Such a move would sever Hamas from Qatari propaganda (a key tool for advancing its agenda) and from the Qatari "money tap" (a term Qatar’s own emir used in a meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh).But Qatar proved its survival skills—it didn’t surrender. Instead, it fortified its axis with Iran and Turkey, deepened cooperation with Hamas, and expanded its influence.Qatar’s Role in Hamas: The Captured Documents Prove ItThe seized Gaza documents confirm what Israeli intelligence has long known: Qatar was Hamas’s financial backbone, funding not just Gaza’s reconstruction but also Hamas’s military wing. Qatar financed:- Special forces training in Lebanon- Hamas’s strategic interests- Manipulative mediation with Israel- Global propaganda for Hamas’s agendaWhile Israel distinguishes between the Shiite axis (Iran, Hezbollah) and the Sunni axis (Qatar, Turkey, Hamas), Qatar has worked to blur these lines, collaborating with Iran to fund:- The Houthis- Hezbollah (including drone purchases)- Sunni terror groups like the Mujahideen Brigades (which murdered the Bibas family)Qatar Is Exploiting the War for Its Own GainQatar’s leaders aren’t wallowing in self-pity—they’re already reshaping the Middle East’s future. Their strategy includes:1. Deepening Influence in Trump’s Circle- Qatar has invested heavily in ties with Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Ambassador-designate Mike Huckabee.- Its NEWSMAX network, created for Trump, is already operational—even securing an interview with Netanyahu. (Qatar invested $50 million during the first Trump administration in an effort to strengthen Qatar's relationship with Trump)2. Rebuilding Its Image Globally- Qatar is leveraging its soft power: universities, humanitarian aid, and UN agencies (UNICEF, UNRWA).- It has funneled hundreds of millions through these channels to buy international legitimacy.3. Pushing the U.S. to Negotiate with Hamas Over Israel’s Head- Qatar is filling the diplomatic vacuum, pushing Biden to engage directly with Hamas—effectively legitimizing the group.- Adam Boehler’s meeting with Hamas leadership was no accident: Captured documents show the U.S. pressured Qatar years ago to open doors for Hamas.4. Ensuring a Role in Gaza’s Reconstruction- Qatar will be involved in any postwar arrangement—its strategic interest demands it.- Past Qatari-funded neighborhoods in Gaza were built with pre-existing tunnels linked to Hamas command centers.5. Expanding Influence in Syria- Despite tensions with Iran, Qatar will work with Turkey to shape Syria’s future—another challenge for Israel.6. Mediating Global Conflicts- Qatar recently helped free an American hostage in Afghanistan and mediated between Congo and Rwanda.- Don’t be surprised if Qatar offers to broker U.S.-Iran nuclear talks—a move that would restore its global prestige.Qatar’s Blackmail PotentialThe world won’t easily abandon Qatar—or its money. But Qatar has leverage:- It can leak compromising documents on leaders who took its bribes (as it did with Netanyahu at the war’s start).- It may temporarily reduce terror funding to weather the storm.A Dangerous Phenomenon That Must Be UprootedIsrael must conduct a thorough strategic review of its relationship with Qatar. The key questions:- Can Israel afford to keep relying on Qatar for hostage deals?- Should Israel tolerate Qatar’s infiltration into Israeli politics and business?- Is it time to confront Qatar’s role in terror financing?Hamas sees Qatar as a strategic asset—and vice versa. Anyone calling for Hamas’s destruction must also address Qatar—the sooner, the better.Only Trump Can Change Qatar’s InfluenceAdvancing the Abraham Accords, normalization with Saudi Arabia, hostage returns, and Hamas’s downfall all require removing Qatar from the equation. Only Trump can credibly threaten Qatar’s survival and force a dramatic shift in the region.Conclusion: Israel Must DecideDealing with Qatar is like handling a venomous snake: You must decide whether to seal your house completely or keep a hand on its throat at all times. But a decision must be made.Dr. Udi Levy is a former senior Mossad official who headed the Economic Warfare Unit against terror-sponsoring states. He also served in IDF Intelligence, the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, and Israel’s National Security Council. These remarks were delivered at the "Meir Dagan Conference on Security and Strategy 2025." link Qatargate is an obvious indication of Qatar's infiltration into the Israeli Prime Minister's office, most likely with Netanyahu's knowledge and full acceptance. It has been said by many that nothing happens in the PMO that Netanyahu doesn't know about deeply and approves. Most people would not be surprised if we find out in the future that Qatari bribes found their way directly and/or indirectly into the Netanyahu family coffers. Qatar is not our friend, no matter what Netanyahu says or wants to do with them. Qatar is directly behind most of the anti-Israel protests and pro-Hamas activities in the US and Europe. For years, they invested in preparations for the massive campaigns that were not natural or grass roots and they continue today.
- Netanyahu Will Do Everything and Change the Country to Avoid Prison
"Crushing the judicial system is truly the final nail in democracy’s coffin," says former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon in a combative WhatsApp interview with Moshe Nussbaum. He does not hesitate to accuse the prime minister of being willing to "create a reality where Israel’s Jewish-democratic identity is erased" and warns against selecting a Shin Bet head based on loyalty to the government.**Moshe Nussbaum**Hello to former Shin Bet chief and minister, recipient of the Medal of Valor, retired Maj. Gen. Ami Ayalon.Wednesday, 10:30 AM—where am I catching you?**Ami Ayalon**You’re catching me at home, just after returning from the olive grove. Other than that, I’m trying to keep up with what’s happening in the country.**Moshe Nussbaum**Can you tell us what you’re doing these days besides participating in protests?**Ami Ayalon**I occasionally write and lecture, both abroad and here and there at pre-military academies. The issue that particularly concerns me is the tension between security and rights—or what’s called the balance between democracy and terror.**Moshe Nussbaum**We’ll get to that soon. You recently called to "rebel against the government." What exactly do you expect the public to do when you call for "civil disobedience"?**Ami Ayalon**First, I expect the public to understand that we are in a process of deterioration—perhaps already in the middle of a plunge into an abyss where our democracy disappears, and we’ll live under what I call a tyrannical regime. The problem with this process, which is ongoing, is that we don’t see it happening every day.Former Supreme Court President Esther Hayut said, "No fortress falls in a day," when the High Court justices approved Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure as prime minister despite his criminal indictments. But the justices simply didn’t understand that the fortress of democracy doesn’t fall in one day—sometimes it takes years.**Moshe Nussbaum**I’m sending you a short clip:*(Clip plays where Ayalon says Netanyahu "once saw himself as a defender of democracy and the rule of law.")*What do you think caused this change in him?**Ami Ayalon**I think what caused Netanyahu to change so dramatically is what the wise Lord Acton said many years ago: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." In my assessment, Israel is almost the only democracy without term limits. The prime minister has been in power for 16–17 years, and that has likely blurred the line between what’s permissible and what’s forbidden.The second thing that changed him is the knowledge that he’s currently sitting in the defendant’s chair, fighting to avoid prison. My sense is that Netanyahu today will do everything—and I emphasize: everything—including changing the face of Israel, creating a reality where its Jewish-democratic identity is erased, and plunging it into an endless war against enemies that, if they don’t exist, must be invented—just so he doesn’t go to prison.**Moshe Nussbaum**Don’t you think Israeli democracy is strong enough to defend itself against the processes you describe?**Ami Ayalon**We must understand that Israeli democracy has been weak since its birth. It’s a democracy without a constitution, without a democratic tradition. And in practice, the government—the executive branch—through the coalition, also controls the Knesset. So the legislative branch, the Knesset, whose role is both to legislate and oversee the executive, effectively doesn’t exist. The executive has taken over the legislative process and is now busy crushing the judicial system.In my view, crushing the judiciary is truly the final nail in democracy’s coffin. The fact is, Netanyahu is sitting in the defendant’s chair and will do everything—again, I emphasize: everything—to stay in power, because from his perspective, if he’s not in power, the trial accelerates, a state commission of inquiry is appointed, and he’s almost certainly on his way to prison.We don’t realize that once the judiciary becomes part of the government, that’s the very definition of a tyrannical or totalitarian regime. So first, I expect citizens to understand this, and then we can create the scenario that leads to the government’s downfall and a return to democracy.**Moshe Nussbaum**How can citizens make this happen, in your opinion?**Ami Ayalon**The scenario I envision combines what many citizens are already doing (not enough, but many). They’re protesting. But ultimately, in addition to protests—a necessary but insufficient condition—we must create a scenario where politicians, in this case opposition leaders, join us in leading. "Us" means all the commanders leading the protests—whether it’s the "Wall of Shields for Israel" forum, "Commanders for Israel’s Security," or the group we established, which includes most former IDF chiefs of staff, police commissioners, Shin Bet heads, Mossad heads, and intelligence chiefs.At the same time, business leaders must shut down the economy alongside the Histadrut (labor federation), as well as university presidents and all education leaders. Only when this scenario happens—and by the way, I estimate it will happen in the coming weeks—will the government understand that the country has effectively come to a halt.And I haven’t even mentioned the war the government keeps sending our young people to fight, just to divert attention. Those of us who want the hostages returned understand that this war won’t bring them back, and the government is using divide-and-rule tactics. We must act against this scenario.**Moshe Nussbaum**When you were Shin Bet chief, did you feel personal loyalty was expected of you?**Ami Ayalon**When I was Shin Bet chief, the reality was completely different. I served under three prime ministers—Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, and Ehud Barak—and it was clear to me: each of them (and I emphasize: each) wanted more governance and more power, but they understood they couldn’t override the attorney general’s directives or High Court rulings.**Moshe Nussbaum**So, in your view, can trust not be a condition for the relationship between the Shin Bet chief and the prime minister?**Ami Ayalon**No. In my case, for example, there was a very severe crisis around the Western Wall Tunnel events, where 17 IDF soldiers and many Palestinians were killed. This created a rift between me and Netanyahu, who was then also prime minister. Afterward, I made it clear in the Shin Bet that the relationship between the prime minister and the Shin Bet chief is not a "bedroom relationship." Unlike the IDF chief of staff or Mossad director, the Shin Bet chief operates in a tension between subordination to the government and loyalty to Israeli citizens, whom he must protect by safeguarding the state’s democratic institutions.This tension accompanies all Shin Bet chiefs, and I understand this is why the attorney general said the Shin Bet chief is not a "trustee position." Even if the prime minister lacks trust, he can’t select Shin Bet heads based on loyalty. The concept of "the kingdom before the king" entered Israeli public discourse through the Shin Bet.By the way, in a tyrannical state, the security service protects the regime—against the citizens. In a democracy, it protects democracy and must maintain tension with the government, which always wants more control.**Moshe Nussbaum**Let’s talk briefly about the "Qatargate" affair.**Ami Ayalon**During my time, we helped draft the Shin Bet Law. Perhaps its most important clause is Article 7, which defines the Shin Bet’s roles and clearly states that while the organization is subordinate to the government, it is entrusted with protecting the democratic regime and its institutions from threats like terrorism, subversion, and state secret leaks. For those who don’t understand why the Shin Bet is investigating the Prime Minister’s Office in this affair—it’s over suspicions of leaking state secrets or activities by unauthorized individuals funded by Qatar. This is something you’d only find in spy novels.**Moshe Nussbaum**You, as former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman noted, are the only outsider appointed to lead the service. It’s been reported that Ronen Bar insisted only one of his deputies succeed him. What do you think?**Ami Ayalon**I came from outside after the service was in deep crisis following Rabin’s assassination. I believe the Shin Bet today is in a very severe crisis, regardless of who leads it. So the only person who can handle this crisis is someone who understands the Shin Bet’s role and the tension it operates under. I don’t know the current deputy candidates, but I want to believe that since they grew up in the Shin Bet, they understand this. Even if an outsider is appointed, they can’t be the prime minister’s loyalist, vetted through questions from his wife or pledges of allegiance.I’ll add that the issue isn’t the prime minister or Bar. The problem today is that the prime minister has lost all restraint, and since it’s clear to any thinking person that he selects based on loyalty, the prime minister—in his current state—must not (and I emphasize: must not) be the one to choose, unless approved by the attorney general—which, if I understand correctly, the prime minister would never consider.**Moshe Nussbaum**So who should select the next Shin Bet chief, in your view?**Ami Ayalon**In a better world, I’d want the president to bring together the Supreme Court president and the prime minister to agree on the appointment. But that seems impossible now. So, as far as I’m concerned, the prime minister must go home—either through a plea deal or protests forcing the government to dissolve. Even if he doesn’t go to prison, he must stop being prime minister.**Moshe Nussbaum**What do you think of Ronen Bar’s performance as Shin Bet chief?**Ami Ayalon**I think Ronen is in the most difficult position a Shin Bet chief can be in. He understands his responsibility—along with Military Intelligence and the prime minister’s policies—for the October 7 disaster. He took responsibility but is trapped. He knows he must resign, has announced he will, and lives with this knowledge. He’ll carry it for the rest of his life. At the same time, he knows he must protect the Shin Bet from the worst possible outcome—a chief appointed based on loyalty to the prime minister. Today’s reality is surreal: the prime minister is seen as a threat to Israel’s identity, security, and future.**Moshe Nussbaum**Argaman told Yonit Levi, "If the prime minister breaks the law, I’ll reveal everything I know," and was investigated for it. Are there things you’re also considering revealing in the future?**Ami Ayalon**Like any Shin Bet chief, I know many things about the prime minister—his personality, commitment to truth, private life—things that could dramatically affect trust in him. But we always ensure Israelis see the prime minister as a symbol, so I have no intention of revealing anything personal. For me, the problem is much deeper.**Moshe Nussbaum**Where do you think the country is headed?**Ami Ayalon**The question of where we go from here is, in my view, the question. We’re deep in an abyss. I don’t think we’ve hit bottom, but we’re certainly heading there. The question is: what happened to us from Herzl’s 19th-century utopia of an "old-new land" to today’s reality—shaped more than anything by the "Decisive Plan." That plan, outlined in a 2018 article by Bezalel Smotrich, combines military conquest with settlement expansion. Today, Israel is led by the radical-fundamentalist edge of Judaism, embodied by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.Where do we go from here? I think we must start with a dream. Hit reset. We need a dramatic change of direction. It can’t happen overnight, but we must remember: 50 years passed from the First Zionist Congress (1897) to Israel’s founding. So we must start with a dream, because reality drags us into daily struggles that distract us.By the way, what happened to my generation? We fell asleep on watch. My generation inherited a country with a future, despite all the difficulties. We knew why we fought and for what—we were guarding our home. But while guarding it, we didn’t notice that the treasure we were protecting—this land, its values, everything—was changing. Today’s Israel is not the Israel I fought for, nor the one my friends died for.The dream must start where we agree: a Jewish-democratic Israel in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence. How we get there is something I’ve thought much about, but I can’t detail here. It must be the foundation of our education system. This dream won’t materialize in a day, or even 40 years, but we’ll know we’re moving toward it. That’s where we must start—and where we must go.**Moshe Nussbaum**Recently, a man was arrested for threatening to slaughter you. How threatened do you feel because of your views?**Ami Ayalon**I’m sad that in many people’s eyes, I’m now the enemy—whether they call me a "Nazi," a "traitor," or worse. But this only confirms the direction Israel is heading. In many ways, it makes me more determined, because I’m not so worried for myself—I’m 80. But I am worried for my grandchildren.I inherited a country full of hope from my parents. When I look at my generation, we’re passing on to our children and grandchildren a country without hope—unless we shoulder this idea, turn it into hope, and fight for it.**Moshe Nussbaum**Ready for a quick word-association game? One-sentence answers!**Ami Ayalon**No!!! I’m not playing that game!**Moshe Nussbaum**To wrap up: You were an IDF general, Shin Bet chief, a government minister. In which role do you feel you left your mark?**Ami Ayalon**I’m the last person who can judge my own legacy. I can say that when I sailed the seas, fought, and led soldiers in battle—those were the days I knew what I was doing and why, and felt I was contributing. Beyond that, time will tell.**Moshe Nussbaum**Ami Ayalon, thank you!**Ami Ayalon**Thank you, Moshe.### Key Takeaways:1. **Netanyahu’s Motives**: Ayalon argues Netanyahu will "do everything," including undermining democracy, to avoid prison.2. **Judicial Overhaul**: Calls it the "final nail in democracy’s coffin," warning of a slide into authoritarianism.3. **Protest Strategy**: Advocates for mass civil disobedience, economic shutdowns, and opposition unity to force change.4. **Shin Bet’s Role**: Stresses it must protect democracy, not the government, and opposes loyalty-based appointments.5. **Future Vision**: Urges a return to the foundational dream of a Jewish-democratic Israel, despite the long road ahead.This interview reflects Ayalon’s deep concern over Israel’s democratic backsliding and his call for urgent action. link
US issues fresh sanctions targeting Hezbollah finance team
The United States has issued fresh sanctions aimed at Hezbollah that target five individuals and three entities.
The State Department says in a statement that the sanctions targeted Hezbollah’s finance team, “which oversees commercial projects and oil smuggling networks that generate revenue for” the group.
The sanctions’ targets included family members and close associates of prominent Hezbollah officials, the State Department says.
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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