🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 541, 2023 - March 30, 2025 🎗️
🎗️Day 541 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
*10:40am - Jerusalem and Gush Dan areas - ballistic missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen - intercepted outside of Israel's borders - no reports of injuries or damage
Areas of red alert (left), defensive rocket launched to intercept missile- (right)
Shrapnel fell at a school in Tsur Hadassah (literally 3 minute drive from my house).
- A word of caution: there’s no deal until there is a deal. Until then, it is all “spins”. First Reuters reports that there is a new Egyptian proposal to release 5 living hostages in exchange for an extended Eid al Fitr ceasefire. Official Egyptian sources talked about Egyptian ideas, not a new proposal. Egypt wants to exploit the Qatar scandals to refocus the negotiations in Egypt not in Qatar. That may be good for the hostages and for Gaza. Now an unnamed Israeli officials says that Israel will agree to the “Egyptian proposal”. When it is official, it will be official. Until then, Hamas still demands that any new deal must lead to the end of the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza - even if it is an extension of phase 1, (which Hamas is opposed to) Hamas continue to demand guarantees that phase 2 will begin which will end the war. Israel refuses to end the war. Netanyahu refuses to end the war. Yes, Hamas is under pressure - both from the killings in Gaza by Israel (about 1000 people this past week alone) including more Hamas leaders, and of course from the demonstrations in the streets of Gaza against Hamas. But Hamas will not surrender and give up its most fundamental demand - to end the war. Any Israeli leader who agrees to a deal in which five hostages are released is a criminal and committing crimes against the people of Israel and the State of Israel. There are 59 hostages in Gaza and there is no good deal that does not bring all of them home now. Any other deal is criminal. (Gershon Baskin, March 29, 2025)
- Hamas publishes 2nd propaganda video of hostage Elkana Bohbot
Hamas has published a second propaganda video of Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot, five days after a clip showed him alongside another captive who are stil held by the terror group in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has previously issued similar videos of hostages it is holding, in what Israel says is deplorable psychological warfare.
The Hostage Families Forum has asked that Israeli media not publish the video or stills from the clip until the family approves them.
- Jon Polin asks coalition members to stop wearing yellow ribbon hostage pins: ‘It adds to the pain’
The father of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin says that coalition members should stop wearing the yellow pins that signify support for those held in Gaza.
“A personal request to all 68 members of the coalition in Israel from the father of a hostage who was murdered in captivity in Gaza:
Please stop wearing the yellow pin for the hostages. Every time I see one of you with the pin, it adds to the pain,” Jon Polin writes on social media.Goldberg-Polin was abducted to Gaza during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught while hiding in a bomb shelter after running from terrorists who raided the Nova rave near Kibbutz Re’im.
He and five other hostages were executed by their Hamas captors in August. Their bodies were recovered and brought back to Israel by the IDF.
Polin last week expressed his gratitude to Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar after ministers voted to fire him, saying that the security chief was one of the individuals who pushed to widen the mandate of Israel’s hostage negotiating team amid pushback from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
This undated photo provided by Rachel Goldberg shows her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin. (Courtesy of Rachel Goldberg via AP)
- Israeli official says Hamas has agreed to release 5 hostages for 50-day truce
Hamas has agreed to the Egyptian proposal to release five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire beginning over Eid al-Fitr, an Israeli official tells the Walla news site.
The official tells the site the bodies of slain hostages will also be released during the ceasefire, but doesn’t provide a number.
The official adds that Israel is expected to present a counteroffer and that an agreement will unlikely be agreed to by the Muslim holiday, set to begin Sunday or Monday.
The report comes hours after Egyptian officials told a Qatari outlet that the terror group had agreed to the proposal.
Israeli official says Hamas has agreed to release 5 hostages for 50-day truce. link This is a bad deal. The only deal that should be made is a deal that releases all 59 hostages and ends the war. No other!!!! - Hostages ‘being bombed on Netanyahu’s order,’ Einav Zangauker says at weekly presser
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage in Gaza, says that hostages in Gaza are “being bombed on [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s order,” at a weekly press conference with a group of hostage families.
“The war won’t only do nothing to bring back the hostages, but will kill them and bury the bodies of those who have died already,” she says.
Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod is held hostage, says the idea that military pressure will return hostages is a “disgusting lie.”
Yifat Calderon, whose cousin Ofer was returned as part of a ceasefire deal, calls on US President Donald Trump to bring forth his own initiative to end the war and get the hostages released in one go, claiming Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer “are cheating you” by sabotaging negotiations for a deal.
Michael Illouz, whose son Guy Illouoz died in Gaza after he was kidnapped, accuses Netanyahu of using the war to break up the country and “turn us into Turkey.”
- Hostage Families Forum calls for deal to bring all captives home in response to Egyptian proposal for partial release
While expressing appreciation for any effort to release hostages, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum demands a deal that brings all captives home in one go.
“Israel will continue to delay for weeks, which could result in the fate of dozens of hostages being decided — some sentenced to death, and others will disappear,” the forum says in a statement, responding to reports of an Egyptian proposal for Hamas to return five hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire.
“We turn to the Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu], [Strategic Affairs] Minister Dermer, and members of the cabinet: Why only some of them when it’s possible to return everyone?”
The forum asserts it is possible to return all 59 hostages in one go in exchange for a permanent end to the war. Murdered hostage’s daughter says IDF failed to recover body of father, officer personally took responsibility
Bar Godard confirms that the military failed to recover the body of her father Manny, who was murdered and his body taken to Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Godard says she initially heard rumors on the Telegram app that her father’s body had been recovered in a mission last week. The IDF officer who accompanied the family since the massacre told her he was on his way to their house.
“But in the moment he opened the door, I understood. Dad wasn’t here. He told me about the daring operation and brave soldiers who tried to rescue my father,” she says, adding that troops seized a fridge that contained evidence belonging to her father.
The officer said to her, “I am so sorry,” she explains.
She commends the officer for taking responsibility for the failed operation and adds, “I couldn’t but help think of another person who, since October 7, has not taken responsibility for anything,” apparently referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“If only he would dare to come to Nir Oz or Be’eri and look at us in the eye,” she says.
Speaking at the rally, Einav Zangauker also reveals that her son, hostage Matan Zangauker, is being held alongside another living hostage who is a foreign national, “who is expected to be released in the deal that is being put together now.”
“And my Matan? He’ll stay behind in hell. So I warn you now of the coming selektziya,” she says, referring to the Holocaust-era distinction between Jews deemed fit for hard labor and those sent straight to the slaughter.
- **Guy Couldn’t Speak for a Month, Avitar Struggles to See Without Glasses**
The families of the hostages describe daily physical and psychological abuse. The two are bound hand and foot, starved, and given minimal food in darkness so they cannot see what they are eating. Gay Gilboa Dalal was unable to speak for a month due to extreme thirst. Avitar David is being held without his glasses and can barely see.Last night (Saturday), the families of the abductees Gay Gilboa Delal and Avitar David revealed shocking and unimaginable details about their captivity. The families say the hostages endure severe physical and psychological abuse every day.According to the information received by their families, Guy and Avitar are bound hand and foot, with bags placed over their heads for days at a time. They are starved and given very little food, served in complete darkness so they cannot see what they are eating.During their hundreds of days in captivity, the hostages are allowed one bucket shower per month. Guy went a month without speaking due to extreme thirst and difficulty forming words. He also suffers from hearing loss in one ear. Avitar is being held without his glasses and struggles to see.The Horrific Captivity Conditions of Guy Gelfand Delal and Avitar DavidGuy and Avitar were last seen over a month ago in a video released by the terror organization, showing them watching the release of other hostages—some of whom had been held with them for months. The video was the first sign of life from the two after 16 months in captivity.Their families agreed to release the distressing footage in hopes of amplifying their cries for help. From the recording, they learned of Guy and Avitar’s dire condition—emaciated, gaunt, pale, and forced to witness the release of fellow hostages while they remain imprisoned.Key Details of Their Suffering:- Bound and Hooded – Hands and feet tied, heads covered for extended periods.- Starvation & Forced Darkness – Fed sparingly in pitch black to prevent them from seeing their food.- Extreme Thirst – Guy was left unable to speak for a month.- Medical Neglect – Avitar is denied glasses, impairing his vision.- One Shower a Month – Sanitation is nearly nonexistent.Their families continue to plead for their release, exposing these brutal conditions to pressure authorities into action. link
- IDF and Shin Bet: Items Belonging to the Body of Fallen Abductee Manny Godard Located
Security forces have located and retrieved "items belonging to the body" of Menny Godard, who was murdered and abducted by Islamic Jihad on October 7. Despite these findings, identified at the National Center of Forensic Medicine, his body is still being held in Gaza. His daughter revealed: There was an attempt to retrieve his body, but it failed.Items linked to Menny Godard’s body were found in Gaza, the IDF and Shin Bet announced last night (Saturday). His family was notified earlier this week. Menny was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’ October 7 massacre. His wife, Ayelet, was murdered*in the attack on their home.The findings were discovered during a joint IDF-Shin Bet operation at an Islamic Jihad outpost in Rafah. They were sent for forensic identification, and the family was updated. It is believed that Manny’s body was moved elsewhere, and efforts continue to locate and repatriate him for burial in Israel."They Tried to Retrieve His Body—But Failed"Bar Godard, Menny’s daughter, disclosed that there had been an attempt to recover her father’s remains.- "On Monday afternoon, rumors started spreading," she recounted, describing the family’s ordeal amid reports of military activity in Gaza. "It began with Telegram messages about bodies being retrieved. My heart skipped a beat."- Later, she said, a photo of her father circulated with the caption: 'His body was retrieved.'"My body started shaking, my thoughts racing. In the evening, Azaria, our IDF liaison officer, called and said he was on his way to us. I felt like any second he’d walk in and say, ‘Dad is here.’ But when he opened the door, I understood."- "Dad isn’t here," she said painfully in a statement advocating for a hostage deal. "He told us about a daring operation and brave soldiers who tried to retrieve Dad. He even said they managed to recover a fridge from an Islamic Jihad outpost containing Dad’s belongings—but the mission ultimately failed. In the end, he said, ‘I’m so sorry.’"Bar addressed the Prime Minister and IDF Chief of Staff:"We, the Godard family, demand that no soldier be sent to risk his life to retrieve our father’s body. We will not allow another family to enter the circle of bereavement for this purpose. We demand his return—and that of all other hostages—through a deal."Months of Uncertainty, Then Confirmation of AbductionFor months, Menny was considered missing, and his children believed he had perished in their home, which was completely burned down. Only in December did it become clear that his body had been taken to Gaza. On February 8, 2024, Kibbutz Be’eri officially announced his murder—revealing that the 73-year-old was a fallen citizen held in captivity.A Beloved Father, Grandfather, and Community PillarMenny and Ayelet left behind four children—Mor, Gal, Bar, and Goni—and six grandchildren. His children described him as:- "The most devoted and loving father and grandfather, a family man who cared for everyone around him."- "A man of the sea and love, a die-hard Hapoel Tel Aviv fan."Menny, who was murdered and abducted from Be’eri, held many roles in the kibbutz:- Worked as a printer at the kibbutz’s renowned printing house.- Managed the commissary and swimming pool.- Served as the head custodian.- Played and coached the local soccer team, mentoring generations of young players who saw him as a role model.The Fight to Bring Him HomeDespite the heartbreaking setback, the Godard family continues to push for a deal to bring all hostages—living and deceased—back to Israel. Their message is clear: No more soldiers should die trying to retrieve the dead. Only an agreement can end this nightmare. link
- Desperate for hostage deal, furious at PM, masses take to the streets in protest
Israel is ‘held captive by Netanyahu,’ hostage’s mother fumes; two arrested in clashes with police; Tel Aviv mayor vows to shut down country if High Court rulings ignoredTens of thousands of people once again rallied in Tel Aviv and throughout Israel on Saturday night to demand the return of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza and to protest against government efforts to weaken the judiciary and fire key gatekeepers.
At the main demonstrations in Tel Aviv, masses gathered in public squares and in the streets to listen to speeches from former hostages and the families of those still in captivity, as well as Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
The protests began hours after Hamas released a propaganda video of hostage Elkana Bohbot pleading for his release. It was the second video of Bohbot released by the terror group in the past week, after it published a clip of him and fellow captive Yosef-Haim Ohana five days prior.
Following the release of the video, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged “all Israelis, from every background and political viewpoint” to attend the Saturday night protests in support of “a comprehensive agreement that will bring all hostages home at once, without delay.”
As the night’s events got underway, thousands of anti-government protesters began to gather at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, waving Israeli flags, and holding posters calling for the release of the hostages and emblazoned with slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Similar events were held in cities and intersections across the country at the same time.
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, speaks during a rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, at Habima Square, Tel Aviv, March 29, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)While the events passed mostly without incident, some protesters clashed with police toward the end of the night, and law enforcement officers were filmed violently dragging and detaining demonstrators.
Speaking to protesters at Habima Square, Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, accused the government of carrying out a “targeted assassination” against her son, after Israel launched a surprise aerial attack on Gaza last week, followed by a renewed ground offensive in the days that followed, scuttling the fragile ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to bomb Matan instead of saving him and bringing him home,” said Zangauker.
“Netanyahu knows my Matan is bound in chains, starved, beaten, with no air, light or hope, and nonetheless he’s decided to continue abandoning him,” she added. “The hostages are held captive by Hamas, and the entire nation of Israel is held captive by Netanyahu.”
Zangauker also accused Netanyahu of de-prioritizing the hostages while passing the 2025 state budget and railed against his efforts to oust Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. “Netanyahu, you can’t evade your guilt for the October 7 massacre. The only way you can mitigate your punishment is to bring a comprehensive deal now for all 59 hostages and an end to the war.”
A rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, March 29, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)Tel Aviv Mayor Huldai, who took the stage after Zangauker, said it was “difficult to speak after Einav, who can express the pain with such force and spirit.”
The nation is at war, Huldai told the crowd, but “not the futile, life-threatening, hostage-abandoning re-entry into Gaza.” Rather, he said, “We’re at war because the government is trying to demolish the ground we’ve stood on for almost 80 years,” the mayor said.
He said that, if the High Court were to rule against the government’s dismissal of Bar and the government were to ignore the ruling, then “we in the municipalities will also know how to overrule and derail the day-to-day life that the government imagines will go on.”
After the speeches, the crowd spilled out of Habima Square and marched toward the demonstration on Begin Road, in front of the IDF headquarters, where hostage families who have adopted a more political tone than the weekly Hostages Square rallies were protesting against the government.
“The government prefers dead hostages. Dead hostages talk less. They don’t give interviews, or fly to [meet US President Donald] Trump,” declared Yotam Cohen, brother of captive soldier Nimrod Cohen, adding that if the government “doesn’t manage to kill them with military pressure, they’ll kill them in roundabout ways.”
Cohen recalled to the crowd that when the Begin Road protests grew exponentially in September after the murder in captivity of six hostages, Netanyahu’s office accused protesters of emboldening Hamas.
Demonstrators raise placards and Israeli flags during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages, in front of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on March 29, 2025. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)That response, he said, is similar to the Hamas statement that protesters against the terror group in Gaza this week were “friends of the Zionist enemy” and were demanding unacceptable concessions.
“Netanyahu and Hamas use the same rhetoric and the same psychological terrorism for suppression and silencing,” Cohen said. “The symmetry is sickening.”
He also claimed that he had heard from former hostages held with his brother that their captors “refrained from exposing them to Israeli media, and when the hostages asked why, they responded, ‘to protect them.'”
“To protect them from statements of [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben Gvir the terrorist, [Settlements and National Missions Minister] Orit Strock, [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich and Netanyahu,” Cohen said, referring to far-right ministers who oppose a hostage deal.
“For every populist tweet by Ben Gvir about humanitarian aid, another hostage is starved. For every threat by [Defense Minister Israel] Katz, another hostage is beaten. For every statement by Netanyahu, another hostage loses hope that they’ll be brought back home,” he told the crowd.
Freed hostage Iair Horn speaking at Hostages Square, in Tel Aviv, on March 29, 2025. (Alon Gilboa/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)Across the street at Hostages Square, former captive Iair Horn, whose younger brother Eitan is still in captivity, pleaded with Israel’s lead hostage negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, to meet with him and his family and “explain to us why you don’t sign a deal, like all of Israeli society is asking, and put an end to this nightmare that began 540 days ago.”
“Explain to us why we’ll be having another Passover seder without Eitan,” he asked. “Please explain to us why Eitan, who is still very sick with a difficult skin disease, remains in the tunnels.”
“Returning the hostages needs to be the top national priority, but there’s no progress in negotiations,” Horn said. “We’ve resumed the fighting — fighting that endangers the hostages. I was there, I tell you, I heard tanks rolling over me, I ran in the tunnels during the bombings, I pulled Eitan by the arm when he didn’t have the energy to move anymore — ‘I’m not leaving you here,’ I yelled to him.”
“I know there is someone who can pull someone by the arm to get out all the hostages now… before they become collateral damage,” Horn said, calling on the government to reach a deal by Passover, which begins on April 12.
Horn, who was released on February 15 as part of the now-scuttled hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas, said he spent “498 days underground, without water, without seeing the sun, without breathing fresh air.”
“I’m sick of being ‘without.’ From now on, I want to be ‘with,'” he said. “It’s almost Passover, the festival of freedom. I wish us a Seder ‘with’ — with the living hostages who have to come home, with the fallen who have to be buried.”
A crowd of anti-government protesters outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, March 29, 2025. (Yair Palti/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
Also speaking at the Habima Square rally, Bar Godard told the crowd that the military had tried and failed to recover the body of her father, Manny Godard, who was murdered and dragged to Gaza on October 7, 2023.She said that an IDF officer told her family of the “daring operation and brave soldiers who tried to rescue my father,” and that despite not being able to, they had seized a fridge that contained evidence belonging to him.
The officer told her her was “so sorry,” she said, commending him for taking responsibility for the failed operation.
“I couldn’t but help think of another person who, since October 7, has not taken responsibility for anything,” she said, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “If only he would dare to come to Nir Oz or Be’eri and look at us in the eye.”
After the main rallies ended, protesters marched to Kaplan-Begin intersection in central Tel Aviv, where some of them faced off with mounted police officers who attempted to control the crowds.
“Ben Gvir is a terrorist!” protesters chanted, as cops pushed them westward, up Kaplan Street and away from the Ayalon Highway, while mounted officers formed a line on the intersection’s eastern edge.
Two people were detained.
Democrats lawmaker Gilad Kariv was filmed yelling at police officers through a megaphone, accusing them of storming the crowd despite there being no violence from protesters.
Police were also filmed violently dragging a protester after telling demonstrators to clear the road in front of the Kaplan Street entrance to the IDF headquarters.
Although the protester was standing on a traffic island in the middle of the street, a police officer accused him of failing to clear the road by not going to the sidewalk. When the protester objected that he was already off the road, the officer put him in a chokehold and dragged him away.
In a statement after the protest, the Israel Police said that the protest had been declared “illegal” by cops on the scene, but that protesters nevertheless “continued to disturb the order and tried to block traffic lanes.”
‘The hostages are of no concern to Netanyahu’
In Jerusalem, thousands of protesters calling for the release of the hostages marched to the Prime Minister’s Residence on Azza Street,
Some marchers carried a banner that read: “Dermer, 59 or resign,” in reference to the 59 hostages still held in Gaza and the negotiating team that he heads.
Protesters calling for a hostage deal march to the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem on March 29, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)At the protest in front of the premier’s house, the grandfather of freed hostage Naama Levy told the crowd that he had lost faith in Israel’s political leadership and was calling for Netanyahu’s ouster.
“You abandoned them [the hostages] on October 7 and you continue to abandon them now, too,” he said, addressing the premier directly.
He charged Netanyahu with declining to proceed with the second phase of the agreed-upon ceasefire with Hamas in favor of winning back Ben Gvir and his far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which had resigned from the coalition in protest of the deal.
“In just the past few days, you renewed the war in Lebanon because they violated the ceasefire. What is stopping you from stopping the war in Gaza, returning all the hostages and, if they violate the peace, returning to war?” he added. “The hostages are of no concern to Netanyahu, maybe they are just a fabrication, and there’s no such thing as citizens, soldiers, or hostages that are still stuck in Gaza.”
Jucha Engel, whose grandson Ofir was freed in a hostage-truce deal in November 2023, spoke next, repeatedly calling Netanyahu “Mr. Abandonment.”
“The use of force has already cost the lives of 41 hostages… Their blood is on the hands of all the government ministers and Knesset members,” Engel said.
People take part in a protest demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)Saturday’s mass demonstrations were held against the backdrop of an ongoing impasse in the hostage negotiations amid the resumption of fighting in Gaza, as well as the government’s passage of key judicial legislation and its highly controversial moves to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
A poll aired Friday by Channel 12 showed that 69 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 an agreement. Even among coalition voters, a majority (54%) back such a move compared to 32% who oppose it.
Protest demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and against the firing of the government’s top gatekeepers, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 22, 2025. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)Over 100,000 people were believed to have taken part in demonstrations across Israel the previous Saturday, marking the largest day of protests in months as anger boiled over at the government’s failure to reach a deal to free more hostages, compounded by Netanyahu’s moves to fire key officials in a bid to assert greater control over the levers of power.
Protests continued throughout last week, especially in Jerusalem, where thousands of demonstrators rallied against the government’s recent moves, including the advancement of the judicial overhaul plan and the Knesset’s vote on the contentious 2025 state budget.
The protests in Jerusalem also called for the release of the 59 remaining hostages held by terror groups in Gaza, 35 of whom have been confirmed dead by the IDF.
- Israeli officials say ‘large gaps’ remain with Hamas, but willing to continue negotiations
Israeli officials tell the Haaretz daily that while large gaps remain between Israel and Hamas on the resumption of the hostage-ceasefire deal, there is a willingness to continue negotiations.
Yesterday, an Israeli source told the outlet that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US are expected to exert heavy pressure on the sides in an attempt to achieve a breakthrough, but “it’s too early to know what the chances are.”
With the resumption of strikes in Gaza earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that hostage talks would only take place “under fire.”
Israel confirmed yesterday that it had received a new ceasefire-hostage release proposal from mediating countries, and said it had made a counteroffer.
The Israeli statement came after media reports said Hamas had agreed to an Egyptian proposal to release five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza. According to multiple media reports, this does not meet Jerusalem’s demands, with Israel insisting on the return of 10 or 11 living hostages to resume the truce.
All the reported iterations of the truce would apparently see US-Israeli national Edan Alexander freed.
According to Haaretz, a senior Israeli official recently told the outlet that securing the release of Alexander “will take American pressure off Netanyahu’s back in everything related to the release of the hostages or progress to the day after [the war in Gaza],” adding that it would also lead to US President Donald Trump losing interest in the issue.
- Hostage families hold prayer service near home of chief negotiator Dermer: ‘The responsibility is in your hands’
Bereaved father Elhanan Danino, whose son Ori was murdered in Gaza, and the family of hostage Edan Alexander, including his grandparents and uncle, gather to pray together and mark the new Jewish month of Nissan, in a park near the home of chief hostage negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
The gathering of more than 100 people, including teenagers from a local high school, pray with fervor for the return of the hostages.
“Please God, save us, relieve us!” calls Levi Ben Baruch, Alexander’s uncle, as he leads the prayers.
Attached to the chain link fence surrounding the park are signs of hostages still in Gaza, asking Dermer for his aid in saving Alon Ohel, Matan Zangauker, Omri Miran, Nimrod Cohen, Alexander and others.
The month of Nissan is a new beginning, says Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, who joins the gathering.
“We remind Ron Dermer that the responsibility is in your hands, you’re the key person chosen by the prime minister, no more selection process of who gets freed first.”
Ben Baruch speaks about the Biblical tabernacle, the center for the ancient Jews, as read about in the weekly Torah portion.
“In these moments, the tabernacle is the heart of the Jewish people,” he says.
“Put your heart in the right place like the ancient priests did and carry out the acts that need to be completed.”
“When we read on Seder night about letting no one go hungry, do you want the hostages to still be eating a moldy piece of pita? You can return the happiness of an entire nation,” he says, referring to the upcoming Passover holiday.
Their words were echoed by bereaved father Tzvi Zussman, whose son Ben was killed fighting in Gaza.
“I won’t see my son again,” says Zussman. “But these families, with the help of the government and Dermer, can change the reality. Complete the deal, do it and bring them all home now.” link Dermer is Netanyahu's lapdog and will only do what the boss tells him to do. He is a man who deliberately stays in the shadows and most Israelis couldn't even identify him despite the fact that he was the Israel ambassodor to the US, a minister in this corrupt government and Netanyahu's most trusted advisor. Prior to the previous hostage Phase 1 deal, he wass going through Washington telling everyone that all the hostages were dead and therefore no hostage deal/end of the war was needed. He has been against every hostage deal because that is what his boss wants, yet Netanyahu put him in charge of all the hostage negotiations. This was done to make sure that all of his instructions were carried out fully and without disagreement. Under the previous team with the heads of the Shin Bet, Mossad and Reserve General Nitzan Alon, Netanyahu constantly had disagreement with his directions and limited mandates because they wanted to make a deal and get all the hostages home. Netanyahu didn't and doesn't want any deal that means the end of the war because it doesn't suit his personal and political interests. Dermer will guard Netanyahu's interest before any others, including the hostages' live and the good of the state.
- **Israel's Insistence and the Clause Agreed with Hamas: The Information Shared with Ministers in the Cabinet Meeting**Cabinet members were briefed that pressure tactics are pushing Hamas to abandon its entrenched position. The terror organization is willing to release **five hostages in exchange for 50 days of ceasefire**—but Israel is applying heavy pressure to **double that number**. Both proposals include the release of **Idan Alexander**, the abducted soldier with U.S. citizenship whose release the Trump administration is demanding. The window of opportunity expected to open during the holidays—and the reason for sticking to the **Wittkoff framework**.Reports last night that **Hamas agreed to a holiday ceasefire and the release of five hostages** brought cautious optimism to Israel. After the cabinet meeting, **N12** learned what was said behind closed doors, where ministers received an update on **negotiation progress**—as well as operational plans for continuing the war in Gaza.The negotiation team informed ministers that the mediators' proposal arrived between Thursday and Friday night, with Israel submitting a counteroffer yesterday afternoon. For now, a delegation is expected to resume talks, but Israel believes that **renewed fighting—particularly the logistical siege—is pressuring Hamas operatives and putting the terror group in an uncomfortable position that will force it to act.**### **The Gaps in Negotiations****Israel’s Proposal**The proposal essentially **doubles the Wittkoff framework**—releasing **10 living hostages and 11 deceased hostages**. Simultaneously, Israel is discussing the original deal, which would serve as a **"starter for the next phase."****Waiting for Hamas:** The terror group received the proposal through mediators, and Israel is now awaiting a response.**Why is Israel sticking to the Wittkoff framework?** Understanding that Hamas also has an interest in a deal, Israel aims to **stop the incremental releases**. As Trump clarified—Israel and the U.S. no longer want a "drip-feed" approach. Releasing half the hostages at the start and half at the end would allow for serious discussions without the threat of sudden violations.**Hamas’s Proposal**Sticks to the **"drip-feed approach"**: **5 hostages in exchange for 50 days**, including **Idan Alexander and four other living hostages**.**Israel’s objections:** The Hamas proposal does not satisfy the Israeli team. On one hand, Israel has experienced **blatant violations by the terror group** in past agreements. On the other, there is an understanding that Hamas is under **heavy pressure due to the humanitarian and economic blockade**.**The Common Factor in Both Proposals:** The release of **Idan Alexander**.Egyptian sources told the Qatari newspaper **Al-Araby Al-Jadeed** yesterday that Hamas expressed willingness to accept a new ceasefire proposal during the holidays, including the release of **five hostages**—Idan Alexander and four others, living or deceased. Last night, Hamas claimed **"the ball is now in the court of the Israeli government and the U.S."**### **What’s Next?**At this critical juncture, the mediators’ role is to find a formula that bridges the gaps and leads to understandings. For now, Israel appears **anchored in the Wittkoff framework**, making it clear that if Hamas does not move toward its position, **pressure (both humanitarian and military) will intensify.**Additionally, the Israeli negotiation team recognizes that the **holidays add a window for progress**. However, the military campaign continues on a razor’s edge: on one hand, it is escalating, but on the other, it could reach a point where returning to negotiations becomes difficult.Israel detects **good faith from the mediators** in seeking a breakthrough, but despite cautious optimism—it awaits Hamas’s response. Importantly, ministers were **clarified that pressure tactics are not just for show**: there are signs of movement from Hamas, and the pressure is working. link The drip approach to the hostage releases has been of Netanyahu's design, not Hamas and not the Americans. There is no excuse for it and it makes every deal a bad deal. The only deal that should be made is for all the hostages to be released in 1 day. Hamas has stated on multiple occasions and to my brother that they also want that but the price is to end the war. That is why we have the drip approach because Netanyahu doesn't want to end the war and the hostages' suffering and dying doesn't impact him or his decisions one iota. HORRENDOUS!
Gaza and the South
- IDF strikes mortar launch site in Khan Younis after attack on troops
The IDF says it carried out a strike on a mortar launching position in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis a short while ago, from which three projectiles were launched at troops earlier today.
- IDF acknowledges mistakenly firing on ambulances in Rafah, says troops were targeting Hamas vehicles
The IDF acknowledges mistakenly opening fire on ambulances and fire engines in the southern Gaza Strip a week ago, as it targeted and killed several Hamas operatives.
The incident took place last Sunday in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah. According to Hamas authorities, at least one rescue worker was killed.
According to the military, troops had opened fire “toward Hamas vehicles and eliminated several Hamas terrorists” in Tel Sultan.
“A few minutes afterward, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops… The troops responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles, eliminating a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists,” the IDF says.
The IDF adds that “after an initial inquiry, it was determined that some of the suspicious vehicles… were ambulances and fire trucks,” while condemning “the repeated use” by “terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip of ambulances for terrorist purposes.”
The military did not say if there was fire coming from the vehicles.
On Friday, the Hamas-run civil defense agency reported finding the body of the team leader and the rescue vehicles — an ambulance and a firefighting vehicle — and said a vehicle from the Palestine Red Crescent Society was also “reduced to a pile of scrap metal.”
- IDF calls on Gazans in parts of Khan Younis to evacuate after mortar attack
Following a mortar attack on IDF troops on the outskirts of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, the military issues an evacuation warning for Palestinians in the area.
In a post on X, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, publishes a map of the area that is to be evacuated, saying that it is a “final warning” before the IDF carries out strikes there.
The area to be evacuated includes the Abasan suburbs of Khan Younis, and the towns of al-Qarara and Khuza’a.
IDF says it expanded ground op in southern Gaza, pushing further into Rafah
The Israeli military says it expanded its ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip in the past few hours.
Troops pushed into the al-Jneina neighborhood of Rafah, as part of efforts to expand a buffer zone along the borders of the Strip, the IDF says.
Amid the operation, the IDF says troops demolished Hamas infrastructure in the area.
Separately, dozens of airstrikes were carried out over the weekend, targeting what the military says were Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad infrastructure.
The targets included weapon depots, rocket launchers, and buildings used by the terror groups, according to the IDF.
Strikes also killed several terror operatives, including those behind mortar attacks on Israel, the military adds.
- Gazan man murdered by Hamas after joining protests against terror group
Family of Oday Nasser Al Rabay says he was kidnapped, tortured and executed for demonstrating, body left at their doorstep; dozens seen at funeral chanting ‘Hamas out’Hamas operatives kidnapped, tortured and executed a 22-year-old Palestinian man who participated in last week’s wave of protests against the terror group, according to his family.
Oday Nasser Al Rabay’s body was left in front of his family’s home over the weekend. On Saturday, many dozens were filmed participating in his funeral procession, shouting, “Hamas out!”
Hamas has reportedly been threatening Palestinians who participate in the protests against the terror group, but this appears to be the first time that anyone has been killed in connection to them.
The protests were held for three straight days last week, but none were held over the weekend, amid assessments in Israel that Hamas was intimidating protesters.
A Gazan man who now lives in Turkey, who had published most of the footage of the demonstrations, recently said senior Hamas officials threatened him over his activities.
The terror group, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, said on Thursday that the protests were against Israel rather than Hamas, despite reports, interviews and footage to the contrary. Video of calls by Gazans "Hamas Out!"
According to the Kan public broadcaster, partially out of a desire to quash the demonstrations, some senior Hamas members have shown willingness to release a small number of hostages to secure a truce during the Ramadan-ending holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which begins Sunday evening.
Hamas wants to crack down on those participating in the protests but cannot do so due to Israel’s resumed operations in Gaza, as the IDF is targeting terror operatives that it spots out in the open, according to the report.
Israel resumed operations in Gaza on March 18, scuttling the ceasefire and hostage release deal reached in January. That deal’s 42-day first phase expired on March 2 amid Israel’s refusal to negotiate the second phase.
Palestinians take part in an anti-Hamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025. (AFP)The first phase saw Hamas release 33 women, children, civilian men over 50, and those deemed “humanitarian cases,” in exchange for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including over 270 serving life terms in connection with the murders of dozens of Israelis.
The second phase would have seen the terror group release 24 hostages still believed to be alive. All are young men abducted on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.
Hamas is also holding the remains of 35 hostages, including an IDF officer whose body was snatched after he was killed fighting in the 2014 Gaza war. link
- Troops arrest West Bank man wanted for attacks on security forces; armed suspect shot while fleeing, police say
Police say that officers, alongside Israel Defense Forces soldiers, arrested a wanted man suspected of involvement in attacks on security forces.
According to the statement, the man was arrested in the West Bank village of Tamun on the basis of intelligence from the Shin Bet security agency.
“As the suspect attempted to flee the area while armed with an M-16 rifle, the forces responded with precise fire, neutralizing him,” police say.
- **"The Hudna Plan" for a Long-Term Arrangement with Hamas, Months Before the Attack**
A document circulated by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reveals a far-reaching plan—one that, in practice, amounted to recognition of Hamas's rule, granting sovereignty, and nearly establishing a state—based on the assumption that Hamas was "interested in advancing agreements." So how did the terror organization deceive Israel? An investigation.Just months before October 7, on June 11, 2023, COGAT distributed a "Hudna Plan." This staggering document, written by the head of COGAT, Maj. Gen. Rassan Alian, former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and in collaboration with the Shin Bet and Southern Command, was sent to then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Its goal? To advance nothing less than a long-term arrangement with the terror group.**Months Before the Massacre: "Hamas Appears Willing to Advance Agreements Equivalent to a Deal"**"The convergence of conditions and vectors across different arenas presents an opportunity to promote the Hudna idea through partners—Egypt and Qatar," the document stated. "These conditions ensure long-term stability and curb Hamas's military buildup in the Strip. Hamas appears willing to advance understandings tantamount to an agreement, a move that could strengthen the more moderate elements within its leadership."The document was drafted amid progress in what was then called an "arrangement" with Hamas. In May 2023, a meeting was held in Cairo with representatives from the Shin Bet and IDF, led by Maj. Gen. Alian, where the Egyptians presented an initiative for a Hudna plan with Hamas. Upon the delegation's return, a COGAT task force, along with Shin Bet and Southern Command officials, formulated the Hudna Plan after several meetings.Unbeknownst to them, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had already set the date for the attack—October 7. The terror group's "dialogue" with Israel was merely a deception, part of a deception plan devised by Sinwar as early as April 2022: Hamas would feign interest in an arrangement with Israel while secretly preparing for an attack—ensuring Israel remained blinded by its own assumptions.**"De Facto Acceptance of Hamas Rule and Permission to Entrench Its Influence in the Palestinian Arena"**"There is deep concern within Hamas about escalating tensions at this time—it is highly deterred (including by leaders of its political and military wings). However, it fundamentally fears losing the civilian progress made over the past two years," the document noted. "The last two operations—'Dawn’s Break' and 'Shield and Arrow'—reflect Hamas’s commitment, alongside initial hopes for some improvement."COGAT believed that even during "Guardian of the Walls," a real warning had emerged. The perception was that Hamas and Islamic Jihad were distinct—and that Hamas, as the governing authority, had acted responsibly by not joining the fighting, as also assessed by Military Intelligence—as if the terror group had changed its ways. "Islamic Jihad challenges Hamas’s new policy toward Israel," they assessed.The same document proposed: "De facto acceptance of Hamas rule and permission to entrench its influence in the Palestinian arena, while expanding its ties with regional actors." At the same time, there were concerns that the plan would be attributed to Israel, so they recommended: "Exploring with Egyptian mediators the feasibility of a long-term Hudna. The logic of the Hudna should be based on an Egyptian, not Israeli, initiative."**Discussion with Then-Chief of Staff Halevi: "Gaza’s Security Regime"**A day after the plan was circulated, a discussion on "Gaza’s Security Regime" was held with all senior IDF officials, including then-Military Intelligence chief Aharon Haliva, Air Force commander Tomer Bar, Southern Command chief Eliezer Toledano, and COGAT leadership. At its conclusion, the Chief of Staff broadly endorsed the Hudna proposal, instructing engagement with mediators and even considering a broader mediated meeting.A month after the IDF discussion, the cabinet convened for its first meeting on Gaza since the government’s formation. The National Security Council (NSC) presented plans for the Strip: efforts to sustain calm and explore long-term solutions for stability. Prime Minister Netanyahu concluded that the civilian arrangement with Hamas should be advanced, adhering to Israeli demands as outlined by COGAT.Meanwhile, in Arab media—alongside conciliatory messages—calls for jihad were openly published, and TV series depicted attacks on Israel eerily similar to what would unfold on October 7. Simultaneously, vast sums of money flowed into Gaza for years with government approval—Qatari cash suitcases and funds to UNRWA, the UN agency that, it turns out, served Hamas.**UNRWA funneled roughly $160 million annually into Gaza for over a decade.** For example, a 2015 COGAT document revealed transfers from Israel to Gaza for UNRWA salaries—$13.5 million in cash. In 2018, after receiving reports on UNRWA’s conduct, Trump cut U.S. funding—but Israel continued.Israel believed, or chose to believe, that UNRWA was a stabilizing force. Netanyahu worked to ensure the agency—later found complicit in the massacre, hiding rockets under schools—kept receiving funds. Tzachi Hanegbi and COGAT’s commander were even sent to Germany to secure alternative funding after the U.S. withdrawal.**COGAT’s Response:**"The unit acted, and continues to act, to implement government policy in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, based on operational and intelligence assessments. This document presents an Egyptian proposal from June 2023, not an independent Israeli initiative. Discussions were held in line with government policy."**Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s Response:**"A state commission of inquiry must be established to investigate everything that happened at least a decade before October 7. It should probe me and all relevant political and military officials, past and present."**Prime Minister’s Office Response:**"Tzachi Hanegbi was never sent by the Prime Minister to Germany on any matter and had no connection to Germany during his tenure as Regional Cooperation Minister or to UNRWA’s budget."In September 2023, following Hamas-orchestrated border protests, the terror group submitted an extreme list of demands for a long-term arrangement, including economic benefits and national infrastructure projects in Gaza.In discussions led by the Prime Minister, security chiefs advocated for understandings with Hamas and exploring a long-term arrangement for stability. The IDF Chief of Staff assessed that escalation was inadvisable and that improving Gaza’s economy aligned with Israeli interests; the Shin Bet chief stated Hamas had no interest in a conflict at that time; and the Defense Minister affirmed that economic improvement in Gaza served Israel’s interests.The Prime Minister concluded that Hamas’s demands should not be accepted, approving only a limited increase in worker permits—similar to COGAT’s minimal recommendation—alongside preparations to target Hamas leaders. At no point did he instruct negotiations for a long-term arrangement or additional economic incentives beyond this.In an official summary sent by the Shin Bet chief to the Prime Minister on October 4—just three days before the October 7 massacre—it was stated:"Restoring calm along the border under the understandings with Hamas—without significant Israeli concessions—is an achievement to leverage for deeper arrangements in the arena, involving regional and international actors and pursuing a framework with substantial civilian-infrastructure benefits for Gaza."In a discussion held by the Shin Bet chief on October 5—two days before the massacre—whose contents were relayed to the Prime Minister, recommendations included advancing a long-term arrangement through humanitarian easements for Gaza "as a goodwill gesture to open talks." These recommendations were never brought before the Prime Minister for approval. link
- "If He Talks About 'The Boss'—The Gates of Hell Will Open" | Who is Yonatan Orich?
The most powerful figure in the Prime Minister's Office is also the one who frightens Netanyahu more than anyone else. Yonatan Orich, the advisor who began his career in Likud at just 26 after being a prodigy in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, is now linked to three complicated scandals—with at least one expected to lead to an indictment. From freelance work with Qatar during the war to issuing Likud-funded invoices—could he become a state witness? A profile of Yonatan Orich.
Yonatan Orich has been considered the most powerful figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office for years. Rising to prominence at just 26 when he joined the PMO, Orich has recently found himself at the center of three different investigations:1. The leak of classified documents to the German newspaper Bild.2. The harassment of state witness Shlomo Filber, in which he is expected to be indicted.3. "Qatargate", exposed by Channel 12 News, involving suspected contact with a foreign agent.Now, the big question is: What did the Prime Minister know, and how involved was his most loyal and closest aide? Orich’s crossing of red lines could be the downfall of the fortress—because he is the most present figure in Netanyahu’s professional, political, and personal life, aside from Netanyahu himself, his son Yair, and his wife Sara.Dozens of people from Orich’s inner circle describe him as "a complex, talented, and cynical man, accustomed to operating in life’s gray areas."From IDF Spokesperson to Netanyahu’s Propaganda MachineOrich’s connection with Netanyahu began in 2015, when he joined the PMO during the election campaign and established Israel’s first-ever new media headquarters."Who do you bring to a new media team? Not Nir Hefetz, who was in his 50s. You bring kids from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit who understand the language," said Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu’s former spokesperson. "Netanyahu was the first to realize this, and in those elections, almost the entire PR budget went to social media."Alongside Topaz Luk and Ofer Golan, Orich built what is now known as the "Poison Machine"—a well-oiled system of WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, fake social media accounts, and PMO-aligned journalists whose sole purpose was to shield Netanyahu from criticism and attack his opponents.The "Pirate Groups" Where Attacks Are Orchestrated"In the WhatsApp groups where these three operate, all the traffic flows to the 'pirate' channels," Hefetz explained. "If they want to viciously attack a Likud president like Reuven Rivlin—it happens there. If they want to target a rebellious minister like Israel Katz—it comes from there. Naftali Bennett was also a 'star' in these pirate groups."Ronen Tzur, a communications advisor and former chairman of the Families Headquarters for the Return of the Hostages, described these groups: "They’ll call you mentally ill, a rapist, a pedophile. If this were a Netflix script, they’d reject it for being unrealistic."The Lure of Power, Alcohol, and Losing ControlWith success came intoxication with power. Former PMO staffers say Orich developed a particular fondness for alcohol, which helped him mask the reality of his life."The work there is extremely stressful, and Orich’s solution—like others—was simply to drink, especially arak," said a former senior PMO official. "The atmosphere is like a group of particularly cynical, boundary-less reservists. That’s what led to the incident on the balcony with Galit Distel-Atbaryan."Orich’s loss of boundaries also led to legal troubles. The first incident occurred when he and Ofer Golan harassed state witness Shlomo Filber, sending people to his home with a loudspeaker playing recordings accusing Filber of lying in his testimony against Netanyahu. Last month, after long delays, it was decided to indict both of them.The Bild Affair and Work Ahead of the World CupAnother scandal linked to Orich is his alleged involvement in the leak of classified documents by Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu’s military spokesperson, to Bild—potentially harming national security to sway public opinion against a hostage deal.Orich’s ties to Qatar began when he was asked to work for "Perception," a firm owned by Shauel Einhorn, a former Likud campaigner, to improve the Gulf state’s image ahead of the World Cup—despite Israel having no formal diplomatic relations with Qatar."Qatargate" – The Smoking Gun?The "Qatargate" scandal, exposed by Channel 12’s Ofer Hadad, revealed that Eli Feldstein, while serving as Netanyahu’s military spokesperson, mediated with Qatar during the war—even as Netanyahu publicly claimed "Qatar serves Hamas."Reports suggest Orich continued working with Qatar while in the PMO. When Feldstein failed security clearance, Orich allegedly arranged for him to be paid by Jay Potlick, an American lobbyist also working for Qatar.A former PMO employee said: "Orich’s lack of restraint was once only about Netanyahu. The Bild leak is a classic case of 'doing anything for the Prime Minister.' But Qatar is different—this was about making money. The team is usually a tool for Netanyahu, but in this case, they were tools for Qatar, using his name to profit."How Did Orich Get Away With It?Attorney Shay Galili, a Likud critic, explained how Orich was able to work in the PMO without proper security clearance while simultaneously working for Qatar—thanks to a loophole allowing him to be paid as an "external consultant.""Orich works on a freelance contract as an advisor to the Prime Minister. He works for Likud, not the PMO. This isn’t standard practice—usually, people working with the PMO don’t issue invoices, but he does. He’s 'a friend of,' he’s special. Orich has a mandate from above."The Civil Service Commission’s WeaknessOne reason for the PMO’s conduct is the weakened Civil Service Commission. Netanyahu insisted on appointing Attorney Roy Kahlon as temporary commissioner—despite objections from the Attorney General—even as Kahlon himself was recently investigated for falsifying his resume."If there were a functioning Civil Service Commission, there would be no Feldstein and no Qatargate," said a former senior PMO official.Four Unanswered Questions:1. How did the Shin Bet allow Orich to work in the PMO without a polygraph, which would have exposed his Qatar ties?2.Why did Eli Feldstein fail his polygraph?3. Did Orich and Feldstein pass sensitive information to Qatar?4. How will Orich escape three separate scandals unscathed?"If He Talks About 'The Boss'—The Gates of Hell Will Open"Since Qatargate exploded, a source very close to the Netanyahu family said:"Our biggest fear is that Orich will fold like Filber and Hefetz—that he’ll buckle under indictments and agree to become a state witness. If he starts talking about 'the Boss,' the gates of hell will open."In recent weeks, as the Shin Bet investigation into Orich intensified, Netanyahu’s sharp rhetoric against the agency—already heightened since October 7—has grown even harsher, particularly against Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, whom the government decided to dismiss by April 10.Responses:Yonatan Orich: "My good name will not be harmed by the lies in this article, whose sole purpose is to damage Prime Minister Netanyahu."Netanyahu’s Office: "The false, slanderous accusations against Yonatan Orich have been shattered to pieces." link
- In attacks on media, PM asks why public broadcaster should be funded, Chikli accuses liberal newspaper of ‘incitement’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli slam the Israeli media, accusing outlets of incitement and questioning why the government needs to fund public broadcasting that it cannot control, according to leaked statements made during Sunday’s cabinet meeting.
“Why should it be funded,” Netanyahu asks, referring to the Kan public broadcaster. “There is enormous waste there without any control. Almost a billion shekels. Let the market decide! Give the citizens of Israel the choice,” he continues, according to the Walla news site.
“The Communications Committee will reach a decision in the coming days,” he adds.
In February, Knesset Economic Affairs Committee chairman David Bitan (Likud) rejected Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s plan to establish a new “media committee,” in order to bypass his opposition to a coalition bill aimed at shutting down the Kan public broadcaster.
The proposed legislation, part of a larger media overhaul package advocated by Karhi, stipulates that if a buyer cannot be found in two years, the broadcaster will be shuttered completely, and its intellectual property will revert to the government. It passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum in November 2024, but when it came up for discussion in Bitan’s committee, Bitan said that he “can’t advance this bill for a simple reason — public broadcasting is necessary.”
Netanyahu is reported to be in favor of Karhi’s efforts to circumvent Bitan’s committee to advance the controversial legislation.
Turning to Army Radio, Netanyahu asks why the station is needed, stating that Karhi and Defense Minister Israel Katz should look into the matter, Ynet reports.
Netanyahu’s Likud party is also pushing another bill to privatize the Army Radio. The bill would require the Second Authority for Television and Radio to carry out a tender for the sale of the network — along with affiliated network Galgalatz — to a private buyer.
According to Ynet, Chikli also attacks the liberal Haaretz daily, accusing it of engaging in “incitement” and doing “enormous damage to the country” through its critical reporting.
Last November, the cabinet announced that it was severing all ties with Haaretz.
Netanyahu and Chikli’s comments come two days after the Likud party issued a statement calling Kan “illegitimate,” accusing it of making fun of the prime minister’s late brother Yoni Netanyahu, a fallen IDF serviceman during a comedy sketch. Kan denied that it had been making fun of, or had mentioned, Yoni Netanyahu, but rather had lampooned the premier himself.
Responding to criticism in the cabinet on Sunday, Kan says in a statement that its establishment was “one of the most successful public reforms carried out by the Likud itself, and the Israeli public does indeed choose Kan every day – with two billion digital views per year, with more than a million listeners on Kan’s radio networks, with hundreds of thousands of viewers of television content every day.” link With 59 hostages in Gaza, with a war continuing that should end if not for Netanyahu's personal and political needs to keep the war going, after this corrupt and failed government passed the most corrupt budget in Israel's history without the necessary cuts made in the superfluous ministries (quite the opposite, instead of closing those ministries, the budgeted them with hundreds of millions more), with multiple scandals in the prime minister's office, and so many other issues, this government is concerned with destroying democracy with the take over of the judicial system and trying to eliminate free press. That is what they are concerned with. This government, this prime minister need to go as quickly as possible.
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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