🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 558, 2023

🎗️Day 558 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

There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!
‎אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית

READ THE INTERVIEW WITH EYAL WALDMAN, FOUNDER OF MELLANOX (SOLD TO NVIDIA) AND FATHER OF DANIELLE WHO WAS KILLED AT NOVA - IN PERSONAL STORIES SECTION AT BOTTOM

Netanyahu is dangerous to Israel in so many ways and most of them are written about in the media all day long everyday. He is corrupt. He is dismantling Israel’s democracy in a systematic way. He arranged for Hamas to be funded by Qatar. He delegitimized the Palestinian Authority. He is on trial for corruption. He is wanted by the ICC for war crimes. He empowered and legitimized Israel’s most right wing messianic politicians. He was found responsible for the disaster at Mt. Meron. He bears direct responsibility for the failure of Israel to defend itself on October 7. He is responsible for not bringing all of the hostages home for 558 days. He continues to build illegal settlement in breach of international law. And more. The biggest danger posed by Netanyahu (and by many of Israel’s so-called leaders) is their failure to declare openly that the State of Israel is willing to end the occupation and to allow the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination in a state of their own, living side-by-side with Israel in peace. The Israeli leaders and the people of Israel are almost deaf and blind to the rights of the Palestinian people. It would help if Palestinian leaders deliver constant and consistent messages of their willingness to live in peace with Israel. But even before that happens, we citizens of Israel must have a principled position opposing occupation and in favor of ending the war immediately. If Israel would show a face of real peace, I have great confidence that Hamas would become a Palestinian problem and not an Israeli problem. For that to happen we need new leaders. Netanyahu and his gang of criminals must be out of our lives and the Palestinians also need new leaders. But let’s not forget our responsibility as Israelis. (Gershon Baskin, April 16, 2025) .

Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements

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Hostage Updates

Hamas Rejects Israel’s New Proposal for Hostage Release and Ceasefire

A Palestinian source claimed Israel’s proposal includes a six-week ceasefire and the release of half the living hostages held in Gaza. A Palestinian official said the Israeli plan did not include any commitment to end the war or withdraw IDF forces. Hostage families appealed to Netanyahu and cabinet members, pleading for a meeting: "Very few have received updates or phone calls."

Hamas terrorists during a hostage release ceremony in Gaza (Photo: Reuters)

The terror organization Hamas rejected Israel’s latest proposal, according to a BBC report Tuesday evening. Citing a Palestinian source, the report stated that the rejected offer included a six-week ceasefire, hostage releases, and the disarmament of the terror group.

A senior Palestinian source told the BBC that Israel’s proposal did not include any commitment to end the war or withdraw IDF forces from Gaza—key Hamas demands. The offer included the release of roughly half the living hostages held in the Strip.

Hamas insists on a commitment to end the war. Red Cross in Gaza, archive | Photo: Social media

The same source described: "The Israeli proposal was relayed to Hamas through Egypt. It explicitly called for Hamas to disarm—without any Israeli commitment to end the war. Hamas rejected the proposal in its entirety."

Meanwhile, the Hostage Families Forum appealed to Netanyahu and cabinet members, demanding a meeting. "In recent weeks, and especially in recent days, we have been inundated with conflicting reports about the state of negotiations to bring back our loved ones," they wrote. "Every report is a gut punch that shatters our world."
Hostage families: "Every report shatters our world." Protest in Hostage Square, archive | Photo: Paulina Petimer

In their letter, they clarified: "Unfortunately, very few families have received update meetings or phone calls. These sparse and limited meetings leave many families in agonizing darkness and uncertainty. We demand a meeting with the Security Cabinet. Every hostage family has the right to receive updates on the state of negotiations. This is a basic right and your duty as leaders."

Netanyahu: Hamas Determines Which Hostages Are Released

Prime Minister Netanyahu told Ditza Or, mother of hostage Avinatan Or, that the emerging deal would include the release of up to ten living hostages, including Idan Alexander, and that Hamas alone decides the lists. This was reported by the Tikva Forum, of which Ditza is a member.

Yesterday, the PM’s office stated that Netanyahu held phone calls with Ditza Or and the mothers of hostages Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Horn. Ditza reportedly told the PM, "Whoever is left behind in this phase will have no chance of returning." Netanyahu responded: "That is absolutely untrue. We will continue until everyone is back, and we are committed to that."

Ditza told the Prime Minister there is a moral obligation to bring all hostages home together, in one phase and on one bus, explaining that staggered releases create immense tension among families. She asked how the lists of names are determined for each release, and Netanyahu replied that Hamas alone decides who is on them.

In Egypt, it was reported last night that a proposed deal between Israel and Hamas—including the release of seven to nine living hostages—had been relayed to Hamas, and the terror group was willing to discuss it. However, Hamas has not budged from its core demand that all hostages be released only in exchange for a permanent ceasefire—a condition Netanyahu and lead negotiator Dermer oppose.  link The Israeli (Netanyahu) proposal, for the first time demanded that Hamas disarm and does not include any statement about ending the war. Both of these points guaranteed that Hamas would reject this proposal. Everyone knows what Hamas wants and the only way they will agree to any deal: ending the war with guarantees of the negotiator partners and release of large amounts of Palestinian prisoners. These prices must be paid, not only to save the hostages lives and bring the dead hostages to burial in Israel but because of the total failures of the government and army on and after October 7 and the abandonment of the Western Negev for decades. The price is for their failures and their responsibilities for there even being hostages in Gaza.

Hostage’s mother says Netanyahu ‘isn’t fighting’ for permanently wounded son
Anat Angrest, center, wearing her son Matan's IDF uniform, next to Idit Ohel, mother of hostage Alon Ohel, at a Shift 101 sit-in in Kiryat Bialik on April 15, 2025 (Shani Tamim/Shift 101)
Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier taken captive on October 7, 2023, and still held in Hamas captivity, speaks at a Shift 101 sit-in in the northern town of Kiryat Bialik, alongside Idit Ohel, the mother of hostage Alon Ohel.
Angrest, wearing her son Matan’s army uniform and with her husband holding a blown-up version of his ID card, says the information they’ve received about Matan points to wounds that can’t be reversed.
“Despite that, the prime minister of Israel isn’t fighting for him,” charges Angrest.
“I’m wearing his uniform to call attention to the fact that the soldiers haven’t been included in any deal, neither the wounded soldiers nor the bodies of soldiers, including Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held there for 10 and a half years,” she says. “We demand from the Israeli government that in the next release of hostages, the soldiers will be returned — not because of US citizenship,” referring to soldier hostage Edan Alexander, who is a dual Israeli-American citizen, “but because of their blue-and-white citizenship. They belong to Israel and need to be returned here.”
Hamas claims it lost contact with captors of Edan Alexander after Israeli strike
Hostage soldier Edan Alexander is seen in a propaganda video released by the Hamas terror group on April 12, 2025. (Courtesy)

The Hamas terror group claims to have lost contact with the terrorists holding hostage soldier Edan Alexander in the Gaza Strip.
“We announce that we have lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct Israeli bombardment targeting their location. We are still trying to reach them,” says Hudhaifa Kahlout — known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida — the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
“It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and hence relieve themselves from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people,” Abu Obeida adds.
Alexander, a dual US-Israeli citizen, is a soldier who was stationed near the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7 when he was taken captive by Hamas terrorists. Hamas has published two propaganda videos of Alexander, the latest on Saturday.
The IDF says it does not carry out strikes in areas where it suspects hostages may be held by Hamas. Military officials have repeatedly said that every strike and ground operation in Gaza is carefully planned out in order not to endanger Israeli hostages.
Gaza hostage talks still stalled, official says, amid reports of incremental progress
Hamas says it is studying new Israeli proposal, but official from group reiterates that it won’t disarm and wants permanent end to war in what likely prevents breakthrough
Protesters, led by family members of people held hostage in Gaza, hold placards showing the face of hostage Edan Alexander, near the home of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Jerusalem, on April 13, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

A breakthrough does not appear to be on the horizon in the long-stalled Israel-Hamas hostage negotiations, an official from one of the Arab mediating countries told The Times of Israel on Monday amid several reports claiming incremental progress has been made in the talks.
“There’s a lot of noise, particularly from the Israeli side, about a potential breakthrough, but the same elements that have prevented a deal until now are still in place,” the Arab official said.
While Hamas in recent weeks has walked back its rejection of an interim ceasefire deal, it is still insisting that strong assurances be put in place for such a temporary agreement to transition into a permanent Gaza truce — something that Israel will not accept unless Hamas relinquishes governing and security control of the Strip, the official explained.
“Hamas is not going to agree to a complete surrender, but that is still what Israel is demanding,” the Arab official added.
Hamas said in a statement late Monday that it was studying a new Israeli proposal and that it would submit its response “as soon as possible.”
The terror group reiterated its core demand that a ceasefire deal must end the war in Gaza and achieve a full Israeli pull-out from the strip.
A breakthrough does not appear to be on the horizon in the long-stalled Israel-Hamas hostage negotiations, an official from one of the Arab mediating countries told The Times of Israel on Monday amid several reports claiming incremental progress has been made in the talks.
“There’s a lot of noise, particularly from the Israeli side, about a potential breakthrough, but the same elements that have prevented a deal until now are still in place,” the Arab official said.
While Hamas in recent weeks has walked back its rejection of an interim ceasefire deal, it is still insisting that strong assurances be put in place for such a temporary agreement to transition into a permanent Gaza truce — something that Israel will not accept unless Hamas relinquishes governing and security control of the Strip, the official explained.
“Hamas is not going to agree to a complete surrender, but that is still what Israel is demanding,” the Arab official added.
Hamas said in a statement late Monday that it was studying a new Israeli proposal and that it would submit its response “as soon as possible.”
The terror group reiterated its core demand that a ceasefire deal must end the war in Gaza and achieve a full Israeli pull-out from the strip.
Palestinians inspect their home after an Israeli airstrike targeting Muhammad al-Darbashi, the Khan Younis police chief, resulted in one death and several injuries in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
Earlier, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the proposal did not meet the group’s demand that Israel commit to a complete halt of hostilities.

In the proposal, Israel called for the disarmament of Hamas, which the group will not agree to, Abu Zuhri said.

“Handing over the resistance’s weapons is a million red lines and is not subject to consideration, let alone discussion,” Abu Zuhri said.

Hamas has long rejected talk of disarmament, though its officials have expressed willingness to give up governing control of the Strip to a transitional body of independent technocrats, such as the one envisioned in the Egyptian plan for the post-war reconstruction of Gaza that was unveiled last month.

“Hamas is ready to hand over the hostages in one batch in exchange for the end of the war and the withdrawal of the Israeli military” from Gaza, Abu Zuhri said, confirming what a senior Hamas official told The Times of Israel earlier this month.
It was not clear whether the latest Israeli proposal to which Hamas said it would soon respond was the same one that officials revealed to The Times of Israel last week, which envisions the release of ten hostages over 45 days.
Meanwhile, Hebrew media reported that Hamas has shown flexibility regarding the number of living hostages it would release in a partial deal — now seven to nine, instead of five — but not about its demand that any such deal include negotiations for a permanent end to the war.

Additionally, Arabic media outlets reported that the Hamas delegation, which had been in Cairo since Friday as part of the ongoing hostage-truce negotiations, had left Egypt. A Hamas official — speaking on condition of anonymity — told the Associated Press that the group was sending a delegation to Qatar, however, for talks later this week or next.

Netanyahu: Intensive negotiations
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Monday that the premier held a call with the mothers of hostages Tamir Nimrodi, Avinatan Or, and Eitan Horn about the negotiations.

Netanyahu has held such calls with hostage families on a near-daily basis in recent weeks, as he tries to buck accusations that he is not urgently working to advance their release.

According to the PMO, Netanyahu described to the parents ongoing efforts to secure the hostages’ return and provided “updates on the existence of intensive negotiations currently underway.”

The premier reiterated his “commitment to the return of all the hostages — both the living and the fallen,” the PMO added.
Also Monday, Channel 13 reported that Netanyahu, in a recent conversation with families of hostages, said, “It is possible that the terror group will determine the list of those freed” in a partial-hostage-release for a temporary truce agreement.

When the hostages’ families expressed their fear that military pressure would harm their loved ones, Netanyahu responded that he doesn’t “believe that the end of the war will bring the release of all the hostages,” and emphasized, “We are continuing military pressure,” according to the report.

Had Israel agreed to previous proposals, the prime minister said, “we would have received a maximum of five hostages. Our rationale is to maximize the number of hostages that it’s possible to get out.”
Hostage soldier Edan Alexander is seen in a propaganda video released by the Hamas terror group on April 12, 2025. (Courtesy)

The families were said to have also objected to the staged nature of the hostage releases, whereby some are freed while others remain in captivity: “The stages are a mistake. We have to get to one deal that includes all of them,” they are said to have told the prime minister.

“I am optimistic that a deal is close, in the coming weeks, that will probably return 10 living hostages,” he is said to have responded.

Asked how Israel decides which hostages will be released in a partial deal, Netanyahu reportedly said: “At this stage, there is still no mechanism for determining the list — it could be that Hamas, even, will determine it.”

The parents of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier abducted on October 7, the last living hostage with US citizenship, said Monday that Netanyahu told them, too, that a deal may soon be reached.

Hamas released a propaganda video on Saturday in which Alexander, visibly gaunt, says that he heard the terror group was ready to release him three weeks ago and that the government and Netanyahu “refused and left me here.” The statement was almost certainly dictated by his captors.

Israel and Hamas signed onto a phased ceasefire deal in January that fell apart after its first stage. Hamas wanted to transition to the second phase as stipulated in the agreement, but Israel sought to rework the terms to free additional hostages without committing to a permanent end to the war, as envisioned in the second phase. After Hamas refused, Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18.

Netanyahu has long refused to end the war before Hamas’s military and governing capabilities have been dismantled. He is backed by many of his hardline coalition partners who have threatened to collapse his government if he agrees to end the war, which was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 onslaught.

However, successive polls have indicated that the government is out of step with a majority of Israelis who back ending the war started by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack in exchange for the release of all 59 remaining hostages — 24 of whom are believed to still be alive
Edan Alexander’s father to PM: How do you plan on freeing the last hostage without ending war?
Adi Alexander, father of Hamas hostage Edan Alexander, speaks at a hostage deal rally in New York, December 1, 2024. (Hostages Families Forum)
Asked for his message to Israeli and American leaders amid the latest standstill in hostage negotiations, the father of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander tells NewsNation’s Morning in America, “I wonder when President Trump will lose patience with the situation.”
“He gave a lot of credit to Prime Minister Netanyahu to restart this war. And to Prime Minister, the question still remains, the same one: How do you plan to get the last hostage out without ending this war and without committing to the second phase of this deal?” Alexander says.
IDF chief tells soldiers in Gaza political arguments have no place in the military
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met with troops in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood earlier today, telling them that the military will not allow political arguments within its ranks, amid mounting letters signed by reservists and veterans calling for a hostage deal with Hamas even if such a deal comes at the cost of ending the war.
“The IDF will continue to operate in a dignified manner and will not allow disputes to penetrate its ranks. Reserve soldiers have a right to express opinions when not in active reserve service, as civilians, on any subject, and in a democratic manner,” Zamir says to reservists of the Jerusalem Brigade.
“There are enough methods and places for civilian protests. Attempting to drag in the IDF, including speaking as a group in the name of a military unit, is unacceptable, and we will not allow it,” he says.
“The IDF appreciates the reserve personnel. The IDF is made up of a variety of people and opinions that work together to achieve the mission and security. The mission is carried out together,” Zamir continues.
“The goal of the fighting in Gaza is first and foremost the defense of the country, returning the hostages, and defeating Hamas,” Zamir adds.
During an assessment with Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor and the commander of the 252nd Division, Brig. Gen. Yehuda Vach, in Shejaiya, Zamir approved operational plans, the military says. link
Artists, architects and others sign petitions demanding return of hostages
One thousand seven hundred artists and cultural figures have signed a statement calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the return of the hostages. The signatories included Keren Mor, Rivka Michaeli, Rona Kenan, Achinoam Nini, Dana Berger, Assaf Amdursky and others.
The petition states that the war serves a political interest and is not contributing to any of its stated goals, while and endangering soldiers and the hostages, with ongoing daily loss of human life, thousands of victims, months of upheaval and human suffering on both sides of the border.
“We, as creators who act, study, and explore the human soul, look on with pain and concern at the severe erosion of people and values, and cry out, for the sake of Israeli society and in the name of the human spirit, to break the cycle of horror, to immediately return the hostages, and to stop the war.”
In addition, 600 architects, engineers and urban planners signed another petition, demanding the return of the hostages without delay, even at the cost of an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Hostage families: Katz’s Gaza plans ‘a fantasy,’ Israel choosing territory over hostages
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum labels Defense Minister Israel Katz’s plans in Gaza “a fantasy,” calling out what it describes as empty words.
“They promised the hostages above all else. In reality, Israel chooses to seize territory over hostages. They promised to open ‘the gates of hell.’ In reality, they are quietly preparing the renewal of humanitarian aid,” the forum says.
“The time has come to stop the false promises and slogans. It is impossible to continue the war and at the same time release all the hostages,” the forum states, adding that the only way to free the captives is an agreement that releases them all in one go in exchange for ending the war.

Gaza and the South

IDF strike kills newest commander of Hamas’s Shejaiya Battalion, 5th to be eliminated since start of war
Hamas Shejaiya Battalion commanders killed throughout the war in Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces)
The IDF and Shin Bet announce that an airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday killed the latest commander of Hamas’s Shejaiya Battalion.
Muhammad al-Ajlah is now the fifth commander of the Shejaiya Battalion to be killed by the IDF amid the war.
According to the IDF, during the war, Ajlah headed the Shejaiya Battalion’s combat support company, where he was responsible for “arming the battalion’s terrorists with weapons used to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.”
Ajlah had replaced Haitham Khalil as head of the Shejaiya Battalion after the latter was killed in an Israeli airstrike on April 9.
Khalil’s predecessor, Jamil Omar Jamil Wadiya, was killed in March. Wadiya had taken over the battalion after his predecessors were killed in December 2023. On December 2, 2023, the IDF killed Shejaiya Battalion commander Wissam Farhat and, a week later, killed his replacement Emad Qariqa.
In the strike on Sunday in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shejaiya that killed Ajlah, the IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm.
IDF says Gaza operation aimed at pressuring Hamas to return to hostage deal; major offensive on hold
The Israeli military says it is not dragging its feet in the Gaza Strip and is continuing to ramp up pressure on Hamas to bring the terror group to agree to a hostage deal, but is not moving ahead with a major offensive yet.
Such a major offensive, which is intended to defeat Hamas on the battlefield, would likely cause the ceasefire-hostage negotiations to completely collapse, according to the military.
The IDF has set no deadline for when the major offensive would begin, and it would be decided upon by the political echelon.
Additionally, the IDF says its plans, including concerning the call-up of reservists, have not been adjusted due to a wave of letters published by reservists and veterans, calling for the release of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the war.
Meanwhile, the IDF says its current operation against Hamas is intended to continue pressure on the terror group, while also preparing the ground for a potential major offensive. The current operation is being carried out slowly, both to ensure the safety of troops and guarantee that hostage talks can continue, it says.
The military expects that as long as the operation goes on, and more territory is captured, troops will encounter more “friction” with Hamas operatives, who are currently being pushed back and largely not engaging Israeli forces.
So far, since Israel resumed its operations in Gaza on March 18, the IDF estimates that it has killed 350 members of terror groups, including 40 senior Hamas political officials and mid-level military wing commanders. Over 1,200 targets have been struck during that time, according to the IDF.
A major focus of recent airstrikes in Gaza has been Hamas governance officials, including members of the terror group’s politburo and its police force.
The IDF has identified that these strikes, along with the blockade on humanitarian aid entering the Strip, have resulted in increased pressure by Palestinian civilians against Hamas, taking place in the form of protests in the streets of Gaza.
The military says there is no starvation in Gaza, and there is enough food to last the population for now. The IDF says it does not want there to be starvation in Gaza, which would harm its legitimacy to act against Hamas.
Another focus has been on destroying Hamas’s already depleting weapon stocks. Hamas has been attempting to rearm itself, while mostly avoiding fighting with troops at this stage. The IDF says it seeks to remove as many weapons as possible now, before entering a potential major offensive.
The military has also vastly expanded its buffer zones along the Gaza border — comprising around 30% of the Strip — which Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that the IDF will hold permanently.
In the south of the Strip, the military has been establishing the Morag Corridor, cutting off Rafah from Khan Younis. In the area, the IDF has already discovered several major tunnels connecting the two cities.
After the military completes operations inside Rafah, the IDF’s buffer zone in southern Gaza will stretch from the Egyptian border to the outskirts of Khan Younis — more than 5 kilometers away — and include the entire city of Rafah within it.
The buffer zone elsewhere on the border with Gaza has also been expanded from several hundred meters to around 2 kilometers in most areas. Troops are currently working to expand the buffer zone in Gaza City’s eastern neighborhoods of Shejaiya, Daraj, and Tuffah.
Half of the Netzarim Corridor, just south of Gaza City, is also being held by the IDF, up to the Salah a-Din road. At any point, the IDF says it can recapture the western half of the corridor and bisect the Strip again. link the stated intention of the Gaza operation is a load of crap: to pressure Hamas to return to the hostage deal. It is crystal clear to everyone that the only way to make a deal with Hamas for the hostages is to end the war. The Gaza operation is purely a political operation. Sure, the IDF is killing more Hamas terrorists and destroying more infrastructure but Hamas keeps growing in numbers and rebuilding its infrastructure. Hamas, at this stage cannot be defeated on the battlefield. The only way to defeat Hamas is to have an alternative Palestinian governing body in place of Hamas and that has been prevented by one person, Netanyahu. He is the reason that Hamas is still in Gaza both as a guerilla force and as a governing body. Netanyahu has prevented every hostage deal and Netanyahu has done the same thing that he has done for over a decade, strengthened Hamas in one way or another. He is the biggest danger to Israel and each day that he leads the country brings us deeper into problems at home and internationally. He is the sickness, not the cure.
11 said killed in early morning strikes in Gaza
People walk past a puddle of water by a tent shelter erected near the rubble of a collapsed building in the Nasr neighborhood in western Gaza City on April 15, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Gaza’s civil defense agency reports that Israeli airstrikes in the early morning killed at least 11 people, including women and children.
The toll cannot be independently verified and does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
A predawn airstrike in Gaza City killed 10 people, including several women and children, according to civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal.
He says the strike targeted the home belonging to the Hassouna family in the Al-Tuffa neighborhood of Gaza City.
“Our teams transferred 10 martyrs and several wounded to Al-Shifa hospital after the Hassouna family’s home was targeted,” Bassal says.
In a separate attack, a child was killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, rescue teams say.
Israel says its strikes only target Hamas and other terror groups in the Strip. It has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.
Katz clarifies Gaza aid won’t resume yet, only in future when civilian mechanism is built
Defense Minister Israel Katz clarifies that Israel has no intention of resuming humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip at this stage.
“As I mentioned in my statement, Israel’s policy is clear and no humanitarian aid is about to enter Gaza,” he says.
He says preventing aid from entering Gaza is “one of the main tools” used to pressure Hamas, “in addition to the other steps that Israel is taking.”
“It is a shame that there are those who try to mislead,” Katz says, referring to right-wing lawmakers who immediately attacked his announcement.
“In the current reality, no one is going to bring any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and no one is preparing to bring in any such aid,” he says.
“I emphasized that regarding the future, a mechanism for using civilian companies must be built, to not allow Hamas access [to aid] in the future.” link Yet another failure of Netanyahu and his government, the humanitarian aid should never have reached Hamas in the first place. Netanyahu refused to put in a body to manage the proper receiving and distribution of humanitarian aid. Instead, he basically gave Hamas the green light to hijack most of the aid and use it for the terrorist and then to sell at high prices to further fund their operations. The aid should have only gone to the refugees. It is known that the stopping of the humanitarian aid hurts the refugees but also the hostages in captivity. All of these actions that are supposedly to put pressure on Hamas directly affect the hostages with the captors torturing them more, making their shackles tighter tearing at their flesh and further deliberate starvation. Many of the released hostages have attested to harsher treatment by their captors each time our politicians caused actions that were negative to the negotiations, halted aid or even their hardline statements, particularly by Smotrich and Ben Gvir.
IDF, Shin Bet say Hamas commander who took part in 2014 Nahal Oz infiltration killed
The IDF and Shin Bet announce that a senior Hamas commander who took part in a 2014 infiltration into Israel that killed five soldiers, was killed in a strike in Gaza City a few days ago.
Mahmoud Ibrahim Hassan Abu Hisirah had served as the right hand of the commander of Hamas’s Gaza Brigade, Izz ad-Din Haddad, according to the military, including during the war and during the preparation for the October 7, 2023, onslaught.
On July 28, 2014, during the IDF’s Operation Protective Edge, Abu Hisirah, as a member of Hamas’s Nukhba force, infiltrated Israel with other terrorists via a tunnel from Gaza, and attacked an army post near Nahal Oz, killing five soldiers.
The attack killed Sgt. Daniel Kedmi, Sgt. Barkai Ishai Shor, Sgt. Erez Sagi, Sgt. Dor Deri, and Sgt. Nadav Raymond.
Autopsies reveal some of medics killed by IDF in ambulance incident were shot in the head
Some of the Gaza medics killed by Israeli troops last month in an incident now being probed by the IDF were shot in the head and chest, autopsy reports obtained by The New York Times reveal.
The autopsies were performed earlier this month by the head of the forensic medicine unit in the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, and they were reviewed by a forensic pathologist in Norway, NYT said.
The autopsies said that the slain 14 men were all wearing their Palestine Red Crescent or civil defense uniforms in part or in whole at the time of the incident.
Eleven of the men had gunshot wounds, including six who were shot in their chests or backs and four who were shot in the head, according to The Times, which said that most of the victims were shot multiple times.
One man had several shrapnel wounds and two others had injuries potentially related to an explosion, the autopsies said, adding that several bodies were missing limbs or body parts, with one man’s body severed from the pelvis down.
The bodies had decomposed after being buried by Israeli troops, so pathologists were unable to definitively determine whether they were shot at close range or whether their hands had been tied beforehand, as a Red Crescent spokesperson has asserted.
The IDF acknowledged earlier this month that it had initially given a false account of the incident in southern Gaza’s Rafah.
The army still asserted that at least six of those killed had been posthumously identified as Hamas operatives, denied that any of those killed had been executed, and said troops had not attempted to hide the incident but rather had informed the UN of the location of the grave they had buried the medics in.
After the incident came to light, the military had initially said the vehicles were without headlights or emergency lights, were uncoordinated, and arrived on the scene shortly after a group of terror operatives. As such, the IDF said soldiers deemed them “suspicious” and opened fire.
The New York Times subsequently published a video that appeared to show the emergency vehicles were clearly marked and had their emergency lights on when the IDF opened fire.
Palestinians have accused Israeli forces of attempting to cover up the incident by burying the bodies in a mass grave.

Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria

Report: US tells Israel it will begin withdrawal from Syria within 2 months
The Trump administration has informed Israel that it will begin a phased withdrawal of US troops from Syria within two months, the Ynet news outlet reports.
A senior Israeli official tells the outlet that Jerusalem believes the move will result only in a partial withdrawal but is still working with American counterparts to convince them to keep troops in Syria.
Israel predicts that a US withdrawal will increase Turkey’s “appetite” to control Syria, and as such tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara would increase if America leaves, says the official.
The US has kept Israel up-to-date on its plans, Ynet says.
There are about 2,000 troops in Syria, the US said in December. Trump’s team talked openly about withdrawing them before the president returned to office.
IDF says it killed Hezbollah special operations commander
The IDF says it killed a Hezbollah commander in a drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Aitaroun earlier today.
According to the IDF, the strike killed a team commander in Hezbollah’s special operations unit.
The IDF does not name the operative, but Lebanese media identify him as Ali Najib Baydoun.
Lebanon’s health ministry said one person was killed in the strike and three others were wounded, including a child.
Lebanese army arrests members of Hamas in Lebanon
Palestinian children who fled with their parents from their houses in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh, gather in the backyard of an UNRWA school, in Sidon, Lebanon, September 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
The Saudi Al-Hadath channel reports that the Lebanese army arrested Hamas operatives in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon — Ain al-Hilweh and Nahr al-Bared — and that a senior Hamas official requested a meeting with the head of Lebanese army intelligence.
The report has not been officially confirmed by the Lebanese army.
The reason for the arrest is unclear. However, earlier, Jordan’s King Abdullah II spoke with the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun regarding the exposure of a terror cell that had manufactured rockets in Jordan and was allegedly linked to Hamas.
Jordan stated yesterday that the members of the cell who were arrested had trained in Jordan.
IDF says drone strike killed Hezbollah Radwan force member in southern Lebanon
A member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force was killed in an Israeli drone strike earlier today in southern Lebanon’s Qantara, the IDF says.
Qantara is located some 7 kilometers from the Israeli border
400 Hezbollah operatives and their families have left Lebanon over safety concerns
People pose for a picture on a burnt Hezbollah rocket launcher in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tibnit on November 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (Mahmoud Zayat/AFP)
The Saudi Al-Hadath channel reports that 400 field commanders from Hezbollah recently left Lebanon along with their families and relocated to South American countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil, citing a source at the Argentine embassy in Lebanon.
This move is due to concerns about being monitored as part of the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure following the ceasefire agreement with Israel in November.
There is no official confirmation of the report from any official Lebanese source or Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has ties in South America with criminal organizations, particularly around drug trafficking, which constitutes part of the organization’s income.
Lebanese president outlines plan to disarm Hezbollah, says IDF harming process
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says all weapons in Lebanon must come under exclusive state control in 2025, and describes his plan to do so through direct coordination with Hezbollah in an interview with the Qatari-backed New Arab outlet.
“The decision has been made to place all weapons under the state,” says Aoun, adding, “The execution will happen through dialogue, which I believe must be bilateral between the presidency and Hezbollah.”
Aoun is committed to avoiding internal conflict while pursuing the agenda, which could greatly weaken Hezbollah’s longstanding military and political power in the country, saying he recently told US deputy Mideast envoy Morgan Ortagus, “We want to remove Hezbollah’s weapons, but we will not ignite a civil war in Lebanon.”
The president addresses growing success in asserting the authority of the Lebanese military over the Iran-backed Shiite militia, saying “We have reached the point where the [Lebanese] army is carrying out its missions—south of the Litani, north of the Litani, and even in the Bekaa—without any obstruction from Hezbollah.”
Aoun suggests Hezbollah members could be integrated into the Lebanese army, while also pushing back against US pressure on Lebanon to suppress Hezbollah, urging Washington to shift their focus onto Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, meets with US deputy special envoy for Middle East peace Morgan Ortagus, center, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. Johnson at the presidential palace in Baabda, in east of Beirut, Lebanon, April 5, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
“I told Ortagus that Israel’s presence in the five disputed points gives Hezbollah a pretext to keep its weapons,” says Aoun, referring to five strategic points where IDF troops have remained in Lebanon since a November ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Israel says these positions are crucial for protecting Israel’s northern residents amid ongoing conflict with the terror group.
Auon rejects the possibility for normalization with Israel in the near future, saying “The Americans know there can be no negotiations with Israel at this stage.”
According to The New Arab, Auon also says that French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to assist Lebanon and Syria in efforts to demarcate their land border, including the Shebaa Farms area, a major flashpoint of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
While the disputed area, a key strategic vantage point for military forces, has been under Israeli control since the IDF captured it from Syria in the Six Day War, Macron offered to assist negotiations “by providing French archival records that affirm Shebaa Farms’s Lebanese identity.”

West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks

2 American tourists lightly hurt after stones thrown at tourist bus in West Bank
Two American tourists are lightly injured after assailants threw stones and a paint bottle at a tourist bus near the West Bank village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, according to an IDF statement.
The IDF says that the injured women received medical treatment at the scene.
IDF and police forces say they arrived quickly and launched a manhunt for the attackers.

Politics and the War and General News

Dismantling the State to Save Bibi

The recent leak essentially continues Netanyahu's policy of weakening the Shin Bet, turning it—like the police and now the IDF—into an organization no longer part of the consensus but subject to political division. He is focused solely on his shrinking base, despite Channel 14's tireless efforts to revive it.

In every intelligence agency in Israel and worldwide, candidates, junior employees, and senior officials undergo security vetting, where they are questioned about their ties to journalists (as well as terrorist organizations, foreign intelligence, criminal groups, etc.). Colloquially, this is called "clearance"—a standard procedure in any normal intelligence body to ensure employees do not leak classified documents or information to the media.

This procedure also applies to soldiers seeking to join IDF Military Intelligence. Any such connection triggers expanded vetting, often including polygraph tests. For senior employees in sensitive roles, polygraphs are repeated periodically, and they are consistently questioned about their media ties. Why? Because this is the nature of intelligence agencies—they handle classified information critical to national security. Almost anyone who has served in an elite unit or intelligence body is familiar with this protocol, designed to prevent sensitive leaks.

Yet here comes a former Shin Bet employee who, since retiring, has openly expressed support for Benjamin Netanyahu and allegedly decided—presumably for ideological reasons—to pass classified documents to a minister and a journalist. This is a criminal offense, and the individual knew it, especially since he himself once oversaw leak investigations.

The motives of this individual are irrelevant here. Any normal person (aside from journalists) should condemn the act, demand his arrest, and call for a thorough investigation. Astonishingly, the opposite happened. A group of ministers, Knesset members, and, of course, media figures enlisted to "save Bibi" have turned him into nothing less than a national hero. Instead of condemning the criminal, demanding justice, and denouncing such actions, they’ve elevated him as someone worthy of praise. Every criminal becomes king—because the alleged leaker believed his actions would serve his adored politicians while harming Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, despised by Bibi’s supporters.

When journalist Amit Segal defends his source, it’s understandable—any journalist would do the same. But Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who until recently lambasted Bibi at every opportunity, is now attacking the Shin Bet chief for conducting the most routine and legitimate investigation into the leak?

What can we expect from Amichai Chikli, the Minister of Nothing, who is likely close to the leaker and benefited from his illegal disclosures? Or from Bezalel Smotrich, who wants Ronen Bar gone so he can operate unchecked in the West Bank without Shin Bet interference?

But where is Avi Dichter, who knows full well what the Shin Bet examines in preliminary vetting—asking candidates about their ties to journalists? Where are the other coalition MKs who still retain a shred of integrity? How do they explain their silence in the face of this insane machine’s assault on Ronen Bar and Gali Baharav-Miara for arresting someone who knowingly broke the law?

Why do they rush to condemn any reservist calling to stop the war and release hostages, while a former Shin Bet employee who systematically leaked classified documents to harm Ronen Bar and aid Netanyahu is hailed as a "national hero"?

The Damage Runs Much Deeper

Ultimately, the damage caused by this leak extends far beyond any single document. It has severely breached the Shin Bet's confidentiality, violating the sanctity of what was once an intelligence consensus: the understanding that in these highly sensitive agencies, political disputes remain outside the door. Only Israel’s security matters.

But no—this "hero" cared more about Bibi’s political survival than national security. This is the degradation of Israel’s security for political gain.

The leak effectively continues Netanyahu’s policy of weakening the Shin Bet, turning it into another politically contested institution, as happened with the police and is now happening with the IDF. Bibi is trying to dismantle these institutions from within and without, paving the way for the ousting of Ronen Bar and Gali Baharav-Miara. He wants to erase the memory of Qatargate, and all means are justified—including the destruction of Israel’s most critical and sensitive security establishments.

This may further damage his standing in Israeli public opinion, but it seems he no longer cares. He is solely focused on his dwindling base, shrinking by the week despite Channel 14’s desperate efforts to prop it up.

In many ways, Netanyahu has already conceded the 2026 elections, knowing he will lose. Thus, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that his goal is to evade those elections altogether—delay them or change the system. And for that, he needs a compliant security apparatus that bows to his will.  link When he wants to make statements that were purely politically motivated but didn't want it to look like that, Netanyahu always uses anonymous 'Israeli officials' to make those statements so that he could retain his 'plausible deniability'. As the writer states, Netanyahu seems to feel that he has nothing to lose by making these horrendous and state destroying statements himself. It is strikingly apparent in this latest investigation but has become more and more visible as more and more people in his orbit are arrested and investigated for potentially major crimes such as revealing state secrets to foreign press and foreign governments, such as Qatar which is still a state sponsor of terrorism and was the direct and biggest sponsor of Hamas. As so many people who have worked closely with Netanyahu have said that nothing goes on in the Prime Minister's office that he is not aware of and approves of, so the more potential crimes involving his people gets closer and closer to him, he is willing to scorch the earth below his feet and the entire country in order to save himself. As I have repeatedly said, Netanyahu is the most dangerous person in Israel today. He has turned the police over to a convicted criminal who has made them into his own militia, he has denigrated the IDF leadership repeatedly throughout the war as well as the Shin Bet, forced the resignation of the IDF Chief of Staff (who needed to resign in any case for his failures of October 6 as well as the head of the Shin Bet and Mossad), fired the head of the Shin Bet strictly for political reasons, intentionally failed to bring home the hostages, enabled his office to be a satellite office of the government of Qatar, denigrated the Attorney General again strictly for his personal political reasons, and seeks to overthrow the judicial system to make it subservient to him and his government in order to get his criminal charges and felony court cases to be dropped. All of the above are no less than a mafia criminal boss of which Netanyahu fits the bill. He needs to be gone from all political life and either drift away or eventually be sent to prison for all of his crimes against the state.

In lesser known intel leak, Shin Bet agent said on trial for almost scuttling hostage rescue op
Rescued hostage Almog Meir Jan raises his hands in celebration as he is escorted from an IDF helicopter on arrival at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, June 8, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
Against the backdrop of the investigation into a Shin Bet agent who leaked classified intelligence, Channel 12 reports on another such incident that took place in the agency, which led to the arrest of a different employee.
The latter employee is suspected of having shared with two of her relatives the details of the IDF’s planned operation to rescue four Israeli hostages from Gaza in June of last year.
That information made its way onto a small Telegram channel several hours before the operation to rescue Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41 was carried out.
The group was small, so the information did not reach Hamas or the wider Israeli public before the operation went ahead.
After the security establishment got wind of the leak, the Shin Bet worker was arrested and barred from meeting with a lawyer for four days. She was indicted and remains under house arrest, as her trial is ongoing.

The Region and the World

Jordan says it foiled plot linked to Hamas involving rockets and drones
Jordan says it arrested 16 people, thwarting a plot that threatened national security, involving rockets, explosives and a factory to make drones.
A security source says the suspects are connected to Hamas. The terror group, which has been at war with neighboring Israel since October 2023, has been accused of instigating anti-government street protests in Jordan, which has a large Palestinian population.
The authorities say at least one rocket was ready to be launched in the case, which had been under surveillance by security forces since 2021. A drone factory was also found, according to a statement by the General Intelligence Department released on state media.
“The plot aimed at harming national security, sowing chaos and causing material destruction inside the kingdom,” the statement says.
Over the past year, Jordan has said it has foiled attempts to smuggle weapons by infiltrators linked to pro-Iranian militias in Syria.

Personal Stories

Eyal Waldman on Qatargate: "If true, this is treason-level. There's no other word" (Photo: Yonatan Blum)

Interview

"Investors don't want to invest in tech companies with a government like ours"

Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox who lost his daughter on October 7, is convinced only harsh sanctions will prevent Haredi draft evasion: "How to address Haredi enlistment? Like Trump—with a sledgehammer." On emigration trends: "People don’t want to live in a country where Ben-Gvir and Smotrich decide whether their soldier sons are sent on reckless missions." He finds positives in Trump’s policies and wouldn’t oppose serving as an "Elon Musk" in the next government.

Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox (sold to Nvidia for $7 billion) and now focused on investments, paid the most painful personal price on October 7 when his daughter Danielle was murdered at the Nova festival with her partner. This, despite years of Waldman advocating for employing Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing the need for a political solution. Those who follow him on social media still see the resilient businessman continuing his life, including his signature love for leisure—yet a mere mention of his daughter brings him to tears.

We’re in the holiday of freedom. When will freedom and joy return?

"Some families will never fully regain joy. I hope those struggling find strength, knowing their loved ones would want them to be happy. Now we must bring the hostages and soldiers home."

A holiday for bereaved parents—is that even a term in our lexicon?

"No. Not just because of Danielle—we’ll get everyone who harmed her, one by one—but also because of the hostages. Yet we must keep living. I lost an uncle at 11, nearly 10 friends in the army. For them, we must build here. Our role is to fix this country for future generations. The most important message is that our children would want us to live, not grieve. I know Danielle would want that. You try to compartmentalize the pain—it doesn’t always work."

What worries you most now?

"Nothing matters more than bringing the hostages home. I’ve traveled to three countries about this—there are options and tools to advance. I was told, 'Take the deal on the table.' Even Arab states understand Hamas can’t remain in Gaza. Hamas knows it’s game over. We must pause the war, bring the hostages home, then normalize the region. There’s a rare, once-in-a-century opportunity in Syria and Lebanon I haven’t seen in years. We need a post-war Gaza security plan and to address the West Bank."

Your daughter Danielle was moments from being kidnapped.

"Almog Sarusi, who was with her in the car, was abducted and later murdered. Danielle lay wounded for hours with no one reaching her. I know she screamed after being injured—we have the car’s recordings."

"All for all" or a phased deal?

"It doesn’t matter. The biggest mistake is saying 'all or nothing.' Save everyone you can. Every minute in captivity is like years."

On Qatargate:

"If true, this is treason-level. No other word. Helping a state we don’t recognize transmit messages from the PM’s office under the guise of a senior official—when everyone thought it was Bibi..."

"You feel this isn’t your place"

Recent reports highlight Israeli emigration, including tech workers leaving. Waldman tracks this closely: "1,700 millionaires left Israel—we don’t even have that many, and it’s not over. A Stanford report showed more AI talent is leaving Israel than arriving, reversing pre-2022 trends. I see 10,000 Israeli LinkedIn users relocating. People ask me for jobs in New York, Greece, Houston. To stop this, we need a new government. I don’t see a single worthy minister in Likud today. Bibi installed weak figures. If 50,000–60,000 more leave, we’re in deep trouble."

*Are you considering leaving?

"We must hold elections on time. Bibi has 68 seats—we can’t force early elections. If Likud wins again, I’ll struggle to stay. This country consumes its people. I don’t want to leave—my daughter was murdered here, my uncle died in the War of Attrition, 8–10 friends fell here. But when unfit leaders are in power and most voters back them, it’s not your place anymore."

No patriotic urge to "stay and fight from here"?

"People won’t live where Ben-Gvir and Smotrich decide their children’s fate—whether they’re sent on life-risking missions. I say, stay—you can’t fight for Israel from abroad."

Ever considered entering politics?

"I get asked. I hope I won’t have to—I prefer private life. I’m investing millions to shift the political landscape for young people and soldiers. But when hostages rot for 1.5 years, when the PM evades accountability and fires officials investigating him—where are we?"

Could a Trump/Musk-style role work for you in your ideal government?

"It could. I’d help the state in many ways."

Are you pulling strings in Gaza?

"We need a security solution. U.S. generals are working on a NATO-backed plan with 14 countries. I brought in four Arab states. The government dislikes it, but it’ll likely be adopted—we must plan for ‘the day after.’ Governance, education, health, and reconstruction will follow—we won’t lead that."

Expecting a Gazan "Arab Spring"?

"People must rise against Hamas everywhere—they’re used as human shields. Hamas recently tortured and killed a protest leader. Mass demonstrations could break their grip."

Trump’s stance on Israel surprised you?

"He’s a loyal friend, genuinely working to free hostages—unlike others with agendas. I’d help his administration in any way. He negotiates aggressively, like a businessman. I expect him to deliver."

On Trump’s regional ideas: Far-fetched or starting points?

"He plants a stake in the ground and adjusts. Initially, he suggested relocating Gazans to Egypt/Jordan—but Gaza could be like Dubai. Hamas chose tunnels over development. Post-disengagement, Gaza thrived with agriculture and tourism. We could rebuild spectacularly."

Trump sees Gaza as prime beachfront real estate—untapped.

"That’s the right view."

Is the PA still relevant?

"Palestinians need new leadership—we can’t intervene. I know one capable candidate (unnamed). He must be uncorrupted, willing to govern Gaza and the West Bank. In 1973, Egypt was enemy #1—yet Sadat came. We need that courage now."

Haredi protests against enlistment (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

"Their leaders take them to bad places."

Tariffs? Gradualism would’ve been better.

Trump’s recent tariff hikes rattled markets—up to 145% on Chinese goods, sparing chips/phones after backlash. Waldman: "He’s rebalancing U.S. debt but too aggressively. I’d phase it in. Markets panic then rebound—Musk says goals trump profits. I agree."

Should Israel have been exempt?

"Why expect it? Even on AI, we’re in the U.S.’s second tier."

Will Mellanox-Nvidia suffer?

"No—it’s a U.S. exporter. Chinese tariffs are the issue. Like Mellanox, Nvidia’s products are irreplaceable."

Could this spur U.S. corporate reshuffling?

"The real problem: investors shun Israeli firms due to our government. Legal upheavals scare them. I still invest here, but sentiment matters."

Wiz sold big to Google ($32B)—won’t jobs move to India?

"An amazing exit. Development will stay in Israel. Mellanox grew post-acquisition, enriching hundreds."

"Deal with people you dislike"

You posed with Qatar’s PM. Critics asked: How? Their money killed your daughter.

"As a businessman, you engage even with adversaries. Biden sidelined Qatar; Trump reinstated them. You must work with them—this isn’t kindergarten. We’re stuck and need out."

Hamas clings to hostages while Gaza suffers. How to respond?

"A Gazan woman in Europe told me, ‘You freed 4 hostages but killed 40, including my relatives.’ I said: ‘I have no issue with that. Hamas used them as shields. We extend peace, but those harming us forfeit their lives.’ Hamas’s funding must be fully cut—supporting them is criminal."

If Netanyahu’s aide took Qatari money—your take?

"If true, it’s treason. No other word. Passing messages from an adversarial state via the PM’s office? Whether Bibi knew or not—it’s a disaster."

How to break Haredi leaders’ grip on enlistment?

"Trump’s hammer: No core studies? No army? Cut child benefits and daycare. Dozens of Haredim started working after losing perks—Smotrich was wrong to oppose this. Use economic levers: no driver’s licenses, no travel outside of Israel. They’ll enlist and excel. Core subjects and tech integration are vital. Most Haredim are good—their leaders mislead them."

On Trumpism’s carrot/stick approach as dogma:

"It’s ‘achieve the goal at all costs.’ No excuses. I’d differ tactically but share the relentlessness. The Haredim must be compelled to work and serve."

You shared a video of the police chief beside Ben-Gvir, declaring: ‘We’ll defend democracy to the last drop of blood.

"I posted to praise him: ‘Honor to the police chief. We obey the Supreme Court and safeguard democracy.’ He’s doing his job brilliantly. It reassured me." link

Acronyms and Glossary

COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories

ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague

IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague

IPS - Israel Prison System

MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp

PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen

PMO- Prime Minister's Office

UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission