🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 559, 2023

🎗️Day 559 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

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

*

Hostage Updates

‘Can you get me out of here?’: Family okays publication of part of clip of hostage Braslavski
Hostage Rom Braslavski speaks in a propaganda video published by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad on April 16, 2025. (Screenshot/Telegram)
‘Can you get me out of here?’: Family okays publication of part of clip of hostage Braslavski
The family of hostage Rom Braslavski approves for publication a shortened and blurred version of the video published today by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.
In the video, the hostage appeals to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release him and addresses US President Trump, asking: “Where are you?” He also describes his physical and mental condition as difficult, and speaks about the ongoing bombings in Gaza.
Addressing Netanyahu, he demands: “Can you get me out of here?”
Based on the content, the footage was filmed in recent weeks. Video in Hebrew
He’s aged 10 years’: Family horrified at clip of hostage Braslavski, lack of contact from authorities
Rom Braslavski was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from the Nova desert rave. (Courtesy)
Tami Braslavski reacts with fury to news that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group has published a video of her hostage son, Rom Braslavski, noting that she found out about it from the news rather than from state officials.
“Horrifying! A shame for the State of Israel. Shocking that I need to see it on Telegram like everyone. Not [IDF hostage point person] Nitzan Alon, not [government hostage point person] Gal Hirsch, not [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], nobody’s phoning us,” she is quoted as saying by Ynet.
“I don’t even recognize my son. He has aged 10 years. This isn’t my Rom. He’s tough, and he looks terrible. If they broke Rom, they’ll break everyone,” she charges.
Addressing Netanyahu, she adds: “His son [Yair] is sitting in Miami and drinking a Margarita on the beach while my son is underground, and he doesn’t have time to call to update me? They know there’s a video and can’t even find the time to talk to me?”
Rom’s brother Amit also assails the government on Instagram for its lack of communication, lamenting that “we are abandoned every day anew with shocking and shameful conduct.”
Despite the extensive media comments on it, the family hasn’t approved the publication of the video itself or screenshots of it.
Rom's cry from captivity: "I'm in pain all day. Prime Minister, get me out of here"

First filmed sign of life since abduction: The family of Rom Braslavski approved the release of a segment from the video published by Islamic Jihad. "Enough, enough. Prime Minister, get me out. Trump, where are you and your promises?" he shouted. His mother said no one from the government contacted her after the video's release: "This isn’t my Rom—he’s aged, he looks terrible." Tonight, the PM will hold a security discussion about the hostages, and Ronen Bar was also invited to participate.

After 558 days in captivity, the first filmed footage of Rom Braslavski: Islamic Jihad today (Wednesday) released a video of the abductee who saved many from the Nova party on October 7. Tonight, a phone security discussion will be held regarding the hostages. According to sources in the Prime Minister's Office, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar—who was excluded from a previous discussion following his dismissal and despite a Supreme Court ruling—was invited to participate.

Rom's family approved the release of a short segment from the full video, in which he is heard screaming: "All day I just scratch. All day I’m in pain. I don’t know what this sickness is. Enough, enough. Please, Mr. Prime Minister. Please, get me out of here. Trump—where are you? Where are your promises? Didn’t you say you’d free everyone in a deal?"

Rom, 21, a Jerusalem resident, was abducted from the Nova festival, where he worked in security. After his abduction, his family received many testimonies about the bravery he showed on October 7, helping people escape the terrorists. His brother Amit posted on Instagram some images of Rom from this first footage in captivity, and his mother Tami told Ynet in anguish after the clip’s release: "Shocking! Shame on the State of Israel. It’s horrifying that I have to see this on Telegram like everyone else. Not Nitzan Alon, not Gal Hirsch, not Bibi—no one has picked up the phone."

"My son has aged 10 years"
"My child is screaming from underground while people are barbecuing at the beach—no one cares," the mother raged. "They don’t understand how precious these lives are. No one will understand until they pay with their own blood and their own child. Time is running out. I see nonsense on TV—festivals and trips. And I don’t even recognize my son. He’s aged ten years. This isn’t my Rom. He’s tough, and he looks terrible. If they broke Rom, they’ll break everyone. I want him home. No one cares. I need him home already—I won’t let them kill him and leave him there."

She directly attacked the Prime Minister: "His son sits in Miami drinking margaritas on the beach, and my child is underground—he doesn’t have time to call me? They know there’s a video and can’t even bother to talk to me?"

Amit, Rom’s brother, wrote on the Instagram page dedicated to the campaign for his release after the clip was published: "Rom, my dear, beloved little brother. I don’t recognize you—you’ve aged, but I see your goodness and the Rom I’ve missed so much. This is the first message we’ve gotten from you. We knew before that you were sick and unwell, that you need your medicine. I hope this video shakes those who need shaking, and you’ll come back from this nightmare. We’ll fight to the last drop of blood for you and do everything to bring you home."

Amit sharply criticized the government: "No one from the government has reached out to the family—this is an insult, and we’re sick of this abandonment! Not even a call to check on us. So let everyone understand—we’re abandoned anew every day in this shocking, disgraceful conduct. But today, after seeing Rom, we have the strength to fight his battle to the end. Rom, we love you and won’t give up!"

Rom’s father, Ofir, previously said: "He was abducted while rescuing people from hell—he showed unimaginable courage and heroism, saving lives while risking his own. Now it’s our turn to save him. How is it possible that someone who sacrificed himself for others isn’t considered humanitarian?"

Sasha Troufanov, released after 498 days in Hamas captivity, revealed on day 517 of the war that he had briefly been with Rom in Gaza. "Hold on, don’t give up," Sasha told Rom at the time. He added: "Rom, I hope my voice will be a light and hope in the dark place you’re in. I want you to know that I, your friends, your family, and all of Israel are praying for your safety and doing everything for your release."

Sasha added in Arabic: "I hope this message reaches you. Hold on and don’t give up. We’re with you and praying for you." He also noted: "Redeeming captives is a supreme value in Judaism—please don’t leave them behind. Do everything to bring them home safely as soon as possible."

Last month, Rom’s mother told Ynet in an interview about the family’s decision to go public and share his story: "We heard they might have a small transistor radio or are sometimes allowed to watch TV, so we decided we’d go to the media too. We’ll talk about him and show him that we’re fighting for him—that we miss him like air to breathe and love him no less than anyone else." She added: "Even if we weren’t on TV or his pictures weren’t shown, we’re fighting, we’ve fought, and we’ll fight until the moment we see him home. I firmly believe he knows—but hearing a loved one’s voice..."  link

"Ready to talk with everyone to bring him back": The conversation of Avinatan's brother with "Al Jazeera," and the message to Hamas

The brother of hostage Avinatan Or spoke unusually with the Qatari network, whose broadcasts in Israel were halted. "We are searching for any information about my brother. How long must he remain in captivity until Netanyahu decides he needs to be brought back?" he said—and called on Hamas to reach a comprehensive deal. He explained to Ynet: "Ready to do everything for his return—and expect the leaders to do the same."

Moshe Or, the brother of hostage Avinatan Or, was quoted today on the Qatari network "Al Jazeera," considered one of Hamas's mouthpieces—and requested any information about his brother, who has been held captive for 558 days. "We are searching for any information regarding my brother and his condition," he said in a video aired by the Qatari network, which sought to interview him. "We demand that Hamas reach a single deal—one that will end this matter."

Avinatan Or's brother speaking to Al Jazeera
(Photo: Al Jazeera)

"Netanyahu decides on the deal, he doesn’t need to pretend otherwise," Moshe Or told Al Jazeera. "The Israeli government must do what is necessary to bring back the hostages. We will not agree to any partial deal. The right thing is a comprehensive deal that will return my brother Avinatan and the other hostages, in exchange for ending the war. There is a large majority in Israel that supports bringing back the hostages. We want Avinatan back. How long must he remain in captivity until the Prime Minister decides he needs to be returned?"

"We heard from hostages who returned that what frightened them most were the missiles and attacks by the Israeli Air Force," the brother added. "We are searching for any information about him or his condition. I appeal to Hamas—you released most of the hostages, and things proceeded smoothly. Let’s make one deal for everyone and finish this."

Avinatan Or is missing

In an interview with Ynet, Moshe explained that the main reason he sent the video to the Qatari channel—whose broadcasts in Israel were stopped by the government—was to receive information about his brother, who was abducted from the Nova party along with his partner Noa Argamani, who was rescued from captivity in "Operation Arnon" and was today included in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Hostages who returned in the last deal described that the terrorists guarding them sometimes allowed them to watch broadcasts from the Qatari network.

"This is the first time I’ve spoken on Al Jazeera," he told Ynet. "I am ready to do everything and talk with everyone to bring Avinatan home, even speak with Al Jazeera. I expect our leaders to act like me, do everything, and agree to anything to bring the hostages home now. So yes, I spoke with them and tried to convey through them that we are even looking for a little information. We raised a sum of 250,000 shekels. We are willing to give it in exchange for information we receive about Avinatan. We also published an email where they can send information and make contact. We will find a way to transfer the money to Gaza—everything to get information about Avinatan. We are very worried about him. We know he is in the tunnels; we were told about the conditions they live in there. We want to get some light in this darkness."
Moshe explained that the message he conveyed was also an attempt to speak to Hamas—and that perhaps through it, Avinatan would receive the message. "In this surreal reality, there is nothing I’m not willing to do to bring this to an end. What’s talking to Al Jazeera? As far as I’m concerned, it might help. Maybe Avinatan will hear the interview and gain strength."

According to Moshe, he is not despairing despite everything. "I have no right to despair; I will never raise my hands or surrender. I am disappointed with the government. I am disappointed that a year and a half has passed and we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s disappointment, not despair," he said.

When asked if this conversation was acceptable to his family, he replied: "The Or family has diverse opinions—that’s the beauty of the family. You have to accept all views, even though we want one deal. I’m not talking to Al Jazeera because I like them; they are not legitimate in my eyes. I wouldn’t want to speak with them, but in the current situation, I’m being pragmatic. Maybe I would have stayed quiet, but I feel things aren’t happening, so we’re trying other platforms. We just want to bring a little information and clear some of the fog. To give information to Mom and Dad." link

Initiators of the doctors' letter: IDF contacts signatories demanding removal of signatures, one doctor dismissed

The organizers of the letter, which called for the return of hostages and an end to the war, claim that under the Chief of Staff's directive, "the office of the Surgeon General is contacting signatories one by one"—even though they clarified they would continue to report for duty. They allege that a reserve doctor was dismissed from her positions at Yerpa and the flight course, while simultaneously, around 100 additional signatories have joined since the letter's publication.

The organizers of the medical officers' letter, which expressed support for the pilots' letter and called for the return of hostages and an end to the war, said today (Wednesday) that the IDF has begun contacting signatories and demanding they remove their signatures.

To read the full letter in Hebrew– click here

"From the office of the Surgeon General, calls are being made one by one to the signatories of the reserve doctors' letter," the letter's initiators stated. They claimed that although they wrote, "We will report for duty whenever required," the Chief of Staff "instructed the Surgeon General, Brig. Gen. Ziv Avidar-Bar, to clarify to all reserve doctors who signed that there is no place for mixing politics in the military, and they are personally requested to remove their signatures from the letter." Reserve doctors were reportedly told they would be summoned for a clarification talk at their respective medical commands.

Reserve doctors' letter calling for the return of hostages and cessation of fighting

Additionally, the letter's organizers stated that dismissals of reserve doctors have already begun, citing one female reserve doctor dismissed from her roles at Medical Army Unit and the flight course. According to the organizers, around 100 more doctors have joined the letter since its publication, which calls for ending the war and returning the hostages.

Last Sunday, the doctors' letter was delivered to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, following letters from Intelligence Unit 8200 members, naval cadets, paratroopers, artillery soldiers, and Mossad veterans. Around 200 reserve doctors from various IDF units signed it, demanding "the immediate return of the hostages and an end to the fighting in Gaza." Since then, according to organizers, approximately 100 more doctors have joined.

"We will report for duty whenever required," the letter clarified, while also stating, "We feel pain that the continued fighting in Gaza primarily serves political and personal interests with no security purpose. Prolonging the war does not advance its originally declared objectives and only endangers IDF soldiers and the lives of our abducted civilians."

Around 1,000 reserve air force personnel signed a declaration supporting hostage return even at the cost of halting the war

"As medical officers, we serve in the reserves out of commitment to the sanctity of life, the spirit of the IDF, and the Hippocratic Oath, reflecting mutual responsibility in Israeli society," the letter read. "We warn that continued fighting and abandonment of the hostages contradict these values and the Medical Corps' pledge to leave no one behind. Prolonged warfare and neglect of hostages, like wounded soldiers abandoned on the battlefield, irreversibly erode the sanctity of life and the commitment to national security. We call on Israel's leadership to act in accordance with the state’s values and the IDF’s spirit."

The IDF aims to reach an understanding with active reserve signatories to ensure their willingness to continue serving per future political and military decisions. Each case is individually reviewed by direct commanders. Thus, Medical Corps officers are holding discussions with active reserve signatories—and so far, no dismissals have been decided. In talks held to date, one signatory chose to withdraw their signature.

One signatory, "R.," a doctor from a central Israeli hospital and an active reservist, told Ynet he received a call from the Surgeon General’s office to "clarify the Chief of Staff’s stance, conveyed to the Surgeon General, that the letter is illegitimate as it mixes politics with military affairs." He said, "I was asked to remove my name and informed I’d be summoned for a talk at my reserve medical command."

Though R. has not been called up since the war began due to his civilian hospital duties, he remains an active reservist. On his decision to sign, he said: "I signed because I believe prolonging the war and failing to return the hostages betrays IDF principles, its spirit, and the Hippocratic Oath. This war serves no security purpose—only personal and political interests. Continuing it needlessly endangers civilians, soldiers, and hostages. As doctors, we demand purpose. We don’t follow orders blindly. That said, if the IDF calls, I’ll report—and will certainly do so in the future."

Despite the clarification call, R. stands firm: "I won’t retract my signature. I told the officer I spoke with I wouldn’t. Since the letter reached the PM on Sunday night with 218 signatures, 100 more have joined. We’re now nearly 300 doctors united under this call."

The IDF responded: "The IDF values and appreciates its reservists. Medical Corps reservists have excelled in saving lives throughout the war, risking themselves courageously. Commanders hold disciplinary discussions with reservists. No reserve doctors have been dismissed. The IDF will continue acting nationally to achieve its goals and will not allow disputes to penetrate its ranks."  link

Rescued hostage Noa Argamani included in Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025
Former US second gentleman Doug Emhoff lauds her ‘extraordinary courage and humanity in speaking out’ for remaining captives

Rescued hostage Noa Argamani attends an emergency conference on the medical condition of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip at the President Residence in Jerusalem, December 10, 2024. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

Former hostage Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped by Hamas-led terrorists in October 2023 and rescued in a daring IDF operation last year, was included in Time Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People of 2025.

She features alongside major world leaders and Jewish figures such as actor Adrien Brody, Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Argamani responded that she is “deeply honored.”
“The video of Noa Argamani on Oct. 7, 2023, is forever seared into my soul,” wrote former US second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, in her entry on the Time website.

“She was joyfully dancing with so many others at the Nova music festival when Hamas launched its brutal terrorist attack. As she was kidnapped into Gaza on a motorcycle, her harrowing expression became a symbol of the pain and trauma Jews worldwide, myself included, continue to feel.”

He noted Argamani’s partner Avinatan Or, who is still captive in Gaza, as well as her “extraordinary courage and humanity in speaking out” for the plight of hostages who remain in captivity.

Noa Argamani is seen being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the massacre at the Supernova desert rave in the south on October 7, 2023. (Screenshot used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

“My wife Kamala Harris and I stand with Noa in fighting for the release of all the hostages. We cannot give up until every one of them is home,” Emhoff wrote.

“Noa’s advocacy has illuminated Hamas’s extreme brutality, but more importantly, her bravery has embodied Jewish resilience and strength even in the worst moments. She is living proof to the world that, despite everything, ‘we will dance again.'”

US President Donald Trump speaks alongside relatives of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. Rescued hostage Noa Argamani is immediately behind Trump. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

In a post to X, Argamani wrote that she is “grateful that this recognition continues to shine a light on the hostage crisis and the horrific attacks of October 7th. It’s a powerful reminder of the urgent need to keep speaking out.”

“I’m especially humbled to serve as a voice for the hostages who remain in captivity – those who can’t speak for themselves,” she wrote.

“Since my rescue, I’ve made a promise to do everything in my power to bring the others home, including my love, my partner, Avinatan Or, who is still being held in the tunnels of Gaza,” Argamani continued. “There are still 59 hostages in Gaza. Innocent people. They need us. We must not stop. Bring Them ALL Home. NOW.”

On October 7, 2023, Hamas led over 5,000 attackers in an invasion of southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 hostages to the Gaza Strip. The attack triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

At the Nova music festival, close to the border with Gaza, terrorists slaughtered 361 people and abducted dozens, including Argamani and Or.

Heart-wrenching video of Argamani’s abduction, in which she was seen screaming as her terrorist captors drove her away on the back of a motorcycle and reaching out for Or, who was marched alongside, was among the most widely seen footage from the October 7 onslaught.

She was rescued from Nuseirat in central Gaza by IDF troops after nine months of captivity in a daring daylight operation on June 8, along with hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv.

Since her rescue, Argamani has advocated publicly for the release of the remaining hostages, and in July last year accompanied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his trip to Washington, DC, where she told him that the remaining hostages in Gaza “must be brought home as quickly as possible, before it is too late.”

She also met with US President Donald Trump, along with seven other hostages, in the Oval Office last month. In February, she addressed the UN Security Council.
Former hostage Noa Argamani places a photo of her captive partner Avinatan Or on the desk as she addresses the UN Security Council, on February 25, 2025. (Screenshot, UN)

Also on the Time 100 Most Influential People list were Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, billionaire Elon Musk, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Argentine President Javier Milei and new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. link
Hamas officials say consultations on response to Israel truce offer ‘almost complete’
Two Hamas officials tell AFP that the terror group’s discussions on an Israeli truce proposal are nearly complete, with a response expected soon.
“These talks are almost complete, and the group will send its response to the mediators once they finish. It’s expected the talks will wrap up soon — possibly even today,” an official says, with another member of the group confirming his account. link It doesn't take a genius to know what the Hamas response will be. They will say they are willing to release all the hostages but with the following main conditions: end of the war, withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza, and the release of a large number of prisoners.
These are the same conditions they have had since the beginning of the war and the same conditions, at least the first two that Netanyahu is not willing to do. And he is not willing to agree to them strictly for his own personal interests. All of the security heads in the past 6 months and more have said yes to all these terms but Netanyahu has gone against all of them simply to protect his own interests. Netanyahu is a traitor to everyone he abandoned on October 7 and to the country since then.
The epitome of hypocrisy
Putin meets ex-hostages at Kremlin, calls to thank Hamas leaders for their release
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday evening with freed hostage Sasha Troufanov at the Kremlin in Moscow, along with his mother, Yelena Trufanova, and partner, Sapir Cohen, both of whom are also former captives.
“The fact that you managed to go free is the result of the fact that Russia has stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people, with its representatives, and with a wide variety of organizations,” Putin tells the ex-hostages in a video clip from the meeting published by the state-funded RT television network, saying that “we need to express words of gratitude to the leadership of the political wing of Hamas for cooperating with us and carrying out this humanitarian act.”
“We will do everything to ensure that such acts happen as often as possible and that all the people who are still in the same conditions that you had been in…are also released,” Putin continues in the clip, sighing deeply in response to Sasha telling him that he was held in Gaza for 498 days.
Troufanov and Cohen were taken hostage by Palestinian terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, along with Sasha’s mother and grandmother Irena Tati, while his father Vitaly was killed during the Hamas-led atrocities. The three women were freed during a November 2023 ceasefire.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, days before Troufanov’s release from Islamic Jihad captivity in February, a deputy Russian foreign minister met with a senior Hamas official in Moscow and urged the Palestinian terror group to keep “promises” to release Troufanov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, and Maxim Herkin, a current Israeli hostage from the Donbas area of Ukraine who has Russian relatives.
The meeting at the Kremlin was also attended by the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda, according to Putin’s office, which published a video of the meeting alongside a readout with little substantial information. link Putin, who is one of the most murderous dictators on earth today is also one of the most hypocritical one. He doesn't even hesitate by referring to the release of a kidnapped and tortured hostage by claiming it was a humanitarian act by his barbaric, torturous captors. No wonder he is friends with Trump and Netanyahu.

Gaza and the South

‘No to terror, yes to peace’: New protest against Hamas reported in northern Gaza
Media outlets in Gaza report a protest against the war and against Hamas in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of participants hold signs reading “Stop the aggression,” “We want to live in freedom,” and chant “No to terror, yes to peace.”
In recent weeks, sporadic protests against Hamas have taken place in Gaza, despite reports of Hamas attempting to detain and harm demonstrators. Many of the protests have occurred in Beit Lahiya. Video
Watch the reunion between the dog kidnapped from Nir Oz and her family: "How did Cavalier survive a year and a half in Gaza?"

Rachel Danzig's Cavalier from Nir Oz disappeared during the terrorists' infiltration of the kibbutz on October 7 and was found by a Golani reservist. Today, she was reunited with her family: "The family is experiencing indescribable excitement right now."

The dog Billy, who was kidnapped from Nir Oz to the Gaza Strip on October 7 and found by a reservist in Rafah, was reunited today (Wednesday) with her family—after 558 days of searching for the beloved dog, posters, checking if she had been buried, and not a single moment of lost hope. Watch the emotional reunion.

Billy the dog returns home and reunites with her family from Nir Oz
During the sirens before the terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz, Billy was very frightened and stayed in the safe room with Rachel Danzig and her two granddaughters. Before Rachel realized terrorists had entered the kibbutz, she went to the kitchen with Billy. But when the terrorists reached the house, Rachel quickly returned to the safe room, where she managed for hours to prevent them from harming her family. However, Billy disappeared. That same Saturday, Rachel’s ex-husband, Alex Danzig (z"l), and her brother Itzik Elgart (z"l) were kidnapped to Gaza. Both were murdered in captivity.

Tami Bar-Yosef, who researched and collected information about dogs killed or kidnapped on October 7, wrote on her Facebook page about the connection with the family. "The family asked me to help them search for Billy. In August 2024, I published a post in coordination with the family, asking for information about Billy," she wrote. "The family hoped she had survived and was placed with a foster family unable to contact them, but we couldn’t find her."

The reservist and the dog  (Photo: From Hanokh Daum’s Facebook page)

Bar-Yosef continued: "Later, we searched for her grave, checking if a soldier or anyone had seen her body. We even investigated whether a microchip could survive in the ground for months and considered excavations to locate her grave. For a long time, the family believed Billy was still alive. After the post went viral, many kind people tried to help, searching for her across the country. For months, I received dozens of messages and calls about similar Cavaliers, but time after time, it wasn’t Billy. We found nothing."

In September 2024, in coordination with the family, Bar-Yosef contacted veterinary services to update Billy’s microchip with the family’s current phone number and add the following note to the government database: "Billy went missing during the October 7 attack, and the family is desperately searching for her. Anyone who encounters her is urged to contact the family immediately."

The family’s missing poster after the dog’s disappearance (Photo: From social media)

In December 2024, the family asked Bar-Yosef to help them adopt a new dog—they wanted another Cavalier like Billy. "I reached out to colleagues in the dog world, and with the help of Tali Lotan, Shelly Salternik, Boaz Ozri, and the amazing team from Friend at Hand (founded by Oketz Unit veterans), we found a stunning Cavalier puppy gifted to the family," she shared.

Then, yesterday, the news arrived: Billy had been found. "Last night, the family called me: 'Tami, a miracle happened! Billy was found in Rafah.' A wonderful reservist found her and insisted on bringing her back to Israel. He went today to scan her microchip, and they contacted us," Bar-Yosef recounted. "It turns out Aviad, a Golani reservist in Rafah, saw a purebred dog emerging from the ruins and approaching him. He said she probably heard Hebrew and came to him. On leave, he took her for a veterinary check where her microchip was scanned. He discovered she was from Nir Oz, saw the notice searching for her, contacted the family, and today he brought Billy home."

Billy, the dog found after a year and a half in Gaza by Golani soldiers

Bar-Yosef wondered in her post: "How did a Cavalier kidnapped to Gaza—a dog with a pure soul, kindness, and extraordinary innocence—survive a year and a half in Gaza?! I once had a Cavalier; she wouldn’t have lasted ten minutes."

It’s important to note that Billy isn’t the only dog kidnapped from Nir Oz that Saturday. The Huskies Luna and the mixed-breed Casey were also taken to Gaza, and their fate remains unknown. Two other dogs, Chuti and Tika, were kidnapped to the Strip but managed to escape and return home on their own.

"The family is experiencing overwhelming excitement right now—hard to put into words. We’re all struggling to believe it and are so happy to witness this miracle—an exodus from Gaza, from Rafah, of Billy and the angelic reservist Aviad," Bar-Yosef said emotionally. "This holiday has been so hard for me; I kept hoping for happy moments, but news like this—I couldn’t even imagine."

Meanwhile, Ze’ev Engelmayer (Shoshka) sent the family an illustration of the dog being rescued from Gaza by a reservist. Maya, a relative of the late Alex Danzig, wrote: "After a year and a half of uncertainty, soldiers encountered her during operations. She ran to them—maybe because she heard Hebrew. They found her microchip, revealing her identity. Billy, the lost dog, was found alive! A small comfort in the family’s immense grief."  link

Hamas agency claims 25 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza; no comment from IDF
Hamas struggling to pay operatives in Gaza due to worsening cash crunch — WSJ
Hamas is struggling to pay its members in Gaza, including senior terror operatives, due to a worsening cash crunch, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Citing Arab, Israeli and Western officials, the US newspaper notes Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, some of which Hamas took and sold. It also quotes Arab intelligence officials who say the renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza has taken out Hamas members who play key roles in doling out cash to operatives, while others have been forced to hide.
The intelligence officials add that employees in Gaza’s Hamas-led government have stopped receiving payments, while senior operatives and political figures received half of their wages over Ramadan and rank-and-file fighters get $200-$300 monthly.
The Israeli and Western officials say Hamas was facing a cash squeeze before the ceasefire and hostage release deal that took effect in January, providing the terror group an opportunity to generate revenue by taxing merchants, demanding trucks make payments at checkpoints and seizing goods to fence. Hamas also reportedly uses funds it has overseas to buy humanitarian aid to sell in Gaza, turning it back into cash.

Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria

IDF says it target Hezbollah member in Lebanon drone strike
The IDF says it carried out a drone strike earlier today in southern Lebanon’s Hanine, targeting a Hezbollah operative.
Lebanon’s health ministry reports one dead in the strike.
Qatar sends aid, military vehicles to Lebanese army amid fallout from Israel-Hezbollah war
Qatar is sending scores of military vehicles to the Lebanese army and a new, $60 million donation to help it pay salaries to officers as Lebanon recovers from the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group’s latest war with Israel, the two Arab countries announce.
The statement by Qatar and Lebanon says 162 military vehicles will be sent to the Lebanese army to help the military “carry out its national duties to preserve stability and control the border.”
Gas-rich Qatar has been a main backer of the Lebanese army since an unprecedented economic crisis engulfed the country in late 2019. Qatar was first sending food aid for the military while cash donations began in 2022.
Hezbollah launched its own attacks on Israel, unprovoked, a day after the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7, 2023, with the Palestinian terror group’s onslaught in southern Israel.
After 14 months, a US-brokered ceasefire halted the Hezbollah-Israel war, which caused destruction that will take $11 billion to rebuild, according to the World Bank.
Since the November ceasefire, Lebanon has elected a new president and prime minister, who have both promised to carry out reforms.
IDF says it hit Hezbollah sites, says terror group using civilians as ‘human shield’

West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks

Politics and the War and General News

Anti-government protesters spark anger with Passover pita display at minister’s home
‘One pita a day,’ spelled out with bread, references meager rations given to hostages; Idit Silman condemns ‘scum,’ other ministers say protesters don’t represent hostage families
A protest made out of pita bread outside the house of Environment Minister Idit Silman on the festival of Passover on April 14, 2025 (Idit Silman/X)
Anti-government demonstrators sparked outrage Monday among right-wing lawmakers and others when they used pita bread to spell out a protest message outside the Rehovot home of Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman amid the Passover festival, a time when observant Jews are forbidden from eating or owning leavened bread.
The demonstrators spelled out the words “One pita a day” with the pitas, a reference to the meager rations that hostages are reportedly receiving in Gaza.
Silman helped bring down the previous government, headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, when she quit and cited, in part, the issue of leavened goods, or hametz, being allowed in public spaces during the Passover holiday.
She later joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, and was rewarded with a post of minister.
Silman slammed the demonstrators Monday, calling them “scum.”
“Passover. A street where most people are religious and traditional. These scum come to scatter pitas on the street,” she posted on X with a picture of the offending protest.
“It’s not for the sake of the hostages. It’s not for democracy. It’s not even for politics,” she said. “It’s just because they are disgusting types who have no basic human values. No concern for others, no respect for Judaism, and no civility. Absolute nothings.”
Other coalition ministers also condemned the incident.
“The despicable display by provocateurs at the home of Minister Idit Silman deserves to be denounced and condemned by all national leaders,” Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of the Shas party said.
“It does not represent the families of the hostages. It is a provocation that wastes food, desecrates the sanctity of Passover, and does not inspire any solidarity. The entire nation despises you,” he said.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch wrote on X: “The despicable and repulsive protest outside the home of Minister Idit Silman stems from only one reason — hatred.”
“Don’t pretend to represent hostage families,” Kisch added, claiming the protesters were a part of the “fringes” of Israeli society.
In a comment to Ynet, protesters said: “The hostages in Gaza are eating a quarter of dry pita a day, are being raped and tortured. Idit Silman betrayed the most basic values of Judaism — the return of captives, incorruptibility and public integrity.”
There were no reactions from opposition politicians.
Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza and supporters protest for the release of hostages, outside the home of Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, in Jerusalem, on April 13, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Families of hostages taken on October 7, 2023, are marking the second Passover with their loved ones in captivity.
Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 59 hostages, including 58 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists in the October 7 onslaught. They include the bodies of at least 35 confirmed dead by the IDF.
Hamas released 30 hostages — 20 Israeli civilians, five soldiers, and five Thai nationals — and the bodies of eight slain Israeli captives during a ceasefire between January and March. The terror group freed 105 civilians during a weeklong truce in late November 2023, and four hostages were released before that in the early weeks of the war. In exchange, Israel has freed some 2,000 jailed Palestinian terrorists, security prisoners, and Gazan terror suspects detained during the war.
Eight hostages have been rescued from captivity by troops alive, and the bodies of 41 have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the Israeli military as they tried to escape their captors, and the body of a soldier who was killed in 2014.
The body of another soldier killed in 2014, Lt. Hadar Goldin, is still being held by Hamas, and is counted among the 59 hostages. link
You murdered Emil Grunzweig, Shira Banki, Yitzhak Rabin, the boys from Bar-Noar.
You hurled stun grenades at the hostages' protest tent.
You set it on fire.
You cursed and assaulted bereaved parents.
You ran over protesters.
You wished the Farkash family—who lost their pilot son Tom Farkash—that they should lose more sons.
You disrupted Memorial Day ceremonies.
You cursed freed hostages.
You stood at intersections screaming, "Why didn’t Hitler finish the job?" and "Gas chambers, let’s go!"
You praised spies in the Prime Minister’s Office.
You abandoned hostages in Gaza and sabotaged efforts to free them.
You sent political beasts Tali Gottliev and Almog Cohen to disrupt Supreme Court hearings.
You normalized a prime minister with three criminal cases and an international arrest warrant for genocide.
You shrugged off his responsibility for the Meron disaster.
You forgave him for funneling hundreds of millions to fortify Hamas—and maybe some Qatari bribes into his private pocket.
You forgave him and his family for their decadence, arrogance, and vanity.
For the eye-popping "Wing of Zion" private jet.
For his reckless son living it up in Miami on your dime while your sons die in Gaza’s trenches.
You normalized and celebrated Kahanism and Jewish racism in the Knesset and government.
You wrecked the economy and got Israel’s credit rating downgraded three times.
You normalized and excused a cabinet minister who allegedly molested her underage daughter and filmed her for porn.
You operated a well-oiled poison machine, always diverting discussion from substance to trivialities.
From your monstrous crimes to nonsense.
And so you obsessed over awnings at Ehud Barak’s, Aharon Barak’s, Hadas Klein’s homes—the Attorney General, the State Attorney, the Supreme Court President—while refusing to recognize the latter de jure as president.
You harassed witnesses and state’s witnesses in Netanyahu’s trial.
You stormed military bases.
And of course, never forgot to occasionally smuggle cellphones to security prisoners’ rectums.
You did EVERYTHING!!!
But what?!
Don’t you dare hand out pitas near Idit Silman’s house.
There’s a limit.
That’s too far.
That’s crossing every red line.
That’s breaking the status quo.
link
A holiday of freedom in the land of captivity
Those who are unwilling to confront the moral and legal implications of the occupation are not truly celebrating freedom

These days, Jews are celebrating the holiday of freedom. They read the Haggadah, speak of liberation from bondage, of the cry of the oppressed, of the exodus from Egypt. But one need not look far in order to grasp the depth of the gap between that story and the reality in Israel. A glance out the window is enough. Because while Jews in Israel celebrate freedom, another people lives under occupation.
Millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are subject to Israeli rule, to the denial of basic rights, to military control, to checkpoints, to arrests, to home demolitions, to restrictions on movement. In the West Bank, it’s overcrowded refugee camps, and life beneath the shadow of constant arrests and nightly raids. In Gaza, it’s an ongoing ethnic cleansing, relentless bombings, and infrastructure destruction.
What is freedom if it does not include the right of others to be free? But the harsh and unspoken truth is that even Israeli Jews are not free. Israeli society as a whole is not free. It is held captive, not only to the occupation, but to those leading it.
The Religious Zionism party, and especially its elected representatives from the West Bank settlements, have become the country’s center of power. The faction controls budgets, influences the judicial system, shapes the public agenda, and sets political red lines that even the center-left hesitates to cross. The settler representatives have become a coercive force, not only over Palestinians, but also over the Jewish public in Israel.
This is a process that began on the fringes and has become politically mainstream. It’s a process in which a messianic-ideological minority dictates national identity, security policy and basic laws. It is a reality in which freedom becomes a privilege reserved only for those who fall in line.
And so, even the liberals among them – those who still believe in human rights and democracy – are themselves captive. Slaves to political fear. Slaves to silence. Slaves to alliances with an extreme right that is so far removed from the values of freedom that the word itself sounds like a joke.
Those who don’t dare call the occupation by its name, who are unwilling to confront the moral and legal implications of apartheid, are not truly celebrating freedom. They are celebrating the normalization of oppression. The Passover Haggadah demands that we identify with the oppressed. But that identification becomes hollow when it exists alongside the silencing, repression, and denial of present-day oppression.
It is time to say it plainly: There is no such thing as partial freedom. You cannot celebrate the holiday of freedom while simultaneously upholding a regime of control and oppression. There is no true freedom as long as it belongs only to some people.
And in simple terms: Freedom that exists while denying another’s freedom is not freedom. It is a mask. An empty shell doomed to fall and crumble.
Because, as the American civil rights crusader Fannie Lou Hamer said, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”

About the Author: Dr. Ahmad Tibi is a prominent Arab Member of Knesset and the head of the Ta’al (Arab Movement for Renewal) party. A physician by training and a seasoned parliamentarian, Tibi has served in the Knesset since 1999, making him one of its longest-serving Arab lawmakers. link
Eisenkot spars with Netanyahu’s Likud, says he knew of PM’s alleged 2013 attempted wiretapping of top officials
National Unity MK Gadi Eisenkot says he knew about an alleged instruction given in 2013 by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the head of the Shin Bet security service to carry out illicit monitoring of senior officials to prevent media leaks.
“I knew they were asked to carry out surveillance, and I can say I was even consulted,” Eisenkot, who was Netanyahu’s military secretary at the time, tells the Kan public broadcaster. “I wasn’t a target because he trusted me, but I knew about the stories in real time.”
He says he was in charge of the monitoring actions carried out on behalf of Netanyahu’s office.
The remarks support an allegation made last week by former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen in a declaration to the High Court of Justice.
Cohen claimed that, in 2013, Netanyahu asked him to use intelligence tools to monitor anyone who was party to knowledge of an impending Israeli operation in a hostile country until the operation was completed. Cohen said he declined, telling Netanyahu it was inappropriate for the Shin Bet to use tools designed for spying missions and to prevent terror attacks against “hundreds” of members of Israel’s intelligence agencies, including their heads.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel submitted that filing to the High Court as supporting evidence for its petition against Netanyahu and the government’s decision to fire current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Eisenkot also repeats his criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the war, his government’s attacks on law enforcement officials leading probes into alleged wrongdoing in his office, and his advisers allegedly acting on behalf of Qatari interests, which is at the center of one of those probes.
Netanyahu’s Likud responds by accusing Eisenkot, who lost a son and a nephew during fighting in Gaza in the current war, of “striving for complete surrender to Hamas in Gaza and the entire Iranian axis.” It adds: “The public doesn’t buy [the center-left’s] defeatism, nor their fake political probes that they echo with cooperation by the media, and which fall apart time after time.”
National Unity responds to the response, accusing Netanyahu of giving in to his government’s far-right flank, fumbling opportunities to free the Gaza hostages, and only launching a ground offensive in Gaza under the centrist party’s pressure early in the war.
“It’s time for the prime minister who oversaw the biggest failure since the state’s founding to stop giving in to every political demand, and do what’s right for the State of Israel — return the hostages, thwart Iran’s nuclear capabilities, pass a [Haredi] enlistment outline, form a state commission of inquiry [into Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught], and go to elections.” link I always say that when given a choice to believe Netanyahu or his office and anyone else, always go with anyone else. This is even more so when the other person is Gadi Eisenkot. Gadi was a revered Chief of General Staff, known then and till now for his patriotism, honesty and moral compass. Quite the opposite of Netanyahu who is known as a compulsive liar.

The Region and the World

Meeting Putin, Qatar’s ruler claims Israel ‘did not abide’ by Gaza truce deal
Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani claims that Israel failed to respect January’s ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
“As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately, Israel did not abide by this agreement,” says Qatari ruler, a key mediator of the deal.
He also says Doha plans to strengthen relations with Russia.
Putin, meanwhile, tells the emir that it is important for Moscow to discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict and the future of Syria during the visit.
The two leaders review agreements to be signed during the emir’s visit, described by the Kremlin as “very important.”
Sheikh Tamim also says that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, an ally of Qatar, is seeking to build relations with Russia, after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, who was a close ally of Russia. link The Qatari ruler is absolutely right, Netanyahu breached the January agreement, first when he refused to send the negotiating team to start negotiating Phase 2 on the 16 day of Phase 1 and then for refusing to negotiate it at all and ending the agreement after Phase 1, where he damned the remaining 59 hostages to continuing hell in Gaza. With that said, we must always remember that Qatar is not our friend. Yes, they have been an integral and important partner in the negotiations for the hostages but it is only because they are trying to improve their image after being the main sponsor of Hamas for years as well as being a State sponsoring terrorism around the world. Their money has bought them a lot of good will and greased the palms of too many corrupt politicians, including in Israel and it is not beyond reason that some of that money may have found its way into the Netanyahu coffers as well.

Personal Stories

"It started as a joke, and now three women are leading the special forces unit."

Maj. N made history when she was appointed as the first female operations officer in an elite unit fighting in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Alongside her are Lt. S, who ensures communications work even when explosives detonate, and Capt. S, who leads supply convoys under fire. In an interview with N12 Magazine, they discuss the intense clashes in Jenin, jokes about the "female triangle," and criticize the lack of women in combat units—no, they are not asking for standards to be lowered for them.

"I got a pretty surreal call from the commander of the Haruv Reconnaissance Unit in the middle of the year," recalls Maj. N (25), describing the moment that changed her military career. The commander invited her to interview for the unit's operations officer position—a role never before held by a woman in an elite unit. "At first, I was sure they were messing with me. I really didn’t believe it. I was like, 'Okay, who’s recording this?'" she smiles. Before that, she served in Military Intelligence’s Special Operations Division, after roles as a squad commander, platoon leader, and eventually company commander in the Caracal Battalion.

Eight months into her role, on January 30, Maj. N found herself in Jenin refugee camp, the "terror capital" of the West Bank, during a fierce battle. Terrorists ambushed Israeli soldiers in a house, opening fire at close range and wounding them. Sgt. Liam Hasi (20) from Rosh HaAyin was killed, and five other fighters were injured.

Maj. N was responsible for evacuating the wounded, deploying reinforcements, and planning the pursuit of the escaped terrorists. Hours later, the unit located and eliminated the attackers who had killed their comrade. "There’s significant resistance in West Bank refugee camps," says N. "Almost every operation involves clashes, gunfire. It’s routine now—going in at night for arrests, getting shot at. It’s expected."

For the past year and a half, three women have led the Kfir Brigade’s reconnaissance unit—from the front lines to headquarters. Maj. N (25), appointed eight months ago as the unit’s first female operations officer; Lt. S (23), the battalion communications officer keeping fighters connected in battle; and Capt. S, commander of the logistics company, responsible for the unit’s supplies and administration.

"It is a great privilege to be part of this unit." Major N., S. and S. the officers in the Harob patrol | Photo: IDF spokesperson

"I thought it would be more complicated, but I was welcomed with open arms," admits Maj. N. "You know, the fighter on the ground doesn’t care if I have a ponytail under my helmet. He cares if I know what I’m doing, if I’m professional and serious."

Hours after Hamas invaded the western Negev on October 7, the Haruv Unit was deployed from the West Bank to Gaza border communities. This marked the start of a grueling year and a half, with operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. "Entering enemy territory was a defining moment for us," says Capt. S, who leads the logistics company supporting combat units.

But the fighting in their home sector, the Menashe Brigade, became their most critical and complex campaign since the Second Intifada. Jenin and Tulkarm were in flames, the Palestinian Authority lost control, and the unit led operations to dismantle terrorist cells and destroy their infrastructure.

"It’s a huge privilege to be part of this unit, especially during such a turbulent time for the country," says Maj. N. She lives in Tel Aviv with her partner, also a career soldier ("We pay for an apartment that’s mostly empty"), and began her service in the first mixed-gender light infantry battalion. "This role is a dream I didn’t dare dream. If someone had told me this years ago, I would’ve laughed in their face."

The Communications soldier's injury was a double blow. Lieutenant S., the battalion liaison officer Photo: IDF spokesman

Over the past year and a half, the Haruv Unit led intense operations in the most volatile areas—starting in Gaza’s Shejaiya in December 2023, then Khan Younis, and later Lebanon. But their primary focus remained the refugee camps. "The time in Menashe reshaped our defense strategy," says Maj. N.

This year, the IDF launched Operation Iron Wall in Jenin and Tulkarm, staying in the camps for extended periods—a first in years. The unit, alongside the Oz Brigade, conducted over 500 operations, killing more than 60 terrorists and uncovering bomb-making labs.

Maj. N, constantly alongside the unit’s commander, led forces through Jenin’s narrow alleys, maintaining morale even under fire. "It’s like how people imagine combat in Gaza—advancing, securing areas, destroying terror infrastructure. There are almost always clashes."

Capt. S faces her biggest challenge: ensuring fighters have everything they need, from food and water to ammunition. She leads supply convoys into enemy territory. "In Gaza, you can resupply every two days. In the West Bank, it’s every 24 hours," she explains.

The enemy targets these convoys, knowing their importance. "Even the best fighter needs supplies," she stresses. This was starkly evident two months ago when a unit jeep hit an explosive near Jenin, severely wounding a communications soldier.

"It was our first major incident in a new combat zone," says Capt. S. "It showed we’re not immune, even in secured areas." The injury also disrupted communications, forcing Lt. S to improvise. "When comms went down, we relied on backup methods. It showed how critical our role is."

As the first female operations officer in an elite unit, Maj. N paves the way for others. "It’s a huge privilege," she emphasizes. "In combat units, you want to contribute like the men can. That I got this chance is crazy to me."

The trio’s leadership has shattered stereotypes. "We’re three women leading the unit in our fields," says Lt. S proudly. "Heading a mostly male system and seeing them follow your decisions—it’s empowering."

Not everyone was convinced at first. "Some doubted us," admits Capt. S. "It started as a joke, but that pushed us to prove ourselves. Now it’s seen as a real advantage."

Meanwhile, a High Court debate continues on integrating women into combat roles. Maj. N is firm: "The discussion should be practical, not gendered. Standards shouldn’t be lowered. If women meet them, they should serve in core roles."

Yet in July, the IDF postponed a pilot program for female tank crews, citing equipment shortages. "It’s disappointing," says Maj. N. "Honestly, I see no reason it shouldn’t be more open, especially in a conscripted ‘people’s army.’"

Despite challenges, the officers remain optimistic. "We’re changing norms," says Lt. S. "Once that happens, doors open."

Maj. N agrees. "Even if not all paths are open yet, I want every 16-year-old girl to know the sky’s the limit. If women work hard, they can excel anywhere."

The details in this report were approved for publication by military censorship. 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

Search This Blog

Lonny's Ramblings