🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 561, 2023

🎗️Day 561 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

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Hostage Updates

The message from the Prime Minister that shook the hostage's mother: "Just before the holiday, we were thrown into an emotional whirlwind"

The Prime Minister's Office announced that he will deliver a "special statement" tomorrow, without specifying the topic it will address. Netanyahu is expected to speak about the Iranian issue—amid nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. and the attack halted by U.S. President Donald Trump—as well as the stalled negotiations for a hostage deal.
"Think about what we are going through, waiting on edge for your statement," wrote Vicki Cohen, whose son Nimrod has been held captive for 560 days. This is the only sentence she hopes to hear.
Every message released to the media from the Prime Minister's Office strikes the most sensitive nerves of the hostages' families, who have endured this for over a year and a half. Tonight (Friday), just before the start of the second Passover holiday, another such message was published. The Prime Minister's Office announced that Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver a "special statement" tomorrow, without specifying the topics he will address.
The statement is expected to be prerecorded, and once again, as with all his recent statements, journalists will not be allowed to ask questions. Netanyahu is expected to discuss, among other things, the Iranian issue—against the backdrop of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. and the attack halted by President Donald Trump—as well as the stalled negotiations for a hostage deal.
Vicki Cohen addresses Netanyahu on the eve of the holiday
(Photo: Yariv Katz)

Vicki Cohen, the mother of kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen, addressed Netanyahu on social media platform X, writing:
"This is Nimrod's mother. An announcement like this, just before the holiday, throws us into an indescribable whirlwind of emotions and suffering." She stated the only sentence she hopes to hear from Netanyahu in tomorrow's "special statement":
"I am stopping the war and bringing Nimrod and all the hostages back."
She added, "Any other statement will break my heart." Concluding her message, she wrote:
"I ask you to think during the holiday about what we are going through, waiting on edge for your statement."
At this time, the headquarters of the hostages' families is holding a special event in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to mark "a second holiday without them." Relatives of the hostages gathered in the square, where they highlighted the fact that 59 hostages are still being held in Gaza. The event is held in collaboration with the Kibbutz Movement, along with Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Be'eri, and Kfar Aza.
Eve of the second Passover holiday in Hostage Square
(Photo: Dana Koppel)

Benny Gantz with Danny Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, on the eve of the second Passover holiday in Hostage Square
(Photo: Dana Koppel)

Lior Simcha, Secretary-General of the Kibbutz Movement, said:
"We embrace the hostages' families and ensure this issue remains at the heart of Israeli society at every moment, all the time. Without the return of the hostages, there is no rehabilitation for the kibbutzim and no healing for Israeli society as a whole. The Kibbutz Movement is leading this struggle, and I thank the thousands who chose to join the special, moving, and sad holiday meal in the square."
Tomorrow, as every Saturday night, the central rally will take place in Hostage Square under the banner "We have only one heartbeat left," echoing the call from the hostages' families to end the "heartbeat method" that tears families apart, as described by Robbie Chen, father of hostage Itay Chen.
"The families have endured a year and a half of hell. Instead of the government and the Prime Minister understanding the magnitude of this event, we are witnessing a return to the rhetoric of 'us versus them.' I want to 'congratulate' the Prime Minister and his team for managing to divide hostage families, who are now arguing over which hostage is more humanitarian," he said in a statement earlier in Hostage Square.
In a message from the headquarters, they called on the public to join tomorrow's rally, "with a call to decision-makers: All the hostages—above all else."
"Reach an agreement that will release all the hostages—the living for rehabilitation, and the fallen for burial. Hamas cannot be defeated as long as it holds even one hostage. The people choose the hostages—they are above politics, above all disputes. History will remember those who sat silent and those who stood up and acted," they stated.
At tomorrow's rally, former captive Omer Shem Tov is expected to speak for the first time. He will be joined in the square by:
- Anat Angrest, mother of Matan Angrest
- Eilet Samarno, mother of Yonatan Samarno
- Former captive Ilana Gritzewsky, partner of Matan Tzengauker
- Idit Ohayon, mother of Alon Ohayon
- Liron Overlander, cousin of Rom Braslavski—who this week received the first filmed proof of life from him.  link

Father of a Fallen Hostage: "Netanyahu Divided Hostage Families, Who Now Fight Over Who Is More Humanitarian"

"The living and the fallen alike, in a manner and at a time known in advance": Families of hostages issued a statement after the terror organization rejected Israel's latest proposal. Inbar Tzengauker: "We are here after yet another failed attempt to advance a deal." The Prime Minister's Office announced Netanyahu will deliver a "special statement" on Saturday night. He is expected to address the stalled negotiations.
Another outcry from relatives of those languishing in Hamas tunnels: Representatives of hostage families delivered a statement to the media today (Friday) in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, following Hamas' announcement that the terror group rejects Israel's latest ceasefire proposal. The families demanded the return of the 59 hostages held captive in Gaza for 560 days. Eli Shetivi, father of Idan who was murdered on the day of the massacre and whose body is held by Hamas in Gaza, said:
"Only after everyone returns will we continue the war against Hamas. No individual in this country has the right to determine the fate of the hostages."
Eli Shetivi added: "I call on the Israeli government to close the deal. Do not drag this into another round of negotiations—agree to Hamas' demand and release all hostages in one phase, today. The lives of our sons and daughters are not negotiable."
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to deliver a "special statement" tomorrow addressing various issues, including the stalled hostage deal talks.
Ruby Chen, whose soldier son Itai was killed on October 7 and whose body was taken hostage, accused:
"The families have endured a year and a half of hell. Instead of the government and the Prime Minister grasping the magnitude of this event, we are witnessing a return to the rhetoric of 'us versus them.' I want to 'congratulate' the Prime Minister and his team for successfully dividing hostage families, who are now arguing over whose hostage is more humanitarian. And for 'succeeding' in dividing hostage families from bereaved families, and IDF soldiers from families who couldn’t share a Passover Seder together."

Eli Shetivi (Photo: Lior Sharon)

Ruby Chener (Photo: Lior Sharon)

Einav Tzengauker, mother of hostage Matan Tzengauker, also criticized the government:

"We are here today after yet another failed attempt to advance a deal—another day among many where our hearts are shattered. But the truth must be said: Since Netanyahu dismantled the negotiation team and appointed his loyalist Minister Dermer, we’ve been in catastrophe. Clearly, something in the negotiation management isn’t working—what’s not working is that since the last deal collapsed, no Israeli initiative to bring everyone back has been put on the table."
Danny, father of hostage Omri Miran, stated in the families' declaration:
"I join the demand for the return of all hostages in one phase, from the very first week. Today, unfortunately, it feels like this issue has been pushed off the agenda. The negotiators are not listening enough to the families—or to the people. The government keeps repeating, 'We are carrying out the will of the people.' Well, I tell the government: The people’s will is the immediate return of all hostages."
Miran added:
"I plead once more—bring my son Omri back. I miss him and want him home, along with all the hostages. All the organizations, all the forums, all of Israel demands their return in one phase. I’m not a strategist or a leader, so I allow myself to say, as the father of a civilian hostage: Make every effort to ensure they are all here by the next Independence Day."
Danny Miran (Photo: Lior Sharon)

Michel Illouz (Photo: Lior Sharon)

Michel Illouz, whose son Guy was murdered on October 7 and taken hostage to Gaza, said:
"The last Memorial Day was the saddest day of my life. I had no grave. My son Guy is kidnapped and buried in Gaza’s sands. I can’t explain this feeling. I appeal to the Prime Minister and decision-makers: You don’t know what it’s like to wander in a daze on Memorial Day, unable to mourn my tragic fate—to tell Guy how much I miss him."
Illouz continued:
"I hope the government’s indifference cracks open after these words. Netanyahu’s government has no real interest in bringing back all 59 hostages—some for rehabilitation, others for dignified burial. History has taught us this government isn’t serious about negotiations aimed at returning everyone in one phase. We must raise a red flag against a government negotiating in blatant bad faith."
"The families demand one comprehensive deal for the return of all 59 hostages. The current negotiations are just sand thrown in the public’s eyes. The sole goal is to stall us, the families, buying time for irrelevant considerations. The hostages, at the very least, are not a priority for decision-makers."
Before the statement, the families' headquarters emphasized:
"We demand decision-makers reach a deal that returns everyone—the living and the fallen alike—in a manner and at a time known in advance."
This morning, over 1,500 cyclists participated in the "Ride Until Everyone Returns" event near the Gaza border. The ride, starting at dawn near Kibbutz Ruhama, was organized by "Brothers in Arms." Participants included survivors like former hostage Ofer Calderon, hostage families, and residents of the Gaza periphery.
Hamas Rejects "Partial Deals"
Last night, Hamas rejected Israel’s latest hostage deal proposal. The terror group’s official statement declared:
"We will not entertain partial deals Netanyahu and his government use as cover for their political agenda to continue the war."
Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, head of the terror group’s negotiation team, stated:
"Hamas is ready to immediately discuss a deal releasing all hostages in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners."
Al-Hayya added today:
"The international community must intervene and pressure Israel to end the unjust siege on our people in Gaza."
Arab media reported that the rejected proposal included:
- Release of 120 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus hundreds more
- Return of 10 living hostages
- 45-day ceasefire
- Release of American-Israeli hostage Idan Alexander on the first day, followed by three additional phases (including fallen hostages)
- Talks on ending the war and disarmament
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as an additional Defense Ministry official, responded by calling to "open the gates of hell on Hamas":
"Israel will never surrender to Hamas and will not end the war without total victory—destroying Hamas and bringing all hostages home. The time has come to open the gates of hell on Hamas, deepen the fighting until full control of Gaza, eliminate Hamas, and implement President Trump’s plan for Gazans to voluntarily relocate for rehabilitation abroad. Mr. Prime Minister, give the order." link

US submitted request to mediators for direct meeting with Hamas on American hostages
Arab diplomatic sources tell Emirati outlet Erem News that the US has submitted a request to mediators for direct discussions with Hamas on the issue of hostages, with the aim of securing the release of US-Israeli Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other dual nationals.
Unnamed sources tell Erem News that the US request for a direct meeting with an official from the Palestinian terror group was submitted to a mediator last week and could take place within the next few days.
The sources told the outlet that they did not know what the US could offer the terror group in return for the release of Alexander and the bodies of Judih Weinstein and her husband Gadi Haggai, Omer Neutra and Itay Chen.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler said “it is possible” that his direct talks with Hamas could resume.
The interview was Boehler’s first on the Israel-Hamas conflict in several weeks, following uproar in Jerusalem over unprecedented direct negotiations he held with Hamas officials to try to secure the release of Alexander and the bodies of the hostages.
Israel found out about those talks after the fact, leading Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to hold an angry call with Boehler, knocking him for negotiating on Israel’s behalf without keeping Jerusalem in the loop, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel last week.
But Boehler said in the Wednesday interview that the offer he made in early March for the five American hostages was “coordinated with Israel.”
Hamas released a propaganda video on Sunday in which a gaunt and emotional Alexander pleaded with the Israeli and US governments to secure his release, after over a year and a half in captivity.
On Monday, Hamas claimed to have lost contact with the operatives holding Alexander in Gaza following an Israeli strike. It has not provided further updates on the matter.
A protester holds up a cutout of Edan Alexander’s face at a rally calling for the release of the hostages, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, March 15, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Gaza and the South

Gaza photojournalist, family killed in Gaza strike; IDF says it targeted Hamas operative. The Guardian reports on a young Gazan photojournalist, Fatima Hassouna, who it says was killed in an Israeli strike in northern Gaza this week.

Hassouna, 25, was killed along with 10 members of her family, including her pregnant sister, the report says.

Hassouna was the subject of a documentary set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May/

The IDF tells the paper that the strike targeted a Hamas operative involved in attacks on soldiers and civilians. Video

Gaza doctor’s post lays bare terror groups’ infiltration of enclave’s hospitals

Medical official sparks controversy online after speaking out against terrorists’ attempts to use Khan Younis’s Nasser Hospital, revealing that he has been ‘openly threatened

Israeli soldiers escort the media to an underground tunnel found underneath Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP/Victor R. Caivano)

Mohammed Sakar, head of the nursing department at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, published a very unusual post on his Facebook account last week.

In his post, the doctor, who also serves as a spokesperson for the hospital, hinted that he had been threatened by Palestinian Islamic Jihad due to his refusal to let the terror group’s operatives enter and use the hospital.

“As head of the department, I exerted all efforts to reopen the hospital and I succeeded… in serving the wounded,” Sakar wrote. “I made sure that the hospital wards were used only for patients, and not for displaced persons… In this way, I managed to keep the hospital safe and avoid threats of closure.”

Now, he revealed, “I’m being openly threatened, even though I explained to those who came to my office that all the steps I took were to protect the hospital,” he continued. “God will not forgive you.”

The post included a photo of a note Sakar had apparently received that read: “Dear one, you have crossed the line, take heed! – Saraya al-Quds,” referring to the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.

The post was deleted a few days after it was published, and since then, Sakar has not posted again on Facebook or appeared in the media.

Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the Field Hospitals Department in Gaza, surveys the destruction inside the surgical building of Nasser Hospital, a day after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, March 24, 2025. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Sakar’s public disclosure was a rare instance of a medical professional in Gaza addressing attempts by terror groups to infiltrate hospitals. By numerous accounts, these efforts are commonplace in most hospitals in the Strip.

Throughout the war, Israel has repeatedly sent troops into hospitals to root out terror infrastructure and gunmen. It has also offered evidence of the facilities’ regular use by terror groups as bases of operations due to their protected status. But little testimony has come willingly from Gazans themselves.

The Times of Israel connected with another doctor at Nasser Hospital who wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. He refused to say if he had also been threatened, due to the subject’s sensitivity. He only said: “Regarding threats, these are things that the hospital’s management should deal with. We, the medical teams, are not involved in politics.”

Sakar’s public post sparked online reactions from Gaza residents. Mustafa Asfour, a Gaza City resident who was previously detained by Hamas and claims his brother was beaten by Hamas members after criticizing them on social media during the war, wrote on his X account: “Dr. Mohammed Sakar received threats from mercenaries belonging to Islamic Jihad because of his opposition to armed men inside the hospital. Every mercenary organization has thieves around it, and it wants to take the land into its own hands and play with people’s lives as it pleases.”

Another Gaza City resident, writing on X under the name Abu Malek al-Azzi, said: “The head of nursing at Nasser Hospital is receiving threats from spies and the impure offspring of [former Iranian Supreme Leader Ruhollah] Khomeini… People and the Sakar family must shoot anyone who attacks their son.”

Weapons found by IDF troops searching the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on February 16, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

In the days following the publication of Sakar’s post, another incident suggested tensions in Gaza hospitals tied to Hamas’s attempts to utilize them. At the beginning of the week, rumors spread online that the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, run by the Red Crescent Society, had closed its doors and that doctors were on strike in protest of attempts by Hamas operatives to enter the hospital. Photos were shared showing the hospital shuttered and empty of patients. However, the next day, the Red Crescent in Gaza denied that the hospital had closed.

Such incidents come amid growing internal criticism of Hamas in Gaza during the renewed war and Israel’s prevention of humanitarian aid from entering the Strip, which has severely impacted Gaza’s population.

Evidence of dual use

Over the past year and a half, the Israeli military has conducted ground raids on the vast majority of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, in some cases more than once. According to the IDF, battles took place in many of the hospitals, and following the raids, hundreds of individuals were detained on hospital grounds. Ammunition and weapons were also discovered inside the hospitals, and detainees reportedly testified during interrogations that the hospitals had been used as shelters by terrorist organizations.

In April 2024, the IDF said it conducted a raid on the Shifa Hospital, during which it said it killed 200 terror operatives and arrested another 500. Among those killed and detained were top commanders in Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Valuable intelligence was also seized, the IDF said at the time.

The IDF launched in December 2024 an operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza after identifying that Hamas operatives had returned to the area. Later, the IDF released interrogation footage of a Hamas operative detained by troops at Kamal Adwan, in which he said the terror group used the medical center as a shelter.

Last month, Israel struck a surgical wing of Nasser Hospital and killed two people, one of whom was senior Hamas figure Ismail Barhoum. According to the IDF, Barhoum was appointed as Hamas’s prime minister in the Strip after his predecessor, Issam al-Da’alis, was killed on March 18 during the surprise Israeli attack that ended the ceasefire.

On April 7, 2025, Israel struck a nearby communications compound, injuring Hassan Asleh, a journalist close to Hamas who had documented the October 7 attack. Palestinian media reported that other journalists were killed. The compound, adjacent to the hospital, has existed since the beginning of the war and has been regularly used by journalists in Gaza.

Released hostages have also testified that they were held in hospitals at certain points.

Palestinians walk through the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip near Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Monday, April 1, 2024. (AP/Mohammed Hajjar)

More than 30 hospitals for 2 million people

According to UN reports, before the war began, following Hamas’s October 7 surprise attack, there were around 35 hospitals in Gaza. However, this number is not fixed and tends to fluctuate, due to the existence of small medical clinics, some of which are counted as hospitals.

Currently, according to sources familiar with the humanitarian situation in Gaza who spoke to The Times of Israel, 14 government hospitals are operating under Hamas control in the Strip, in addition to 14 field hospitals established during the war with international funding from humanitarian organizations and Arab states. Many hospitals were damaged and closed during the war.

This represents a relatively high number of hospitals per capita for a population of 2 million. In comparison, Israel, with a population of approximately 9.9 million, has about 20 general hospitals and a few additional hospitals without emergency departments.

The large number of hospitals in Gaza is due to donations from countries and non-profit organizations that established many of them, and the absence of a modern administrative body that will push to unite the hospitals into larger medical centers. Nonetheless, the current situation has allowed terrorist organizations to operate within many of these sites.

Mounting pressure

Despite all this, hospitals in Gaza continue to function as medical centers, staffed by doctors, nurses and medical personnel throughout the war, according to numerous reports and testimonies, some from foreign medical staff.

According to the Israeli humanitarian organization Doctors for Human Rights, hundreds of Gaza medical staff — doctors, nurses and other hospital workers — have been arrested over the past year and a half, about 150 of whom are still held in Israel. Dr. Iyad al-Bursh, who spoke with The Times of Israel, was arrested during IDF operations at Shifa Hospital last year and was held in Israel for 10 months before being released without charges. He says he does not know why he was arrested.

Al-Bursh told The Times of Israel that there is a severe shortage of medicine due to Israel’s decision not to allow humanitarian aid into the Strip beginning in early March, and that the situation in northern Gaza is even worse. Additionally, bombings and raids have caused hospitals in Gaza to either shut down or function only partially. Shifa Hospital itself was largely destroyed in a military raid against terror operatives during the war and, according to al-Bursh, is currently operating on a very limited scale.

Al-Bursh asserted to The Times of Israel that he has not received any threats from any entity during his work at Shifa. “The medical establishment in Gaza cares for the doctors and medical staff and overcomes obstacles,” he said, referring to the civil infrastructure in Gaza controlled by Hamas. Link

IDF strikes 40 targets across Gaza, captures and destroys tunnels in northern Strip

Hamas-controlled civil defense says 24 people killed in overnight strikes; army general visits Gaza after soldiers complain of insufficient food during Passover holiday

The Israeli Air Force struck some 40 targets in the Gaza Strip over the past day, the military said on Friday, with targets including terror operatives, buildings used by terror groups and weapons depots, as troops continue to operate on the ground across the Strip.

Palestinians said that at least 24 people were killed in the strikes.

In the Tel Sultan and Shaboura areas of southern Gaza’s Rafah, the military said, troops of the Gaza Division destroyed Hamas infrastructure and killed several operatives during an ambush.

In northern Gaza, the 252nd Division destroyed a weapons depot and directed drone strikes on operatives, the army said.

Additionally, during recent operations in Gaza City’s eastern neighborhood of Shejaiya, the IDF said reservists of the Jerusalem Brigade, now in their fourth round of reserve duty in Gaza, located several tunnels and a weapons depot.

The military said the operations in Shejaiya are intended to expand a buffer zone along the Gaza border. The area is relatively elevated and overlooks the Israeli border communities of Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza and Sa’ad.

This past week, the IDF said the reserve brigade eliminated a cell of operatives that was planning a sniper attack on the forces.

The tunnels and weapon depot located by the reservists were demolished by the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, the army added.

Gaza’s Hamas-controlled civil defense agency said that 24 people were killed in strikes across Gaza, including 10 people were killed in an overnight attack near the southern city of Khan Younis.

“Our crews recovered the bodies of 10 martyrs and a large number of injuries from the house of the Baraka family and the neighboring houses targeted by the Israeli occupation forces in the Bani Suhaila area east of Khan Younis,” spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said on Telegram.

The agency also reported at least 14 others allegedly killed in multiple Israeli strikes across the territory, including at least two strikes which it said hit tents sheltering displaced people.

There was no immediate IDF comment on the specific strikes in question. Israel has said, in general, that 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.

Soldiers complain of lack of food

After troops of the Golani Brigade operating in Gaza complained they were not receiving enough food due to kosher-for-Passover restrictions, the chief of the Technological and Logistics Directorate, Maj. Gen. Mishel Yanko, entered the Strip on Friday morning to inspect the matter personally, the military said.

Yanko met with several units in Gaza “in order to ensure that the troops are receiving the necessary food and logistics response.”

The IDF said it has a 24/7 hotline running throughout Passover where soldiers can issue complaints regarding food.

On Thursday, reports emerged that Golani soldiers who are fighting in Rafah complained to their parents that they were only eating matzah with chocolate spread and had not had a single hot meal in several days.

The IDF on March 18 resumed its attacks against Hamas with a surprise wave of airstrikes, ending a two-month ceasefire. Efforts to restore the truce have so far failed.

The IDF says it continues to ramp up pressure on Hamas to bring the terror group to agree to a hostage deal, but was not moving ahead with a major offensive just yet.

The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when some 5,000 Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages amid acts of brutality and sexual assault.

Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are still holding 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive, and 35 of whom have been confirmed dead — including 58 of those abducted on October 7.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 50,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting so far. The toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.

Israel assesses it has killed about 20,000 combatants in Gaza as of January, as well as some 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the Hamas onslaught.

Israel’s toll in the Gaza ground offensive and military operations along the border stands at 410.

In the Gaza sector, the Golani Brigade’s combat team continued operational activities yesterday along the "Morag" route, referred to as the "new Philadelphi Corridor," and destroyed the training compound of Hamas' "Shabora" battalion. A mock Israeli tank used by terrorists was also found at the site.
Simultaneously, in the Strip, reports yesterday mentioned casualties in a strike on a UNRWA school in Jabaliya. The Qatari network Al Jazeera reported that six Palestinians were killed in the attack. The IDF stated that the strike "targeted a terrorist operating from a Hamas command and control center used to plan and carry out terror attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians."

Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria

Engulfed in flames with smoke billowing above: Terrorist eliminated in aerial vehicle strike in southern Lebanon

An IDF aircraft attacked and eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist who "was responsible for deploying the terror organization's communication systems." In southern Lebanon, two additional drone strikes were reported: "One killed near Ayta al-Shaab." In Gaza: 11 people, including two children and a woman, were killed in an Israeli airstrike overnight in the northern Strip.
Vehicle strike on a road near Al-Ghaziyeh village in southern Lebanon

In Lebanon, reports emerged this morning (Friday) of a vehicle struck by an airstrike in the village of Al-Ghaziyeh near Sidon in southern Lebanon. In the evening, the IDF spokesperson confirmed that an aircraft had precisely targeted and eliminated terrorist Muhammad Jaafar Abdullah, a member of Hezbollah.
"The terrorist was engaged in terror activities against the State of Israel and was responsible, among other things, for deploying Hezbollah's communication systems throughout Lebanon, particularly in the area south of the Litani River," the military stated.

The IDF further noted that "the terrorist's recent activities violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and posed a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens." Footage from the scene showed the vehicle engulfed in flames with thick smoke rising above it.
Additionally, reports this morning indicated an Israeli drone strike on a structure in the village of Muhaybib in southern Lebanon. In the evening, another drone strike was reported on the Ramish-Ayta al-Shaab road. According to the local channel Al-Jadeed, one person was killed.
In Gaza, reports this morning stated that 11 people, including two children and a woman, were killed overnight in an Israeli strike on a home in Tel al-Zaatar in the northern Strip.
Drone strike on a vehicle in Lebanon

The Lebanese network NBN reported yesterday that a drone struck a motorcycle in the village of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon. Al-Mayadeen, a network affiliated with Hezbollah, reported one fatality in the attack. Further reports yesterday indicated a drone strike in the village of Umm al-Tut in southern Lebanon. Another Lebanese report claimed casualties but did not specify the number or their condition.
The Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed yesterday published footage showing Lebanese military helicopters in the skies of Beirut, alleging that Israeli drones had also been flying over the city since early morning. Another report claimed that the IDF fired at representatives of a damage assessment committee in the village of Mays al-Jabal but noted no casualties. link

Pentagon confirms US to slash number of troops in Syria to below 1,000

US soldiers step into an armored personnel carrier as they patrol an area in the town of Tal Hamis, southeast of the city of Qameshli in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh governorate, on January 24, 2024. (Delil Souleiman/AFP)
WASHINGTON — The US military will consolidate its presence in Syria over the coming weeks and months in a move that could reduce the number of troops it has in the country by half, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell says.
The US military has about 2,000 US troops in Syria across a number of bases, mostly in the northeast. The troops are working with local forces to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which in 2014 seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria but was later pushed back.
“This deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the US footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand US forces in the coming months,” Parnell says in a statement.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the consolidation under a Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve — to select locations in Syria.
Parnell says US Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against what is left of ISIS in Syria and work with coalition partners to keep pressure on ISIS and respond to any other terrorist threats.

West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks

Politics and the War and General News

Personal Post by Ami Dror, Former Captain in the Shin Bet State Unit for the Security of Personnel and Missions (Unit 730)

The amount of filth I have on Hamas's financier and his family from my days in Unit 730 is unimaginable.
I never opened my mouth. There is endless testimony from guards, commanders, those who saw everything—and yet, miraculously, none of us "leaked." (And I know this infuriates many people.)
Since I began acting against the "Hamas is an asset" government, I've been more cautious than ever. I avoided any contact with the unit so I wouldn’t even accidentally receive a scrap of information. I was as careful as if handling fire, and I saw the same caution from the other side.
Only twice did I reach out to the unit, and that was when I identified a security breach in the protection of Hamas's financier (not a single purple hair must fall from his head). I just think about all the medical procedures he hid from the public, the family's "problems," the missing funds, the vanished valuables, the suitcases that went through X-rays—and nothing, not even a single "leak."
And now? Now I see Hamas's financier and his poison machine attacking the Shin Bet and emboldening the criminals and the leakers...
Seriously?
Do you really want to remove the barriers?
Do you really want to start a leak competition?
Do you really want everything Unit 730 knows to be leaked?
The truth? It's tempting! It’s even amusing! But it won’t happen!
The leakers are criminals. Those who leaked to Bild wanted to get rid of the hostages. Those leaking to Shikli wanted to get rid of the Shin Bet chief.
It won’t happen. You won’t get rid of them. The Shin Bet is an organization of warriors.
Friends, ignore the background noise. There’s only one story:
The betrayal of Hamas’s financier’s office against the State of Israel. A group of people who worked for the enemy during wartime. Everything my comrades and I know about them doesn’t compare to spying for the enemy in war. This is a group drowning in Qatari money while abandoning the hostages to their deaths—everything else is secondary.
Let this sink in deep:
Qatar funded Hamas’s financier’s office, and at the same time, it funded Hamas’s murderers.
That alone is enough to lock them all up for eternity.
— Ami Dror
---
### Key Notes:
- "מממן החמאס" (Hamas’s financier) – referring to Netanyahu (used sarcastically, he enabled Hamas).
- "יחידה 730" (Unit 730) – a security/intelligence unit protecting senior officials.
- "הדלפה" (leak) – Emphasizes the gravity of unauthorized disclosures.
- "בילד" (Bild) – German media outlet that published leaked hostage negotiation details.
- "שיקלי" (Shikli) – a reference to Minister of nothing Shikli
- Call to focus – The core accusation is Qatar funding both Netanyahu’s office and Hamas, framing it as treason.

Attitudes Toward Hamas Have Changed, and the War Pushed Egypt to Lead a Decisive Move

Egypt is the Arab country most affected by the war in Gaza. The fighting is taking place at its doorstep, and the threat of Palestinian refugee migration has become more tangible than ever. Yet, even amid the storm, President Sisi found a way to turn the Gaza crisis into a major strategic advantage.

A New Regional Order – The Middle East in an Era of Change
By Amira Oron, former Israeli ambassador to Egypt

The war in Gaza has triggered regional processes that will take years to fully decipher. As a key regional player, Egypt has been more deeply impacted by this war than any other Arab state. The immediate reason lies in the fact that the conflict is unfolding right on its border—the shared frontier between Gaza and Sinai.
After 18 months of war, it is worth examining how the conflict has influenced Egypt’s regional standing, shaped by its relations with Israel on one hand and the Palestinian factions—the Palestinian Authority and Hamas—on the other, as well as the interplay between these relationships.
The war has starkly highlighted the complexities of Egypt’s ties with Israel and the Palestinians, a dynamic that has existed since the peace treaty was signed 46 years ago, on March 26, 1979.

Egypt’s Regional Status
Egypt’s leadership in the Middle East is a cornerstone of its foreign policy, which seeks to cultivate and preserve this role. This status has become even more pronounced following the disintegration of several Arab states over the past two decades, particularly after the Arab Spring. The weakness of these nations has led to what many in the region see as a troubling trend: interference by non-Arab powers—Iran, Turkey, and even Israel—in Arab affairs.
Moreover, the decline of state authority has empowered non-state actors, including terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which exploit governance gaps. In contrast, Egypt stands out as a stable, sovereign state that operates based on its own interests and the principles upheld by the international community—chief among them, preventing security threats emanating from its territory against neighboring states.
Egypt sees itself as the Arab world’s leading nation due to its size, millennia of history as a unified political entity, and its political and military strength. Its soft power—rooted in cultural assets like cinema, music, and Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious institution—further amplifies Cairo’s influence across the Arab and Islamic worlds. The headquarters of the Arab League is in Egypt, and its secretary-general is typically a former Egyptian foreign minister.

Egypt’s Leadership and Alliances
Egypt’s leadership is acknowledged by other Arab states. It coordinates closely with another leading Arab power—Saudi Arabia—to stabilize and guide the Arab world based on the principle of statehood, emphasizing strong, functional nations. This stands in contrast to the ideology of political Islam, promoted by the Muslim Brotherhood, which envisions a unified Islamic ummah governed by Sharia, undermining Arab sovereignty and borders.
While Turkey and Qatar champion this vision, Egypt, at the forefront of the anti-Muslim Brotherhood camp, has successfully repelled Islamist waves that once threatened to dominate Arab states.

Egypt’s Global Relations
Another key factor in Egypt’s regional standing is its extensive diplomatic network, spanning Africa, the EU, Mediterranean states, and international organizations, particularly the UN. Its relationship with the U.S. is especially critical, born from President Anwar Sadat’s historic pivot away from the Soviet Union. This partnership strengthened after the peace treaty with Israel, encompassing military cooperation, economic development projects, education, and academia. Egypt also maintains strong ties with Russia, China, and other global powers like India, aligning with the Global South’s shared agenda.
These relationships enable Egypt to pursue a foreign policy that supports President Sisi’s primary economic goal: the comprehensive development of Egypt under his vision of a "New Republic." Egypt relies on international investment and aid, and its prominent regional status and stable image greatly assist in achieving these objectives.

The Impact of the Peace Treaty with Israel
A central pillar of Egypt’s regional influence is its peace treaty with Israel, making it the trailblazer in Arab-Israeli diplomacy. This historic move stemmed from Egypt’s regional strength, and the resulting relationship has, in turn, reinforced its standing.
The treaty gave Egypt the ability to engage with all stakeholders—Arab states, the Palestinians, Israel, and Western nations, particularly the U.S. A prime example is Egypt’s mediation between Israel and Hamas over the past two decades during Gaza conflicts.

The Gaza War and Egypt’s Role
The Gaza war has amplified Egypt’s regional role, reaffirming its leadership in several ways:
- Diplomatic Coordination: Egypt has repeatedly convened Arab leaders to forge a unified stance on the war, centered on calls for an immediate ceasefire and Gaza’s reconstruction. It spearheaded the Cairo Peace Summit (October 21, 2023) and the recent
- Mediation: Egypt has been central in brokering ceasefire proposals and hostage release deals between Israel and Hamas.
- Rejection of Forced Displacement: Egypt’s firm stance against the forced migration of Gazans has been unanimously adopted by Arab states and many global powers.

Egypt’s Stance Toward Israel
Understanding Egypt’s approach to Israel requires acknowledging two key dynamics:
1. The Palestinian Factor: The peace treaty has seen ups and downs over five decades, heavily influenced by the Palestinian issue.
2. Government vs. Public Opinion: While the Egyptian leadership reaffirms its commitment to peace with Israel as a national security imperative, the public and media remain fiercely critical, often framing Israel’s actions as "extremist" and "brutal."
President Sisi has repeatedly emphasized the two-state solution, even citing the peace treaty as a model for turning enmity into lasting peace. However, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has issued numerous condemnations of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Egypt’s View of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas
Egypt feels a principled responsibility toward the Palestinian cause. The public strongly identifies with Palestinian suffering, supporting their right to self-determination. The Egyptian government sees the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate representative of a future Palestinian state—the only entity with which negotiations should be conducted.
Hamas, as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, has long faced hostility from Egypt’s establishment, especially after its involvement in Sinai terror attacks a decade ago. However, the October 7 assault on Israel shifted perceptions. While some in Egypt initially expressed support for Hamas’ "resistance," the regime continues to engage with Hamas pragmatically, given its control over Gaza since 2007.
Still, Egypt does not view Hamas as a legitimate future ruler of Gaza. Many Egyptian commentators have increasingly blamed Hamas for Gaza’s devastation, arguing that removing the group is essential to salvaging the Palestinian cause.

Conclusion
Despite the prolonged war straining Egyptian-Israeli relations, both nations remain committed to their peace treaty, and official channels continue to function. The hope is that once the war ends, dialogue will evolve toward a future of shared security and coexistence.
Amira Oron is a former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, currently a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a member of the Deborah Forum.  link

The Bereaved Father Who "Drew the Line" for a Minister – And the Social Media Trend: "These Are Israel's True Heroes"

Eyal Eshel, whose daughter fell on October 7, could not remain indifferent to the support for the Shin Bet agent arrested on suspicion of leaking classified information to journalists and Minister Shikli. In a post on X, he called to "set a clear boundary against cheapening the title 'Hero of Israel'" and invited his followers to share who their heroes are. "It's insane—I never thought it would reach this scale," he told Ynet.

"The Real Heroes"

After being arrested and questioned on suspicion of leaking classified information to journalists and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, the Shin Bet agent at the center of the affair was released and greeted with cries of "Hero of Israel" in his hometown. Chikli joined the chorus, defending him: "He is a hero of Israel, exposing corruption, willing to take risks against bureaucrats who spiraled into dangerous vertigo."

Chikli’s words sparked an uproar—and a backlash. Eyal Eshel, father of lookout Roni Eshel, who fell at the Nahal Oz base on October 7, decided to act. He posted on X, calling to "set a clear boundary against cheapening the title 'Hero of Israel.'" He urged his followers to share stories of Israeli heroes who impacted them, along with photos—and the post went viral.

"It's insane—I never thought it would reach this scale," he told Ynet.

The Eshel family before the war. Roni, of blessed memory, on the right.

"The statements by the prime minister and ministers lately pushed me to write this post," Eshel noted. "I saw Netanyahu’s response about his son Yair being a 'Zionist,' and other politicians forgetting October 7—instead of staying silent, they keep speaking and writing. That’s what bothered me."

"I was furious at what Chikli wrote about the suspect accused of leaking Shin Bet documents," he emphasized. "These words are deliberately provocative, twisting the knife in already wounded flesh. I’ll do everything to stop this. It’s unacceptable."

About his post, he said: "I sat down and wrote something deeply thought out—what’s happening here is absurd, and the platform given to these people is undeserved. I didn’t expect the post to blow up, but it shows how fed up people are with reading about unworthy figures, whether from the right after October 7 or those 120 sitting in the Knesset. The fact that it went viral is the saddest part—it shows that citizens, especially the sane voices, just want peace and quiet, longing to wake up to a better reality."

Hundreds of Responses Honoring Fallen Heroes

Dozens of responses flooded Eshel’s post, naming Israelis who fought and fell. "My personal hero is my daughter Roni, and all the female lookouts in Nahal Oz’s command center," Eshel shared. "There are also the incredible fighters at Nahal Oz who defended the unarmed lookouts. Shilo Har Even is a hero to me—he fought with supreme bravery. And Arnon Zamora, who fell rescuing hostages. Alongside them are all those who fought and, to our great sorrow, are no longer with us."

Heroes of October 7 and the Gaza War

One hero mentioned was Yoni (Yonatan) Golan, a tank commander in Battalion 77:

"Yoni volunteered to stay at Nahal Oz on Simchat Torah weekend. When the attack began, he was the first to reach his tank, prepared it, and fought fiercely. He saved lives by covering his comrades’ retreat, shouting ‘Run, I’ll cover you!’ before falling to enemy fire."

Top row, from right to left: Sheila Har Even, Arnon Zamora, Yoni Golan, Elhanan Clemenzon. Middle row: Roi Marom, Yiftah Shahar, Roni Eshel, Aviv Hakani. Bottom row: Tomer Barak, Aner Shapira, Salman Havka, Uri Loker (photo: courtesy of the family, police spokesmen, from a family album, IDF spokesperson, )

"Right at the gate, they encountered dozens of terrorists and engaged them in a fierce, prolonged battle. They killed dozens of terrorists and charged toward the frontline positions, where they fired at Hamas targets in Gaza and at the terrorists' vehicles—continuing to fight even after an anti-tank missile fired at close range damaged their tank's 'Windbreaker' defense system. The entire time, they were a lone tank battling numerous terrorists."
"Around 8:00 AM, they were called back to the outpost to assist in fighting near the fortified shelter, where non-combat soldiers were stationed. They returned to the outpost while still engaged in combat. Inside the outpost, they kept fighting the terrorists. At approximately 8:53 AM, as they neared the shelter, another anti-tank missile was fired at them, hitting the engine and disabling the tank. Shortly after, another missile struck the turret, killing the gunner."
"Yoni told the soldiers around him, ‘Run, I’ll cover you!’—and as they ran toward the shelter, he provided covering fire, saving their lives. After they reached the shelter, he went back to the tank to rescue the driver. The driver didn’t respond, and Yoni assumed he had also been killed. As he exited the tank, he fought alone in a gun battle against terrorists. At 9:10 AM, he was shot and killed."

Yoav Sheli’s father shared:

"My son was on leave at the Nova party. When the shooting started, he and friends raced to a house in Be’eri, where they treated a wounded officer. When terrorists returned, Yoav grabbed a gun and fought until rescue forces arrived."

Jonathan, a friend of Roei Marom, wrote:

"Roei left a message before entering Gaza: ‘If I die, do something for at-risk youth—but I won’t die. I’ll come back to do it myself.’ How I miss him."

Alon Meir Klemanzon, 41, from Otneil, was also honored:
"He rushed to the Gaza border on October 7 with his brother and nephew, rescuing dozens from Be’eri before falling in battle."

Erez Berman wrote about Maj. Yiftah Shachar, who fell in Gaza:

"He saved his unit by spotting a trap but couldn’t save himself. A true leader."

Urie praised Sgt. Aner Shapiro:

"He fought terrorists bare-handed in the Re’im bunker, deflecting grenades until his last breath."

Amit honored Awad Darawsheh, a paramedic killed at Nova:

"He stayed treating the wounded until terrorists shot him dead."

Elad Horowitz remembered Aviv Hakani:
"He pioneered tunnel demolition tactics, dying when an RPG hit his explosives-filled vehicle."

Sgt. Uri Locker, 19, was also named:

"A Golani fighter who held off dozens of terrorists near Zikim until his last bullet."

Lt. Col. Salman Habaka, a Druze commander, was hailed:

"He led tanks into Be’eri on October 7, retaking the kibbutz from Hamas."

A Different Kind of Hero

Shira Kadri highlighted Nissim, a traumatized soldier:

"After surviving horrors in Gaza, he had a psychotic break, attacked his father, and was arrested. Where are the politicians now, so concerned about detainees’ rights? Who fights for mentally scarred veterans?"

The Viral Post’s Message

Eshel’s post became a rallying cry against politicizing heroism. "These are the real heroes," he said. "Not those who cheapen the term for headlines."

The responses—raw, personal, and overflowing with grief and pride—painted a mosaic of courage. In a nation still reeling, the post reminded Israelis: true heroes don’t seek titles. They live—and die—by them.

Final line:

"Heroes aren’t made by speeches. They’re forged in moments when running isn’t an option. link

The Region and the World

Houthis prepping for potential ground operation by Yemeni forces in coordination with US – report
The Houthis are preparing for a potential ground operation by Yemeni government forces against the Iran-backed group, Asharq al-Awsat reports.
Government sources tell the London-based, Saudi-owned newspaper that Houthis have increased mine-planting operations in Hodeidah and other population centers ahead of the possible operation by the Yemeni government in coordination with the United States. The newspaper does not clarify which government the sources are from.
The US military has hit the Houthis with near-daily airstrikes over the past month in a bid to stamp out their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Claiming solidarity with Palestinians, the rebels began attacking the key maritime route and Israel after the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when their Palestinian ally Hamas launched a devastating terror onslaught in southern Israel.
They paused their attacks during a recent two-month ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Personal Stories

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

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