🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 578, 2023

🎗️Day 578 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

Hostages' Families to IDF Chief: Meet With Us Urgently to Explain How Captives Will Be Protected
The headquarters of families of hostages has appealed to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, requesting an urgent meeting with him and reserve general Nitzan Alon to hear how the IDF plans to prevent harm to hostages in its new combat strategy. The request comes after reports that during a cabinet meeting, the Chief of Staff said they 'could lose hostages.' The families also noted that no official source has yet denied warnings indicating that the current combat plan could endanger the 59 hostages
Qatar: ‘Efforts ongoing’ for hostage deal, even as Israel readies to expand Gaza operations
Demonstrators protest for the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, outside the District Court in Tel Aviv, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is testifying in the trial against him, May 6, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
Qatar says it is still pursuing efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, even after Israel approved expanded military operations and Hamas said it wasn’t interested in further talks.
“Our efforts remain ongoing despite the difficulty of the situation and the continuing catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari tells reporters at a regular briefing.
Earlier today a senior Hamas official said the terror group was no longer interested in hostage-ceasefire deal talks with Israel and urged the international community to halt Israel’s “hunger war” against Gaza.
“There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,” said Basem Naim.
A senior Israeli defense official said yesterday that there was a window of opportunity for a fresh hostage-ceasefire deal until the end of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week.
The official said that if an agreement is not secured by then, the IDF will launch a wide offensive in the Strip.
The warning came after the security cabinet on Sunday night approved a plan to significantly broaden the military offensive against Hamas, and as the IDF was calling up tens of thousands of reservists.
The plan provided for the “conquering of Gaza” and retaining the territory, an Israeli official said. The plan also included moving the Palestinian civilian population toward the south of the Strip, attacking Hamas, and preventing the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid supplies.
Israel stopped allowing aid into Gaza on March 2 after the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release deal ended. The past two-plus months have been the longest time in which no aid has entered the Palestinian territory since war broke out with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Israeli officials say enough aid entered the Strip during a two-month ceasefire at the beginning of the year to allow Gazans to survive the halt in supplies as it seeks to ramp up pressure on Hamas for the return of 59 hostages still captive in the enclave.
But data and testimony from inside the Strip point to a worsening hunger crisis and rising rates of malnutrition. Israel is exploring ways to resume aid deliveries without allowing the goods to wind up in the hands of Hamas or allied terror groups, which are allegedly exploiting the crisis to fund the ongoing war.
The IDF believes that it only has several weeks before there is a major humanitarian crisis in the Strip, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel last week.
IDF’s top negotiator to politicians: Hamas may become even more violent toward hostages if Gaza op intensifies
Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon attends a ceremony at the IDF Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem on July 8, 2024. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, the IDF’s point man in the hostage negotiations, warned the political echelon that intensified IDF operations in Gaza could provoke Hamas to take out its frustrations on the hostages, who are already being held under difficult and worsening conditions, Channel 12 reports.
Alon reportedly criticized the government’s handling of the war and reaffirmed public concerns about the decision to expand operations in the Strip.
He cautioned that the harder the IDF strikes, the more violent the terrorists may become toward the hostages still held in captivity.
Alon’s comments come after the security cabinet approved a plan to significantly broaden the military offensive against Hamas, with the IDF calling up tens of thousands of reservists for duty.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that the military will stay stationed in any areas of the Gaza Strip captured until all the goals of the war are achieved. Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 59 hostages, including 58 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They include the bodies of at least 35 confirmed dead by the IDF.

Netanyahu says hostage deal was ‘about to materialize,’ but Qatar wouldn’t help
Prime Minister’s Office denies report saying it foiled bill to label Qatar a ‘terror-supporting state’ and to bar diplomatic, trade ties with it, except possibly on hostage issue

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that a lack of Qatari cooperation in hostage-ceasefire negotiations was to blame for the collapse of the latest potential hostage deal with Hamas, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“We are pressing Hamas to [release the hostages] with the support of our friends,” Netanyahu said in a PMO readout from his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

“We are asking others to put pressure not only on Hamas but also on Qatar, which has decisive influence over Hamas — an influence that is not always exercised but could be,” he added.

“In fact, we had a hostage deal that was about to materialize, one that would have freed almost half of the hostages, with Egypt’s help, but it did not happen. Qatari cooperation… is what could have brought this deal to fruition,” the premier claimed.

“That’s what we expect to see: the support of our friends and pressure from those who are in a position to influence Hamas.”

Last week, Israeli officials began accusing Qatar, one of the mediators in the talks, of trying to sabotage the negotiations by urging Hamas not to agree to the latest proposal on the table. An Arab official, not from Qatar, told The Times of Israel then that the claim was “manufactured” by Jerusalem.

“We are pressing Hamas to [release the hostages] with the support of our friends,” Netanyahu said in a PMO readout from his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

“We are asking others to put pressure not only on Hamas but also on Qatar, which has decisive influence over Hamas — an influence that is not always exercised but could be,” he added.

“That’s what we expect to see: the support of our friends and pressure from those who are in a position to influence Hamas.”

“We are pressing Hamas to [release the hostages] with the support of our friends,” Netanyahu said in a PMO readout from his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

“We are asking others to put pressure not only on Hamas but also on Qatar, which has decisive influence over Hamas — an influence that is not always exercised but could be,” he added.

“That’s what we expect to see: the support of our friends and pressure from those who are in a position to influence Hamas.”

The bill sought to define Qatar as a terror-supporting state, creating such a category for the first time, and would have prohibited donations, trade and diplomatic engagement with the country — though this would possibly exclude the issue of the hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, according to Channel 12.

The preamble to the draft legislation described Qatar as the “world’s largest sponsor” of terror groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic State and the Taliban, and added that “for the past twenty years, Qatar has acted as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing.’”

The bill reached the Ministerial Committee for Legislation twice — once at the end of 2024, and once in January — but according to the report, which cited meeting minutes, the National Security Council blocked it at the request of PMO officials, while citing opposition from the security establishment.

The Shin Bet and Mossad security services told the network that neither agency had been consulted or was even familiar with the bill.

The National Security Council commented that it did not oppose the legislation, and that on the contrary, it supported it.

The PMO called the Channel 12 report “fake news,” saying the bill is being “seriously considered,” though there is the possibility of keeping hostage release negotiations beyond the scope of the bill.

Demonstrators protest against the Israeli government and for the release those held hostage in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, May 3, 2025. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Israel has long had a complex relationship with Qatar, which became one of the first Arab countries to establish trade ties with Jerusalem in 1996. Those relations were severed over two decades later amid Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2009.

In the years that followed, though, Israel urged Qatar to donate hundreds of millions of dollars to finance Gaza humanitarian projects along with the salaries of the Strip’s civil servants.

Qatar has been a key mediator in hostage-ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, following the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, when the Iran-backed organization — the de facto government of the Gaza Strip — invaded the Jewish state, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

Qatar hosts much of Hamas’s political leadership. It also funds the Hamas-friendly Al Jazeera network and, with Israeli consent, sent billions of dollars to the Hamas-run enclave over the decade prior to the October 7 attack, which critics contend helped strengthen Hamas and helped enable the onslaught.

In recent months, authorities have been probing the so-called “Qatargate” affair, in which two of Netanyahu’s aides are suspected of multiple offenses tied to their alleged work for a pro-Qatar lobbying firm. link Netanyahu - lies, lies, lies. Netanyahu has been a front man for Qatar for years and some of his close aids were paid directly from Qatar and employed by them which is the basis for Qatargate. All that Netanyahu is doing now is deflection from Qatargate and from himself, but it is all lies. Qatar is definitely a country that has and still does support terrorism and together with Iran and Russia, has been the main financers of the anti-Israel and antisemitic attacks and activities that came out of US and European universities. since October 7. It wasn't spontaneous. Their financing started years ago and the well oiled machines that they built were waiting for a spark. October 7 was that spark. The US wanted to designate Qatar as a terror supporting state, which would have had major impacts on their economy and their world influence. Who prevented that? Netanyahu! He sent his aides including Security heads to the US administration to convince them not to designate Qatar as such and for them to continue sending millions in cash to Gaza/Hamas. Yes, Qatar has been a critical negotiating partner in getting our hostages home but that is from a strategic plan to show they are the good guys and not sponsors of terror. Again, all of the noise from Netanyahu and his cronies is all about deflections from Qatargate and their deliberate failures in bringing the hostages home.

Top Hamas official: ‘No sense’ in hostage-ceasefire talks while ‘hunger war’ continues in Gaza

A rally calling for the release of hostages at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, May 3, 2025 (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
A senior Hamas official says the terror group is no longer interested in hostage-ceasefire deal talks with Israel and urges the international community to halt Israel’s “hunger war” against Gaza.
“There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,” Basem Naim tells AFP, urging the international community “to pressure the Netanyahu government to end the crimes of hunger, thirst, and killings” in Gaza.
A senior Israeli defense official said yesterday that there was a window of opportunity for a fresh hostage-ceasefire deal until the end of US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East next week.
The official said that if an agreement is not secured by then, the IDF will launch a wide offensive in the Strip.
The warning came after the security cabinet on Sunday night approved a plan to significantly broaden the military offensive against Hamas, and as the IDF was calling up tens of thousands of reservists.
The plan provided for the “conquering of Gaza” and retaining the territory, an Israeli official said. The plan also included moving the Palestinian civilian population toward the south of the Strip, attacking Hamas, and preventing the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid supplies.

Displaced Palestinians line up to receive a meal in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 5, 2025. (Ali Hassan/Flash90)
Israel stopped allowing aid into Gaza on March 2 after the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release deal ended. The past two-plus months have been the longest time in which no aid has entered the Palestinian territory since war broke out with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Israeli officials say enough aid entered the Strip during a two-month ceasefire at the beginning of the year to allow Gazans to survive the halt in supplies as it seeks to ramp up pressure on Hamas for the return of 59 hostages still captive in the enclave.
But data and testimony from inside the Strip point to a worsening hunger crisis and rising rates of malnutrition. Israel is exploring ways to resume aid deliveries without allowing the goods to wind up in the hands of Hamas or allied terror groups, who may be exploiting the crisis to fund the ongoing war.
The IDF believes that it only has several weeks before there is a major humanitarian crisis in the Strip, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel last week. link As usual, there is lots of spin and speculation around the hostage talks and Trump's visit to the region. Talk of a window of opportunity because of it is more of the spin. Some are pinning their hopes that Trump will pressure Qatar to put more pressure on Hamas, as though that will move the chess pieces. Whether of not Qatar was behind the attempts to ruin the Egyptian plan are irrelevant, because the Egyptian plan had no chance of success on the Israeli side. It, too had ending the war as part of the plan. That, for Netanyahu is THE deal breaker. No plan and no window of opportunity has any chance as long as Netanyahu is not pressured into agreeing to a deal that will end the war. I have said this too many times to count: Hamas, the barbaric terrorist organization is not a normal negotiating partner. There is no room for compromise. They will only show some levels of flexibility in interim agreements but their bottom line for the final agreement never changes. My brother, who has spent 18 hears negotiating with Hamas for the benefit of Israel and Israeli citizens has seen that personally. In the case of the negotiations for Gilad Schalit, Hamas' demands at the beginning of Gilad's captivity and the final agreement 5 years and 4 months later were identical. We see it now again with our remaining 59 hostages. Hamas' demands throughout the war to release all of the hostages were the same as they are now: end the war with international guarantees, full withdrawal of all Israeli troops, release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners, including mass murderers. Netanyahu has a history of releasing large numbers of Palestinian prisoners for hostages, that's not a line in the sand for him. Ending the war and full pullback of troops is his line in the sand and not for Israel's benefit, but for his own self interests. The international guarantees are also not a deal breaker, except for Netanyahu using it as a talking point against ending the war. No international guarantees would stop Israel from going back into Gaza the second that Hamas breeches the agreement, such as a single rocket fired from Gaza. The only window of opportunity that Trump's visit could bring and make a difference is if he pressures Netanyahu, as he did in the last agreement, to end the war and pull back troops.

Gaza and the South

Israel sets deadline for Hamas: Deal by end of Trump visit or we take Gaza

US president will end his Mideast visit in just 10 days and by then, according to senior security official, IDF forces will be ready for Operation Gideon's Chariots; Israel will bring aid into Gaza to 'a sterile zone in the Rafah area where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access'

A senior defense official said Monday afternoon that the name of the new operation approved overnight by the security cabinet for expanded action in the Gaza Strip is “Gideon’s Chariots.” The official clarified that forces will use the coming period to prepare, but will not begin maneuvering in Gaza until after U.S. President Donald Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East, which includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates between May 13 and 16.

“Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any territory it captures, to prevent the return of terrorism, and will operate in each cleared area according to the Rafah model, where all threats were neutralized and the area became part of the security buffer zone,” the official said.

He added that Israel will bring humanitarian aid into Gaza “after the start of operational activity and a large-scale evacuation of civilians to the south,” and noted: “A humanitarian plan will be implemented, as presented yesterday by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, that distinguishes between the aid and Hamas by using civilian companies and designating areas that will be secured by the IDF. This includes a sterile zone in the Rafah area beyond the Morag route, where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access.”
Regarding the timing of the expanded operation and the possibility of a hostage deal, the defense official said: “The military’s preparations ahead of the ground maneuver will create a window of opportunity—until the end of the U.S. president’s visit—for a hostage deal under the ‘Witkoff model.’ In such a case, Israel will seek to retain territory that has been cleared and incorporated into the buffer zone beyond the March lines. Under any temporary or permanent arrangement, Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone around Gaza, which is intended to protect Israeli communities and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.”

The official stated that, under the plan formulated by the IDF chief of staff and the General Staff, and approved by the defense minister and prime minister, the IDF will reinforce its troops and operate with force to defeat and subdue Hamas and destroy its military and governmental capabilities, “while applying strong pressure to secure the release of all hostages.” He added that a “robust protective envelope” would be provided for maneuvering forces by land, air and sea, using heavy equipment to neutralize explosives and destroy threatening structures.

A central component of the plan, he said, is the mass evacuation of all Gazan civilians from combat zones, including northern Gaza, to areas in the south, in order to separate them from Hamas terrorists and allow the IDF operational freedom. At least at the beginning of the operation—if and when it starts—the humanitarian blockade on the Strip will continue until the civilian evacuation is complete.

The official stressed that “if no hostage deal is reached, Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ will begin with great force and will not end until all its objectives are achieved.” He added that “the plan for voluntary relocation of Gaza residents, especially those gathered in the south outside Hamas’ control, will be part of the operation’s goals.”
At the cabinet meeting overnight, ministers discussed the chosen name for the operation. One minister commented on the choice, asking why “Gideon” was selected, noting the resemblance to Minister Gideon Sa’ar. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir made a quip, and another minister replied, “You can call it ‘Ma’ale Itamar.’” The room laughed, and another minister said, “Let’s call it ‘Let me die with the Philistines.’” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, “We don’t want to die with them. We want them to die alone.”  Link

Netanyahu says IDF will keep troops on captured ground in Gaza until Hamas defeated, hostages freed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a video posted on X that IDF troops will remain stationed on territory captured during the recently approved intensified Gaza operation until the war aims are achieved.

“Last night we sat late into the night in the cabinet and decided on an intensified operation in Gaza,” says the premier.

“This was the recommendation of the chief of staff — to move, as he put it, toward the defeat of Hamas. He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages along the way. I agree with him. We are not letting up on this effort, and we will not give up on a single one. That is what we are doing.”

“We won’t talk about the details because we’ve already spoken in detail about both of these matters: what we’re doing for the hostages, and what we’re doing for the defeat [of Hamas],” Netanyahu continues.

“One thing will be clear — we’re not going in and out [of Gaza] just to call up reserves so they’ll come and seize territory, we withdraw from territory, and carry out raids on what remains… That’s not the intention. What’s our intention? The opposite,” he says. link

France ‘very strongly’ condemns plan to conquer and hold Gaza, says Israel ‘in violation of humanitarian law’
Of course this in violation of humanitarian law and international laws. When has that ever stopped Netanyahu and his increasingly extremist governments in the past. In this case, Netanyahu has no issue violating international laws and guarantees. He only uses that argument when it comes to ending the war with international guarantees that it would be impossible to go back to fighting. Everyone knows that he has no problem violating agreements. It's only a talking point when it suits his interests.

Cost of Gaza war escalation could top NIS 15.4 billion, threatening Israeli budget stability
Finance Ministry officials warn expansion of ground operations will trigger steep cuts to public services, and require new taxes, as Israel faces growing pressure to fund prolonged reservist mobilization and defense needs
The escalating war in Gaza and the mobilization of tens of thousands of Israeli reservists could soon impose new financial burdens on the public, senior Finance Ministry officials warned Monday, citing the rising cost of resuming large-scale military operations.

With a return to intense fighting in Gaza potentially costing more than NIS 15.4 billion ($4.1 billion), officials say significant budget cuts across all government ministries may be necessary, sharply impacting public services. Finance officials are also considering new taxes not included in the 2024 budget, in defiance of previous positions held by finance and tax authority leaders.

The Israeli military estimates that daily operational costs, which had recently dropped to about $22 million due to limited reservist deployment, could spike to over $70 million if multiple reserve divisions are mobilized and deployed throughout Gaza.

“The government isn’t discussing the financial toll, only the goals of the operation and the elusive defeat of Hamas, which has not been achieved in 19 months,” a senior Finance Ministry official told Ynet. “The cost of mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists for extended periods will be enormous, and will inevitably hurt economic growth.”

One economic official warned that the renewed offensive could risk further credit rating downgrades, following three major cuts earlier this year.

There are also concerns about the broader economic impact of removing 30,000 to 50,000 reservists from the labor market and higher education institutions. To cover the added costs, Israel’s budget deficit could rise from 4.9% to at least 5.1%, requiring a 3.5% reduction in government purchasing budgets.

Despite the urgent need, the Knesset Finance Committee has thus far declined to approve new tax proposals drafted by the Tax Authority. Finance Ministry officials say the government must press committee chairman MK Moshe Gafni to approve a package expected to generate at least $830 million. The plan targets black-market funds, the real estate sector, green taxes, and stricter enforcement of tax laws.

Measures blocked by Gafni—partly in protest of the proposed conscription law—are now being pushed again. These include mandatory reporting of all rental income, full transparency from platforms like Airbnb, a law requiring fuel receipts to qualify for deductions, limits on cash transactions at financial institutions, and changes to tax rules for affiliated companies.

Other proposals include increasing capital gains taxes on residential property sales, repealing benefits under the “trapped profits” law, and extending green tax policies beyond their current 2025 expiration date. Senior officials also support reinstating taxes on sugary drinks and disposable tableware, despite opposition from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Officials stressed that the government will not be able to fulfill its 2026 budget promises, including tax reductions, without structural reforms. They urged the passage of an equitable conscription law, which could boost the economy and budget by an estimated $2.7 billion annually.

Opposition Finance Committee leader MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid) warned Monday that the government’s decision to expand reservist mobilization would collapse the 2025 budget, which was approved just six weeks ago.

“The $1.1 billion security cushion has already been depleted,” Beliak said. “This isn’t just about direct costs—it will also drag down economic growth. About 20% of the reservists are employed in the high-tech sector, the main engine of Israel’s economy. That will lead to a sharp drop in state revenue later this year.”

Beliak predicted the government would breach its deficit limits and be forced into another round of 3–5% cuts to ministry budgets. “Education, welfare, healthcare, and infrastructure will once again take the hit,” he said.

He accused Smotrich of promoting “endless war and military rule in Gaza at a cost of tens of billions a year,” while ignoring the rising cost of living and continuing to allocate billions in coalition funds. “The Finance Minister and the government are repeatedly collapsing the state budget, damaging Israel’s economic reputation and harming its citizens’ quality of life. This recklessness must stop.” link. Of course, the government doesn't deal with the costs of these operations. If they did, they would have to give better explanations about everything. Instead, it is not discussed, not investigated, not cared about. They instead force these costs on the weakest in the society which has already gone into effect before this operation with a 3.3% cut in the salaries of government workers, such as teachers, police, fire fighters, government employees. The people who are not having their salaries cut are the Haredim, Knesset members, ministers. Quite the opposite, Knesset members and ministers are having their salaries increased by putting them on par with judges. They are also not closing superfluous ministries. Quite the opposite, they added additional ministries and ministers and deputy ministers to expand the government. Disgraceful disregard for the population.

IDF says 2 Hamas operatives, including one who held hostages, surrendered to troops in Rafah
(L) Muhammad Zaarab, a commander in a Hamas sniper unit and (R) Yousef Qadi, a Hamas platoon commander who invaded Israel on October 7, 2023 and was later responsible for holding several Israeli hostages in Gaza, in a graphic released by the Israeli military and Shin Bet on May 6, 2025 (Courtesy)
Two Hamas operatives, including a terrorist who participated in the October 7 onslaught and held hostages, surrendered to troops in southern Gaza’s Rafah, the military announces.
According to the IDF, the two were captured during operations of the 188th Armored Brigade in Rafah’s Shaboura camp several weeks ago.
One of the terror operatives is identified by the military and Shin Bet as Yousef Qadi, a Hamas platoon commander who invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, during the terror group’s attack, and was later responsible for holding several Israeli hostages in Gaza, all of whom have since been released.
The second is identified as Muhammad Zaarab, a commander in a Hamas sniper unit.
The military says the pair were armed with several knives when they surrendered to troops.
During their interrogation by the Shin Bet, the pair provided intelligence information “about the location of a significant terror infrastructure in the area,” the statement says.
The IDF completed encircling Rafah several weeks ago and has been operating since then to locate and eliminate dozens of terror operatives still believed to be in the area.
The military says its activity in Rafah continues, and soon it will expand its operations to additional neighborhoods.

Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria

10 more Syrian Druze brought to Israel for medical care after being wounded in sectarian violence
Lebanese army says Hamas handed over second suspect involved in firing rockets at Israel in March
The Lebanese Army announces that Hamas handed over a second Palestinian who was involved in launching rockets at Israel in March, after transferring the first suspect to the army yesterday.
Last weekend, Lebanon warned Hamas not to act in a way that would harm the country’s national security and undermine its stability, and Hamas’s representative in Lebanon, Ahmad Abd al-Hadi, was summoned for a meeting with Lebanese security agencies.
According to Lebanese media, the meeting was described as a reprimand, and reports say Abd al-Hadi was warned not to allow Hamas’s military wing to operate in Lebanon.
Lebanese media reports Israeli strikes in the Beqaa Valley, close to Syrian border
Lebanese media reports Israeli airstrikes in the Janta area in the Beqaa Valley, close to the border with Syria. There is no immediate comment from the IDF on the strikes.
IDF says it targeted Hezbollah weapons manufacturing, storage site in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley

West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks

IDF begins demolition of dozens of homes in refugee camps near West Bank’s Tulkarem
An Israeli army excavator demolishes a Palestinian building in a refugee camp east of Tulkarem, on May 5, 2025, during an ongoing military operation in the north of the West Bank (Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
The IDF has started the process of demolishing around 90 homes in the Nur Shams and Tulkarem refugee camps near the city of Tulkarem in the West Bank.
Palestinian media reports that residents were given two hours to collect their belongings before the demolitions.
In response to an inquiry from The Times of Israel, COGAT, the Defense Ministry body which oversees coordination in the West Bank and Gaza, stated that residents were given approximately five hours and that 15 homes would be demolished today.
This marks the first significant wave of home demolitions in the Tulkarem area as part of an ongoing IDF counter-terror operation that has been underway for three months. According to Palestinian media reports, some 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes in the two camps amid the operation.

Politics and the War and General News

Soldiers flee leaving civilians defenseless, IDF probe into Zikim base in massacre, finds
Internal investigation into the October 7 highlights catastrophic leadership failures, faulty equipment and a lack of initiative, allowing Hamas terrorists to massacre civilians while nearby soldiers flee or fail to engage
An internal IDF investigation into the battle at Zikim beach and the nearby kibbutz has revealed a stark contrast between the military’s failures and the swift, effective response by local civilian defenders. While IDF soldiers faltered in the face of the Hamas infiltration on October 7, the kibbutz’s alert squad successfully prevented any terrorists from entering the community.
No residents were abducted and the only fatality in the kibbutz area was a civilian — an off-duty Shin Bet officer who was killed during an encounter with terrorists while passing by on a nearby road.
The findings echo those of a separate probe into the attack on nearby Netiv HaAsara, underscoring a disturbing pattern: in both locations, IDF forces had no numerical disadvantage, yet their response was marred by critical leadership failures, faulty equipment and a lack of initiative.
In both cases, the small IDF unit was led by a squad commander with a malfunctioning radio who made poor tactical decisions and avoided engagement with the enemy.
Responsibility for early failures lies not with the soldiers themselves but with senior officers in the IDF’s Gaza Division, particularly in its northern brigade. Despite these lapses, no commanders were dismissed or disciplined.
At the Zikim base, for example, the soldier assigned to relay battlefield reports left his command post to seek shelter during the initial rocket barrage at 6:29 a.m., as instructed. For nine critical minutes — an eternity in combat — no one was monitoring the radio or coordinating a response to the breach.
According to the probe, both Zikim and Netiv HaAsara were under the same Golani Brigade unit, operating under the 77th Armored Battalion. Investigators noted multiple severe mishaps during and after the fighting, including the horrifying discovery that seven Israeli bodies were left in a shelter on Zikim beach for an entire week after being killed by grenades and automatic fire.
Despite the scale of these failures, the previous IDF chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, opted not to penalize any officers involved — a decision consistent with his broader policy following the October 7 massacre. One particularly chilling moment in the Zikim investigation stood out: six Golani soldiers abandoned their position in the beach parking lot after spotting about ten Hamas terrorists approaching.
"They should have stood between the terrorists and the civilians hiding in the bathrooms and shelters," said an IDF source. "After they retreated, the terrorists killed at least 14 of the 17 Israelis on the beach. The soldiers did not act with the courage expected of them. This was a colossal failure — soldiers in that position are supposed to charge forward, even if it means dying."
The fleeing soldiers also left behind a van, which the terrorists commandeered and drove toward Kibbutz Zikim. Fortunately, a naval lookout spotted the van and alerted the kibbutz’s security coordinator, who quickly mobilized the emergency squad.
Armed and ready, they took up positions around the kibbutz. One alert squad member opened fire on the terrorists after spotting an anti-tank missile launcher in the vehicle.
Critical intelligence gaps and one officer's defiant decision
The soldiers had been stationed in the Zikim area for two and a half months by October 7. The company at the center of the probe had drilled 46 times with the Israeli Navy on handling beach infiltration scenarios.
But when a real attack came on, key systems broke down: the emergency squad leader’s radio failed, severing communication with Navy forces who were engaging Hamas terrorists nearby.
Hamas boats infiltrating Israel at Zikim

As in other post-October 7 investigations, the Zikim probe found that the "dawn alert" drill, conducted at 5:30 a.m. with just 42 soldiers responsible for the entire sector, was carried out as if it were a routine weekend.
No one in the Gaza Division or IDF Southern Command informed front-line troops of the warning signs detected in Gaza nearly ten hours earlier — signals that were already the subject of high-level security discussions.
The investigation also highlights a breakdown between mid-level commanders, such as the Ashdod Naval Base chief — responsible for Gaza’s maritime zone — and their superiors, who withheld key intelligence even from them.
The Ashdod commander, a captain, participated only briefly in a nighttime consultation. At 4:28 a.m., the Gaza Division contacted him about an unusual sign from Gaza but dismissed it as likely a Hamas drill. Unconvinced, the commander contacted Navy headquarters and the intelligence directorate, only to receive similar reassurances.
By 5:43 a.m., senior Navy officers, including the head of operations and the unit’s operations officer, told him, "There’s nothing — just a Hamas drill. Don’t move forces or act unusually, or you’ll blow intelligence sources."
Nevertheless, the Ashdod commander chose to act. Without informing his soldiers of the threat, he quietly repositioned at least one naval vessel farther south and raised readiness levels at the base.

That independent decision proved crucial two hours later, helping prevent Hamas from reaching Ashkelon and Ashdod beaches, nearby gas rigs and the strategic Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline terminal — even though the Navy ultimately failed to stop some terrorists from reaching Israeli shores.
The central focus of the IDF’s internal investigation was the decision by a Golani platoon commander and his soldiers to retreat from Zikim Beach — seen on security footage as an outright flight — allowing Hamas terrorists to murder civilians hiding there, then continue the rampage using the soldiers’ own military vehicle to reach a nearby kibbutz.
In their debriefing, the soldiers argued that they hadn’t fled but rather repositioned to a more advantageous location. They cited two reasons: intense, unidentified fire nearby — later identified as naval cannon fire from an IDF ship and a belief that the number of terrorists greatly outnumbered them. In reality, it was seven Golani soldiers facing off against ten terrorists.
One of the seven suffered from combat stress reaction during the firefight and another was physically wounded. Four of the remaining soldiers later deployed into Gaza and were not dismissed.
“They didn’t talk about fear in the debrief and they didn’t see themselves as fleeing,” said IDF officials. “They believed they were being flanked. Still, there’s no doubt they made both tactical and ethical errors.” The IDF added: “The soldiers had the ability to neutralize the terrorists. In situations like this, we expect combat soldiers to charge forward to save civilians — and to die if necessary.”
The army noted another possible factor: this was the platoon's “Alon” unit, tasked primarily with operating armored personnel carriers. Though they are certified infantry in training, their operational role typically focuses on fighting from within armored vehicles.
Hamas terrorists at Zikim on October 7

The investigation highlighted additional critical failures. For 40 hours — starting the morning of October 7 and lasting until Sunday night — there was zero operational communication between the Gaza Division’s northern brigade and the IDF’s Gaza naval command.
The brigade reported the beach had been cleared, missing seven Israeli bodies inside a shelter that had been riddled with bullets the previous morning. The corpses were only recovered a week later.
Despite being heavily populated and mere meters from Gaza, Zikim Beach wasn’t designated a “vital asset” like the nearby EAPC facility, border-adjacent communities or strategic military outposts. As a result, the IDF’s response there was insufficient.
The Golani force’s deputy company commander opted to fight from inside an APC with a platoon that came under heavy fire and had its systems disabled, meaning he was unable to influence the battle in the broader sector.
The sector’s field medical post left the area around 6:30 a.m. on orders from field commanders, having been stationed there since late night. The Golani alert platoon had no geolocation beacons, in violation of operational protocols. Meanwhile, access roads in the Zikim area remained open and civilians attempting to flee drove directly into gunfire and were hit.
At the same time, the report praised Golani and Armored Corps troops from the 51st and 77th battalions, who helped prevent mass slaughter in the area’s communities by fighting at multiple enemy infiltration points.
Many fought until wounded or killed. Naval forces continued heavy bombardment from sea to shore that morning, halting a third wave of hundreds of terrorists attempting to storm the Zikim area.
One Maglan commando platoon commander was commended for arriving quickly from home — alerted by a friend from the unit who lived in Kibbutz Zikim. He scouted the dunes, located enemy forces and neutralized them.
Kibbutz Zikim’s 11-member alert squad was also lauded: armed and trained on their own initiative, they quickly mobilized and held the perimeter, preventing any terrorists from infiltrating the kibbutz, where 900 residents were sheltering.
‘There was no army that day, we were betrayed’
The IDF presented the findings of the battle at Zikim Beach and Kibbutz Zikim last week. Residents who attended told Ynet that according to the army, 38 Hamas terrorists reached the beach in seven boats.
They were reportedly under the influence of stimulant drugs. Seventeen civilians were murdered at the beach. When the rocket barrage from Gaza began, fishermen and beachgoers ran to hide in restrooms and a fortified shelter — where they were butchered.

Among the dead was 17-year-old Shahaf Krief from Moshav Gilat, who was gunned down with his friends. His father, Shlomi, said he and his wife chose not to attend the debrief. “We didn’t want to go. I heard Golani soldiers left them in the restrooms. There was no army that day — not the navy, not the air force, nothing. I know that if I’d gone, I would’ve lost it.
“I’m still struggling to keep myself together. How did seven little rubber boats get into the country so easily? What happens when submarines come — where’s the army then? These were just rubber boats. A patrol boat could’ve blown them up in seconds. My wife isn’t the same person. They betrayed us.”
Remembering his son, Shlomi said: “Shahaf was a good kid. He loved helping others, especially kids who were bullied. He never thought he was better than anyone else. He had a ranch, raised and trained horses, talked to them.
“He and his girlfriend, Alina Weisberg, went to Zikim Beach that night with tents and music. When the shelling started, they hid in the restrooms. He filmed everything. He called everyone — except me — because he knew I would’ve come.”
Kibbutz: findings highlight the need for a state commission
Following the debrief, Kibbutz Zikim issued a statement: “The findings presented to the Zikim community are deeply disturbing and underscore the urgent need for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 surprise attack.
“The IDF failed to stop the naval and ground assault, failed to protect civilians on the beach and only reached the kibbutz at midnight. Residents and their children had to evacuate under relentless fire, entirely on their own. The area wasn’t fully secured for more than a week.
IDF forces overlooking Kibbutz Zikim
(Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
“Zikim residents deserve complete security and call on security authorities to eliminate all threats to the kibbutz and beach. We demand full implementation of all approved defense measures, tailored to our unique situation as a community near Israel’s maritime border, so that safety in both the kibbutz and the beach is fully restored,” the statement added.
“We deeply honor the bravery of IDF soldiers and security forces who gave their lives in defense of Zikim and mourn all the beloved civilians who were murdered. We are especially grateful to the kibbutz’s alert squad, the security coordinator and all residents who joined them. Their courage saved the kibbutz, blocking terrorists with their own bodies and ingenuity.
“We are also thankful and proud of the soldiers who fought in nearby bases, at sea and along the border, who repelled the continued assault. Despite the horrific failure, the Zikim community is strong. A year ago, we decided to return, rebuild and grow for our members and future generations.
“The kibbutz leadership is committed to ensuring that the rebuilding and development plans for Zikim and the whole region are carried out in full to secure the community’s resilience and future. We continue to pray for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces and demand the immediate return of all hostages to their loved ones — now.” link
Slamming PM for lack of progress in Gaza, Gantz warns public is ‘tired of empty slogans’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel is close to victory in Gaza, but “the public is not stupid, and it is tired of empty slogans,” says National Unity chair Benny Gantz.
Addressing reporters ahead of his party’s first weekly faction meeting in the Knesset following the end of the spring recess, Gantz says that while Israel is “indeed winning militarily” and “and has dismantled Hamas as a large, organized, fighting military force,” the “war on terror is not a football game that ends with the final whistle or after a penalty shootout.”
“For over a year and a half, there has been no progress in replacing the Hamas regime, no exile, no demobilization, no evacuation of the population, no solution to bringing in aid without it reaching Hamas, and no promotion of an international administrator for Gaza,” Gantz states, accusing Netanyahu of “playing for time instead of scoring.”
“Military pressure is necessary both for the return of the hostages and for the replacement of the Hamas government,” Gantz says, asking, however, what Netanyahu means when he says he wants to defeat Hamas.
The return of the hostages is “the most urgent goal,” Gantz adds.
“The truth is that we will not wake up one morning and discover that ‘there is no Hamas’ as the prime minister says, but if we continue to procrastinate, we may wake up one morning and discover that we have no living hostages.”
“Unfortunately, the government is busy dividing the people, not winning the war. It is calling up thousands of soldiers while continuing to release the ultra-Orthodox and Arabs from service,” he argues, accusing Netanyahu of fighting with the attorney general and the Shin Bet instead of being focused on external enemies.
Gantz appeals to “patriotic” Likud voters, stating that “what is happening here right now violates your most basic values,” such as “the supremacy of the law.”
“You will put an end to this because your hearts are in the right place. Even if it takes another six months, even if it takes another year, we will go to elections and make things right,” he vows.
Slamming PM for lack of progress in Gaza, Gantz warns public is ‘tired of empty slogans’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel is close to victory in Gaza, but “the public is not stupid, and it is tired of empty slogans,” says National Unity chair Benny Gantz.
Addressing reporters ahead of his party’s first weekly faction meeting in the Knesset following the end of the spring recess, Gantz says that while Israel is “indeed winning militarily” and “and has dismantled Hamas as a large, organized, fighting military force,” the “war on terror is not a football game that ends with the final whistle or after a penalty shootout.”
“For over a year and a half, there has been no progress in replacing the Hamas regime, no exile, no demobilization, no evacuation of the population, no solution to bringing in aid without it reaching Hamas, and no promotion of an international administrator for Gaza,” Gantz states, accusing Netanyahu of “playing for time instead of scoring.”
“Military pressure is necessary both for the return of the hostages and for the replacement of the Hamas government,” Gantz says, asking, however, what Netanyahu means when he says he wants to defeat Hamas.
The return of the hostages is “the most urgent goal,” Gantz adds.
“The truth is that we will not wake up one morning and discover that ‘there is no Hamas’ as the prime minister says, but if we continue to procrastinate, we may wake up one morning and discover that we have no living hostages.”
“Unfortunately, the government is busy dividing the people, not winning the war. It is calling up thousands of soldiers while continuing to release the ultra-Orthodox and Arabs from service,” he argues, accusing Netanyahu of fighting with the attorney general and the Shin Bet instead of being focused on external enemies.
Gantz appeals to “patriotic” Likud voters, stating that “what is happening here right now violates your most basic values,” such as “the supremacy of the law.”
“You will put an end to this because your hearts are in the right place. Even if it takes another six months, even if it takes another year, we will go to elections and make things right,” he vows.
Government only does what is best for Israel’s security, Smotrich claims, pushing back against critics - the fact that this failure of a finance minister shows that the situation is exactly the opposite. Very little if what Greg have done us for Israel’s security. Everything that Smotrich does as a minister in the ministry of defense is solely to further his extremist messianic goals of getting rid of all Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza, expanding Jewish settlements in both and directing budgets to these efforts and extreme Jewish education and partisan interests. As far as the war goes, everything done is for Netanyahu’s failed and corrupt government to continue to exists, that’s it.
Likud minister accuses anti-government protesters of being funded by Iran
Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem accuses anti-government protesters of receiving funding from Iran during a speech in the Knesset plenum.
“I am completely convinced that in all of the funding of all the protests you have organized in the State of Israel over the past two and a half years, there is significant Iranian money involved,” says the Likud minister.
He recalls that, in recent months, the Shin Bet has arrested several people charged with, among other things, spreading anti-government slogans on behalf of Iran.
Based on this, he says, it seems “completely logical” that they would also funnel money into protests via third parties. Amsalem has a history of vile statements attacking anyone and everyone who is left leaning, and it has always been seen that he has no limits to the depths of vileness he will go. This may be a new depth of vile and evil
Netanyahu called to explain call-up of tens of thousands of reserves in expanded war
Prime minister tells government that Israel plans to occupy areas of Gaza; Knesset panel chair summons Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz after tens of thousands of summons issued to reserve troops while the government promotes draft exemption for Haredi men
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz were called to appear before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee after tens of thousands of IDF reserve troops were called up for duty once again at the same time as the government is promoting a draft bill that would exempt ultra-Orthodox men from service.
Committee chair Yuli Edelstein, a senior member of Netanyahu's ruling Likud Party, summoned the two after the security cabinet voted unanimously to expand the offensive in Gaza to continue fighting against Hamas. A senior political official said the plan includes a military occupation of areas in the Strip, removal of the civilian population to the south to keep them safe, and preventing Hamas from controlling humanitarian aid distribution.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told ministers during the seven-hour-long meeting on Sunday that the military's aim was to defeat Hamas while working to return the remaining 59 hostages still held in Gaza since the October 7 massacre.

According to the official, Netanyahu said the plan accepted by the cabinet is good because it could achieve two objectives: defeating Hamas and returning the hostages.
"We are transitioning from a method of raids into Gaza to an occupation of territory there that would remain under the IDF control," Netanyahu said adding that he is still trying to advance the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to remove Palestinians from Gaza. "There are discussions underway with several countries," he told the ministers. Link. This is absolutely disgusting that tens of thousands of reservists are being called up again, some for the 6th and 7th time in the last 1.5 years while Netanyahu pushes for a law to continue to exempt the entire Haredi population from service in order to keep his corrupt government together and to maintain a war for his own personal and political interests.

The Region and the World

Israel launches airstrikes on Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah in response to Houthi airport strike
A large fire and plume of smoke is visible in the port city of Hodeida, Yemen, September 29, 2024, after Israeli strikes on the Houthi-controlled city. (AP Photo/ File)
Israeli officials confirm that the Israeli Air Force is carrying out strikes in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah.
The strikes come as a response to a Houthi ballistic missile attack which hit the area close to Ben Gurion Airport yesterday, wounding several people.
Shortly before the Israeli strikes, media in Yemen reported strikes carried out by the US near the capital, Sanaa.
The IDF has struck in Yemen several times over the past year, in response to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on the country.
The IDF confirms carrying out airstrikes in Yemen a short while ago, saying it comes as a response to the Houthis ballistic missile attack yesterday on Ben Gurion Airport and other previous attacks.
According to the military, the strikes carried out by Israeli Air Force fighter jets targeted Houthi infrastructure along the coast of Yemen, including at the Hodeidah port and a concrete factory near the nearby city of Bajil, some 2,000 kilometers from Israel.
The IDF says the Hodeidah port is used by the Houthis “for the transfer of Iranian weapons, equipment for military needs, and other terror purposes.”
The Bajil concrete factory “serves as an important economic resource for the Houthi terror regime and is used for building tunnels and military infrastructure,” the military says, adding that the strikes “constitute a blow to the regime’s economy and its military buildup.”
It marks the sixth Israeli strike in Yemen since the beginning of the war, and the first since January. The IDF had stopped responding to the Houthis’ missile and drone fire on Israel, as the US launched a major aerial campaign against the Iran-backed group several months ago.
Some 20 fighter jets took part in Yemen strikes, dropped 50 munitions on Houthi targets, IDF says
Israeli Air Force fighter jets prepare for takeoff for airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, May 5, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
The military says some 20 Israeli Air Force fighter jets participated in the airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen this evening.
The jets dropped 50 munitions on the Hodeidah port and a concrete factory near the nearby city of Bajil, the military says.
It publishes images showing the jets preparing for takeoff. IAF refuelers and spy planes also participated in the operation.
IDF issues ‘urgent’ evacuation warning for Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport
Damaged control tower of Sanaa's international airport on December 27, 2024, following Israeli strikes at the site the previous day. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
In an unusual move, the IDF has issued an “urgent” evacuation warning for Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport.
In a post on X, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, says, “We call upon you to evacuate the airport area immediately and warn everyone in your vicinity of the need to evacuate this area immediately.”
“Failure to evacuate and move away from the area exposes you to danger,” he adds.

Israeli jets now striking Houthi-run Sanaa International Airport — local media. video
Protesters in Morocco block strategic ports to force end to normalization with Israel
Activists demand port officials block ships carrying military cargo to Israel, call on Rabat to withdraw from Abraham Accords; several detained; 'They try to silence people'

More than a year of protests over Morocco’s decision to normalize ties with Israel has emboldened activists and widened a gap between the decisions of the government and the sentiments of the governed. The fury has spilled into the country’s strategic ports.
Amid shipping cranes and stacked containers, 34-year-old agricultural engineer Ismail Lghazaoui marched recently through a sea of Palestinian flags and joined protesters carrying signs that read “Reject the ship,” in reference to a vessel transporting fighter jet components from Houston, Texas.

Activists are urging Moroccan port officials to try to block ships carrying military cargo to Israel, much like Spain did last year. Protests often target Danish shipping company Maersk, which helps transport components used to make Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as part of the U.S. Defense Department’s Security Cooperative Participant Program that facilitates weapons sales to allies, including Israel.

A similar boycott campaign landed Lghazaoui in prison last year, but that didn’t deter him from turning out again for resurgent protests last month, after his release. Lghazaoui is one of more than a dozen activists pursued by Moroccan authorities for criticizing the government’s ties with Israel.

During a rally in November in Casablanca where Lghazaoui spoke, plainclothes officers beat him and others to prevent them from advancing toward the U.S. Consulate, he said. He later posted about Maersk on social media and was arrested and charged with incitement. Originally sentenced to a year, he served two months in prison and two on parole after the term was reduced.
“They try to silence people,” Lghazaoui told The Associated Press. “They were using me to dissuade people or to push people away from what they were doing.”
A push to topple normalization
Morocco is one of four countries that normalized ties with Israel in 2020. That year, Donald Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, which offered incentives for Arab states to establish diplomatic relations with Israel even as its peace talks with Palestinians remained stalled.
The deal delivered something Moroccan diplomats had chased for years: U.S. support for Morocco’s claims over the disputed Western Sahara. But its cost — growing public resentment toward normalization — has ballooned throughout the Israel-Hamas war.

“I’ve rarely seen such a chasm between public opinion and the monarchy. What the power elites are doing goes completely against what the Moroccan people want,” said Aboubakr Jamai, dean of the Madrid Center at the American College of the Mediterranean.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Morocco since the war began. While largely made up of families, students, Islamists, leftists and union members, the protests have also drawn more radical voices. Some have burned Israeli flags or chanted against royal adviser André Azoulay, a Jewish Moroccan.
Clad in riot gear, security forces have stood by and watched as protesters denounce “normalization” and Morocco’s expanding trade and military ties with Israel.
But authorities have shown that their tolerance for dissent only goes so far.
Morocco’s constitution generally allows for freedom of expression, although it is illegal to criticize the monarchy or King Mohammed VI and those who do can face prosecution. Throughout the war, activists who have implicated the monarchy on social media or protested businesses targeted by boycotts due to their operations in Israel have received prison sentences.
The constraints mirror Egypt and Jordan, which like Morocco have publicly sympathized with the Palestinians, maintained ties with Israel and imprisoned activists who direct their ire toward the government.
However, unlike in those countries, the arrests in Morocco have done little to quell public anger or activists’ demands.
A harbor draws heat
In recent weeks, protesters have set their sights on a new target: the country’s strategic ports and the companies using them to move military cargo. Activists and port workers recently demanded that two vessels crossing the Atlantic carrying fighter jet parts that they suspected would end up in Israel be blocked from docking in Morocco.
Port protests gained momentum last month when Morocco’s largest labor union backed the call to block the two ships, and dozens of religious scholars and preachers, many affiliated with the anti-monarchy Islamist movement Al Adl wal Ihsan, issued an edict with a similar message.

While not officially allowed to participate in politics, Al Adl wal Ihsan has mobilized large crowds and helped lead pro-Palestinian activism throughout the Israel-Hamas war, drawing in young people who feel official parties don’t speak to them. On a recent Friday, the group said Moroccans took part in 110 demonstrations across 66 cities in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Both Al Adl wal Ihsan and union members marched portside in Tangier and Casablanca, where the vessels eventually docked on April 20.
In a statement, Maersk acknowledged that ships that passed through the two Moroccan ports carried parts used in the fighter jet. But it denied activists’ claims of directly shipping weapons to conflict zones, stating that they require end-use certificates to verify the final destination of military cargo.
A port official in Tangier who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak on the matter said that while cargo docked and unloaded in Morocco undergoes examination, ships docking en route to other destinations do not.
The Israeli military did not respond to questions about the shipments. F-35s are typically assembled in the United States, using components sourced throughout the world, including outer wings and display systems manufactured in Israel.
Morocco’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about normalization or its port policies, though diplomats have previously argued that relations with Israel allow them to press for a two-state solution and facilitate aid delivery to Gaza.

Some observers in Morocco have questioned whether the focus on Gaza has diverted attention from pressing domestic struggles. Voices from Moroccan nationalist circles on social media have instead highlighted the marginalization of the Indigenous Amazigh population and the dispute over Western Sahara, which they argue are more central to national identity and sovereignty.
For others, the prolonged war has prompted clear shifts. The Islamist Justice and Development Party, which once backed normalization with Israel while in power, recently invited senior Hamas officials to its congress in Rabat. However, the officials were unable to obtain visas to enter Morocco.
“Palestine will remain our primary cause,” said Abdelilah Benkirane, a former prime minister and general secretary of the Justice and Development Party. Link

Personal Stories

'I defend the country I live in - they break my mother’s hand': Yoseph Haddad on advocacy

Haddad, a Christian Arab and former IDF soldier, speaks about family backlash, public threats and his mission to promote coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Israel despite hostility from extremists on both sides
Arab-Israeli activist and former Israel Defense Forces soldier Yoseph Haddad said he believes a majority of Arab citizens in Israel want to be part of Israeli society and live in coexistence with Jewish citizens.

“I truly believe there is a majority of Arabs who want to be part of Israeli society,” Haddad said during a recent appearance on The Watercooler podcast. “Not everyone is like me, and I don’t think there are Jews who are as patriotic as I am in terms of being combat soldiers—but I know there’s a majority who want a shared life.”

Haddad, 39, is a Christian Arab from Nazareth who volunteered for the IDF and served in the elite Golani Brigade. He later founded the NGO “Together – Vouch for Each Other,” which works to bridge gaps between Arab and Jewish communities in Israel. He is recognized internationally for his pro-Israel advocacy and views on coexistence.

“I’m a citizen of this country—it’s mine just like it’s yours,” Haddad said. “You’re Jewish, I’m Arab—so what? Our enemies don’t differentiate between us.”

Haddad enlisted in November 2003, shortly after a Palestinian suicide bombing at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa killed 21 Israeli civilians—both Jews and Arabs. “That attack made my decision final. From that moment, if anyone asked me if I was sure I wanted to enlist, I said, ‘A million percent yes,’” he recalled.

The activist emphasized that while he is aware of tensions and divisions, focusing solely on negative aspects leads to a distorted view. “If we only look at the bad, we’ll always conclude this place is full of hate. But that’s not true. I know the reality. Most Jews and Arabs want to live together as part of Israeli society.”

Haddad said many Arabs who express pro-Israel views or identify openly as Israeli face accusations of betrayal. “Any Arab who says he’s Israeli is immediately labeled a Zionist and a traitor,” he said. “People come up to me and say, ‘Yoseph, say exactly what you’re saying. That’s what we think but are afraid to say out loud.’”

He said his family has supported him throughout, despite the challenges. His mother was once hospitalized after being assaulted due to his activism. “My father told me, ‘They’re attacking you because they can’t fight your message. Don’t let them stop you.’”

Haddad travels with security when needed, especially after violent protests erupted during his public appearances abroad. During a lecture in Oxford, England, he required seven bodyguards. “Outside, there were smoke grenades and chants of ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive.’ If I had been alone, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

He also criticized Arab-Israeli singer Lina Makhoul for listing a concert location as “Haifa, Palestine,” saying such statements contribute to false narratives about Israel. “If someone says Haifa is Palestine, and denies your existence, and you still prefer them over someone like me who loves this country—there’s a serious problem,” he said, addressing critics from both Jewish and Arab communities.

Haddad was seriously injured during the 2006 Lebanon War, when a Hezbollah-fired missile narrowly missed him. He lost part of his foot and was nearly killed. “The doctor told the rescue team: ‘If you arrive within an hour, he’ll live. If not—come collect the body,’” Haddad recalled. “I never lost consciousness.”

Haddad is engaged to American-born Israeli journalist and advocate Emily Schrader. The couple met through pro-Israel advocacy work and have delayed their wedding multiple times, including due to the October 7 Hamas attack that led to war in Gaza. “We’re like a married couple already, just without the paperwork,” he said.

Despite multiple offers to enter politics, Haddad said he has put those conversations on hold. “Since October 7, I decided not to meet with anyone. This isn’t the time. My focus is on Israeli advocacy, visiting the wounded, and raising awareness about the hostages.”

Asked whether he ever considered converting to Judaism, Haddad was clear: “No. I’m proud to be Arab and proud to be Israeli. These identities go together.” 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