🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 602, 2023 - May 30, 2025 🎗️

 

 🎗️Day 602 that 58 of our hostages are still 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

*9:20pm yesterday - Jerusalem, Gush Dan, Central region areas - Ballistic missile from Yemen- successfully intercepted - no reports of injuries or damages



Defense Ministry civilian contractor killed in blast during IDF operations in northern Gaza — army

David Libi, a Defense Ministry contractor killed in Gaza on May 29, 2025. (Courtesy)




A Defense Ministry civilian contractor was killed by an explosive device during IDF operations in the northern Gaza Strip earlier today, the military announces.
He is named as David Libi, 19, from the West Bank settlement outpost of Malachei Shalom.


MAY HIS MEMORY BE A REVOLUTION!
Libi was operating heavy engineering machinery in the Jabalia area, when he was hit by a bomb apparently planted there by terror operatives, according to an IDF probe.
He is the third Defense Ministry contractor to be killed amid army operations in Gaza since the start of the war.



Hostage Updates

Until the last hostage



Hamas yet to respond: The 13 clauses of Witkoff's new hostage and ceasefire deal

Terror group continues to mull new Witkoff deal detailing new sections as part of ongoing U.S. efforts to bring about a pause to fighting in Gaza
Israeli officials said late on Thursday that contrary to reports in the Saudi Arabian media, Hamas has not yet accepted the terms proposed in the framework for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, after Israel said it accepts the terms. The Saudi outlet Al Arabiya reported earlier that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, with U.S. President Donald Trump expected to announce the agreement shortly. The report came two hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel accepted the updated framework offered by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. According to the report, Witkoff was briefed on the deal though there has been no Israeli confirmation on the matter. Al Arabiya cited unnamed sources saying: “The parties agreed to a 60-day ceasefire. The U.S. envoy has been informed. Trump is expected to announce the details within hours.”




Israeli officials commented shortly after the report was recieved, saying Israel had no knowledge of Hamas' agreement to the term. Meanwhile, Hamas is set to hold a press conference at 9 p.m. local time. During a meeting earlier today with the hostages’ families, Netanyahu said Israel accepts the proposal. Hamas, however, issued a statement saying its leadership had received the updated Witkoff proposal from mediators and is “studying it responsibly, while safeguarding the interests of our people, ensuring humanitarian aid and striving for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.”

The proposed deal, presented to Israel overnight, would begin with a formal declaration of a 60-day ceasefire. Within the first week, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others, in two phases. Of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, Israeli officials believe 20 are alive and “up to 38” are deceased.

During the ceasefire, negotiations would take place to end the war. If an agreement is reached on the principles for ending the war, all remaining hostages—both living and deceased—would be released.

If not, according to sources familiar with the terms, Israel would retain the option to resume military operations. Another possibility being discussed is extending the ceasefire in exchange for the release of additional hostages.

Under the framework, Israel would release 125 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 additional Palestinian inmates arrested after October 7. It would also return the bodies of 180 terrorists in two phases. On the 10th day of the ceasefire, Hamas would submit a full list with detailed medical reports on the remaining living hostages.

The new offer's key elements:

1. Duration: A 60-day ceasefire. Trump guarantees Israel’s compliance for the entire period.

2. Hostage release: Hamas will release 10 living hostages and return the bodies of 18 deceased, all from a list of 58. On day one: 5 living and 9 deceased. On day seven: remaining 5 living and 9 deceased.

3. Humanitarian aid: Aid will be delivered to Gaza immediately after Hamas agrees to the ceasefire. Distribution will continue throughout the truce and will be handled through agreed-upon channels, including the UN and the Red Crescent.

4. IDF military activity: All Israeli offensive operations in Gaza will halt once the ceasefire begins. Daily air activity (military and surveillance) will be suspended for 10 hours per day or 12 hours on days when hostages and prisoners are released.

5. IDF redeployment:

• Day 1: After the first group of hostages is released, the IDF will reposition in northern Gaza and the Netzarim Corridor according to agreed humanitarian aid maps.
• Day 7: After the second group is released, redeployment will continue in southern Gaza, also per the humanitarian coordination maps.
• Final deployment lines will be worked out by technical teams during ongoing talks.
  
  

  6. Negotiations: Talks begin on day one to establish terms for a permanent ceasefire, including:

  • a. Conditions for releasing the remaining hostages in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners.
  • b. Israeli military withdrawal and future security arrangements in Gaza.
  • c. Governance and civil arrangements for Gaza’s post-war future.
  • d. A formal declaration of permanent ceasefire.

  7. Presidential backing: Trump is committed to seeing the temporary ceasefire lead to a lasting agreement and insists that negotiations continue in good faith.

  8. Prisoner release: In exchange for the 10 living hostages, Israel will release 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 Gazans arrested after October 7, 2023. In exchange for the 18 bodies, Israel will return 180 bodies of Gazans. Releases will take place in parallel, without public ceremonies—half on day one, half on day seven.

  9. Disclosure of hostage and prisoner conditions: On day 10, Hamas will provide full information (proof of life or death and medical reports) for the remaining hostages. Israel will provide corresponding information on Gazan prisoners held since October 7 and on the number of Gazan bodies in its custody. Hamas commits to safeguarding the hostages’ health and security throughout the ceasefire.

  10. Final hostage release:

  • Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire are expected to conclude within 60 days. If successful, the remaining hostages from the list of 58 will be released.

  • If talks don’t conclude in time, the temporary truce may be extended under mutually agreed terms, as long as good faith negotiations continue.

  11. Guarantees:

  • The U.S., Egypt and Qatar will serve as guarantors for the full 60-day ceasefire and any agreed extensions.

  • The guarantors will ensure serious engagement in talks and make all efforts to finalize a permanent deal.

  12. Lead negotiator:

  • U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will oversee the implementation of the agreement and lead negotiations on the ground.

  13. Trump’s role:

  • Trump will personally announce the ceasefire deal.

  • Both the U.S. and the Trump administration are committed to sustaining the negotiations until a final agreement is reached.

  If the deal moves forward, Trump is expected to officially announce the ceasefire, with the U.S., Qatar and Egypt acting as guarantors. Witkoff is expected to arrive in the region to finalize the terms.

  Reports published Thursday suggested the UN would resume distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza, replacing the American firm currently overseeing operations. Israel would also withdraw to its pre-war lines—remaining along the Philadelphi Corridor but pulling back from the Morag Corridor.

  However, a senior Israeli official disputed those reports Thursday night, saying, “Contrary to what’s been published, the Witkoff framework currently on the table does not define a new line for our troop deployment, nor does it determine how aid will be distributed during the ceasefire.”

  Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel accepts the framework for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza proposed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu spoke with the families of hostages who were killed and were still held by Hamas.

  Senior Israeli officials said Hamas may not agree to the deal because it does not include a commitment to end the war. If Hamas accepts the proposal, it will likely be approved by the cabinet, they said, adding that although far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir would likely vote against it, they would have no reason to bring down the government.

  Under the framework, the 10 living hostages and half of the deceased will be returned in two phases, a week apart. The fate of the remaining hostages would depend on the outcome of the ceasefire negotiations. If no agreement is reached within the 60-day period, Israel would have the option to resume military operations.

  Families of the hostages are deeply concerned about who will be included in the initial list for release. Israeli officials acknowledge that choosing between hostages is a "cruel decision" that could "tear families apart." While Israel has requested the prioritization of humanitarian cases, officials admitted that after more than 600 days under harsh captivity conditions, "everyone is already considered humanitarian."

  If implemented, the ceasefire would see humanitarian aid to Gaza restored through the United Nations and international organizations. This would mark a reversal of Israel’s efforts to bypass Hamas in delivering aid directly to Gaza residents. Critics warn that a reprise of the old distribution method could strengthen Hamas’ control over the enclave. link

Witkoff proposal doesn’t stipulate IDF redeployment or aid mechanisms — official


The latest hostage deal proposal from US special envoy Steve Witkoff does not delineate where IDF forces would have to redeploy once it comes into effect, a senior Israeli official says.

Hamas has demanded that Israeli forces eventually be fully withdrawn from the Strip.

The senior Israeli official adds that the new Witkoff terms do not dictate “the manner in which aid would be distributed within the framework of a ceasefire.”

A separate Israeli official told The Times of Israel earlier today that the United Nations would resume providing aid during a ceasefire instead of the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, which began operations this week amid chaos and occasional violence at newly opened distribution points.

Hamas said disappointed with latest Witkoff proposal as it gives Israel opening to resume fighting


Hamas is disappointed with the latest US hostage deal proposal, as it does not include a clear US guarantee that the temporary truce it outlines will lead to a permanent ceasefire, a source familiar with the negotiations tells the Axios news site.

The proposal from US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff envisions the sides holding negotiations on the terms of a permanent ceasefire during the 60-day temporary truce. However, the offer doesn’t stipulate that if those talks extend beyond 60 days, the temporary truce will be extended accordingly, the source says.

Hamas is seeking a proposal that ensures this extension, given that in the previous deal signed in January, Israel refused to hold negotiations on the terms of a permanent ceasefire and resumed fighting in Gaza after the temporary truce expired.

The source says that Hamas officials have not yet formally rejected the proposal — only moments ago did they publicly confirm having received it. However, they have expressed their disappointment with its terms to the mediators.  link  

Israel accepts Witkoff framework for Gaza ceasefire, Netanyahu says; Hamas reluctant
Netanyahu spoke with the families of hostages who were killed but are held by Hamas; officials say Hamas may reject proposal because it does not include a commitment to end the war 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel accepts the framework for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza proposed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu spoke with the families of hostages who were killed and were still held by Hamas.



Senior Israeli officials said Hamas may not agree to the deal because it does not include a commitment to end the war. If Hamas accepts the proposal, it will likely be approved by the cabinet, they said, adding that although far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir would likely vote against it, they would have no reason to bring down the government.

Under the framework, the 10 living hostages and half of the deceased will be returned in two phases, a week apart. The fate of the remaining hostages would depend on the outcome of the ceasefire negotiations. If no agreement is reached within the 60-day period, Israel would have the option to resume military operations.

Families of the hostages are deeply concerned about who will be included in the initial list for release. Israeli officials acknowledge that choosing between hostages is a "cruel decision" that could "tear families apart." While Israel has requested the prioritization of humanitarian cases, officials admitted that after more than 600 days under harsh captivity conditions, "everyone is already considered humanitarian."

If implemented, the ceasefire would see humanitarian aid to Gaza restored through the United Nations and international organizations. This would mark a reversal of Israel’s efforts to bypass Hamas in delivering aid directly to Gaza residents. Critics warn that a reprise of the old distribution method could strengthen Hamas’ control over the enclave. link This is a horrible deal. 5 living hostages to be released at the beginning of the deal and 5 more at the end of the 60 day cease fire. That is a torturous situation for the 5 to be released after 60 days and even worse for the remaining living hostages (10-3) with no time line designated to get them home. Hamas is prepared to release all 59 hostages, living and dead at once but on condition that the deal is for the end of the war. The only reason that the war is continuing is for the survival of Netanyahu's coalition and him as Prime Minister. There is no other reason no matter what bullshit Netanyahu tries to see. As usual, Netanyahu doesn't care about the suffering and deaths of the hostages. He only cares about what will keep him in power. At no time does anyone in this failed government, especially Netanyahu and his crony, Ron Dermer, the person he put in charge of the hostage negotiations and only does what Netanyahu wants, talks about the 'last hostage'. When will the last hostage be brought home. The only deal that should even be discussed is a single deal for all the hostages and ending the war! #BRING THEM HOME NOW!




Witkoff plan: What's at stake and who decides which hostages come home first?
Israel says only one list has been submitted to mediators, dividing hostages into living and deceased; no release order has been set under the Witkoff plan or any future deal; officials stress urgency for humanitarian cases—while noting all qualify
Israel is reviewing a new framework proposed by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff that includes the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others held by Hamas in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire, officials confirmed Thursday. The plan, presented overnight, aims to facilitate negotiations to end the war and secure the release of additional hostages.

Under the framework, the 10 living hostages and half of the deceased will be returned in two phases, a week apart. The fate of the remaining hostages would depend on the outcome of ceasefire negotiations. If no agreement is reached within the 60-day period, Israel would have the option to resume military operations.



The 58 still captive in Gaza

(Photo: Courtesy of the families)

The framework also stipulates that Hamas will provide a complete list of all hostages, including detailed medical reports, by the 10th day of the ceasefire. In return, Israel would release 125 prisoners serving life sentences, 1,111 terrorists from Gaza arrested after October 7 and 180 bodies of terrorists, also in two phases.

Who comes home first?

Despite the proposed plan, the order of hostages to be released remains uncertain and contentious. Israeli officials insist that Hamas has historically determined the sequence of releases in coordination with mediators. As of now, 20 hostages are classified as "alive with certainty," while the number of deceased is estimated at "up to 38." Families of the hostages are deeply concerned about who will be included in the initial list for release. Israeli officials acknowledge that choosing between hostages is a "cruel decision" that could "tear families apart." While Israel has requested the prioritization of humanitarian cases, officials admitted that after more than 600 days under harsh captivity conditions, "everyone is already considered humanitarian."



HOSTAGE SQUARE IN TEL AVIV

If implemented, the ceasefire would see humanitarian aid to Gaza restored through the United Nations and international organizations. This would mark a reversal of Israel’s efforts to bypass Hamas in delivering aid directly to Gaza residents. Critics warn that a reprise of the old distribution method could strengthen Hamas’ control over the enclave.

The framework further requires Israeli forces to withdraw to positions held prior to the collapse of the previous ceasefire in mid-March. While Israel would maintain its presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, which stretches the Gaza-Egypt border, it would pull back from the Morag Corridor between Rafah and Khan Younis.

Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump, has emphasized his commitment to facilitating a deal. If the framework moves forward, Trump would formally announce the ceasefire, with guarantees provided by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. Witkoff is expected to visit the region to finalize the details.

As the framework is reviewed, discussions about the release of hostages and terms of the ceasefire are expected to continue during proximity talks mediated by international parties. LINK In the past, when Netanyahu was pressed with the question of who prepares the list of hostages to be released, he claimed it was Hamas and that we (Israel) are not involved in that. HE LIED, as he always does and it was proven that he lied. Yesterday, he finally met with some of the hostage families, after over a year that he refused to meet with them and they pressed him again, who will make the list of hostages to be released because they are all humanitarian? This time, he didn't lie outright. Instead, he deflected and diverted but saying that we (Israel, the government) doesn't set the order of the releases, so the families said that wasn't the question and they again asked who makes the list and he diverted and didn't answer. In the meantime, over the last month, the department in the Defense Ministry has stated unequivocally that they will not have a hand in making any interim partial list of hostages to be released because they also said that all of them are humanitarian. This week, the health ministry has stated the same thing that they won't be involved in preparing a partial list. I wonder if Netanyahu will do an eeny meeny miney mo to determine who will be released. Since he doesn't care about their lives, I don't think he really cares who will be released unless there are political benefits for him.

Gaza nightmare could be 'stopped' by key move according to negotiations insider
Leading Israeli activist and former negotiator with Hamas says he has just learned the militant group would release all hostages in exchange for an immediate end to the bloody Gaza war


Former hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin - helped free Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit - left. 2011(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)




An Israeli activist and former hostage negotiator has claimed Hamas will release all of the remaining hostages in exchange for an end to war in Gaza. US-born Gershon Baskin made the announcement as multiple explosions rang out near Palestinians gathering at a controversial Gaza aid distribution centre.

But he added that Israel refuses to end the war which killed another 50 Palestinians today as it is determined to wipe out Hamas completely. Over 50 Palestinians died from Israeli airstrikes and gunfire today and Israel announced it will establish another 22 settlements in the West Bank. The settler announcement has infuriated Palestinians who say it was made under the cover of the Gaza war.



Israeli tanks take up position outside Gaza(Image: AFP via Getty Images)



Baskin, 66, said in a statement: “Let it be known, one of the mediators told me today that Hamas is willing to free all 58 hostages at one time but demand the end of the war. The mediator told me: ‘Israel refuses to accept a permanent ceasefire.’

“I repeat what I have been saying for many months - negotiating any deal with Hamas that leaves hostages behind for any period of time puts them at risk and is a declaration by the government of Israel that they are willing to sacrifice the hostages so that Netanyahu can save his coalition.”



Palestinians forced on the move carry belongings(Image: AP)

Baskin, who helped negotiate the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit i n 2011, said that Netanyahu and his government is putting “their own political interests ahead of those of Israel.”

And he added: “Israel continues to kill innocent people in Gaza. Gaza is totally destroyed - an entire civilization has been decimated by Israel in Gaza. The people of Gaza want Hamas out of their lives and want Israel to end this war. The people of Israel want this war to end and for the hostages to be brought home.



War-battered Gaza under attack daily(Image: AFP via Getty Images)




“This war must end now and the only way it will end is when President Trump finally tells Netanyahu to end the war, and to make a deal to bring the hostages home.” And he even declared that Palestinians and their “Arab neighbours” will make Hamas “pay for what they have brought to the Palestinian people.”

Israel will establish 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the legalisation of outposts already built without government authorization, it has announced.



Smoke rises in southern Gaza after another blast(Image: AP)




Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war and the Palestinians want all three territories for their future state.

Most of the international community views settlements as illegal and an obstacle to resolving the decades-old conflict.


Israeli protest and demand hostages releases(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)


In 2005, Israel withdrew its settlements from the Gaza Strip, but leading figures in the current government have called for them to be re-established. War in Gaza began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, in which militants stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.



Palestinians carry boxes of aid(Image: AP)




Hamas still holds 58 hostages, around a third of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements. Israeli forces have rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants


Gaza has been blockaded for three months, leading to major alarm over thousands of children facing malnutrition. Some mothers have claimed children have been forced to eat animal feed.

And there have been claims Gaza's dogs are feeding off corpses of the dead, adding to the horror of the war.   link

Hamas official says Israel’s response to US truce proposal fails to meet terror group’s ‘legitimate demands’


Hamas has received Israel’s response to a US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal and is thoroughly reviewing it, even though the response fails to meet any of the Palestinian “just and legitimate demands,” senior Hamas official Basem Naim tells Reuters.

Naim’s comments appear to contradict a BBC report earlier today, which cited an unnamed Hamas official as saying that the terror group would reject the US proposal, as it doesn’t meet key demands.



'We huddled together, trembling': The family taken hostage and their ongoing fight for life

After surviving captivity by Hamas, Clara Merman, her partner Luis Har and her brother Fernando are sharing their story and leading public fight to free those still held in Gaza—confronting trauma, displacement, and the long road to healing


Clara Merman stood before a crowd at a rally in Kfar Saba, greeted with warm embraces and tearful gratitude. At her side were her partner, Luis Har, and her brother, Fernando Merman, who were rescued from Hamas captivity after 129 days in a military operation named “Golden Hand.” Their appearance at the rally, held in Spanish for Israel’s Latin American community, drew dozens who stopped to thank and support them.

Merman, 65, was among the hostages taken during Hamas’ cross-border assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. She was abducted from her home in Nir Yitzhak along with Har, Fernando, her sister Gabriela, and 17-year-old niece Mia. She and the other women were released in a hostage deal the following November, leaving the men behind. Har and Fernando were freed months later.




“The life after captivity hasn’t returned to normal. I’m trying to rebuild it,” Merman said. “I was in hell for 53 days. Now it’s been 600 days. It’s a crazy number. It’s hard to understand. Our hostages are still there, suffering in tunnels, and their families are going through the unimaginable.”

Merman now devotes her time to advocating for the release of the remaining hostages and supporting their families.

“I’m all in. It’s the life Luis and I live now,” she said. “We try to support the devastated families who are being tormented every day. They see us as a sign of hope, that their loved ones might come back too.”

Since her release, Merman has dealt with what she calls “survivor’s guilt,” an emotional weight she says never quite lifts.

“I know it’s not my fault that I was freed, but the heaviness is always there. I still don’t understand how so many miracles happened—how we were held together and all managed to get out.”

Merman described harrowing conditions during captivity, including psychological abuse and fear for their lives. She, Har, Fernando, Gabriela, and Mia were guarded by five armed Hamas terrorists.

“We were terrified during the airstrikes. We huddled together in the middle of the room so flying debris wouldn’t hit us. We whispered stories, tried to focus on words, anything to escape the noise and chaos. Mia would ask about our lives in Israel—how and why we came. Those moments helped us survive. Having our dog Bella with us also helped. Caring for her gave us something to focus on.”

Merman recounted how their captors tried to demoralize them by claiming no one in Israel was trying to rescue them and that the Israeli government would bomb the building to eliminate hostages.

“They told us we were forgotten, that the economy was collapsing, that we were just pawns. They repeated it over and over,” she said. “They even bragged that 1,400 people had been killed on the first day. We didn’t believe it—it sounded impossible. But when you hear something constantly, it starts to chip away at you.”



Since her release, Merman has not returned to a permanent home. Nir Yitzhak, the kibbutz where she lived, is just three kilometers from the Gaza Strip and remains on high alert due to ongoing fighting.

“I long to go home, but how can I? The war in Gaza is intense and the noise is unbearable,” she said. “I go there for a few hours during the day, try to reconnect with the house, and return to Kibbutz Urim or the north with my daughters. I’m wandering. I haven’t truly returned to life.”

Her family, too, is still recovering. Merman said none of their children have been able to return to work since the abductions. “Each one got involved in their own way in the struggle to bring us and the other hostages back.”

Har processes the trauma by sharing their story publicly. Fernando, more reserved, supports the cause quietly and has returned to work. He speaks about his experience selectively, mostly in forums connected to Israel’s security forces.

“He’s deeply grateful to those who rescued him,” Merman said.

Asked whether true recovery is possible, Merman paused.

“I don’t know. Right now, it’s not happening. We’re trying to live, but nothing is the same,” she said. “I can’t let go of the need to fight for the return of every hostage. As long as there are people still in Gaza, I’m still there too. My light is the hope that everyone comes home. Only then can we begin real healing—not just us, but the whole country.”   link

Gaza and the South



IDF says troops demolished kilometer-long Hamas tunnel under Khan Younis, in southern Gaza


During recent operations of the 98th Division in the Khan Younis area of the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF says it demolished a kilometer-long Hamas tunnel.

The tunnel was discovered by the Commando Brigade and the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, amid a new offensive against Hamas.

According to the IDF, while scanning the tunnel, troops located several Hamas operatives holed up inside and eliminated them. video

 Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it distributed 18 trucks of aid today after opening third site

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it opened up a third aid distribution site today in the Strip.

The third site is located in the central Gaza’s Bureij, adjacent to the IDF’s Netzarim corridor. It joins two sites that began operating earlier this week in Rafah. An additional site in Rafah is slated to open in the coming days. GHF has faced criticism due to the lack of access for tens of thousands of residents still located in north Gaza, but it says that it plans to open additional sites — including in the northern Strip — in the coming weeks.

GHF says it distributed 17,280 boxes of aid at all three of its sites today.



Families of hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and activists protest for their release outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, May 28, 2025. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Each box is meant to provide three meals a deal, for roughly four days, for a family of roughly five people.

The total number of trucks unloaded at the three GHF sites today was just 18, though. The UN has said 600 trucks of aid need to be distributed each day in order to properly feed the Strip’s roughly two million people.

After denying that Palestinians at its sites have been shot at, a GHF spokesperson confirms that its American security contractors operating its Bureij distribution center fired smoke bombs and warning shots at a crowd that wouldn’t disperse. There were no injuries. Footage posted on social media of the incident showed dozens of civilians fleeing the scene as shots and stun grenades were apparently fired in their direction.

Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria



WSJ: Lebanese army using Israeli intel to locate, destroy remaining Hezbollah stockpiles


The Lebanese army has been using Israeli intelligence to help locate and destroy remaining Hezbollah stockpiles in southern Lebanon, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The Israeli intelligence has been passed to the Lebanese army via the US, WSJ says.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam tells WSJ that the country has disarmed roughly 80% of the militias in southern Lebanon.

In first-ever operational use, Israel reveals it shot down Hezbollah drones with laser air defense system
Defense Ministry says military used high-powered laser systems to intercept Hezbollah drones during fighting along Lebanese border, marking first operational use of the technology and significant milestone in country’s air defense strategy
Israel has confirmed that it employed high-powered laser systems to intercept Hezbollah drones during recent hostilities along the Lebanese border, marking the first operational use of such technology against the Iran-backed group. The Defense Ministry, the IDF and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced that these laser systems were deployed during the fighting in Lebanon. The systems, developed over decades by Rafael and the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT), were utilized by air defense units to neutralize enemy drones and other aerial threats. VIDEO Defense officials stated that the laser systems, integrated into Israel's multi-tiered air defense strategy, complement existing missile-based systems and offer a cost-effective and rapid interception method. The deployment was expedited in response to the escalating drone threats from Hezbollah.

"Israel is the first country in the world to present a large-scale operational laser interception capability," said Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, head of MAFAT. "The vision of the laser was demonstrated during the war with immense operational and technological success."

Brig. Gen. Yehuda Almakaies, head of MAFAT's R&D division, described the deployment as a "first global operational success" for such systems, noting that the conflict facilitated rapid learning and integration of laser technology. He indicated plans to expand the use of these systems to safeguard both civilians and military personnel.

The Defense Ministry highlighted Rafael's "Iron Beam" system, based on proprietary adaptive optics technology, as a key component of this initiative. The system is expected to be delivered to the IDF later this year.



"We are very proud of this operational and technological breakthrough," said Dr. Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael. "Iron Beam will be a game-changer that will have an unprecedented impact on the modern battlefield."

Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman emphasized that the system would transform interception dynamics, offering precise, rapid and cost-effective responses compared to conventional missile defense systems.

Brig. Gen. G., commander of the IDF's Air Defense Array, remarked that the laser systems' performance in intercepting Hezbollah's drones during the conflict is a source of national pride.

"This achievement is the result of hard work by many exceptional people determined to do everything possible to protect the homeland," he said.

The deployment of laser systems signifies a significant advancement in Israel's defense capabilities, particularly in countering the growing threat of drone incursions from Hezbollah in Lebanon. LINK




IDF says it struck Hezbollah weapons storage site in eastern Lebanon overnight


Overnight, Israeli fighter jets bombed a Hezbollah weapons storage site in Lebanon’s eastern Beqaa Valley, the military says.

According to the IDF, the strike was carried out after Hezbollah was identified attempting to restore the facility, which had been targeted previously.

West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks



Settlers fence off Palestinian community in the northern Jordan Valley


A group of settlers was filmed earlier today erecting a fence around Ein al-Hilweh, a small Palestinian community in the northern Jordan Valley.

The fence does not surround all sides of the village, but the residents rely on sheep herding for their livelihood, and the fence will prevent them from accessing grazing areas.

A local source tells The Times of Israel that the fence was set up by two groups of settlers who arrived at the site in recent hours. According to the source, the settlers appeared to be teenage boys.  video

Politics and the War and General News



The countdown has begun – Netanyahu will try one more move

As the ultra-Orthodox ultimatum reaches its peak, the Prime Minister is in a race against time. He does not truly think there is a draft exemption law that can be passed in this coalition, and he also does not want one. Netanyahu’s goal, in light of the ultra-Orthodox deadline, is to go to elections on a different issue. And also: what is causing Liberman and Bennett to pull their hair out. Daphna Liel, commentary

“Why specifically by Shavuot?” wondered one of the Members of Knesset this week. “Why did the ultra-Orthodox rabbis set this ultimatum right now – and not a week before or after?”

Even though they are rabbis, the real answer lies in the political calendar, not the Jewish one – they wanted to do it far enough after the opening of the summer session to see if there was progress in the draft exemption law, but to leave enough time to dismantle during this same session, which will end in eight weeks.

There is also a substantive reason: each week that passes worsens the situation of the yeshiva students. Just at the beginning of the week, a yeshiva student, who is mentally ill, was arrested after coming to the enlistment office to request an exemption – a move perceived by some rabbis as crossing a red line. Indeed, they fear another coalition, but from their perspective, things cannot get much worse.

And still, there is no small amount of symbolism in the choice of the holiday of Shavuot for creating this political crisis. More than 3,000 years after the people of Israel received the Torah and agreed to bear collective responsibility for keeping it, a crisis erupts precisely around the issue of collective responsibility. Only this time, it relates to security and not to keeping the Torah – and the ultra-Orthodox are the ones not willing to take part in it.

There is also no blind faith here in the style of “we will do and we will hear” – on the contrary: that’s it, this time the ultra-Orthodox are no longer willing to continue cooperating without seeing action – that the draft exemption law will be advanced. The rabbis’ trust in Netanyahu has cracked. This confrontation is leading to internal ultra-Orthodox tension, whose effects go far beyond the draft exemption law.

Ultra-Orthodox protesting against enlistment to the IDF
Each passing week worsens the situation of the yeshiva students. Ultra-Orthodox protest against enlistment

For the first time, there is open tension between the heads of “Degel HaTorah” – Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rabbi Dov Landau – regarding political conduct. Until now, Rabbi Hirsch was considered to accept Rabbi Landau’s leadership on public policy, but now, in light of the danger to the status of Torah learners, there is a distinct deviation from the leadership line.

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch


In Rabbi Hirsch’s circle, they emphasize that the movement’s position should be not to leave the government – even in the face of arrest warrants. On the other hand, Rabbi Landau believes a final deadline should be set for regulation, and if it does not come, to withdraw from the coalition. In his view, the damage is no longer symbolic but substantive. The question is whether this time the hand of the supporters of withdrawal will prevail.

Rabbi Dov Landau


Netanyahu is in a race against time – he does not really believe there is a draft exemption law that can be approved in this coalition, and he also does not want one. The issue of enlistment is what unites Naftali Bennett’s “Alliance of the Serving.” Promoting an exemption law in days when 450,000 soldiers are being recruited might be one step too far. Netanyahu’s goal is to buy time until the end of the session and to dismantle at the beginning of the next one – meaning elections in the first third of next year. Just this past week, he tried again and again to pressure MK Yuli Edelstein, to offer the ultra-Orthodox an early and tempting budget – and he considered establishing a committee to speed up the communications law and to place at its head a Likud MK who demands equal enlistment.

Yuli Edelstein, Bibi Netanyahu
And Netanyahu has another goal – even if he is forced to go to elections, he intends to make every effort that the collapse will be over a different issue, or that he himself will cause the breakdown over the enlistment issue. He prefers to go to the ballot box over diplomatic or security matters and not because he failed to expand the army. Especially when everyone knows that his future coalition will also include the ultra-Orthodox.

In a last attempt to solve the draft crisis, on Tuesday evening – immediately after the holiday – the ultra-Orthodox, Edelstein, and the Cabinet Secretary will meet. Netanyahu’s people are expected to ask for ten final days to complete the formulations they have been working on in recent weeks. This time, it is not at all certain the ultra-Orthodox will agree to this postponement request: they understand that agreeing to it will bring the schedule closer to the end of the session, and some of them are very skeptical and do not believe any good news will come of it.

Naftali Bennett
It is worth paying attention to the threats of Bezalel Smotrich. Minister Smotrich gave Netanyahu the green light to negotiate based on the Witkof outline just two weeks ago. Even then, it was a ceasefire of several dozen days without explicit guarantees for ending the war. Yesterday, Smotrich had already hardened his positions and announced that he would not allow a partial outline to pass. His associates claim that the reason is changed circumstances – the fact that the IDF is already inside Gaza and the food distribution plan is in full swing. Smotrich believes that withdrawing now would be a fatal mistake.

The bad boy of the opposition

Yair Golan is the bad boy of the center-left bloc. In Liberman and Bennett’s circles, they are tearing their hair out and do not know what to do with him. They know every statement he makes will be used in the other side’s campaign about forming a left-wing government, and they fear that those 4–5 soft-right mandates who will decide the elections will prefer Netanyahu’s bloc. At Yair Lapid’s camp, they went crazy over his call to run together, while they are working around the clock on differentiation.

Their fears might still come true, especially if Golan continues like this. But in the meantime, the leakage between the blocs is minimal. On the other hand, if mandates move within the bloc, it could play in their favor – Golan has already stood at 14 mandates and began threatening the center parties. His contraction will help them convince that he will be small and insignificant, and in any case, will have to align with their principles.  link

The Region and the World


• Russia slams Israeli attacks on Gaza as ‘collective punishment’ of civilians - just a little hypocrisy from Russia

Personal Stories


600 days are endless wait with no answers. I know what that means. - by Doron Steinbrecher


For me, time froze on October 7, and it won’t thaw until everyone comes home. There can be no healing. 600 is more than the number of days since Israelis were thrown out of their beds and into the hell of Hamas tunnels; It is life and death itself. I would know.
600 days isn’t just a number. It’s life. It’s death. It’s an endless wait with no answers. 600 days they’ve been there. I know what that means. I was in captivity for 471 days. 450 days underground. No light. No sky. No knowing if I’d ever see my parents, my family, my friends again. And every passing day feels like an eternity.

Freed hostage Doron Steinbrecher
(Photo: Dana Koppel)
There are moments etched in my memory. The explosions above, the pit in your stomach when you don’t know if it’s the end. The desperate hope that someone will fight for you, that they’ll remember you exist.
I remember the sleepless nights, the deafening silence, the sound of your heart pounding too loudly in the void. I remember my body shrinking, my soul unsure if it was still allowed to feel. I remember how every single day felt like a year.
And then there are the round numbers—100, 200, 300... and your stomach churns. It’s as if someone is reminding you: time is passing, and you’re still there. And today, I’m here.
But there are still 58 who remain there. And their time is running out—their lives and their spirits. A week ago, I returned from a delegation to the United States. I met many people, shared my story - shared our story - with anyone who wanted to listen. And they asked, they cared, they hugged, and they truly listened.

Doron with her family after being released (Photo: Avigail Uzi)


One question came up in every meeting: “How are you? Are you okay? Are you doing things for yourself?” And my response was always the same—a shrug and a sigh of despair. Because how can you really answer such a question?
Nothing is okay
For me, time froze on October 7, and it won’t thaw until everyone comes home—all 58 of our brothers and sisters. There can be no healing, no recovery, no future. Because nothing truly begins to heal. Not when I know there are still people underground. Not when I know Gali and Zivi, my neighbors, are still there.
I’m moving into a temporary home now. And every time I look at the door across from mine, I think of them. They were kidnapped just meters away from me. From the same kibbutz. From the same neighborhood. Twins. Two brothers who always came together. With open hearts, with a presence that filled every room, with kindness that was just always here. And now—they’re there. And no one knows when they’ll come back. I worry about them so much. I worry about everyone—for those who are there and for those who are here, waiting for them.
And I’m addressing you, the public—not as someone who survived captivity, but as someone who is now fighting—not to forget. We must not let routine silence the voices calling from the darkness. Don’t stop talking about them. Don’t stop demanding their release. This isn’t politics. This is about humanity. This is our duty.
And yes, when I say “the public,” I mean decision-makers too. You are human beings, just like us. Let’s just bring them back. I know what they are going through. I know how important it is to know that someone is still fighting for you. I know how important it is to bring them back. I know they need to be here.
We won’t have any kind of recovery until they’re here. We won’t move on from this. I won’t move on from this. Society won’t move on from this. 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
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