π️Lonny's War Update- October 623, 2023 - June 20, 2025 π️
- The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
The war with Iran has sidetracked our attention from the 53 remaining hostages in Gaza for 622 days. According to one of the mediators I spoke with, the negotiations with Hamas are ongoing, and there is no reason to lose hope. When he said that, I thought to myself: What a ridiculous statement! From what I understand, Hamas has not changed its most fundamental demand that the war come to an end and that all Israeli forces leave Gaza permanently. From what we all know, Netanyahu and his government refuse to accept this demand.
While the missiles are falling on Israel from Iran, Israel is busy demonstrating its ability to bring massive death and destruction to Iran. Israel tries to assure the Iranian people that its bombs are not against them, but only against the regime of the Ayatollahs. But all eyes are on Gaza. Israel’s war in Gaza was supposed to be against Hamas, but Gaza is decimated, destroyed and two million Gazans are homeless. There is no infrastructure left in Gaza – no schools, universities, hospitals, public buildings, roads, electricity, sewage facilities, basic governance – a civilization has been destroyed in Gaza while Netanyahu waits for complete surrender. Hamas will not surrender to Israel. Now, Trump is echoing this call for the Iranian regime to surrender completely. That will not happen. The insane and dangerous leaders in Iran, Hamas, Israel, and the White House treat us civilians under their control as pawns on the chessboard, caring much too little if we fall or stand.
No, we don’t want Iran to have a nuclear bomb. Iran is a very sophisticated, scientific and technological giant. Iran has had a nuclear program for more than 30 years. Does anyone really believe that if Iran genuinely wanted a bomb, they wouldn’t already have it? Pakistan and North Korea are far less sophisticated than Iran, and they got it with very little trouble. The assessment by reliable Iran and nuclear military experts is that if Iran wanted a bomb, they would already have it. Instead, these experts say that Iran wants to be at “nuclear breakout capability,” referring to the small amount of time it would take to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, violating international treaties and norms.
Nonetheless, preventing Iran from getting a bomb could be achieved through international negotiations led by the United States. Let’s not forget that there was an agreement that would have prevented Iran from increased nuclear enrichment. It was Netanyahu who convinced Trump 1.0 to leave the agreement, which led Iran to getting closer to nuclear breakout than ever before. Netanyahu, who perceives himself as the great protector of Israel, actually brought Iran closer to breakout than ever before. This war may lead to a settlement that will prevent Iran from enriching fissile materials on its own territory, but that could have been achieved through diplomacy backed by serious military threats.
Netanyahu has successfully diverted our attention away from the failures of October 7, from the remaining 53 hostages, from the continued war in Gaza with Israeli soldiers getting killed every week, from the hundreds and thousands of Gazans getting killed every week, from the starvation and humanitarian disaster facing millions of Gazans, and from the death and destruction that Israel is causing every day in the West Bank. While Israelis seem to be celebrating the so-called Israeli military victories in Iran, demonstrating its clear military superiority over the entire region, I do not feel safer in a region and in a world where Israel is feared and hated more than ever. We Israelis have gotten too used to the idea that we can only solve our problems by using massive amounts of military forces, supplied to us by some countries that have serious issues with how we use that force.
Over the weekend, several leading Israeli and Palestinian civil society organizations brought 300 Israelis and Palestinians, including Gazans, to a public meeting in Paris with a clear and resounding call for peace. The Paris meeting was held just as Israel launched its attack against Iran. The French authorities did not grant visas to 33 Gazans who escaped Gaza and are in Cairo now. Three Gazans were granted visas. The 33 who were denied visas met together and called on their Palestinian brothers and sisters to attend the meeting and to send a clear message that they want the conference to be a big success and that they want to send a message to the 150 Israelis there that they want to live in peace. This was a public meeting, and no one hid behind closed doors. The message from Paris is: now is the time to end this conflict, to end these conflicts. Now is the time to move us forward to the two-state solution. No more wars, no more bloodshed. Now is the time for regime change – not only in Iran, which will set the Iranian people free. Now is the time for regime change in Palestine and in Israel, which will set us free as well.
So, reverting back to the message of the mediator that I heard just yesterday, yes, there is reason for hope. Wars come to an end. Good endings are agreements that are monitored and verifiable. That is what we want now for the wars in Iran and in Gaza. We Israelis will not forget the damage that Netanyahu has done to our country. The Palestinians will not forget the damage that Hamas has done to them. The Iranian people will not forget the damage that their regime has done to them. Now is the time for all of us to reach across the borders and send a clear message that we want these wars to end now. Iran must be given back to the Iranian people, who have no real conflict with Israel. Palestine and Israel must fully recognize each other’s national existence and right to self-determination. Sanity requires us all to demand ceasefire now! I signed a call together with several other Israelis and several Iranians calling for a ceasefire now between Israel and Iran. The call ends with these words: “We refuse to accept the inevitability of violent conflict as the only way forward between our nations, Israel and Iran, or their positioning as eternal arch-enemies. The endless and senseless wars of this region won’t benefit our people, all of whom have the right to live in peace and security”.
From the River to the Sea, on two states we agree!
That is the only path to peace and security for us all.
About the AuthorGershon Baskin, together with Samer Sinijlaw head the Alliance for Two States. link - Former hostage Edan Alexander returns home to New JerseyEdan Alexander, an American-Israeli who was released from Hamas captivity last month, returns home to jubilant crowds in New Jersey.
A video shared by the local branch of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum shows hundreds lining the streets of Alexander’s hometown of Tenafly. The crowd cheers, waves Israeli flags, holds signs that say “Welcome home,” and chants “Edan.”
Alexander drives through the crowd in the passenger seat of a black SUV, escorted by a police motorcade.
Yair (Yaya) Ya’akov of blessed memory was laid to rest
Yair (Yaya) Ya’akov, who was murdered on October 7, taken hostage and held captive for 614 days, was buried at Kibbutz Nir Oz • His daughter Shir said at the funeral: “Poppy, I survived, we survived. I say goodbye. But I remain with you. October 7 will forever be the day my life and everything I knew was destroyed” • His son Or eulogized: “The longing tears me apart inside. You left a huge void that nothing can fill” • His son Yagil eulogized: “Finally may you rest in peace”Yair “Yaya” Ya’akov of blessed memory’s funeral took place this morning (Friday) at Kibbutz Nir Oz after being postponed due to Home Front Command restrictions. Yaya was murdered on October 7, kidnapped to Gaza, and was a captive fallen soldier for 614 days until he was released in a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet.At Kibbutz Nir Oz they said before the funeral that due to the security situation, they decided to say goodbye to Yaya “as he would want, with a smile, music, and a cold beer in hand. We invite you to raise a toast with us and remember Yaya as he was in life. Upload a picture to your story/Facebook, tag us, and share your embrace.”
The Ya’akov family at the funeral of Yair (Yaya) Ya’akov of blessed memory
(Photo: Dana Re’ani)Yair (Yaya) Ya’akov of blessed memory and his sons Or and Yagil
(Photo: Courtesy of the family)Ada Bazar, eulogizing on behalf of Kibbutz Nir Oz: “Yair Ya’akov was born on September 29, 1964, to Flor‑Shoshana and Alfred Ovadia Ya’akov in Ofakim, the eldest of four children. At age 14 Yair decided he wanted to go away to boarding school. Thus Yair attended junior and high school at the agricultural school ‘Mikveh Israel,’ where he nurtured a love of the land and the connection to agriculture in all its forms. He completed his studies with a ‘Mediterranean Bagrut,’ as he used to say himself, because he spent many hours with friends at the beach near the boarding school. After finishing his studies he was drafted to the Nahal Paratroopers. The Nahal nucleus joined Kibbutz Magen in the western Negev, and there Yaya eventually settled.”
“In 1995 he moved to neighboring Kibbutz Nir Oz due to his relationship with Renana, with whom he built a home. The two had three children: Shir, Or, and Yagil, whom they raised with a love of people and the land. Yaya initially worked at the packing center as an irrigation and soilless systems technician, and later at a number of agricultural farms in the area as a work manager. In recent years he worked at the garage at Kibbutz Alumim, where again he dedicated himself entirely with his characteristic diligence in every task. He was a morning person, and he would arrive early to work to prepare a small Turkish black coffee for everyone. As he loved.”
Bazar said on behalf of the kibbutz: “On October 7, he and his partner Merav Tal were kidnapped from their home. From Renana’s house two of their children, Or and Yagil, were kidnapped. Their eldest daughter Shir survived the massacre in her apartment in Nir Oz. Or, Yagil, and Merav were returned home at the end of 2023. Yaya was brutally murdered outside his home in Nir Oz during the massacre and taken captive as a fallen soldier. He was rescued by security forces and brought to burial after 614 days in enemy captivity. May his memory be blessed.”
Shir, Yaya’s daughter: “October 7 will forever be the day my life and everything I knew was destroyed”
Shir eulogized her father: “Papi, that’s how I always called you, from a young age. You taught me that you are Papi! I don’t want these to be the last words, I will not eulogize you—we might finally be able to speak, thank you, forgive you, and ask forgiveness, and share with you words that have built up since the last time we talked. How much I waited for the moment you would be here. So many times I screamed that I wanted my father back without managing to prepare myself for the moment that this is the last time—burying you in the earth, in eternal peace, for which in life you believed so strongly. How sad this memory will be in my life.”“Dad, how many times I wanted to say ‘Dad’ and how many times I still expect a response. I want one more hug, one word, or just a smile—something to remind me you are here, finally here. October 7 is the black day of my life. That morning, the endless hours, the long seconds that accompany me to this day. I remember every word from conversations with you that morning, the last call—how with your last strength you apparently managed to call and say ‘I’m a bit injured’ and that you’d call for help. And I tried to call for help, powerless, trapped between four walls with two pairs of hands holding the handle, just about 200 meters from you and Mayu. Within minutes you disappeared, and I? I could do nothing. Papi, I survived! We survived, Or, Yagil, and Merav are here with us! I promise I will do everything to be happy and united. We will preserve this family unit we created!”
Shir Ya’akov, Yair’s eldest daughter, eulogizing her father
(Photo: Shir eulogizing)Shir continued: “How you loved your home, that quiet corner you created for yourself—to flop on the couch or sit on the porch, football in the background, loud music with a friend and a beer, or a few beers or friend and a few, a very calm and safe place—and from there they took you! And even then, in those horrific moments when you couldn’t believe what was happening, you went outside to try to help upon hearing a cry for help. Even then you believed someone would come to save you and us—until the very last moment you believed I was safe. These days hover like a nuclear cloud above my life. So many times in those 614 days since that day I looked at clouds and imagined where you are sitting, from which direction you are looking at me, and why I still have no sign from you? Papi, using the first-person address to you is a crazy thought. How much I longed for the moment yet simultaneously feared it would bring the stamp—that it would be final.”
“You taught me so much. You gave me traits and senses that help me navigate this world. I learned from you the love of the land, and to love the sea. You taught me to love music, and like the name you gave me, you taught me to enjoy and hum every song. Inside me is a chain of so many abilities and tools: courage, not to be afraid and to dare, joy of life and lightness, to flow, enjoy, and smile in every moment. You taught me what simplicity is, to enjoy walking barefoot on the beach, and not to be afraid to enter deep water! To enjoy a beautiful sunset and to fling myself into a hammock. And most of all you left me a legacy of love of people and the simplicity of life. Not to take things hard (though you always took everything to heart) and you were always surrounded by friends.”
“Papi. I say goodbye. But I stay with you. Because you stay with me. I love and miss you, I miss you with an eternal longing. When I was little, whenever I had to undergo a medical procedure and was afraid, you'd tell me to look at you and bite your finger hard to transfer the pain. Who will take our pain now? To whom did you transfer your pain in those moments you suffered so much? How you always made expressions and sounds of pain so I’d laugh a bit. Now there is no voice and no laughter. October 7, 2023 will forever be the day my life and all I knew was destroyed, the day all boundaries were breached, and the dreams and values you raised me on were shattered to fragments. February 15 every year will be the date when the opportunity for hope and faith that maybe we’d get to hug you again was destroyed. June 11 the day they finally announced your return—every year Memorial Day and every day is Memorial Day, and Independence Day. And there is no independence.”
Or, Yair’s son: “The longing tears me apart inside. You left a huge void that nothing can fill”
Or, a hostage survivor and Yaya’s son, eulogized: “My dear father, my father, the best father in the world. It’s hard for me to speak of you in the past tense, because my heart refuses to believe you are no longer with us. You were an amazing father to me, the pillar of the home, and there is not a day I don’t miss you and need you here by my side. This longing tears me apart inside. I remember so many moments we shared. How you let me drive your car, just for fun or to learn driving from you—the best lessons I got in life. And all the laughter we shared, especially when you'd get angry and we would 'tease' you with love. Those were unforgettable moments of pure joy and happiness.”
(Photo: Or eulogizing)“I miss especially those days on the porch, when you, me, Yagil, and Mayu would sit, laugh and simply enjoy every moment. And how can one forget the days at the pool, when we played backgammon for hours, with the laughter and the little competition between us. Dad, you were such a special person. A model father, a true friend. You left behind a huge void that nothing can fill. But I promise you, I will keep your memories alive and breathing inside me. I will tell your stories, laugh at and carry on your jokes, and above all—I will live the way you would want me to live. Flowing, simple, and happy in my part. Rest in peace, my dear dad. You will always be in my heart with every breath. I love you forever.”
Yagil, Yair’s son: “Finally may you rest in peace”
Yagil, a hostage survivor and Yaya’s son, eulogized: “Dad, I miss you so much and love you so much. I never thought I would have to eulogize you at such a young age. I’m only 14 and look how much I have grown since you are no longer here. Dad, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m so happy this moment has come when everyone is standing and listening to me say goodbye to you. Dad, all this time I waited so much for you and heard stories about you I didn’t know. Whenever I looked at your picture I couldn’t believe and always imagined you looking back and saying, ‘Yago what’s up (he says “what happened”) why cry why be sad.’ It’s over, I’m sure.”(Photo: Yagil eulogizing)“Dad, sometimes I catch myself at night—you’re probably looking and can’t believe how this happened to me and us and Nir Oz. You have no idea how much I would do just to get a hug from you now. True, we argued a lot as father and son, but if there’s anything that consoles me it’s that our last evening... it was the best evening, that evening was truly the farewell. I’m glad you protected me in captivity, you and God. I’m glad you held me—you know how many moments of crisis I went through. You saw everything—the fights with Salim the terrorist, me begging for a bit more food, one more dry pita. Begging to go outside—you saw I suffered and knew I would get through it. And yes, despite all the hardships I’m here and it's hard—but I’m glad to say finally you are here!”
“Dad, before I knew you were murdered I collected things and letters for you so I could bring them back. You were the best father—Dad who laughs with me, Dad who understands, Dad who is happy and enjoys the simplicity of the world. I miss going with you on the kibbutz trails, to the fields, or even just going to eat falafel. I miss you so much and I'm sure you are in the best place you could reach. I hope you are happy there with everyone.”
“Finally may you rest in peace. I love you and miss you endlessly. Keep watching over us like you did on October 7—when you left and did not return as we expected. I love you so much, I'm sure you know it—how much longing is bottled inside me. Dad, how can one describe you in words—someone full of goodness, you always made sure I lacked nothing, you taught me from that to love, you were a principled person with life sentences. I have hours and hours of emptiness of longing for you—there’s no way to explain the feeling of longing for you. You made sure that in captivity I focused mainly on myself and tried as little as possible to think of home—just to survive. The feeling that I wanted to scream to let out all my soul and shout, just shout. I’m sure you felt that from me the whole time I was in captivity.”
Merav Tal, hostage survivor and Yaya’s partner: “Every moment with you was a gift. Your good soul deserves rest”
Merav Tal, Yaya’s partner, eulogized: “My Yaya, love of my heart. I have no words to describe the pain, the longing, the hole that has opened in my heart. Since that terrible day—October 7—when you were murdered and held in Gaza, our world stopped. Today, when they finally returned you to us, we also had to remain in suspense a little longer and wait as if the universe didn’t want me to say goodbye to you. So I don’t want to say goodbye—but your good soul deserves rest. I feel that a part of me returned with a scar and a lack that will never go away. Yaya, you deserved the rescue. The heroism. And I’m so proud of our army, our fighters, who returned you home—to the kibbutz, the place you loved so much. There is no one like you, Yaya.”“You were the funniest person I ever met. You always knew how to cheer, to uplift—even funny in that you didn’t know you were funny. You were a man from another era—rare, genuine, full of dignity and giving. Everyone loved you—how could they not? Our time together will never be forgotten. Every moment with you was a gift. And today, even though you aren’t physically here, you’re still with me, all the time, in every breath, every thought. Shir, Or, and Yagil are always with me. They don’t leave me for a moment and I look at them and see you. Your smile, your goodness, your huge heart. I love you with all my soul, my Yaya. I give thanks for every moment I was privileged to be with you, and I thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who brought you back to us. I promise you—you will always be in my heart. Forever.” link
IAEA chief says agency’s report on Iran’s secret nuclear activity wasn’t the cause of Israeli military offensive
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, rejects the notion that his agency and the report it released last month on Iran’s nuclear activities are in any way responsible for triggering Israel’s assault on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
“A report on the nuclear verification in Iran could hardly be a basis for any military action,” Grossi tells CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “Military action, from whomever it comes, is a political decision that has nothing to do with what we’re saying.”
Tehran previously suggested that the report, and the subsequent IAEA declaration that Iran violated its nuclear safeguards obligations, had “prepared the ground” for Israel’s attack.
Grossi notes that much of what was included in the report was “essentially not new,” and that the nuclear watchdog has been warning for years that Iran was refusing to share data on its nuclear activities.
“In that report, I also said that, at this point, we do not have any indication that there is a systemic program in Iran to manufacture a nuclear weapon,” Grossi cautions, stressing that the IAEA only reports on what it can verify itself, and does not engage in speculation.
Asked about the timeline in which Iran could theoretically produce a nuclear weapon, even an extremely crude one, Grossi says it is one thing to have enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon — the IAEA report had estimated that Iran had enough uranium, if enriched further, for nine nuclear bombs — but another thing entirely to have a warhead to put it in.
“It’s true that in the early 2000s, there had been some activities which were assessed at that time as related to nuclear weapon development…we are not seeing this now,” he says, adding that, therefore, discussing a timeline would be nothing more than “pure speculation.”
He reiterates, however, that Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state to be enriching uranium to the level that it is. link There are many who are equating the attack on Iran with the US attack on Iraq when the White House claimed that Saddam Hussein was producing weapons of mass destruction. Besides the White House, at that time, the other major claimant of that false intel was none other than Benjamin Netanyahu. It is widely recognized that Netanyahu lied to the Senate. video. No one should ever forget that Netanyahu convinced Trump to withdraw from the Nuclear agreement the Obama administration signed along with many of the European countries and Iran which would have prevented Iran from further nuclear development for 10-15 years. This led to Iran immediately restarting its nuclear development. This was all on Netanyahu.
Did the missile split? IDF announcement following the barrage from Iran
The extensive destruction at various sites following the barrage from Iran this morning, and the documentation that was published, led to an assessment within the defense establishment: Iran launched “splitting missiles” • The IDF examined whether the missiles that were launched included several “small missiles” and sub-munitions, and announced: we experienced an impact of a missile with the capability of dispersing munitionsAgainst the backdrop of the heavy barrage from Iran today (Thursday), and the severe damage caused in several cities, the IDF confirmed that among the missiles used were missiles that included “sub-munitions.” In effect, this is a warhead that splits, a kind of cluster bomb that includes several bombs inside it.
shrapnel that fell on a house todayMissile with ability to spread mini missiles
top right: tens of small explosives
top left: spreads out over a large geographical area
bottom: can explode when touched or movedAt sites where hits were observed this morning, searches were carried out, and at one of them, in Or Yehuda, those “small missiles” were located, which apparently indicate the presence of those sub-munitions. Bomb disposal experts and other teams arrived at the places where the remnants were found and began investigating the incident.
“This morning in Or Yehuda, we experienced an impact of a missile with the capability of dispersing small munitions that spread over a relatively wide area,” said the Home Front Command. “It is possible that some of the munitions remain on the ground and do not explode. Do not touch remnants or a suspicious object – immediately call 100.”
Iranian missile that fell in an agricultural area
(Photo: Usage according to Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)Direct hit in central Israel
(Photo: Haim Goldberg, Flash 90)In the morning barrage, according to estimates, around 25 missiles were fired from Iran, and impacts were identified in several main locations including Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, Ramat Gan, and Holon. More than 270 people were injured in the various incidents, including 4 people who were seriously wounded.
The IDF is still debriefing the event. According to estimates, the warhead disperses within a radius of 7 kilometers. The bombs located inside the warhead are smaller, and when they hit the ground – they explode. This type of munition caused one of the hits in today’s barrage, and it causes damage similar in scope to the rockets of Hamas and Hezbollah.
On the one hand, the threat of such a missile is broad in terms of the areas that may be harmed. On the other hand, the warheads cause less damage than Iran’s warhead-bearing missiles that carry about half a ton of explosive material. link
- 271 people treated in hospitals this morning due to Iranian missile attack, says Health Ministry
Israeli security and rescue forces at the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Ramat Gan, June 19, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)The Health Ministry reports that 271 people arrived at hospitals after the Iranian ballistic missile attack this morning — four in serious condition, 16 in moderate condition, 220 in good condition, 24 suffering from acute anxiety, and seven undergoing medical evaluation whose condition has not yet been determined.
Of those at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, which was directly struck by a missile, 71 people were lightly injured and one person suffered from anxiety.
Most of the lightly injured were hurt on their way to a protected area or were suffering from anxiety.
Since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion, 2,345 injured people have arrived at hospitals: 21 in serious condition, 87 in moderate condition, 2,105 in good condition, and 99 suffering from anxiety, the ministry says.
So far, most of the injured have been released. Currently, 106 people are being treated in hospitals, and another 149 are being treated in the emergency room.
The ministry asks people living near elderly citizens to assist them as much as possible in choosing the closest and safest protected space, and practicing getting there and arriving as early as possible, even before the alarm sounds, to prevent accidents caused by falls on the way.
The ministry has also instructed health maintenance organizations and resilience centers to strengthen mental health support services by allowing victims of anxiety to receive telephone support without having to go to hospitals. The phone number for the National Resilience Therapeutic Center is *5486 and operates around the clock.
- Health Ministry orders all hospitals to discharge patients: 'Prepare to release mothers 12 hours after delivery'In letter to hospital administrators and health funds obtained by Ynet, Health Ministry instructs patient releases until wards are maximally reduced; hospitals instructed to provide guidance on how to handle hazardous materials and leakage of radioactive materials. full article
- Authorities identify body found in Bat Yam rubble as mother of slain Ukrainian girl
A body discovered this afternoon in the rubble of a building hit by an Iranian missile in Bat Yam early Sunday morning has reportedly been identified as that of Maria Peshkurova.
Peshkurova, 30, was a Ukrainian national and the mother of 7-year-old Nastia Borik, who came to Israel for cancer treatment and was killed along with her grandmother and two cousins.
Maria had been missing since the missile strike and was presumed dead along with her four other family members.
- This is the missile we encountered in yesterday's barrage which has mini missiles in the war head and each one has its own war heads. The war head is supposed to spread the mini missiles to a greater radius and cause greater damage, injuries and deaths.Missile shown on Iranian Television
Transport Ministry opening hotline to help Israelis stranded abroad return home Unbeleivable that it has taken them almost a week to think about this but typical of this failed government
Outgoing flights to enable people to leave Israel will start Monday, says Regev
Transportation Minister Miri Regev says Israel is preparing to operate outgoing departure flights starting Monday to help tourists, diplomats and Israelis leave the country — subject to approval by a government-led exceptions committee.
Regev says that initially the exceptions committee will give high priority to tourists, diplomats, youth and sports groups, and those with urgent humanitarian and medical needs, who have been stranded in the country since the Iran conflict started on Friday, with few options to leave.
“At the bottom line of the priority list will be Israelis who want to leave the country because they want to go on holidays, as our focus is first to bring back the 100,000 Israelis who are abroad,” says Regev. “The exceptions committee will also examine approvals subject to urgent humanitarian and medical needs of passengers.”
Until now, the government-led airlift mission launched on Wednesday has focused on bringing Israelis back home in a phased and limited manner. Israel has not allowed foreigners or Israeli passengers to leave the country via air travel to avoid overcrowding and minimize the time planes spend on the ground at Ben Gurion Airport due to security reasons and Home Front Command guidelines. The international airport has been a frequent target of missile attacks.
- IDF: Iran fired 1,000 drones at Israel, none hit targets; over 400 missiles launchedMilitary says of the 400 missiles fired since Israel began its operation against Iran, 20 hit population areas in Israel killing civilians, injuring hundreds and damaging infrastructure; IDF officials note fewer casualties than expected. full article
- Yair Golan laments ‘huge gaps’ in protective infrastructure between Arabs and Jews
There is a significant gap in defensive preparations between Arab and Jewish Israelis, Democrats party chairman Yair Golan declares, following a tour of the Arab municipalities of Shefa-Amr, Nazareth and Shibli in northern Israel.
“Iranian missiles do not distinguish between Jews and Arabs, between the center and the periphery,” he says.
While authorities’ preparations for war were “impressive,” he says, there are “still huge gaps in defense for Arab society.”
“As commander of the Home Front Command, I recommended 15 years ago a simple but dramatic move: to allocate a billion shekels a year ($290 million) to protect civilians. A tiny amount in terms of the state budget, which would significantly reduce the gaps in protection,” he continues.
“With a billion shekels a year, we would add about 10,000 additional protected spaces each year. Over 15 years, we would end up with about 150,000 additional protected housing units, especially in the periphery and in disadvantaged areas. This neglect must stop.”
Israel has been criticized for not building as many shelters in Arab cities. In the northern city of Tamra, where four residents were killed in a missile barrage Saturday night, there are no public shelters available, and only 40% of residents have access to private shelters, Hadash-Ta’al party chairman Ayman Odeh said Sunday.
A 2024 report by the Israel Democracy Institute found that Israel was not meeting its responsibilities to provide adequate protective structures in Arab cities, citing a 2018 State Comptroller report that said only 11 out of 71 Arab local authorities examined had public shelters.
Netanyahu: “There are personal costs in war, my son Avner canceled his wedding. My wife is a hero”
The Prime Minister arrived at Soroka Hospital, which was hit in the heavy barrage from Iran, and said: “We are striking military targets – and they [are striking] hospitals.” He addressed the “personal costs” in the war: “People were unfortunately killed, each one of us bears a personal cost, my family carries the burden.” In a veiled criticism of Katz he said: “Eliminating Khamenei? Better not to talk.”
Netanyahu at Soroka: “There are personal costs in war, my son Avner canceled his wedding. My wife is a hero”
In a statement from Soroka Hospital, which was significantly damaged by the heavy Iranian barrage launched this morning (Thursday), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war against Iran exacts “personal costs.” When asked about the cancellation of his son Avner’s wedding, Netanyahu said: “All of the people of Israel are paying a price and bearing that price in an extraordinary way, and I am proud of the citizens of Israel.”
“There are personal costs, people were injured, there are people who unfortunately were also killed, families who have lost loved ones, and I very much appreciate that. Each one of us bears a personal cost, and it did not skip over my family. Yes, for the second time, my son Avner, because of the threat of missiles and missile fire, is canceling a wedding – that is certainly a personal cost. It is dear to him, and also to his fiancΓ©e and our family. I must also say, my dear wife is a hero, she bears a personal cost,” he said.
“I am leading this move against the Iranian nuclear [program], she sacrificed the best years of her life. Without her, I would not be here today. I appreciate what all the families are bearing, just as my family is bearing the burden, standing under the burden and guaranteeing the eternity of Israel.”
Netanyahu came to Soroka Hospital to assess the scale of the massive damage at the site. At the hospital, about 60 people were injured and treated – all of them in light condition, mostly suffering from anxiety.
The director of the hospital, Dr. Shlomi Kodesh, stated that: “A missile hit the surgical hospitalization building. This is a relatively old building that was evacuated from the wards. The building was severely damaged and there is extensive damage to additional buildings as a result of the blast wave. All the staff were in protected areas.” According to him, “All the injured are in light condition due to the blast. The building is fit only for life-saving cases. The forces are mapping the area.”
“You see here the whole difference,” the Prime Minister said during his visit to Soroka. “We strike precisely at military targets, and they strike a hospital. They strike a place where people cannot get up and run away, even. There is a children’s and infants’ ward here – that is the entire difference between a democracy that operates by law in order to preserve it, and these murderers.”
After Defense Minister Israel Katz declared today, referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, that “he cannot continue to exist,” Prime Minister Netanyahu noted during his visit to Soroka:
“I have instructed that no one is immune. I prefer not to deal with headlines, to let actions speak. I think that in war one must choose words carefully and actions precisely. That is what I ask not only of myself, but of all of us.” link Yes, Netanyahu's personal cost in this war is very high. His son had to postpone his wedding. OMG, how can he and his family get through this huge personal tragedy?
While soldiers in Gaza are being killed, injured and maimed daily, his son's wedding postponement certainly tops those 'minor' personal prices. While 53 of our people are still hostages 622 days, suffering the hell of Hamas captivity, starving, enduring torture, sickness, disease and dying more every day, his son's wedding postponement certainly is a much greater tragedy. While millions of Israelis must run to protected spaces multiple times day and night, homes getting destroyed by missiles and people are being killed and injured, his son's wedding postponement is certainly more difficult than all of that other suffering. The list goes on of how the Netanyahu family's tragedy of the wedding postponement is certainly worse than any national crisis and tragedy. We all need to take a minute, stand in silence and honor the sacrifice of the Netanyahu family for the good of us all. Thank you Netanyahu family from the bottom of our hearts. I can't imagine how we can get through this period of time, thinking that everything happening around us has any importance when you, Netanyahu family are going through such a personal crisis. We tip our hats to you for your great sacrifices for the State of Israel and the Jewish People.- Israel modifies missile warning system, cancels 30-minute pre-alerts
Home Front Command allows workplaces to operate if shelters are available, limited crowds are also allowed near shelters; a 30-minute missile pre-warning stage; alerts are issued about 10 minutes before sirens in updated emergency protocol following deadly Iranian attacks
Israel's Home Front Command has slightly relaxed some of its restrictions, which will be in effect as of Wednesday evening, at 6 p.m. and will last until Friday at 6 p.m.Groups of up to 30 are allowed to gather if there is quick access to shelters, and workplaces can operate if they have protected areas available on site.Areas along the border with Lebanon, the Golan Heights, the Beit She'an Valley, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, the Arava, Eilat, and communities near the Gaza Strip allow gathering of up to 100 people where shelters are available. Schools, educational institutions to remain shut.People bed down at the Ramat Gan train station(Photo: Oded Balilty / AP)On Tuesday, Israel’s Home Front Command has officially canceled the early missile warning stage that previously gave civilians 15 to 30 minutes of advance notice before an expected attack.Under the revised guidelines, a single alert will now be issued approximately 10 minutes before incoming fire, eliminating the earlier tiered pre-alert system introduced just days ago. The change comes amid continued Iranian missile and drone threats.Updated missile alert protocolThe Home Front Command’s new alert procedure now consists of three streamlined stages:- Ten minutes before a projected strike: a single directive will be issued instructing the public to prepare to enter protected spaces.
- Upon receiving the siren or SMS alert: civilians must enter a designated safe area immediately, based on standard time-to-shelter guidelines.
- Exit from the protected space is permitted only after receiving an official “all-clear” message.
- This system replaces the previous four-stage protocol, which included a now-canceled 15–30 minute “pre-alert” intended to maximize civilian response time.
Nationwide emergency extendedIn response to the continuing threat, the Israeli government has extended emergency regulations through June 30. All in-person educational programs—including schools, universities, youth programs, and summer camps—remain suspended, with remote learning in place. High school matriculation exams have been postponed until further notice.Businesses nationwide remain largely shuttered, with only essential services allowed to operate. Public gatherings, cultural events, and sports activities continue to be banned under Home Front Command regulations.Sheltering instructions and readiness measuresCivilians are advised to seek shelter in the following order of priority:- Reinforced safe rooms (Mamad, Mamak, Mamam) with sealed doors and secured windows.
- Bomb shelters reachable within the alert time.
- Interior stairwells, avoiding top or ground floors, or interior rooms with minimal windows.
- Kitchens, bathrooms, and building entrances should be avoided due to risks from shrapnel and blast waves. In the absence of a safe room or shelter, individuals should lie flat and shield their heads.
Public shelters in urban areas have been opened, particularly in buildings lacking fortified rooms. The Israel Defense Forces have deployed around 30,000 personnel and over 50 search and rescue battalions nationwide to support civilian readiness.Support services for new immigrants (Olim)To assist immigrants during the ongoing emergency, several support initiatives are active:The Olim Emotional Aid Hotline operates from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering free, anonymous emotional and psychological support in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Amharic. Call: *3201The Qualita organization has opened a dedicated French-language hotline, operating Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call: 077-9727555The Jewish Agency has opened a situation room in Jerusalem to support olim in absorption centers, visiting delegations, and emissaries serving Jewish communities abroad.The country remains under “Red Policy 4,” the highest civilian emergency level, with strict limitations on movement and operations. Home Front Command Chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo emphasized the importance of immediate action: “Upon receiving an alert, enter the nearest safe space and remain there until you receive a clear instruction to exit. We are prepared to face this challenge together and protect the people of Israel.” link - Shipping giant Maersk temporarily suspends vessel calls at Haifa port due to risk of Iranian missiles
π️Day 623 that 53 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivityπ️
**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.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!ΧΧΧ Χ Χ¦ΧΧΧ Χ’Χ Χ©ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧΧ€ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧͺ
To get an idea of the home front command instructions that we must listen to very carefully to stay safe, read the article "Israel modifies missile warning system, cancels 30-minute pre-alerts" in the Israel and Iran section below
Watch the short video of Dr. Gershon Baskin at the Paris Peace Forum in his powerful call for ending our 100 year conflict video
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*2:45pm yesterday - north Jordan Valley - drone intrusion
*4:40pm yesterday - north - Hadera and north - about 10 ballistic missiles from Iran
*2:55am - north - drone intrusion - Four drones launched from Iran at Israel overnight were intercepted, the IDF says.One was shot down over Haifa, while the other three were intercepted over the Dead Sea area. The IDF releases footage showing some of the interceptions. video
*5:50am - Dead Sea and Northern Negev areas - Ballistic missile from Iran - single missile with direct impact in Beersheva at a parking lot causing a fire and burning several cars, 5 people with minor injuries It is not known why our air defenses failed to intercept the single missile. video of the fire
The missile struck just outside several apartment blocks, setting several cars on fire. Damage was caused to the nearby homes.
*12:20pm- Gaza Envelope - rockets from Gaza- A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip hit an open area near the border community of Be’eri, the IDF says.
*1:45pm - north - drone intrusion -The IDF says the Israeli Air Force intercepted a drone launched toward Israeli territory, after sirens sounded in several areas in the southern Golan Heights
*12:20pm- Gaza Envelope - rockets from Gaza- A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip hit an open area near the border community of Be’eri, the IDF says.
*1:45pm - north - drone intrusion -The IDF says the Israeli Air Force intercepted a drone launched toward Israeli territory, after sirens sounded in several areas in the southern Golan Heights
Gazan media reports some 20 people killed while waiting for aid in central Gaza; no comment from IDF
Media outlets in Gaza report that some 20 people were killed and dozens more injured by IDF gunfire this morning while waiting for humanitarian aid in the Nitzanim Corridor area in central Gaza.
The reports do not specify whether the incident occurred near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center, although there is one in the area.
The reports are not accompanied by any footage, and the IDF has yet to comment on the reported incident.
IDF says senior Mujahideen Brigades commander, involved in burying bodies of slain hostages, killed in Gaza strike
An Israeli military handout issued on June 20, 2025, shows Mujahideen Brigades commander Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha. (Israel Defense Forces)An airstrike in the Gaza Strip this week eliminated a senior commander in the Mujahideen Brigades terror group, who was involved in burying the bodies of slain hostages Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein, the military says.
The IDF says Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha was killed in a strike on a hideout in central Gaza on Monday.
Al-Agha headed the terror group’s southern Gaza unit and was set to take over the organization after its leader, Asaad Abu Sharia, was killed in a strike earlier this month, according to the military.
“Al-Agha, along with other senior members of the terror group, led the abduction, murder, holding in captivity, and burial of Israeli civilians” during the October 7 onslaught, the military says.
The IDF adds that he was specifically responsible for the burial of Haggai and Weinstein, whose bodies were recovered from Al-Agha’s home in Khan Younis this month.
Al-Agha was also involved in “directing terror activity under Iranian guidance” in the West Bank and Israel, and recruiting terror operatives, as well as carrying out attacks on troops in Gaza.
This past week, amid the conflict with Iran, the IDF says it struck some 300 “terror targets” in Gaza, including operatives, buildings used by terror groups, weapon depots, and missile and sniper posts. link I don't see this as being a good thing. We are already at great risk of never recovering some of the bodies of the hostages being held in Gaza. There are limited numbers of Hamas terrorists who actually know the locations of the bodies and this terrorists was probably one who knew where many of the bodies are located. It would be much better if we captured terrorists like him and interrogated them to find out the locations and then attempt rescues. One of the greatest fears regarding the hostages is that some of them will never be found. There are, after all, thousands of Gazans whose bodies are buried underneath the millions of tons of rubble that Gaza has become and most of their bodies will never be recovered when the destruction gets bulldozed. Who knows how many of the hostages' bodies will have the same fate?
- Israel says 95 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Thursday
Yesterday, 95 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announces.
Israel resumed aid deliveries to Gaza on May 19, after a pause since March 2. Since then, 1,879 trucks have entered the Strip.
The aid underwent an inspection by Israeli authorities before entering Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings.
Gaza and the South
- One person reported killed in Israeli drone strike in south Lebanon
Lebanese media outlets report that an Israeli drone struck a car in the vicinity of the village of Houla in southern Lebanon.
According to the reports, one person who was driving the vehicle was killed in the attack. The IDF has yet to comment on the incident. video
- "From the river to the sea, on two states we agree."
In a powerful moment at the Paris Call for the Two-State Solution, Gershon Baskin urged a shift in narratives:
→ Acknowledging two peoples
→ Facing historical pain
→ Building a shared future grounded in coexistence.
Drawing inspiration from Palestinian historian Rashid Khalidi, Gershon Baskin called for brave realism on both sides—and a move away from slogans that deny each other’s legitimacy. video
- The Region and the World
- 9 European nations demand EU draft proposal to end trade with Israeli settlements
Nine European Union countries have called on the European Commission to come up with proposals on how to discontinue EU trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The letter, addressed to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, was signed by foreign ministers from Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner, accounting for about a third of its total goods trade. Two-way goods trade between the bloc and Israel stood at 42.6 billion euros ($48.91 billion) last year, though it was unclear how much of that trade involved settlements.
The ministers pointed to a July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal. It said states should take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that help maintain the situation.
“We have not seen a proposal to initiate discussions on how to effectively discontinue trade of goods and services with the illegal settlements,” the ministers write.
“We need the European Commission to develop proposals for concrete measures to ensure compliance by the Union with the obligations identified by the Court,” they add.
Israel’s diplomatic mission to the EU did not immediately respond to a request for comment. LINK Israel's actions in the West Bank have been oppressive and destructive to the Palestinian population and it has gotten exponentially worse under this extreme messianic government. Netanyahu, in his never ending desperation to stay in power brought in the most extreme partners into his coalition and normalized their racist ideologies and the Jewish terrorist activities against the Palestinians. Both Smotrich and Ben Gvir have never made their goals secret and have used their power and budgets to further their goals: Smotrich as finance minister and minister in the defense ministry in charge of the West Bank has received budgets never before given to the settlement movements and as finance minister making the economic lives of the Palestinians worse; and Ben Gvir as the minister in charge of the police has given explicit instructions to the police to to arrive when called to acts of Jewish terrorists against Palestinians, not to arrest any of these terrorists and make sure no charges are ever made against them. Both of these extremist ministers have acted against international laws and encourages lawlessness in the West Bank in order to promote their agendas. When we have the Israeli government acting criminally, not taking actions against the illegal actions and normalizes all of this behavior, it is no wonder that other countries are filling the huge gap by enacting sanctions and now working on ending trade with the settlements. These actions can become snowballs that will impact the entire country and not just the settlements as these ministers, their parties and their followers are implicating the entire country with their internationally illegal actions.
- Shin Bet reportedly upping operations to protect Israelis abroad from Iranian attacks
The Israeli security establishment has identified Iranian attempts to target Israeli-linked sites abroad, such as diplomatic missions or locations where planes belonging to Israeli airlines are parked, Channel 12 reports, without citing any sources.
In order to thwart such attacks, the Shin Bet security service is conducting extensive security operations in Europe, sending additional personnel to the continent.
The Iranian efforts come as Israel is working to repatriate roughly 100,000 citizens who have been stranded abroad since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran last week.
- Personal Stories
Stav did everything to be in combat – and fell in Khan Yunis: “The happiest period in his short life”
Stav Halfon, of blessed memory, enlisted in the Navy, but when the war broke out, he felt he must take part in the fighting in the Gaza Strip – and acted to raise his medical profile: “You went forward and did not fear, now you are in heaven,” said his father. Hundreds accompanied him to burial in Petah Tikva. His brothers eulogized him: “Who could stand against you? An amazing brother, we admired you,” they said in pain. “Send us strength,” asked his mother.
Hundreds came today (Thursday) to the military section of the Segula Cemetery in Petah Tikva to accompany on his final journey Staff Sergeant Stav Halfon, of blessed memory, a 20-year-old combat soldier from the 603rd Combat Engineering Battalion, who fell yesterday in battle in the Gaza Strip. He left behind parents, two brothers, and a sister. At first he served in the Navy, but when the war broke out, he acted vigorously to transfer to a combat role in the Engineering Corps. He was critically wounded by sniper fire in Khan Yunis, and later his death was determined at the hospital. “You were the glue of the hearts in the house,” eulogized his father.
Ramona Halfon, Stav’s mother, eulogized him:
“You went through eight months of basic training, you were in Lebanon and then entered Gaza as well. You were on a ‘high’ from it, you felt it was your time to give. I asked you to take care of yourself. You said, ‘Mom, do not worry.’ You became a man, but had the soul of a child. I know this was the happiest period of your short life. Mama’s boy, a huge heart. Rest in peace, my child. And send us strength. I salute you. I am the mother of a combat engineer.”
The father Meir added with pain:
“How can one speak in the past tense about my child? My dear son, without him, the heart is not whole. You had kind eyes that saw others. Since you were little you were serious, responsible, and sensitive to others. You were the glue of hearts in the home.
“When you enlisted you were assigned to the Navy, but with the outbreak of war you did everything to move to a combat unit. You wanted to fight in Gaza, you said you wanted to fight for the country you so love. You went forward and did not fear. Now you are in heaven, and we are here with aching hearts. Rest in peace, my son, hero of Israel.”
His brother Asif also eulogized:
“Stav, my dear brother. Who would have believed I would stand here and eulogize you? A beautiful angel and a true warrior. Just two weeks ago, on your last leave, we went to play pool. You beat me soundly. You are an amazing brother with insane willpower. Who could stand against you, my dear brother? You did the impossible.
“After a year of service in the Navy, you took upon yourself the goal to enlist in Combat Engineering and be a fighter. You did it in the best way. How much I waited for your discharge, I wanted you close to me. How proud I am of you, I admire you. I love you and miss you.”
His sister Paz said:
“Our Stav, the worst has happened. You were the best child in the world, you could not harm a fly. You spread only goodness and love in the world. For a year you were in a non-combat role in the Navy and nothing could harm you, but when the war started you would not hear of anything except Combat Engineering.
“Only three months ago you completed the training and we were the proudest in the world! You were an angel on earth and rose to the heavens as an angel. You fought as a hero of Israel and fell in defense of the country, but the country did not manage to defend you. Apparently God chooses the best. Rest in peace our beloved. You will always be in my heart.”
Fourth fallen within a week. IDF forces in Khan Yunis
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
His brother Matan also eulogized:
“Anyone who knows Stav knows he always wanted to be first. Stav was always there for me, because Stav is my brother and will always be. Before I enlisted, you told me, ‘Go for reconnaissance units, you can do more.’ I told you, ‘Let me just get through training.’ I’m telling you that in less than a month I’ll not only finish training, I’ll be an outstanding soldier and go to the squad commanders’ course. Yes, you were right, I can do more. I did not see you much since I enlisted, but whenever we met we would talk a lot.
“You said you wanted to go into Gaza, and when you did you told how excited you were. You said how happy you were that you moved to Engineering, that you were with your friends and enjoying it. Many times in my life I followed Sato – without realizing – and today I understand that I admire him. Thank you Stav for 19 years by my side. I love you.”
Earlier this week, the names of Staff Sergeant Naveh Leshem, a fighter in the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade; Captain (res.) Tal Movshovitz, deputy company commander in the Engineering Battalion; and Sergeant First Class (res.) Noam Shemesh, a squad commander in the Kfir Brigade, who fell in separate incidents in battles in Khan Yunis, were cleared for publication. Staff Sergeant Stav Halfon, of blessed memory, is the fourth IDF fallen soldier this week in the Gaza Strip. link
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
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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