π️Lonny's War Update- October 629, 2023 - June 26, 2025 π️
π️Day 629 that 50 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivityπ️
- Efforts to secure a Gaza deal intensify, but no breakthrough yet
While efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal have picked up in recent days, there has been no breakthrough thus far, unnamed Hamas sources tell the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.
Hamas is pushing back on US-backed Israeli demands that its military wing give up its weapons and that its leaders go into exile, the sources say. Critically, Israel continues to oppose a permanent ceasefire — a demand from which Hamas has not budged.
The sources speculate that a new round of indirect talks in either Egypt or Qatar in the coming days.
Earlier today, senior Hamas official Taher Nounou denied in an interview with Qatar’s Al-Araby channel that there had been any progress in the talks, following an AFP report claiming that “intensive talks” were taking place regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
- Qatar says Israel-Iran ceasefire created ‘momentum’ for Gaza deal talks
Protesters call for a deal to secure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza, at Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, June 18, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)Qatar has been in touch with “all sides” involved in Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal talks in an attempt to take advantage of momentum in the wake of the Israel-Iran ceasefire, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari tells CNN.
“This is the time now for President Trump to push for it and we believe he is sincere about it… We are willing to help on that,” says Ansari.
“There was momentum created by the ceasefire in Iran and Israel,” he continues, “but we’re not out of the woods yet. There are a lot of details that I can’t discuss right now about the deal in place but I can tell you it’s the same parameters that keeps going in and out of the talks.”
Ansari also calls the Iranian strikes on a US base inside of Qatar a “scar on the relationship” of his country with Tehran.
Aryeh Deri claims: We believe a great opportunity has arisen for a hostage deal
The chairman of Shas said in an interview with Yishai Cohen that due to the war with Iran – the conditions were created for ending the entire war • According to him, there will be “an impact on the whole war and on all the hostages” – because Hamas has remained isolated • He referred to the opportunities created in the closed discussions – and to Israel’s responsibility: “It depends on our conduct”
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri referred this morning (Wednesday) in an interview with Yishai Cohen on Kikar HaShabbat to the effects of the war with Iran on the hostage deal – and to the hope at the political level: “We believe a great opportunity has arisen.” He further clarified that Hamas remains isolated, without “the oxygen balloon” from the Ayatollah regime, and now – the ball is largely in Israel’s hands.
“We need to find a solution. I think the war, all that we did in Iran with siyata dishmaya (with the help of God) led to us cutting off the oxygen from Gaza,” said Deri. To the question of whether this will affect the hostage deal, he replied: “It will affect, in my opinion, the entire war. Certainly all the hostages. Now Hamas understands it has neither Hezbollah nor the head of the snake – Iran. It is left alone, isolated. Without money and without any support.”
According to him, the two options facing Gaza are total surrender or implementation of Trump’s voluntary migration plan: “They need to decide: either they surrender, make a deal, and return all the hostages. And in the process bring in a different government – and expel those who need to be expelled from there. If not, I hope we will begin the migration plan with the U.S. – and that the Arab states will begin to cooperate.”
From what you have heard in recent days, is there any progress in the negotiations?
“Look, we are still in the middle, I can tell you now,” said Deri – and revealed information from discussions that took place behind closed doors: “I can tell you that in the middle of the war, in a limited discussion, there were various opportunities on the subject of the hostage deal. Even though the attention was entirely on Iran, the prime minister and Minister Dermer tried to advance the matter.”At the end of the interview he said: “We believe, and soon there will be a discussion also on this topic, that now a great opportunity has arisen in the direction of the hostages in Gaza. And in general in the whole issue of the war in Gaza. And it depends of course on our conduct.”
To the question of whether he sees the end of the war on the horizon, he replied: “I want to believe so – and I think that now, more than ever, the conditions have been created to end the war in Gaza.”Gafni on the fighting in Gaza: “I do not understand what we are fighting for”
Earlier today, Knesset Member Moshe Gafni said at the start of a Finance Committee meeting: “I still do not understand why we are fighting there, I do not understand for what purpose.” The Knesset Member was referring to the tragic announcement of the deaths of the seven soldiers in Gaza, after a terrorist attached an explosive to the armored vehicle in which they were traveling, and they were trapped inside.At the beginning of the meeting he said: “We are on a sad day, may God avenge the blood of the soldiers, may their memory be blessed. I do not understand for what purpose, what is being done there for which soldiers are being killed all the time. We needed a Trump here who would come and say – the hostages are being returned and all of this is ending, and we return to a normal situation – but apparently we have not yet merited that.”
During the same meeting, Knesset Member Yinon Azulai from Shas joined in Gafni’s remarks: “I want to express deep sorrow for those soldiers who were murdered, I share in the grief of the families. I join in the call that this war must be ended and the hostages must be returned.”
The Hostages' Families Headquarters responded to Deri's words:
“Knesset Member Aryeh Deri continues the positive trend of public representatives who are saying what the majority of the people have been saying for a long time: the time has come to bring about a comprehensive agreement to release all 50 hostages and the female hostage and to end the fighting. Only in this way can an Israeli victory be completed.”“Now is the time for actions, not just words. We call on Knesset Member Deri, Knesset Member Gafni, and their coalition colleagues to use all their power and to take advantage of the historic momentum that has been created in order to do the right and necessary act – to call for ending the fighting and returning all the hostages and the female hostage home. You have backing for this move!” link. Deri is nothing but a lot of blah, blah. This isn't the first time he has said that the war needs to end and bring home the hostages but his words are not backed up with any actions whatsoever. Just as Gafni of Yahadut Hatorah, the Haredi party who said yesterday in his Knesset committed that he doesn't understand why we are fight in Gaza and not ending the war and bringing home the hostages. Neither of them does anything but talk. Words are cheap. Without concrete action, their words mean nothing whatsoever. Just as Smotrich and Ben Gvir, the extremist messianics in the cabinet have repeatedly threatened to bring down the government if Netanyahu makes a deal that ends the war, where is Deri and Gafni threatening to bring down the government is Netanyahu doesn't end the war and bring home the hostages. This they won't do because they also are self-interested politicians who care more about their partisan interests than in the country as a whole and the hostages. Act, don't just talk Deri and Gafni!!
**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
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*4:30pm yesterday - IDF says it shot down drone from Yemen before it entered Israeli airspace - A drone apparently launched from Yemen was shot down by the Israeli Air Force a short while ago, the military says. According to the IDF, the drone did not enter Israeli airspace.
- From Khan Younis to Petah Tikva: Elite IDF commandos lead civilian rescue after Iranian strikes
After combat in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, Israel’s elite counterterrorism unit is now rescuing civilians from Iranian missile rubble: 'It’s surreal. You arrive and see total destruction—the same sights and smells as a combat zone—but this time it’s in Tel Aviv or Ramat Gan
These highly trained soldiers, more accustomed to battles in Gaza or southern Lebanon, are now operating in the heart of Israel’s urban centers—Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bat Yam, and Be'er Sheva—clearing buildings, locating trapped civilians, and aiding in rescue operations Gaza and the South GHF says it distributed 33,600 boxes of food at three sites on Wednesday
The US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it distributed 33,600 boxes of aid today.
As it did yesterday, the GHF opened three sites today — two in southern Gaza, and the Wadi Gaza site in the central Strip.
GHF says its boxes contain enough food for 5.5 people for 3.5 days, but the contents are dry food products that need to be prepared elsewhere in war-ravaged Gaza, where community kitchens and cooking supplies are limited.
Staff Sgt. A. (27), a breaching team commander, has participated in 16 rounds of fighting in Gaza. “We deployed six teams across the country at the onset of the war,” he said. “After the first missile strike, it became clear there was a gap in the ability to reach civilians trapped inside buildings. We bring our operational experience from arrests in the West Bank and our demolitions background, entering towers in Petah Tikva, opening them up for security forces and the Home Front Command.”The unit also includes a specialized team in rope rescue and UAV (drone) operators who can launch drones in seconds to identify trapped individuals from above. “There’s no feeling like opening a door to find a 75-year-old man in heart failure and being able to help him,” said A.Lotar troops on scenes of Iranian missile strikes(Photo: IDF)Their drone unit was established in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks. A. recalled that day: “By 8 a.m., we had launched to rescue one of our own in Sderot—he was killed. We found ourselves fighting in Sderot, Urim, Nir Yitzhak, and Be’eri. At the Urim base, a reservist joined us. He suggested launching a drone. Moments later, he spotted a terrorist hiding near a bomb shelter. We stepped back just in time before he threw a grenade. That drone saved our lives.”These same capabilities were deployed after the Iranian missile strikes. Sgt. B., a drone operator, described his shock: “It’s surreal. You arrive and see total destruction—the same sights and smells as a combat zone—but this time it’s in Tel Aviv or Ramat Gan. These are civilian homes. It could’ve been mine.” Lt. Col. A. said the images resembled Gaza: “You enter Ramat Gan and feel like you’re in Khan Younis. Then you see ZAKA and MDA teams everywhere and snap back to focus.” At Soroka Medical Center, after a direct missile hit, the team helped evacuate the wounded, including a terrified disabled man. “We had to explain everything gently. We’re trained to lift wounded into stretchers under fire—but here, we had to walk calmly, explain, reassure.”Footage from a unit's drone(Photo: IDF)“As a fighter and commander, when I enter a building, my instinct is to prepare for an ambush,” he added. “Now I charge in to find civilians under rubble. That mental shift—between combat and compassion—is something every soldier here has to make.”Sgt. Sh., a female commander in the rope rescue unit, also reached Soroka. “The hospital was wrecked. We train for this—high-level structural collapse, locating survivors—but seeing it here, in Israel, it’s not easy. Still, it’s inspiring how many people came to help. It’s a terrible situation, but the support is overwhelming.” link- Israel said to halt Gaza aid deliveries in wake of Smotrich threat to quit government
Israel has halted aid deliveries into Gaza, according to Channel 12 news, which cites an Israeli official.
The report comes shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that he ordered the military to present a plan within the next two days on how to keep Hamas from stealing humanitarian assistance.
The Israeli official quoted by Channel 12 says the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office came after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened that he could no longer remain in the government if immediate action wasn’t taken to prevent aid from reaching Hamas.
The official say the pause on aid deliveries will remain in place until the IDF presents its plan. link Unfortunately, Netanyahu doesn't take Smotrich's offer to leave the government. The government wouldn't fall but that doesn't matter to Netanyahu. He is looking at 2 things right now, how to keep his government going and sufficiently strong with as many of his corrupt partners as possible, and the 2nd thing is the next election, whenever it will be. By letting Smotrich leave the government on this issue would be a risk to some of his extreme right voters and supporters. Even though, most of Smotrich's voter base is already against him, it's all in the image and Smotrich would make a big deal of it to hurt Netanyahu and gain some voters back. So, Netanyahu continues to allow both Smotrich and Ben Gvir, the most extreme messianics ever to serve in a government, to control the war and what happens to the hostages. This creates a very stranger autocracy. On the one hand, Netanyahu is the sole decision maker for most of what his government does, and on the other hand, he is always deathly afraid of rubbing these two extremists the wrong way that they would bring down the government, making Netanyahu a weak willed autocrat and dangerous to the State of Israel.
- IDF probe raises alarm: Terrorist climbed APC in Khan Younis, threw explosive insideAs IDF broadens Gaza campaign, deadly breach exposes critical vulnerabilities—investigators suspect large quantities of explosives stored inside aging APC, while Hamas footage shows terrorist tossing IED through open hatch, killing 7 troops inside
The deadly incident in Khan Younis, in which seven IDF combat engineers were killed when their armored personnel carrier (APC) was struck by an explosive, occurred just as the IDF began expanding its operations into the central areas of the major city in the southern Gaza Strip, where two of Hamas’ most entrenched strongholds—the Kasbah and the refugee camp—have yet to be retaken.With the ceasefire with Iran in effect, the defense establishment and political leadership are expected in the coming days to decide whether to return brigades to broader combat in Gaza or move toward a full hostage deal that would lead to a prolonged ceasefire and a withdrawal of forces from the enclave.The IDF’s 36th Division and Ground Forces Command examined initial findings from the burned and heavily damaged Puma APC, which was brought back to Israel as part of the ongoing investigation into the deadly incident, currently being led by Southern Command.From top left clockwise: Sergeant Ronen Shapiro, Sergeant Shahar Manoav, Sergeant Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, Staff Sergeant Alon Davidov, Staff Sergeant Niv Radia, Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe, Lieutenant Matan Shai Yashinovski(Photo: IDF)The platoon commander and his six soldiers—who were inside the aging vehicle, which lacked the Trophy active protection system—did not survive. The process of identifying their remains continued for many hours into the night.A central line of inquiry in the probe is whether explosive weaponry, possibly dozens or even hundreds of kilograms, was brought into the APC alongside the troops, in violation of operational safety procedures and in a manner that endangered their lives.Throughout the lengthy campaign in Gaza, several similar incidents have occurred involving even more heavily protected APCs, such as Namer and Namerah vehicles. One of the key lessons from those incidents was the need to separate or otherwise more safely handle explosive charges being transported for the destruction of tunnels or buildings during combat.An IDF Puma armored personnel carrier(Photo: IDF)Since those deadly events—which have claimed the lives of many soldiers since the war began—the IDF has tightened safety measures around the transport of explosives, ensuring that RPG fire or explosive charges targeting IDF vehicles do not trigger secondary explosions, or if they do, that they are relatively isolated from personnel to reduce the risk.The IDF initially assessed that a large Shawaz explosive device had been attached Tuesday in broad daylight by terrorists to the Puma carrying seven soldiers, none of whom survived. However, footage released as part of Hamas propaganda suggests that contrary to the initial assessment, the Shawaz device was not affixed to the vehicle but rather thrown inside by a terrorist who ran toward it, climbed onto the vehicle and tossed the explosive into the troop compartment through the commander’s hatch—which was open and exposed.The assailant then fled the scene while filming his actions. The edited propaganda video highlights a key vulnerability in the IDF’s operations over the past two weeks: the limited security of ground forces in Gaza, especially from the air, due to a shortage of drones amid the ongoing campaign against Iran.No aerial platform detected or intercepted the terrorist, who approached the armored convoy undisturbed and escaped unharmed. The military has attempted to close this gap by deploying more drones, but in this case, the effort failed. The terrorists fled, and the IDF continues to search for them, primarily through intelligence efforts.Hamas propaganda video depicts terrorist throwing Shawaz anti-tank explosive thrown into an IDF Puma armored personnel carrier in Khan Younis, killing all 7 troops insideThe military is also examining whether the Puma was equipped with perimeter surveillance systems—cameras that have been installed during the war on many older APCs such as Pumas and Achzarits, particularly in reserve battalions and often through local initiatives or even funding by reservists themselves.In this case, however, the vehicle belonged to a regular unit, the 605th Battalion, which is subject to stricter regulations regarding the installation of non-standard equipment, even if such tools could help detect approaching terrorists from within the troop compartment.The deadly incident occurred near the main north-south Salah al-Din Road in central Khan Younis, alongside intense fighting by the 36th Division against Hamas’ “Easterners” battalion in the city, near the Israeli border in the Abbasan neighborhoods.The IDF had previously maneuvered extensively in these neighborhoods and in the nearby town of Bani Suheila last year, but Hamas has since rebuilt its presence there, with a tunnel network, a battalion commander who remains at large and hundreds of armed terrorists.IDF forces operating in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip(Photo: IDF)The 36th Division is operating in the city with four brigade combat teams, in addition to a handful of combat zones elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, such as Jabaliya and an eastern district of Gaza City.Southern Command halted planned offensives against larger and more significant Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip due to a depletion of forces caused by the confrontation with Iran and the need to reinforce other sectors, including the West Bank and the northern border.In the coming days, the IDF and the political leadership are expected to decide whether to effectively resume Operation Gideon’s Chariots, return thousands of troops to the enclave and possibly expand the ground operation deeper into Gaza City for an extended period of months—aimed, in part, at advancing the war’s objective of defeating Hamas.The defense establishment estimates that any such decision would be gradual and phased, with implementation expected to unfold over the next two to three weeks. This would ensure that the ground threat from Iran, whether through pro-Iranian militias or terror groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has diminished or been eliminated.IDF forces operating in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip(Photo: IDF)In recent weeks, internal criticism has emerged within the IDF regarding the four food aid distribution centers Israel established in the Khan Younis area over the past month to serve roughly one million Palestinians daily.“It was portrayed as if armed external guards—mercenaries from an American contractor—would manage the operation, but in reality, it engages hundreds of IDF soldiers every day in volatile confrontations,” said one military source. “Troops are tasked with securing the routes leading to these centers, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flood in daily, often violently, breaching red lines and approaching IDF forces—sometimes as a deliberate tactic.”According to military officials, “this forces soldiers to fire warning shots nearly every day, secure the entry of food trucks into these areas and, in some cases, use live fire to prevent Palestinians from nearing the makeshift IDF outposts established in the captured parts of Gaza, particularly around the Morag Corridor.”Meanwhile, reports—primarily from the United Nations—continue to mount daily, alleging that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed each week by IDF fire while attempting to reach the aid centers.Gazans collecting supplies from an aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza(Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)The political echelon plans to double the number of these food distribution centers to eight, including new locations in northern Gaza, and has instructed the IDF to resume the entry of dozens of aid trucks for Palestinians, primarily through the Zikim crossing.A review indicates that the IDF has no means of monitoring whether unarmed Hamas terrorists are collecting food for themselves at these centers, which distribute Israeli-produced goods. The Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied whether the monthly funding for these supplies—amounting to hundreds of millions of shekels—comes from the state budget or from American shell companies. link - Reports in Gaza: Aid in north Gaza distributed under armed groups linked to Hamas
Footage published by Palestinian media shows trucks distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza City, in the northern part of the Strip. According to reports, the aid is being distributed by local clans and “security committees,” both of which operate under the authority of Hamas. Yesterday footage was also published on social media in Gaza showing humanitarian aid trucks being escorted by armed men from clans affiliated with Hamas.
The Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation currently does not operate an aid distribution center in northern Gaza, as it does in south and central Gaza. Those currently responsible for distributing humanitarian aid in northern Gaza are humanitarian organizations operating under the UN framework, such as the World Food Programme.
In a joint statement yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “following information received today indicating that Hamas is once again taking control of humanitarian aid entering northern Gaza and stealing it from civilians, the prime minister and the defense minister have instructed the IDF to present within 48 hours an operational plan to prevent Hamas from taking over the aid.” video
Hamas authorities say Israeli attacks kill at least 21 people in Gaza
Israeli gunfire and airstrikes killed at least 21 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip today, Hamas-run health authorities say, as mediators reach out to Israel and Hamas to seek a resumption of ceasefire talks to end the war.
Authorities say an Israeli airstrike killed at least nine people at a school housing displaced families in the Sheikh Radwan suburb in Gaza City, while another strike killed nine people near a tent encampment in Khan Younis in the south of the enclave.
Three other people were killed by Israeli gunfire and dozens were wounded as crowds awaited UN aid trucks along a main route in central Gaza, medics say, the latest in a series of multiple fatalities at aid distribution points.
There is no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel says its operations seek to eliminate terror operatives who hide behind Gaza’s civilian population.
- Security forces arrest 20 wanted individuals and uncover explosives lab in West Bank
The IDF, Shin Bet and Police arrested 20 wanted individuals in Judea and Samaria and uncovered a lab for manufacturing explosives, where airsoft weapons were also found, near Hebron. During the night, forces conducted counter-terrorism operations, during which they also confiscated tens of thousands of shekels and searched more than 200 suspicious buildings. - Settlers hurl stones at Palestinians in northern West Bank, striking man in the head — report
Israeli settlers hurled stones at Palestinians in the northern West Bank village of Asira al-Qibliya, striking one of the men in the head, according to the official Palestinian Wafa news agency, which published a photo of the victim. link And the government endorsed Jewish terrorism continues with no government member including the prime minister saying a word against this terror.
The contacts for a deal | Senior officials in Israel expressed pessimism: "There is no indication that Hamas is becoming flexible – on the contrary"
Today a limited discussion will convene which will deal with the future of the fighting in the [Gaza] Strip and with the deal for the release of the hostages • Three ministers to Channel 12 News: "What we did in Gaza perhaps had theoretical potential, but in the test of action is not bringing results" • Senior Israeli officials: "Whoever thought that Hamas would rush to a deal after the blow to Iran does not understand the DNA of the murderous terror organization"
After the war between Israel and Iran ended, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold today (Thursday) a limited discussion with a small group of ministers and senior defense establishment officials, regarding the question of Gaza and how to act on the matter of releasing the hostages.
Three ministers said last night to Channel 12 News: "One thing is clear – what we did in Gaza perhaps had theoretical potential, but in the test of action is not bringing results. One must either do something else on the military level as was promised, or aim for an end and a single deal."
Prime Minister Netanyahu still believes that the relevant outline is a phased outline, like the one formulated by the envoy of the President of the United States to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
This evening we also reported that senior officials in Israel who are informed of the contacts between Israel and Hamas said that "for now, things are stuck. The Americans are full of motivation but it is not coming together. Whoever thought that Hamas would run to a deal after the blow to Iran does not understand the DNA of Hamas."
"The murderous terror organization has experienced two weeks during which Gazan residents returned to the north, there is humanitarian aid in large quantities. There is no indication that Hamas is becoming flexible. On the contrary," added the officials. This is in contrast to the optimism expressed by the Americans, the Qataris, and the Egyptians.
Even though U.S. President Donald Trump declared today progress in the negotiations for a hostage deal, Hamas strongly denied and claims that "there is nothing new in the talks" and they repeat again their demands as a condition for an agreement. Sources in Hamas confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat the organization's renewed active return to negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip "in a more effective way," but clarified – "there is no real breakthrough to speak of at this stage."
Protesters in favor of a hostage deal in Hostage Square | Photo: Paulina PatimerThe sources in the murderous terror organization confirmed that the contacts with the mediators are continuing and that a "new round of indirect negotiations is expected to take place within a few days, either in Cairo or in Doha." They noted that the mediators renewed the negotiations, and that "some of the parties maintaining contact with the U.S. – reestablished contact with the Hamas leadership, for the purpose of reaching arrangements that an agreement will be held upon."
Hamas claimed that they do not rule out that in the case that serious negotiations will take place in the coming days, it will be possible to reach at least a partial agreement that will include a clear condition for continuing the negotiations during it – with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and final agreement. "The matter will be in Israel’s hands and not in ours. The Hamas leadership is prepared to demonstrate the maximum possible flexibility with the goal of reaching a real agreement that will end the suffering of the residents of the Gaza Strip and will stop this bloody war," it was claimed. link There are many problems presented here and they revolved around no real understanding of the Middle East and specifically Hamas, lies and personal political self-interest on the part of our prime minister and the lack of direct negotiations. Firstly, the Americans have never really understood the Middle East and they certainly don't have any understanding of Hamas. My brother was negotiated with Hamas for 18 years and has more direct communication with this terror organization than anyone in Israel today (outside of the prison system). I have said before that Hamas is not a normal or traditional bargaining partner and this, the US doesn't understand. And in this, Netanyahu understands very well but continues to lie about it. Hamas always starts talks by telling what their bottom line is and what makes this very different, is that they never change their bottom line. They may show some flexibility in interim agreements, as we have seen, but they never are flexible with the end, their bottom line. We saw that very clearly in the case of Gilad Schalit. In 5 years and 4 months of his captivity, Hamas never deviated from their opening demands and what they demanded at the beginning is exactly what they received 5 years and 4 months later. Netanyahu does his best to convince the Americans and the Israeli public that he knows better and he will only agree to an interim plan that does not include specifically ending the war and that Hamas will agree to it, especially following the war with their patron, Iran. He can say this till the cows come home but it doesn't make it true and it doesn't make it a possibility. The only way to make a deal to get all of our hostages home is to agree to end the war.
The Last War of Netanyahu
Netanyahu is about to enter history with two separate legacies – as the one who led Israel in the war on the Iranian nuclear threat and as the one who is destroying Israel in the war on democracy • Even his closest loyalists are already seriously mentioning “the end of the Netanyahu era,” out of concern for his legacy • The upcoming elections, which will be marked by two distinct blocs facing each other in a battle over the character of the state, will determine which legacy will prevail • Opinion
My Netanyahu-supporting brothers are likely to rub their eyes when reading the following words: Benjamin Netanyahu deserves full credit for the justified declaration of war against Iran, the damage to the nuclear facilities, and the destruction of regime infrastructures, which did not hide its intention to annihilate the State of Israel and its inhabitants.
These words are written without hesitation or doubt. As a patriotic and proud Israeli, the good of the state stands before any political or sectarian consideration, and even the personal rivalry with Netanyahu bows before the correct decision and the historic result made possible thanks to the female and male fighters who set aside the insults, slanders, and contempt from Netanyahu, his ministers, and his attackers in the media, and dealt a devastating blow to the Iranian enemy, through personal acts of heroism that are soon to astound the world when revealed.
“The Bibist bloc” vs. “The Israeli bloc”
The Iran war definitively cemented the internal division of Israeli society: a Bibist support bloc whose operating principle is clear – extreme worship of Netanyahu and his family, placing Netanyahu above the state and its institutions, escalating violence against his rivals, branding dissenting citizens as enemies of the regime, demanding full credit for Netanyahu for every success, and placing the blame on other Israelis for every failure.Opposite the Bibist support bloc stands the Israeli bloc, whose operating principle is also clear: placing democracy as a supreme value, placing the good of the state above the leader and his family, reviving mutual responsibility as a superior social value, demanding full equality in tax payment and IDF enlistment, and making decisions based on substance, seeing the good of the state before any political consideration.
This new social division between the Bibist bloc and the Israeli bloc explains better than anything else the reason that Netanyahu’s political rivals, myself included, place full personal responsibility on him for the blindness and hubris that led to the October massacre and its unbearable price in the form of two thousand bereaved families, thousands of wounded, disabled, and amputees, and hundreds of hostages who were abandoned by his government to torture and death. Those political rivals, who place the good of the state before their eyes, did not hesitate to praise Netanyahu for the courageous decision to start a war against the Iranian enemy and the enlistment of President Trump to destroy the nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Heading toward calming the spirits? It does not look like it
The new political division between the Bibist bloc and the Israeli bloc will be the focus of the upcoming elections. Bloc versus bloc, they will stand against each other in the streets, in studios, and on social networks, as part of Netanyahu’s last war over the character of the state. Bloc versus bloc, they will present Netanyahu as the greatest danger or the great savior of the state, group against group they will fight over democracy as an enemy of the regime or the only chance for the state's survival, citizens versus citizens they will stand in an uncompromising, primal battle the likes of which the state has never known.The Iran war reshuffles the political cards anew. Netanyahu’s rivals, headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan, will have to throw away their campaign presentations and the vision they crafted to present a governmental alternative, and reformulate their vision for the State of Israel and its citizens. Opposite them will stand a Bibist movement drunk with power, driven by deep hatred and a throbbing urge for revenge against those who dared to criticize their leader, and they may bring the country to the brink of a violent civil war.
The challenge facing Bennett, Golan, and those chosen to stand beside them will be to create a clear distinction between the Israeli bloc, which holds the good of the state, its security, economy, and systems of education, health, transportation, science, and welfare as its focus – versus the supporters of the Bibist bloc who have proven that all matters of the state and the good of its citizens are marginal and of no interest, and that the whole existence of the bloc is devoted to preserving the power and status of the family and its associates in the media and in government.
What do Netanyahu’s closest loyalists already understand?
Anyone who watched Yaakov Bardugo wildly attack his colleague on Channel 14, Maggie Tavibi, who dared to try to temper his foaming assault on Netanyahu’s critics, could understand where things are heading. Anyone who delved into the terrifying tweets of Yair Netanyahu, the spokesperson for both his mother and father, regarding his father's responsibility for the war's achievements versus the defense establishment's responsibility for the massacre, can understand where the family is heading.Netanyahu, who could have used the Iran war, as well as the terrible massacre, for a gesture of national reconciliation and to calm the hatred threatening the country’s existence, is not signaling any intention to calm the spirits. His press conferences will prioritize questions from Bibist bloc reporters over those from the Israeli bloc, and so too will interviews, briefings, and leaks. Netanyahu’s legacy, already identified with the partition plan of Israel’s citizens into loyalists and traitors, has created a near-messianic movement around his figure, and it is this same movement that will threaten his legacy if he does not know when to stop.
Unexpectedly, it was Yinon Magal, the most extreme of his loyalists, who recognized the threat to Netanyahu’s legacy, daring yesterday (Monday) during a joint broadcast with Ben Caspit on the radio to bet on Netanyahu’s loss in the elections if he runs again. Whether Yinon Magal is simply in a hurry to throw Netanyahu aside and compete within the Likud himself, or whether this is a commentary born of genuine concern for Netanyahu’s legacy – it was still fascinating to hear about “the end of the Netanyahu era” specifically from Yinon Magal. link
DITCH PEACE, DROP BOMBS: THE PLAYBOOK BIBI NEVER LEFT BEHIND
Back in 1996, a policy paper titled “A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm” was drafted by a group of US-based analysts for Israel’s then-new PM Netanyahu.
What was once a think tank proposal now actually reads like a blueprint for Bibi’s current strategy and reflects what is unfolding in the Middle East. Here’s a closer look.
Key Strategic Recommendations:
π Contain, DESTABILIZE, and roll back Syria.
π Block Syrian-Israeli negotiations.
π REMOVE Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.
π Contain and isolate Iran.
π View Iran as the ultimate long-term strategic THREAT.
π Destabilize the Iran and PREVENT its regional ambitions and nuclear program.
π Cultivate strong strategic partnerships with Turkey and Jordan.
π Maintain overwhelming MILITARY SUPERIORITY.
π Assert Israel's right to preemptive strikes against emerging threats.
π Focus on missile defense.
Core purpose and argument
♦️"Clean Break": Argued that Israel needed to make a fundamental, decisive BREAK from the peace- and integration-oriented policies of the previous Rabin/Peres government.
♦️Reject "Land for Peace": Viewed the Oslo peace framework as strategically flawed and leading to increased vulnerability rather than security.
♦️"Securing the Realm": Proposed a new strategy focused on securing Israel's regional dominance THROUGH STRENGTH and proactive measures. link
- The Region and the World
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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