π️Lonny's War Update- October 647, 2023 - July 14, 2025 π️
π️Day 647 that 50 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivityπ️
- Hostages' families headquarters against Netanyahu: Cannot reach a comprehensive agreement? This is how sabotage begins
The headquarters for the families of the hostages sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who they claim is "trying to create a false impression that a comprehensive agreement cannot be reached, in complete contradiction to the will of the people. This is how the sabotage attempt begins. Unfortunately, we've seen this movie before, not once and not twice. The government fails time after time to bring back the hostages because of narrow political interests, while hiding behind empty slogans and baseless illusions." The headquarters emphasized that "more than 80% of the people want an agreement that will end the fighting and return all the hostages. Anyone who sabotages such an agreement is acting maliciously against the will of the Israeli people for political survival, and this is how history will remember him." link Netanyahu should be considered the sabotager-in-chief. The single person who prevents the hostage deals from reaching agreement is always Netanyahu who then always blames Hamas for their refusals to compromise. In no way am I making excuses for Hamas, as they are the brutal killers, tortures and rapists responsible for the massacre of October 7, the barbaric treatment of the hostages including executions of living hostages. They are never to be normalized, excused or minimized. However, we know very well who they are and what they do. And the most important thing we have to remember is that they hold all the aces. They have our hostages and we want them back. In the 18 years of experience that my brother, Dr. Gershon Baskin has of negotiating with Hamas in order to save lives, he understood something that many of us know today. Hamas is not a normal negotiator. They state their bottom line at the very beginning and it doesn't change no matter how much time goes by or by what happens to them, such as the killing of most of their military and political leaders. In the case of the captivity of the soldier Gilad Schalit, Hamas presented their demands within days of his kidnapping and they stayed exactly as they were 5 years and 4 months later when he was finally released. We are in exactly the same situation. Hamas stated a long time ago that their demands to release all the hostages were 3 main demands and some lesser demands. The 3 main demands are: 1- end the war; 2- pull back of all troops; 3- release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. These 3 demands are not negotiable or flexible. They have shown certain flexibility during negotiations of interim agreements, such as the numbers and time tables of hostage releases and numbers and status of Palestinians prisoners released. At this stage, Hamas has no interests in an interim agreement unless it is fully bound to the final agreement to end the war within a pre-determined and agreed upon timeframe. Hamas has been calling for this final agreement to end the war for quite some time and are prepared to release all of the hostages at once and not in phases.
From Gershon Baskin: "Yesterday I received a message from the head of Hamas’s negotiation team. The following two sentences are his most important message to the Israeli public: **"Israel has repeatedly rejected our proposal to release all Israeli hostages at once in exchange for ending the war. They preferred a partial solution – which clearly indicates their intention to continue the war, as well as the fact that the issue of the hostages is not considered a central concern by the Israeli public."** **"As for governance in Gaza after the war: from our perspective, this issue is completely settled, and we have made our position clear: we want an independent professional committee to govern Gaza with full authority – and Hamas will not be part of it."** (Gershon Baskin, July 13, 2025)" The problem is with Netanyahu. He is the problem and the cause of the failure of every single deal that failed and the single cause of sabotaging every deal that he was not prepared to make for his personal political reasons. Every time, he puts in at least one demand that he knows Hamas will not accept and will cause the negotiations to fail. Right now, that demand is the Morag Corridor that he claims Israeli security depends of this, yet no one in the security organizations shares this demand or need. As I said, Netanyahu is the sabotager-in-chief. - Hadar Goldin's father: 'Our children were sent by the state - and abandoned'
Professor Simcha Goldin, father of fallen captured soldier Hadar Goldin, was interviewed in the ynet studio marking 4,000 days since his son's capture, and said that "For nine and a half years we have been saying that whoever abandons fallen soldiers, especially fallen combatants on the battlefield, will abandon the wounded and endanger the living." He added that "We are 20 months after the outbreak of the war. I still haven't understood what we are arguing about, until we bring everyone back, Israeli society will not be able to rehabilitate itself. There is a very strong connection between the families of the soldiers, certainly the families of the fallen soldiers. We are in the same place. Our children were sent by the state to fight and were abandoned."
**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
*
A must read opinion piece "The New Gaza: Israel Is Building Its Next Problem- by Major General (Res.) Israel Ziv" to truly understand the state of the war in Gaza and the reasons this war is still going on. Israel Ziv is a retired Major General who's last position was Commander of all military operations. He also served as commander of the southern command so he knows Gaza intimately. On October 7, he like many of his retired comrades, put on his uniform, took his weapon and went south to fight Hamas terrorists and save lives. He then continued serving for the next months as a volunteer reservist. He is a brilliant military commentator with deep understanding of the army and warfare as well as having worked closely with the political echelon for whom he holds little respect because of what he knows and experienced.
Hostage Updates
- IDF to warn Netanyahu that Gaza ‘humanitarian city’ could take months, harm hostage talks
At Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request, this evening, the IDF is expected to present an outlined plan for the proposed “humanitarian city” in Rafah during a limited security cabinet meeting, Channel 12 reports.
While the military will clarify that it is prepared to carry out whatever instructions it receives, it is also expected to deliver a message of caution, according to the TV network. Military officials will inform those present at the meeting that “it will take three to five months from the moment we begin construction until the humanitarian city is operational,” says Channel 12, without providing sources.
In addition, although it may not be stated explicitly at the meeting, it was conveyed in preliminary defense establishment discussions that insisting on the humanitarian city plan could harm ongoing hostage release efforts in Doha, the report adds.
According to Channel 12, officials in the defense establishment are concerned that Hamas may interpret the plan — which would involve relocating 600,000 Gazans in its first stage, and ultimately the entire population of some two million people — as a signal that Israel is only open to a partial deal, and intends to resume the war after the proposed 60-day ceasefire. Such a move, they fear, could cause Hamas to distrust any United States guarantees for ending the war and thus refuse a deal entirely.
The IDF is also expected to present additional considerations regarding the project, including implications for international law, the potential to prolong the conflict, and logistical issues such as area sanitization and the provision of medical care.
Also on the agenda for tonight’s limited security cabinet meeting are the new IDF withdrawal maps intended for presentation to mediators in Doha. However, despite the updated blueprint, Channel 12 reports concern within the political echelon that the new plans may still fall short of producing a breakthrough in negotiations. link
- Father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin asks Netanyahu to stop ‘taking credit’ for his return
Jonathan Polin, the father of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, requests that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “stop claiming” credit for returning his son to Israel.
In a post on Facebook, Polin — whose son Hersh was kidnapped from the Nova festival and murdered in captivity in August 2024 — asks that Netanyahu “stop claiming that ‘his forceful application of combined military and diplomatic pressure has so far achieved the release of 205 hostages out of a total of 255.'”
Polin writes that the “insensitive claim whitewashes the lives of the 20% of the 205 who were taken into Gaza alive, survived a period of torture, and were then killed in captivity, including my son Hersh.”
He adds that before Hersh’s murder, “a negotiated deal was possible to release a number of hostages, including Hersh and at least three others of the five with whom he was held,” and blames Netanyahu for instead deciding to “continue with the risky military operation in Rafah.” This decision, he says, led to the execution by their captors of Hersh and the five hostages he was held with — Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, Eden Yerushalmi and Alex Lobanov.
“Please do not take credit for ‘achieving the release’ of Hersh,” Polin concludes. “This is offensive to Hersh and to our family.”
Netanyahu reiterated the claim over the weekend in his response to a New York Times report accusing him of extending the Gaza war to remain in power, writing that his policies have “so far secured the return of 205 hostages out of a total of 255.” link Instead of taking responsibility for 251 people to be kidnapped and held in Hamas terrorist captivity under his watch and due to his actions and inactions for years, Netanyahu is always rewriting the narrative and claiming that he has brought back 205 hostages during the war, dead and living. He sells it as a major achievement and claims that no one else could have done that. Netanyahu has no restraints both in claiming victories for actions taken by others and by the twisting of real facts into his falsehoods, such as bringing home dead hostages who were killed specifically because of his actions (more military pressure) and his inactions (refusals to make a deal to bring home the hostages before they were killed, or in the case of Hersh, Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, and Eden Yerushalmi, it was both - military pressure that brought their captors to execute them, and the breaching of the hostage deal that was supposed to bring them home). Netanyahu knows no lows. It used to surprise so many of us each time Netanyahu said or did something that was so unbelievably beneath the acceptable. It no longer surprises anyone because he constantly outdoes himself with the depths of his depravity all in the name of keeping his coalition together and his political survival.
Hamas official claims ceasefire talks have reached ‘critical hours’
A senior Hamas official is quoted in Palestinian media saying that the negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza have reached “critical hours.”
Palestine Al-Youm, a channel affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, quotes a senior Hamas official who says that the negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza have reached a difficult stage and that the coming hours are critical.
The unnamed official adds that the mediators are working to advance the talks, but claims they continue to encounter Israeli obstinacy.
- Hostage's brother to Netanyahu: 'If something happens to me, will you save me?'
Father of kidnapped IDF soldier Matan Angrest pleads with PM to secure his release, warning, 'he won’t survive'; Talks with Hamas continue to remain stalled
Hagai Angrest, father of kidnapped IDF soldier Matan Angrest, said Sunday that during their Washington visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "for the first time that there’s real talk of ending the war, immediately after the hostages are released."During the visit of families of Israeli hostages alongside Netanyahu’s diplomatic mission, Matan’s younger brother, Ofir, who is soon to enlist in the IDF and dreams of becoming a combat operative, asked Netanyahu, “If something happens to me in the army, will you save me?"Hagai described a meeting between the families and the deputy of Adam Boehler, President Trump’s special envoy on hostages. “He told us clearly that the first phase is just the beginning, and immediately after that, they’ll discuss ending the war,” said Angrest. “All the senior officials said the same thing, and the prime minister repeated it: for the first time, there’s a real discussion about ending the war once the hostages are freed.” “There was huge pressure,” Hagai continued. “They told us President Trump wants peace and wants to stop this madness. We even considered delaying our return flight until Tuesday because we heard Trump isn’t letting Netanyahu leave until there’s a deal. We were already checking options to change our flight, but then the Prime Minister’s Office said the delegation is leaving on Thursday, so we stayed. We just hope this doesn’t collapse like past deals. We can’t afford to get stuck on minor details.”
Ofir Angrest (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
He added: “We told the prime minister we know he knows how to stand firm—so now it’s time to be firm on this deal. He must insist on Matan, who is a soldier, seriously wounded, and should have been home a long time ago. Matan has done so much for this country. He saved lives. He’s in a dire humanitarian situation. We asked Netanyahu to correct this injustice and bring him back. Otherwise, there won’t be anyone left to bring back. He won’t survive.”
Angrest also revealed that Matan’s emergency kit bag was recently found in southern Gaza and returned to his mother, Anat. “It was his readiness bag, filled with gear in case of war. Soldiers found it near Rafah, ot even where Matan was captured. They sent us a photo, and I told them, ‘That’s the bag I bought him as a child.’ It was torn, battle-scarred, burned—clearly went through hell. But we don’t want his belongings. We want Matan himself.”
Matan Angrest's kidnapping by Palestinian terrorists
As negotiations continue, Hagai noted that the families were told talks with Hamas have not collapsed: “We got an update yesterday from the Hostage Families Forum that talks are still ongoing. As far as they’re concerned, the deal isn’t stuck. I hope tonight something will finally move forward. They’re already discussing names—not just whether there will be a deal.”
Disputes in the hostage talks: “They’re Hamas’s bargaining chips”
Later Sunday, Netanyahu was expected to hold a meeting on a new proposal to be presented to Hamas, focusing on two unresolved issues: where the IDF would remain deployed in Gaza during a ceasefire, and how humanitarian aid would be delivered.
On Saturday, a day after returning from Washington, Netanyahu met with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Though the two had spoken several times during the trip, this time Netanyahu reportedly tried to ease resistance within his coalition to any hostage deal that includes a 60-day ceasefire. Smotrich has threatened to leave the government if he doesn’t receive assurances that the fighting in Gaza will resume after the ceasefire ends.
Nadav Miran—the brother of kidnapped civilian Omri Miran—cautioned against premature optimism. “The expectations are overblown. We need to let things develop,” he said. “It’s too soon to celebrate or get ahead of ourselves. Let the details solidify first. Only then should we talk about a deal—if it happens. I’m not crushed if it doesn’t, because it doesn’t guarantee my brother’s release.”
Omri Miran in captivity
Miran criticized the current deal, calling it flawed like previous partial agreements: “This will cost us in soldiers’ blood when we have to fight to free the second half. We should abandon this deal altogether. Hamas is obstructing it, demanding a full IDF withdrawal before they release all the hostages. Meanwhile, Israel says Hamas must go. So what now?”
He urged Israeli leaders to flip the narrative: “Why aren’t we demanding a deal for everyone? Hamas says, ‘Let’s do a deal for all the hostages,’ and Israel says, ‘No, we’re fine with half—we’ll talk about the rest later.’ This approach will not bring the hostages home. Hostages are Hamas’s only bargaining chip. If we release 25 now, what then? We need to ask our leaders why they won’t pursue a deal for all. Let them explain that to the public.” link - Mother of hostage Alon Ohel demands his release after doctors warn he may go blind
Ohel, abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, has likely lost vision in one eye; a leading specialist warns he may go completely blind without urgent treatment, prompting renewed pleas from his family for immediate government action
The mother of Israeli hostage Alon Ohel on Sunday urged government ministers to act immediately to secure his release, citing a medical assessment warning that he is at risk of complete blindness.Ohel, who was abducted by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on the Nova music festival in Re’im, likely already lost vision in one eye due to injuries sustained during the assault, according to his family. A new opinion from Prof. Anat Loewenstein, head of the retina division and deputy director of clinics at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, states that without urgent treatment, he could soon lose sight in his remaining eye as well.
“Some vision may still be preserved, and remnants of sight might be saved,” Loewenstein wrote. “Alon’s return must be expedited so he can receive critical care.”In an emotional letter to members of Israel’s security cabinet, Ohel’s mother, Idit, pleaded for action, saying she was “exhausted, anxious and afraid.” “Bring him and the other hostages home immediately,” she wrote. “Every evening, Alon cries out to me from the depths of the tunnel, expressing his fears. End this nightmare. Bring my son home before it’s too late.” Her appeal comes as the Israeli government continues to debate a possible deal with Hamas that could see the release of 10 hostages. The criteria for selecting which hostages would be included remains unclear. Families of hostages have repeatedly called on the government to stop distinguishing between “humanitarian” and other cases, arguing that all captives held for nine months under harsh conditions and without medical care face life-threatening risks. “Now is the time for the real victory image,” Idit Ohel wrote. “When the hostages come home, walking on their own, heads held high, full of spirit and pride that Israel did everything possible to save them.” link - Netanyahu tries to soften opposition from far-right government ministers to new ceasefire plan
A proposed hostage deal with Hamas is dividing Israel’s cabinet, as Netanyahu attempts to placate hardliners while navigating US pressure; Disputes over military withdrawal and aid logistics could derail efforts to end the war and free remaining hostages
Cabinet tensions flared ahead of a Sunday evening meeting called by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where a new ceasefire proposal for Hamas is expected to be presented. The offer centers on two major points of contention: the areas in Gaza where the military would remain if a deal is reached, and how humanitarian aid will be delivered during the ceasefire.On Saturday, just a day after returning from Washington, Netanyahu met with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Though the two had already spoken three times during Netanyahu’s U.S. visit, this in-person meeting focused on softening internal resistance to a deal that would include a 60-day truce.On Saturday, just a day after returning from Washington, Netanyahu met with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Though the two had already spoken three times during Netanyahu’s U.S. visit, this in-person meeting focused on softening internal resistance to a deal that would include a 60-day truce. At present, both Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir oppose the emerging agreement, mainly because it would require IDF troops to withdraw from key areas. Hamas also rejects the current draft, demanding that Israeli troops fully exit Gaza. In response, Israel is working on an alternate framework. Smotrich has requested to see a detailed military plan outlining what happens post-deal, but no final version has been submitted. A separate issue further complicating matters is the delivery of humanitarian aid. Officials are debating how to set up safe distribution zones while preventing supplies from falling into Hamas’ hands. A recent report estimating the cost of building a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza at $2.6 to $4 billion sparked backlash, with some senior cabinet members accusing the military of inflating figures to influence policy. Opposition leader Yair Lapid reacted sharply: “With the $4 billion Smotrich wants to spend on a humanitarian city in Rafah, we could reduce class sizes, lower gas and public transport prices, and subsidize daycare. That money won’t return. Netanyahu is letting Smotrich and Ben Gvir run wild with extreme fantasies just to hold his coalition together. Instead of looting the middle class’s money, they should end the war and bring the hostages home.” A Palestinian source involved in the talks and close to Hamas said negotiations are deadlocked because Israel insists on maintaining control over 40% of Gaza during the ceasefire period. An Israeli official countered, saying: “Hamas is digging in its heels, preventing mediators from moving the deal forward. If they had accepted the Qatari proposal, we’d already be in the 60-day truce phase and deep in talks on ending the war.” Hamas is refusing to accept Israel’s presence in the Morag corridor, which currently cuts Rafah off from the rest of Gaza. The group is also firmly opposed to expanding the buffer zone at Gaza’s expense. Egyptian sources told the Qatari outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israel’s proposed redeployment map marks a dangerous shift, undermining international diplomacy and putting Egypt in a precarious position. According to those sources, the map keeps Israeli control over 40% of Gaza and pushes hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians toward the Sinai border—threatening to destabilize the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. The report adds that Cairo sees a failure to reach a deal as a trigger for more drastic measures: stepping up its military and intelligence presence along the border, preparing for a potential mass displacement, and advancing a political initiative demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. link Filipina caregiver wounded by Iranian missile attack succumbs to her wounds
A woman has succumbed to wounds she sustained in a ballistic missile strike in Rehovot during the 12-day Israel-Iran war last month, making her the 29th victim of the Iranian strikes in Israel.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Israel, the woman is Leah Mosquera, 49, a Filipina caregiver living in Israel who was seriously wounded when a missile struck her Rehovot home on June 15.
The embassy says that Mosquera had been hospitalized for the past month in Shamir Medical Center and underwent multiple surgeries before succumbing to her wounds. She was accompanied during this time by her sister, Joy, who also works as a caregiver in Israel.
Her body will be repatriated to the Philippines for burial.
The embassy “also renews its call for the protection of civilians, including foreign workers, during times of conflict.”
PA’s Abbas urges Hamas to free the hostages, cede its arms, says terror group won’t rule postwar Gaza
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urges Hamas to release the hostages it is holding and hand over its weapons to the PA, stressing that the terror group “will not rule the Gaza Strip” after the ongoing war ends.
In a meeting in Amman with former British prime minister Tony Blair, Abbas also calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid to the Strip, according to the PA’s official news agency WAFA.
Abbas also calls for the PA to be given control of the enclave, a notion long rejected by Israel.
IDF: Deadly strike near Gaza water distribution point ‘a technical malfunction’ during targeting of terror operative
The IDF says that today’s deadly strike near a water distribution site in central Gaza was the result of a “technical malfunction” during the targeting of an operative from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group.
“Earlier today a strike was carried out targeting a terrorist operative from the Islamic Jihad organization in the central Gaza Strip. Due to a technical malfunction in the munition, it struck dozens of meters away from the intended target,” the IDF says.
“The incident is under investigation. We are aware of reports of casualties in the area as a result, and the details of the incident are still being reviewed,” the military says.
The IDF says it is operating against terror groups in Gaza “and makes every effort to minimize harm to uninvolved civilians.”
“The IDF regrets any harm caused to noncombatants,” the statement concludes.
At least 10 people were reported killed in the strike, many of them children. link Enough with these god damned mistakes. We are killing tens of non combatant Gazans each day, while the IDF spokesperson's office repeats the same mantra that everything possible is done to prevent and/or minimize the deaths of innocents. Some call this collateral damage but that is a disgraceful euphemism to call the killing of innocents. This war should have been over quite some time ago, but Netanyahu refuses to end it for his personal political survival. These can and should be considered war crimes.
10 Hamas terrorists exiled to Gaza in 2011 Shalit deal killed in airstrike last week, say security services
Ten Hamas terrorists who were exiled to Gaza in the 2011 Shalit deal, including some behind the killing of Israelis, were killed in an airstrike last week in the Strip, the Shin Bet security agency and IDF announce.
Most of those killed were members of Hamas’s so-called West Bank headquarters, a unit involved in recruiting terrorists and advancing attacks against Israel from or within the West Bank, the Shin Bet says.
Among those killed were Riyad Assila and Bassem Abu Sanina, who were accused of murdering Israeli civilian Haim Karman in a 1998 stabbing attack in Jerusalem.
Both had been exiled to Gaza in a 2011 deal in which Israel exchanged 1,027 terror convicts for captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Assila served as a member of Hamas’s West Bank headquarters, specifically involved in recruiting terrorists from East Jerusalem, the Shin Bet says.
Also killed in the strike was Mohammed Saria, who the Shin Bet says was charged with killing IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Ehud (Udi) Tal in a stabbing attack at the Dotan Civil Administration facility in the West Bank in 1996.
Seven more members of Hamas’s West Bank headquarters were killed in the strike. The Shin Bet says the seven were all convicted during the Second Intifada of involvement in deadly terror attacks and were given life sentences, before being exiled to Gaza in the Shalit deal.
After their exile, the Shin Bet says the operatives held roles in the West Bank Headquarters, “within which they operated in regional committees responsible for advancing attacks in the Judea and Samaria areas, including by transferring weapons and funds to terrorists.”
- IDF names terror operatives killed in Gaza strikes over past two weeks
A series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in the past two weeks killed numerous terror operatives involved in Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad efforts to regroup, the IDF and Shin Bet announce.
The joint statement says the Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders headed units that worked to rebuild the terror groups’ military wings, including weapon production and military intelligence.
The IDF and Shin Bet name some of the operatives as:
Muhammad Abu Awwad, a senior member of Hamas’s projects and development department in the weapons production headquarters;
Bilal Abu Shikha, a section commander in Hamas’s weapons production headquarters;
Tayseer Shareem, a section commander in Hamas’s weapons production headquarters;
Mundhir Salami, the commander of a weapons production site;
Bilal Musallam, a section commander in Hamas’s military intelligence division;
Rabi’ Mustafa Rabi’ Sukhweil, a “financial operative” in Hamas’s military wing, involved in transferring millions of dollars to the terror group;
Ahmad Abu Shamala, a squad commander in Hamas’s military intelligence division;
Mustafa Dababesh, a deputy head of a department in Hamas’s weapons production headquarters;
and Muhammad Al-Bayouk, a senior member of Islamic Jihad’s weapons production array.
- Israel targets senior Hamas, Islamic Jihad commanders in precision strikesIDF says strikes targeted senior operatives involved in weapons production, intelligence and financing, as part of efforts to prevent terror groups from rebuilding military strength
IDF reported Sunday that it, together with the Shin Bet, carried out a series of targeted strikes over the past two weeks against senior commanders in Hamas and Islamic Jihad who were working to restore the terror groups’ military capabilities in Gaza.The military said the operations focused on units involved in rebuilding weapons production and intelligence gathering for Hamas’ military wing and Islamic Jihad.
Among those reportedly killed were Muhammad Abu Awwad, a senior operative heading Hamas’ precision missile development and serving as head of production and technical control in its Weapons Production Headquarters. Other commanders in the Weapons Production unit included Bilal Abu Shikha and Tayseer Shareem, both section commanders, as well as Mundhir Salami, who oversaw the production of various weapons at a key production site. Mustafa Dababesh, the deputy head of the department, was also targeted.
In Hamas’ Military Intelligence Unit, the strikes reportedly eliminated section commander Bilal Musallam and squad commander Ahmad Abu Shamala. The campaign also targeted Rabi‘ Mustafa Rabi‘ Sukhweil, a financial operative accused of transferring millions of dollars to Hamas’ military wing to finance ongoing terrorist activities.
From the Islamic Jihad group, Muhammad Al-Bayouk, a senior figure in their weapons production apparatus, was among those killed.
The military said the campaign aims to prevent the groups from reestablishing their military strength and will continue targeting those involved in rebuilding efforts. link
Israel Increases Strikes in Gaza, Hamas Warns of Espionage – and the Black Market Thrives
In the shadow of ceasefire talks: The Air Force strikes dozens of targets in the Strip, Hamas locates disguised devices and warns operatives against using phones • A Gazan to N12: “We feel the army's advance, a sense of danger” • Report: This is how trade in Gaza operates – with inflated prices and covert coordination through Palestinian merchantsWhile discussions on a ceasefire agreement continue, in Gaza today (Sunday) the routine of war persists and intensifies. The Air Force strikes dozens of targets, Hamas identifies disguised spying devices and warns its men against surveillance and assassinations. In the Strip, people describe a growing sense of danger, ongoing evacuations from areas where the IDF is operating, and they point to a black market that operates under the radar.
In Gaza, reports came in by noon of 30 deaths in the Strip since early morning, including 20 killed in two strikes in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the center of the Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry announced yesterday 59 killed and 208 wounded in the past 24 hours. According to their published data, the overall death toll in Gaza since October 7 has passed 57,000 and the number of wounded has exceeded 138,000.
IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip | Photo: ReutersThe powerful IDF strikes continue also in the northern Strip. Last night, heavy strikes were reported in Beit Hanoun described as a “belt of fire.” The IDF Spokesperson stated that the Air Force struck more than 35 Hamas terror targets, including underground infrastructure of the terror organization.
Humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza, even though security officials admit there is no enforcement or way to prevent aid from reaching Hamas. This morning, 50 aid trucks from a Jordanian charity organization entered the Strip, in cooperation with the Jordanian army and the UN World Food Programme.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories confirmed over the weekend on the unit’s English X account that, under political directives, 150,000 liters of fuel were transferred this week through Kerem Shalom to the Strip, under the title “critical humanitarian systems.”
Fuel enters despite the lack of a ceasefire, and in practice serves as the lifeline of the Strip – the resource that powers everything: hospitals, bakeries, transportation, communication – and often, also Hamas’s mechanisms.
Yesterday, the Gaza municipality issued a warning regarding pollution along the shores of the Strip, due to raw sewage leaking into the Mediterranean Sea. The statement said approximately 22,000 cubic meters of sewage are dumped into the sea daily, due to damage to sewage treatment plants and infrastructure during the war. It was further noted that 30% of the sewage pipeline infrastructure in the Strip was damaged, and 60% of the technical and operational equipment in the Sheikh Ajleen treatment plant was rendered inoperative. The municipality warned of a health hazard to the residents of the Strip, in light of concerns over the spread of infectious diseases.
Following a series of warnings Hamas has issued in recent days, the sense grows in the Strip that the battle is being fought not only in the air and on the ground but also beneath the surface. The terror group’s security forces published a series of severe warnings about possible Israeli surveillance, calling on operatives to disconnect themselves from routine, avoid phone use, and steer clear of public gatherings due to concerns of targeted assassinations.
Hamas claimed to have captured a booby-trapped listening deviceAccording to them, yesterday a booby-trapped listening device was discovered near a displaced persons center in Gaza City. Hamas’s security apparatus stated that the neutralized device, disguised as a worn plastic item, contained explosive and intelligence components and was ready for activation after data collection – with the aim of “harming civilians and armed militias.”
Additionally, Hamas security warned terrorists released in hostage deals or involved in operations against Israeli forces of the “targeted assassination policy.” They called on them to increase personal security in movement and residence, to completely avoid the use of mobile phones, stay away from open meetings or routine habits, and to cut any unnecessary contact that could pose a security breach.
Earlier, over the past weekend, Hamas’s security forces claimed they captured a tracking device planted by Israel, using “multi-purpose quadcopter drones and with the help of local collaborators.” According to them, the device transmits live signals on human and vehicle movement and serves for precise monitoring and field intelligence analysis.
They also published photos of a “Zionist spying device,” which they claim is equipped with a high-quality camera and motion sensor, and was well hidden among ruins of a building in a central area in Gaza. “The device records video and transmits live to enemy intelligence by day and night,” they claimed. These devices, they added, are used not only for surveillance but also for field assassinations.
Hamas claimed to have captured a tracking deviceA Gazan from the southern Strip who spoke with N12 described the sense of danger, the evacuations from combat zones, the hunger, and pointed to prices on the ground reaching unbearable levels, according to him.
“Since the talks about a new ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began, the sounds of bombardments have intensified. I estimate this is another means of pressure at this stage of the negotiations,” he said. “We feel it especially in areas close to the fighting. A few days ago, residents of Khan Younis were surprised when the Israeli army reached the Al-Mawasi area. That created waves of displacement within Al-Mawasi, from the southern parts to the northern ones.”
“All this is happening alongside the hunger people have been living with since March, after the previous ceasefire ended. Product prices are very high, and people simply cannot find anything to eat,” he continued. “The situation affects everyone, without exception. Everyone is hungry, there is no money, no goods, no water or food – neither for them nor for their families.”
He noted that the residents of Gaza “also feel the increasing evacuations, the army’s progress, and the overall feeling is one of danger. Honestly, if the negotiations completely collapse – I do not think anyone will remain in their home. Everyone will suffer more.” According to him, “the tents will never be a solution. They will only create chaos – if not now, then in a year. Even under another government that is not Hamas, they will continue to cause disorder.”
“Enough with the displacements,” said the Gazan. “People can no longer afford to pay additional sums beyond what they already paid. You would be surprised to hear – today the costs exceed 1,000 shekels just for wood, tarps, and fees to bring the equipment. These are not simple amounts, and we, the poor in Gaza, cannot afford it.”
Spying device hidden in Gaza ruinsThe Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Gaza residents are occasionally surprised to see goods classified as “prohibited” by Israel – yet continue to appear in local markets. It was noted that these include mobile phones, solar panels, batteries, frozen meats, chocolates, carbonated drinks, and potato chip snacks. According to the report, throughout the period of fighting Israel did not allow their entry, except during the ceasefire in January.
One Gaza merchant told the newspaper that coordination for bringing in a truck of goods costs between 450,000 and 600,000 shekels per truck and requires merchants to sell goods at exorbitant prices. According to him, the coordination is done through two Palestinian merchants from Gaza who operate via an Israeli customs clearance company, with intermediaries from Turkey and other countries.
For example, the price of a single chocolate bar reached 100 shekels (30 dollars) during the ceasefire, and later dropped to 50 shekels (15 dollars). A kilogram of frozen meat initially reached a price of 500 shekels (150 dollars) and later dropped to 300 shekels (90 dollars).
IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)Security and local sources in Hamas told the Saudi newspaper that recently several merchants were investigated, after it turned out that some had direct contact with Israelis and one of them even served, without his knowledge, as a conduit for transferring Israeli intelligence surveillance devices, which were hidden in merchandise and delivered to individuals collaborating with Israel.
According to the report, some of the merchants were released after interrogation, while others were shot in the legs as a severe warning against cooperating with the existing mechanism, which according to Hamas poses security risks. link
IDF says over 100 terror targets struck over past day; Palestinian media reports dozens of casualties
More than 100 terror targets were struck by the Israeli Air Force in the Gaza Strip in the past day, the military says.
The IDF says the targets included operatives, buildings used by terror groups, weapon depots, tunnels, and other terror infrastructure.
Dozens of casualties were reported by Palestinian media in Gaza over the past day, but there are no immediate tolls from the Hamas-run health ministry or other health authorities.
The strikes come as five IDF divisions, made up of tens of thousands of troops, continue to operate across Gaza.
The military says in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun, troops of the Givati Brigade located and destroyed a tunnel, while forces of the 99th Division directed airstrikes on operatives who tried to plant bombs on a road.
In the nearby town of Jabalia, the IDF says troops of the 401st Armored Brigade and elite Multi-Domain unit killed several more operatives, including by directing strikes, and destroyed terror infrastructure.
In the Gaza City neighborhoods of Daraj and Tuffah, troops of the Nahal Brigade killed additional operatives, and the 98th Division operating in the neighborhoods of Zeitoun and Shejaiya directed strikes on operatives and destroyed buildings used by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the IDF adds.
Gaza death toll passes 58,000, says Hamas-run health ministry
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says at least 58,026 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting so far.
The toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
The ministry says women and children make up more than half of the dead in the war. The UN and other international organizations see the figures from the Hamas-run ministry as the most reliable statistics on Palestinian casualties in the war, sparked by the terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught.
Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.
- Netanyahu slams IDF over estimation Gaza 'Humanitarian City' could take over a year to complete, cost billions
PM demands a faster, cheaper plan after the IDF estimates the project could take a year and cost $4 billion; critics warn plan may lead to forced displacement and undermine Israel’s military priorities. full articleFormer PM Olmert calls Gaza 'humanitarian city' plan a 'concentration camp'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemns proposal, which will see the creation of a vast tent camp designed to house up to half a million people, labeling the plan unacceptable
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert labeled Israel’s “humanitarian city” plan in Gaza a “concentration camp” on Sunday, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also criticized it.Last week, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Israel’s intention to establish a “humanitarian city” south of the Morag Corridor on Rafah’s ruins to separate Gaza’s population from Hamas. This vast camp, made of mostly tents, is designed to house up to half a million people.The plan faces sharp criticism within Israel’s security establishment for resembling the start of an Israeli military administration in the Strip, while humanitarian organizations view it as forced population displacement.Katz said that Palestinians entering the “city”—tents built on Rafah’s ruins in southern Gaza—would be unable to leave except to other countries. The camp would initially accommodate the 600,000 Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, eventually housing all of Gaza’s two million residents.Ynetnews reported the plan’s cost at NIS 10 to 15 billion ($2.7 to $4 billion). “It is a concentration camp, I am sorry,” Olmert said. “If they [Palestinians] will be deported into the new ‘humanitarian city’, then you can say that this is part of an ethnic cleansing. It hasn’t yet happened.”He called it an inevitable interpretation of creating a camp for hundreds of thousands, arguing that building a camp to “clear” over half of Gaza clearly aims to expel, push out and discard Palestinians. “There is no other understanding that I have, at least,” he added.Merz also condemned the initiative. “What’s happening in Gaza now is unacceptable,” he told Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, reiterating calls for increased humanitarian aid.“I didn’t like what Israel’s government has done in Gaza recently and I’ve said so.” Merz conveyed his criticism to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in phone calls, expressing hope that Europe and the United States could advance a two-state solution. “Palestinians have a right to a state where they can live,” he said.The Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned against the “humanitarian city” in Rafah, saying, “This forced displacement has nothing to do with humanitarian values and has drawn widespread criticism from the international community and Israeli circles. It aims to confine hundreds of thousands of citizens in inhumane conditions, with the United States complicit in this crime.” link - IDF troops raid Assad regime sites in south Syria, find tons of weapons, says military
Israeli troops recently raided several military facilities belonging to the former Syrian regime, locating numerous weapons, the IDF says.
The IDF says that in the past week, reservists of the 810th Mountain Regional Brigade located at the peak of Mount Hermon raided several “key headquarters” belonging to the commando forces of the Bashar al-Assad Regime.
At the sites, the military says, the forces found over three tons of weapons, including anti-tank mines, explosive devices and rockets.
The IDF says its operations in the area are intended to prevent weapons smuggling into Lebanon from Syria.
The IDF has been deployed to nine posts inside southern Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December, mostly within a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the border between the countries.
Troops have been operating in areas up to around 15 kilometers deep into Syria, aiming to capture weapons that Israel says could pose a threat to the country if they fall into the hands of “hostile forces.”
Syria says it arrested Hezbollah operative planning terror attacks
The Syrian Interior Ministry announces that it has arrested a Hezbollah operative who was planning terrorist attacks.
The ministry names the operative as Mahmoud Fadl, saying he was in possession of ready-to-use explosives that he intended to use for terrorist attacks in the area. According to the statement, Fadl belonged to a Hezbollah cell active in Syria.
IDF says it carried out strikes against several tanks in southern Syria
The IDF says it carried out a strike a short while ago against several tanks near the Syrian village of Sami’, in the Sweida area of southern Syria.
It says further details will be provided soon.
In the same area, there have been deadly clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters in recent days. Israel has previously vowed to protect members of Syria’s Druze community.
The strike marks an apparent rare occurrence of Israel striking military forces of Syria’s new government.
Israeli officials have said that they seek to completely demilitarize the southern Syria area, and not allow any armed groups to enter it and gain a foothold, including those of the new Syrian government.
Gaza and the South
The New Gaza: Israel Is Building Its Next Problem- by Major General (Res.) Israel Ziv
The war in Gaza has turned into a guerrilla trap with no ability to achieve a decisive victory, as the conflicting goals between the army, the messianics, and Netanyahu prevent a solution • The plan to establish a “humanitarian city” in Rafah will only worsen the security situation and entangle our soldiers • And also: Netanyahu again insists on the wrong thing – and buries a possible deal • Opinion
"The Humanitarian plan will turn into a security nightmare"
The evolution of the war places the IDF in the depth of a guerrilla war. This is a war fought in a theater of mountain-like ruins, flooded with booby-trapped explosives, with an enemy hiding in hundreds of tunnels and deeply familiar with every movement and escape route from any point to any point. In this way, they succeed in causing the IDF a rising number of casualties.
The difference in guerrilla warfare is that this is not a frontal war against an enemy defending territory and resisting maneuvers. On the contrary, the enemy hides and lies in wait for the IDF’s movements in its own territory, initiating encounters at points of advantage through the planting of explosives, typically at chokepoints where an IDF force must pass and cannot maneuver through rubble. There, the terrorists await, detonate the charges, and following the explosion, an underground squad emerges to attack the wounded and complete the mission, raising the casualty toll.
This is a horrific war, which significantly reduces many of the IDF’s combat advantages and grants the initiative to Hamas, which succeeds in inflicting casualties on the maneuvering force. The IDF is very familiar with this kind of warfare from its past, after 18 years of fighting in Lebanon and from previous Gaza operations. The directive given to the army to seize territory plays directly into the hands of this guerrilla trap. Even if the army had more than ten divisions on the ground—which it does not—it still could not control every inch of this large, dense, and complex terrain. Hamas exploits this skillfully and can continue to play cat and mouse, strike at our forces, and cause us many casualties.
IDF forces operating in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Photo: Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua, Getty Images)
The IDF’s relative advantage disappears in such a war – and the cost is clear | Photo: Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua, Getty ImagesThis war, if it continues, can under the empty slogans of victory, persist for many more years. It is a war that yields no decision, because no matter how many terrorists are killed, Hamas’s recruitment reservoir is limitless. This war has left two million people who have lost everything. They are desperate, without a drop of hope, and mostly filled with a desire for revenge. As long as the regime there is not replaced and Hamas remains the sole alternative, tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, will continue to join Hamas—simply because they have no other option.
How "Morag Route" Became Philadelphi 2 – The Cornerstone of Our Security
The State of Israel is neck-deep in a war with contradictory objectives. There is the army and the Chief of Staff, fighting to free the hostages and create the conditions to remove Hamas from Gaza. There are the messianics, for whom Hamas’s continued existence is useful in order to continue the war and retake Gaza, with no thought to the costs. And there is the Prime Minister, constantly seeking political survival, for whom the price the country pays is entirely secondary.
The trip to Washington turned out to be a major disappointment. The Prime Minister wanted a grand victory lap and did not really get it, except for a strange dinner where Trump was polite but wanted a declaration of an end to the war in Gaza—not an embarrassing letter of recommendation for a Nobel. The second ghost meeting was meant to bring a breakthrough, at least on a hostage deal, and ended in silence. Even the pampering at Blair House did not get a weekend. All the hopes for change and news of a deal were bitterly disappointed. Netanyahu as we know him has not changed—the supreme goal of his survival after the Iran war has only intensified, and the new threshold he set for Hamas further buried the chance of a deal. The war will continue, and the coalition will not end.
Is this where we want to return? (IDF forces in the Gaza Strip before the disengagement, in the Morag Route area) | Photo: Abid Katib, Getty ImagesNetanyahu planned for the credit due to him from Trump over Iran to garner enough support to repeat his previous trick: a partial deal only, with no real commitment to ending the war. This way, he could bring home half the hostages and also go for a half-occupation to keep Smotrich in the coalition. But Netanyahu’s plan is running aground. Hamas is not willing to move forward without ending the war or receiving solid guarantees and refuses to allow the holding of the “Morag Route,” which would enable Netanyahu’s creation of the “humanitarian city.” The “Morag Route” has overnight become Philadelphi 2, a second cornerstone of Israel’s security.
The “Humanitarian City” Does Not Solve the Problem – It Creates Other Problems
After all the glorious failures of the aid distribution plans, the attempt to transfer control to local gangs, and the voluntary emigration plan that still lacks a destination—a new master plan is being crafted, proudly presented to the public by the Defense Minister: the “humanitarian city,” a sanitized term for the largest internment camp in history on the ruins of Rafah.
The size of the expected failure matches the size of the deformed dream of this most delusional plan yet.
In his plan, the Defense Minister intends to push the IDF to fight against a civilian population to force them into the new “refugee city.” It was not enough for him that the IDF was already forced, under the “humanitarian mission,” to fire in self-defense at civilians. Now, the IDF would be required to do so deliberately and in front of hundreds of thousands of civilians. This is not only a violation of international law regarding the transfer of populations, but an overt war crime that IDF soldiers and commanders would be exposed to. Of course, the Minister has no plan to ensure Hamas itself does not enter the city and control it from within—or how that would be done. Will each of the million people undergo an entry test? This plan will receive no international backing, meaning the IDF will have to station a civil administration there and essentially declare an occupation of the Strip. The State of Israel will, of course, fund this and be responsible from now and forever for one or two million Palestinians.
Satellite photo of destroyed Rafah (Photo: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025)
Destroyed Rafah – the area where Israel wants to establish the “humanitarian city” | Photo: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025
Humanitarian aid in Rafah (Photo: Abid Katib, Getty Images)
The humanitarian city will endanger the soldiers – and create dangerous friction with the Gazan population (Archive) | Photo: Abid Katib, Getty ImagesOf course, this plan does nothing to resolve the ongoing problem of the guerrilla war against Hamas—on the contrary, it will only worsen it. The center of gravity of the war will shift slightly southward, closer to supply lines. Simultaneously, the IDF can already begin preparations for the reoccupation of the world’s largest refugee camp: the newly formed “humanitarian city” in Rafah. What will happen there will be exactly like the Jenin refugee camp—a never-ending hornet’s nest that the IDF was recently forced to conquer—only the Rafah camp will be a hundred times worse.
In conclusion, the current government’s political survival is not a work plan and will not lead Israel anywhere. This is a government that with one hand prolongs and complicates this unnecessary war and abandons the hostages, and with the other grants exemptions to an entire sector. It is the epitome of the absurd survival story. It is a government that has lost its direction, its compass, and its conscience—and has no ethical or moral boundaries left to trample every good part of this country.
We must hope that Trump does not give up and forces Israel to bring an end to the war, since it is incapable of making that decision on its own. link
- Trump hopes for Gaza deal within a week, as sources allege Netanyahu stalling
US officials huddle with Qataris at soccer match amid stuck talks; report says PM promised far-right coalition allies fighting will resume after proposed 60-day truce
US President Donald Trump expressed hope Sunday that gridlocked talks for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza could see a breakthrough within a week, as sources claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was deliberately dragging out the negotiations.While US and Israeli officials expressed optimism last week about the chances for an imminent agreement, negotiations have been stuck for the past four days over the scope of Israel’s military withdrawal from Gaza, an Arab diplomat and another source involved in mediation efforts told The Times of Israel.
Netanyahu has insisted the war cannot end until Hamas is no longer able to rule Gaza or pose a threat to Israel, vowing to achieve both that goal and the return of all 50 hostages still being held in the Strip.
“He is making public statements that a deal is possible and imminent in order to keep the pressure off of him, but it’s starting to feel like a stalling tactic,” the Arab diplomat said of Netanyahu.
The source involved in the mediation claimed Netanyahu was preventing a breakthrough from being reached before the Knesset recess, which runs from July 27 until October 19, as it is more difficult to dissolve parliament during that period. The far-right flank of his coalition is strongly opposed to ending the war with Hamas still in charge of Gaza and has threatened to withdraw over the issue, leaving Netanyahu vulnerable to losing power.
Netanyahu has denied thwarting a hostage deal, arguing that Hamas — not Israel — was the one that did not accept the US proposal for an agreement in the spring. The US has also maintained that Hamas has been the obstacle to a deal to date.
But the sources speaking to The Times of Israel said the updated Israeli proposal for a partial IDF withdrawal from Gaza that Netanyahu authorized last week does not allow for a breakthrough in the negotiations, as it still envisions Israel remaining in control of roughly one-third of the Strip and retaining a three-kilometer (1.8-mile) buffer zone in the area of Rafah in southern Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israel presented a scaled-down version of its withdrawal, but the proposal was rejected by Hamas, which told mediators that Netanyahu was using it to establish what he is calling a “humanitarian city” in the southern quarter of Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz has said Israel wants to eventually herd Gaza’s entire population there, vet them upon entry, and subsequently prevent them from leaving it, as Jerusalem encourages their emigration outside the enclave. The plan has drawn strong opposition both in Israel and internationally.
While continuing to reject the Israeli military redeployment proposal, Hamas has agreed to accept a one-kilometer (0.6-mile) buffer zone around much of the Strip’s perimeter. However, Israel is pushing for the buffer zone to extend two kilometers (1.2 miles) into Gaza, which the Arab mediators think is unreasonable, the two sources said.
US officials huddle with Qataris at soccer match
Trump was asked Sunday by reporters about the ongoing efforts for a Gaza truce and answered: “Hopefully we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week.”
Over the past several weeks, Trump has repeatedly given timelines that proved incorrect for when a deal would be reached.
Trump was making his way back from the FIFA Club World Cup soccer final in New Jersey, which he attended along with family, friends and close advisers, including his special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
The international sporting match also offered an opportunity for Trump and aides to huddle with government officials from the Gulf nation of Qatar, which is serving as an intermediary with Hamas in the talks.
Witkoff, in a brief exchange with reporters ahead of the match, said he remained “hopeful” about Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations, and confirmed he would be meeting during the match with senior Qatari officials.
PM said promising coalition allies fighting will resume after truce
Meanwhile, Channel 12 news reported Sunday evening that Netanyahu had promised Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in recent meetings that, following the proposed 60-day ceasefire with Hamas currently under discussion in Doha, Israel will resume its war against Hamas in Gaza.
“After the pause, we will transfer the population in the Strip southward and impose a siege [on northern Gaza],” Netanyahu reportedly told Smotrich, who is seeking guarantees from the premier that the war in Gaza will resume in full force after the ceasefire ends.
In closed-door meetings, Netanyahu framed Israel’s plan to separate the Gazan civilian population from Hamas and hold them in a strip of southern Gaza as a humanitarian necessity to allow the conflict to continue following the temporary truce, according to the report.
Netanyahu assured the far-right minister that he would follow through on the promise, pointing to the planning of last month’s conflict with Iran as the reason for failing to meet the latter’s prior expectations on destroying Hamas.
“Until now I’ve been busy with Iran — now I can make sure the military follows my instructions,” Channel 12 quoted the premier as telling Smotrich.
Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have warned that they will withdraw from the government if any deal is agreed to that would end the war in Gaza. Both far-right ministers have reportedly been summoned to meet with Netanyahu in recent days, as part of the ongoing efforts to reach a deal.
Also Sunday, dozens of right-wing activists from the Tzav 9 group, which campaigns for halting humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to pressure Hamas to return the hostages, tried to block the passage of aid trucks from Jordan through the Allenby border crossing with the West Bank.
The group said it caused the crossing to be closed for more than three hours Sunday evening.
After the trucks passed, activists also tried to block the trucks near Arad, but were prevented by security forces.
The war between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251. The 50 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity include the bodies of 28 confirmed dead by the IDF, one of whom has been held for over a decade. link Netanyahu in keeping with himself, is full of lies. The question right now is which are the lies and which are the truths. Has he lied to Trump or to Smotrich or to both and is still finalizing what exactly he will do when the 60 days are up, if we ever reach this agreement? Most likely, he lied to both and will make his decisions the same way he always does, what is best for his personal political survival. Former AG Mandelblit believes Israel heading toward end of democracy
Former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit says he believes Israel is heading in the direction of the end of democracy, with state institutions expected to be beholden to the coalition: “Instead of loyalty to the state, there will be loyalty to the ministers and to government.”
When asked by the Kan public broadcaster if he believes Israel is heading toward the end of democracy with the government’s attempts to subjugate institutions including the IDF, Shin Bet and Attorney General’s Office, Mandelblit responds “yes,” adding that it is not a recent development.
“It began in January 2023,” says the one-time ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s initial announcement of the contentious judicial overhaul.
“Then the direction was clear,” Mandelblit says. “The government’s direction is to weaken the gatekeepers and the defense mechanisms. We have the attorney general and the Supreme Court, and the free press. They don’t sit well with the government and it thinks they should be abolished.”
“Instead of loyalty to the state, there will be loyalty to the ministers and to government, and when there is only one authority, that’s not democratic,” he says.
“That’s what they want. I hope they won’t succeed,” says Mandelblit.
Mandelblit is also asked whether he believes his successor Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara would be correct if she decides not to attend a dismissal hearing today as the government works to fire her.
“If the hearing is illegal, and if it’s a hearing where there is no openness or willingness to listen, why show up? Why take part in this circus when the outcome is already predetermined?” says Mandelblit.
- The Region and the World
Search ends for those missing since Yemen’s Houthis sank ship in Red Sea last week
This handout picture released by Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah Media Centre on July 8, 2025 reportedly shows a view of damage to the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C after it was attacked by the Huthis at sea. (ANSARULLAH MEDIA CENTRE / AFP)The search for those missing after Yemen’s Houthi rebels sank a ship in the Red Sea has ended as at least four people are presumed dead and 11 others remain unaccounted for, the private security firms involved say.
The announcement comes as satellite photos show long, trailing oil slicks from where the bulk carrier Eternity C sank, as well as another where the sinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seas by the Iranian-backed Houthis took place.
Both ships were attacked over a week ago by the rebels as part of their campaign targeting vessels over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that’s upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes a year.
The private security firms Ambrey and Diaplous Group ran the search for those missing from the Eternity C, which had a three-man security team aboard but requested no escort from either the US Navy or a European Union force in the region. The ship came under attack July 7 and faced hours of Houthi assaults by small arms and bomb-carrying drones before ultimately sinking in the Red Sea.
Ten people were recovered alive from the attack, including eight Filipino crew members and a Greek and Indian from the vessel’s security team, the EU’s Operation Aspides said. At least four are presumed to have been killed in the attack, leaving 11 others missing, the EU mission has said.
The Houthis claimed to have taken some mariners after the attack, but have offered no evidence of that. The US Embassy in Yemen said it believed the rebels had “kidnapped” some of the crew.
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
Join my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0
Twitter - @LonnyB58 Bluesky - @lonny-b.bsky.social
My blogs in The Times of Israel my blogs
Substack - https://lonnyb.substack.com/
Twitter - @LonnyB58
My blogs in The Times of Israel my blogs
Substack - https://lonnyb.substack.com/
Comments
Post a Comment