π️Lonny's War Update- October 650, 2023 - July 17, 2025 π️
π️Day 650 that 50 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivityπ️
Official says gaps remain in talks with Hamas, Israel not committed to ending war
As negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement with Hamas continue in Doha, a senior Israeli official says in a briefing with reporters that while a deal is more likely to be reached than not, certain gaps remain.
“I believe a deal is attainable,” says the official, but adds that “it’s not simple. Negotiating with Hamas isn’t easy or short, and I can’t give a timeline, but it is within reach.”
Regarding the details of the deal, the official says it was agreed that eight hostages would be released on the first day, and two more on the fiftieth day.
According to him, Hamas’s greater openness to United States special envoy Steve Witkoff’s framework reflects a shift in the terror group’s stance, which emerged about two weeks ago “as a result of intense military pressure and American engagement, along with Hamas’s desire to reach a framework. As a result of that desire and Qatar’s ties with Hamas, Qatar is taking on a different kind of involvement.”
The official reveals divisions within the security cabinet over what concessions Israel should be willing to make in a deal, saying: “Some members of the cabinet said not to withdraw from the territory we captured in Operation Gideon’s Chariots” — Israel’s intensified ground invasion which began in May.
“I told them, ‘Then say you don’t want a deal,'” the official says.
According to the official, there is no commitment on Israel’s part to ending the war, and clarifies that the proposed 60-day ceasefire would be temporary, during which talks on a permanent truce would take place.
“There’s a gap between the sides on the end of the war. If we bridge it, great. [Israel is] not glued to war, the war itself isn’t an ideology; it’s a tool. There may be an effort, possibly a major one by various actors, to bring about [a diplomatic solution]. We’re not there yet — it’s a bit premature — but that effort may come.”
“Israel knows what its aim is, I can simplify it very clearly in four words,” the official adds, conveying the message in English: “Hostages back, Hamas out.” link
Israel ‘more likely than not’ to reach Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, official says
Israel feels optimistic regarding a potential deal for the release of hostages, according to a senior Israeli official at a briefing with reporters.
“It’s more likely that we will reach a deal than not. A hostage deal is attainable,” the official says.
“I don’t know how much longer it will take — negotiating with Hamas is never a simple or short event,” the official adds.
“The government is interested in the release of hostages, and this is the position led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” the official continues, but adds that “There are disagreements at various levels… issues we haven’t yet fully resolved, like the parameters for release.” link. These two articles show the differences between an official from the negotiating team speaking honestly and the lies coming from an official representing Netanyahu (most likely from the Prime Minister's Office). The negotiating team official explains that the extremists in the cabinet are totally against making any concessions and don't care when he told them that under those conditions, it's impossible to make a deal. Netanyahu is a weakling and a coward. On the one hand, he is an autocrat and his cabinet/coalition has enabled him to become an autocrat. He is the single decision maker for the major decisions that are made in the multiple wars and the return of the hostages. He only brings issues to the cabinet when he wants them to give him a negative vote to show the Americans that the issue is not in his hands alone. That is a lie. It is in his hands alone.
But he is a weakling and a coward. He has chosen to be led by the nose by his extremist messianic lawless senior ministers. Their constant threats to bring down the government if he goes forward with any hostage deal that will bring an end to the war has always had him shaking in his boots because the most important thing for him is the survival of his coalition so he will remain prime minister. He is a weak leader who long ago ceased to be a leader. He has reduced himself to a self interested megalomaniac whose only concern is his political survival and legacy. That drives every decision.
These are the reasons that we have two separate and very different narratives about the negotiations with Hamas in Qatar: the real story and the PR story.Israel walks back demands regarding Gaza withdrawal, creating opening for deal within days — sources
Israel has agreed to significantly decrease its force presence in Gaza during the 60-day truce currently under discussion, according to an Arab diplomat and a source involved in mediation efforts, who tell The Times of Israel that the softened stance opens the door for an agreement in the coming days.
Following pressure from US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff, Israel has agreed to come down from more maximalist demands regarding the extent of its partial withdrawal from Gaza during the truce, the two sources say.
Thanks to pressure from Witkoff, new maps submitted by Israel no longer envision the IDF remaining in the so-called Morag Corridor that divides the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, the two sources add.
Israel also agreed to reduce the scope of its presence in Rafah, where it had hoped to create a controversial “humanitarian city” to which Gaza’s population would be herded, vetted upon entry and prevented from leaving, as Jerusalem encourages their emigration outside of the Strip.
The updated Israeli proposal for withdrawal from Gaza would likely hamper the ability to implement the Israeli “humanitarian city” plan, the Arab diplomat says.
Mediators are currently meeting with Hamas negotiators in Doha to review the latest Israeli maps, according to the source involved in the talks, adding that they are largely in line with Hamas’s demand for the IDF to withdraw to the positions it held before the previous ceasefire began collapsing on March 2.
Meanwhile, Hamas has indicated that it is prepared to compromise on its demand for an up-front Israeli commitment for a permanent ceasefire in exchange for a personal assurance from US President Donald Trump that the truce will remain in place until the sides reach an agreement on a permanent ceasefire.
With the Hamas compromise on its demand for a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s compromise on the scope of its withdrawal, mediators believe that the more difficult obstacles in the ongoing Doha talks have been overcome.
However, the Arab diplomat says that the sides still have to reach agreements regarding mechanisms for the distribution of humanitarian aid and on the number and identities of Palestinian prisoners to be released during the two-month truce in exchange for 10 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 slain hostages. link As with every period of negotiations for a hostage deal, there are lots of articles with various details and information. However, most of them are speculation and spins. We never really know anything more than some potential highlights until a deal is actually made. That is what is happening every day during these negotiations and therefore there are lots of assumptions (from me as well). I can only hope that information in this article is closer to the real negotiations. The most important point of this article is the major change in Israel's demands of troop positions and territory to be held during the 60 day ceasefire. In every negotiation, Netanyahu has thrown a new wrench in the mix of demands purposefully to thwart a deal coming to fruition. And every wrench that he threw in was not coordinated or agreed upon with anyone in the security and intelligence establishments. It was purely him pressing a new demand that he claimed was the most important aspect for Israel's future security. In this round, that most important demand was the Morag Corridor separating Rafah from Khan Younis. In the past, he refused to budge from these new demands. It is now reported that Israel/Netanyahu has acceded to dropping the Morag Corridor and reducing troop presence in other areas. This was only accomplished through the pressure brought on by Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy. This only emphasizes what we all know; the only person who can force Netanyahu to do or not to do something is Trump, if and when Trump chooses to pressure him. Despite what everyone believes that Netanyahu gained Trump's agreement to his plans when he met with him in Washington, we must remember that Trump is not predictable or stable in his agreements and decisions, so it is possible (and we all hope it is true) that Trump is running out of patience with Netanyahu's plan and timetable and will now lay down the law to Netanyahu and force him to accelerate the plans for the deal and ending the war. This could be a result of the precariousness of Netanyahu's coalition with the exit from the government of all the Haredi parties. The government is still not falling because Shas and possibly the other Haredi parties have left the government but not the coalition, which means that Netanyahu, with a minority government of 50 seats can still prevent a vote of no confidence and still stave off elections for now.
Report: IDF troops will only be up to 1.2 kilometers inside Gaza during truce
An Arabic-language report details Israel’s previously reported concession on the presence of troops in Gaza during a proposed 60-day ceasefire, envisioning soldiers retreating from most areas of the Strip.
According to the report by pan-Arabic outlet al-Ghad, under new maps submitted by Israel, troops will remain only up to 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) deep inside Gaza along its southern border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor. That depth will be reduced to 1.1 kilometers (0.68 miles) along Gaza’s northern and eastern borders.
Israel had sought to keep military personnel stationed up to two kilometers deep along Gaza’s borders, as well as maintaining a presence along key beltways inside the enclave, while Hamas had demanded a pullback to one kilometer along Gaza’s edges and a retreat from all other areas of the Strip.
The new maps have apparently fueled optimism for a breakthrough in ceasefire and hostage release talks, with US President Donald Trump declaring “good news on Gaza” last night.
- Netanyahu’s demands on Hamas are unrealistic, says former Mossad official
Former deputy chief of the Israeli intelligence agency, Rami Igra: 'Netanyahu has been demanding things which are supposed to be but which will never be realized'
If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to get the hostages back in a deal, he will have to stop demanding that Hamas cease to exist, according to former deputy chief of the Israeli intelligence agency, Rami Igra.He asked: “Is Israel really willing or wanting to make this [ceasefire] deal?”According to Igra, Hamas has remained firm on three elements: cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the rehabilitation of the enclave.“Netanyahu has been demanding things which are supposed to be but which will never be realized,” Igra said. “He wants Hamas to commit suicide. He wants the end of Hamas. He wants Hamas to cease to exist. Now, we all want Hamas to cease to exist, but we all have to be a little realistic, and being realistic means that the only way that we're going to neutralize Hamas is a long-term process, and not one deal that Netanyahu wants to do.”He said that if Netanyahu believes Hamas leaders are going to give up their claim to Gaza in exchange for a cessation of hostilities, he is mistaken.“He's been trying to do that for two years now, and he has not been achieving anything,” Igra said, noting that 44 soldiers have been killed in battle since March, when Israel renewed fighting, and he believes the country has nothing to show for it.He added that Hamas is not deterred by force and that the terror organization does not care if half the population of Gaza is killed.“They will still feel victorious, and they will still continue this war because they are a religious organization," he said. “We are playing with ourselves, offering all kinds of deals to the other side that there is no way the other side can accept." link. I have said so many times that Hamas states their bottom line demands at the very beginning and does not budge from those demands. There can be certain flexibility in interim agreements but the final agreement/deal cannot be reached until their bottom line demands are met. Hamas can be devastated with most of their leadership killed, they can be on their last dying breaths but they hold the cards because they have 50 our of hostages in their brutal captivity. They are a fundamentalist terror organization and for them, death especially when fighting their enemy, Israel will be rewarded and that is more important to them then living in exile. Therefore all of Netanyahu's threats of destruction, death, misery mean nothing to them. They don't care one bit how many non combatant Gazans are killed. They never cared about their own population and the more Gazans killed, the better for their public relations. Netanyahu knows this very well but continues with his false narratives that more military pressure will force them to be more flexible and give up on their bottom line demands. He does this continually to highlight how he is ready to make a deal but Hamas is not, when the opposite is true. Of course, no one except Hamas likes their bottom line demands but we, the majority of the Israeli population want our hostages home and are willing to pay this price, especially when all of the security heads have stated on multiple occasions that this is what should be done and they will handle any aftermath including going back into Gaza to fight, if necessary. I don't believe that there is a single person in the security organizations senior staff who doesn't know that it is Netanyahu alone who has prevented hostage deals to be completed as well as the current negotiations happening now. If Netanyahu would give the negotiating team the green light, a deal could be worked out in one day and all the hostages could be brought home immediately. Everyone is waiting for that green light but Netanyahu will not give it. The only one who can force his hand and make it happen is Trump. We are perhaps seeing the first signs that Trump may again be losing patience with Netanyahu. If that continues, we will see a deal made shortly. Unfortunately, it will be a bad deal that only sees some of the hostages returning and the rest to continue to rot and die until Netanyahu will finally call for an end to the miserable war of his political survival. Labor MK says Israelis must not ‘bury heads in the sand’ over toll of war on innocent Gazans
Labor MK Gilad Kariv says Israelis must stop ignoring the toll that it is inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza, arguing that the IDF’s Operation Iron Swords has become a “war of folly.”
He highlights reporting from Haaretz and The Times of Israel about yesterday’s strike in the Shati refugee camp that killed an entire family, including children who bled out underneath the rubble after the IDF prevented rescue forces from approaching the area to extract them.
“We must not close our eyes. We must not bury our heads in the sand,” Kariv writes on X. “We must not continue to be indifferent to the harm caused to innocent lives in the framework of a war that should have ended long ago.”
“The war must be ended. Until it ends, the IDF must change its conduct regarding strikes in population centers,” the left-wing lawmaker adds.
He knocks mainstream Israeli media for failing to sufficiently cover what is happening in Gaza, while also admitting that the opposition has to do a better job expressing a “clear and resolute” demand to end the war.
“Enough is enough. We are losing our values. We are losing our resilience. We are losing our way,” Kariv says.
Israeli strike said to damage Gaza’s only Catholic church
Gaza’s sole Catholic church, the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, was struck by Israel this morning, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem tells The Times of Israel.
Four people were badly injured, and four lightly hurt, says a spokesperson for the Protecting Holy Land Christians campaign.
Doctors at al-Ahli hospital say two women were killed, though the toll cannot be verified.
Pictures show part of the church’s roof missing a chunk, as well as damage to windows.
The church’s priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was lightly injured in his leg, Italy’s ANSA news agency says.
“Israeli raids on Gaza also hit the Holy Family Church,” tweets Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behavior.”
The IDF tells The Times of Israel that it is looking into the claims.
Over 300 killed in Sweida violence since Sunday, Syrian war monitor says
DAMASCUS, Syria — More than 300 people have been killed in days of violence in southern Syria’s Sweida province, a war monitor says, raising an earlier toll of 248 dead.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that since clashes erupted on Sunday, 69 Druze fighters were killed as well as 40 civilians, 27 of them in “summary executions… by members of the defense and interior ministries,” while 165 government forces and 18 Bedouin fighters were also killed, along with 10 members of the government’s security forces in Israeli strikes.
Additionally, Syria’s Health Ministry says a series of Israeli strikes targeting the army and Defense Ministry headquarters in Damascus killed one person and wounded another 18.
AFP correspondents say the strikes destroyed part of a four-story building adjacent to the Defense Ministry, while the city’s usually bustling Umayyad Square nearby was empty except for ambulances and military vehicles.
Syria: Ceasefire reached between government forces and Druze in Sweida
War monitor: Israeli strikes killed 15 Syrian defense and interior ministry personnel
More than 350 people have been killed since the weekend in violent clashes in Syria’s southern Sweida province, a war monitor says, updating an earlier toll.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that since clashes erupted on Sunday, 79 Druze fighters were killed along with 55 civilians, 27 of them in “summary executions by members of the defense and interior ministries,” while 189 defense and interior ministry personnel and 18 Bedouin fighters were also killed. Earlier, the monitor had said the death toll was 300.
The Observatory says the victims in Sweida include a media worker, identifying him as Hassan al-Zaabi. The Syrian journalists’ union in a statement says Zaabi was shot dead by “outlaw gangs” in Sweida province “while performing his professional duties,” without saying whom he worked for.
The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, additionally reports 15 defense and interior ministry personnel killed in Israeli strikes in southern Syria.
**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
*8:40pm yesterday - Negev, Arava, Dead Sea areas - ballistic missile from Yemen- missile intercepted
Gaza and the South
- His son slain by settlers, a Palestinian-American looks to Washington to end violence
Saif Musallet was born in Florida and died on a West Bank hilltop after being beaten by Israelis. Now his father Kamel wants international pressure to prevent the next tragedyThe last time Kamel Musallet spoke to his son, 20-year-old Palestinian-American Saif Musallet, the conversation turned to a familiar subject.
“He kept telling me, ‘Dad, I want to get married,’ over and over again,” Kamel recalled recently. “That was our last talk — he wanted to get married.”
The conversation had taken place over the phone, with the elder Musallet at his home in Florida, while Saif, a budding ice cream entrepreneur, visited his dad’s former hometown near Ramallah.
Days later, Kamel would be back in the West Bank himself to bury his son, who was killed Friday during a confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli settlers.
The incident, during which 23-year-old Palestinian Mohammad Shalabi was also killed, has drawn international attention due to Musallet’s American passport, shining a fresh light on rampant, deadly settler violence plaguing the area, which critics say Israeli authorities have allowed to metastasize and even supported.
It has also raised troubling questions due to the prolonged nature of the confrontation and the brutal nature of Musallet’s death. According to witnesses, the 20-year-old was beaten by settlers, and died hours later after Israeli troops allegedly prevented medical help from reaching him.
“He was just a kid who wanted to live,” Kamel told The Times of Israel this week.
Saif Musallet, a Palestinian-American who was allegedly beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank on July 11, 2025. (X, used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)On Tuesday, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said he had asked Israel
“to aggressively investigate the murder” of Musallet.“There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act. Saif was just 20 yrs old,” he tweeted.
The statement came after Musallet’s family released a statement on Saturday urging the US State Department to open an immediate investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable, citing Saif’s American citizenship.
Saif Musallet was born and raised in Port Charlotte, Florida, a quiet town of low-slung homes and human-made canals on the state’s west coast about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg.
In 2024, he moved to Tampa and bought a branch of the Ice Sssscreamin’ ice cream shop, helping turn the business into a popular spot for University of South Florida students, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Ice Sssscreamin in Tampa, Florida. (Screen capture: Google Street View)About a month ago, he decided to take a break from slinging scoops to visit family in al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, a Palestinian town where his father had grown up. He planned to return to Florida later in the summer, with hopes of expanding the ice cream venture.
But on Friday, he became the latest victim of settler violence, in a clash that also saw several Palestinians and two Israelis injured.
According to witness accounts, family members and Palestinian media reports, the incident began Friday as Palestinians approached an illegal settler outpost between the towns of Sinjil, al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya and Jiljilya as they attempted to reach their land.
Sinjil mayor Muataz Twafsha told The Times of Israel that settlers had established the outpost two months ago and had tried to lay claim to 6,000 dunams (1,500 acres) of village land.
Rocks scattered across a road blocking access for Palestinians in the West Bank village of Sinjil on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP/Leo Correa)“Anyone who tries to reach their land gets attacked. They throw stones, they beat us, they shoot. They are terrorists,” he said.
A week before, Palestinians in the area had set fire to makeshift outpost structures and a hillside near Sinjil and had planned to hold a protest march. But despite clashes with stone-throwing settlers, a wider conflagration was ultimately avoided.
This time, the confrontation escalated and settlers began descending toward Palestinian homes and attacking residents, witnesses said.
The Binyamin Regional Council, an Israeli jurisdictional authority in the area, described the incident in a Saturday statement as an attack on Jewish shepherds by “dozens of terrorists and Arab rioters.”
“They burned and vandalized equipment and a Torah book and injured two shepherds,” the statement read.
An olive tree burns in a Palestinian village near the West Bank town of Sinjil, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP/Maya Alleruzzo)In footage from the incident, both settlers and Palestinians can be seen throwing stones. In one clip, masked individuals in an Israeli vehicle hurl rocks at a Palestinian car, smashing its windows.
According to Palestinian sources who spoke to The Times of Israel, in addition to the two people killed, dozens of residents from nearby villages were wounded, some of whom required hospital treatment. According to the police, two settlers were injured during the incident, one of them in the head.
Musallet said he was told by witnesses that Saif and some other Palestinians went to an area where his family owned land. When he got there, settlers had not yet reached the area, but they soon arrived.
At some point, Saif was separated from the others and “beaten with hands and stones,” according to Musallet, though it was not clear if this was witnessed directly.
A badly injured Saif was found later, first by two Palestinians and then by his little brother, who was also visiting from Florida.
“He was throwing up, unresponsive, but still breathing,” Musallet said.
Kamel Musallet. (Screen capture: X/Zeteo)Help was called, but the Israeli military blocked ambulance access for hours, the father said he was told. The incident took place in Area B of the West Bank, where Palestinians maintain civilian authority, but the Israeli military holds security control.
“They said it required coordination,” Musallet said. “Why? It’s our land.”
He said it took around three hours for the ambulance to finally reach the area.
“I believe 100% that had they reached him earlier, he would have survived,” he said. “If you get to an ambulance within 10 or 20 minutes, they’ll give you the CPR you need, the medication you need. But after three hours — that’s a long time. He suffered for a very long time. ”
According to Musallet, once the ambulance was allowed to approach, it still could not access the hill where his son lay dying. Medics instead had to park below and carry a stretcher up the slope.
He said it took around three hours for the ambulance to finally reach the area.
“I believe 100% that had they reached him earlier, he would have survived,” he said. “If you get to an ambulance within 10 or 20 minutes, they’ll give you the CPR you need, the medication you need. But after three hours — that’s a long time. He suffered for a very long time. ”
According to Musallet, once the ambulance was allowed to approach, it still could not access the hill where his son lay dying. Medics instead had to park below and carry a stretcher up the slope.
Mourners carry the body of dual US-Palestinian citizen Saif Musallet during his funeral at the Palestinian village of Al-Mazraa Ash-Sharqiya in the West Bank on July 13, 2025. (JOHN WESSELS / AFP)By the time they reached Saif, it was too late.
“Saif took his last breath right before they reached him,” Musallet said, quoting his younger son, who stayed with an unresponsive Saif for much of the time. video
According to Palestinian media, settlers also smashed the windows of a Palestinian ambulance that had arrived at the scene to evacuate wounded Palestinians.
Twafsha charged that ambulances could have also saved the second victim, Shalabi, who was shot to death in the area between Sinjil and Jiljilya. His body was only found after 10 p.m. that night.
The IDF did not respond to a Times of Israel inquiry about the claims that ambulances were prevented from accessing victims.
According to reports, Israeli soldiers were not on the scene when either victim was attacked or killed. No footage is known to exist of either the killing or the ensuing hours.
Settlers hurl stones, reportedly during clashes with Palestinians, in the West Bank town of Sinjil on July 11, 2025. (Screen capture: Al-Jarmaq News)In response to the incident, the IDF said soldiers, police and Border Police officers were dispatched to the scene after reports of “friction between Israelis and Palestinians” and “acted to disperse the confrontation.”
“During the events, several Israelis and Palestinians were detained by the Israel Police on suspicion of involvement in violent incidents. A joint investigation has been opened by the Israel Police and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division. A reservist was questioned and released after interrogation. No further details can be provided at this stage.”
Turning a blind eye
Two Israeli minors were arrested following the attack, though neither of them is suspected of the murders, and they were subsequently released to house arrest.
Police also detained two left-wing Israeli activists, releasing them without charge that night, and a Palestinian named Abdullah Hmeida, who was held for five days before being released without charges on Tuesday.
Jonathan Pollak, a prominent activist who was among the two arrested, said he personally witnessed the army standing by settlers hours into the violence without taking action.
He recalled that after being detained, he watched as troops ignored the settlers leaving the area in a convoy following the violence.
Israeli activist Jonathan Pollak, right, seen in the Magistrate’s Court in Jerusalem, January 15, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)“There’s no way it could’ve been anyone other than those who took part in the lynching,” he claimed. “And everyone was there — the army, Border Police — arguing over who would take us to the station. No one thought to stop those settlers, not even to question them. This was well after it was known there had been a pogrom. I don’t know if it was already known that someone had been killed, but it was known there had been a pogrom.”
Pollak said he had been in the area on Friday afternoon to help protect a Palestinian family that lived near the outpost between Sinjil and Jiljilya.
“Settlers have repeatedly targeted that family. In recent months, settlers from the same area have also driven out a local Bedouin community,” he said. “We were told settlers were on the hill above, attacking Palestinians and had stolen livestock from a family.”
Pollak said he and two activists climbed the hill to see what was happening, and came upon an older man who was allegedly hit by a pickup truck driven by a settler and was being helped away by Hmeida.
“We started helping evacuate him, but he was heavy and had trouble walking,” Pollak recalled. “Then, suddenly, settlers came down the hill. There were 10 or 15 of them. We were five — two Palestinians, one of whom was injured, and three Israeli activists. The settlers had black police batons; some were masked, others not. They attacked the Palestinian man who was carrying the injured person, and then me.”
Soldiers stand by as Palestinians collect olives from trees during the annual harvest season, in the West Bank village of Qusra, south of Nablus, October 15, 2024. (Flash90)Soldiers quickly arrived on the scene, but did not seem interested in going after the assailants. One activist managed to help the wounded Palestinian leave the area, but Pollak, the other activist and Hmeida were held. Only Hmeida was handcuffed.
“The soldiers told the settlers to leave. No one was arrested,” he said. “The army and settlers are part of the same system — one that operates seamlessly, all serving a clear policy: to expel Palestinians from their land.”
‘They want our land, they want to kill us’
Twafsha, the mayor of Sinjil, told The Times of Israel that life in his community has drastically worsened since the start of the war in Gaza nearly two years ago.
The town sits in an area north of Ramallah that has seen settler activity intensify in recent months, with reports of settlers attacking Palestinians, setting fire to property and intimidating those trying to access agricultural land in areas where settlement outposts have mushroomed. During Friday’s attack, settlers set fire to Palestinian buildings and vehicles in both Sinjil and al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya, he noted.
Palestinian Saber Asaleyeh, 74, inspects his scrapyard where vehicles were scorched during an Israeli settler attack overnight in the West Bank village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (AP/Nasser Nasser)“There have never been settlements on these lands surrounding our homes. Since the war began, four outposts have sprung up around Sinjil — on private Palestinian land,” Twafsha said. “Palestinians are not allowed to access those lands. Any Palestinian who tries to approach is either stopped and told there’s a state of emergency [due to the war in Gaza], that the area is off-limits, or gets beaten by settlers to prevent him from entering. We are living in a giant prison. From the east, there are settlers, from the west, there are settlers.”
Israel recently erected a high fence cutting off parts of Sinjil from Road 60, which runs through the entire West Bank from north to south, and which both Israelis and Palestinians use. The IDF said the fence was erected to protect the nearby Ramallah-Nablus highway “in light of the recurring terror incidents in this area.”
Twafsha said access to the village had been reduced to a single opening in the fence. The army maintains that the opening means there is still “free access” to the town, but Twafsha disputed the claim and accused Israel of exacting “collective punishment” on Sinjil.
A section of a fence built by Israeli forces is seen surrounding the West Bank village of Sinjil, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP/Leo Correa)“Some days the army opens it, some days it closes it,” he said of the remaining gate. “There’s no Hamas in Sinjil. Never has there been gunfire from here at settlers or the army. But they want to take our land, displace us and kill us.”
On Tuesday, UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said 757 attacks by Israeli settlers had been recorded in the West Bank during the first half of the year, a 13 percent increase on the same period in 2024.
The attacks injured 96 Palestinians in the territory in June alone, he told reporters, stressing that it was the highest monthly injury toll of Palestinians from settler attacks “in over two decades.”
Despite now living far away, Musallet expressed frustration and despair over the settler attacks.
“They burn houses, they burn trees. Why are they doing this? What’s the goal?” he asked. “I want international pressure, international organizations to stop this.”
Masked Israeli settlers hurl rocks at Palestinians from a hilltop in the village of Sinjil, in the West Bank on July 4, 2025. (JOHN WESSELS / AFP)Musallet acknowledged to The Times of Israel that he sees his son’s American citizenship as a pathway to spurring international pressure to stop the attacks.
“We can’t get our son back — he’s in the ground. But I don’t want more death. Why can’t American pressure, the American government, help and stop the settlers from coming here? That’s the main thing,” he said. “We don’t want more settler violence.”
The deaths of Palestinian-Americans in the West Bank at the hands of Israeli soldiers have in the past has prompted public statements from Washington, including calls for investigations and, in rare cases, compensation. However, there is no precedent for state compensation or extensive official investigations when Israeli civilians — rather than soldiers — are implicated in the killing.
Musallet insisted that he was not looking for compensation anyway.
“I want the killing to stop. I don’t want any more young people to die. No amount of money in the world will bring back my child,” he said.
The father paused mid-conversation to speak to his younger son, who days earlier had watched his big brother die before his eyes as medics who could have been there hours earlier struggled up a parched West Bank hill. A big brother who had just wanted to get married and serve ice cream to American college kids.
“After the death of my son, my entire outlook changed — every moment I have with my children now is precious,” Kamel Musallet said. “Even when they annoy you, be patient. That’s my advice. Because you always think your children will bury you, you never think you’ll have to bury them.” link. More from CNN. Everything in this article is the painful truth of what is happening and has been happening in the West Bank for many years. The violence against Palestinians has escalated under this extremist messianic government and even more so in the almost 2 years of war in Gaza. The settlers act with impunity knowing that the police and army won't do anything against them as this article shows. This is the rule, not the exception, even when the settlers kill a Palestinian. This government in particular has given the settlers total immunity for all of their terror activities. This is not plain criminal action, this is terrorism and should be referred to as such and treated as such. Unfortunately, this government will not do anything against it because of the full encouragement of the extremist parties of Smotrich and Ben Gvir as well as many in the Likud as well. They want to make the lives of Palestinians so bad that they will want to leave on their own accord. They want the entire West Bank free of Palestinians and to fill the West Bank with Jewish settlements. Netanyahu has no interests in stopping this terrorism because he doesn't want to rustle the feathers of his extremist partners which makes him a full accomplice to this terrorism. This entire government has enabled the terror and has been completely silent about it. For them, dead Palestinians mean absolutely nothing, just as no one in this corrupt and criminal government says nothing about the 50,000 Gazans killed in the war, with a large percentage of them being women, children and elderly. This government is a government of war criminals who all need to be indicted for war crimes. They have purposely been blind and deaf to the suffering of our own people, the hostages and the hostage families, so there is no expectation for them to open their eyes to what has been done in Gaza or the West Bank. All of them are guilty by their silence while others are guilty by their actions and words: Smotrich, Ben Gvir and Netanyahu by their encouragement, provocations and giving immunity to the terrorists and are therefore direct accomplices to the terrorism.
This specific incident is of an American citizen who was brutally killed by the Jewish Settler terrorists. The Israeli government has shown that it has no interest in finding, arresting, prosecuting any of the terrorists. The European countries have been the most outspoken about the terrorism against Palestinians in the West Bank and the US has been very close to no action and no statements. The Biden Administration imposed some sanctions on individual settler terrorists and Trump immediately removed them. The US Ambassador has called for a thorough investigation into this incident while the US State Department has been silent. It is highly doubtful that anything more will come out of the US because it has low to no priority in the Trump Administration. If this wasn't the case, there could be a chance for something to be done. If Trump were to be angry and aggressive about American citizens being killed by settler terrorists (and this is not the first time that they have killed American citizens), he could force Netanyahu to do something about it but that is highly unlikely and the terror will continue as well as more killings. When the terrorists see that they can get away with brutal murders like this, it serves as an impetus to do more and more. That is what we can expect. Suspected Palestinian arms dealer killed during attempted arrest in West Bank — police
Undercover Border Police officers killed a wanted Palestinian during an overnight raid in the West Bank, a police spokesperson says.
Police say the officers had sought to arrest the Palestinian, who was suspected of terror activity and weapons dealing in the village of Wadi al-Far’a near Tubas.
“The undercover force covertly approached the wanted man, who tried to escape from the troops, who in response fired shots at his lower body and then arrested him,” the spokesperson says.
The wanted man was later declared dead by medical officials who were treating him, according to police.
Police say the officers found a hunting rifle and other military equipment at the building where the suspect had been.
In a separate overnight raid, police say undercover officers detained a terror suspect in Jericho and took him to the Shin Bet for questioning.
- Politics and the War and General News
IDF Investigation: "They Blocked the Entrance to the Dining Hall with Their Bodies" – The Heroism That Prevented a Massacre at the R&D Base
Captain Shela Rauchberger z”l and two other commanders ordered the spearhead platoon to guard the entrances to the dining hall: "This decision prevented the terrorists from carrying out a killing spree" • In the protected rooms, the terrorists tried to break down the doors – the soldiers repelled their attempts with their bodies • The investigation determined that the force did not act according to operational procedure in response to a sign indicating a raid • The full investigationIDF soldiers – October 7 (Archive) | Photo: APThe IDF today (Tuesday) published the investigation of the battle at the R&D base (Machane Mofet) on October 7, in which 35 Hamas terrorists temporarily seized the base but encountered determined fighting by soldiers and commanders who prevented them from executing a mass killing. Four soldiers fell in the battle, which lasted about three hours, and 17 others were wounded but continued fighting.
Investigation of the battle at the R&D base (Photo: IDF Spokesperson) (4 soldiers killed, 10 terrorists killed, 10 terrorists infiltrated the base)
The Beginning of the Attack on the Base
According to the investigation, on the eve of the attack, Rifle Company G from Battalion 51 of the Golani Brigade was stationed at the base. At 05:30 the battalion prepared for "dawn readiness" according to standard orders, but at 06:29 Hamas began heavy fire on the south and the rest of the country.Within minutes, female surveillance operators reported the infiltration of more than 100 terrorists at ten breach points in the company’s sector. At 06:47, about 35 terrorists breached through the gates of the base, and most of the soldiers entered protected spaces during "Red Alert" warnings – most of them into the company’s dining hall.
"Prevented the Terrorists from Carrying Out a Mass Killing"
The decisive moment came at 07:00, when the terrorists realized that most of the base’s soldiers were in the dining hall and began firing at it with small arms, shoulder-fired missiles, and machine guns. Captain Shela Rauchberger z”l and two other commanders ordered the spearhead platoon to guard the two entrances of the building, front and rear, to prevent the terrorists from penetrating inside. According to the investigation, "This decision, along with the determined fighting of the soldiers and commanders, prevented the terrorists from carrying out a massacre inside the dining hall."Hundreds attended the funeral of Lieutenant Shela Rauchberger z”l (Photo: AP)
Heroism Under FireAt 07:30, Sergeant Amichai Rubin z”l physically blocked the entrance to the dining hall together with his commander, Captain Shela Rauchberger z”l, and died from his wounds three days later in the hospital. Rauchberger continued fighting and fired at terrorists until his injuries overcame him. At the same time, First Sergeant Shlomo Reshtnikov z”l, a soldier who immigrated to Israel to volunteer for the IDF, fell when terrorists opened heavy fire from the main entrance.
In the nearby protected rooms (miguniot), the terrorists tried to break the doors using shoulder-fired missiles and explosives. The soldiers repelled their attempts and physically blocked the doors with their bodies. At 08:15, the terrorists placed an explosive device on the door of the southern protected room, and Staff Sergeant Dvir Chaim Ressler z”l held the door shut, thereby saving two other soldiers who survived.
Shlomo Reshtnikov z”l – fell in the fighting in the dining hall (Archive)At 09:00, five soldiers arrived in a patrol vehicle at the base, rescued soldiers from the northern protected room, and the terrorists withdrew from the base but spread out in ambush along the access roads. A cadet officer from the Tactical Command College, a former deputy company commander, arrived at the base at 12:30 despite warnings about ambushes, took command of the forces at the base, and organized the evacuation of the wounded.
At 13:51, while four critically wounded soldiers were being evacuated toward a rescue helicopter, fire was opened from two directions at the force and the helicopter. Two soldiers were wounded, but the force returned fire and continued the evacuation.
IDF rescue helicopter (Archive) | Photo: IDF SpokespersonEliminating Terrorists in the Base Area
At 14:03, a force led by the company commander who managed to arrive eliminated three terrorists at a range of 50–70 meters. At the same time, a force at the Namer vehicle pad eliminated four more terrorists. In total, 10 out of the 35 terrorists who infiltrated the base were eliminated by IDF soldiers. At 15:40, a medevac helicopter landed in the center of the base and evacuated five wounded soldiers, and at 19:00 another helicopter landed and evacuated the remaining injured from the company.Conclusions of the Investigation: Heroism That Saved Lives
The investigation concluded that "the enemy achieved operational control for several hours at the R&D base," but "the fighting and heroism of the soldiers at the base disrupted the enemy’s assault operations and significantly reduced the number of casualties inside the base."According to the investigation, "The decisions and heroic actions of the soldiers and commanders, despite their injuries, with courage and pursuit of engagement, contributed to saving the lives of many, prevented the terrorists from entering the dining hall and protected rooms, and are worthy of commendation."
Operational Failures
The investigation highlighted several failure points, including: "The lack of an early warning prevented organizing the forces, and as a result, the base was not effectively prepared for defense." The investigation also determined that the force did not act according to operational protocol and did not reinforce the defensive positions in response to the warning signs of a raid. In addition, during "Red Alert" warnings in the area, the guards at the watchposts abandoned their positions and entered the protected spaces as well.The investigation emphasized that "throughout the battle, up to their injury and death, the commanders led from the front and heroically commanded the battle while demonstrating personal example and engaging the enemy." The battle at the R&D base was one of dozens of focal points during the surprise attack of October 7, in which thousands of terrorists infiltrated simultaneously at dozens of points – making it difficult to reach communities and bases and causing the collapse of the defense system. link
“Daniel showered 10 times a day to ‘remove the smell of corpses.’ Eliran was crushed inside”
Against the backdrop of a wave of suicides among combat soldiers, the mother of Eliran Mizrahi, who took his own life, called to “speak and not whitewash the reality.” According to her, “Post-trauma is an invisible wound that comes with shame and concealment.” In an interview with the Ynet studio, Eden, whose brother Daniel Edri took his own life about a week ago, added: “He woke up to war every night. He asked for help, and was sent home” | There is somewhere to turn for help.“Eliran said, ‘Everything is fine with me,’ but inside he was crushed,” shared Gini, the mother of fallen soldier Eliran Mizrahi z”l, who took his own life about a year ago, in an interview this morning (Wednesday) with Ynet Studio. Together with Eden Keidar, sister of fallen soldier Daniel Edri z”l, who took his own life about a week ago, they called on the systems “to talk and not whitewash,” because post-trauma is “an invisible wound—and ignoring it kills.”
Gini referred in the interview to the growing number of suicides among IDF combat soldiers: “The military and governmental systems must recognize post-trauma as an injury.” She described post-trauma “as an invisible wound” that affected her son, who was “an optimistic and successful guy who had everything in life.”
According to her, “I think even the injured, the transparent ones who have post-trauma, they too are now allowed to be spoken about—my son fell in the war due to post-trauma.” Gini added that the systems must “talk and not whitewash” reality, because the growing numbers demand tools to help soldiers cope with the harsh experiences. She further said that “post-trauma comes with a lot of shame and concealment,” which in her view even amplifies the phenomenon.
Gini added that although the concealment is no longer like it used to be, “It’s not enough and more must be done. And we must understand that post-trauma is an invisible injury, and the moment it isn’t talked about, these people turn inward and do what they do.” The mother of the soldier connected her remarks to what happened to her son: “With Eliran, the story really was that he was a strong man, and his friends thought he would be the last to commit suicide—these strong men are not willing to acknowledge that something is happening to them.”
Eliran Mizrahi (40) from Anatot, a reservist combat engineer.
Eliran Mizrahi z”l. His mother: “He said ‘everything’s okay,’ but inside he was crushed”She claimed that with these kinds of guys it is even harder to understand what they are going through, and that by the fact that the various authorities don’t act to feel out and examine their condition, “we are helping them to whitewash” what they are experiencing. “Eliran whitewashed the story, Eliran said everything’s okay with me, but inside he was shattered to pieces. If someone had offered him help—it’s very possible things would have been different.” According to her, the obligation to openness lies not only with the systems, but also with those close to the soldiers and with society itself.
Eden Keidar, whose family is fighting for her brother Daniel Edri to be recognized as a fallen IDF soldier after he took his own life last week, agreed with Gini’s words about post-trauma. Her brother, who served in the reserves in Gaza, also lost two friends on October 7th at the Nova festival. According to her, her brother, who was a joyful person, “loved nature, hiking, training, music, a good heart and a big smile—it doesn’t fit what he did.”
Eden added that in her opinion, “This wouldn’t have happened without what he went through—already during reserve duty, everything changed, he wasn’t the same Daniel.” She also shared that “he experienced attacks. And just like Gini said—there’s concealment.” According to her, even with her as his sister, he “refused to show weakness—he talked more with my brothers because they’re boys.” To her, Daniel said he “needs to shower at least ten times to get rid of the smell of burnt corpses.”
Daniel Edri z”l.
Daniel Edri z”l. His sister: “The smell of corpses didn’t leave him—he showered 10 times a day” (Photo: Courtesy of the family)According to her, the events he experienced during combat didn’t let him rest: “At night he couldn’t sleep. He just woke up to war at night, with nightmares and hallucinations, and then wouldn’t sleep for several days until he collapsed.” Eden also said that her brother was recognized this past February as dealing with mental distress, “It’s a matter of six months—what happened that it didn’t succeed?” According to her, bureaucracy adds to the difficulty for men to show weakness: “They also have to go through so many bureaucratic hurdles that a regular person struggles with, and a mentally wounded person becomes even more frustrated—if it had been easier, I think he would be alive today.”
The sister of the soldier shared that her brother turned several times for help. “Two weeks ago he asked, claimed he was a danger to himself, and asked to be hospitalized—and was sent home.” According to her, they simply “gave him a psychiatric pill, with no response. They offered a balanced home (rehab facility), but that’s not immediate—it’s a process.” Eden added that in her view, “He could have been saved, but I have nothing to look at in the past—right now the goal is to stop seeing the illness as invisible—it’s a transparent bullet that wounds.”
The numbers behind the distress—thousands of soldiers contacted Eran in the past month
In the past month, more than 6,000 soldiers contacted Eran (Israel’s emotional first aid hotline). The data shows that about 28% of the calls were about severe emotional distress; 20% of the calls were about anxiety, trauma, and loss. About a third (32%) featured intense loneliness, and about 10% of callers reported difficulties regarding significant relationships.Dr. Shiri Daniels, national professional director of Eran, noted: “Many combat soldiers struggle with significant difficulties in seeking psychological help. First, the stigma surrounding mental health is a barrier. In an environment that emphasizes strength, resilience, and toughness, asking for help can be perceived as weakness or personal failure, which can harm their self-image and their standing among peers.”
“Second, the military culture itself can exacerbate the difficulty,” she said. “Combat soldiers are often required to suppress emotions, function under extreme pressure, and remain operational in any situation. These norms, useful on the battlefield, may hinder emotional expression and recognition of the need for support.”
She added that “Often there is a lack of recognition or denial of the distress itself. Soldiers are used to coping with physical and mental challenges as part of daily life, and therefore may downplay the symptoms they experience or attribute them to normal fatigue and not to emotional distress that requires treatment. It’s important to remember that suicide is not a decree of fate. Recognizing signs of suicidal distress, providing mental first aid, and referring to professional treatment saves lives.”
David Koren, CEO of Eran, added: “During a prolonged war like this, it is clear to us that reservists and conscripts, as well as their families, are experiencing accumulated emotional strain. The feeling of emotional burden affects not only personal feelings but also daily life, both family-wise and economically. This is clearly reflected in the calls we receive at Eran throughout the entire period of fighting—and the intensity increases as time goes on.”
*If you are dealing with pain and distress and have suicidal thoughts—don’t stay alone with it. Talk to us for immediate and anonymous emotional support 24/7 at the soldiers’ hotline for conscripts, reservists, and their families—by phone at 2201 or on the website. link
Israel speeds up long-range interceptor resupply with large-scale order
The Defense Ministry says it has signed a “large-scale” order of Arrow air defense system interceptors, with production of the key armaments set to ramp up.
Under the deal, Israel Aerospace Industries will supply a “significant additional quantity of Arrow interceptors,” the ministry says, adding that IAI will “significantly accelerate the serial production.”
Israel’s Arrow 2 and 3 long-range missile defense systems were used extensively during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last month, as well as amid repeated Houthi attacks from Yemen. There had been speculation that Israel’s supplies of the interceptors had been significantly depleted by the attacks.
Anti-missile interceptors are seen in the sky above northern Israel amid an Iranian ballistic missile attack, June 18, 2025. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)In a statement, the director general of the Defense Ministry, Amir Baram, says, “accelerating the production rate of the Arrow and other critical systems is a central component of the ministry’s strategy to expand production capabilities and improve operational readiness for the continuation of the war and future campaigns.”
- The Region and the World
Delayed two-state confab to be held this month in New York, will work on Israeli integration into region — source
PARIS, France — International envoys will discuss a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at UN headquarters in New York this month, before national leaders meet in September, a French diplomatic source says.
The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was originally planned for mid-June to revive work on the long-standing diplomatic effort to find a way for the Israeli and Palestinian states to live side by side in peace.
It was postponed at the last minute due to Israel’s military campaign against Iran.
Last week, diplomatic sources said last week the conference had been rescheduled for July 28 and 29, but did not say who would attend.
The French source says today that the meeting will be at the ministerial level.
It will seek to “advance the recognition of a Palestinian state for a certain number of states who have not yet recognized it, including France,” the source says.
But it would also work “on normalization and Israel’s regional integration with Arab and Muslim countries.”
Heads of state and government will then meet in either Paris or New York, before the UN General Assembly, which will be attended by world leaders on September 22, the source adds. link
- Personal Stories
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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