🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 661, 2023

🎗️Day 661 that 50 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivity🎗️

There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!

“I’ve never met them,
But I miss them.
I’ve never met them,
but I think of them every second.
I’ve never met them,
but they are my family.
BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.

#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope

There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!
‎אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית

Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements

*

Reservist who worked in body identification unit found dead in suspected suicide: ‘He saw very difficult things’

Reservist Ariel Meir Taman is seen in an undated photo. (Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

An IDF reservist was found dead last night at his home in southern Israel, the military announces.

Hebrew media outlets identify the soldier as Ariel Meir Taman, who had previously served in the IDF’s Military Rabbinate, where he worked in the identification of fallen soldiers. Several outlets have reported the incident as a suspected suicide.

MAY HIS MEMORY BE A REVOLUTION

Military Police has opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death. The findings will be transferred to the Military Prosecutor’s Office for review, the IDF says.

In the wake of a recent string of suicides among both active-duty and reserve soldiers, Walla News reports that the Jerusalem Institute of Justice appealed to Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth today to urgently convene a discussion on the issue.

Taman’s death marks yet another case in a concerning trend that has reignited debate over mental health in the military amid the ongoing psychological toll of the war.

One of Taman’s acquaintances told Hebrew media that the late reservist “saw very difficult things in his position in recent years.”

The acquaintance eulogized Taman: “He was everything — a man of giving and kindness. He gave [part] of himself to everyone, always put others before himself.״

Hostage Updates

Until the last hostage

Hamas signals shift in hostage talks as Israel eases Gaza humanitarian policy

Terror group reportedly willing to compromise amid mounting global pressure, as Israel launches daily pauses and greenlights major aid infrastructure projects, including UAE-backed water pipeline and expanded desalination capacity

Hamas has signaled new flexibility in hostage negotiations, Arab media reported Sunday, shortly after Israel launched daily humanitarian pauses and approved key infrastructure projects in Gaza in a shift in policy aimed at easing civilian suffering.

Saudi outlet Al-Hadath reported that Hamas had informed mediators of its readiness to “resolve disputed issues” in the negotiations. The terrorist group’s stance follows growing international pressure and a change in tone from Israeli officials. According to unnamed sources, the shift could help restart talks this week

The development comes as the IDF confirmed it had approved a plan — through the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, or COGAT — to allow the United Arab Emirates to begin constructing a water pipeline from a desalination plant in Egypt to the al-Mawasi area of Gaza. COGAT is the Defense Ministry body responsible for coordinating civilian affairs in Palestinian territories.
The pipeline, expected to serve some 600,000 people, will operate independently of Israel’s existing water supply lines. Equipment for the project began entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing following security inspections, and construction is set to begin within days, officials said.

Separately, the IDF, in coordination with COGAT and the Israel Electric Corporation, connected a key power line to Gaza’s southern desalination facility. The upgrade will increase water output from 2,000 cubic meters to 20,000 cubic meters per day, aiming to meet the needs of roughly 900,000 residents.
The military also announced the launch of a daily 10-hour humanitarian pause, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., including in Gaza City — the first such measure in over a year. The decision, made in coordination with the United Nations and international aid groups, applies to areas where Israeli forces are not currently operating, such as al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and parts of Gaza City.

People gather near a pile of empty plastic water containers outside a damaged structure in Gaza amid severe shortage of clean water (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

To facilitate aid delivery, secure routes have been designated from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. for UN and NGO convoys carrying food and medical supplies. The IDF said it would “continue supporting humanitarian efforts on the ground, alongside ongoing operations against terror groups in Gaza.”
A message distributed to Gaza residents warned: “For your safety — do not return to the areas marked in red on the map,” referring to active combat zones. The move comes despite internal criticism from some Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who opposed the humanitarian pause.

Sen. Lindsey Graham: ‘There’s no way to negotiate’ end to war with Hamas.
There is no other way to put this. Lindsey Graham is an idiot who has no understanding of the Middle East and certainly no understanding of Hamas. Trump also has the same lack of understanding and knowledge. Netanyahu understands them very well but tries to sell a very different understanding to the Israeli public and certainly to the US administration. He sells what will benefit him and has sold them a bill of goods that he cannot negotiate an end of the war with Hamas because they refuse to reach that end. That is total bullshit. The only one who refuses to reach that end is Netanyahu because it doesn't serve his war of political survival.
If not for his own self interests taking precedent over everything else, this war could have and should have ended a long time ago. Hamas was prepared to end it and is very prepared to end it now but they maintain certain bottom line demands that they will never deviate from. Netanyahu knows it as well but he doesn't want the public to know that. Netanyahu has purposely screwed up what needs to happen in Gaza and will never admit to that. He demands an end to Hamas in Gaza but the only way to end Hamas is Gaza is to have an alternative Palestinian governing body that will offer a better future to Gaza and the Palestinians themselves will end Hamas, both the ideology and the military power that they hold. Netanyahu's line that brought us to this horrendous point has always been that 'we will deal with a change of leadership at the end of the war'. That's not what needed to happen and is the reason that we are still battling Hamas. Enough with the BS. End the war Netanyahu and bring home the hostages. Stop trying to sell snake oil.Trump: Israel will ‘have to make a decision’ on future of Gaza war

Asked about the images of starving children coming out of Gaza, US President Donald Trump tells reporters: “It’s terrible.”

But then he pivots to say, “They’re stealing the food,” money, and weapons, without specifying who he is talking about, likely alluding to the Hamas terror group.

Trump laments that the US donated $60 million to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and did not get a thank you, while no other country has given anything.

The actual figure is $30 million. The US is also far from the only country to donate humanitarian aid and is not even the largest donor, as the United Arab Emirates give a larger percentage of assistance.

Commenting on the state of the war after the US and Israel pulled their negotiators out of Doha amid anger at Hamas’s latest response, Trump says “Israel will have to make a decision.”

“I know what I would do, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to say it,” he says.

He reiterates his claim that he predicted the breakdown in talks, saying Hamas would not want to release the final hostages because it would lose its last bargaining chip.

Likud minister: ‘Zero’ chance of bringing back hostages in a deal This is another one of Netanyahu's useful idiots whose sole purpose as one of his long line of yesmen is to sell Netanyahu's distorted and false lines. Netanyahu doesn't want to make a deal and has decided that he just wants to decimate Gaza and to hell with the hostages. He knows that military pressure is killing the hostages and just doesn't care.

Freed hostage Ofer Calderon joins Israeli team for last leg of Tour de France

Former hostage Ofer Calderon, right, riding on the Champs-Elysees in Paris at the end of the Tour de France, on July 27, 2025 (Noa Arnon)

Former hostage Ofer Calderon, a longtime cyclist, joined as a special guest of Israel-Premier Tech, the country’s professional cycling team, at the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France along the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Calderon was taken hostage on October 7 from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with two of his four children. His children were released during the November 2023 ceasefire, and he was released home more than a year later, in February 2025.

“I’m still in shock that I’m here on a bike at the Tour de France,” says Calderon. “I’ve never been to Paris, certainly not on a bicycle… I’m so emotional to be here with the team. But I’m also torn: this joy can’t be complete because, alongside all these emotions, it’s very hard to deal with what’s happening to me and to all the people of Israel — that we still have hostages in Gaza, our soldiers are there, and some are being killed. So nothing will be complete until they’re all back home. It’s time to end this story and bring everyone back.”

Calderon rode alongside philanthropist Sylvan Adams, the owner of Israel–Premier Tech, who held a global cycling event for Calderon on the 100th day of his captivity, riding with Erez Calderon, 12, at Tel Aviv’s velodrome. At the time, Adams said that when Ofer would be released, he would ride alongside him at the Tour de France.

Israel Premier-Tech is marking its sixth consecutive appearance at the Tour de France, and dedicated this year’s race to the hostages still held in Gaza, featuring their faces and name on the team vehicles.
“I’m an optimistic person by nature,” says Calderon. “That didn’t change in the 484 days I spent in Gaza. In that sense, I remained the same Ofer. Hope is what kept me going there. I believed I’d get out. I believed I’d ride again. And here I am, with that unique feeling every cyclist knows. I held onto that there. I didn’t give up. And now I’m here.”

Ex-hostage on entry of aid into Gaza: ‘When there’s less food, then there’s also less for the hostages’

Freed Israeli hostage Iair Horn in seen in Kfar Saba, Israel, on July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

As Israel increases humanitarian aid in Gaza, a former Israeli-Argentinian hostage knows first-hand what that could mean for captives of the Hamas terror group.

Iair Horn, who spent a year and a half in captivity, says hostages could tell when more aid was available because they would receive more food.

“When there’s less food, then there’s also less for the hostages. When there’s aid, there’s a possibility you might get a cucumber,” says Horn, 46.

Hamas terrorists kidnapped Horn from his home at Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with 251 other people, during the group’s cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023. He was released Feb. 15 after 498 days in captivity. For most of that time, he was held in an underground cell in a tunnel with several other hostages, including his younger brother Eitan Horn, 38.

“I’m not a politician, and I’m not getting into those things because I don’t understand them. What I understand is very simple: I want my brother back,” Horn says. “My life is frozen right now. I live in a nightmare that every day they are kidnapping me anew.”

Israel and Iran

Katz celebrates demolition of Holon buildings hit in Iranian missile attack, angering residents

Defense Minister Israel Katz celebrates the demolition of buildings damaged in an Iranian missile attack last month in Holon, provoking the ire of affected residents.
The June 19 strike wounded over 20 people, including one who was seriously hurt, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the demolition, Katz hails the 12-day war against Iran as “the grandest operation in Israeli history,” and says “we plan to surprise the ayatollah regime in Iran in the future as well.”
Katz says the government knew the war would be difficult for Israel’s residents.
“It was clear to us that the resilience of the Israeli home front is an important factor,” he says. “We prepared well for this damage, and still — the images of ruined buildings and displaced families are difficult and complex.”
“You are the real heroes,” he tells the residents, “and we are committed to doing everything to let you return to life quickly. Today we demolish so we can build and be built — it’s part of the victory.”
Also at the ceremony, Holon Mayor Shai Kenan says a new road called Rising Lion Way, named for Israel’s operation against Iran’s nuclear program, would be paved in the neighborhood.
Yulia, a tenant of one of the impacted buildings, tells Army Radio that the celebratory nature of the ceremony was in poor taste.
“Maybe I should wear a wedding dress,” she says sarcastically. She adds that when she saw the notice for the ceremony — adorned with the slogan Am Yisrael Chai (The nation of Israel lives) — “it took me a day to process that it’s real. It’s incredibly disgusting. The municipality is detached from reality.”
Noam She’altiel, another resident whose home was destroyed, tells the Ynet news site: “I did not imagine that this would be how we’d say goodbye to our first home. There is champagne and food [at the ceremony] and it’s gross.”
In a statement, the Holon municipality tells Ynet that the event “is all about home, community empowerment and new beginnings,” and is meant to honor the affected residents and first responders.
“The municipality will not cooperate with attempts to create a divisive discourse at the expense of the ceremony, which is being held in a similar fashion to events in other cities,” it says in a statement.
Protesters demanding a hostage deal rallied outside the ceremony, Hebrew media reports.
Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles at Israel during the war last month. The strikes killed 29 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel. In all, there were 36 missile impacts and one drone strike in populated areas, causing damage to 2,305 homes in 240 buildings, along with two universities and a hospital, and leaving over 13,000 Israelis displaced. link Katz's celebration is all too indicative of how this failed government has absolutely no connection to what the public feels and experiences every day. The total lack of sympathy and empathy are rampant in every aspect of the government's actions and words. They don't feel any pain for the hostages or the families, for the fallen soldiers and their families, for the tens of thousands or injured and maimed soldiers or the trauma that they experience daily. And in regard to the devastation of Gaza, the over 50,000 killed mostly women, children and elderly, that doesn't even warrant a blip on their thoughts.
They are purposefully blind and deaf to the misery of anyone and everyone and have no clue as to the destruction they have brought upon us all.

US said to have used some 25% of its THAAD interceptor missiles to protect Israel during Iran war

In this image courtesy of DVIDS, a US Air Force Airmen offloads a THAAD launcher from a C-17 GlobeMaster III at Nevatim Air Base, Israel, for an exercise, March 1, 2019. (Robert DURR / DVIDS / AFP)

The United States used up about a quarter of its high-end THAAD interceptor missiles to help down missiles Iran launched at Israel during last month’s 12-day war, according to two sources familiar with the operation cited by CNN.

According to the report, US forces fired between 100 and 150 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense rockets, each of which costs roughly $12.7 million.

Meanwhile, the US produced just 11 THAAD interceptor rockets last year and is expected to produce 12 this year, CNN says.

The network also cites figures from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, a Washington-based think tank, indicating that THAAD interceptors were responsible for about half the Iranian missiles downed during the war. The rest of the interceptions were via Israel’s own Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors system, according to the think tank.

Foreign media reports indicated during the war that Israel was running low on Arrow interceptors, with a US official cited by The Wall Street Journal saying Israel was weeks away from running out of Arrow-3 missiles. Israel denied the reports.

Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles at Israel during the war last month, 201 of which were shot down, according to the JINSA.

The strikes killed 29 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel, and also damaged 2,305 homes in 240 buildings — including two universities and a hospital — leaving over 13,000 Israelis displaced.

Gaza and the South

UN aid chief reports some ‘progress’ in easing Gaza aid movement restrictions

People carry food parcels and bags in the al-Mawasi camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, that were picked up from the Rafah corridor on July 27, 2025. (AFP)
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher says that some movement restrictions appear to have been eased by Israel in Gaza today, after Israel decided to “support a one-week scale-up of aid.”
Fletcher says in a statement that initial reports indicate that more than 100 truckloads of aid were collected from crossings to be transported into Gaza.
“This is progress, but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis,” he adds.

WHO says malnutrition reaching ‘alarming levels’ in Gaza

Palestinian walk carrying sacks of flour near Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on July 27, 2025, after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered into northern Gaza from Israel. (BASHAR TALEB / AFP)

Malnutrition rates are reaching “alarming levels” in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization warns, saying the “deliberate blocking” of aid was entirely preventable and had cost many lives.

“Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July,” the WHO says in a statement, adding: “Most of these people were declared dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly after, their bodies showing clear signs of severe wasting.”

Israel today began humanitarian pauses, boosting aid shipments and airdrops of food across Gaza after weeks of heavy international pressure.

In first, 2 major Israeli human rights groups accuse Israel of ‘genocide’ in Gaza

Illustrative: Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that reached Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights publish new reports accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, making them the first major Israeli human rights organizations to do so.

“An examination of Israel’s policy in the Gaza Strip and its horrific outcomes, together with statements by senior Israeli politicians and military commanders about the goals of the attack, leads to the unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated, deliberate action to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip,” reads a statement on the report by B’Tselem. “In other words: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. ”

Physicians for Human Rights says its report also describes “a deliberate, cumulative dismantling of Gaza’s health system, and with it, its people’s ability to survive. This amounts to genocide.”

At a press conference in East Jerusalem, Orly Noy, chair of B’Tselem’s executive board, says: “This crime must be stopped immediately. The responsibility lies first and foremost with Israel, but also with the international community, which must use every means to stop the crimes that are still taking place just 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from here.”

Yuli Novak, executive director of B’Tselem, says: “The definition of genocide is a coordinated attack with the intent to destroy a group. For the past 22 months, we have witnessed unprecedented destruction of civilians, deliberate starvation, and mass forced displacement. Gaza’s residents are displaced, bombed, and starved, stripped entirely of their humanity and rights.”

Israel has not responded to the report but has repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide, saying it takes steps to mitigate harm to civilians and accusing Hamas of embedding itself in civilian infrastructure including schools and hospitals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed allegations that Israel is pursuing a deliberate policy of starving Gaza’s civilian population. link The government's response will no doubt claim that both groups are anti Netanyahu and anti government and trying to bring down the government because they are paid by outside groups to go against them. This is traditionally the response of Netanyahu and his cronies when under attack for actions they have committed and have no defense. They will, without evidence, say that everything is made up, probably says that it is all AI generated and go on the offense. When real evidence is presented to dispute their false claims, they will either continue their attacks and widen them with claims that the opposition, the leftists, the Kaplanist (protestors against the government's judicial overthrow) are all behind the campaign against him, and never show anything that shows that the claims are false.

Trump ‘not particularly’ convinced by Netanyahu’s denial of starvation in Gaza; Hamas stealing a lot of food

With bagpipes in the background, US President Donald Trump says he doesn’t know if he agrees with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment yesterday that there is no starvation in Gaza.

“Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry,” he says, standing alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and wife Victoria at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.

“You have a lot of starving people in Gaza,” says Trump, repeatedly highlighting the US contribution to aid in Gaza.

“We gave $60 million, no one said even thank you,” says Trump. “Other nations have to step up.” He says that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised him that European nations would contribute as well.

Trump says he is “looking for getting people fed right now.”

Trump bemoans that aid has been commandeered by Hamas: “We’ve given a lot of money to Gaza for food and everything else. A lot of that money is stolen by Hamas, and a lot of the food is stolen.”

Starmer and Trump say they will be focusing on Gaza in their meeting. Trump says he won’t take a position on a Palestinian state, but that he doesn’t mind Starmer taking a position. link It is am extremely rare occurrence, that has been happening more frequently that Trump is calling out Netanyahu's lies. These are 2 pathological liars whose first inclinations are to lie and make up things before the truth ever comes out of their mouths. Up until recently, one calling the other a liar was an unheard of episode but it shows the frustration Trump has over Netanyahu's failures which he feels impact him directly and personally. Trump's greatest desire besides making more money is to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This need of his became pathological after Barak Obama won it. He needs the end of the Gaza war and the return of the hostages to have any chance of winning the coveted award. Netanyahu, during his last trip to Washington, convince Trump to allow him to do things his way according to his timetable with a promise that he will end the war in his time, Trump will be nominated for the Nobel and the cherry on the top will be that Netanyahu will be re-elected. Trump bought Netanyahu's BS hook, line and sinker. But Trump being Trump loses patience very quickly and he sees Netanyahu's actions and the ramifications from around the world and believes that Netanyahu is going to screw him once again just like he did with leaving the nuclear agreement with Iran, which was all based on Netanyahu convincing him to do so and that the Iranians will then come back to him on their knees begging for a better agreement. We, in Israel need Trump to get really angry with Netanyahu and tell him the game is done and he has to end the war immediately. Trump, strangely enough is the only one who can force Netanyahu to do so.

Sissi issues appeal to Trump: Only you are ‘capable of stopping the war’

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi issues an impassioned call for US President Donald Trump to intervene to put an end to the fighting in Gaza, saying “the time has come to end the war.”

In a video address on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Sissi says Trump “is the one capable of stopping the war, bringing in aid and ending this suffering.”

“Therefore, I am making a special appeal to His Excellency President Trump: please make every effort to stop the war and bring in aid,” he declares.

The US president said today that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which mediation by the US, Egypt and Qatar has so far failed to secure, is “possible.”

12 Palestinians reported killed near Gaza aid distribution center

Twelve Palestinians in Gaza have been reported killed near an aid distribution center south of Gaza City.

The Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat announces that it has received 12 bodies, including four children, and over 100 people who were injured following an IDF attack near an aid distribution center south of Gaza City along the Netzarim corridor.

The facility is believed to be a distribution center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. It is unclear from the reports whether the fire involved an airstrike, shelling or small arms fire.

In response, the IDF says in a statement that “a group of suspects was identified gathering near IDF forces operating in central Gaza, in a manner that posed a threat to the troops.”

The military says that troops “fired warning shots to drive them away” and asserts that no injuries were reported. The shooting was several hundred meters away from the aid distribution area and was before it began operating, the IDF adds.

The military announced earlier today that will be implementing humanitarian pauses from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. in areas where the IDF is currently not operating with ground troops, including al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City.

IDF strikes in Gaza said to kill 33 overnight and this morning; no comment from IDF

People survey the damage from a reported Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, July 28, 2025. (Screen capture: X/Palestinian Information Center)

Arab media outlets report 33 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and this morning.

According to the reports, 15 people were killed in strikes on various locations overnight. The Qatari Al-Araby channel reports three people were killed in a strike on an apartment in the Al-Daraj neighborhood in western Gaza this morning.

And another strike in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis this morning is said to have killed 15 people.

The numbers cannot be verified.

There is no immediate comment from the IDF. VIDEO

Airdropped aid sold at exorbitant prices, Gazans frustrated: 'These planes are insulting'
Food that arrived in packages from Jordan are being sold in the Gaza market for hundreds of shekels, and residents of the Gaza Strip are frustrated that aid is not reaching them: 'We received nothing from planes or trucks'; 'Hunger is killing us'
Despite Israel's decision to allow humanitarian pauses in the Gaza Strip—and with no progress reported in the ongoing hostage deal negotiations—residents of Gaza voiced deep frustration Sunday, claiming that aid has not reached them. “We received nothing—not from trucks and not from planes,” said a resident of Beit Lahia. Meanwhile, aid that entered from Jordan was reportedly being resold at exorbitant prices in local markets. Meat packages were being sold for 200 shekels each, and okra for 150 shekels.

Humanitarian aid from Jordan in Gaza

Distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip
(Photo: Bashar Taleb / AFP )

“The suffering is unbearable,” he said. “I left home not knowing if I would return or if I would find flour.” Another resident said he hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for nearly 12 hours. “Two planes carrying aid flew overhead, and we didn’t get anything,” he said. “The airdrop landed about three kilometers away from where people had gathered—we received nothing. It’s a very difficult situation. These planes are insulting. We are a people who deserve dignity.”

Another resident said his children had lost significant weight due to the food shortage. “Hunger is killing us,” he said. “It’s been more than 15 days that I’ve been coming here, and I haven’t found any aid. Even when it was available, I got nothing. I’m not eating. I won’t survive like this. It’s a tragedy.” He added: “I haven’t even had a sip of water today. I left home with a dry throat—there’s no aid. I just want flour. We don’t care about the negotiations—we just want food and water to come through. Since 5 a.m., I’ve been dreaming about flour. It’s become a nightmare.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue Sunday evening during a Christian conference in Jerusalem, rejecting claims that Israel was deliberately starving Gaza. “Israel is being portrayed as if we are running a starvation campaign in Gaza. What a vile lie—there is no starvation policy in Gaza and no famine in Gaza,” he said. “This is a battle we are fighting even now. We have allowed humanitarian aid to enter throughout the war—otherwise, there would be no Gazans left. What has prevented aid from entering is Hamas—again, a reversal of the truth. Hamas loots the humanitarian aid, then blames Israel for not supplying it.” Amid significant international pressure, Israel has approved humanitarian pauses in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday night, the Israel Defense Forces announced the launch of “a series of operations to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip,” against the backdrop of a growing crisis and mounting allegations of famine. Under directives from the political leadership, the Israeli Air Force conducted its first airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza, delivering seven pallets of flour, sugar and canned food supplied by international organizations. While numerous countries have airdropped aid into the enclave, this marked the first time Israel itself had done so. In parallel, the IDF announced that, following a decision by the political echelon, the army—through the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and in coordination with the Israel Electric Corporation—connected the Kala power line to activate the southern desalination plant. The facility is expected to provide around 20,000 cubic meters of water per day, up from the 2,000 cubic meters supplied previously, aiming to serve some 900,000 residents. On Sunday morning, the IDF spokesperson stated that “in accordance with the directives of the political leadership and as part of the ongoing effort by the IDF and COGAT to increase the volume of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, a localized tactical pause in military activity will begin daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for humanitarian purposes.” The pause will apply in areas where the IDF is not operating—Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City—and will continue daily until further notice, according to the IDF. “The decision was coordinated with the United Nations and international organizations after discussions on the matter,” the IDF emphasized, amid harsh criticism from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the move.

Humanitarian aid airdropped into Gaza(Photo: Bashar Taleb / AFP)

Additionally, secure corridors have been designated daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to allow safe passage for UN and aid organization convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine throughout the Strip. Last week, more than 250 aid trucks were unloaded, joining hundreds of others that remain at the border crossings awaiting collection by the UN and international organizations. Approximately 600 trucks have already been collected and distributed across Gaza. The IDF, through COGAT, will continue coordinating with aid organizations to facilitate the collection of the hundreds of aid trucks that remain unclaimed. link Netanyahu, with his slick tongue thinks he can still pull the wool over everyone's eyes. Those days are gone. No one believes him not matter how good his english is in foreign interviews which he only gives to friendly stations like Fox News and Israel's channel 14 (the Israeli equivalent to Fox news). The one person who continues to buy his lines is Trump which is the most unfortunate thing because it is only Trump who can force Netanyahu to end the war. So, until that happens, Netanyahu's war of political survival is continuing to kill everyone, Soldiers, hostages, Gazans, and he doesn't care the damage he does or the lives that are lost. Israel's becoming a pariah state and that, too doesn't phase him, just as long as he can hold together his corrupt coalition and stay prime minister.

Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria

IDF: Air Force eliminated Hezbollah's Radwan Force operations officer yesterday
An Israeli Air Force aircraft struck and eliminated terrorist Mohammad Heidar Aboud, a battalion operations officer in Hezbollah's Radwan Force, yesterday. Alongside Aboud, an artillery operative in the Radwan Force was also eliminated. This was reported by the IDF spokesperson, who noted that "the terrorists were engaged in attempts to rebuild Radwan Force's terror infrastructure and were advancing terror plans against IDF forces and the State of Israel. The terrorists' actions constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon

West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks

Palestinian families in West Bank hamlet said to flee due to settler attacks

Several families from the Palestinian West Bank hamlet of Deir Alla have abandoned the dwelling in the face of several settler attacks over the last few days, and the establishment of a settler outpost in the hamlet, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports.

The head of Kisan Village Council, which is close to Deir Alla, is quoted by Wafa as saying that settlers vandalized homes in the dwelling yesterday, destroyed solar panels and the local water network and looted some belongings.

Head of the council Mousa Abiyyat states that following the attack, settlers came back later in the day and threatened the residents with severe consequences if they did not leave the hamlet, leading several families to flee.

According to Haaretz, 17 families have now abandoned Deir Alla, following the violence of the last few days and the establishment of the outpost on Wednesday.

Saturday’s incidents followed an arson attack against several homes in the hamlet overnight Friday.

IDF forces who arrived at the scene detained several suspects on suspicion of involvement in the incident and handed them over to the police, the IDF spokesperson’s unit says.

Officials say that the police then released them after questioning them in the field, although the police have denied that any suspects were detained or arrested at all. link These settler terrorists are getting everything that they have wanted without paying any price or experiencing any repercussions. They openly terrorize the local Palestinians, the same Palestinians who have had their land and livestock stolen and/or destroyed by these terrorists. And as we can see from this article, even when the army does do something about it, even the minimum, the police (in other words, the Ben Gvir Militia) makes sure that nothing happens to these terrorists so that they can continue their minister supported reign of terror against more Palestinians and driving them from their homes. Their ultimate goal is to drive out all Palestinians from the West Bank, continue the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and make it worse so that all Gazans will want to 'voluntarily emigrate' so they can take over all of Gaza and make it into one large only Jewish settlement. But it doesn't stop there. They have made their other goals very well known and public. After ridding the West Bank and Gaza of all Arabs, their next targets are the Palestinian citizens of Israel. They want to rid Israel of all Arabs, citizens or not.
If one believes that this would be the end of their targets, they are horribly mistaken. The next targets are people like me: secular Israelis who believe in human and civil rights for all. All means Arabs, Jews, Druze, Christians, LGBTQ and more. This goes totally against their grain, so people like me are their next natural targets. They have no understanding of democracy and don't want to have an understanding because it runs counter to all they want to do and achieve.
Let us never forget the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

Settlers said to torch vehicles, vandalize property in Taybeh, in the West Bank

Israeli settlers reportedly torch vehicles and vandalize property in the majority-Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh, in the West Bank

Footage from the incident shows several cars up in flames and Hebrew graffiti daubed onto the walls of a home in the Ramallah area village.

There are no reports of arrests, which are highly rare in such incidents that have taken place almost unchecked on a near-daily basis in the West Bank.

While the Trump administration hasn’t weighed in on most other settler attacks on Palestinians, the targeting of Christians has sparked US ire, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee even paid a solidarity visit to Taybeh earlier this month after the town endured several incidents of extremist violence. link the settler terrorists feel so immune that they are emboldened with their near daily attacks on Palestinians. It doesn't matter what crimes and acts of terror they are committing, from burning property, homes, cars, trucks, factories, stealing equipment and livestock, violent attacks on Palestinians including murder, the are immune to any repercussions and laws. They know absolutely that the police will not intervene, especially because they won't even show up to attacks no matter how many calls they may receive, and the army, at most will stand by during the attacks and arrest Palestinians who are defending themselves. In some cases, they may detain some of the settler terrorists but the police will make sure to release them and not even take down their names. There is no such things as protection for the Palestinians or activists (Israeli and foreign) who try to protect and help them because the settler terrorists will gleefully attack them as well and still no repercussions. This corrupt extremist government allows, enables and encourages this lawlessness as the extremists messianics are the tail that wags the dog.

Politics and the War and General News

The Terrorists Murdered Civilians and a Dog, Team Leaving Gaza Spotted Them: The Battle for Sufa – Full Investigation

The horrors that unfolded in the kibbutz and the nearby military post symbolize the two extremes of the October 7th massacre: on one hand – a terrible failure, and on the other – unimaginable heroism. The standby squad organized for combat and joined a reinforcement force during preparations for a second wave of attack. The terrorists who split up inside the kibbutz, the standby squad member who reached the gate and was murdered, and the Hamas operatives captured in the orchards after the massacre – exhausted and submissive.

The IDF failed in its mission to defend Kibbutz Sufa – that is the bottom line of the investigation cleared for publication today (Monday), almost two years after the October 7th massacre. However, the investigation team emphasized that the standby squad, Division 80 forces, Eilat's LOTAR unit, and Squadron 190 acted with courage – striving for engagement and thereby preventing a greater disaster in the kibbutz.

Key Findings
The kibbutz was attacked by approximately 50 terrorists, some of whom infiltrated the kibbutz.
On the eve of the attack, the battalion responsible for the sector, “Kerem Shalom” Battalion, was Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion 934.
The civilians and security forces who fought in the kibbutz acted together with great bravery and self-sacrifice.
As the battle over Kibbutz Sufa and the surrounding area progressed, the Air Force, Division 80 forces including the LOTAR Eilat unit, Yahalom (Combat Engineering), and armored forces from Battalion 53 also participated.

The Heavy Cost:
During the murderous attack on the kibbutz, one civilian resident was murdered and two members of the standby squad were killed.
Homes in the kibbutz suffered heavy damage.
Bonita, a retired police dog, was shot to death by terrorists who infiltrated Kibbutz Sufa.

Photo Caption: Hamas terrorists on 7.10

The Full Timeline – Minute by Minute
06:29 – The surprise attack begins
The Hamas terror organization launched a barrage of fire from the Gaza Strip toward western Negev communities, including Kibbutz Sufa and nearby military bases. Terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory using vehicles and on foot.

06:41 – Shortly after the shooting began, a tank crew leaving Gaza spotted terrorists approaching the fence.
The tank opened fire on them, hit many, and held a position for three hours – reducing the intensity of the enemy’s attack on the kibbutz and the area.

06:45 – Kibbutz residents fight the terrorists until reinforcements arrive
The kibbutz’s security coordinator (Ravshatz) instructed members of the standby squad to gear up and prepare to defend the kibbutz, but to remain indoors. Minutes later, a force of Nukhba terrorists riding pickup trucks and motorcycles began shooting near the kibbutz fence.

Bonita the dog, killed by terrorist fire in Kibbutz Sufa

Footage of the assault on Sufa, captured by cameras held by Nukhba squads

06:52 – Terrorists reach the western gate, kibbutz member murdered
Four Hamas terrorists tried to infiltrate the kibbutz. Minutes later, they killed a standby squad member who had arrived in his vehicle at the gate.

06:53 – Split inside the kibbutz – a campaign of destruction begins
After infiltrating the kibbutz, the terrorists split off in different directions and began to spread murder and terror. Meanwhile, the company commander in the sector instructed his forces to go defend the communities of Holit, Nir Yitzhak, and Sufa.

Unit soldiers in battle with the terrorists (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
Shayetet 13 takeover of Sufa base | Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Around 07:00 – Terrorist attack begins on Sufa base, near the kibbutz
The terrorists managed to take control of most of the base except for the dining hall, where about 30 soldiers were holed up.
In the battle over the base, nine soldiers were killed and about 30 wounded.
At the same time, a difficult battle took place at the ‘Dangur’ memorial near the western entrance to the kibbutz, where about 19 fighters from the Nahal Reconnaissance fought the terrorists.
This fighting blocked most of the terrorists in the first wave from reaching Kibbutz Sufa, delayed their entry, and reduced their numbers – thus influencing the outcome of the battle.
Four fighters fell in this battle, including the sector company commander and a platoon commander from the Nahal Recon, and seven additional fighters were wounded.

07:29 – Back at the kibbutz: terrorists shoot into and outside a home – and murder another resident
About five minutes later, the kibbutz Ravshatz (Security officer) spotted two terrorists near his home. He opened fire and killed them. About fifteen minutes later, he saw two more terrorists, opened fire again, and killed them as well. In doing so, the Ravshatz single-handedly foiled the first attack on the kibbutz and prevented them from carrying out the massacre and kidnappings they had planned.

Footage of the assault on Sufa, cameras held by Nukhba squads

07:50–10:30 – The standby squad organizes for combat against the terrorists
During this stage, no murders or kidnappings were carried out in the kibbutz.

Second attack on the kibbutz
About 30 terrorists gathered in the orchards north of the kibbutz and began shooting at the kibbutz homes. The Ravshatz force, the standby squad, and two armed civilians were called in and returned fire. During the exchange, a standby squad member was critically injured and died from his wounds.

11:53 – The first reinforcement force arrives
Six fighters from the LOTAR unit of Division 80, commanded by the division’s deputy commander, reached the western gate of the kibbutz. The force entered and began clearing the area.

Footage of the assault on Sufa, cameras held by Nukhba squads

12:20 – The Ravshatz and fighters kill terrorists in face-to-face combat
Meanwhile, gunfire exchanges continued with dozens of terrorists in the orchards outside the kibbutz. The reinforcement force prevented harm to residents, eliminated the terrorists who had infiltrated in the second wave, and played a decisive role in saving the kibbutz. During the fighting, the commander of Squadron 190 contacted the deputy commander of Division 80 and requested a combat helicopter to strike dozens of terrorists in the orchards.

The helicopter attacked in two waves, killing many and stopping the terrorists’ fire on the kibbutz.
The Air Force’s operations, particularly by attack helicopters, killed dozens of terrorists around the kibbutz and along access roads, significantly reducing the damage to the kibbutz.

ISIS flag found by Nahal Recon fighters among Hamas terrorists' equipment | Photo: IDF Spokesperson

14:00 – Near the end of fighting: extensive searches in the kibbutz
Additional reinforcement forces from Yahalom and LOTAR Eilat searched throughout Sufa – for both victims and additional terrorists who may have been hiding.

18:30 – The kibbutz was cleared by Yahalom unit

Morning of October 8 – Evacuation of kibbutz residents and end of sweeps
After fighting ended, for several days, many IDF forces with emergency teams swept the kibbutz orchards and located terrorists, some of whom were killed and others who surrendered and were captured.

Main Conclusions of the Investigation

The IDF failed in its mission to protect Kibbutz Sufa.
Command and Control: Gaza Division and the Southern Brigade were paralyzed for several hours, disrupting defense operations in the area and for Sufa.
Scope of Attack: The enemy assault spanned the entire Gaza Division and Southern Brigade sector. In the Kerem Shalom sector alone, terrorists infiltrated through 11 points – making it difficult for forces to respond and protect the communities.
Tank Deployment at Start of Attack: The decision by the sector company commander to send a tank to the fence area at the onset of the attack was critical and commendable. It reduced the intensity of the enemy’s assault on the kibbutz and surrounding area.
Battle at ‘Dangur’ Memorial: The fight by the reserve platoon of the Nahal Recon against the terrorists at the ‘Dangur’ memorial blocked most of the terrorists in the first wave from reaching Kibbutz Sufa, delayed their entry, and reduced their numbers, thereby affecting the battle’s outcome.

Footage from Hamas terrorists’ body cameras

Heroism of Civilians and Fighters

Ravshatz of the Kibbutz: The Ravshatz alone thwarted the first terrorist attack on the kibbutz, preventing them from carrying out their planned killing and kidnapping spree.
Standby Squad: Their determined combat and drive to engage the enemy – despite difficult initial conditions and being outnumbered – blocked the terrorist attack and saved many lives.
Deputy Commander of Division 80 and LOTAR Eilat Force: The reinforcement force under the division’s deputy commander and LOTAR Eilat prevented harm to residents through rapid action, eliminated the terrorists who infiltrated in the second wave, and played a decisive role in saving the kibbutz.
Air Force Operations: Air Force operations, particularly attack helicopters, killed dozens of terrorists around the kibbutz and its access routes – significantly reducing damage to the kibbutz. link

Defense Ministry sounds alarm on worsening mental health crisis among war veterans

By 2028, ministry's Rehabilitation Department expects to treat 100,000 wounded and disabled IDF veterans, with at least half suffering from mental health issues; Since Hamas’ October 7 assault, over 18,000 soldiers have entered care

New data from the Defense Ministry released on Sunday revealed a grim forecast: by 2028, the ministry’s Rehabilitation Department expects to care for around 100,000 wounded and disabled IDF veterans, at least half of them facing mental health challenges.

Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, 18,500 soldiers have been treated by the rehabilitation unit, with 3,769 officially recognized as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Officials warned that the psychological toll will continue to mount even after the fighting ends. “Once the war is over, this will hit us as a national challenge,” a senior Defense Ministry source said.

Currently, over 10,000 soldiers are undergoing mental health treatment related to trauma from the war and approximately 9,000 additional soldiers are in the process of recognition for PTSD.

The figures represent an unprecedented surge compared to previous rounds of fighting. In 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, only 159 soldiers were recognized as suffering from PTSD. By contrast, 1,430 soldiers were recognized in 2023 alone.

In 2024, the numbers rose sharply to 2,210 soldiers officially recognized with PTSD, marking the highest annual increase since records began. Of these 1,600 soldiers recognized last year, 1,512 were men and 88 were women.

The breakdown includes 693 conscripts—young soldiers who developed PTSD due to the Gaza war—144 career soldiers, 184 reservists and roughly 500 from other military categories, such as soldiers who began the process during service and have since been discharged.

The Defense Ministry noted that nearly half of the 18,500 soldiers wounded since October 7 are under the age of 30, many of them reservists with young families. The influx has strained mental health resources. “We have one social worker for every 750 disabled veterans, making it impossible to provide personalized care for everyone,” an official admitted. The country is also facing a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists.
To meet the demand, the Rehabilitation Department has opened over 10 rehabilitation farms, four open houses near psychiatric hospitals as alternatives to hospitalization and even mobile mental health units that respond to crises, including suicide attempts, across Israel. A special recovery home has also been established in Hofit for veterans struggling to reintegrate with their families.
The financial burden is immense, with billions of shekels being allocated to mental health programs instead of traditional military support like gyms and equipment. International donors are now being asked to fund rehabilitation and mental health initiatives.
The Defense Ministry added that the mental impact on veterans manifests economically as well. “Over 12,000 active-duty and reserve soldiers have not only dropped out of IDF combat units and battalions but are also no longer part of the workforce or pursuing their careers. This means the economy is taking a hit too.”

“Every month we receive calls from former soldiers for whom the battles in Gaza, as well as the casualties and fatalities, trigger intense psychological distress related to past events they experienced during their service,” it added.
The IDF said that it fully recognizes PTSD as a combat injury and is committed to supporting affected soldiers. “From the start of the war in Gaza, we established emergency mental health frameworks near combat zones and six months later we launched a new center for long-term care,” the IDF said in a statement.
Attorney Heidi Negev, head of the Movement for Freedom of Information, called for greater transparency from authorities: “Data of such moral and public significance should be published regularly, not only following inquiries by NGOs or the media.” Link

3 IDF soldiers dismissed and jailed for refusing to return to Gaza fighting

IDF troops of the Nahal Brigade operate in the Gaza Strip, in images released on June 5, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

Three IDF soldiers serving in the Nahal Infantry Brigade have been dismissed from combat duty and jailed for insubordination, the military says.

The case was first reported by the Kan public broadcaster and later confirmed by the IDF.

According to Kan, four soldiers in Nahal’s 931st Battalion were dismissed from combat for refusing to enter Gaza after several rounds of fighting in the Strip.

Three were sentenced and will serve seven to 12 days in jail, while the fourth has not yet been sentenced.

Kan reports that the four told their commanders that they cannot enter Gaza again because of “a deep internal crisis.”

The IDF responds to the report by saying that the three standing army soldiers of the Nahal Brigade “refused to enter the fighting in the Gaza Strip.”

The army notes that the soldiers met with a mental health officer, “who determined that they were fit to participate in combat.”

“After a disciplinary procedure, the fighters stood by their refusal and were therefore sentenced to imprisonment in a military prison,” the IDF says.

The IDF says that the case was handled with “sensitivity and in accordance with orders,” adding that it views “insubordination gravely, especially during combat, and will continue to uphold discipline and command values.”

The Region and the World

Responding to reprimand, French embassy expresses support for ‘democratic, demilitarized Palestinian state’

After France’s deputy ambassador was summoned for a reprimand, France’s embassy says that Paris’s intention to recognize a state of Palestine is “consistent with France’s long-standing position based on a two-state solution, living side by side in peace and security.”

“It expresses France’s desire to advance the process without further delay, in light of the unjustifiable humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the unacceptable escalation of violence, settlement expansion and annexation threats in the West Bank,” says the embassy.

The French statement adds that the aim is to “leverage the decision regarding sovereignty to initiate a process that will lead to a clear and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism, with no ambiguity regarding the massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, paving the way for the complete disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a democratic, demilitarized Palestinian state that implements the commitments it has undertaken regarding internal reforms and the fight against radicalization.”

France adds that Israel will always be a “top-tier partner,” and that dialogue on key international issues, especially Iran, will continue.

Personal Stories

Acronyms and Glossary

COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories

ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague

IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague

IPS - Israel Prison System

MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp

PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen

PMO- Prime Minister's Office

UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission

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/