๐️Lonny's War Update- October 669, 2023 - August 5, 2025 ๐️
๐️Day 669 that 50 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivity๐️
Hamas has time, the hostages don’t: Gaza war goals must change
Opinion: As Hamas releases harrowing footage of visibly malnourished hostages, Israeli leaders face growing calls to prioritize immediate rescue; With lives hanging in the balance, pressure builds for a swift shift from negotiation to humanitarian intervention—before irreversible damage is done
The gaunt, haunted faces shown in Hamas propaganda videos are no longer anonymous hostages—they are living people, stripped of dignity, starved by design and exploited as tools of psychological warfare. Their suffering demands more than sympathy. It requires urgency. Their condition is a national emergency, and it must now take precedence over any other priority. Before negotiations, before strategy—there must be rescue. If we wait, they may not survive. And even if they do, their bodies may already be too damaged to recover.Yitzhak Rabin once said that if lives cannot be saved through military means or diplomacy, then even capitulation may be necessary. In the cases of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, and likely others, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida has proposed a framework that Israel could—and should—consider: opening aid corridors, permitting unrestricted humanitarian convoys, and suspending air activity over Red Cross zones where food and medicine could reach the captives.This proposal came in response to a Red Cross request. Israel should agree—on one condition: that Red Cross personnel secure verifiable access to the hostages and ensure they are fed, medically treated and no longer subjected to starvation or abuse.
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THe 20 hostages believed to still be alive(Photos: Courtesy of famililes)Ideally, this would lead to their release and transfer to hospitals—either in Israel or even in a neutral Arab country. At the very least, Israel, backed by American pressure, must demand that the Red Cross guarantee the end of systematic starvation.Once their survival is assured, the broader national priorities must shift. The next objective should be a comprehensive agreement—hostage release in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, the removal of Hamas’ offensive capabilities, and the establishment of a new governing body for Gaza. Intelligence sources suggest that Hamas, crippled militarily, may now be open to these terms.Hamas has time. What Israel needs is clarity. To act wisely, we must shed not only political dogma but also the paralysis of outrage. We must acknowledge three basic truths:First, Hamas is under immense pressure. Its military assets have been decimated, it has lost control over most of Gaza, and it faces growing anger from its own people. Yet, its top commanders—Izz al-Din Haddad, Raad Saad and others—remain ideologically entrenched, unmoved by civilian suffering or international condemnation.
Raad Saad, Hamas' head of military operationsSecond, what seems like Hamas’ stubborn refusal is in fact paralysis caused by internal fractures—between its military and political wings, and even within the political leadership itself. The result is strategic deadlock.Third, Hamas believes the clock favors them. Their starvation campaign has resonated globally. Their videos have eroded Israel’s international legitimacy. Threats of arms embargoes are rising. Boycotts—academic, commercial, diplomatic—are gaining traction. And within Israel, fatigue is mounting. Reservists grow weary not only from battle, but from waning faith in the war’s direction.Hamas is counting on all of this to push Israel into ending the war without forcing its full collapse—allowing the group to survive and one day rearm.So what now?A full-scale offensive across Gaza won’t guarantee hostage release. It may, in fact, risk their lives. At the same time, IDF cannot indefinitely maintain vast forces to prevent Hamas from reclaiming cleared zones. This war cannot go on forever—not in blood, not in resources, not in legitimacy.To reach a meaningful deal, coordinated pressure—military and diplomatic—is essential. But now, diplomacy must take the lead. Once the starved hostages are safe, Israel must launch a high-level diplomatic initiative with U.S. backing. The Trump administration must push Qatar, Turkey and European nations to pressure Hamas—politically, financially and morally.Qatar and Turkey can condition Gaza’s future reconstruction aid on hostage release. European governments can shut down Hamas-linked charities and declare that any path toward Palestinian statehood will remain blocked so long as hostages remain in captivity.If Europe aligns with this effort—and there are indications it might—it would shake Hamas’ calculus.On the military front, IDF can continue pinpoint strikes based on precise intelligence, especially in underground Hamas strongholds. These must be executed with utmost care, mindful of the hostages’ presence—while still signaling that time is not infinite.Meanwhile, Israeli society - the media and the families of hostages - must resist the urge to flood public discourse with pressure. These outcries, while understandable, embolden Hamas and risk backfiring. Silence, in this case, can serve strategy.The third priority should be restoring Israel’s global legitimacy. That will be far more achievable if hostages are returned alive and the war is brought to a responsible close. The reckoning with political leadership will come. But now, there is only one task: Save them. Before it’s too late. LinkSaudi report says Hamas under pressure to show flexibility, but unclear if new talks in offing
Saudi news outlet al-Hadath quotes a Palestinian source saying that Israeli reports indicating that the government is leaning toward a major expansion of military action in Gaza, including taking over the whole Strip, appear to “precede a new round of negotiations in the coming days.”
It is unclear if the source is speaking from knowledge of actual plans for talks or speculating on the subtext for the reports.
The source is quoted saying that contacts have continued since talks broke down late last month, and that there is heavy pressure from all sides on Hamas to show more flexibility.
The negotiators have not closed the door to a partial deal, the outlet cites the source as saying.
The tone is starkly different in Israel, where reports continue to portray Jerusalem’s view as being that talks are hopeless, pushing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward seeking to meet the war’s goals via an expansion of fighting.
Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s point man on hostage issues, sent a message to families of captives tonight telling them that the issue, including the negotiations, is continuing to be discussed at the highest levels, the Ynet news site reports.
“Since the return of the delegation from Doha, there have been constant situational assessments dealing with the state of the hostages, the state of talks, and plans for various alternatives,” he told them in a message, according to the report. “We are working through the whole range of our abilities and in various ways in an effort to free the hostages.”
Two defense officials tells Reuters that the military is expected Tuesday to present the political leadership with alternatives that include extending into areas of Gaza where it has not yet operated.
While some in the cabinet are pushing for expanding the offensive, the military is concerned that doing so will endanger the 20 hostages who are still alive, the officials say.
On 669th day of war, alumni of IDF’s Unit 669 sponsor banner over Ayalon calling for hostages’ release
Alumni of the IDF’s search and rescue Unit 669 sponsor a banner over Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway, 669 days into the war in Gaza, calling for the release of hostages.
The unit’s Psalms motto is written on the banner: “In your distress you called and I delivered you.”
Protesters block Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway in call to release hostages, end war
Demonstration includes relatives of freed hostages and comes on Tisha B’Av fast day, shortly after videos of two emaciated hostages cause shock in Israel but muted reaction overseas
Protesters demanding a deal to free hostages in Gaza block Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway and hold a banner reading, "Abandoning the hostages = the destruction of the Third Temple. Bring them home. Get out of Gaza," on August 3, 2025. (Aviv Atlas/Pro-Democracy Protest MovementProtesters demanding a deal to free hostages in Gaza block Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway and hold a banner reading, "Abandoning the hostages = the destruction of the Third Temple. Bring them home. Get out of Gaza," on August 3, 2025. (Aviv Atlas/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement
Dozens of protesters blocked traffic on Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway on Sunday morning, calling to free the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, after videos of two emaciated captives shocked Israelis and amplified calls for their release.
The demonstrators, led by the Women’s Protest group and including relatives of freed hostages, carried a banner reading “Abandonment of the hostages = destruction of the Third Temple,” along with “Everyone in a deal. Get out of Gaza.” Another sign read, in English, “Never again is now.”
They chanted, “Why are they still in Gaza?” and “Bringing them back, everyone now.” Among the marchers were Shai Mozes, nephew of released hostage Gadi Mozes, and Meor Rosenberg, a relative of freed hostage Arbel Yehoud, according to Channel 13.
The protest, which lasted about 20 minutes according to Haaretz, took place on the morning of the Tisha B’Av fast day, which commemorates the ancient destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem, as well as a litany of other Jewish historical tragedies. It also occurred after Hamas and Islamic Jihad released videos of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavsky, respectively, both looking severely emaciated.
The video of David, in which his bones could be seen protruding through his skin and he was filmed digging his own grave, provoked outrage in Israel and beyond.
“This morning is the Ninth of Av, and the greatest destruction has only been getting deeper for 667 days,” read a statement from the protesters, referring to the number of days since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that launched the war. They blamed the government for not doing more to free the captives.
“It is impossible to breathe in the face of the pictures of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavsky, who have been abandoned thanks to this bad government,” the statement said. “Bring everyone back, the living and the dead, and end the war already.”
The videos were released as global anger has mounted over reports of widening starvation in Gaza. Israel has denied that there is famine in the enclave but, in response to international pressure, instituted several measures a week ago to increase the flow of aid.
International reaction to the hostage videos appears to be muted thus far.
“The images of Israeli hostages are appalling and expose the barbarity of Hamas,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas posted on X on Sunday. “All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Hamas must disarm and end its rule in Gaza. At the same time, large-scale humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need.”
On Sunday, Ynet reported that US President Donald Trump had seen the video of David. On Saturday, US Sen. John Fetterman, an outspoken advocate of Israel, condemned the video.
“I had the honor to meet with his family in my office. I cannot even begin to imagine the horror of this video for them,” he wrote of David. “I continue to stand with these families and every last hostage. Hamas: send these poor souls home, disarm, and end this hell on earth in Gaza.”
Several relatives of Braslavsky, David and other hostages have spoken out since Hamas released the videos on Thursday and Friday. Thousands demonstrated on Saturday night at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where relatives of the two decried the videos and called for the hostages to be freed.
A statement by David’s family said he has “only a few days left to live in his present state.”
“Hamas is using our son Evyatar as a live experiment in human starvation,” the statement said. “Israel and the international community must object to Hamas’ cruelty and ensure that our Evyatar immediately receives adequate nutrition.”
David was previously shown in a video in February, when Hamas brought him and fellow hostage Guy Gilboa-Dallal to witness the release of other captives. Islamic Jihad said more than a week ago that it lost contact with the captors holding Braslavsky and said this video was filmed beforehand.
Freed Israeli hostage Tal Shoham, who was held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, poses for a portrait in Tel Aviv, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)Tal Shoham, a freed captive who was held together with David, said in a video statementthat he recognized where the footage of David was filmed, and that he remembers his Hamas captors having ample food supplies for themselves there. He said that when he was released from captivity during a ceasefire in February, David was suffering from scurvy.
“This is a deliberate starvation by Hamas commanders that is only for propaganda in a really, really sadistic way,” he said in the video, adding that David is in “under really extreme life-threatening danger right now.”
And in a column for Ynet Sunday morning, freed hostage Ohad Ben-Ami wrote that the starvation Braslavsky and David are enduring was familiar to him.
“When I returned from captivity, my body had only 3.5 percent body fat,” he wrote. “It was said to me that had I stayed there another two or three weeks, I wouldn’t have survived. Evyatar and Rom, according to the pictures, may be in this situation as well — and so the negotiations need to be quick, so we can save them. Link
**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!ืืื ื ืฆืืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืืืืคืื ืืืืช
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*1:00am- central and Jerusalem areas- ballistic missile from Yemen- successfully intercepted- no reports of injuries or damages
Gaza and the South
120 tons of aid dropped into Gaza as Canada joins international mission
Aircraft from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Germany, Belgium, and — for the first time — Canada, airdropped 120 pallets of humanitarian aid in the northern and southern Gaza Strip today, the IDF says.
Each pallet contains around one ton of food.
The IDF says the airdrops were carried out “in accordance with the directives from the political leadership and as part of the cooperation between Israel” and the involved countries.
The airdrops are part of a “series of actions aimed at improving the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip,” the military says.
“The IDF will continue to work in order to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, along with the international community, while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza,” it adds.
Since July 26, a total of 675 humanitarian aid packages have been airdropped in the Gaza Strip by nine countries, including Israel. The packages the IDF airdropped were supplied by international aid groups, not by Israel.
Netanyahu senior officials say occupation of Gaza is next step, with US approval
They claim that President Trump gave the go-ahead to a truce with Hamas, in the shadow of the stalled negotiations for a hostage deal; Those close to the prime minister say that a decision has been made, possibly in an attempt to pressure the terrorist organization; IDF chief Eyal Zamir cancels trip to the US; Hirsch tells hostage families : "We are working in various ways in an effort to free them
Negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal which began in Doha following the confrontation with Iran have been stalled for some time, and Ynet has learned Monday evening that U.S. President Donald Trump has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light to launch a more aggressive military operation against Hamas in Gaza.The understanding in both Israel and Washington is that the terrorist organization does not want a deal. The security cabinet has yet to convene, even after the release of horrific captivity videos of Evyatar David and Rom Breslavski, but officials in Jerusalem clarified that Netanyahu is holding discussions regarding the continuation of the war.Senior officials close to the prime minister have said that the die is cast. According to them, Israel is moving toward full occupation of the Gaza Strip and the defeat of Hamas. However, it is possible that this is part of a negotiation tactic aimed at pressuring Hamas.“The direction is the defeat of Hamas and full occupation of the Strip,” a senior source said. “There will also be operations in areas where hostages are being held.” Responding to opposition within the security establishment—amid reports that escalating tensions between the political and military leadership may lead the IDF chief of staff to consider stepping down—an official said: “If it doesn’t suit the chief of staff, he can resign.”The prime minister is expected to present a proposal in the cabinet discussion to instruct the IDF to take over the strip, defeat Hamas and bring the hostages home. Israeli officials understand that, at this stage, it is not possible to return the hostages through either a partial or comprehensive deal, and therefore they are preparing to direct the IDF to capture Gaza and subdue Hamas.Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir canceled his planned trip to the United States, where he was supposed to attend the CENTCOM change of command ceremony hosted personally by General Michael Kurilla. Zamir had conditioned his attendance on a ceasefire tied to a hostage deal expected at this time and, due to the collapse of the negotiations, he decided to remain in Israel.4 View gallery
Clips from Hamas video on display in Times Square(Photo: Israel's New York Consulate)Hostage and Missing Persons Coordinator Gal Hirsch sent a message to the hostage families Monday evening, writing: “Since the delegation returned from Doha, ongoing assessments and discussions have been held regarding the hostages’ condition, the status of the negotiations, and the various plans and alternatives.” He added that “these are taking place in professional forums and high-level meetings (including those led by the prime minister). Additional senior-level discussions are expected this week (including a meeting of the Security Cabinet). There are reasons for the sequence and timing of these discussions as they have been set.”
Hostages families meet with Steve Witkoff in Tel Aviv(Photo: Paulina Pettimer)Hirsch further wrote to the families: “We are operating with the full range of capabilities and through various channels in the effort to secure the release of the hostages. Following the distressing videos and the abuse of our captives, urgent measures continue to be carried out. Among those I can report: ongoing engagement with the Red Cross, and with officials and governments around the globe. President Isaac Herzog is raising this issue during his travels abroad, many heads of state and foreign ministers have spoken out strongly against Hamas, and tomorrow a discussion on this matter has been scheduled at the United Nations Security Council, in which Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar will participate. I will continue to update you as information becomes available.”In light of the release of the harrowing videos of Evyatar David from captivity, the Israeli consulate in New York launched a Times Square campaign featuring his images as part of public diplomacy efforts. Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, said: “This is what real hunger looks like—not staged. This is the truth—not a lie. Evyatar David is starved by a Nazi terrorist organization that still dares, backed by part of the media, to spread this libelous blood libel. We will continue exposing the vile lies of these terrorists and their collaborators, everywhere and at all times.”Hostages families demonstrate in Times Square for a ceasefire deal and the return of the hostagesin New York(Photo: Ammar Awad/ Reuters)
Despite prolonged deadlock in negotiations, Netanyahu did not convene the Security Cabinet last week, apparently to coordinate positions with the Americans before making a decision. Additionally, the decision has been delayed due to disagreement between the political and military leadership. Right-wing ministers pushed for full occupation of the Gaza Strip, but the military warned that this would jeopardize the hostages. Netanyahu even promised Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that, if no deal is reached, he would approve symbolic annexation measures—possibly on the northern border of the Strip.Two days ago, an Israeli security official acknowledged that “no deal is on the horizon,” in light of Hamas’ refusal to accept the terms set by Israel. The official added that a deal “does not appear realistic now” and stated that “Hamas demands, as a basic condition for returning to negotiations, the entry of 600 humanitarian aid trucks per day—more than it would receive under a partial deal. The chance of a comprehensive agreement is slim, but perhaps at least they could return to the negotiation table.”Israel and the U.S. have reached an understanding that partial deals are no longer viable, and both sides have begun discussing a comprehensive agreement—which, as noted, is not expected in the current circumstances. The comprehensive deal was intended to include ending the war, disarming Gaza and dismantling Hamas—who has already declared it will not relinquish its arms until a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established. Despite the declarations, Israeli officials assessed that actual chances of such a pathway are extremely low.Nevertheless, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held a tense meeting in Tel Aviv two days ago with families of the hostages, which lasted approximately three hours. In that meeting, he emphasized both President Trump’s commitment and his own personal dedication to bring home the remaining 50 hostages.“The plan is not to expand the war, but to end it,” he said. “We believe we need to shift to an all-or-nothing negotiation—ending the war and bringing home all 50 hostages at the same time—only in this way,” according to Witkoff. Link If this was a ploy to put pressure on Hamas only, it could be understandable but it is much more than that. This is the weak autocrat Netanyahu once again allowing his extremist messianic criminal partners to be the tails wagging the dog. Their dream in Gaza is to fully occupy the entire strip, force all the Palestinians out through their voluntary emigration’ ethnicity cleansing plan of theirs and resettle all of Gaza with Jewish settlements only. For them, the price doesn’t matter, not the human price of the hostages being killed or the soldiers killed and maimed and they certainly don’t give a damn about the suffering and deaths of more non combatant Gazans. That actually is a bonus to these racists.Regarding the suffering and starving histages we have all seen in the pictures and videos released by the terrorists. Just about everyone who has laid eyes has the correct feeling of horror of seeing our hostages dying in front of our eyes and looking exactly like Holocaust survivors. Unfortunately, that feeling of horror is not felt by anyone in the government and especially not the prime minister who continues to lie that he was ‘shocked’ by what he saw. He is the one person who gets all of the updates from every agency about the treatment and conditions of the hostages. I will never understand how his heart and soul are so damaged that he continues to put himself in front of the hotel that everyone else feels and wants them home immediately. The blood of so many are directly on the hands of this failed government and the man who brought us to October 7, yet when faced repeatedly with the opportunity for a tiny bit of redemption by saving the lives of the hostages, he doesn’t change and is willing to sacrifice the lives of all the hostages. To remind everyone, he told one of his senior advisors that he can deal with another 200 bereaved families. There is no lower place in hell than he has reached.UN: Around 88% of aid trucks collected in Gaza since mid-May did not reach destinations due to looting or theft
The United Nations Office for Project Services has published data showing that since the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza on May 19 and up until August 5, a total of 2,604 aid trucks were collected by the UN after entering the Strip. Of those, 2,309 did not reach their intended destinations inside the enclave.
According to the organization, this was due to the trucks being “intercepted either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully by armed actors during transit in Gaza.” This accounts for 88% of all trucks.
In recent months, the percentages were even higher. According to UNOPS, in June, 1,155 trucks were collected by the UN and its partner organizations, and 1,048 of them — 90.7% — were intercepted before reaching their destinations. In July, the figure rose to 94%, with 1,161 trucks collected and 1,093 intercepted.
- 'No school, no business, no people': Israel’s northernmost town remains deserted months after Hezbollah ceasefire
While most border towns begin to recover, only 500 of Metula’s 2,100 residents have returned; businesses remain shuttered, hotels are damaged and schools won’t reopen this year
In the summer of 2025, Metula looks more like a ghost town than a scenic northern getaway. Streets are closed, businesses boarded up, and homes damaged or abandoned. The town, once a symbol of lush tourism and quiet optimism on Israel’s northern border, now stands empty and broken, waiting for a miracle.“There are about 500 people left in Metula,” says Yossi Glazer, the town’s security coordinator. “Out of 2,100 residents before October 7, only a quarter have stayed or returned—and that includes those who never left.”Driving down Rehov HaRishonim, Metula’s main street, Glazer points out restaurants, hotels and homes—most are locked or deserted. “If you came here on a weekend—Friday or Saturday—it used to be packed. Take the Tachana restaurant, one of the best in Israel—not just because the owner is my friend—it was always full. Now? Nothing. Everything’s shut.”One landmark, the Alaska Inn, was hit by three anti-tank missiles due to security cameras on its roof. It’s been under renovation for four months, but tourists are still scarce. Other major hotels—Beit Shalom, Metaylim, and Selina—remain closed, either awaiting compensation or stuck in limbo. Even Canada Center, once a bustling entertainment hub for the entire region, is fenced off and untouched since being hit by a missile.Glazer, 53, was born and raised in Metula. “We had about 450 students living here and studying in Tel Hai. Now there’s no one. Everything’s for rent. The hotels are in limbo, the medical center too, and the council building—it all feels like a transition that’s lasting way too long.”
No students, no school, no return Residents say part of the stagnation is due to Tel Hai College still being closed. The students were both customers and workers for local food businesses. The campus is expected to reopen in October, but its absence is still felt. Metula’s elementary school won’t reopen this year either; the few remaining students will study in nearby Kibbutz Kfar Giladi—another deterrent for families considering returning. Glazer says homes near IDF positions were heavily damaged—some from enemy fire, but much of it from Israeli tanks and troop movement. “About 40% of the damage here was caused by our own forces. Tank fire between the houses, the movement of units. The tanks caused enormous damage, but you can’t really blame anyone. There weren’t many options. That’s the reality we lived.” Rebuilding homes is one thing; reviving the economy is another. “Take HaSemta—the best burger place we had. They opened branches in Tel Aviv and Ramat Aviv. I told the owner, ‘Come back.’ He asked, ‘Are there any people?’ I said, ‘I’ll bring them. We’ve got 300 reservists here—they’ll eat.’ But he’s still unsure.”Another symbol of collapse is Nusha’s cafรฉ. “She opened in July—a boutique cafรฉ that was doing well. Then boom—the war. Everything gone. She invested so much and now she’s too scared to come back. I tell her, ‘Open up, I’ll make sure people come.’ She says, ‘I just can’t go through it again.’” There used to be a lively cafรฉ with music that drew young crowds—it’s gone too. “There was a nice momentum here before the war. Every Friday. Then it all ended. Bankrupt. Even Sam’s neighborhood mini-market is still shut. He says there’s no point—no customers.” Glimpses of revival A small sign of optimism appears at Koach Junction, the town’s southern entry. On the door of the once-bustling Aroma cafรฉ hangs a note: “Limited menu until 14:00.” A bigger breakthrough came when Glazer persuaded Yoni, the owner of the once-thriving Aiyoni pizzeria, to reopen. “This is the first swallow,” Glazer says. “When one business opens, others may follow. But without real incentives and security, it won’t happen.” There’s also one pub still standing and Super Yonatan, a small supermarket that reopened only thanks to reservists. “I make sure they come every morning to buy bourekas so the place has some traffic,” Glazer says. Others are trying too. Lior Baz, owner of the Nachalat Ikarim guest cabins, resumed operations this month. Prices were cut to attract visitors—850 shekel per couple, including breakfast and pool—but occupancy remains low. “It’s the image,” he says. “TV coverage showed constant damage and missiles. Just this week, someone called to ask if it’s even legal to enter Metula. If the army allows it.” Taxed the same, neglected the most Glazer is also angry about the lack of tax breaks. “I pay 14% income tax in Metula—the same as in Kibbutz Dan or Snir. So why would anyone come here? Why build here? The state doesn’t see us.” The office of Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who oversees the Recovery Directorate and the Northern Rehabilitation Authority, referred inquiries to the Tnufa headquarters for the north. In a statement, the office said Metula has received targeted investment: 6 million shekels for public buildings and schools, with an additional 18 million shekels to be approved soon. The Interior Ministry also transferred 11.5 million shekels due to the emergency situation. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv Recently, a broader government plan allotted 1 billion shekels to conflict-zone towns, including 20 million shekels for Metula for public infrastructure and community resilience programs. An economic stimulus package worth 610 million shekels includes support for Metula as a “national priority area.” Residents are eligible for direct return grants. As for businesses awaiting property tax compensation, some claims are still in legal review. The elementary school could have reopened, the statement said, but the local council requested closure due to low registration. Students from Metula are receiving full educational support elsewhere. “I’ll fight for this place, even alone” Meanwhile, Metula’s remaining residents watch nearby communities recover with envy. some 80% of residents have returned to Malkia, similar rates in Misgav Am and Yiftach, and about 60% in Kiryat Shmona. “People got used to the good life in Eilat and Tel Aviv—they’re in no rush to come back,” says Glazer. “We need to bring back the people who were here. Restore a sense of security. Bring life back. Give people a reason to return. I love this place. I’ll keep fighting for it—even if I’m alone on the street.” linkA closed business (Photo: Gil Nechustan)
- Tensions in the West Bank: Terror attacks drop, but settler violence on the rise
IDF reports a sharp decline in terror attacks in 2025, crediting its presence in refugee camps; but rising settler violence, weapons smuggling and clashes with Palestinians leave West Bank stability hanging by a thread
A Palestinian terrorist was killed Sunday overnight in Qabatiya, while settler violence in the West Bank continues to escalate, alongside mounting clashes with Palestinians who accuse Israeli police of inaction.For nearly two years now, the West Bank has taken a backseat to other war zones, even as weapons continue flowing into the area, some from Arab-Israeli crime organizations. Still, data from the IDF’s Central Command shows a significant drop in terrorist activity since the start of 2025.Security officials attribute this trend to the IDF's intense operations inside the Jenin and Tulkarm refugee camps, which have focused on dismantling terror infrastructure and seizing weapons. However, they caution that the region remains highly volatile, especially in light of increasing settler attacks and ongoing discussions about restructuring the refugee camps, which have undergone dramatic changes over the past year.Terror down, troop presence upCentral Command is currently conducting assessments for the remainder of 2025, noting a marked decline in terror attacks compared to previous years. Officials attribute this not just to military activity, but to a broader strategic deployment: around 20 IDF battalions are currently stationed across the West Bank. In Jenin, paratrooper recon units are active, while in Tulkarm, the 890th Battalion is operating.
The IDF has also altered camp infrastructure—expanding roads and demolishing buildings—to disrupt terror networks. These actions have pushed terrorists into surrounding villages, where they become more vulnerable and easier to track. In addition, Israeli strikes on targets in Lebanon, Syria, and Iran have disrupted funding channels that previously fueled West Bank terror. Under Defense Minister Israel Katz’s current directive, IDF forces are expected to remain in the camps through the end of 2025. Meanwhile, discussions with the Palestinian Authority continue over how to restructure the heavily damaged refugee areas. Israeli military officials are setting conditions for Palestinian-led reconstruction, such as wider roads and restricted construction zones. “The camps will never return to what they once were,” said a senior defense official. Weapons haul grows, but threat persists Despite the downturn in attacks, the terror threat remains, particularly from small, local cells or lone actors. So far in 2025, security forces have seized over 900 weapons in the West Bank, following a haul of more than 1,000 in 2024. However, thousands more weapons are believed to be circulating, many smuggled in by domestic crime syndicates.Even so-called "popular terror" incidents—such as rock-throwing and Molotov cocktails—have seen a dramatic reduction. Officials report that such events now average around 10 per week, down from dozens. In 2024, elite Unit 636 neutralized around 50 terrorists involved in popular terror. Since January 2025, they've already taken out 40. Yet Central Command warns that any major attack could still shatter the current fragile calm. Settler violence escalates without arrests Alongside the terror threat, Israeli authorities are grappling with a sharp rise in settler violence. This morning, settlers set fire to a Palestinian home in the village of Turmus Ayya (Benjamin region), spraying “Price Tag Revenge” graffiti on the walls. Like yesterday’s vehicle arson attack in a nearby village, no arrests were made.IDF forces operate in the West Bank (Photo: IDF)
Police say investigations are ongoing, including one into the arson of a military installation near Givat Asaf a month ago, and another incident in the Benjamin region that remains under a gag order. Meanwhile, a controversial shooting by Israeli settler Yinon Levy two weeks ago in South Hebron appears unlikely to result in an indictment. Both police and the courts have indicated that Levy fired in self-defense after being pelted with stones by Palestinians. link There are a number of issues in this article but I will only focus on 3. The first is how the West Bank became such a hot bed of terror organizational strength. The West Bank, like Gaza was ignored for years by the successive governments of Netanyahu. His singular focus was on Iran and his actions made even that situation worse (convincing Trump to leave the Nuclear agreement with Iran brought them much closer and faster to a nuclear arsenal). He demanded that the security forces put most of their efforts into Iran. That was one of the reasons for the total failure of the army and security operations on October 7, yet the reason for the amazing actions taken in the 12 day war with Iran. With Netanyahu's demand for focus elsewhere, Hamas, Hizbollah and Iran focused their attentions on buildups in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon and we were fairly blind and deaf to their build ups. Thanks again Netanyahu! The second issue that the article doesn't mention at all is the very close security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israeli security forces which have stopped thousands of terror attacks against Israelis in Israel and the West Bank. This cooperation began with Oslo and has never ended. Despite that, Netanyahu has dedicated himself to weakening the PA and that also weakened their security forces and abilities to maintain security control in the biggest refugee camps which is where the army has needed to operate to route out and destroy those terror bases. Had the PA continued to have the means to maintain security in all areas A which are supposed to be under the security forces of the PA, they would have been able to seriously curtail and even stop much of the build up that went on under our noses which were focused elsewhere. Another Netanyahu failure! And the third issue which is the Settler Terrorism against the Palestinians in the West Bank. This terrorism has been growing steadily under Netanyahu governments but has reached exponential growth in the last 2 years since the beginning of the war. There are multiple reasons for this. The first is that Netanyahu brought in another convicted criminal to his cabinet in order to put together his extremist coalition in order to be prime minister. He then gave this convicted criminal the ministry in charge of the police. Ben Gvir, who spent his entire legal career defending Jewish terrorist, gave explicit orders to the police not to be involved whatsoever in incidents of Jewish terror against Palestinians. They are not to show up and if they do happen to be there, they are not to arrest any Jews, only Palestinians. And if the army detains any Jews and brings them to the police, no charges are to be brought against them. In rare occasions, one or two Jews brought to the police by the army are given house arrests and that typically gets removed within a day or two, whereas any Palestinian arrested is charged and held in jail throughout the trial. The Palestinians are subjected to Military Courts because we are an occupying force and the Palestinians have a 99.9% chance of conviction in these courts. The Jewish settler terrorists are under Israeli judicial system but they rarely even reach a court. Ben Gvir and the failed Finance Minister who also is a minister in the Defense Ministry with responsibility for civilian matters such as the settlers and Palestinians has budgeted hundreds of millions of shekels to the settlers and advanced the legalization of all the illegal settlements that are built on stolen Palestinian lands. These 2 criminal ministers encourage, provoke, support morally and financially, Jewish terror against Palestinians, and the terrorists know it. They know they have impunity to act in all types of terror: arson, rock throwing, destruction and theft of Palestinians property, destruction of Palestinians crops and killing of Palestinians. And if caught, they know that they have immunity for all of these terror acts. In addition, the entire government and the Prime Minister doesn't say a word about any of these acts even when there are international protests and protests by the US Ambassador about the killings of Palestinians with American citizenship. Their silence is not only acceptance, it is encouragement and compliance which in the end, means the government is also guilty of this terrorism. And because the victims are under a military occupation, the crimes of terrorism are considered international crimes as well.Vehicle arson in Silwad
- Politics and the War and General News
- Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ comes to a close, with promised goals unfulfilled
Israel failed to attain objectives of ‘conquering Gaza,’ moving Palestinian population south, preventing Hamas from taking control of aid, and most importantly, releasing hostagesThe Israel Defense Forces has been drawing down forces in the Gaza Strip in recent days, as the major offensive it launched against Hamas three months ago, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots,” appears to have ended.
IDF troops of the Givati Brigade are seen in northern Gaza's Beit Hanoun, July 30, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)When the IDF began the offensive in May, Defense Minister Israel Katz and other Israeli officials said that the operation provided for “conquering Gaza” and retaining the territory; moving the Palestinian civilian population toward the south of the Strip; assaulting Hamas; and preventing the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid supplies.
The main objectives of Gideon’s Chariots, they said, were “the defeat of Hamas in Gaza and the release of all the hostages.”
None of these goals and objectives have been achieved. Meanwhile, the IDF on Thursday said it was withdrawing the 98th Division — an elite formation of paratroopers and commando units — along with two reserve brigades from Gaza.
While political leaders initially said the offensive would see the IDF “conquer” the Strip, it was later clarified that the military would take control of around 75% of the territory, which is where things currently stand.
The IDF did not plan to advance further in Gaza, as Hamas has threatened to execute hostages if troops are seen approaching areas where they are held.
Still, some Israeli political leaders envisioned the army taking control of the entire Strip, and are still considering this.
The IDF has focused its operations in areas where it was able to determine that no hostages were being held. However, for over a month, those operations have mostly consisted of razing buildings, Hamas tunnels, and other infrastructure used by the terror group, with little direct fighting taking place.
An army excavator, secured by a tank, destroys a building on the outskirts of Gaza City’s Daraj and Tuffah neighborhoods, July 23, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)
Meanwhile, the Palestinian population has largely not been moved to the south of Gaza, with over a million civilians still residing in Gaza City in the north and some 350,000 in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. Over 600,000 are in the Mawasi area on the coast of southern Gaza.Hamas, while heavily weakened after 22 months of fighting, is still a capable force in some areas of Gaza.
In northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun, the IDF completely destroyed Hamas’s forces there, with the apparent last three gunmen in the area surrendering to troops over the weekend.
But in Khan Younis in the south, recent footage showed a squad of at least 12 well-armed Hamas gunmen trying to set an ambush for IDF troops, indicating a high level of competency among the terror group’s forces in the southern Gaza city.
In all, 48 IDF soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of Gideon’s Chariots, mostly by explosive devices planted by Hamas in buildings and tunnels or detonated against armored vehicles.
IDF tanks are seen on the outskirts of Gaza City’s Daraj and Tuffah neighborhoods, July 23, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)
One of the main goals of Gideon’s Chariots was to prevent Hamas from taking over humanitarian aid entering the Strip. To achieve this, Israel and the United States backed a controversial plan that saw an organization of murky origin, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, distribute aid directly to Palestinians at four sites — three in south Gaza and one in the center of the Strip
Illustrative: Palestinians leave a food distribution point run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation with bags and boxes, near the Netzarim corridor in the central Gaza Strip, on August 3, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)
The aid distribution sites were meant to replace the traditional method of sending aid into Gaza on trucks, which Israel said were being routinely taken over by Hamas, helping it maintain its grip on power.However, the GHF aid distribution method appears to have been a colossal failure, with reports of daily deadly shootings by IDF soldiers near aid sites alongside ballooning claims of widespread starvation in the Strip.
Moreover, distribution at GHF sites has been so chaotic after a 78-day Israeli aid blockade that initial plans to register those picking up boxes of assistance were cast aside; so there is no way of knowing whether Hamas operatives are among those benefiting from the new system.
Under international pressure to prevent widespread famine, Israel dramatically shifted its policy to allow more aid to come for distribution by the UN, in addition to facilitating airdrops for the first time in roughly a year. Israel admits that aid delivered this way may end up in Hamas’s hands.
Lastly, the main objective of the operation, securing the release of the 50 hostages — including 20 believed to be alive — remains unmet.
Despite the Israeli military pressure in seizing most of Gaza, the hostage-ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled. Last month, the US and Israel withdrew their negotiators from Qatar.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has told Israeli political leaders since late June that Operation Gideon’s Chariots had “reached the lines” that were defined before the offensive began.
During a meeting this week, Zamir reportedly pleaded with cabinet ministers to present a strategy for how they want the army to proceed in light of the standstill in hostage talks.
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This handout photo from August 1, 2025, shows IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir meeting troops in the Gaza Strip. (Israel Defense Forces)
Army Radio on Monday quoted Zamir as saying in recent “closed discussions” that “it is possible to be flexible, and efforts must be made to reach a deal.”
The report said Zamir warned that a prolonged stay in Gaza endangers IDF troops and plays into Hamas’s hands, alongside the issue of increased “erosion” in the standing army and reserves after nearly two years of fighting.
Two alternatives were set to be presented to the political leadership, according to the report: conquering the entire Strip, which the IDF has said it opposes, with the army assessing it could take years to clear all Hamas infrastructure; or continuing to encircle Hamas-held areas and engaging in a war of attrition against the terror group’s guerrilla forces.
Both options would likely put the hostages at risk.
As Israel’s political leadership takes its time to decide which option to choose, the IDF is wrapping up the Gideon’s Chariots offensive with very little to show for it. link. There is a constant thread to this article and everything that has to do with this war. There has never been any strategic plan with anything. The army, specifically the prime minister who calls all the shots has never made a strategic plan about anything other than his political life and survival. The same goes here. That is why both the previous and the current Chief's of Staff have literally begged the government go provide them with strategies for the war. The army knows how to fight the wars and achieve tactical successes, but a war must have strategy, especially a strategy for what comes next. Since the very beginning of the war, whenever the question arose about the day after, Netanyahu's response has been that we'll deal with the day after when the war ends. Those are the words of a foolish person who shows that he has no plans. Netanyahu knows very well how to get us into wars but he has no idea or plans of how to end them or what to do when they end. We can see that with Lebanon, Syria and Iran in addition to the fiasco and quagmire of Gaza. It took the US to force the end of the war with Iran because, left to his own, Netanyahu could have kept us in that war forever with millions going to the bomb shelters every day and tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed in 12 days. The same goes for Lebanon and Syria. Netanyahu needed all the outside forces especially the US to reach a sort of cease fire on those fronts, yet we are constantly attacking in both places. He is unable to reach diplomatic conclusions anywhere which is unbelievable because the changes that have occurred on the northern borders have put us in positions that have never been in front of us before. We have, with the help of our dwindling selection of allies the possibility and ability to create a new Middle East that is one of joint peace, growth and prosperity, but Netanyahu is not able to see past his own narcissistic needs to be prime minister and those needs outweigh everything else including a plan for a better future.
There is no need to go into all of the failures of this stupidly named operation as the article spells them out quite well. But I do need to state again that the return of all the hostages is and has been within reach so many times if Netanyahu would for once put the interests of the country before his own and make a deal to bring them home and end the war. J Street head says he’s convinced Gaza war is a genocide
The president of dovish Mideast lobby J Street says he can no longer argue against those characterizing Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide.
“Until now, I have tried to deflect and defend when challenged to call this genocide,” Jeremy Ben Ami writes in a post on Substack published yesterday. “I have, however, been persuaded rationally by legal and scholarly arguments that international courts will one day find that Israel has broken the international genocide convention.”
J Street, which characterizes itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace and lobbies lawmakers in Washington to adopt policies that advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, appears to become one of the most prominent Jewish American groups to legitimize the use of the term.
“The personal pain of my own family from a crime that I believe has no parallel – and my association of the word genocide exclusively with that event — means I am unlikely to use the term myself,” Ben Ami writes. “But I cannot and will not argue any more against those using the term. I simply won’t defend the indefensible.” Link I, of course concur with Jeremy but opposed to him, I do call it genocide. We all need to be open, objective and truthful about what our government is doing in our name in Gaza, not hiding behind ministerial denials, Netanyahu lies, and definitely not behind tempered down euphemisms. We are committing genocide and it didn’t happen in a vacuum and it didn’t happen overnight. It has been a continual process which included the constant evacuation orders to refugees which followed the mass destruction of 90% of the buildings and infrastructure of Gaza including most medical facilities, electrify and water; followed by the deprivation of humanitarian aid and in conjunction with the idiotic and criminal plan of ‘voluntary emigration’ which received a criminal green light from Trump for his Gaza Riviera and then formalized by the criminal ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich and others. This ‘voluntary emigration’ is a euphemism for ethnic cleansing. it is described very clearly in the Geneva convention codified laws against genocide. 75 years after the creation and ratification of those laws which came about following the Holocaust and genocide of the Hewish people by the Nazis, our Jewish State is now criminally responsible for the crimes of genocide through the actions of our criminal government. They have made us all guilty of these horrendous crimes. It turns my stomach, literally making me sick that we have committed these crimes on another people. It has to stop and the criminal government held fully responsible for its actions
- Knesset panel to discuss moving Haifa-area grave of ‘father of terrorism’ Qassam. This is what the important Knesset Finance and Internal Affairs committee talks about, not the hostages, not the war and the soldiers being killed and maimed daily, not the humanitarian crisis that this government created, not the worsening economic situation in the country, nothing that impacts the population. This government and its committees have no depth to their depravity.
Egypt’s Sissi: War in Gaza has turned into a war of starvation and annihilation
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi says that “the war in Gaza is no longer a war to achieve diplomatic objectives or to free hostages — it has become a war of starvation, annihilation, and the elimination of the Palestinian cause.”
At a press conference in Cairo with Vietnamese President Lฦฐฦกng Cฦฐแปng, Sissi adds that “history will hold many countries accountable for their stance on the war in Gaza, and the global human conscience will not remain silent for long.” link With so much of the data and facts that have come out, it is hard to dispute such a statement. This government has knowingly created and exacerbated the world's biggest humanitarian problem today. The government knew of the growing crisis when it ordered the army to prevent aid coming into Gaza and knew it was getting much worse when it created it's showcase failure of aid distribution from just 4 points in the entire Strip to serve 2 million people daily. It knew of the crisis each time more infrastructure was destroyed which cut off fresh water and electricity for nearly everyone in Gaza. How can anyone dispute this statement?
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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