π️Lonny's War Update- October 673, 2023 - August 9, 2025 π️
π️Day 673 that 50 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivityπ️
Report: Hanegbi reportedly told ministers he’s ‘not ready to give up on saving the hostages,’ opposed Gaza City takeover
National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi voiced opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to take over Gaza City last night, telling the security cabinet that he was “not ready to give up on saving the hostages,” according to quotes reported by Channel 12 news.
“I don’t understand how someone who saw the videos of [hostages] Evyatar [David] and Rom [Braslavski] and also all the others that were published before them can say: ‘everything or nothing.’ The significance of this is giving up on the chance to immediately save 10 hostages, because Hamas won’t adhere to this diktat,” he reportedly said.
“A ceasefire will allow us to try and reach an agreement on the remaining 10. I agree completely with the IDF chief of staff that controlling Gaza City will endanger the lives of the hostages; therefore, I oppose the prime minister’s proposal,” the report quotes Hanegbi as saying.
The report states that, along with Hanegbi, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Mossad Chief David Barnea opposed the prime minister’s proposal.
Defense Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister supported Netanyahu’s idea, Channel 12 says. link Tzachi Hanegbi is one of the last people I would ever have thought that we can agree on something and he pleasantly is surprising me and everyone else who see the hostages as the top priority for the entire country. He is a long time Likud apparatchik who typically sides with Netanyahu on almost everything, so his opposition to this plan is refreshing. It is tragic that there are too few of the Netanyahu followers who are willing to stand up for what's right and not go along with Netanyahu's war of political survival.
Former hostages, families hold protest Shabbat service outside of Katz’s home
Relatives of hostages and former captives hold a Kabbalat Shabbat service outside the home of Defense Minister Israel Katz in Kfar Ahim to protest yesterday’s security cabinet decision to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.
Former hostage Yair Horn notes that his brother Eitan remains held captive in Gaza, as well as several friends.
“Until they don’t all return, it is impossible to call this Kabbalat Shabbat. I was forced to leave behind my little brother and my friend,” he says, adding that he won’t be able to have a real Shabbat dinner until the hostages return.
Ohad Ben Ami, who was also formerly held captive, recounts performing Shabbat blessings on pita and water while he was in Gaza.
“Hamas told us that the government gave up on us, but we saw with our own eyes that the people did not give up on us,” he says, recalling watching Saturday night hostage rallies on TV while held captive.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held captive, asserts that most Israeli citizens want a comprehensive deal to free all the hostages. link
- All the hostages, all at once: Egypt, Qatar formulate new plan for ending Gaza war
Backed by major Gulf states, the proposal would see Israel withdraw from Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages, with an Arab-Palestinian committee overseeing the strip until a new Palestinian government is formed and trained security forces take over
Egypt and Qatar are working to shape a new framework agreement that would see all hostages — both living and deceased — released in a single phase, alongside an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and a full IDF withdrawal. Two Arab officials told the Associated Press on Friday that the proposal has the backing of major Gulf states, which fear “regional instability” if Israel moves ahead with a complete takeover of the territory. The proposed framework is expected to address, among other points, the issue of disarming Hamas — a step the group firmly opposes but which remains one of Israel’s key conditions for ending the conflict, as reaffirmed Thursday night by the Security Cabinet. One Arab official directly involved in the mediation said current discussions center on a “freeze” in Hamas’s use of its weaponry. In effect, Hamas would retain its arms but agree not to deploy them. The group would also be required to relinquish control of Gaza — a step it is believed willing to take, given repeated statements to that effect throughout most of the war.According to one source familiar with the talks, the United States has been briefed on the broad outlines of the emerging deal. The plan also envisions an Arab-Palestinian committee to govern Gaza and oversee reconstruction until a “Palestinian government” can be established, complete with a police force trained by America’s Middle East allies. It remains unclear whether this government would include the Palestinian Authority, and if not, who would lead it or how it would assume power in the strip.A senior Hamas official told AP the group’s leadership is aware that the mediators are trying to revive cease-fire negotiations, but said it has yet to receive the details.Despite these mediation efforts — seen in part as an attempt to buy time — the Security Cabinet concluded Thursday night that the chances of a deal are currently low. Israel has received signals from the mediators that Hamas is close to returning to the negotiating table, but officials are skeptical. The prevailing view in Jerusalem is that Hamas has no interest in an agreement at this stage, given the current international climate and Israel’s position. So far, the group has remained out of contact and has not agreed to resume talks.On Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir convened a small group of senior officers to outline the main decisions approved by the Cabinet and to launch planning for the army’s next operation in northern Gaza. The operation is expected to begin with the capture of Gaza City, with October 7 set as the deadline for civilian evacuation.Steve Witkoff, former President Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, told hostage families last Saturday: “We think the negotiations should shift to an all-or-nothing approach — end the war and bring all the hostages home at the same time. That’s the only way.” Witkoff spoke before the Cabinet’s decision to capture Gaza, a move Zamir has warned could endanger hostages’ lives and further strain the military's forces. link While Egypt and Qatar, and most everyone else including Hamas want a single deal to release all of the hostages and end the war, Israel/Netanyahu does not. His war of political survival is dependent on the war continuing. That is the reason that Netanyahu would not allow the Israeli negotiators to even talk about a single deal, only an interim deal with 5 phases. He is interested in stretching out the war as long as it serves his political needs - to survive. Trump's emissary Witkoff wants to bring all the hostages home but he still doesn't have what is needed to make that happen: the backing from Trump to apply the necessary pressure on Netanyahu to force the end of the war. Until Trump realizes that Netanyahu is playing him and continues to wrap him around his little finger, Trump will enable Netanyahu to work his own plan which means no end of the war and no return of the hostages. Wife of hostage David Cunio says she has seen footage of him in captivity: ‘He looks very desperate, and hungry’
Sharon Cunio, whose husband David is held hostage in Gaza, tells Channel 12 news she has seen footage of him in captivity.
While unable to go into details of the unpublished footage, she says the footage showed David Cunio “from a certain period in his captivity, and he doesn’t look very good. He looks very desperate, and hungry, and misses me and his family.”
“Broken and disappointed aren’t even words” to describe her feelings over last night’s security cabinet decision to advance plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, she says, adding that her “heart is crushed.”
She describes the decision as a “death sentence on David” and the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
Witkoff set to meet Qatar’s PM on plan to end war in Gaza, release hostages — report
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani on the Spanish island of Ibiza today to discuss a ceasefire proposal to end the war against Hamas in Gaza and release all remaining hostages, two sources familiar with the meeting tell Axios.
The plan will be presented to Israel and Hamas within the next two weeks, a source involved in the talks tells Axios.
An unnamed Israeli official also involved in the talks tells Axios that while Jerusalem has no problem with efforts to reach a comprehensive deal, “The gap between Israel and Hamas regarding ending the war is huge, so talking of a comprehensive deal is likely to be pointless at this stage.”
The White House refuses to comment on the report.
The talks come after the Israeli cabinet on Thursday approved a plan to fully conquer Gaza City, a move that has sparked international alarm over the potential humanitarian costs and is widely seen as endangering the remaining hostages.
Hostage mother calls for general strike after plan to expand Gaza offensive
Anat Angrest, whose son Matan Angrest is held hostage in Gaza, calls for a general strike in Israel after the government approves a plan to fully conquer Gaza City, a move widely seen as endangering the remaining hostages.
“Dear mothers, friends, heads of the economy, the struggle is not only ours – the families of the hostages,” she writes in a post on X.
“Will you be with me when I call for everything to come to a stop, to strike?” she asks. “It was decided to expand the war and conquer, even at the cost of Matan’s life.”
“And silence kills..,” she writes.
**There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!**
“I’ve never met them,But I miss them. I’ve never met them,but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them,but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!ΧΧΧ Χ Χ¦ΧΧΧ Χ’Χ Χ©ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧΧ€ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧͺ
“VILLAIN of History!” Israel’s Total Occupation of Gaza + Anthony Aguilar On GHF ‘War Crimes’ Video
Benjamin Netanyahu is now pushing for a total reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, even amid protests from some IDF commanders and hostage families. And those hoping for the US to urge restraint have so far been disappointed.
Many believe that yet another Israeli escalation will be a death sentence for not only the hostages but also what’s left of the strip.
The United Nations says that 1,400 Palestinians have been killed while trying to get food since May, including at least 859 near aid sites run by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is run in partnership between Israel and the United States and was created to circumvent the established aid groups, with disastrous results.
Former US special forces green beret Anthony Aguilar worked as a guard at a GHF site and has since blown the whistle on what he says are war crimes. He joins Piers Morgan to discuss this, before retired lieutenant colonel and IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus joins.
But first, Piers leads a discussion with Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin, author of ‘End Jew Hatred’ Brooke Goldstein, co-host of ‘Democracy-ish’ Wajahat Ali and he also speaks to Palestinian National Initiative president Mustafa Barghouti.
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*4:45 am- Gaza envelope-rockets from Gaza - Sufa
Netanyahu says Israel wants to take control of all of Gaza- UK Channel 4 News interview with Dr. Gershon Baskin.
Watch from the beginning to see what has been done to Gaza. Interview with Dr. Gershon BaskinIDF says it killed deputy commander of Hamas’s Beit Hanoun Battalion, who participated in Oct. 7 onslaught
The IDF says it has confirmed that it killed the deputy commander of Hamas’s Beit Hanoun Battalion during operations in the town in the northern Gaza Strip this past month.
The deputy commander, Murad Abu Jarad, served as the de facto commander of the Beit Hanoun Battalion during most of 2024, the military says, adding that he was involved in numerous attacks on troops and that he participated in the October 7, 2023, onslaught.
In a separate operation, the military says it killed the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s anti-tank missile unit in the terror group’s Gaza City brigade, Mohammed Dardawasi, who also participated in the October 7 onslaught.
In another strike, the IDF says it killed several Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives who were involved in rocket fire and sniper attacks.
Qatar says Israeli planned takeover of Gaza City undermines efforts to secure a ceasefire
Qatar condemns the Israeli decision to take over Gaza City, where one million Palestinians are currently sheltering in the north of the war-torn Strip.
A statement from the Qatari foreign ministry says that Doha views the decision as “a dangerous development that threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian suffering resulting from the ongoing war in the Strip, exacerbates its disastrous repercussions and undermines efforts aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire.”
Doha calls on the international community to “take urgent action to prevent the Israeli occupation authorities from implementing this decision.”
How Hamas still holds power in Gaza, almost two years into the war
Deeply embedded into Gazan society, Hamas has adapted financially and militarily to endure after the assassination of top leaders, and despite almost two years of intense IDF pressure, they are still the force to beat within the enclave
Nearly two years after Israel launched a war aimed at dismantling Hamas following the Oct. 7 attacks, the movement remains the dominant force in Gaza. Despite the devastation of infrastructure, the assassination of top leaders and a crippling blockade, Hamas continues to govern, fight and even pay salaries.Analysts say this endurance is not a coincidence. It’s the result of an organization that has embedded itself deeply into the fabric of Gaza's society, adapted militarily and evolved its financial tactics to survive one of the most intense conflicts in the region’s modern history.“Hamas is not just a military wing or a political party,” said Dr. Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center. “It’s something much broader — deeply rooted in Palestinian society. Over the past 20 years, they’ve built strong connections through education, charity, mosques, youth clubs and women’s associations.”Milshtein argues that the movement’s social infrastructure is a major reason it continues to enjoy support, even after what he estimates to be the loss of 25,000 to 27,000 members, many from its military wing.Their organizational DNA is built on resilience and redundancy,” he explained. “They’ve suffered enormous losses, but they have thousands of operatives and supporters ready to step in. They’re still the dominant power in Gaza.”
Hamas terrorists eating well in the tunnelsIhsan Ataya, head of the Arab and International Relations Department for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, sees that strength coming from both ideological commitment and operational structure.“Hamas has managed to maintain political control under a genocidal war and starvation campaign,” Ataya told The Media Line. “They operate with a tightly structured organization and strong security apparatus that helps maintain internal order — even under the most extreme conditions.”Militarily, Hamas has shifted tactics. Gone are the battalions and brigades of previous wars. Instead, the group now relies on small, mobile units conducting guerrilla warfare inside Gaza’s urban ruins. Both experts note that Hamas’s underground tunnel network remains central to its resilience, enabling the movement of fighters, weapons and even leadership figures across vast stretches of Gaza.Perhaps most surprisingly, Hamas continues to pay its members — albeit in creative ways. Salaries aren’t what they once were, and cash is no longer the only currency.“Payment isn’t just in shekels anymore,” Milshtein said. “Hamas distributes food boxes, water and humanitarian supplies as salary substitutes. This assistance, often looted or diverted from international aid, replaces cash.”Ataya adds that even amid financial siege, the movement finds ways to ensure a degree of compensation for its rank and file.“They’ve managed to continue paying salaries and providing services, even while Gaza lies in ruins,” he said. “That frustrates the Israeli leadership and fuels the continued violence aimed at pressuring them to surrender.”A recent BBC investigation sheds further light on these financial tactics. The report alleges that Hamas had stockpiled more than $700 million in cash in underground hideouts prior to Oct. 7. These funds are reportedly still being distributed in secret, with Hamas operatives meeting briefly — sometimes over tea — to hand over envelopes containing partial salaries.According to the BBC, most Hamas employees now receive only about 20 percent of their prewar salaries, roughly NIS 1,000 (around $300) every 10 weeks. To make up for the shortfall, Hamas is also said to be taxing traders, selling goods like cigarettes at inflated prices and redirecting humanitarian aid for resale.“There’s no question Hamas is under financial strain,” Milshtein said. “But they’ve always been adaptive. Whether it’s drones, smuggling routes through Bedouin networks or backchannels in Rafah — they find ways to move money.”One of the reasons Hamas remains so cohesive is its unified command structure. Contrary to portrayals of deep division between its Gaza-based leadership and exiled political bureau, both Ataya and Milshtein emphasize tight coordination.“They are the ones responsible for collecting donations from states like Turkey, Qatar and Iran — and ensuring that money makes its way into Gaza,” he said.Getting money into the Strip has grown more difficult, especially with Israel’s control of the Philadelphi Route along the Egyptian border. But both analysts agree: Hamas still finds a way.Ultimately, Hamas’s strategy now rests on outlasting the enemy. It is not about swift military victory but about eroding Israel’s stamina and global legitimacy.“Hamas is betting on attrition,” Milshtein said. “They want to raise the cost — militarily, economically and politically — until Israel can no longer sustain the war. It’s a long game.”Ataya sees this as the only viable option under current conditions. “There’s no political horizon. Ceasefire talks are stalled. In the absence of alternatives, Hamas is forced into a long-term war of exhaustion — one that chips away at Israel’s stability, image and sense of control.”Despite being weakened, Hamas continues to function. Its ideology, social services and operational flexibility allow it to survive in a war zone most would find ungovernable.“They’re not strong,” Milshtein clarified. “But they’re still standing. And that alone tells us something about how deeply embedded they are in Gaza’s reality.” LinkHamas-run civil defense agency says six killed near central Gaza aid site by Israeli fire
Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency says at least 10 people were killed across the Palestinian territory today, including civilians who were waiting to collect aid.
Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal tells AFP that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded near an aid point in central Gaza, accusing Israeli troops of targeting civilians assembling at the facility.
The spokesman says strikes also hit areas in central Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense and the Israeli military.
Thousands of Gazans congregate daily near food distribution points in Gaza, including four managed by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Since launching in late May, its operations have been marred by almost-daily reports of Israeli forces targeting those waiting to collect aid supplies.
Gaza and the South
IDF says Hezbollah’s Radwan force intel chief killed in southern Lebanon strike
A Hezbollah intelligence commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon earlier today, the IDF says.
The strike in Aadloun killed Mohammad Hamza Shehadeh, who the military says was the chief of intelligence in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force.
The IDF says his activities were a violation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
- CNN interview with Dr. Gershon Baskin Interview
- Gershon Baskin on the war in Gaza
Our five questions this time go to the Israeli columnist and political activist Gershon Baskin. We have worked with spoke to the Middle East expert about the war in Gaza and why he believes the two-state solution is the right way forward.
Mr. Baskin, what do the majority of Israelis think about the war in Gaza? Do they support the continuation of hostilities and thus the policy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?
A clear and clear majority of up to 80 percent of Israelis want this war to end and the hostages to come home. Up to 80 percent of Israelis – perhaps even more – are also calling for a national commission of inquiry to find out what happened on October 7 (note: the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023), what led up to it, what was the cause and what happened afterwards.Netanyahu has not had a majority among the population in polls since the beginning of the war – not even today. But it has to be said: A large number of Israelis – I don’t know how many – believe at the same time that there are no innocent people in Gaza. That is the contradiction.
Government circles keep saying that Hamas is not prepared to negotiate or is to blame for the failure of previous negotiations. How do you see this?
As far as I know, Hamas has been ready for over a year to conclude an agreement that would end the war. This would involve an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners and in return all hostages still held by Hamas would be released. Hamas has repeatedly stated that they are prepared to accept a technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza in which they themselves are not involved.The problem is that they are not prepared to lay down their arms – and there is no clear statement from Mahmoud Abbas or the Palestinian Authority on how Gaza should be governed after the war.
Netanyahu claims that if Israel withdraws from Gaza, Hamas will remain in power, rebuild itself and so on – therein lies the difficulty. I think the main responsibility for the failure of the negotiations lies with Israel. Israel is trying to negotiate a partial agreement that will keep the war going. Hamas, on the other hand, does not believe that Israel would seriously refrain from further fighting even in the event of a ceasefire – because Israel has a proven history of broken ceasefires.
More and more countries, including Germany, are criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Why does this not impress the Netanyahu government? What would have to happen to exert effective pressure?
Declarations by Germany or the EU sound good, but everyone in Israel knows that they have no effect. They end up as meaningless papers in the bin. Perhaps something would change if there were real sanctions – for example, if settlers were no longer allowed to travel to Europe. Or if the free trade agreement was suspended and visa-free entry for Israelis was revoked. Such measures would carry more weight.Even the threat of recognizing Palestine does not really shake Israel. Because the Israelis know that this will not – and will not – change the reality on the ground. Israel does not recognize the state of Palestine.
Critical voices say that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be a reward for Hamas – which would ultimately emerge victorious.
This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas was founded as an opponent of the two-state solution. It does not support a Palestinian state existing in peace alongside Israel. The two-state solution would therefore be a reward for the moderates who want to live in peace. It would be a signal that the world really supports this solution.We must go beyond the duplicitous arguments of states like Germany that say they support a two-state solution but only recognize one of the two states. It is high time that Germany and other key states show politically and practically that Palestine is real – and that Palestinians have the same right to self-determination as Israeli Jews. This is necessary – and it is in no way a reward for terrorism.
How could Israel break out of the pure war logic of its security policy without losing its ability to defend itself?
Israel is a very strong country. It must defend itself at its borders, use its intelligence services and take preventive action against those who threaten it. But above all, Israel must pursue a course aimed at peace with all its neighbors. The offer from Saudi Arabia is on the table – on condition that the Palestinian question is resolved. If there is a Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia will also bring the other Muslim countries to the table.Israel must get away from the idea that it can only make progress with military strength. Of course it needs military deterrence in order not to be seen as weak. But at the same time it must seriously seek peace with the Arab countries – and with the Palestinians first. This will not happen as long as Netanyahu is in power. And not as long as Mahmoud Abbas or Hamas are in charge. link to interview with Dr. Gershon Baskin
Security source: “We will not carry out an order over which a black flag flies”
Despite the army’s opposition, the political-security cabinet has decided on the conquest of the Gaza Strip • Security source: “Under no circumstances will we endanger hostages, we will not take people on an adventure” • The IDF is preparing for taking control of the Strip – assessment: it will require the recruitment of 250,000 reservistsThe political-security cabinet decided last night – Israel is going to conquer the Gaza Strip. The decision was made at the end of a discussion that lasted about 10 hours, amid opposition from the military echelon to the move. This evening we reported on “Friday Studio” that a senior security source raised the possibility that the army would not implement certain decisions: “We will not carry out an order over which a black flag flies.”
“Under no circumstances will we endanger hostages,” the security source clarified. “We will not carry out an order over which a black flag flies. We are not there, even if we do not agree on everything professionally. We will not take people on an adventure and endanger them for nothing.”
The cabinet decision
The emerging plan to take control of the Strip is gradual. First, it includes encircling Gaza City, establishing humanitarian zones, and additional food distribution stations. In addition, there will be movement of a large part of the civilian population out of the city. After that, the IDF will enter Gaza City and take control of it.In terms of timetable, the execution of the first stage is expected to take several months. The cabinet is marking October as the target date for the conquest of Gaza City.
In the meantime, the IDF will have to recruit about 250,000 reservists in order to conquer and clear Gaza City. After taking control of the city, the forces are expected to operate also in the central camps. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz believe that this will encourage the entry of international forces into Gaza and the emigration of residents.
The political echelon estimates that military pressure will bring Hamas back to the negotiating table. If not, the military action will continue. The Chief of Staff visited the Southern Command today to plan the details of the operation. “The IDF will act according to the values of the army,” he clarified. “My responsibility is to provide the fighters with as much certainty as possible and with a proper breathing space.” link The cabinet decision goes against the ethics and values that every Israeli who goes through the army learns from basic training: No one is left behind, and the responsibility of officers who are trained and live out their motto "After me". "After me" is the reason that we have had so many officers killed in battle because it is not just a motto, it is the way of life in the Israeli army and, with it, comes the responsibility of every officer, no matter what his/her rank to bring every soldier home. Netanyahu was also an officer in a special forces unit but that motto left his lexicon a long time ago. It didn't leave the IDF Chief's lexicon or his way of life and therefore, he is strongly opposed to the cabinet decision. He knows with every fiber of his being that Netanyahu's plan is full of dangers for every living hostage as well as the bodies of the dead. Unfortunately, he must follow the orders of the political echelon but he has certain discretion with his operational plan to try to minimize those risks, but he knows that it will be almost an impossibility.
The plan calls for the evacuation of Gaza City which means that there will be aerial bombing of the city after that to destroy as much Hamas infrastructure as they can before ground troops enter. We already know that this endangers the hostages and many have been killed and injured by our bombings already. Once the ground trips enter in force and big numbers, the risks to the hostages being held in and under Gaza City are at an exponentially higher risk. If any of the Hamas terrorist guards feel that the soldiers are nearby or if their electronic monitoring gives them this indication, they have orders to execute any and all hostages they are guarding. At least 10 hostages have been executed in this way.
Our only hope is that enough pressure by Egypt and Qatar will bring Hamas back to the table but the chances for a deal will be dependent on Trump. Netanyahu will likely not back down from not agreeing to a deal ending the war unless Trump forces him to do so, and Hamas will not make any deal that doesn't include ending the war. Throughout 22 months of war, Netanyahu has shown us time and again that the hostages are pawns for his political survival and their lives can be sacrificed on his alter. That hasn't changed.
Netanyahu tells Merz Germany ‘rewarding Hamas’ by placing arms embargo on Israel
Isn't everyone sick and tired of Netanyahu's standard playbook? Anyone or any country that acts or speaks against his agenda and his actions is either 'rewarding Hamas' or anti-semitic. It can never be that they are against the crimes that Netanyahu and his government are committing on a daily basis, and they want it to end. Can't it be that they, like Germany, are among the biggest supporters of Israel but not of the government and army's actions?
All or most of these countries would like to see the end of Hamas as well, but not the end of the Palestinian people. They want to see the end of the Israel/Palestine conflict, but not the end of Israel. They, like so many believe that the only solution to the conflict is a 2 State Solution and, as opposed to Netanyahu who wants to continue to live by the sword and 'manage' the conflict, they want to see peace in the region with dignity, civil and human rights for all, and don't see this as a prize to Hamas. On the contrary, this is a nightmare scenario for Hamas. Hamas is dedicated to the ending of Israel by destruction and death, as well as the Jewish people. A solution that states mutual recognition and agreed upon peace between the 2 nations is anathema to them.
Of course, Hamas is claiming that their actions have brought the Palestinian people the recognition that they need to bring about a Palestinian State but it is their horrid and barbaric attack that showed the world that this must be the last war between Israel and the Palestinians and that it must end with Hamas out of power and out of influence into the new age of a Palestinian State.
Netanyahu has spent his entire political career to prevent this from happening and chooses a path of war, killing, terror, fear, bloodshed every time instead of a future of hope for a better Middle East for our children. Nothing about Netanyahu today or at any time in the past has been about hope and building a better communal future. A big change is needed. The nations that are supporting a Palestinian state within a 2 State Solution are the ones paving the war. Netanyahu has never had a strategic plan so he could never be a leader in the region or have a plan for reaching peace, therefore he forces us to have to catch up instead of being on the ground floor and part of the early planning stages. This is not leadership. It is quite the opposite. He needs to leave the stage, as does Abu Mazen of the PA and the next generation of leaders from each side must be the leaders we need for tomorrow's better future where 'living by the sword' will become a slogan in the history books.US aware of ‘threats’ towards Jewish, Israeli communities in the UAE
The United States mission to the United Arab Emirates says it is aware of information indicating threats toward the Jewish and Israeli communities in the UAE.
It urges US citizens to “avoid places in the UAE associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities, including places of worship.”
On July 31, Israel’s National Security Council upgraded its travel warning for Israelis in the Gulf country, saying: “terrorist organizations are operating with increased intensity these days in efforts to harm Israel.”
Saudi Arabia slams Israel’s plan for Gaza City takeover, ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians
Saudi Arabia rejects Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City, lambasting it for the “starvation” and “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians in the blockaded territory.
Riyadh said it “condemns in the strongest and most forceful terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip,” in a foreign ministry statement on X.
It added that it “categorically condemns its persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people.”
Israel denies creating starvation conditions in the Gaza Strip and blames the UN and Hamas for preventing civilians from reaching aid.
UAE calls on international community to end Israeli violations of international law after cabinet vote
The United Arab Emirates “condemns in the strongest terms” Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City where some 1 million Palestinians are sheltering in the northern Strip.
The Emirati foreign ministry warns in a statement “that this decision will lead to catastrophic consequences, including further loss of innocent life and a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
The UAE “calls on the international community, the United Nations, and the UN Security Council to fulfill their responsibilities and put an end to such illegal practices in contravention of international law,” the statement adds
World condemnations mount over Israeli plans to take Gaza City; UN Security Council to meet
Source in forum says extraordinary session requested by several members after decision, which UN chief assails for ‘deepening the already catastrophic consequences’ for Gazans
Israel’s plan to “take control” of Gaza City as approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet touched off a wave of criticism Friday from both inside and outside the country.
Nations around the world condemned the plan, saying it would only worsen the conflict and lead to more bloodshed.
The United Nations Security Council was to meet in a rare weekend session on Saturday to discuss Israel’s decision, three diplomatic sources told AFP.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli plan a “dangerous escalation” that risks “deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians”.
“The Israeli government’s decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on X. She called for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and “immediate and unhindered access” for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
European Council president Antonio Costa warned that “such a decision must have consequences” for EU-Israel ties. “The situation in Gaza remains dramatic, and the decision by the Israeli government will only further worsen it,” he posted on X.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told Axios’s Barak Ravid: “Netanyahu’s cabinet is losing Europe — totally. We stand with Israel, but not with the policy of the Israeli government.”
People inspect the damage at the Sheikh Radwan al-Taba UNRWA clinic following an Israeli army bombardment in Gaza City on August 6, 2025. The clinic had been evacuated of displaced Palestinians prior to the strike. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
In Hamas’s backer Iran, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Israel’s plan was “another clear sign of the Zionist regime’s specific intention to ethnically cleanse Gaza and commit genocide against the Palestinians.”
In China, a foreign ministry spokesperson told AFP, “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory. The correct way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to secure the release of hostages is an immediate ceasefire.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was “increasingly difficult to understand” how the Israeli military plan would help achieve legitimate aims. “Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice,” he added.
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages,” adding that it would “only bring more bloodshed.”
France’s foreign ministry said the planned operation “would constitute further serious violations of international law and lead to a complete dead end,” while Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said: “We join many others in viewing that this is wrong, that this action is not going to contribute to an improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground.”A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches along Gaza City, Sunday, August 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
The foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement that “the plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law.”
Qatar said Doha views the decision as “a dangerous development that threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian suffering resulting from the ongoing war in the Strip, exacerbates its disastrous repercussions and undermines efforts aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire.” The United Arab Emirates called on the international community “to fulfill their responsibilities and put an end to such illegal practices in contravention of international law.”
The UNSC meeting at 19:00 GMT Saturday was requested by several members of the Security Council, a member of the Council told AFP, as global concern mounted over Israel’s plan.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Authority’s UN envoy, also said earlier in the day that a number of countries would be requesting a meeting at the Security Council to discuss Israel’s plans, which were approved in a Thursday overnight cabinet session.
The Security Council session is unlikely to produce any resolution or even statement, despite the widespread international opposition to the Israeli plan, as the US would be certain to block such initiatives.
The Gaza City takeover, which was authorized despite the military’s opposition, has sparked fierce criticism at home and abroad, with hostage families saying it will endanger their loved ones and foreign governments warning of dire consequences for Gaza’s civilians.
The UN and other aid agencies have reported skyrocketing cases of malnutrition in Gaza. Israel has blamed the crisis on the UN and Hamas, both of whom it accuses of impeding aid deliveries.
Gaza City takeover plans enrage families of captives
The plan’s limitation of the IDF takeover to Gaza City did not seem to go as far as what had earlier been characterized as a plan to occupy the entirety of the Strip. Netanyahu told Fox News hours before the security cabinet convened that a full takeover was his intention.
However, a statement from Netanyahu’s office notably described the adopted proposal as one aimed at “defeating Hamas,” meaning that there may be subsequent operations beyond the one for Gaza City that were approved and not announced.
The decision did not use the word “occupy,” and instead referred to “taking over,” due to legal reasons pertaining to Israel’s responsibility for civilian matters in Gaza, according to the Ynet news site. The outlet added, however, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official, that this distinction was superficial, and the decision in fact relates to full military rule. The conquest would stop if a hostage deal is clinched, according to the report.
Roughly one million Palestinians — many of whom have already been displaced several times throughout the 22-month war — currently reside in Gaza City, in northern Gaza. A senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel news that the plan approved by the cabinet will see those civilians evacuated toward the south.
The cabinet decision states that Palestinians will have until October 7, 2025, to evacuate Gaza City — a two-month window that also coincides with the second anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, the Israeli official said. The IDF will then launch its ground offensive into Gaza City, placing a siege on the area in order to kill any remaining Hamas operatives. After the takeover is complete, the official indicated that the IDF will proceed to the remaining unconquered areas of Gaza.
Israel says it currently controls 75 percent of the Strip, while the IDF has largely avoided entering the remaining 25% — which mostly comprises Gaza City and refugee camps in central Gaza — due to the belief that most of the hostages are being held there. Almost all of Gaza’s 2 million citizens are currently in the quarter of the Strip that the IDF does not control. Hamas has threatened to execute hostages if its operatives detect Israeli troops closing in; Hamas captors killed six Israeli hostages in Rafah, in southern Gaza, last August, when IDF troops inadvertently neared the tunnel where they were being held.
Hostage families, who demand the government end the war and reach a comprehensive hostage deal, staged fiery protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Thursday night as the cabinet convened to discuss the Gaza plans.
They argue that the last five months have proven that military pressure has not led Hamas to release the hostages and that Israel is in a position to agree to Hamas’s demand to end the war, as the terror group no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel.
Hamas has fully transitioned to fighting as a guerrilla group, causing roughly three dozen Israeli casualties since Israel broke the ceasefire in March by launching Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which was also aimed at securing the release of the hostages and defeating Hamas.Families of hostages held in Gaza and their supporters call for the end of the war in Gaza and the release of all captives, outside a security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, August 7, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Netanyahu argues that ending the war and withdrawing from Gaza, as Hamas demands, will allow Hamas to regroup.
In the meantime, Netanyahu has rejected any post-war governing role in Gaza for the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, and otherwise refused to advance a viable governing alternative to Hamas.
The premier’s critics say this has allowed the war to drag out endlessly as Hamas has managed to remain the most dominant Palestinian force in Gaza. For his part, Netanyahu has argued that no alternative to Hamas will be able to survive in Gaza before the terror group has been defeated.
Netanyahu’s government also relies on far-right coalition partners who oppose a hostage deal and want to permanently occupy the Strip, push out its residents and re-establish settlements in their place. link The world condemnations don't mean a thing to Netanyahu and his failed government. The condemnations don't precede any real actions, not against the State of Israel, not against citizens and not against anything else. They are mere words and Netanyahu just spits those out. The only condemnation that would worry him is if Trump condemns him and his actions. As long as that doesn't happen and he has the green light for anything that we do in Gaza. This is an absurd and dangerous situation.Around 20 Arab, Muslim countries slam ‘dangerous escalation’ after Israel okays plan to take over Gaza City
CAIRO, Egypt — Several Arab and Muslim countries condemn as a “dangerous escalation” Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City.
Some 20 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, say the plan constituted “a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli… in contravention of international legitimacy.” link There is blanket world condemnation for the cabinet's decision to occupy Gaza. I can't think of another action taken by a country that has received the same wall to wall condemnation, but Netanyahu and his corrupt government of self interested petty politicians and extremists don't give a damn what the world says. Netanyahu is only concerned by Trump's statements and actions and right now, Trump has given him the green light. The ramifications of these actions will be heavy and painful for the country and the population but that doesn't impact these politicians one iota.
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
Join my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0
Twitter - @LonnyB58 Bluesky - @lonny-b.bsky.social
My blogs in The Times of Israel my blogs
Substack - https://lonnyb.substack.com/
Twitter - @LonnyB58
My blogs in The Times of Israel my blogs
Substack - https://lonnyb.substack.com/
Comments
Post a Comment