π️Lonny's War Update- October 722, 2023 - September 27, 2025 π️
π️Day 722 that 48 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivityπ️
We need closure’: Hostage families lead protest outside UN during Netanyahu speech
Demonstrators call to end war and release Gaza captives, criticize government, and countries recognizing Palestinian statehood
The family members of Israelis held hostage in Gaza led a protest outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Friday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to the world assembly.
The protesters chanted for the release of the hostages, an end to the war, and criticized Netanyahu and his government.
“We’ve been every place that Benjamin Netanyahu [has been], in Jerusalem, in New York, and told him, ‘We want only to finish, to put a complete deal on the table and finish the war. We want to see all of them, all the 48, return to Israel,'” Hagai Angrest, the father of hostage Matan Angrest, told the crowd.
Around 200 people attended the protest in Dag HammarskjΓΆld Plaza, across from the UN in midtown Manhattan. The protesters held yellow flowers and signs with the images of the hostages, and chanted, “Bring them home, all of them now,” and, “They’re running out of time.”
The families from Israel included the parents of hostages, both living and deceased, such as the captives Nimrod Cohen, Matan Angrest, and Lior Rudaeff. Other hostage families who live in the New York area — the parents of Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, American-Israelis whose bodies are held in Gaza — also attended.
The families from Israel came as part of the Israeli government delegation to the UN’s annual General Assembly, held this week. They will meet with international delegations from France, the UK and the European Union.
“My dad was killed on October 7th. His body was taken, and he’s still being held captive. We need closure,” Nadav Rudaeff, the son of the late hostage Lior Rudaeff, told The Times of Israel. “The goal is to bring all hostages back and to end the war so no other soldier will be killed, because for the past almost two years now, Israel as a country, the people of Israel as a community, we’ve been living under this veil of sorrow, of hurt, of death, and that needs to end.”
Rudaeff criticized the countries recognizing Palestinian statehood this week, saying the hostages should have been a priority before the statehood recognitions.
Nadav Rudaeff, the son of Hamas hostage Lior Rudaeff, outside the United Nations in New York City, September 26, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)“I’m here because 48 hostages are still being held captive. All the other things that are being discussed right now in terms of recognition of a Palestinian state, until hostages are being released, I don’t think it has a place,” he said.
Other families criticized the Netanyahu government. Yehuda Cohen, the father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, said he had walked out of Netanyahu’s speech.
“We have a prime minister who is doing everything, everything to destroy the country of Israel. All the world is against us because of one man who’s trying to escape his criminal trial,” Cohen told the crowd. “I’m here to fight for the life of my son, Nimrod. He’s there in the tunnel, still alive. Fight against a person, who’s called Netanyahu.”
Yehuda Cohen, the father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, at a protest outside the United Nations, New York City, September 26, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)“It’s like a patient with brain cancer. The brain is the government, the cancer cells are the government ministers and the prime minister, and Israel has to go through a chemotherapy treatment to stress the country so it can get rid of its cancer, so we can end the war, get the hostages, and rebuild the country,” he said.
The crowd included Israeli expats and American Jews in New York City who protest with the city’s branch of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
The event closed with the crowd singing Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” or “The Hope.”
Separately, on the other side of the plaza, several dozen leftist demonstrators held a silent protest against the war.
The protesters stood behind a police barricade on a sidewalk, holding images of the Israeli hostages and Palestinians killed in Gaza.
Attendees included New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, the city’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official, and Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the head of the progressive group T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.
Protesters hold signs showing Hamas hostages and Palestinian casualties of war at a demonstration outside the United Nations in New York City, September 26, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)A handful of anti-Zionist protesters from the activist group Doctors Against Genocide and the fringe, extremist Jewish group Naturei Karta gathered at the entrance to the plaza after most of the hostage demonstrators from both groups had dispersed. Several pro-Israel activists engaged in a shouting match with the anti-Zionist activists.
Across town, hundreds of anti-Zionist groups gathered at Times Square to protest Netanyahu’s speech before marching down city streets toward the UN, beating drums and chanting, “Shut it down,” and “One solution, revolution,” according to footage shared online by the activists.
On Thursday night, a crowd of anti-Israel protesters gathered outside Netanyahu’s Manhattan hotel, beating drums and shouting, “Netanyahu, we’re going to get you,” and “Long live the intifada.”
Protesters march to the UN headquarters in New York City as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on September 26, 2025. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP)The protests were led by anti-Israel groups such as Within Our Lifetime and the Palestinian Youth Movement, and far-left organizations such as the People’s Forum.
Despite the leftist Jewish groups and the anti-Zionist activists’ shared antipathy toward Netanyahu, the two sides are not allies because the anti-Zionists seek Israel’s destruction and the ostracization of those they deem “Zionists.”
New York City Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is leading the race to become the city’s next mayor, condemned Netanyahu’s speech in a public statement on Friday, saying, “His government is committing a genocide.”
Mamdani, a far-left, harsh critic of Israel, has vowed to arrest Netanyahu if Netanyahu visits New York while Mamdani is mayor, although the mayor does not appear to have the authority to order such an arrest.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is a firm supporter of Israel who said he would meet Netanyahu during his visit to New York, but has not yet announced a meeting. Link
Trump vows ‘intense’ talks to continue until deal reached to free hostages, end Gaza war
After declaring a Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal was “very close,” US President Donald Trump writes on his Truth Social app that he’s “pleased to report that we are having very inspired and productive discussions with the Middle Eastern Community concerning Gaza.”
“Intense negotiations have been going on for four days, and will continue for as long as necessary in order to get a Successfully Completed Agreement. All of the Countries within the Region are involved, Hamas is very much aware of these discussions, and Israel has been informed at all levels, including Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,” he says, referring to the premier by his nickname.
Trump adds: “There is more Goodwill and Enthusiasm for getting a Deal done, after so many decades, than I have ever seen before. Everyone is excited to put this period of Death and Darkness behind them. It is an Honor to be a part of this Negotiation. We must get the Hostages back, and get a PERMANENT AND LONGLASTING PEACE!”
Trump’s Gaza plan: Hostage release, IDF withdrawal, Arab role in post-war security
Trump’s proposed 21-point Gaza peace plan links hostage release to a phased Israeli withdrawal, bars Hamas from governance, and envisions an Arab-led security force with UAE involvement, plus a Saudi-backed fund to rebuild Gaza
The Trump administration has proposed a 21-point plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza that calls for the release of all hostages within 48 hours of an agreement in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, a source familiar with the proposal told CNN.The plan was shared with Arab leaders earlier this week, though it is unclear whether Hamas has been presented with it. The proposal may have been revised in recent days and, if delivered, would likely be relayed through Qatar to Hamas’ negotiating team in Doha.President Donald Trump voiced optimism Friday, saying the sides are “very close” to a deal, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the same day to press ahead with the war until Hamas is destroyed.Arab leaders are generally supportive of the proposal despite reservations, the source said, adding that they want the conflict to end quickly.According to the source, the plan does not include a timeline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, states that Israel will not attack Qatar again, prohibits forced displacement from Gaza and bars Hamas from any future role in governing the territory.It envisions two layers of interim governance — an international body and a Palestinian committee — without a set timeline for transferring leadership to the Palestinian Authority. The proposal also calls for a United Nations role in providing humanitarian aid but makes no mention of the disputed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. While it stops short of U.S. backing for a Palestinian state, it acknowledges this as a Palestinian aspiration.Behind the scenes, Washington is pressing regional governments to support the plan. Netanyahu is expected to meet soon with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in what Israeli officials described as a pivotal discussion on “the day after” in Gaza. The United Arab Emirates is expected to contribute troops to a temporary Arab-led security force in the enclave and has played a central role in channeling humanitarian assistance. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer visited Abu Dhabi earlier this year to discuss the arrangements.U.S. officials say the plan envisions a ceasefire taking effect within 72 hours of an agreement, during which hostages would be released. While Washington is insisting on the release of all captives, a phased approach is being considered. The framework also calls for Hamas to disarm and for its senior leaders to leave Gaza, with Israel providing assurances not to target them. American officials are also advancing discussions on a Saudi-backed investment fund for the reconstruction of Gaza.Diplomats say the plan would eventually involve the Palestinian Authority in administering Gaza — a step Netanyahu has resisted — but one that U.S. officials see as essential. The White House has indicated determination to bring the war to an end, with senior advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff engaged in recent talks with Netanyahu. Witkoff told hostage families this week he was working “day and night” for their release. An Israeli official said, “There is a great deal of American activity. For them, this is the money time. They are fully mobilized to end the war and bring the hostages home.”It remains unclear whether Hamas will accept the proposal, particularly after Israel’s failed attempt to target senior leaders in Doha earlier this month. 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!!!”
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
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IDF: Over 750,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City to Strip’s south amid offensive
More than 750,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated Gaza City to the Strip’s south, according to the IDF, as the military intensifies its offensive against Hamas there.
Around one million Palestinians were estimated to be residing in Gaza City before the IDF launched the major offensive. Civilians were ordered to evacuate to an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza.
The rate of Palestinians leaving the area has risen in the past week, as the IDF advances deeper into Gaza City.
“Gaza City is emptying because its residents realize that the military operation is escalating and that moving south is for their safety, says Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman.
“We call on you to move to the humanitarian area in al-Mawasi as soon as possible and to join more than 750,000 of the city’s residents who left in recent days and weeks for their safety,” he adds.
IDF hits 120 terror targets across Strip as troops continue push into Gaza City
The Israeli Air Force struck some 120 targets in the Gaza Strip in the past day, including buildings used by terror groups, terror operatives and other infrastructure, the military says, as troops continue to advance in Gaza City.
In Gaza City, the IDF says the 98th Division killed several gunmen and located many weapons, including RPGs and rockets. The division also directed drone strikes on a Hamas surveillance post and a staging point for Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives, according to the IDF.
The 162nd and 36th divisions are also operating in Gaza City, and in the past day, killed additional terror operatives and destroyed Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels.
At least 32 killed in overnight strikes, Gazan health authorities say
Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people across Gaza overnight, Gazan health officials say, as international pressure grows for a ceasefire-hostage deal.
Strikes in central and northern Gaza killed people in their homes in the early hours of the morning, including nine from the same family in a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to health staff at the Al-Awda hospital where the bodies were brought.
The strikes demolished a house in Gaza City’s Tufah neighborhood, killing at least 11 people, more than half of them women and children, according to the Al-Ahly Hospital where the bodies were brought. Four other people were killed when an airstrike hit their homes in the Shati refugee camp, according to Shifa hospital.
Gazan authorities, tied to Hamas, do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
- ‘Beyond humanity’: Israeli strike devastates Gaza City neighbourhood
Hours before Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Israeli strikes continued to bombard the Gaza Strip. A residential tower in Al Rimal in Gaza City was hit. Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili was there as rescue crews dug for survivors amid the rubble. video - Israeli attack hits near Al Jazeera crew filming in Gaza
Women and children were seen screaming and rushing for shelter after an Israeli attack landed close to an Al Jazeera crew as they interviewed a displaced Palestinian mother in the al-Shati refugee camp near Gaza City. link
Israel-Syria talks said to hit snag over Israeli demand for humanitarian corridor to Druze
Officials say Syrians rejected a request for a corridor to the Druze city Sweida, saying it would violate their sovereignty; renewed demand derails plan to announce deal this week
Efforts to reach a security pact between Syria and Israel have hit a last-minute snag over Israel’s demand that it be allowed to open a “humanitarian corridor” to Syria’s southern province of Sweida, four sources familiar with the talks said.
Syria and Israel had come close in recent weeks to agreeing on the broad outlines of a pact after months of US-brokered talks in Baku, Paris and London that accelerated in the lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
The pact was intended to create a demilitarized zone that would include the province of Sweida, where sectarian violence in July killed hundreds of people from the Druze, an offshoot of Islam.
Israel says it will protect Syria’s Druze
Israel, which has a 120,000-strong Druze minority whose men serve in the Israeli military, has said it will protect the sect and carried out military strikes in Syria under the banner of defending it.
In earlier talks in Paris, Israel asked to open a land corridor to Sweida for aid, but Syria rejected the request as a breach of its sovereignty.
Israel reintroduced the demand at a late stage in the talks, according to two Israeli officials, a Syrian source and a source in Washington briefed on the talks.
A man waves an Israeli flag during a demonstration by Druze in the southern Syrian city of Sweida calling for self-determination, August 16, 2025. (X screenshot)The Syrian source and the source in Washington said the renewed Israeli demand had derailed plans to announce a deal this week. The new sticking point has not been previously reported.
The State Department, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syria’s foreign ministry did not respond to questions on the contours of the deal or the sticking points.
No talks since last week
US envoy Tom Barrack, who has been brokering the talks between Syria and Israel, said on Tuesday the longtime foes were close to striking a “de-escalation agreement” in which Israel would stop its attacks and Syria would agree not to move any machinery or heavy equipment near the border with Israel.
He said it would serve as the first step towards the security deal that the two countries have been negotiating. One diplomat familiar with the matter said it appeared that the US was “scaling down from a security deal to a de-escalation deal.”
Speaking shortly before Barrack at an event in New York, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda leader who led rebel forces that seized Damascus last year, expressed concern that Israel may be stalling the talks.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (L) watches as US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack speaks during a press conference in Damascus on September 16, 2025. (Louai Beshara/AFP)“We are scared of Israel. We are worried about Israel. It’s not the other way around,” he said.
A Syrian official told Reuters that conversations before the UN General Assembly began were “positive,” but there had been no further conversations with Israeli officials this week.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa speaks during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, September 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)Addressing the UN General Assembly on Friday, Netanyahu said, “the very idea of peace between Israel and Syria seemed unimaginable” for decades, but that “we have begun serious negotiations with the new Syrian government. I believe an agreement can be reached that respects Syria’s sovereignty and protects both Israeli security and the security of the minorities in the region, including the Druze minority.”
He referred to the Druze as Israeli Jews’ brothers in arms. “That’s why I couldn’t sit idly by, nor could Israel sit idly by, while the Druze were being slaughtered by jihadists [in Syria],” he said. “I instructed our forces to stop the massacre, which they promptly did.”
The prime minister’s office said on Wednesday that concluding ongoing negotiations was “contingent on ensuring the interests of Israel, which include, inter alia, the demilitarization of south-western Syria and preserving the safety and security of the Druze in Syria.”
Syria and Israel have been foes since Israel’s founding in 1948. A disengagement agreement in 1974 created a narrow demilitarized zone monitored by the United Nations.
But since rebels toppled Syria’s then-leader Bashar al-Assad last December 8, Israel has carried out unprecedented strikes on Syria’s military assets across the country and sent troops into a buffer zone on country’s south.
Israel has expressed open hostility towards Sharaa, citing his former links to al Qaeda, and has lobbied the United States to keep Syria weak and decentralized.
In months of talks, Syria had been advocating for a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement. In mid-September, Sharaa described the deal to journalists as a “necessity.” He said then that Israel would need to respect Syria’s airspace and territorial unity, but raised the possibility of Israeli breaches.
“We could reach a deal at any moment, but then another problem arises which is: will Israel commit to and implement it? We will see this in the next phase,” he said.
Syrian judge issues arrest warrant for Assad over November 2011 incidents in Daraa
A Syrian judge issues an arrest warrant in absentia against former ruler Bashar al-Assad over incidents that occurred in November 2011 in the city of Daraa.
Investigating Judge Tawfiq al-Ali says the warrants include premeditated murder, torture leading to death, and deprivation of liberty, according to the SANA state-owned news agency.
The judge is probing a lawsuit by families of victims of incidents that took place on November 23, 2011, in Daraa, amid the country’s brutal civil war.
Assad fled to Moscow in December when rebel forces overthrew his regime.
After Netanyahu, UAE FM meeting, top Emirati official says West Bank annexation ‘file closed’
In the wake of a meeting between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a top Emirati official says that Israel will not be annexing the West Bank.
Bin Zayed in the meeting conveyed “the UAE’s decisive position closing the file on Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands,” writes Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, on X. “The meeting represents a bold step in support of international efforts to end the war in Gaza and reach a permanent ceasefire that ends the humanitarian tragedy and bolsters the path to peace,” he adds.
Bin Zayed and Netanyahu met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
US President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that Israeli annexation of the West Bank is “not going to happen.”
Earlier this month, a top United Arab Emirates official warned Israel that annexing the West Bank would cross a “red line” that would “end the vision of regional integration. link This appears to be the end of the question if Netanyahu was going to declare annexation of the West Bank. Netanyahu received a very public 'don't' from Trump yesterday when Trump said absolutely that there will not be any annexation of the West Bank. The Arab States that are part of the Abraham Accords made it very clear that if Israel annexes any part of the West Bank, the Abraham Accords will end. Trump will not allow that to happen. It is the crown jewel in his foreign policy successes and he won't let anyone take that away from him, including his BFF Netanyahu. On the other hand, Netanyahu, who prides himself on being the signatory of the Abraham Accords and in the past would not let anything get in their way and to expand them, has changed his spots due to his political position. In his war for political survival, all bets are off and things that would have been unheard of 2 years ago are now fair game. That includes the Abraham Accords. In order to save his political skin, Netanyahu has already jeopardize normalization with Saudi Arabia, which he previously saw as the most important thing that would be his legacy. The Abraham Accords, therefore became something that he would be willing to risk on his alter of political survival. But Trump will not allow that to happen and Trump is the one person in the world that Netanyahu will not say no to, so he is not risking his government to appease Trump and not go through with annexation.
However, in his desperate attempts to keep his coalition together, he will be discussing other alternatives with Trump and I have no doubt that one of the main areas of focus will be making major changes to Area A territories in the West Bank. Area A means that the towns, villages and cities are supposed to be under total control of the Palestinian Authority which also means that no Israeli settlements can be built or expanded in any of the lands of Area A. Netanyahu is being pressured by his extremist messianic partners to take back large parts of Area A and make them Area C. Area C is under municipal control of the PA (garbage, health, education, infrastructure to a limited degree, etc.) but security and building is in Israeli control. Making lands of Area A into C would allow Netanyahu's extremist partners build and expand settlements in those lands that were forbidden to them to even enter previously. This change would probably satisfy Smotrich who has the ministerial responsibility for civilian issues in the West Bank and settlements and keep him in the government. Ben Gvir on the other hand will probably bolt the government over the issue of annexation, as he and his party are already pressuring Netanyahu to ignore Trump and annex all of the West Bank. Ben Gvir likely believes it to be in his interest not to be in the government prior to new elections which could be closer if he bolts the government
Netanyahu’s flight to US takes extended detour, avoiding most European airspace
No official reason given for unusual route, but there’s an ICC warrant for PM’s arrest; Wing of Zion refrains from flying over France, though source claims permission given
Screen capture of the fight path taken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he flew to Washington, September 25, 2025. (Screenshot via FlightRadar24)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane took an extended detour on Thursday as he traveled to New York for the UN General Assembly in order to avoid the airspace of all countries along the route except Italy and Greece, lengthening the journey by hundreds of kilometers.
The trajectory, visible on Flight Tracker, may have been an effort to avoid problems related to the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest over alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza — charges Israel denies.
Many of the State Parties to the ICC in Europe have said that, pursuant to the arrest warrant, they would detain Netanyahu if he were present on their soil.
The detour added 600 kilometers (372 miles) to the journey, the Haaretz newspaper reported.
There was no official reason given for the unusual route, and ahead of departure, Israel had asked for authorization for Netanyahu’s plane to fly over French airspace, according to a French diplomatic official.
The French gave permission, according to the official, though the plane did not make use of it.
They decided to take another route, and we don’t know the reason,” said the official.
The Wing of Zion plane ahead of a trip by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States, February 2, 2025. (Lazar Berman/Times of Israel)The flight, on the Wing of Zion state plane, also appeared to avoid the airspace of Spain, which has vowed to assist the ICC investigation.
Kan public broadcaster correspondent Itay Blumenthal posted to social media images showing the path that Netanyahu took for his flight compared to a much shorter route he took when flying to the US in July.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced last week that Netanyahu would not bring journalists with him on his visit to the UN due to what it said were security considerations.
An i24 News report alleged, however, that officials decided to keep the number of people aboard the flight to a minimum, thus excluding journalists, in order to save fuel for what was expected to be a longer flight.
It was not clear why the prime minister was able to use a more direct route in July versus on his flight Thursday, just two months later.
France, which would normally be along the flight path, said last year it would not arrest the premier, though this drew a rebuke from the European Union.
When the premier flew to the US in February, that trip, too, was lengthened, in part over concerns about the ICC warrant. He also reportedly canceled a trip to Azerbaijan in May to avoid flying over Turkey, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a fierce critic of Israel who has praised the Hamas terror group, welcomed the arrest warrant. Turkey refuses to allow Wing of Zion to pass through its airspace.
The ICC, based in The Hague, has indicted Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes committed during Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. It also issued warrants for several Hamas leaders who have all since been killed by Israel, for crimes committed during the Palestinian terror group’s cross-border attack on October 7, 2023.
Some 1,200 people were killed in the invasion, most of them civilians, and 251 were taken hostage. Terror groups in Gaza are still holding 47 of those captured that day hostage, and Hamas is also holding the body of a soldier killed in Gaza in 2014.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 65,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting so far, though the toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
Israel says it has killed over 22,000 combatants in battle as of August and another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 onslaught.
Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques. Link. Netanyahu not only has an arrest warrant for him from the ICC, he is a war criminal. The actions that he has ordered in Gaza have been crimes against humanity and the single arrest warrant for him at present is only a sign of what will come. I have no doubt that more charges will be brought against him and most, if not all of his cabinet and senior IDF and Shin Bet officers. He has put himself in league with other past leaders such as Putin, Muammar Gaddafi, Sudan's al-Bashir, Chile's Pinochet, Philippines Duarte and others. He is deserving of this warrant but he has put all of Israel together with him for his criminal actions. It wasn't enough that he is under criminal indictment for felony crimes in Israel and his trials are ongoing. For his political survival, he has ordered horrendous actions which are criminal in Gaza and the West Bank and every Israeli is not paying the price for his criminality. His flight from Israel is no longer a simple matter. He is afraid of the plane being forced down by so many countries around the world that are signatories of the ICC and then being arrested on the ground and extradited to the Hague for trial, so his flight path now needs to take a very indirect route to avoid being arrested. This is our new reality, to have a leader who must avoid almost 125 countries that are signatories to the ICC. Some of those countries have stated that they will not comply with the arrest warrant but several others have stated unequivocally that if Netanyahu steps foot in their countries, he will be arrested. That would also probably mean if he flew over those countries, their air force could force his plane to land and then arrest him. He has the luxury of being able to avoid these countries with special flight plans, but who in the wildest dreams would ever think that an Israeli leader would have to do this. He is not worthy to be leading our country. The damage he has done to us internally and externally is greater than any of our enemies in our history. Whether he ends up in prison in Israel or the Hague doesn't matter much. What matters most is that he leaves the political arena forever and never holds public office again. We Israelis are deserving of a leader of vision, not of doomsday, alienation and living by the sword for eternity.
- Netanyahu’s UN speech was more spin than substance
Analysis: Netanyahu’s 'riddle speech,' named so for its cue-card theatrics, impressed supporters in Israel but failed to offer policy or hope abroad, underscoring the country’s deepening diplomatic isolationPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the UN was a masterclass in domestic public diplomacy. In a well-structured address, he laid out all the arguments for why Israel is acting the way it is in Gaza. But there is one problem: the world is not buying it. For the international community, Netanyahu’s words were no more convincing than reheated noodles.For all his rhetorical skill — and he has plenty — the world expects the Israeli leader to present policy. That was missing. What he offered was more of the same. He did not even address President Donald Trump’s initiative.What was absent from Netanyahu’s speech can be summed up in a single word: hope. Hope for the world and, no less important, hope for Israelis.This past week marked a low point for Israel’s international standing. Western countries recognized a Palestinian state. World leaders accused Israel from the UN podium of committing “genocide.” And Netanyahu’s showmanship could not disguise the diplomatic failures for which he and his government bear responsibility.Israelis love gimmicks, but when they pile up, they lose their punch. The barcode was a clever idea, even if blocked in Israel. Showing Hamas’ atrocities at the UN was also important — but only now? Where was this for the past two years? The video was screened only for elites, not the wider public. Families of hostages objected to a broader release, and no Israeli official took responsibility to authorize it with blurred faces. It came across as a way to cover the lack of substance with stunts.The gimmicks reached their peak when Netanyahu held up large cue cards with multiple-choice questions: “Who wants the United States to die?” and “Who murdered European citizens?” The answers, which he then revealed, were Iran and terror groups Israel is fighting or has fought. It was this performance that led some to call it his “riddle speech.”
(Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP)The walkouts at the start of the speech, and the half-empty hall during it, were the most visual expression of Israel’s current reality: isolated, abandoned, shunned. In the room remained the leaders of Papua New Guinea and Tonga, as well as New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who showed rare solidarity. That was meaningful — but too little. Israeli officials at the UN said the walkouts were organized by Palestinians and Arab states, who distributed entry passes to provocateurs to create a spectacle. Unfortunately, it worked.Israel, for its part, packed the gallery with Netanyahu loyalists: philanthropist Simcha Felic (spelling unconfirmed), businessman Mor Zmira, tycoon Hezi Bezalel, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, socialite Nicole Raidman and her two children, Jewish leader Malcolm Hoenlein, and others. They stood, applauded and shouted “bravo.” Dershowitz told Ynet: “It was a wonderful speech. It really drove home that Jewish lives are no longer cheap and that Israel will fight back. He followed the Talmudic principle: If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first. It was an interactive speech. A great success. The people who left the hall stayed for Iran and China. They would have stayed for Hamas. This just shows their hypocrisy.”Netanyahu, however, was not at his best. He looked tired, his speech was too long, and he stumbled several times — even confusing Austria with Australia. He seemed to be in the grip of a panic attack. This was not the sharp Netanyahu his audiences are used to. There were meaningful moments. Reading the names of 20 hostages still alive was moving, though he left out the names of the dead and of two whose lives are believed to be in grave danger — even as some of their parents sat in the gallery. His direct words to the hostages were powerful. If they heard them, they surely drew strength.Listing Israel’s strategic achievements since October 7 was also the right move. In the endless Gaza war, Israel’s military successes have been forgotten, and it was good that Netanyahu reminded the world of them. His rejection of the genocide accusation was articulate and effective.But diplomats were puzzled when Netanyahu lashed out at European governments. For a moment, he seemed to think he was president of the United States. With all due respect to his fluent English, what may work for an American president does not work for an Israeli prime minister. Publicly berating European leaders at the UN is not how you influence policy. It only deepens the rift.To his credit, Netanyahu did extend a hand to Lebanon and Syria — a gesture of at least some hope. He also addressed the people of Gaza and Hamas’ leaders.This will be remembered as Netanyahu’s “riddle speech.” But it is unlikely to be remembered as one of his strongest UN addresses. Perhaps that is because Israel finds itself in such a deep diplomatic low, and patience has run thin. Still, it was good that Netanyahu presented Israel’s version of events. At the very least, he did not abandon the stage.
Emirati FM to warn Netanyahu that annexation could endanger Abraham Accords — report
UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will warn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Abraham Accords could be harmed if Israel annexes any parts of the West Bank, Channel 12 news reports ahead of their expected meeting in New York on Friday evening.
An Emirati source tells the network that bin Zayed will tell Netanyahu that Abu Dhabi sees the Abraham Accords “as a cornerstone for a better future in the region… and at the same time will stress the United Arab Emirates’ deep concern about recent developments, particularly actions that endanger the chances of the two-state solution.”
“He will warn again danger steps, such as the callous attack on Qatar and annexation in the West Bank, which could endanger this historic accomplishment,” the source adds.
The source also says the UAE’s top diplomat is expected to update the premier on US President Donald Trump’s plan for ending the Gaza war and freeing the hostages. Link
Israelis report receiving calls with recorded messages trying to recruit Iranian agents
The National Cyber Directorate says it is investigating multiple reports from Israelis who have received calls with recorded Hebrew messages trying to recruit, threaten and intimidate them.
According to Ynet, one of the recordings claims to be Iranian intelligence, looking to recruit agents.
“Iranian intelligence is looking for official agents — competitive salary, comprehensive security. Find us on Telegram and the internet,” one of the recordings says, as quoted by Ynet.
The directorate warns people not to answer calls from numbers 03-6817 and 03-3067, and if you do so, disconnect immediately.
“The National Cyber Directorate emphasizes this is solely an intimidation attempt that does not damage phones,” a statement by the directorate says.
Khamenei mocks Netanyahu UN walkout: ‘Most despised and isolated regime in the world’
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mocks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after hundreds of diplomats from dozens of countries staged a walkout of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly yesterday.
“Today, the evil Zionist regime is the most despised and isolated regime in the world,” he says. link Khamanei, the leader of one of the most despised regimes in the world is calling Israel the "most despised and isolated regime in the world". The irony is very rich but his words are all too true. Israel was, not to long ago, one of the most admired countries in the world, even by those who didn't have relations with us. We are the Start Up nation and boasted one of the most powerful and sophisticated militaries in the world, our economy was strong, and the investments in our companies were from all over the world and by the biggest multinationals corporations. It is amazing that all that has taken a 180 turn thanks to our prime minister who relentlessly is willing to sacrifice anything and everything in order to stay in power and rebuild his crumbling legacy.
The country that was so admired is now a pariah state, where our closest allies have become the strongest critics of our actions in Gaza, which are without a doubt war crimes and our prime minister and his entire cabinet are war criminals. Netanyahu has made being Israeli and being a Jew a dangerous thing all over the world with attacks on us occurring in the, what previously had been the least likely places for attacks against Israeli and Jews. Netanyahu has literally handed the keys over to Iran and replaced Iran with Israel as the most hated country in the world, and I hate to say this, but it is justified. Our actions in Gaza long ago stopped being issues of security. They are war crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing, based on punishment and vengeance. We have 48 hostages still in Gaza and they could have been brought home long ago if not for Netanyahu's purposefully keeping the war going just for his political survival. We have decimated over 90% of Gaza's buildings, infrastructure and utilities and created the world's biggest humanitarian crisis which has been exacerbated by Netanyahu's deliberate actions. Iran has long called us an evil Zionist regime and Netanyahu has made it true.
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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Twitter - @LonnyB58
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Substack - https://lonnyb.substack.com/
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
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