Tuesday, August 27, 2024

08/27 Links Pt1: The jihad to destroy Israel; 90% of Hezbollah rockets fired from civilian areas; Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi rescued by IDF troops from Gaza tunnel

From Ian:

Khaled Abu Toameh: The jihad to destroy Israel
A letter sent recently by the Palestinian "resistance" groups in Gaza to Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Lebanon's Hizbullah militia, serves as a reminder that Iran and its terror proxies view the conflict with Israel as a Jihad (holy war) to eliminate the Jewish state.

For Iran and its allies, the conflict does not concern borders, refugees, prisoners, settlements, or checkpoints. It is actually about their contention that Israel has no right to exist on Muslim-owned territory and that all Muslims must work toward wiping out Israel. In their eyes, this is a religious war between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Hizbullah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad regularly describe their slain members as "mujahideen" (warriors or Jihadists), devout Muslims who sacrificed their lives against the "enemies of Allah and Islam."

In mourning its slain men, Hizbullah has announced that each of them was killed "on the road to Jerusalem." These Muslim warriors were on a sacred mission to liberate Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Jews. By calling its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel the "Al-Aqsa Flood," Hamas is reminding everyone that the conflict against Israel is a religious one. Accordingly, any ceasefire or truce will only serve as a reprieve before they resume the Jihad to destroy Israel.
War Is Hell, Especially for Those Who Bring It on Themselves
A war without civilian casualties is impossible, even for those who try hard to avoid them. During World War II, between 350,000 and 635,000 Germans died in Allied strategic bombing. Germany's cities were reduced to rubble. The German people brought Hitler to power and were his willing accomplices in a war of subjugation and annihilation. In the end, Germany had to be bombed into submission.

In August 1945, Japan's war Cabinet was planning to mobilize the entire civilian population to resist an expected invasion, resulting in a "glorious death" for the nation. That's what Hamas envisions in Gaza, which is why it keeps rejecting proposals for a pause in fighting.

Like Germany in 1939 and Japan at Pearl Harbor in 1941, the war in Gaza started with an act of naked aggression, resulting in 1,200 deaths, many in the most savage fashion, including rape and torture, as well as more than 240 hostages taken. The Palestinians brought the war into Israel on Oct. 7. Where did they think it would lead, and what right do they have now to complain about the way it's being fought?
Israel Must Defend Itself on Its Own - While Cooperating with Allies
The principle "to defend itself with its own forces" is fundamental to Israel's concept of national security. There is no contradiction between this basic Israeli principle and Israel's comprehensive cooperation with the U.S.

American military aid constitutes 16% of the Israeli defense budget and about 2% of the general budget. It also entails Israeli access to the American security system, with its wide dimensions and possibilities.

Calling Israel "America's continental aircraft carrier" was an exaggeration, but the facts that Israel is the only democratic and stable country in the Middle East and that it has a developed technological, scientific, and military capacity have increased its value to the Americans.

From time to time, the idea of a defense agreement between Israel and the U.S. has been floated, but its critics see it, rightly, as a possible violation of Israel's freedom of military action, without adding much to the existing security arrangements.

The Israeli concept of security, designed by David Ben-Gurion, is based on the transfer of war to the enemy's territory. Ben-Gurion strove to prioritize deterrence actions and to strive for decisive victory as quickly and overwhelmingly as possible. On Oct. 7, and in fact well before it, Israeli deterrence lost many of its components. This was the result, in part, of Israel's refusal to act strongly against the terrorist attacks of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and its reliance instead on the economic benefits of a more tolerant approach.


Terrorists killed on unprecedented scale: IDF divisions achieve major milestones in Gaza
The IDF divisions operating in the Gaza Strip have achieved numerous successes there. While some milestones are still not cleared for publication, those that have been highlight operational successes of Israel’s war effort.

The 162nd Division, led by Brig.-Gen. Itzik Cohen, has made significant gains in two areas of Gaza: the Philadelphi Corridor and the city of Rafah, with a focus on the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood.

According to military sources in the Southern Command, the division has accumulated achievements that cannot yet be published but significantly harm Hamas's strength-building efforts.

To this can be added the killing of dozens of terrorists every day.

"The fighting pace of the brigade combat teams deserves great appreciation," said the sources.

On the Egyptian border, troops continued engineering activity to map the area, locate the tunnels, and subsequently destroy them.

The 98th Division, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Guy Levy is currently fighting in the Khan Yunis area and Deir al Balah, in areas where the IDF has not maneuvered until now. So far, three tunnels have been destroyed, in one of which the bodies of the hostages were found.

"The knowledge and professional level of the troops are thoroughly dismantling Hamas's underground infrastructure," military officials said, adding that "unlike in the past, today the force that handles each infrastructure knows how many terrorists were there, when they left, what their purpose was, where the route leads, where the tunnel ends.

"There are tunnels that Hamas uses, and the 98th Division destroys them," the source added.
Why is it taking so long to destroy Hamas?
After 10 months of fighting, many ask why Hamas has not yet been destroyed and Israel’s war objectives have yet to be fully realized.

At the beginning of the war, some in the defense establishment and government sought to avoid a ground maneuver in Gaza. Similar advice was offered by the American officials who frequented Israel. There were several reasons for this hesitation, primary among which were doubts regarding the ability of ground forces to operate effectively in Gaza’s complex environment. While it took time to make the decision to go ahead with the maneuver, once made, Israeli forces acted decisively.

However, over time, the senior command became hesitant in its use of force, imposing numerous limitations on the advance of forces. It was as if they envisioned the campaign as a large special operation and not a series of divisional attacks during which it was necessary to maintain the principles of war, particularly that of continuity. This resulted in frequent halts in operations, especially in Rafah, partly due diplomatic pressures from the United States that the political echelon was unable to withstand. However, lack of professional resolve among the highest military ranks also contributed to the unnecessary prolongation of the conflict.

Another factor prolonging the conflict—one that is still in play—is the issue of humanitarian aid, which has two aspects. The first is the scope of aid entering Gaza and the second is how this aid is distributed. From the start, Israel faced intense American pressure to transfer humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza, despite Washington’s knowledge that much of it would reach Hamas and enhance its ability to survive in Gaza’s tunnels. The political echelon’s inability to withstand this pressure undermined one of Israel’s key leverage points to secure the return of the hostages and prolonged Hamas’ military and civilian survivability.

Hamas’s control over humanitarian aid gives it breathing room and maintains its influence and power among the population. Some aid is diverted to the organization’s needs (food and fuel), while the rest is distributed by it; Hamas uses the aid to recruit new operatives (by supplying them with food) and to strengthen its control over the Gaza Strip and its population. Moreover, the aid is not distributed in a manner that aligns with the IDF’s operational objectives, thus complicating efforts to evacuate civilians from areas of conflict, such as northern Gaza, and hindering military operations. The IDF’s hesitation in putting a stop to this by imposing partial and temporary military rule or assuming responsibility for aid distribution prolongs the war and hampers the IDF’s ability to achieve its objectives.
Israel squandered a golden opportunity to change reality
At this stage, it seems that Israel faces two options, both of them bad: a. Deterioration into an escalation dynamic that will lead to a full-scale war, with the possibility of a reality-changing opening blow already denied. b. A reality of a few days of combat (and as it appears now, perhaps hours) that will end in a return to the previous situation, after which Israel will somehow need to accumulate internal and external legitimacy for another major move to change the reality in the north.

This is not a semantic issue. An opening blow can decide a war. The Six-Day War is entirely a continuation of the dynamics created in Operation Focus, in which the IDF destroyed most of the Egyptian Air Force. Closer to our time, and on a smaller scale, one can recall the difference between the results of Operation Cast Lead, which opened with a broad move, compared to Operation Protective Edge, which started with a deterioration dynamic. On the other side of the equation, consider the shock caused to Israel and the IDF by Hamas' surprise attack, an organization weaker than it in several respects, from which Israel has not yet fully recovered in some ways.

It's too early to know the full picture, especially when we're not sitting in the Israeli Air Force's command center. But an attack on hundreds of targets, if one is familiar with the fire capabilities developed in the IDF in recent years (by the way, at the expense of other IDF arms), is not an opening blow and not an attempt to change reality. It's an attempt to maintain the status quo in the north, and the status quo in the north over the past 10 months is the worst of all worlds. The IDF thwarted a specific Hezbollah attack, and for that, it deserves all the credit. But along with this thwarting, this could have been combined with a much broader strike on strategic assets of Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon – not just attacking the ball and the weapon without hitting the shooter.

The State of Israel has become the world champion in partial solutions, which often lead it to the worst of all worlds – both achieving small goals by their very nature, and, in many cases, bringing about what they feared, in this case, perhaps a war in the north. We had the opportunity to use the inherent legitimacy that exists in thwarting an immediate attack to show a change of direction. A paradigm shift. Unfortunately, as it appears this morning, we decided to continue playing within the rules. Maybe in an expanded edition, with some new rules, but within the rules. Even if we decide to change them from now on, we may have wasted the best opportunity.
Claim Israel ‘can always return’ to Philadelphi Corridor baseless
In recent days it has emerged that the Israel Defense Forces has to date uncovered and blocked off 150 smuggling tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor sector of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, and the question of who will control this critical area has become a central sticking point during hostage negotiations with Hamas in Cairo.

The scope of the uncovered tunnel network marks a significant counter-terrorism success, yet simultaneously illustrates why Israel should be cautious about withdrawing from this strategic corridor, observers in Israel have told JNS.

According to Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, former head of the Research and Assessment Division of Israel’s Military Intelligence and a senior research fellow at Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, if Israel were to withdraw, there would be a resurgence of arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza.

“The reality of so many tunnels under the corridor makes it clear that what will happen is a renewal of the smuggling of arms from Egypt to Gaza,” stated Kuperwasser, who is also a senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs. “Why does Hamas so insist on this corridor, if nothing is supposed to happen?”

Kuperwasser also pointed out that relying on Egypt to prevent these smuggling activities has proven to be an unrealistic hope.

“It’s obvious that Israel can’t rely on the Egyptians. They promised and supposedly acted to prevent these smuggling activities, but in practice, you see the vast amounts of weapons Hamas has. Why should this change?”

Kuperwasser argued that the Egyptian interest remains the same—to avoid being perceived as fighting “Palestinian resistance.”

“They can’t afford to genuinely combat this smuggling,” he said. He further noted that as long as Palestinian smuggling activities continue, Israel remains dependent on Egypt, and this dependency can be exploited by Cairo.

“As long as the Palestinians attack Israel, Israel needs the Egyptians more,” he observed. “There is also apparently the aspect of sorts of people who made money from this activity,” Kuperwasser added. “A lot of money is involved.”

Kuperwasser also warned against the notion that foreign or Palestinian forces could effectively prevent future smuggling operations.

“We have already tried all these tricks; they never worked,” he stated, emphasizing that the flow of weapons into Gaza would resume if Israel withdraws from the Philadelphi Corridor. “There will be no clause in a future agreement in which Hamas commits itself not to smuggle weapons from Egypt. We, on the other hand, will be prevented from entering as an explicit clause in the agreement,” he added.


Biden-Harris Admin Sued for Stonewalling Gazan Aid Probe
The Biden-Harris administration is being sued in federal court for obstructing an investigation into its behind-the-scenes efforts to inject unprecedented amounts of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and pressure Israel to end its war against Hamas, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), a government watchdog group, sued the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday for failing to hand over reams of internal documents about its diplomatic campaign to pump aid into the embattled Gaza Strip—goods that have been stolen by Hamas and used to prolong its terror campaign. The agency stonewalled the probe for nearly half a year, resulting in the lawsuit.

The documents are key to understanding how USAID and its director, Samantha Power, conducted a diplomatic campaign meant to inject millions of dollars in aid into the Gaza Strip through organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which employed scores of Hamas militants, including those who participated in the Oct. 7 terror spree.

Power traveled to the Jewish state in February and publicly pressured Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "improve compliance with international humanitarian law," suggesting the Jewish state was intentionally targeting civilian populations and trying to starve innocent Gazans. Those claims, amplified by outside advocacy groups critical of Israel’s war effort, anchored months of Biden-Harris administration pressure on Israel to end the conflict through a ceasefire.

CASA initially submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to USAID on March 26, asking the agency to produce "all meeting requests, calendar entries, virtual meeting invitations, call logs, and any chats in the relevant virtual platforms pertaining to Administrator Power’s late February 2024 trip to Israel."

Five months later, USAID has not handed over a single document, violating open records laws that require the federal government to comply with FOIA requests.

"USAID has not produced responsive documents to CASA, has not communicated to CASA the scope of the documents it intends to produce or withhold—along with the reasons for any such withholding—and has not informed CASA of its ability to appeal any adverse portion of its determination," the watchdog group wrote, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by the Free Beacon. "USAID has not met its statutory obligations to provide the requested records, and it appears USAID does not intend to meet them absent litigation."
Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi rescued by IDF troops from Gaza tunnel
An Israeli hostage kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 was rescued today in an operation by the IDF and Shin Bet.

52-year-old Qaid Farhan Alkadi, from the largely Arab city of Rahat in Southern Israel, was rescued by Shayetet 13, the 401st Brigade, Yahalom, and ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division in a complex operation in the south of the Gaza Strip, according to a joint statement by the IDF and Shin Bet.

It continued: “No further details can be published due to considerations of the safety of our hostages, the security of our forces, and national security.

But they confirmed that Alkadi was “in a stable medical condition and is being transferred for medical checks at a hospital. His family has been updated with the details, and the IDF is accompanying them.”

The father of 11 was working as a security guard in Kibbutz Magen on the morning of October 7 after which contact with him was lost according to the Citizens of Bedouin Society Victims Forum in the Negev.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said on social media: “I am overjoyed by the successful rescue of the hostage Qaid Farhan al-Qadi. Qaid, a Muslim resident of the Bedouin Israeli community in the Negev, who was kidnapped on October 7th from where he worked in Kibbutz Magen when Hamas terrorists came to indiscriminately abduct, murder, and rape — without distinction between race or religion.

“I congratulate the IDF, the Shin Bet, and all the security services, and send my blessings to his family on his return - which is a moment of joy for the State of Israel and Israeli society as a whole.

“I wish for the immediate and swift return of all our 108 hostages, who are being held cruelly in captivity in Gaza.”

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X/Twitter: “As part of the bold and determined actions of the IDF and Shin Bet forces deep in the Gaza Strip, our fighters managed to rescue Farhan Alkadi and return him to his family in Israel.

“This operation joins a number of impressive operational activities, which bring us closer to achieving all the goals of the war. I repeat and emphasise: we are committed to take advantage of every opportunity to return the abductees to their homes.”


The 'brain' that uncovers Gaza's tunnels, both in and off the field
The 'brain' responsible for locating Hamas tunnels in Gaza is the Technological Lab for Tunnel Detection and Location within the Gaza Division and the Technological and Logistics Brigade, the IDF explained in an article published on Tuesday. In the lab, researchers monitor the location and development of underground tunnels in Gaza, particularly those which threaten to cross into Israeli territory.

"On October 7th, we, as an army, failed in our mission to protect civilians, but we immediately knew we had to pick ourselves back up and do whatever it takes for Israel's security," Sergeant T', a fighter and researcher with the team, shared.

The IDF explained that through intelligence and data analysis from the Gaza Strip, the researchers have been able to locate hundreds of tunnels, thus guiding the fighters on the field.

Every strike must is extremely calculated
"The actual tunnel strike is done using drilling tools that require high skill and maximum precision. You need to know exactly where to dig - and that's where we come in," Sergeant T' said.

Although his unit has existed for nearly a decade, Operation Iron Swords marked the first time Sergeant T' and his unit have moved to the field.

"When the fighters entered Gaza and saw the tunnel shafts with their own eyes, we knew we had to be there alongside them," explained Sergeant T'.

For months, researchers have joined fighters across the Gaza Strip and pinpointed the exact spot for special forces to strike.

"While the strikes on tunnels may seem arbitrary, behind them lie complex mathematical calculations and the careful interpretation of data we continuously collect."

"It's a combination you don't find in many places in the army," he clarified. "One moment you're in the heart of the battlefield, hearing bullets whizzing by, and the next, you're in a bunker writing linear algebra formulas."


Transcript of Netanyahu’s conversation with rescued hostage Farhan al-Qadi
The following is the transcript, translated from Hebrew, of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conversation on Aug. 27 with Quaid Farhan al-Qadi, who was rescued after being held hostage in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Farhan, hello to you my friend. Welcome back!”

Farhan al-Qadi: “Hello, welcome. Hello Bibi, Abu [father of] Yair!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Farhan, I am so happy to speak with you.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “I am also happy. I have been waiting for this moment. I swear to you, Abu Yair.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Tell me, have you already met with your family?”

Farhan Qadi: “Yes, two of my children are here.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I want you to know that we are truly moved from the depth of our hearts, for both you and your family.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “I thank you for this work, that you have reached a situation in which I see my family and am here. You truly did sacred work. There are other people who are waiting.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I want you to know that are not forgetting anyone, just like we did not forget you. We are committed to returning everyone, without exception.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “I thank you very much. I invite you, Abu Yair.”


Who is rescued hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi?
Qaid Farhan Alkadi, who was held hostage by Hamas for over 300 days after being taken hostage from Kibbutz Magen, is from the southern Bedouin city of Rahat.

He was taken hostage from his job on the Kibbutz, where he worked as a security guard at the packing house.

Alkadi is the father of 11, the youngest of whom is only six months old, according to online hostage story project Coming Soon.

While he was held hostage, he became a grandfather, they added.

Family reaction
His brother, Farhan Alkadi, said "We are very happy to receive this news. It is better than having a new child. Thank you so much everyone. We look forward to seeing him in good health."

In a video posted on social media, Alkadi's family can be seen running to see him in the hospital.



'Better than a child being born': Family, politicians react to rescue of hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi
Family members, MKs, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, and beachgoers celebrated the rescue of Israeli-Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi from Hamas captivity in Gaza on Tuesday.

Alkadi’s brother said in an interview with Kan, “We are very happy to receive this news. It is better than having a new child. Thank you so much, everyone. We look forward to seeing him in good health.”

Alkadi was brought to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for treatment, where he was united with his entire family, the medical center announced.

Israeli leadership responds to Alkadi's rescue
President Isaac Herzog posted on X, saying, “I am overjoyed by the successful rescue of the hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a Muslim resident of the Bedouin Israeli community in the Negev, who was kidnapped on October 7 from where he worked in Kibbutz Magen when Hamas terrorists came to indiscriminately abduct, murder, and rape without distinction between race or religion.”

“I congratulate the IDF, the Shin Bet, and all the security services, and send my blessings to his family on his return – which is a moment of joy for the State of Israel and Israeli society as a whole. I wish for the immediate and swift return of all our 108 hostages, who are being held cruelly in captivity in Gaza,” he added.

Netanyahu’s office posted on X, sharing that the prime minister spoke with Alkadi, welcoming him back.


The Israel Guys: HUGE Israeli Hostage RESCUE from GAZA Tunnel by IDF
Today is a momentous and joyous day in Israel, another Israeli hostage was just rescued from the clutches of Hamas. This is a breaking story so Ben works through all the information we know so far about this amazing rescue story! Also there was a suspected kidnapping in Samaria yesterday.




Hussain Abdul-Hussain: Prepared Israel Gives Hizbullah Another Beating
After a series of impressive intelligence and military operations that culminated in taking out Hizbullah's top military chief Fuad Shukr, Israel on Sunday gave Hizbullah yet another beating by suppressing a major retaliation operation that the Iran-backed militia had planned from south Lebanon against the Jewish state.

Israeli fighter jets simultaneously pounded dozens of Hizbullah rocket launchers that had moved into position to start the offensive, taking out most, but not all, of Hizbullah's attack assets. Israel's preemptive strike took out an estimated 1,500 missiles before they even launched.

The amount of damage that Hizbullah inflicted on Israel has yet to be assessed, even though it is unlikely that it was significant. What we know so far is that Israel's intelligence and military prowess has beaten Hizbullah one more time. The inevitable war between the two should make Hizbullah reconsider its position by accepting a ceasefire with Israel, even without a ceasefire in Gaza.
IDF: 90% of Hezbollah rockets, drones fired from civilian areas
Nearly all of the hundreds of rockets and drones Hezbollah fired at Israel early Sunday were positioned in civilian areas of Lebanon near mosques, schools, gas stations and United Nations sites, the Israel Defense Forces said on Monday night.

Out of the 230 rockets and 20 UAVs that crossed into Israeli territory, 90% of the launches “were from the heart of a civilian area,” according to the army, which provided an infographic showing sites of rocket launchers in southern Lebanon located just 150 meters (492 feet) from a school and 160 meters (525 feet) from a mosque in the village of Tallouseh, and one placed 525 feet from a U.N. building in the Hanniyeh area, with dozens of others nearby.

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization places its terrorist infrastructure in the middle of the civilian population while using Lebanese civilians as human shields,” the IDF said.

The Israeli Air Force destroyed thousands of launchers and more than 6,000 missiles and drones in a preemptive strike that prevented a much bigger attack from Iran’s Lebanese terror proxy.

On Monday night, Hezbollah launched what it said was a “swarm of UAVs” on the Western Galilee and Hula Valley.



Rocket launched near peacekeeper post in Lebanon on Sunday, UN says
One of the rockets launched from Lebanon in the heavy exchange between armed group Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Sunday was fired from near a position operated by international peacekeepers, the United Nations force told Reuters on Tuesday.

The UN peacekeeping force for Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said it had detected a "high number of air strikes and rocket launches in its area of operations" starting on Sunday morning.

"One such launch was detected from near one of our positions in Hanniyeh," UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said, referring to a town in southern Lebanon approximately 10 km (6 miles) north of the border with Israel.

The spokesperson said another explosion occurred later in the day near a UNIFIL position in Mays al-Jabal, along the border, but said there was no damage and no casualties.

"We continually stress to everyone that using areas near our positions to launch attacks across the Blue Line or targeting that puts peacekeepers in danger is unacceptable and a violation of Resolution 1701," the spokesperson said.

The Blue Line is the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, where parts of the international border are disputed.


FDD: Israel is targeting orchestrators of West Bank terrorism
The looming catastrophe in the West Bank
The significant concern is that despite near-daily Israeli counter-terrorism operations over the last three years, Hamas, including other terrorist organizations allied with the Islamist group, persists in carrying out attacks and is establishing a substantial presence in the northern West Bank.

FDD’s Long War Journal spoke to former IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus (Ret), who voiced concern about the trending dynamic in the West Bank. Specifically, Hamas and other terrorist groups are evolving into a formidable force due to Iranian weapons smuggling. “It’s only a matter of time before they [terrorist groups in the West Bank] get their hands on anti-tank, anti-air, and standard-grade explosives,” noted Conricus.

Moreover, the eventual arrival of additional advanced weapons, sometimes referred to as “tie-breaking” arms, will drastically change the status quo in the West Bank. “The entire battle environment will change for the worst, as [Israeli forces] will be forced to go fully mechanized and armored, and the consequences on the civilian population will be dire,” warned Conricus.

Beyond the efforts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the current situation in the West Bank would not have unfolded without the backing of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In 2021, Tehran made a calculated decision to increase funding and support for established terrorist organizations in the West Bank. Iranian leaders felt encouraged by the belief that the West Bank was vulnerable to unrest due to Hamas’s increasing popularity in the territory and a weakened Palestinian Authority (PA). Additionally, Iran likely recognized an opportunity to exploit the mutual distrust between the PA and the Israeli government, using this dynamic to further incite discord within the territory.

After more than three years of violence, the inevitable consequences have become apparent. Nevertheless, both the PA and Israel have failed to develop a unified strategy to confront this pressing threat in their backyard. Although it would be mutually advantageous for both parties to come together, neither has shown the political will to take that crucial step.

Israel’s unilateral military campaign against Palestinian terrorist organizations has, at best, merely kept tensions in the West Bank at a simmer. At worst, it is only slowing down the eventual takeover of the West Bank by Hamas and its allies. In terms of Palestinian terrorist activity, the West Bank is increasingly mirroring the Gaza Strip. This alarming trend should raise significant concerns in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Washington DC, and other centers of power.


IDF drone eliminates five terrorists in Tulkarm operations room
The IDF used a drone to attack a terror operations room in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, the military stated on Monday.

The strike was conducted in the Nur al-Shams refugee camp.

Five individuals were killed in the strike.

General strike planned in response
Four loud explosions were heard after an Israeli drone targeted a house in the camp, Palestinian Authority-run news agency, Wafa, reported.

The Hamas-affiliated Safa News said general strikes were planned in the area in response to the events.

On Tuesday, Wafa claimed four people had been arrested in Hebron.


Gaza virus outbreak: Understanding the threat of Type 2 Polio
A recent case of type 2 polio in a 10-month-old baby in Gaza has sparked urgent concern among global health organizations. This is the first case of type 2 polio in the territory in 25 years, highlighting the severe risks of a potential outbreak in the region, particularly amid the ongoing conflict.

On July 16, 2024, the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) reported the detection of six cVDPV2 isolates in environmental samples collected from Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis in Gaza. These samples showed a close genetic linkage, indicating that the virus circulating in Gaza may have been introduced as early as September 2023 and that the virus appears genetically related to the strain circulating in Egypt in late 2023.

Type 2 polio, also known as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), is one of three poliovirus strains. Unlike the naturally occurring form of the virus, wild poliovirus, cVDPV2 emerges from the oral polio vaccine (OPV). The OPV contains a weakened, live form of the poliovirus, which replicates in the intestines and builds immunity by triggering an immune response.

During this replication process, the vaccine virus is excreted and can spread within the community, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation, offering passive immunization to others. However, in rare cases, especially in areas with low immunization rates, this weakened virus can mutate into a more contagious form and begin circulating in the population.

While not inherently more dangerous than types 1 and 3, cVDPV2 has been responsible for most polio outbreaks in recent years. These outbreaks are concerning because the mutated virus can cause paralysis in those infected, similar to the effects of wild poliovirus, as seen in the Gaza case. The spread of cVDPV2 is primarily through the fecal-oral route, which can be transmitted via contaminated water or food, making populations with compromised sanitation systems, such as Gaza, particularly vulnerable.


Residents return to Kibbutz Nir Am after 10 months’ exile
A circle of yellow flags, symbolic of the hostages who remain captive in Gaza, greet you as you enter Kibbutz Nir Am—a painful reminder of that Black Sabbath of Oct. 7. Every so often, the dull boom of combat in the neighboring Strip punctuates the air.

The cacophony of war continues. Nir Am is in the northwestern Negev, close to Sderot. The closest point of the kibbutz is less than a mile from the Gaza border. On Oct. 7, as Hamas-led terrorists invaded the communities of the “Gaza Envelope,” Nir Am was one of the few that succeeded in avoiding casualties. Nir Am’s security team managed to defend the kibbutz and repel the terrorists. The story is nothing less than extraordinary.

Last Tuesday, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages, kidnapped alive from their homes on neighboring kibbutzim on that dark Saturday and then murdered, apparently as rescuers drew near. There are still 109 Israelis in captivity.

Many of the residents have started to return to Nir Am after they were evacuated to the Herod Hotel in Tel Aviv 10 months ago. It is an emotional time as the war still rages and many still feel the trauma of that day and concerns for their safety. The return to their homes is overwhelming and bittersweet.

The most pressing issue for communities starting to return to their homes is to feel safe.

South African partners
Responding to the needs of these communities, the Jewish Agency for Israel launched the “Communities2Gether” project. This initiative partners 25 Israeli communities with Jewish communities around the world with the goal of ensuring no community is left behind. Nir Am was partnered with the South African Jewish community.

While Nir Am was not breached on Oct. 7 and there is no physical damage to any of the structures, emotional or “people to people” support is needed.

The Communities2Gether project, in partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, the Jewish National Fund South Africa, ORT SA, the South African Zionist Federation and Telfed, the South African olim organization, are committed to ensuring that Nir Am residents have all the support they need.

A busload of volunteers including two handymen and a locksmith descended on Nir Am last week to help clean and organize the four kindergartens so that they are ready for the return of children on Sept. 1, the beginning of the school year. Volunteers helped pack up the equipment from the makeshift kindergartens at the Herod Hotel.

Telfed Deputy Chairperson Debbie Dash told JNS, “Our volunteers just wanted to contribute and we are going with the flow, understanding that we are dealing with a wounded community. Many are returning with mixed feelings after living in a hotel for 10 months with little privacy. They still do not feel safe. It is important to us that we can give people-to-people support.”
Bibas family to Netherlands ginger festival: ‘Remember your redheaded brothers’
The vibrant Redhead Days Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, known for celebrating auburn-haired individuals worldwide, struck a poignant note this year. Amid the sea of orange locks, participants were urged to remember the Bibas family—Shiri, Yarden and their young sons Ariel and Kfir—who were taken captive from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The event, which ran from Aug. 24-25, drew over 10,000 attendees, was transformed into a platform for raising awareness about the family’s plight, with a spotlight on the two redheaded boys.

Now in its 19th consecutive year, the festival draws redheads from across the globe. It has become known for its grand finale—a massive group photo. In 2013, this tradition was etched into the Guinness World Records when over 1,600 redheads came together for a single photograph.

However, this year’s event took on a more somber tone, overshadowed by the cruel abduction of the Bibas family. The family’s relatives contacted festival organizers via social media, imploring them to keep the captives in the participants’ thoughts.

Their heartfelt message read: “Every year, redheads from around the world unite to celebrate at the Redhead Festival. But five-year-old Ariel and one-year-old Kfir can’t be there. They were abducted to Gaza along with their parents, Shiri and Yarden. Today, we still don’t know what’s happened to them. As you gather this year, please remember your redheaded brothers.”

A video shared by the family bore the caption: “We dedicate this year’s Redhead Festival to our beloved Ariel and Kfir. We hold onto hope that next year, Ariel and Kfir will be the festival’s guests of honor.”


Eylon Levy on TalkTV (26 Aug. 2024)

Caught in the act! Israel takes Hezbollah by surprise
Israel successfully foiled Hezbollah's planned attack early yesterday morning by destroying up to 1,000 rocket launchers in Lebanon before they could be fired. Now the waiting game continues as both Iran and Israel decide what to do next. On today’s Jerusalem Minute, we’ll weigh the different issues behind Israel’s decision making. Also, we’ll discuss ongoing hostage negotiations; the ICC’s latest actions against Israel; the state of the Democratic Party; Hersh Polin-Goldberg’s parents’ address to the DNC; the Houthi’s latest attack; and antisemitism in France and Israel.

Chapters
0:00 Israel attacks Hezbollah
8:00 IDF Spokesperson comments
8:30 Is Iran next?
13:00 Hostage negotiations
18:22 ICC strikes again
21:00 DNC discussion
27:00 Hersh’s parents at DNC
30:00 Houthis act up
33:20 Anti-semitism update


The Israel Guys: Hezbollah Planned Massive Attack on Israel - Several Israeli Chickens Were Killed | We Break it Down
In the early hours before dawn on Sunday morning the terror organization of Hezbollah had its plan in place for a massive attack on Israel. 6,000 missiles & drones were ready for launch. The timers were set for 5:00 AM and nothing could thwart their plans. Or could there?

What happened next showed the greatest offensive move by Israel against Hezbollah since they attacked Israel on October 8th, totally blowing Hezbollah’s plan out of the water.

The only casualties from the now-foiled attack by Hezbollah were a couple of chickens. All this and more on today’s show!


Greens continue to ‘disgrace themselves’ with keffiyeh call: Andrew Bolt
Sky News host Andrew Bolt has labelled the Greens party as a “threat” to Jewish Australians.

The NSW Greens have called for students to be allowed to wear Palestinian keffiyehs and flags to public schools.

“The Greens – they continue to disgrace themselves,” Mr Bolt said.


Actor Nathaniel Buzolic joins Sharri to discuss the rise of antisemitism in the West
Sky News host Sharri Markson sits down with Australian actor Nathaniel Buzolic to discuss how the New South Wales education department is “on the brink” of caving in to the Greens.

“Schools should clearly be a safe zone from racism and division, yet the New South Wales education department is on the brink of caving in to the Greens,” Ms Markson said.

Ms Markson questioned Mr Buzolic on the education department agreeing to review whether schools are required to “stay neutral” on the war in Palestine.


Jews have 'been defeated in the propaganda war': Barbara Kay
Critics 'have been extremely successful in tarring Zionism,' and building 'an industry of lies' about Israel, Barbara Kay told The Ezra Levant Show.


BC imam calls for violence against Jews and Christians
David Menzies and Sheila Gunn Reid share their reactions to a video from a mosque in British Columbia where an imam encouraged violence against Jews and Christians.




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This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For 20 years and 40,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going.

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