Friday, September 13, 2024

09/13 Links Pt1: Hamas On The Ropes: A Progress Report; Sinwar pledges to continue war ‘until occupation ends’; Veteran Charged After Shooting Anti-Israel assailant

From Ian:

Seth Mandel: The Origin Story of the Rafah Crisis
On September 1, 2005, Egypt and Israel concluded an agreement on governing the security of the border area between Egypt and Gaza once IDF troops left as part of the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip. That border area included the Rafah crossing, and that agreement marked the first time Israel had consented to having a third party take responsibility for Palestinian border security.

It got off to a bad start.

As CBS reported less than two weeks later: “as soon as Israel pulled out, border security collapsed. Thousands of Palestinians crossed the border and Egyptian guards appeared helpless.”

Nor was it just security around the crossing that collapsed. Contrary to the popular narrative of American Jews playing a counterproductive role in the peace process, U.S. Jewish donors had bought up thousands of greenhouses and other infrastructure from exiting settlers and then transferred that infrastructure to the Palestinian Authority. And yet: “Palestinians looted dozens of greenhouses, walking off with irrigation hoses, water pumps and plastic sheeting in a blow to fledgling efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip.… In some instances, there was no security and in others, police even joined the looters, witnesses said.”

In other words, anarchy.

Back to the border. From that 2005 report: “On Monday, masked Hamas fighters were seen on the Palestinian side of the border, with some crossing over to the Egyptian side.” One reason the Egyptians didn’t try very hard to control the crossing? Because they wanted to get rid of their own Palestinian residents: “The Egyptians also want to allow Palestinians on the Egyptian side of Rafah to move permanently to the Gaza side to rejoin families, the officials said.”

Got the picture? This is what it looked like when Israel last relinquished the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor along the border.

It is now 19 years later to the day since that CBS story was posted on September 13, 2005. And we are having the same conversation about whether and how Israel should relinquish control of the crossing, what that will mean for Palestinian self-governance, and whether Cairo can be truly counted on to show that when Israel hands over security to anyone else, all hell doesn’t break loose.

We’re having this conversation precisely because history tells us that when Israel hands over security, all hell breaks loose.
Jonathan Schanzer: Hamas On The Ropes: A Progress Report
Despite all this good news—and it is unmistakably good news—four obvious challenges remain before Israel can fully pivot out of Gaza.

First, there is no way the Israeli public will allow for a withdrawal from Gaza without recovering the hostages. Despite calls from the hostage families and the Israeli left to end the war, they know that ending it will not be possible without a ceasefire deal. Hamas and its patrons in Tehran are still not signaling a willingness to ink such a deal. Sinwar and the ayatollahs would prefer to subject Israel to a war of attrition, with Iranian proxies attacking Israel from multiple fronts.

Second, Israel must deal with the Philadelphi Corridor, the thin patch of dirt that runs astride the Gaza-Egypt border. It’s less than ten miles long, but beneath it lie dozens of tunnels that snake into Egypt. The Sinai Peninsula appears to have served as the logistical hub for these subterranean supply lines. Currently, the IDF assesses that none of these tunnels is active. But should Israel fail to tackle the existing problem now, the return of Hamas would be guaranteed. The Israelis must insist upon an underground wall and sensor system similar to the one it has around the Israeli-Gaza border. That was just about the only system that worked on October 7. But the Egyptians have yet to cede that there is a problem, let alone allow for such a system to be built. That means it’s time for Washington to step in and apply pressure. So far, the Biden administration is nowhere to be found.

The third challenge is the low-level insurgency that is expected to continue well after the hard fighting is done. Hamas fighters or wannabes in track suits are sure to come out of the woodwork and target the IDF forces that will remain in Gaza. Those irregulars will need to be dealt with while post-war construction plans are made.

And finally, there is the post-war period. Regardless of who steps in to help fill the administrative void (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, several European countries and the United States are among those rumored to be open to such a role), the IDF will not and cannot allow other forces to handle security in Gaza. In light of the failure to protect the southern communities on 10/7, there is an unwavering determination across the security establishment to stand guard and protect against from future attacks. Indeed, they insist upon it, and they must.

The hope now is that the IDF footprint needed in Gaza will diminish significantly over time. Israelis would welcome the opportunity to begin to put the last eleven months in the rear view. But they all know that this long war is far from over. Iran continues to direct its proxies to attack the Jewish state. More immediately, a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon beckons. It’s unclear when that battle will unfold, but it promises to be far more taxing than the tough and brave slog Israel appears ready to conclude.
Sinwar pledges to continue war ‘until occupation ends’ in reported letter to Nasrallah
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has reportedly conveyed his appreciation to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah for the group’s unwavering support during the ongoing conflict with Israel.

For nearly a year, Iran-backed Hezbollah has been engaging in attacks on Israel along the Lebanese-Israeli border, a conflict that has been unfolding alongside the Gaza war.

The letter, published by the pro-Hezbollah al-Mayadeen, is the first reported communication between the two terror chiefs since Sinwar became Hamas leader in August.

Sinwar’s letter underscores the group’s determination to continue their struggle until “the occupation is defeated and swept away from our land, and our independent state with full sovereignty is established with Jerusalem as its capital.”

In his message his vowed the “blessed convoys of martyrs will increase in strength and power in confronting the Nazi Zionist occupation.”

Sinwar’s letter comes in the wake of the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the former leader of Hamas, who was killed in Tehran in July.

The assassination, widely attributed to Israel, has intensified the resolve of Hamas and its allies. Sinwar thanked Nasrallah for his condolences and emphasised the importance of their continued cooperation.

He reiterated Hamas’s commitment to fighting the “Zionist project” alongside the Iranian-led axis of resistance.

Sinwar has not appeared in public since the October 7 attacks, and is widely thought to be running the war from tunnels beneath Gaza.


Former Biden Middle East envoy blames Israel for humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The American official who spent months seeking to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza criticized Israel for the beleaguered territory’s humanitarian crisis, claiming Israel’s partial operation in Rafah in May “upended” any progress that Israel had made in increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

David Satterfield, whom President Joe Biden named the U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues just eight days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, described his view of the state of humanitarian assistance in Gaza in an interview with Jewish Insider on Monday. He directed much of the blame at Israel for paying more attention to its military goals than the needs of Gazan civilians, taking a tougher line than most other senior U.S. officials who have served in public-facing roles after Oct. 7.

“A level equal to that applied to the kinetic campaign needs to be applied to humanitarian efforts — that was President Biden’s explicit message when he visited Israel after Oct. 7,” Satterfield said in a conversation on the sidelines of the MEAD Summit in Washington. “​​That has not in practice been the case, although it was getting significantly better by May 7. It was the Rafah campaign that has fundamentally upended all of this.”

Between October and early May, when Israel began its operation in Rafah, Satterfield observed that the humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza “mounted progressively on an almost constant curve.”

But, he added, “that was entirely disrupted as of the evening of May 7. It remains significantly disrupted as of today,” said Satterfield. “To give you raw numbers, the amount of humanitarian assistance that moves into Gaza on an average week-on-week basis is at about one quarter of what was moving before May 7.”

Data from COGAT, the Israeli agency tasked with distributing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, says otherwise.

While humanitarian assistance entering Gaza thus far in September is lower than it was in the days before the Rafah invasion, the data from COGAT does not indicate such a severe disparity. About two-thirds as much humanitarian assistance entered Gaza in the first week of September as in the week before May 6. Similarly, the amount of aid that entered Gaza in August was about two-thirds the amount that entered Gaza in April. COGAT told JI that Satterfield’s claim was incorrect. “For example, 133,000 tons of humanitarian aid entered in May, and 113,000 tons entered in July, compared to 65,000 tons in February and 103,000 tons in March,” COGAT said in a statement to JI. Satterfield stuck by his figure, telling JI in an email that it came from a nightly call that is attended by humanitarian officials from the U.S., the U.N., Egypt and COGAT.

Satterfield blamed the disruption, again, on Israel — and in particular, on Israel not successfully evacuating Rafah. He did not acknowledge that Israel significantly limited the scope of its operation following pressure from the Biden administration.
The former NATO commander investigating the IDF war on Gaza
“The operational procedures the IDF have, in terms of the law of armed conflict, are as strong as ours.”

Former Nato commander General Sir John McColl says “I went there sceptical” and the IDF are doing “their absolute level best” to minimise casualties.




Is the ICC’s Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Justified?
Kenneth Roth ARGUING YES
Former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch; Professor at the Princeton School of International Affairs

Eugene Kontorovich ARGUING NO
Law Professor at George Mason University;

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is tasked with prosecuting individuals for the most serious offenses, such as genocide and war crimes. The ICC recently requested arrest warrants for Hamas’s leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for various crimes in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. In Netanyahu’s case, he is accused of multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the starvation of civilians as a weapon of war and “intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population.” Although Israel is not a signatory to the ICC, as Palestine is, the international legal implications still affect Netanyahu by limiting where he can travel and risking arrest if he visits a country or Western ally that is an ICC signatory. But some officials and many others question the fairness of equating his actions, which are intended to protect his country, with those of Hamas. Those who believe the warrant isn’t justified argue that the ICC doesn’t have legal jurisdiction over Israeli citizens and claim the warrant is politically motivated. Those who agree with the ICC argue that it’s a necessary step in enforcing international law, ensuring accountability, and helping provide justice to victims.

With this context, we debate the question: Is the ICC’s Warrant Against Netanyahu Justified?


FactsForPeace: Define Genocide



Dershowitz: ‘Serious questions’ about fairness of Newton’s response to shooting
Alan Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, told JNS that there is no question that the man who crossed the street and tackled the pro-Israel rallier committed a crime.

“I think the first thing that’s clear is that the person who assaulted the veteran should be arrested as well,” Dershowitz said. “The fact that he hasn’t been arrested raises some serious questions.”

The legal scholar told JNS that the question whether the shooter acted in self-defense “will be determined based on all the evidence.”

“The shooting raises questions that require a deep investigation as to precisely when the shot was fired, what the circumstances were, what the feelings and beliefs of the person who shot were,” he said. “That requires an extensive investigation.”

Dershowitz told JNS that he is concerned that the alleged shooter was charged before the investigation was complete.

“It seemed to me that the first person to be arrested should have been the person who did the initial assault, because there’s no doubt about that. That’s on videotape. You can see it,” he said. “So the fact that the person was not arrested, charges were not filed against the person making the original charges, raises serious questions about the fairness of the entire process.”

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston stated on Friday that “last night, at a small demonstration in support of the Oct. 7 hostages in Newton, Mass., there was a violent altercation and an individual was hospitalized.”

“While the details of what happened are still being investigated, there should be no question that violence of any kind in our democratic society is abhorrent,” the JCRC said. “People’s right to gather in civil, non-violent public demonstrations must be sacrosanct.”

“We take this moment to note that over the last 11 months, across our region there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of standouts for the hostages taken on Oct. 7. These rallies, demonstrations, runs and walks for the victims, a ‘hostage tunnel’ exhibit at Boston City Hall Plaza, and other ways in which our community and allies have come together to demand the return of the hostages to their families have all been peaceful and without incident,” the JCRC said.

“Regardless of motive or his role in the initiation of the violence, we pray for the full recovery of the individual who was injured last night,” it said.
Kassy Akiva: Veteran Charged After Shooting Anti-Israel Man Who Tackled Him During Protest
Scott Hayes, 47, was charged on Thursday after he shot a man wearing a pro-Palestinian pin who charged and tackled him during a protest in Newton, Mass.

The charges, announced Thursday night by Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a constitutional right causing injury. Hayes will be arraigned in Newton District Court on Friday.

In a video obtained by The Daily Wire, a man wearing the pin and a surgical mask around his neck stood on the opposite side of the street, yelling at a group of 10 protesters. He called them “sick” and accused them of “supporting genocide.”

The man then runs across the street through traffic and tackles Hayes, who was preparing to leave before the attack. Moments later, while the attacker was on top of Hayes on the ground, Hayes shot the man in the stomach. In another video, Hayes is seen placing the gun behind him on the pavement after the shot.

Hayes, who was holding American and Israeli flags throughout the protest, is then seen in an additional video telling bystanders to call 911 and tending to the wounds of the man who attacked him.

Other protesters told The Daily Wire they were not aware Hayes had a firearm, but believe he was acting in self defense.

Hayes, a Iraq War veteran frequently attends pro-Israel protests and rallies around Massachusetts to show his support for the Jewish state and to call for the release of the 101 hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza.

“We’ve been to standouts like this often and nothing like this has ever happened,” Aidin, a pro-Israel Iranian who attends protests with Hayes, told The Daily Wire, declining to give his last name. “I was shocked when the man ran across the street and had no idea why he would do that.”

Though Hayes is not Jewish, the Jewish community quickly came to his aid, raising over $30,000 in a GoFundMe to pay for his legal defense fund as of Friday morning. Others plan to attend his arraignment to show their support, sources told The Daily Wire.

Newton, a suburb of Boston, is considered one of the most Jewish cities in the United States. Jews make up between 20 and 30% of the population, according to Forward.


UN chief complains Netanyahu won’t take his calls
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that he has not spoken to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the Oct. 7 massacre as the Israeli leader refuses to answer his calls.

“I have not talked to him because he didn’t pick up my phone calls, but I have no reason not to speak with him,” Guterres told Reuters in an interview published on Thursday. “So if he comes to New York and he asks to see me, I will be very glad to see him.”

Guterres made the same complaint in January to Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news outlet whose journalists had their press cards revoked by Israel on Thursday for incitement.

Guterres told the broadcaster that he has “asked to speak to Prime Minister Netanyahu and until now, that phone call has not been received.”

The two men last met in person in September 2023 at the annual U.N. General Assembly session.

The secretary-general has taken a consistently anti-Israel approach since Oct. 7.

Speaking to Reuters, Guterres accused Israel of “very dramatic violations of the international humanitarian law and the total absence of an effective protection of civilians.

“What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable,” he said.

On Aug. 29, Guterres called on Israel to cease its anti-terror operations in Judea and Samaria, consistent with his ongoing demand that Israel immediately cease operations in Gaza.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon defended Israel’s actions, noting that Iran has been working to introduce sophisticated explosives into Judea and Samaria to “detonate in the centers of Israeli cities.”

“The State of Israel cannot sit idly by and wait for the spectacle of buses and cafés exploding in city centers,” he said. “The activity of the IDF forces in Judea and Samaria is intended for the clear purpose of thwarting terrorist attacks and acts before they are carried out under Iranian direction.”
Israel braces for UN showdown as Palestinians seek sanctions
Israel is girding for a high-stakes diplomatic confrontation at the United Nations next week as the Palestinian Authority pushes for sweeping measures against the Jewish state, including calls for an international arms embargo and sanctions.

Israeli officials have crafted a series of escalating countermoves, from freezing funds to cutting security ties with the P.A., should the U.N. adopt the proposed resolutions.

The Security Cabinet, Foreign Ministry and other key bodies have held marathon sessions to devise action plans. These range from gradual steps to potentially crippling blows against the Palestinian Authority, including halting fund transfers and severing security cooperation.

Israel’s response will be calibrated to match Palestinian actions in New York, where a flurry of anti-Israel proposals and votes is expected in the coming days. The crescendo will be a General Assembly resolution calling for an international arms embargo and sanctions against Israel.

On Monday, the Security Council is slated to convene on Gaza’s humanitarian situation, with Sigrid Kaag, the U.N.’s top humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, set to brief the council.

Tuesday will see the General Assembly open debate on the Palestinian-submitted resolution. It primarily advocates for sanctions and an arms embargo while disregarding Israel’s security concerns, based on what Israeli officials call a skewed and extreme reading of the International Court of Justice‘s recent ruling. Israel’s U.N. envoy, Danny Danon, is expected to speak, blasting the move and urging democratic nations to reject a resolution that turns a blind eye to Palestinian terrorism.

The anti-Israel crescendo is set for Wednesday: a vote on the Palestinian resolution, widely expected to pass by a comfortable margin. With no U.S. veto power in such General Assembly votes, Israel faces an uphill battle.
IDF says UNRWA worker killed in West Bank raid was throwing explosives at troops
The IDF says that a worker for the UN agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) who was killed in a West Bank raid was throwing explosives at troops and was a known terror operative.

Earlier, UNRWA said that one of their employees was “shot and killed on the roof of his home by a sniper,” and that it was “the first time a UNRWA staff member has been killed in the West Bank in more than 10 years.”

The incident took place in the Far’a camp in the northern West Bank. It identified the slain employee as Sufyan Jaber Abed Jawwad, who “worked as a sanitation laborer” in the camp.

In an English language statement, IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani accuses UNRWA of “not telling the full story.”

Shoshani says that during an IDF operation in Far’a a terrorist was identified hurling explosive devices that posed a threat to the forces operating in the area. IDF troops opened fire toward him to remove said threat, and he was killed.

“The terrorist was subsequently identified and it was discovered he is also an UNRWA employee named Sufyan Jaber Abed Jawwad. It should be noted that after receiving his details, it was found that the terrorist was known to Israeli security forces and he had been complicit in additional terrorist activities,” Shoshani says.

“This is yet another example of an UNRWA employee taking active part in terrorist activities against Israel, as has been proven in several other cases in the past, including employees who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre,” he says.


Canadian court rejects motion to dismiss UNRWA lawsuit, Oct 7 families to proceed
Canada's federal court has rejected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government motion to dismiss a lawsuit over Canada's decision to resume funding for UNRWA, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) announced on Friday. The court's ruling means that Canadians whose relatives were murdered by Hamas on October 7 can proceed with their lawsuit, which draws on extensive evidence relating to the ties of UNRWA and its workers to Hamas.

The Honourable Madam Justice McVeigh rejected the Government’s claims that the decision to dismiss the lawsuit was not reviewable by the courts.

As a result, a lawsuit led by Dikla Mizrachi, mother of Ben Mizrachi (killed at the Nova festival); Iris Weinstein Haggai, daughter of Judih Weinstein Haggai (whose body is held by Hamas); Jacqui Vital, mother of Adi Vital-Kaploun (murdered in Kibbutz Holit); Raquel Ohnona, mother of Alexandre Look (murdered at the Nova festival); together with CIJA to have the decision to resume UNRWA funding (March 8, 2024) declared unreasonable, will continue before the Federal Court.

Richard Marceau, Vice President of CIJA, said “We are pleased that the court determined that reviewing the government’s decision to resume funding to UNRWA does indeed fall within their jurisdiction. We can now focus on the real issue: that legally, morally, and politically, Ottawa’s decision to resume funding for UNRWA was wrong."

“The Canadian families who lost loved ones in Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attacks on October 7 have faced the most unbearable of losses, which is why, together we are fighting to reverse the decision and disqualify UNRWA from further Canadian funding.”

Co-counsel for the applicants, Lawrence Greenspon, said that while no one was disputing the need for humanitarian aid, "UNRWA cannot be the agency to fulfill this responsibility."

"This is not an application to stop Canadian funding for humanitarian aid; it is an application designed to ensure that humanitarian aid actually gets to the people of Gaza who are in desperate need.”


Israel reportedly disrupts Iran’s missile accuracy project in Syria
According to foreign media reports, on Sept. 8, Israel conducted a joint air-ground operation targeting a significant weapons production facility, where precise missiles are developed and built for Hezbollah, in western Syria’s Hama Province, near Masyaf.

It seems reasonable to assume that the targeted facility, operated by the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and associated with Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS), plays a critical role in Tehran’s missile accuracy project for Hezbollah.

The operation would seem to mark an important step in Israel’s long-standing campaign to disrupt Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria and prevent advanced weaponry from reaching Hezbollah, which poses a strategic threat to Israel.

The facility targeted in this complex strike is part of Iran’s broader effort to develop precision missile technology in partnership with Syria and Hezbollah. After many shipments of Iranian missiles kept mysteriously exploding en route to Syria since 2012, Iran took the decision to manufacture and develop precise missiles on Syrian soil, to reduce exposure to Israeli intelligence and firepower. It appears as if that approach failed on Sept. 8.

Israeli commandos, along with air and drone support, reportedly executed a coordinated attack, demolishing key sections of the missile production site and retrieving valuable intelligence.

The facility targeted in the operation is part of the CERS network, with a particular focus on the development of precision-guided missiles. CERS, or the Scientific Studies and Research Center, is central to Syria’s military-industrial complex. Among its various projects, the organization is deeply involved in developing chemical weapons, ballistic missile technology, and other advanced military capabilities.

The site in Masyaf seems to belong to CERS’s Institute 4000, which, according to the Alma Research and Education Center, is heavily involved in Project 99—a program centered on the development of precision ballistic missiles. This effort is directly linked to Iran’s overarching goal of enhancing Hezbollah’s missile capabilities, giving the Lebanese terror group the ability to strike targets in Israel with pinpoint accuracy.

The reported presence of Iranian and North Korean expertise at the site reflects the international dimensions of this weapons development effort, and the facility has long been a prime target for Israeli military planners, according to foreign media reports.
Fmr. Navy Seal: Israeli raid on missile facility in Syria a success
Israel’s daring raid on an Iranian missile facility in Syria was a great success, according to Jack Carr, a former Navy SEAL sniper. He tells “On Balance” that Israel and the U.S. are now operating “by Iran’s rules” and using proxy forces to degrade their enemies.


US shifts one of two aircraft carriers away from Middle East
One of two US aircraft carrier strike groups deployed to the Middle East in part to deter Iran from carrying out a threatened attack against Israel has departed the region, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

The decision to end the dual-carrier presence came nearly three weeks after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group to remain in the Middle East, even after the arrival of the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to replace it.

The Roosevelt has now departed the Middle East and is headed to the Asia-Pacific region, Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, told a news briefing.

Austin's order for the Roosevelt to stay in place came on Aug. 25, as Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel, and Israel's military said it struck Lebanon with around 100 jets to thwart a larger attack in one of the biggest clashes in more than 10 months of border warfare.
Hamas warehouses in Gaza are overflowing with stolen humanitarian aid
Hamas terrorists have confiscated so much humanitarian aid that the terror group is struggling to find space in warehouses to store all of it, according to intercepted communications between Hamas operatives that were played during an episode of N12's "Ulpan Shishi" on Friday.

These intercepted communications feature Hamas operatives discussing the movement of goods from overflowing humanitarian aid warehouses to Khan Yunis.

“We’ve got trucks filled with goods alongside the diesel trucks,” one operative said. “At this point, we have everything... The warehouse is at full capacity. We’re just waiting for the green light to start transferring.” The second operative responded, “Coordinating with Samer is difficult due to a reception issue. If you can move them elsewhere, go ahead.” The first operative then asked, “Can you take them to Khan Yunis, or will that cause a delay?”

This short exchange illustrates the significant flow of aid into Gaza, broadcasters said during the episode. What began with two trucks entering Gaza before the agreement has now grown into 200 trucks arriving daily. Hamas seizes these supplies, gaining complete control over the warehouses without resistance, they said.

They also mentioned how the recordings not only expose how Hamas takes control of these shipments but also highlight the absurdity of the situation—the terrorist organization is running out of space to store the aid. Clearly, this aid is not being used for humanitarian purposes but is instead aiding the enemy.


IDF discovers tunnel near Tulkarm hospital, kills armed terrorists in intense West Bank operation
In joint counterterrorism operations conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Security Agency (ISA), and Israel Border Police, four terrorists were killed in the Tulkarm and Nur Shams areas.

Three were killed in an aerial strike on Wednesday, while the fourth was killed during close-quarters combat with security forces. Among those killed was Muhammad Abu Ataya, suspected of killing Staff-Sergeant-Major Maksim Rizhkov of the Border Police’s Yamas unit on October 19, 2023. Approximately 15 other terrorists were also injured during the operation.

Additionally, an underground complex was found adjacent to a hospital in the Tulkarm refugee camp. The structure, which had an entrance but no exit, is under investigation by security forces, who plan to dismantle it.

In a separate 48-hour operation in Tubas, Tamun, and Far'a, security forces encountered a terrorist who hurled explosive devices and was subsequently killed in an exchange of fire. Forces discovered a vehicle rigged with explosives, including a long-range detonation system, which was dismantled.

During these operations, security forces confiscated a significant number of weapons, including sniper rifles, M-16s, handguns, and other weaponry. Four bomb manufacturing labs and communication centers equipped with cameras were dismantled in Tulkarm, along with a machine used to manufacture weapons. Numerous improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also neutralized.

Additionally, five armed terrorists were targeted and killed by aircraft in Tubas.

The IDF will continue operations aimed at preventing terrorist activity in northern Samaria and the Jordan Valley.


Arab arson triggers evacuation in Neve Tzuf
Palestinian rioters targeted Neve Tzuf (also known as Halamish) in the Binyamin region of Samaria on Thursday, throwing Molotov cocktails at the village.

The attack resulted in a rapidly spreading fire, forcing the evacuation of residents in the first few houses near the edge of the community.

It took two firefighting planes and several firefighting teams to bring the blaze under control. The terrorists responsible for the attack fled towards the nearby village of Deir Nidham.

Deputy Commander Ido Peretz of the Binyamin Regional Fire Station detailed the response: “Due to our knowledge of the area and understanding of the threats, numerous teams were dispatched from the Binyamin Regional Fire Station, as well as assistance from neighboring stations in the Judea and Samaria district and inter-district support.”

He added, “This is a forest located within the town, and at this time, the fire is moving with the help of the winds. A pair of firefighting planes from the Elad squadron are on their way to the location to assist in extinguishing the fire.”

By Thursday afternoon, there was no longer any danger to residents, but the nearby forest was badly damaged and there was tremendous damage to ecological systems and wildlife.

The Neve Tzuf leadership appealed for immediate action, urging the army to “immediately close Route 450, which cuts through the neighborhoods of the town, to Palestinian traffic and prevent another disaster.”

The town’s statement concluded: “We support the IDF and security forces in their fight against terrorism and in defending the residents.”


Standing at the gates of Gaza – and telling the world what happened
Many stories of heroism and horror have already been told about Hamas’ massacres in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Much has also been written about the failures and events leading up to that fateful day, with, no doubt, more still to come.

Yet, if there is one neat book that eloquently sums up the personal, national and historical tragedies endured by the Israeli people on the darkest day since the country’s founding, it could be the forthcoming account by Israeli journalist and author Amir Tibon.

In The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival and Hope on Israel’s Borderlands, out Sept. 24, Tibon, Haaretz’s diplomatic correspondent and a resident of Nahal Oz, one of Israel’s now-devastated southern border communities, captures the personal horrors he and his young family endured on that day, as well as recapping the brave efforts of his retired IDF general father as he attempted to reach the family. Tibon also methodically lays out the sequence of political and strategic events that brought the country to that nightmare point, as well as the grueling war that has lasted nearly a year.

“I didn’t want to participate in the construction of a narrative in which the history of the Israeli communities attacked on Oct. 7 began on Oct. 7,” Tibon told Jewish Insider in a recent interview as he explained why it was important to him to recount personal experiences alongside the history of a community that has grappled with the fate of Gaza and its people since its own inception.

“These communities, including Nahal Oz, have existed on the border for decades,” he told JI. “Nahal Oz was founded in 1953, some of the other communities that were attacked were actually created even before the State of Israel, in the 1940s.”

“They have a long history of life alongside the Gaza border, with a lot of ups and downs, with good periods of relative quiet and coexistence and dreams of peace, and more difficult periods of war and conflict,” Tibon explained, adding, “I felt that without telling that story, you cannot really understand Oct. 7.”

Throughout 12 chapters, an epilogue, plus multiple maps and photographs, Tibon intersperses his family’s personal drama on that day, describing how he, his wife and young daughters were forced to remain in total darkness in their safe room for 10 long hours as gun battles raged right outside their door and as they waited for his father, retired IDF Gen. Noam Tibon, or the IDF to save them.

In between his own telling of the terror that he faced on Oct. 7, Tibon also recounts the personal stories of other kibbutz members, both past and present, and documents the broader political and military events, as well as their implications for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Hamas killed our daughter on Oct.7. This is what we want to tell Jews stepping away from Israel
Eleven months ago, Hamas murdered our daughter while she was dancing and celebrating life at a music festival in Re’im, Israel.

At 6:50 a.m. on Oct. 7, Gili messaged us that something was going on. She told us not to worry. More texts. Gunshots. She was hiding, warning friends to stay away from the area. At 9:14, she wrote: “Until now I wasn’t afraid. Now I’m scared.” By 9:35, we later learned, the terrorists found her. Within five minutes, they murdered Gili and nearly 30 other young people at point-blank range — a fraction of the 364 people who were killed at the festival.

The brutality with which Hamas murdered our Good Life Gili, our radiant, wonderful girl, at just 24 years old, echoes the evil of the recent execution of hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Alexander Lobanov, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi and Almog Sarusi. Five of these six beautiful souls were at the Nova music festival, like Gili. All of their families are processing the worst news of their lives.

It’s the news we received three days after Gili’s last message, after we frantically headed south to find her, after we pleaded on Facebook for more information — “OUR GILI IS STILL MISSING” — after each passing hour drained the possibility that she would stumble through the front door and into our arms.

We spoke at Gili’s eulogy, like the hostages’ families did at theirs. And yet there were no words. There are no words. When we now watch videos of Gili, sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry and most times our joy and our grief are not oil and water, they do not separate, but blend into a new, strange taste of life.

As Gili would say: “Why one or the other when you can have both?”

Gili, for whom 24 hours in a day was never enough, took so many roles. An adventurer, she worked three jobs to save money for the dream trip she took to South America. A listener, Gili sat for hours at a time with each of the lone soldiers — those without family in Israel — which whom she worked in the Israeli army.

After Gili’s death, we have found new roles ourselves.

We are gardeners, tending to the flowers on her grave and watering the seeds of her memory.

We are archivists, collecting thousands of photos and videos of our daughter; compiling hundreds, often unsolicited testimonials about the ways she shaped people’s lives.

We are messengers, talking about Gili with whomever will listen: Gili, with a conquering smile and an infectious laugh, “Guppy” to her campers, who took the coffee kit in her backpack to the mountains, the desert, the sea, who gave her heart to everyone from children with special needs to the store cashier.
Family of slain hostage Alexander Lobanov releases video from Hamas captivity
The family of Alexander Lobanov, one of six hostages recently murdered by Hamas, allowed the publication on Friday of a Hamas psychological warfare video featuring Alexander speaking from Hamas captivity.

The version of the video was edited from the original that Hamas produced and published with the permission of the family as well as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

The video began with still photos of all six of the slain hostages before landing on Lobanov.

Lobanov began by introducing himself, stating his name, age, where he's from, and that he was kidnapped from Re'im while working. Notably, Lobanov says "kidnapped," but the attached English captions that Hamas inserted into the video quote him as saying "arrested."

He then said that Hamas transferred him over 10 times to save his life.

His message continued by addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli public. He told Netanyahu that he failed on October 7 and asked the Israeli public to continue protesting and demanding a deal.

He also reiterated in the Schalit deal, over 1000 terrorists were released.

Lobanov ended his message by telling the members of his family to stay strong and that he loves them.

After the publication of the video, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement, saying, "This horrific video further demonstrates Hamas's cruelty. Alex and five other hostages managed to survive in nightmarish conditions for over 10 months before being brutally executed. Recently released footage from their underground prison offered only a glimpse of the unimaginable horrors they endured in captivity. Time is running out for the remaining 101 hostages. A deal must be struck immediately to save them."


The Israel Guys: She Ran Towards Gaza on October 7th to Save Lives (special episode)
United Hatzalah paramedic Linor Attias left her small daughters on the morning of October 7th to go to the Gaza border to save lives. Ignoring the danger, her and her fellow first responders laid down their own lives to rescue hundreds of civilians and soldiers on that fateful day.

At one point, Linor even found herself in the middle of an active war zone when she responded to an event to extract wounded civilians inside Kibbutz Beeri.

Today’s video is a very special story of heroism and bravery. It is also a story of peace, because as you will see, it doesn’t matter who someone is, what their religion or ethnicity is, or their background. To Linor, a life is a life, no matter who they are.


Munk Debates: Ceasefire-Hostage Deal Debate
Be it Resolved, Israel must agree to a hostage deal
Following the execution of six Israeli hostages in Gaza, Israeli protesters are demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a cease-fire deal that would guarantee the release of the remaining hostages. The deal on the table, however, would force Israel to concede to Hamas’s central demand: that the IDF withdraw from the Philadlphi Corridor which separates Gaza from Egypt. Those calling for a ceasefire argue that saving the remaining hostages should be the highest priority for Israel, which can always re-occupy the corridor in the future should it present another security risk. Others argue that Benjamin Netanyahu is right and any deal that allows Hamas to retake this essential strip – whose tunnels operate as the supply line for weapons being smuggled into Gaza – presents a major security risk that Israel cannot tolerate. Striking a deal now will allow Hamas to recapture Gaza and guarantee that this war, which has cost too many lives on both sides of the border, will soon have to be fought again.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Barak Medina, a Professor of Human Rights Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Arguing against the resolution is Gadi Taub. He’s an Israeli historian, author, political commentator, and co-host of the popular Tablet Magazine podcast, Israel Update.


Caroline Glick: The Psychological War Being Waged by Hamas
JNS senior contributing editor Caroline Glick speaks with author Ron Schleifer, an acclaimed expert on psychological warfare, about the role of propaganda in Israel’s ongoing war with the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.

Schleifer stresses that psychological warfare has sometimes proven more dangerous than the military battle on the frontlines due to its long-lasting effects.

Watch this episode of "The Caroline Glick Show" as Schleifer and Glick take a deep dive into Hamas’s propaganda tactics and how the terror group is trying to defeat Israeli morale.




Jonny Gould's Jewish State: Fleur Hassan-Nahoum: Israel's wartime economy with Trade & Innovation Special Envoy. Coping with wars on seven fronts
I’ve known Israel’s Trade and Innovation Special Envoy, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum for so long. which is why it was a pleasure that she had time to stop by and join me for a chat and a phone-in on my early breakfast show on Talk.

Having moved on from being Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur now beats the drum for Israel’s famed enterprise as the Startup Nation, but how has the economy adjusted to wartime? Can growth and inward investment be restored?

And as Israel faces new military challenges, necessity is proved again to be the mother of invention. There are always secondary uses for technology in civilian life. Are new patents and processes in the offing?

We discuss UK Labour's Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his restoration of funding for UNRWA - then following it up with an arms embargo. My viewers didn’t like it.

Also: the threat from the north: Hezbollah - and Israel's displaced population and when they can go home.

The war is far from over.

And the hostages: Bring them home now!




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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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