Thursday, February 13, 2025

02/13 Links Pt1: Top Arab Diplomat Sees No Alternative to Trump's Gaza Plan; Hamas confirms hostage release for Saturday; Reckoning with the Red Cross

From Ian:

Seth Mandel: Bibi the Good Cop?
Let’s cut to the chase: How many hostages can Hamas release this Saturday without inviting pitiless retribution?

There are 76 remaining in Gaza. Trump’s comments didn’t seem to leave much wiggle room, so Saturday’s noon deadline would mean Hamas must release 76 hostages.

Israel’s security cabinet at first simply said it supported Trump’s position but did not specify what that position was exactly. Then, as the Times of Israel explained, an Israeli official said that “all” the hostages meant all nine hostages on the list for the first stage of the ceasefire who are still alive (that would be nine out of 17).

After that, an official said that the prime minister’s position was the same as Trump’s: “all of them.” But, in classic talmudic fashion, saying “all of them” instead of “all of our hostages” was viewed as leaving room for interpretation.

Finally, Wednesday evening saw reports that Israel has privately communicated to Hamas that if it releases the three hostages as per the original agreement on Saturday, the ceasefire will hold. This seems to be Israel’s way of embracing its new role as the good cop.

But that doesn’t fully end the drama. What if Hamas releases three hostages on Saturday? Israel might accept that. But will Trump?

On the one hand, Trump is unlikely to do anything that would blow up the ceasefire deal if both sides are still committed to adhering to its terms. He’s proud of the deal and doesn’t want the war to resume if he can help it.

On the other hand, in this scenario, Hamas’s threat to suspend the deal would go unpunished. Further, while we can assume Trump and Netanyahu are privately communicating over their messaging, that messaging remains vague—and that could just as easily confuse Bibi and Trump as it could Hamas.

The closer it gets to the weekend without any breaking news, the more likely it becomes that the hostage releases will continue as originally scheduled. If Trump’s threats are seen as the reason the ceasefire gets back on track, it should be enough of a victory for the president to claim. And he’ll have made Netanyahu look like the more reasonable one in the process.
Prof. Efraim Inbar and Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser: Trump's Gaza Proposal Shifts the Diplomatic Landscape
President Trump's proposal to relocate Gaza's Palestinian population points to the price that the Palestinians will have to pay for their decision to carry out the terrible terror attack of Oct. 7. Israel paid for its unreadiness with many lives and the freeing of a large number of terrorists as part of the hostage release agreement. It is evident that under the current leadership, the reconstruction of the area will not be possible.

To enable the realization of the U.S. president's proposal, first, Hamas will have to be removed from power in Gaza. At least in the first stage, this would mean Israeli military control of the territory.

Second, assuming that there is no intention of forcibly evacuating the Palestinian population, based on surveys, it appears that a significant number of Gazans would be willing to emigrate.

Third, Arab nations and other countries would need to cooperate in absorbing Gazans and funding the project. At present, such a move runs counter to their interests. Moreover, it is doubtful that the people of the region can be convinced to abandon their fundamental concepts.

Nevertheless, the Trump proposal for the first time challenges conventional wisdom. The proposal makes it clear that after Oct. 7, the approach to the Palestinian issue must change fundamentally. Moreover, it acknowledges for the first time that the "two-state solution" is not the only possible solution.

Even if Trump ultimately fails to secure the conditions for implementation of the plan, the very fact that it has been put on the table will force the Palestinians and Arab countries to propose practical alternatives to deal with the difficult reality in Gaza, and to do so in a way that is acceptable to both Israel and the U.S.
Amb. David Friedman: The Trump Plan for Gaza Offers a Realistic Chance to Bring Peace
The President's plan for Gaza signals a long overdue rejection of the "two-state solution." Back in 2005, when Israel removed its entire civilian population and military presence from Gaza, the Bush administration told the Palestinian Authority that this was its chance to prove to the world that it could create a working model of peaceful coexistence that could be extrapolated to Palestinian statehood. The experiment failed almost immediately, but its death knell occurred on Oct. 7.

President Trump's plan would allow the civilian population of Gaza to leave the demolished enclave, something refugees have done from every war zone in history. Some had argued that removing the civilian population from Gaza is a war crime. This is false: Gaza is unlivable, and moving the civilian population out of Gaza represents the best of humanitarian intentions.

Most civilians in Gaza were desperate to leave long before the latest war began, for the simple reason that living under Hamas rule was a nightmare even before Gaza was turned to rubble. It is nothing but a smear to suggest that allowing desperate civilians to voluntarily leave a war zone is a crime; it is Gazans' leaders who have committed war crimes.

Many of the people of Gaza elected Hamas, and many supported and cheered Hamas when it kidnapped, murdered, raped, burned, and tortured Israeli civilians. From a moral perspective, they have forfeited the right to the land which they have destroyed.

As an additional important benefit, when the Islamic world sees that Hamas has lost its hold on Gaza and that the nightmare of Hamas has been replaced with a new reality of peace and prosperity, the suicidal psychosis of radical Islam will suffer a crushing blow.
Reckoning with the Red Cross
The ICRC failed to ensure the safety and well-being of the hostages. They failed to advocate for them. Not once did the ICRC work to ensure that hostages were receiving medical care or that they were being properly treated and fed. Indeed, the ICRC didn’t see a single hostage during their time in captivity. For many fortunate enough to have been freed, the first time they saw the International Red Cross was at their release. In short, the ICRC played the role of a glorified Uber driver, taking released hostages from Gaza to Israel. And even here, they failed.

On Jan. 25, four Israeli female hostages were released. Before they were loaded into Red Cross vans, Hamas forced the women to walk onto a podium and thank their captors before a baying crowd. The hostages were given gift bags, a framed “certificate of completion” and a key chain with a Palestinian flag. As the Red Cross looked on, these women were forced to smile and have their picture taken while holding their “certificates of completion.” The whole spectacle is as gruesome as it is outrageous. Many female hostages endured sexual abuse and rape from their captors, and some were allegedly drugged before their release.

The square arranged for the spectacle, filmed by an Al Jazeera journalist working with Hamas, was festooned with Arabic and English slogans proclaiming “Palestine: The victory of the oppressed people vs the Nazi Zionism.” Palestinians attempted to attack the Israeli women while they were being loaded into vans. As a further insult, the windows of the Red Cross vans were uncovered, ensuring that the women could see their tormentors as they drove away from Gaza.

The ICRC has claimed it couldn’t advocate for the hostages without shedding its role as a “neutral intermediary.” Yet the organization’s timidity is tellingly one-sided; the ICRC hasn’t shown a reluctance to criticize Israel during this conflict.

The United States is the largest contributor to the ICRC, contributing roughly a quarter of its budget. The press should note the ICRC’s failings. And Americans should ask themselves whether they want to fund glorified Uber drivers for Hamas.


Daniel Greenfield: Resettling Gaza
Many, if not most, "peace plans" propose the further resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Jews living in Judea and Samaria to make way for a "Palestinian" state. Even as they object to resettling Gazan Muslims in Arab countries, they refer to Jews living in the "West Bank" as settlers, refer to their communities as "settlements," and propose that they be resettled elsewhere.

The same people who insist that it's morally wrong and impractical to resettle 2 million Muslims out of Gaza also argue that it's morally right and practical to resettle nearly half a million Jews....

Despite being told it was impossible, Israelis evacuated hundreds of thousands of Gazans to make way for military operations. During the beginning of the war, around one million Gazans left the north for the south of the Gaza Strip, and the UN would later claim that as many as 1.5 million Muslim settlers in Gaza had been displaced.

The resettlement of large numbers of "Palestinians" has happened before in the Middle East. While the resettlement of Gaza would take place on a larger scale, it would not be that much larger than the resettlements during the war or in the aftermath of the Gulf War.

The objections to it [resettlement], both moral and practical, are groundless. Resettlement is feasible and moral. If the Kuwaitis and the Jordanians could resettle the "Palestinians" out of their countries on far less grounds than the atrocities of Oct 7, the Israelis certainly have the right to do it.

The PLO and Hamas used terrorism at every turn to press for more Israeli concessions while giving nothing in return. Their leaders have said again and again that they intend to destroy Israel.

After Oct 7, everyone is finally taking them at their word.
Top Arab Diplomat Sees No Alternative to Trump's Gaza Plan
President Donald Trump's plan to have the United States rebuild Gaza and relocate its population is the only viable option, the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the United States said.

"I don't see an alternative to what's being proposed. I really don't," Yousef Al Otaiba said Wednesday at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. "So if someone has one, we're happy to discuss it, we're happy to explore it, but it hasn't surfaced yet."

Trump proposed last week that the United States "take over" war-torn Gaza, removing "dangerous, unexploded bombs and other weapons" and relocating "the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza, ending the death and destruction." The president later added that the relocated civilians "won't return" to Gaza as they will have "much better housing" elsewhere.

Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel prompted an Israeli offensive aimed at dismantling the terrorist group. The fighting has left much of Gaza uninhabitable, with the United Nations estimating that 90 percent of Gaza's population has been displaced.

Trump's surprise proposal has forced Arab states to shift their approach, prioritizing preventing mass displacement over long-standing efforts for Palestinian statehood. Egypt, which faces a potential influx of Gazan refugees, has launched a "diplomatic blitz" to rally support for an Arab-led and -funded reconstruction plan, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for Trump's proposal. A majority of Israeli Jews back the plan as well, according to a recent poll.


Kuwait Should Be the Next Country to Make Peace with Israel
Like his predecessor, Donald Trump seeks to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. But there are other Arab nations that might consider taking such a step. Ahmad Charai points to Kuwait—home to the Middle East’s largest U.S. army base and desperately in need of economic reform—as a good candidate. Kuwaitis haven’t forgiven Palestinians for supporting Saddam Hussein during his 1990 invasion, but their country has been more rhetorically hostile to Israel than its Gulf neighbors:

The Abraham Accords have reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy. . . . Kuwait, however, remains hesitant due to internal political resistance. While full normalization may not be immediately feasible, the United States should encourage Kuwait to take gradual steps toward engagement, emphasizing how participation in regional cooperation does not equate to abandoning its historical positions.

Kuwait could use its influence to push for peace in the Middle East through diplomatic channels opened by engagement rather than isolation. The economic benefits of joining the broader framework of the Abraham Accords are overwhelming. Israel’s leadership in technology, agriculture, and water management presents valuable opportunities for Kuwait to enhance its infrastructure. Trade and investment flows would diversify the economy, providing new markets and business partnerships.

Kuwaiti youth, who are increasingly looking for opportunities beyond the public sector, could benefit from collaboration with advanced industries, fostering job creation and entrepreneurial growth. The UAE and Bahrain have already demonstrated how normalization with Israel can drive economic expansion while maintaining their respective geopolitical identities.
Dear Palestinians: Statehood Is Not a Right
I categorically favor Israel not controlling millions of Palestinians by force, and I wish for my Palestinian friends to be happy and fulfilled. But the idea of an inalienable Palestinian right to nation-state status is wobbly at best, and may be damaging to all sides.

The Holy Land is small, with an average width until the Jordan River of about 50 miles. Cramming two countries in there is hard; a pullout by Israel from the West Bank would leave it 12 miles wide at the narrowest point. That would be dicey even if your region wasn't overflowing with jihadism. The effort to begin with Gaza has failed colossally. After the massacre of 1,200 Israelis which Hamas staged 16 months ago, I don't know how you convince Israel to try it again in the West Bank.

The Palestinians failed to prepare for statehood in any mature way. The Palestinian Authority is corrupt, ineffectual and undemocratic. Hamas in Gaza has run a satanical mafia state, indoctrinating the youth for barbarism. Given this history, any Israeli government of the foreseeable future would demand that a Palestinian state be demilitarized. The Palestinians will reject this.

Meanwhile, telling the Palestinians that national self-determination is a natural right of all peoples is a lie. There are over 10,000 identifiable ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious groups in the world, many of them far more distinctive than the Palestinians, who are scarcely different from Sunni Lebanese or Syrians. Indeed, until the creation of Israel there was no reference to a Palestinian people, any more than there was a Jordanian people.

Plenty of groups have strong national identities, long histories, and often overwhelming cases for self-rule, yet remain stateless: the Kurds are a distinct ethnic group of 35-40 million. The Tibetans were annexed by China in 1951. There are many indigenous groups in Latin America. In Spain there are the Basques and Catalans.

The Palestinians have repeatedly undermined their own case. They have refused multiple offers that would have given them a foothold for sovereignty, and clung to implausible goals such as a full return to land that has been Israel for more than 75 years.
If Indians and Pakistanis Can Relocate, Why Can't Gazans?
Many population transfers have taken place over the past century. In the 1920s, Greek Orthodox Christians in Turkey moved to Greece, while Muslims in Greece moved to Turkey. After World War II, millions of Indians and Pakistanis were forced to find new homes, as were ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. In the 1970s, Uganda expelled Indians. Only in the Palestinian case has the refugee question festered endlessly.

The Egyptians, Jordanians and Saudis all appear less than enthusiastic at the prospect of an influx of Palestinians. Nonetheless, the discussion highlights a double standard. Following the creation of Israel in 1948 and the first Arab-Israeli war, 600,000 to 700,000 Palestinians fled their homes. Contrast this with 800,000 Jews who fled or were expelled from their homes in North Africa and the Middle East. Today the descendants of these Mizrahi Jews make up half of Israel's population.

In 1947 the departing British carved out Pakistan from Muslim-majority areas of India. The bloodshed that followed - between Hindus and Sikhs on one side and Muslims on the other - led to two million deaths and uprooted 18 million people. No one expects Pakistan to transform its religious demography by offering a "right of return" to descendants of Hindu and Sikh refugees. Why should it be any different for Israel?

Across the Middle East, Palestinians in most Arab states face discrimination in access to employment, government services and property ownership. The Census Bureau estimates that the U.S. houses 172,000 Palestinians. That's more than the Palestinian population in many Arab countries.

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman said, "In the last 100 years, populations have moved repeatedly. Sometimes it's not fair. Sometimes it's justified from a humanitarian perspective. But whatever happens, when it's over, it's over. This [Israel] is the only place where it's weaponized." We wouldn't even be having this conversation if Arab states had welcomed Palestinian Arabs the way many other countries around the world have welcomed refugees.
Clifford D. May: Are Arab Rulers With or Against America?
More than 6 million Syrians fled their homeland during the 14-year-long civil war. Other nations took them in. It was the humanitarian thing to do, fulfilling their obligation under international law. Since Hamas initiated a full-blown war against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, hardly any residents of Gaza have managed to flee because no countries - not even Egypt, which borders Gaza - were willing to take them in.

It's now become obvious that, for Hamas and its supporters, the Palestinian cause is and always has been the extermination of Israel, the resurrected Jewish homeland, a tiny island amid an ocean of Arab and Muslim states.

Palestinians have ruled Gaza since 2005, when Israel withdrew from the territory without preconditions in the hope of securing peace. A kind of two-state solution was in effect. But Hamas built an army and spent hundreds of millions of dollars constructing a subterranean fortress in which its troops would hide during the war it planned to launch.

Early in the conflict, the Biden administration demanded that Israel deliver aid - food and fuel that Hamas would steal. Can you imagine Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill providing aid to Germany before the Nazis surrendered?

I strongly suspect that President Trump's proposal was a way of saying to Arab rulers, particularly Egyptian President el-Sissi and Jordanian King Abdullah II: "You don't get to just watch and kibbitz. If you don't like my idea, come up with a better one."


Why Hamas Is Still Around: A Global Failure That Must End Now
A sickening new narrative has emerged: “Israel lost the war.” Why? Because Hamas still exists. Because it still fires rockets. Because it still holds hostages. This defeatist nonsense is exactly what Hamas thrives on. The media paints a picture of Israel as a struggling, wounded nation, while portraying Hamas as a scrappy underdog. This distortion is not just irresponsible — it’s deadly. It emboldens Hamas, encourages further terror, and pressures Israel to back down.

Israel has not lost. The only way Israel loses is if it stops fighting. And that cannot happen.

Let’s talk about Qatar — the rich, two-faced Gulf state that bankrolls Hamas while pretending to mediate peace. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in luxury hotels, funds their operations, and provides them with a political shield. And yet, the world still treats Qatar as a “partner.” Enough. Qatar must be sanctioned, isolated, and treated as what it is: the financial lifeline of a terrorist empire. No more fake diplomacy. No more pretending Qatar is a neutral player. Any nation that funds Hamas is complicit in its crimes.

The only real solution is complete eradication. No ceasefires, no negotiations, no half-measures. Hamas is a cancer, and you do not negotiate with cancer. You cut it out.

Israel must be given full support to finish the war. The world must stop pretending Hamas is a political entity and recognize it for what it truly is: a genocidal terrorist cult that thrives on Western weakness. And those who support Hamas — whether they be nations, media outlets, or activists — must be called out and held accountable.

The suffering of Israeli hostages, the deaths of Israeli soldiers, and the continued existence of Hamas must not become just another tragic chapter in history. The time for words is over. The time for total eradication is now.
With bipartisan support, Graham pushes resolution to boot Hamas from Gaza
A bipartisan group of senators, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), introduced a resolution affirming that Hamas should no longer be allowed to exercise political or military control of the Gaza Strip.

“One of the defining moments for the future of the Middle East and the world at large is to state directly and with moral clarity that Hamas—a terrorist organization—will no longer have political or military control of Gaza at the end of this conflict,” Graham stated in a press release announcing the measure.

Besides launching the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage into Gaza, Hamas has “oppressed the Palestinian people under their control,” Graham said. “Hamas exists to destroy Israel, not to bring a better life for the Palestinian people.”

An existing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is teetering as the terror group said that it will delay any further hostage releases, claiming Israel is abrogating terms of the agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have threatened to move militarily if the captives are not set free on Feb. 15.

The senators sponsoring the resolution said Hamas has forfeited any right to remain in control of Gaza.

“Hamas is an anathema—to Palestinians and Israelis alike, indeed to all who live in the region,” said the lead Democratic sponsor, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “Their barbarity and inhumanity is a terrorist scourge—demonstrated most tragically in the Oct. 7 massacre—and a major barrier to peace and stability. Eliminating Hamas ought to be common ground as a paramount goal.”

Besides affirming that Hamas can’t continue to retain any political or military control in Gaza, the resolution also calls upon Trump to work to halt all sources of funding for the group and reiterates American support for Israel against Iran and its proxies, including Hamas.
Egypt increases Sinai military presence, violates peace treaty
Attempts to smuggle weapons using drones, satellite images indicating changes in the Egyptian military's force deployment in Sinai, and concerned security coordinators in Israeli border communities all paint a concerning picture regarding developments in Egypt.

Israeli political and security officials state that Egypt's shifting military presence in Sinai is closely monitored and periodically approved by the prime minister. However, sources familiar with Israel-Egypt relations acknowledge that such approvals are always given retroactively, after Egypt has already turned these violations of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty into routine occurrences. A source with knowledge of the situation told Israel Hayom: "The images from Egypt raised concerns, prompting us to conduct checks with Military Intelligence and the Southern IDF Command. Indeed, there are violations, but surprisingly, the situation is better than it was in the past."

Soldiers stationed near the border note that, given it is a peaceful border, any action is taken with caution, with primary attention focused on the smuggling routes between Sinai and the Bedouins.

The IDF recently acknowledged the smuggling of long-range weapons into Israel via drones. Israeli assessments indicate that these weapons previously made their way from Sinai to Gaza. However, with the IDF now deployed along the Philadelphi Corridor, a new client has emerged, the Bedouins, who in turn transfer the weapons to criminal organizations and the West Bank. On the Israeli side, smugglers wait on fast-moving ATVs and disappear within seconds. Since this is a relatively new smuggling route, Israeli authorities are still working to track where the weapons are being funneled, accumulating knowledge as they go.

Concern over Egyptian military buildup
Former Deputy Ambassador to Egypt and researcher at the Misgav Institute, Ruth Wasserman Lande, has also voiced concern over the developments and statements emerging from Egypt. "Over a year ago, on October 8, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi made unusually harsh statements, saying that if Israel approached southern Gaza, it would be grounds for war. I said back then that this does not bode well. This is very serious, and I wouldn't dismiss it lightly. Over time, it has become evident that there is a significant increase in Egyptian military presence in the Sinai Peninsula, far beyond even the previous violations of the peace treaty that we had reluctantly accepted."

Wasserman Lande warns: "Not only are we allowing the buildup of forces on the other side, but we are also permitting it without receiving anything in return, in a way that does not align with the diplomatic language of the Middle East."

In recent days, Egyptian rhetoric has also touched on concerns over the potential implementation of former US President Donald Trump's peace plan. El-Sisi has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he will not allow it to happen, even postponing a planned visit to the White House as a declarative move. "This was also what initially worried the Egyptians at the start of the war," Wasserman Lande explained. "They view this as a potential cause for war. They understand that Hamas embeds itself within the civilian population, and they do not want that scenario spilling over into Egypt. They reacted strongly when Israel was about to enter Rafah. While they ultimately did not launch a war, they have begun acting as though they are preparing for one."

Regarding the likelihood of a conflict, Wasserman Lande says that war requires both capability and willingness: "Egypt has the capability, the roads, bridges, tunnels, and fuel. Their reference scenario is Israel. The question is about their willingness. It may seem irrational because they know that Israel is militarily superior, especially now with strong US support. However, there is a difference between willingness and motivation. Motivation can override rational considerations. This is where we often misread our adversaries, just as we underestimated Hamas' readiness to act. There are things more important to them than life itself, what we see as logical, they see as national honor." She concludes, "I believe there are those monitoring this situation closely, but given the multiple fronts, the pressure on the system, and Israel's internal challenges, not enough attention is being paid to this possibility."
Inside Hamas’ propaganda machine: How Al Jazeera aided October 7 misinformation
Israel has obtained a series of internal documents exchanged between Hamas operatives in Gaza and producers at the Qatari news network Al Jazeera. The documents reveal Hamas' attempt to alter its narrative surrounding the October 7 attack and the mass killings committed by its terrorists against Israeli civilians.

A report published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, part of the Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center, presents some of the materials seized by the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate. These documents expose direct communication between senior Hamas officials in Gaza and Al Jazeera producers.

Al Jazeera’s role in Hamas’ narrative warfare
The report assesses that the broadcast of a recent Al Jazeera investigative program aimed to reinforce Hamas' narrative of "victory" following the ceasefire in Gaza and to justify the October 7 attack as a "legitimate military operation." The program also sought to cement the image of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a "warrior leader" who remained on the front lines until his death.

“The exclusive footage of Sinwar on the battlefield in Rafah, alongside rare recordings of Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, provides further evidence of the deep ties between Hamas and Al Jazeera,” the report states. It also references previous exposures of Al Jazeera journalists who were found to be members of Hamas' military wing and the network’s privileged access to footage of Israeli hostages being released.

On January 24, 2025, Al Jazeera aired a special episode of its investigative program What Is Hidden Is Greater (ما خفي أعظم), focusing on the October 7 Hamas attack from the perspective of its military wing. The broadcast included new details about the attack’s planning, testimonials from Hamas field commanders and operatives, and unprecedented footage of Mohammed Deif in a command room. It also featured Yahya Sinwar walking through Rafah’s battleground before his reported death in September 2024.

The program echoed Hamas’ false claim that the attack was aimed solely at Israeli military personnel and that the group intended only to capture soldiers while avoiding harm to civilians, particularly children and the elderly. According to the report, Hamas used the broadcast to reinforce its "victory narrative" and legitimize its actions on October 7 as a justified military operation.
Hamas confirms hostage release for Saturday, according to report
The Hamas terrorist organization has confirmed to Egyptian officials its commitment to continue with the hostage deal with Israel, including a sixth release of three captives set for Saturday, according to Saudi outlet Asharq News.

This is reportedly contingent on Israel supplying caravans, tents, fuel, heavy equipment, medicines and hospital renovation materials to Gaza.

Egyptian sources previously informed Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Hamas agreed with Egyptian mediators to continue the hostage release arrangement in exchange for these supplies, which were expected to enter Gaza on Thursday.

However, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said on Al Jazeera that while Hamas is committed to the agreed schedule, not all Israeli hostages would be released on Saturday.

Israel has reportedly informed Hamas through Egyptian and Qatari mediators that the hostage release-ceasefire deal will continue if the terrorist group frees three more hostages on Saturday.

Al Jazeera reported that caravans and heavy equipment entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Thursday, despite Israel not approving their entry due to Hamas’s violation of the agreement.


Melanie Phillips: The dismantling of a malevolent empire
In the past couple of weeks, devastating information has erupted into the public domain detailing the malign activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Trump administration has effectively shut USAID down by freezing its existing foreign assistance programs, worth around $70 billion per year, and putting the agency under the oversight of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting director.

The freeze, says the White House, is designed to root out wasteful spending on “pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats” at the agency, such as DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) transgender and tourism programs.

This has triggered claims that vital humanitarian work has been brought to an abrupt halt, threatening the lives and health of millions of people all over the world. In fact, emergency food aid and other “life-saving humanitarian assistance” are reportedly being allowed to continue.

Far more alarming information has now surfaced suggesting that USAID has been a major contributor to extremist and subversive activity. The Washington Free Beacon reports current and former U.S. officials who worked closely with the aid group saying they watched for years as it funneled millions of dollars to bodies engaged in anti-Israel advocacy and that were linked to terrorism.

At the start of this month, the Middle East Forum reported that USAID had awarded “millions of federal dollars” to “organizations directly in Gaza controlled by Hamas.” In one Biden administration-era case, the agency funded an “educational and community center in Gaza” controlled by a local group called the Unlimited Friends Association.

The MEF wrote that this group is a Hamas proxy that works to reward the “families of martyrs” in Gaza with cash handouts and “promotes violently antisemitic rhetoric across its social media pages.”

Another report published last month by NGO Monitor outlined millions in USAID funding for two nonprofits—Mercy Corps and American Near East Refugee Aid—that “have closely coordinated with a Gaza-based ministry, run by a senior Hamas official identified by the U.S. Treasury Department as previously responsible for part of Hamas’s smuggling operation.”
Report prompts allegations of ‘vast’ USAID funds for Hamas
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Monday accused the United States Agency for International Development of providing “vast and secret” funding for Hamas following new revelations about USAID’s practices vis-à-vis Israel and the Palestinians.

On X, Cruz accompanied his allegation with a link to an exposé published Monday by The Washington Free Beacon that detailed cases of alleged funding by USAID of Hamas and terrorist-affiliated entities and the agency’s record of hostile lobbying against the Jewish state.

“The full story of funding Hamas is vast, and much of it was done in secret,” Cruz wrote. “Before and after October 7, [2023], USAID flowed uncountable hundreds of millions of dollars toward Hamas that enabled it to launch the attack and keep battling Israel afterwards. They lied about the nature of that aid in public databases, refused to disclose what groups were getting the money, and gave tens of millions in American cash to be distributed without American supervision.”

Internally, Cruz added, USAID “admitted the aid would benefit Hamas, and even exempted themselves from anti-terrorism laws, but in public issued denials.”

The exposé referenced a report published last month by NGO Monitor, a Jerusalem-based watchdog, which showed funding in 2023 to the tune of $9 million by USAID to Mercy Corps, a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Mercy Corps worked to distribute the money among households in Gaza with the assistance of the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Social Development, according to U.N. documents revealed in the report.


Lee Zeldin Cancels $50 Million Contract for ‘Free Palestine’ Climate Group
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Thursday that he had canceled a Biden-era contract awarded to the Climate Justice Alliance, a group that claimed it was working toward a “Free Palestine.”

The phrase “Free Palestine” has genocidal implications, as many of the people who use that slogan imply that “Palestine” should replace the existing state of Israel and its 10 million people, including its 80% Jewish majority.

As Breitbart News reported Wednesday, Zeldin is fighting to claw back $20 billion in grants handed out by the Biden EPA in its last weeks in office to an array of powerful left-wing non-governmental organizations and activist causes:

“The days of irresponsibly shoveling boatloads of cash to far-left activist groups in the name of environmental justice and climate equity are over,” he said, about the $20 billion in so-called “gold bars” being wasted . “The American public deserves a more transparent and accountable government than what transpired these past four years.”

Radical climate change activists such as Greta Thunberg have latched onto the anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian cause.


Car ramming injures 28, hours before int'l security conference in Munich
At least 28 people were wounded after a Mini Cooper drove into a group of people in the German city of Munich, German media reported on Thursday.

BILD reported that at least two are in serious condition, and a child is in critical condition. An eyewitness also told BILD that the car had rammed a woman with a child and that the "mother and child were lying under the car."

Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter told BILD that the police chief has informed him that many people were injured, including children. He said he was "deeply shocked."

Munich Police said that a major police operation in the area of Dachauer Street and Seidl Street was currently underway. The police statement added that the attacker - identified by BILD as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker - was detained on-site and currently poses no further danger.

The attack occurred during the 'Verdi strike,' which was called by the Verdi trade union as part of the ongoing wage dispute.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing two men involved in the attack, and also hearing shots being fired before the driver of the car was detained.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder said "It is suspected that this was an attack."


UN's Albanese slams Italian official for meeting Netanyahu
United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said that Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini's meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a “shame for Italy and its people” in a post on X/Twitter on Tuesday.

Albanese, who is Italian herself, added that the Salvini smiling in a photo with Netanyahu was “an affront to the Italian Constitution.”

In her post, she referred to Netanyahu as “one of the architects of the destruction of Gaza, who should be arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

Salvini posted a photo of the two smiling on X, saying that their meeting was an opportunity to “reaffirm the friendship between Italy and Israel,” as well as calling into question the role of the International Criminal Court.

Salvini stated that he intends for Italy to “increasingly play a leading role on the international scene.”


White House officially sanctions ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan
The U.S. Treasury Department officially sanctioned Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, on Thursday over the court’s investigation of alleged Israeli war crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.

This expected news comes three days after the White House listed Khan on Monday as the first person to be designated for sanctions under U.S. President Donald Trump’s new executive order sanctioning the ICC. Republican lawmakers separately attempted to sanction the court; however, the move was blocked by Senate Democrats.

The move against Khan will freeze any U.S. assets he has and will bar him from entry into the United States.

“I thank President Donald Trump and the incoming administration for imposing sanctions on the ICC prosecutor following his disgraceful decision to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant,” wrote Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. “Karim Khan is just another puppet in the Palestinian-led diplomatic circus of terror at the United Nations. Those who long ago lost their moral compass have no right to lecture Israel, a nation fighting against the forces of evil.”

He emphasized that “we will continue fighting until all hostages are returned and Hamas is eliminated.”

“Good to see the rogue prosecutor of the ICC kangaroo court added to the US Treasury OFAC sanctions list,” wrote Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “Khan is a threat to America and to our allies.”


Arab crashes stolen vehicle into IDF base near Nablus
A Palestinian suspect driving a stolen vehicle crashed into the gate of the 442nd “Samaria” Brigade base near Nablus on Thursday morning. According to Kan News, the suspect attempted to flee after the crash but was shot by IDF soldiers.

No injuries were reported among the troops, and the suspect’s condition is currently unclear.

The man’s identity is being verified, and the Israel Defense Forces has not yet issued an official statement on the incident.

Separately, the IDF targeted a car bomb in Jenin in northern Samaria on Thursday morning. The vehicle was allegedly intended to be detonated near troops operating in the area.

Israel’s military has expanded its “Iron Wall” counter-terrorism operation to the Nur al-Shams camp near Tulkarem in northwestern Samaria, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.

“We are crushing terrorist infrastructure in the refugee camps and preventing its return. We will not allow the Iranian axis of evil to establish an eastern terror front that threatens the communities in Samaria, the Seam Line and large population centers in Israel,” Katz tweeted.
Troops neutralize bomb-laden car, Palestinian shot dead near IDF base, in West Bank
Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian suspect at the entrance to a military base near Nablus on Thursday, while commando forces destroyed an explosive-laden car in Jenin, amid an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian suspect was shot by soldiers at the entrance to the Samaria Regional Brigade’s base near Nablus, the Israel Defense Forces said.

He arrived at the entrance to the base in a vehicle and crashed into its gate.

“The suspect was neutralized after moving suspiciously toward the forces,” the IDF said.

The Palestinian Authority health ministry said it had been notified of the man’s death, indicating his body was being held by Israeli authorities. He was named by the PA as 28-year-old Issa Riyad Issa Jabali.

No soldiers were wounded in the incident.

Also Thursday, troops of the Egoz commando unit destroyed an explosive-laden car in the West Bank city of Jenin, the military said.

Footage published by the IDF showed a drone dropping a bomb on the parked car.


Faulty terrorist rocket said to kill Palestinian child in central Gaza
A 14-year-old Palestinian was killed in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday when a terrorist rocket launched toward Israel fell short inside the coastal enclave, according to initial reports in Arab media.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the attempted aerial assault, saying in a brief statement that “a rocket launch was identified from Gaza.”

“The rocket fell inside Gaza. The IDF is committed to fully implementing the conditions of the agreement for the return of the hostages,” it added.

Unconfirmed video footage posted to social media showed a projectile falling inside a densely populated area shortly after being launched.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-affiliated Shehab News Agency claimed that the victim, identified as Salem Alaa Saud, was “martyred as a result of the explosion of an explosive device” left behind by the Israeli military.


Study: Enough food entered Gaza Strip but distribution issues persist
While sufficient quantities of food entered the Gaza Strip via Israel between January and July 2024, distribution failures resulted in it not always reaching those in need, according to an Israeli study published on Wednesday.

The study, titled, “Food supplied to Gaza during seven months of the Hamas-Israel war” and published in the Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, found that 478,229 metric tons of food were supplied to Gaza over the seven-month period.

The per capita daily nutritional supply averaged 3,004 kcal (well above the 2,100 kcal/day international standard set by the Sphere Project, a group of aid workers and entities seeking to improve humanitarian aid quality).

The daily supply averaged 98 g of protein (13% of total energy), 61 g of fat (18% of total energy) and 23 mg of iron (below the recommended minimum).

With the exception of February, where a decrease in supply was noted, food deliveries increased steadily over the months studied.

“Even after adjusting for projected food losses, the energy, protein, and fat content of the food met or exceeded the Sphere humanitarian standards for food security and nutrition,” according to the report.

However, distribution was found to have been hindered by logistical obstacles, interference by Hamas, which has diverted or sought to control aid shipments, as well as breakdowns in coordination among humanitarian agencies.


Debate! Should Israel pull out of the hostage agreement? | JNS TV
Jennifer Sutton, Executive Director of Council for a Secure America, moderates this debate between IDF Col. (Res) Gabi Siboni and Col. (Res) Grisha Yakubovich on the merits of the current #hostage agreement between Israel and #Hamas. They’ll cover the important arguments for and against the agreement and whether or not it’s worth the price Israel will inevitably pay. Learn how the current agreement has divided Israeli society and how it will affect Israel for years to come.


'The girls suffered, but men suffer more': Shira Albag speaks about Liri's time in captivity
After 477 days of uncertainty, endless prayers, and relentless struggle, Shira Albag wakes up from a dream—only this time, it is not a nightmare. She is finally waking up next to her daughter, Liri.

"You know, waking up with your daughter after so long, feeling her presence—it’s overwhelming," she says. "I keep telling myself, I’m in a dream."

Liri Albag, the IDF lookout soldier kidnapped from the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7, has not returned to the life she once knew. She is no longer the same girl who enlisted a year and a half ago. Despite the smiles and reunions with friends, something in her has changed.

"Yes and no," Shira says when asked if her daughter is starting to return to herself. "The moment I saw Liri and she shouted at us, ‘Liri Number 1’—our private joke at home—I thought, that's my daughter. I was afraid of what I would get back, but it’s her. It’s my Liri."

Yet for every joyful moment, there are silent ones—the realization that the road ahead is long.

"She’s grown up a lot," Shira says, her voice heavy. "She understands so much, but she’s also very quiet at times. On one hand, she talks a lot, but on the other, it’s like everything is mixed together."

It turns out Liri did not just survive—she found a way to navigate through hell.

"The moment she was taken, she realized her reality. She was now a hostage in Gaza, and she would learn to survive."


Freed Gaza hostage was forced by Hamas to film video faking her death
Released Gaza hostage Daniella Gilboa was forced by the Hamas terror group to record a video faking her death while in captivity, her mother has revealed.

Orly Gilboa, Daniella’s mother, told Israeli TV’s Channel 12 news that “one of the captors simply came to her with a camera and told her, ‘Today we are filming you dead.”

“She pleaded for her life and asked they don’t do it,” she said, describing how they covered her in powder and debris to make it look like she had been hit in an Israeli airstrike.

She said that after her release last month as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas, Daniella apologised for any part she could have played in her parents thinking she was dead.

“When she saw me and my husband for the first time, she apologised for how she caused us to feel this whole time,” her mother added.

A spokesman for Hamas’s military wing claimed in November that “one of the enemy’s female prisoners was killed in an area that is under Zionist aggression in the northern Gaza Strip.”

At the time Hamas published a blurred picture of a body it claimed belonged to the slain hostage.

While it did not identify the woman, the image quickly led to speculation that it could be Daniella.


Freed Israeli hostage Ohad Ben Ami released from hospital
Ohad Ben Ami, a former hostage who was held captive by Hamas in the Gaz Strip for 491 days, was released from the hospital on Thursday, six days after being released by the terrorist organization.

Ben Ami, 56, who was let go on Feb. 8 in an emaciated state as part of a propaganda-filled ceremony, completed initial treatment at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s Ichilov Hospital, it said.

Ben Ami was welcomed with applause by dozens of people when he arrived at the Tel Aviv apartment where his family has been staying.
Yvonne Ridley: The Apologist for Terror Who Dares to Preach Morality
But here is the ultimate truth: those who defend the dehumanization of Jews do not truly care about humanity at all.

Because once you deny one people their humanity, you have denied it to all. Once you justify the slaughter of civilians in the name of some greater cause, you have destroyed the very foundations of morality itself.

Ridley’s words do not exist in a vacuum. This is not an abstract debate about rhetoric and politics. Her words have consequences.

To glorify Hamas in Britain today, to sanitize the crimes of a proscribed terrorist group, is to lend legitimacy to its supporters in the UK, to fan the flames of radicalization, to embolden those who have already taken their Jew-hatred from the streets into acts of violence.

And let us be clear: Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK. There is no ambiguity, no grey area. To praise it, to glorify it, to whitewash its crimes is to support terror itself.

The survivors of October 7 will never have the privilege of speaking on television, because Hamas silenced them forever. But their stories, their agony, must never be erased—not by the Yvonne Ridleys of the world, not by the media that enables them, not by the activists who chant their murderers’ names in the streets of London and Paris.

We are witnessing a moral collapse, the casual rewriting of history in real-time. But we do not have the luxury of amnesia.

And so, to those who defend terror, to those who excuse genocide, to those who dare to whitewash the horrors of October 7—know this:

We will not forget.
We will not forgive.
And we will never, ever allow you to win.


‘Sick westerner’: Yvonne Ridley's ‘sick psychology’ criticised
Author Douglas Murray has criticised journalist Yvonne Ridley for “sick psychology” after she argued Hamas “extended acts of kindness upon Israel.”

British broadcaster Julia Hartley Brewer was visibly floored when Ms Ridley claimed Hamas’ “goodie bags” represented acts of “kindness”.

“These men have been put through absolute hell by barbarians in Hamas,” Mr Murray told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

“You really do have to have the sort of sick psychology of Yvonne Ridley to believe that if at the end of it you get a so-called goodie bag … that you should at some way be applauded.

“Yvonne Ridley is going to be one of those sick Westerners who is going to have to find another death cult to attach herself to because she is not going to have many allies left.”


USAID is ‘incredibly corrupt, wasteful’: Douglas Murray hails work of Elon Musk
Author Douglas Murray has commended tech-billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency for stopping “government waste.”

US President Donald Trump’s vow to scrap USAID has “alarmed” Democrats, sparking a heated debate on whether the executive order will impact the livelihoods of citizens.

Last week, Democratic lawmakers rallied outside the Department of the Treasury in Washington, where they slammed Musk.

“When someone comes along and actually tries to stop government waste, they’re all of these howls, Mr Murray told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

“What Elon Musk and his DOGE team found in USAID … is an incredibly corrupt, wasteful, and wants more anti-American system."


Irish Leftist, Nationalist Party to Boycott St. Patrick’s Day Events at White House Over Trump’s Gaza Plan
A prominent left-wing and nationalist political party in Ireland has confirmed that it will not attend St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Washington, DC next month due to “incompatible values” with US President Donald Trump following the announcement of his plan to “take over” Gaza and rebuild it into an economic hub.

Claire Hanna — leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the once dominant party of Irish nationalism in Northern Ireland — announced the decision as a stance against Trump’s proposal for the Palestinian enclave, where Israel and the terrorist group Hamas have been fighting for 16 months.

“The SDLP’s values are incompatible with what we are seeing and hearing, and we won’t be endorsing it on St Patrick’s Day,” Hanna, a member of the British parliament, said in a statement on Tuesday. “We understand the importance of the relationship between the US and this island [Ireland], but the politics of the current US administration mean it is essential that we stand up for what is right, and when it comes to Gaza, what is wrong.”

Last year, Hanna’s predecessor also refused to attend the White House festivities as a protest against US support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

At the time, then-party leader Colum Eastwood accused Washington of having an “atrocious” response to the Middle Eastern conflict — which began with Hamas’s invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — and refused to celebrate “while the civilian population in Gaza lives in constant fear of eradication.”

In line with her predecessor’s stance, Hanna justified this week’s decision by saying the SDLP “could not endorse the US government while it armed and supported the bombardment of Gaza.”

“We hope the fragile ceasefire will deliver a lasting peace and the return of hostages to their families, but the rhetoric of Donald Trump, around the displacement and ethnic cleansing of millions of people, is absolutely beyond the pale,” she said. “We can’t in good conscience attend parties hosted in that context.”

The SDLP also posted on social media announcing its decision, writing, “Ireland has a proud history of solidarity with Palestine.”


Stormzy is blasted for hypocrisy for deleting pro-Palestine post just as his new McDonald's ad comes out - after critics of Israel called for boycott on firm for feeding the IDF
Stormzy has been blasted for hypocrisy after he deleted a pro-Palestine Instagram post just days before his new McDonald's ad came out.

The British rapper, 30, has been called out on social media after he deleted a post from a year ago that read: 'I hope everyone is good, some fleeting thoughts.

'1. Free Palestine. 2. In the future, if there is ever a clear injustice in the world no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will always be on the side of the oppressed. Unequivocally. As I always have been.'

However, just a few days before the launch of his new ad campaign, 'Famous Order', with McDonald's, a company who have come under fire in the past for their support of the Israeli Defence Forces, his post has been removed.

It follows a dispute in October when McDonald's Israel announced it had donated thousands of free meals to IDF troops involved in the war.

The move triggered a backlash from critics of Israel's military action in Gaza, including some asking for a consumer boycott.


Pro-Palestine rallies in Melbourne now a monthly event
The rallies have been held for 70 consecutive weeks, having commenced with the horrific Hamas massacre of Israelis on 7 October 2023.

Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) president Nasser Mashni said the move aims to significantly increase the size of the rallies. Though he has also threatened that if the Hamas-Israel ceasefire collapses, then the rallies will return to weekly. Meanwhile, the ceasefire has become more precarious, with Hamas and the Israeli Government blaming each other for alleged breaches. Israel has warned Hamas that it will resume attacks on Gaza if Hamas does continue to free its hostages. If the ceasefire collapses, the CBD will likely see a return to weekly protests.

Mashni said attendance at the protests had “plateaued to between 2000 and 5000”, peaking around 30,000 to 50,000 at the end of 2023, but claimed the move was not about crowd numbers.

Mashni denied that the change was due to calls from the Premier, the Victorian opposition and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to relocate or halt the weekly rallies.

The regular route of the protest march from the State Library of Victoria to the steps of the Victorian Parliament House remains the same.

Victoria Police must be pleased with the reduced pressure on their limited resources, but have simply said, “Victoria Police is aware of the announcement from organisers of weekly Sunday rallies in the city that they are moving to protesting at least once a month. Police will continue to engage with the organisers about their plans and to ensure the safety of the community is upheld.”

But it is not just the police who will be happy about the move, as businesses in the CBD and politicians from the major parties will feel a strong sense of relief. Though maybe not the Greens, who have been strong supporters of the protests. The community divisiveness fostered by the Greens is seen as one of the causes of the Greens’ poor result in the Prahran byelection, where they lost the seat after holding it for a decade, to the Liberals. The ALP did not field a candidate, and former Labor MP Tony Lupton ran as an independent on a strong “put Greens last” platform, preferencing the Liberals.




Buy EoZ's books  on Amazon!

"He's an Anti-Zionist Too!" cartoon book (December 2024)

PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism (February 2022)

    
 

 



AddToAny

Printfriendly

EoZTV Podcast

Podcast URL

Subscribe in podnovaSubscribe with FeedlyAdd to netvibes
addtomyyahoo4Subscribe with SubToMe

search eoz

comments

Speaking

Speaking

translate

E-Book

For $18 donation








Sample Text

EoZ's Most Popular Posts in recent years

Search2

Hasbys!

Hasbys!

2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee

Elder of Ziyon - حـكـيـم صـهـيـون



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.

Donate!

Donate to fight for Israel!

Monthly subscription:
Payment options


One time donation:

Follow EoZ on Twitter!

Interesting Blogs

Show All

Blog Archive

Copyright © Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News | Powered by Blogger
Blogger Templates