Thursday, March 06, 2025

03/06 Links Pt1: Free all hostages, eradicate Hamas: There’s no other solution; Trump wants Hamas to release Israeli-American Edan Alexander; Israel rescues 10 Indian hostages from WB village

From Ian:

Free all hostages, eradicate Hamas: There’s no other solution
Continuing a gradual release of the remaining hostages is a mistake because no human being can survive in the underground concentration camps of Hamas for much longer. The conditions of Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy and Eli Sharabi, the three living hostages released recently, speak for themselves: they seemed to have come out of Auschwitz. This should not be tolerated.

As explained by Israeli-Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh for the Gatestone Institute, the hostages could have been released a long time ago if the Biden administration had exerted enough pressure on Qatar to use its good relations with the Islamist group to force it to do so.

Biden could have pressured Doha by threatening to withdraw United States forces from Qatar. He could have threatened to impose economic sanctions on Qatar or designate it as a “state sponsor” of terrorism if it did not pressure Hamas to release the hostages. After all, Hamas is blacklisted by the United States and the European Union, and it’s no secret that Qatar is its main supporter in the Middle East. Hamas would have found it hard to say no to its major political and financial patrons and backers.

Qatar is no neutral mediator, and it is pursuing Hamas’s interests in the region. It’s obvious that the terror organization’s current interest is to survive the war, and, so far, it seems to be working. Its next step will be to remain in control of Gaza, and that’s exactly what will happen if Israel accepts the conditions for Phase 2.

The situation is confusing with the Trump administration declaring that it wants all the hostages released, while, at the same time, stating that Hamas must be destroyed and Gazans deported. Hamas will never release all the hostages without reassurance that it will survive and remain in Gaza.

Now would be the right time to put an end to the ceasefire deal and force Hamas to release every single hostage remaining in captivity by enforcing real pressure on Qatar, taking over Gaza with the military, and eradicating it once and for all, while simultaneously arresting and prosecuting its leaders abroad.

With the end of the first phase, the situation is now stalled. New terms proposed by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff call for a temporary ceasefire during Ramadan and Passover. On the first day of such an agreement, half of the living and dead hostages would be released. At the end of the framework, if an agreement is reached, the remaining hostages would all be freed at one time.

Israel’s position remains the same. Hamas must be eradicated before a deal to end the war can take place. As of now, Hamas has rejected Witkoff’s proposal and Israel has responded by cutting aid supplies to Gaza. Additionally, the leaders of Arab countries have met in Cairo to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The world now waits to see if there will be any further breakthroughs in negotiations or if the fighting will resume.
Khaled Abu Toameh: Rebuilding Gaza is Pointless Unless Hamas is Eradicated
The establishment of a new government in the Gaza Strip while Hamas maintains its military capabilities there unfortunately will not work. Hamas's presence during reconstruction will only result in the emergence of the Lebanon model: Hezbollah, another Iranian proxy terror group, simply created a terrorist state-within-a-state.

Worse, having a new government that would oversee reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip while Hamas is still there would exempt the Palestinian terrorist group from its responsibilities towards Gaza's residents. The new government would not be able to stop Hamas from rearming, regrouping, and preparing more attacks against Israel -- as Hamas has unremittingly vowed to do.

The new government would be busy rebuilding homes and skyscrapers and delivering humanitarian aid, while Hamas and the other terror groups would have all the time in the world to rebuild tunnels and manufacture weapons.

Hamas never cared about the well-being of the Palestinians under its rule in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist group could have built schools, universities, and hospitals. Instead, it chose to invest millions of dollars in building a vast network of tunnels to attack Israel, smuggle and hide weapons, and torture Israeli hostages.

The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the resumption of humanitarian aid should be conditioned on the removal of Hamas from power and disarming of all of Gaza's terror groups.

Hamas should be completely excluded from any plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip because all it cares about is pursuing its Jihad (holy war) to destroy Israel and murder as many Jews as possible.
Palestinians are Hamas, and Hamas are Palestinians
Even Palestinians who don’t support Hamas very much support their ideology and methods. Indeed, a survey by researchers at Oxford University found that 98% of Gazans said they were religious and almost as many said they viewed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as religious, not political—exactly as Hamas. Furthermore, polls show that Palestinians in Gaza, and Judea and Samaria, broadly support terrorism as a means to end the “occupation” and achieve independence, just like Hamas. These polls also reveal that more than half of Palestinians want Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state governed under Islamic law—just like Hamas.

Palestinians broadly support the Oct. 7 massacre. The December 2023 poll by PCPSR showed that 72% of Palestinians supported Hamas’s decision to launch the Oct. 7 attacks. The effects of war since then have eroded Palestinians’ support for this decision, yet the September 2024 poll showed that 54% of Palestinians still supported it.

Palestinians enthusiastically participate in Hamas’s atrocities against Israel. In fact, an Israel Defense Forces’ assessment released in August 2024 revealed that more than 2,000 Palestinians who invaded Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7 were not Hamas members—many were mere “civilian” terrorists. Palestinian civilians went into a maniacal frenzy when hostages were kidnapped into Gaza, surrounding the vehicles used to carry them and shouting “Death to the Jews.” Similarly, more than a year later, Palestinian “civilians” cheered and jeered as Hamas mockingly paraded hostages before their release.

When the coffins of the Bibas children, who were murdered with the terrorists’ bare hands, were paraded before civilian mobs through the streets of Gaza, it wasn’t just Hamas presiding, but members and supporters of other Palestinian factions, including the PLO’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Furthermore, some hostages were held in civilian homes, including female soldiers, who were used as slaves, and forced to cook and clean for Palestinian families. Albag, for example, was forced to clean toilets for a family and cook food that she was forbidden to eat. She subsisted on scraps and was only allowed to shower after 37 days.

Palestinian civilians also gladly assisted Hamas during the war by hiding their terrorist infrastructure in civilian buildings—schools, hospitals, mosques, playgrounds and even in children’s bedrooms.

Progressives cannot deny that Hamas and the Palestinian public are virtually indistinguishable. No matter how well-meaning, progressives cannot deny that the Palestinians elected Hamas to govern them. They cannot deny the research that shows broad support among Palestinians for Hamas, their ideology and their methods, or the research that reveals overwhelming Palestinian support for the atrocities of Oct. 7. Finally, they cannot deny that even as Hamas’s popularity fades, Palestinian civilians continue to support its goals, ideology and methods.

Those who assert that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people are either fooling themselves or trying to gaslight you, contrary to all factual evidence.


FDD: ‘Hello and Goodbye — You Can Choose’: Trump Delivers New Ultimatum to Hamas to Release Israeli Hostages
Latest Developments
No Hamas Member Safe: President Donald Trump issued a “final warning” to the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group and allied organizations holding Israeli hostages in Gaza. “‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye — You can choose,” Trump wrote on his social media accounts on March 5. “Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he continued. Denouncing Hamas as “sick and twisted,” Trump stated that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job” and that “not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.”

Phase Two Would Keep Hamas in Power: Trump’s statement came after a meeting with former Israeli hostages in the Oval Office, during which they praised the president’s efforts on their behalf. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said in a text message to Reuters that Trump’s threats “represent support to [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to evade the agreement and tightens the siege and starvation against our people.” Phase one of the January 19 ceasefire deal expired on March 1, but both sides have failed to reach an agreement to begin the deal’s second phase, which stipulates an end to hostilities and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops while leaving Hamas in control of Gaza.

Secret Talks With Hamas Revealed: Earlier in the day, Axios reported that the Trump administration had been holding secret direct talks with Hamas, led by U.S. presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler, hoping to assemble a broader deal to release the remaining 59 hostages. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the talks were ongoing during a press briefing, saying that Israel was consulted about the talks and that “dialogue and talking to people around the world” represents a “good faith” effort by Trump to do “what’s right for the American people.” Netanyahu’s office confirmed that “Israel expressed its stance” to the United States regarding direct talks with Hamas.

FDD Expert Response
“If the reporting is true and presidential hostage envoy Adam Boehler has been directly meeting with Hamas, it would be a break from long-standing U.S. policy. However, Trump tends to buck conventional wisdom, often yielding good results. While some may not like the White House’s unconventional tactics, there is an understanding among Israelis that this president has dedicated significant resources and political capital toward bringing hostages home and a belief that Trump may be able to achieve what his predecessor failed to do.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“Against the backdrop of direct U.S. negotiations with Hamas over the release of hostages, President Trump’s public ultimatum may have been a strategic move to emphasize the potential consequences of noncompliance. However, rhetoric has limits when directed at Hamas, and this approach may not work. Ultimately, the decision to release some or all of the hostages rests with Hamas leaders in Gaza, who retain control over the remaining captives.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
Witkoff met with Hamas leaders, Qatari mediators to advance hostage deal, Egyptian sources say
Discussions took place on Wednesday night between US President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas leaders, and mediators from Egypt and Qatar, two Egyptian sources tell Reuters.

Sources say American-Egyptian talks discussed governance of Gaza after the end of the war, including names of those who would manage the Strip.

Sources say that the discussions ended positively and indicate a near transition to a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that Israel is unaware of any advancements regarding phase two of the hostage deal.

Hamas said on Thursday that Trump's repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the Gaza ceasefire and intensify the siege of Gaza.

Trump demanded on Wednesday that Hamas "release all of the hostages now, not later," including the remains of dead hostages, "or it is OVER for you."

In a text message to Reuters, Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said: "The best track to release the remaining Israeli prisoners is by the occupation going into the second phase and compelling it to adhere to the agreement signed under the sponsorship of mediators."
Witkoff: Trump’s ultimatum came after we didn’t like what we heard from Hamas in direct talks
US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff defends the Trump administration’s decision to launch direct talks with Hamas, breaking with longstanding policy not to negotiate with the terror group.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Witkoff says Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler held such conversations in recent days — not weeks — and that doing so is within his purview.

“I commend him for doing that. Adam cares about lives. The hostage families are grateful for it, and so is President Trump,” Wiktoff says.

“It was the responsibility of the special envoy to actually have a conversation and see if anything can be achieved,” Witkoff continues.

“Unfortunately, what we learned is that Hamas told us they were going to be thinking about it a certain way… That’s important information for us to have. And so came the tweet from the president,” Witkoff said, referencing Trump’s post on Truth Social last night that warned Hamas that it would be destroyed if it didn’t immediately release the hostages.

Witkoff says Trump’s message to Hamas was, “Your behavior is unacceptable. You need to clean up your behavior.”

“We want to see these hostages come home. We’re not going to sit here and do nothing and tolerate these kinds of inhumane conditions. They’ve lived in a terrible situation. Who keeps dead bodies? Who does that? Who keeps people chained up downstairs? Who murders in front of other hostages? What has happened here is intolerable, and it’s not going to be tolerated by President Trump.”

“We’re prepared to have dialogue. But if the dialogue doesn’t work, then the alternative is not such a good alternative for Hamas,” Witkoff says.
Witkoff: 'Trump wants Hamas to release Israeli-American Edan Alexander'
US President Donald Trump wants Hamas to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander to show he is serious about negotiations, US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

"Edan Alexander is very important to us. He is wounded, and he is a top priority. I hope we see good behavior [from Hamas] next week and that I can get there (to Qatar) and have good talks," Witkoff said.

Speaking of Trump's stance, Witkoff said, "An American is going to be a priority for him."

"The president's message yesterday to Hamas was that he was fed up. I wouldn't test the president... There will be consequences."

Witkoff added in his statement: "It's time for Hamas to act responsibly, which it is not currently doing. Hamas has an opportunity to behave sensibly and do the right thing and then leave Gaza. They will not be part of a future government in Gaza. If they understand this - they have a path to leave."

"We don't care so much about these terms 'phase two' or 'extension of phase one,' what we are focused on is reaching a solution and releasing the hostages."


These are the 59 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza
At the beginning of the year, there were 98 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza, all but four taken when Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

A ceasefire deal that included an exchange of hostages and prisoners resulted in the release of 38 — 33 who were agreed upon under the terms of the deal, and five, all Thai nationals, outside the deal’s terms. Israeli soldiers retrieved the body of a 39th hostage, a soldier who had been killed in 2014.

That leaves 59 hostages who remain in Gaza, out of the approximately 250 taken in the Oct. 7 attack. The remaining captives are the subject of intense advocacy by their families and supporters around the Jewish world. Of them, 35 are known to be dead. For many others, the first signs of life since they were abducted have come in recent weeks, as freed hostages revealed distressing details about their conditions.

Their plight is dependent on whether the war begins or the ceasefire, which Israel and Hamas are negotiating through intermediaries, extends further.

Here’s what you need to know about the hostages remaining in Gaza.
Released hostage provides first public sign of life from captive Rom Braslavski
A recently released hostage provided the first public sign of life from captive Rom Braslavski in a video posted to social media on Thursday.

In the video, Sasha Troufanov, who was freed last month as part of the ongoing hostage-ceasefire agreement, said that while he is relieved and happy to be home, he “can’t disconnect from the captives still held in Gaza, those left behind.”

“I think a lot about my friends, especially one person who I briefly met in captivity, named Rom Braslavski,” he said.

Troufanov was held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group and was alone for most of the time in captivity.

News that he had met Braslavski amounts to the first evidence made public that Braslavski was alive after being captured by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023.

“Rom, I hope my voice will give you light and hope in the dark place where you are. I want you to know that I, your friends and family, and all of Israel are praying for you and doing everything we can to secure your release,” Troufanov said.


Katz tells IDF: Allow anti-Israel activists to breach Gaza sea blockade, seize boats for resettlement
Israel Katz, Israel’s minister of defense, has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to refrain from blocking foreign pro-Palestinian protesters seeking to enter the Gaza Strip by sea, but seize their vessels, his office said on Thursday.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the announcement came in response to intelligence suggesting that protest groups were preparing renewed attempts to breach Jerusalem’s maritime blockade of the enclave.

“Whoever comes to demonstrate on the shores of Gaza, we will send them into Gaza and use the ships to evacuate Gaza residents who are interested in leaving voluntarily,” Katz said in the Thursday statement.

His office added, “The defense minister instructed the IDF to allow the protest flotillas to reach Gaza’s coast, disembark the protesters in Gaza, and seize the ships and transfer them to Ashdod Port so that they can be used to evacuate Gaza residents who are interested in leaving Gaza.”
Deterrence Is Just an Educated Guess
Deterrence is based on the assumption that adversaries will refrain from attacking out of fear of severe retaliation. However, deterrence is an elusive and problematic concept. Deterrence does not guarantee the prevention of threats.

Deterrence operates in the psychological and perceptual sphere. But how can one accurately assess how an adversary perceives the severity of the consequences or the credibility of the threat? States and terrorist organizations may interpret deterrent threats differently from how they were intended.

Moreover, deterrence assumes a rational calculation of cost versus benefit. However, enemies are often driven by ideological or religious beliefs, which do not conform to materialistic rationality. History is filled with cases where nationalistic, political, or personal motivations outweighed rational calculations.

Additionally, deterrence is not a stable model but rather a temporary state that erodes over time. Internal political shifts, geopolitical changes, and military developments alter an adversary's strategic calculus, leading to reassessments of risk. Over time, enemies may test the limits of deterrence.

When deterrence erodes, the adversary's response often takes the form of a surprise attack. Pearl Harbor, the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, the Yom Kippur War, and the October 7 Hamas attack are all examples of when adversaries, despite being perceived as deterred, launched offensives based on strategic calculations that differed entirely from those assumed by the deterring side.

For all these reasons, deterrence cannot serve as the cornerstone of Israel's national security doctrine. Instead, Israel must embrace a doctrine of prevention: proactively denying adversaries the capabilities and motivations to act against it in the first place.
Israeli, US air forces run joint drill with heavy bomber, in likely signal to Iran
The Israeli Air Force held a joint exercise with the US Air Force on Tuesday, in what was likely a message to Iran amid speculation about a potential joint strike on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities.

During the exercise, pilots “practiced operational coordination between the two militaries to enhance their ability to address various regional threats,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Thursday.

The drill included Israeli F-15i and F-35i fighter jets flying alongside a US B-52 bomber.

“The exercise aimed to strengthen and maintain the longstanding cooperation between the forces while expanding connectivity and building integrated capabilities for a range of scenarios,” the IDF said.

The drill is potentially aimed at readying the Israeli military for a potential joint strike with the US on Iran.

The IAF has already carried out two strikes on Iran without US support, in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel. The Israeli strikes reportedly left key Iranian air defenses crippled.

However, Israel would likely need the heavy capabilities of the B-52s to effectively hit Iran’s heavily fortified underground nuclear sites.


Israel hails cancellation of ‘biased’ Geneva Conventions meeting on Palestinians
Switzerland on Thursday canceled a conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, for want of participants, in what Israel’s Foreign Ministry called a “significant diplomatic achievement” for the Jewish state.

The country had invited 196 parties to the conventions to participate in the March 7 conference in Geneva on the situation of Palestinian civilians living in those areas, but then told them the gathering had been canceled, four diplomatic sources told Reuters.

“In the absence of a consensus between the High Contracting Parties, [Switzerland], as depositary State, decided not to convene the meeting,” said Swiss foreign ministry spokesperson Nicolas Bideau on X.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry credited itself with a role in the talks’ cancellation, asserting in a statement that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had worked “intensively… under the radar” to prevent the conference.

The conference was set to address the Fourth Geneva Convention, part of a series of international treaties agreed upon in 1949 after World War II, which defines humanitarian protections for civilians living in areas of armed conflict or under military rule.

Had the conference taken place, participants were likely to sign a communiqué that “include elements that present Israel in a negative light, without reference to the fact that Israel is a democratic country fighting a terror organization,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“The meeting was even expected to make anti-Israel resolutions that Israel’s enemies would have used in international forums” and in mechanisms used to “slander Israel,” its statement continued.
UN Security Council meets on Gaza aid, amid Israeli blockade
The United Nations Security Council held consultations in a closed session on Wednesday morning, as the global body has warned of an impending food shortage in the Gaza Strip.

Sigrid Kaag delivered what was expected to be her final briefing as the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza—a position that the Security Council created via resolution in December 2023. It extended the reporting period once, but it is not expected to renew it again when it expires at the end of the month.

Kaag will continue in her more recent, interim appointment as U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process.

The U.N. World Food Programme announced on Wednesday that it does not have enough food supplies in the Strip to keep public kitchens and bakeries open for two weeks. Prior U.N. assessments of food shortages in Gaza have repeatedly proven inaccurate.

Israel blocked entry of humanitarian goods into Gaza earlier this week, amid a dispute with Hamas about the ceasefire. (JNS sought comment from the Israeli mission to the United Nations.)

The United Nations is dealing with a massive financial shortfall. Just over two months into the new year, it has secured less than 4% of the $4 billion it says that it needs to meet “the most basic humanitarian needs” in Palestinian-controlled territories.


Suspect behind Bat Yam bus bombing in Israeli custody
The man who placed the explosive device two weeks ago on a bus in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, is in Israeli custody.

The suspect, who was inside the Green Line illegally, was arrested shortly after the failed Feb. 20 attack.

Another person, a Jewish Israeli from Holon, acknowledged that he transported him to the scene, authorities revealed. An indictment against the driver is set to be filed on Thursday.

The driver claimed that he was unaware of the terrorist’s intentions and transported him for payment. Another suspect, a Bat Yam taxi driver, has been released to house arrest.

The main suspect was initially held in an Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) facility and later transferred to the Israel Prison Service. He has complained about harsh detention conditions, claiming that he is being held in darkness and denied proper treatment.

Authorities continue to investigate possible accomplices.
Israel rescues 10 Indian laborers being held in Palestinian West Bank village
Ten foreign workers from India were rescued overnight from a West Bank village where they had been held for over a month, the Population and Immigration Authority says.

Palestinians had lured the workers to the West Bank village of al-Zaayem with promises of work and then taken their passports and tried to use them to cross into Israel, the authority says.

The workers, who had originally come to Israel to work in construction, were rescued in an overnight operation led by the authority together with the IDF and the Justice Ministry. They have been transferred to a safe location until their employment status is determined.

The IDF had identified the illicit use of the passports and later returned them to their owners.

Some 16,000 laborers have come to Israel from India in the last year as part of an Israeli government effort to fill a void left when tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers were barred from entering Israel after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.


IDF strikes terrorists planting bomb near troops in Gaza City
An Israeli Air Force drone attacked a group of Palestinian terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip who planted an explosive device near troops, the military said on Thursday afternoon.

“An Air Force aircraft attacked the suspects to eliminate the threat,” the Israel Defense Forces stated.

The Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV channel reported that one person was killed and several others were wounded in the strike, which reportedly took place in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City.

The terrorist-run news outlet also reported that IDF ground forces opened fire on several Palestinians in the Beit Hanun area in the northeastern Strip.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces fired on an individual in southern Gaza who had approached them, posing an immediate threat, the army said.

The military did not provide information on the condition of the individual, saying only that a “hit was identified.”

On Monday, Israeli forces fired on two individuals who had approached them in southern Gaza, also posing an immediate threat according to the IDF. Palestinian media reported two dead in the incident.

Also on Monday, Israeli forces fired on a motorboat off the southern Gaza coast near Khan Yunis after it failed to heed warning shots.


Call me Back Podcast - with Dan Senor: Is the Two-State Solution Really Dead? - With Yair Golan
The Two-State Solution had been on life support long before October 7. While Hamas’s massacre shattered Israelis from all walks of life, those from the kibbutzim near the Gaza border — many of whom lifelong advocates for a Palestinian State — were among the hardest hit.

Though stark divisions in Israeli society remain, there now seems to be a broad consensus among the people of Israel and their political parties on one conclusion: the two-state solution is all but dead. Yet one Israeli leader - one of the very few who battled terrorists in Southern Israel and rescued Israelis on October 7 - continues to hold out hope.

Yair Golan is a decorated general, former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff and head of the The Israeli Democrats Party. We sat down with General Golan to discuss Israel’s future, the misconceptions that led to October 7, and the unique role he played on that darkest of days.


Bombshell: What nobody is saying about Oct 7 failures | Israel Undiplomatic
Welcome to Israel Undiplomatic, where JNS senior contributing editor Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador Mark Regev break down the most pressing issues facing Israel today—without the diplomatic filter.

In this episode:
🔴 October 7th & the Deep State – Was Israel’s security failure just incompetence, or something more? A deep dive into the Shin Bet, IDF leadership, and bureaucratic corruption.
🔴 Trump’s Speech & Israel – Why did President Trump barely mention Israel in his address to Congress? Is there a bigger deal happening behind the scenes?
🔴 Hostage Negotiations – Will Netanyahu’s military threats force Hamas’ hand, or is Israel being pressured into another ceasefire?
🔴 The Judicial Deep State – How unelected bureaucrats are undermining Israel’s democracy and what can be done about it.
🔴 Exposing the Humanitarian Aid Scam – Hamas’ control and profiteering from international aid in Gaza
. Join us for a fearless discussion on Israel’s security, leadership, and future. Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay informed!


Boundless Insights: The Arab Plan for Gaza – with Dr. Michael Oren
For months, world leaders have been asking: What comes next for Gaza once the war ends?

President Trump stirred controversy by suggesting an unconventional approach—relocating Palestinians from Gaza to other countries while the Strip undergoes reconstruction. The backlash was swift.

Now, Arab states are rallying around a counterproposal. Leading the charge is Egypt, which is promoting a plan to rebuild Gaza without relocating its residents and to establish a new governing authority.

Can this new plan succeed where so many others have failed? Host Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Michael Oren—former Israeli ambassador to the U.S.—to unpack the latest developments.


Boundless Insights: From Gaza to Jenin – with Jonathan Conricus
While much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Gaza, the security situation in Judea and Samaria / the West Bank is escalating. In January, the IDF launched Operation Iron Wall, a major campaign aimed at dismantling terror networks. The operation began in Jenin—a long-standing hub for terrorist activity – and has since expanded into nearby towns.

To understand what’s happening on the ground, Aviva Klompas speaks with retired Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, one of the most respected voices on Middle East security.
UKLFI: Natasha Hausdorff discusses the BBC with Peter Cardwell on TalkTV
Interview of Natasha Hausdorff, UKLFI Charitable Trust Legal Director, by Peter Cardwell on TalkTV on 6 March 2025, discussing Hamas propaganda on the BBC and the latest demands by the US for the release of Israeli hostages.


Commentary Podcast: Hamas, Campus Anti-Semites, and Ukraine
What does Donald Trump's new threat against Hamas mean for the next phase of the hostage deal? And what options does the administration have for cracking down on campus anti-Semitism? Also, where do things stand between Trump and Zelenskyy at the moment?


Erin Molan: 'Shalom Hamas': Trump's FINAL WARNING to Hamas is 'Bat Beep Crazy'!
In Episode 7 of Bat Beep Crazy, Erin Molan dives into the latest political firestorm with her signature wit and no-nonsense commentary. She unpacks Donald Trump’s bold "Shalom Hamas" final warning to the terrorist group, his emotional Oval Office meeting with freed hostages, and his savage takedowns of Democrats during his congressional address. Erin doesn’t hold back, calling out the Dems’ childish antics, their disrespect toward a young cancer fighter, and their ongoing war with Elon Musk—forcing Joy Behar into a reluctant apology. Plus, she reacts to Hollywood’s absurd celebration of the No Other Land documentary and questions Tim Walz’s 2028 presidential buzz. Hamas’s rejection of a U.S. ceasefire proposal rounds out this packed episode. Don’t miss Erin’s plug for her X show, 69 X Minutes, airing Sundays at 4:20 PM ET!

0:00 - Trump’s "Shalom Hamas" final warning stuns the world.
1:12 - Trump meets freed hostages in the Oval Office today.
2:48 - Dems act like toddlers during Trump’s address to Congress.
4:42 - Trump roasts Dems to their faces—best speech highlights.
6:48 - Dems snub TJ, the cancer kid, at the event.
7:39 - Erin slams Hollywood’s love for No Other Land as a total farce.
11:32 - Tim Walz eyeing a 2028 presidential run?
12:36 - Hamas says no to U.S. ceasefire extension proposal.
13:36 - Dems keep fighting Musk; Joy Behar forced to apologize on The View.
14:34 - Erin plugs 69 X Minutes, live on X Sundays at 4:20 PM ET.


Hamas must be treated with ‘force and demands’
Commentator and TV personality Emily Austin says Hamas must be treated with “force and demands”.

US President Donald Trump has issued another warning to Hamas to release all the hostages.

Mr Trump said “not a single Hamas member will be safe” if the hostages are not returned, in a post he made on Truth Social.


White House opens ‘unprecedented talks’ with Hamas
Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power says the White House has opened “unprecedented talks” with Hamas.

US President Donald Trump has issued another warning to Hamas to release all of the remaining hostages, or there will be “hell to pay”.

“This threat – it comes just hours after the White House revealed that it had opened unprecedented talks with Hamas,” Ms Power said.


Australia’s changing stance on Israel is a troubling shift
Australia has, for decades, stood as a firm ally of Israel, bound by shared democratic values, economic cooperation and a commitment to global security. Yet, today, that bond seems to be breaking.

Since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took office in 2022, Australia has distanced itself from Israel, reversing key policies, adopting a more critical tone and hesitating in its response to terrorism. What has caused this dramatic shift, and what does it mean for Australia’s future?

Australia’s support for Israel dates back to the country’s inception. It was the first country to vote in favor of the 1947 U.N. Partition Plan that led to the creation of the State of Israel and formally recognized the state in 1949. Over the years, Australia’s bipartisan commitment to Israel has been unwavering, with administrations prioritizing diplomatic, economic and security ties.

Former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were especially vocal in their support. Howard called Israel “a beacon of democracy in the Middle East,” while Abbott actively pushed back against anti-Israel bias at the United Nations.

Under their leadership in the late part of the 20th and early 21st centuries, trade between the two nations flourished, reaching $1.3 billion annually by 2019. Israeli technology in cybersecurity, agriculture and defense significantly benefited Australia’s own industries, making the partnership as practical as it was principled.

Beyond politics, Australia’s Jewish community, which currently numbers more than 115,000 people, has played a key role in deepening ties, fostering cultural and business connections and advocating for Israel’s continued support.

Unlike his predecessors, Albanese’s administration has positioned Australia closer to what some consider a more pro-Palestinian approach.

For instance, in October 2022, his government abruptly reversed Australia’s recognition of “West Jerusalem” as Israel’s capital, a decision made by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018. The move shocked Israel and was widely seen as a symbolic gesture to all critics of the Jewish state.
Pro-Hezbollah preacher banned from Australia
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's department has cancelled the visa of the pro-Hezbollah preacher who was set to arrive in Australia within days for a speaking tour.

Hussain Makke's visa has been cancelled at the eleventh hour after Sky News revealed he attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah 10 days ago.

Makke also called Nasrallah one of the world's "greatest freedom fighters"and said the strong turnout at his funeral showed the "resistance" was "alive and well."

Nasrallah was a notorious terrorist who, during this three-decade reign of Hezbollah, was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent lives around the world.

Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.


Hamas Hostage Taker Who Wrote for US-Based Website Boasted of 'Actively Coordinating' With American Campus Protesters, Lawsuit Alleges
A Hamas operative who also wrote for a U.S.-based nonprofit publication bragged to his Israeli hostages about how the terror group "was in contact and actively coordinating" with anti-Israel protesters at American colleges, according to eyewitness accounts detailed in a landmark terrorism lawsuit.

Abdallah Aljamal, a Gaza-based "journalist," was killed last year during an Israeli raid that freed three hostages from his home: Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv, and Andrey Kozlov. They are now suing Aljamal’s former collaborator, a little-known publication called the Palestine Chronicle. The website is operated by a nonprofit group in Washington state, the People Media Project, thus giving it tax-exempt status.

The lawsuit provides the hostages’ firsthand account of their time spent in captivity, where they witnessed Aljamal file dispatches for the Palestine Chronicle and brag about Hamas’s ability to orchestrate violent campus protests across America. It is one of several lawsuits stemming from Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack. The case is scheduled for trial early next year, according to lawyers working on the lawsuit.

Aljamal, the lawsuit reveals, "repeatedly expressed his hatred for the State of Israel and the United States of America and informed the [hostages] that Hamas was in contact and actively coordinating with its affiliates in the media and on college campuses." While it has long been known that Hamas-linked entities are fueling the campus unrest, the hostage testimony confirms for the first time that the terror group itself is playing a role.

Aljamal informed his hostages that "Hamas was going to ensure that the United States, as well as Jews and Israelis, are hated everywhere," according to the lawsuit. To achieve this goal, the terror group "was coordinating with its allies, including its allies in the media and on college campuses, to foment hatred against Israel and Jews."

"Most disturbingly," the complaint continues, "because of the Palestine Chronicle’s tax-exempt status, Hamas Operative Aljamal’s propaganda, as well as his hostage-taking, was actually subsidized by U.S. taxpayers."

Also named in the case is Ramzy Baroud, the Palestine Chronicle’s founder and editor in chief. Baroud, who formerly served as an editor and executive for Al Jazeera, the network bankrolled by Hamas-friendly Qatar, knowingly employed a Hamas foot soldier, the lawsuit alleges. Baroud also has written for two now-defunct websites that the U.S. government seized in 2020 for being part of a propaganda network controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC), the Washington Free Beacon first reported in June 2024, shortly after Israel freed the three hostages. In addition to publishing Aljamal’s work, the Palestine Chronicle has favorably covered the campus protest movement in America.




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