Monday, May 12, 2025

05/12 Links Pt1: Hamas releases Edan Alexander, last living American hostage; The Qatari-Led World Order; How Hamas exploits psychology to harm Israel from within and abroad

From Ian:

Hamas releases Edan Alexander, last living American hostage
Hamas has released Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli citizen, back to Israel under a deal reached with the United States.

The release, conducted Monday evening in Gaza, may inaugurate a new phase in the hostage crisis that has consumed Israel since the Palestinian terror group attacked on 7 October 2023, taking 251 captives and opening the war in Gaza.

“I’m very happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who until recently most thought was no longer living, thought was dead, is going to be released in about two hours,” President Donald Trump said at a press conference Monday morning. “He’s coming home to his parents, which is great news.”

Israeli media reported at 6:30 p.m. local time that Hamas said it had transferred Alexander to the Red Cross after 584 days in captivity. He was handed over to the Israeli military, which brought him to Israel. There, he was due to meet his parents Adi and Yael Alexander, as well as other family members, and will undergo medical examinations.

“It’s an out of body experience, it’s very exciting, we couldn’t sleep all night,” Adi Alexander said in a phone interview broadcast on Israeli Channel 12. “I saw the picture, he’s handsome, standing on his feet. That’s what’s important… He’s a little pale, thin, but a tall boy. This is my boy.”

He vowed to keep advocating for the rest of the hostages held by Hamas.

Hostage releases have happened before, but this was the first that was arranged directly between the terror group and the United States — without Israel’s knowledge or involvement. It is also the first time Hamas has released a living male Israeli soldier on active duty. And it means that, as of now, for the first time in more than a year and a half, there are no living Americans who are still held hostage in Gaza.

Alexander was born to Israeli parents living in Tenafly, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Israeli military. He was serving as a soldier on the Gaza border when he was taken captive in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack at age 19. Alexander, Channel 12 reported, acted as an English-language interpreter between other hostages and their Hamas captors.

Crowds waited in tense anticipation in the hours ahead of Alexander’s release, in Israel, Tenafly and elsewhere. His impending release was announced over the weekend and came as a surprise. It is unclear what Alexander’s release means for the future of the war in Gazam and for the 58 other hostages still held there — up to 23 of whom are thought to still be alive. In recent days Trump has said that three of the hostages thought to be living had died.
Seth Mandel: The Qatari-Led World Order
So genuflecting to the Qataris has been good for Witkoff’s career. His son, Alex, visited a Qatari government real-estate forum on the eve of the 2024 election. Alex is CEO of the family real-estate company and was appointed by Trump to the board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Eric Trump, the president’s son, was also recently in Qatar—this time to finalize a Trump Organization deal to build a golf course and villa complex there.

Once upon a time Trump had not-so-nice things to say about his new friends the Qataris. They have, he correctly noted in 2017, “historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level.” This was during Trump’s first term as president, and he backed a plan by regional Gulf allies to impose a blockade on Qatar. “I decided, along with secretary of state Rex Tillerson, our great generals and military people, the time had come to call on Qatar to end its funding, they have to end that funding and its extremist ideology.”

A mere ten months later, however, the Qatari emir was in the Oval Office with the president for a friendly chat and some smiley photos. “You’ve now become a very big advocate” of stopping terrorism financing, Trump told the emir, “and we appreciate that.”

Of course, Edan Alexander’s case offers a reality check. Qatar’s support for Hamas has been crucial to the terror group’s survival. Israeli (and American) officials were under the impression that Qatari cash to Hamas would at least have the effect of keeping a lid on Hamas’s terror activity. But that was a ruse, and Hamas used its cash and clout to plan and carry out Oct. 7.

It was at that moment that Qatar had an obligation to intervene and either get the hostages home or cut Hamas loose. Instead, if floundered and dragged its feet.

Edan Alexander is free. But as the scheme to drag him to Qatar for a photo op with the emir and Trump shows, he isn’t yet free of Qatar’s malign influence. And neither, apparently, is the United States.
Andrew Fox: Subjectivity, Morality and Legality
In the labyrinthine discourse surrounding the Gaza conflict, few narratives encapsulate the chasm between legal permissibility and moral outrage as starkly as the reported death of Rafiq Musah Ayesh and his family.

According to a must-read thread by @middleeastbuka on X (formerly Twitter), Ayesh, allegedly affiliated with Hamas, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of his entire family. While profoundly tragic, this incident serves as a poignant case study in the complexities of the law of armed conflict (LOAC), particularly the principle of proportionality. This principle is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the whole Gaza War.

Under international humanitarian law (IHL), the principle of proportionality prohibits attacks in which the expected incidental loss of civilian life would be excessive to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. This principle is enshrined in Article 51(5)(b) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions and is recognised as customary international law.

Importantly, proportionality assessments are inherently subjective, relying on the attacker’s information and perspective at the time of the decision. The legality of an attack is judged based on the information available to the commander at the time, not on hindsight or the actual effects of any military action.

In the case of Rafiq Musah Ayesh, if he was indeed a high-ranking Hamas operative, Israel could argue that the military advantage gained by targeting him justified the collateral damage, including the deaths of his family members. This rationale aligns with the LOAC’s allowance for incidental civilian casualties, provided they are not excessive relative to the anticipated military gain.

However, this legal justification often clashes with public perception and moral sensibilities. The death of an entire family, regardless of the intended target, evokes visceral condemnation and raises questions about the adequacy of legal frameworks in addressing the human cost of war.

Determining the legality of such strikes also hinges on the attacker’s intent and knowledge. If the Israeli forces were unaware of the family’s presence or believed that the collateral damage would be minimal, the strike might be deemed lawful under IHL. Conversely, if there was knowledge of the family’s presence and the decision was made to proceed regardless, the legality becomes more contentious as it is a subjective decision. It is for the attacker to justify.

The lack of transparency in military operations further complicates these assessments. Without access to the intelligence and decision-making processes that led to the strike, external evaluations remain entirely speculative.


A hero's welcome: Awaiting the return of Edan Alexander
Route 232 on the Gaza border is quiet and dry. Many symbols and memorials from the October 7 massacre line the road. The concrete bus shelters near Kibbutz Re’im and Alumim are covered with stickers commemorating the fallen. The area of the Nova festival is packed with cars.

These were all areas that were involved in the massacre 584 days ago. The ever-present memory of the last nineteen months of war is tangible here.

However, Route 232 also became a site of hope on Monday, May 12, as hostage Edan Alexander was driven along it to Re’im’s military base. It was nighttime, around eight in the evening, but he was finally free from Hamas’s hands.

I stood on the side of the road in the evening, waiting with two dozen people who had come to wave flags and wish Alexander well. Journalists had come as well.

This was a special community of people, a small fellowship that had come to wait for another hostage to come home. Some of them had been here throughout the war – they came back in January and February 2025, when 33 captives were freed in a ceasefire deal.

These people come out of a sense of duty.

In the evening of May 11, 2025, the news arrived that Edan Alexander, one of 59 hostages still held in Gaza, was going to be released. There had been an expectation about this news because US President Donald Trump had wanted him freed.

Alexander was the last living American hostage held by Hamas. The terrorist group is also holding the bodies of four other US citizens: Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judi Weinstein Haggai, and Omer Neutra.

With the long-awaited news that Alexander was going to be released, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler, the US hostage envoy, both arrived in Israel to see Alexander freed.

His family also came. In New Jersey, people gathered early in the morning, waiting for news. This was a worldwide anticipation.


In photos: IDF soldier Edan Alexander's return to Israel

Who is released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander?
Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, 21, was released from Gaza captivity, Hamas announced, and the Prime Minister's Office and US President Donald Trump confirmed.

Alexander grew up in New Jersey and made aliyah at the age of 18 to serve in the IDF, enlisting in the Golani Brigade.

He was on base on October 7, 2023, after he volunteered to stay on base and was kidnapped to Gaza from the Gaza border area.

Alexander told his mother, Yael, who was visiting the country for the holiday of Sukkot, "If I don’t go, someone else will have to stay there," his grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, told Walla.

"He was so considerate and went back to the base," she added.

After he was kidnapped, “Life came to a halt and changed completely. The house is no longer the same. Nothing matters anymore except bringing our loved ones home safe and sound," Ben Baruch said.

In March, recently released hostages conveyed a sign of life from Alexander, revealing the conditions under which he was being held in captivity in a Channel 12 report. According to the report, Alexander was being held in tunnels under harsh conditions.

In April, shortly before Passover, Hamas published a propaganda video of Alexander. Hamas later said it was unaware of Alexander's fate after having previously said it had lost contact with the group holding him.

His father, Adi, called on the US to hold direct talks with Hamas to achieve the release of his son.
Edan Alexander to undergo medical testing before potential Qatar meeting with Trump
After enduring 583 days of torture in Hamas captivity, Edan Alexander is expected to undergo a series of comprehensive medical tests in the coming hours. The results will determine his overall health and whether he is fit to fly to Qatar for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Alexander, who was reportedly handcuffed for months and suffered from extreme malnutrition, is considered at increased risk for complications such as blood clots, particularly dangerous during air travel.

Doctors overseeing his condition will rely on a range of diagnostic tests to rule out serious health risks. Chief among these are potential blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, metabolic imbalances, and signs of systemic organ failure. The round-trip flight to Qatar is approximately three hours each way.

Various medical tests to be performed
The first round of tests will include a full blood panel, including a complete blood count. This test will help determine if Alexander is anemic, a condition commonly seen in individuals who have experienced prolonged starvation or internal bleeding. Low levels of hemoglobin or iron may indicate chronic fatigue, physical weakness, and poor tolerance for exertion—all factors that could rule out flying.

Additional blood tests will assess kidney and liver function, levels of inflammation, and critical electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Doctors will also check albumin levels, a protein that reflects overall nutritional health. A deficiency in albumin could point to severe malnutrition or a problem with protein absorption—any of which could delay travel.

Another key test is the D-dimer, a protein fragment that appears when blood clots are being broken down in the body. Elevated D-dimer levels can indicate an active clot or even a hidden pulmonary embolism.

For someone who had been immobile for months, like Alexander, any abnormal results here would require further examination.
Edan Alexander to meet Trump in Qatar if he wishes, family tells Ynet
Released Israeli hostage Edan Alexander will meet US President Donald Trump in Qatar if he wishes and his medical condition allows it, his family told Ynet Monday evening ahead of his release from Hamas captivity.

"I’m very happy he’ll meet Trump, who made every effort and is a good emissary of the Holy One, blessed be He. Thank God the administration cared about him," Alexander's grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, said, according to Ynet.

Trump is set to land in Riyadh on Tuesday, where he will then travel to the UAE and Qatar in a trip aimed at securing Gulf investment, advancing Gaza ceasefire efforts, and confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, The Jerusalem Post previously reported.

The president's arrival in Saudi Arabia will take place just one day after Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, helped facilitate the release of Alexander, who is a dual Israeli-American citizen.

Witkoff and hostage envoy Adam Boehler both arrived in Israel on Monday to see Alexander released.


US-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander Freed: Ruthie Blum on NewsNation
After 583 days in captivity, Edan Alexander is safe and in the hands of the Red Cross, en route to the Israeli army for medical evaluations and a heartfelt reunion with his family.

What’s next for Edan and the ongoing ceasefire talks? Ruthie Blum shares her insights on this monumental moment with Marni Hughes of NewsNation.




Mother of hostage killed in friendly fire: ‘I choose not to blame anyone’
Most of the best-known hostage relatives in Israel are those who have led demonstrations and called to topple the government, such as Einav Zangauker, who called last week for IDF reservists not to report for duty.

But Iris Haim became renowned in Israel for taking a radically different approach.

Haim’s son, Yotam, was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. He and fellow hostages Samar Talalka and Alon Shimriz managed to escape captivity, only to be mistakenly killed by the IDF on Dec. 15, 2023.

Yet days after Yotam was killed, rather than express anger or even anguish, Haim chose to send a message of forgiveness and encouragement to the troops.

In a statement Haim recorded while still sitting shiva for Yotam, sent to the battalion in which the soldier who killed her son served, she said: “I am Yotam’s mother. I wanted to tell you that I love you very much, and I embrace you here from afar. I know that everything that happened is absolutely not your fault, and nobody’s fault except that of Hamas, may their name be wiped out and their memory erased from the earth. I want you to take care of yourselves and to think all the time that you are doing the best thing in the world. Don’t hesitate for a second if you spot a terrorist. Don’t think that you intentionally killed a hostage. You must defend yourselves, because that is the only way you can defend us. Nobody is going to judge you or be angry. Not me, and not my husband Raviv. Not my daughter Noya. And not Yotam, may his memory be blessed. And not Tuval, Yotam’s brother. We love you very much. And that is all.”


Netanyahu insists ties with Trump are ‘excellent’ amid reports of growing rift
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected reports of widening gaps between him and US President Donald Trump, and said that his relationship with the president was “excellent” in a video update on his X account.

The reports came ahead of Trump’s trip to the Middle East this week, in which the US president will skip Israel but will stop in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, leading government critics to warn Israel was being left out of Washington’s regional diplomatic initiatives.

“What can I say — it’s not Trump saying it and it’s not me saying it,” Netanyahu said, when asked about sources in the media claiming there is growing tension between Washington and Jerusalem amid the war in Gaza and the US-Iran nuclear talks.

“It was his [Trump’s] spokesperson at the White House who said: ‘What is this nonsense?’” Netanyahu continued, referring to recent comments from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “She said the relationship is excellent, and I’m telling you — the relationship is excellent.”

“These spins — most of them are born here [in Israel.] They’re born in a certain media outlet that’s trying to promote a certain candidate. And in order to promote him, they need to say: ‘Trump and Netanyahu are no longer,’” the premier claimed.


Netanyahu calls to ‘wean’ Israel off U.S. aid amid growing tensions
Israel needs to begin the move towards ending its reliance on U.S. military aid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday, amid disputes with the Trump administration over a wide range of national security issues.

“We receive close to $4 billion for arms. I think we will have to wean ourselves off of American security aid, just as we weaned ourselves off of American economic aid,” Netanyahu said. He added that, just as stopping economic aid helped spur economic growth in Israel, stopping military aid could help the defense sector.

The remark was made in the context of talks with the U.S. about the next 10-year aid package for Israel and was unprompted, his spokesman told Jewish Insider.

Netanyahu previously spoke of phasing out U.S. military aid after his disputes with former President Joe Biden and his administration about delivering arms to Israel last year. The Trump administration removed some of the restrictions, but there are new tensions between Jerusalem and Washington about a long list of diplomatic and security matters.

Israel’s defense establishment reportedly prepared plans to attack Iranian nuclear facilities in the coming months, while the Trump administration is now engaged in extensive diplomacy with Iran in hopes of reaching a deal over its nuclear program. The Trump administration is open to working with Saudi Arabia on a civilian nuclear program, something that Israel has had misgivings about and was previously meant to be part of a normalization deal between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
While critics panic, Trump delivers in the Middle East
If normalization comes at the price of conceding to a Palestinian state, then Israel must walk away. Strengthened U.S.-Saudi ties can proceed independently. But the United States can still improve its economic and security relationship with the Saudis. These are two separate issues. Of course, if Trump and Netanyahu can find a way to leverage the complex situation to forge a strong trilateral deal between the three nations, all the better. America, however, should not wait for any other nation to strengthen its own security and economic interests. Israel should rest assured, however, that the opportunity to make a strong deal with the Saudis is beneficial to the United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel alike. The deal will come, now or later.

Trump will stand apart in U.S. history as the most unapologetically pro-Israel president, backing the Jewish state with unmatched clarity, consistency and action. At press time, American-Israeli hostage Eden Alexander, 21, is being released from the Hamas dungeons in Gaza to the Americans, thanks to Trump. But he is not the president of Israel. He will move to make foreign-policy decisions that advance the national security, economic and political interests of the United States.

There is no question that Trump understands that a strong, safe Israel is a key component of America’s national security interest. Israel must take decisive military action against its enemies now, without waiting for the United States or any other ally to do it for them.

So, everyone needs to take a deep breath. Ask the tough questions. But let’s be realistic. Remember, the situation in the Middle East is as complex as it has ever been. Let’s trust the process and remember that the team that the president has in place for his Middle East policy, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others, is truly a dream team. Of course, I am watching closely and intently, as we stand at no less than the crossroads of history, and the situation is moving at the speed of Trump.
‘Still aligned’: US backs Israel’s Gaza war goals in Gaza, Danon says
Despite the simmering of media reports on recent disagreements over the direction of Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Washington and Jerusalem remain aligned on its core objectives, Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, said during a press briefing on Monday at the world body’s headquarters in New York City.

Danon told JNS that while the United States may have made mistakes in the past by trying to dictate Israel’s actions, the Trump administration shares the Jewish state’s goal of fully removing Hamas from Gaza.

“The current administration still believes Hamas should not be part of the equation,” he said. “If you speak privately with my colleagues from the Arab League in this building, they’ll say the same.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit this week to the Middle East, where he plans to meet with officials in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, will underscore this point to him, according to Danon.

“The United States continues to support Israel’s two main goals of dismantling Hamas and bringing the hostages home,” he said.

Danon also stated that he hopes the release of 21-year-old Israel-American Evan Alexander from captivity will help pave the way for a more comprehensive deal regarding the other 58 hostages, about half of whom are believed to be alive.
MEMRI: Qatar's Support For Anti-U.S. Terrorist Activity And Attacks
This report is part one of a forthcoming comprehensive study examining Qatar, the foremost sponsor of Islamist, particularly Wahhabi, and Muslim Brotherhood ideologies, terrorist organizations, and movements in recent decades. Qatar's policies in support of such organizations and movements reflect its ideological and political identity and its religious commitment to globally spread these ideologies and to promote Islamist states and movements, as well as terrorist organizations and individuals. See Appendix A for the speech that then-Emir of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa Aal Thani gave at the inauguration of the mosque of Imam Muhammad Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab in Doha on December 16, 2011, and Appendix B for a conversation between Aal Thani and then-Libyan dictator Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi in which the emir boasts of his Wahhabi heritage.

Introduction
President Trump plans to visit Qatar as part of his upcoming Middle East tour in May 2025.

This report, which is aimed at informing President Trump and American policymakers and legislators, provides background on Qatar's decades-long record of sponsoring terrorist organizations and actions.

This document shines a spotlight on a former Qatari government employee, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), who has admitted his responsibility for planning and executing terrorist attacks against American targets, including being the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, funding the first World Trade Center (WTC) attack in 1993, as well as personally beheading the Wall Street Journal reporter and American citizen Daniel Pearl. KSM also planned to assassinate then-President Bill Clinton. Additionally, according to Richard A. Clarke, counterterrorism advisor to Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush, when the FBI came to arrest KSM and informed the Emir, KSM disappeared within hours.

KSM has been held in Guantanamo Bay since 2006, and his trial has been delayed for more than 12 years over procedural issues during pre-trial hearings.[1] In July 2024, there was an attempt to grant him a plea bargain and with Walid Bin 'Attash and Mustafa al Hawsawi, two other men charged for their involvement in carrying out the 9/11 attacks.[2] Although the broader terms of the plea deal were secret, the prosecution was reported to commit to not seeking the death penalty in exchange for KSM, with Bin 'Attash and Al-Hawsawi giving up their right to appeal their conviction.[3]

Due to the public reaction, mainly from families of 9/11 victims and members of Congress, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the plea bargain.[4] In November 2024, a military judge reversed Austin's revocation, ruling that the plea deals were valid. The judge also granted three motions to enter guilty pleas and stated he would schedule them for a future date to be determined by the military commission.[5] The Department of Defense announced that it would appeal the ruling. Most recently, in February 2025, the DC Court of Appeals granted a stay to the Department of Defense, which prevented the military judge from accepting the plea deals.[6]

Qatar provided a safe haven for Al-Qaeda's Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who became the chief architect of 9/11. From 1993-1996 KSM was based in Qatar, from where he was able to plan and orchestrate a series of attacks directed against the United States.

Sheikh Abdallah bin Khalid bin Hamad Aal Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family who served as its minister of Awqaf (Islamic endowments) (1992-1996)[7] and later as its minister of interior (1996-2001), provided a secure refuge for Al-Qaeda terrorists at his farm outside of the Qatari capital, Doha.[8]


MEMRI: By Pushing India To A Ceasefire, Trump Emboldens Islamists Worldwide
President Donald Trump pushed India to agree to a ceasefire, which saved Pakistan and its jihadi outfits. According to the Indian media, India was about to finish off the Pakistani air force and eventually go for the Pakistani army.[1] However, Washington decided to intervene, giving Pakistan a chance to survive politically, militarily, and economically. Nevertheless, the ceasefire is fragile, since Pakistan already carried out massive violations. Hence, India may be obliged in the near future to resume Operation Sindoor, since the terrorist threat coming from the Pakistani army still exists.[2] As India's Major General G.D. Bakshi (Ret.) mentioned: "We have only agreed to a ceasefire; Operation Sindoor is still active," he said, stressing that any further provocation from Pakistan would be met with force.[3]

On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, in response to a heinous jihadi terror attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting Hindu men.

The terrorist attack executed on April 22 can be described as India's October 7. The terrorists singled out their victims based on their religion. In certain cases, the terrorists even stripped some of their victims to ascertain their religion. The victims were also asked to recite the Kalma, or Shahada, which is the foundational declaration of faith in Islam.[4]

The armed terrorists executed their victims at gun point. The male victims, in many cases newlyweds, were executed in front of their families. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Force (TRF), which is a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based Salafi-jihadi organization and UN-proscribed terror outfit. The TRF and its alias Peoples' Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) are acknowledged as a rebranding of the LeT to evade the sanctions imposed on the latter. This has been a standard practice by the Pakistani establishment for plausible deniability for its involvement with terror entities.[5]

A young woman sitting next to the corpse of her husband, a tourist shot at point-blank range by terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack that shocked Kashmir. "The couple, reportedly on their honeymoon, were caught in the middle of the ruthless attack. In the now-viral photo, the woman, her wrists still adorned with the red bangles of a newlywed, sits in stunned silence, her eyes gazing into the distance. Beside her lies her husband, motionless, his head resting on the ground." (Source: Kashmirobserver.net)

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir is the Enemy
Few days before the terrorist attack, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, outlined a religious ideological position against India, saying that "we are different from the Hindus" and that Kashmir "is our jugular vein."

Speaking on April 15, General Asim Munir told overseas Pakistanis gathered at the convention that Islamic civilization is superior to the West: "Our beloved [ones] who are [based] overseas, because you live in different civilizations, don't you ever forget that you belong to a superior ideology and a superior culture."

He then added: "Our forefathers thought that we are different from the Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different. Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the Two-Nation Theory that was laid there, that we are two nations, we are not one nation... Up to today in the history of humanity, there have only been two states founded on the basis of Kalima [the Islamic declaration of faith: 'There is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger']. The first one is Riyasat-e-Tayyiba [i.e., Medina], because Tayyiba was named by the prophet, peace be upon him, while in the Quran its name is Yathrib... [Quran 33:13] 'Ye men of Yathrib! ye cannot stand (the attack)! therefore go back!'; it is the name in the Quran that is today called Medina Munawwara. And the second state, 1,300 years later, Allah created, is that of [Pakistan], based on the foundation of Kalima."[6]


How Hamas exploits psychology to harm Israel from within and abroad
What does this all mean? First, we must take a more sober view of the reality we’re in. The moral imperative to rescue living hostages is real – but so is the government’s duty to protect its citizens from future atrocities.

These are not easy choices. But they are not mutually exclusive either. We must stop demonizing decisions we disagree with and start appreciating the weight of the dilemma.

Second, we must recognize that Hamas is watching us, learning about us, and playing us.

Militarily, we may be stronger. But on the psychological battlefield, Hamas currently holds the emotional upper hand. That’s how it continues to manipulate public opinion, both in Israel and in the West.

Our protests, our discourse, and our divisions have become tools in the hands of our enemy. Israelis must consider not just what they are demanding, but how those demands are expressed.

In the West, those who value freedom, justice, and moral clarity must understand that the same tactics Hamas uses against Israel can – and will – be used against them too.

The threat is not only to Israel’s resolve. It is to the moral fabric of democratic societies that fall for the easy narratives of victimhood.

Psychological warfare is still warfare. And if we want to win – not just the battles but also the war – we must start by understanding the battlefield we’re actually on.
Bassam Tawil: What Most Palestinians Really Want
Palestinians who are saying that they are unaware of Hamas's October 7 atrocities against Israelis are either engaged in self-deception or influenced by Hamas's venomous propaganda machine, including the Qatar-owned Al-Jazeera TV network, which has long been serving as the terror group's unofficial mouthpiece. Notably, according to several polls, Al-Jazeera is the most watched TV station in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

If, according to the polls, most Palestinians are saying that they want Hamas to keep its weapons and remain in power in the Gaza Strip, it means they want the terror group to carry out more atrocities against Israel and Jews. If the Palestinians are saying that they prefer Hamas over any other Palestinian party, it means that they do not support any peaceful settlement with Israel. It means that the Palestinians want to see Israel obliterated and replaced by an Islamist state, armed and funded by Iran and its other terror proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

One can only hope that the Trump administration and other international parties will read the results of the Palestinian polls to get a better understanding of what many Palestinians really want: to murder as many Jews as possible and displace Israel.
Israel asks ICC to withdraw arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant Request comes amid allegations that court’s chief
Israel asked the International Criminal Court last week to withdraw arrest warrants that it issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, as the ICC reviews Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction over the Gaza war.

Documents published on the ICC website late on Sunday, dated May 9, show Israel also asked the court to suspend the investigation of their alleged crimes until the judges rule on a jurisdictional challenge presented by Israel.

The documents are signed by Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam.

They were published as ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan faces allegations of sexually assaulting a member of his staff, and amid speculation that these allegations spurred Khan to issue the warrants.

The ICC issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes amid the war in Gaza, including “starvation as a method of war.”

Israel rejects the jurisdiction of The Hague-based court. It also insists that its fighting in Gaza has accorded with international law, citing measures it has taken to avoid civilian casualties and to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid. It is contesting the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.


Sgt.-Maj. Tzvi Feldman is laid to rest at military funeral in Holon
The remains of Sgt.-Maj. Tzvi Feldman were laid to rest during a military funeral attended by hundreds at the Holon Military Cemetery on Monday.

Feldman fought in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub between Israel and Syria in June 1982, in which six soldiers were declared missing in action. His remains were recovered from Syria after 43 years on Sunday.

During the funeral, Feldman's sister, Anat, said, "I wanted you to come back. We grew up in a home where our father was a Holocaust survivor, the sole survivor of his family, and our mother came from Morocco. You, Zvika, were named after your grandfather, who was in the Holocaust. Dad said that was our victory over the Nazis. Zvika, you returned to the homeland, you fell with courage. May all the hostages and missing be returned.”

"Today we are fulfilling our mother’s will—that we never stop until you return," his brother Shlomo stated.

"I thank the Creator for bringing my brother back to be buried in the holy land and for removing him from enemy territory," his other brother, Yitzhak, added.

Commander of the IDF's 10th "Harel' Reserve Brigade, Colonel Itamar Michaeli, also gave a speech at the funeral.

"This is a personal and national circle being closed—and a message from the IDF and the state to its fighters," Michaeli said.

"During the Lebanon War, Zvika answered the call, boarded the tank with his team, and maneuvered deep into Lebanon to ensure the security of Israel’s northern communities. Even then, he understood—just as we do today—that without a fighting force willing to defend the country, even at the cost of life, there is no future for the next generation of Israelis," he added.

"The sense of duty and readiness to sacrifice was instilled in him in the home where he was raised. Yitzhak, Anat, and Shlomo—we embrace you and share your pain over the loss of Zvika. He went into battle, and with the price of his life, made life possible for us all," he said, consoling the family.

"Returning Zvika’s body for burial in Israel after such a long time is a message and a testament to our deep commitment to fighters who have not yet been brought home—a cross-generational commitment. We make sure to teach future commanders and soldiers about the battle in which Zvika and his comrades fell. Zvika’s legacy, his personal story, and the story of his sacrifice serve as a guiding light for us," he continued.


Liberman: US aid plan for Gaza ‘very, very negative’
Avigdor Liberman, leader of Israel’s opposition Yisrael Beiteinu Party, on Monday denounced the Trump administration’s plan to let aid supplies into the Gaza Strip as a “very, very negative development.”

“In my opinion, humanitarian aid—of any kind—should not have been allowed to enter since the start of the war, as long as our hostages are rotting in Hamas’s tunnels,” Liberman stated in response to a question from JNS at his party’s faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem.

“We just need to say it out loud to everyone and stand by it,” Liberman said. “You want humanitarian aid? First, return the hostages, then we’ll talk. And therefore, for me, this is a very, very negative development.”

Fifty-nine abductees remain captive in Gaza, according to official Israel Defense Forces figures. It is believed that up to 24 of them are still alive, with heavy question marks over one Israeli and two foreign nationals.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday stressed the government’s full backing of the American-led humanitarian plan for the Strip, which was announced on Friday by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

“Humanitarian aid will be facilitated by a private fund—based on the principles laid out by the U.S. administration,” Sa’ar said, adding that the plan will enable aid “directly to the people” and not to Hamas terrorists.


UKLFI: "The Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement" - webinar with Daniel Taub & Natasha Hausdorff
In our divisive age, argument is increasingly seen as a plague to be avoided or a contest to be won. H.E. Amb. (ret.) Daniel Taub, an experienced international lawyer, peace negotiator and diplomat, argues that ancient Jewish wisdom offers a third way in his new book “Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement” .

Weaving ancient insights with contemporary research in conflict resolution, and illustrating his findings with behind-the-scenes personal stories of diplomacy and negotiations, Taub explains his passionate call to rediscover and harness the "subversive power of a good argument" in conversation with UKLFI Charitable Trust's Legal Director, Natasha Hausdorff.

Members of the audience who watched this webinar commented: "Absolutely brilliant and so very needed"; "What a great conversation and can't wait to read through this book"; "very insightful talk"; "brilliant"; "a wonderful talk"; "Great conversation"; "Thank you for such a stimulating and thought provoking discussion"; and more.


Heathrow strips worker of security pass over charity linked to Hezbollah
A Heathrow airport worker has been stripped of his security clearance after running a UK-based charity that operates with the backing of Hezbollah, a proscribed terror group in Britain.

Hussein Harake, 29, was employed via a contractor at a British Airways lounge until the Sunday Times alerted the airline to his public tributes to Hezbollah fighters on social media. He runs Zayir UK with his wife, NHS doctor Zeinab Basma.

The charity, unregistered in the UK, has raised more than £300,000 for aid in Lebanon and reportedly works alongside Hezbollah’s social welfare arm. It has held fundraising drives on university campuses including Imperial College and the London School of Economics.

In an interview cited by the Sunday Times, Harake said: “The charity, Zayer, is split into different departments … we have a department for children, which is organised with the social work of Hezbollah.”

His sister also reportedly told an Arabic news outlet: “Within Lebanon, we co-operate with all the religious institutions, civil society organisations and social work entities within Hezbollah.”

The couple told the paper the funds raised were sent as “containers full of parcels during the war”, adding: “We did a baby milk campaign; we’ve done a nappies campaign; we sent tents.”

Denying any wrongdoing, they described the story as “a failed smear attempt” and accused Israel of trying to “harass and defame” Lebanese people abroad. “Zayir UK operates in accordance with UK law. It has provided essential aid to all Lebanese communities facing economic hardship, and it has no political affiliations,” they said.

“More recently, Zayir has provided food and medicine to Lebanese victims of Zionist ethnic cleansing. We remain steadfast in supporting victims of genocide, and our vital humanitarian work will not be deterred by malicious actors serving a hostile foreign regime.”


MASK SLIPS: Roid rager BACKPEDALS on Hamas defence
It was sounding promising — like maybe, just maybe, this guy was coming around.

But then came the familiar spin. When I asked if he’d condemn Hamas’ atrocities on October 7, Roman wouldn’t be straight. He said, “I condemn the killing of innocents,” but couldn’t bring himself to name Hamas specifically. That’s when I knew: the old Roman was still there, just hiding beneath the surface.

We spoke about the double standards I always see at these protests — how they ignore Palestinians risking their lives to protest Hamas in Gaza, but they’ll come out every weekend to demonise Israel. Roman said, “They’re not in Gaza. They don’t understand the situation,” which is rich, considering he’s not in Israel either but feels comfortable shouting down Israelis every week.

And I wasn't the only one he targeted. When a well-known TikToker from Perth was in Melbourne to film content that had nothing to do with politics, but there was Roman with his hate mob, playing the tough guy once again..

To his credit, Roman did admit he no longer believes in intimidation tactics. “As much as I believe in what I believe in... Intimidating you guys or creating a scene, that’s not the way to do it,” he said. But he still refused to express regret for his past threats and menacing behaviour.

This conversation showed me what I’ve seen time and time again: these protesters often start off sounding moderate, but scratch the surface and their true colours come out. Roman wanted to sound balanced, but by the end, he couldn’t hide the fact that his hatred of Israel still runs deep.
Avi Yemini: MASK SLIPS: Roid rager BACKPEDALS on Hamas defence



Dressed as bleeding effigies of Bibi, Trump, 10,000 pro-Palestine protesters rally in Madrid
More than 10,000 protesters marched against “the genocide in Palestine” in Madrid two days before the European Jewish Association Annual Conference, which began there on Monday.

The protest was organized by the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP) under the slogan “Move for Palestine.” The group, alongside Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Spain, said 100,000 people attended. Spanish media estimates were much smaller.

The protesters called on the Spanish government to divest from Israel, including “No buying, no selling, no transport of weapons or military material in Israel.”

Most sported keffiyehs, but others dressed in effigies of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, covered in fake blood, or waved Palestinian, Syrian, or Lebanese flags.

Lidón Soriano, a spokesperson for RESCOP, told the rally: “After 19 months of unprecedented brutality in the genocide that Israel has been committing against Palestine for decades, we have decided to hold this demonstration, as our demands are not reaching the Spanish government with sufficient clarity.”

Politicians also joined the march, including the leader of the Podemos political party, Ione Belarra, who took to the podium to call Netanyahu “the Hitler of our time.”

“Zionism is giving a terrifying history lesson, doing to the Palestinian people what the Nazis did to the Jews,” she added.

The head of the Palestinian Prisoners and Freed Prisoners Affairs Authority, Raed Abu Al-Hummus, who was already in Spain as part of an official visit, told protesters: “What we witnessed today in Madrid is a testament to the power of global conscience.”

He added that he hopes to see similar mobilizations across European capitals, as “grassroots pressure is essential to compel governments to take meaningful action in the face of ongoing atrocities.”

Buses brought protesters from across Spain, including from BDS movements in Galicia and Valencia. El País reported that the mass rally was preceded by “15 weekends of decentralized protests in more than 100 municipalities across the country.”


I Used To Be Kind - Oded Kovach
Let this song be an anthem to fight hate and ignorance

Background:
I tell my perspective right after the October 7 attacks on Israel The first 2 weeks of the war I couldn't go to my studio and all I did was see video after video of the most horrible human behavior I have ever seen from people that called themselves progressive's liberals and the horrors of the October 7 attacks my heart broke into little tiny pieces and it took me 2 mounts to put it back.

but as I was healing I saw a video of girl with pink hair, American, taking down hostage posters. She couldn't have been more then 14 and when the person that took the video said "what are you doing these are people" she turned to her with the most arrogant and sure of herself tone in the world and said "Israelis are not people"

The casual way that she has said that coupled with the person she is and what she represented for me, the illiberal left in the USA, was the final straw for me.

Really? I'm not a person?! you know what? let me show you how much of a person I really am

so after more then a year of work, producing recording filming editing, creating props, collecting footage online and spending a toneeeeeee of my money on this video and saying by by to trying to by an apartment ever.

I have this!

Thank you to everyone that helped me do this telling antiemetic and ignorant bustards to fuck off has never been such a labor of love




Buy EoZ's books  on Amazon!

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

PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism (February 2022)

    
 

 



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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.

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