Israel news summary

Israel News for 5-3-2024

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News Update

Turkey announced that it is banning all trade with Israel, to pressure Israel into stopping the war in Gaza. Turkey is one of Israel’s largest trading partners, accounting for around $5 billion of trade a year. For more, click here.

The Syrian military is accusing Israel of striking a military site south of Damascus International Airport last night, injuring 8 soldiers and causing damage. According to a Saudi newspaper report, the site was a Hezbollah post. The Syrian “Voice of the Capital” reported that an airstrike was “aimed at a military point in the area of ​​the road to Damascus International Airport.” It also noted that the air defense “did not deal with the Israeli missiles,” and that “the Israeli army is talking about hitting the Quneitra area and Damascus in response to the launch of a number of missiles from Syria to the Golan.”

France has released a proposal to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The 3 phase proposal includes a total ceasefire, the withdrawal of Hezbollah to at least 10km from the border and negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to ensure that no terror groups operate south of the Litani river.

According to a NYTimes report, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia is are close to an agreement that would include the Saudis normalizing relations with Israel under the following conditions: Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a freeze in settlement building and a 5 year path towards a Palestinian state.

Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar asked the security cabinet late on Thursday to delay a decision to close down the offices of the Qatari owned Al Jazeera Network in Israel, while there is still a chance to reach a hostage release deal. For more, click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 5-2-2024

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News Update

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken met with Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday in Jerusalem. Blinken said, “We cannot, will not support a major military operation in Rafah absent an effective plan to make sure that civilians are not harmed and no, we’ve not seen such a plan.There are other ways, and in our judgment better ways, of dealing with the ongoing challenge of Hamas that does not require a major military operation in Rafah.” Blinken also toured the Gaza border area and observed the process of unloading and transporting humanitarian aid from the Port of Ashdod.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will invade Gaza if Hamas doesn’t drop its demand that Israel stop the war and continues to hold the hostages. [So all Hamas needs to do now is to hold firm to their outlandish demands and force Israel to invade Rafah, cause the inevitable deaths of thousands of civilians, provoke the wrath of the Biden administration and become an international pariah even among its friends and supporters. Hamas can also murder almost all of the remaining hostages, claim that they were killed in the Israeli offensive, and hold on to a small number to serve as their human shields and final bargaining chips. With tens of thousands of Israelis protesting against the government and demanding that it bring the hostages home at any cost, Israel’s options for moving forward don’t look very inspiring.]

Meanwhile, IDF operations against Hamas terrorists in central Gaza, Hezbollah missiles at northern Israel and IDF strikes at terror bases in Lebanon continue.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly been arresting citizens inciting against Israel on social media. The U.S. has been working on brokering a normalization deal between the Saudis and Israel, which could potentially be used as a “reward” to stop Israel from invading Rafah.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 5-1-2024

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News Update

Over the past week, the ‘Yiftah’ and ‘Carmeli’ reservist combat teams, under the 99th Division’s command, have initiated defensive and offensive operations within the Central Gaza Strip Corridor. The operations are essential for maintaining security along the corridor and ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.

Two IDF reserve soldiers were killed in an friendly fire incident, when a tank shell was fired at the building they were in. They were:

– Master Sgt. (res.) Ido Aviv, 28, of the Yiftah Brigade’s 9232nd Battalion, from Karmiel.

– Master Sgt. (res.) Kalkidan Meharim 37, of the Carmeli Brigade’s 223rd Battalion, from Petah Tikva.

A Border Police officer was stabbed and wounded by a 34 year old Turkish tourist in the Old City of Jerusalem. The terrorist was shot and killed by police.

Hezbollah rockets and drones continue to attack northern Israel.

Israel continues to ready for an invasion of Rafah as negotiations to free hostages continue to be blocked by Hamas rejections of all Israeli offers. With international pressure mounting against Israel and pro-Palestinian college campus demonstrations erupting throughout the U.S., Hamas doesn’t have much incentive to agree to anything. The longer they hold out, the more harm they cause Israel in the international community and the closer they get to Israel finally being forced to concede a ceasefire. The threat of an Israeli invasion of Rafah only adds to their determination to fight on, because they know that the inevitable civilian casualty toll will only increase the international outrage against Israel. Given that Hamas has zero concern for the fate of their civilians, another few thousand civilian deaths would be a a celebration for them.

Meanwhile, Hamas is observing the demonstrations in Israel demanding that the government bring the hostages home and adding fuel to the fire by releasing videos of several male hostages, including Americans, who are shown pleading for the government to secure their release. Of course, there isn’t a single person with a shred of humanity in them that doesn’t want the hostages released. But the question becomes, at what cost?

The chant, “Bring Them Home Now” has become a protest against the Israeli government to do the impossible — to surrender to Hamas, allowing them to resume governing Gaza and preparing for their next invasion of Israel with their thousands of armed terrorists. Hamas knows this, which is why they refuse to release the hostages and continue to hold out for the ultimate prize — victory over Israel. We should be chanting “Set them Free, Unconditionally.” “Bring them home” places the onus on the Israeli government to surrender to terror.