Archive for month: August, 2024

News Update

Lebanon is planning on expanding and strengthening its army to enable it to to ensure border security and implement UN Resolution 1701, which calls for the Lebanese army and UNIFIL to enforce peace in southern Lebanon by disarming Hezbollah and securing the region south of the Litani River. Lebanon plans to recruit 1,500 new soldiers as part of a phased plan to eventually enlist a total of 6,000. Hezbollah currently has a larger and more powerful military force, but the hope is that a stronger Lebanese army could eventually take back control of the security of the country and bring stability to Lebanon and the region.

Security forces, along with a drone strike, eliminated 2 terrorists and wounded 4 in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus early this morning.

The Israeli delegation, including Mossad Director David Barnea, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, and IDF Hostage Command head Major General Nitzan Alon, landed in Qatar today for negotiation talks set to begin later today.

The assassinations of Hamas leaders in Gaza have increase fears within Hamas that there are informants within the terror organization and an increase in Gazans being recruited as collaborators with Israel. Saudi network Al Arabiya reported that a Hamas courier responsible for relaying messages between operatives allegedly revealed the location of Mohammed Deif, enabling Israel to kill him in an airstrike last month. For more, click here.

Around 1500 Jews, including National Security Minister Ben Gvir and an other minister, visited the Temple Mount on Tisha B’av (Tuesday). Some of the visitors prostrated themselves on the mount, contravening the law that prohibits open Jewish prayer on the mount. A group of senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis in Jerusalem, including Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Chief Rabbi of the Old City Avigdor Nebenztal, have released a video with Arabic subtitles, denouncing Jewish visits to the Temple Mount and stating that visiting the mount is prohibited under Jewish Law. The video was made on the quest of Jerusalem’s mayor. To read more and see the video, click here. 

To watch an i24 report on the visit, click here.

News Update

Lebanese newspaper Al-Jumhuriya reported that Hezbollah has evacuated its well-known headquarters in Dahieh, including political offices. Reports indicate that equipment and computers have been removed from these sites.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine “USS Georgia” to the region and has directed the aircraft carrier strike group “Lincoln” to speed up its arrival in the region.

Defense Minister Gallant told Knesset members that the IDF was strengthening defenses and preparing for potential responsive or preemptive actions if necessary. He also said, “On October 11, I wanted to attack, but the cabinet did not approve. I don’t recommend it now – it’s an adventure.”

Hezbollah fired a barrage of 30 rockets towards Nahariyah. Miltiple falls in open areas were reported. There were no injuries. Earlier, IDF strikes killed 2 Hezbollah terrorists and destroyed Hezbollah weapons depots in southern Lebanon.

A terrorist shot 2 motorists from a passing vehicle on Route 90 near the Mehola Junction in the Jordan Valley. Yonatan Deutsch, 23, from Beit Shean was killed. The other driver, 32-year-old Anas Jaramana from Muqeible, a northern Arab town, was moderately wounded.

Sgt. Omer Ginzburg, 19, from Kiryat Tivon, a fighter in the 101st Battalion Parachute Brigade, fell in combat yesterday in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas has announced that it will not take part in the ceasefire talks on Thursday, August 15th. Hamas will only agree to a ceasefire if Israel agrees to Hamas’ proposal from July 2nd.

The fast day of Tisha B’av begins tonight and ends tomorrow night. It is a day of mourning and reflection over the destruction of both the first and second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. The Talmud teaches that the reason for the destruction was the sin of hatred. The Jewish people were disunited and split into factions that were constantly fighting each other. The Talmud also teaches that any generation during which the Temple is not rebuilt is considered to be responsible for its destruction. It’s not difficult for us to relate to this situation. Only when we are united will we merit redemption and the rebuilding of our holy Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. May this year be the one when we can finally correct the sin of hatred and merit the final redemption.

If you’re interested in what Jewish law says about visiting the Temple Mount, I created a short video course exploring the issues related to ascending the mount. You can watch the free course here. 

News Update

Israel is still waiting…

Overnight, Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Hassan Fares Jeshi, a Hezbollah commander responsible for anti-tank guided missile fire on northern Israel was killed in a drone strike.

Nael Sakhel, a senior Hamas member involved in directing attacks in the West Bank, was killed in a recent airstrike in Gaza.

The IDF has issued new evacuation orders for the residents of the Khan Yunis area.

Norway has acted as custodian to receive Palestinian tax revenue collected by Israel and to transfer it to Gaza. Israel is terminating Norway’s role as custodian in response to Norway’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state and its submission of an opinion to the ICC supporting the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant.  Israel is negotiating with other countries, particularly Switzerland, through the United States, to take over Norway’s role.

According to a Qatari media report, Western officials are promoting a deal, which involves a cease-fire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, stable peace, prisoner exchange, expanded aid to Gaza, and regional reconstruction. The plan includes reconstruction efforts in northern and southern Israel and replenishing military supplies.

News Update

Israel is still waiting for an Iranian-Hezbollah military response to the assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly has asked Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to restrain its response and to avoid killing civilians.

While we’re waiting, the IDF has been busy:

Ali Jamal al-Din Jawad, a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, was killed in a drone strike in the southern Lebanese village of Aabba. Another 5 Hezbollah terrorists were also eliminated in a strike in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah responded by launching a wave of suicide drones towards Nahariya and Acre. At least 7 Israelis were injured, one critically.

Abd al-Fattah al-Zari’i, Hamas’s economy minister, was killed in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip yesterday. According to the IDF, al-Zari’i was also an operative in Hamas’s manufacturing division, which works to enhance the organization’s weapons capabilities through collaborations with other terror groups in the Middle East. He also played a major role in seizing humanitarian aid deliveries and managing markets under Hamas control.

Jaber Aziz, the commander of Hamas’s Sheikh Radwan Battalion, also known as the al-Furqan Battalion, was eliminated in an airstrike in Gaza City. Aziz played a significant role in planning and executing the October 7 attack. The IDF considers his death a “significant blow” to Hamas’s operational capabilities. Other Hamas terrorists were also killed in the strike.

Muhammad Mahasna, a Hamas operations officer responsible for coordinating maritime smuggling, was killed in a drone strike in Gaza.

Combat operations in Gaza are continuing, with the IDF eliminating dozens of terrorists yesterday.

A terrorist stabbed and lightly wounded a female Border Police officer at the Tunnels Checkpoint near Jerusalem. The terrorist was shot dead by security forces at the scene. The attack occurred when a bus traveling from the territories to Jerusalem was stopped at the checkpoint and passengers were disembarked for questioning to verify their legal entry permits. During the questioning, the terrorist attacked the officer with a screwdriver.

As part of an ongoing IDF ant-terror operation in Jenin, at least 9 terrorists were killed in 2 drone strikes.

According to a Saudi newspaper report, Hamas has chosen Mohamed Ismail Darwish, also known as Abu Omar Hassan, to temporarily replace assasinated political head Haniyeh. Darwish is the head of Hamas’ religious council. Darwish will reportedly coordinate between the terror group’s leadership in Gaza, the West Bank and abroad until general elections are held. Hamas has denied the Saudi report.