Archive for month: December, 2024

News Update

In the wake of the collapse of the Syrian Assad regime, IDF forces have taken control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and the demilitarized zone beyond the Golan, after Syrian army forces vacated the areas. The air force struck multiple strategic targets in and around Damascus, including Syria’s main military research center, which Iran allegedly used for missile development. The strikes are continuing, in an effort to eliminate threats to Israel’s security including chemical weapons, air bases, missile depots and launching sites and missile development sites. Israel is reportedly in talks with Russia to transfer parts of the territory near the Israeli border to Israeli control.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “The Assad regime, a central link in Iran’s axis of evil, has fallen. This is a direct result of the blows we’ve dealt to Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s main supporters. It has set off a chain reaction across the Middle East, as people seek to free themselves from oppressive tyranny. This creates significant new opportunities for Israel, though not without risks. Our primary mission is to defend our borders. For nearly 50 years, this area was designated as a buffer zone under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. That agreement has now collapsed, with Syrian soldiers abandoning their positions. With full Cabinet approval, I instructed the IDF to seize the buffer zone and nearby commanding positions. We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself along our border. Simultaneously, we are pursuing a policy of good neighborliness, as we did during the Syrian civil war, when we established a field hospital here that treated thousands of wounded Syrians. Hundreds of Syrian children were even born here in Israel.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said today that the presence of Israeli forces in Syrian territory is a “limited, temporary” step meant to ensure Israel’s security during the confusion after the fall of Assad.

Four IDF reservists of the 226th Brigade’s 9263rd Battalion were killed when an underground compound collapsed during operational activity in southern Lebanon: Maj. (res.) Evgeny Zinershain, 43, from Zichron Yaakov, a company commander; Capt. (res.) Sagi Ya’akov Rubinshtein, 31, from Lavie, a platoon commander; Master Sgt. (res.) Binyamin Destaw Negose, 28, from Beit Shemesh; and Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Erez Ben Efraim, 25, from Ramat Gan. The IDF is investigating whether the explosion was caused by a pre-existing explosive device or accidentally triggered by IDF forces.

A drone launched from Yemen struck the penthouse of a 16 story residential building in the central Israeli city of Yavne this morning. Damage was caused to the balcony, but no injuries were reported.

Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces launched an operation against Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists in the Jenin refugee camp today. The raid follows an incident in which PIJ terrorists stole 2 PA jeeps and paraded them through the camp. In a statement, PA security forces announced their mission to restore law and order in Jenin and its refugee camp for civilian protection.  Recent IDF operations in Jenin weakened the PIJ and reportedly gave PA forces the confidence to mount the raid.

According to Arab media, Hamas reportedly has submitted a list of hostages to mediators in Cairo, as talks there advance. Egyptian intelligence reportedly received names of hostages with medical conditions and elderly captives, as well as Palestinian prisoners to be freed from Israeli jails. An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo today. The Israeli government has told hostage families to ignore the Arab media reports.

News Update

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today to discuss the situation in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. Meanwhile, Syrian rebels ousted pro-government forces from the city of Hama today, after taking control of Aleppo last week. Rebel forces are heading in the direction of Damascus.

Egypt has released a new ceasefire proposal the would include a preliminary 60 day ceasefire and IDF withdrawal from the Rafah crossing, which would be managed and supervised by the Palestinian Authority. After the first week of the ceasefire, living hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of terrorists released from Israeli prisons. Hamas has yet to respond to the proposal. President-elect Trump’s new envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani in an attempt to reach a deal before the January 20 inauguration.

The body of murdered hostage Itay Svirsky was recovered from Gaza in a Shin Bet and IDF operation. Svirsky, 38, a resident of Tel Aviv, was visiting his family in Kibbutz Be’eri on Saturday October 7, and was kidnapped alive to Gaza. His parents, Orit and Rafi Svirsky, were murdered in the massacre at the kibbutz. Itay has been held with Noa Argamani for a period of time. He was declared dead after 102 days in captivity, 2 days after appearing in a Hamas video alongside Argamani.

The IDF issued the results of an investigation that revealed that hostages Alex Dancyg, Yoram Metzger, Haim Perry, Yagev Buchshtav, Nadav Popplewell, and Avraham Munder were fatally shot by their captors in February, allegedly in response to an IDF airstrike targeting nearby infrastructure. The IDf was unaware of the presence of the hostages in the vicinity.

Michael Bloomberg, reportedly the richest Jew in the world with around $102 billion, announced that he will donate 100 million shekels, around $27.8 million, as an initial investment into the reconstruction of the areas in the north that were damaged by the war. Bloomberg will oversea the initiative via his non-profit Bloomberg Sagol Center for City Leadership at Tel Aviv University, which he established in 2022 with his Israeli partner Yossi Sagol. Work on the project has already begun. For more, click here.