Archive for month: September, 2025

News Update

Early this morning the IDF intercepted a Houthi missile fired from Yemen. Yesterday afternoon Israel launched airstrikes, with 10 fighter jets, on Sana’a and Al Jawf (in Yemen), targeting weapons and ammunition caches alongside fuel storage facilities. The IDF said, “Among the targets struck are military camps in which operatives of the terrorist regime were identified, the Houthis’ Military Public Relations Headquarters, and a fuel storage facility that was used by the terrorist regime for terrorist activity.”

Israeli, Iranian and Hamas sources all seem to agree that the Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar this week failed in achieving its objective. Iranian reports indicate that Hamas negotiators left their phones in the targeted room to pray in a nearby area, escaping the attack. No definitive confirmation of the operation’s outcome has been released yet. Hamas sources said two of their officials were injured in the strike.

Representatives of hostage families and former captives met with U.S. President Trump at the White House on Wednesday, where he reiterated his commitment to securing the release of all 48 hostages held by Hamas. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth and special envoy Steve Waitkoff were also at the meeting. Trump reiterated his commitment to do everything possible to bring the hostages home. In Paris, French President Macron met with relatives of four hostages. Macron pledged to address the hostage crisis at the UN General Assembly later this month.

Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded when their armored personnel carrier ran over a bomb in the area of Tulkarm near the Nitzani Oz crossing today. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. The IDF has imposed a lockdown on the city and are carrying out roadblocks and inspections in the area.

Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was released from 2 and a half years of being held captive by Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq, and returned to Israel. Iran’s state-run Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday that Tsurkov was freed in exchange for two members of the “resistance,” including Imad Amhaz, a Lebanese naval officer and senior Hezbollah operative reportedly captured by Israeli commandos in northern Lebanon last year. For more, click here.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said today that the Irish low-cost airline might not resume Israel flights even after the war in Gaza ends. He said, “I think there’s a real possibility that we won’t bother going back to Israel when the current violence recedes, We are tired of being messed around by the Israel Airports Authority. Unless the Israelis kind of get their act together and stop messing us around, frankly, we have far more growth elsewhere in Europe.” For more, click here.

News Update

Four IDF soldiers were killed in a Hamas attack on an army outpost near Gaza City yesterday. The fallen were: Staff Sgt. Uri Lamed, 20, from Tel Mond; Sgt. Amit Arye Regev, 19, from Modiin; Sgt. Gadi Cotal, 20, from Kibbutz Afikim; Lt. Matan Abramovitz, 21, Ganei Tikva. All 4 served in the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade. The attackers reportedly targeted a tank, opening fire at the commander as he leaned out of the vehicle’s hatch, before throwing an explosive inside, killing the four soldiers.

IDF strikes have destroyed 5 high-rise buildings (10-15 stories) in Gaza City over the last few days, after issuing warnings to residents. The buildings were being used by Hamas. A general evacuation order has been issued for the entire Gaza City area, warning all residents to evacuate. Around 900,000 residents reportedly are still in the city.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that Israel has accepted President Trump’s latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal, which would require all hostages, living and dead, to be released on day 1. Sa’ar said, “The war can end tomorrow. President Trump said it clearly two days ago: Israel said yes to his proposal. We are ready to accept a full deal that would end the war based on the Cabinet’s decision. We only have two simple demands: the return of our hostages and for Hamas to lay down its arms.”

Syrian state media reported Monday night that Israeli airstrikes struck several sites in the Homs and Latakia regions, including ammunition depots and a Syrian air defense base. Following the strikes, an Israeli security official told al-Arabiya and al-Hadath that the operation in Homs targeted missile warehouses and Turkish-made air defense systems that had recently been moved to the area. The official said that “Turkey is trying to provoke us and drag us into a military confrontation we do not seek, though we are not afraid of it.” The same source added that Israel is in dialogue with the Syrian leadership regarding security arrangements, but emphasized that “Israel will not hesitate to use force when necessary.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has reportedly told France that it is considering shutting down the French Consulate General in Jerusalem, which handles France’s diplomatic relations with the Palestinians in east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. France threatened to retaliate.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry has banned Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway have already banned them. On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Spain “will increase the pressure” on Israel by forbidding ships and planes transporting weapons to Israel from docking at Spanish ports or entering Spanish airspace. He also announced the recalling of the ambassador. Spain will also boost its assistance to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA and will place an embargo on goods manufactured in Israeli settlements in the “occupied” Palestinian territories.

News Update

Hamas today released a video showing hostages Alon Ohel and Guy Gilboa Dalal talking in a vehicle in Gaza City on August 28. Only a brief 28 second clip of the video has been released by the families. Hamas releases videos as part of its psychological warfare campaign, to persuade Israelis to demand that the government end the war at all costs, to save the hostages.

The IDF said that is has already begun operations in Gaza City and currently controls 40% of the city. IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told reporters that Israeli forces have been operating for weeks in the Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods of Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, and said that the operation will expand in the coming days.  IDF Chief of Staff Zamir, Foreign Minister Sa’ar, Mossad Director David Barnea and other ministers have reportedly urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to pursue a temporary ceasefire with Hamas rather than expand the war with a full scale assault on Gaza City.

The U.S. has warned Lebanese leaders that their time to act against Hezbollah is running out and that failure to disarm the terror group could result in the loss of financial support from the U.S. and Gulf states and possibly trigger a new Israeli military operation in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Jews are gathering nightly to recite Selichot, prayers for forgiveness, during the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashana. To watch a video of this, click here.

News Update

The United Arab Emirates warned Israel today that any annexation of the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE that would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE said, “We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the region’s trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices.” A special Israeli cabinet meeting is to be held tomorrow to discuss the implications of recognizing a Palestinian state and Israel’s possible responses.

Finance Minister Smotrich called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to implement Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, proposing that 82% of the territory fall under Israeli law while leaving 18% under Palestinian administration. He said, “The principle is maximum land with minimum Arabs. We will maintain a clear Jewish majority and keep Israel Jewish and democratic. Sovereignty will cover 82% of the land, while Palestinians will continue self-rule through the Palestinian Authority and later through regional management alternatives.”

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that he will co-lead an international conference in New York on Sept. 22 with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to promote a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The conference will coincide with the UN General Assembly. Macron tweeted, “no annexation or forced displacement will stop the momentum we have built together with the crown prince — momentum that many of our partners have joined.”

On Friday, the US State Department announced that it is “denying and revoking visas” from members of the Palestinian Authority (PA) & Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), including PA President Abbas and 80 other PA officials. This will severely limit the number of Palestinians able to join Macron’s conference. The Palestinian Authority’s Mission to the UN “will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters Agreement.” The State Department accused the PA and the PLO of taking steps that “materially contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release its hostages, and to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks.” State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott tweeted, “Before we take them seriously as partners in peace, the PA and PLO must completely reject terrorism and stop counterproductively pursuing the unilateral recognition of a hypothetical state.” European countries and 57 Islamic states condemned the move.

The IDF intercepted a missile launched from Yemen this morning, that triggered sirens throughout central Israel, sending a good chunk of the country into shelters. [Can you imagine this happening in America, constantly?] In recent days, the Houthis have attempted multiple missile and drone attacks on Israel, but none have reached their targets, either being intercepted or falling short. Senior Houthi political and military officials have reportedly fled the capital, Sanaa, and relocated to fortified hideouts in other areas under their control.

The IDF is preparing to facilitate the evacuation of all civilians from Gaza City, ahead of a major operation to take control of the city and capture or eliminate Hamas forces embedded there. The IDF plans to avoid casualties by demolishing buildings with controlled explosions using drones, instead of sending in troops to clear those buildings, which are thought to be booby trapped. Officers say this also prevents Hamas from reusing neighborhoods: “If no buildings remain standing, militants cannot dig tunnels in secret, plant explosives, or resurface unexpectedly.” Hamas is working to prevent civilians from evacuating, using force and misinformation. Only around 60,000 to 80,000 civilians have evacuated thus far.

The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Tuesday evening that they had eliminated senior Hamas terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem in the Gaza City area. Naeem had held three Israeli hostages during the ongoing war: Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Naama Levy. Naeem served in multiple roles within Hamas’ Gaza City brigade and was a senior figure in its military intelligence.