Archive for category: news

News Update

An Israeli delegation is heading to Qatar today to continue negotiations on a potential phase 2 to the ceasefire deal with Hamas. The talks are being mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump’s envoy for hostage negotiations, has reportedly been involved in discussions with Hamas, who reportedly proposed a long-term cease-fire of at least 10 years, which would also apply to the West Bank and Jerusalem. But Israel, and President Trump, have been clear that Hamas can play no role in the governing of Gaza and that all hostages must be released.

Israel’s Energy Minister has signed an order cutting off all electricity being supplied to Gaza. Israel currently has only 1 remaining power line that supplies power to 2 desalination plants. Israel is considering also cutting off water pipes that supply Gaza.

The IDF is warning of severe manpower shortages to do increased security threats on all of Israel’s borders and in Judea and Samaria. More soldiers are needed to the new outposts established inside Lebanese territory, in the Syrian Golan Heights, and along the Gaza Strip’s buffer zone. The IDF is also doubling the number of troops in the Galilee and the area around Gaza. Around 12,000 soldiers have been killed or wounded since the war began on Oct. 7. To read more, click here.

The IDF has appointed Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin as the next IDF spokesperson. Defrin, a veteran officer, was severely wounded while fighting in the Second Lebanon War’s Battle of Wadi Saluki as a tank battalion commander. Most recently, he served as head of the IDF’s international cooperation unit.

Turkey has blocked Israel from taking part in NATO’s annual exercise on “resilience and emergency preparedness.” Since the start of the war, Turkey has vetoed all NATO interactions with Israel, including meetings and joint exercises. At NATO’s summit in July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the alliance “cannot continue its partnership with the Israeli government.”

News Update

U.S. mediators have been holding direct talks with Hamas, regarding the release of the 5 American hostages, only 1 of whom is alive. The living hostage is Edan Alexander, 20, from Tenafly NJ. He was an IDF serving on his base when captured on OCt. 7. The dead hostages are Omer Neutra, Itay Chen and the couple Gad Haggai and Judy Weinstein-Haggai. Neutra and Chen were soldiers killed while fighting on Oct. 7. The Haggai couple, in their 70’s, were murdered while out for a walk on the morning of Oct. 7.

A delegation of former hostages met with President Trump yesterday. They recounted the horrors that they experienced and witnessed, and thanked the President saying, “We’re here because of you. We’re alive, we’re free people because of you. Thank you very much.” Trump was visibly moved.

Trump sent this message to Hamas: “Shalom Hamas” means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!

France, the United Kingdom and Germany yesterday urged Israel, in a joint statement, to resume humanitarian aid to Gaza: “We call on the government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza. A halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza such as that announced by the government of Israel would risk violating international humanitarian law.”

Over 500 victims of the October 7 massacre filed a lawsuit in Jerusalem District Court, seeking NIS 4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in damages from the Palestinian Authority (PA), the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and former Palestinian Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee head Qadura Fares, accusing them of direct and indirect responsibility for the attack and its prior planning. For more, click here.

Yaheli Gur, 17, who was critically injured in last week’s car-ramming terror attack at a bus stop at the Karkur junction near Pardes Hanna, died of her injuries yesterday.

Palestinian media claims an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood moments ago killed one person and injured several others.

The Israeli and American Air Forces held joint exercises this week. The IDF said that the drills were designed to strengthen connectivity between the two forces and improve their ability to address regional threats. A U.S. B-52 Stratofortress long range bomber took part in the exercise. The B-52 is a key asset in any potential military strike on Iran’s deeply fortified nuclear facilities.

News Update

The IDF struck weapons depots belonging to the old Syrian regime in northwest Syria and along the coast. The IDF also struck targets along the Syria-Lebanon border. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz both warned the Syrian government not to harm the Druze communities the Druze population in the city of Jaramana, near Damascus, where there has been recent fighting. They said, “We will not allow the extremist Islamic regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If they do, they will face consequences.” The Druze have asked Israel to intervene. The Foreign Ministry recently delivered 8,000 humanitarian aid packages to Syrian Druze, each valued at 300 shekels (approximately $80).

A senior commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force was killed today in a drone strike on his vehicle, near the southern Lebanon city of Tyre. Israeli forces also killed the head of Hamas in Jenin, when he opened fire on forces during an arrest attempt.

Arab leaders are meeting in Cairo today, where Egypt will present a plan for postwar Gaza, as a counter proposal to President Trump’s. For more, click here.

Finance Minister Smotrich will meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials. He said he is going to Washington to “strengthen economic cooperation” and “deepen the strategic alliance between our two countries.”

News Update

An IDF drone strike eliminated a high ranking member of Hezbollah’s arms smuggling operation, in Lebanon’s Beqa valley. The IDF said that his actions “posed a threat to the State of Israel and constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”

A terrorist struck and injured at least 14 pedestrians at Karkur Junction near the northern town of Pardes-Hanna-Karkur. Police arrested the terrorist, a 53-year-old Palestinian from a village near Jenin married to an Arb-Israel woman. He had been living inside Israel illegally for at least a decade.

Hamas has officially rejected extending the current ceasefire agreement’s first phase, demanding immediate entry into second-phase negotiations.

Tsachi Idan, 50, one of the hostages murdered in Hamas captivity whose body was returned yesterday, was laid to rest today beside his daughter, Ma’ayan, who was killed in the October 7 attack.

News Update

Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, were laid to rest today. Thousands of Israelis stood along the procession route, waving flags and paying their last respects to the family that was captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7 and murdered by terrorists in Gaza. Yarden Bibas, husband and father, eulogized them. For more, click here.

Israel and Hamas have come to an agreement, in which Hamas will hand over the coffins of four dead hostages to Egypt in the next 24 hours without a ceremony, and Egypt will hand over the coffins to the Red Cross to bring them to Israel. At the same time as the dead hostages are transferred, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian terrorists. Israel had delayed the release of the terrorists because Hamas violated the original agreement by not initially returning the body of Shiri Bibas and by holding public ceremonies at the release of living and dead hostages.

Rescued hostage Noa Argamani spoke to the UN Security Council last night. She pleaded for the release of all the remaining hostages, including her partner Avinatan Or. She said, “Until Avinatan returns, my heart is in captivity.” For more, click here.

The IDF presented members of Kibbutz Nahal Oz with the findings of its investigation into the October 7 massacre, when 15 kibbutz members were murdered and 8 abducted. The findings focused on the actual attack, not on the events and circumstances leading up to it. Around 180 terrorists attacked the kibbutz in 3 waves. Kibbutz residents and soldiers fought the terrorists, preventing an even greater massacre. For more, click here.

Israel carried out air strikes in southern Syria yesterday, targeting military targets including command centers and multiple sites containing weapons. Defense Minister Katz said, “The message is clear: we won’t allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon. We won’t risk our citizens’ security.” The air force also struck targets in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly on high alert in anticipation of a possible Israeli attack against its nuclear facilities, with the full support of the U.S.

President Trump shared an AI generated video depicting a rebuilt “Trump Gaza”. To watch, click here.