Archive for category: news

News Update

The IDF operation in Al-Shifa hospital continues. Around 50 terrorists have been killed and 180 detained.

Warrant Officer Sebastian Haion, 51, a commander in the 401st Armored Brigade chief’s forward command team, from Rosh Haayin, was killed in the operation in Al-Shifa hospital.

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that Marwan Issa, third in command in Hamas, was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza last week.  Sullivan said, “Israel has made significant progress against Hamas. They have broken a significant number of the Hamas battalions, killed thousands of Hamas fighters, including senior commanders, Hamas’s number three Marwan Issa was killed in an Israeli operation last week, the rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network and justice will come for them too and we are helping to ensure that.” He also said that PM Netanyahu requested that a team from Israel travel to D.C. to lay out plans for an assault on Rafah and discuss the humanitarian aid situation. This comes after Netanyahu spoke with Biden in a 45 minute phone conversation on Monday.

According to a Syrian report, Israel struck ammunition depots in the area of al-Katifa and Kafr Yabrod, north of Damascus, today. The weapons were transferred by the Syrian army to Hezbollah.

The IDF’s central command has established a special team to locate tunnels in the West Bank.

According to a German source, the 27 heads of state of the European Union are expected to call for an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza, leading to a permanent ceasefire. In my latest article in Times of Israel, I explain how calling for a ceasefire destroys the prospect for arriving at a two-state solution, which is what all of these countries, along with the Biden administration, are advocating for. To read the article, click here. [Please take a moment to comment on the article there — it helps it get featured on the front page.]

 

News Update

Yesterday, a terrorist, 22, from the Bedouin town of Rahat stabbed and killed a soldier in a store at the Beit Kama Junction, not far from Rahat. The soldier, Chief Warrant Officer (Rav Nagad) Uri Moyal, 50, from Dimona, managed to shoot and kill the terrorist before collapsing. The terrorist was raised in Gaza and moved to Israel 4 years ago. His mother is an Israeli citizen from Rahat.

Two terrorists armed with a large knife and a sword were caught on their way to Kfar Eldad, in Gush Etzion.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed a letter stating that Israel uses weapons delivered to it from the U.S. in accordance with international law and that it doesn’t interfere with the entry of American humanitarian aid into Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will examine the letter and is expected to provide Congress with a report on whether Israel’s commitments are credible, by March 25.

Mossad Chief David Barnea received Hamas’ official response on their proposal for a hostage release deal on Thursday. The proposal reportedly includes a first stage of releasing Israeli women, children, elderly, and ill hostages in exchange for the release of 700-1000 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 serving life sentences. Shortly after the response was received, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement: “Hamas continues to insist on unreasonable demands. An update on the matter will be brought before the War Cabinet and Security Cabinet on Friday.” The proposal also includes details regarding a cease-fire, Israeli withdrawal and humanitarian aid. Qatar reportedly threatened to expel senior members of Hamas’ politburo residing in Doha if they failed to persuade the leadership in Gaza to reach an agreement.

The IDF investigation of the incident in which dozens of Palestinians were killed while storming humanitarian aid trucks in northern Gaza has established that Palestinian gunmen open fire on the crowd and that IDF soldiers did NOT fire on the crowd. For more, click here.

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

Approximately 250,000 have been displaced since the start of the war.

 

News Update

100 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel and the Golan today. The airforce struck Hezbollah command centers, arsenals and other terror targets in Lebanon.

Security forces in northern Samaria eliminated a terrorist from Jenin who was en route to carry out a major suicide attack in the center of Tel Aviv.

On Sunday night, the IDF attacked a tunnel compound where senior Hamas commander Marwan Issa and another senior Hamas commander were said to be hiding. Intelligence reports confirmed that there were no Israeli hostages at the location. The IDF is still seeking confirmation on Issa’s death.

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

The UN Security Council convened Monday evening for a special session addressing the findings of a recent report on Hamas’ sexual crimes against Israelis on October 7. Foreign Minister Israel Katz, accompanied by a delegation of over 40 families of hostages held in Gaza, urged the council to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization and to implement severe sanctions against them. He criticized the UN for remaining silent regarding Hamas’ crimes and thanked the US, UK and France for initiating the emergency security council session. For more, click here. 

In an interview with CNN, Jordan’s Queen Rania accused Israel of deliberately causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and compared the deaths of civilians in the Gaza war to the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians.

News Update

The US carried out another aid drop in Gaza. Several of the parachutes failed to open, resulting in the deaths of 5 Palestinians, including 2 children.

President Biden announced, in his State of the Union address, that the US will build a temporary port in Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid transported from Cyprus. The aid will be inspected by Israel in Cyprus, before being transported by the US military to Gaza. The European Commission president said that a Spanish ship would make a trial run transporting aid from Cyprus to Gaza this weekend.

Biden also said, “Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the cross fire. To the leadership of Israel I say this. Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.”

He also said, “Israel has a right to go after Hamas,” Biden said. “Hamas could end this conflict today by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7th. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.”

Biden also called for a two-state solution.  Several families of hostages along with former hostage Mia Schem were at the State of the Union as Biden’s guests.

An IDF investigation has found that IDF troops did not fire on civilians during the stampede on the aid trucks that resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians. Troops did fire on specific suspects that approached them, posing an direct threat.

The U.S., Great Britain and France called for an official meeting of the UN security council to discuss and condemn Hamas sexual crimes against Israelis.

Security forces killed a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist and arrested 9 other terrorists in Samaria last night.

Hezbollah has reportedly rejected attempts by US envoy Hochstein to arrive at a diplomatic solution to avoid a war. They also rejected Israel’s March 15 deadline to reach a solution. Israeli forces are preparing for a major conflict.

Combat operations continue in Gaza.

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

 

News Update

Jordanian newspaper Rai-al-Youm reported today that the deputy of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar delivered a comprehensive cease-fire proposal to the head of Egyptian intelligence. The proposal reportedly includes the release of hostages in exchange for high-profile Palestinian prisoners involved in the murder of Israeli civilians including Marwan Barghouti and Abdullah Barghouti. The proposal also includes a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza before the second group of hostages is released,  and unrestricted movement within Gaza and unhindered access to aid.

A terrorist, 16, stabbed and wounded a soldier at the Yitzhar Junction in Samaria yesterday. Soldiers killed the terrorist. The wounded soldier underwent surgery and is recovering. A 64 year old man waiting at a bus stop in northern Jerusalem was stabbed in his upper body by a terrorist. The man is in moderate condition. The terrorist, 14, fled the scene by was later arrested. He is a resident of East Jerusalem.

Rocket barrages at the north and IDF air strikes at Hezbollah targets in Lebanon continue. Operation continue in Gaza.

For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the ground offensive, click here.

Some Gaza clans are reportedly engaged in discussions with Israeli officials regarding assuming administrative responsibilities and managing aid distribution. Clan leaders are denying the claims. On Monday, Palestinian clan leaders published a statement rejecting Israel’s plan to establish a civilian government in the Strip, reaffirming their loyalty to “the legitimate political leadership” represented by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. For more, click here.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel would not impose restrictions on Arabs visiting the Temple Mount during Ramadan. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sought to limit the number of Moslem worshippers to just a few thousand.

The Planning Council in Judea and Samaria approved the construction of 3,500 housing units in Ma’ale Adumim, Efrat, Kedar and other communities.

The UN report on the sexual crimes committed on Oct. 7 and after that was released on Monday certainly lives up to our expectations of UN anti-Israel bias. To read the report, click here.

To read an article I published in the Times of Israel titled, “The UN Continues to Exceed Expectations”, click here.