Archive for category: news

News Update

Rocket barrages continue against targets in south and central Israel and anti-tank and other shooting continue in the north. Several rocket hits have been reported, but no injuries have been reported. The IDF continues to strike Hamas targets in Gaza and Hezbollah outposts in southern Lebanon.

Hostages Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 80, were released by Hamas and were reunited with their families in Israel. Their medical condition appears good. Their husbands are still being held hostage. US President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to working towards releasing the remaining hostages. To read more about the treatment of the hostages, click here.

French President Macron arrived in Israel today met with families whose loved ones were abducted by Hamas into the Gaza Strip. He later met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog. Macron said, “As was the case that a coalition formed to defeat ISIS, I call to establish an international coalition to act against terrorist organizations threatening the world.” He added, “We need to act against Hezbollah and what’s happening in Yemen. This is an interest of all countries in the region. The safety of the Israeli people is non-negotiable, we think Hamas is a terrorist organization that should be combated with force and without mercy. It doesn’t work for the benefit of Palestinians.” To read more, click here.

The IDF has released excerpts from their interrogations of captured Hamas terrorists who participated in the massacre of October 7. The terrorists admitted that they had explicit instructions to specifically murder or kidnap women, children and the elderly.  To read some of what they said, click here.

China’s foreign minister said that China would support any resolution as long as it is conducive to peace. He also called for Israel to take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions there, adding that “all countries have the right to self-defense, but they should abide by international humanitarian law and protect the safety of civilians.”

News Update

Rocket barrages continue against south and central Israel, including in the Jerusalem area.

The IDF struck over a hundred operational targets belonging to Hamas terrorist organization overnight and killed a senior Hamas terrorist who took part in the murderous massacres in southern Israel.

Shooting incidents and rocket fire continue along the northern border. The IDF is responding with strikes in southern Lebanon. Residents of Kiryat Shemona are being evacuated.

A U.S. Navy warship intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by Iranian backed Houthi forces from Yemen, alleged to be headed to Israel. Saudi Arabia also intercepted a missile.

The Health Ministry reported today that 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers have been killed by Hamas since the beginning of this terror war.

The IDF confirmed that there are 30 children among the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

A U.S. cargo plane delivered the first shipment of armored vehicles for the IDF at Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday.

In a vote that took place on Thursday, with 500 votes in favor, 21 against, and 24 abstentions, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) strongly condemned the Hamas terror attack, expressed their support for Israel and its people, and underlined the need to “eliminate the terrorist organization Hamas.” For more, click here.

Israelis are now eligible for the US visa waiver program.

News Update

Rocket barrages from Gaza continue. Ashkelon was targeted this morning. IDF airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza continue.

Anti tank missiles and gunshots were fired from Lebanon today and yesterday. The IDF is responding with artillery fire and air strikes.

To read a list of the soldiers and police killed in the fight against the terrorists during the initial attack and its aftermath, click here. 

Air Force Apache helicopters played a key role in killing scores of terrorists and preventing an even greater catastrophe on the day of the terrorist invasion. To read and watch how they did it, click here. 

According to the Health Ministry, around 4,229 Israelis have been wounded since the beginning of Operation Swords of Iron on October 7. Of those, 26 are in critical condition, 312 in serious condition, 725 are moderate, 2,817 are mild, with 219 hospitalized for anxiety and a further 130 are under medical evaluation.

Jordan’s King Abdullah accused Israel of trying to push refugees into Jordan and Egypt. He said, “That is a red line, because I think that is the plan by certain of the usual suspects to try and create de facto issues on the ground. No refugees in Jordan, no refugees in Egypt.”

US President Biden is planning to visit Israel on Wednesday, as a show of solidarity.

 

News Update

• Hamas has fired long range rockets at northern Israel. The David Sling anti-missile system intercepted at one rocket near Haifa. Other missiles were intercepted around Tzfat by Patriot missiles.
• The IDF has declared the northern border city of Metulla as a closed military area. The southern city of Sderot is being evacuated.
• Hamas rocket barrages against Israeli towns and cities in the south continue. Direct hits were reported in Sderot and Ashkelon earlier this morning. There were no injuries.
• The Israeli Air Force continues to strike terror targets in Gaza.
• Israel has informed the UN that all people living in the northern Gaza Strip must relocate to the south within 24 hours.
• According to Sky News, the UK is sending warships and planes to the Mediterranean.
• The President of the European Union Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola arrived in Israel today to express solidarity with Israel. They tweeted, “We are here with a message of solidarity after the worst terror attack #Israel has endured in generations. Terror will not prevail. How we respond matters. We can – we must – stop Hamas. And do what we can to mitigate humanitarian consequences.”
• Hamas has called for protests and unrest throughout the world. Jewish schools in Europe have decided to close today. Security has been heightened at Jewish schools and institutions throughout the US and the world. But the FBI and law enforcement claims that they have no credible threats of violence against Jewish targets today.

As Hamas and their supporters celebrate their atrocities, let us all stand united against them and remain firm in our resolve to wipe out Hamas and all terror groups and free the world from experiencing any more horrors and tragedy at their hands.

May God grant us a swift and total victory and protect all those who stand against terror.

News Update

Heavy barrages of rockets were fired at Ashkelon, Ashdod and other towns and communities near the Gaza border.

The air force has so far struck over 2,500 targets in Gaza, and strikes continue at this time.

The official Israeli death count is now over 1,200., including 169 soldiers. There are 483 soldiers injured, in various conditions. Over 35 special units are operating in southern Israel to clear the area of terrorists. In the past day 18 terrorists have been killed in Israel.

To read the story of one Israeli woman’s harrowing ordeal and eventual rescue from her Kibbutz Be’eri by IDF troops, click here.

Yesterday, 14 rockets were fired into Israel from southern Lebanon. Four rockets were intercepted and 10 fell in open areas. The IDF responded with artillery fire, hitting two Hezbollah observation posts. An anti-tank missile was then fired from Lebanese territory toward an Israeli armored army vehicle near the Avivim military base. An Israeli attack helicopter struck another Hezbollah post in retaliation. This came after 3 terrorists infiltrated the northern border. IDF Brigade Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Alim Abdullah and 2 other soldiers were killed in a gun battle with the terrorists, who were also killed.

Several mortar shells were fired into Israel from Syria. The IDF responded with artillery and mortar fire towards the source of the attack. According to the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights, the shelling was carried out by Palestinian groups affiliated with Hezbollah.

There were several incidents in the West Bank yesterday, included a shooting attack south of Jerusalem in which the terrorist was killed and no Israelis were injured.

In a passionate and emotional speech yesterday, US President Biden pledged America’s unequivocal support for Israel and condemned the savage and inhuman atrocities of Hamas. He also confirmed that at least 14 US citizen’s were killed in the Hamas massacre.

As Prime Minister Netanyahu told President Biden, the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas have not been seen since since the Holocaust.

As the stories of the frightful attack continue to emerge, the picture becomes more gruesome and unfathomable. The State of Israel was built on the pledge of “Never Again”. Never again would Jewish children be slaughtered along were their mothers. Never again would Jewish grandmothers be tied up and murdered. Never again would entire Jewish families be executed in the homes. Never again would Jewish women, children, and grandmothers in wheelchairs be bound and led away to be tortured and executed. Never again would Jewish babies be thrown into fires, beheaded.

But all these horrors, and more than we even can imagine at this time, were perpetrated this weekend by “men” who equaled the Nazi SS and their methods. The planners and perpetrators, Hamas and Iran, are pure evil and must be destroyed, just like the Nazis. And the difference between now and the dark days of the holocaust is that the Jewish People now has the power to destroy those that rise up against us.

Let us pray that God grant the IDF a speedy victory against the forces of evil, while protecting our soldiers from harm.