Israel News for 3-31-2025
News Update
The IDF has called on all residents of Rafah and surrounding towns to evacuate, warning that it is “resuming intense combat to dismantle terrorist capabilities in these areas.” Israel’s Security Cabinet decided, Saturday night, to increase military pressure on Hamas to force it to accept Israel’s counterproposal. Hamas has offered to release five hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, while Israel is demanding the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased captives. Israel said that if this proposal is accepted it will enter negotiations for the second phase.
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, along with the Prime Minister, claimed that Israel’s military pressure is working and that Hamas is “starting to blink.” A senior Israeli official added: “There’s no doubt the military pressure and logistical shortages are influencing negotiations. There’s progress and that led to an exchange of proposals. We’ve submitted a counteroffer and are awaiting Hamas’s response.”
Hamas has indicated that a ceasefire would strengthen it and allow it to continue governing Gaza until a clear political agreement is reached regarding the administration of the Strip. According to a Qatari report, Hamas rejected a U.S. offer that would allow top Hamas leaders and commanders to leave Gaza with their families and pay them $2 billion. The money would come from undisclosed regional players. For more, click here.
Meanwhile, Hamas has begun cracking down on demonstrators, executing at least 6 and torturing and publicly beating many others.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has named retired Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, a former commander of the Israeli Navy, as the next head of the Shin Bet security agency. Sharvit, 57, is married with three children. After leaving the IDF in 2021, Sharvit transitioned to the private sector, initially leading the renewable energy division at Tadiran. He later became president of a Rafael subsidiary specializing in maritime defense systems. Sharvit has previously participated in protests against the government’s judicial overhaul at Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street, but has not called for reservists to refuse service. The Supreme Court is set to hold a hearing on tomorrow regarding the government’s decision to dismiss current Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar.
According to the “Safety Index by Country 2025” rankings published by the independent research organization Numbeo, Israel ranks 34, not too bad considering that Canada ranks 75, Sweden 85, New Zealand 86, and the U.S. 89. The top 5 countries were Andorra, UAE, Qatar, Taiwan and Oman. For the entire list, click here.
