Israel News for 8-22-2024
News Update
Following a massive rocket barrage on the city of Katzrin in the Golan yesterday, the IDF carried out extensive airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight.
An Israeli airstrike in the Tulkarm refugee camp today reportedly killed three terrorists during an anti-terror IDF operation there.
The Shin Bet and Israel Police arrested four suspects, including one minor, for their involvement in several violent attacks against Palestinians, including last weeks riot in the village of Jit in which 1 Palestinian was killed and 1 injured. The riot was condemned by government officials, including the Prime Minister, and the IDF and security services.
Muhammad Azzam, 34, a doctor at the Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, was indicted for swearing allegiance to ISIS. He was arrested a month ago by the Shin Bet and police. Azzam is from Narazeth and lives in Be’er Sheva. After the October 7 massacre, Azzam decided to join ISIS and pledged allegiance to Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the leader of the Islamic State. During the surprise attack by Hamas, he sent his friends footage of the atrocities and joyfully commented on them. [This is even more unsettling since a significant percentage of doctors, nurses and other staff at Israel’s hospitals are Arabs. Israel’s medical infrastructure is dependent on Arab personnel. The consequences of an Israeli Arab intifada would be disastrous, especially it was coordinated with an uprising in Judea and Samaria, continued fighting in Gaza and an attack by Hezbollah.]
According to The Washington Post, Iran appears to have been deterred by the U.S. show of force and has decided to postpone any retaliation against Israel. Iran is, however, encouraging Hezbollah to launch a major attack against Israel, which Hezbollah seems reluctant to do for fear of the consequences. Meanwhile, Hamas isn’t cooperating with the Americans nor with the mediators in the hostage negotiations and “waiting” for an Iranian attack.
According to an Egyptian official, any hostage agreement accepted by Hamas would have to include guarantees for Sinwar’s safety. Other issues making an agreement unlikely also still exist. For more, click here.
Some of the bodies of the hostages retrieved from Khan Younis earlier this week had bullets in them, indicating that they were likely shot by their Hamas captors.
