Gaza Strip

2025-05-27

وكالات أفادت صحيفة "يسرائيل هيوم"، اليوم الثلاثاء، بأن يمينيين إسرائيليين من حركة "الأمر 9" يعتصمون في ميناء أسدود لمنع دخول شاحنات مساعدات إلى قطاع غزة. 🇮🇱🚛Activists blocked the exit to the Port of Ashdod in an apparent attempt to stop the transfer of aid to the Gaza Strip. The group behind the protest stated that aid should only go to civilians, not Hamas, which has recently attacked convoys in the strip. أعلنت سلطات الاحتلال الإسرائيلية، أمس، أن 170 شاحنة تحمل مساعدات إنسانية دخلت قطاع غزة يوم الاثنين. وسمحت إسرائيل بدخول المساعدات الإغاثية للقطاع الأسبوع الماضي لأول مرة منذ منعها في مطلع مارس الماضي. ⚡🇮🇱 JUST IN: The Israeli settlers from Tzav 9 are blocking aid to Gaza at the Ashdod Port.Source: وذكرت هيئة كوجات، التابعة لوزارة الدفاع الإسرائيلية المسؤولة عن الشؤون المدنية في الأراضي الفلسطينية، أن شاحنات المساعدات التي دخلت القطاع الاثنين تشمل غذاء ومعدات طبية وأدوية، وفق ما نقلته صحيفة "تايمز أوف إسرائيل". وتتزايد الضغوط الدولية على إسرائيل للسماح بدخول المزيد من المساعدات، إذ وصفت الأمم المتحدة ما تم إدخاله بالفعل من شاحنات المساعدات إلى غزة بأنه "نقطة في محيط" وأنه لا يفي احتياجات سكان القطاع الفلسطيني البالغ عددهم 2.2 مليون نسمة. ...قراءة المزيد

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2025-02-22

في خطوة هامة لتعزيز جهود مكافحة مرض شلل الأطفال في قطاع غزة، أعلنت وكالة غوث وتشغيل اللاجئين الفلسطينيين «الأونروا»، بدء المرحلة الثالثة من حملة التطعيم ضد شلل الأطفال في قطاع غزة، وتأتي في وقت حساس بعد أن أعلنت وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية في يوليو 2024 أن القطاع أصبح منطقة وباء.  وأوضح فيليب لازاريني، مفوض الأونروا، في منشور على منصة «إكس»، أن حملة التطعيم ضد ستنطلق بمشاركة 1700 من موظفي الأونروا، من خلال المراكز الصحية التابعة للوكالة ونقاط التطعيم المتنقلة.  كما تستهدف الحملة 600 ألف طفل تحت سن العاشرة في جميع أنحاء قطاع غزة، وذلك بعد اكتشاف الفيروس في مياه الصرف الصحي.  : another large scale vaccination campaign against started today. Like in previous rounds + together with our partners, we aim to reach nearly 600,000 children under the age of 10 across the Gaza Strip. Over 1,700 UNRWA team members will take part in this campaign… وتسعى حملة «» إلى تقليل مخاطر الإصابة بالفيروس في القطاع وتعزيز المناعة لدى الأطفال في المنطقة.  وسيستفيد الأطفال في كافة المناطق من هذه الحملة، والتي يعانن من تدمير البنية التحتية للمياه والصرف الصحي، وتدهور الأوضاع الصحية في غزة، بجانب تكدس القمامة ونقص المياه الصالحة للاستخدام الذي أسهم في تفشي شلل الأطفال، مما استدعى تدخلاً عاجلاً من قبل المنظمات الصحية الدولية.  كما أكدت منظمة الصحة العالمية أن تطعيمات سابقة تمت في سبتمبر وأكتوبر 2024 قد شملت أكثر من 95% من الأطفال المستهدفين، رغم التحديات الناتجة عن العدوان الإسرائيلي، وفقًا لوكالة «رويترز». ورغم النجاح في تغطية معظم المناطق، تظل بعض المناطق غير قابلة للوصول بسبب استمرار الصراع، مما منع حوالي 7000 طفل من تلقي اللقاحات في الجولة الثانية من التطعيم.  كما أن الاكتظاظ في الملاجئ وتدمير البنية التحتية، قد زادت من احتمالات انتشار الفيروس، لكن التوصل إلى اتفاق وقف إطلاق النار في يناير 2025 قد وفر فرصاً أكبر لوصول العاملين في القطاع الصحي إلى الفئات المستهدفة. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

Foreign Secretary described Britain's system and scale of arms exports to Israel as completely different from those in the United States, saying the sales it licenses were relatively small and policed by strict procedures. Cameron was responding to a question on whether Britain would follow the US after it warned that it would withhold weapons from Israel in case of a major invasion .Israeli forces are seen operating in the Gaza Strip on February 5, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) "There's a very fundamental difference between the US situation and the UK situation," Cameron said after a speech. "The US is a massive state supplier of weapons to Israel ... we do not have a supply of weapons to Israel, we have a number of licenses, and I think our defense exports to Israel are responsible for significantly less than 1% of their total." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

A vessel carrying built by the US off Gaza set sail from Cyprus on Thursday, marine tracking websites showed. The US-flagged Sagamore left the port of Larnaca on Thursday morning. US officials have said the vessel will offload supplies onto built to expedite aid into the enclave. Cypriot authorities did not immediately comment. They had earlier said the ship would sail as soon as the floating platform was in place, subject to weather conditions. Israel's military campaign against Hamas, in response to Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, has dramatically impacted the Gaza Strip, where aid agencies warn its 2.3 million people are facing imminent famine. Cyprus opened a sea corridor in March to ship aid directly to Gaza, where deliveries via land have been severely disrupted by border closures and Israel's military operations. A person is seen on board as a US-flagged cargo vessel, the Sagamore, carrying aid to a pier built by the US off Gaza sets sail from Larnaca, Cyprus. (credit: REUTERS/YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU) US-based charity used the route twice before seven of its workers in an Israeli air strike on April 1. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

IDF troops and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) forces led by the 99th Division operated in in the center of the Gaza Strip to destroy terror infrastructure and eliminate terrorists, the military said on Thursday.  Guided by intelligence information, jets struck some 25 terror targets, among which were observation posts, military buildings, tunnels, and sniper posts.  The military added that ground troops from various Brigades operated in the area.  The operation in Zeitoun comes amid the IDF’s additional activities .  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, speaks to The Media Line about the ongoing war in Gaza, Hamas’s controlling the next narrative, and the US’s calls to halt the Rafah operation. “And really now it’s in Hamas’s hands. If Hamas agrees to a 40-day cease-fire, and with this cease-fire to basically return the 33 hostages we agreed upon, then we’ll see a cease-fire for 40 days.” Avivi rightfully expected a renewal of the ground if Hamas didn’t agree to Israeli terms suitable for the hostage release. Asked about the Biden Administration's thoughts on halting the operation in Rafah, Avivi told The Media Line, “What the administration is saying is basically it’s calling Israel to lose the war. Israel cannot lose the war. Israel cannot go back to a reality where Hamas can build itself back to tens of thousands of militants on our borders, threatening all the towns along the border and threatening all of Israel with rockets.” He reiterated that Israel must achieve the real goals of the war and that it is not just about Gaza, referring to its ability to stand strong against Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iran, and militias in Syria and Iraq. The war, which followed the massacre of 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and the abduction of more than 250 hostages, has been a slow and tactical operation that has left tens of thousands of Gazans killed, including 15,000 whom Israel says are Hamas terrorists.Israeli forces are seen operating in the Gaza Strip on February 5, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Avivi was deputy commander of 's Gaza Division in 2010-2011; he understands the terrain, mindset, and obstacles. As many question what has gone awry, he tells The Media Line it takes time. “This is due to how much the army shrunk the ground forces during the years. This has to do with the munitions and the pace that we are getting them,” Avivi says. “This had to do with the international pressure. But, overall, everywhere the IDF operated, Hamas was destroyed.” He speaks of two key stages: one to destroy the battalions, brigades, command, and control, and the second to clean up the area. “This can take years,” he says, reiterating that no one should expect an immediate end of the war because Hamas has time to fortify Rafah, and they are ready for this war. “Israel can win the war, can reach its goals by going to Rafah. The leadership of Hamas is in Rafah. All the hostages are there. All the remaining military capabilities—Hamas has really fortified Rafah.” Could the strategy have been different? Could the IDF have entered Rafah at the beginning of the war? Brig. Gen. Avivi didn’t feel this was feasible at the first stage of the war when they were attacking the northern part of Gaza. “The big question for me is, should they have had the IDF gone into Rafah when the IDF attacked Khan Yunis?” Avivi thought it probably would have been “wiser to launch the attack on Khan Yunis and Rafah first and then get control of the border with Egypt.” Avivi said that by cutting off Hamas’ capability to build itself, it also cut the chances of Hamas leaders and hostages being taken to the Sinai Peninsula. He went further to say that the way things are done “gives a lot of power to Hamas and it’s a big mistake. Israel needs to attack more and talk less. But this is the reality.” Avivi strongly criticized the IDF’s preparation and response to the October 7 events. He lamented the IDF's failure in its core duties of intelligence and defense, attributing these shortcomings to longstanding preconceptions among military leadership. He remarked, "They had a chance to really think differently, and they’re stuck with their own preconceptions. And the society is paying a heavy, heavy price for that. And it obviously means that we really need a change of leadership in the army." The Media Line asked if there were backup plans that were ready. Avivi replied, “So the army in the Southern Command had in the past a plan to take over all of Gaza. But again, these plans always need to be planned again once a new situation emerges. This situation is very different from what the IDF imagined.” “Most of the plans looked at Lebanon as the main challenge and Gaza more as defensive plans. To adjust plans is not so complicated. I don’t think this was the main problem,” he said. “The main problem was not being proactive in the understanding that war with Gaza is imminent.” “We in IDSF said it two years ago, that war is coming, that it’s imminent, that we need to take over the Gaza Strip, that we need a Six-Day War scenario, not a Yom Kippur War scenario. And unfortunately, Israel chose a Yom Kippur War scenario and now we have to deal with this.” On security threats from Gaza, Avivi emphasized the impossibility of tolerating a substantial hostile armed force near Israeli borders, advocating for a continuous military presence in Gaza to dismantle and prevent the resurgence of such groups. “The lesson learned is you cannot have a terror army on the other side of the border. This is not a reality Israel can have.” Asked to confirm reports that approximately 40 hostages are still alive in Gaza, he suggested that the actual number of survivors might be higher, stating, "I think that at least half of the hostages are alive, but definitely every day that passes puts them in danger. And when we talk about releasing certain hostages now and then waiting, what about the others?” He emphasized the urgency of a comprehensive military response to rescue all hostages as swiftly as possible. Avivi addressed rumors regarding mass graves allegedly linked to the IDF. He refuted these allegations by shifting focus to Hamas' tactics, stating, “It’s actually Hamas that wants to use these citizens as a human shield that is trying to block the citizens from going out of war zones. Hamas wants as many citizens as possible to die.” It is Hamas, he said, not the IDF, that is putting civilian lives at risk. Commenting on the oversight of warnings from female surveillance operators at the Nahal Oz military base, who had observed suspicious activities on the Israel-Gaza border prior to October 7, Avivi criticized the military leadership's response to these alerts: "I think that this is what happens when you try to process information through ideological narratives. And then the outcome is completely different. Instead of looking at the reality as it is, and listening to the facts as they are, the way the leaders of the army process this information is basically pretty much disregarding it." He described a significant disconnect between the reported observations and the leadership’s interpretation and response to those reports. Avivi recounted his visit to the scene of the October 7 attack and his conversation with a leading commander who assured him that the threats around the Gaza border fence were under control, claiming that Hamas was deterred. Avivi said the misplaced confidence was similar to that experienced before the Yom Kippur War, noting that the facts were ignored due to entrenched beliefs. He described how TV commentators often offer diverse interpretations of the same events and propose vastly different solutions to the same incident security challenges.  He also addressed the geopolitical landscape, calling for decisive US leadership against regional threats, particularly from Iranian-backed forces, to prevent global destabilization. He passionately argued for relentless pursuit of Hamas leaders, drawing a parallel to historical efforts against Nazis, underscoring a commitment to ensuring that those responsible for attacks against Israelis face justice.  “Even if it takes five years, 10 years, every single leader of Hamas must be destroyed,” he said. “Wherever they are, no matter in what country, no matter what happens, nobody can butcher our people the way they did and stay alive afterwards. They need to pay exactly as the Nazis paid. Israel hunted Nazis for years, and the Israeli society expects Israel to hunt these leaders until every single one of them is dead.” Discussing the challenges faced in managing aid during the ongoing conflict, Avivi addressed the dynamics of providing support to Palestinian areas while ensuring it does not empower Hamas. He explained the situation, stating that “we are feeding our enemies. But we understand that this is a basic condition of the US to continue and support Israel,” and adding, “It cannot be that at the end of the day, this aid arrives to Hamas, that Hamas then really spreads the aid and controls the society.” Regarding Israel's strategies for postwar Gaza, Avivi emphasized the importance of maintaining military and civilian control in the region to prevent Hamas from regaining power. He articulated the necessity of a sustained Israeli presence, stating, “Israel will have at least for a while to control militarily, even on the civilian side, Gaza until a new leadership is built. And it’s not going to happen in a day.” Avivi highlighted the historical and current complexities of Israeli-US relations and the broader implications of regional conflicts. Reflecting on past challenges, he recalled a critical moment in Israel’s War of Independence, when the United States demanded that Israel withdraw from the Negev and the Galilee. “And Ben-Gurion stood firm and said, this is not going to happen. We’re not going to withdraw.” In a recent article, The Media Line exposed the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthis, not only to fire missiles that can reach Israel and cause major disruption to the shipping industry but also to destroy the internet lines beneath Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, potentially impacting 2 billion people. Asked what should be done to mitigate this threat to global stability, Avivi urged the US to lead decisively: “We expect the US to show leadership as a global leader, to build a coalition, to stand strong, to be willing to use military power against the Houthis, against the militias in Iraq, but first and foremost against Iran, the generator of all this terror. And when the US doesn’t show leadership, then you see destabilization globally. And this is exactly what’s happening.” The full transcript of Brig. Gen. Avivi’s interview with The Media Line follows: Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: My pleasure. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, I think we’re in a very, very defining moment. On one hand, Israel is a moment from destroying Hamas. I mean, the moment Israel will go into Rafah, we’ll see a reality where Hamas is going to be destroyed as a governmental and military entity. But as we are planning to go into Rafah and the army is fully ready for this mission, we still have discussions about the hostages. And really now it’s in Hamas’ hands. If Hamas agrees to a 40-day cease-fire, and with this cease-fire to basically return the 33 hostages we agreed upon, then we’ll see a cease-fire for 40 days, and then, Israel is saying, we’ll renew the ground incursion. If Hamas won’t agree, I am expecting the Israeli government, the cabinet, to take a decision to start a full ground incursion into Rafah and bring back our hostages militarily and destroy Hamas as a governmental entity and destroy Hamas as a military entity by destroying the remaining brigade of Hamas in Rafah. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, what the administration is saying is basically it’s calling Israel to lose the war. Israel cannot lose the war. Israel cannot go back to a reality where Hamas can build itself back to tens of thousands of militants on our borders, threatening all the towns along the border and threatening all of Israel with rockets. This is not a reality Israel can go back to. There are clear goals of war and Israel has to reach these goals of war. This is not just about Gaza. This is about the ability of Israel to stand strong against all its enemies, against Lebanon, , Iran, militias in Syria, in Iraq. This is much bigger than Gaza. And calling Israel to lose the war is threatening Israel existentially against all its enemies. This is not an option. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: The only thing that I can say is not working well is the time it takes. And this is due to how much the army shrunk the ground forces during the years. This has to do with the munitions and the pace that we are getting them. This has to do with international pressure. But overall, everywhere the IDF operated, Hamas was destroyed. We have to understand that in a ground incursion, there are two steps. One is destroying the battalions, the brigades, the command and control. And then many of the terrorists are killed or apprehended and others dispersed. The second stage is really cleaning up the whole area. And this can take years. It’s not something we should expect to happen fast. Israel can win the war, can reach its goals by going to Rafah. The leadership of Hamas is in Rafah. All the hostages are there. All the remaining military capabilities—Hamas has really fortified Rafah. They are ready for this war. It’s going to be tough. But Israel, once we go in, will definitely destroy Hamas and the win will be decisive. Wars sometimes are long. We need to be a bit patient about reaching these goals. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, I’m not sure that the IDF could have done that at the first stage when we attacked the northern part of Gaza. The big question for me is, should they have had the IDF gone into Rafah when the IDF attacked ? Once the IDF brought the remaining divisions from the north to the south and launched an attack on the central camps and on Khan Yunis, probably it would have been wiser to launch the attack on Khan Yunis and Rafah first and then get control of the border with Egypt. And by that, cut completely Hamas’ capability to build itself and also the chances of maybe Hamas leaders and hostages being taken to the Sinai Peninsula, which is something that might happen. So yes, definitely the IDF could have done things differently. But now, you know, what’s important is to finish the job and to finish the job is going into Rafah. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: I think that the way things are done, it gives a lot of power to Hamas and it’s a big mistake. Israel needs to attack more and talk less. But this is the reality. Now we’re waiting for Hamas to see if they are releasing the hostages or not. And if not, then we have to operate. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: So the army in the Southern Command had in the past a plan to take over all of Gaza. But again, these plans always need to be planned again once a new situation emerges. This situation is very different from what the IDF imagined. Most of the plans looked at Lebanon as the main challenge and Gaza more as defensive plans. To adjust plans is not so complicated. I don’t think this was the main problem. The main problem was not being proactive in the understanding that war with Gaza is imminent. We in IDSF said it two years ago, that war is coming, that it’s imminent, that we need to take over the Gaza Strip, that we need a Six-Day War scenario, not a Yom Kippur War scenario. And unfortunately, Israel chose a Yom Kippur War scenario and now we have to deal with this. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, I think that when you build, when you enable building a huge, huge terror army meters from our border, once this army is deployed, it’s very hard to stop it. So really the lesson learned is you cannot have a terror army on the other side of the border. This is not a reality Israel can have. So in this case, when we’re talking about the day after Hamas, Israel will have to keep freedom of operation everywhere in Gaza and make sure that there is no reality where a terror army can be built again in front of our towns. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: No, I think there are more. I think that at least half of the hostages are alive, but definitely every day that passes puts them in danger. And when we talk about releasing certain hostages now and then waiting, what about the others? This is why it’s so important to mobilize the army and really reach all the hostages as soon as possible. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: I think that the IDF is really, really doing from the very first day everything it can to prevent collateral damage. Each time the IDF operated in an area, the citizens were called to move out of that area. The IDF opened humanitarian corridors. It’s actually Hamas that wants to use these citizens as a human shield that is trying to block the citizens from going out of war zones. Hamas wants as many citizens as possible to die. But even if you look overall at the numbers, and let’s stick to the numbers Hamas says and the IDF. Hamas is talking about 34,000 people killed; the IDF is talking about at least 15,000 terrorists we know we killed. So in a ratio of one to one almost. This is unprecedented. There is no army in the world that can reach such a ratio. Usually when you talk about densely urban areas and fighting a terror army that doesn’t even have a uniform and embeds itself in hospitals, in houses, in kindergartens, the ratio would be one to eight, one to nine, one to five, certainly not one to one. So in this sense, I think that the IDF is doing a very, very professional and good job really minimizing collateral damage. What can you share of the fact that the army was ill prepared? Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Definitely the army’s mission is to defend the borders, is to have the right intelligence, and even if intelligence lacks, to be able to stop any attack. And in this sense, the army failed completely. And they didn’t defend the citizens in the south. And I think that, you know, part of the building of IDSF, when we founded it four years ago, was exactly our feeling that there is a lot of preconception, that things are not done the right way, that there’s not a good understanding of the threats and the intentions, or we’re not doing the right things. And we really tried to convey the right ideas. And I think that part of the problem is that the leadership of the army didn’t listen to all the serious ideas we gave them. They had a chance to really think differently, and they’re stuck with their own preconceptions. And the society is paying a heavy, heavy price for that. And it obviously means that we really need a change of leadership in the army. I would assume that there also will be a huge change in the political leadership in the upcoming elections, maybe in a year or two, or whenever this will be. And people are very frustrated by the reality we see. And there is an overall sense that Israel needs new leadership and new direction, whether it’s in the army or in the political sphere. No one believed them. Why? Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: I think that this is what happens when you try to process information through ideological narratives. And then the outcome is completely different. Instead of looking at the reality as it is, and listening to the facts as they are, the way the leaders of the army process this information is basically pretty much disregarding it. They said, OK, yes, they’re training, they’re doing this, they’re doing that. But they don’t really mean it. They’re not going to do anything about that now. This is something that maybe will be a problem in the future.  I can tell you that I visited the region of Gaza three days before the attack. And I had the chance to meet one of the leading commanders. And I asked him, what’s going on? What’s going on with the riots in the border, around the fence, and so on? And he said, no, listen, they’re deterred. They’re not going to do anything, and so on. They really believed that, no matter what were the facts. The same happened in the Yom Kippur War. All the facts were there. Everything was seen. All the intelligence was. The problem is, how do you process what you see? I mean, you see it, by the way, every day. You see something happening. Then you see people commenting about it, let’s say on TV. And each one takes the same facts and basically understands something completely different from these facts. So you have a terror attack, for example. One guy will say, OK, there is a terror attack. We need to withdraw. We need a two-state solution. Another one will look at it and say, no, there was a terror attack. We need to apply sovereignty. We need to build more towns. We need to strengthen the army. So facts are not enough. Question is, how do you process them afterwards? How do you assess the situation? Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: I think that the Israeli government, the cabinet, must stick to the strategy of destroying Hamas. Even if it takes five years, 10 years, every single leader of Hamas must be destroyed. Wherever they are, no matter in what country, no matter what happens, nobody can butcher our people the way they did and stay alive afterwards. They need to pay exactly as the Nazis paid. Israel hunted Nazis for years, and the Israeli society expects Israel to hunt these leaders until every single one of them is dead. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, I can tell you that according to international law, when you fight a war, doing a siege is part of the war. Instead of that, we are feeding our enemies. But we understand that this is a basic condition of the US to continue and support Israel. So humanitarian aid is flowing into Gaza. I think that it’s time that Israel takes responsibility of this humanitarian aid. It cannot be that at the end of the day, this aid arrives to Hamas, that Hamas then really spreads the aid and controls the society. The way to really destroy Hamas as a governmental entity is by Israel, at least for a while, taking responsibility and really dealing also with the humanitarian side. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, from a military point of view, Israel must be responsible for what’s going on in Rafah. In Gaza, we need to control the Egyptian border. We need full freedom of operation everywhere in the Gaza Strip until we completely dismantle all the terror infrastructure. And even afterwards, to make sure that they cannot build it again. From a civil point of view, I think that the day after Hamas, the moment Hamas is destroyed, Israel will have at least for a while to control militarily, even on the civilian side, Gaza until a new leadership is built. And it’s not going to happen in a day. Anybody who thinks that one day after Hamas, immediately there will be a civil leadership in Gaza managing a city, I think it’s completely disconnected from reality. This is not how wars work. The IDF will need to control for a while until they are able to build a new representation and local leadership in the cities. TML: United States apparently believes that they have to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas. And once achieved, they’re going to look to Hezbollah to try to do the same. Is it really that simple? Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: No, there is no deal between Israel and Hamas. Hamas needs to be destroyed completely. Israel cannot do deals with the devil. Israel needs to destroy them. And we cannot allow the existence of Hamas in Gaza. And only after they are destroyed, we can really focus on the northern border and bring security to the citizens in the north. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: I remember in the Independence War, when the Independence War ended, and Israel liberated the Negev and the Galilee, that the US, being a superpower that just won the Second World War, that just three years before attacked Japan with two atomic bombs, demanding from Israel to withdraw from the Negev and the Galilee. And Ben-Gurion stood firm and said, this is not going to happen. We’re not going to withdraw. And he didn’t withdraw. He did what’s right for Israel. And yes, there was a price to pay. The US embargoed us for years. They didn’t supply weapons to us. But we saved the Negev and Galilee. So also now, we need to make sure that Israel does what’s good for Israel. We’re not a tiny country. This is not 600,000 people. We are a major power that is able to really take care of its own interests. And we expect our biggest allies to stand with us and not endanger us. And yes, there can be disagreements. Israel is not supposed to do everything that the US thinks it’s good for them. For us, it’s existential. For the US, it’s about elections. And we need to take care of our existential needs. And I think that if we do so, we’ll be more respected, not less. TML: The Iranian-backed and Yemen-based Houthis are not just firing missiles which have reached Israel, but they control areas in the Bab el Mandeb Strait and , causing major disruption to the shipping industry. They told The Media Line that they’re capable of doing a heck of a lot more. And experts in Yemen told us they have the capability to destroy the internet lines at the bottom of the ocean, which could impact 2 billion people. What do you think should be the course of action? Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Well, I think what you are describing is a global problem that needs to be dealt with globally. It’s not Israel’s problem. This is a global problem. And there we expect the US to show leadership as a global leader, to build a coalition, to stand strong, to be willing to use military power against the Houthis, against the militias in Iraq, but first and foremost against Iran, the generator of all this terror. And when the US doesn’t show leadership, then you see destabilization globally. And this is exactly what’s happening. I couldn’t imagine the Houthis daring to do something or talking like that if the US would have shown strength the way they are supposed to. Now, at the end of the day, they will have to do so. The question is, what will be the price before and how much destabilization we’ll see before the US understands that they need a coalition, and they need to deal with the threats. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Yes, I’m very optimistic. I think that we got a historical chance to really deal with the most pressing national security issues. And I know this for sure, that the bigger the win will be, the more decisive it will be, the greater the golden age of Israel and the Jewish people will be the day after. So we really have a lot to look forward to. But in order to reach this golden age, we must stay united, strong, resolute, and focus on one thing and one thing only: victory. This is what we need to be focusing on: victory on all fronts. Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi: Thank you very much. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

Day 216 of Israel at war: On Wednesday, the Israeli army's operation in Rafah continued into its second day in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The IDF reiterated that the operation remains "limited and targeted," showcasing footage of ground maneuvers as its forces occupy the eastern neighborhoods of the city. Extensive searches for terrorist tunnels and weapons have commenced in these areas by Israeli troops. U.S. President Biden warned that the U.S. will not send weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah. He emphasized concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from delayed bomb deliveries. Biden stated that he made it clear in an interview with CNN that if they enter Rafah, the US will not provide weapons used in previous situations. To catch up on the full events from Wednesday . Read more in-depth updates on the . IDF announces the dead of Staff Sgt. Haim Sabach, died during operational activity in the north U.S. President Biden warns "No weapons will be sent to Israel if it begins a major Rafah ground invasion" IDF Spokesperson: Troops are currently conducting operations against Hamas terror targets in the central Gaza Strip ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

Former Israeli Chief of Staff has opened up about the ongoing security challenges and strategic priorities facing Israel, mainly focusing on the Gaza Strip and Iran in a candid revelation at a conference in the United States. In his first extensive public remarks since leaving office, disclosed while speaking with American Jews and leaked exclusively by N12's Yuna Leibzon, discussed the implications of military decisions and strategic focus shaping Israel's recent security policies. He articulated the conflicting nature of military goals involving Gaza, particularly the difficulty in managing hostage situations amid continuous military operations. notably stated, "We did not perceive Gaza as an existential threat; Iran was our top priority," underscoring the shift in strategic military focus. He expressed concern about the current objectives, "Today, the goals of the fighting are contradictory; there is no way to return the captives without stopping the war." This highlights the complex nature of Israel's security dilemmas where military actions to secure one goal may undermine another. In reference to the tactics used against Hamas, Kochavi revealed, "We never promised that Hamas would be deterred for the coming years, not even the upcoming months." He elaborated on the challenges faced in densely populated areas, "We tried, and it's difficult. In populated, dense areas, it is tough." Discussing the potential for future conflicts, Kochavi predicted, "I believe finding a pretext for 'War 2.0' would not be difficult. Achieving absolute victory within months is unrealistic. It will take many years." He also commented on the political influence on military strategy, saying, "We know that [political dynamics] influenced Sinwar's decision to attack the State of Israel," pointing out how internal Israeli politics might be perceived as opportunities by adversaries.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Herzi Halevi is one of the most disappointing chiefs of staff since the establishment of the State of Israel. His failure is evident in the military's preparatio for war, in the conduct of the war, and in the fatal damage to the values and morals and the ethical code of the army on which generations of fighters were raised. Halevi's method of choosing the next generation of commanders to follow him is neither moral nor ethical. It also causes irreparable damage to the IDF and the country as a whole by the public losing confidence in IDF commanders and the entire army. Halevi was appointed chief of staff by his close associate Benny Gantz and brought upon Israel a terrible disgrace and disaster, the likes of which had not been seen since the establishment of the state. Thousands were murdered, thousands of wounded are trying to recover, hundreds were kidnapped by Hamas into tunnels, and more than a hundred thousand were displaced from their homes. These facts cannot be debated, and yet Halevi continues to hold his title, thanks to his accomplices, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This group could bring us total destruction. It is simply unimaginable how this group that should have stood trial continues to manage the country and the war for us. These three and all their followers should resign from their jobs, sit in their homes until the end of their days, and atone for their sins. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi (credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT) When Halevi was the head of the military intelligence, at the beginning of March 2017, he estimated that Hamas or Hezbollah were not interested in a military conflict 'in the near term'. He argued that Israeli deterrence reduces the likelihood of an initiated war. When Halevi was the commander of the Southern Command, an internal IDF document was published in August 2021. The document describes the defense system and reveals the depth of the failure and the destructive concept that dominated military thinking in recent years. In the three years from 2018 to 2021, Herzi Halevi served as commander of the Southern Command. During this time, the defense plans against Hamas deteriorated without measures to deal with the hundreds of kilometers of Hamas tunnels. The operational discipline on the border with the Gaza Strip also deteriorated. Halevi advocated that Hamas was deterred and, therefore, did not come across as a threat to Israel. Aviv Kochavi and Hatzi Halevi at the exchange of chiefs of staff ceremony in January 2023 (credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) One of the reasons that the IDF did not enter Rafah at the same time as Gaza City at the beginning of the war when the world was still with us and the attack was still possible was that there were no concrete attack plans. These plans require years of preparation, training the forces, studying the area in detail, and allocating forces to tasks within the cities and villages in Gaza. The study of land-air-sea combined with combat was not done at all. This is the reason the IDF planned its entry in an attack on Gaza City only while moving at the same time to mobilize the forces. Halevi must take direct responsibility for the lack of war plans neither in defense nor in attack. In February 2020, during Halevi's tenure as commander of the Southern Command, he joined the former director of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen, on a secret trip to Doha, the capital of Qatar. There, the two met with Mohammad bin Ahmad Al-Musnad, the national security adviser of the Emirate of Qatar, and with Mohammad al-Emadi, Qatari businessman. In response to this meeting, MK Avigdor Liberman stated on Channel 12, "The head of the Mossad together with the commander of the Southern Command on Netanyahu's behalf, begged the Qataris to continue pouring money into Hamas after March 30." During the days of Halevi as commander of the Southern Command, the process of tightening the instructions to open fire on the border of the Gaza Strip that began in early 2018 continued. The depth of the perimeter near the border where Gazans are not allowed to enter was reduced from 300 meters to 100 meters, and severe restrictions were imposed on shooting at unarmed Gazans. The IDF refrained from shooting Gazans who crossed the fence and those throwing Molotov cocktails. In mid-2019, restrictions were even imposed on shooting at armed men approaching the fence for fear of harming Hamas fighters who are controlling the riots, according to the understanding of Halevi. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi at the Northern Command (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) During the years of Halevi's tenure as chief of staff, the IDF's broken organizational aspects deepened: lack of discipline, failure to verify orders, failure to control and follow up on decisions made, failure to learn lessons, and unreliable investigations. The culture of lying rose to monstrous proportions, and the standards of performance fell below all criticism. In most army units, routine practices and orders were not followed. One of the many examples is the failure of the units in operational employment on the border lines to be on alert at dawn. Anyone who did not carry out this order in the past was dismissed, and it was in our hands on the morning of the Hamas attack on the settlements surrounding Gaza on October 7, 2023.  The conduct of Halevi, at three o'clock in the morning and the decisions he made were disastrous for the people of Israel. He remained complacent despite all the warnings that were before his eyes. This was not an error in judgment, but a concept deeply embedded in his personality. This is how he conducted himself as commander of the Southern Command, and this is how he acted as chief of staff and instilled in his subordinates this severe pattern of action. The failed management of the war by Halevi is a huge failure that Israel has not experienced since the establishment of the state. Instead of starting the war on the Gaza Strip with full force in both Gaza City and Rafah, Halevi acted only in a column in the Gaza Strip. The war has been going on for a very long time to such an extent that forces have lost their strength both in terms of resources and in terms of mental strength. After half a year of war with hundreds of dead and thousands of wounded, many seriously, the IDF captured 80% of the Gaza Strip. Within a short time, Hamas returned through the tunnels and retook control of all the territories abandoned by the IDF. In other words, we lost the war. The IDF's raids will not lead to a victory over Hamas but to a war of attrition that could last for years. The fighting forces will wear out because they have no replacements due to the cutting of six divisions in the last twenty years by the chiefs of staff who decided that the big wars have all passed, and it is possible to be satisfied with a small, technological, and smart army. The situation has reached such a point that our forces cannot eradicate Hamas and not even stop its re-establishment. The same is true for Hezbollah. As long as we fight a war with Hamas that no longer has a purpose, Hezbollah will continue to exhaust us in the North. This fighting will bring Israel to the collapse of the army, the economy, international relations, and society. The slogans of Bibi, Gallant, and Halevi that the IDF will not stop fighting until it achieves all the war's goals are empty slogans and massive deception to the public. Their only goal is to continue the fighting at any cost. Again, this is a war in which we have already been defeated.  Halevi's attack on the "spirit of the IDF" and the values of the IDF and the norms upon which generations of fighters were raised. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Golani commanders in the north (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) Considering these grave failures, why doesn't Halevi resign now and appoint a replacement? Halevi will go down in history for his failure to prepare the army for war and the terrible failure on October 7. Additionally, he will be remembered worldwide for his failure to conduct the war without achieving its goals, in which he, Bibi, and Gallant are responsible This chief of staff has failed at immoral and unethical levels that we have not known before. I am receiving very difficult testimonies from senior officers in the army who have lost complete trust in their commander, the Halevi, who does not set a personal or ethical example. Herzi Halevi receives backing for his nefarious actions from his fellow retired generals who were an integral part of the reasons for the disintegration of the army and the failure that occurred. One of the retired generals who had a significant part in wearing down the army has become one of the spokesmen for the army. They should be in prison for criminal negligence. In conclusion, has only one way to stop itself on the slippery slope toward the abyss, and that is to end the war, take a time-out, and release the hostages. We must restore the army, the economy, international relations, and society. The officials responsible for the terrible disaster we experienced must be fired.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

 Israel pledged to keep up its as its negotiators joined hostage talks in Cairo and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with CIA Director William Burns on Wednesday. “We will continue to keep up the military pressure on Hamas,” Israel government spokesperson Avi Hyman told reporters in Jerusalem. “We know from the last that we needed both the military pressure and the diplomatic channel” to successfully reach a deal, he said, referring to the November agreement that saw the release of 105 hostages. “Ultimately, Hamas was brought down to their knees begging… for a bit of respite, for a break in the fighting” and agreed to release captives, Hyman said. “We are continuing on our as part of the war aims because the last four battalions of Hamas are there. We will destroy them.Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 7, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) “But certainly, that pressure is up on Hamas. We can see that they feel it,” he said. Hyman spoke one day after Israel seized the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, and as the IDF bombed Hamas targets in eastern Rafah. Israel has hoped that the Rafah operation would press Hamas to show flexibility in talks, where it has insisted on trading a hostage deal for a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu has insisted that the IDF must be allowed to finish its military operation to oust Hamas from Gaza. Israel had put forward a three-phased proposal that would pause the war for some 120 days, and allow for all the remaining 132 captives to be freed, starting with 33 hostages in the first 40 days. Hamas put forward a counter-proposal, one that – significantly – did not promise to deliver 33 live hostages in the first phase, explaining that they could be dead or alive. Their proposal also delays the release of the captives and the pace of their release. Burns met with Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday, in an attempt to narrow the gaps. He also spoke with Mossad Chief David Barnea. Separately, an Israeli team participated in indirect talks in Cairo, talks that also included a Hamas delegation and officials from the mediating countries Egypt and Qatar. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

National Missions Minister Orit Struk spoke this Sunday on 104.5FM radio about the two choices facing the Israeli government: or . In Strock's remarks, she sharply criticized the US, claiming that it is "not worthy to be called a friend of Israel." At the beginning of the conversation, Strock stated, "I am very worried this morning, thinking that things were almost put on the table and that the US is committed to stopping the war. And I mean in the most explicit and clear way; the first stage from the US perspective is a ceasefire." Palestinians react after Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 6, 2024. In Israel, protesters block a highway demanding the immediate release of hostages. (credit: REUTERS, REUTERS/SHANNON STAPLETON) Strock continued, "The State of Israel is not another star in the flag of the US. It can and must stand on its own. is not worthy of being called a friend of the State of Israel." Strock stirred controversy last week when she said, "A government that sends hundreds of thousands of people to fight for a specific goal and actually throws the goals of the war into the trash in order to release 22 or 33, while most of the captives remain in Gaza with no chance of release except by stopping the war, has no right to exist." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin clarified on Wednesday that the United States temporarily paused the shipment of payload munitions to Israel due to concerns over the situation in Rafah.  Austin addressed the Senate Appropriations Committee in Washington on Wednesday, shedding light on the decision and emphasizing the need to protect civilians in the conflict zone. "We’ve been very clear that Israel shouldn’t launch a major attack in Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians in that battle space," Austin stated during the hearing. He further explained that the pause in the arms shipment was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of civilians, emphasizing that no final decision had been made regarding other arms transfers to Israel. The tensions surrounding the shipment pause underscore the complex dynamics between the United States and Israel amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. While the U.S. remains committed to supporting Israel's security and its right to self-defense, concerns over civilian casualties and humanitarian implications have led to a reevaluation of arms shipments. "The decision to pause the arms shipment comes amidst escalating tensions in Rafah, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been conducting operations targeting Hamas militants," Austin noted.  Israel has insisted that a major military operation in Rafah is necessary to defeat Hamas, while the U.S. has expressed concerns about the humanitarian consequences of such an operation. In response to the pause in arms shipments, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expressed strong opposition, questioning the decision and emphasizing the existential threat faced by Israel. "If we withhold weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price," Graham said. The pause in arms shipments has prompted scrutiny and debate within Congress, with lawmakers closely monitoring the situation and urging swift action to support Israel's defense needs.  Meanwhile, the Israeli government has yet toon the matter. "As the situation in Rafah continues to evolve, the pause in arms shipments underscores the delicate balance between supporting Israel's security and addressing humanitarian concerns in the conflict zone," Austin concluded.  "The United States remains committed to facilitating a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict while ensuring the safety and security of all parties involved." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

In a joint operation conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency, the commander of the Hamas naval forces in Gaza City, Ahmed Ali, has been eliminated.  The operation, carried out with the assistance of an Air Force aircraft guided by intelligence from the Shin Bet and the Navy, resulted in the successful targeting of Ali, the IDF confirmed said in a statement on Wednesday. Ali, known for his role as the commander of the Hamas naval force in Gaza City, was actively involved in promoting offensive activities against Israeli territory and orchestrating attacks on IDF forces within the Gaza Strip.  His recent focus had been on planning attacks against IDF units operating in the central Gaza Strip corridor. Over the years, Ali had been deeply involved in managing various projects for the Hamas naval force in the Gaza Strip, utilizing his position to advance the terrorist organization's agenda in the region, the IDF statement said. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Yitav Lev Halevi, a 28-year-old commander and fighter in the Israeli Defense Force's Yamam unit, has succumbed to his injuries days after being critically wounded during an operation near Tulkarm.  Halevi was shot in the head by Hamas gunmen while participating in a special operation aimed at eliminating a Palestinian armed group responsible for an attack in the West Bank. The operation, conducted under the guidance of the Shin Bet security agency, lasted 14 hours and targeted militants holed up inside a house in the village of Deir al-Ghusoun. Despite the efforts of medical staff at Beilinson Hospital to save his life, Halevy's injuries proved fatal. The mission near Tulkarm was in response to an attack that claimed the life of Al-Hanaan Klein at the onset of the conflict in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas assault on southern Israeli towns.  Employing a "pressure cooker" procedure, Israeli forces surrounded the house where the gunmen were hiding, prompting an exchange of gunfire. During the , Israeli forces utilized shoulder-fired missiles and engineering equipment to neutralize the threat. A missile was fired from a Zik helicopter to target the building where the militants were located. Halevi was the son of Yoram Halevi, the commander of the Jerusalem region and former leader of the Al-Yamam Special Unit. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Day 215 of Israel at war: Israeli forces have entered Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Monday. The Prime Minister and war cabinet said the move is aimed at securing the release of abducted citizens and crippling Hamas to the point it cannot retake control of Gaza.  At the same time, a working group of Israeli negotiators was dispatched to Cairo, with the White House confirming that all of the parties had agreed to continue on the mediation track to try to reach a ceasefire deal, despite the limited operation in Rafah. Hamas had responded on Monday with a counterproposal, with the White House saying that it differed greatly from the original offer. To catch up on the full events from Tuesday . Read more in-depth updates on the . Senior Palestinian official says the PA 'opposes all attempts to damage the sovereignty shared by the Palestinians and the Egyptians at Rafah crossing' Writing on X, the secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, Hussein al-Sheikh, was responding to reports that after the IDF withdraws from Rafah it plans to cede control over the crossing to foreign parties.  IDF says it is conducting targeted operations in eastern Rafah where it located tunnel shafts and Hamas infrastructure The IDF spokesperson added that terrorists were eliminated in several encounters throughout the past day, and Israeli fighter jets and UAVs have struck over 100 terror targets throughout Gaza in the past day. New video helped determine murder of Lior Rudaeff on October 7, which was announced Tuesday Professor Ofer Marin, director of the Sha'are Zedek Medical Center and a member of the committee that examines the situation of abductees revealed on Wednesday how Israel was able to determine the death of Lior Rudaeff seven months after his murder. Speaking to Israeli radio, he said a new video was obtained over the weekend which helped close the case. Without specifying the source of the video, Professor Marin said Hamas had extensively documented the October 7 massacre on GoPro cameras, and there are security cameras inside Gaza. As the IDF operations have progressed across Gaza, the army has been able to retrieve new documentation that the committee has reviewed. Rocket alert sirens sound in communities on Israel-Lebanon border This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Foreign Minister Katz: Recognizing a Palestinian state after October 7 means rewarding Hamas for murdering over 1,000 Israelis In a post on X, Foreign Minister Israel Katz went on to say, "It means giving a prize to the Iranian Regime. It means living with the possibility of another October 7. The only way to promote peace is through direct negotiations, within the framework of a regional normalization process.  This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. IDF issues order prohibiting agricultural work within 0 to 4 kilometers of the Gaza border due to heightened security situation Initial report of direct impact in Metula following rocket barrage in northern Israel Rocket alert sirens sound in the western Galilee region of northern Israel Official document released listing the 132 hostages still held by Hamas Kerem Shalom crossing on Israel-Gaza border reopens  COGAT confirmed the crossing had been reopened to allow for the passage of humanitarian aid, in line with statements from the White House made on Tuesday. The humanitarian crossing was closed on Sunday following a deadly attack launched by Hamas. Qatar condemns Israeli incursion into Rafah and calls for full protection of civilians In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Minister called for "urgent international action to prevent an invasion of Rafah, which would lead to the crime of mass destruction." Families of hostages held in Gaza hold protest in Tel Aviv The marchers descended on the Ayalon highway demanding the government reach a hostage release deal with Hamas. Traffic was blocked in the northbound lanes, and Israel Police said they would act to allow freedom of expression while preventing disorder that affects public security and wellbeing. CIA chief William Burns due to arrive in Israel on Wednesday to meet with officials, i24NEWS has learned IDF strikes multiple Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted airstrikes targeting Hezbollah military buildings and infrastructure in six areas of southern Lebanon overnight. Additionally, IDF forces removed a threat in other areas during the operation. Jordan's Foreign Minister held phone call with U.S. Secretary of State to discuss Israel's incursion into Rafah According to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, Blinken condemned what was called a "violent attack" on aid trucks transiting from Jordan through Israel. U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion According to a U.S. official quoted by the Associated Press, the shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 two-thousand-pound bombs and 1,700 five-hundred-pound bombs, signaling the administration's concern over the Rafah operation. It follows a report on Tuesday that the administration was holding up 6,500 "smart kits" that turn bombs into precision weapons. CENTCOM says Houthi terrorists launched 3 uncrewed aerial systems and anti-ship ballistic missiles over the Gulf of Aden in the past day, no injuries or damage was caused This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Clashes broke out between police and protesters during a in central Athens on Tuesday, a day after the Israeli military launched a ground and air operation in part of eastern Rafah in the Gaza Strip. More than 300 people carrying Palestinian flags and banners reading "Hands off Rafah!" rallied outside the parliament building in the Greek capital. "We are here in solidarity and we will respond any time the," said protester Antonis Davanellos, a 60-year old pensioner. Police fired teargas to disperse a small who climbed up the gate of the Egyptian embassy opposite parliament. The clashes were brief.Palestinians and pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest in front of the Greek parliament, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Athens, Greece, May 7, 2024. (credit: ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS / REUTERS) At least 34,789 Palestinians have been killed and 78,204 injured in the seven-month-old war, the Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry said on Tuesday. The war began when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others, of whom 133 are believed to remain in captivity in Hamas-run Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Hamas on Monday said it had told mediators it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal, but Israel said the terms fell short of its demands and pressed ahead with the strikes in Rafah, which it says are aimed at destroying the military capabilities of Hamas. Throughout the war, Rafah has been the main lifeline to the outside world for Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, allowing humanitarian supplies in and transport of patients out during severe shortages and destruction of healthcare facilities. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

I'm upset that Hamas builds narratives, our media happily embraces them, and thus we adapt to superficial binary thinking that does not fit the complex reality. We all already know the false narrative of either a hostage deal or Irsael's entry into Rafah. There is a new narrative that has recently been broadcast on the news: "Hamas has made it clear: they are ready to give up the future government in Gaza." It is necessary to be precise. Hamas's supreme and almost exclusive interest in this campaign is power in the government and sovereignty. Their victory is staying in control, and perhaps another picture of Sinwar on the armchair in the heart of the ruins illustrates this. How do we know this is what interests Hamas? It is enough to look at their main demands as part of the negotiations for a second hostage deal, and it is enough to examine his actions throughout the fighting and what they have done in the Gaza Strip since the IDF withdrew most of its forces. As part of the negotiations, Hamas set demands on which it was not willing to compromise - the return of the residents to the north of the Gaza Strip and the cancellation of a corridor that crosses the Strip - this is mainly to regain its control over the north of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, with the exit of most of the IDF forces fighting in the Gaza Strip, most of the organization's energy is directed toward the treatment of the civilian population. Additionally, Hamas took over the vast majority of the humanitarian aid coming into the Strip until now, despite Gaza being equipped with regular supplies. Hamas's goal is to preserve its power over the civilian population and to ensure the people know that they must depend on Hamas to distribute food and supplies. Sinwar (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90) Hamas sent the people of the civil defense to the north of the Gaza Strip a long time ago. These are the operatives of the organization whose role is to take care of and their daily lives in times of crisis. Hamas also started to restore the infrastructure (roads, water pipes, and sewers), clear rubble in the center of the Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis, and purposely take pictures and be photographed. They have opened new markets in Gaza City in place of the previous ones that were destroyed. It has reopened kindergartens in the north and center of the Gaza Strip. From this, it can be understood that Hamas invests many resources to preserve its sovereignty and the image of its sovereignty . Therefore, it seems that Hamas's new narrative, that it is ready to commit to end the war to give up the future government in the Gaza Strip, is nothing more than eye-catching deception. It is at most a tactical step designed to quickly return to power with waves of sympathy from the Palestinian population. Yahya Sinwar (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMMED SALEM) Therefore, I advise all of us not to buy into the superficial and wrong narratives that Hamas is trying to create. We who experienced October 7 should not fall for the discourse that Hamas is trying to create. It seems that Israeli military activity against the Hamas battalions in Rafah is expected and the organization prepared for it in advance. Even if Hamas's strength is significantly eroded, it is an activity that will take time, at a difficult price for Israel, and it will probably not be the activity that will cause Hamas to give up or compromise towards a hostage deal. It appears that any threat to its current and future sovereignty in the Gaza Strip and its ability to govern the population will bring Israel the required achievement. Israel knows how to accomplish this at a relatively low cost in terms of human life and global public opinion, such as the appointment of new civilian committees for the northern Gaza Strip by the IDF while dispossessing the civilian emergency committees of Hamas; or initiating the Gaza Conference with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates to begin the establishment of a joint Arab force and an executive mechanism for temporary control of the Strip. Further, the IDF must initiate the physical isolation of from the south and north. This set of steps will clearly signal to Hamas that its power over Gaza is diminishing as time passes, and in my estimation will result in heavy pressure on it. It should result in an almost immediate willingness to go in the direction of a new hostage deal. In the meantime, until the Israeli government comes to its senses and lifts the gauntlet, I implore the reading public not to be tempted by the false narratives that Hamas is trying to echo using the international and Israeli media in order to maximize its profits and its ability to emerge victorious from the war of "Swords of Iron". Lt. Col. Amit Yegur is the former deputy head of the Palestinian arena in the planning division of the IDF and a former senior officer in the Naval Intelligence. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

“The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know – If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, including the Rafah area,” National Unity Party minister Benny Gantz said. Here’s the kicker: Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, spoke those words on February 18, about three weeks before the start of Ramadan. Since that time there has been non-stop speculation about when, if, and how a Rafah incursion would take place – except it never did. , exactly seven months after the war began and a day after the IDF urged residents on the eastern side of Rafah to evacuate, troops moved in and quickly took over the Rafah crossing. Gantz’s threat to go into Rafah was the first of dozens voiced by senior Israeli officials, foremost among them Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who issued menacing ultimatums over and over. The defeat of Hamas would not be complete, they said, if the IDF did not dismantle the three or four standing there, which had become Hamas’ final stronghold. Smoke rises after an Israeli strike as Israeli forces launch a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 7, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) Each threat, however, would be met by stern warnings from the international community, led by the US, against such a move, at least until a feasible way could be found to move the civilian population – estimated at some 1.5 million people, the vast majority who were evacuated there from the northern and central parts of Gaza after the war began – out of harm’s way. As time passed, it is now some 13 weeks since Gantz first issued his stern warning, Israel’s threats sounded increasingly hollow – and it is not good for the country’s deterrence posture if words are not followed up by action. When Netanyahu reiterated the threat of a Rafah incursion again last week, telling a group of families of hostages and slain soldiers that Israel will go into Rafah to eliminate Hamas and achieve “total victory,” those who rolled their eyes as if to say “here we go again” could have been forgiven for their skepticism. Yet early Tuesday morning the IDF delivered on the threats, though not in a way most expected. First, it was not a massive incursion like those seen in the early stages of the war when the IDF moved into Gaza City or Khan Yunis. Rather, this was a limited, pinpointed action – one that proceeded with no IDF casualties and, according to the IDF, some 20 Hamas terrorists killed. The limited action indicates that Netanyahu is taking US President Joe Biden’s warnings against moving on the city seriously. According to various reports, the US last week – for the first time since the war began – withheld arms deliveries to Israel. Secondly, the IDF’s warning to residents of eastern Rafah to evacuate created the impression that any IDF action would take place there. A quick action to take over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, the sole crossing in and out of Gaza not in Israeli control, took some by surprise. The move raises two questions: why now and does it matter? g, two things prompted the move at this time. The first was Hamas’s apparent rejection over the weekend of the hostage deal that was on the table, a deal that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken only last week termed an “extraordinarily generous” offer by Israel. Hamas’s failure to grasp that deal showed that the terrorist organization felt it was in the driver’s seat, that it could dictate terms. And this was not an irrational conclusion. The IDF pressure on the organization had lessened significantly; Israel was coming under intense pressure from the international community to both not go into Rafah and to stop the war; and Netanyahu was facing noisy protests at home urging him to make a deal for the hostages at almost any price. IDF tanks enter the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. May 7, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) What was the rush, Hamas leaders reasonably concluded. Rather than take the deal, Hamas demonstrated an interest in dragging the negotiations out longer, likely reasoning that international and domestic pressure on Netanyahu would only increase and eventually he would fold. Hamas’s rejection of this deal – one that included terms Israel had rejected earlier – showed that Israel had lost leverage and needed to regain the upper hand and apply pressure on Hamas head Yahya Sinwar. An incursion into Rafah would, according to this reasoning, do just that. Apparently, this worked, because on Monday, just hours after the IDF instructed some 110,000 residents in eastern Rafah to evacuate the area, Hamas issued a statement saying that they accepted the deal. Forget for a moment that the deal they accepted was not the one that Israel agreed upon, but the timing of their announcement made clear that they were paying attention to what the IDF was saying – this time via the notices to evacuate. The second reason the move on Rafah began now had to do with the deadly mortar attack on Kerem Shalom that killed four soldiers and wounded 10 other Israelis on Sunday. This attack, which came from Rafah, showed that Hamas remained a deadly threat there, and that if the Hamas battalions there were not dismantled, they would continue to fire on soldiers and communities in the western Negev. If Israel wants people evacuated from those communities to move back into their homes, it cannot countenance these types of attacks. Furthermore, the nature of the attack – the number of mortars fired accurately – indicated not a spontaneous attack by isolated terrorists, but rather a coordinated attack by a unit working in an organized manner. That, too, is something that – post-October 7 – Israel can no longer tolerate. As to whether taking over the Rafah crossing and raising the Israeli flag there matters, it does. It matters because this is one of the main symbols of Hamas’s civilian control of Gaza. Up until now, Israel has concentrated on dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, overlooking the fact that the organization still asserts civilian control over the Strip and its residents. From the Rafah crossing, Hamas was able to control what comes in and who goes out of Gaza. Anyone leaving Gaza for Egypt needs to go through the crossing, with Hamas reportedly extorting enormous sums from wealthy Gazans looking for a way out. In addition, that crossing – over the years – has been the way both weapons and dual-purpose materials have been smuggled into Gaza. While Egypt has stopped some of the subterranean smuggling, Hamas has smuggled much of the weaponry that has come into the Strip by simply bribing Egyptian officials at the crossing. The Israeli commander who yelled into his radio Tuesday morning after the IDF consolidated control over the area that “the Rafah crossing is in our hands” – echoing Motta Gur’s iconic cry after Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six Day War that “the Temple Mount is in our hands” – may have exaggerated the importance of this particular military action. Nonetheless, it is not without significance, especially as it signifies that Israel’s threat to take over Rafah is real, even if it will be done piecemeal and over an extended period of time. Hamas’s response in the coming days to the hostage deal that Israel agreed to – not the one that Hamas tried to alter – will indicate whether its leaders are paying attention. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

The United Nations called on Israel to immediately open the Kerem Shalom and the into Gaza to allow for the entry of humanitarian assistance on Tuesday. UN and other international aid agencies said the closures had virtually isolated the enclave from outside aid, and very few stores were available inside. Red Crescent sources in Egypt said shipments had halted entirely. In addition to beinga critical entry point for aid, the Rafah crossing was the only exit point for those needing to leave Gaza for medical treatment that is no longer available in the enclave. The UN warned that Gaza could run out of fuel unless action was taken, which is needed to sustain communications networks and transportation. Smoke rises after an Israeli strike as Israeli forces launch a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 7, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) “The closure of both the Rafah and Karem Shalom crossings is especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters in New York on Tuesday. “They must be re-opened immediately,” he stressed. closed the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel to Gaza, the main entry point for commercial goods into Gaza after a Hamas rocket attack killed four soldiers in that area on Sunday. The Rafah Crossing was shut down after Israel seized the Palestinian side of the passageway between Egypt and Gaza. promised US President Joe Biden on Monday that he would reopen Kerem Shalom. Still, according to the UN, no action had been taken on that as of Tuesday. Guterres said he wanted to “remind Israel of its obligation to facilitate the safe and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid and staff into and across Gaza.” Andrea De Domenico, who heads the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that Israel has told the crossings would be reopened but had not given a date for the resumption of aid. Reuters contributed to this report. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

In recent weeks, IDF soldiers, led by the Gaza Division's engineering unit, along with the Southern Command's engineering corps, Yahalom Unit, and , have been mapping and dismantling two additional attack tunnels located in the Beit Hanun area in the northern Gaza Strip.  These tunnels have been under continuous intelligence and . One of the tunnels was revealed in 2014 during .  At that time, it was used by Hamas terrorists to cross into Israeli territory and was destroyed immediately afterward.  Another section of the tunnel, located deep in the Gaza Strip and part of Hamas' extensive tunnel network, was targeted several times during the current war with Hamas. Security forces working to destroy Hamas tunnel infrastructure in Gaza, May 7, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) After the IDF conducted research and mapping work in recent weeks, it was determined that airstrikes destroyed the tunnel route. The second tunnel was part of the same extensive tunnel network of the Hamas terrorist organization.  It was dug about 150 meters from the security fence but never crossed into Israeli territory. This tunnel was demolished. The IDF continues to dismantle underground infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and to target terrorist organizations, especially Hamas, in order to protect the surrounding communities. ...قراءة المزيد

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