News Digest — 6/25/24
Report – Ismail Haniyeh’s Sister Killed In Strike, IDF Kills Oct. 7 Terrorists
A sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in an IDF attack in Gaza on Tuesday (25th), Israel media, citing Palestinian sources, reported on Tuesday morning.
In April, the state attorney’s office filed an indictment against 57-year-old Zebah Abdel Salem Haniyeh, another sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in Tel Sheva.
She was arrested on suspicion of having ties to Hamas and engaging in incitement and support for terror and was released to house-arrest in May.
The IDF announced in a statement on Tuesday morning (25th) that operating on IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) intelligence, an IAF aircraft attacked two structures in Shati and Daraj Tuffah in the north of Gaza.
The military stated that the structures were being used by Hamas terrorists who had been involved in the planning of terror attacks on Israel and the holding of hostages taken on October 7. The insurgents were reportedly operating from inside a school.
The Israeli army stated that it had taken precautions to mitigate civilian harm by operating on various intelligence courses, using information from aerial surveillance and employing precise munitions.
The IDF added that Hamas continues to abuse civilian structures by using them for military activities in violation of international law. The statement emphasized the terror organization’s use of the civilian population in Gaza as human shields.
Gallant: Our Enemies Are Watching, We Need To Solve Our Differences
Israel’s enemies are watching the divide between Washington and Jerusalem, so it’s important to resolve the disputes between the two countries, Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (24th).
“The eyes of both our enemies and our friends are on the relationship between the US and Israel. We must resolve the differences between us quickly and stand together – this is how we will achieve our goals and weaken our enemies,” Gallant said.
He spoke amid a dispute between the two countries over the flow of arms to Israel for its wars against the Iranian proxy groups, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly said that the current US administration is slow-walking arms deliveries to Israel necessary for the war, which both the State Department and the White House have rejected. Senior Republican Senators however, have backed Netanyahu, explaining that his description is accurate.
Gallant and Blinken met in Washington, as the Biden administration sought a diplomatic solution to both the Gaza war in the south and the DIF-Hezbollah war along Israel’s northern border, particularly one that would prevent the latter from escalating into a Third Lebanon War.
Blinken, according to the State department, “reaffirmed the US’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.”
“He also underscored the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict and reaching a diplomatic solution that allows both Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes.” the State Department said.
Gallant, according to his office, emphasized the importance of US backing for Israel’s battle against Hezbollah and the impact that it has on the “actions taken by Hezbollah and Iran.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset plenum on Monday (24th) that Iran was behind the war Israel was waging on seven fronts including the attacks by the Houthis in Yemen and militia groups in Iraq and Syria.
The two men also spoke about governing alternatives for Gaza once the war with Hamas was over and the terror group no longer ruled the enclave or controlled its military.
“He updated Minister Gallant on ongoing diplomatic efforts to advance security, governance and reconstruction in Gaza during a post-conflict period and emphasized the importance of that work to Israel’s security,” the State Department explained.
Gallant also met with US special envoy Amos Hochstein, who is working to bring about a diplomatic resolution to Lebanon and is set to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Israelis Demand Buffer Zones For Homes Near West Bank Border
Residents of Bat Hefer, a community bordering the partition wall between Israel and the West Bank, demanded the IDF clear a buffer zone to protect them against possible attack. Their request came after their community was shaken by a series of explosions that were an attempt by Palestinian terrorists to lure IDF to the area.
The incident that occurred earlier this week, followed repeated shootings from across the border toward Bat Hefer and after Palestinians were seen climbing over the wall into Israel.
Terrorists had attempted to attract soldiers to specific locations in the West Bank and then ambush them, the military said. The Regional Council of Emek Hefer said an IED was placed approximately 500 meters from the border. “Security forces continue to search for the terrorists,” the IDF told the Council.
No casualties or damages were reported but the incident added to the resident’s concerns. Hamas posted videos of their operatives shooting at Bat Hefer. In another incident, at the beginning of June, the IDF killed two armed terrorists who approached the border from Tulkarm with the intention of carrying out shooting attacks in Israeli towns in the area.
“For us, this is an escalation. There were shootings at Bat Hefer, there were infiltrators climbing the wall, and now explosions. What have we come to? It was just meters from the wall and indicates their audacity, showing that despite the IDF’s activity, they managed to place and detonate IEDs. This event caused panic and raised our level of concern,” said one of the residents.
“Their agricultural lands extend almost to the border and anyone who enters the buffer zone should be shot. For us, anyone entering the buffer zone endangers us and should be shot. That;s the only way to ward off the dangers of terrorism,”
The residents of Bat Hefer as well as other adjacent towns were demanding security budgets from the government. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently toured the region and received several requests for funds for security.
Despite War, Israel Opens Border For Gaza Children Seeking Medical Treatment
For the first time since the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, Israel has opened its borders to Gaza civilians seeking medical treatment abroad, according to reports by Arabic media outlets Sunday (23rd).
For decades, Israel had permitted Gaza civilians to enter Israeli territory, via the Erez Crossing, for travel abroad.
In addition to facilitating travel abroad via the Erez Crossing, Israel also granted some Gazans with serious medical illnesses permits to remain in the country temporarily for treatment in Israeli medical facilities.
Prior to October 7th, thousands of Gazans received medical care in Israeli hospitals annually.
However, following the invasion of October 7, the border was closed to Gazans seeking entry into Israel.
On Sunday evening (23rd), a group of Gazan children and their chaperones were filmed crossing into Israel at the Kerem Shalom checkpoint. This marked the first time in over eight months Gazans have been allowed to travel through Israeli territory.
Arabic language reports stated that the children were seriously ill, including several suffering from leukemia, and seeking medical attention abroad.
The children are reportedly residents of the northern Gaza Strip, but were transported to Israel from Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
The group trip was organized by the World Health Organization.
Gaza’s southern border, shared with Egypt and centered on the Rafah crossing, has remained largely closed to Gazan civilians throughout the ongoing Gaza war.
In May, four IDF soldiers were killed in a Hamas attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The checkpoint, used for humanitarian aid shipments entering Gaza, was struck by a Hamas rocket ahead of the IDF’s operation into Rafah, the projectile’s point of origin.
Thai Agricultural Workers To Return To Israel After 8 Months
For the first time since October 7, Thailand will resume sending agricultural workers to Israel, the Thai Ministry of Labor said on Monday (24th). The ministry aims to send 10,000 laborers by the end of the year.
Israeli agriculture is facing staggering losses in production and manpower.
Before October 7, Israel had roughly 30,000 Thai laborers, working in farms, orchards, greenhouses and Packing plants.
Many opted to be repatriated after the war’s outbreak, while others in safer areas of the country chose to stay.
Israeli workers who might have filled labor gaps were called up for military reserve duty while Palestinian workers are currently banned as security risks.
The Thai government in a ministry statement, asked the Israeli government to help emphasize to employers to take care of their workers.
During Hamas’ October 7 attacks, 39 Thai laborers working in agricultural communities near the Gaza border were killed and another 32 were taken hostage.
Most were freed during a temporary ceasefire in November, but six are still captive in Gaza and their fate remains uncertain.
Some Thai workers who repatriated after the war’s outbreak returned to Israel on their own, saying they could make more money in Israel than they could in Thailand.
On Tuesday (18th), Israeli officials approved a quota to import 92,000 foreign workers to fill gaps in agriculture, industry, hotels and restaurants.
Since October 7, Hezbollah rocket barrages and drone attacks have killed 22 Israelis and foreign nationals.
Leaders of the Iran-backed terror group have said they will continue the attacks to prevent thousands of residents of northern Israel from returning to their homes.
Many growing areas are within 1.2 miles of the Lebanese border where farmers have not been able to freely access fields and orchards. However, residents of Gaza-border areas are gradually returning to their communities.
Also, the labor shortage has impacted farms in central Israel and the Jordan Valley, which are not on the front lines.
At least 1.200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’ attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7.
Of the 116 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed dead.
Answers To Tough Questions About Israel – Gil Troy
Calling Israel “colonialist” negates Jews’ indigenous ties to their homeland, while rejecting Christianity too. Jesus emerged in a deeply-Jewish Land of Israel also called Judea. Jews are the original aboriginal people, being tied to the same land, praying to the same God, maintaining the same traditions and culture for millennia. Whether you’re religious and believe the Bible, or historically-oriented and trust archaeological evidence – or both! – the Land of Israel has always been central to the Jewish people.
The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is national, not racial. There are light-skinned Palestinians, while many Israelis are dark-skinned. Some want to inject America’s racial dynamics into the Middle East, simply to make Israel look bad. In a matter of decades, despite few natural resources, using their smarts and their sweat, Israelis built a strong country with a thriving start-up scene. Israelis shouldn’t apologize for succeeding.
In 1967, under attack, Israel won the Sinai and Gaza from Egypt, the Golan from Syria, and Jordan’s “West Bank,” what Jews called “Judea and Samaria,” since Biblical days. Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt in 1979 – hoping for peace. Israel withdrew from much of the West Bank under Oslo in the 1990s – only to suffer waves of Palestinian terrorism from 2000-2003 that murdered over 1,000 innocents. In 2005, Israel withdrew completely from Gaza, only to see Hamas slaughter over 1,200 people on Oct. 7. Most Israelis wonder why Palestinians remain so preoccupied with trying to kill them.
Over 70% of Americans support Israel and like Jews. But a rabid minority hates Jews. Polls show that the overwhelming majority of Jews – young and old – see Zionism and Israel as central to their Jewish identities. True, a few outspoken Jews who attract lots of attention reject Israel. But they are trying to undo the core consensus most Jews have accepted since the Holocaust that ended in 1945 and the State of Israel which began in 1948 – that Judaism, Zionism, and support for Israel are intertwined and mutually reinforcing.
Sometimes, I’m not worried – I’m terrified! We’ve seen Gazans slaughtering our kids, Hezbollah rocketing houses up north, and 320 Iranian missiles trying to eradicate us. Worry, yes – but despair, no. Golda Meir said you can’t be a Zionist and a pessimist. I’m a Zionist. Knowing Jewish and Israeli history, I remain an optimist and I’m blessed by Zionism, today’s greatest Jewish renaissance project.
The writer, a distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University, is a Senior Fellow in Zionist Thought at the Jewish Policy Institute. (Los Angeles Jewish Journal)
