News Digest — 10/11/24
Sirens In Ashkelon, IAF Intercepts UAV That Crossed Into Israeli territory
Sirens warning of an infiltration of a hostile aircraft were sounded early Friday morning (11th) in Ashkelon and the surrounding area.
A few minutes later, the Home Front Command announced that the incident had concluded.
The IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit said that the IAF successfully intercepted a UAV that crossed into Israeli territory.
Magen David Adom responded that no calls were received about injuries, except for cases of people who suffered from anxiety and of those who were injured while making their way to shelter.
It is believed that the UAV which was intercepted was fired from Iraq.
On Wednesday evening (9th), a UAV which was fired towards Eilat was also successfully intercepted by the IDF.
The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq claimed responsibility for the firing, claiming they “fired a UAV at a “vital target in Eilat.”
Early Wednesday morning (9th), shortly before 3 am, the IAF intercepted a UAV that was also fired from the east.
Afterward, the Hezbollah terror organization’s Al-manar TV reported that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq had launched a UAV towards a target in Israel.
3 IDF Reservists Killed In Northern Gaza Operation
On Thursday (10th), the IDF released the names of three reservists killed fighting in northern Gaza.
They were: Master Sgt. (res.) Ori Moshe Borenstein, 33, from Moreshet; Maj. (res.) Netanel Hershkovitz, 37, from Jerusalem and Master Sgt. (res.) Tvzi Matityahu Marantz, 32, from Bnei Adam.
All three reservists served in the 5460th support unit of the 460th Brigade.
The deaths bring the number of soldiers killed in the ground war to 353.
They fell in heavy fighting in northern Gaza’s Jabalia region where the IDF has eliminated dozens of terrorists.
Ori Bornstein lived in Lod and was a machine engineering student at Ariel University.
Tzvi Matityahu Marantz is survived by his wife Tal and his three children: Omer, 7, Ofir, 4, and Naya (1).
Netanel Hershkovitz was a Deputy Company Commander in the Logistical Support Unit of the 5460th Unit, 460th Brigade.
On Thursday (10th) the IDF attacked a Hamas command-and-control center and eliminated at least a dozen terrorists, some of whom took part in the murderous terror attack against the residents of the Gaza border communities on October 7, last year, according to Israel’s security agency Shin Bet.
The attacked site, which had previously been a medical compound, was used to store weapons and plan attacks against Israel and the Jewish people.
Danon: ‘UNIFIL Must Step Up, Lebanese People Held Hostage By Hezbollah’
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon spoke ahead of the Security Council meeting Thursday (10th) on the situation in the Middle East, and demanded that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army fulfill their obligations under UN Resolution 1701 to disarm Hezbollah and prevent it from operating south of the Litani River.
“The answer lies in the hands of the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL. They must step up and fulfill their current duties under Resolution 1701,” Danon said.
“It is not just Israel that requires protection from Hezbollah. The Lebanese people, held hostage by this Iran-backed terror organization, need it too. Hezbollah has established a terrorist state within a failed state. To the people of Lebanon, I say: Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people and not to the Iranians,” he said.
The IDF commented Thursday evening (10th) on combat that has taken place near UNIFIL sites. “The Hezbollah terrorist organization operates from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon including areas near UNIFIL posts. The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.”
Thursday morning (10th), IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL base. Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected places, following which the forces opened fire in the area,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated.
Meanwhile, the White House said it is ‘deeply concerned’ about Israeli attacks ‘on’ UNIFIL. The statement came after an incident on Thursday (10th) in which Israeli forces near Naqoura fired close to a UNIFIL base.
The IDF responded Friday (11th) as they had on Thursday (10th) that “the Hezbollah terror organization operates from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts. The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL. On Thursday morning (10th), IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL Base. Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, following which the IDF forces opened fire in the area.”
Iran’s Quds Force Chief Suspected Of Ties To Israel, Collapses In Interrogation
The commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, Esmail Qaani is under investigation for ties to Israel, according to media reports, and had suffered a heart attack during interrogation.
“He was investigated for an intelligence brief, a source told Sky News Arabic. “He was moved to a hospital and his bureau chief is suspected of connections with Israel.”
Senior Iranian security officials said Qaani, who replaced Qassem Soleimani, the legendary commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds force killed by the US in 2020, disappeared after an Israeli strike last week that targeted Hezbollah’s deputy chief and head of internal security Hashen Safieddine who was designated to replace the slain Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli strike on Dahiyeh last month.
A source told the Reuters news agency that Qaani was in Dahiyeh when the IDF attacked but did not attend the meeting with Nasrallah’s designated replacement. Another source said the Quds force commander had traveled to Beirut after the assassination of Hezbollah’s chief and was last seen on Sunday (6th) of last week when he visited Hezbollah’s offices in Tehran and was photographed there withSafieddine’s brother Abdullah.
The New York Times reported that Qaani traveled to Lebanon to help Hezbollah regroup after Nasrallah’s killing. A source in the IRGC in Beirut told the paper that the commander’s disappearance and the silence from officials in Tehran were causing panic in the ranks.
Rumors about his fate spread quickly and varied between him having died to him being kept in isolation after the assassinations carried out by Israel on prominent Iranian leaders. According to a report published in the Saudi Al-Hadath channel, Qaani had recently met with Nasrallah and Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s operations chief who was assassinated by israel.
The channel said he backed out of his original plan to attend the high-level Hezbollah meeting that was then targeted by the IDFand that led to increased suspicion.
The Anti-Colony: Falsely Labeling Israel – Gerard Leval
“Colonization” is the new mortal sin, the physical manifestation of the evil wrought by white oppressors on the unfortunate oppressed. The current focus of this obsession is Israel, deemed a Western colony on Arab land. Yet the notion that Israel is a colony is contrary to reality.
The most widely accepted definition of a “colony” is a territory seized and controlled by people from another territory, usually involving the displacement of indigenous peoples. But Israel is not a colony by any definition. Israel is a nation made up of the descendants of indigenous people who have regained control of land from those who took the land by force from their ancestors. Its founders did not seek to create an outpost for a distant society. It is assuredly not a group of people who have sought to settle in a new place; the Jews have returned to their old homeland.
Israel is an anti-colony. They do not seek to retain political ties to other countries. On the contrary, the Zionist movement is predicated on inducing Jews to definitively leave the land of their exile to return to the land of their ancestors.
The colonists in the area “between the river and the sea” are not the Jews but the Arabs who came to the area under cover of Islam’s conquest of Asia and Africa. Many of the grandparents and great-grandparents of those who today style themselves as Palestnians were born in distant lands. (Washington Times)
The Palestinian Tradition Of Celebrating Death Of Jews – Bassam Tawil
Palestinians have a custom of celebrating in the streets every time Israel is attacked or a Jew is murdered by terrorists. The latest Palestinian celebration took place on Oct. 1 when Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel. The celebrations occurred even though some of the missiles fell in Palestinian areas in the West Bank and the only person killed was, ironically, a Palestinian man in Jericho.
The largest celebrations occurred a year ago, on Oct. 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas terrorists and “ordinary” Palestinians invaded Israel from Gaza and murdered 1,200 Israelis. A video from Al-Jazeera showed celebrations in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Palestinians are also happy to see Americans targeted by terrorists. While Israel declared a “national day of mourning” in solidarity with the US after the 9/11 attacks, Palestinians celebrated by handing out sweets, firing guns in the air, and chanting Allahu Akbar. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has since been celebrating the 9/11 attacks with cartoons glorifying al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden or mocking and attacking the US as evil.
The Palestinians also celebrated when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein fired Scud missiles at Israel more than 30 years ago.
It is hard, if not impossible, to find one senior Palestinian official who is willing to criticize his own people for celebrating terrorist attacks, or who is willing to condemn the Oct. 7 atrocities and massacres against Israelis. Palestinians who celebrate the murder of their neighbors are not ready for a state, which will undoubtedly be used as a springboard to slaughter more Jews and to try to destroy Israel. A society that celebrates murder will never be a partner for peace. (Gatestone Institute)
Palestinians Caught Red-Handed Stealing Antiquities
An antiquities looting gang from the village of Surif, near Hebron, was caught red-handed this week while plundering and damaging an underground system dating back to the Second Temple period at the Khirbet Umm er Rus archaeological site, near Beit Shemesh, according to a report on Thursday (10th).
In a joint operation between the Israel Antiquities Authority’s (IAA) anti-looting unit and Border Police officers, the looters were apprehended while attempting to steal ancient artifacts.
The IAA said the looters caused irreversible damage to the ancient remnants. Another suspect stationed at the cave’s entrance, acted as a lookout. The gang was equipped with digging tools and a metal detector, which they intended to use to locate and steal ancient coins.
The suspects were taken into custody late at night with the assistance of Border Police officers and brought in for questioning at the police station. They were remanded for four days by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. All were indicted.
The Umm er Rus site preserves remnants of a Jewish settlement from the Second Temple period through the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Among the findings is a rock-hewn mikveh (ritual bath) used by the Jewish inhabitants to observe purity laws during the Second Temple Period.
“The looters come by foot from several kilometers away in the West Bank, illegally enter Israeli territory, and then attack archaeological sites, digging indiscriminately and causing tremendous damage,” Dr. Eitan Klein, deputy director of the IAA’s anti-looting unit, said. “I’m glad we managed to catch this gang and prevent further harm to Israel’s historical heritage. We will not let them steal our history from under our feet.”
“The Antiquities Authority makes ongoing efforts to protect Israel’s heritage. We stress that excavating archaeological sites without a license from the IAA is a serious offense, punishable by up to five years in prison,” Amir Ganor, head of the anti-looting unit added. “The suspects were arrested and indicted, and we hope severe punishments will follow their crimes.”
Eli Eskozido, director of the Antiquities Authority, also addressed the incident, “During these difficult times for the people of Israel, while many Antiquities Authority staff are serving on the front lines in reserve duty, our inspectors work tirelessly every night to safeguard archaeological sites from looters who try to exploit the situation and steal our ancient artifacts, destroying our history in the process. We view the protection of these sites as a national mission. I would like to thank the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office for swiftly filing charges against the suspects,” he said.
The Jewish Day Of Atonement (Yom Kippur) begins Friday (11th) at sundown and will end on Saturday evening (12th).
