News Digest — 6/14/24
Netanyahu: ‘You Raised The Stature Of Our Nation With The Hostage Rescue’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (13th) visited the special anti-terrorism unit base, together with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. At the start of the visit, they spoke with the forum of commanders who took action and led the forces of the special anti-terrorism unit and the ISA, during the operation to rescue the hostages from Hamas captivity, with the commander of the special anti-terrorism unit first and foremost.
Special anti-terrorism unit commander H. briefed the Prime Minister and the National Security Minister on the stages of the operation and the cooperation between IDF and ISA fighters. They then held an additional dialogue with the command staff.
Israel Police Inspector General Yaakov Shabtai, the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, and Border Police Commander Brik Yitzhak also participated in the visit.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the conclusion of the visit: “I am here at the special anti-terrorism unit base. I just met with our amazing fighters who rescued the hostages from the jaws of the enemy. Unfortunately, this heroic operation claimed the life of soldier and commander, and wonderful human being, Arnon Zamora, of blessed memory. We have named the operation after him – ‘Operation Arnon.’”
“I saw the soldiers. I saw the determination, heroism and devotion to the mission that will enable us to overcome our enemies in both the south and the north, and restore the residents securely to their homes,” he said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said to the soldiers of the special anti-terrorism unit, “You reflect the stature of the entire people, and you have shown that we are ready to do whatever is necessary to rescue our hostages.”
“When this reaches the moment of truth, when it rises to the fore, and in the end comes to me for a decision, I think about the entire chain, but in the end, I come to you. I look at you (the commander of the special anti-terrorism unit) and I see ready– or not ready, whether you have doubts or hesitation, because if there is even a drop of hesitation, the operation will not be carried out.”
“Therefore, I have come here to say on behalf of the entire people and all friends of Israel around the world, well done! Well done, for the heroism and for everything that you have accomplished,” the Prime Minister concluded.
Israel’s Forces Advance Deeper Into Rafah As Hamas Rejects Ceasefire Deal
Israeli tanks advanced deeper into the western area of Rafah Friday (14th).
Israel said its assault aims to wipe out Hamas’ last intact combat units in Rafah, a city that had sheltered more than a million people before the last advance began.
Most of those people have now moved north towards Khan Yunis and Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military said in a statement it was continuing “intelligence-based targeted operations” on Rafah, saying forces in the past day had located weapons and killed Palestinian terrorists in close-range combat.
On Thursday (14th), the military said it had struck 45 targets across the Gaza Strip from the air, including military structures, terrorist cells, rocket launchers and tunnel shafts.
Hamas welcomed a new US ceasefire proposal but made amendments, reaffirming its stance that any agreement must secure an end to the war, a demand Israel rejects.
Israel describes Hamas’ response to the new US peace proposal as total rejection.
Since a brief week-long truce in November, repeated attempts to arrange a ceasefire have failed, with Hamas insisting on a permanent end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hezbollah’s Most Massive Strike Since Oct. 7 – Swarm Of 9 Drones Within Minutes
On Thursday (13th), the IDF said that of a swarm of nine attack UAVs targeting Israel within minutes, seven were downed. They said Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets per barrage aimed at disrupting the ability of the Iron Dome missile defense system to respond.
The IDF said that Hezbollah launched 9 drones at the Galilee within one minute, in their attack on northern Israel that included more than 100 rockets, missiles and drones. The military said two soldiers suffered light and moderate injuries.
Israel was prepared for the increased barrages on its territory after the targeted killing of Taleb Sami Abdullah, a senior commander in the Hezbollah terror group, on Tuesday (11th).
The Iran-backed group attempted to thwart the Iron Dome missile defense system by launching barrages of dozens of rockets at a time, in what Hezbollah claimed was the most extensive attack on Israel since the war began.
According to the military, some of the rockets fired from Lebanon were not intercepted and landed in open areas causing fires to break out. In response, the air force struck Hezbollah infrastructure in South Lebanon.
During the attack of rockets and drones, high school students were taking their matriculation exams in schools all over the country, but in the north, the students had to rush into shelters twice during the test, adding an extra challenge to an already stressful situation.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Warns Israel Against Attack On Lebanon Amid Hezbollah’s Attacks
Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Al Bagheri Kani is already making his mark in the region. On his first important foreign trip, he was in Iraq this week where he warned Israel against attacking Lebanon. This comes after an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for the ‘“Nasser” sector of southern Lebanon.
The sector is south of the Litani River and covers the border region with Israel between Bint Jbeil and Mount Hermon.
Bagheri Kani warned Israel against an attack on Lebanon, as Hezbollah has fired more than 315 rockets in two days, between June 12 and 13 at Israel.
He warned that the “ramifications could backfire against Zionists as a result of that conflict.”
Bagheri Kani is spending two days in Iraq, and Thursday (13th) met with Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji.
Elsewhere in Bagheri Kani’s remarks, the top diplomat said “the Zionists had made a mistake by attacking the Iranian embassy compound and received a crushing response,” the IRNA media said.
Pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen media has focused on the chances of escalation with Israel and reported that a US official has also sought to reduce tensions on the Lebanese-Israel border. Lebanon’s military chief Gen. Joseph Aoun was recently in Washington for discussions on the conflict.
The Iranian diplomat also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaal-Sudani, in order to discuss problems in the region.
“The two diplomats talked about the brutal atrocities committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza and referred to the severe repercussions of the Zionist’ crimes in the enclave,” Iran state media said. The men also discussed security, education, energy, and transportation.
According to several reports, Hamas has opened a new office in Iraq, with a delegation from Iraqi Shiite militia Kataib al Imam Ali, present. The opening of the office was posted on Telegram by a group linked to the Popular Mobilization Units of Shiite militias. Iran backs Hamas, and Shiite militias in Iraq that have supported attacks on Israel.
Bagheri Kani also spoke to EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell this week.This is part of a play by the Iranian diplomat to show he is up to the work of his predecessor who helped Iran navigate the region over the last years and brought Iran closer to Russia and China. He also spoke to Borrel, who is critical of Israel, concerning the war in Gaza.
Meanwhile in Lebanon this week the pro-Iran Al-Mayadeen news reported that “Palestinian terrorists in Jenin had fought with the IDF,” and “that Fires set off by Hezbollah attacks in Israel this week, which came close to the city of Safed, were cheered by Iranian proxies.”
Iran is also working on a normalization deal with Egypt, and Bagheri Kani will be called upon to likely push for closer Iran-Egypt ties.
In addition, Bagheri Kani may be called on to shore up ties with Turkey, Russia and China as it pushes for potential talks with Palestinian factions.
Camp Intifada? Anti-Israel Encampment To Host Revolutionary Summer Camp At Canadian University
An anti-Israel protest encampment at the Canadian McGill University is set to host a revolution summer camp for youth starting Monday (17th), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill announced on Thursday (13th).
Posted on Instagram with a promotional image of keffiyeh-garbed men armed with light machine guns and rifles, the message for the summer camp didn’t clarify the age of campers, but promised to “educate the youth of Montreal and redefine McGill’s ‘elite’ institutional legacy by transforming its space into one of revolutionary legacy.”
“The daily schedule will include physical activity, Arabic language instruction, cultural crafts, political discussions, historical and revolutionary lessons,”said SPHR McGill.
The first semester of the camp is set to run for four weeks. The first week will cover “the history of Palestinian resistance,” followed by weeks devoted to the “ongoing Nakba,” “the different fronts of the movement,” and “media after October 7.”
The subjects of the first camp week are “the beginning of resistance,” “pan-Arabism,” “The Palestinian Liberation Organization: From Al Karameh to Oslo,” “Islamic Resistance,” and the “Axis of resistance.”
The program has been launched in coordination with SPHR Concordia University.
Andrey Kozlov’s Parents Discuss His Ordeal In Hamas Captivity – Dan Raban
Following the heroic rescue of their son, Andrey Kozlov, his parents, Evgeniia and Mikhail, shared some details about his ordeal in captivity. Andrey was abducted on October 7 from the Nova music festival in Kibbutz Re’im, where he worked as a security guard. He was rescued Saturday (8th) after 246 days in Hamas captivity.
Evgeniia said, “I felt real pain from one of the sentences Andrey said: ‘We experienced things that I will never tell you.’ He told us that for two months, they were tied up by their hands and feet. In the first weeks, their hands were tied behind their backs, and afterwards they started tying their hands in front, they joked that this was a gift from the terrorists.”
“June 8 has become a day of celebration. All Israelis want to share in our happiness, as if we’ve become part of them, part of their family. They are all so happy for us. When we’re on the street and Andrey is with us, people shout from their cars, ‘We’re so glad you are back! We’re so happy for you!’ They shout this to him, to us. It’s amazing.”
“We want to show how grateful we are to the IDF and all the security forces who conducted this heroic operation…. Andrey said that when he held onto the soldiers’ uniforms or hands, he felt he was beside true heroes. For him, they are superheroes who fear nothing.”
“I also want to extend my condolences to the family of Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, who fell in the line of duty. To his mother and father, his wife and his young children – I am not one to cry often, but when I learned that Andrey was saved and the next day found out that Arnon had fallen in battle, I cried deeply…. Their son is a superhero; his profession was to be a hero, and I have never known people like them, but they are the reason Israel stands. They are the national pride of Israel.”
