News Digest — 6/24/24
Members Of Rapid-Response Squad Injured From Anti-Tank Missile While Driving ATV In Metulla
Two members of a rapid-response squad were injured on Sunday evening (23rd) by an anti-tank missile that hit the city of Metula in northern Israel.
The incident occurred when the members of the squad were accompanying a family from Metula who came to see their home, which had been hit by Hezbollah missiles.
The two were evacuated for medical treatment at Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The Hezbollah organization claimed responsibility for the shooting,
The IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed that two launches were detected that crossed from Lebanese territory towards the Metula area, and that damage was caused in the area.
The Rambam Hospital updated on Monday morning (24th) that one of the victims in his 40s underwent an operation overnight and was admitted to the general intensive care unit. His condition is serious but stable.
The second man, in his 30s, was hospitalized in the trauma department. His condition is moderate.
IDF Eliminates Significant Hamas Terrorist In Weapons Manufacturing Headquarters
Following IDF intelligence on Sunday night (23rd), IAF aircraft eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Salah, who was responsible for projects and development in Hamas’ Weapons Manufacturing Headquarters. Salah was part of a project to develop strategic weapons for the Hamas terror organization, and he commanded a number of Hamas terrorist squads that worked on developing weapons.
IDF troops are continuing intelligence-based targeted operations in the Rafah area. During targeted raids in the area, the troops located large amounts of weapons. In the area of Tel Al-Sultan, launchers used to fire at IDF troops during the war were dismantled. In addition, over the past day, IDF troops eliminated a number of armed terrorists who posed a threat to them, and the troops dismantled several tunnel shafts in the Rafah area.
IDF troops are continuing their operational activity in central Gaza. The troops identified several terrorists who were operating in the area and eliminated them in a drone strike.
The IAF also struck numerous targets throughout the Gaza Strip in general, including tunnel shafts, armed terrorist squads, and additional terrorist infrastructure.
Netanyahu Reiterates ‘Dramatic Drop’ In U.S. Weapons To Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated comments that the U.S. is withholding weapons deliveries at Sunday’s (23rd) weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
About four months ago, “There was a dramatic decrease in the munitions coming to Israel from the U.S.,” Netanyahu said in public remarks at the beginning of the meeting.
“For long weeks, we turned to our American friends and requested that the shipments be expedited. We did this time and again. We did so at the highest levels, and at all levels, and I want to emphasize – we did so behind closed doors. We received all sorts of explanations, but one thing we did not receive, the basic situation did not change. Certain items arrived sporadically, but the munitions at large remained behind.”
Netanyahu has nor specified what weapons are being held up by the U.S.
In May, the Biden administration confirmed delaying a shipment of 500 lb. and 2,000 lb. bombs fearing they would be used in Rafah. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant departed for the US on Saturday evening (22rd) for discussions with senior US officials about the situations in Gaza, and Lebanon, and Iranian threats.
Netanyhau is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on July 24.
Also at the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu announced the appointment of Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Yiftah Ron-Tal and Vice Adm. (Res.) Eliezer Marom to coordinate the return of evacuated civilians to their communities in the south and along the Lebanese border respectively.
Around 60,000 Israelis living in northern communities were forced to evacuate in October when the Hezbollah terror organization began daily rocket and drone attacks.
Leaders of the Iran-backed terror group have said they will continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes. Since October 7, the Hezbollah attacks have killed 10 civilians and 14 soldiers.
Residents of some Gaza border areas have already begun returning to their homes.
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.
(msn.com)
Heading To US, Gallant Said Meetings ‘Critical For The Future Of The War’
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant headed to Washington DC, on Saturday evening (22rd) for a whirlwind visit whose main aim is to get the United States to unfreeze a shipment of heavy-duty bombs it has been withholding from Israel.
In remarks made before departing, Gallant touted the importance of Israel’s relationship with the United States and underscored the significance of his visit.
“The meetings with the senior government officials are critical for the future of the war,” he said. “During these meetings, I plan to discuss developments [on the southern and northern fronts], in Gaza and Lebanon.
Gallant continued, “We are prepared for any action that may be required in Gaza, Lebanon, and in additional areas.” And he noted, “The transition in Gaza to Phase 3 is of great importance. I will discuss this transition with US officials, touching on how it may enable additional things [to take place], and I know that we will achieve closer cooperation with the US on this issue as well.”
Gallant is slated to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. He is also expected to meet CIA Director William Burns and Special Envoy Amos Hochstein.
It is the second time the minister has visited the United States amid the war in Gaza which was triggered by Hamas’ shocking October 7 attack on southern Israel.
Gallant is set to discuss a range of issues besides the arms shipment, including other weapons the Israeli military needs, as well as the war in Gaza and the threats facing Israel from Lebanon and Iran.
In a readout, Gallant’s Office said the minister would “discuss the operations necessary to achieve the goals of the war against the Hamas terrorist organization, efforts to ensure the return of the hostages held by Hamas, and measures required to achieve regional stability.”
“He will also raise the unique areas of cooperation between the US and Israeli defense establishments, with an emphasis on force build-up efforts and power projection, while maintaining Israel’s qualitative edge in the region,” the statement read.
Also joining Gallant was his chief of staff Shachar Katz, his military secretary Brig. Gen. Guy Markizeno, and the director of the ministry’s Political-Military Bureau, Dror Shalom.
The visit was also set to touch on Iran’s nuclear program, which according to the UN watchdog has continued to expand throughout Israel’s war against its proxies.
Hezbollah Storing Iranian Weapons At Beirut Airport
Hezbollah is storing massive amounts of Iranian armaments at Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon’s main civilian airport, say airport staff.
Hezbollah has been accused of using the Beirut airport for weapons storage in the past, but whistleblowers say it has ramped up the practice since the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.
“This is extremely serious, mysterious large boxes arriving on direct flights from Iran are a sign that things got worse,” an airport worker told the Telegraph.
He feared that an explosion, or an attack on the airport to destroy the weapons, could cause major damage to Beirut, similar to the 2020 port blast that devastated much of downtown Beirut.
That explosion was blamed on a weapons warehouse belonging to Hezbollah.
“Beirut will be cut off from the world, not to mention the number of casualties and damage,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time before a disaster also happens at the airport.”
Stored weapons include Iranian-made Falaq artillery rockets, Fateh-110 short-range missiles, mobile ballistic missiles and M-600 missiles with ranges of more than 150 miles, The Telegraph reported.
At-14 Kornet laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), Burkan short-range ballistic missiles and RDX, a widely used explosive, are also stored at the airport.
Another whistleblower said, ”For years I have been watching Hezbollah operating at Beirut airport, but when they do it during a war, it turns the airport into a target. If they keep bringing in these goods – I’m not allowed to check. I really believe I’ll die from an explosion or from Israeli bombing of ‘the goods.’ It’s not just us, it’s the ordinary people, the people coming in and out, or going on holiday.”
“If the airport is bombed, Lebanon is finished,” he added.
Airport staff said that Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah’s second in command and the head of its security apparatus, is constantly at the airport.
“Wafiq Safa is always showing up at customs,” one whistleblower said.” I feel like if we don’t do what they say, our families will be in danger.”
The IDF said in a statement, “Hezbollah’s strategy to hide weapons and operate from civilian neighborhoods stems from its intentions to draw the IDF to target these civilian areas in times of escalation.”
“If Hezbollah were to target Israeli civilians from these sites, the IDF would have no choice but to react, potentially placing Lebanese civilians in harm’s way, causing international outrage towards the IDF,” the army said.
Muslims Assault Jewish Family At Brooklyn Grade-5 Graduation
A Brooklyn Jewish mother and her husband were violently attacked by an American Muslim family to shouts of “Death to Israel” at an elementary school graduation party, the New York Post reported on Sunday (23rd).
“A graduation event that was supposed to be joyous and memorable turned into a violent and traumatizing one,” the Brooklyn mom, whose 10-year-old twins witnessed the assault, told the Post in an interview.
The Jewish mom, Lana and her husband Johan, a Dominican-born Catholic, said they turned to the press after the New York City Police Department (NYPD) initially refused to classify the incident as a hate crime.
“They targeted my family because they are Jewish,” said Lana, whose last name was withheld to protect her children’s privacy and safety.
The assault at Public School 682 in the Gravesend neighborhood took place after the fifth-grade graduation, when Lana and Johan tried to take pictures and the Arabic-speaking family tried to push them out of the way.
“We told them there was space for both families,” Lana recalled.
“An older man turned to us and said ‘Free Palestine’ for no reason. My husband told him this was not the time or place for that but the man cursed him in Arabic, and shouted, ‘Free Palestine, Gaza is ours, Death to Israel.’”
While Johan clashed with the man and told him to back off, another man, “Just came out of nowhere, punched me in the head and it was a scuffle,” he told the Post.
“From there, I don’t remember, because there was so much going on and so many people on top of me. Then I was put in a chokehold . Someone was also holding my leg. It was chaotic.”
The couple’s 16-year-old son tried to help his dad, but he was also assaulted, as was Lana when she tried to film the incident.
“A Woman from the group came up from behind me, pulled me by the hair, and knocked me down on the ground, shouting, ‘I will kill you,’” she said. Two male teachers eventually broke up the fight, the family said.
The NYPD arrested Ez-Al Dean Bazar, 26, who punched and dragged Johan, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.
The police complaint made no mention of an anti-Semitic motive, and the suspect was released without bail.
While Lana claimed authorities initially told her the incident was not probed as a hate crime as she is not visibly Jewish, the NYPD told the Post on Saturday (22nd) that its Hate Crimes Task Force was investigating.
New York has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist massacre of some 1.200 people, primarily Jewish civilians, in Israel’s northwestern Negev.
Earlier this month, pro-Palestinian protesters rushed the Brooklyn Museum, assaulting public safety officers and damaging artwork as they made their way inside and occupied the lobby. The NYPD arrived in force an hour later and took 34 people into custody.
Six were charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to assault, while 23 received summonses for trespassing, graffiti and resisting arrest. One faces charges of assaulting a police officer.
In a separate incident on June 12, the family homes of the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum and other officials were vandalized.
The assailants smeared red paint and graffiti on the Brooklyn Heights home of Anne Pasternak, director of the museum, and hung a banner at the entrance to her apartment building that accused the Jewish woman of being a “white supremacist Zionist.”
“Blood on your hands” was also splashed in red paint on the walkway leading to her residence. The homes of two museum trustees who are Jewish were also targeted in the attack.
In April, NYPD officers arrested approximately 200 people at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, one block from the home of Senate majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Chants at the rally included “Disclose, Divest, we will not stop. We will not rest.” “Disclose, Divest and Let Gaza Live.”
