News Digest — 7/18/25
IDF Kills Three Senior Hamas Terrorists Who Took Part In October 7 Massacre
Israeli forces killed three senior Hamas operatives who Israel says took part in the Oct. 7 cross-border assault that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, the IDF said Thursday (17th).
The IDF and Shin Bet security agency said they targeted and killed Iyad Nasr, deputy commander of Hamas’ Jabaliya Battalion, in a strike on July 10.
According to the IDF, Nasr, who infiltrated Israel during the Oct. 7 attack, was wounded earlier in the war, and later returned to command operations in the Jabaliya area. In recent weeks, according to the IDF, he directed attacks on Israeli forces, including against the army’s 162nd Division.
The military said two other Hamas operatives were also killed in the strike. They were identified as Hasan Mahmoud Muhammad Mar’i, commander of the group’s Central Jabaliya Company, and Muhammad Zaki Shamadeh Hamad, deputy commander of Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion.
All three men are accused by Israel of participating in the October 7 attack, in which thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages.
The IDF said that operations against those involved in the October 7 assault would continue.
‘This War Tore Me Apart:’ Three Israeli Retirees Who Returned For Reserve Duty
Moti Ochayon, 62, returned to IDF reserve duty alongside longtime friends and fellow reservists Adiel, 53, and David, 65, saying he knew the war was the time the country needed him most.
For decades, Chief Warrant Officer (res) Moti Ochayon, 62, served alongside fellow reservists Chief Warrant officer (res.) Adiel, 53, and Chief Warrant Officer (res.) David, 65, in the IDF Artillery Corps.
The ongoing war in Gaza brought these three back together in uniform, volunteering at the maintenance workshop of the 209th Brigade. Since the war began, they didn’t wait for a call-up but showed up to repair electrical equipment, proving age is no barrier to service.
The war deeply affected Ochayon, prompting his return to reserve duty. “It broke me, tore me apart,” he said, reflecting on his decision. Initially, he assisted with food distribution to soldiers at northern outposts.
Meeting units there, he realized with his expertise in maintenance and technology, he could offer more than handing out meals. A conversation with a female ordnance officer, struggling with a technical issue, sparked his resolve. When he offered help, it became clear he should volunteer in his field of expertise.
Ochayon reached out to military contacts, and within days, an ordnance officer who knew him from active duty offered him a reserve role. A week later he was back in uniform, a seamless transition for someone who works as a civilian maintenance manager.
During his service, he reunited with Adiel and David, both of whom had also volunteered. “It was a very emotional reunion; we hadn’t been in touch since I left the army,” Ochayon said. Adiel, serving in another unit, encountered Ochayon during a repair visit and requested a transfer to join him and David, allowing the trio to serve together.
The veterans shared stories from their past service, including time in Lebanon, captivating younger soldiers. “I never imagined I’d return to service with my friends at this age, but we’re all thrilled to contribute,” Ochayon said. Having served 27 years in the IDF, he thought his military days were over.
“When I left, I said that chapter was behind me unless the army desperately needed me. This must be that moment,” he added. In 2024, Ochayon logged over 220 days of reserve duty, slightly less this year due to work constraints. “I’m not stopping because I want to but because my job demands it,” he said. “Honestly, I never enjoyed my service this much. Adiel and David feel the same.”
Not Recognizing Ceasefire, Druze and Bedouin Continue Fighting In Southern Syria
Despite a ceasefire declared on Wednesday night (16th), groups of Druze and Bedouin renewed fighting in southern Syria on Thursday (17th).
Reuters reported that Bedouin sources said they continued to launch attacks against the Druze community. The rationale for continuing the fighting is that some Bedouin groups said the ceasefire applied only to Syrian forces and not to them.
The Syrian state media, Sana published video footage of Bedouins fleeing the area of the Al-Maqwas neighborhood of Sweida and claiming that Druze were attacking them.
Prominent Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri rejected a ceasefire deal announced on Tuesday (15th), distancing himself from efforts to halt the fighting in southern Syria.
On Wednesday (16th), Sheikh Yosef Jarboua, another senior Druze figure, claimed that a truce had been reached between the Syrian regime and Druze factions in the Sweida province. The agreement reportedly included regime checkpoints being set up to maintain security in Druze areas.
The latest round of violence began earlier this week after a series of kidnappings triggered clashes between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and armed Druze groups.
Witnesses accused Syrian regime forces, initially deployed to restore order, of turning against the Druze population. Reports included instances of abuse and humiliation, such as forcing Druze men to shave their mustaches – a grave insult in Druze culture.
In response to the attack on the Druze community, Israel launched retaliatory strikes on Wednesday (16th), targeting sites in As-Suwayda and military installations in Damascus.
Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, tensions remain high, with Al-Hijri’s rejection casting doubt on the viability of any lasting peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the ceasefire and said it was brought about through “forceful action.”
He stated that there were “two red lines regarding Syria : that Syria’s military not approach the border with Israel or Druze areas, and that the Syrian regime must protect the Druze.”
“We have established a clear policy: the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus and the protection of our brothers, the Druze,” Netanyahu said.
“I instructed the IDF to act with force, because the Damascus regime sent its army south of the capital and massacred the Druze. As a result of our intensified action, a ceasefire has been established, and Syrian forces have withdrawn back to Damascus.”
Israel To Up Output Of Arrow Anti-Ballistic Missiles
The Israel Defense Ministry on Thursday (17th) announced a contract to significantly increase production of Arrow anti-ballistic missile interceptor systems, highlighting the system’s critical role during the recent war with Iran.
Developed jointly by Israel and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the Arrow system played a vital role in Israel’s multi-tiered missile defense during the 12-day war, “Operation Rising Lion,” which lasted from June 13 to June 24.
The system provides exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception capabilities, defending against a wide range of ballistic missile threats, including those targeting strategic locations at long range.
Its performance was especially notable during the war, delivering many successful interceptions and significantly reducing casualties and economic losses.
During the conflict, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel. According to the Defense Ministry, 86% of these missiles were intercepted, saving many lives and preventing more than $15 billion in property damage.
Nevertheless, 28 civilians – including four children – and one soldier were killed. More than 3,000 people, including 346 children, were wounded. The hostilities also forced the evacuation of over 15,000 residents, among them 1,402 senior citizens and 522 people with disabilities.
In total, approximately 200 ballistic missile interceptors – including the Arrow system, as well as U.S. THAAD and Aegis interceptors – were launched during the conflict at a combined cost exceeding $1 billion.
Each Arrow interceptor costs an estimated $2-3 million, while THAAD interceptors can reach $13 million each.
The Arrow system currently uses Arrow 2 interceptors for short-to-medium-range threats and Arrow 3s for exo-atmospheric long-range interceptions. The future Arrow 4 is designed to counter advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles.
In addition to Iran, the Arrow system has also been used against attacks by Tehran’s terrorist proxy in Yemen, the Houthis.
After the Arrow’s proven effectiveness, MG (res) Amir Baram, director general of the Defense Ministry, signed a contract with Israel Aerospace Industries to substantially boost production of Arrow interceptors.
The Israel Missile Defense Organization, led by Moshe Patel within the ministry’s Directorate of Defense research and development (DDR&D), coordinated the contract.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will serve as the prime contractor, manufacturing the interceptors at its MLM facility with support from American partner Stark Aerospace.
Additional contributions will come from IAI’s ELTA Systems and TAMAM Division units, as well as Israeli defense firms including Elbit Systems, Tomer Ltd, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
IAI President and CEO Boaz Levy described the contract expansion as vital to Israel’s security. He highlighted that the company has been operating at full capacity since the start of the conflict and praised ongoing innovation efforts, including the development of the Arrow 4 interceptor.
In Islamic Culture There Is No Such Thing As Defeat. It’s Better To Die Than Lose Face – Mosab Hassan Yousef interviewed by Amir Bogen
Mosab Hassan Yousef, 47, the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, defected to Israel in 1997 and moved to the U.S. in 2007, with his story revealed in his 2010 memoir: Son of Hamas. During a visit to Israel in June he said:
‘Hamas has spent 37 years building momentum, and people seem to forget they [the Palestinians] voted for them. They forget they funded Hamas from their own pockets – not just Iran… It’s part of their religious obligation. Businessmen too – all under the table. How do I know? Because I was in Hamas leadership. I saw where the finances came from. Average people would walk into the mosque with tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars or dinars and slip it into my father’s pocket or the back seat of his car.”
“Of course, there are people who suffered under Hamas’ iron grip in Gaza. I’m not saying there aren’t. But are they any better? They all still see Israel as the common enemy. They may not agree with what Hamas did on October 7…and they’re saying, “it wasn’t worth it.”
“In Islamic culture…there is no such concept as defeat…it’s victory or death. When they lose a war, they don’t see it the way the West does. We were conditioned from an early age…all of it built on a refusal to accept what really happened – that our forefathers initiated the war against Israel’s independence, and they lost. But in this culture, defeat is too shameful to admit. Everything is based on honor and shame, not on right and wrong, as in Western culture…Better to die than lose face.”
“Palestine is a colonial construct. It’s not even part of our traditional vocabulary – it’s not in the Arab dictionary. ‘Palestine’ was a name for a region at best, not a country. As for so-called Palestinians, we don’t actually have anything concrete to support our existence as a nation or an ethnicity – nothing except for this ugly flag and the keffiyeh, a scarf actually coming from Iraq…Am I really supposed to die for this falsehood? For the madness of people who thrive on corruption and violence and expect everyone else to join them?” (Ynet News)
Jordan Is A Strategic Asset For Israel – Oded A’lam
• Jordan tries to maintain a strategic partnership with Israel and the West – facing hostile public opinion, Iranian infiltration from the east, and a domestic Islamist resurgence. Iran has lost much of its influence in Syria and Lebanon and is now seeking new routes to restore its “ring of fire” around Israel. Jordan, naturally, becomes a prime target, with a growing presence of pro-Iranian militias at the border with Iraq.
• Iran’s strategy overlaps with the ideological expansion of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. Once mainly supported by Palestinians, the Brotherhood has also gained traction among traditional Bedouin tribes, threatening the Hashemite regime’s stability.
• Though Jordan often takes strong anti-Israel stances in international forums, reality tells a different story. Jordan depends on Israel for natural gas, water, and intelligence cooperation. Israel frequently thwarts Iranian plots near Jordan’s eastern borders.
• Given Jordan’s fragile status, Israel should reinforce its security and economic ties with the kingdom, but with clear conditions: Support enhanced economic and military aid, especially in Jordan’s periphery, where anti-Western sentiments grow, in exchange for Jordan moderating its behavior in international institutions. Open cooperation against Iran, including joint drills, aid defense, and regional intelligence sharing. Create Israeli-Jordanian research centers on climate, water, agriculture, and renewable energy, possibly with EU funding. Such partnerships help dismantle anti-Israel narratives.
• The key is not to corner Jordan but to offer it a dignified way out – gently yet firmly. Israel must understand that its alliance with Jordan is not a given, but it is a strategic asset on multiple levels: geographically, intelligence-wise, and perceptually.
The writer, former head of the Counterterrorism Division in the Mossad, is a researcher at the Jerusalem Center.
(jcpa.org)
