News Digest — 8/26/25
IDF Spokesman: Hamas Has Used The Hospital That Was Struck
IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin released a statement on Monday (25th) regarding the strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis and addressed reports indicating that the fatalities in the incident had included civilians and journalists.
“We are aware of the reports,” said Defrin, “I would like to be clear from the start – the IDF does not intentionally target civilians.”
“The IDF makes every effort to mitigate harm to civilians, while ensuring the safety of our troops. Any incident that raises concern in this regard is addressed by the relevant mechanisms in the IDF.”
BG Defrin emphasized the complexities of the operational environment in Gaza, stating: “We are operating in an extremely complex reality. Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields. They have even operated from the Nasser hospital itself.”
“Hamas began this war, created impossible fighting conditions – and is preventing its end by still holding 50 hostages.”
The IDF stated that it is committed to international law and will thoroughly investigate the incident. The Chief of the General Staff has instructed that an inquiry be conducted immediately – to understand the circumstances of what happened,” Defrin said.
He also addressed the risks faced by journalists and others operating in the conflict zone: “Reporting from an active warzone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization such as Hamas, who cynically hides behind the civilian population.”
“We regret any harm to uninvolved individuals and are committed to continue fighting Hamas, while taking all the necessary precautions,” the statement concluded.
Hezbollah Vows To Keep Arms As Qassem Slams Lebanese Government Plan
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a television address on Monday (25th), condemning the Lebanese government’s recently announced plan to disarm the terror organization by the end of the year. His comments came during a memorial for Ayatollah Sayyed Abbas Mousawi, former Hezbollah leader, and were dedicated in part to the memory of the group’s so-called “resistance martyrs.”
Qassem opened by praising the legacy of Mousawi and other Hezbollah figures, framing their violent campaigns as foundational to the organization’s continued operations. He warned that the effort to remove Hezbollah’s weapons – a move widely supported by the West and many in Lebanon – would be met with opposition from the group’s base, stating, “We will not abandon the weapons that defend our nation. Those demanding the removal must first remove the occupation.”
Hezbollah’s deputy leader dismissed the Lebanese cabinet’s decision as illegitimate and foreign-imposed. “This is not a national decision. It is an American text, expanded by Israel and adopted by the government,” he said. “The United States supervises this government and supports the enemy. Lebanon’s sovereignty is at risk.”
Qassem lashed out at Lebanese voices who claim Hezbollah’s role has become obsolete, asserting, “Resistance is faith and will. It is a national and patriotic duty. It is not an army, but it stands beside the army to defend the homeland.”
Continuing his narrative of victimhood, Qassem blamed Israel for the country’s instability: “If Israel ceases its violations and withdraws from occupied lands, we are prepared to discuss a national defense strategy. Until then, the resistance will remain armed.”
He accused the Lebanese government of failing to uphold national sovereignty, insisting, “You are responsible for restoring sovereignty before any talk of disarmament. Sovereignty comes before economy, development, or reforms.”
Qassam urged Hezbollah supporters to mobilize in the face of growing pressure to disarm, calling for a week of activism. “Let this be a week of action. Go to social media, speak to ministers, write articles, and take to the streets. Say clearly, we will not allow the resistance to be disarmed.”
In one of the speech’s most threatening moments, Qassem warned that the government’s plan would lead to chaos: “You are leading the country toward strife and civil war. There will be an explosion from within. The people will not be silent.”
Concluding his speech, Qassem declared that Hezbollah’s arms are non-negotiable, regardless of public or international demands. “Our path is resistance. Our arms are not for internal use. They are to defend against occupation and protect our land. We will not give them up. The alternative is submission to the enemy – and that we will never accept.”
Zamir Visits Samaria Farming Outpost
Israel’s Defense Forces Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir paid an unusual visit to an unauthorized farming outpost in Western Samaria over the weekend.
Zamir visited Maoz Shaul Farm, which was built near the established Jewish community of Avnei Hefetz in May, and again with OC Central Command MG Avi Bluth on Friday (22nd), i24News reported on Sunday (24th).
The visit to the farming outpost, which has yet to receive government approval, was closed to the media and not announced by the army.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has authority over civilian matters in Judea and Samaria, on Sunday (24th) hailed the visit as a sign of the “excellent cooperation” between his office and the IDF.
“The farms lead the way in pioneering settlement in Judea and Samaria, acting as a vital shield for many communities there, as well as for the Sharon region [on the coastal plain] and other parts of the country,” Smotrich tweeted.
“We will continue to strengthen settlement throughout our land and will never establish an Arab terrorist state in the Land of Israel,” he declared.
Likud Party lawmaker Boaz Bismuth, who chairs the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, also commended Zamir for the visit.
“Settlement is of immense importance for the security of Israel’s citizens and for the continued existence of the Jewish people in Zion. Applying sovereignty is a decisive act – it is victory,” added the senior lawmaker.
In August 2023, Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter lauded farmers’ roles in protecting Israeli state lands, declaring that “there are no better guardians than hundreds of sheep, tended by an Israeli shepherd.”
“All government ministries are aware of the significant advantages of such farms, and they should be encouraged and enlarged in an orderly fashion,”added the agricultural minister, a member of the Likud party.
Meanwhile, Palestinian aggression against Jewish farmers in Judea and Samaria has been on the rise, according to data collected by authorities.
“Jewish farmers are grazing their sheep in open areas; Arabs don’t like that, even if it happens in Area C, of Judea and Samaria where Israeli civilian communities are located. They’re trying to stop them by using violence, a local official in Judea and Samaria told JNS in August 2023.
Figures gathered by the Hatzalah (Rescuers without Borders) Judea and Samaria NGO and published over the weekend showed that Jewish farmers and shepherds have been attacked at least 71 times since January 2, 2025.
Come And See, Go And Tell: The Power Of A Trip To Israel — Opinion
Today, almost 700 days later, I continue to grieve. Fifty hostages remain in Hamas’ terror tunnels. Twelve Druze children from Majdal Shams were murdered by Hezbollah.
“I’m fine, but all hell broke loose.”
Bleary-eyed and half-asleep, I began scrolling through a flood of messages from friends and loved ones in Israel. What I saw shocked me to my core.
The first images from that black Saturday began to load: a truck-bed crowded with armed terrorists, Naama Levy being dragged into Gaza, scenes of horror and devastation from the Nova music festival. Waves of confusion, fear, and disbelief crashed over me as I tried to comprehend what I was seeing.
At the time, I anticipated a swift return to the familiar rhythm of sirens, rocket fire, and the daily resilience of Israeli life, but the depth of cruelty and evil perpetrated by Hamas had yet to fully sink in.
Today, almost 700 days later, I continue to grieve. Fifty hostages remain in Hamas captivity, Twelve children from Majdal Shams murdered by Hezbollah. The IRGC continues to launch rockets at civilian infrastructure.
This hatred isn’t confined to the region – it has spread across communities and campuses in the United States. I recoil at the visceral hatred seen at Columbia’s encampments, at the Nazi slautes in the streets of Chicago, and at the recent murders in Washington DC and Boulder, Colorado.
As a Christian working in the Israel advocacy space, this has become my daily reality: to love so deeply that it hurts, to mourn for a people and a nation under attack, and to feel isolated as anti-Semitism grows more blatant and, alarmingly, more normalized.
In conversations with friends and colleagues – both Jewish and Christian – there is a shared sense of loneliness as we continue to stand with Israel and the Jewish people.
Yet, even amid chaos and darkness, there is light. That light continues to grow – proof that we are not alone. In early June, I joined a bus of seminary and Christian college students on a trip to Israel – part of the largest group Passages has sent since October 7.
Over the course of 10 days, I witnessed students profoundly transformed. They arrived filled with questions, skepticism, anticipation, and curiosity – ready to encounter a land that felt at once foreign and strangely familiar.
Together, we explored where Bible events took place. We sang in ancient cisterns and read Scripture in the very places it was written. There were moments of tenderness and awe at holy sites – but also moments of painful confrontation. Amid Israel’s beauty and resilience, there was a raw awareness of the trauma the nation continues to carry.
We visited the devastated community of Nahal Oz, listened to survivors share their stories, and shared a Shabbat dinner with a survivor of the Nova massacre. For many students, this was their first direct encounter with the reality of October 7. They allowed themselves to sit in grief, to mourn with a people they had only just begun to know, and to wrestle with deep, existential questions.
It was astounding to watch head knowledge become heart knowledge. As relationships formed and bonds deepened, students dancec with children in the North, pulled weeds from the soil, and cultivated a new love for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
Many expressed a desire to explore Jewish literature, to learn from scholars about the Hebraic roots of their faith, to better understand and engage with their Jewish neighbors, and to boldly speak out against anti-Semitism and misinformation. What began as a trip became a foundation – built on deepened faith and newfound friendships – that opened the door to a new way of living and loving.
Now in the face of renewed push to defeat Hamas and ensure that October 7 can never happen again, these students are gathering to pray for the safety of their Israeli friends, sharing what they’ve learned with their churches, and advocating for truth. They crave knowledge, community, and the tools to stand for justice.
In what feels like one of history’s darkest hours, I am reminded of the life-changing power of a trip to Israel. Experiencing the land firsthand – engaging in real-time conversations, and bearing witness to daily life – all fosters transformation. It strengthens faith, breaks down barriers, and cultivates genuine friendships between Christians and the Jewish community.
When we come with a sincere desire to learn, we are empowered to go and tell – to speak boldly and compassionately about the truth, the beauty, and the resilience of Israel and her people.
So, to those wondering what to do next. Come and see. Walk the land. Listen to the stories. Let your heart be moved. And then — go and tell. Share what you’ve seen. Stand with courage. Be a bridge in your community. And let the light you’ve encountered be a light you carry.
Grace Keathly, the writer, is the associate director of alumni engagement at Passages Israel, a Christian organization dedicated to bringing students to Israel and equipping young leaders to support Israel and stand with the Jewish people in communities across the United States.
Largest Dam In Ancient Israel Uncovered In The City Of David
A monumental Dam excavated in the Siloam Pool in the City of David National Park has now been dated in a joint study by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Weizmann Institute of Science to the reign of the Kings of Judah, Joash or Amaziah. Its construction may have been a creative solution to the climate crisis about 2,800 years ago, according to the researchers. The research published on Monday (25th) in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS, will be presented at the upcoming “City of David Studies” conference in early September.
The massive wall uncovered in excavations of the Siloam Pool in the City of David National Park was built around 605-795 BCE, during the reign of kings Joash or Amaziah of Judah. The discovery of the dam was made by the excavation directors Dr. Nahshon Szanton, Itamar Berko, and Dr. Filip Vukosavovic on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
“This is the largest dam ever discovered in Israel and the earliest one ever found in Jerusalem. Its dimensions are remarkable – continuing beyond the limits of the current excavation,” the director stated. “The dam was designed to collect waters from the Gihon Spring as well as floodwaters flowing down the main valley of ancient Jerusalem, the historical Tyropoeon Valley, to the Kidron Stream, providing a dual solution for both water shortages and flash floods.
“Thanks to highly precise scientific dating, this is the first time it is possible to point with certainty to a structure that formed the basis for the construction of the Siloam Pool, which until now we knew only from the Bible and historical sources,” said Itamar Berko.
The newly uncovered structure joins two other water systems from the same period discovered in the City of David, an imposing tower that dammed the Gihon Spring, and a water system that gathered water from the Gihon, directed through a channel into the Siloam Pool, where it was joined by floodwaters blocked by the dam.
These systems reflected comprehensive urban planning for managing Jerusalem’s water supply as early as the late 9th century BCE – clear evidence of the city’s power and sophistication.
This massive construction project influenced the city’s development, particularly its southern and western parts – including Mount Zion – which relied on the waters of the Siloam Pool.”
Eli Escusido, Director of the IAA, stated: “This is one of the most impressive and significant First Temple Period remains in Jerusalem, and has been preserved to an extraordinary degree. The revealed dam is awe-inspiring and opens new avenues of research. The discovery of the dam and the Siloam Pool in the City of David is the result of perseverance , professionalism, and archaeological determination. In recent years, Jerusalem has been revealed more than ever before, with all its periods, layers, and cultures – and many surprises still await us.”
Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu stated, “The exposure of the largest dam ever found in Israel, in the heart of ancient Jerusalem, is tangible evidence of the strength of the Kingdom of Judah and the creativity of its kings in dealing with natural and environmental challenges. Already 2,800 years ago, the residents of Jerusalem found ways to apply outstanding engineering ingenuity and devise creative solutions to climate issues in our nation’s history in the days of the First Temple.”
