More Than Half Of The Palestinian Journalists Killed In Gaza Affiliated With Terrorist Organizations

An analysis of the identity of the 131 journalists claimed by Hamas to be killed by Israel revealed by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center that least 78 (more than 59%) were active in or affiliated with a terrorist organization. Among them were 13 prominent members of a terrorist organization, Fatah or the Palestinian Authority. Of them 13 were overtly terrorist operatives belonging to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Fatah and the Palestinian Authority. It is therefore reasonable to assume their coverage of the events was not objective.

• Of the 78 journalists identified as having organizational affiliation, 44 were identified with Hamas, five were identified as the operatives of the military wing and the rest were employed by or represented Hamas media. Nineteen were affiliated with PIJ, six of them actual PIJ terrorist operatives. Others were associated with other Palestinian factions/
• It is not the first time there have been journalists who also had a military role in a terrorist organization, covered operations and wars and worked to influence the battle for hearts and minds, considered of utmost importance by the terrorist organizations. Sometimes, the journalists have been embedded in the military operating on the ground, or members of the propaganda outlets of various military wings. Theoretically, they are immune as journalists during the performance of their duties. For example, many journalists who previously covered operations in the Gaza Strip and the return marches were identified as actively participating in the events, but identified as journalists by PRESS vests. There were also cases in which terrorists wore PRESS vests to carry out terrorist attacks, knowing that the IDF does not attack media personnel.

 

Which Media Will Publish This Story?

 During the last week, the precise and limited operation against the Hamas terrorist organization at the Nasser hospital was concluded

Approximately 200 terror suspects were detained in the hospital and additional findings indicating terrorist activity in the area were discovered; Operations to supply the hospital with humanitarian aid continued, led by the Commando Brigade and the Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza.

During the last week, the precise operation against the Hamas terrorist organization in the area of the Nasser Hospital was concluded. During the operational activity, boxes of sealed medicines were found in the hospital with the names of Israeli hostages on them, large quantities of weapons were found, and about 200 terrorists and suspects in terrorist activities were detained.

The operational activity was conducted to ensure minimal disruption to the hospital’s ongoing activities and without harming patients and medical staff. Furthermore, the IDF provided an alternative generator that allowed the hospital to continue functioning and treating patients, while all the vital systems of the hospital continued to operate on an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) throughout the operational activity. In addition, officers from the Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza coordinated the entry of professional officials to examine the electricity problem in the hospital.

Last week, the hospital received a supply of hundreds of food portions, including water, food, medical equipment and baby formula. Coordination was carried out with the international community to bring in a fuel tank to keep the hospital’s generators functioning.

As part of the effort to protect the patients, officers from the Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza coordinated, at the request of the hospital staff and in cooperation with the international community, the transfer of several critically ill patients to other hospitals in the area.

Before the soldiers exited the hospital, the area was cleaned and an additional food shipment was delivered to the hospital. The IDF continues to operate in accordance with international law against Hamas, which systematically operates from hospitals and civilian infrastructure.

Just One Family's Lives in the Midst of War

Reprinted from Grandma's Army

My oldest daughter, Simcha, has four sons in the Reserves, plus her son-in-law:

Her oldest son, Nir, is a Major in the Givati commandos. He was on his way to volunteer at 11:00 a.m. on October 7th, before his call-up papers arrived. His present service is connected to Intelligence activities and is not for  the public ear.

Omer, from the Givati Battalion, also went straight to his army base on the 7th of October, before his call-up papers arrived two days later. Givati forces are in charge of combatting terrorism in the Gaza Strip area His first assignment was as Deputy Commander of the Forward Command Squad. Because of chronic back problems, he was transferred to the Battalion’s War Room where he is part of a small team. He monitors orders between the Battalions and Brigades, deals with problems of the ground forces in his command, and records the day’s military activities.

Assaf wrote: “At 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 7th, my wife Deni left for her work as a nurse in the Assuta hospital in Ashdod. The massive missile attack caught her on the way while, at the same time, I quickly pulled up my three children from their beds and we ran to the safety room, where we were stuck for the whole morning. In the middle of the day I spoke to my commander friends (we have a what’s-app. group of commanders) and we arranged to travel to the south to our recruitment base at night - after everyone organized their equipment, etc. We had not yet received our call-up, but we knew it would come, and decided not to wait. Instead, we would get to our base and deal with all the necessary arrangements, in order to make it easier and quicker to receive the ground forces.

Deni arrived home at 6 p.m., instead of 4 p.m., looked at me and understood immediately. I finished getting my equipment together, helped to get the kids to bed and to part from them. Our group travelled to the south where only security people were on the roads. Going in the opposite direction the roads were jammed with people living down south, who were escaping to the north. After the rest of our Givati forces arrived, we left for assignments in the settlements in the “Gaza Envelope”. After a few days of army exercises, we received the order to enter Gaza. Since I am from a bereaved family, I was exempt. Instead, I volunteered to serve in a War Room from where the war is essentially conducted. After a short leave, I am returning to the Ramallah area as a battle commander.

Simcha’s youngest son, is a captain in the Maglan elite commando Brigade. He was amongst the first Reservist to be called up on October 7th. He is unable to disclose where he is located at the present time. During the course of the war he set up a War room for his  squadron which he supervised. At the same time he conducted various maneuvers together with his ground forces. Most of the time he was in the area of Gaza. So far, the Maglan Brigade forces have eliminated dozens of terrorists at close quarters, (by sniper and aerial strikes), and enemy observation posts.

Simcha’s son-in-law, Adiel, is an officer in the engineering branch of the Reserves. He is at present in the Northern command, serving in the combat operation’s branch of  the engineering Corps.  

We are fighting an implacable enemy, living in the same world, but with a completely different mindset. The world needs to listen to the threats being made in Arabic and understand, not only the words, but the way of thinking that goes with them.

Israel and Azerbaijan Partnership Forges Ahead

Israel has emerged as Azerbaijan’s top oil purchaser, solidifying an alliance that transcends mere economic transactions. In January 2024, amidst the backdrop of the Munich Security Conference, it was revealed that Israel leads the list of countries importing oil from Azerbaijan, purchasing a substantial 523.5 thousand tons valued at approximately $297 million. This significant figure not only underscores the depth of the Israel-Azerbaijan relationship but also highlights Israel’s commitment to diversifying its energy sources, ensuring its resilience and sustainability.

During the Munich Conference, a pivotal meeting between Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, further cemented the multifaceted ties between the two nations. Discussions spanned various domains, including commercial, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation, illustrating the broad spectrum of mutual interests and shared values that define this partnership.

Notably, the relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan shines as a beacon of interfaith harmony and mutual respect. Azerbaijan, a predominantly Shiite country, has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for its local Jewish community, setting an exemplary standard for tolerance and coexistence in the region.

However, this alliance has not been without its challenges. Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, international pressure has mounted against Azerbaijan due to its close ties with Israel. Despite this, President Aliyev’s steadfast commitment to nurturing the Israel-Azerbaijan relationship speaks volumes about the strength and durability of this bond. It is a clear message that shared goals and mutual respect can overcome geopolitical pressures.

The Israel-Azerbaijan partnership is more than just strategic cooperation; it is a symbol of hope and unity against the backdrop of global challenges. It represents a forward-looking approach to international relations, where common interests pave the way for lasting friendships and mutual support.

As Israel and Azerbaijan continue to strengthen their bonds, they offer a powerful example of how nations can work together towards common goals, fostering peace, prosperity, and stability in an often turbulent world.

We Were All Lied To - Gaza Was a Modern, Developed Place before Oct. 7

 

 The following was written by Roi Yanovsky, a released reserve soldier.

Gaza has been depicted as a backwards, "densely populated" area that's been under Israeli "siege" for years. But pre-war Gaza City was modern, beautiful, and developed - with large, furnished houses, wide avenues, public areas, a promenade, and parks. It looked much better than any other Arab city "from the river to the sea." Gaza City reminds me more of Tel Aviv than the awful slums that some people try to make it out to be. And Gaza is far from being the "most densely populated area in the world."

If this is how a city looks after two decades of "siege," then I want to be sieged. The houses in Gaza were full of goods and food from across the Middle East. They had modern furniture, appliances, and pretty much any up-to-date consumer product and electronics you can imagine. There are also high-end mansions that could easily have been in Los Angeles or Beverly Hills. There was no lack of wealth in Gaza.

I realize now that the optimistic notion that "if only Gazans had the chance for a better life, they would not be fighting Israel," is irrelevant for Gaza. Many of them had everything a normal person in the West strives for, yet Hamas still executed their Oct. 7 massacre.

The most common thing I saw inside the houses was a map of the State of Israel, with the heading "Map of Palestine." There is no mention of any Israeli city. The goal of eradicating Israel was not hidden or played down, it was everywhere  

Gazan Casualties Reported in the International Media.

 Full article https://www.inss.org.il/social_media/numbers/

After only a few days of sympathy on the part of the international media towards the State of Israel on October 7, the trend reversed. The international media then began to focus on the Palestinian victims in the Gaza Strip, while international leaders and public figures began a campaign of condemnation against Israel to the point of accusing it of genocide and calling for a ceasefire.

The international media and many in the international community rely totally on the reports of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, which is run by Hamas, and is entirely subject to its authority and supervision. Referring to Hamas as a reliable source, even though it is a murderous and barbaric terrorist organization, indicates the depth of bias and hatred toward Israel and strong antisemitic roots.

There is no war in which there is no collateral damage and injury to unarmed civilians. However, there is no war in modern history in which the collateral damage is as limited as in this war. What helps reduce it is Israel's adherence to international law and the laws of armed conflict, as well as the supreme effort it makes to reduce this damage by issuing early warnings to the population and urging people to move south, while opening humanitarian corridors and safe traffic routes.

Hamas’s reliability is questionable and problematic, not only on the basis of past experience but in general as well. It is thus necessary to start from the assumption that the numbers of casualties reported are much higher than the real number. In addition, it is important to emphasize that a large number of victims are not innocent citizens but Hamas operatives who work in civilian clothes and assimilate into the population. Their identity is hidden or disguised even after they have been injured or killed, and they are included in the number of civilian casualties. Moreover, a not insignificant percentage of the victims are the result of failed rocket fire by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, such as the incident at al-Ahli Hospital. There are also executions of civilians who seek to flee south and are shot by Hamas.

CHILDREN. The numbers reported regarding children who were harmed are also far-fetched and exaggerated. Here we are dealing with a distortion related to both the international definitions regarding children (up to the age of 17 or 18, every young person is considered a child) and the fact that Hamas trains children for murderous terrorism from preschool age. Hamas recruits young children in their teens and uses them as terrorists. Many of the casualties reported as children are active Hamas terrorists.

In addition, many of those unarmed or uninvolved civilians who were killed as a direct result of IDF activity were killed because Hamas used them as human shields inside civilian buildings and infrastructure such as mosques, schools, clinics, and UNWRA facilities, which were all turned into military installations and rocket launch sites. This serves to present the victimhood narrative to the international media and the international community. Hamas not only does not seek to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians; it also acts with the intention of deliberately sacrificing its people for propaganda and media efforts.

PROPORTIONALITY. One more word about the distorted discourse on proportionality, which is rooted in a disturbing ignorance about the nature of this war and seeks to place responsibility and blame on Israel for the lack of proportionality.  This discourse ignores the effort Israel makes by using human and material capital to develop systems that protect its population and save lives, while Hamas robs its people of international and Israeli aid, and invests all its human and material capital to develop means of killing and operates them from within the civilian population while using its population as human shields. When death, a defining value in the eyes of Hamas and its ilk, succeeds in overshadowing the value of life as a defining value of sane civilizations, there is unquestionably cause for concern.

These are precisely the messages that must be presented firmly to the international media and the international community.

ICJ Considers Israel's "Occupation".

 Public hearings opened at the International Court of Justice in the Hague (ICJ) on Monday regarding the legal repercussions of Israel’s “ongoing occupation” of Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.

The court is hearing arguments due to a request submitted by the U.N. General Assembly pursuant to a Dec. 30, 2022, resolution calling for an examination of the “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”

Hearings will be conducted for a full week at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court.

Hearings opened with an oral statement by the “State of Palestine.”

Fifty-two states and three international organizations will participate in the oral proceedings before the court. Among the countries presenting are Belize, Bolivia, the Comoros, Cuba, the Maldives, Namibia and Syria.

In line with a decision made late last week, Israel has chosen not to send a representative, saying the court lacks jurisdiction to consider the matter.

If Hamas is Allowed to Win

by Alan M. Dershowitz  

What will happen if Hamas is allowed to win this war? If Hamas is permitted to accomplish what it intended by its mass murders, kidnappings and rapes? If the victims of these atrocities — the people of Israel and all countries fighting terrorism — lose? If the prospects for peace in the region and the Free World are seriously damaged? If the relationship between the US and Israel, and the loss of faith in the US as the guarantor of freedom, continues to be fractured?

Instead, the Biden administration may be rewarding Palestinian terrorists by unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian State, which will, of course, soon become militarized.

The anti-Israel left-wingers are not going to vote for Trump, who is more pro-Israel than Biden. Nor are they likely to stay home on Election Day and help Trump. Centrist voters, on the other hand, are likely to vote against Biden if they think he is beholden to the Squad or other anti-American woke extremists.

As important as are the domestic electoral implications of Biden's weakening support for Israel, the international implications are far more consequential. The world will be a far less safe place if Israel is prevented from defeating Hamas and dismantling its military capabilities.

Israel is doing everything reasonable to decrease civilian casualties, while Hamas tries to increase them on both sides. American policy should be to help Israel defeat Hamas and prevent the recurrence and spread of its terrorism against civilians, rather than to help Hamas secure a victory by tying Israel's hands.

So, unless the Biden administration changes course and encourages Israel to achieve its legitimate military goal of defeating Hamas, terrorism will win and civilization will lose.

Good News, Bad News

 © www.benherskowitz.com  

©

Judea & Samaria, the day after.

 What is really going on in Judea and Samaria? 

Can the PA really be reformed and 

take control of the Palestinians, "the day after?"

Golda Meir - Nothing Changes

 Golda Meir explains why nothing ever changes.

The Jews are always held to a different standard around the world.

Biden Executive Order Against "Settler Violence"

 Professor of Law Eugene Kontorovich writes about the Biden executive order: “The new sanctions tools against Israelis announced by the Biden Administration is not about settler violence. First, it does not require acts of violence – anyone vaguely involved in doing or not doing anything the White House thinks undermines “peace” and “security” in Judea and Samaria (J&S) qualifies.”

“As to violence, the language of the Order applies to anyone complicit in acts of violence in J&S – which should mean the entire PA government should have their accounts frozen because of Pay-for-Slay, which federal law has already determined to be complicity in violence. But we know that won’t happen, because this is really a set of sanctions on Jews the Administration doesn’t like – a revolting response to Oct. 7…”

The next problem is with the invective term “settler violence” itself, as it implies that violence by “settlers,” Jews living in Judea & Samaria, is commonplace and a serious problem.

Not new, this term is a highly politicized attempt to delegitimize Jews living in Judea & Samaria, which the Biden Administration would prefer to see form the heart of a Palestinian state. We heard about “settler violence” with regard to an announcement by the US that visas would be denied to “violent” settlers. Now Biden has elevated the response.

The problem is that there is no major problem of “settler violence”! Some 99.9% of the Jews living in Judea & Samaria are peaceful. See http://tinyurl.com/ywjam3fb  

An excellent example of an incident against Jews that is represented as action by Jews against Arabs occurred last weekend: “A group calling itself ‘Staring into the Eyes of the Occupation’ on Saturday provided a stunning example of the blood libel that’s being created in collaboration between Arab terrorists, Israeli anti-Zionist NGOs, and the Biden administration, depicting ‘Settler violence.’

“On Saturday, Jewish farmers, alongside the Israel Police and the IDF found and retrieved a herd of sheep that had been stolen by Bedouins. Throughout the event, the thieving Bedouins threw stones at the rightful owners of the herd, and anarchists took pictures.

“A tweet by the anarchists intended for Biden and the White House: ‘Armed settlers invade barns to loot sheep under the auspices of the security forces.’” See http://tinyurl.com/3yb9n43p. Lies, Lies. and more lies.

 

Sacred Letters from Heaven

 When people leave this world, we mourn their passing and grieve their loss. When people die suddenly and tragically, we’re left wondering how they died and in what state of mind.

During the  war in Gaza, families have received some degree of comfort by hearing voices of fallen soldiers speaking from heaven. Letters they wrote and left behind in the case that they should fall in battle tell us their final thoughts. These heartbreaking voices of the heroes who left us too young tell us much about our world, our culture, our value system, while reminding us about everything that is good and honorable about our people.

For the families of those fallen soldiers, these final thoughts provide solace and comfort; for the rest of us, they provide inspiration. What do these letters say about our soldiers and our society?

Celebrating Life

First and foremost, the letters celebrate life rather than glorifying death. They were written with uncommon poise and remarkable courage given the risk of death. The soldiers encouraged their families to celebrate their lives rather than sink into despair over their deaths. While we aspire to life, and hope to live long lives based on our values, we are prepared to die for them if the situation demands. Jewish martyrdom doesn’t worship death, but ennobles life.

The Historical Moment

Second, many of the letters acknowledge the magnitude of this historical moment. Fallen soldier Rabbi Elkanah Weisel, z’l, expressed a similar historical vision when he wrote, “We are a redeemed generation, and we are composing the most dramatic moments of Jewish history.” The exquisite letters exude a lofty transcendence, recognizing that the war and their tragic deaths are a small part of a larger, more eternal historical narrative.

Living In Two Worlds

None of the letters, even those written by religious soldiers, mentions the afterlife. Judaism envisions a delicate union between this world and the next. We build our spiritual identity in this world and maintain spiritual experience in the next world without the obstacles this world poses. We build Heaven on Earth and take it with us when we die. Viewing afterlife as a “result” rather than a “reward” fastens us to this world. These heartfelt letters, composed by people on their way to the next world, are still firmly grounded in this world.

Selfless Letters

Finally, the letters are completely selfless, providing comfort for the families who may be facing a crushing loss. Chillingly, the soldiers explicitly forbid any prisoner exchange should they be taken hostage. Well aware of the horrific treatment of hostages, the soldiers put the welfare of their country above their own.

These are sacred letters of life, historical consciousness, and selflessness. May the memory of the heroic martyrs be a merit for our people and may we endeavor to make them proud.

Israel’s Progess in Gaza

 For full article go to http://tinyurl.com/2uy84s33

The war is far from over, but Hamas’s southern stronghold of Khan Younis is falling. Civilians have streamed out and Hamas’s remaining forces in the city’s west are encircled. They face an Israeli advance on all sides, and Israel is now fighting above and below ground in force.

Consider that the 2016-17 battle of Mosul against ISIS took nine months. “Mosul,” writes John Spencer, chief of urban warfare studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, “was one battle, in one city against 3 to 5k militants with limited defenses. Israel is fighting multiple battles in 7 cities against 30k militants with military grade underground cities built under civilian areas.”

Israel needs time to achieve victory, and Hamas is counting on Western powers to deny it that time. The “CNN strategy” of using human shields to gain media sympathy has worked every time so far for Hamas.

Israel believes it has killed, incapacitated or arrested some 20,000 of Hamas’s 30,000 men and dismantled 18 of Hamas’s 24 Gaza combat battalions. The losses have prevented Hamas from mounting military maneuvers and quieted its rocket fire, down more than 95% from the war’s early days.

The Biden Administration is using that domestic pressure as diplomatic leverage to promote a hostage deal and long pause in the war that it hopes will become a cease-fire. Never mind that leaving Hamas in control of territory is the definition of Israeli defeat. No matter the length of the pause, Israel would likely have to resume fighting afterward.

That may be why Hamas has resisted the U.S. pause and hostage-deal proposal and instead demands a cease-fire guarantee that Israel can’t give. Recall that Hamas consented to the first hostage deal after Israel took Gaza City faster than anticipated. An Israeli advance now could push the terrorists to Rafah, Hamas’s last major refuge, at the edge of Gaza.

Once Hamas’s last brigades are defeated, it will take time to sweep Gaza for terrorist cells and infrastructure. Israel is clearing urban terrain and tunnels at a “historic pace,” Mr. Spencer writes, but the tunnels are vast and soldiers are finding munitions in home after home.

Israel’s task for 2024 is to finish the job, but will U.S. political support hold? The Biden Administration, despite its second-guessing, continues to provide munitions and diplomatic cover that it would have a hard time withdrawing. The latest Harvard CAPS-Harris poll finds that large majorities of Americans support Israel and its war aims.

Europe’s elected leaders are also holding the line, and no Arab state has quit the Abraham Accords. Only Iran, which has escalated its regional war against the U.S., applies pressure. Even the United Nations International Court of Justice balked at ordering a cease-fire.

Winning the war doesn’t guarantee winning the peace afterward, but it is essential for a secure Israel and a chance for Palestinians to have a normal life in Gaza.