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.