Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #12

[margarita25]

Eta: Re the 10 “missing” child hostages, this video mentions the possibility of them being grabbed (by non Hamas?) for ransom.

 

[Momoffourboys]

‘This was a terrible decision, but the only decision to be made…to alleviate as much possible human suffering, this is the Jewish ethos - and we’re giving a lot for that’Says @DannyAyalon, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. in conversation with @benitalevin

https://twitter.com/x/status/1727496102134284574

 

[PommyMommy]

1m ago / 9:23 PM PST

Blinken thanks Qatari PM for brokering deal​

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for his "critical efforts to help broker the deal" between Israel and Hamas.

On the call, Blinken and Al Thani discussed "ongoing efforts" to bring home more than 200 hostages held by Hamas, as well as the need for humanitarian aid into Gaza and a safe way out for foreign nationals still in Gaza.

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. “remains committed” to finding a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, according to a U.S. readout of the call.

Israel-Hamas war live updates: No hostages will be released before Friday (nbcnews.com)

 

[MyBelle]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed>
Qatar is explaining diplomacy to Hamas. And evidently Hamas does understand because they have agreed to release more hostages. They have already released several, including Americans. More Americans are still being held as hostages.

JMO

Israel-Hamas Deal Hinged on Proof-of-Life, Qatar Sheikh

The breakthrough between Israel and Hamas that will see dozens of hostages and prisoners released from both sides — and more aid flow into Gaza — almost never happened.

www.bloomberg.com

As Israel’s closest ally, the US was under pressure to support its historic partner — and find a way to secure the release of nearly a dozen Americans taken in the Hamas offensive. President Joe Biden flew to Israel less than two weeks after the attack, publicly defending Israel’s right to self-defense but privately pushing for a deal to get hostages freed. He also warily eyed rising frustration in his party over Israel’s counterattacks against Hamas in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

For the Biden team, a sliver of hope emerged when Hamas — a designated terrorist group by the US and European Union — freed an American mother and her daughter on Oct. 20 and Qatar’s leader, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, got directly involved in the talks.

 

[Momoffourboys]

There’s only one question the world should ask Hamas:
Would they do it again?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1727216776260522302

 

[Momoffourboys]

Family member of hostage: The uncertainty ‘is killing us’​

A family member of a hostage held captive in Gaza says that the delays and changes in the deal to release their loved ones is taking an enormous toll on the already frayed emotions of the families.

“These ups and downs are killing us,” Diego Engelbert, whose sister, Karina, brother-in-law, Ronen and their daughters Mika and Yuval are held hostage, tells Army Radio.

“We were holding onto a ray of hope and once again it’s gone — this is part of the psychological terror we go through on a daily basis.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/family-member-of-hostage-the-uncertainty-is-killing-us/

 

[margarita25]

15 hours ago:

 

[PommyMommy]

3min ago

Likud minister says he believes the hostage deal will still ‘be realized’​

Likud Minister Israel Katz reacts to the delay in implementing the hostage deal, saying dealing with Hamas obviously has its challenges.

“You have to remember who we’re working with — [Hamas chief Yiyha] Sinwar, an insane man who gave orders to kill, rape, abuse,” Katz tells Army Radio. “We’re ready for any possibility, right now the assumption is that the deal will be realized.”

Katz responds to the fact that family members of the hostages said they found out about the delay from the media, claiming that “the connection with and treatment of the family members is all-encompassing. It seems that after the press conference [by Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz] Tzachi Hanegbi wanted to express a development, and it was important from a diplomatic and strategic point to clarify that — it’s likely that there was no opportunity to update the families in that moment.”

 

[margarita25]

 

[Dotta]

There’s only one question the world should ask Hamas:
Would they do it again?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1727216776260522302

IMO
Without resolving the problems of the region, there will always be menace of terrorist attacks.
Whatever the names of the terrorist groups.

After all, this has been a never ending story for over 70 years.

JMO

 

[Friday Fan]

Qatar is explaining diplomacy to Hamas. And evidently Hamas does understand because they have agreed to release more hostages. They have already released several, including Americans. More Americans are still being held as hostages.

JMO

Israel-Hamas Deal Hinged on Proof-of-Life, Qatar Sheikh

The breakthrough between Israel and Hamas that will see dozens of hostages and prisoners released from both sides — and more aid flow into Gaza — almost never happened.

www.bloomberg.com

As Israel’s closest ally, the US was under pressure to support its historic partner — and find a way to secure the release of nearly a dozen Americans taken in the Hamas offensive. President Joe Biden flew to Israel less than two weeks after the attack, publicly defending Israel’s right to self-defense but privately pushing for a deal to get hostages freed. He also warily eyed rising frustration in his party over Israel’s counterattacks against Hamas in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

For the Biden team, a sliver of hope emerged when Hamas — a designated terrorist group by the US and European Union — freed an American mother and her daughter on Oct. 20 and Qatar’s leader, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, got directly involved in the talks.

I don't think they "understand" in the way we understand. I think money talks. Someone is pulling Hamas' strings too. (Iran and Qatar etc) They're getting their weapons from somewhere. Someone wants Hamas to exist. As soon as that powerful someone doesn't want Hamas to exist, Hamas will dwindle away.

 

[SouthAussie]

A senior Israeli military official (unnamed) has stated that they think they have killed about 5,000 Hamas.

Only about 20,000 more of them to kill.

Zvika Haimovich, former commander of the Israel Air Defense Forces, said that in the first two weeks 4 or 5 rockets were fired at Israel every 4 or 5 hours. Now it is 4 or 5 rockets every 3 days.

At least 50,000 buildings have been damaged in north Gaza, rendering it uninhabitable. The medical system has been forced into collapse.

Military briefing: has Israel achieved its war aims in Gaza?

Benjamin Netanyahu remains a long way from his objectives despite the deal to free some of the hostages taken by Hamas

www.ft.com

 

[margarita25]

13 hours ago:

15 hours ago:

 

[MyBelle]

I don't think they "understand" in the way we understand. I think money talks. Someone is pulling Hamas' strings too. (Iran and Qatar etc) They're getting their weapons from somewhere. Someone wants Hamas to exist. As soon as that powerful someone doesn't want Hamas to exist, Hamas will dwindle away.

If the goal is to achieve a 2-state solution, I hope Hamas' militants will move out of the area.

JMO

 

[PommyMommy]

6min ago

After delay, Qatar says announcement on timing of truce to be made in the coming hours​

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson says the hostage talks Doha is mediating between Israel and Hamas are “progressing positively” and that an announcement will be made in the coming hours regarding the exact time that the truce will begin.

Officials in Qatar, Israel and Hamas separately announced yesterday that the deal would come into place this morning at 10 a.m., but Israel later announced that implementation would not take place before Friday morning due to apparent logistical delays.

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari says in a statement that Qatar is working with the two warring parties along with Israel and the US “to ensure the rapid start of the truce and to provide what is necessary to ensure the parties’ commitment to the agreement.”

 

[margarita25]

This is very messed up-

NYC street cart vendor harassed by Obama adviser speaks out

The vendor - who gave his name only as Mohammad - told DailyMail.com he did nothing to provoke Stuart Seldowitz, who started asking him where he was from and harassing him two weeks ago.

www.dailymail.co.uk

His side of the story, not sure I believe him. Jmo.

 

[Friday Fan]

If the goal is to achieve a 2-state solution, I hope Hamas' militants will move out of the area.

JMO

I don't know what they want. I will quote El Salvador's president: Hamas is basically MS-13. I have no idea what demented MS-13 wants besides possibly money.

 

[Arkay]

There’s only one question the world should ask Hamas:
Would they do it again?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1727216776260522302

This is so EXACTLY true.
IMO this cannot be repeated enough.

Hamas is NOT SORRY. Hamas is THRILLED.

They killed and tortured and raped and kidnapped more Israelis than they had expected they would.

They are glorifying in the awful fact that Israeli and US intelligence did not grasp that this massacre was heading to the kibbutzim.

They were thrilled and remain thrilled and have not suddenly become sweet and kind-hearted and sorrowful over their atrocities. The eyes and hands that took glee in burning babies and families alive have not, out of the blue, become overwhelmed with regret.

They are being decimated by Israel and their secrets have been exposed. They need time to regroup and that’s how they’ll spend these “pauses.”

Sure, they’ll toss back a handful of hostages. That was the plan and why they kidnapped some instead of killing them. It’s a ploy to free their terrorist brethren from Israeli prisons. It’s why they won’t release them all, because they’ll lose their leverage.

They have no mercy. They have no humanity. They have no soul.

These soon-to-be released prisoners are chuckling now at how well the plan worked, and they will rejoin Hamas and immediately begin plans for the next attack.

Israel knows this but made a difficult decision, because the hostages do of course have to be freed immediately.

God willing Israel and the U.S. and other allies will not be caught unaware ever again

All IMO

 

[SouthAussie]

If the goal is to achieve a 2-state solution, I hope Hamas' militants will move out of the area.

JMO

Nothing is going to happen for a long time.

Amir Avivi, former deputy commander of the Gaza Division of Israel’s military, said that after Israel takes all of Gaza it will take them about a year to clear the whole Gaza Strip. Meaning clearing it of booby traps, IEDs, bombs, munitions.

Military briefing: has Israel achieved its war aims in Gaza?

Benjamin Netanyahu remains a long way from his objectives despite the deal to free some of the hostages taken by Hamas

www.ft.com

 

[margarita25]

4 hours ago: