Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #13

[SophieRose]

I very much hope that little Avigail can stay in touch with the Zin family (also released, mother and two daughters). I had read that Avigail became friends with Dafna Zin in particular and I think the Zin family supported and cared for Avigail. I expect a strong bond was made during their captivity.

Does anyone know whether Avigail's aunt and family live in Israel or the US?

Her great aunt in America said in an interview that she will be staying in Israel with her aunt and family.

 

[Dotta]

"Israeli dogs of war ​

from IDF canine unit ​

awarded honours in recognition for their work uncovering Hamas booby traps."​

Four Israeli military dogs to be buried with full military honours

The group of crack Belgian shepherds - named as Middo, Tyga, Jack and Gendi - were killed after discovering more than 50 devices, weapons and ammunition stockpiles in the last month.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[SophieRose]

Emily Hand 'better than expected' after hostage ordeal

The father of the Irish-Israeli girl says she has lost some weight but is doing better than expected.

www.bbc.com

The father of Emily Hand has said she is "generally doing better than we expected", after having been released by Hamas.

On Sunday, her father, Thomas Hand, said she "lost a lot of weight from her face and body".

 

[Teche]

13min ago

Health minister: Israeli released from Gaza says she told Hamas to let older hostage go instead​

Health Minister Uriel Busso says he visited a released hostage in her 70s who told him that she argued with Hamas terrorists that others should be released before her.

In an interview on Channel 12 news, Busso says he visited a woman released over the weekend who is still in the hospital, and she told him that when they told her she was being released, “she said, ‘wait, but there is a woman older than me who is in worse health — don’t you think you should let her go first?'”

Busso says this shows the incredible strength she retained in captivity as well as her care for her fellow Israelis.

2min ago

Channah Peri, 79, heads home from hospital after being freed from Gaza​

Channah Peri, center, waves as she leaves the Wolfson Medical Center on November 26, 2023, after she was released from Gaza captivity two days earlier. (Courtesy)

The Wolfson Medical Center says that Channah Peri, 79, who was released from Gaza captivity on Friday night, is going home.

Peri was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim on October 7. Her son, Nadav Popplewell, is still held in Gaza.

Dr. Anat Engel, director of the hospital, says that “these are moments of happiness and excitement mixed with pain and hope for the return of all of the hostages.”

Engel says that the hospital staff treated Peri “with professionalism and sensitivity and we have no doubt that Channah represents the resilience of the Israeli people.”

What a kind soul. God bless her.

 

[Dotta]

" 'I wish I was there to hold her': ​

President Biden celebrates the release of four-year-old Israeli-American hostage​

Abigail Mor Edan and vows to​

'not stop working' ​

until all being held are returned home."​

Biden celebrates the release of four-year-old hostage Abigail Mor Edan

President Joe Biden cheered the release of four-year-old Israeli-American Abigail Mor Edan, who was among the hostages released by Hamas on Sunday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[SophieRose]

Emily Hand 'better than expected' after hostage ordeal

The father of the Irish-Israeli girl says she has lost some weight but is doing better than expected.

www.bbc.com

The father of Emily Hand has said she is "generally doing better than we expected", after having been released by Hamas.

On Sunday, her father, Thomas Hand, said she "lost a lot of weight from her face and body".

Reports had said that Emily was at a sleepover at a friend's house. Does anyone know what happened to the friend and their family?

 

[Dotta]

"Nine-year-old Hamas hostage Ohad Munder ​

enjoys first meal of schnitzel and mash ​

before Israeli football team visits him in hospital and friends join to eat ice cream together."​

Nine-year-old hostage Ohad enjoys a meal before football team visits

Nine-year-old hostage Ohad Munder has enjoyed his first meal of schnitzel and mash - before an Israeli football team came to visit him in hospital.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[sds71]

Reports had said that Emily was at a sleepover at a friend's house. Does anyone know what happened to the friend and their family?

In a statement from Hila released to Hebrew media outlets that could not be independently confirmed, she says that “Mom was with me the whole time in captivity. Hamas separated us two days before the release. Mom was in good shape, we were together with Emily [Hand]. Hamas told us that there was a ceasefire and they were letting us go.”

Irish-Israeli citizen Emily Hand, 9, was at a sleepover with Hila when they were both kidnapped along with Raya on October 7.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/girl-freed-from-gaza-without-her-mom-says-they-were-split-up-2-days-before-release/

 

[PommyMommy]

2hr ago

First image of Almog-Goldstein children arriving in Israel after being freed from Gaza​

Gal and Tal Almog-Goldstein play with toys at the IDF Hatzerim airbase following their release from Gaza on November 26, 2023. (Courtesy)

The first image emerges of some of the Almog-Goldstein children arriving in Israel after being freed from Gaza earlier today.

Gal and Tal Almog-Goldstein, who were released this evening from Gaza captivity, are seen in the photo playing with toys and games as they arrive at the IDF Hatzerim airbase following 51 days in Hamas captivity.

Their father, Nadav, and their older sister, Yam, were murdered by Hamas on October 7.

The children were released today, along with their mother, Chen, and their sister, Agam, 17.

 

[PommyMommy]

10min ago

Israeli-linked tanker attacked near Yemen freed by American sailors​

[...]

One US official says the USS Mason responded to the ship’s distress call and freed the tanker.

They do not say who the USZ believes is behind the attack, which has not been claimed.

A US defense official earlier said that it appeared “an unknown number of unidentified armed individuals” seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.

“US and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation,” the official said.

[...]

 

[Dotta]

"Sisters aged 15 and 8 ​

are reunited with their mother after being released from their Hamas hostage hell: ​

Terror group free 17 more captives - ​

including US girl, 4, who must now be told she's an orphan.​

Ela Elyakim, 8, and Dafna Elyakim, 15, were kidnapped during the October 7 massacre after being forced to watch the terrorists question their father before his death.

Today the sisters were released and reunited with their mother Maayan Zin, who held them in a tight embrace after spending weeks living in 'despair and hope, between pain and optimism'.

Ms Zin said her daughters, who were among the 17 hostages handed over to the Red Cross today, are now returning to a 'new and complex situation' and face a long period of recovery."

Sisters reunited with mother after being released from Hamas hell

Ela Elyakim, 8, and Dafna Elyakim, 15, were kidnapped during the October 7 massacre after being forced to watch the terrorists question their father before his death.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Momoffourboys]

A British reporter claimed that Israel freed children by exchanging abductees - the Prime Minister's spokesman did not remain indifferent: "We must fight against this anti-Zionist line"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728899496489218413

(He unleashes on her!)

 

[PommyMommy]

1h ago / 2:56 PM PST

Grandmother who is a 'pillar of her family' released today​

Aviva Siegel, 62, will get to return to her family after more than 50 days since she was kidnapped from her home in kibbutz Kfar Aza, according to the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum headquarters.

Siegel is a kindergarten teacher whom the forum described in a statement as someone who especially loved children.

"She’s also a pillar of her family," the forum said. "Aviva brings laughter and lightness everywhere she goes, enjoys hiking, baking, and cooking, and especially spoiling her children and grandchildren."

[...]

27m ago / 3:31 PM PST

North Carolina native whose wife was released still being held​

Keith Siegel, whose wife was released today, is among the hostages still being held, officials said.

Siegel is a North Carolina native, Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said in a statement calling for the release of the remaining hostages.

His wife, Aviva Siegel, was kidnapped Oct. 7 from her home in kibbutz Kfar Aza.

A senior Biden administration official told NBC News they are focused on the remaining hostages and Biden received an update on their possible status earlier today.

The official said they will “now work to reunite Aviva and Keith Siegel “through efforts to extend the pause and secure the releases of hostages beyond women and children.”

Israel-Hamas war live updates: American girl, 4, among 17 hostages freed on third day of cease-fire

Follow NBC News' coverage for live updates about the Israel-Hamas war: Third group of hostages set to be released as truce holds.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Momoffourboys]

10min ago

Israeli-linked tanker attacked near Yemen freed by American sailors​

[...]

One US official says the USS Mason responded to the ship’s distress call and freed the tanker.

They do not say who the USZ believes is behind the attack, which has not been claimed.

A US defense official earlier said that it appeared “an unknown number of unidentified armed individuals” seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.

“US and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation,” the official said.

[...]

“The 5 hijackers who tried to overtake the Israeli linked tanker are now being questioned by the U.S. military under counter piracy authorities.”

https://x.com/JenGriffinFNC/status/1728918352603836790?s=20

 

[Momoffourboys]

‘We should all remember the price Israel is paying for this good news’Rami Igra, former Head of Mossad MIA Unit explains Hamas’s tactics in violating the agreement, the possible Israeli response and what to expect the day after the ceasefire

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728926754469736545

 

[Momoffourboys]

Why are so many Palestinians dying? Is what the IDF is doing in Gaza worse than other modern conflicts? Are they targeting civilians?! I sat down with
@IDF Lt. Col. @jconricus Conricus for @ILTVNews to ask him to answer that and more…take a look:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728773787712192733

 

[JennieM]

1h ago
Amnesty International has reported “horrifying cases of torture and degrading treatment” of Palestinians in Israeli prisons amid a “spike in arbitrary arrests” since 7 October.

Earlier this month, Amnesty International reported that since 7 October, Israeli forces have detained more than 2,200 Palestinian men and women. It added that testimony from released detainees and human rights lawyers, as well as video footage and images illustrate “some of the forms of torture and other ill-treatment prisoners have been subjected to by Israeli forces over the past four weeks”.

Those include “severe beatings and humiliation of detainees, including by forcing them to keep their heads down, to kneel on the floor during inmate count, and to sing Israeli songs”, said Amnesty International.

In a statement, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa regional director said:

Over the last month we have witnessed a significant spike in Israel’s use of administrative detention – detention without charge or trial that can be renewed indefinitely – which was already at a 20-year high before the latest escalation in hostilities on 7 October. Administrative detention is one of the key tools through which Israel has enforced its system of apartheid against Palestinians.

Earlier this year, Save the Children published new research that revealed that Palestinian children detained in the Israeli military detention system face physical and emotional abuse.

According to the humanitarian organization, 86% of them are beaten and 69% are strip-searched. Meanwhile, 42% are injured at the point of arrest including gunshot wounds and broken bones, the children’s rights organization reported.

It added that some children report sexual violence while others are “transferred to court or between detention centers in small cages”.

Syria says Israeli strikes put Damascus airport out of service – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[SophieRose]

In a statement from Hila released to Hebrew media outlets that could not be independently confirmed, she says that “Mom was with me the whole time in captivity. Hamas separated us two days before the release. Mom was in good shape, we were together with Emily [Hand]. Hamas told us that there was a ceasefire and they were letting us go.”

Irish-Israeli citizen Emily Hand, 9, was at a sleepover with Hila when they were both kidnapped along with Raya on October 7.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/girl-freed-from-gaza-without-her-mom-says-they-were-split-up-2-days-before-release/

Thanks. Found a little more. Not said, but I guess Emily was in the safe room with them.

Israeli hostage Hila Rotem, 13, has been released but her mom is still a captive. Does the deal allow this?

A mother-daughter duo, Raya and Hila Rotem, were captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the safe room of their home

www.hindustantimes.com

A mother-daughter duo, Raya and Hila Rotem, was captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the safe room of their home. Raya, 54, wrote to her brother at 12:05 pm that she and her 13-year-old daughter were being kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

It was only on October 29 that the two were confirmed as Hamas hostages.

 

[Mex]

The above article may come across as an opinion article, but we are going to allow it because Nicole Johnson is an experienced investigative reporter. Reading about her experience of living in Gaza gives us the flavour of the land, its people, and a comparison of life before and since Hamas came to power.

I felt claustrophobic reading Nicole Johnson's informative article and I applaud your decision to allow it to stand for information and giving an idea of how we arrived at this impasse.

I am ashamed to say I hadn't really given much thought to the situation in the Gaza strip until the news was broken of the outrage of the 7th. Me and most of the rest of the civilised world.
But we know for a certainty that more unarmed civilians will be killed in their thousands if the war is allowed to continue. Because there is absolutely nowhere for them to go. And that really is unacceptable.


<modsnip>

 

[Momoffourboys]

Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa hacked by Iranian-backed cyber group​

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (KDKA) - The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa said on Saturday that one of their booster stations had been hacked by an Iranian-backed cyber group.

Matthew Mottes, the chairman of the board of directors for the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, confirmed to KDKA-TV that the cyber group, known as Cyber Av3ngers, took control of one of the stations. An alarm went off as soon as the hack had occurred.
…

The machine that was hacked uses a system called Unitronics, which Mottes says is software or has components that are Israeli-owned.

Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa hacked by Iranian-backed cyber group

The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa said on Saturday that one of their booster stations had been hacked by an Iranian-backed cyber group.

www.cbsnews.com