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

[Sundog]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/29/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-hostages-palestine/#link-CYFIQP3KZBHVPL3QMWTDBBM3MU

7:16 a.m. EST
Return to menu

By Andrew Jeong
Reporter at the Seoul hub
The House of Representatives adopted a resolution reaffirming Israel’s “right to exist,” in a 412-1 vote Tuesday, with one member voting present. The resolution “rejects calls for Israel’s destruction” and “condemns the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel.”
Rep. Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.), who sponsored the resolution, said he was proud that Republicans and Democrats “set aside our differences” to show support for Israel.

The Congress member who voted "present" is Rep. Tlaib from Michigan, the member who was censured earlier by the U.S. House of Representatives for her statements in support of the elimination of the nation of Israel.

 

[PrairieWind]

Israel-Gaza live updates: Hamas claims 3 hostages killed by previous Israeli strikes

A four-day cease-fire between Hamas and Israel has been extended by two days, Qatari officials announced on Monday. Dozens of the more than 200 people taken hostage during Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel and held in the war-torn Gaza Strip for nearly two months were released over the...

www.yahoo.com

If they are dead, and Hamas knew this and kept it quiet while the negotiations for extending the cease fire were ongoing, I am worried that as this news comes out that the cease fire is probably nearing its end. I would think that Israel would want proof of life of all remaining hostages before even considering further negotiations.

 

[Friday Fan]

LIVE UPDATEFROM THE LIVEBLOG OF WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-sanctions-iranian-financial-network-that-supports-hamas-and-hezbollah/

US sanctions Iranian financial network that supports Hamas and Hezbollah​

WASHINGTON — The US Treasury Department announces another series of sanctions against 20 individuals and entities involved in a financial network benefiting Iran’s defense ministry, military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force.

“Iran’s commodity sales, carried out through a network of foreign-based front companies, provide revenue that helps the regime to continue its support for terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Iranian military entities and their business partners enable these sales and exploit the international financial system to recoup the revenue,” the State Department says in a statement.

“The Iranian regime uses this illicit revenue to support conflict and spread terror throughout the Middle East. The United States will continue to disrupt Iran’s funding support for terrorists,” the statement adds.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/in-first-un-chief-calls-for-investigation-of-sexual-violence-during-october-7-onslaught/

In first, UN chief calls for investigation of sexual violence during October 7 onslaught​

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the first time urges that allegations of sexual violence committed during the October 7 massacres be investigated.

“There are also numerous accounts of sexual violence during the attacks that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” Guterres says during a briefing to the UN Security Council. “Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry tore into the UN office for women’s issues last week for taking 50 days to comment on the evidence of sexual violence perpetrated during Hamas’s onslaught last month, only to issue a brief statement expressing “alarm” on the matter.


On Instagram, UN Women posted a condemnation of Hamas before deleting it shortly later and replacing it with a call to release all hostages in Gaza.

Palestinian protest icon Ahed Tamimi set to be released from jail today in deal for Gaza hostages

* * *

www.timesofisrael.com

Palestinian protest icon Ahed Tamimi set to be released from jail today in deal for Gaza hostages​

 

[Friday Fan]

The Congress member who voted "present" is Rep. Tlaib from Michigan, the member who was censured earlier by the U.S. House of Representatives for her statements in support of the elimination of the nation of Israel.

Yes, but I'm pleased with the vote.

Another member was "not present". Member name can be found via google.

 

[Friday Fan]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-hostage-releases-are-a-daily-mix-of-horror-and-relief-and-this-is-the-easy-part/

Hamas hostage releases are a daily mix of horror and relief. And this is the easy part​

snip...
Every day since Friday, the nation has waited helplessly, guns voluntarily silenced, to see whether the same heartless monsters who massacred 1,200 of our people in and around their homes just a few weeks ago will honor a deal — even writing those words is beyond ridiculous and surreal — and give back a few of those that they despicably dragged away alive.

snip...
Hamas is torturing its captives one final time, showing an insistently gullible world its ostensible magnanimity (wow, look at that, Mia still has her dog), and malevolently showcasing to any non-supportive Gazans and to Israel its ongoing control and potency.

snip...
But it is holding back another iconic innocent — 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, along with his four-year-old brother Ariel, and their parents — twisting the knife in Israeli hearts, and keeping up the pressure on Israel’s leaders, who know the war must resume until Hamas is dismantled, but who have said too that every effort must be made to return every hostage.

snip....

But next will come the terrorists’ offer to free all the rest of those they seized on October 7, which will be mainly soldiers and former soldiers — in return for all of the Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel: all of the murderers, all of the instigators and orchestrators and perpetrators of terrorism, including all of those who were captured in Israel on and soon after October 7.

snip...

There is likely not a minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government who would agree to those terms. There are very few in the mainstream opposition who would either.

________________

MOO: Aren't soldiers considered POWs? No significant release until the Vietnam war ended. No temporary ceasefire or bargaining for their release. Released after the war ended, not during. We held POWs in the US until after WWII ended too, Some of the WWII POWs are buried at local National Cemetery. (They died in captivity and were not claimed. A few died after the war and were never claimed. Germany did not want them back)

Operation Homecoming - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Operation Homecoming was the return of 591 American prisoners of war (POWs) held by North Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

 

[Sundog]

(This poor woman. I hope she gets to see her daughter)

"I have brain cancer, I don't know how much time I have left and I want to be able to see my Noa," the mother of Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped from the party by the evil ones, begs to be released: "Noa, know that I love you the most and we did everything to get you out quickly."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729864192038187439

Do we know that Noa is still alive? What is the intelligence on Noa?

Bring Noa home!

 

[Sundog]

It's up to Hamas.
If they don't tell the Red Cross where they are, there isn't anything Red Cross can do.

MOO...I think this where Hamas' connection to medical facilities comes into play. MOO

ETA:

Qatar mediator says latest prisoner release would comprise 16 children and 14 women – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

CNN is reporting that officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross have as yet been unable to visit hostages in Gaza, which is in contradiction to the truce agreement.

One source told CNN this was unlikely to derail discussions on a further extension. However, the Red Cross has come under criticism from families of the hostages. Rachel Goldberg, whose son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin is being held, has said the organisation is “doing a wonderful job being an Uber service” for the released hostages, but is not providing any medical assistance to those held captive.

CNN quotes Red Cross spokesperson Jason Straziuso saying that it is not directly involved in negotiations, adding:

I haven't heard the UN making repeated demands for Hamas to provide access to the Red Cross over the last 50 plus days. Where is the voice of the UN on this? This should have been their number one priority! What a pathetic organization.

 

[sds71]

The Biebs family responded to Hamas' claims: "We are waiting for the news to be verified or hopefully disproved soon by military officials. We thank the people of Israel for the warm embrace but ask to maintain our privacy at this complex time."

https://x.com/kann_news/status/1729906539333394605?s=20

 

[Teche]

Hamas has said that 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel, 4, and his mother Shiri have been killed. They said they lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike. This is a dagger to the heart of every Israeli, every Jew and every person of conscience worldwide

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729864408644628666

Horrid. Hamas’ prior statement was that these beautiful souls were handed off to a fringe group.

 

[Mex]

Hamas is the official government. Shouldn't hamas be building shelters for the citizens that voted for them? Maybe hamas will open tunnels as shelters to save the citizens.

I have to wonder, if the UN supported schools, incorporate a plan to protect and/or train students/residents in an attack or other perils? I remember in grade school, practicing sheltering in the school basement. Even today we train students for threats.

All moo...

I don't think that is realistic.

If any puppet government had power to do anything at all I think the first would be to cancel the blockades keeping the people in poverty.

If in power, then I would ask the people for a mandate to open crossings which will enable trade and commerce cross borders.

I would then ask the people where they think the best place might be to open their international airport.

There must be a place for sea ports to be established in a country open to the sea and one could expect fishing in territorial waters to be in the control of the people who make up the electorate.

Farmers to be protected by a cordon sanitaire and perhaps even border patrols to protect them from incursions from armed criminals.

There are certain prerequisites required before any of your suggestions could take place; I suggest just a few.

My opinion

 

[justtrish]

Horrid. Hamas’ prior statement was that these beautiful souls were handed off to a fringe group.

I suspect HAMAS is just blowing smoke like they have in the past. If they don't know where this family is because they gave them or sold them to another group, then how can they say they died in an airstrike? They either know where they are and who has them or they don't. Just 2 days ago it didn't know.. now they died in an airstrike.. there have been no airstrikes for 6 days now. I pray this isn't true. I believe they claimed another hostage.. an elderly woman was killed also and then she was miraculously released a few days ago alive and "well".

 

[Arkay]

Hamas has said that 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel, 4, and his mother Shiri have been killed. They said they lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike. This is a dagger to the heart of every Israeli, every Jew and every person of conscience worldwide

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729864408644628666

As all people who are not in favor of the kidnap, captivity, and suffering of infants stolen from their homes, I sincerely hope this is not true. Of course.

I do have fears, though.

We know that Hamas has lied about other hostages, such as one of the elderly women who was said to be dead but has returned. This awful news could potentially be more of that psychological torture.

Yet…

What we’ve been told by the freed hostages regarding the poor nutrition and other deprivations they’ve suffered is very alarming.

What if, for example, the mother had been breast feeding? If she has inadequate nutrition and sleep, she won’t be able to produce milk for her baby. Yes, they can give the baby something else but there are so many things an infant without teeth cannot consume. I know the mother would chew it first for him, but a baby needs so much more.

It is also, IMO, very unnerving that none of the other hostages released so far have seen any trace of the Bibas family.

Maybe they are in fact just being kept in a completely different area by another offshoot terrorist group. Maybe they are being held because they are such trophies to crazed terrorist maniacs.

Or maybe they actually are dead.

I hate that Palestinian criminals who attempted terrorist acts are being released from prison, as they make no secret of gearing up again to kill Jews. It is something that Israel had to weigh in the balances to have their hostages returned, as we all know, and was part of the Hamas plan.

I am so anxious that adult male civilians such as Hersh may never be freed, and IMO all IDF soldiers are dead or will be held hostage for years as Hamas tries to eke out more deals for itself.

All I want is to be completely wrong about this.

My opinions.

 

[PrairieWind]

Do we know that Noa is still alive? What is the intelligence on Noa?

Bring Noa home!

I don't think we have heard anything about Noa.

I don't think that is realistic.

If any puppet government had power to do anything at all I think the first would be to cancel the blockades keeping the people in poverty.

Then I would ask the people for a mandate to open crossings which will enable trade and commerce cross borders.

I would then ask the people where they think the best place might be to open their international airport.

There must be a place for sea ports to be established in a country open to the sea and one could expect fishing in territorial waters to be in the control of the people who make up the electorate.

Farmers to be protected by a cordon sanitaire and perhaps even border patrols to protect them from incursions from armed criminals.

There are certain prerequisites required before any of your suggestions could take place; I suggest just a few.

My opinion

But for ANY of that to happen, Gazans must commit to peace and not openly vow to wage war/massacre against the very people they are demanding help from. And Hamas wont do that. To say Gaza is an open air prison is ridiculous. But even if it is, it is a prison of their own making and they old the keys to their own freedom but refuse to use them.

 

[Momoffourboys]

Do we know that Noa is still alive? What is the intelligence on Noa?

Bring Noa home!

No. There has been no info on her or her boyfriend.

 

[Friday Fan]

I suspect HAMAS is just blowing smoke like they have in the past. If they don't know where this family is because they gave them or sold them to another group, then how can they say they died in an airstrike? They either know where they are and who has them or they don't. Just 2 days ago it didn't know.. now they died in an airstrike.. there have been no airstrikes for 6 days now. I pray this isn't true. I believe they claimed another hostage.. an elderly woman was killed also and then she was miraculously released a few days ago alive and "well".

It should be fairly easy to confirm if they died in an airstrike.
There is a possibility they were handed over to the group before the pause.

However, Israel knows where it has bombed and it isn't chaotic right now. I think IDF can search some sights themselves. They can ask Hamas, "Where were they?".
They can ask the other group PFLP (?) "Where were they?"

 

[Sundog]

If in power, then I would ask the people for a mandate to open crossings which will enable trade and commerce cross borders.

<snipped for focus>

Egypt doesn't want them, Israel doesn't want them.
They are a security risk to the nations that border their communities.

Same for Jordan, as I understand it.

 

[Momoffourboys]

As all people who are not in favor of the kidnap, captivity, and suffering of infants stolen from their homes, I sincerely hope this is not true. Of course.

I do have fears, though.

We know that Hamas has lied about other hostages, such as one of the elderly women who was said to be dead but has returned. This awful news could potentially be more of that psychological torture.

Yet…

What we’ve been told by the freed hostages regarding the poor nutrition and other deprivations they’ve suffered is very alarming.

What if, for example, the mother had been breast feeding? If she has inadequate nutrition and sleep, she won’t be able to produce milk for her baby. Yes, they can give the baby something else but there are so many things an infant without teeth cannot consume. I know the mother would chew it first for him, but a baby needs so much more.

It is also, IMO, very unnerving that none of the other hostages released so far have seen any trace of the Bibas family.

Maybe they are in fact just being kept in a completely different area by another offshoot terrorist group. Maybe they are being held because they are such trophies to crazed terrorist maniacs.

Or maybe they actually are dead.

I hate that Palestinian criminals who attempted terrorist acts are being released from prison, as they make no secret of gearing up again to kill Jews. It is something that Israel had to weigh in the balances to have their hostages returned, as we all know, and was part of the Hamas plan.

I am so anxious that adult male civilians such as Hersh may never be freed, and IMO all IDF soldiers are dead or will be held hostage for years as Hamas tries to eke out more deals for itself.

All I want is to be completely wrong about this.

My opinions.

I’m hopeful that its more b.s. from Hamas. Two days ago they said they handed them over. Airstrikes stopped 6 days ago. They, also, claimed Hannah Katzir died in an airstrike and she is home now. They claimed Noa Marciano died in an airstrike and she was murdered. So, I tend to NOT believe a terror group that rapes, beheads, slaughters and lies.

I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever is holding them tries to cut their own deal with Israel.

 

[Mex]

I don't think we have heard anything about Noa.

But for ANY of that to happen, Gazans must commit to peace and not openly vow to wage war/massacre against the very people they are demanding help from. And Hamas wont do that. To say Gaza is an open air prison is ridiculous. But even if it is, it is a prison of their own making and they old the keys to their own freedom but refuse to use them.

One cannot envisage living as the Palestinians do in an enclave over which they have no control - no rights - and ruled by a hostile power.

 

[Simply Southern]

I haven't heard the UN making repeated demands for Hamas to provide access to the Red Cross over the last 50 plus days. Where is the voice of the UN on this? This should have been their number one priority! What a pathetic organization.

I'm so over the UN and WHO. MOO

I'm waiting on Wingman Blinken. Finished at NATO, earlier. I think he'll land in Qatar, shortly. He's the man with The Plan. moo

We should know soon, if the hostage exchanges continue.
Moo

 

[Cryptic]

They either know where they are and who has them or they don't. Just 2 days ago it didn't know.. now they died in an airstrike.. there have been no airstrikes for 6 days now.

Either Hamas is being deceptive, or maybe they are not the supreme God Father? I am thinking that there are two possibilities regarding Hamas:

A. Hamas is the total terror God Father in Gaza. Hostages are passed back to them on demand. No fringe group dares give them deceptive or vague answers on anything- including hostages. Hamas orders to fringe groups are obeyed- quickly.

B. Hamas is the largest group, but is not the ultimate terror God Father. They dont really have full control of the situation. They cant really force other groups to give them accurate info, let alone transfer back / release hostages on demand. Other groups are strong enough to decide which Hamas "suggestions" are followed and which are not.

In the end, I am thinking Hamas is "B".