Author: AFSI Staff

Zvi, an IDF reservist volunteer, and father to seven children, was the last IDF soldier to leave Gush Katif, and lowered the last flag of the IDF in Gaza at a post near the Philadelphi Corridor. Today, he raised the same flag again in Khan Younis.

“Nineteen years ago, I was in conscript service on the Philadelphi Corridor. We were the last forces to leave the Gaza Strip. This flag has been with me for nineteen years, as well as a letter from the company commander, Brigadier General Aviv Kochavi.”

We pray the raising of this flag is an omen for the many good things to come and to be returned to Israel.

Source:
19 years later: Reservist raises flag he lowered leaving Gush Katif, by Israel National News, January 23, 2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release hostages that would include Israel’s complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza.

“In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists, and leaving Hamas intact. I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also took a stronger line on the issue of Palestinian statehood than previously.

“I will not compromise on full Israeli security control of all territory west of the Jordan River,” he said.

US President Joe Biden on Friday said he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarized government.

“My insistence is what prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have posed an existential danger to Israel,” Netanyahu said.

We applaud Prime Minister Netanyahu for making it clear and holding firm to his position that there will be NO TWO STATE SOLUTION.

Source:
PM rejects Hamas conditions for hostage deal which include ‘outright surrender’, by Reuters and ILH Staff/Israel Hayom, January 22, 2024

Israel’s security cabinet approved a proposal to transfer funds earmarked for the Palestinian Authority to Norway. This was done in the hopes of resolving a dispute between Jerusalem and Washington. Tax funds collected for the PA from PA residents working in Israel will be transferred to Norway but will only be released with the approval of Israel’s finance minister.

The Biden administration has demanded Israel unfreeze funds earmarked for the PA, as part of the administration’s bid to reform the PA’s leadership.

No reform of PA “leadership” should take place now. Let Israel do its job and eliminate the terrorist entity controlling the PA in the first place. As long as Hamas controls Gaza and the PA is militarized, there can be no realistic steps toward reform.

Source:
Israeli minister outraged as cabinet okays plan to transfer Palestinian Authority funds, by Vered Weiss/World Israel News, January 21, 2024

Over 100 IDF officers who have served in Gaza signed a letter on Saturday addressed to the Security Cabinet saying not to let residents of Gaza return to their homes until the hostages are released.

The letter begins with the reiteration of the two main goals of the IDF in this war: The total destruction of Hamas and the successful release of all of the hostages.

The letter continued, claiming that it would be unfair to allow citizens of Gaza to their homes while there are still hostages that haven’t been returned. The fact that hostages are still in captivity demands the simple equation, “there is no reason for Ahmed to return to his home in Gaza before Ziv and Gali return to their home in Kfar Aza.”

Source:
‘Gazans can’t return home before hostages’: 100 IDF officers in letter to government, by Jerusalem Post Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday told the council heads of the Gaza Envelope settlements, “We are determined to rebuild the communities and the kibbutzim, in what is called ‘the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip,’ to return the residents to their homes, and bring about a much greater prosperity than there was before the war.”

“To this end, we need – first and foremost – to achieve victory over Hamas, but also to carry out the necessary actions in the civilian sector; therefore, we have convened the War Cabinet today, together with the team of ministers,” Netanyahu said.

Rebuilding and repopulating are what we want to see but with one condition. There must be security components in place so that the residents can live with the knowledge that safety and security – free of the threat of terror attacks – is guaranteed.

Source:
Netanyahu: Peace and Prosperity around the Corner for Gaza Envelope Residents, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 17, 2024

House Republicans are demanding testimony from the head of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for “Palestinian refugees” following reports that the agency is aiding Hamas with “food, fuel and supplies” meant for humanitarian relief.

“Our constituents are horrified that their taxpayer dollars may have, through UNRWA failures, supported Hamas terrorists,” the panel’s chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), and members Brian Mast (R-FL), Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) wrote in the letter.

Under the Trump administration, the US cut $300 million in funding to the agency in 2018. The Biden administration reversed the Trump policy and last year, the US increased its financial support reaching a record $223 million.

While the current administration defends the “work” of UNRWA, the American taxpayer continues to fund terrorism and many have no idea they are doing so. We’re thankful we have David Bedein, who joined us on a Zoom meeting recently, to continue the fight to bring the truth about UNRWA to politicians and the public.

Source:
House Republicans demand answers from UNRWA chief, by Elad Benari/Israel National News, January 17, 2024

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit revealed Sunday recordings of conversations between Gaza residents and military intelligence operatives. Gazans expressed their frustration with the Hamas terror group that has been ruling the Gaza Strip and the cost of their actions to civilians. They cursed Hamas and berated their leadership for enjoying hotels abroad while civilians suffer. They also asked the IDF to fight until they destroy Hamas and kill its leaders.

Let’s see this truth go viral now.

Source:
‘They took us back 100 years, kill them’: Gazans express frustration with Hamas in calls with IDF, by Yoav Zitun/Ynetnews, January 14, 2024

A 70 year-old woman was killed and 18 more wounded in a terrorist attack Ra’anana at 1:44pm Monday.

The ramming and stabbing attack occurred when two Palestinian Arab terrorists stabbed a female driver, stole her car, and slammed into pedestrians at a bus stop on HaHaroshet Street.

After crashing the car, the terrorists exited the vehicle on Ahuza Street and hijacked another car, continuing the rampage. The terrorists then exited the vehicle again and began stabbing passersby. Shortly thereafter, Israeli security forces managed to find and apprehend the pair, both of whom were illegally residing in Israel.

A 34-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy are listed in serious condition while eight others are listed in moderate condition and the rest in light condition. Seven of the victims wounded in the attack were children, most of whom were injured as they left school.

Our hearts and condolences go out to those affected by today’s horrific terrorist attack. We pray for the day when headlines such as this exist no more. With that said, NO CEASEFIRE! All nations worldwide need to stay out of Israel’s business unless they can offer the right kind of support that does not undermine and attack the Jewish Nation State. The IDF – Israel’s Defense Forces – should be allowed to finish the job uninterrupted of eliminating this terrorist cancer and as they deem fit.

Source:
1 dead, 18 wounded in terrorist rampage in central Israel, by David Rosenberg/World Israel News, January 15, 2024

By President Isaac Herzog

A hundred days have passed since life came to a standstill, the skies darkened, and we, all of us, were exposed to the boiling and shocking lava of terror and profound hatred that was poured upon us.

A hundred days of the most justifiable war, which is a test for us as a nation. A test of courage, heroism, determination, righteousness, strength, mutual responsibility, unity, and the commitment we have as a society to our core values and principles that define us as a country.

In these difficult times, we cannot help but think of the sacrifice made by our sons and daughters, in uniform and in plain clothes. Their sacrifice, their courage, their love of life, and their commitment to the ideals we hold so dear attest to the strengths that we harbor within us.

Source:
The Israeli spirit will prevail once again, by President Isaac Herzog/Israel Hayom, January 14, 2024

Channel 13 Journalist Roi Yanovsky was discharged after 100 days of reserve duty, from the beginning of the war, and published a situation report on X, on his first-hand experience in the Gaza Strip.

Yanovsky writes, “Gaza is seen as a failing area, the ‘most crowded in the world’ which has been under Israeli ‘siege’ for years. There is no bigger lie than this. Gaza is a modern, beautiful, and developed city – with large and well-equipped houses, wide boulevards, public areas, a promenade on the beachfront, and parks. It looks much better than any other Arab city, from the river to the sea. It is much more similar to Tel Aviv than to Kfar Qasim or Umm el-Fahm. Of course, it is very far from being ‘the most crowded in the world.'”

Yanovsky continued: The houses are bursting with products and food from all countries in the Middle East, the latest furniture, advanced electrical appliances, and much more. There are also magnificent mansions that would put Savyon or Kfar Shmariyahu to shame. There is absolutely no shortage of wealth in Gaza. Most of the houses I stayed in were much bigger than the apartment I live in, in Tel Aviv.”

Source:
Released reservist reveals: Poverty? What life in Gaza really looks like, by Israel National News, January 15, 2024