Israel/Palestine Thread

He'll go down in history alright, like Hitler did.

A pyrrhic victory indeed…

Anyone else find it interesting that Israel hasn't responded (yet) with their customary bile regarding Eurovision? Perhaps their cough is softening? Or they know the reaction will be a collective shrug anyhow.

From the latest Haaretz straplines, all is not rosy in the garden of Gethsemane.

TLDR version:

Netanyahu's obsessions are contradicting all advice he's given and seems the reaction to Iran's defensive attacks on Israel were pretty much ballsed up - does not instill confidence in Israelis. Some of the hostages may have been killed in recent days, possibly by IDF. Even Qatar knows that the hostages have been abandoned and the WH suspicious that the Qatari attack was solely to derail the chance of peace (and trump's peace gong). Proceedings started against a German Israeli sniper for executing unarmed Gazans.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief of staff and former lawmaker, issued a statement warning against the government's planned takeover of Gaza City, saying it would mean "sacrificing the lives of our best and abandoning the hostages –this time forever – to their deaths." He accused Netanyahu of "acting in complete contradiction to the recommendation of every defense establishment leader."

Israel's state comptroller issued a report sharply criticizing the government's handling of mass evacuations during the June war with Iran, saying thousands whose homes were hit by missiles endured needless hardship because of preparation, bureaucratic chaos and the absence of a central coordinating authority.

Protesters from the Brothers and Sisters in Arms organization placed a giant cartoon of Trump and Netanyahu on a beach near the U.S. embassy branch in Tel Aviv. "Don't let Netanyahu drag you into prolonging the war and into killing the hostages!" an accompanying statement addressing Trump read. "Don't let Netanyahu keep you from receiving the Nobel Prize! The hostages are dying before our eyes!"

Dani Miran, whose son is held hostage in Gaza, said in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square that he was "anxious about the decisions being made in the security cabinet," voicing concern that IDF operations "could result in [the hostages] being hit by fire from our forces."

Trump said Friday that 20 hostages remain alive, "but there could be a couple dead in recent days." Regarding a discussed proposal to end the war and release the hostages, the president reiterated his calls for a comprehensive deal. "We're not doing the two this week, and three next week. I always said that those final 20 are going to be very tough."

The United Arab Emirates summoned the Israeli ambassador over Israel's attack in Qatar, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported. There was no immediate comment from the UAE and Israeli foreign ministries.

A Politico report said Trump and his advisers are concerned that Israel's strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar has derailed Gaza cease-fire talks. Citing a source "close to Trump's team," the report said Trump and his aides were asking whether PM Netanyahu may have used the strike to try to sabotage the talks.

Qatar's prime minister told the UN on Thursday that Israel's leaders showed they "do not care" about the hostages held in Gaza after its attack in Doha. With Tuesday's deadly attack, Israel has "gone beyond any borders, any limitations," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The Berlin-based human rights organization European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office against a German-born Israeli soldier suspected of killing unarmed Palestinians in Gaza. The suspect is a 25-year-old from Munich, a member of a sniper unit in the IDF who fought in Gaza during the initial months of the war.

Seems Iran gave Israeli actors a choice…

Dozens of Israeli actors recently fell victim to an Iranian phishing scam, Israel's National Cyber Directorate said. The actors received an offer from a hacked casting agency email. Those who responded and sent details received a threatening WhatsApp message, authorities said.

The message, allegedly sent by Iran's intelligence service, proposed cooperation in exchange for money. "You can choose to be our colleagues, like other free Jews in Israel, or your home will be the target of our missiles," the message allegedly read. The directorate advised anyone who shared their details to get new passports and government-issued ID cards.

US support waning, world support has evaporated.

"Trump understands that Israel's standing has severely declined in Congress and with the general American public.

The president complains, yet still stands aside, giving Netanyahu a free hand.

But what about the rest of the world?

International measures against Israel are taken cautiously, but while the situation could be seen as reversible before the severe hunger crisis in Gaza, caused by the complete blockade of humanitarian aid in the spring, and before the IDF's incursion into Gaza City, Israel now teeters on the brink of no return."

Liza Rozovsky

With the recent flurry of news, Jim Gavin, Iran and flux capacitors, I missed this report. Apologies if already posted.

US backing for Israel seems to be on life support. Perhaps the reason for the lack of standard Israeli Hasbara and vitriol? They've certainly been quiet of late - is the penny dropping?

"The United Nations Security Council has condemned Israel's strikes on a residential compound in the Qatari capital Doha, which targeted senior members of Hamas.

The statement - which did not directly name Israel - was backed by all 15 Security Council members, including the US, which traditionally blocks actions against its close ally."