War between Hamas and Israel

[N.E. Brigand]

"Israel and Hamas agree to hostage deal, four-day pause in fighting in Gaza" (Axios).

The Israeli government and Hamas announced separately on Tuesday they have agreed to a Qatar-mediated deal in which the militant group will free dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting in Gaza and the release of dozens of Palestinians held in prisons in Israel.

Why it matters: The deal, once implemented, will be the biggest diplomatic breakthrough and the first major pause in fighting since the war began.

Details: In the first phase of the two-phase deal, Hamas is expected to free at least 50 Israeli women and children held in Gaza, while Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and children over the four-day pause.

Israel will allow around 300 aid trucks per day to enter Gaza from Egypt. More fuel will also be allowed in during the pause in fighting, according to an Israeli official.
In the second phase, Hamas could release dozens more women, children and elderly people. The Israeli government said it would extend the pause for every additional 10 hostages released.

It is unclear when the deal will be implemented.

The Israeli Cabinet approved the deal after more than five hours of discussions.

[N.E. Brigand]

I've seen a number of outlets (like Vice News) refer to former State Department employee Stuart Seldowitz, who today was recorded on the street in New York berating a food truck vendor and saying that the death of 4,000 Palenstian children "wasn't enough," as having been an "Obama adviser."

That's misleading, because Seldowitz was a career government official who also worked in the Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush administrations.

[Frelga]

Scoop: Mossad chief visits Qatar to discuss final details of hostage deal

Michael Weiss comments:

I'd be shocked if another item on the agenda weren't Qatar's continued hosting of Haniyeh, Marzook and Mashal. Otherwise Mossad's next visit to Qatar may not be publicized.

The comment is mostly indicative of how much Israel's security rests on the reputation of its security services.

Update: Well.

BREAKING: Netanyahu says he ordered the Mossad to take action against Hamas leaders wherever they are

One possible interpretation was that this was the "or else" in the hostage deal. But it's possible that people making that interpretation have watched too many movies.

[N.E. Brigand]

Since the last post to this thread five days ago, the Israeli-Hamas cease fire has seen three days of prisoner exchanges. Among those freed by Hamas today is a four-year-old Israeli-American girl.

[N.E. Brigand]

I also think the people of Gaza have a responsibility to help Israel find the hostages and stop the terrorists. Doing so would only help themselves. If there are terrorists hiding in my neighborhood, and an army is coming to kill those terrorists, I am absolutely helping that army to finish the task quickly. Why would I help the terrorists hold out longer?

Again, as one familiar (albeit second hand) with the troubles in Northern Ireland, I can tell you thats never gonna happen. First off, I'm sure most Palestinians consider Hamas to be Freedom Fighters, not terrorists. Secondly, many of those who might not agree with their methods, would still support them as "better than the alternative". Finally, those who are completely anti-Hamas would be afraid of the reprisals to them or their families if they were seen to "collaborate" with the Israelis. If this were not the case the IRA would have been crushed in a matter of months, instead of forcing the UK to the table after decades.

In support of your point: Reuters reported yesterday on a Palestinian militant group in the West Bank saying it had executed two Palestinians who were providing intelligence to Israel. Other reports indicate that after these two people were shot, their bodies were hung upside down from pylons as a warning to other "traitors."

A supposed Palestinian rights group says that the ultimate blame for these deaths falls on Israel for having recruited these Palestinians.

[N.E. Brigand]

President Biden has been updating the public regularly on events in Gaza, as for example:

[Frelga]

Among the released hostages was a 9yo Irish-Israeli Emily Hand. Her family initially believed her to be among the murdered children.

The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said: "An innocent child who was lost has now been found." This provoked many angry replies, including Israeli foreign minister, who pointed out that "Emily Hand was not 'lost', she was kidnapped by a terror organisation worse than ISIS that murdered her stepmother."

We've seen the same kind of language in the Ukrainian war, where a singer performing for the occupying troups was "killed" (in a targeted strike that killed or injured many Russian soldiers who gathered to enjoy the concert) but a Ukrainian writer "died" in a Russian missile strike on an apartment building. Both phrasings were by the same Russian expat writing for the US media.

[N.E. Brigand]

Barak Ravid of Axios reports that the "Israeli war cabinet is now discussing the hostages release in Gaza and the possibility of extending the pause in fighting. An Israeli official tells me Israel is ready to extend the pause by one day for every ten additional hostages Hamas releases."

- - - - - - - - - -

The New York Times now says its initial report on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing "relied too heavily on claims by Hamas, and did not make clear that those claims could not immediately be verified ... The report left readers with an incorrect impression about what was known and how credible the account was."

The Wall Street Journal offers this video analysis which finds that it was a rocket fired from Gaza, had an engine failure, went off course, and then broke apart entirely.

Human Rights Watch has released a report finding that the October 17th explosion at al-Ahli hospital:

(1) "killed scores of civilians, at least";
(2) was likely caused by a failed Palestinian rocket; and
(3) that "Gaza authorities appear to be in possession of remnants that would help make a conclusive determination of the munition," but they won't let anyone else examine them (and have denied that any such remnants exist).

Specifically regarding the first point, the "Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 471 people were killed and 342 injured. Human Rights Watch was unable to corroborate the count, which is significantly higher than other estimates, displays an unusually high killed-to-injured ratio, and appears out of proportion with the damage visible on site." The director of another hopsital where casualties from the al-Ahli explosion were taken told HRW that 250 were killed. A review of photographic evidence by HRW suggests there were 65-75 killed, but they indicate they can't make a conclusive determination.

Returning to what I wrote a month ago:

I'm going to tentatively suggest that the number of dead may ultimately turn out to be more like 50-100. That's still a lot.

[Alatar]

Among the released hostages was a 9yo Irish-Israeli Emily Hand. Her family initially believed her to be among the murdered children.

The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said: "An innocent child who was lost has now been found." This provoked many angry replies, including Israeli foreign minister, who pointed out that "Emily Hand was not 'lost', she was kidnapped by a terror organisation worse than ISIS that murdered her stepmother."

We've seen the same kind of language in the Ukrainian war, where a singer performing for the occupying troups was "killed" (in a targeted strike that killed or injured many Russian soldiers who gathered to enjoy the concert) but a Ukrainian writer "died" in a Russian missile strike on an apartment building. Both phrasings were by the same Russian expat writing for the US media.

Surely Jewish people can recognise a biblical reference? The Taoiseach was not belittling her ordeal. Really, are there not more pressing issues here?

[N.E. Brigand]

Here's a new story from CNN about a Russian-Israeli who was released by Hamas yesterday. Roni Kriboy, aged 25, the first adult male to be released, was abducted at the music festival on Oct. 7th. He actually managed to escape from Hamas at some point over the past six weeks when the building in which they were holding him was damaged during an Israeli bombing campaign. But he was found a few days later by Gaza residents, who returned him to his captors.

[N.E. Brigand]

Among the released hostages was a 9yo Irish-Israeli Emily Hand. Her family initially believed her to be among the murdered children. The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said: "An innocent child who was lost has now been found." This provoked many angry replies, including Israeli foreign minister, who pointed out that "Emily Hand was not 'lost', she was kidnapped by a terror organisation worse than ISIS that murdered her stepmother." We've seen the same kind of language in the Ukrainian war, where a singer performing for the occupying troups was "killed" (in a targeted strike that killed or injured many Russian soldiers who gathered to enjoy the concert) but a Ukrainian writer "died" in a Russian missile strike on an apartment building. Both phrasings were by the same Russian expat writing for the US media.

Surely Jewish people can recognise a biblical reference? The Taoiseach was not belittling her ordeal. Really, are there not more pressing issues here?

Not sure that a New Testament quote was the right allusion to use in this instance, but regardless, Leo Varadkar's original statement, from which the offending tweet quoted, did in fact go on to note that Emily Hand was "snatched from her home and held captive for almost seven weeks." In response to Israel having summoned Ireland's ambassador to Israel for admonishment (for poor editing, I guess), the Taoiseach did issue an additional statement.

[N.E. Brigand]

Agreement reached to extend truce for 2 more days (ABC).

[N.E. Brigand]

Some jerk is creating and sharing fake pictures of kids in Gaza being reunited with their pet cats amid the rubble.

As if the real pictures from Gaza weren't heart-wrenching enough.

[N.E. Brigand]

A fourth group of eleven Israeli hostages, which would have been the last set per the original ceasefire agreement, has been released.

[N.E. Brigand]

More evidence that Benjamin Netanyahu must go.

[Alatar]

Not sure that a New Testament quote was the right allusion to use in this instance

Can you imaging if Jesus was around today. You'd have people ranting that the Prodigal son wasn't "lost", he was a wastrel who went on an irresponsible bender; and he wasn't "found", he came crawling back when he was broke.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

A fourth group of eleven Israeli hostages, which would have been the last set per the original ceasefire agreement, has been released.

Among those released was 17-year-old Mia Leimberg -- and her dog Bella, who apparently was abducted with her (but looks to have been well-cared for during their captivity.

[N.E. Brigand]

The New York Times now says its initial report on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing "relied too heavily on claims by Hamas, and did not make clear that those claims could not immediately be verified ... The report left readers with an incorrect impression about what was known and how credible the account was."

The Wall Street Journal offers this video analysis which finds that it was a rocket fired from Gaza, had an engine failure, went off course, and then broke apart entirely.

Human Rights Watch has released a report finding that the October 17th explosion at al-Ahli hospital:

(1) "killed scores of civilians, at least";
(2) was likely caused by a failed Palestinian rocket; and
(3) that "Gaza authorities appear to be in possession of remnants that would help make a conclusive determination of the munition," but they won't let anyone else examine them (and have denied that any such remnants exist).

Specifically regarding the first point, the "Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 471 people were killed and 342 injured. Human Rights Watch was unable to corroborate the count, which is significantly higher than other estimates, displays an unusually high killed-to-injured ratio, and appears out of proportion with the damage visible on site." The director of another hopsital where casualties from the al-Ahli explosion were taken told HRW that 250 were killed. A review of photographic evidence by HRW suggests there were 65-75 killed, but they indicate they can't make a conclusive determination.

Returning to what I wrote a month ago:

I'm going to tentatively suggest that the number of dead may ultimately turn out to be more like 50-100. That's still a lot.

Seth Abramson, who has been very tough on the IDF, suggests there may have been a translation error leading to confusion between "casualties" and "deaths," which might mean that 129 (=471-342) is the actual number of people killed by an apparently failed Palestinian rocket in the courtyard of al-Ahli hospital last month.

[N.E. Brigand]

Reporter Yasher Ali of the Huffington Post may be a bit of a cherry-picking sensationalist, and really, why is it the business of the Oakland City Council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, anyway? Plus everybody knows that many people who make comments at local government meetings are cranks. Even so, what they said is ridiculous. What kind of delusions lead people to claim that it was the government of Israel that perpetrated the massacre on on Oct. 7th or that Hamas is not a terrorist organization?

[N.E. Brigand]

There seem to have been shenanigans on both sides regarding the release of Hamas's hostages and Israel's prisoners. Hamas has repeatedly flouted the terms of the agreement by breaking up families and changing the names on the daily list at the last minute. And Israel, well:

Arab Israeli prisoners slated to be released in exchange for hostages in Gaza announced Wednesday that they were opposed to being freed under an agreement with the Hamas terror group, and instead wished to prove their innocence in court.

Defense lawyers representing the prisoners notified state prosecutors of their position after the government included 25 Israeli citizens in a list of 50 female Palestinian prisoners expected to be released in exchange for hostages. Most of the Israeli citizens were arrested on charges of incitement or supporting terror after October 7, and have not yet been tried.

“This whole idea that they are included in the deal is completely unclear to us,” Hassan Jabareen, a lawyer and founder of Arab rights group Adalah, told the Walla news site. “We don’t see at all any justification for an indictment or extending custody, which is illegal in our eyes, and we are sure that with the end of the war, the courts will begin to free them.”

“We know that Hamas didn’t ask for them, and they don’t what to be part of this deal — they want to prove their innocence in court,” he added.

Jabareen said that far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was behind the move, and complained that defense lawyers or relatives were not contacted about it.

(Source: The Times of Israel.)