Hostage Update: DAY 315

New evidence from the IDF confirmed that Bilha Yinon, who was previously listed as missing with her fate unknown since October 7, was murdered during Hamas’ massacre ten months ago, along with her husband, Yaakov, when terrorists burned down their Netiv HaAsara home in southern Israel. 

Hamas said it won’t send a delegation to the ceasefire-hostage talks, in response to a multi-party statement issued by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, declaring that the framework of a hostage deal was nearly complete.  Hamas has the power to end all the suffering, but they rather continue holding Israeli babies hostage. 

Hamas admits it murdered one hostage, wounded two https://worldisraelnews.com/hamas-admits-it-killed-one-hostage-wounded-two/ AND https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-armed-wing-says-one-israeli-hostage-killed-two-women-captives-seriously-2024-08-12/

AFGHANISTAN

U.S. commits to freeing Americans held by Taliban in Afghanistan https://www.voanews.com/a/us-commits-to-freeing-americans-held-by-taliban-in-afghanistan-/7738170.html

CHINA

China’s foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart that China supports Iran in defending its "sovereignty, security and national dignity" against Israel https://www.reuters.com/world/china-supports-iran-defending-security-says-foreign-minister-2024-08-11/

EUROPE

Spain and Germany Arrest 4 People for Supplying Hizbullah with Parts for Drones Used Against Israel (AP)

The Olympics has disqualified refugee athlete Manizha Talash for wearing a cape reading “Free Afghan Women.” Yet, the Olympics allowed the Palestinian team to have planes dropping missiles on theirs.

IRAN

Iran to Resume Testing Nuclear Bomb Detonators  (Iran International)

IRAQ

Iraq’s parliament is about to lower the marriage age for girls from 15 to 9. In Sudan it’s 10.  In Afghanistan & Yemen, it’s from “puberty” but in reality 6, 7 and 8-year-old girls are also married off.  https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/bill-introduced-in-iraq-parliament-to-lower-marriage-age-for-girls-to-9-years-1815436

ISRAEL

I keep hearing worried people on the news talking about Iran "escalating" attacks on Israel. Huh, they haven't noticed Iran's long war on Israel? TY Hen Mazzig, for chart

Northern Israel update:

 44 people killed, 25 of them civilians. 

 274 people injured.

 7,500 rockets launched by Hezbollah. 6,500 reached Israel.

 200 drones launched. 

 62,480 evacuees, most of them children.

 4,378 damages to buildings and property.

 39,042 acres of forest burned.

JAPAN

Western Ambassadors Boycott Nagasaki Memorial Event after Israel Not Invited -(Ynet News) Ambassadors from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia and Ukraine also will boycott the ceremony in Nagasaki.

LEBANON/Hezbollah

August 10th, an Hezbollah drone struck a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities in Israel. There was wall-to-wall coverage after the IDF struck a school used by terrorists, yet zero news coverage of terrorists striking a health center in Israel. Now why is that? https://x.com/AvivaKlompas/status/1822430462658109742

Hezbollah continues its near-daily terror assault on northern Israel. Hezbollah’s arsenal is a ticking time bomb, with over 150,000 rockets, explosive drones, and precision-guided missiles threatening Israel from the north in Lebanon.

The IDF killed senior Hamas terrorist Samer Mahmoud al-Haj in a precise airstrike on his vehicle near Sidon in Lebanon, about 40 miles from the Israeli border. 

PALESTINIANS/PA/HAMAS

Hiding terrorists in a school is a fundamental Palestinian Authority and Hamas strategy https://palwatch.org/page/35374

Media Act As Hamas’ Stenographers In Coverage Of Strike On Hamas Compound In Gaza School (Honest Reporting)

Yahya Sinwar, ‘The Architect of 10/7,’ Chosen As New Hamas "Political Leader" Read AJC’s new explainer for the facts about Hamas’ new terror leader.  Sinwar holds close ties to Iran.

Palestinian Authority inciting religious war because Jews prayed at Temple Mount (the holiest site in Judaism). https://palwatch.org/page/35379

Hamas continues to fire long range rockets into Israel.

Over the past week, the IDF discovered and demolished more than 50 terror tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphia Corridor. 

QATAR

Qatari Journalists Celebrate Yahya Sinwar's Appointment As Hamas' New Political Bureau Chairman, Calling Him 'The Hero Of October 7,' 'The Saladin Of Our Century' And 'Israel's Nightmare', (MEMRI)

RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed their alliance during a meeting in Russia. https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-tells-abbas-great-pain-palestinian-plight-2024-08-13/

UNITED KINGDOM

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Disrupt Children's Science Show in London  (Telegraph-UK)

An anti-Israel group called Palestine Action broke into the offices of an Israeli company in Bristol, England and smashed equipment. (First One Through) The seven people, aged between 20 and 51, are being charged with terrorism under the UK's Terrorism Act of 2000, which aggravates Amnesty International and The New York Times.

UNITED NATIONS

Legal Actions Worldwide Against UNRWA For Complicity With Terrorism 

https://unwatch.org/legal-actions-worldwide-against-unrwa-for-complicity-with-terrorism/ see also https://unwatch.org/the-case-against-unrwa/

Revealed: UN disarmament official’s ‘secret links’ to Iran’s nuclear programme https://www.thejc.com/news/world/revealed-un-disarmament-officials-secret-links-to-irans-nuclear-programme-ch6fatb4

The UN's latest excuse for the backlog of HUNDREDS of aid trucks on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing? Israel gave them "bad time slots" to transport the aid. Israel countered that they got the same slots as private orgs, which have somehow managed to distribute their aid. https://www.jewishpress.com/news/global/un/israel-refutes-un-claim-it-gives-global-body-bad-time-slots-to-pick-up-aid-in-gaza/2024/08/16/

UK funding of UNRWA makes Gaza peace less likely 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/10/uk-funding-of-unrwa-makes-gaza-peace-less-likely/

UNITED STATES

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and "reiterated the United States' commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel," according to a Defense Department readout.  The U.S. will disburse $3.5 billion in new military aid to Israel from a supplemental budget bill approved in April. The disbursement is expected to go forward within two weeks. Israel is expected to use the money to purchase arms from the U.S. government or from American companies. 

U.S. Stalls Israeli Preemptive Strikes (Ynet News)

SF DA charged 26 people in connection to the anti-Israel protest that shut down the Golden Gate Bridge. - See attached press release

Palestinian on Terror Watchlist Captured at U.S. Southern Border (New York Post)

Campus Update: 

Federal Judge Scarsi rules UCLA's failure to protect Jewish students from exclusion was "unimaginable" and "abhorrent." Even more so because UCLA doesn't deny it and is appealing the decision!

A federal judge told Harvard University it will have to face a lawsuit over claims it did not protect Jewish students against antisemitism. The judge did dismiss a portion of the lawsuit that accused Harvard of violating Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act by its refusal to crack down on pro-terror, antisemitic protests. The judge said that the school’s alleged bias was a “viewpoint” and not discrimination. 

Three Columbia Deans Resign After Sending Anti-Jewish Text Messages;  Columbia University president resigned after months of turmoil

Pomona College Investigated for Title VI Violation

McGill University Professors Rewrite History With Column Calling Now-Dismantled Anti-Israel Encampment A Beacon Of Tolerance And Respect