Hostage Update: July 7th. It has been exactly 21 months since October 7th, 2023.
Not 21 days. Not 21 weeks. 21 MONTHS. 50 innocent civilians have remained in
the captivity of terrorists for 21 excruciating months.
➤Hamas released a chilling proof-of-life video showing hostages Maxim Herkin and Bar Kuperstein trapped inside a tunnel, alongside footage of other Israeli captives still held in Gaza.
➤Danny Elgarat, the brother of fallen hostage Itzik Elgarat, z”l, revealed horrifying new details of his brother’s murder by Hamas. Danny was informed on Sunday that Itzik was interrogated by Hamas until he died of a heart attack during the interrogation. The hostages are in constant danger in Hamas captivity.
➤Hamas released a chilling proof-of-life video showing hostages Maxim Herkin and Bar Kuperstein trapped inside a tunnel, alongside footage of other Israeli captives still held in Gaza.
➤Danny Elgarat, the brother of fallen hostage Itzik Elgarat, z”l, revealed horrifying new details of his brother’s murder by Hamas. Danny was informed on Sunday that Itzik was interrogated by Hamas until he died of a heart attack during the interrogation. The hostages are in constant danger in Hamas captivity.
-------------------------------
EGYPT
➤Do Not Rely on Egypt or Any Arab State to Bring Security to Gaza - Recently, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the Trump administration and Israel have reached agreement on a plan that would "encompass four Arab nations (including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates) to administer the Gaza Strip" after the end of the war. https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21732/gaza-security-egypt
➤Hillel Neuer Blasts Egypt at the UN on its human rights record https://youtu.be/HYyEChMETGY?si=PNsuEoLSyGV8zFxk
EUROPE
➤Germany and Italy have informed Eurovision that they won’t participate if Israel isn’t allowed to perform next year.
➤Germany Backs Israel after Iran War (AFP)
Iceland calls for stripping Israeli symbols from Eurovision
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/02/iceland-calls-for-stripping-israeli-symbols-from-eurovision/
ISRAEL
➤An Israeli negotiation team went to Qatar on Sunday "to continue the negotiations for the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to.
LEBANON
➤Hezbollah mulls handing over missiles, drones if IDF withdraws https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjp9emsbll
➤Saudi news channel Al-Hadath reported that 4,000 Hizbullah operatives were killed during the group's war with Israel, which ended in a ceasefire in November 2024. In addition, 2,000 others deserted following the assassination of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September. The report claims Hizbullah still maintains a force of 60,000.
Jordanian MP Expresses Support For Iranian Opposition, Criticizes West For Letting Iranian Regime Oppress Its Own People https://www.memri.org/reports/jordanian-mp-expresses-support-iranian-opposition-criticizes-west-letting-iranian-regime
PALESTINIANS/HAMAS/PA
Regarding GHF, 10/7, and everything related to Hamas, why are statements from Hamas-linked sources (e.g., Hamas-run health ministry) treated as gospel, while IDF statements are treated as lies, unless “sufficient evidence” is offered?
➤Hamas Injures Two American Aid Workers in Gaza Attack (Reuters)
➤While Hamas Hunts Gaza Aid Workers, 170 NGOs Blame Israel
➤170 NGOs urge end to US-backed Gaza aid system; Israel: Hamas is firing at civilians https://www.timesofisrael.com/more-than-170-ngos-urge-end-to-us-backed-gaza-aid-system/
➤IDF Restructures Access Routes to Gaza Aid Distribution Sites to Protect Palestinians (Ynet News)
➤Palestinian Authority's Systematic Torture (Israel Hayom)
Why Russia Fell Out with Iran (UnHerd) Two recent events have shaken the Moscow-Tehran relationship to its foundations: first, Vladimir Putin's indifferent response to Israel and America's bombing of Iran; second, the leak of internal Russian documents that reveal a vast ongoing spying operation and deep mutual distrust between the purported allies.
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudis demand ousting Hamas before peace with Israel
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/the-gulf/artc-saudi-israel-talks-depend-on-end-of-gaza-war-pa-taking-over-for-hamas
SYRIA
EGYPT
➤Do Not Rely on Egypt or Any Arab State to Bring Security to Gaza - Recently, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the Trump administration and Israel have reached agreement on a plan that would "encompass four Arab nations (including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates) to administer the Gaza Strip" after the end of the war. https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21732/gaza-security-egypt
➤Hillel Neuer Blasts Egypt at the UN on its human rights record https://youtu.be/HYyEChMETGY?si=PNsuEoLSyGV8zFxk
EUROPE
➤Germany and Italy have informed Eurovision that they won’t participate if Israel isn’t allowed to perform next year.
➤Germany Backs Israel after Iran War (AFP)
Iceland calls for stripping Israeli symbols from Eurovision
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/02/iceland-calls-for-stripping-israeli-symbols-from-eurovision/
ISRAEL
➤An Israeli negotiation team went to Qatar on Sunday "to continue the negotiations for the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to.
LEBANON
➤Hezbollah mulls handing over missiles, drones if IDF withdraws https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjp9emsbll
➤Saudi news channel Al-Hadath reported that 4,000 Hizbullah operatives were killed during the group's war with Israel, which ended in a ceasefire in November 2024. In addition, 2,000 others deserted following the assassination of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September. The report claims Hizbullah still maintains a force of 60,000.
Jordanian MP Expresses Support For Iranian Opposition, Criticizes West For Letting Iranian Regime Oppress Its Own People https://www.memri.org/reports/jordanian-mp-expresses-support-iranian-opposition-criticizes-west-letting-iranian-regime
PALESTINIANS/HAMAS/PA
Regarding GHF, 10/7, and everything related to Hamas, why are statements from Hamas-linked sources (e.g., Hamas-run health ministry) treated as gospel, while IDF statements are treated as lies, unless “sufficient evidence” is offered?
➤Hamas Injures Two American Aid Workers in Gaza Attack (Reuters)
➤While Hamas Hunts Gaza Aid Workers, 170 NGOs Blame Israel
➤170 NGOs urge end to US-backed Gaza aid system; Israel: Hamas is firing at civilians https://www.timesofisrael.com/more-than-170-ngos-urge-end-to-us-backed-gaza-aid-system/
➤IDF Restructures Access Routes to Gaza Aid Distribution Sites to Protect Palestinians (Ynet News)
➤Palestinian Authority's Systematic Torture (Israel Hayom)
Why Russia Fell Out with Iran (UnHerd) Two recent events have shaken the Moscow-Tehran relationship to its foundations: first, Vladimir Putin's indifferent response to Israel and America's bombing of Iran; second, the leak of internal Russian documents that reveal a vast ongoing spying operation and deep mutual distrust between the purported allies.
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudis demand ousting Hamas before peace with Israel
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/the-gulf/artc-saudi-israel-talks-depend-on-end-of-gaza-war-pa-taking-over-for-hamas
SYRIA
Trump formally rescinded American sanctions on Syria, one of the countries eyeing possible entry into the Abraham Accords and normalization with Israel.
UK
Scotland’s parliament endorsed Motion S6M-18065 that claims the UK is a puppet of Israel and objecting to proscribing of Palestine Action
USA
➤The Pentagon and State Department sign off on deal to sell more than half a billion dollars’ worth of advanced aerial munitions guidance systems to Israel. The sale will now go before Congress for final authorization. See also: THAAD's Israel Deployment Proves Effective but Expensive (Globes),
➤Claire Shipman, acting president of Columbia University, privately apologized for suggesting a Jewish trustee be removed for pro-Israel advocacy and replacing her with an Arab. Did trustee Wanda Greene? https://vinnews.com/2025/07/05/vinnews-op-ed-when-sorry-isnt-enough-why-columbias-claire-shipman-must-resign/
YEMEN
➤Houthis continue to fire missiles at Israel
➤IDF has responded by bombing ballistic missile sites https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-bombs-houthi-ports-ballistic-missile-sites/
Have you read Einat Wilf’s The War of Return?
➤Arab sheikhs call to split Hebron from Palestinian Authority, make separate peace with Israel
Scotland’s parliament endorsed Motion S6M-18065 that claims the UK is a puppet of Israel and objecting to proscribing of Palestine Action
USA
➤The Pentagon and State Department sign off on deal to sell more than half a billion dollars’ worth of advanced aerial munitions guidance systems to Israel. The sale will now go before Congress for final authorization. See also: THAAD's Israel Deployment Proves Effective but Expensive (Globes),
➤Claire Shipman, acting president of Columbia University, privately apologized for suggesting a Jewish trustee be removed for pro-Israel advocacy and replacing her with an Arab. Did trustee Wanda Greene? https://vinnews.com/2025/07/05/vinnews-op-ed-when-sorry-isnt-enough-why-columbias-claire-shipman-must-resign/
YEMEN
➤Houthis continue to fire missiles at Israel
➤IDF has responded by bombing ballistic missile sites https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-bombs-houthi-ports-ballistic-missile-sites/
Have you read Einat Wilf’s The War of Return?
➤Arab sheikhs call to split Hebron from Palestinian Authority, make separate peace with Israel
