We’re taking a break. Middle East Update will be
returning in mid-September.
HOSTAGE UPDATE: 681 Days
The remaining hostages "are in immediate danger."
→Netanyahu says partial hostage release deals are ‘behind us’ as Arab diplomat tells ToI that mediators are expected to push 60-day truce that will turn into a comprehensive ceasefire https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-may-dispatch-negotiators-to-doha-for-talks-on-freeing-all-hostages-ending-war/
→A ceasefire accompanied by the release of all hostages is a mirage—an illusion of Western projection. Hamas especially does not want an end: it wants the conflict to fester, for the hostages to rot underground, for the agony to last. By reversing the pressure—not on the hostage-takers, but on those trying to rescue them—they (Western democracies) legitimize blackmail. By recognizing a Palestinian state unconditionally, they turn a terrorist strategy into political capital. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/413384
MEDIA FAILS
→Journalistic Casualty: Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell and was responsible for rocket attacks. The only major newspaper to report this accurately was Germany’s Bild.
[Dr. Shany Mor: Al-Jazeera is laundered as a heavily quoted "news organization" by the West (which does not quote so freely Russian or Chinese organizations) precisely because of its highly effective dissemination of antisemitism, not despite it.] https://www.camera.org/article/los-angeles-discounts-hamas-documents-as-substantiation/
→Misinformation about Israel spreads fastest when it comes from unexpected sources. When it comes from figures trusted with children’s education, it’s even more dangerous. https://honestreporting.com/the-dangerous-direction-of-ms-rachels-pro-palestinian-misinformation/
→There were glowing profiles of Hamas-lovers in GQ and the New York Times this week.
AUSTRALIA
Anthony Albanese’s decision to prematurely recognise Palestinian statehood has now earned him open praise from Hamas
CANADA
The Toronto International Film Festival had uninvited the documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue from Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich, a documentary on a retired Israeli general’s successful attempt to rescue his family during the October 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas, from its lineup because filmmakers 'didn't receive permission from Hamas to use videos. After public pressure, TIFF reconsidered and will show the film
The remaining hostages "are in immediate danger."
→Netanyahu says partial hostage release deals are ‘behind us’ as Arab diplomat tells ToI that mediators are expected to push 60-day truce that will turn into a comprehensive ceasefire https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-may-dispatch-negotiators-to-doha-for-talks-on-freeing-all-hostages-ending-war/
→A ceasefire accompanied by the release of all hostages is a mirage—an illusion of Western projection. Hamas especially does not want an end: it wants the conflict to fester, for the hostages to rot underground, for the agony to last. By reversing the pressure—not on the hostage-takers, but on those trying to rescue them—they (Western democracies) legitimize blackmail. By recognizing a Palestinian state unconditionally, they turn a terrorist strategy into political capital. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/413384
→Journalistic Casualty: Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell and was responsible for rocket attacks. The only major newspaper to report this accurately was Germany’s Bild.
[Dr. Shany Mor: Al-Jazeera is laundered as a heavily quoted "news organization" by the West (which does not quote so freely Russian or Chinese organizations) precisely because of its highly effective dissemination of antisemitism, not despite it.] https://www.camera.org/article/los-angeles-discounts-hamas-documents-as-substantiation/
→Misinformation about Israel spreads fastest when it comes from unexpected sources. When it comes from figures trusted with children’s education, it’s even more dangerous. https://honestreporting.com/the-dangerous-direction-of-ms-rachels-pro-palestinian-misinformation/
→There were glowing profiles of Hamas-lovers in GQ and the New York Times this week.
Anthony Albanese’s decision to prematurely recognise Palestinian statehood has now earned him open praise from Hamas
The Toronto International Film Festival had uninvited the documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue from Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich, a documentary on a retired Israeli general’s successful attempt to rescue his family during the October 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas, from its lineup because filmmakers 'didn't receive permission from Hamas to use videos. After public pressure, TIFF reconsidered and will show the film
See also Hamas Livestreamed Its Massacre to the World - that's Public
Domain (Times of Israel)
CHINA
China may be preparing to assist Iran in reacquiring and expanding its surface-to-surface ballistic missile program
CUBA
Middle East Forum Condemns Cuba’s Detention of Fellow Amine Ayoub -Detained while transiting through because of Israeli stamps in his passport. https://www.meforum.org/press-releases/middle-east-forum-condemns-cubas-detention-of-fellow-amine-ayoub
GERMANY
German arms maker, Renk, CEO: We will continue to export arms to Israel, citing its sense of “responsibility” to the Jewish state. https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/RENK-ISRAEL-b8d98105-a3a9-4eff-a24d-69d6ef8e0d0c
ISRAEL
→This Sunday, the entire state of Israel will come to a halt as local municipalities, businesses, and leading companies shut down, joining the call for the immediate release of ALL hostages and an end to the war. – Hostages and Missing Families Forum
→A member of Hamas's elite Nukhba Force who invaded Israel during the October 7 onslaught and participated in the kidnapping of three soldiers, was killed in a strike in the Gaza Strip last week, the military announces. The IDF said the bodies (they were killed in captivity) of Ron Sherman and Nik Beizer were recovered by the military from north Gaza. Tamir Nimrodi, kidnapped at the same time, remains held in the Strip.
→The IDF is operating in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, the West Bank, and monitoring events in Iran.
→Israel is simultaneously increasing the military pressure on Hamas, working with America on a deal to end the war, and surging aid to Gaza civilians.
LEBANON
→Hizbullah Chief Says 5,000 Fighters Killed and 13,000 Wounded in War with Israel (Reuters)
→Israel, U.S. Oppose UNIFIL Renewal, Citing Failure to Prevent Hizbullah Infiltration in South Lebanon - (Jerusalem Post)
→Unprecedented Shift In Lebanon's Attitude Towards Iran: Our Government's Decision To Disarm Hizbullah Stands; We Will Not Tolerate Your Intervention In Our Internal Affairs; Relations With Lebanon Must Be Conducted Via State Institutions, Not Via Hizbullah, (MEMRI)
→Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem threatened today that there would be "no life in Lebanon" if the Lebanese government moves forward with a U.S.-backed plan to disarm the Iranian-backed terror group.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-chief-threatens-no-life-in-lebanon-if-government-tries-to-seize-weapons/
PALESTINIANS/GAZA/WEST BANK
→GHF Myths and Facts https://ghf.org/myths-vs-facts-about-ghf-setting-the-record-straight/
Remember back in June when Hamas hijacked their bus and murdered 9 workers, the 20 surviving workers were dropped at Nasser Hospital were Doctors Without Borders refused to treat the injured workers, leaving them to die in the courtyard.
→Israel identified a convoy of cars labeled as belonging to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) that was comprised of armed terrorists. The IDF, after identifying the terrorists and confirming with WCK that the vehicles were not part of its operations, struck the convoy. https://x.com/WCKitchen/status/1955316399846437138
→Video Hamas forces riding trucks of supplies directly into tunnels under Gaza! https://www.facebook.com/reel/789719070271783
→This is an amazing resource. https://www.hamaskillsgaza.com/
→Hamas Will Not Surrender Control over Gaza without Being Forced to Do So - Col. (ret.) Richard Kemp (Telegraph-UK)
→Hamas's Plan to Undermine America's Arab Allies (Gatestone) https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21827/hamas-undermining-america-arab-allies
→British Commander, Colonel Richard Kemp: "I Was in GAZA — Hamas Caused EVERY Death I Saw” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AACdh8FmX3c
SUDAN
China may be preparing to assist Iran in reacquiring and expanding its surface-to-surface ballistic missile program
Middle East Forum Condemns Cuba’s Detention of Fellow Amine Ayoub -Detained while transiting through because of Israeli stamps in his passport. https://www.meforum.org/press-releases/middle-east-forum-condemns-cubas-detention-of-fellow-amine-ayoub
German arms maker, Renk, CEO: We will continue to export arms to Israel, citing its sense of “responsibility” to the Jewish state. https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/RENK-ISRAEL-b8d98105-a3a9-4eff-a24d-69d6ef8e0d0c
→This Sunday, the entire state of Israel will come to a halt as local municipalities, businesses, and leading companies shut down, joining the call for the immediate release of ALL hostages and an end to the war. – Hostages and Missing Families Forum
→A member of Hamas's elite Nukhba Force who invaded Israel during the October 7 onslaught and participated in the kidnapping of three soldiers, was killed in a strike in the Gaza Strip last week, the military announces. The IDF said the bodies (they were killed in captivity) of Ron Sherman and Nik Beizer were recovered by the military from north Gaza. Tamir Nimrodi, kidnapped at the same time, remains held in the Strip.
→The IDF is operating in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, the West Bank, and monitoring events in Iran.
→Israel is simultaneously increasing the military pressure on Hamas, working with America on a deal to end the war, and surging aid to Gaza civilians.
→Hizbullah Chief Says 5,000 Fighters Killed and 13,000 Wounded in War with Israel (Reuters)
→Israel, U.S. Oppose UNIFIL Renewal, Citing Failure to Prevent Hizbullah Infiltration in South Lebanon - (Jerusalem Post)
→Unprecedented Shift In Lebanon's Attitude Towards Iran: Our Government's Decision To Disarm Hizbullah Stands; We Will Not Tolerate Your Intervention In Our Internal Affairs; Relations With Lebanon Must Be Conducted Via State Institutions, Not Via Hizbullah, (MEMRI)
→Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem threatened today that there would be "no life in Lebanon" if the Lebanese government moves forward with a U.S.-backed plan to disarm the Iranian-backed terror group.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-chief-threatens-no-life-in-lebanon-if-government-tries-to-seize-weapons/
→GHF Myths and Facts https://ghf.org/myths-vs-facts-about-ghf-setting-the-record-straight/
Remember back in June when Hamas hijacked their bus and murdered 9 workers, the 20 surviving workers were dropped at Nasser Hospital were Doctors Without Borders refused to treat the injured workers, leaving them to die in the courtyard.
→Israel identified a convoy of cars labeled as belonging to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) that was comprised of armed terrorists. The IDF, after identifying the terrorists and confirming with WCK that the vehicles were not part of its operations, struck the convoy. https://x.com/WCKitchen/status/1955316399846437138
→Video Hamas forces riding trucks of supplies directly into tunnels under Gaza! https://www.facebook.com/reel/789719070271783
→This is an amazing resource. https://www.hamaskillsgaza.com/
→Hamas Will Not Surrender Control over Gaza without Being Forced to Do So - Col. (ret.) Richard Kemp (Telegraph-UK)
→Hamas's Plan to Undermine America's Arab Allies (Gatestone) https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21827/hamas-undermining-america-arab-allies
→British Commander, Colonel Richard Kemp: "I Was in GAZA — Hamas Caused EVERY Death I Saw” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AACdh8FmX3c
→112 Druze Women and Girls Are Still Being Held Captive by Islamists in Syria (Jerusalem Post)
→FBI Affidavit Reveals Turkey as Conduit for ISIS Financing while Syria Frees ISIS Captives https://www.meforum.org/mef-online/fbi-affidavit-reveals-turkey-as-conduit-for-isis-financing-while-syria-frees-isis-captives
British Outlets Bury Terror Affiliation of Anas al Sharif
https://camera-uk.org/2025/08/11/british-outlets-bury-terror-affiliation-of-anas-al-sharif/
→DSA delegates voted in favor of officially adopting and promoting an explicitly anti-Zionist stance: The DSA has agreed to give the National Caucus the ability to censure and expel members (and I believe dissolve entire branches) if they see them as being insufficiently devoted to the cause of antizionism. This includes voicing public support of groups like J Street. NOTE: members of DSA include US Representatives AOC and Tlaib, and NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani They’ve introduced a similar resolution for adoption by the Democrats. https://demmajorityforisrael.org/media/press-release/statement-on-proposed-divisive-dnc-resolution/
→Adelphi University has placed its Students for Justice in Palestine chapter on disciplinary probation for creating a hostile environment toward Jewish students through inflammatory social media posts.
→ ‘Global intifada’ – Thousands march at New York anti-Israel rally 8/16. The rally was organized by several far-left and anti-Israel groups, including the ANSWER Coalition, the Democratic Socialists of America, CodePink, the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace, and CAIR.
→CEO Of F-35 Manufacturer Lockheed Martin: "If We Can Work With Saudia, Qatar And UAE On Really Bolstering Their Air Superiority Capabilities… There'll Be Really Significant Opportunity For The Company"
→Over 200 NGOs urge UN to work with GHF https://www.christianpost.com/news/over-200-faith-groups-ngos-call-on-un-to-support-ghf.html
→NGOs are objecting to Israel’s
demand for basic vetting - including whether their staff have ties to
designated terror organizations. The United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(OCHA OPT)’s Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), representing 200+ NGOs, published
a statement today claiming that Israeli requirements would “prevent them from
providing critical, life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.” In
fact, the only thing “preventing” aid delivery is the UN/NGO boycott of Israel.
Israel’s measures are intended to increase transparency among international
NGOs operating in Gaza and the West Bank. OCHA’s objection reflects a
coordinated effort to resist accountability and continue operating without
meaningful oversight of personnel linked to designated entities. On Oct. 7th,
we all saw the results of such disastrous policies. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNEeGXRBd20/?igsh=Nm00N2RnOHBxcnM5
→UN Watchdog Lowered Bar to Declare Gaza Famine https://freebeacon.com/israel/un-backed-famine-watchdog-quietly-changed-standards-easing-way-to-declare-famine-in-gaza/
YEMEN
→U.S.-aligned Yemeni forces have intercepted 750 tons of weapons, including chemical weapons, being smuggled to the Houthis by Iran in recent months.
→The Houthis continue to fire missiles at Israel. Today, the Houthis fired during the protests, they’re always aiming to hit civilians.
→UN Watchdog Lowered Bar to Declare Gaza Famine https://freebeacon.com/israel/un-backed-famine-watchdog-quietly-changed-standards-easing-way-to-declare-famine-in-gaza/
→U.S.-aligned Yemeni forces have intercepted 750 tons of weapons, including chemical weapons, being smuggled to the Houthis by Iran in recent months.
→The Houthis continue to fire missiles at Israel. Today, the Houthis fired during the protests, they’re always aiming to hit civilians.
