menu-control
The Jerusalem Post Logo - Bring them home now
accessibilty
Live Updates

Israel-Hamas War day 297: What's happening in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon?

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
  IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. July 29, 2024.  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. July 29, 2024.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Syrian media claims Israeli missiles hit southern Syria - report

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 breaking news (photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
breaking news
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)

Syrian media, cited by Ynet, reported late on Monday night and early on Tuesday morning that missiles from Israel were being launched at the southern rural area of Daraa.

A later report claimed that Israel was attacking the areas of Tel Jaiba and Tel Umm Khoran.

Israel has not confirmed the reports.

This is a developing story.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Hamas accuses Netanyahu of making new demands, delaying deal

“Netanyahu has once again returned to the strategy of procrastination, delay, and evasion from reaching an agreement by setting new conditions and demands,” Hamas said.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
 Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at US Congress (photo credit: JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES)
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at US Congress
(photo credit: JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES)

Hamas blames PM Netanyahu for the lack of progress in hostage deal talks, claiming that he introduced new conditions to the ceasefire framework.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Israel’s weakness exposed: Nasrallah murders Israeli children, and we do nothing - opinion 

Israel has not yet responded. Hassan Nasrallah understands and smiles. And he is not alone.

By ERAN TIEFENBRUNN/WALLA
 HEZBOLLAH LEADER Hassan Nasrallah delivers a video address, watched at an event in Beirut’s southern suburbs, last month. (photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)
HEZBOLLAH LEADER Hassan Nasrallah delivers a video address, watched at an event in Beirut’s southern suburbs, last month.
(photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)

Opinion | It is 6:18 pm. Exactly 48 hours ago, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, murdered 12 Israeli children playing on the grass in a field near their home. Two days have passed, and nothing has happened.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

US response to Hezbollah attack on Majdal Shams influences regional dynamics - analysis

The US response to Hezbollah's attack on Majdal Shams is closely watched, influencing regional perceptions and shaping US-Israel dynamics amid ongoing tensions.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
 Israeli rescue forces seen at the site of a Hezbollah missile attack in the druze village of Majdal Shams, July 27, 2024.  (photo credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)
Israeli rescue forces seen at the site of a Hezbollah missile attack in the druze village of Majdal Shams, July 27, 2024.
(photo credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)

Analysis | The US response to Hezbollah's attack on Majdal Shams is closely watched, influencing regional perceptions and shaping US-Israel dynamics amid ongoing tensions.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Mob storms IDF base in Israel, echoing January 6 capitol attack amid controversy - comment

On July 29, 2024, a mob stormed an IDF base in Israel, mirroring the January 6 US Capitol attack, amid intense controversy.

By ELIAV BREUER
  Protesters wave Israeli flags outside Sde Teiman detention facility, after Israeli Military Police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba in southern Israel, July 29, 2024.  (photo credit: REUTERS/Jill Gralow)
Protesters wave Israeli flags outside Sde Teiman detention facility, after Israeli Military Police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba in southern Israel, July 29, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Jill Gralow)

Comment | On July 29, 2024, a mob, which included ministers and members of Knesset, stormed the Sde Teiman detention facility in Israel, mirroring the January 6 US Capitol attack, amid intense controversy.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Benjamin Netanyahu vows strong response to Hezbollah attack killing 12 children in Majdal Shams

Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed a strong response to Hezbollah's attack that killed 12 children, despite international calls for restraint.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
 Netanyahu said during a visit Monday to the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights that came under attack on Saturday (photo credit: AMIR MERON/GPO)
Netanyahu said during a visit Monday to the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights that came under attack on Saturday
(photo credit: AMIR MERON/GPO)

From Majdal Shams, Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed a strong response to Hezbollah's attack that killed 12 children despite international calls for restraint.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

MKs Zvi Sukkot, Nissim Vaturi, rioters break through fence at Sde Teiman detention facility

MK Zvi Sukkot, who was originally barred from entering, was able to enter through a narrow opening in the fence. 

By DARCIE GRUNBLATT
 MK Zvi Sukkot breaks into the Sde Teiman facility, July 29, 2024. (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/VIA MAARIV ONLINE)
MK Zvi Sukkot breaks into the Sde Teiman facility, July 29, 2024.
(photo credit: SCREENSHOT/VIA MAARIV ONLINE)

A number of ministers and Members of the Knesset, mainly from the coalition, criticized a raid by the IDF's military police on the Sde Teiman base in the south.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Ministers, MKs criticize arrests of soldiers suspected of terrorist prisoner abuse

Politicians called for "urgent debates" and were critical of each other's stances on protests which broke out at the base.

By ELIAV BREUER
 Reservists riot at Sde Teiman detention facility after the arrest of 10 reserve soldiers, July 29, 2024 (photo credit: Via Maariv)
Reservists riot at Sde Teiman detention facility after the arrest of 10 reserve soldiers, July 29, 2024
(photo credit: Via Maariv)

A number of ministers and Members of Knesset, mainly from the coalition, criticized a raid by the IDF's military police on the Sde Teiman base in the south, in which it arrested a number of reservists accused of abusing an imprisoned Hamas terrorist.

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) announced that he would convene an "urgent debate" on the "soldiers' arrests and the conduct of the Military Advocate General and the Military Police."

"I will not give a hand to the scenes as they were seen today at the Sde Teiman base," Edelstein said. A situation where masked military police officers conduct a raid on an IDF base is not acceptable to me and I will not allow it to happen again. Our soldiers are not criminals and this disgraceful persecution of our soldiers is unacceptable to me," Edelstein said.

Israeli politicians criticize and cheer on protesters

Likud MK Hanoch Milvetsky left the Knesset Finance Committee in the middle of a voting session in protest of the raid, and the committee was forced to temporarily halt the session since the coalition on longer enjoyed a majority. Milvetsky called on fellow members of the coalition to follow his lead, to which Hadash Ta'al MK Ahmad Tibi said, "Is inserting an explosive into the rectum of a person legitimate?" Milvetsky responded, "If he is a Nukhba (Hamas commando), everything is legitimate."

Palestinians seen detained at the Sde Teiman Military Base in Israel's North (credit: VIA MAARIV/SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)Palestinians seen detained at the Sde Teiman Military Base in Israel's North (credit: VIA MAARIV/SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)

Milvetsky later added in a statement, "The progressive legal absurdity that burns everything in the country must stop now! I call on all of my friends in the coalition to do as I did and stop the harassment of IDF soldiers."

Other Likud MKs who also criticized the military police's conduct included MKs Dan Illouz and Nissim Vaturi.

The far-right party Otzma Yehudit announced soon after that its MKs were heading to Sde Teiman, as did Religious Zionist Party (RZP) MK Tzvi Sukkot.

Knesset Constitution Committee MK Simcha Rothman also halted his committee mid-session. Rothman said that "we see over and over again an enormous disconnect between the justice and enforcement agencies, who persecute reservists, heroic fighters, who left everything behind in order to protect us from the Nukhba terrorists, for whom 'animals' is a compliment."

A number of ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (RZP) and Development of the Negev and Galilee and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf (Otzma Yehudit) criticized Military Advocate General Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who is responsible for investigating soldiers for alleged crimes. Smotrich demanded that she "take her hands off the IDF soldiers."

The Shas party put out a statement condemning the raid, arguing that the soldiers were arrested like "the lowliest criminals."

Opposition chairman MK Avigdor Liberman also criticized the IDF, arguing that the way to treat the issue was "of course not in a raid on a military base and arresting reservists as if they were terror activists." Liberman added that the IDF was tasked with "monsters" and that the government was at fault for "delaying and not building more jail facilities, and not posting a professional team with proper training to manage the event."

A number of Members of Knesset from the opposition criticized the ministers' conduct.

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid called the break-in to Sde Teiman "dangerous and disgraceful criminality of MKs who are weakening and dismantling the IDF, weakening and dismantling the state of Israel, and harming the sources of our strength."

Democrats chairman Yair Golan wrote, "Whoever enables Kahanists into the government discovers how severe the phenomenon is when they choose to rebel against the army. If there were criminal offenses committed by soldiers who acted against orders – the IDF and state's duty is to interrogate them. The army cannot enable phenomena of criminal phalanges doing as they wish within the army. As usual the prime minister's silence speaks for itself," Golan wrote.

"[National Security Minister] Itamar Ben-Gvir and Otzma Yehudit are encouraging a rebellion in the army, no less," Democrats MK Gilad Kariv wrote on X. "On the way, they are exposing the soldiers and commanders of the IDF to international [criminal] processes. They are not protecting IDF soldiers – they are doing cheap politics at their expense," Kariv wrote.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Two Hezbollah terrorists killed in strike after deadly Majdal Shams attack - report

Earlier on Monday, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen reported that unmanned aerial vehicle struck a vehicle in southern Lebanon between the localities of Meis el-Jabal and Shaqra.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
 HEZBOLLAH OPERATIVES salute during the funeral of comrades killed in an Israeli strike, in Shehabiya, south Lebanon, April 17. (photo credit: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)
HEZBOLLAH OPERATIVES salute during the funeral of comrades killed in an Israeli strike, in Shehabiya, south Lebanon, April 17.
(photo credit: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Two Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated in Lebanon on Monday, one of whom belonged to the Radwan force, Hezbollah's special operations unit, the Army Radio said.

UAV strikes vehicle, motorcycle 

Earlier on Monday, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle struck a vehicle in southern Lebanon between the localities of Meis el-Jabal and Shaqra.

Al Mayadeen added that a second strike occurred in the same area, targeting a motorcycle. 

 Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, May 5, 2024. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90) Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, May 5, 2024. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)

Two people were killed, and three were wounded following the strike, according to Israeli media, citing Lebanese reports. 

The elimination comes amid reports of an Israeli response to the Hezbollah rocket attack that killed 12 children in Majdal Shams on Saturday. 

This is a developing story.  

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less

Israel and UAE preparing nightmare for Iran, Houthis right on their doorstep - analysis

Israel has no direct presence in the Socotra Archipelago, but everything happening there aims to serve its security through its ally, the UAE.

By MAARIV
Protesters, largely Houthi supporters, rally to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen, June 7, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
Protesters, largely Houthi supporters, rally to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen, June 7, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

Since the beginning of the operation in Yemen against the Houthi rebellion movement in 2015, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sought control over the Socotra Archipelago, which is under Yemeni sovereignty.

The Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar reported on Monday morning that this is part of a long-term project within an alliance founded between Israel and several Arab countries, particularly in the Gulf, under an American umbrella.

The archipelago, along with other islands and ports in Yemen, is a central point of this project.

Urgency to establish an alliance increased after October 7

This accelerated the pace of its development, with an Israeli military base being built on Abd al Kuri Island, the second largest in the archipelago. As part of this project, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi met with US Central Command Commander Michael Kurilla and military commanders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan in Bahrain in June.

An article published in 2020 by a French-speaking Jewish community site claimed that the UAE and Israel were planning to establish a base on Socotra Island. 

 Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen July 19, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH) Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen July 19, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

On September 9, 2020, the French intelligence site Intelligence Online confirmed the arrival of UAE and Israeli intelligence officers on the island at the end of August 2020.

It explained that the Southern Transitional Council was under pressure from the UAE to agree to the establishment of a joint Emirati-Israeli intelligence base.

According to a report published by the Italian Institute for International Political Studies in November 2023, Socotra Island includes an Emirati intelligence base where Israeli-made sensors can be deployed to locate Iranian missiles and drones.

The military base project on Abd al Kuri Island may be part of a military intelligence integration that includes Emirati and Western bases overlooking the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Satellite images documented new construction at the port, which was often used to store UAE weapons and equipment under their direct supervision from 2017 to 2022. The forces also use the Mokha port in Yemen to transfer military supplies to militias they support on Yemen's western coast.

The Socotra Archipelago is one of Yemen's 22 provinces, located about 350 kilometers south of Yemen and about 250 kilometers east of Somalia. The islands are under Yemeni sovereignty. The main island's area is 3,650 square kilometers, and the other islands are small, with some uninhabited.

In 2018, as part of the Yemeni civil war, UAE military forces landed on the island and took control of key points. Today, the island is de facto controlled by the Southern Transitional Council, supported by the UAE.

The UAE has done everything to achieve control over the archipelago.

It has recruited 900 young people from the island and transferred them to the Emirates. As for Israel, it has no direct presence in the Socotra Archipelago, but everything happening there aims to serve its security through its ally, the UAE, while providing most of the intelligence information.

Go to the full article >>
Show More
Show Less
Load more