| DAILY ALERT |
Sunday, August 17, 2025 |
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News Resources - North America, Europe, and Asia:
The 12-day Iran war has changed the Middle East, and even Europe is now willing to raise the pressure on the ruling mullahs in Tehran. France, the UK and Germany wrote Wednesday to inform the UN of their readiness to snap back the international sanctions on Iran that were lifted by President Obama's 2015 nuclear deal. They'll do it by the end of the month, they say, unless Iran shows the bare minimum of interest in diplomacy. Iran hasn't bothered to reply. It has also snubbed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's requests for negotiations and says repeatedly that it won't give up its "right" to enrich uranium domestically - which is unnecessary for civilian energy but essential for retaining a path to a bomb. "Our enrichment is so dear to us," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. (Wall Street Journal) An international aid worker operating in Gaza has filed a formal whistleblower complaint to the Inspector General of USAID, alleging "gross misconduct and misuse of humanitarian funds by the World Food Program and other UN agencies." The whistleblower, who was in Gaza in July, claims "a firsthand eyewitnessing of senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials offering any support necessary, including security protection and coordination, to representatives from the World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only to have WFP and OCHA respond that they were not prepared to discuss such coordination... thereby preventing aid from getting to the people of Gaza." He said, "the IDF is actively helping the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) get food into the hands of civilians, while UN agencies, including WFP and OCHA, through their unwillingness to coordinate with the IDF, are inhibiting the distribution of such aid." A senior U.S. State Department official said, "GHF is a threat to how Hamas functions and enriches itself because GHF provides meals to those in need with safeguards to minimize Hamas from stealing. This is why Hamas continues to attack GHF aid sites. Aid diversion to terrorists frequently occurs in conflict zones under Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) control. It is a moral and legal obligation, and our duty to the American taxpayer, to work with our partners to ensure this ends immediately." The whistleblower "found no evidence of 'starvation' or 'famine' in Gaza. There are pockets of severe hunger, but they are not systematic or pervasive." (Fox News) News Resources - Israel and the Mideast:
The Israeli Navy struck the Haziz power station in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, early Sunday. The IDF said the strike was in response to repeated attacks on Israel by Houthi surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs. (Ynet News) Israel announced Saturday that it will renew the supply of tents and shelter equipment to Gaza on Sunday, ahead of plans by the military to evacuate the Palestinian civilian population of Gaza City for their protection, ahead of military operations there. The tents and shelter equipment will be sent into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom Crossing by the UN and other international bodies. The IDF is currently carrying out an operation in the Zeitoun neighborhood on the outskirts of Gaza City. (Times of Israel) Itzik Elgarat, 68, an Israeli hostage whose body was returned in February in the framework of a hostage deal with Hamas, was tortured to death in captivity, his brother Danny Elgarat revealed on X on Thursday. "Today, after my brother's autopsy, the facts are clear: Itzik did not die of a heart attack. He was tortured to death." The autopsy found that Elgarat's injuries, including multiple broken ribs, a fractured nose, and broken toes, were sustained by brutal physical abuse. The forensic institute concluded that the severity and nature of the fractures were consistent with the sort of trauma that causes death if inflicted on a living body. (Jerusalem Post) Accepting a Palestinian state would be suicidal for Israel, particularly after the last time it gave up land in Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told Newsmax on Wednesday. "I say it's the two-state illusion. The fact is that we already tried this genius idea. We did it when we totally withdrew in 2005 from Gaza. What was called, at the time, the disengagement plan, 20 years ago. We dismantled all our military camps, all our communities, even the graves from the cemeteries. But still, the way they responded [was] to build the largest terror kingdom on earth. And it took a very short time after when they attacked time and again with missiles." "The concept was to give them independence, and they will take care of the security. But not only didn't they do that, but our security situation deteriorated because every place we left became a huge base of terrorism....So, it is extremely dangerous for Israeli security, and this is why this idea that once was more popular, in Israel almost no one supports that." (Jerusalem Post) As the political vacuum in Gaza left by Hamas's retreat deepens, clan-based militias are stepping into governance roles, mediating disputes and escorting aid convoys in parts of the Strip. Rooted in Bedouin and clan traditions, these kinship systems have long mediated disputes, distributed aid and maintained social order when formal government structures faltered. The war has brought them back to the forefront, operating as de facto municipal authorities in many neighborhoods. A Hamas-free pocket in eastern Rafah is controlled by the clan-based "Popular Forces" of Yasser Abu Shabab. They have a Facebook page with 30,000 followers. The group showcases its activities through frequent online updates. On July 31, it said its fighters "secured and imported dozens of trucks" carrying flour and other supplies. Omar Salim, 22, a student from Rafah, said, "These days, a lot of families are moving into areas controlled by the "Popular Forces" because they feel safer there than in the neighborhoods where Hamas militias are still around." In Deir al-Balah, Ibrahim Ahmed, 36, said, "Israeli forces have largely subdued Hamas, which now clings to a mere handful of weapons, primarily to instill fear among civilians and quash dissent. Hamas's claims about readiness to resist an Israeli takeover of Gaza City are hollow media posturing - a facade for maintaining their waning influence." He added that armed groups like Abu Shabab "navigate freely within Israeli-controlled territories" and avoid conflict with Israeli forces. Meanwhile, Hamas's counterintelligence Sahm unit continues to kill, torture, maim and intimidate Palestinians in Gaza suspected of dissent or collaboration, with the group posting graphic images and videos of its actions on Telegram. (Media Line-Jerusalem Post) Shlomit, 48, works as a nurse at Meir Medical Center in central Israel. When the war broke out nearly two years ago, her husband, S., and two of their five sons, Y., 28, and M., 24, were immediately called up for reserve duty. "I saw that they had been fighting for a long time, and I felt I wanted to be part of it too," she says. She joined the IDF reserves and now serves as a nurse in the surgical company of an armored brigade. "My children and family are very proud, and not surprised that I'm here. The soldiers around me work hard, but they do it with a smile. You can see their spirit. Whatever's needed - they're there. I give as much as I can. It's the least I can contribute to the war." (Ynet News) Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis:
The Gaza War Aid organizations' "starvation" campaign, together with the "genocide" campaign, have succeeded in driving down Israel's international standing. But how much of these campaigns is based on outright lies that the media uncritically amplify? Already, the amount of food entering Gaza far exceeds the threshold set by international standards. On Thursday, 104 organizations published a joint statement claiming Israel is preventing them from delivering aid and imposing excessive preconditions. Of the 104, 84 never submitted requests. Only 20 applied, three were denied, one was approved and the rest are still under review. In practice, dozens of other organizations operate in Gaza in coordination with Israel because they met the requirements. In other words, the joint statement is just another stage in the propaganda war. A storm over nothing. Many of these organizations are fringe groups that seize every opportunity to attack Israel. Organizations whose requests were denied refused to provide employee lists. Hamas operatives have been known to infiltrate UNRWA and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff. Israel cannot approve activities by organizations that provide cover for terrorist operatives. Why should Israel allow organizations that deny its very right to exist to operate? In recent days, food prices have fallen: 1 kg. of flour, which had risen to 500 shekels, dropped to 10-20 shekels. So how is there hunger? Shortages are caused by aid being stolen, primarily by Hamas. The population is under Hamas rule, not Israeli control. If Hamas wanted, food would reach everyone - but it does not, because Hamas wants to blame Israel. Western media lead the campaign and amplify Hamas propaganda. That does not help Gaza residents; it only serves Hamas. (Ynet News) Israel has no option other than to assume control of Gaza because Hamas's terrorist leadership has demonstrated unequivocally it has no interest in agreeing to a ceasefire. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in lengthy and extensive discussions in Qatar with the intention of implementing a lasting ceasefire. Yet after Hamas showed no genuine interest in a deal, the U.S. abruptly cut short its involvement by withdrawing its negotiating team from the Qatar talks. The rush among Western leaders to acknowledge Palestinian statehood was also a factor in encouraging Hamas to refuse to accept the ceasefire terms negotiated by the Trump administration. This completely unnecessary diplomatic grandstanding may well effectively cause the murder of the remaining hostages who might still be alive. The writer, defense and foreign affairs editor at Britain's Telegraph, is a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute. (Gatestone Institute) Recognition of a Palestinian State Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on July 30 and reaffirmed "Canada's commitment to a two-state solution - an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security." However, this two-state vision has never been accepted by the Palestinians and Israelis themselves. In paying lip-service to the "two-state vision," Carney is rehashing nothing more than wishful thinking without understanding what practicalities lie behind that expression. While Carney declared his intention to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, he has surely been advised by Canada's world-renowned international lawyers that there exists no such entity as a "State of Palestine." Moreover, he has presumably been advised that UN General Assembly resolutions recognizing anything have no legally binding status. Ganging-up against Israel in the UN and unilaterally recognizing a non-existent Palestinian state undermines the Oslo Accords - and the Palestinian commitment to a negotiated resolution of the conflict. As such, the prime minister's promise to Mahmoud Abbas is the very antithesis of promoting peace. It encourages the Hamas terrorist leadership in its determination to continue its terror campaign against the Jewish state. The writer, a former Israeli ambassador to Canada and former legal adviser at the Israel Foreign Ministry, is Director of the Institute for Diplomatic Affairs at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. (Jerusalem Post) See also Australia's Betrayal of Israel - Amb. Alan Baker (Australian Jewish News) Israeli Security Few militaries are more studied by Western generals and defense officials than the Israel Defense Forces. These officials routinely seek Israeli briefings, request access to doctrine and tactics, and pursue cooperation on training and technology, even as their political counterparts issue statements of moral outrage and condemnation. This contradiction reveals a deep divide between political perception and military reality, between external messaging and internal understanding, between illusion and experience. Since the war in Gaza began, Israel has hosted dozens of foreign delegations, with military officers and defense officials observing Israeli operations firsthand. They ask technical questions about targeting processes, coordination between air and ground forces, real-time intelligence integration, and how combat units distinguish between civilians and combatants under fire. In Gaza, Hamas operates from hospitals, schools, and mosques by design. Early in the war, the IDF learned that if you want to find a tunnel, look beneath a school. If you are searching for an enemy headquarters, start under a mosque. If you suspect an arms depot, check the basement of a hospital. Hamas's strategy was built to paralyze democracies, provoke condemnation, and weaponize civilian suffering. Most past conflicts in the region (Iraq and Syria) did not involve an adversary intentionally preventing civilians from leaving combat zones. Most did not involve hundreds of hostages dispersed across a dense urban battlefield. Most involved insurgencies, not foreign-backed terror armies. Many involved military forces that did not follow the same standards of precision and accountability expected of Israel. Failing to account for these differences leads to flawed analysis and unrealistic policy prescriptions. Democracies must regain strategic clarity. They must explain to their populations that war, when necessary, is not only legal but at times morally required. Silence will not deter enemies. Illusion will not protect civilians. And condemnation, without context or consistency, will not produce peace. Military professionals understand this. Political leaders must do the same. Yoav Gallant is a former Israeli Minister of Defense. John Spencer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. (X) Iran Two central pillars of Iran's security perception have been undermined since its war with Israel. First, its nuclear program has suffered a severe blow, and second, the "resistance camp" of its regional proxies has been weakened to the point that, for now, it cannot stand by Iran's side. Tehran must now formulate its nuclear policy under intense time pressure - caught between President Trump's ultimatum and the threat from the European countries (the E3) to renew UN Security Council sanctions by activating the "snap-back" clause. Both deadlines converge at the end of this month. Failing to reach an agreement with the U.S. would lead to renewed and potentially heightened sanctions while also leaving open the risk of another attack. In this strategic deadlock, Iran has no good options. Israel prefers no agreement, partly out of concerns that any new deal would be worse than the previous one. The writer, director of the Iran and Shi'ite Axis program at INSS, served as Head of the Research & Evaluation Division of the Mossad. (Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Druze in Syria A family is sitting at home on a quiet day. A child is playing on the floor. Suddenly, the calm is shattered by gunfire. Armed men burst in. They execute the entire family. They rape the mother. And then they murder the child. This is what happened in the Druze city of Sweida, Syria, beginning on July 15, when a calculated massacre unfolded over several days. The world's silence is deafening. Under the command of Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, over 1,800 Druze have been murdered, including infants, women and elderly. 112 women and girls are still being held captive. They witnessed their families being butchered before they were taken. As a Druze woman, I see this as our "Never Again," and it is happening right now. The terrorists in Sweida have declared their intentions in numerous videos, as they slaughter and torture their victims: "We will erase the Druze and continue to Jerusalem! This is not a distant threat. They are only an hour's drive from Israel's border. Sweida's 700,000 residents are under siege. There is no water, no food, no electricity. Over 228,000 people have been left homeless. Al-Jolani's men destroyed the local hospital - murdering patients and staff, and smashing medical equipment. It was Israeli air defense that saved lives when the Druze fought back against these terrorists; that protection must be expanded to open a humanitarian corridor. This is the time to act and save the Druze in Sweida! (Jerusalem Post) Israeli Construction Activity [The long-standing Israeli plan to link Jerusalem and the city of Maale Adumim (pop. 37,000) by building a new neighborhood in the E-1 area is back in the news.] The E-1 area, adjacent to Jerusalem, is largely uninhabited, state-owned land. The area around E-1 is within Area C, where, according to the Oslo II Interim Agreement from 1995, Israel retained the powers of zoning and planning. None of the Oslo Agreements prohibited Israeli construction activity. Contrary to reports, the completion of E-1 would not cut the West Bank in half and undermine Palestinian contiguity. Israel has planned a new road that would allow Palestinian traffic coming from the south to connect with the cities in the northern West Bank. This Palestinian bypass road would actually reduce the time for Palestinian drivers who would encounter no Israeli roadblocks. Israeli construction of E-1 will not undermine Palestinian contiguity, but were Israel to lose control of E-1, the contiguity of Israel would be severely compromised. (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs-24 May 2009) Other Issues Hours before Israel's assault on Iran, its entire civil airline fleet was quietly relocated from Israeli to Greek and Cypriot airports. Athens and Nicosia permitted the landings and supported the operation, arresting Iranian-linked operatives in both countries. To carry extended-range missions into Iran, Israel required aerial refueling. Multiple U.S. KC-135 and KC-46 aerial refueling tankers were redeployed from the U.S. to various European bases - including Souda Bay naval and air base in Crete. On June 16, Greek Patriot missile systems were reportedly redeployed to Souda to augment anti-missile protection. According to Greek media, several KC-135 tankers operated from Souda to support U.S. B-2 bombers taking part in operations against Iranian nuclear facilities. The writer is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the American College of Greece in Athens. (Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies-Tel Aviv University) President Trump has imposed a 15% tariff on goods imported from Israel. In 1985, Congress passed the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement. Since then, U.S. exports to Israel have surged by nearly 500% and the U.S. has become Israel's largest export market. By 2024, Israeli tariffs on U.S. goods were already close to zero, and in April 2025, Israel eliminated its remaining import duties on American products. (National Review) Observations: IDF Reservist Describes Scene at GHF Aid Site in Gaza - Michael Starr (Jerusalem Post)
The writer is the Diaspora Affairs correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. |
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