New footage just released of the abduction of Noa Argamani
— Hamas Atrocities (@HamasAtrocities) April 12, 2024
She is being held on a motorcycle between two civilian dressed Gazans
They are surrounded by a dozen men (Hamas and civilians)
You can hear her crying 💔 pic.twitter.com/t0cx88afo8
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Mossad intelligence agency, Hamas has rejected the ceasefire and hostage offer put forward by Israel last week in Cairo. The proposal, which included “significantly greater room for flexibility” on Israel’s part, was aimed at securing the release of 133 hostages held in Gaza.
“The rejection of the proposal from the three mediators proves that [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar is not interested in a humanitarian deal and in the return of the hostages,” the statement read. “He continues to take advantage of tensions with Iran to try to unite the theaters and to achieve a general escalation in the region.”
Despite the rejection, Israel has vowed to continue working towards achieving its goals. “We will turn over every stone to bring back the 133 hostages from Gaza as soon as possible,” the statement assured.
Hagari also reported that Iran fired 120 ballistic missiles at Israel, with some managing to bypass defenses and hitting the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel. However, the damage was minimal, and the airbase is operating normally.
The IDF spokesman also mentioned that a few drones and missiles were launched from Iraq and Yemen during the attack, but none entered Israeli airspace.
The IDF also released images of fighter jets returning from their missions after downing Iranian drones and cruise missiles.
"Frankly, none of the Arab states would want to take either side in this conflict," Matt McInnis, senior fellow for the Institute for the Study of War, explained. "They may inevitably be drawn into it, and I think that's one of the things that Iran is very worried about."
"[Iran is] not quite sure if Israel’s efforts over the last few years to increase diplomatic and security relationships with states like Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and others are sufficient to keep these states out of a larger conflict," McInnis added.
A CNN contributor sparked outrage Thursday by saying that OJ Simpson “represented something for the black community … particularly because there were two white people who had been killed.”
Ashley Allison made the comment during the network’s coverage of the death of the 76-year-old Simpson, the disgraced NFL legend who was acquitted in 1995 of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.
Allison — a former Obama administration official who also worked on Joe Biden’s presidential campaign as well as his transition team — was weighing in on the racial tensions that pervaded the country during the Simpson trial and its aftermath.
She said the Simpson case brought to the fore “just how black Americans feel about policing.”
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| Strait of Hormuz |
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps seized an Israeli-linked container ship near the Strait of Hormuz in the latest escalation of the simmering standoff between the two countries.
An unverified video of the incident first obtained by the Associated Press showed IRGC commandos rappelling onto the MSC Aries vessel, the Times of Israel reported.
“Don’t come out,” a crew member on the ship can be heard saying in the footage, which was also posted on X by Times of Israel reporter Mannie Fabian.
The crew member can then be heard telling another to head to the ship’s bridge, as more IRGC commanders were rappelling onto the desk.
One commando is seen kneeling over the others to protect them from potential cover fire, the Times of Israel reported.
A veteran principal abruptly booted from her Williamsburg school says she was targeted for her open support for Israel.
Esther Shali-Ogli, who has led Juan Morel Campos Secondary School for seven years, was abruptly removed last month after Superintendent David Cintron claimed she failed to inform him of an aide’s arrest — an accusation she calls “a lie.”
“They hate me,” said Shali-Ogli, one of two Jewish principals in school District 14, where a rogue, parent-run Community Education Council promoted a citywide student walkout to support Palestine in November at the start of the Israel-Hamas war, and is accused of muzzling dissident voices.
“I feel I’m being targeted because I’m a Jewish woman in a district which is all about supporting Palestine,” she said.
Shali-Ogli, 58, unabashedly cheers the Jewish State — hanging an Israeli flag on her office door and plastering her car with bumper stickers with slogans like “Bless Israel” and “Damn Hamas” in Hebrew.
“I’m not included in anything,” she said. “I can’t go to the CEC or district leadership meetings where they’re espousing annihilation of the Jewish state, and the superintendent has not addressed the hateful speech. As a Department of Education employee I’m supposed to remain neutral and sit there quietly.”
The principal’s Kafkaesque nightmare began on March 1, when deputy superintendent Arelis Parache told her to pack her belongings, surrender her keys and leave the building, Shali-Ogli said.
The IDF on Saturday night announced changes to the Home Front Command's guidelines for Israeli civilians.
The changes apply from Saturday night at 11:00p.m. to Monday night at 11:00p.m.
"Following a situational assessment, it was determined that as of 23:00 Israel time tonight, changes will be made to the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines," the announcement read.
"As part of the changes, it was decided to prohibit educational activities across Israel. In green areas, gatherings will be limited to 1,000 people.
"The instructions published on the official Home Front Command channels must be adhered to and followed. The full instructions are updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app."
Earlier on Saturday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned, "Iran is a terrorist state - the world is seeing this now more than ever. We are determined to defend our citizens against this terrorism, and we will know how to respond to it."
"I ask the citizens of Israel to follow the instructions published by the IDF and the Home Front Command."
On Shabbos, the body of 14-year-old Binyamin Ahimeir was located in the area of Malachei Hashalom by the IDF, ISA, and Israel Police.
Binyamin Ahimeir went missing on Friday morning, and was murdered in a terrorist attack.
Initial reports said that Ahimeir, a shepherd, left at six in the morning, but later the flock he led returned to the village of Malachei Hashalom without him.
The incident is under review.
Security forces are continuing the pursuit after those suspected of carrying out the attack.
"The security agencies send their heartfelt condolences to the family," a statement read.
