Why Israel Must Destroy Iran and tell Biden "Go to Hell"

 

The article I posted before this one titled " A Resounding Strategic Failure for Iran" 

is a very optimistic point of view and I pray that it be correct, but the following may

 be a more practical and realistic approach 

Anyone who thinks Saturday’s Iranian drone-missile barrage against Israel was 

“the big attack” is mistaken and obviously not paying attention.

It was merely a test.

What did Iran learn? A few very useful facts.

Iran can, without any immediate consequence, shut down the airspace of nearly 

the entire Middle East.

Iran can paralyze Israel as the entire country is forced to wait in/near shelters and 

brace themselves for an unknown onslaught.

And Iran knows that with only some 200 drones and missiles, with Israel on high 

alert, and the attack telegraphed to the world days in advance, it managed to do

 the above but not

 really penetrate Israel’s defensive umbrella.

Yet, this was NOT a military failure.

It was a military operation to both save face and back up their belligerent tone in

 the aftermath of Israel’s elimination of a top IRGC general, and to test how many

 drones and missiles it’ll take to overwhelm Israel’s and its allies’ defenses.

200 drones and missiles fired. How many came from Lebanon during the

 Iranian onslaught? 50 or so. Yet Hezbollah posses more than 10,000 rockets!

Anyone still convinced that this was “the great attack” Iran has been promising

 rather than a prelude to something far more devastating?!

What this means is that those folks like @JoeBiden parading the idea that 

Israel ought to “pocket the win” for having successfully defended itself against 

a major (but relatively minor) onslaught are simply telling Israel to set the stage 

for the next round which will be inevitably worse and exact a significant human toll.

 Because if Iran was brazen enough to attack Israel with pathetic slow-flying 

drones waiting to be shot out of the sky although they possess a massive arsenal 

of far more sophisticated missiles, why the hell would anyone assume, let alone

 promote the notion that this is as far as Iran will go and therefore Iran should be 

let off the hook with no consequence?!

Israel knows this. America does too. But politics is politics so electoral decisions 

will determine how far Israel’s retaliatory hand can officially extend.

That said, considering Israel is in a Catch-22 — no response emboldens Iran, 

too harsh a response weakens the anti-Iran coalition — we can expect to see

 sabotage at Iran’s nuclear facilities on a level we have never seen before, ie 

nearly total destruction to the point of being unusable (or maybe that’s just 

wishful thinking).

Either way, none of that will change the simple fact that what we saw on Saturday

 is a drop in the bucket compared to what Iran is actually capable of, which isn’t to 

boost Iran’s Napoleon-sized ego but to reinforce why the corrupt and genocidal

 Iranian regime under @khamenei_ir must be dismantled and disabled!

Remember, children: Any regime that mercilessly beats and abuses their own

 wives and daughters in the name of bettering their society is one guaranteed to

fall and the world is always better off when they do.

The days of reckoning approach…

A Resounding Strategic Failure for Iran

 

 Iran and its jihadist Middle Eastern axis sustained a resounding strategic defeat in recent hours.

The combined Iranian attack on Israel in the early hours of April 14, comprising 170 UAVs, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles—more than 300 aerial threats in total—was successfully intercepted by Israel and partner militaries.

The fact that 99% of the threats were intercepted means that a central pillar of Iranian force projection—its missile and UAV arsenals—has been proven to be no match for Israel’s Air Force, its multi-layered air defense system, or for regional cooperation with allies.

For decades, Iranian military industries have been developing and producing missiles and UAV capabilities. These capabilities were used to arm Iran’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Iran’s proxies.

While Iran often activates its proxies to attack its enemies, it has, until now, kept its own powder dry, based on the idea that the firepower Iran amassed on its own soil would keep Israel, Sunni Arab countries, and the United States deterred, and would stop Israel from acting too fiercely to disrupt Iran’s hegemonic plans.

Biden the "shmuck" tells Israel not to "retaliate" Imagine if Iran Launched 100 Missiles at New York

 

*Biden told Netanyahu, U.S. Won’t Join Attack on Iran:*

U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly told Netanyahu that Israel should see Iran’s failure to cause major damage to Israel as a “win,” and that the U.S. won’t join attack on Iran.

“By leaking Biden’s conversation with Netanyahu in this way, the leaker has increased both the likelihood and importance of an Israeli response—given the dynamics that led Tehran to calculate it could launch this attack without consequence in the first place,” wrote Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

“Can you imagine 100 ballistic missiles being fired on the United States and your closest ally calling to say, no need to retaliate, you should feel really secure right now?” he added. “Now imagine our country was the size of New Jersey. And we were fighting a seven-front war of survival.”

“No, Joe Biden. The Iranian regime’s failure to do major damage with 350 missiles is not a ‘win’—9 million Israelis spent the night being terrorized,” wrote NGO Monitor founder Gerald Steinberg. “The regime must pay a major price so that this will not be repeated. And better—showing them the door.”

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, wrote that Biden’s response, “spinning an unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel,” is “akin to telling the victim of a bully—he didn’t make impact, so deescalate.”

“With this message  that the US won’t support an Israeli counterattack on Iran, Biden is signaling that his ‘don’t’ to Tehran didn’t mean anything,” Brodsky added.

Iran literally attacked the Al Aqsa Mosque but Israel Intercepted it! Why????

 

This was a great opportunity to allow Iran to bomb the Har Habayis once and for all. I would like to know who made the decision to intercept this "holy" missile! 

Former US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman presented his "takeaways" to the massive Iranian attack and the response of Israel and its allies to the attack.

Friedman noted on social media that the attack against Israel, with more than 200 drones, cruise and ballistic missiles was "more aggressive and pervasive than expected".

"Israel’s response so far has been magnificent", he emphasized, "intercepting 99% of the incoming".

Friedman added that lots of help was provided by USA, UK, France and Jordan. "We are grateful", he wrote.

"Iran literally attacked the Al Aqsa Mosque", Friedman stressed, "Had Israel not intercepted the missile, 3rd holiest site in Islam was destroyed".

The former Ambassador stated: "This is the time for Israel, the West and the moderate Sunni nations to unite against this evil, terrorist nation".

Friedman then later added: "The fact that Israel and its Allies obliterated Iran’s onslaught of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles doesn’t give Iran a free pass on its attempted murder on a mass scale. Iran needs to get a clear message that it cannot do this again".

Too Funny for Words: Peleg Decides To keep Open the Yeshiva because The Army Ordered the Closing of All Educational Activity Due To Iran Bombordman

 This is the craziest story in a very long time! The Army canceled all educational activities for today until the Iranian onslaught eases. All Yeshivois Ketanois closed. This is for their own safety as its almost impossible to get their students to a miklat in time, in case of a missile attack. And we did have a very difficult night! Practically all Kollim and the Yesivois for the older Bochrim are closed anyway because of "Bein Hazmanim" 

So what do you think happened? The Yeshiva of the Peleg Gangsters run by the Charedie Terrorist, Deutsch (Last Name Means "German," ironically) ordered his Yeshiva to be open. 

The funny part is that this Yeshiva with their R"Y Deutsch/German are the biggest "mevatlei Torah" in the entire world. Every single day, and I mean every day, they close their gemmaras and go out to protest and block traffic causing untold chaos and bedlam. To them "Bein Hazmanim" is all year long! 

Peleg announced  "Studies in the educational institutions will be held as usual " 

LOL 

"As Usual?" How sick is that? 

Despite the announcement from the Home Front Command canceling all educational activity due to the security situation in Israel, the "Jerusalem Faction" (Hapeleg Hayerushalmi) announced Saturday evening that studies in their educational institutions would proceed as usual.

"To the administrators of the institutions: By the order of our teacher, the head of the yeshiva, the great Rabbi Asher Deutsch, studies in the educational institutions will be held as usual - across the country," a statement on their behalf read.

The Lithuanian community leader Rabbi Lando, on the other hand, announced the closing of educational institutions, and a statement on his behalf read: “For now, do not open the Torah study halls tomorrow morning. Towards the coming days, a formal announcement will be issued tomorrow morning accordingly to the situation."

The hasidic sects of Vizhnitz and Gur also announced that there would be no studies in the educational institutions of the community.

Due to the tense security situation, the rebbe of Gur even canceled his vacation in the city of Arad near Dimona, and returned to his residence in Jerusalem.

COMMUNIST UC BERKELEY LAW DEAN, SHOCKED WHEN MUSLIM STUDENT DISRUPTS HIS PARTY

This Commie Dean doesn't like it when it happens to him, and he happens to be an Irael-Hater! 

 Shocking video footage captured the moment an anti-Israel student protester interrupted a dinner party honoring Berkeley Law School graduates to rail against the Jewish state — at the home of the Jewish dean.

What should have been a celebratory occasion for upcoming graduates quickly turned into an unsettling confrontation over the Israel-Hamas war after the student disrupted the event, hosted by Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of Berkeley Law School, and his wife, Professor Catherine Fisk, in their backyard.

Law student Malak Afaneh can be seen in the footage, shared widely on social media, standing up and offering the traditional Islamic greeting in Arabic, which translates to “Peace and blessings upon you all,” before demanding the university divest from corporations funding Israel’s role in the war.

This longer video of the confrontation at Dean Chemerinsky and Professor Fisk’s home shows in more detail just how insufferable these students are.

And Chemerinsky has confirmed it’s a private residence (see below), which, as you can see, they were asked to leave repeatedly. pic.twitter.com/ojbaK1fnuM

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) April 11, 2024

Screaming and blindfolded: New footage shows moment Noa Argamani is taken hostage

 

New footage just released of the abduction of Noa Argamani
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

— Hamas Atrocities (@HamasAtrocities) April 12, 2024

Hamas Rejects Israel’s Most Flexible Hostage And Ceasefire Deal Yet They Want to Continue Killing

 

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.

99% Of 300 Drones And Missiles Fired At Israel Successfully Intercepted

 IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari revealed in a press conference that Israel’s air defenses successfully intercepted 99% of the approximately 300 projectiles fired by Iran overnight. The attack included 170 drones, all of which were downed outside of Israel’s borders by Israeli and allied forces. Additionally, 30 cruise missiles were launched, with none entering Israeli airspace, and 25 being downed by the Israeli Air Force.

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.

Israel Under Attack "Hashem Yeracheim"

 

ISRAEL UNDER ATTACK - BREAKING

Time of arrival of the attack to Israeli territory

2-4 AM

IDF confirms that dozens of drones have been launched from Iran and are heading toward Israel.

Israeli Air Force is tracking the drones, while noting that they will take several hours to reach the country.

There will be GPS disruptions as the military works to counter the attack.

Sirens will only sound if the drones enter Israeli airspace, at the relevant locations.

The IDF will work to intercept the targets as early as possible.

Initial reports of drone launches from Yemen as well.

• Protest leaders in Tel Aviv have announced an immediate end to the ongoing demonstration due to the new guidelines set out by the IDF Home Front Command, with protesters being told to _”Go Home and Prepare.”_

• Israel's health minister will conduct a situational assessment in the next few minutes.

• ⁠Netanyahu is headed to the defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv and may address the public this evening.

• ⁠Israel's Foreign Minister is postponing his diplomatic visit to Hungary and Austria tomorrow due to the “security situation”.

• ⁠The US has observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and as many as 100 cruise missiles, signaling it could be preparing for an attack from inside its own territory.

 Israeli Authorities are  suspending all flights over Israeli airspace beginning at 1AM local time.

- Israeli version of Air Force One, Wing of Zion, the plan tasked with transporting the Prime Minister, has taken off and is circling over southern Israeli airspace.

- Israel's war cabinet will meet at half past midnight—the ministers have been informed that it will be held in the 'bunker' and not in the usual above ground discussion room.

- Jordan has temporarily closed its airspace to all arriving, departing, and transit flights.

Iran vs Israel: How potential conflict could look according to experts: 'Already at war'

 

War between Iran and Israel would be to no one’s benefit in the region as it would likely end up in a pitched battle that regional forces would keep away from, experts told Fox News Digital. 

"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. 

CNN Says OJ Simpson ‘represented something’ for black community because ‘two white people were killed’

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.”

Iran seizes Israeli-linked ship with her 25 crew near Strait of Hormuz

 

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.

Brooklyn principal Ousted for supporting Israel

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.

IDF limits gatherings across Israel

 

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."

Missing Jewish Child Shepherd 14 found dead Was Murdered by Arabs

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.

 

US moves forces to Middle East to prepare for 'imminent' Iran strike

The U.S. has moved more forces into the Middle East to prepare for what officials believe could be an 'imminent' strike by Iran on Israel that could spark a full-scale war. The Pentagon is beefing up its presence in the region and the USS Dwight Eisenhower has been sent into the Red Sea in a warning to Tehran and to protect American personnel should the violence spill over, multiple reports suggest.

U.S. officials fear that hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles could be used in retaliation for an April 1 strike on a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retribution in the wake of the attack, to which Tel-Aviv - yet to take responsibility for the strike on Damascus.

Zera Shimshon Parshas Tazria

 

Chilling moment Hamas leader brushes off news his 3 sons, 4 grandkids were killed in IDF airstrike

 

The "Family that traveled Together and Died Together" 

A shocking video captured Hamas’ top political leader Ismail Haniyeh barely reacting to the news that his three sons and four grandchildren have been killed in an Israeli airstrike — and insisting that he continue with the tour he was on of a hospital.

Haniyeh, 61, was visiting injured Palestinians at the hospital in Qatar, where he lives in exile, on Wednesday when he got a call from someone saying through sobs in Arabic: “Hazem, Mohammed and Amir have been killed, along with their children.”

Hamas’ tough-talking chief diplomat barely reacts and remains unnervingly calm, only uttering the words: “God rest their souls.”

When an aide asks Haniyeh if they should cut the hospital visit short in light of the tragic development, Haniyeh casually dismisses the idea.

“No, why? Let’s continue,” he says, sounding bizarrely upbeat as he walks to the door.

Haniyeh, who has 13 children, according to Hamas sources, later said in an interview with Al Jazeera that his family members “were martyred on the road to liberating Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The top Hamas leader’s sons and four grandchildren — three boys and a girl — were riding in a car through Gaza’s Shati refugee camp to visit relatives on the first day of the Eid-al-Fitr holiday when it was hit by an Israeli missile.

The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike, saying that Hanieyeh’s sons were targeted because they were terrorists.

It did not comment on the deaths of the grandchildren, claiming there was “no information on that right now.”

Haniyeh lashed out at Israel, saying it was “driven by the spirit of revenge.”

He said the deaths of his loved ones would not soften Hamas’ stance in the ongoing cease-fire talks with Israel.

“The blood of my sons is not dearer than the blood of our people,” he told Al Jazeera. “The enemy will be delusional if it thinks that targeting my sons, at the climax of the negotiations and before the movement sends its response, will push Hamas to change its position.”

It has since emerged that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out the bombing that annihilated Hanieyeh’s family members allegedly without consulting either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reported Walla news citing senior officials.

The attack was planned by the IDF and the Shin Bet internal security service, according to the report.

Chareidie Minister Arbel: 'Haredim must understand: There's no moral option to continue this way'

 

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, of the Sephardic-haredi Shas party, has stated that the haredi public must change its perspective and realize that the refusal to enlist in the IDF is no longer relevant.

Speaking on the Fourth Quarter Movement podcast, Arbel said, "The reality after October 7 is a reality that the haredi public needs to understand and internalize that there is no longer a moral option of continuing this way."

"Each year, there are 1,500 who are eligible to enlist - they must be part of those who bear the burden.

"In addition, there are a significant number of institutions which are designated for struggling youth. All of those institutions - there is no justification in the world that those who by definition do not learn Torah as their occupation should not be part of the army."

In February, Arbel sent a letter to Yossi Levy, CEO of Netzach Yehuda.

In his letter, later published by Yediot Ahronot, Arbel encouraged the integration of haredim into meaningful, long-term military service. He particularly expressed his pleasure at the significant increase in interest among haredi youth to enlist for combat service in the upcoming draft.

Arbel also told Levy how happy he is about the more than 800 new haredi soldiers who have joined the IDF since October 7th. And in an interview, Arbel argued that it is totally indefensible for haredim to claim exemption from military service simply because they are haredim. Like all other Israeli citizens, they should serve, he told the interviewer, except for those who are genuinely engaged in full-time Torah study.

29% of Charedim favor draft of those not studying Torah

 

Makor Rishon found that 29 percent of haredim support the drafting of those who do not study seriously in Yeshiva.

When the survey group, 500 respondents representing a sample of the haredi society, were asked about their estimation of the number of haredim not studying. 25 percent claimed that there are at most one thousand such individuals.

23 percent estimated that there are between one thousand to 3,000 students who "dodge" serious study, 14 percent claimed there are up to 5,000 such individuals, and an equal percentage claimed there are between 5,000 to ten thousand haredim liable for military draft not studying. 12 percent claimed that the group evading studies is larger, up to 20,000, and only about 4 percent in each group noted that in their opinion 30, 40, or 50 thousand are not studying seriously.

In other words, half of the haredim believe that even if those who are not studying are drafted, their number will not exceed 3,000.

Other findings pointed to continued strong opposition to the draft among the haredim . Only 2.7 percent replied that they support military or national service for all haredim , 3.8 percent answered that they prefer national or civilian service only for all haredim . Only 2.3 percent supported service for all the haredim , except for a few thousand Yeshiva students who will continue to study in the Yeshivot.

Haredi respondents were asked about the reasons for their opposition to the draft. 40.3 percent of them stated that the main reason is that in their opinion, studying Torah is no less important than service, 34.8 percent mentioned the fear of not remaining haredim , and 15.9 percent justified it with fear of the service and its dangers.

US And Israeli Officials Fear Most Hostages Held By Hamas Have Been Killed but Biden Continues to insist on a Ceasefire

 Talks continue in Cairo for a hostage release deal and temporary truce, but US and Israeli officials have expressed fears that most of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas since October 7 have been killed in captivity, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday. While the IDF has confirmed the deaths of 34 of the 129 remaining hostages, officials estimate that the number of deaths could be much higher, with some US estimates suggesting that most hostages are already dead.

The report states that some hostages were likely killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza, while others died from health issues, including injuries sustained during their abduction. Those still alive are believed to be used as human shields, surrounding Hamas leadership in Gaza tunnels.

Hamas has indicated that it may be unable to provide 40 living hostages for the initial release, as previously agreed upon. Israel has insisted that 40 living hostages must be freed in the first phase, with any shortage made up from other categories.

Mossad chief David Barnea told cabinet ministers on Wednesday that freeing all 133 captives and remains held in Gaza in a single truce agreement would be impossible, with at best 40 people being freed in a first phase.

Of the 253 hostages kidnapped during the October 7 attacks, 105 civilians were released during a weeklong truce in late November, and four hostages were released prior to that. Three hostages have been rescued alive, and the bodies of 12 hostages have been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military. One person is still listed as missing since October 7.

Hamas is also holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are believed to be alive after entering the Gaza Strip on their own accord in 2014 and 2015, respectively.