Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hezbollah captives may be freed as part of deal involving Israeli-Russian researcher

2025-05-27

[NAHARNET] There is an available chance to reactivate the file of the release of Lebanese captives held by Israel in conjunction with the expected release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped by Iraq in 2023 by the Iran-backed Ketaeb Hezbollah group, which is not linked to Leb
Leb

...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
's Hezbollah, Western diplomatic sources said.

The sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Hezbollah's leadership prepared a list containing the names of 15 Lebanese captives, of whom seven were captured during the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and eight were detained during the ceasefire period.

The daily added that the deal also involves an Iranian citizen and a Paleostinian national.

Sky News had reported Saturday that an agreement was reached to exchange prisoners between Iraq, Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate ~~Jews~~ ~~Zionists~~ Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
and Israel, which involves ''Hezbollah members, a Lebanese sea captain, an Israeli-Russian academic and an Iranian citizen.''

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Ex-Mustaqbal official clenches Beirut municipal seat from rival, broad coalition

2025-05-21

[NAHARNET] al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...

... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
Movement's former Beirut coordinator Mahmoud al-Jamal, a retired brigadier general, has managed to clench a seat on Beirut's new municipal council, preventing a list comprising most political parties from winning all 24 seats.

Al-Jamal's win came at the expense of Elie Andrea, a Greek Orthodox member of the rival list who was backed by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Audi.

Andrea was the subject of ''dismay, especially among Greek Orthodox voters, which led to the redaction of his name by voters due to his bad performance as a member of the outgoing municipal council,'' the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Andrea had also faced a social media campaign against him prior to the elections against the backdrop of his dispute with outgoing municipal chief Jamal Itani, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported.

This is the first time in decades that sees Moslems outnumbering Christians in the municipal council. The country's rival political parties had formed an electoral alliance in Beirut under the excuse of preserving Christian-Moslem parity.

Political rivals such as Hezbollah and the Lebanese Forces
A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb...
came together to form the list, which also comprised the Amal Movement, the Kataeb Party, the Free Patriotic Movement
Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
, al-Ahbash, the Tashnag Party
Socialist party representing the Armenian diaspora in Leb. They're Christians, but they try to remain neutral, which means they get shot at without shooting back...
, the Hunchak Party, the Progressive Socialist Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi.

Al-Jamal's list was backed by MP Nabil Bader and the Jamaa Islamiya and apparently received votes from Mustaqbal supporters.

Four other lists were also formed in the capital, including one by the Beirut Madinati civil society group, which won one third of the capital's votes in the 2016 polls.

Voter turnout reached only 21% in Beirut, which has historically witnessed similar low turnout levels.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

21 suspects held by Lebanon for spying on Hezbollah, in what has become ‘nightmare’ for terror group — report

2025-05-18

[IsraelTimes] Lebanese authorities are holding 21 people accused of spying on Hezbollah for Israel, with many of them managing to get close to the Iran-backed terror group’s leadership, the London-based Arabic Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reports.

According to the report, Israeli espionage activities have become a "nightmare" for Hezbollah, whose leadership was eliminated throughout the course of an over-year-long conflict that the terror group instigated in support of Hamas
..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...
in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
, a day after the October 7, 2023, massacre.

The report says that out of the 21 suspects, 13 are Lebanese citizens, six are Syrian, and two are Paleostinians, and were recruited by the Mosssd
Mosssd

...sees all, knows all, gets 'em all in the end...
before and after the beginning of the war, a source in Leb
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
’s Justice Ministry says.

One of the most dangerous alleged spies arrested was Mohammed Salah, the son of an elite Radwan Force commander, the source says, adding he was critical in the elimination of some of the terror group’s key figures, including Hassan Bdair in March.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Salam says ''no turning back'' in plans to monopolize arms, Hezbollah will ‘’go far’’ on issue - no donor reconstruction until complete

2025-05-17

[NAHARNET] Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that Lebanon ''has managed to pave the way for a promising new start, despite all the difficulties that the project of rebuilding confidence and the course of reform are facing.''

''There will be no turning back in the project of consolidating the monopoly of arms in the hands of the Lebanese state alone, which should be in charge of the war and peace decisions and of defending its land and sons -- all its sons -- with the means allowed by international laws and norms,'' Salam added, in an interview with the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

''The entire Lebanese state is seeking full Israeli withdrawal from its land and to prevent all forms of violations. The government is also working on rallying efforts to launch the reconstruction process,'' Salam went on to say.

Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of arms handover

[NAHARNET] Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of the handover of its weapons to the Lebanese state and it will ''embarrass'' everyone, a source close to Hezbollah said.

''Consensus between Hezbollah and the Lebanese president has become bigger than the issue of arms handover and dialogue between Presidenty Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah is ongoing, without specifying any deadlines or dates,'' the source added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya's Al-Hadath channel.

''The handover of weapons is possible, in return for gains for Hezbollah such as Israel's withdrawal and reconstruction,'' the source said, adding that ''Hezbollah's acceptance to hand over its weapons does not mean giving them up for nothing in return.''

''Hezbollah is convinced that the slogans it voiced in the past and which needed weapons are no longer existent and it is fully cooperating with Aoun and offering him solutions related to its heavy and strategic weapons,'' the source revealed.

''President Aoun knows Hezbollah's concerns as to the withdrawal of its arms and is working on resolving the difficulties, while Hezbollah knows well the magnitude of international pressure on the president for its disarmament,'' the source went on to say.

Report: No reconstruction funds before reforms and Hezbollah disarmament
[NAHARNET] Lebanese officials have sensed reluctance from major powers, particularly Arab countries, to provide reconstruction funds, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

''Arab and donor countries have informed Leb
Leb

...The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. Only one of those statements is an exaggeration....
that they will not to engage in the reconstruction project until the vision for Lebanon and the region becomes clear. According to their definition, reconstruction is linked to the state's ability to undertake necessary reforms, fully disarm Hezbollah and prevent it from rebuilding its military and financial capabilities,'' the daily said.

''These countries do not want to engage in such a project while the situation has not yet reached a peaceful path,'' the newspaper added.

All the Arab and European promises are ''awaiting serious action by the Lebanese state and signals from Washington,'' the daily said.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Baabda says Qassem''s latest stances ''realistic''

2025-05-15

[NAHARNET] The latest stances of Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem

... the Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies...
were ''realistic,'' Lebanese Presidency sources said.

''Every now and then some Hezbollah officials issue some stances that do not reflect this pragmatism, but what's certain is that the more they show cooperation, the more things become easier to implement,'' the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

''The president had repeatedly talked about Hezbollah's cooperation as to the withdrawal of arms south of the Litani River and Qassem's remarks reflect a reassuring atmosphere in terms of the implementation of Resolution 1701 and what stemmed from it in the agreement reached in November 2024 on which Hezbollah agreed,'' the sources added.

As for Qassem's warnings that some want to isolate Hezbollah, the sources said: ''No one wants to isolate them and ignoring them is out of the question. Hezbollah is represented in parliament and government and talking about isolation is not logical.''

Link

Africa Horn

Somalia banks on Arab League in Al-Shabaab war

2025-05-02

It’s absolutely fascinating to watch the great world come so quickly to terms with Uncle Sugar shutting down the donations mill. It’s even more interesting to see so many unquestioningly pick up the thread of donations without allowing so much as a stitch to be dropped, never seeming to ask whether these donations and these recipients are worthy and worthwhile — such is the power of Trump-hate.

[Garowe] The Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
countries should invest in the fight against ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful extremism in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said, while referring to declining support from Western nations, which have reduced their engagements.

Through an open letter to Asharq al-Awsat, the London-based Arab Daily paper, Hassan Sheikh admits challenges in fighting al-Shabaab
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
and ISIS murderous Moslems, adding that the group's continued activities shall destabilise the Horn of Africa region.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously survived liquidation attempts waged by the al-Shabaab murderous Moslems. According to him, the support from the wealthy Arab League countries would significantly impact the fight against the groups.

The Somali leader also said the local forces have intercepted drones and weapons being smuggled to the country from Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of...
through the Iran's Houthi sock puppets

...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews They like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him...
s, who allegedly have direct links with the al-Shabaab and ISIS murderous Moslems.

These assertions, which have not been independently verified and have not previously appeared in public intelligence reports, appeared designed to galvanise concern among Arab powers about the transnational dimension of Somalia’s murderous Moslem threats.

Somalia forces, he added, have made significant gains in the fight against al-Shabaab, despite a series of setbacks in recent weeks. The government troops lost the strategic Adan Yabaal town within the Middle Shabelle region recently. He lauded regional forces in Puntland
...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
for putting ISIS murderous Moslems at bay.

Support from the Arab world is now not only necessary — it is indispensable, Mohamud wrote, warning that without enhanced cooperation, ISIS remnants entrenched in Somalia’s northeast could flee by sea to the Arabian Peninsula.

Egypt deployed troops to Somalia recently, who will take part in the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), and the country, a senior member of the vaporous Arab League, has volunteered to support the government troops.

The appeal also comes at a time when several countries are showing interest in Somalia, ranging from oil to trade. ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
, a key supporter of the Arab League countries, has also been a major security and development partner of Somalia for the last 15 years.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

No reconstruction or aid unless Hezbollah disarmed: Leb foreign minister Rajji

2025-04-12

[AnNahar] Leb
Leb

...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
has been clearly informed that it can't rebuild what Israel has destroyed in more than a year of war with Hezbollah unless Hezbollah is disarmed.

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji told Asharq al-Awsat, in remarks published Friday, that Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Morgan Ortagus has herself, among others before her, told Lebanese leaders that Lebanon will not receive foreign aid before disarming Hezbollah.

"The U.S. administration wants to help Lebanon liberate its land, rebuild (war-hit regions), and revive its economy, but in return two things are required of us - economic reforms and arms monopoly," Rajji said, adding that Ortagus did not mention a timeframe but said these prerequisites must be achieved as soon as possible and that what has been done is "good but not enough."

In an interview with al-Arabiya this week, Ortagus said she was encouraged by her meetings in Lebanon. "Yes and no," she answered, once asked if the Lebanese government is doing a good job. The government is working "very quickly", she said, but added that the situation is "not easy" and that reforms and change are "challenging" and will take time.

The U.S. envoy had said last month that Washington will be "bringing together Lebanon and Israel for talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues between the two countries" -- the release of Lebanese prisoners, the remaining disputed points along the Blue Line, and the remaining 5 "Strategic" hills where Israeli forces are still deployed in south Lebanon. She said she hopes diplomat-led working groups will soon negotiate these outstanding issues.

"The Israeli and the Americans want to form three working groups to negotiate (these issues) but we told them Lebanon is only ready to negotiate the disputed points along the Blue Line as Israel's withdrawal and the release of prisoners are non-negotiables and need to be done immediately and without conditions.

He added that the U.S. has suggested these working groups be civilian but that this topic has not been raised again since.

Lebanon wants the border demarcation to be negotiated through a military committee and not through direct talks -- like in 2022 when Lebanese and Israeli leaders separately signed a U.S.-brokered maritime demarcation deal after months of indirect talks -- and Lebanese politicians have unanimously said that the normalization of ties with Israel and direct negotiations are not on the table.

"Lebanon is calling on all countries to pressure Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories. Hezbollah will then have no excuse to hold onto its weapons and this will strengthen the position of the Lebanese state, which insists on liberating its land through diplomacy. However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
until now, the Israelis are refusing to respond," Rajji said.

Israel deems the five hilltops "strategic" and says they are important for security and provide key vantage points to monitor Hezbollah movements and prevent potential threats along the border.

Israel has also continued to launch strikes on Lebanon despite a November ceasefire thon the lamly halted more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes target Hezbollah members or weapons but it has also targeted prefabricated homes set up for residents whose homes in south Lebanon were destroyed in the conflict.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Over 30 airport workers expelled over suspected Hezbollah ties

2025-04-07

[AnNahar] Lebanese authorities have started "curbing Hezbollah’s influence at the Rafik Hariri International Airport," after the Airport Security Apparatus revoked the authorizations of a large number of airport workers who are loyal to Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia

...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...
’s Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported.

"More than 30 airport workers have been informed of the expiry of the permits granted to them and that it will not be possible to renew them," an informed source at the airport told the daily.

This decision "did not only involve workers who carry travelers’ luggage into and from the airport, but also those who carry luggage into and from planes, in addition to a number of employees who worked at the department of baggage inspection and lost items," the source said.

"The decision represented a shock to those affected by the expulsion, especially that they spent long years working at the airport while enjoying freedom of action and without any accountability," the source added.

These measures are aimed at "enhancing the security of the airport and travelers and weakening Hezbollah’s influence in it to the greatest extent," the source went on to say, noting that those expelled were "Hezbollah’s eyes and ears inside the airport and a main source of the information it used to gather about the movement of travelers from and into the airport."

"Granting them work and airport access permits used to take place following requests and pressure from Hezbollah, and anyone who was not loyal to Hezbollah used to be denied such a permit, which broadened its influence at the airport for long decades," the source added.

A security source meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat that similar measures will target members and officers from the customs administration, Internal Security Forces and General Security, adding that many are suspected of having facilitated Hezbollah’s transactions over the past period.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas said weighing quiet handover of slain hostages for delayed prisoners

2025-02-25

[IsraelTimes] Report says terror group could transfer bodies to Egypt to be ID’d before inmates set free in two groups, as official warns ceasefire on ‘brink of collapse’ if logjam persists

The Hamas
..a regional Iranian catspaw,...
terror group was reportedly considering a deal Monday to transfer the bodies of two slain hostages to Egypt in exchange for hundreds of prisoners previously slated for release, as international mediators sought to salvage a fraying ceasefire deal in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Israel says it is holding onto 602 Paleostinian inmates who had been scheduled to be freed Saturday until Hamas halts the practice of holding elaborate, propaganda-filled ceremonies when releasing hostages or transferring the bodies of those slain in captivity.

The decision, announced early Sunday, has set off a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at keeping the ceasefire alive, with the crisis compounding worries that negotiators will fail to secure an agreement on extending the ceasefire beyond an early March deadline and into a second phase of hostage releases.

A senior Israeli official was quoted by the Walla news site warning that the entire hostage-ceasefire deal is on "the brink of collapse," if the current impasse is not bridged by Thursday.

Under the current deal, Hamas is scheduled to transfer the bodies of four hostages killed in captivity Thursday, marking the final hostage-prisoner exchange of the first stage of the agreement, which began on January 19.

However,
there's more than one way to skin a cat...
a Channel 12 news report Monday indicated that mediators are working on a formula that could see Hamas transfer two of the bodies to Egypt as early as Tuesday, in exchange for 301 of the prisoners from the Saturday release.

Should the formula work, the process would then be repeated for the two other hostages and the remaining 301 prisoners, according to the unsourced report.

By going through Egypt, Israel hopes the transfers will take place quietly, amid palpable anger and disgust over staged ceremonies put on by Hamas in Gaza in which hostages are forced to feign appreciation for their captors in front of crowds of Gazooks before being handed over to the Red Thingy.

Israel had been slated to release the 602 prisoners on Saturday, including dozens serving multiple life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, in exchange for six living hostages, including two who had been held in Gaza for around a decade.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided late Saturday night to postpone the release of the inmates, accusing Hamas of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and saying the prisoners would only be released once Israel receives a promise that ceremonies "demeaning our hostages’ dignity" come to an end.

According to the senior Israeli official quoted by Walla, Hamas has since agreed to transfer the bodies of the four hostages on Thursday without any fanfare.

But despite appearing to meet Netanyahu’s demands, the premier responded by stiffening the ultimatum, informing mediators that a commitment from the terror group is insufficient and that the prisoners will only be let out once Israel receives the hostages and verifies their identity, the source said.

Israel has insisted on verifying that the released remains are indeed whom they expect to receive, after Hamas last week sent a Gazook woman’s body in place of Shiri Bibas’s remains. It eventually gave Israel the murdered hostage’s remains.

The Prime Minister’s Office dismissed the Walla report as "more fake news from the echoes of Hamas propaganda."

"Through his aggressive stance, the prime minister has already returned 192 hostages and he is determined to return them all," the PMO added.

HAMAS DENIES ANY TALKS WITH ISRAEL
Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported earlier Monday that negotiations between Israel and Hamas were progressing and could lead to the handover of two hostages’ bodies within hours. Hamas denied the Saudi news reports however, doubling down on its official boycott of talks with Israel through mediators.

In a statement on Telegram, Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi demanded that Israel implement the ceasefire agreement by "releasing the 600 Paleostinian prisoners" who were supposed to be freed on Saturday, and said the terror group had not changed its stance regarding continued negotiations.

The three-stage ceasefire agreement, reached last month, halted some 15 months of fighting triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught, when Hamas-led invading hard boyz killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

The deal requires Hamas to gradually release all its hostages, Israel to release thousands of Paleostinian security prisoners in return, and both sides to halt fighting in the Strip, as the sides negotiate for a "sustainable calm" and the IDF withdraws gradually from the enclave. With the first phase of the deal set to end this coming Saturday, negotiations are ongoing for the second phase.

Israeli officials have repeatedly stated in recent days that there are battle plans ready should the war resume. But Gal Hirsch, the government’s liaison with relatives of hostages, indicated in a meeting with the families Monday that Israel was still attempting to negotiate an agreement to extend the deal to phase two.

"We’re trying to continue the phased releases to bring back living hostages, and the dead," he was quoted saying by Channel 12.

Hirsch also reportedly told the families that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close Netanyahu loyalist, was heading up negotiations, alongside himself. Previous rounds were negotiated by a team headed by Mosssd
Mosssd

......
chief David Barnea and Shin Bet counterpart Ronen Bar.

According to the Kan public broadcaster on Monday, Israel is currently seeking to extend the current, first phase of the deal — repeating the framework of 42 days, with a hostage release each week — without committing to end the war. According to an Israeli official, negotiations for phase two would continue during this extended phase one.

However,
there's more than one way to skin a cat...
Egypt, which has served as a key mediator, has refused to discuss an extension of phase one until negotiations over phase two begin, according to two Egyptian officials who were not authorized to brief news hounds and spoke on condition of anonymity.

One official familiar with the negotiations said the mere launch of phase two talks would keep the truce intact, according to the language of the deal. That would mean a continued halt in fighting and aid flowing into Gaza, though there would be no further hostage releases beyond what has already been negotiated, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity
... for fear of being murdered...
to discuss closed diplomatic contacts.

Hamas has previously said it is open to a short extension to complete talks on phase two, but that was before Israel held up the release of the prisoners.

One of the Egyptian officials said Egypt is also demanding Israel complete its withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor, on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, before moving on to the next phase. The agreement calls for that withdrawal to begin this weekend and be completed within eight days.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Fearing return to war, Hamas tells senior officials to stop using phones – report

2025-02-12

They’re right to be afraid, though it’s a bit late to start taking precautions like switching over to pagers.

[IsraelTimes] Terror group claims it is still committed to ceasefire a day after it said it was halting prisoner releases, blames Israel for ‘complications’ threatening deal

Hamas
Hamas

..the well-beloved offspring of the Moslem Brotherhood,...
has reportedly instructed senior figures in the terror group to stop using cell phones amid concerns that the fragile ceasefire with Israel could fall apart, bringing with it a return of Israel’s military offensive.

Sources in Hamas told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat outlet on Tuesday that the group’s military wing and big shotship have instructed all senior political and military figures to stop using their phones, as many had returned to using the devices after the ceasefire began last month.

According to the sources, several bigwigs have already stopped using their phones over fears of attempts by the IDF to track them via the devices and assassinate them.

The three-stage ceasefire agreement, reached last month, halted some 15 months of fighting triggered by the group’s October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel, when Hamas-led hard boyz killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

The deal requires Hamas to release hostages, Israel to release thousands of Paleostinian security prisoners — including hundreds serving life sentences — and halt the fighting in the Strip, followed by negotiations for a "sustainable calm" and an IDF withdrawal from the enclave.

Hamas declared that it is still dedicated to the ceasefire, though a day earlier it had vowed not to release the next group of hostages until further notice, alleging Israeli violations of the ceasefire, in an announcement that shook the truce, sparked war preparations by Israel and prompted US President Donald Trump
...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons...
to declare that if the captives aren’t released by noon Saturday the ceasefire should be ended.

"Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement that the (Israeli) occupation also committed to," it said in a statement on Tuesday evening, adding that "we affirm that the occupation is the party that did not abide by its commitments and is responsible for any complications or delays."

The Israel Defense Forces, meanwhile, announced that it was "extensively" bolstering its forces in the Southern Command, calling up reservists and approving battle plans for the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Strip in the event that the ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas collapses.

The sources that spoke to Asharq al-Awsat also said that Hamas had recently uncovered spying equipment it claimed was found embedded in stones or ruins of buildings in Gaza. The equipment included cameras and listening devices that Hamas assessed as intended to identify bigwigs or hostages.

Hamas has broadened its sweeps to find such devices, which are being dismantled and examined to glean information, the sources said.

0Hamas is attempting its own monitoring operations to keep an eye on IDF movements in order to be ready to counter any incursions by special forces or other operations, the sources said.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Six months later, Hamas officially admits Muhammad Deif killed by Israel

2025-01-31

[IsraelTimes] Terror group also confirms deaths of other commanders in war; ICC expected to cancel arrest warrant it issued for Deif in November

Hamas
Hamas

..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...
front man Abu Obeida confirmed in a video statement Thursday that Muhammad Deif, the once-elusive commander of the terror group’s military wing, had been killed in an Israeli strike over the summer.

The terror group’s announcement came more than six months after Deif’s killing in a July 13 ~~Arclight~~ airstrike
...KABOOM!...
, with Hamas previously denying he had been killed.

Abu Obeida in his video statement also confirmed the deaths during the war of Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing; Ghazi Abu Tama’a, head of combat support; Raad Thabet, the military wing chief of staff; Rafa’a Salameh, commander of the Khan Younis Brigade; Ayman Nofal, commander of the Central Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Brigade; and Ahmed Ghandour, commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade.

Hamas had previously only announced the deaths of Nofal and Ghandour.

Israel targeted Deif and Salameh in an airstrike on a Hamas compound, killing dozens in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. The IDF confirmed Salameh’s death a day later, and Deif’s on August 1.

Until the July strike, Deif had survived seven Israeli attempts on his life over the years, some of which had maimed him.

According to a November report, Hamas was initially unable to confirm Deif’s death, partly due to the state of his badly disfigured remains. At the time, unnamed Hamas sources told the London-based, Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat paper that the group accepted that Deif had been killed, but Thursday’s statement marked the first time the organization officially acknowledged it.

The sources also told the paper at the time that two people had been arrested on suspicion of leading the IDF to Deif, including the slain military chief’s courier, who according to some reports had tipped the army off.

Despite the IDF announcing that it had killed Deif in August, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him on November 21 along with warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

The ICC listed the charges against Deif as crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture and sexual violence as well as war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture, hostage-taking, outrages upon personal dignity and sexual violence.

As of Thursday evening, the ICC had not yet canceled the warrant. It previously dropped charges against Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh
...became Prime Minister of Gaza after the legislative elections of 2006 which Hamas won. President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007 at the height of the Fatah-Hamas festivities, but Haniyeh did not acknowledge the decree and continued as the PM of Gazoo while Abbas maintained a separate PM in the West Bank. Zapped during the 2023-24 war, to eveyone's satisfaction...
and Yahya Sinwar after they were killed by Israel.

Netanyahu and Gallant were both charged with war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally targeting a civilian population, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts during the war in Gaza.

Deif, along with Hamas’s Gaza leader Sinwar, was an architect of Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel, when thousands of forces of Evil broke through the border and killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while taking 251 people hostage to Gaza. He had topped Israel’s most-wanted list since 1995 for his involvement in the planning and execution of a large number of terror attacks, including many bus bombings in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Born as Muhammad Masri in 1965 in Khan Younis, the terror leader became known as Muhammad Deif after joining Hamas during the First Intifada, or Paleostinian uprising, which began in 1987.

He was arrested by Israel in 1989 and spent about 16 months in detention.

Rising up the Hamas ranks, Deif developed the group’s network of tunnels and its bomb-making expertise. He was held personally responsible by Israel for the deaths of dozens of Israelis in suicide kabooms in the 1990s.

The last known attempt to eliminate Deif before the successful one in July, according to the military, occurred in May 2021, when Israel and Gazook terror groups fought in an 11-day flare-up known as Operation Guardian of the Walls.

Prior to 2021, Israel had tried to kill Deif during the 2014 war in Gaza, but narrowly missed, instead killing his immediate family members.

Other liquidation attempts took place in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

EU to redeploy monitors at Rafah Border Crossing in bid to bolster Gaza ceasefire

2025-01-28

[IsraelTimes] Italy says monitoring mission, which was halted when Hamas seized control of Strip in 2007, ‘was launched at the request of Israel and the PA’

The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
agreed Monday to restart a monitoring mission at the Rafah Border Crossing between Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
and Egypt as part of efforts to bolster the hostage release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
Hamas

..a regional Iranian catspaw,...
The 27-nation bloc set up a civilian mission in 2005 to help monitor the crossing, but it was suspended two years later after the Islamist terror group Hamas seized control of Gaza.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc’s foreign ministers had agreed to redeploy the mission, which she said "can play a decisive role in supporting the ceasefire" that took effect last week.

"It’s starting already from February," Kallas said. "The people are ready to go and start work."

"This will allow a number of injured individuals to leave Gaza and receive medical care," she added.

EU officials said earlier the deployment had a mandate for 10 European personnel and eight local staff.

Italia, Spain and La Belle France said they would send officers to form part of a police security detachment to help protect the mission.

"The mission was launched at the request of Israel and the Paleostinian Authority, with the full support of Egypt," the Italian government said in a statement.

"The primary objective is to coordinate and facilitate the daily transit of up to 300 maimed and sick, ensuring assistance and protection to vulnerable people in a context of humanitarian emergency."

The Rafah crossing reopened as part of the ceasefire, after being closed in May when the Israeli military seized the area, with Egypt refusing to reopen the gateway until it was back under Paleostinian control. The crossing is a major conduit for aid into Gaza and its closure has worsened the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, which was sparked by Hamas’s devastating attack on southern Israel in October 2023.

A report last week in the the Saudi-owned, UK-based Asharq al-Awsat, said Israel has agreed to allow the PA to take control of the Rafah crossing in future stages of the hostage-ceasefire deal, though this was partly denied by the Prime Minister’s Office, which accused the Paleostinian Authority of attempting to "create a false picture to the effect that it controls the crossing."

However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth...
the PMO admitted that the current arrangement at the crossing is "correct for the first stage of the framework and will be evaluated in the future," and that the PA currently plays a limited role at the border crossing.

According to the PMO, the IDF currently controls the crossing point and "nobody passes through it without supervision, oversight and advance approval of the IDF and Shin Bet." It stated that "non-Hamas Gazooks" provide technical management at the crossing with international oversight, and the PA provides the stamp on passports allowing Gazooks to exit the Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly refused to entertain the idea of the PA ruling postwar Gaza, accusing it of glorifying terror and supporting the October 7 attack. However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth...
many in the Israeli security establishment have privately backed such a move due to the lack of any other viable alternative.

Link

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