What AIPAC Israel Trips Won’t Show You, J Street
Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “No one should lead a trip to the region – especially for elected officials – without confronting the whole truth. Anything less isn’t education. It’s tourism with a security briefing.”
Trump Will Not Save Israel from Netanyahu, The Contrarian
Ilan Goldenberg writes, “Donald Trump is not going to save Israel from Netanyahu. If anything, he has consistently empowered and emboldened him. And while I often found myself frustrated inside the Biden Administration—wishing we had done more—for those who claim there is no difference between Trump and Biden, the record is clear: Trump has been far worse.”
Never Again, Times of Israel
Nadav Tamir writes, “As I watch the killing and starvation of innocent Gazans today, and as I see the daily organized violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, I feel we are losing our humanity, just like a battered child who becomes a battering parent.”
Famine Confirmed in Gaza City Region, Global Hunger Monitor Says, Washington Post
“Famine has been officially confirmed in the Gaza City region and is projected to spread within weeks to two more population centers in the wider Gaza Strip, the global authority on hunger said Friday, describing the recent collapse of food security there as the territory’s ‘most severe deterioration’ since it began monitoring in 2023.”
Netanyahu: Israel Will Conquer Gaza Regardless of Whether Hamas Accepts Hostage Deal, Times of Israel
“Asked by interviewer Sharri Markson about the reports at the time and whether Israel planned to take over all of Gaza and eliminate Hamas even if the terror group agreed to a truce and hostage deal, Netanyahu answered affirmatively.”
Gaza City Will Be Razed If Hamas Does Not Agree to Our Terms, Israel Defence Minister Says, BBC
“Israel’s defence minister says Gaza City will be destroyed if Hamas does not agree to disarm and release all hostages. Israel Katz’s comments came after the Israeli cabinet approved plans for a massive assault on Gaza City, despite widespread international and domestic opposition.”
After Cutting Ties with Israel, Barcelona Mayor Barred From Entering Country, Times of Israel
“The Ynet news site reported that Collboni had been planning to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in the capital as well as Palestinian areas of the West Bank.”
Netanyahu Says Israel to Begin Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations to End War, Release Hostages, Reuters
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had directed the immediate initiation of negotiations for the release of all hostages in Gaza and the conclusion of the war there on terms acceptable to Israel.”
Revealed: Israeli Military’s Own Data Indicates Civilian Death Rate of 83% in Gaza War, The Guardian
“That apparent ratio of civilians to combatants among the dead is extremely high for modern warfare, even compared with conflicts notorious for indiscriminate killing, including the Syrian and Sudanese civil wars.”
Israeli Reservists Say They’ll Report for Gaza Offensive, but the Sense of Mission is Gone, Haaretz
Yaniv Kubovich writes, “‘How many times can you tell them about Zionism and that this war is for our home? Students in our units have already missed an academic year, and it’s unclear if they’ll be able to attend for the next year. What do I say to a 26-year-old – that he’ll start studying in a year or two? The army doesn’t understand the depth of the crisis in the units. We’re playing with fire when it comes to the reservists.’”
Global Monitors Confirm Famine in Part of Gaza. What Does That Mean?, New York Times
Ephrat Livni writes, “The I.P.C. said several factors had tipped Gaza’s hunger crisis into famine: the intensifying conflict, strict Israeli restrictions on aid and frequent displacement of people. The cumulative effect ‘has pushed Gaza into an unprecedented catastrophe,’ it said.”
Antisemitism is Netanyahu’s Secret Weapon, Haaretz
Carolina Landsmann writes, “His pincer movement has been incredible. On one hand he’s destroying everything Israel used to be, and on the other he’s destroying the possibility of living outside of Israel. He’s exporting antisemitism and importing Jews.”