RUTHFULLY YOURS

https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/07/15/the-humanitarian-city-in-gaza-is-not-a-concentration-camp/

The Israeli government has proposed a plan to move Gaza’s civilians to a so-called humanitarian city near Rafah. Critics have outrageously labelled this proposal a ‘concentration camp’.

Comparing Israel’s emergency relocation scheme to the extermination camps of the Second World War is not just wrong, it is also a grotesque distortion of reality. The Holocaust’s concentration camps were death factories, designed to systematically murder or work people to death because of who they were.

In stark contrast, Israel’s new plan aims (however imperfectly) to protect Gaza’s civilians from ongoing fighting, with provisions for food, medical aid and security. Calling this plan a ‘concentration camp’ is not valid criticism. When people draw comparisons between Israel’s actions and Nazi genocide, such as calling these camps another Auschwitz, that is anti-Semitic demonisation.

Of course, those calling this plan a ‘concentration camp’ go beyond the usual suspects who you’d find at an anti-Israel demo. But the loudest voices certainly belong to those with axes to grind. Ehud Olmert, who invoked Holocaust imagery to condemn the proposal, is a disgraced former prime minister of Israel who served prison time for bribery. Yair Lapid, another former PM and now opposition leader, said he would rather not use the term, but if people are forbidden from leaving this camp, ‘then it is a concentration camp’.

Both men are fervent critics of the current Netanyahu government. Their rhetoric clearly aims to serve political goals – to portray the sitting leadership as morally corrupt and to rally international pressure against it. They join the ranks of the highly discredited UNRWA, whose commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini warned that the relocation plan could create ‘massive concentration camps’ and a ‘second Nakba’ of ethnic cleansing.

All these comparisons go beyond good-faith concern. They are deliberate, politicised, cheap shots equating the Jewish State’s wartime decisions with the genocide that almost destroyed the Jewish people.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/squad-members-decide-lie-twist-facts-about-israels-history-says-prominent-arab-activist

CEO of Arab-Jewish coexistence organization challenges Reps Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib’s understanding of Middle East history and rejects apartheid accusations

Members of the “Squad” are undermining coexistence between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East, Israeli-Arab activist Yoseph Haddad told Fox News Digital.

“Representatives of the Squad are trying to harm the coexistence and partnership that exist in the region between Arabs and Jews,” Haddad said. “I think it was [Alexandria] Ocasio-Cortez herself who said she had no idea about the geopolitics of this region—she’s right. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib know exactly what’s going on here, but they decide to lie and twist the facts.”

Haddad, the CEO of Together Vouch for Each Other — an organization founded in 2018 by young Israeli Arabs to bridge cultural and religious divides — has emerged as a prominent voice in Israel’s public diplomacy efforts following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. 

Since the attack, Jewish communities across the United States and Europe have faced a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, with pro-Hamas demonstrations appearing on college campuses as early as October 8.

“The first group is what I call the useful idiots — people who have no idea what’s going on but joined because it felt like the cool thing to do,” Haddad said. “Then there are the paid protesters. You see the same faces at different rallies holding different signs — sometimes it’s about LGBTQ issues, sometimes it’s pro-Palestinian, sometimes it’s about internal American problems.”

“It’s always the same person, just a different outfit and a different sign,” he continued. “And the third group — the most dangerous—are the extremists who’ve come from the Middle East. Those are the ones we should be most concerned about.”

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21751/palestinians-terrorists-gaza-ceasefire

Hamas has been demanding “clear guarantees” that any US-brokered ceasefire deal would ultimately lead to the end of the war in the Gaza Strip, meaning that the Israelis should stop defending themselves against attacks.

Many Arabs seem to like starting wars — such as the war of 1948, when five Arab armies invaded Israel on the day of its independence, and which they now call the nakba (catastrophe) — but then getting angry when they lose them.

“Once again, Hamas’s spokesman – Izzat al-Risheq … [insists] ‘they will never surrender.’ He speaks from comfort abroad, while Gazans starve in ruins…. This kind of language is only aimed to block any ceasefire that doesn’t assure Hamas staying in power. Every time negotiations move forward, Hamas escalates the rhetoric and… prolongs this war.” — Hamza Howidy, Gaza-born Palestinian human rights advocate, X, July 9, 2025.

The terror groups’ leaders…. are convinced that despite the death and destruction they brought on their people, they can continue ruling the Gaza Strip after the war. As long as Hamas and PIJ insist on maintaining their hold on power, the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have no future.

The Trump administration needs to insist that all terror groups in Gaza be dismantled and driven out of power as part of any ceasefire deal with Israel. It is time that the Americans understood that the Palestinian jihadis pose a threat not only to Israel, but also to the US and its Arab allies in the Middle East, especially by inciting violence against them and carrying out — or encouraging — terrorist attacks against Americans and moderate Arab regimes.

In separate statements over the past week, senior officials of the Iran-backed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said that their terror groups “will not surrender.” The statements came as the Trump administration continued its efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of 50 Israeli hostages held by the terror groups. Twenty of the hostages are believed to be alive, while the remaining 30 are presumed dead. The hostages were kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led invasion of Israel. At least 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered that day, and thousands wounded.

“For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?” Esther 8.6

 But Esther’s story is a powerful reminder of faith, conviction and courage in the face of evil  and the importance of  using one’s influence for good even in seemingly impossible situations. That is the story of Israel as Michael Ordman demonstrates in his essential blog. rsk

 www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
 
100 babies born at missile-damaged Soroka. (TY I24 News) Beer Sheba’s Soroka hospital opened up maternity wards in bomb shelters to deal with the threat of rockets. Despite suffering an Iranian missile hit, Israeli women gave birth to 100 babies in the hospital during the 12 days of Operation Rising Lion.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-soroka-hospital-staff-delivered-over-100-babies-during-missile-attacks/
 
Aid for Iranian missile victims. (TY eJP) Israeli non-profit Ogen (see here previously) has launched a NIS 30 million emergency aid program “Israel’s Financial First Responders,” to support small businesses and families impacted by Iran’s missile attacks on Israel during “Operation Rising Lion.” JNF-USA has also rallied to help.
https://www.jns.org/wire/ogen-launches-30m-relief-fund-for-families-businesses-hit-by-iran-missiles/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jewish-national-fund-usa-supports-the-people-of-beer-sheva-amid-crisis-with-1-million-emergency-commitment-302490876.html
 
More support here. Colel Chabad, with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and the Hatzinor Fund, are giving debit cards worth 3,000 shekels to Israeli families left homeless after missile attacks. The JDC (Joint) have also been deploying emergency aid and services to support vulnerable populations.
https://www.jns.org/wire/with-homes-destroyed-in-iran-attack-thousands-of-israeli-families-get-immediate-support/  https://www.jns.org/wire/in-wake-of-iran-attacks-jdc-assists-vulnerable-populations-and-devastated-communities/
 
International support. Foreign aid for Israeli victims has come from Taiwan, which donated $160,000 to the ZAKA emergency response organization. Meanwhile, the Jewish community of Foshan China is donating building materials. Their city is one of the largest suppliers of construction services in the world.
https://worldisraelnews.com/support-from-abroad-pours-in-to-rebuild-israeli-cities-hit-by-irans-missiles/
 
$30 million for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The U.S. State Department will provide $30 million to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The GHF has replaced the United Nations in delivering humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians and avoiding Hamas looters. GHF has delivered many millions of meals since its launch.
https://www.jns.org/state-dept-announces-30m-in-funding-for-gaza-humanitarian-foundation/
 
Ex-hostage completes IDF service. Karina Ariev, held by Hamas for over a year, has officially completed her service in Israel’s Defense Forces. All of Israel has recognized her courage for both the bravery she displayed during her captivity, and for her decision to return and honor her fallen comrades by completing her duty.
  https://israfan.com/p/karina-ariev-idf-service-after-captivity
 
Ex-hostage gives support to missile victims. Former hostage Yelena Troufanov, spends her days gathering clothing and other supplies for those who have been injured or lost their homes and possessions during Iran’s missile attacks. So many items were donated from Israelis, which “reflects the spirit of our people,” she said.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/released-hostage-helps-victims-of-irans-missile-attacks/
 
Bar-Ilan graduation ceremony in Gaza. Ohad couldn’t attend his medical graduation ceremony at Bar-Ilan University as he was in the IDF serving in Gaza. So the university brought the graduation ceremony to him. He put a hat and gown over his IDF uniform and recited the doctor’s oath (Hippocratic Oath) to his fellow soldiers.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xTmRQezOlJw
 
Unsung heroes. Israeli reservists comprised the bulk of the troops largely responsible for Israel’s successes during the long multi-front war. They are all IDF veterans who completed their full service and then entered civilian life as students, members of the work force, spouses, and parents. Now they are on the front line.
https://mosaicmagazine.com/response/israel-zionism/2025/06/the-unsung-heroes-who-make-israeli-victory-possible/
 
Married couple flew sorties against Iran. (TY Yanky) Combat navigators, identified only as “Yud” and “Bet” both attacked Iran during the 12-day war. “Yud” is the first female deputy commander of a fighter squadron. Husband “Bet,” commands an air squadron and will soon command a fighter squadron. They have 2 children.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/married-couple-both-iaf-combat-navigators-flew-sorties-over-iran-during-12-day-war/

https://www.jns.org/the-cost-of-assumptions-iran-october-7-and-the-power-of-a-conceptzia/

The IDF’s performance against Iran throws into sharp relief the difference a conceptzia can make. The same military that reeled against a Hamas onslaught on Oct. 7, 2023, acted with jaw-dropping efficiency 20 months later.

It was, in large part, due to the way the Israel Defense Forces viewed the threat from Iran vs. that from Gaza. Clear-eyed about the dangers from one, it was blinded by misconceptions about the other.

“When your enemies say something, they usually mean what they say. In Iran’s case, we understood that. In Hamas’s case, we did not,” Or Yissachar, director of research at the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), told JNS.

The conceptzia that misled the IDF about Hamas consisted of a series of governing assumptions: 1) Hamas had been deterred, particularly after 2021’s “Operation Guardian of the Walls”; 2) Hamas was contained—its rockets by the Iron Dome, its invasion tunnels by the “Iron Wall,” and 3) Hamas, preoccupied with governing Gaza, could be bought off.

“Hamas exploited that belief to conduct a years-long deception campaign, not only misleading Israel’s strategic planners but reinforcing the … conceptzia …, the outdated and unfounded assumptions that Hamas sought calm in exchange for economic relief,” John Spencer, chairman of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, told JNS.

Compounding these assumptions was the belief that Hamas wasn’t capable of a major offensive. Israel believed it could mount a small raiding party at most. “It was a failure of imagination as much as it was a failure of preparation,” Spencer said.

https://www.commentary.org/seth-mandel/what-hamas-says-vs-what-hamas-means/

Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week had a celebratory but unfinished air. The Israeli prime minister and President Trump were somehow chummier and more businesslike than in previous meetings.

There’s a good reason for that: While the two have been working on a plan for postwar Gaza, the cease-fire has to come first—and it’s proving somewhat elusive.

The delay isn’t on Trump’s end. The president plainly was hoping to announce a deal while Netanyahu was in town. And the delay isn’t on Bibi’s part, because the prime minister clearly wants to give Trump the win he’s looking for. After all, Netanyahu nominated the president for the Nobel Peace Prize, gifted him a mezuzah in the shape of an American B-2 bomber and made from an Iranian missile, and showed off a hat in the MAGA style that said “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!”

By process of elimination, then, the culprit is our old friend Hamas. Why the cold feet?

One likely reason is that, while Netanyahu has seemingly come to accept the need to end the war in the near future, Hamas has gone in the opposite direction.

Any cease-fire deal that ended the war entirely would likely only do so after a 60-day period, which means that what transpires during those two months is what the two sides (three, if you include the U.S.) are arguing about. Here, it is helpful to distinguish between what Hamas says and what it means.

Hamas says that it suspects Netanyahu will be looking for any excuse to resume fighting even if negotiations for extending the cease-fire are taking place.

What it means is that Hamas’s usual strategy of incrementally violating the cease-fire to test Israel’s restraint is riskier than usual for the terror group because their fighting force and their control over the strip are both at low tide.