27 nov 2019
Defense minister issues new directive halting release of bodies of Palestinian terrorists for burial; decision to be brought for Security Cabinet's approval
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett instructed security authorities on Wednesday to halt any future release of bodies of terrorists held by Israel, regardless of which terrorist organization the person was affiliated with.
The decision was made after a round of consultations with senior security officials. According to Bennett's new directive, exceptional cases, such as the return of the bodies of minor terrorists, will only be approved at the defense minister's discretion.
The new policy requires the approval of the Security Cabinet and will be presented before it soon.
"The request for a change in policy was made by the family of [slain IDF soldier held in Gaza by Hamas] Hadar Goldin during their meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week," said a senior security official. "Netanyahu expressed willingness to change the policy and instructed security authorities to look into the issue."
So far, Israel only kept holding the bodies of Hamas militants or other individuals affiliated with the terror group. Israel also continues to hold the bodies of terrorists who carried out serious attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.
The rest of the bodies are returned gradually to Palestinian hands, usually on Friday evenings, when public attention in Israel is not directed to it.
In the past, Israel returned the bodies of terrorists to prevent escalations in violence, but terrorist funerals have become a breeding ground for violence and incitement against Israel as mourners regularly call for vengeance on Israel.
Goldin's family lauded on Wednesday Bennet's decision to change the policy.
"We back the defense minister's decision," said the family. "It is inconceivable to continue releasing dead or living terrorists while the soldiers are held in Hamas's hands."
The release of terrorists is a prize that we cannot give Hamas while they're still holding soldiers and civilians."
"Prime Minister Netanyahu has committed to condition any agreement on the matter on the boys' return home and we expect the cessation of any economic or civilian projects in the Gaza Strip as long as the boys are still held in Gaza."
The bodies of IDF soldiers Goldin and Oron Shaul have been held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since 2014.
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett instructed security authorities on Wednesday to halt any future release of bodies of terrorists held by Israel, regardless of which terrorist organization the person was affiliated with.
The decision was made after a round of consultations with senior security officials. According to Bennett's new directive, exceptional cases, such as the return of the bodies of minor terrorists, will only be approved at the defense minister's discretion.
The new policy requires the approval of the Security Cabinet and will be presented before it soon.
"The request for a change in policy was made by the family of [slain IDF soldier held in Gaza by Hamas] Hadar Goldin during their meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week," said a senior security official. "Netanyahu expressed willingness to change the policy and instructed security authorities to look into the issue."
So far, Israel only kept holding the bodies of Hamas militants or other individuals affiliated with the terror group. Israel also continues to hold the bodies of terrorists who carried out serious attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.
The rest of the bodies are returned gradually to Palestinian hands, usually on Friday evenings, when public attention in Israel is not directed to it.
In the past, Israel returned the bodies of terrorists to prevent escalations in violence, but terrorist funerals have become a breeding ground for violence and incitement against Israel as mourners regularly call for vengeance on Israel.
Goldin's family lauded on Wednesday Bennet's decision to change the policy.
"We back the defense minister's decision," said the family. "It is inconceivable to continue releasing dead or living terrorists while the soldiers are held in Hamas's hands."
The release of terrorists is a prize that we cannot give Hamas while they're still holding soldiers and civilians."
"Prime Minister Netanyahu has committed to condition any agreement on the matter on the boys' return home and we expect the cessation of any economic or civilian projects in the Gaza Strip as long as the boys are still held in Gaza."
The bodies of IDF soldiers Goldin and Oron Shaul have been held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since 2014.
17 nov 2019
Netanyahu updates families on efforts made to return missing soldiers and on latest developments; families slam recent Gaza ceasefire, labeling it 'abandonment of missing soldiers'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Sunday with the families of two M.I.A IDF soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, whose remains are held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.
Following the meeting in Jerusalem, the prime minister’s office issued a statement, saying “Netanyahu updated the families on the efforts being made to return the boys and on the latest developments".
“The families raised other courses of action; the prime minister instructed his staff to evaluate the possibilities that were raised”.
The families of the missing soldiers have been critical of Netanyahu’s government in the past, saying it has not done enough to bring back the remains of their sons. The soldiers were killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
Earlier on Sunday, Hadar Goldin’s parents slammed a ceasefire agreement reached last week between Israel and Gaza-based terror organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad, branding it an “abandonment” of their son and Oron Shaul.
“After five years and four months of nothing really being done, we expect to hear from Netanyahu when he will retrieve the soldiers and civilians being held by Hamas,” the Goldin family said.
In April 2019, before the first round of Israeli elections took place, a report by London-based Arabic news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed claimed that the Israeli government was engaged in negotiations with Hamas to free Israeli prisoners believed to be held in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Sunday with the families of two M.I.A IDF soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, whose remains are held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.
Following the meeting in Jerusalem, the prime minister’s office issued a statement, saying “Netanyahu updated the families on the efforts being made to return the boys and on the latest developments".
“The families raised other courses of action; the prime minister instructed his staff to evaluate the possibilities that were raised”.
The families of the missing soldiers have been critical of Netanyahu’s government in the past, saying it has not done enough to bring back the remains of their sons. The soldiers were killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
Earlier on Sunday, Hadar Goldin’s parents slammed a ceasefire agreement reached last week between Israel and Gaza-based terror organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad, branding it an “abandonment” of their son and Oron Shaul.
“After five years and four months of nothing really being done, we expect to hear from Netanyahu when he will retrieve the soldiers and civilians being held by Hamas,” the Goldin family said.
In April 2019, before the first round of Israeli elections took place, a report by London-based Arabic news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed claimed that the Israeli government was engaged in negotiations with Hamas to free Israeli prisoners believed to be held in Gaza.
Nael Barghouthi, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in the Israeli jails, 62, entered today his 40th year in Israeli jails, said the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).
Barghouthi, from Ramallah’s Kobar town, had spent 33 years in Israeli jails before being released in the Egypt-brokered prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel in October 2011.
The Israeli authorities arrested Barghouthi again in June 2014, along with 60 other Palestinian prisoners who were released in the prisoner exchange deal, sentencing him to 30 months in prison. He ended his sentence on December 17, 2016.
However, on 22 February 2017, the Israeli Military Court of Ofer re-sentenced Barghouthi as per its initial verdict prior to the exchange deal, which was a life imprisonment and 18 years.
Re-arresting ex-prisoners released in a prisoner exchange deal is a political matter for which the Israeli government is responsible. The court does not have any legal grounds for Barghouthi’s continued detention, rather its decision to restore the previous verdict is arbitrary and legally baseless.
Barghouthi, from Ramallah’s Kobar town, had spent 33 years in Israeli jails before being released in the Egypt-brokered prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel in October 2011.
The Israeli authorities arrested Barghouthi again in June 2014, along with 60 other Palestinian prisoners who were released in the prisoner exchange deal, sentencing him to 30 months in prison. He ended his sentence on December 17, 2016.
However, on 22 February 2017, the Israeli Military Court of Ofer re-sentenced Barghouthi as per its initial verdict prior to the exchange deal, which was a life imprisonment and 18 years.
Re-arresting ex-prisoners released in a prisoner exchange deal is a political matter for which the Israeli government is responsible. The court does not have any legal grounds for Barghouthi’s continued detention, rather its decision to restore the previous verdict is arbitrary and legally baseless.
10 nov 2019
Israeli negotiator Yaron Blum
Officials deny report by Saudi news outlet saying delegations from Hamas and Israel have been holding talks in Cairo on the return of bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers and two hostages; Jerusalem says Hamas intransigence to blame for lack of progress
Israel has denied reports of a breakthrough in talks with Hamas regarding the return of two Israeli hostages and the two bodies of IDF soldiers being held in the Gaza Strip, accusing the terror group that rules the coastal enclave of inflexibility and adopting unrealistic positions.
The chief negotiator for the release of prisoners, Yaron Blum, told KAN radio that the report of progress by Saudi-based Independent Arabia was untrue, and that the lack of development was due to Hamas.
"Unfortunately, and despite all of our efforts, Hamas has refused to adopt a realistic position on the issue, which has hindered any real progress," Blum said.
Hamas has been holding the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, when they fell in combat during Operation Protective Edge.
Along with the bodies of Shaul and Goldin, Hamas is also holding Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed - two Israeli citizens who crossed into Gaza in 2014 and 2015.
According to the Independent Arabia, senior delegations from Israel and Hamas had arrived in Cairo to start negotiations for the hostages.
An unnamed source quoted in the report said that the talks initiated by the Egyptian government centered around the exchange of the Israelis for Palestinian bodies held by the Jewish state.
Israel denied the report, saying that the Hamas delegation was not in Egypt to discuss the hostages.
"There is no progress in any sort of talks between Israel and Hamas, due to Hamas' inflexibility," an Israeli official said.
Minister for Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi told Channel 12 that there was no Israeli delegation in Cairo and no such negotiations were underway with Hamas.
"We have been making the effort to reach some sort of an agreement for a long time now, but to no avail. Such an agreement is very important, and we hope it will soon come to fruition," said Hanegbi.
Officials deny report by Saudi news outlet saying delegations from Hamas and Israel have been holding talks in Cairo on the return of bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers and two hostages; Jerusalem says Hamas intransigence to blame for lack of progress
Israel has denied reports of a breakthrough in talks with Hamas regarding the return of two Israeli hostages and the two bodies of IDF soldiers being held in the Gaza Strip, accusing the terror group that rules the coastal enclave of inflexibility and adopting unrealistic positions.
The chief negotiator for the release of prisoners, Yaron Blum, told KAN radio that the report of progress by Saudi-based Independent Arabia was untrue, and that the lack of development was due to Hamas.
"Unfortunately, and despite all of our efforts, Hamas has refused to adopt a realistic position on the issue, which has hindered any real progress," Blum said.
Hamas has been holding the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, when they fell in combat during Operation Protective Edge.
Along with the bodies of Shaul and Goldin, Hamas is also holding Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed - two Israeli citizens who crossed into Gaza in 2014 and 2015.
According to the Independent Arabia, senior delegations from Israel and Hamas had arrived in Cairo to start negotiations for the hostages.
An unnamed source quoted in the report said that the talks initiated by the Egyptian government centered around the exchange of the Israelis for Palestinian bodies held by the Jewish state.
Israel denied the report, saying that the Hamas delegation was not in Egypt to discuss the hostages.
"There is no progress in any sort of talks between Israel and Hamas, due to Hamas' inflexibility," an Israeli official said.
Minister for Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi told Channel 12 that there was no Israeli delegation in Cairo and no such negotiations were underway with Hamas.
"We have been making the effort to reach some sort of an agreement for a long time now, but to no avail. Such an agreement is very important, and we hope it will soon come to fruition," said Hanegbi.
3 nov 2019
A house in Sderot which suffered a direct hit
Speaking at weekly cabinet meeting PM responds to the cross-border fighting over the weekend in Gaza, saying Israel is in a 'very sensitive' security environment to its south, north and east
The prime minister says the military will continue to strike its enemies, including through covert missions, after a weekend flareup of violence in the Gaza Strip.
Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday,convened a day after Israel struck a series of sites linked to Gaza's Hamas rulers in response to a late-night barrage of rocket fire, one of which hit a house in the town of Sderot. Although no one claimed responsibility for the rockets, Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks coming out of the territory.
Netanyahu said Israel is in a "very sensitive" security environment to its north, south and east.
"We will continue to act in all fronts for the security of Israel, both through open means and also through secret means, at sea, in the air and on the ground," he said.
The prime minister also addressed the criticism leveled at him by the family of soldier Hadar Goldin, killed during 2014 Gaza war, known as Operation Protective Edge, and whose body has been held in the Hamas-controlled enclave ever since. The family also criticized Coordinator of POWs and MIAs Yaron Bloom for not doing enough to bring back her son.
"We will continue our efforts to return our captives and MIAs. I want to say on this issue that I have full confidence in Yaron Bloom who is doing his work in a credible, serious and professional manner.
Speaking at weekly cabinet meeting PM responds to the cross-border fighting over the weekend in Gaza, saying Israel is in a 'very sensitive' security environment to its south, north and east
The prime minister says the military will continue to strike its enemies, including through covert missions, after a weekend flareup of violence in the Gaza Strip.
Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday,convened a day after Israel struck a series of sites linked to Gaza's Hamas rulers in response to a late-night barrage of rocket fire, one of which hit a house in the town of Sderot. Although no one claimed responsibility for the rockets, Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks coming out of the territory.
Netanyahu said Israel is in a "very sensitive" security environment to its north, south and east.
"We will continue to act in all fronts for the security of Israel, both through open means and also through secret means, at sea, in the air and on the ground," he said.
The prime minister also addressed the criticism leveled at him by the family of soldier Hadar Goldin, killed during 2014 Gaza war, known as Operation Protective Edge, and whose body has been held in the Hamas-controlled enclave ever since. The family also criticized Coordinator of POWs and MIAs Yaron Bloom for not doing enough to bring back her son.
"We will continue our efforts to return our captives and MIAs. I want to say on this issue that I have full confidence in Yaron Bloom who is doing his work in a credible, serious and professional manner.
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