الأمن

By Pesach Benson • May 12, 2025

Jerusalem, 12 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel was preparing for the expected release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander on Monday after being held captive by Hamas for 584 days.

His imminent release comes as part of an arrangement between Hamas and the US, following talks described by Hamas as an effort to promote a ceasefire, reopen border crossings, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff personally informed Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi, of the news on Sunday, and they immediately flew to Israel with US hostage envoy Adam Boehler to be present for their son’s arrival. Witkoff, traveling separately from Oman where he had been holding nuclear talks with Iran, is expected to join them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the United States informed Israel of Hamas’s decision to release Alexander “without any compensation or conditions,” describing it as a goodwill gesture toward Washington. “According to Israeli policy, the negotiation will take place under fire, with a firm commitment to achieving all the objectives of the war,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Alexander, a 21-year-old IDF soldier from the Golani Brigade, was abducted on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’s attack on Israel. Serving as a lone soldier without immediate family in Israel, he was captured at the Kissufim military post near the Gaza border after volunteering to stay on duty while others were on leave.

A spokesperson for Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital confirmed preparations were being made to receive Alexander.

Boehler called the development “a positive step forward,” adding on social media, “We would also ask that Hamas release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken.” Among the 59 hostages still held by Hamas are the remains of Americans Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai, and Judith Weinstein Haggai. US officials believe up to 24 hostages are still alive.

The Hostage Families Forum, while welcoming the news, emphasized that Alexander’s release must not be the end of the effort. “The expected release of Edan shows that a determined leader is committed to his citizens,” the group said in a statement, pointedly refraining from naming former President Donald Trump, whose diplomatic push is credited with the breakthrough.

Turning its focus on Israeli leadership, the forum urged Netanyahu to act. “Prime minister, what of your commitment to the 58 remaining hostages?” it challenged. “Will you choose to make history, to return all of them and allow Israeli society to recover? Or will you continue playing for time and dodging responsibility at the cost of shredding Israeli society, seriously harming the hostages and preventing the possibility of returning the remains [of those killed]?”

Hamas has stated its readiness to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the war. Netanyahu has so far rejected such proposals, warning that a ceasefire without dismantling Hamas would allow the terror group to remain in power.

Qatar and Egypt welcomed the decision to release Alexander in a joint statement, calling it “a gesture of goodwill and an encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table” aimed at reaching a ceasefire, securing the release of prisoners, and facilitating humanitarian aid for Gaza’s civilians.

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Monday, 12 May 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:

“This is a very emotional moment – Edan Alexander has returned home. We embrace him and we embrace his family.

This was achieved thanks to our military pressure and the diplomatic pressure applied by President Trump. This is a winning combination.

I spoke with President Trump today. He told me ‘I am committed to Israel. I am committed to continuing to work with you in close cooperation’ – in order to achieve all of our war objectives: Releasing all of the hostages, and defeating Hamas.

This goes together. They are combined with each other.”

By Pesach Benson • May 8, 2025

Jerusalem, 8 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Pakistan accused India of launching Israeli-made drones into its airspace, claiming to have intercepted a dozen of them on Thursday.

According to Pakistani military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, debris from the drones was recovered in several locations, including near the major cities of Karachi and Lahore. “We are disabling them one by one,” Chaudhry said.

The Harop drone is a loitering suicide drone produced by Israel Aerospace Industries that has also been sold to Germany and Azerbaijan.

The accusations come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistan, which enjoys strong ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, alleged that India deployed Harop drones as part of broader operations. India has not officially responded to the accusations.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Ezer voiced firm support for New Delhi.

“Israel supports India’s right for self-defense. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent,” Ezer tweeted.

India launched airstrikes on Pakistan following the massacre of 26 people, mostly tourists, near Pahalgam in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Indian officials say the strikes are targeting terror infrastructure belonging to the terror groups, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. India blames Pakistan for the massacre.

By Pesach Benson • May 8, 2025

Jerusalem, 8 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — As Eurovision begins in Switzerland, Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a travel advisory on Thursday for Israelis attending the contest in Basel.

Citing some 360 anti-Israel protests in Switzerland over the past year, the NSC warned that more demonstrations are expected, particularly targeting the Israeli delegation.

“It is recommended to stay away from these centers of friction and demonstrations, which may escalate into violence,” the NSC said, noting that some may exploit the protests to attack Israelis.

Israelis are advised to avoid displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols, posting on social media, discussing military service or the war against Hamas, and participating in any gatherings or protests linked to Israel. Travelers are urged to download the Home Front Command app for real-time alerts.

Israel is being represented in the competition by Yuval Raphael, a 24-year-old survivor of the October 7 Nova music festival massacre. The all-night rave, attended by 3,500 people on the grounds of Kibbutz Re’im, became a killing field where 364 people were massacred and 40 others were taken hostage. Of all the locations attacked by Hamas on October 7, the highest death toll was at the music festival.

Raphael will perform “New Day Will Rise,” written by Keren Peles.

President Isaac Herzog praised Raphael’s courage, calling her story “incredible, and telling her, “You will be in the hearts of every Israeli and the Jewish people worldwide.”

Raphael said representing Israel feels like “preparing for the Olympics,” adding, “Just being there is already a victory.”

The competition begins on May 13.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, visited a training exercise of the IDF 5th Brigade (reserve) at the Ground Forces Training Center in Tze’elim.

The Prime Minister received a briefing from the commanders regarding the training forces, the operational training effort in the Gaza Strip in the past weeks, and the improved readiness of the troops ahead of the expanded incursion.

The Prime Minister also spoke with the brigade fighters and commanders and answered their questions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

“I am here at the Tze’elim Military Base, and I have come to see firsthand the quality of our troops, our heroes, ahead of the intensive operation that we are about to carry out in the Gaza Strip. I have observed your training exercise, and you have performed it excellently. There are reserve soldiers here, reserve commanders, who are doing a tremendous job. We are determined to achieve two objectives: One is to defeat Hamas, to gain victory over Hamas, to destroy Hamas. The second, of course, at the same time, is to release our hostages.

Today, we are marking the 53rd anniversary of the operation to rescue the hostages from the Sabena aircraft. I was there, I was injured there. The spirit remains unchanged, it is the exact same spirit that I see surging here among the soldiers and the commanders, and unites the ranks for a single goal of achieving a great victory. This victory includes both the defeat of Hamas and the release of our hostages.

That victory goes beyond all that, it impacts the entire region. AS of today, we have changed the face of the Middle East. We have brought Hezbollah to its knees; brought Hamas tolower than its knees; the Assad regime has fallen. Iran has also experienced our might. We face more challenges, but we have a strong spirit, and that spirit is achieved by our army comprised of conscript soldiers as well as reservists.

The reservists are doing a fantastic job. It places a heavy load on them, on their families, on the wives and the children, sometimes on the partners. We are determined to assist them, because they deserve everything. We have given them a lot, but we need to give a lot more, and we will do so.

To Hamas I say one thing: The rules are about to change very soon — thanks to you soldiers.”

The Prime Minister was joined by his Chief-of-Staff, Tzachi Braverman; his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman; Commander of the Ground Forces, Maj.-Gen. Nadav Lotan; Head of the Education and Training Command, Maj-Gen. David Zini; Commander of the Ground Forces Training Center, Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller; and the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson, Dr. Omer Dostri.

By Kostis Konstantinou • May 7, 2025

Jerusalem, 7 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel and Greece signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Athens on Wednesday to offer the BlueWhale autonomous submarine system to the Hellenic Navy.

“This strategic collaboration marks a step forward in strengthening Greece’s undersea defense capabilities. The potential integration and co-production of BlueWhale deepens the bilateral ties and represents a leap toward technological autonomy for our country,” said Rear Admiral (ret.) Alexandros Diakopoulos, Chairman of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry, which will take on a pivotal role in BlueWhale’s production and design.

Diakopoulos added that BlueWhale’s deployment will offer Hellenic Armed Forces a vessel that “combines anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.”

Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), BlueWhale, is a large uncrewed underwater vehicle measuring 10.9 meters long, 1.12 meters in diameter and weighing 5.5 tons. It can perform a wide range of covert maritime missions, including intelligence-gathering above the sea surface, submarines and underwater target detection, acoustic intelligence collection and search for and detect naval mines on the seabed.

The autonomous submarine also performs a significant portion of a crewed submarine’s operations for several weeks at minimal cost and maintenance, and without risking operators.

Speaking in Athens, IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy, expressed pride in strengthening IAI’s partnership with the Hellenic Aerospace Industry “through this strategic agreement, further enhancing the defense capabilities of Greece.”

“BlueWhale represents a transformational leap in maritime defense”, according to IAI’s Executive Vice President Dror Bar. “It delivers the advanced capabilities of a crewed submarine. Today’s MoU marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to advancing Greece’s maritime security,” he added.

Germany’s Bundeswehr Navy is also integrating BlueWhale into its Baltic Sea operations.