Jewish Federation's Update on Middle East War

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Jewish Federation of San Diego remains committed to keeping our community informed on the war in Israel. See below for the latest update:

Iran and Yemen

Overnight, it was revealed that a 73-year-old Israeli man, Motty Maman, was arrested for allegedly spying for Iran last month. According to reports, Maman had visited Iran twice and had been asked to plan attacks on Israel’s prime minister and defense minister. Maman claims he was tricked into visiting Iran while working on a business deal.
Last weekend, in a significant escalation, a ballistic missile was fired at Israel by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The incoming missile activated sirens across multiple cities in central Israel for the first time in many months. While no injuries or major damage were reported, missile fragments landed in Modiin. When a Houthi drone attack hit Tel Aviv in July, Israel responded with a large-scale attack on key Yemeni resources.

Lebanon

Some 1800 booby-trapped pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria exploded on Tuesday, killing at least 12 and wounding hundreds of others. International media is assuming that the event was part of an organized attack orchestrated by Israeli intelligence, although the government of Israel has not commented on the incident.
According to reports in the New York Times and the BBC, Mossad was able to intercept a large shipment of pagers ordered by the terror group (who sought to avoid using cell phones for their internal communications, on the assumption that texts and calls could be intercepted). The reports suggest that small explosives were implanted into the devices, which were then set off remotely.
Yesterday, a second wave of explosions hit walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah across Lebanon. This new set of detonations killed 14 people and wounded 450.
According to numerous media reports. The two incidents have severely disrupted Hezbollah’s military command and communications and put large swaths of the terror group’s leadership out of commission.
Many Israeli and international outlets have also commented on what they referred to as the “deep humiliation” suffered by Hezbollah as a result of the incidents.
Hezbollah itself has said that Israel should expect significant retaliation for the alleged attacks. As a result of concerns over a serious escalation, numerous European airlines have again suspended flights to Israel.
Some Israeli media have claimed that the IDF had originally planned to detonate the equipment concurrently with a ground attack on Lebanon that many have been expecting for numerous months. However, the reports claim there were fears that Hezbollah suspected the attacks and, therefore, the execution could not wait for any future ground offensive.
Signs suggest that an Israeli ground offensive against Hezbollah may be nearing in response to an ever-growing number of attacks on Israel’s north from Lebanon.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that Israel is entering a “new phase” of war, focusing on the northern front with Hezbollah, as he announced a shift in focus from Gaza to Lebanon. Also, in an unusual move last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on the security situation.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated that Israel has “many more capabilities” yet to be deployed in its war against Hezbollah. Halevi emphasized the military’s preparedness to use these additional resources if necessary.
The IDF has redeployed its 98th Combat Division from Gaza to the northern front amid the increasing tensions.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Activities

Four IDF soldiers were killed, and several others injured during fighting in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, southern Gaza. The troops were killed after entering a booby-trapped building. One of the four, Staff Sergeant Agam Naim, a 20-year-old IDF paramedic, became the first female soldier killed in the ground conflict in Gaza since Israel responded to the October 7th attacks. Naim had been serving in Gaza for six months and was set to complete her service and begin instructing a paramedics course. Her family described her as dedicated to her unit and determined to stay with them despite the dangers.
The four soldiers killed were part of ongoing operations to clear Hamas tunnels and militant strongholds in the area. The IDF has warned that Hamas operatives continue to use booby-trapped buildings and tunnels in Rafah.
The Shin Bet announced that it had thwarted an assassination attempt by Hezbollah targeting former defense minister and former IDF chief of Staff Moshe (Boogie) Ya’alon. The plan involved a remotely detonated bomb, which was to be activated from Lebanon. This operation was linked to the same Hezbollah network responsible for a 2023 bombing in Tel Aviv. The Israeli security agency had been tracking the network for some time, uncovering the Claymore-style mine intended for the attack.

Hostages

Currently, 101 hostages remain in Gaza amid stalled negotiations for their release. The IDF estimates that roughly 50 are dead.
Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages, expanded a ceasefire offer to Hamas leader Yahyah Sinwar, offering safe passage for Sinwar and his family in exchange for the release of 101 hostages. Sinwar has not responded to the offer and remains in hiding since the October 7 attack. Hirsch hinted at possible compromises regarding Israel’s military presence in Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor, suggesting international partners could assist in surveillance.
During Israeli singer Ishay Ribo’s performance at Madison Square Garden, the crowd called for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The concert, attended by around 15,000 people, featured guest appearances by Israeli artists Idan Raichel and Eviatar Banai. The emotional moment came as Ribo and the audience united in support of those captured on October 7.
Click here to read more stories of those abducted by Hamas on October 7.
Meet the seven American hostages still being held by Hamas here.

International

U.S. Senator John Kennedy accused Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, of supporting Hamas and Hezbollah during a Senate hearing on hate incidents. Berry denied the accusations, calling the questioning “extraordinarily disappointing.” Kennedy responded by defending his line of questioning, stating it was based on Berry’s past statements, which he deemed supportive of terror groups.
Media reports have said that Germany has halted new arms exports to Israel amid legal challenges claiming that such exports violate humanitarian law. The German Chancellor denied any policy change. The reports have sparked tension within the German government as any move would mark a shift from the country’s increase in arms exports to Israel throughout 2023. Israel responded by highlighting its long-standing defense relationship with Germany, asserting that arms supplies are vital for its security against terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have halted certain arms exports to Israel recently.
The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, claimed that Israeli tanks fired near a Gaza aid convoy over the weekend, though no one was harmed. The IDF denied the allegation, stating that combat engineers had carried out a controlled explosion in the area, likely mistaken for gunfire. This incident follows other tensions related to aid convoys in Gaza.
A senior Houthi official claimed the U.S. offered to recognize the group’s government in Yemen as part of negotiations following recent missile attacks on Israel. The U.S. swiftly denied the allegation, calling it a “total fabrication.”
Families of victims of the October 7 attacks are moving forward with a lawsuit against Canada’s decision to resume funding for UNRWA. The lawsuit asserts that UNRWA has ties to Hamas, a terrorist entity, and should, therefore, not be receiving Canadian funds. The federal court rejected the government’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing the families to challenge Ottawa’s decision. The plaintiffs argue that funding UNRWA supports terrorism, and they seek to disqualify it from further aid.
A man set himself on fire outside the Four Seasons Hotel, across from the Israeli consulate in Boston, on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Witnesses reported seeing the man pour gasoline over himself before igniting the flames.

Stories of Heartbreak, Heroism, and Hope

Alon Ohel, a 22-year-old pianist, was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack at the Nova desert rave. His family, together with jazz musician Avishai Cohen, recorded a song, “Shuvi Elay” (Return to Me), to honor him. The family placed a yellow piano at the Hostages Plaza in Tel Aviv, symbolizing hope for his return, inviting visitors to play and show support.
Emily Damari, a 27-year-old dual UK-Israeli citizen, was taken from her apartment in Kfar Aza during the October 7 attack. Her last message to her family was around 10 a.m., as terrorists were shooting in her neighborhood. Witnesses reported seeing her car, driven by a terrorist, heading toward Gaza. She is one of several women reportedly held in Hamas tunnels, as revealed by another released hostage. Read her story here.
Sharon Hirsh, a 45-year-old single mother of three, was killed by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Nova music festival on October 7. She was remembered by her family as a loving, carefree spirit who embraced life despite its challenges. Sharon’s eldest son, Itay, described her as a warrior who always made her children feel supported, even when times were tough.

You can also find all past updates here. New updates are posted every Thursday.

Jewish Federation’s Update on Middle East War

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