JC Israel Briefing Day 537: Gazans take to the streets in rare show of anti-Hamas dissent

A former hostage has described waking up half-naked in Gaza after sexual abuse. This story appears at the end of today’s update, as some readers may find it distressing.

The IDF killed two senior militants in separate strikes in Lebanon and Gaza. In Beit Hanoun, Israel killed alleged Hamas sniper Hossam Shabat, who posed as an Al-Jazeera journalist and had carried out attacks on soldiers and civilians. In southern Lebanon, the IDF killed Hassan Kamal Halawi, Hezbollah’s anti-tank commander. He had moved weapons and directed attacks, according to the IDF.

Syrian gunmen fired at Israeli troops, in a rare act of from Syria into Israel. The IDF responded with artillery and airstrikes, and, according to Syrian state media, killed several people. It is unclear which militant group was behind the attack.

It took place as Israel is in the midst of operations to target military assets of the Assad regime, which it fears are being used to support hostile activity. The military announced yesterday that last week soldiers operated in various locations in Syria, following intelligence indications, and “located numerous weapons including explosives, ammunition, mortar shells, military vests, combat equipment, munitions, and bullets. All of the items that were located were confiscated and dismantled.”

Israel has “weakened economic and fiscal strength” Moody’s Investors Service warned yesterday. It pointed to several factors, including “geopolitical instability and [a] polarised political system.” Israel’s credit rating is currently at a historic low.

New reports allege that Hamas was able to fund its militant arm, in part, thanks to funds that Benjamin Netanyahu knew were flowing from Qatari aid money and chose not to stop. Qatar apparently used to transfer money regularly to Gaza, supposedly to benefit residents. But Israel’s national broadcaster, Kan, reported yesterday that intelligence chiefs warned Netanyahu the money was flowing to Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure — and he chose not to cut off the funds.

Kan reported that, in 2019, then-Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman reportedly sent Netanyahu a highly classified letter stating: “We identify that money entering Gaza from Qatar is leaking to Hamas’s military wing.” Netanyahu reportedly replied: “I heard. We will continue with the process.”

Military Intelligence reportedly reiterated the warning months later, but the cash transfers continued. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office denied wrongdoing, saying there was never any intelligence document stating the Qatari grant itself was used for terrorism.

Elsewhere, Israel’s government averted a possible crisis yesterday, successfully passing the state budget. Had the budget failed to pass, it could have brought down the government.

There were chaotic scenes in and around the Knesset yesterday as politicians debated and passed the budget. Hostage families disrupted the vote, holding signs with the number 59 — a reference to the number of Israeli captives in Gaza — and confronting the Prime Minister. Opposition MKs joined the protest.

Outside, anti-government demonstrators blocked roads and were dragged away by police. Officers towed vehicles and made arrests. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana demanded prosecutions, but protesters said they were exercising their right to free expression.

Opposition politicians have condemned the budget for allocating larger amounts of money to the government’s political allies, especially causes favoured by the Haredi parties. “Your detachment and arrogance will boomerang back at you,” Benny Gantz of the National Unity Party told the government during the Knesset debate. But Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich defended the budget, saying it “has everything necessary to win on the front lines and on the home front.”

The government cannot currently fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, the Supreme Court decided yesterday. The fate of the intelligence chief has become an emblem of Israel’s internal struggle, with Netanyahu supporters backing the dismissal while his opponents say he is defending state institutions. The Supreme Court ruled that time is needed for the legality of a dismissal to be considered in detail, but decided that the government can begin interviewing replacements.

Meanwhile, an image that is widely circulating on the internet of a grieving Gazan woman holding a child’s skeleton was — as many suspected — fake. The original creator admitted online it was a “visual representation,” not a real photo. But, as often happens online, it was used out of context in viral posts with captions such as: “This is the most soul-shattering picture I’ve ever seen.”

The following item, the last in today's update, is about sexual abuse against a former hostage. Some readers may find it distressing.

A former hostage has described waking up half-naked and surrounded by gunmen after her Hamas captors sexually assaulted her. Ilana Gritzewsky told the New York Times that she was touched, beaten and burned — and then lost consciousness. One terrorist said, while hugging her and pointing a pistol at her, that he wanted to marry her, and therefore she would stay in Gaza long term. After her release, doctors found she had a broken hip. Gritzewsky and her Einav Zangauker, mother of her boyfriend Matan who remains captive, now protest for the release of all hostages. Gritzewsky said: "I am out, it’s a sign that God wanted me to raise my voice to help those who are alive gain their freedom and bring back the dead for a proper burial.”

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