JC Israel Briefing Day 566: Freed hostages to march through Auschwitz for Yom Hashoah

Israel’s official delegation has dedicated this year’s march to those still held in Gaza. Alongside the former hostages, around 80 Holocaust survivors are participating to mark 80 years since World War II, together with President Isaac Herzog.

Herzog marked the start of Yom Hashoah last night with a plea for Israelis to “lower the flames” and unite, invoking survivors’ calls for national healing. “History will not forgive those who dismantle us from within,” he declared at Yad Vashem, before departing to join the delegation in Poland.

Speaking at the official state ceremony in Jerusalem, Herzog warned that internal division poses the greatest danger to Israel’s future. He urged citizens to approach the coming ten days – culminating in Independence Day – with reflection and responsibility. His speech was widely interpreted as a veiled call to de-escalate political tensions and restore social cohesion. “We will neither rest nor be still,” Herzog said, adding: “until all our hostages return home.”

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a markedly different tone in his Yom Hashoah address. He told Holocaust survivors that Israel “must be strong and respected” rather than liked. Netanyahu invoked the legacy of Jewish survival and praised the strength of today’s soldiers. He called Israel’s military the guarantor of Jewish continuity and warned against relying on foreign approval.

In other hostage news, Hamas has released new footage of Israeli captive Omri Miran, shown alive in a Gaza tunnel. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the video “a disgrace” and demanded renewed action to secure the hostages’ release.

The footage appeared yesterday, showing Miran more than 18 months after his abduction from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the October 7 2023 attacks. “Omri is strong and will not break, but our hearts break,” his family said. The Forum condemned the timing of the video as a cruel provocation on Yom Hashoah.

Meanwhile, the UK, along with France and Germany, has issued a statement condemning Israel’s halting of Gaza aid, insisting it must resume immediately – drawing a sharp rebuke from Jerusalem. The so-called E3 countries declared: “Israel has now fully blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza for over fifty days… This must end.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded by arguing that “according to Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, a side is not obliged to allow in aid if it is ‘likely to assist the military or economic efforts of the enemy’”.

And, in another diplomatic spat, Israel will not send a senior official to Saturday’s funeral for Pope Francis, breaking with past precedent and signalling a sharp chill in relations with the Vatican. It will instead be represented by its ambassador to the city state, Yaron Sideman.

The move comes amid growing tensions between Jerusalem and the Holy See over the war in Gaza. A government condolence post for Francis’ death was swiftly deleted this week, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has issued no statement. In contrast, Israel sent both its president and foreign minister to the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Elsewhere, the Palestinian Authority, the Western-backed Palestinian leadership, has criticised Hamas and demanded the release of hostages. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who had faced ongoing criticism for failing to adequately speak out against Hamas since October 7, declared in a speech that the terror group must “shut down their excuses” – meaning Israel’s justification for continuing the war – and end the conflict. He called Hamas “sons of dogs," and said: "Release the hostages and be done with it.”

Since October, hostage families and Israeli officials have accused the PA of moral failure for avoiding pressure on Hamas. Some analysts see the new statement as a possible shift in PA strategy, driven by growing Arab criticism and diplomatic frustration. The PA remains excluded from ceasefire negotiations.

In Gaza, Israel has killed at least six Palestinians in a strike on a school the IDF says was used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad as a command centre. The army said precision munitions, aerial surveillance and intelligence were used to reduce civilian casualties.

The target was Gaza City’s Yaffa School, which had sheltered displaced families before being taken over by militants, according to the IDF. Aerial footage released by the military showed secondary explosions, which it said confirmed the presence of weapons. The strike has attracted international attention, with growing calls for an independent investigation. Israel maintains that the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes constitutes a war crime.

And IDF has killed nine Hezbollah operatives in the past week and struck over 40 targets in southern Lebanon. The army said the strikes were aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s weapons smuggling and drone operations during the ceasefire. Airstrikes focused on logistical hubs and infrastructure near the border. Hezbollah has not officially responded but confirmed casualties through affiliated media outlets.

In related news, Iran has fortified a network of underground tunnels near its Natanz nuclear site, according to satellite images that have reached the press. This has prompted fears the facilities could be used to store enriched uranium or advanced centrifuges. UN inspectors have not been granted access.

Plus, in a major security crackdown, Jordan has banned the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that inspired Hamas, accusing it of plotting to destabilise the country. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said members were caught stockpiling weapons and producing missiles covertly. As the ban came into effect, officials carried out asset seizures and arrests in several cities. The Brotherhood had operated legally as a Jordan’s largest opposition political party, and its terrorist designation signals a significant policy shift.

Back in Israel, wildfires erupted yesterday. On the outskirts of Jerusalem, roads were closed and residents were evacuated from their homes. The fires were caused by natural conditions, not terrorism, officials confirmed. Firefighters, helicopters and IDF units worked to stop the spread, and while most fires have been extinguished, crews are still battling blazes near Beit Shemesh. The flames consumed large parts of the Einot Gibton Nature Reserve, where decades of ecological restoration have been lost.

Finally, a diver attacked by sharks off the coast of Hadera has been confirmed dead. Police announced yesterday that remains recovered near the site matched the missing swimmer after a two-day search. Forensic teams verified the identity through laboratory testing. The victim disappeared while swimming off Hadera earlier this week, prompting a wide search by police, rescue divers, and naval units. He had gone missing during a routine swim off the coast of Hadera on Monday. Rescue divers and navy units searched the area over two days before the grim discovery.

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