JC Israel Briefing Day 542: Erdogan calls for Israel’s destruction

The remarks came on the heels of Turkey’s condemnation of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and ongoing IDF operations in Syria targeting pro-Turkish positions.

Meanwhile, the US will bomb Iran if it refuses to strike a new nuclear deal, President Donald Trump warned yesterday in his strongest threat since returning to office. Speaking to NBC, Trump said: “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing — bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

Trump also confirmed talks are ongoing, adding: “We are talking.” Iran rejected direct negotiations but left the door open to indirect dialogue. President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far. They must prove that they can build trust.”

Elsewhere, Hamas is softening its position on a hostage deal due to Israeli battlefield pressure, Minister Ron Dermer told the cabinet yesterday. “Hamas blinked,” he stated, according to the Kan public broadcaster. “We are seeing changes in Hamas’s stance [on a hostage release deal] because of the military pressure.”

Israel believes Hamas’ changing stance may reopen a diplomatic channel. According to the latest Hebrew reports, the group is offering to release five hostages for a 50-day ceasefire, while Israel demands 11 living captives and half of the dead in return for 40 days of truce. Failure on Hamas’ part to respond soon will trigger intensified military pressure, officials are warning, as the IDF prepares for major new operations, including deeper territorial advances in Gaza.

On the topic of Hamas, a former hostage has revealed that was forced to watch a fellow captive being sexually assaulted. The Israeli-American Keith Siegel told CBS’ 60 Minutes: “I witnessed a young woman who was being tortured by the terrorists. I mean literal, you know, torture — not just in the figurative sense.”

Female hostages were sexually abused while others were made to watch, he added. Siegel said his conditions worsened in the months after his wife, Aviva, was freed, as he remained in Gaza. “The terrorists became very mean, and very cruel, and violent,” he went on. He described being beaten, starved, and given only “half a bucket of cold water” each month to clean himself. “I was completely dependent on the terrorists. Whether they were gonna give me food. Whether they were going to bring me water. Whether they were gonna protect me from the mobs that would lynch me.” Left alone for long periods, he feared he would be abandoned. “My spirit,” he said, “was broken.”

In the CBS special that included the Siegel interview, another released hostage, Tal Shoham, spoke of two Israelis who remain in Gaza, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David. They talked openly of suicide as they felt so low, said Shoham.

As the Hebrew month of Nissan — the month of Passover — started yesterday, relatives of hostages held prayers outside the home of Netanyahu’s closest associate, Minister Ron Dermer. They called for a ceasefire agreement before Passover, highlighting the festival’s theme as the holiday of freedom. Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, said: “Celebrating Passover without them again is unacceptable.” Referring to Hamas footage of hostages, he added: “They should have been here by now.” David reminded Dermer: “Your primary mission is to secure an agreement to save 59 lives — to protect them from imminent death.”

Levi Ben Baruch, uncle of Idan Alexander, said: “While you lift the matzah on Seder night and say, ‘This is the bread of affliction,’ our hostages are languishing in Hamas tunnels with nothing but mouldy pita.” He added: “There is no greater commandment than the ransom of captives.”

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent claimed yesterday that 14 people were killed when the IDF struck ambulances in southern Gaza last week. The IDF responded by claiming that the strikes had been targeting terrorists.

And suspected US airstrikes hit Houthi-controlled areas near Yemen’s capital overnight, killing one and wounding four, according to the Iran-backed rebels. Al-Masirah aired footage showing damaged homes.

Back in Israel, the cabinet has approved a plan to separate Israeli and Palestinian traffic in the West Bank. Critics say it will tighten Israeli control over an area near Jerusalem known as E1. The Prime Minister’s Office said the plan would “reduce congestion and enhance both security and the sense of safety.” But advocacy group Peace Now condemned the decision, warning it would isolate Palestinian towns. “These communities will be cut off from the rest of the West Bank,” it said. “This could mean the de facto expulsion of all Palestinian communities from the area.”

Finally, Netanyahu has named ex-Navy chief Eli Sharvit as the next head of Shin Bet, replacing Ronen Bar, whose controversial dismissal is still under court review. Sharvit, who led naval operations against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, has no intelligence background. There were mixed reactions to his appointment, with some highlighting his leadership credentials, while critics called it “puzzling.”

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