Channel 14 News Israel

Category: Israel

  • IDF Eliminates Terrorist Who Helped Kidnap Mia Schem

    IDF Eliminates Terrorist Who Helped Kidnap Mia Schem

    The IDF confirmed today (Thursday) that Ibrahim Abu Thakar, a Hamas terrorist who was eliminated last week by forces of the 252nd Division in the Southern Command, participated in the kidnapping of Mia Schem on October 7.

    According to the IDF, after an intelligence investigation, it was determined that Abu Thakar had raided Israeli territory during the massacre and was involved in the kidnapping of Shem from the Mefalsim area. Shem was kidnapped after spending time at the “Nova” festival near Kibbutz Re’im, and was returned to Israel in November 2023 as part of Operation “Sky Doors.”

    The IDF said that Southern Command forces are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to act to eliminate any immediate threat to Israeli citizens and IDF forces.

  • Bereaved Families to Netanyahu: Stop Aid to Gaza Now

    Bereaved Families to Netanyahu: Stop Aid to Gaza Now

    While political attention has shifted to Iran and Lebanon, pushing Gaza to the sidelines, bereaved families from the Heroism Forum sent a letter Thursday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding an immediate halt to aid trucks they say are giving Hamas oxygen and being exploited for the terror organization’s renewed strengthening and entrenchment.

    The families opened the letter by recalling the government’s commitments since the start of the war that Hamas would no longer pose a threat to Israel’s security. “All international and other attempts to disarm Hamas voluntarily have failed,” they wrote. “It was always clear, and now it’s clear to everyone, that only the IDF and the State of Israel will ensure the security of Israel’s residents in general and the south in particular.”

    According to the families, “For political and security reasons, the IDF is currently invested in other arenas. Nevertheless, we remind you—the State of Israel must not forget the southern front. We cannot accept a situation where the Hamas terror organization, or any other terror organization, remains in control of Gaza and endangers Israel’s security. Unfortunately, despite all this, every single day the State of Israel streams goods into Gaza—goods for terror. These goods are being exploited by the terror organization for strengthening, reorganizing, and consolidating its rule. The goods are immediately converted to dollars and funds that flow to terror.”

    The families then addressed Netanyahu directly, describing the reality that has emerged despite the signed agreement: “Mr. Prime Minister, all the ultimatums have expired, we’ve passed all the warnings and attempts. There’s no avoiding returning our attention to the southern arena. As a first and immediate step, we ask that you immediately order a halt to the flow of terror goods into Gaza. Every truck that crosses to terror endangers the security of our soldiers, endangers the security of southern residents, and strengthens terror—stop the disgrace immediately.”

    The bereaved families sought to strengthen the prime minister’s hand: “We encourage you to continue standing firm on all fronts for Israel’s security. We, the bereaved families, are behind you and behind the government in every determined step against our enemies. We owe this to our beloved heroes who fell, and to Israel’s residents who want to continue living in security. The people are strong, we will prevail with God’s help,” the bereaved families from the Heroism Forum concluded their letter to the prime minister.

  • Israeli Forces Foil Terror Plots in Judea and Samaria

    Israeli Forces Foil Terror Plots in Judea and Samaria

    Israeli forces in the Judea and Samaria arrested a ‘Palestinian Authority’ police officer and an ISIS operative overnight Wednesday who were planning to carry out terror attacks in the immediate term.

    The two suspects were arrested during operations by Border Police undercover units in Judea and Samaria, with precise intelligence guidance in the villages of Dura and Deir al-Asal. The two had planned to carry out attacks in two separate incidents, and were transferred for detention and further interrogation.

    The arrests come amid a serious wave of terror in the Judea and Samaria. Just two weeks ago, two attacks occurred during Shabbat: a shepherd and a farm owner were attacked by Arab terrorists. There were no casualties among Israeli forces in the incident. About a week ago, Israeli forces arrested more than 80 Arabs suspected of committing serious offenses and confiscated about 20 different weapons.

  • 18 New communities Planned for Northern Samaria

    18 New communities Planned for Northern Samaria

    The Samaria Regional Council and Amana announced Wednesday a major campaign to recruit hundreds of families for 18 new communities in northern Samaria. At least three new communities—Tamun, Bezek, and Ganim—will be established in the area this summer.

    Council head Yossi Dagan called on families to join the new communities. “Since we were displaced from our homes almost 21 years ago, we haven’t stopped dreaming, fighting, and working together to return here,” he said. “Now we’re fixing what was broken—they destroyed four communities in northern Samaria, and we’ll build 18. God gave us a second chance and we’re not missing it.”

    Dagan added that “reality proves that security comes only from holding the ground, and we’re determined to fill the Jewish presence void created by the expulsion. The Ganim core group is the spearhead of a broader move in northern Samaria. The new communities of Bezek and Tamun and additional communities are expected to significantly thicken the settlements of northern Samaria and turn the area into one of the most fertile and strong places in the country. We’re giving practical content to the repeal of the disengagement law—through construction, infrastructure, and permanent presence in northern Samaria.”

    Dagan concluded by emphasizing the vision for northern Samaria’s future: “The correction here is a correction for all of Israel. The people of Israel are winning—there will be excellent communities here and Samaria will become the heart of the Land of Israel.”

  • Golan to Eisenkot: Stop Sitting on the Fence

    Golan to Eisenkot: Stop Sitting on the Fence

    Far-left Democrats party leader Yair Golan called for preventing further splits in the left-wing bloc today (Thusrday), arguing that “the hour is greater than all of us and demands a decision.” According to Golan, Eisenkot must now choose between joining the Bennett-Lapid axis or standing alongside the Democrats party to create a united front that will replace the government.

    Golan didn’t hold back criticism of the new political dynamic created by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s alliance: “Lapid’s decision to join Bennett is pushing the entire anti-government bloc to the right. Now more than ever, the role of the Democrats party is sharpening and intensifying. Our role is to be the compass, the gatekeeper. We’re here to ensure that the next government doesn’t just replace the regime and personalities, but actually changes direction.”

    The Democrats chairman added: “The democratic-liberal camp cannot give up its values again and allow them to be swallowed up in right-wing agendas that get a whitewash of ‘centrist statist’ language. Without a values-based backbone—that center is just the right in full.”

    In a personal and direct appeal to Eisenkot, Golan emphasized the importance of the camp’s structural unity: “Gadi, you can’t stay in the middle anymore. A split in the bloc doesn’t bring new votes—it just disperses existing power and weakens the camp. I’m calling on you not to split the bloc further and to make a decision that will allow us to win: join Bennett and Lapid’s alliance or join us.”

    Golan concluded that the Democrats party will be the one to ensure that the next “change” government doesn’t settle for “empty declarations,” but delivers results and maintains the values-based backbone of the liberal camp without zigzagging according to polls.

  • ‘Palestinians’ Pour Concrete, Ruining Biblical Site

    ‘Palestinians’ Pour Concrete, Ruining Biblical Site

    Despite an explicit cabinet decision authorizing enforcement against the destruction of heritage sites throughout Judea and Samaria, Palestinians continued construction work and concrete pouring at the Hasmonean Palaces site over Independence Day and the surrounding days.

    The site, a cultural and biblical asset of global significance, has suffered ongoing destruction in recent years that threatens to erase a rare archaeological marvel from ancient times. The Hasmonean Palaces and the sunken gardens of Herod’s Third Palace are considered rare testimony to the pinnacle of ancient technology and architecture.

    In Area A, currently still under Palestinian Authority control, rampant construction continues erasing history and turning the heritage site into a construction zone and goat pens, just meters from the Israeli side. In recent days, massive development work was identified in the area known as the sunken gardens—activity that threatens to destroy the site permanently.

    Shomrim Al Hanetzach, a heritage protection organization, sharply criticized the security establishment’s inaction. The group noted that a clear cabinet decision exists to prevent the destruction of heritage sites throughout Judea and Samaria, including in Areas A and B, and questioned why the army and Civil Administration aren’t stopping the heavy equipment on site.

    Photo: Ketef Jericho Farm

    “Cabinet decisions cannot remain on paper while heritage sites are destroyed before our eyes,” the organization said. “Israel is losing this battle and must act immediately so that the land of the Bible is not erased.”

    The continued construction at the Hasmonean Palaces site serves as a burning warning sign to the Israeli government. Without determined and immediate enforcement, one of the most magnificent testimonies to the Hasmonean and Herodian periods will disappear under Palestinian concrete.

  • Israeli Official: US Didn’t Surprise Us—We’re Ready

    Israeli Official: US Didn’t Surprise Us—We’re Ready

    A senior Israeli official addressed reports Wednesday that Israel was surprised by how close the U.S. and Iran are to a deal. “The Americans didn’t surprise us,” the official wrote. “Prime Minister Netanyahu is in constant contact with President Trump, and they hold talks almost daily. There’s direct contact between the prime minister’s people and the president’s people.”

    The official said the conversations made clear that Trump is standing firm on his red lines—chief among them removing nuclear material from Iran. “The prime minister has instructed the IDF to be prepared for any scenario, including a return to fighting if necessary,” the official added.

    The Israeli response comes following statements by President Trump, who hinted at the possibility of ending Operation “Epic Fury” and lifting the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, provided that Tehran complies with American conditions. In a post he published, Trump wrote that the passage through the Strait could be opened to everyone, but immediately afterwards he set another ultimatum: If the Iranians do not agree to an arrangement, the US will launch a round of bombing with unprecedented intensity. In a conversation with reporters, the president made it clear that it was still too early to celebrate the signing of the deal, and noted that he was heading to a series of meetings with his generals to examine further steps.

    Later, Trump clarified in a conversation with PBS that the enriched uranium would be transferred to the US as part of the deal and that Iran would not use underground facilities. “If there is no deal, we will bomb them to hell,” said the American president.

    At the center of the talks is a short “memorandum of understanding”, a one-page document that was formulated with Pakistani mediation, and is intended to form the official basis for a permanent ceasefire. The Pakistani mediators express great optimism and claim that the parties are very close to signing an agreement in principle. The emerging draft includes Clauses concerning the limitation of Iran’s enriched uranium, the release of frozen funds, and the establishment of a timetable for withdrawal from military operations. Sources involved in the talks note that Iran has declared that it has no intention of possessing nuclear weapons, a declaration that has received the blessing of the Washington administration.

    Despite the optimism in Washington and Islamabad, reactions in Tehran are still mixed and cautious. While the Revolutionary Guards issued a solemn announcement that navigation in the Strait of Hormuz has become safe thanks to the “neutralization of threats from attackers,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry claims that they are still studying the proposal. Sources in Tehran emphasized that the latest text sent from the US includes a number of clauses that are unacceptable to them at this stage. Tensions on the ground are still very much felt, especially after a week in which missiles were fired at the United Arab Emirates and ships were hit in the maritime space.

    In a confidence-building move, Trump announced overnight a temporary suspension of “Project Freedom,” the military operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The president noted that the decision was made following a Pakistani request, but made it clear that the naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue as a tool of pressure until a final agreement was reached. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi landed in Beijing for a crucial round of meetings, in what appears to be an Iranian attempt to engage China in the process ahead of the planned summit between Trump and President Xi in mid-May.

     

  • Israel, Lebanon to Reportedly Hold Talks in Washington

    Israel, Lebanon to Reportedly Hold Talks in Washington

    Israel and Lebanon are set to hold talks in Washington next week, Lebanese broadcaster LBCI reported Wednesday. The meetings come as the ceasefire continues to unravel, with Hezbollah maintaining steady rocket fire at communities in northern Israel.

    According to the report, Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington has been in constant coordination with the U.S. Secretary of State’s team. Two preparatory meetings already took place earlier this week, on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the main round of talks. During those sessions, the Lebanese ambassador submitted a document detailing what Lebanon calls “Israeli violations” and emphasized Lebanon’s demand for a ceasefire.

    Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited southern Lebanon and told the fighters, “Your mission is to remove any threat from our communities and our forces. All IDF capabilities are at your disposal; you have no limit to the use of force for this purpose, and you will continue the mission to locate the enemy in the area and destroy it. Since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion, more than 2,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated. We will seize every opportunity to deepen the damage to Hezbollah and its continued weakening.”

    In parallel with calls for Israel to intensify the fighting in Lebanon, our correspondent Hillel Biton Rosen published this week on Channel 14 that the defense establishment estimates that the prolonged fighting has led to a significant shortage of weapons in Hezbollah’s ranks, a predicament that is expected to limit the organization’s capabilities in the continuation of the campaign in the coming months. These estimates are in addition to the data on manpower attrition: According to the report, only about 600 Radwan terrorists remain in southern Lebanon, out of about 1,000 who were in the area at the beginning of the campaign.

  • Hezbollah Drone Crashes in Israel, No Casualties

    Hezbollah Drone Crashes in Israel, No Casualties

    An explosive drone fell near the Lebanese border inside Israeli territory, causing no casualties.

    The IDF said the incident marked “another violation of the ceasefire understandings by the terrorist organization Hezbollah.”

  • Agricultural Terror: 20 Wells Poisoned in Binyamin

    Agricultural Terror: 20 Wells Poisoned in Binyamin

    A severe and alarming incident occurred in the Binyamin region of Judea and Samaria, when a large-scale poisoning attempt targeting shepherds and the settlement in the area was discovered. According to information received by Channel 14, approximately 20 water wells used for watering flocks were found to contain toxic material.

    According to details of the serious incident, two sheep that drank from one of the poisoned wells began developing severe symptoms and foaming at the mouth. A shepherd from one of the nearby farms, who noticed what was happening, managed to provide quick treatment to the sheep and save their lives. Following the shocking discovery, a formal complaint is now being filed at the Binyamin regional police station to open an investigation and locate those responsible for the act.

    Feelings among the farmers in Binyamin are very difficult. This is a dangerous escalation of agricultural terror, attempting to harm water sources and the livelihoods of settlers while using cruel means that could have ended in a far heavier disaster.

    Settlers are calling on security forces to crack down on the poisoners and beef up security around water sources and open areas. “This isn’t just about harming animals, but a deliberate attempt to poison the area and drive us out of here,” say sources in the region.