The Week that Was

TL;DR This week was overflowing with tragedies, violent escalations, and tone-deaf leadership. But also protesters who refuse to give up. No matter what.

In case you’re wondering: My friend Yara who lives in Gaza, whom I interviewed for my podcast, Women Ending War, is starving. Food has not reached her yet.

As the current war in Gaza approaches 600 days, with over 50,000 Gazans killed, 92% of the population homeless, 58 hostages still held in tunnels by Hamas, Israel vowing to increase military pressure, and ceasefire talks paused AGAIN, amid all of that, violence stepped up yet another notch this week with the terror attack in Washington DC.

Here’s a quick look at what else has been going on the past week and why it matters.

Terrorist attack at the Jewish museum

Elias Rodriguez has been charged with killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC a young couple who worked at the Israeli embassy and who were just starting out their lives. They were also peace activists — and this NYT article by a Muslim colleague of Sarah will break your heart.

The attack, in which Rodriguez opened fire at a crowd while shouting “Free Palestine” has escalated antisemitic violence in America, validating Jews’ greatest fears that are also reminiscent of the 2018 Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting. Antisemitism has risen steeply around the world since the October 7 attack, increasing steadily as the war lingers on. The suspect was apparently driven by anger at Israel’s actions in Gaza. Which of course is a reminder that the longer this war goes on, the more Jews around the world are in increasing danger.

Yes, let’s make sure that we understand this. Increasing violence against Jews is directly correlated with Israel’s actions in Gaza. Want Jews to be safer? Well, then let’s end the war.

Just one more reason why this war needs to end. Now. One of many. Many many tragic reasons.

Palestinian doctor buries her nine children

Dr. Alaa Alnajjar, a pediatrician in Gaza, was on call when the bodies of her nine children — Yahia, Rakan, Luqman, Raslan, Jubran, Ev, Rivan, Sidra, and Sidin — were brought into the hospital where she was working, all charred by an Israeli airstrike. Her husband and one surviving child are still hospitalized.

Despite the appalling tragedy of this story, with clear photos, details, and testimonials, nevertheless, the pro-Israel PR machine is all over social media calling this story a lie. I am sorry to report that this story is true and has been vetted and reported in many news outlets.

And I also regret to report that this whole “Palestinians are lying” toxic response to human suffering remains one of the most appalling dynamics of pro-Israel activity. I did a whole take-down of this toxic tactic in my book, and have talked about it on my podcast, and it makes me sad and angry that so many people are still doing this.

Have we lost all capacity for compassion?

IDF is using human shields in Gaza

Israeli soldiers are systematically using Palestinian detainees as human shields to clear buildings of bombs in Gaza, according to an Associated Press report citing testimonies of Palestinians and Israeli whistleblowers. Ayman Abu Hamadan testified that he was forced to go houses to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen. The IDF is investigating the reports while insisting that this is against IDF policy, as well as against international law. Unfortunately this isn’t the first report claiming that Israeli soldiers are using Palestinians as human shields. CNN ran a similar report last year, and the organization B’tselem has been collecting evidence of human shields for years.

Of course we must point out that Hamas has also long been accused of using Gazans as human shields, as terrorists purposely hide in places like hospitals and kindergartens. Hamas’ human shield practice has been used by Israel to justify bombing civilian centers, and has led to tens of thousands of killings, including babies, children and innocent bystanders. The human shield practice is particularly cruel. Certainly. And the biggest takeaway from this is how Gazans are terribly caught between Israel and Hamas. But this AP report makes Israel look like the pot calling the kettle black.

Hamas and Israel should BOTH stop using human shields. They should stop killing innocent people, period. And I would also add that even if terrorists are hiding behind kindergartens and hospitals, we still should not be shooting in that direction.

I’m just saying.

Settlers attack Palestinians, again

From my friend Batsheva Reback:

This past Shabbat, armed settlers attacked the remaining Palestinian Bedouins in Mughayyir al-Deir, including 2 volunteers doing Protective Presence. One of the volunteers is in the hospital, the other was lightly injured. Adults and teenagers were injured, many of them sent to the hospital (in Ramllah). Cars were broken into, car batteries were stolen. My brother and his partner were there to help whoever got hurt from the attacks (clubs and rifles) and stoning.

Of course, you will see on Arutz Sheva and other Israeli sites that innocent Jewish shepherds just happened to be attacked by Palestinians while they were shepherding sheep. That is incorrect. I know this because I know people who were there. And if you know already what's been going on there from my reports from the field, the armed settlers have been threatening them for a while now, until they were forced to pack and leave.

Always be weary of the reports you see online. Talk to people who were actually there, and who actually know the families who live in these villages.

Pictured is a Palestinian child who was taken to the hospital.

Also, 3 Palestinian Bedouins (including a 16-year-old) were dragged out and kidnapped (UPDATE: they have all been accounted for) Other Palestinians are injured, some taken to hospital from beatings and stones thrown at them. My brother and his partner are there to help. Gedalyah Chaim Reback is going in this week. If anyone else can volunteer, please let me know.

To learn more about Civilian Protective Presence, follow Amira Musallem, who talked about it on my podcast.
(And btw, Amira is coming on as cohost for Season 4, starting in June. Details coming.)

Food starts to trickle back into Gaza, barely

After 80 days of starvation, in which Israel purposely blocked all food from going into Gaza, this week some trucks were allowed in – 90 trucks on Wed with flour and baby food, and 107 on Thursday. Unfortunately, 15 World Food Program trucks were looted overnight which the UN agency says underscores the insecurity and desperation engendered by more than two months of no food, water or aid. The population needs 500 truckloads of aid a day. One in five people in the enclave is now at risk of starvation, according to a U.N.-backed assessment.

Meanwhile, 29 children and elderly people have died from starvation in Gaza this week, according to the Palestinian Authority health minister Majed Abu Ramadan said. the IPC estimated that nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be “acutely malnourished”, with 14,100 cases expected to be severe over the next 11 months.

Gazans protest against Hamas

Gazans are increasingly vocal is their anger at Hamas for being in this situation. Protests against Hamas have been spreading, with Gazans screaming at Hamas to release the hostages so that the war will end and they can get back to their normal lives. It should be noted that Gazans are openly saying these things despite how dangerous it can be. Videos of Hamas shooting and killing protesters have been spreading around social media. The fact that protesting Hamas can cost a person their life doesn’t stop the Israeli government from blaming all Gazans for the actions of Hamas terrorists.

But let’s face it. Gazans are caught between Scylla and Charybdis, with Israel’s collective punishment of lethal bombings and starvation on one hand, and Hamas’ threats of death to protesters on the other.

Nevertheless, they persisted.

The Gazan protests against their own government are getting longer and louder.

So are Israeli protests against their own government

More and more groups of Israeli protesters are calling for an immediate end to the war, even holding signs using words like “ethnic cleansing” and “war crimes” and even “genocide”, phrases that would have once been completely taboo for Israelis to use against its own government. But after 20 months of endless death, including the last 80 days of watching Gazans starving to death, many Israelis have had enough of the actions jof their own government. Increasing numbers of reservists are also refusing to serve, a movement supported by Nobel Prize Laureates, judges, and celebrities. Calls for refusal can also be risky, as some reservists have been imprisoned for their refusal. Even protesting can be risky. Last week non-violent protesters by the Gaza border were arrested, including Alon Lee-Green head of the Standing Together movement who was held in jail for several days before being released.

Protesters on the Charles Clore beach in Tel Aviv this week. Signs say, “Starvation is a war crime”

Other vocal opponents of the war include General Yair Golan, the new head of the Democratic Party, what was once Labor. He accused Israel this week of “killing babies as a hobby”. For that, he received massive cheers from supporters, along with threats from the government. The coalition is seeking to lower his army rank as well as bar him from running for the Knesset. But he is undeterred. In a press release this week, he doubled down on his criticism, and said it’s unbelievable that we are still in this war, and that Bibi Netanyahu is still running the country, despite his massive failures that led to October 7, and the fact that he spent years funding Hamas terrorism. Hopefully, reckoning will come soon.

European leaders raise the stakes

French president, Emmanuel Macron, Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, called on Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza that has already claimed 3,000 lives since Israel broke the cease fire in March. This is a new level of isolation for Israel, which has lost its credibility and credit standing around the world, and has been accused of genocide and ethnic cleansing by the Hague. Israelis already risk being arrested in certain countries. The actions of these allies further threaten Israel’s political status as well as economic deals that are on the line. The countries involved are some of Israel’s most important trading partners, accounting for around 31 percent of Israel’s exports last year and 37 percent of its imports, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. In response, Bibi Netanyahu, rather than try and calming the waters and committing to, say, ending the war, instead he went on the offensive by calling them all antisemites. That has obviously not helped things. People trying to end the war motivated by issues of human rights and a desire to end the incessant bloodshed, do not like being called antisemites. They would rather be acknowledged for coming from a place of human morality and basic Israel, which has lost its credibility and credit status around the world compassion. Bibi apparently does not get that.

His minions have made this even worse by blaming world leaders for the Washington attack. Foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar said that their criticism of Israel is what led to the terrorist attack. As if to say, you know, antisemitism caused by language criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza, as opposed to the idea that antisemism is caused by Israel’s actual actions.

But we know the truth. The world is screaming for Israel to stop what it’s doing. This isn’t antisemitism but basic morality. As Golan said, a normal country does not target children.

Bibi’s new guy, Zini, is a forever-war guy

If you need any more proof that Netanyahu has no intention of ever ending the war or getting back the hostages, ever, here’s this tidbit: The man who he just appointed as head of the Shin Bet, Maj General David Zini, does not “believe in” hostage deals. He believes in a forever war. And it’s worth pointing out that Netanyahu made this appointment illegally after firing the former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. Ronen Bar was widely praised by hostage families such as Jon Polin as being one of the few people in the government who actually, genuinely worked towards getting a hostage deal and cease fire done, despite Netanyahu’s relentless opposition and constant sabotaging of his efforts. Netanyahu is so determined to keep this war going at all costs, that has to defy Israel’s Supreme Court in order to get rid of Ronen Bar, the guy who actually cares about human life and ending the war, and replace him with Zini, a war hawk who has zero intention of ending the war, ever. So that’s where we are.

The war is also killing hostages

Edan Alexander, who was recently released from Hamas captivity as a result of America’s intervention with apparently zero involvement or support from Israel, said that he nearly died from IDF bombings and was only saved by his Hamas captors.

On April 14, just weeks before Alexander’s release, the Israel Air Force dropped bombs on a Hamas compound over the tunnel where Alexander was being held, causing the tunnel shaft to collapse. Alexander later told his father, “I thought that was it, I’m dead. I managed to miraculously survive for a year and a half, but now it’s the end. I’m going to suffocate here in the tunnel.” One of the terrorists was killed then, and another opened an ejection door for them to breathe. Then, the terrorists tried to lead Alexander to a different tunnel. “We started to run away, and there was some kind of corridor — a very, very long corridor….and then, suddenly, another bomb fell right above.” Part of the collapsed ceiling hit Edan and injured his shoulder — which is still being treated, along with his hands that were injured trying desperately to dig himself out.

Then he said this: “When the second bomb fell, and everything collapsed and we were buried underneath, it was the scariest moment of all time in captivity.” He said Israeli explosions were like “earthquakes.”

Many released hostages have said the exact same thing – that the scariest moments of their captivity were Israeli bombings. Including Naama Levy at last night’s protest in Tel Aviv.

Read that again: The scariest part of being a hostage was Israel’s air bombings.

But the Israeli government is not listening.

At all.

On the exact same day that Edan Alexander nearly died in an Israeli attack, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told a group of IDF reservists that “the operation in Gaza does not endanger the hostages.” Hostages vehemently disagree. The hostage families have been on the forefront of protests to end this war. So far, 41 hostages have died in captivity, including in Israeli airstrikes, according to the Hostage Families Forum.

Don’t let anyone tell you that this war is for Israel to protect the hostages. That’s just another lie.

Criticism even from inside Bibi’s camp.

Likud Knesset member Amit Halevi is one of the few voices within the right wing government to question the war in Gaza. Halevi, who said the war should have been over after a month and that the IDF has not achieved any of its goals or had any real effect on weakening Hamas and who took the very unusual step of voting against the government to continue the war, was subsequently punished for saying this out loud. He was ousted from his seat on the powerful Foreign Affairs and Security Committee in the Knesset and replaced with someone who has “party discipline” That is, someone who will not criticize the war. His colleague Yisrael Katz compared him to Yair Golan, head of the left-wing Democratic party, and accused them both of being traitors to the IDF. So far, Halevi is not deterred. He’s still speaking publicly against the war. But this is a reminder of the real risks people face when they oppose the war, or Netanyahu, in public.

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This substack is dedicated to the memories of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, as well as Yahia, Rakan, Luqman, Raslan, Jubran, Ev, Rivan, Sidra, and Sidin Al-Najjar. And with prayers for my friend Yara, that she and her family will get relief from all this horror soon.

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