IDF zaps sniper honcho in Deir el-Balah, Rafah locked down like it's a Passover Piñata

Dump Sweet Dump

The IDF just dropped a bombshell (pun intended): they smoked Ubayd Allah Na'im al-Hadhud Musa, the number-two guy in Hamas’s sniper squad out there. Yeah, Sunday was not his day.

The IDF’s like, “We didn’t just wing it. ‘Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.’” Translation: they dotted their i’s, crossed their t’s, and still turned Musa’s day planner to ash.

Oh, and earlier that same Sunday? The IDF and Shin Bet were playing tag-team, hitting a Hamas command center in the area. Joint op, total power move. They say, “At the time of the strike, numerous Hamas terrorists were operating from within the compound, planning terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. 

The targeted terrorists had further plans to carry out additional attacks.” So, basically, Hamas was cooking up something nasty, and Israel RSVP’d with a missile.

Over Passover, while folks were munching matzah, the IDF was busy wrapping Rafah in a chokehold. They call it “encirclement”—sounds like a fancy dance move, but it’s more like Gaza’s southern tip getting shrink-wrapped. 

On April 2, Israel started grabbing what they’re calling the Morag Corridor—some old settlement zone between Rafah and Khan Yunis. Nostalgia, but with tanks.

This whole Rafah squeeze is part of a bigger plan: take ground, push people out. Since March 18, the IDF’s been blasting evacuation warnings to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Rafah. “Pack up, head… somewhere.” Problem is, “somewhere” is shrinking fast, hemmed in by the sea. 

Good luck finding elbow room.

Defense Minister Israel Katz isn’t mincing words. He posted on X: “The more Hamas continues to refuse, the more the IDF will intensify its operations—targeting its operatives and destroying its infrastructure.” Then he added, “Gaza will become smaller and more isolated, and more of its residents will be forced to evacuate combat zones.” 

In other words, Hamas keeps playing hardball, Israel’s gonna keep swinging for the fences.

Loving the blog? Toss a virtual coffee my way on Buy Me a Coffee if you’re feeling generous – it’s like a high-five with caffeine! No pressure.

Tweet

New Israeli military chief sworn in with Gaza ceasefire teetering in the balance

On Wednesday, Israel appointed a new military commander while tensions grew over the shaky ceasefire in Gaza. This situation raised the chances of fighting starting again without a deal to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

Eyal Zamir, a former tank commander who retired after 28 years as a Major General, was brought back into service and promoted to Lieutenant General. He took over from General Herzi Halevi, who resigned due to the security failures of October 7, 2023.

“The mission is not yet complete,” Zamir said in a speech as he took command, noting that Hamas still hasn’t been defeated. “We will not forgive, we will not forget. This is an existential war. We will persist in our campaign to bring our hostages home and to defeat our enemies,” he added. 

Fighting in Gaza stopped in January thanks to a truce arranged by Qatar and Egypt, with U.S. support. This deal freed 33 Israeli hostages and 5 Thais in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

A separate war in southern Lebanon, sparked when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel after the October 7 attack, has also quieted down under its own ceasefire.

However, Israeli leaders have warned that fighting could restart if no deal is made to bring back the 59 hostages still held. Israeli troops have pulled back from some areas in Gaza, but talks to free the hostages and fully withdraw Israeli forces before ending the war haven’t started.

Israel wants to extend the truce past the Jewish Passover holiday in April to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Hamas, though, insists on discussing a permanent end to the war first before agreeing to free more hostages.

Zamir’s appointment comes as investigations begin into how thousands of Hamas-led terrorists attacked Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. This was one of Israel’s worst military and security failures ever.

Halevi was in charge during Israel’s campaign in Gaza to rescue hostages and destroy Hamas’s military and governing power. But in January, after the Gaza ceasefire was set, he said he’d step down, taking blame for the military’s weak and disorganized response to the October 7 attack.

If you would like to support my work, you can Buy Me A Coffee or subscribe to Brain Flushings. Thank you.

On Wednesday, as he handed over command, Halevi called for a broader investigation into the October 7 failures. “The establishment of a state commission of inquiry is necessary and essential – not to place blame, but first and foremost, to understand the root of the problems and allow for correction,” he said.

The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency have admitted their mistakes allowed the attack to happen. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far blocked a wider investigation that would examine his government’s role.

Tweet

AG Barr taking 'action' against officials who regulate religious services

William Barr ain't no Obama wingman Attorney General.

AG Barr is reportedly going to take "action" against government scumcrumpets who "single out religious" organizations over social distancing enforcement measures in dealing with the Chinese Communist Wuhan Wet Market Lab Created Coronavirus.

Kerry Kupec, spokeswoman for Barr, posted on Twitter:

“During this sacred week for many Americans, AG Barr is monitoring govt regulation of religious services. While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency, they must be applied evenhandedly & not single out religious orgs. Expect action from DOJ next week!”  

This year, Easter and Passover fall at the same time and is the most sacred week for Christians. AG Barr is monitoring the way in which government officials are dealing with various religious worship as some officials around the country have put a jackboot on the neck of church leaders and even threatened to permanently close churches if they don't fall in line with social distancing.

Comrade Mayor Bill de Blasio of NY City threatened to permanently shut down places of worship late last month of they didn't fully comply with social distancing efforts. De Blasio, who was a big fan of Nicaragua's Communist Sandinistas has showed his glowing incompetence since trying to deal with the virus while setting a horrible example by not abiding to his own orders to the public.

“The NYPD, Fire Department, Buildings Department, and everyone has been instructed that if they see worship services going on, they will go to the officials of that congregation, they’ll inform them they need to stop the services and disperse,” Comrade de Blasio said. “If that does not happen, they will take additional action up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently.”

The mayor evidently either did not read or understand the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

On Friday, another Democrat, Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, said he would send cops to churches Easter weekend to record license plates of anyone who attends services and will then subject them to forced quarantine for 14 days.

Louisville Democrat Mayor Greg Fischer has banned drive-in religious services in parking lots during Passover and Easter, even though this is a clear example of maintaining social distancing.

USA Today reported though that by Saturday afternoon “a federal judge had rebuked the mayor’s directive to churches, calling the move overbroad and unconstitutional.”

The list of Democrats targeting religious organizations is too long to list, or at least, too boring. Suffice it to say, leftists hate religion and William Barr sees it and plans to do something about it.

On Friday, President Donald Trump spoke about Easter during the White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing.

“Today is Good Friday. And this Sunday, millions of Christians celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Trump told a group of reporters during the nationally televised event. “At this holy time, we pray that God will heal the sick and comfort the heartbroken and bless our heroes. As American families look forward to Easter, we’re reminded that our story ends not in despair, but in triumph and renewal. Very appropriate, isn’t it?”

Happy Easter to my Christian readers and Happy Passover to my Jewish readers. May you all have a blessed holiday and a safe transition through this period of pandemic.


Please consider following this blog, and remember, every time you click on an ad, an angel gets its wings and a dead terrorist gets his virgins.




Tweet