Israel Brief: Friday, October 3
Yom Kippur’s quiet, rockets’ roar, and the clock on Hamas: clarity at home, pressure abroad, resolve intact.
Shalom, friends.
We are catching our breath after the fast and aiming straight for Shabbat. Apologies, in advance, that this “brief” is bit less brief than usual—a lot happened during our short Yom Kippur break.
Israel’s high holy day held two truths at once. Streets fell silent for Yom Kippur as kids biked down the Ayalon, and at the same time sirens sounded in Ashdod, a Hamas infiltrator hit an IDF post in central Gaza, and the Navy hauled in a made-for-camera flotilla that carried slogans, not aid. The war keeps testing our attention span. We will not blink.
Here is what to watch today. Hamas’s commanders in Gaza signal they want to fight on. Mediators press for the Trump plan. Washington is losing patience. In Judea and Samaria, attempted rammings and checkpoints remain hot. In Europe, the mask keeps slipping: a Yom Kippur attack outside a Manchester shul, and German arrests of Hamas operatives with rifles and pistols prepositioned for Jewish targets. At home, an Israeli hospital absorbed a cyber hit while still treating patients.
If you want to help shape what comes next, I’m inviting pre-readers for my new book, Holiday From History (out October 7). If you’d like an ebook advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review, just reply to this email with “ARC” in the subject.
The War Today
Officer seriously injured: Terrorist infiltrates IDF outpost in Gaza
On Yom Kippur morning, a terrorist breached an IDF forward outpost near the al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza, sparking a brief firefight before being killed by soldiers. A reconnaissance officer was seriously wounded and two others lightly injured. The incident highlights both the IDF’s vulnerability to infiltration attempts and Hamas’s persistence in targeting Israeli positions even during the war’s “twilight days.” Israel National News reports that the clash lasted less than a minute, underscoring the razor-thin margin between defense and disaster. Read more →
Hamas fires 5 rockets from Gaza on Yom Kippur, triggering sirens in Ashdod; no injuries
On Yom Kippur, Hamas launched five rockets at Ashdod, four intercepted by Iron Dome and one landing in open terrain. The attack coincided with an infiltration at an IDF outpost in central Gaza that left an officer seriously wounded and with a Houthi drone intercepted near Eilat. The Times of Israel notes that while rocket fire has become rarer during the war, Hamas still seeks symbolic strikes on holy days. The salvo came as Hamas weighs Trump’s hostage–ceasefire proposal and as the IDF intercepted a 41-ship flotilla trying to breach the naval blockade. Read more →
IDF intercepts ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ heading to Gaza
The Israeli Navy intercepted dozens of vessels in the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” preventing them from breaching the Gaza blockade. Participants included Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, both previously involved in failed flotilla attempts. The Foreign Ministry released documents showing Hamas’s foreign arm, the PCPA, directly organized the flotilla and secretly owned some of the ships through front companies. Israel stressed that aid delivery offers were refused because organizers sought provocation, not relief. Read more →
Hamas leader in Gaza wants to fight on, as mediators press terror group on Trump’s plan
The media reports that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas’s “military” wing, has rejected Trump’s ceasefire proposal outright, saying it was designed to ensure Hamas’s destruction. While Hamas officials abroad have shown some willingness to consider adjustments, they lack authority over hostages. Mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar are urging compliance, with Trump warning Hamas has only days to decide before the U.S. fully backs Israel’s military campaign. Read more →
IDF thwarts terror attack at Samaria crossing
Israeli forces stopped a car-ramming and shooting attempt at the Bell checkpoint near Beit Horon, where two assailants targeted soldiers; one was killed after opening fire and the other was captured. No troops were hurt. The incident came just two days after another attack in Judea’s Gush Etzion region, where two teens were injured when a terrorist rammed and stabbed Israelis at the Al-Khader Junction before being shot by a civilian. Together, the back-to-back assaults highlight the continued wave of “Palestinian” terrorism across Judea and Samaria. Read more →
Inside Israel
2 years into Gaza war, most Israelis more concerned about internal tensions than security threats
Two years into the Gaza war, a new INSS survey shows Israelis trust the IDF far more than the government: only 30% of Jews express confidence in the state’s leadership, while 86–90% approve of the army’s performance. Six in ten say internal divisions worry them more than external threats, reflecting a society fraying even as the IDF restores its standing after October 7. At the diplomatic level, Qatar leveraged U.S. pressure to extract an Israeli apology after the failed strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, and Arab states view Trump’s ceasefire plan as a starting point, not the end. Read more →
Leak of patient records feared as Israeli hospital hit by cyberattack demanding ransom
Hackers from the Russian-speaking Qilin group attacked Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center over Yom Kippur, briefly disrupting Israel’s hospital records system and threatening to release 8 terabytes of stolen data. The group demanded $700,000, warning of “irreparable damage” if not paid. Officials stressed that the hospital remained operational and that investigations are underway into possible data leaks. Read more →
Israelis flood the streets on bikes, taking advantage of Yom Kippur’s car-free roads
For 25 hours the country went quiet and the roads turned into promenades, with kids and parents biking through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Netanya while shuls filled for tefillot. Behind the calm, Magen David Adom worked hard: 3,022 treated, 2,165 evacuated, 293 dehydration cases, 295 bike and scooter injuries on the empty streets, seven hurt running to shelters during the Ashdod rockets, and 149 women in labor, including three babies delivered en route [MDA report]. Holiness, habit, and a lot of chessed—still the national rhythm, even in wartime. Read more →
Israel and the World
Police shot killer as he was trying to break into Manchester synagogue, says eyewitness
On Yom Kippur morning, a terrorist rammed worshippers outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, killing two, before leaping out with a knife and attempting to storm the synagogue. Armed police shot him as he tried to smash his way in. Eyewitnesses described the chaos as worshippers realized the attacker was targeting the shul itself. The Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News note that the assault comes amid unchecked “Free Palestine” marches across Britain, where mobs chant for intifada while authorities stand by. Analysts warn that the attack marks the grim convergence of tolerated street antisemitism and direct terror. Read more →
Germany arrests three men suspected of targeting Jewish institutions for Hamas
German police arrested three suspected Hamas operatives accused of plotting attacks on Jewish and Israeli institutions, seizing assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition in coordinated raids. Prosecutors say the men, two German citizens and a Lebanese national, were preparing for assassinations, with weapons transfers under surveillance before the arrests. The Jerusalem Post notes this is the latest in a series of European crackdowns on Hamas-linked terror cells, underscoring the group’s reach beyond Gaza even as it faces pressure to accept a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Read more →
US judge dismisses Oct. 7 victims’ $1B suit against UNRWA, ignoring DOJ’s stance
A federal judge in New York threw out a $1 billion lawsuit filed by families of October 7 victims against UNRWA, ruling the agency immune from litigation. The decision directly contradicts an earlier Justice Department letter stating UNRWA had aided Hamas and was not shielded from liability. Families of about 100 victims accuse the UN body of abetting the massacre and plan to appeal. Read more →
Iran’s Larijani pushes Hezbollah to rebuild, in warning to Israel and US – analysis
Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani traveled to Lebanon to urge Hezbollah’s revival after the assassinations of Hassan Nasrallah and senior Iranian commanders. He warned that “new Nasrallahs will arise,” dismissed sanctions and assassinations as ineffective, and boasted of Iran’s enduring nuclear capabilities. His message, delivered in Beirut and echoed in regional media, was aimed at reassuring Hezbollah’s base while threatening Israel and the US that Iran’s network of terror proxies remains intact. The Jerusalem Post reports this as part of Tehran’s broader strategy to project resilience under heavy pressure. Read more →
Briefly Noted
Jerusalem Post: Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled all Israeli diplomats and canceled the free trade agreement after Israel intercepted the Hamas-linked Global Sumud Flotilla, a move hailed by Hamas and accompanied by Bogota’s pledge to “stand with the Palestinian people.” Read more →
JNS: UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese dropped her mask when she claimed Hamas need not release hostages for peace, provoking outrage from Italian officials. Read more →
JNS: The U.N. posted a Yom Kippur greeting for only the second time after pressure over ignoring Jewish holidays, but dodged the words “Jewish” and “Israel,” drawing sharp replies from Israeli diplomats. Read more →
The Free Press: U.S. commentary warns that antisemitism is being weaponized from both far-left and far-right, converging on hostility to the U.S.–Israel relationship. Read more →
Times of Israel: FIFA chief Gianni Infantino declined to act against Israel despite calls to suspend its teams, saying soccer cannot solve geopolitics; Israel’s World Cup qualifiers proceed, undercutting the boycott push. Read more →
Jerusalem Post: Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi launched a new “We Take Back Iran” initiative aimed at organizing opposition to the regime, exposing corruption, and mobilizing support for regime change. He claims tens of thousands of security personnel have joined, while his Iran Prosperity Project has drafted a detailed post-regime reconstruction plan. Read more →
Times of Israel: Israeli Arab imprisoned in Jordan for three months was released and returned home after quiet negotiations; case highlights risks of travel to Jordan. Read more →
Israel National News: Terrorists fired projectiles at an aid distribution site in Rafah; no casualties but part of Hamas’s sabotage of humanitarian relief. Read more →
Israel National News: Anti-Israel vandals sprayed “Viva Palestine” and a PA flag on a sports hall wall in Ashdod during Yom Kippur, sparking outrage among residents; municipal authorities are reviewing security footage to identify suspects. Read more →
Times of Israel: Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo issued a Yom Kippur–eve apology to Orthodox Jews for COVID-era restrictions that singled out their neighborhoods, as he courts support in his mayoral run against Zohran Mamdani. Read more →
Jerusalem Post: Five Israeli tourists are stranded in Vietnam after severe tropical storms caused mass flooding; MAGNUS Search & Rescue is in contact with them and local evacuation efforts are underway. Read more →
Developments to Watch
Houthis threaten salvos – Yemen’s Houthis vowed fresh missile launches toward Israel; authorities in Aden say they seized 58 Iran-supplied containers with launchers, drones, engines, and EW kits bound for Sana’a. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
Tehran braces for strikes – An adviser to Iran’s president says Israel and the U.S. may execute a wider, simultaneous campaign against Iran, Houthis, and Iraqi militias, with targeted assassinations across fronts; Iran has tightened coordination and dispersed assets. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
Netanyahu signals uranium target – The prime minister said Israel “knows the location of the 450 kg of enriched Iranian uranium,” refusing to confirm or deny a strike, a pointed hint at preemption if diplomacy stalls. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
French military on high alert – France’s chief of staff ordered readiness at the highest level, preparing for “high-intensity war” scenarios; Paris is watching Russia, but regional spillover would draw NATO logistics into the Mediterranean. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
‘Last chance’ for Hamas – U.S. envoys told Cairo and other mediators that Trump’s proposal is the final window before Israel receives a free hand for a major Gaza operation; Washington won’t renegotiate timelines, withdrawals, or governance terms.
YESHA Council flexes influence – Leaders of the Judea and Samaria council, recently back from lobbying in the U.S., claim credit for removing a clause in the Trump ceasefire framework that would have barred future Israeli sovereignty moves in the region. Their intervention underscores how leadership sees the war’s diplomatic endgame as tied to securing Judea and Samaria’s future status.
Cairo: close the gaps – Egypt says the U.S. plan has holes that can be fixed and warns of escalation if Hamas balks; Hamas politicos in Qatar seek more time and “clarifications,” while the Gaza commander rejects disarmament outright.
Fence breach foiled, Atarot – Security forces shot and wounded a “Palestinian” who tried to cross the barrier near the Atarot junction in northern Jerusalem; patrols in the sector have been reinforced.
Sufa crossing blockade – Far-left activists obstructed the Sufa logistics route, delaying reserve units rotating in to relieve forces before Shabbat; commanders reported knock-on delays for troops inside Gaza.
Ramot accomplice indicted – Prosecutors charged Nader Muhtaseb for transporting the Ramot Junction terrorists for 400 shekels; the case highlights the paid-support networks that enable car-ramming attacks.
Prayer at the U.N. – On Yom Kippur eve, Ambassador Danny Danon recited Tehillim (Psalms) for the hostages from the General Assembly podium—an unprecedented moment that put their names and fate in the center of the world’s chamber.
Cyprus swastika rental – An Israeli family was handed a rental car daubed with swastikas; police are probing, another data point in the rising travel-risk calculus.
‘Second flotilla’ rumored – Organizers in Italy are said to be assembling another Gaza flotilla after Israel deported 470 activists and found no aid aboard. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
Manchester probe update – U.K. police now believe one victim and one wounded worshipper were struck by police gunfire in the shootout; the attacker lived near the shul and worked as a tutor.
Hamas and other Iranian proxies continue to test us. Inside Israel, public trust rests with the IDF, not the politicians; Magen David Adom carried a country through a holy day that was both serene and strenuous.
Recommendations. Keep your eyes on three dials: Hamas’s formal answer to the Trump plan, Iranian signaling around enriched uranium and proxy posture, and the uptick in Judea and Samaria terror attempts that tend to follow Gaza pressure.
Shabbat shalom. May it come in gently, and may next week bring movement where it counts.
— Uri Zehavi, Editor of Israel Brief
P.S. As shabbat comes in tonight, and after the solemnity of Yom Kippur, a sweet story doesn’t seem misplaced. If you’ve the time, it’s worth a read. Earlier this week, Daniel Gordis wrote about how his old, beat-up Toyota became a “reservists’ car” and ended up moving strangers to tears at a dealership. A reminder that Israel doesn’t run just on tanks and headlines but also on a close-knit society and random acts of chesed:
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