Israel Brief: Sunday, September 21
Fires in the North, Tunnels in the South, Pressure in the UN
Shavua tov (a good week). Israel enters the High Holidays with the war pressing on every front. In Gaza, Hamas has rebuilt tunnels and packed fighters underground. The IDF strikes heavily but halts certain missions where hostages may be held. Above ground, Hamas fires on UN teams, steals baby formula, and hijacks vehicles to script a famine story. Its propaganda poster invoking missing navigator Ron Arad shows how it weaponizes memory as much as rockets.
At home, the mood is a mix of resolve and vigilance, sharpened by the calendar: Rosh Hashanah is here, and Jews know that enemies often choose holidays for escalation. The echoes of 1973 and 2023 are not lost. Freed hostage Edan Alexander vows to rejoin his Golani unit.
Abroad, Western nations prepare to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations—even as many of their citizens oppose it. The Netherlands records another attack on Israel’s embassy.
These converging pressures—military, political, psychological—continues just as the shofar readies to sound.
The War Today
Hamas rebuilds Gaza City tunnels, IDF halts underground op. fearing hostages present – N12
Hamas has rebuilt major sections of its tunnel network in Gaza City, complicating Israeli operations as up to 10,000 terrorists are believed to be sheltering underground. The IDF has paused some tunnel missions out of concern for hostages possibly held in the shafts, while Hamas openly threatened that captives’ lives would be at risk if the offensive continues. Families of the hostages have voiced alarm, even as U.S. President Donald Trump defended the operations as potentially hastening their release (Jerusalem Post, citing N12). Read more →
Israel presses Gaza op, said to ask US to rein in Egyptian military buildup in Sinai
The Times of Israel reports the IDF widened its Gaza City offensive, with the Air Force striking about 100 targets in 24 hours. Jerusalem also asked Washington to pressure Cairo over what Israel says is a Sinai military buildup that includes runways and underground sites, a potential breach of the peace treaty. The move signals Israel’s intent to keep operational momentum in Gaza while checking destabilizing shifts on its southern flank. Read more →
Hamas propaganda image warns hostages to share fate of missing navigator Ron Arad
Ynet Global reports that Hamas released a propaganda poster depicting all 48 remaining hostages as “Ron Arad,” invoking the Israeli Air Force navigator who disappeared in 1988 and was never returned. The message accuses Prime Minister Netanyahu of rejecting a deal and blames IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir for ordering the Gaza City assault despite reported objections. Israeli officials say 20 hostages are believed alive, two are in critical condition, and 26 bodies are being held alongside Hadar Goldin, the IDF officer killed in Gaza in 2014. By tying today’s hostages to the unresolved trauma of Ron Arad, Hamas seeks to deepen Israeli anguish and pressure leaders during the Gaza offensive. Read more →
Hamas fires on UN team, steals baby formula in Gaza: ‘Trying to create crisis narrative’
Hamas gunmen opened fire on a United Nations team preparing a new humanitarian corridor in southern Gaza, then hijacked a UN vehicle to block the route, according to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). The terror group also stole baby formula and other aid at gunpoint, leaving thousands of infants without nutrition. Israeli officials said Hamas seeks to manufacture a humanitarian crisis for political leverage, even as Israel coordinates aid with international agencies (Ynet). Read more →
Inside Israel
Freed Hamas hostage Edan Alexander vows to return to IDF service
At a Friends of the IDF gala in New York, released hostage Edan Alexander announced he will rejoin his Golani Brigade unit in October, declaring, “My story does not end with survival; it continues with service.” Alexander, who was held by Hamas for 584 days, thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for securing his release and urged action to free the 48 hostages still in captivity (JNS). Fellow survivor Naama Levy also appealed at the UN for international pressure to bring the remaining hostages home. Read more →
Former MK Haneen Zoabi detained on suspicion of incitement to terrorism
Ynet reports that former Knesset member Haneen Zoabi (Balad) was detained Sunday on suspicion of incitement to terrorism for remarks she made abroad. Zoabi has a history of endorsing Hamas and excusing the October 7 massacre. Calls to revoke her Israeli citizenship have circulated since January, when Likud MK Ariel Kallner declared that open support for such atrocities disqualifies anyone from being an Israeli citizen. Read more →
Netanyahu condemns anti-gov’t activists for attacking Likud MK
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced anti-government activists who shoved Likud MK Eli Dellal to the ground at a party event in Kfar Saba, calling the assault part of an escalating pattern of incitement. Police arrested four protesters after clashes with security, and Commissioner Daniel Levy ordered a review of preparations. JNS notes the confrontation comes amid renewed fury over Netanyahu’s wartime leadership and hostage policy. Read more →
Multiple fires break out in northern Israel, investigators suspect arson
A wave of fires hit the north, torching trucks in Marar and Mughar and spreading into open areas near Bueina (Jerusalem Post). Firefighters contained the flames, but the clustering points to deliberate arson. Officials are probing possible terror links, as such attacks have long been a favored tactic to damage property, sow fear, and stretch Israel’s emergency services. Read more →
Israel and the World
Survey: 71% of France opposes recognition of a Palestinian state
A new poll finds that a decisive majority of the French public rejects recognition of a Palestinian state before Hamas is defeated and hostages are freed (Israel National News). The finding comes as France, Britain, and other states prepare to announce recognition at today’s UN General Assembly, underscoring the gulf between European governments and their own citizens on this issue. Read more →
Marching to Ponary in memory of the Lithuanian Jewish community
JNS reports that hundreds of students, diplomats, and Lithuanian officials joined the annual March of the Living from Vilnius to Ponary, where 70,000 Jews were murdered in 1941–44. Survivor Arnold Clevs, seized as a child by Lithuanian soldiers and later deported to Auschwitz, urged participants: “Don’t make the same mistake again. Help the State of Israel.” Organizers framed the march as both remembrance and a call to resist antisemitism today, linking Jewish continuity to solidarity with Israel. Read more →
Macron vows to combat antisemitism: ‘I know the anxiety of French Jews’
French President Emmanuel Macron promised a stronger crackdown on antisemitism, calling for “absolute vigilance” and instructing the justice system to respond more firmly (Jerusalem Post). His statement comes just as he prepares to push for recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, a move widely opposed by French Jews and criticized by Israel as rewarding Hamas. The juxtaposition highlights France’s deep contradiction: pledging to protect Jews at home while advancing policies abroad that endanger Israel. Read more →
Man attempts to torch Israeli Embassy in Netherlands
JNS reports that Dutch police arrested a man who tried to break into Israel’s embassy in The Hague on Friday with incendiary materials. No one was injured, and Israeli officials thanked authorities for the quick arrest while demanding the Dutch government condemn the attack. The incident follows repeated assaults on the embassy and Jewish institutions in The Hague, amid record levels of antisemitism in the Netherlands linked to the Gaza war. Read more →
Briefly Noted
Times of Israel: Germany and 2026 host Austria reject Eurovision boycotts of Israel, warning that cultural bans divide Europe and do nothing to help Gazans. Read more →
Jerusalem Post: Dutch MP Esther Ouwehand was told to change out of a Palestinian-flag outfit during a budget debate, later returning in a watermelon-themed blouse, a protest symbol; she accused her government of ignoring “genocide” in Gaza. Read more →
Ynet: Eight IDF soldiers were injured when a Humvee overturned on the outskirts of Gaza City; all were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center. Read more →
Jerusalem Post: A new poll finds young conservatives overwhelmingly support Israel and Trump’s handling of relations, even among listeners of figures like Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and Nick Fuentes. Read more →
The Times of Israel/AP: Police arrested 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau after a Nashua, New Hampshire country club shooting that killed one and wounded two; a witness says he shouted “Free Palestine.” Read more →
Developments to Watch
Heavy IDF raids in Gaza City – Israeli forces eliminated more than 30 terrorists, uncovered tunnel shafts and weapons hidden in civilian homes, and opened a corridor south for civilians. Troops also destroyed surveillance systems used by Hamas to track Israeli movements.
Airstrikes target 120 positions – The IDF, working with air and intelligence units, hit over 120 Hamas sites, including compounds, observation posts, and command positions. One of the broadest assaults in recent days, it aimed to degrade Gaza’s militant infrastructure.
Rocket fire on Ashdod – Two rockets launched from northern Gaza triggered sirens across Ashdod. One was intercepted, the other landed in open terrain. No injuries, but the attack underscores Hamas’s lingering launch capacity.
Iran suspends IAEA cooperation – Tehran announced it is halting all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Combined with recent missile boasts, the move signals rapid nuclear escalation. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
Iranian spy recruitment attempt – Israeli cyber officials confirmed an Iranian-linked account approached an Israeli citizen on Telegram with a fake job offer for “Iranian Intelligence.” Authorities urge reporting such contacts to the National Cyber Directorate.
Jordanian aid under scrutiny – After the Allenby Crossing attack, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered magnetometer checks for all Jordanian truck drivers. Netanyahu directly blamed Jordan for failing to prevent the assault, hardening Israel’s line on cross-border aid. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
Netanyahu convenes Syria talks – The Prime Minister will meet senior ministers and security chiefs to review progress on a possible U.S.-mediated security arrangement with Damascus. Officials caution the talks remain fragile.
Iran sanctions reimposed – The UN Security Council confirmed sanctions will snap back later this month, undoing nuclear-deal relief. Iran’s parliament meanwhile claimed a successful intercontinental missile test.
Weapons smuggling via Sinai – Reports say 10–25 drones crossed from Egypt into Israel with rifles and ammunition. Security officials warn the smuggling could fuel new terror cells. LIKELY TO ESCALATE
Hezbollah operatives eliminated – The IDF struck Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, killing a Radwan Force fighter and a senior commander. Targets included naval and intelligence infrastructure.
European airports hacked – London, Brussels, and Berlin suffered major flight disruptions after a cyberattack crippled check-in and departure systems.
Hamas is gambling with tunnels, hostages, and hunger theater to survive. Israel is pressing to dismantle its machine, contain Egypt and Hezbollah, and prevent diplomatic erosion.
Watch three tracks: The Hamas recognition drive at the UN and Israel’s possible annexation response. The UN sanctions snapback on Iran and how proxies react. The pace of the Gaza City offensive as evacuations expand and tunnel decisions tighten.
Shana tova u’metukah—a year of safety, strength, and, may it be, better news.
— Uri Zehavi · Intelligence Editor
With Modi Zehavi · Data + Research Analyst
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