A short catch-up on Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia and China's hand in Hamas' barbarism for their own selfish purposes. 7th in the series
Also, Israel's right to defense and their record on adhering to internationally recognized law, policies and norms on protecting civilians.
TAT readers,
Today is but a brief update on these issues. Lots of chores and tasks around home, are also on the docket for today. This is the seventh in the series of updates on these topics.
Let’s get right to it, and again I will include the graphic I used in the first segment.
First, an overview to the chart above:
Israel in this chart is at the center and the focus of the threats, numbered 1 - 5.
These five threats, are hierarchical from the top being China and progressively down to number 5, representing HAMAS.
The red arrows indicate who threatens who.
Again, 1 -5 are linked in a hierarchical fashion.
Block 6 is Israel’s own, extreme-right-wing government and not linked by a red arrow to the others.
As I go through today’s piece, I will refer mostly to numbers rather than always using names.
#6, Bibi’s original right-wing extremist administration.
On October 12th, five days after the barbarian assault on Israeli civilians by Hamas, Israel formed a “Unity Government” to deal with the crisis. For those unfamiliar with Israel’s democracy that requires a ruling coalition, this is a stark change from Bibi’s original, extreme-right-wing government, that in the chart above I accuse of some responsibility for the attack. A large majority Israeli’s feel the same way. There will be hell to pay politically for Bibi and the worst of the racist thugs installed in his cabinet like, Minister of National Defence, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich.
Former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, a retired General Officer of the IDF and members of his small centrist party, have joined the Unity Government. Ben-Gvir, had zero experience due to being banned by the IDF for being too much of a violent, right-wing extremist.
At the UN, there is the usual chaos over Israel with Russia leading the charge along with proxy Brazil, which essentially blamed Israel for the rape, torture and murder of everyone from Holocaust survivors to babies. Yes of course, China and Iran agreed with Russia, reinforcing ever-increasing solidarity with the newest form of the “axis of evil.”
#5 Hamas
From the Hamas Covenant:
THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS - MAIN POINTS (fas.org)
THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS - MAIN POINTS
=======================================
The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement was issued on August
18, 1988. The Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as the HAMAS,
is an extremist fundamentalist Islamic organization operating in the
territories under Israeli control. Its Covenant is a comprehensive
manifesto comprised of 36 separate articles, all of which promote the
basic HAMAS goal of destroying the State of Israel through Jihad
(Islamic Holy War). The following are excerpts of the HAMAS
Covenant:
Goals of the HAMAS:
------------------
'The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian
movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is
Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of
Palestine.' (Article 6)
On the Destruction of Israel:
-----------------------------
'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will
obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.' (Preamble)
I could hardly do better than the Institute for the Study of War for military updates on this conflict. I also highly recommend following their site for updates on Putin’s genocidal war against Ukraine.
Hamas releases 85- and 79-year-old female hostages, despite both of their husbands being still held by the terrorists.
Of note, Mrs. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85 and her husband were just two of the countless peace activists on both the Israeli and Palestinian side. Both Mrs. and Mr. Lifshitz both volunteered regularly to support their Gaza, Palestinian neighbors with rides to medical and other services available in Israel proper.
Both were also beaten in the attack, with Mrs. Lifshitz being treated better afterwards. Hamas, like other terrorist organizations, take hostages for barter and for publicity stunts. Just because that Mrs. Lifshitz said decent things about her treatment in Hamas’ hands, doesn’t make it so.
Often, hostages released to buy time for Hamas or leverage in negotiations, are required to say “nice” things as a condition of not bringing further harm or death, to the remaining hostages. Let’s just be glad that there are at least 4 lives saved from the monsters of mayhem.
Israel under pressure to have a humanitarian pause for Palestinian non-combatants.
The UN, US and Canada are leading the effort for a “humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
Let’s be very clear about this.
Hamas doesn’t give a damn about anyone’s life, not even their own people who they have held hostage since 2007, as human shields. Yes, they actually create events where their own people die or are mistreated by Israelis just for PR purposes. Nearly all terrorist organizations do this too. Iran’s other proxy Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border does the same.
The reason for the poverty in Gaza is because Hamas has always stolen or held aid hostage in order to coerce innocent Palestinians in Gaza into supporting or voting for Hamas.
What is being asked of Israel now, and that they will continue to do, is something Hamas never would, acquiesce to these demands in order to protect as many innocent lives as possible.
Finally, I want everyone complaining about Israel to picture a similar attack on their state, county, nation or town and ask yourself, “would you comply with a pause to defend yourself, family and fellow citizens.
Finally, no one should believe any casualty figures coming out of Gaza. The total count and who make up the bulk of the victims, are substantially inflated. Just another boilerplate terrorist tactic.
Yes, countless innocent Palestinians are killed and wounded from this conflict, but some are at Israel’s hand, inadvertently and some are at the hands of Hamas.
The other sections will be much shorter.
#4 Hezbollah
Again, I defer to the esteemed analysts at ISW. I have a uniquely personal interest in this part of Israel, because is where my second oldest daughter lives. Here is their perpetually updated reporting:
Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights
Iranian-backed militants, including Lebanese Hezbollah (LH), conducted nine attacks as part of an ongoing attack campaign targeting IDF radar and sensor sites and military targets. LH claimed responsibility for attacking four IDF positions along the northern Israeli border.[21] Attacks on Israeli towns and military positions continued along the entire border and into the disputed Sheeba Farms.
The IDF intercepted a drone traveling from Lebanese territory north of Haifa.[22] CTP-ISW has observed nine instances of drones flying into northern Israeli territory and three in Haifa Province since October 7. It is unclear whether any of the drones are armed or meant for surveillance. Haifa is one the most critical business centers of Israel and the port handles nearly 50 percent of Israel's freight volume.[23] Independent analysts have noted that Iran is especially interested in threatening the petrochemical facilities in Haifa given that the spread of fumes could maximize casualties.[24] The IDF furthermore maintains several military sites in the vicinity of Haifa.[25]
The LH-affiliated Lebanese Resistance Brigades announced the death of two of its members during unspecified duties for the first time since October 7.[26] The Lebanese Army, in coordination with the UNIFIL, retrieved the bodies from the outskirts of Kfarshouba north of Shebaa Farms.[27] LH Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah proclaimed the creation of the brigade in 1997. The group enlisted primarily non-Shia Lebanese with a shared commitment to Lebanon and its unity and national defense.[28] Several Iranian-backed militias, including Hamas and PIJ, are participating in the attack campaign against Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. LH almost certainly permits attacks from southern Lebanon given the extent to which LH controls southern Lebanon and coordinates with the other Iranian-backed groups operating there.
My comments on northern Israel. Hezbollah would love to join this fight in force, and still may. Iran, their “handler,” Trainer, supplier and strategist/ commander, holds the reins and will likely not endanger their annihilation by the Israelis and the US fleet, on station in the Eastern Mediterranean. Iran needs their attack dog and so does Putin. Hezbollah do both of their “dirty work.”
#Iran
The coward that Iran’s theocrats in Tehran are, cannot compete on the battlefield. Like their standard terrorist activities around the world, they never do their own fighting. They continue to supply and advise both Hezbollah and their equally barbaric terrorists, doing the Ayatollahs’ bidding, for their own selfish purposes. Iran is beholden to both Putin and Xi for which they provide immoral, “services.”
Iran’s only cash export of value to Putin and Xi, is their willingness to employ the most brutal terrorist activities against the defenseless.
Iran has near perfect control over Hezbollah and Hamas, not to mention several other terrorist entities that do theirs, Putin’s and Xi’s bidding.
Iran’s Quds Force and IRGC, domestically, are also terrorist organizations, never willing to do their own fighting but employ, train and supply terrorist proxies. Most professionals consider this cowardly, and I concur fully.
Even the Houthi launch of missiles from Yemen at Israel and as intercepted/ destroyed by the US Navy last week, was at Tehran’s insistence.
#Russia
Yes, Putin has a hand in what happened to Israel. Part of Putin’s issue with Israel is a falling out with Bibi over a variety of issues, after Netanyahu spent a great deal of time cultivating Putin and Russia as a customer of Israeli tech and more. Although their trade diminished to roughly one third of its volume, prior to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, it is still operating at substantial levels.
Still, Putin is the driving force behind pushing Iran to push both Hamas and Hezbollah into the barbarism we saw on Oct. 7th. Putin has created highly visible diversions in many parts of the globe, to take attention away from his own genocidal war against the innocent Ukrainians we have allied ourselves with, along with NATO and other law-abiding nations around the world. Places like Africa, the coup in Niger, the terroristic assault against Armenians by Putin’s proxy, Azerbaijan, the Balkans and to empower his bromantic buddy Xi, in Africa.
Putin, like Xi in China and those non-religious barbarians running Iran with aberrant interpretations of Islam, are allied for selfish purposes that impose pain and suffering around world, all of the time. There is no moral thread, running through any of them. For the record, all of these are supremely oppressive to their own people via soulless and brutal authoritarianism.
#China
Finally, Xi is playing all of these cards from afar and using all, to assess global response, opinion and military tactics. Xi, although too cowardly to express such opinions himself, his chief diplomat stated:
“Xi did not mention the Israel-Hamas conflict in his speech at the Belt and Road Forum. His officials have been more direct, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling the Saudi foreign minister last week that Israel had “gone beyond the scope of self-defense” and should “stop its group punishment” of people in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave from which Hamas launched its attack.”
Belt and Road Forum
NBC News
By Jennifer Jett and Keir Simmons
October 21, 2023
The bottom line for Xi and China is that they must retain control of their proxy forces, via Putin and Iran in order to guarantee access for Xi’s OBOR (One Belt One Road) or BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) as the key strategic pieces of his “China Dream” initiative. Also, Xi’s strategy for global conquest by 2049. Putin, Xi, Iran’s theocrats have all shared similar official messaging. Not one of them condemn the barbarism of Hamas nor offer much support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
I must leave this update right here for the day. I will be back on Thursday with the next. Whether you pray, send good vibes or otherwise, let’s all offer up support for the least number of civilian casualties and that Israel puts an effective end to Hamas’ ability to wage war. Hezbollah must be eliminated too but this will depend on whether Putin or Iran are willing to risk the loss of their substantive proxy force. Don’t forget, Iran and Hezbollah were on the battlefield with Syrian forces, committing genocide against Syrians, seen as a threat to Assad’s control. Assad is also as brutal as any of those also mentioned in this article.
My very best for everyone’s day,
Paul