JC Israel Briefing Day 609: Bodies of US-Israeli hostage couple recovered from Gaza

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum said the recovery brought partial closure, but added: “Our hearts will not be whole until all 12 hostages from Nir Oz, and all 56 hostages in total, are returned.” US Senator Marco Rubio said the return of the bodies “underscores the barbarity of Hamas”. President Herzog called the operation “a painful but necessary step to honour their memory”.

Elsewhere, It has emerged that Jerusalem is arming an ISIS-linked Gaza militia in order to undermine Hamas. The strategy became public after opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman accused Netanyahu of giving weapons to crime families in Gaza. Netanyahu later confirmed and defended the policy, suggesting it helps to save Israeli lives.

Lieberman told Kan: “Israel gave assault rifles and small arms to crime families in Gaza on Netanyahu’s orders. I doubt it went through the security cabinet.”

He warned the weapons could be turned against Israeli forces. Gaza sources identified the militia’s leader as Yasser Abu Shabab, alleged by some to be a leading criminal. Satellite footage has seemingly showed his group operating from within an IDF-controlled zone in southern Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah drone facilities in Beirut and southern Lebanon yesterday. The IDF said four underground UAV sites were hit following surveillance and warnings to evacuate. Lebanese media reported infrastructure damage in Dahieh and Ain Qana, areas used by Iran-backed units.

It was a rare strike inside Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. The IDF released video of the drone workshops being destroyed. Hezbollah did not confirm casualties but vowed to “respond at the time and place of its choosing”. Officials said the sites were producing precision-guided munitions and now posed no further operational threat.

And Israel has reportedly pledged not to strike Iran unless nuclear talks fail. Axios reported the assurance was delivered during a recent visit to Washington by senior Israeli officials, including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea.

An Israeli official told Axios: “We calmed the Americans and told them there is no logic in launching an attack if a good diplomatic solution can be found.” Another said any military action would wait until US envoy Steve Witkoff concluded talks had failed. President Trump said his position “could change with a phone call”.

Houthi terrorists from Yemen fired a ballistic missile at Israel yesterday, forcing Ben-Gurion Airport to shut down for nearly an hour. The IDF said the missile was intercepted mid-air after sirens sounded across central Israel.

Air traffic was suspended as landings and departures were halted. No casualties were reported. This marked the third Houthi long-range missile intercepted over Israeli territory since December.

Marchers carried posters of kidnapped civilians and waved rainbow flags as they pressed for a hostage deal. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum said Herzog’s attendance sent “an important message that unity can include urgency”. One relative said: “Our fight is not separate from the call for equality — it is part of it.” Several speakers demanded an immediate agreement, warning that public patience was wearing thin.

But Prime Minister Netanyahu has been locked in overnight talks not about hostages, but to avert the collapse of his coalition over the military draft law. Charedi leaders have threatened to dissolve the Knesset unless yeshiva students are granted full exemptions. Netanyahu’s office said “significant progress” was made.

The crisis deepened after leading rabbis backed legislation to dissolve parliament if exemptions are not passed. Political operatives close to Charedi parties warned Netanyahu they would pull support unless a law is secured. Netanyahu told religious leaders he is “working on a law” and said “there is a way out”.

Finally, Germany has reaffirmed arms deliveries to Israel despite growing criticism of its Gaza campaign. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul hosted his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar in Berlin and confirmed continued military support.

Wadephul criticised Israel’s conduct in the Strip but said: “Germany will of course continue to support Israel with arms deliveries, that was never in doubt.” He also rejected calls to recognise a Palestinian state, calling it “the wrong signal.” Saar appealed for alternative humanitarian aid routes, saying these could “free the Palestinian population from Hamas’s stranglehold.”

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