All of the news is not bad (although, unfortunately, a good deal is).
What it is perhaps paramount to note is that our situation here in Israel – as suggested by my title – is one of turmoil and tension. With regard to one state of affairs after another, there is lack of resolution. Not only lack of resolution, but conflicting reports, accompanied by charges and countercharges.
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I will attempt to keep this posting fairly brief: An explanation in broad terms of what we are dealing with. To focus on a great many of the details would not only be overwhelming and perhaps confusing – those details, as I describe them, might well have shifted by the time this is being read.
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Let us begin with good news: We are doing very well in Gaza with regard to taking down Hamas. This is big.
Yaakov Lappin tells us that “Hamas can no longer operate as an organized military framework” (emphasis added):
“As the Israel Defense Forces’ Operation Gideon’s Chariots continued to exert relentless pressure against Hamas across the Gaza Strip, multiple Israeli security observers and former defense officials assessed that the terrorist organization is facing unprecedented strategic distress, with its command structure decimated, its military capabilities severely degraded, and its iron grip on the civilian population showing significant signs of erosion…
“recent developments…suggest a significant shift in the Strip’s internal dynamics, potentially heralding the beginning of the end of Hamas’s rule.”
Lappin cites a number of military experts:
Among them is Professor Kobi Michael (pictured), of the Institute for National Security Studies, who says that the entire command and control mechanism of Hamas has been destroyed. “Hamas today has no ability to operate as an organized military framework. What remains is entirely residual.”
He cautions, however, that the fight is not yet over:
We can expect “guerrilla warfare that uses new, unskilled, and untrained young recruits as cannon fodder sent on suicide missions…
“In their desperation, they will continue to kill their own people in an attempt to prevent them from leaving northern Gaza and reaching aid centers. They have mostly lost the ability to protect their depots, and in an attempt to still do something, they will not hesitate to slaughter their own people and then blame Israel.”
https://www.jns.org/hamas-can-no-longer-operate-as-an-organized-military-framework/
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Today Israel Hayom reported that Israel controls 50% of Gaza.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/05/idf-controls-50-of-gaza-strip-nears-operation-objective/
But it is only two days ago that I read a report from the Financial Times that Israel now controls 80% of Gaza.
It is difficult to know how these figures are computed, or which is more accurate.
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The issue of the relief provided to the civilian population of Gaza is fraught with complications.
Lt. Col. (res.) Shaul Bartal, a senior research fellow at the Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, also cited by Lappin, addressed this issue:
“Hamas understands that whoever distributes aid at distribution points effectively controls the population….
“Hamas looted the aid that entered the Strip in coordination and cooperation with recognized international organizations like UNRWA and distributed it to the population, thereby creating the population’s dependence on it. The moment the food is distributed by an external American company, Hamas loses its power.”
Bartal explained that Hamas is under increased pressure, “which is expressed by firing at refugees trying to reach aid centers, as an IDF drone recently documented, the agitation of international aid organizations like UNRWA, which accuse the American company [Gaza Humanitarian Foundation] of being unprofessional and not meeting its mission. And an unprecedented propaganda campaign by Hamas in all its media outlets, trying to portray hunger in the Strip.”
“Bartal cited a recent Hamas website article from June 3 as an example of this propaganda, which claimed the U.S.-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) system is inefficient and amounts to using hunger as a ‘war crime.’
“The GHF, however, reported on June 3 that it had successfully supplied over seven million meals in eight days of operation, even with a one-day pause for logistical and security improvements.”
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It is important in light of this situation to note this:
The Washington Post has admitted it was too quick to publish reports by Hamas officials that the IDF shot and killed at least 31 civilians seeking humanitarian aid.
It acknowledged that it did not attempt to verify Hamas Health Ministry reports about the incident.
“The article failed to make clear if attributing the deaths to Israel was the position of the Gaza Health Ministry or a fact verified by The Post…The Post didn’t give proper weight to Israel’s denial and gave improper certitude about what was known about any Israeli role in the shootings.”
Unfortunately, this is all too common, as media sources swallow whole the Hamas version of events.
Israel denied the Hamas accusations. According to the GHF, “All aid was distributed today [the day on which Israel was charged with having killed 31 civilians] without incident. No injuries or fatalities as noted in our daily update sent out earlier today. We have heard that these fake reports have been actively fomented by Hamas. They are untrue and fabricated.” (Emphasis added)
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And today there was yet another factor regarding this incident that has been brought to light:
“Palestinian armed groups loyal to southern Gaza clans directly confronted Hamas operatives in a deadly shootout over civilian access to humanitarian aid, according to eyewitness testimony. Media was quick to blame Israel, adopting Hamas’s narrative.”
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/05/exclusive-what-hamas-tried-to-hide-in-incident-at-aid-center/
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As if the situation were not complicated enough as reported above, there is this additional factor: It was leaked today (Thursday) by Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman that Israel has apparently been suppling clans in Gaza that have ISIS affiliations with weapons such as rifles.
Prime Minister Netanyahu was very clear in his response to this:
“It is a very severe occurrence because what did Liberman leak? That, per the recommendation of defense officials, we worked with clans [Hamoulot in Arabic] that oppose Hamas. What’s wrong with that? That’s good, it saves the lives of soldiers.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409516
I concur with him entirely.
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“A senior Israeli security official has revealed that Israel has supplied weapons, equipment, and funds to certain clans in the Gaza Strip as part of a covert operation aimed at weakening Hamas.
“The operation, coordinated by the IDF and the ISA (Shin Bet), involved transferring light arms and other resources to groups within Gaza. These efforts were conducted under strict secrecy, with Shin Bet officers overseeing the activities on the ground.
“One of the primary recipients of this support is a group known as the ‘Anti-Terror Organization,’ led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a 32-year-old Bedouin resident of Rafah. Abu Shabab…has reportedly assembled around 300 operatives. His group is involved in securing aid convoys and Red Cross trucks in eastern Rafah, near the Morag Corridor.
“…the assistance included light weapons, substantial equipment, and possibly funds, all sourced from within Gaza, such as confiscated or reclaimed arms.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409525
Taking light weapons and equipment confiscated from Hamas and providing them to a group that seeks to secure aid convoys sounds like a splendid idea to me.
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There is a movement afoot – heightened at present – to bring the government down. I have no doubt but that Lieberman’s revelations were connected to this.
I will table this discussion until next week, for it requires a more extensive look than would be possible here. What is more, the situation will have shifted within the next few days. The issue at its heart is the drafting of the haredim, the ultra-Orthodox. Netanyahu is working furiously to prevent the collapse of the government.
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Another piece of good news is that the Trump administration on Wednesday vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council that called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.
Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. envoy, told the council on Wednesday. “It is unacceptable for what it does say. It is unacceptable for what it does not say, and it is unacceptable for the manner in which it has been advanced.
“The United States has been clear. We would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza.”
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What is causing considerable tension here is the fact that there has been no satisfactory resolution to blocking the Iranian intention of developing a nuclear weapon. Trump continues to hold fast to the notion that it can all be resolved via negotiations – something not seen as viable by most parties in Israel. In this instance, as with negotiations with Hamas, the American administration is bringing forth a variety of proposals, all accepted by Iran with disdain.
Recently, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: “Our response to America’s nonsense is clear: they cannot do a damn thing in this matter. Why do you interfere with whether Iran has enrichment or not? It does not concern you.”
Iran is claiming it needs enrichment for peaceful purposes (it does not) and would clearly continue towards enrichments for military purposes.
Trump’s position as of two days ago is that the US will permit no enrichment.
https://www.jns.org/trump-no-uranium-enrichment-under-any-iran-deal/
How long can this go on?
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The writing of this posting was interrupted as an alarm sounded warning of an incoming Houthi missile, and I had to take shelter in a safe space. It was promptly taken out.
This is a very frequent though not quite daily occurrence. We are not afraid as we shelter, but my response was Damn! Enough already.
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I ask for prayers for Israel’s wellbeing.
Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.
Pray for the safety of our brave troops.
Pray that the hostages will be brought home.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
