DAY 535 IN CAPTIVITY • DAY 7 BACK AT WAR: Campaign Against Shin Bet Chief, Terrorist Attack in the North, Hamas Releases New Hostage Video

Tel Aviv Diary, March 25, 2025

I am completing this update aboard my flight heading home. I’m flying from Newark in the middle of the day, and the airport was nearly empty. I breezed through El Al security, checked in, cleared TSA security—all within less than 15 minutes. My El Al flight departed 15 minutes ahead of schedule and is only half full. This experience has certainly been unusual.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHIN BET HEAD RONEN BAR

There has been a concentrated, coordinated campaign to discredit Ronen Bar. Numerous rumors have been spread, including a lengthy list of alleged actions attributed to him. Consequently, several government ministers have called for his arrest and imprisonment. During a security cabinet meeting last night, Bar responded angrily, particularly towards Itamar Ben Gvir, stating: “Now that you’re calling for my imprisonment, the next step will be calling for my execution.”

Today, Netanyahu stated the Supreme Court should not possess the authority to determine who becomes head of the GSS (Shin Bet) or the timing of such appointments. While Netanyahu did not explicitly say he would defy Supreme Court orders, he also did not affirm his willingness to comply with them either.

IDF DESTROYS TOYOTA TRUCKS IN GAZA

It seems the Army has arrived at the same conclusion I did after watching footage of the hostage releases: Why does Hamas have so many Toyota trucks?

Well, indeed, they had a number of these vehicles—but not anymore. There has been a concentrated bombing campaign targeting those vehicles. The IDF announced today that it has destroyed 100 of Hamas’s Toyota trucks in recent days. The aerial campaign continues, while ground forces cautiously advance slowly through Gaza’s peripheral areas. How this phase of the war will differ from earlier operations remains yet to be seen, but the new IDF Chief of Staff is speaking with confidence — and for the moment, that seems to suffice.

HOSTAGES

Hamas has released a video showing Israeli hostages Elkana Bohbot (36), and Yosef Chaim Ohana, (24). The footage was made public after fighting resumed. The Bohbot and Ohana families both approved the release of the video. Through this plaintiff plea, Hamas is reminding us — as if a reminder is necessary — that live hostages remain in Gaza, and our ongoing actions pose risks to their safety every day.

Gershon Baskin, whom I have previously cited and who negotiated with Hamas for the Shalit release, wrote the following:

At this point in time, there is only one course of action that can and must be pursued: An agreement that brings all the hostages home within a week, in one or two phases — no more. Yes, this means ending the war and Israel withdrawing its forces from the Gaza Strip.

But Israel has no other plan — not a better one, not even a worse one. The Arab League and Egypt’s plan for Gaza is the only plan currently on the table, and it provides a solid foundation for the “day after.” Yet Israel is not even at the stage of considering the proposal.

For this to happen, President Trump must adopt the agreement. Only he can tell Netanyahu to end the war and bring all the hostages home. On the other side, Egypt and Qatar can ensure that Hamas agrees to the deal. No other agreement should be pursued right now. It’s time to end this saga — now!

TERROR ATTACK IN YOKNEAM

Today, a terrorist attack occurred near Yokneam in northern Israel. An Arab-Israeli rammed his car into a crowd at a bus stop, where he then stabbed a soldier (age 20). The attacker subsequently seized the soldier’s gun and shot and killed 85-year-old Moshe “Musa” Horn from Kibbutz Hazorea, who died at the scene. The wounded soldier was evacuated in serious condition to Rambam Hospital. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Moshe “Musa” Horn

NAVIGATING THE NUANCES OF CRITICISM

For years, I’ve grappled with the dilemma of how and what to write when I believe our government is engaging in wrongful or even harmful actions. During my years writing for Newsweek, I exercised caution. If I deemed my thoughts on the Israeli government too critical, I chose not to write the article. Understanding that anything published in the digital age can be accessed globally, I opted to express my more critical opinions in The Times of Israel rather than Newsweek.

When on air at i24 News, I strive to be honest and share my views when asked. However, my primary role was to offer analysis and context, rather than engage in debates about Israel-related issues. My commentary tends to be more opinionated regarding U.S. politics, which often aligned with what the network was seeking.

On my weekly radio show appearance, which primarily reaches a non-Jewish audience, segments about Israel are typically brief, so the opportunity to voice criticism seldom presents itself. Today, however, I faced a real dilemma: How should I talk about the resumption of fighting in Gaza when I believe it was — and still is — a grave error, driven largely by domestic political concerns? I chose not to state my view explicitly, opting instead to tread carefully, somewhat dancing around the issue. You can listen below. Let me know how you think I managed.

HOUTHI & HAMAS MISSILES