DAY 660 OF THE WAR: Three Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Clashes; Israel Authorizes Massive Increase in Humanitarian Aid to Gaza; Another Heartbreaking Rally for Hostages

Tel Aviv July 28, 2025

Another wave of “hutar l’pirsum” (authorized for publication) began last night when the IDF lifted the publication ban on the deaths of three more soldiers killed in Gaza. The first name released was Sergeant Major (res.) Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher (32), from Mavki'im. Mosbacher succumbed to wounds sustained in an attack last week. That night, reports surfaced of another explosion in southern Gaza.

This morning, the IDF announced the deaths of two additional soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit: Captain Amir Saad (22), from Yanuh-Jat, and Sergeant Inon Nuriel Vana (20), from Kiryat Tivon. The two were killed when a terrorist emerged from a tunnel and planted an explosive device near the armored personnel carrier they were riding in. Their deaths bring the total number of IDF soldiers killed in Gaza in July to 18.

As I noted on Thursday, the Israel government has come to the belated realization that it must take significant step to address the images of famine in Gaza. To its credit, the government finally recognized that this is not merely a public relations issue—but a real problem.

Regardless of whether the famine is fully real or who bears responsibility for it, Israel has little choice but to take concrete steps on the ground to demonstrate its concern. Last night, the IDF Spokesperson released the following statement:

In accordance with the directives of the political echelon and following a situational assessment held this evening, the IDF has begun a series of actions to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip and to refute the false claim of deliberate starvation in Gaza.

As part of this effort, tonight (Saturday), the IDF will resume humanitarian aid airdrops via the air route as part of ongoing efforts to deliver assistance to the Gaza Strip.

The airdrop operation will be conducted in cooperation with international organizations and the IDF, led by COGAT and the Air Force. The airdrop will include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food supplied by international organizations.

In addition, it has been decided that humanitarian corridors will be designated to enable the safe passage of UN convoys and aid organizations for the delivery of food and medicine to the population.

The IDF is prepared for humanitarian pauses in areas with concentrated civilian populations and will continue to operate, clear, and deepen efforts to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate operatives in the areas in which it is active.

Last night the IDF did indeed conduct an airdrop—the first time the Israeli Air Force itself has delivered humanitarian aid by air inside Gaza. By this morning, the military had announced a localized ceasefire in parts of the Strip to facilitate the delivery of aid.

This morning, the IDF released the following announcement:

In accordance with directives from the political leadership and as part of the IDF’s ongoing efforts—through the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)—to expand the scope of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, a local tactical pause in military activity will begin today (Sunday) for humanitarian purposes.

The pause will take place daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in areas where the IDF is not operating—specifically Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City—until further notice.

This decision was coordinated with the United Nations and international organizations following discussions on the matter.

Additionally, permanently secured routes have been designated from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily to allow the safe movement of UN convoys and aid organizations for the delivery and distribution of food and medicine to the population across the Gaza Strip.

The IDF will continue to support the humanitarian effort on the ground, alongside ongoing maneuvering and offensive operations against terrorist organizations in Gaza, in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel. The IDF stands ready to expand its operational scope as needed.

GAZA: MISSTEPS & CONSEQUENCES

Over the course of the night and into the morning, trucks filled with food and other aid began streaming into Gaza. The United Arab Emirates and Jordan conducted airdrops of food into Gaza today. In addition, Israel has granted the UAE approval to construct a water pipeline from Egypt into Gaza.

All announcements so far have come from the military. Prime Minister Netanyahu made a statement that did not directly address why he ordered the massive increase in aid to Gaza.

Recent events—and, frankly, the entire course of the war in Gaza—underscore why those who were in charge on October 7 should not have remained in power. The decision to resume full-scale fighting in March may go down as one of Israel’s most consequential military and political miscalculations. It was the Israeli government that chose to restart the war and temporarily cut off supplies to Gaza, causing the current crisis.

Four months later, the results are sobering: one hostage [Idan Alexander] was released—thanks to American efforts—further territorial gains in Gaza, additional Hamas operatives killed, and 19 Israeli soldiers lost in just the past month. Meanwhile, whatever international support Israel once had is rapidly disappearing.

HOSTAGES AND DEMONSTRATIONS

I wrote the following section after returning from the weekly Saturday night rally at Hostage Square. As with last week, the demonstration concluded with a march—led by families of the hostages—to the U.S. Embassy, just over a mile away.

I have been attending and organizing rallies my entire life. The first rally I attended was in seventh grade, during the Six-Day War, when our school joined others throughout the Northeast and traveled to Washington to show our support for Israel.

Since then, I’ve participated in scores of demonstrations: for Soviet Jewry—some of which I helped organize—for Iraqi and Syrian Jewry, and of course, for Israel. I even organized the Israel Day Parade for its 40th anniversary.

The past three years—or more precisely, two and a half; it will be three this January—have marked the most active period of protest in my life. I’ve attended more rallies and demonstrations during this time than in all the previous decades of my life combined. Nearly every Saturday night, with few exceptions—during the early weeks of the October war and during the peak of the war with Iran—my family and I have taken part in the protests.

We began by demonstrating against the judicial overhaul, which many of us viewed as an effort to undermine Israel’s democracy. Once the war began, our focus shifted to supporting the hostages and their families.

I remember the first hostage family I met—just a week into the war. A man stood outside the entrance to the Defense Ministry headquarters, unsure where to turn. His wife and three children had been taken to Gaza, and he was desperate for answers.

Thankfully, they were released in the first hostage exchange. But now, 660 days later, the Saturday night rallies carry a far heavier tone. They have become the most heartbreaking I’ve ever attended.

The turnout remains steady—thousands show up every week—driven by a shared sense of responsibility. Responsibility to the families. We don’t attend because we believe we’ll change the government’s policies. We attend to let the families know they’re not alone. These families are caught in a whirlwind of emotions. One day brings optimism; the next, despair. One moment a deal seems just two days away—and the next, it falls apart.

The basic contours of the agreement have been clear from the outset. Hamas demands an end to the war to end and the ability to remain in Gaza. The Israeli government, in turn, refuses to let Hamas stay—and therefore refuses to end the war. I’ve already shared my views on this approach. Perhaps it made some strategic sense 18 months ago, or even 16. But today, it’s increasingly difficult to understand what exactly we’re trying to achieve.

This week’s demonstration was especially difficult. The wife of one of the hostages took the stage, followed by their teenage daughter, and then their young son. Partway through his speech, the boy broke down. How can anyone remain unmoved, watching an eight- or ten-year-old—I’m not even sure of his exact age—choking back tears, calling out for his father? Crying, pleading for his Abba to come back home.

STRIKE SET IRANIAN NUCLEAR EFFORTS BACK ONE YEAR

David Ignatius, the respected defense correspondent for The Washington Post, published a noteworthy piece reporting that both U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies believe the recent strike on Iran set back its nuclear program by roughly a year—if Tehran chooses to rebuild it. Should Iran resume its efforts, Ignatius writes, Israeli or American forces would likely detect it—and respond with another strike.

The 12 days that turned back the clock on Iran’s nuclear program

TWO MORE WORTHWHILE READS:

Two other noteworthy opinion pieces were published last week. The first, by Bret Stephens, appeared midweek under the headline "No, Israel is Not Committing Genocide in Gaza". Stephens, a longtime supporter of Israel and former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, strongly defends Israel’s actions and challenges the genocide accusations.

The second piece, by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, should give many Israelis pause. Titled "How Israel’s War Became Unjust". The column marks a significant shift from Douthat, a conservative voice who has typically been supportive of Israel. In it, Douthat argues that while Israel began the conflict waging what he describes as one of the most just wars in recent history, a series of missteps has gradually eroded that moral standing.

SPIES FOR IRAN

Another Israeli—this time an immigrant from Iran— has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Tehran. More than 40 individuals have been arrested on espionage charges since the start of the war, in what has become a deeply shocking trend.

LIKUD DEFENDS MK AMID RAPE PROBE

Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky was interrogated by police on Friday following allegations by two women who accuse him of rape. It remains unclear whether charges will be filed, as one of the accusers has reportedly disappeared.

Prior to the interrogation, Milwidsky had been slated to become chair of the influential Knesset Finance Committee. Following Friday’s developments, the Likud party dismissed the investigation as a “witch hunt” and announced today that they still intend to move forward with Milwidsky’s appointment.

ANTISEMITISM

A series of troubling antisemitic incidents have surfaced in recent days. On the U.S.-based Fresh and Fit podcast, a string of inflammatory remarks were made, including: “What if the Jews did something to the Germans,” “Hitler was trying to save the world,” “How do we take [the Jews] down?,” and simply, a call for “Genocide.”

Suzette, a recent culinary high school graduate from South Florida, expressed open support for Nazi ideology. Meanwhile, Kadriyanna James—a Pompano-based exotic dancer (and mother!)—was recorded saying, “We gotta kill the motherf**kers,” referring to Jews.

In a recent speech, Tucker Carlson asserted that Americans who have served in the Israel Defense Forces should be stripped of their U.S. citizenship.

“There are a lot of Americans who’ve served in the IDF — they should lose their citizenship,” Carlson said during a 45-minute address at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida. “You can’t fight for another country and remain an American, period.”

Sorry Tucker, your assertion contradicts established legal precedent. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1960s that serving in a foreign military does not automatically result in the loss of citizenship.

I fear that statements like these may be just the tip of the iceberg.

BUSINESS

Cynerio

Strategic Healthcare Expansion Through Acquisition

Israeli cybersecurity leader Axonius has made a decisive move to dominate the healthcare cybersecurity market with its $180 million acquisition of Cynerio, a specialist in medical device protection. Founded by IDF Unit 8200 veterans Leon Lerman and Daniel Brodie in 2018, Cynerio developed cutting-edge firewall technology specifically designed to shield hospital medical equipment from cyber threats. The deal, which could reach $250 million based on performance milestones, represents a strategic bet on the rapidly growing intersection of healthcare and cybersecurity, where connected medical devices create critical vulnerabilities that traditional security solutions struggle to address

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The acquisition transforms Axonius from a general enterprise security platform into a formidable competitor in specialized critical infrastructure protection. With Cynerio's 70-person team and established client relationships joining Axonius's $100 million ARR business, the combined entity is positioned to capture tens of millions in additional revenue within the first year.

The move directly challenges industry leader Claroty, effectively ending previous collaboration discussions and establishing Axonius as a major player in the Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems security markets. For Axonius, valued at $2.6 billion following its 2022 funding round, this acquisition represents a calculated expansion beyond traditional enterprise networks into the high-stakes world of healthcare infrastructure, where security breaches can literally be matters of life and death.

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TRAVEL ACROSS ISRAEL

Ashkelon

Today, we’re heading north to Ashkelon. But before we arrive, let’s begin with a bit of the city’s remarkable history.

Ashkelon is one of the oldest cities in the region—a vital Mediterranean seaport with a history spanning thousands of years. Its strategic coastal location made it a coveted prize for empire after empire throughout the ancient world.

The earliest settlements in Ashkelon date back to the Neolithic Age. By the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000–1550 BCE), it had developed into a massive fortified Canaanite city-state, home to the oldest known arched city gate in the world. The city is mentioned in ancient Egyptian texts and served as a key link in the trade routes between Egypt and the northern Levant.

Around the 12th century BCE, the Philistines—one of the so-called "Sea Peoples"—conquered the city, and Ashkelon became one of their five prominent capitals, known collectively as the Pentapolis. For centuries, it remained a major Philistine center, often in conflict with the neighboring Israelites, as famously depicted in the biblical story of Samson.

The Philistine era came to a dramatic end in 604 BCE, when the city was conquered and destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

After the conquests of Alexander the Great, Ashkelon was reborn as an important Hellenistic seaport. It later gained autonomy during the Hasmonean period and flourished under Roman rule. King Herod, who may have been born in the city, adorned it with grand public buildings, including bathhouses and colonnades. During this time, it was a major commercial hub, known for its wine and other agricultural exports.

In the 7th century, the city fell to Muslim armies. During the Crusades, its strategic importance was renewed. Ashkelon served as a key Fatimid fortress until it was captured by the Crusaders in 1153. The city changed hands multiple times, with figures like Richard the Lionheart rebuilding its fortifications. Its ancient history came to a violent end in 1270 when the Mamluk Sultan Baybars, fearing a new Crusade, ordered the city and its port to be completely destroyed, leaving it in ruins for centuries.

For hundreds of years, the area was sparsely populated. The nearby Arab village of al-Majdal existed for centuries. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the area was settled by Jewish immigrants. In 1953, the modern city of Ashkelon was formally established, incorporating the old site of al-Majdal and new neighborhoods. Today, it is a vibrant and growing Israeli city.

Visiting Ashkelon Today …

Modern Ashkelon offers a compelling mix of ancient history and laid-back Mediterranean charm. At the heart of the experience is Ashkelon National Park, where millennia of civilizations have left their mark. We’ll walk through the world's oldest arched gate, built by the Canaanites nearly 4,000 years ago, and wander among the ruins of a Roman basilica and Crusader-era walls, all set against a backdrop of beautiful sea cliffs.

Beyond the park, the city boasts a long, stretch of sandy beaches, with a lively promenade and a modern marina filled with restaurants and cafes—an ideal spot to unwind and take in the sunset after a day of walking through history.