(Day 857) Swords of Iron – “Broken Agreements”

They violated the ceasefire again and again and again. Is anyone surprised? Four armed Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel and tried to attack IDF troops. They didn’t succeed. All four were eliminated. No Israeli soldiers were injured. A clear violation—yet again. And it raises the obvious question: who is still making agreements with these people? Terror needs to end, in Gaza and across the Middle East.

Around 8:00 a.m. in the Rafah area troops from the IDF Seventh Armored Brigade were operating along the Yellow Line, clearing tunnels located in the area. According to sources, the attackers exited this tunnel, opened fire, and were immediately engaged. Our forces responded and eliminated all four. None of our troops were hurt. That’s exactly how it should be—but it proves you cannot trust Hamas with a ceasefire, or with anything. You don’t make deals with the devil. You don’t give an inch.

People are also asking about Iran, the negotiations, the talks, and the military posturing. Iran just issued an air travel advisory, effectively declaring a no-fly zone due to an impending ballistic missile test over Semnan. Why do that now? What’s the message?

And if anyone believes Hamas will ever surrender its weapons, they are gravely mistaken. Khaled Mashal, one of Hamas’s senior leaders, recently said outright that they will not give up their weapons and will not accept any foreign intervention in Gaza. That undermines the entire so-called Gaza peace framework. This is a clear case of good versus evil, and Hamas has chosen evil.

I’ll also say this: the recent operation to capture a terrorist leader in Lebanon was impressive. A rare snatch-and-grab, deep inside Lebanon, executed with precision at around 5 in the morning. Hopefully, it yields critical intelligence. That kind of surgical success matters.

Finally, I’m glad to see Judea and Samaria being officially recognized as Judea and Samaria again. A series of decisions have affirmed these areas as part of the land of Israel, with Minister Bezalel Smotrich pushing this forward. You can agree or not, but the direction is clear.

Blessed are the people of Israel. As Deuteronomy 33:29 says: “Blessed are you, O Israel.”