Guy Azriel
@GuyAz · Israeli English-language press & book authors
Guy Azriel is i24NEWS's diplomatic correspondent covering Israel, Iran, US policy, and regional diplomacy.
🚨🇮🇱 Amid Iranian threats to retaliate over the demolition of a Hezbollah underground compound in southern Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issues a stark warning to Tehran: “Any attack on Israel, for any reason and from anywhere, will be met with a powerful response - including strikes on Iran’s key energy facilities.” Katz says the IDF is ready and warns such a blow could set Iran back decades and further destabilize the “hated” regime of the ayatollahs.
Netanyahu’s Likud says Palestinian exile Mohammad Dahlan is behind the Haaretz stories on the war in an effort to hinder Israeli elections
Qatar attempts to clean the blood off its hands by fabricating stories about willingness to release all civilian hostages. Blinken sets the record straight.
🚨Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Mount Hermon in Syria: “We will not allow any terrorist army to establish itself on our border. We are committed to defeating Iran’s terrorist regime - and we will do it.” “On the eve of the Jewish New Year, we are at the top of Mount Hermon, at the Hermon summit. Damascus is here, Lebanon is there, the Syrian Golan Heights are there, and we control the entire area from the Hermon summit to the Yarmouk River, and from here to the Mediterranean Sea — absolute control on a scale we have never seen before. We will not allow any terrorist army to establish itself on our border, and this is one of the tremendous achievements we have accomplished in the War of Resurrection. And from these heights, there is still more work to do. The main task is to defeat the terrorist regime in Iran. We are very close to achieving that. We know that the entire axis will ultimately fall. We are committed to doing it, and we will do it. I wish you a happy New Year, citizens of Israel, and to our heroic soldiers who are doing the work here.”
🚨A senior British official tells me the UK is considering its response to the Israeli decision to close the consulate in Jerusalem. As we reported last night, Israel sent a diplomatic note demanding that the consulate be closed within 30 days, as part of its retaliatory measures in response to sanctions imposed by the British government.
🚨 The IDF admits that Hamas terrorists have recently been accessing weapons depots and using them to establish their control in the Gaza. Joint IDF and ISA announcement: *The IDF and the ISA dismantled three weapon storage facilities and a launch pit from which rockets were fired toward Israeli territory throughout the war* Yesterday (Tuesday), the IDF and the ISA precisely struck in several areas across the Gaza Strip and dismantled three Hamas and Islamic Jihad weapon storage facilities. Additionally, a launch pit from which rockets were fired toward Israeli territory throughout the war was dismantled. The terrorist organizations stored dozens of different kinds of weapons inside the storage facilities, including rockets, Kalachnikov rifles, and additional combat equipment. Furthermore, the IDF identified that recently, Hamas terrorists have been arriving at the storage facilities and using the weapons stored inside them to establish control in the Gaza Strip and carry out operations. Prior to the strikes, advance warnings were issued to the population in order to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, in addition to the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance. The IDF will continue to operate decisively to degrade the capabilities of terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip while thwarting any attempt to rebuild capabilities or use weapons intended to harm IDF troops. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat.
Report: In an attempt to stem the diplomatic collapse and a week before the prime minister’s speech to the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will fly next week for a lightning visit to the UN headquarters in New York. Sa’ar’s office said: “We will not comment”
Translated from HebrewOfficial UAE response to the report - not an approval nor a denial https://t.co/BsQ010ehDZ
🚨🇮🇱 Israel Moves to Cut Britain Out of Palestinian Affairs After UK Sanctions New Details - The immediate demands Israel has delivered to the UK: While the Labour government is boasting about sanctions announced today, presenting them as measures designed to protect Palestinian interests, Israel’s countermeasures announced by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar are aimed at effectively stripping Britain of its ability to operate in the Palestinian arena. First - the closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem. The consulate will be required to shut down within 30 days, and the accreditation of its staff will be revoked. Second - the removal of British representatives from the Gaza monitoring mechanism. The British representatives were handed a separate notice informing them that their activities are terminated immediately. They will have seven days to leave Israel. Third - British teams training Palestinian Authority forces. Those teams have been ordered to immediately halt their work in Ramallah and also be required to leave within seven days. Israeli officials stress that the measures are directed not at Britain as a country, but at the Labour government, which Jerusalem says led the sanctions campaign against Israel for political reasons, just ahead of the Labour Party conference. The measures the Labour government says are intended to help the Palestinians have now prompted Israel to target the very mechanisms through which Britain operates on Palestinian affairs.
🚨🇮🇱🇬🇧Israel also announces list of Elected Officials and British Nationals to Be Denied Entry to Israel: 1. Jeremy Corbyn MP 2. Zarah Sultana MP 3. Fahad Ansari, Director of Riverway to the Sea 4. Naz Shah MP 5. Diane Abbott MP 6. Hannah Spencer MP 7. Carla Denyer MP 8. Sian Berry MP 9. Ellie Chowns MP 10. John McDonnell MP 11. Richard Burgon MP 12. Adrian Ramsay MP
Israeli right wing activist not impressed by UK sanctions
🚨🇮🇱🇬🇧 Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announces a series of measures against the UK in retaliation for London’s latest actions against Israel: • Closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem • Expelling British representatives from the Gaza coordination center in Kiryat Gat • Ending British assistance in training Palestinian Authority security forces
🚨🇬🇧🇮🇱 Following The Sanctions | Minister Ben-Gvir to Netanyahu: Close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appealed Tuesday morning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, demanding the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, the revocation of work visas for British diplomats, and the shutdown of the British Council and any other organization operating on behalf of the consulate for residents of the Palestinian Authority. The demand comes following the publication of expected UK sanctions against the State of Israel. Minister Ben-Gvir wrote that "this outrageous step did not come out of nowhere," but is the result of a "years-long policy of ignoring repeated provocations" and a policy of "friendliness" that, according to him, repeatedly harms "Israel's status as an independent, sovereign state, and specifically its sovereignty in Jerusalem." According to Ben-Gvir, "The Israeli government's response must be sharp and clear—closing the British Consulate in East Jerusalem and sending all consuls back to their country of origin." The minister subsequently attacked the very existence of the consulate's operations in East Jerusalem, writing: "Inconceivably, for decades Israel has allowed Britain to maintain an 'embassy' to the terror-supporting Palestinian Authority in the capital, united Jerusalem, while receiving all their prerogatives, privileges, and conveniences from Israel." Minister Ben-Gvir also addressed the activities of the British Council in Jerusalem and Palestinian Authority territories, noting that "Britain funds a dedicated fund for projects to preserve Palestinian heritage" and manages additional Palestinian programs, including one allowing "artists" to research and document Palestinian history and heritage. Ben-Gvir further wrote that "Britain allows itself, not for the first time, to act toward Israel as if it were still the British Mandate era, repeatedly issuing instructions to us." According to him, "We must make it clear to them that the Mandate ended long ago and Israel is an independent, sovereign nation. As such, it will neither accept nor permit activities within the State of Israel that undermine its sovereignty." At the conclusion of his letter, Ben-Gvir demanded that Netanyahu "immediately order the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem," alongside the revocation of work visas for British diplomats, and the shutdown of the British Council and any other organization operating on behalf of the consulate for PA residents.
🚨 Following the Haaretz report about the phone call between Netanyahu and UAE president prior to October 7, a source who was then part of the prime minister’s inner circle and no longer works with him tells me: “fake news.” According to the information available to us, the Israeli ambassador to Abu Dhabi at the time, Amir Hayek, was also not informed that such a call had taken place. However, we should note that calls between the leaders are usually conducted through a direct channel.
Was Netanyahu warned about the Hamas attack a week and a half before October 7? Haaretz reports that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu during a 45-minute phone call in September 2023, but Netanyahu ignored the warning and did not pass the information to Israel’s security leadership. Netanyahu’s office calls the report an “absolute lie,” saying Netanyahu did not speak with the UAE president during that period and received no such warning.
Erdogan’s latest rant - a complete rewrite of history. The Turkish president now claims the war began with Israeli “incitement and conspiracies,” and that Israeli “lies and acts of sabotage” sank the Islamabad agreement. Incredible.
🚨🇮🇱🇬🇧Israeli official to i24NEWS: “If the UK announces sanctions on settlements – there will be an immediate response."
🚨🇮🇱 🇱🇧🇺🇸 My report: Difficulties on the path to deploying international forces in Lebanon: “We won’t repeat the mistakes of Gaza” A European official involved in the conversations to implement the trilateral framework between Israel, Lebanon, and the US says that discussions with the sides are ongoing, but at this stage, deploying international forces or “boots on the ground” still seems a distant goal. According to the official, the main challenge right now is establishing a clear mechanism and protocol to monitor the ceasefire and the process of forces' movement. Only after these mechanisms are defined will it be possible to seriously discuss deploying soldiers on the ground. The official emphasizes that the parties are careful not to repeat the mistake made in Gaza, discussing the composition and sending of international forces before defining their mandate, authority, and operational framework on the ground. Amid these difficulties and many others, a date for the next round of talks in Rome has not yet been set. Despite the escalation in South Lebanon in recent days, the European official says he remains relatively optimistic, noting that Europe stays engaged in the efforts and hopes to contribute to the implementation of the agreement.
We reported in the broadcast: Difficulties stand in the way of deploying international forces in Lebanon: “We will not repeat Gaza’s mistakes” Amid the escalation of the fighting in Lebanon in recent days and ahead of the destruction of the Ali Taher Ridge, a European official involved in talks to implement the trilateral framework between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States says that contacts with the parties are continuing, but at this stage the deployment of international forces on the ground, boots on the ground, still appears to be a distant goal. According to the official, the main challenge at this stage is formulating clear mechanisms and a protocol for monitoring the ceasefire and for the process and mobilization of the forces. Only after these mechanisms are defined will it be possible to seriously discuss deploying soldiers on the ground. In a conversation with us, the official clarifies: “We will not repeat the mistakes made in Gaza” — discussing the composition and dispatch of international forces before their mandate, authorities, and operational framework on the ground have been defined. Against the backdrop of these and other difficulties, as of now no date has yet been set for another round of negotiations in Rome. Despite the escalation in southern Lebanon in recent days, the European official says he is relatively optimistic, and that Europe remains involved in the efforts and hopes to contribute to implementing the agreement.
Translated from Hebrew🚨 The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint before the Ljubljana District Prosecutor’s Office and the Police against Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for alleged war crimes, acts of genocide and torture ahead of his visit to Ljubljana this week to open Israel's first ever embassy in Slovenia. I can report Sa’ar is an official guest of the Slovenian government and is therefore expected to receive full immunity.
🚨 Sa’ar is an official guest of the Slovenian government and is expected to receive full immunity.
50 days to Israel’s general election. A new video from Netanyahu’s campaign mocks his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, over his English language skills. Some in his camp attempted to portray it as racist, but that characterization is difficult to sustain. Separately, recent polls from last night suggest the two political blocs could emerge with exactly the same number of seats, raising the prospect of another political deadlock.
Still no sign of Hamas disarming, highlighted by an incident yesterday in which a planted explosive detonated against an IDF vehicle, but progress toward establishing an international peacekeeping force continues
🇮🇱 🇨🇾 Amid growing tensions with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will visit Cyprus on Thursday at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. The two will discuss deepening cooperation and strengthening relations between the two countries.
🚨 IDF: *In response to the detonation of an explosive device in the Yellow Line area: The IDF struck Hamas terrorist infrastructure sites in the Gaza Strip* Yesterday (Sunday), an IDF engineering vehicle drove over an explosive device belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Yellow Line area in the northern Gaza Strip. No IDF injuries were reported. This constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Hamas terrorist organization. In response, overnight (Monday), the IDF struck Hamas terrorist infrastructure sites that were used by the organization to advance terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat.
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