Note to reader: We wanted to give you a trigger warning on what you may read below. We have chosen, as with every night of these briefings, to not share horrific images, however we want to alert you as sensitively as we can to the reports coming out of Israel and Gaza.
Released hostages reveal Hamas abuse in captivity
Conservative Friends of Israel hosted a private briefing with Nimrod Palmach, CEO of Israel-is and IDF reservist, who raced to southern Israel to battle Hamas terrorists and rescue Israelis during the October 7th massacres. Palmach was joined by CFI Chairman (Commons) Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE, CFI Parliamentary Vice Chair Andrew Percy MP, CFI Officer Miriam Cates MP and The Lord Mott OBE. Palmach described making his way to Kibbutz Be’eri with only a pistol, joining up with old friends amid scenes of Hamas barbarism and fighting terrorists into the early hours.
9 children and 2 women (11) released from Hamas captivity last night, 20 expected tonight
11 Israeli women and children have been freed from Hamas captivity after being held hostage for 52 days. The hostages, 9 children and 2 mothers, were transferred to the Red Cross inside Gaza before returning to Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The youngest of those released were Yuli and Emma Cunio, three-year-old twins. They were accompanied by their mother, but their father remains a hostage in Gaza. Eitan Yahalomi, 12, Erez Calderon, 12, and Yagil Yaakov, 13, were also freed in the latest release.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that “mothers were not originally going to be able to come out with their children”, showing the means by which Hamas seek to employ psychological warfare against Israeli civilians.
All those freed last night were from Kibbutz Nir Oz, slated to be the last group released as part of the deal but now likely followed by 20 others after a deal has been agreed extending the temporary truce an extra two days.
Israel released 33 women and young men – security prisoners – back to the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Monday night. 60 further inmates may be released if the truce holds for an additional two days.
Hostage testimonies: Women locked in cages, 12-year-old forced to watch atrocities at gunpoint
Women abducted from Israel were kept in cages by Hamas, according to new testimonies from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
The aunt of Eitan Yahalomi, 12, revealed to French TV that terrorists forced him to watch videos of atrocities carried out on October 7th. He was held at gunpoint, to stop crying – after being beaten by Gazan residents on arrival.
The uncle of Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, who was released from Gaza overnight on Saturday, accused Hamas of splitting her up from her mother, Raya, 54, who had been together for most of the time. “Hila returned without her mother and that is a clear violation of the agreement with Hamas”, said her uncle. “Hila told us she was in captivity together with her mother and Emily [Hand] until two days ago”.
Elma Avraham, 84, was immediately airlifted after her release. Her family claimed that international groups such as the Red Cross “medically neglected” her needs and treatment.
Hamas have reportedly forced hostages to write letters of thanks to the terror group, for their propaganda campaign. They have also forced the released hostages to continue waving to the terrorists, even before passers-by pelted their vehicle with stones as it made its way to Egypt. “Until the last moment we weren’t sure”, said a hostage, “we thought they would lynch us on the way to Israel”.
Survivors have reported that they were provided with limited food, often just rice or pitta bread.
US warship apprehends Houthi terrorists, targeted by missiles
Terrorists, reportedly suspected to be Iran-backed Houthis, seized the Central Park tanker ship, linked to Israel and the UK, off Yemen’s coast in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday. The company is owned in part by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer and is based in London. The vessel is reportedly owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc., and the two organisations share a director.
The U.S. quickly moved in to apprehend the terrorists, which fled the vessel on five small boats before being pursued by U.S. forces and eventually surrendering. Zodiac Maritime said that, “we would like to thank the coalition forces who responded quickly, protecting assets in the area and upholding international maritime law”.
Two ballistic missiles were fired from Yemen toward the U.S. warship which landed “approximately ten nautical miles from the ships”, according to a Central Command statement.
Israel, rights groups protests UN Women
Rights groups have condemned the silence of UN Women, the official branch of the United Nations dealing with violence against women, over their silence following the sexual violence employed by Hamas terrorists on October 7th.
The body has taken 50 days to comment on the widespread evidence of the gendered war crimes of Hamas – publishing their first message on the issue on Saturday and clarifying that the organisation “remain[s] alarmed by gender-based violence reports on 7 Oct”.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has called the statements “disgraceful”, stating that “for almost 50 days UN Women has been SILENT on the rape, murder and kidnapping of hundreds of Israeli women and girls. Seven weeks later and all they can muster is ‘alarm.’”
Last week, the Civil Commission of Oct. 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children – an organisation established by Israeli legal and rights experts – met with UN Women. “There is no doubt that this is just the beginning,” said Dr Cochav Elkayam-Levy.
Crowds gathered outside the UN Women offices in New York on Monday to protest against their perceived neglect of Jewish and Israeli women following the International Day for The Elimination Of Violence Against Women.
“Eliminate violence against women (…) every woman who’s not Jewish, every woman who’s not Israeli”, an activist declared. Women lined-up with coverings over their mouths, red splashed on white clothes, with signs reading ‘believe all women’ and ‘UN Women, your silence is unforgivable’.
Beside initial condemnations of the Hamas atrocities of October 7th, all UN Women public comments have centred on Palestinians. The Executive Director has called for a permanent ceasefire and release of all hostages.
Spokeswoman Inés Esteban González tweeted on X, formally Twitter, that “we condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7 and continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”, before deleting the condemnation of Hamas and leaving only the calls to release the hostages.
