Finishing Phase One?

Hostage Release, Delayed Delivery, The EU Change of Heart, Cancel Culture, Botched Bombing: The Weekly Conquest Week of 2.16.25 – 2.22.25

Welcome to the ZioKnight

Week of February 16, 2025

Months ago, Hamas announced the Bibas boys’ fate. Many lost hope, but some held out. The gut-wrenching final verdict was announced this week. The media surrounding the tragedy felt somewhat overwhelming. Every platform was draped in orange.

It is hard to truly imagine what the hostages endure[d] in the tunnels of Gaza. Of all the interviews, writings, graphics, and art, the French intellectual, Bernard-Henri Lévy’s reflection on their experience affected me most. I quoted a segment of his article to get a feel for what Kfir and Ariel Bibas might have experienced in their final days.

One must imagine the life of Kfir and Ariel as hostages if, as is probable, they were torn from their mother’s arms. Imagine the life of a baby who spends most of his time in dark, damp tunnels. Imagine the life of a toddler, ripped from his family without understanding. Picture them playing, because children always play. Did they have stuffed animals or spent shell casings? Legos or guns to lick instead of honey-coated letters? Were they hungry? Thirsty? Did they scrape mud with their tiny nails or drink contaminated water? Did the captors change Kfir’s diapers, or did they let him sit in his own filth until his skin burned? Did they have talcum powder? Medicine for fevers? What did the masked jailers do when the boys cried, were scared of night noises, or asked the stars about their fate when they were briefly allowed outside? Did they hit them? Strike them with rifle butts? Did they amuse themselves by firing their Kalashnikovs into the air to frighten them further? Did Ariel become the guardian of his baby brother? Did they live out their brief lives together or separately? When Kfir spoke his first words, did they mock him, silence him, or pour the captors’ language into his mouth to erase his mother’s? I don’t know.

Sunday 2.16

Shipment Entering from the Ashdod Port

For the IDF, it’s Hannukah in February! The U.S. resumed shipments of 2,000 lbs bombs. [1]

Monday 2.17

Syrians in Berlin

The EU demanded Israel to return displaced Gazans to the Strip. The treatment is notably very different than it was for the Syrian refugees, who were welcomed into Europe. [2][3]

Tuesday 2.18

As Gaza lies in ruins, a ministerial body was formed in the Knesset to help Palestinians who seek to emigrate voluntarily. Israel is offering a range of transport options, but few countries are willing to receive migrants. [4]

Wednesday 2.19

To those who say that cancel culture is too prevalent in our society: Rutgers Lecturer, Hamid Abdeljaber accused Zionists of controlling the U.N., glorified Hamas’ “resistance,” spoke on a webinar of a Hamas front group, and claimed UNWRA was a victim of October 7th. Yet, he still has his job. Explain that one. [9]

Thursday 2.20

IDF Ceremony to Honor the Deceased Hostages

After being sadistically paraded with music and fanfare through the streets of Gaza, Hamas returned four bodies. Two were the red-headed boys, Kfir and Ariel Bibas. One was Oded Lifshitz. Hamas claimed the fourth was the boys’ mother, Shiri Bibas, but an Israeli forensic analysis uncovered that it wasn’t.

World leaders were shocked by the display of unbridled barbarism. Argentinian President, Javier Milei decreed a national day of mourning, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Hamas “pure evil” that should be “eradicated.” [5][6][7][8]

Friday 2.21

A Bombed Bus’ Ruins

Two Jewish Israelis and a Palestinian were arrested in connection to a botched large-scale bus bombing that resulted in no casualties. Three empty buses detonated early, resulting in the plan being foiled. [10][11]

Saturday 2.22

Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed

Six Israeli hostages were returned. Two were held in Gaza for over ten years after entering voluntarily, while the other four were kidnapped on 10/7. The return of 620 Palestinian prisoners was delayed due to what the Israeli government cited as “ceremonies that demean the dignity of our hostages and the cynical use of the hostages for propaganda purposes.”

The first phase of the deal is planned to end next week, following the planned release of four deceased Israeli hostages. Hamas retains 60 hostages, half of which are expected to be alive. Now the jury is out on whether the deal will end here, be extended, or a second phase will begin. [12][13]