GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 403

A Free Iran

We Changed Our Minds

That’s essentially what the US told Israel concerning limiting military aid if the IDF didn’t take measures increase humanitarian aid in Gaza as we see in an article from The Times Of Israel:

The United States is not limiting military aid to Israel given that the IDF has taken steps to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

“When it comes to humanitarian assistance, we have seen some steps being taken,” Patel said as the 30-day deadline, whereby Israel had to meet certain requirements in Gaza to avoid the triggering of a mechanism by which military aid would be limited, passed.

The announcement came as many believe it is Israel who is limiting the aid from getting to the Gazans and a dire warning of famine is besetting the area:

Washington warned Israel last month that military aid could be limited until progress was made. It did so based on Memorandum 20, which links such aid to humanitarian action.

Patel spoke just days after the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) of experts assessed that there was a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of the northern Gaza Strip.

“Immediate action, within days, not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have an influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation,” the FRC said in a rare alert.

Patel said that Israel is out of danger now, but they could be later:

On Tuesday, however, Patel declared that enough progress had been made so that Israel would avoid, for the moment, any restrictions on aid.

He stressed that this did not let Israel off the hook and that US President Joe Biden’s administration would be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that additional measures were taken.

“There need to be some additional steps that are also taken, but most importantly, we need to see these kinds of efforts sustained over a long period of time,” Patel said. “If we do not see consistent progress, we will enforce US law, and we will make sure we are doing so appropriately,” he added.

It should also be noted that this change also happens after this administration will end with Donald Trump, a strong supporter of Israel replacing it. As people say, elections have consequences. I see this turn around as more political that based on facts. Any leverage the current regime has is dropping by the minute. But if they have any hope of actually helping those living in Gaza it is Hamas they need to pressure because they are the ones keeping aid from getting to their people. And that is the truth and we have the videos and the witnesses to prove it.

A Crippling Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a message that if the IDF hits Iran again it would severely affect it’s economy hinting they are prepared to hit Iran’s oil industry. We hear more on this in a report from The Times Of Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that a third Iranian attack on Israel “would simply cripple Iran’s economy,’ in his second English-language video statement addressed to the Iranian people within months.

“A few weeks ago, I spoke directly to the people of Iran. Millions of people around the world, millions in Iran itself saw that video. And after they saw it, many Iranians reached out to Israel. So today, I want to once again address the people of Iran,” Netanyahu said.

“It would rob you of many more billions of dollars,” he said of a potential additional attack, after claiming that the October ballistic missile attack on Israel cost Tehran $2.3 billion.

The PM was referring to the cost of the missiles used to attack Israel. A spokesperson for the PM clarified his comments as well:

His warning that another attack would “cripple” Iran’s economy could also be interpreted as a threat that if Iran attacks again, Israel will seek to cause significant economic damage to Iran.

Netanyahu’s statements are the second aimed at the citizens of Iran:

Netanyahu last addressed the Iranian people just two days before Tehran launched some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, sending most of the population rushing to bomb shelters and safe rooms. The assault — Iran’s second direct attack on Israel, after a drone and missile strike in April — caused relatively minor damage to military bases and some residential areas in Israel and killed a Palestinian man in the West Bank.

The PM noted that the October strike from Iran did little harm to Israel but hurt Iran in its cost:

Netanyahu said that the October attack “did marginal damage to Israel.”

“But what damage did [it] do to you?” he asked. “That sum could have added billions to your transportation budget. It could have added billions to your education budget.”

“But instead, Khamenei exposed the regime’s brutality and turned the world against your country. He robbed you of money that should have been yours,” the prime minister said.

‎‏A Better Iran

Netanyahu then went on to tell Iran’s people that different leaders will give them freedoms:

Netanyahu argued that Iranians’ lives would be transformed if the regime spent money on education, infrastructure and health care instead of on wars with Israel.

“I want you to imagine — just imagine — how your life could be different if Iran was free. You could speak your mind without fear. You could make a joke without wondering if you’d be carted off to Evin prison. Close your eyes. Picture the faces of your children — beautiful innocent souls. Think of the endless potential they would have. Their entire lives are ahead of them,” he said.

He continued to appeal to the parents of their children:

‎‏”Imagine how your children’s lives would look if billions of dollars were invested in them instead of being wasted on wars that can’t be won. They would receive world-class education. You would receive beautiful roads. Advanced hospitals. Clean water. You know, Israel has the world’s most advanced desalination system and we’d be happy to help rebuild Iran’s collapsing water infrastructure. These and so many other things are the things that you could have,” he stated.

The PM then blamed Iran’s supreme leader for his hatred for Israel:

“But that’s what Khamenei’s regime denies you every single day. They obsess about destroying Israel, rather than about building Iran. What a shame,” Netanyahu continued. “Another attack on Israel would simply cripple Iran’s economy. It would rob you of many more billions of dollars.”

Netanyahu then pointed out what many are realizing and that Iran can’t win this war:

‎‏‏“I know that you don’t want this war,” Netanyahu said. “I don’t want this war either. The people of Israel don’t want this war. There is one force putting your family in grave danger: the tyrants of Tehran. That’s it.”

‎‏While the Iranian regime gets weaker, Netanyahu said, Israel gets stronger. “The world has seen but a fraction of our power,” he said.

He concluded by telling the Iranians that their leaders actually fear them more than Israel and he encouraged them resist them with Israel’s help:

“Yet there’s one thing Khamenei’s regime fears more than Israel. You know what it is? It’s you — the people of Iran. That’s why they spend so much time and money trying to crush your hopes and curb your dreams.”

“Well, I say to you this: don’t let your dreams die. I hear the whispers: Women, Life, Freedom,” he said, referencing the slogan of nationwide Iranian protests in 2022.

The PM then said that a future of peace between Iran and Israel is what those who love freedom around the world want:

Looking to a future in which there is peace between Israel and Iran, Netanyahu said: “Don’t lose hope. And know that Israel and others in the free world stand with you.”

“The regime wants to destroy your future as they seek to destroy our state. Well, we won’t let that happen. I have no doubt that one day in a free Iran, Israelis and Iranians will build together a future of prosperity and peace,” he said. “‎‏That is the future Israel deserves. That is the future Iran deserves. Together, let us turn this beautiful dream into a reality.”

Will his speech make a difference? Only time will tell, but just changing leaders won’t bring change unless they really see Israel as a legitimate friend and not an eternal enemy. But it’s a good start.