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Israel Says Gaza Hostage Awareness Campaign Rejected in Netherlands
A dinner table is set with empty chairs that symbolically represent hostages and missing people with families that are waiting for them to come home, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 20, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Janis Laizans
Several advertising companies in the Netherlands have rejected an Israeli government billboard campaign to raise awareness of hostages held by the Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza, according to Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate.
The campaign, spearheaded by the directorate’s Government Advertising Agency, was meant to coincide with the South African government’s case at the International Court of Justice charging Israel with committing genocide in Gaza. The court is located in The Hague, Netherlands.
“The main message conveyed by the signage is the fact that 136 kidnapped Israelis are being held captive by Hamas and cannot testify today at The Hague tribunal,” Moriah Shalom, the head of the Israeli agency, said in a statement. “These are victims and witnesses to the acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Hamas, and to the war crimes they commit every additional day while they are held hostage by Hamas.”
Hamas launched the current war in Gaza with its Oct. 7 invasion of Israel. The Palestinian terror group rampaged across southern Israeli communities, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 others as hostages. Over 100 of the hostages were released as part of a temporary ceasefire in late November.
The billboards were to feature the names and pictures of hostages along with the caption “He/She can’t testify today.”
The purpose of the Netherlands campaign was to “[increase] awareness for the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” the Israeli statement said.
Israel approached 10 billboard operators in the Netherlands, but all of them refused to run the campaign and put up the posters. In one case, a company agreed “but unexpectedly” backed out at the last second.
Shalom described the rejections as a “serious violation of freedom of expression and Israel’s right to speak out loud about the terror its citizens suffer.”
“This is a blatant attempt to silence the voices of the Israeli hostages, who were taken captive during the murderous terrorist attack by Hamas,” she added. “Their right to be heard is beyond any doubt.”
Moshik Aviv, the head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, echoed that sentiment.
“The attempts at silencing will be answered with a loud voice — even in front of the court in The Hague there are those who choose in an aggressive and outrageous manner to take down an information campaign on hundreds of billboards throughout the Netherlands and with an emphasis on The Hague,” the senior Israeli official said in a statement. “The truth will prevail and the State of Israel will continue to stand up for the justice of its path and tell the whole world the truth. We are running an unprecedented international information campaign. Despite everything, they will not be able to silence us.”
Israel will formally deliver its response to the genocide charges brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice on Friday. Several Israeli politicians weighed in on Thursday with strong condemnation of the proceedings.
The Government Advertising Agency and National Public Diplomacy Directorate are responsible for boosting Israel’s image abroad via public and social campaigns. They have been instrumental to the many campaigns people have seen outside of Israel depicting the plight of Israel and the hostages since Oct. 7.
The post Israel Says Gaza Hostage Awareness Campaign Rejected in Netherlands first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Iran Unveils ‘Gaza’ Drone With 1,000-km Range
The Gaza drone is seen in flight, armed with eight precision-guided Sadid-345 glide bombs. Photo: Screenshot
The Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday unveiled its new heavy-duty drone, named Gaza, during a “hybrid operation” on the sidelines of a massive military exercise in southern Iran, according to semi-official Iranian media.
With a range of 1,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of at least 500 kilograms, this unmanned aircraft can carry up to 13 missiles in a single flight.
The Gaza drone features a wingspan of 22 meters, a takeoff weight of 3,100 kilograms, and a flight endurance of 35 hours, enabling it to perform extended missions.
Watch the video of Iran’s largest drone, unveiled today!
Named the Gaza Drone, this advanced aircraft successfully destroyed 8 targets with precision during its first demonstration. It will also play a key role in monitoring the nation’s borders.#Iran #Gazadrone #Gaza pic.twitter.com/cmyMNRcOW1
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|| Alexander (@Sarbazrehbar) January 27, 2025
It also achieves a cruising speed of 350 kilometers per hour and has an operational radius of approximately 4,000 kilometers.
According to a press release from the IRGC, an Iranian military force and internationally designated terrorist organization, the Gaza drone successfully destroyed eight targets for the first time on Sunday, launching missiles equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities during the Great Prophet Authority military exercise in the Persian Gulf.
The announcement came days after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire deal earlier this month to end the 15-month war in Gaza.
The initial six-week first phase of the ceasefire includes a partial and gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Iran is the chief international sponsor of Hamas, providing the Palestinian terrorist group in Gaza with weapons, funding, and training.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, 26 additional hostages are expected to be released over the next month, along with hundreds more Palestinian prisoners who were largely detained by Israel for involvement in terrorist activities.
The post Iran Unveils ‘Gaza’ Drone With 1,000-km Range first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israel, NASA Reach Agreement to Send First Israeli Female Astronaut to Space
Axiom’s four-man team lifts off, riding atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Steve Nesius
Israel has reached an agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to send the first Israeli woman astronaut to space, Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Gila Gamliel announced on Monday at the Israel Space Agency’s 20th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference.
“We received approval from NASA to send the first Israeli female astronaut into space,” Gamliel said at the conference in Tel Aviv. “We in Israel have now begun the process of searching for our candidate among our brave women.”
Gamliel, who visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in September, did not elaborate on when or in what capacity the Israeli female astronaut will join NASA as part of a mission into space.
“This milestone will serve as an inspiration for future generations and emphasize the importance of gender equality in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” she added.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who is in New York to speak at the United Nations as part of an event honoring the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, sent a pre-recorded message that was played at the Ramon Conference.
“We are living in an incredibly exciting times for space exploration,” Herzog said. “Humanity is discovering new ways to use space technologies not only to explore the stars, but to advance global health, stability, and prosperity on our own planet. Space exploration is the next frontier for humanity, and I am convinced that it will play an increasingly bigger role in science and that humanity will ultimately settle in space as well.”
“Israel, despite its small size, is a global trailblazer in the field of space,” he added. “Already now, we partner with the leading space programs in the world, including with some of our Abraham Accords partners. I am hopeful that we will see many exciting new collaborations ahead. This leadership at the forefront of new space is absolutely critical for Israel’s future security, prosperity, and scientific leadership in the world, and we must make it a top priority.”
The Ilan Ramon International Space Conference is named after the first Israeli astronaut, who was killed along with his six crewmates in February 2003 when NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it returned to Earth’s atmosphere. Ramon was 48 years old.
“NASA and Israel have a long-standing relationship, and this is an exciting time in space for both of our nations,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free in a recorded message shared at the conference on Monday. He noted Ramon’s legacy as the first Israeli astronaut and also mentioned Israeli citizen Eitan Stiva and his historic first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. He additionally mentioned that NASA and Israel have extended their partnership regarding moon exploration.
The Israeli company Stream Red developed a radiation belt that was sent to the space station and on the Artemis 1 experimental mission, and has helped improve the understanding of radiation exposure on Earth. In 2022, Israel signed the Artemis Accords to show its commitment to scientific cooperation and space exploration.
The post Israel, NASA Reach Agreement to Send First Israeli Female Astronaut to Space first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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The Three-Finger Symbol: A Narrative of Death vs. A Narrative of Life
Former hostage Emily Damari is reunited with her mother, on Jan. 19, 2025. Credit: Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit.
We all felt deeply moved watching Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Daniela Gilboa return to Israel’s borders and into the embrace of their families, joining Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, who were released last week.
Despite Hamas’ attempts to stage their release as a propaganda spectacle — and the Palestinian celebrations about the release of heinous murderers from Israeli prisons — Emily Damari’s brave gestures remind us of the profound differences between the narratives embraced by each side.
In 2014, following the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldiers Gil-Ad Michael Shaer, Eyal Yifrach, and Naftali Fraenkel, a new visual symbol emerged in the Palestinian street: three raised fingers.
This gesture, initially a reaction to the kidnapping, quickly evolved into a powerful propaganda emblem, gaining significant traction on social media. A Facebook page titled “3 شلاليط ثم اقتحامات ثم انتفاضة ثالثة” (“Three ‘Shalits,’ then an invasion, then a third Intifada”) framed the kidnapping as part of a broader historical narrative of resistance. Drawing parallels to the abduction of Gilad Shalit, the gesture aimed to amplify a sense of Palestinian “victory.”
However, like many narratives in the digital age, this one had a short lifespan. The Facebook page ceased activity after a few months, and the symbol faded from public discourse. The dynamic nature of social media reduced this emblem to a fleeting memory — momentary propaganda rooted in violence and death.
Reclaiming the Symbol: The Israeli Side
A decade later, the world has changed. During the events of October 7, 2023, and the “Iron Swords” war, Palestinian narratives resurfaced rapidly across social media. Yet, alongside them, a completely new narrative emerged from the Israeli side.
The abduction of Emily Damari, a young woman taken from her home in Kfar Aza by Hamas terrorists, became an extraordinary symbol. During her abduction, Emily suffered injuries to her hand, leading to the amputation of two of her fingers. Yet her resilience and courage never wavered. Upon her release, Emily prominently displayed her hand, missing two fingers, as a symbol of the indomitable Israeli spirit.
Her bravery was also evident in her request to the terrorists to release 65-year-old Keith Sigal before her — an extraordinary act of humanity in the face of captivity’s horrors.
A stark contrast emerges between the Palestinian use of three fingers and the Israeli use of the same symbol.
While the Palestinian gesture celebrated violent “victory” through kidnapping and murder, the Israeli narrative draws strength from the pursuit of life, survival, and hope. Emily Damari’s hand has become a gesture of life triumphing over death, courage overcoming violence, and hope transcending despair. In many ways, it embodies the entire story of Zionism.
This powerful gesture serves as a reminder of the fundamental difference between us and our enemies. We celebrate life and courage, while they revel in death and hatred. Even in these challenging days, we continue to choose hope and life. This choice is the source of our strength and our enduring resolve.
“There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children will return to their own land” (Jeremiah 31:17).
Itamar Tzur is an Israeli scholar and Middle East expert who holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Jewish History and a Master’s degree with honors in Middle Eastern Studies. As a senior member of the “Forum Kedem for Middle Eastern Studies and Public Diplomacy”. Tzur leverages his academic expertise to enhance understanding of regional dynamics and historical contexts within the Middle East.
The post The Three-Finger Symbol: A Narrative of Death vs. A Narrative of Life first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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