In this episode, we discuss the tragic funerals of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir and of Oded Lifshitz and the national and international outpouring that their return has generated. 

We then delve into the IDF's investigation of what transpired on October 7th in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, before assessing the "Day After" proposal Yair Lapid presented to a Washington D.C. audience. 

Finally, you can watch the referenced episode of "Israel Outside In" featuring a beach workout for budding IDF special forces soldiers here.

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In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the anticipated, tragic return of the bodies of Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas to Israel, along with the body of Oded Lifshitz. 

All four of these hostages were kidnapped alive by Hamas on October 7th, 2023.

The Bibas family, whose two young children became symbols of Hamas's depravity and of Israel's suffering due to their red hair and young age, is the only family that was kidnapped in its entirety on October 7th. 

The MirYam Institute hosted Izhar Lifshitz, Oded Lifshitz's son, in Poland during our annual I-SAP tour for cadets of the U.S. military academies, during which he spoke to them about his family's suffering since that day. 

This episode of the show is not one that I was comfortable recording, as a part of me continues to hope against hope, for the return of our hostages alive. 

Listen to my conversation with Izhar Lifshitz. A link to that episode can be found here:

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In a change to our regular format, and in advance of the expected release of a further three hostages, today's show features a conversation between me and Almog Meir-Jan. 

Almog was seized by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 and held hostage inside the Gaza Strip until he was rescued by Israel's security forces at the age of 21 in one of the most daring rescue operations ever undertaken by Israel. 

That operation, which took place on June 8th, 2024, was renamed Operation ARNON, after Y.A.M.A.M. operator, Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, who was wounded by Hamas terrorists and later died of his wounds. 

Along with Almog,  Noa Argamani, 26, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were also rescued.

On December 10th, 2024, I interviewed Almog in front of a live Manhattan Audience, to gauge his reflections on his time in captivity, his perspective on the rescue operation, his outlook on life now that he's freed, and his view on the need to redeem all of the remaining hostages. 

I also praised his mother, Orit, whom our organization escorted throughout her fight to ensure that Almog's plight remained at the forefront of public consciousness, and who we brought to address members of the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the Senate, and legislators in the British parliament and government.

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In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I analyze the press briefings of Presidenrt Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu during Bibi’s trip to D.C

Doubling down on the idea of relocating Gazans to areas out of Gaza, Donald Trump expressed his desire to see America take ownership of the Strip and to rebuild it together with international partners.

His comments have received the protestations of the UN, much of the EU, Heads of Middle Eastern states and more.

What does all of that mean? Yaakov and I discuss it all here. 

RSVP for the live NYC briefing with John Spencer and join us for a deep dive into the IDF’s ethical actions inside Gaza with the foremost global expert on the subject.

 Tickets can be purchased via this link.

"ISRAEL IN URBAN WARFARE: A JUST CAMPAIGN HELD TO AN UNJUST GLOBAL STANDARD." WITH JOHN SPENCER AND BENJAMIN ANTHONY Tickets | The MirYam Institute simpletix.com

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In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss President Trump’s suggestion that the Gazans should be relocated to Egypt and Jordan, before talking about the mass movement of Gazans back to the north of the Strip and the flawed security and inspection mechanism in place as they do so.
We then discuss the nominees for the next IDF Chief and finally close on Iran’s threat of a ‘massive cost’ to the region if it’s nuclear weapons program is attacked.
ALSO!! RSVP Today for An Evening With John Spencer, live in NYC, where he will speak on the topic of “Israel’s War Against Hamas - A Just War Held To An Unjust Global Standard”
Sign up here:
 "ISRAEL IN URBAN WARFARE: A JUST CAMPAIGN HELD TO AN UNJUST GLOBAL STANDARD." WITH JOHN SPENCER AND BENJAMIN ANTHONY Tickets | The MirYam Institute simpletix.com

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This episode features a read-out of my most recent op-ed, published by JNS.ORG on Thursday, January 23rd. A link to the oped is included in the show notes, as is an RSVP link to register for our exclusive, live conversation with John Spencer, Chair Of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point.
In my column, entitled "The Unspoken Perils Of The Hostage Release Deal," I outline the extreme danger into which the three hostages released last week were placed, while being transferred by the Red Cross en-route to being freed.
Surrounded by hundreds, even thousands of Gazans as they were, their lives were placed in unfathomable danger - irresponsibly so.
Here, I argue that their survival was nothing short of miraculous, and that nobody in Israel's policy making circles should make the mistake of assuming that such a miracle will be repeated in the context of further hostage releases.
We must do more to secure our people during their final moments in captivity.
Link To Written Op-Ed:
https://www.miryaminstitute.org/commentary-blog/jewish-news-syndicate-op-ed-the-unspoken-perils-of-the-hostage-release-deal
Link To Register For Live NYC Event With John Spencer, Chair Of Urban Warfare Studies At West Point:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/israel-in-urban-warfare-a-just-campaign-h-tickets-189290#smtx-click

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We are celebrating the safe return of three female hostages held in captivity by Hamas. They are Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
In this episode, I've dug into The MirYam Institute archives to bring you two unique briefings we facilitated, both made by the family members of hostages whose loved ones are yet to return home. I've done so in order to share the ongoing anguish of too many hostage family members, who despite the scenes of happiness we all saw on this day, still do not know the fate of their loved ones. 
The first features Galia David, mother of Evyatar David. Evyatar was 23 years of age when he was abducted into Gaza. Because of his age and gender, he is cynically deemed to be a "man of age" by Hamas, a category of hostage that will only be released during the very final stages of this deal. In this episode of the show, his mother Galia is recorded addressing herself to the congregation of Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan, New York, on January 7th, 2024, flanked by her son Ilay David. 
The second features Itzhar Lifshitz. Both of Itzhars' aged parents, Oded and Yocheved, were kidnapped by Hamas. Yocheved was released by Hamas during the previous hostage release deal. His father, Oded, remains in Hamas captivity and is expected to be released during the first, 42 day long phase, of the hostage release deal due to his age, having been kidnaped at the age of 83. Izhar joined the MirYam Institute's Israel Strategy and Policy tour, 2024 - a tour of The Nazi Death camps that we facilitate for cadets and future officers of the United States Armed Forces. In this conversation, recorded in May, 2024, in Warsaw, Poland, Itzhar shares his thoughts on the fate of his father, before taking questions from the cadets.

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On Sunday, January 19th, 2025, Romi Gonen (24), Emily Damari (28) and Doron Steinbrecher (31), were reunited with their loved ones inside Israel.In this episode, I'm joined by Yaakov Lappin, In-House-Analyst at The MirYam Institute, to discuss their redemption from inside the Gaza Strip. 
We break down our reactions to the images of their release - including the danger in which they were placed as they were transferred from one Red-Cross vehicle to the other, surrounded by thousands of Gazans inside Gaza - the terms of the hostage-release deal as they pertain to the redeployment of the IDF, and the sacrifices made by our soldiers in order to bring us to this moment.
We also note the rescue of the remains of Oron Shaul (Z"L), who was killed and held captive by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and we discuss the implications of the ceasefire on the near and long-term security of the State of Israel.

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This episode was recorded on Wednesday, January 15th, against the declaration by incoming President Donald Trump that a hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas has been reached. 
In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss the mooted hostage release deal, together with its implications for Israeli society, the IDF, Israel's security and the hostage families; while noting the Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to confirm that a deal has been struck. 
We also analyze what might have been offered as a "sweetener" of the deal by the incoming President-Elect, Donald Trump to Prime Minister Netanyahu and whether or not U.S. collaboartion around the targeting of Iran's nuclear weapons program may be what pursuaded Israel's premiere to step back from several of his stated red-lines. 
While we celebrate the return of every hostage, we present our notes of caution as to the consequences that may accompany the deal. 

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In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss several of this week’s events, many of which emanate from Israel previously allowing its enemies to operate far too close to its borders.
Those subjects include the recent recovery of the body of a hostage kidnapped on October 7th, an overview of the tragic number of hostages kidnapped alive who are now dead, the lack of enforcement of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), as well as the urgent man-power needs of the IDF in the wake of a multi-front war that has endured for well over a year. 
We also analyze efforts to draft the Haredi population and the implications of doing so, or failing to do so.
Enjoy!

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