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Sinwar's Strategy, The State of Campus, The Most Unsuccessful Genocide, Mission Accomplished: The Weekly Conquest Week of 8.25.24 – 8.31.24
Welcome to the ZioKnight
Week of August 25th, 2024
As a college student writing an Israel newsletter, I feel it’s my duty to address the elephant in the room: what’s it like on campus?
This past week there was anti-Israel unrest in University of Michigan, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, and a few others.
These anecdotal stories are important for understanding how it feels to be a Jewish student. Just as important is the data about college students’ opinions, which shed light on the pervasiveness of anti-Jewish sentiment.
Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies recently released a study looking into this topic.
Key data from the study
The data shows that 2/3 of non-Jewish students don’t display any hostility towards Jews or Israel, while 1/3 do.
As a student at Brandeis, I feel great here, but different students across the country experience the situation in various ways. The protests aren’t monolithic, so it is hard to give a prognosis on the state of Jewish campus life, but knowing the data is vital in defending any opinion you may have.
Sunday 8.25
Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, has been extremely successful in evading Israeli assassination attempts. He spent around six months in an underground cell with his family that was foiled by Israeli intelligence. His escape was so narrow that the IDF soldiers present noted that his coffee was still hot. Since then, he resorted to cross-dressing as a woman (begged isha) in plain sight instead. Until now, I never really understood the Queers for Hamas, as their lifestyle wasn’t accepted in Gaza. Now it seems Sinwar has had a change of heart. [1][2]
Monday 8.26
Polio vaccines entering through the Kerem Shalom Crossing
Following the detection of the first Polio case in Gaza in 25 years, Israel delivered 25,100 vials of vaccine for 1.26 million people. For those who claim that Israel is committing genocide, they’ve got to be the worst in the world at it. [3]
Tuesday 8.27
Farhan al-Qadi
On a mission to comb the Gazan tunnel system, a team of Israeli commandos found an unguarded Israeli Bedouin Muslim hostage. Farhan al-Qadi is a 52-year-old father of 11, who was serving as an unarmed guard before his capture. After being reunited with his family, a cousin noted that “he must have lost at least [44 pounds].” The ex-mayor of his town noted after speaking to Farhan that he wasn’t treated any differently as a Muslim under Hamas captivity and that “he barely saw the sun.” Welcome home, Farhan! [4][5][6]
Wednesday 8.28
When Sinwar stays put, he plays by Hamas’ usual playbook of harboring human shields. He keeps 22 handcuffed hostages around him. Although Israel has intelligence about his whereabouts, it can’t be acted on, since it would put the hostages in imminent danger. [7][8]
Thursday 8.29
Weapons found in the West Bank
In our previous issue, we discussed a botched suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. In response, Israel conducted an extensive anti-terror operation in the West Bank. Afterward, a Hamas official called for renewed suicide bombings from the territory. [9][10][11]
Friday 8.30
In a CNN interview, Vice President Harris reiterated her commitment to Biden’s Israel doctrine. She noted her “unwavering… support for Israel” when asked. She also repeated her sentiment that “Israel has a right to defend itself… and how it does so matters.” Since announcing her candidacy, this was her first major media interview and the most in-depth she’s spoken about policy. [12][13]
Saturday 7.31
The six hostages found murdered
The bodies of six hostages were found in an overnight IDF operation. Initial reports indicate that they were murdered a day or two before the mission. May Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lubanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi rest in peace. This is a developing story. [14][15]
Question: How does Israel farm in the desert?
Answer: The Israeli innovation of drip irrigation allows for farms in the Negev Desert. The desert has been shrinking and is being replaced with fertile farmland due to innovative technology.
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