גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent

Diplomatic Correspondent @i24NEWS_He | Covering Israel, Iran, U.S. Middle East policy & regional diplomacy | Former CNN, RTL, Israel MFA | 🇮🇱

[David M Friedman @DavidM_Friedman]

No doubt that Israel’s standing on the public stage has dropped significantly . But blaming @netanyahu is intellectually lazy and far too convenient.

The rapid response of Jew-hatred beginning on October 8, weeks before Israel began to fight back, tells us that the public relations fight against Israel was carefully planned, financed and coordinated. It was every bit a part of the offensive as the October 7 massacre.

And to this date, no Israeli leader has come out and said he or she would have responded to October 7 in a materially different way than @netanyahu .

Liberal Jews and antisemites have a long, reflexive and unfortunate history of blaming Israel for its conduct in defending itself. I wish that wasn’t the case but it’s hardly a reason for Israel to commit suicide in search of international popularity.

I am all in favor of legitimate introspection, criticism and learning from mistakes. I see little of that in the polling and the politics as it relates to Israel’s response to Hamas’ barbarism.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

The Israeli victim has died of his wounds. Manhunt for the terrorist continues

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨LIVE FIRE - NORTHERN SAMARIA: An Israeli man, 30, is fighting for his life after being shot in the neck at a spring.

His young son was with him when the attack unfolded and miraculously survived unharmed.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has ordered additional forces into the area as the manhunt for the terrorist continues.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨LIVE FIRE - NORTHERN SAMARIA: An Israeli man, 30, is fighting for his life after being shot in the neck at a spring.

His young son was with him when the attack unfolded and miraculously survived unharmed.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has ordered additional forces into the area as the manhunt for the terrorist continues.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

⚠️ Speculation is mounting across the Middle East over a possible new escalation.

The U.S. State Department issued security alerts through multiple embassies and missions on Sept. 19, warning of a “complex” security environment and the risk of unforeseen escalation, including possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions.

The alerts specifically cite Iranian-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports, and warn that U.S. diplomatic facilities have been targeted.

The warnings come as President Trump unexpectedly cut short his stay at Camp David and returned to the White House Saturday evening.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

@HormuzLetter If you’re going to copy my reports for the traffic you could at least tag me for credit.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨 BREAKING - EXCLUSIVE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not land in New York City on his way to his UNGA address. Instead, he will arrive at a military airfield outside the city, from where he will travel to Manhattan and the UN headquarters for his speech at 2 p.m. local time Thursday.

The report has been cleared by Israeli military censorship.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

A UAE official source has responded to claims that Abu Dhabi warned Israel of an imminent Hamas attack in the weeks before October 7. With the Israeli elections fast approaching, the issue has become a major issue for politicians campaigning on the issue of security.
Responding to a recent query from The National, a UAE official source pointed to the fact that the "UAE discusses security matters with other countries through the relevant entities, and does not discuss such details at the level of national leaders".

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

For the past couple of weeks, the entire country, or at least those who believed the Haaretz investigation, was outraged by a report claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu received a clear warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed ahead of the October 7 Hamas massacre, ignored it, and then concealed the information from Israel’s security establishment.

But as the days passed, serious questions emerged about the report.

Netanyahu’s office categorically denied that such a conversation ever took place. President Isaac Herzog’s office likewise completely rejected allegations of a similar conversation with bin Zayed. And former Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed as entirely false and fictional the portion of the report attributed to him, including the claim that Hamas was prepared on October 7 to voluntarily release all civilian hostages without receiving anything in return.

Now, the journalist behind the Haaretz investigation, Shlomi Eldar, has revealed that the source who allegedly passed the warning to bin Zayed was none other than former Fatah official Sufyan Abu Zaida.

My friend and colleague @avishaigrinzaig went back to a previous interview Eldar conducted with Abu Zaida, in October 2024 and guess what.

In that interview, Abu Zaida himself said that he had no idea Hamas was about to launch the October 7 attack. In fact, he said his own family had been visiting Gaza just days before the massacre and was then trapped in the strip before managing to eventually escape.

This raises an obvious question: if Abu Zaida had concrete information about an imminent Hamas attack of historic proportions, an attack that would reshape the Middle East and unleash unprecedented devastation in Gaza, why one earth would he knowingly put his own family in harm’s way?

The contradiction is difficult to ignore and the holes in the story keep growing bigger and bigger.

And now beyond all that, Eldar himself changes the story and claims that Abu Zaida transferred the information to the Shin Bet, so it’s no longer to Netanyahu and has nothing to do with Bin Zayed.

What a farce.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

Everything you need to know about where the liberal West is headed

[CityNews Toronto @CityNewsTO]

The Carney government has opted against joining Germany, France and others in condemning Turkey's crackdown on LGBTQ+ organizations as it negotiates a possible trade deal with Ankara. https://t.co/HmZ2WNgeGp

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

Israeli National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir, responding to Congressman Brad Sherman:

“Thank you to all the advisers and members of Congress around the world for the advice, but this is my path, and I will continue acting fearlessly to protect the security of Israel’s citizens.

I’ve been hearing these views for years. It is the same concept that told us not to eliminate terrorists in Gaza, that Hamas was an asset, that we should welcome flotilla activists with sandwiches, that we should not pass the death penalty law for terrorists, and that changing the prison conditions of terrorists would set the Middle East ablaze.”

[Congressman Brad Sherman @BradSherman]

Every Israeli official and voter should watch this clip, and it needs to be translated into Hebrew. Yesterday, I spoke with the Israeli Ambassador. I don’t think he or the majority of Israelis realize what is at stake. (1/3)

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨 BREAKING - EXCLUSIVE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not land in New York City on his way to his UNGA address. Instead, he will arrive at a military airfield outside the city, from where he will travel to Manhattan and the UN headquarters for his speech at 2 p.m. local time Thursday.

The report has been cleared by Israeli military censorship.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨🇮🇱 Prime Minister Netanyahu is significantly shortening his already brief visit to the United States, canceling the planned stop in Texas. He will fly directly to New York on the day of his speech and depart back to Israel on the same day.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨🇮🇱 פרסום ראשון במגזין השבת: ראש הממשלה נתניהו לא ינחת בניו יורק אלא בשדה תעופה צבאי ולא אזרחי מחוץ לעיר - ומשם יעשה את דרכו למנהטן ולמטה האו"ם עבור הנאום שלו ב2 אחר הצהריים שעון מקומי ביום חמישי. הידיעה באישור הצנזורה.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨 ראש הממשלה מקצר משמעותית את ביקורו הקצר ממילא בארצות הברית, מבטל את הביקור המתוכנן בטקסס, ינחת ישירות בניו יורק ביום הנאום וימריא מיד לאחריו.

[Congressman Brad Sherman @BradSherman]

Every Israeli official and voter should watch this clip, and it needs to be translated into Hebrew. Yesterday, I spoke with the Israeli Ambassador. I don’t think he or the majority of Israelis realize what is at stake. (1/3)

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨🇮🇱 Prime Minister Netanyahu is significantly shortening his already brief visit to the United States, canceling the planned stop in Texas. He will fly directly to New York on the day of his speech and depart back to Israel on the same day.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨 ראש הממשלה מקצר משמעותית את ביקורו הקצר ממילא בארצות הברית, מבטל את הביקור המתוכנן בטקסס, ינחת ישירות בניו יורק ביום הנאום וימריא מיד לאחריו.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

Israel’s commitment to hunt terrorists is not bravery, and it is not obsession. It is a matter of survival.

Shin Bet chief David Zini sent a blunt message to Hamas yesterday:

"To the planners and executors of the attack, to all who played a part in violating the honor and blood of the State of Israel, and to all who desire our destruction - we have one uncompromising message: no place is too far, there is no forgiveness, and there is no expiration date. We have pursued, are pursuing, and will continue to pursue you until the very last participant is found. The long, resolute arm of Israel’s security establishment will reach everyone who harmed us -deep within the tunnels, in hidden command centers, and in every corner of the globe. This is our sacred duty to the nation, and we will not falter."

Three years after October 7, Hamas is a shadow of the organization it once was. Yet Israel will not stop hunting those responsible for the atrocities of that day, the killing, torture, sexual violence, beheadings, burnings and the slaughter of some 1,200 Israelis.

This is not simply about revenge. It is about deterrence. And ultimately, it is about survival.

Israel wants every terrorist organization on its borders - Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran-backed groups across the region to understand that an October 7 style attack will carry extreme consequences that cannot simply be forgotten and repeated.

But this strategy has a fundamental weakness: organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to pay an enormous price, one borne overwhelmingly by the civilian populations they operate among, for another opportunity to shed more Jewish blood.

And there is another weakness, perhaps even more consequential: the expectation that Israel must respond with “restraint” while terrorist organizations retain the ability to rebuild, rearm and prepare for the next war.

Hamas did not emerge overnight. For years, enormous quantities of weapons and ammunition were smuggled into Gaza, including through networks connected to Egypt, while the international community struggled to prevent the buildup.

Iran, meanwhile, continues to threaten Israel, the Gulf states and Western interests. Tehran’s confidence is fueled not only by its own capabilities, but by its perception that much of Europe is unwilling to confront the Islamist threat with the same determination it expects others to show.

That is the lesson Israel believes October 7 should have taught the world:

Deterrence does not exist when the people planning the next massacre believe they will eventually be allowed to rebuild.

Iran, for its part, continues to threaten both the Gulf states and much of the West. Much of Tehran’s confidence stems from its perception that Europe has neither the political will nor the courage to confront similar threats directly, instead hoping that someone else will be the target and that the threat will somehow remain at a safe distance.

[Max 📟 @MaxNordau]

BOMBSHELL: Motaz Azaiza admits he filmed Israeli hostages being beaten in the streets of Gaza on October 7, and deliberately never published it, to protect the identities of the people beating them.

He did post other October 7 footage that day, celebrating the attack. He quietly deleted it later.

Azaiza is an influential "photojournalist" from Ghazza. TIME named him to the TIME 100. He was nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. CNN, the Guardian and Sky all interviewed him.

Ms. Rachel Griffin-Accurso, who has 16 million subscribers, made a video for preschoolers introducing "my friend Motaz." She deleted it later.

Two weeks ago, he did a 3 hour and 38 minute interview in Arabic.

He made a number of EXTRAORDINARY admissions.

🧵

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🚨🇨🇴🇮🇱 BREAKING: Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced that his government will withdraw from its intervention in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, a position adopted under former President Gustavo Petro.

The announcement follows a meeting in Washington between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bula.

Sa’ar said: “The friendship between Israel and Colombia is stronger than ever.”

Last month, Colombia recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

🇷🇸 🇮🇱 Serbia inaugurates Israeli drone factory

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says Serbia has inaugurated a new assembly factory for Israel-made drones, in cooperation with Israeli defense company Elbit Systems.

The factory will employ around 100 people and produce advanced equipment for Serbia’s military and the armed forces of other countries.

Vučić says Serbia plans to open at least three more factories with its Israeli partners across the country.

[גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent @GuyAz]

For the past couple of weeks, the entire country, or at least those who believed the Haaretz investigation, was outraged by a report claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu received a clear warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed ahead of the October 7 Hamas massacre, ignored it, and then concealed the information from Israel’s security establishment.

But as the days passed, serious questions emerged about the report.

Netanyahu’s office categorically denied that such a conversation ever took place. President Isaac Herzog’s office likewise completely rejected allegations of a similar conversation with bin Zayed. And former Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed as entirely false and fictional the portion of the report attributed to him, including the claim that Hamas was prepared on October 7 to voluntarily release all civilian hostages without receiving anything in return.

Now, the journalist behind the Haaretz investigation, Shlomi Eldar, has revealed that the source who allegedly passed the warning to bin Zayed was none other than former Fatah official Sufyan Abu Zaida.

My friend and colleague @avishaigrinzaig went back to a previous interview Eldar conducted with Abu Zaida, in October 2024 and guess what.

In that interview, Abu Zaida himself said that he had no idea Hamas was about to launch the October 7 attack. In fact, he said his own family had been visiting Gaza just days before the massacre and was then trapped in the strip before managing to eventually escape.

This raises an obvious question: if Abu Zaida had concrete information about an imminent Hamas attack of historic proportions, an attack that would reshape the Middle East and unleash unprecedented devastation in Gaza, why one earth would he knowingly put his own family in harm’s way?

The contradiction is difficult to ignore and the holes in the story keep growing bigger and bigger.

And now beyond all that, Eldar himself changes the story and claims that Abu Zaida transferred the information to the Shin Bet, so it’s no longer to Netanyahu and has nothing to do with Bin Zayed.

What a farce.

[אבישי גרינצייג @avishaigrinzaig]

שתי הקדמות קצרות אך חשובות:

1. אין לי שום רצון ושום יכולת לשכנע את מי שכבר החליט שהוא רוצה להאמין לסיפור הפנומנלי של שלומי אלדר על ההתרעה לנתניהו. מי שהחליט, שום דבר לא יזיז אותו מעמדתו.

2. בעיניי כל העיסוק בהתרעה הטקטית של ערב השבעה באוקטובר מפספס את המהות של הכשל האסטרטגי ארוך השנים. כתבתי על זה כבר בטור. מי שקרא - קרא.

ועכשיו לגופו של עניין, תהיו איתי כי זה מדהים <<<

[John Spencer @SpencerGuard]

Bullsh*t to your bullsh*t.

1) Israel and IDF have throughout the war given estimates of combatants killed such as of over 24,000 combatants killed in Gaza (https://t.co/4sMfaTIDTQ), Prime Minister of Israel over 16,000 in May 2024, even the U.S. President “greater than 25,000” (October 2025) 2) Hamas won’t even say many civilians they’ve killed (their rockets, their killing of opposition or innocent civilian in Gaza trying to get to food) which is a part of the 73,000 you repeat and then say Israel has killed “enormous”/too many civilians. 3) Hamas won’t even say how many of their fighters have died which is a part of the 73,000 you repeat and then say Israel has killed “enormous”/too many civilians. Killing the enemy’s fighters in a war is not unlawful or immoral, it is one of the goals. 4) There is no legal requirement for Israel to say how many civilians or combatants have died in Gaza. It is a legal requirement for Israel to not target civilians (there is no evidence of Israel targeting civilians), not conduct indiscriminate attacks (no evidence of Israel conducting indiscriminate attacks), conduct proportionality assessments when targeting combatants (assess military value against incidental harm to civilians and take measure to minimize civilian harm – lots of evidence of Israel doing these assessments and taking historical civilian harm mitigation measures).

As I have told you before, 1) based on the history of urban warfare and comparative analysis 2) based on the HAMAS list of killed in Gaza (even with errors, natural deaths, etc) compared to the IDF/Israel statements on combatants killed throughout the war. - Israel still has a historically low civilian to combatant death ratio in urban warfare compared to any like battle or war. See the detailed analysis you refuse to acknowledge - https://t.co/bnINs3ETSI
3) It is basic math that you can do. One number minus the other.
4) You use numbers without verification or context to vilify Israel’s government and military while saying the same numbers can’t be used to state the obvious, which is the opposite of the demonizing of the IDF that you want it to be.

Your continued use of 70% rubble is also bulls*it. You are quoting Haaretz. Congrats. But like Hamas supporters you take a report and then increase it beyond even the source because you don’t know what you are talking about. Haaretz in July 2025 reported 160,000 buildings, roughly 70% of structures in Gaza had severe damage – not rubble. UNOSAT has other figures of destroyed, severe, moderate, possible. But don’t let those details get in your way of amplifying generalizations, demonization efforts as usual. Of course, there is a lot of rubble in Gaza because of the urban battles and war that has occurred after October 7th. I’ve seen it with my own eyes on 7 trips into Gaza. You have probably been invited by @jconricus at least 7 times to see it yourself but won't go. You just want to keep up with your bulls*it