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Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Oct 4

🧵1/19 EXCLUSIVE

In an unprecedented & biggest investigation into war crimes in Gaza, we expose the elite & secretive IDF sniper team, the Ghost Unit "Refaim" & their brutal executions of unarmed civilians

Soldiers from Paris, Munich, Illinois, Brussel, Johannesburg, Italy->

2/19 “Refaim,” a Hebrew name for “the Ghosts,” refers to the Ghost Unit, a sniper team composed of soldiers from:

3 US (NY, Virgnia & Illinois)
2 France (Paris & Lyon)
1 Belgium (Brussel)
1 Germany (Munich)
1 South African (Johannesburg)
1 Italy
1 Ethiopia
1 Azerbaijan (Baku)

3/19 On April 19, a video was uploaded to YouTube by an Israeli soldier from the 202 Paratroopers Battalion, showing unarmed individuals being killed in areas south of Gaza City (at 1:45, 5:13, and 5:49).

This pointed to the use of sniper rifles from a significant distance.

Read 20 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Sep 13

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1794826941209702699

🧵Exposure: [@CIJ_ICJ]

Lt.Col Eyal Shalit-Snir, a battalion commander in the Gaza division, who has been fighting in Gaza & also daily commanding the aid trucks entering there, has been advocating for starving all civilians & called to kill all residents of Gaza & wipe it out ->

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1794826941209702699

According to Lieutenant Colonel Eyal, a battalion commander in the 143rd Gaza Division who has been actively fighting in Gaza, he stated on his personal Twitter account that he is in daily command of the aid trucks in the strip.

“Let them really starve this time. No mercy”

He replied in one of the flour massacres when the Israeli military massacred roughly a hundred civilians in the north waiting for flour bags back in February

Read 9 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Sep 10

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1794826941209702699

🧵Cpt. Avshalom Slock, company K commander in 9th battalion who fought in Gaza for months

“Only way to achieve victory is if there is a complete cutoff of water, electricity, starvation & deprivation to the point they see their people collapsing,.. parents, wives & children” ->

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1794826941209702699

On 3 Dec, and while in Gaza, Israeli officer a commander in company K of the 9th battalion of the 401st brigade writes a long read facebook post as following advocating that there are no innocents in Gaza and calls to starve the population including women, children and elderly as a mean to make them collapse

Full Post:
Maybe it's time to stop with this lie!

Where do we draw the line on who is uninvolved?
Who is considered an innocent civilian?
Where is the boundary?
Only those who hold weapons? Only those who intend to fire (means and intent)? Only those who have already shot?

What about his parents, who encourage and push their son, the ones he calls to boast about killing ten Israelis, and they celebrate with him, urging him to continue and kill more?
What about the doctor or teacher who hid hostages in their homes? What about the doctors at Shifa Hospital and all other hospitals?
What about those who handed over the hostage who managed to escape?
What about those who worked for us in the settlements, who we drove to hospitals, and in return, they informed and guided exactly how the settlement looked, where the security response team was, where the security coordinator lived, and more?

What about the crowds cheering at the sight of bodies and hostages?
What about the crowds kicking the bodies, continuing the slaughter and the harm?
What about all those who came on bicycles, carts, and any possible way just to join in the massacre?

What about the simple understanding that Hamas *is* the people in Gaza? It was elected by them. These are their sons, their brothers, their children. This is essentially the public itself.
They didn’t come from somewhere else; they didn’t seize control of the people there.
They were born there, grew up there, were educated there, and they work in all Hamas frameworks (governmental, civilian, military, etc.).
They *are* Hamas. This is simply the age group that can hold weapons. The rest would do anything to join in the massacre and, indeed, participated in various ways –
encouragement, education, promoting the murderous ideology.
They hid weapons and terror tunnels. Everything is located in schoolyards and hospitals.
These are not small tunnels that no one knows about. These are tunnels that everyone saw, everyone was involved with.
Everyone understood that all resources and hundreds of millions of dollars were directed towards a murder industry rather than education, economy, tourism, and more.
Everyone, everyone was part of the murder industry and the desire to destroy Israel.
And even if there are a few who regret it, our battle is not against individuals; our battle is against a nation – and until we internalize that, we are doomed to fail.

In the simplest terms –
Any attempt to separate Hamas from the population in Gaza will doom the entire war to failure.
There is no way to kill every last Hamasnik (those holding weapons); we will never win that way.
War is not just a battle of weapons versus weapons but a battle of consciousness, ideology, national perspective, economy, fuel, food, and ammunition supply. It's a battle of a civilian society that manages to support and sustain the fight.

The only way we can achieve victory is if there is a complete cutoff of water and electricity, bringing hunger and deprivation to the point where the leadership sees their entire people collapsing, even to the extent that their fighters themselves will see their parents, wives, and children collapsing—their entire people collapsing.
Any other way is destined for failure—they will always paint themselves as victors, as the saviors of the people.
Only if the people themselves collapse, then, maybe, just maybe, they will agree to surrender…

On 25 January, a month after he advocated the starvation of Gaza residents he joins the 9th order which spearheaded the moves to block humanitarian aid into Gaza (which they succeeded several times to do) and were involved in burning aid trucks and destroying others in the West Bank

On 26 January:

Continuing under Tzav 9, so where are you this morning? Even if you can't join physically, it's important to join in spirit and share!
We do not allow fuel, food, and water to enter the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are being held inside!
We do not fuel Hamas!
We do not allow Hamas to continue ruling the population, distributing food and water, thereby reinforcing its image as the ruler of the Strip!
Victory is not a dirty word!
Decisiveness is not a dirty word!
We continue forward until victory!

On 25 January

Yesterday, something incredible happened! Truly!
Good citizens fought and blocked the Kerem Shalom crossing!
Trucks carrying supplies did not enter Gaza!
Supplies didn’t go to Hamas!
We are not fueling the enemy!
We have the power to make an impact! We have the power to win!
Following this success, thousands are joining the different WhatsApp groups, staying updated, and coming to block!
Want to join? Link in the first comment.

Read 5 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Sep 5

Hebron |

Israeli soldiers from the 92nd Battalion took a mocking selfie with a kidnapped Palestinian elderly from the city

Posted today on one of the soldiers' social media accounts.

The soldier who posted the story deleted it. I still have access to his account.

He is FRENCH and named Orhen Jaoui.

Orhen is from suburbs of Paris from the town of Sevran

Mr. Orhen calls on direct extermination of the Palestinian people in french on his threads account.

“The entire people are terrorists, so they must be exterminated once and for all.”

Israeli solider Orhen Jaoui from the 92th battalion of the Kfir Brigade states in french

Read 4 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 28

(1/4) I have been closely monitoring the security situation in the West Bank for years. Tonight, the Israeli military launched a large-scale invasion into several cities in the northern West Bank. So far 11 have been killed at least 6 fighters. If certain parts of my very long analysis here seem to be incomplete or vague, please bear with me; this is intentional due to security considerations

Background:

In October 2021, the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership sought to send a clear message: the absence of a political solution would lead to an irreversible deterioration in the security situation. The situation was echoed and resulted in two empty talk US-Israeli-Arab-PA summits held in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh. For Abbas this was huge, he is getting attention. Despite recognizing that he was being misled, President Abbas pushed anyways forward with his plans, determined to be seen as the ideal peace partner.

The PA has been actively working to maintain security in the West Bank, it’s not that it does it for Israel’s benefit, which in reality is, but for its own national interest. The 2nd intifada can not be repeated. For Abbas this was a failed experience (for me Abbas worked to fail it). However, the Authority has placed all its bets on being perceived as the optimal peace partner. The Palestinian people, however, are growing increasingly frustrated with this approach, especially as the promise of a political solution in exchange for quiet—a promise Abbas made when he won the presidential elections in 2005—remains unfulfilled. The Second Intifada ended with the expectation of a lasting just solution, but Israel didn’t want to materialize this.

PA security officials have repeatedly stressed in discussions with their Israeli counterparts in 2021-2022 that security is a mutual interest, but it hinges on Palestinians being granted their basic human rights. Yet, the Israeli military has made it clear that nothing can be done since the leaders, who show no interest in pursuing such a path have already been pursuing stealing lands and bringing their own-terror convicted figures into the leadership.

For the past four years, the Israeli military has conducted daily raids, arresting tens of thousands in an attempt to suppress resistance to their occupation and to further their government’s agenda of land stealing. After October 7th, the notion of Palestinian self-rule with a national identity has been erased in the eyes of Israel. While the PA has provided Israel with security for decades in the hope of achieving a peaceful just resolution, the PA did not provide it with what it and the Palestinians will never relinquish: their national identity. This assertion of identity—expressed through living as Palestinians in their homeland—poses the greatest threat to Israel. In Israel, they need a self autonomy that sees themself as Arabs, that strictly doesn’t express this national background.

Several PA officials have expressed to me that Israel's current objective is not merely to combat resistance fighters or mow the loan, but to "Gazify" the West Bank. They believe Israel aims to justify the severe aggression in areas like Tulkarem by portraying them as akin to Gaza, both to its own public and to the international community. This would provide Israel with the pretext to inflict heavy collective punishment on anyone who resists, as we are witnessing in the ongoing large-scale invasion.

The Palestinian government is facing an existential crisis, exacerbated by efforts by Israel to push it toward near-collapse, as weak as possible until we find another report but for Israel Gaza needs to be solved first. The PA is caught in a difficult position, unable to offer a viable option to those who want to resist the occupation, yet responsible for protecting its citizens from harm. The PA is left questioning whether remaining quiet will bring any improvement, especially as settlers ->

(2/4) who have established notorious Zionist militias typical and even worse than the then Haganah and Irgun , known for its brutal and zionist style onslaughts across the mandate of Palestine. These militias have since October 7 launched deadly pogroms, murdered dozens of civilians including children, ethnically cleansed communities, stolen more lands and burned tens of villages.

Settlement expansion continues unchecked, and extremist Kahanist elements have gained control of the Israeli government. On October 7th, the PA held numerous meetings aimed at preventing any escalation in the West Bank. Security forces were placed on high alert, and representatives met with gunmen in Balata (Nablus), Jenin, and Tulkarem explaining to them the necessity to avoid being drawn into war.

In Jenin and Tulkarem, security officers who are fathers to men involved in the resistance played a crucial role in containing operations. Fatah officials engaged in deep discussions with members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas in the refugee camps, leading to a decision to delay any escalation. However, many of these figures were later arrested by the occupation forces, including Jamal Hweel, a key figure in Jenin associated with Marwan Barghouti. Despite these arrests, the Israeli military’s invasions in November and late October also played as a painkiller but with long-term ramifications.

Security Situation in the West Bank

Nablus:
Since October 7, military operations and airstrikes in the Balata Refugee Camp have significantly disrupted the activities of local armed groups. The operations have particularly targeted Fatah militants, leading to the elimination and arrest of several members, as well as hindering the development of military infrastructure. However, for unknown reasons the very few military incursions into Nablus' old city have allowed the Lion's Den, an armed group, to reorganize. The group's founding father, released from prison a year ago, has resumed his role, with support from old Lion’s Den members and with the capabilities that can be provided through the Asker, Ain, and Balata refugee camps. Recently, tensions escalated between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Lion’s Den following the arrest of a member responsible for weapon import. The old city, with its complex layout, provides ideal hideouts for the group, which has recently implemented strict security measures and set up roadblocks to maintain secrecy.

Tulkarem:
Tulkarem has become a stronghold of armed resistance, with various groups establishing a solid presence. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has a well-organized network in the Nour Shams Refugee Camp, while Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (AAMB) and a single Hamas cell are active in the Tulkarem Refugee Camp.

Jenin:
In Jenin, the resistance remains largely unchanged despite the complexity of the situation. Following a series of airstrikes that killed many fighters, including key figures, militants in Jenin and Tulkarem have adopted a strategy of avoiding direct gunfire with the military unless absolutely necessary, relying instead on explosives and ambushes. Hamas has been investing heavily in the creation of new cells in Jenin and Tulkarem, leveraging the difficulties faced by the PA in these areas, especially within the refugee camps due to already existing cells. Hamas cells are highly secretive, often relying on obtaining weapons from existing PIJ and Fatah-affiliated groups.

The PA intelligence is attempting to track these cells by monitoring PIJ members, their families, and associates suspected of Hamas affiliations. This has led to several arrests. In a specific incident, a highly secretive Hamas cell responsible for two deadly attacks on Israeli troops was accidentally exposed by the PA intelligence. The exposure occurred when militants left a bag containing explosive materials in a neighborhood in Tulkarem during a handover to the cell. During an unrelated Israeli military incursion

(3/4) aimed at arresting other individuals in another neighborhood, the cell members fled, abandoning the bag on the street. Upon Israeli withdrawal, the PA security forces redeployed discovering the bag and reported it to intelligence officials, who then reviewed CCTV footage from the area. As a result, the PA attempted to detain the individuals involved for questioning, the move created a public scene and the incident eventually reached the ears of the Israeli intelligence who started identifying ties. The cell was eventually tracked down and eliminated in a village east of Tulkarem.

PA's Efforts to Contain the Situation:

The PA’s goal was to contain the resistance in the West Bank until the war in Gaza subsides. The PA has been conducting targeted operations aimed at locating explosives and arresting individuals involved in weapon smuggling, as these weapons are often sold not only to fighters but also to others. The PA avoids arresting fighters, except in exceptional cases. Their strategy focuses on cutting off resources and isolating potential new recruits. Israeli intelligence closely monitors PA activities and arrests to gauge their objectives, often aligning their own actions accordingly.

For example, the Israeli military's decision to operate in Tubas came despite the PA’s attempts to control the situation, including the arrest of PIJ members after failing to persuade them to surrender their weapons. The concern by the PA had with the city is the explosives manufactured there that are being smuggled into Nablus and then to Tulkarem. The PA has already discovered and dismantled two explosives laboratories, confiscating other weapons in the process. The clans had tried to tell the security forces to refrain from further activities but the response was: superior orders from Ramallah.

Weapon smuggling in the West Bank primarily occurs through routes in refugee camps in Hebron and Tubas. The Jordan Valley and southern villages of Jenin are also known areas for manufacturing explosives and weapon parts.

However, the PA’s security forces struggle with a huge lack of popular support to carry out any friction with the fighters, the move is not even supported among mid-level officers, making it difficult to effectively challenge these militant groups. The underlying issue is that the PA has little to offer these fighters as an incentive to disarm. These fighters have feelings and can’t stand idly while tens of thousands of their people are being killed in Gaza.

A notable incident involved the PA's attempt to obtain testimony from Abu Shojaee, a PIJ commander injured while manufacturing explosives after being brought for treatment in a hospital in Tulkarem following a police reunion. This action was perceived as an attempt to arrest him, sparking chaos in the city as hundreds of people took to the streets.

According to recent estimates from PA intelligence sources, the number of fighters in Jenin is approximately 60, with small individual cells of 3-4 members in some villages. In Tulkarem, the number is between 20-30, and in Nablus, it ranges from 7-15. There are also other armed individuals, but they possess weapons for personal reasons rather than organized resistance.

Read 6 tweets

Younis Tirawi | يونس

@ytirawi

Aug 27

Rafah |

Israeli soldiers in Rafah looting and wearing women underwear and dresses belonging to displaced or killed Palestinian women

More pictures from Rafah

Correction: this is in Khan Younis* not Rafah.

Read 6 tweets

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