FIDF Live Briefing: LTC Yotam Shefer, Head of International Relations Branch, COGAT - August 31, 2025

FIDF CEO Nadav Padan is joined by LTC Former Military Diplomat, Foreign Relations Expert and International Spokesperson Jonathan Conricus, who provided a strategic overview of Israel’s military situation and international posture. He stresses that while Israel has achieved operational success against Hamas in Gaza, it is losing the global public relations battle, which could have long-term diplomatic consequences. Conricus outlines how Hamas has shifted from a structured military force to scattered guerrilla cells embedded in civilian areas, making it harder to defeat without international backlash. He warns that Israel must balance continued military pressure with strategic communication and diplomacy, especially given growing criticism from allies like the U.S. and Europe. In the north, tensions with Hezbollah remain high, with the risk of escalation still present. Iran continues to fund and coordinate regional threats, though its nuclear program has been significantly disrupted. Conricus also discusses the importance of preparing for the "day after" in Gaza, recommending that Arab states take part in governance while Israel maintains security control. He underscores the vital role of the U.S.-Israel alliance and urges FIDF supporters to continue advocating for Israel’s security and legitimacy.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Nadav Padan is joined by LTC Yotam Shefer, Head of International Relations Branch for CogAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), a unit within the Israeli Defense Ministry and IDF, responsible for civil and humanitarian coordination in Gaza, the West Bank, and surrounding areas. He explains that CogAT plays a central role in facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza, coordinating with over 20 UN agencies, dozens of NGOs, and local Palestinian entities, despite the challenges of operating in an active combat zone. Schaefer rejects claims of famine and starvation in Gaza, asserting that aid continues to flow—300 to 350 trucks daily—and that images circulated as evidence of starvation are often misrepresented cases of pre-existing medical conditions. He criticizes the UN and other reports for relying on what he considers unreliable or Hamas-affiliated sources, while stating that CogAT maintains independent assessments and coordination on the ground. He emphasizes that Israel did not seek this war, citing previous efforts to improve Gaza's economy and infrastructure. Evacuations of civilians from combat zones are conducted with prior notice and alternative shelters, including field hospitals. Finally, he stresses that the humanitarian effort is both a moral and strategic interest for Israel, and that it continues despite immense operational complexity.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Nadav Padan is joined by Maj. Gen. (Res.) Tamir Hayman, Executive Director of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), to provide an overview of Israel’s strategic situation across multiple fronts. He begins by stating that Iran's nuclear program has been set back significantly due to recent Israeli operations, requiring at least 1–2 years for Iran to rebuild its capabilities. While a direct Iranian strike is unlikely, the risk of miscalculation remains. Tamir describes growing instability in Syria, where the Assad regime is cracking down on minority groups, and Lebanon, where Hezbollah is losing ground and political pressure is mounting for a withdrawal from the south. Turning to Gaza, he warns that Israel is losing the global PR war and facing severe international pressure despite major tactical gains on the battlefield. Hamas has devolved into a guerrilla network, but its refusal to release hostages is strategically prolonging the war and weakening Israel diplomatically. The speaker suggests two military strategies were considered: a buffer zone or a full reoccupation of Gaza City—the latter was chosen, though it carries high political and humanitarian risks. Ultimately, Tamir argues for a broader regional solution involving Arab partners, a post-Hamas governance structure, and possible steps toward Israel-Saudi normalization. He urges Israel to maintain military pressure while signaling a credible vision for the “day after” and compares the situation to counter-terror efforts in the West Bank following the Second Intifada.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Nadav Padan is joined by Brigadier General Effie Defrin, IDF Spokesperson, to discuss the current war in Gaza and broader regional hostilities as an existential, multi-front conflict for Israel, one that will define its future for generations. He admits that October 7th marked a dramatic failure for Israel's defense establishment, but emphasizes a shift in military doctrine since then—from a strategy of containment and avoidance to one of preemption and aggression, targeting threats before they become unmanageable. Defrin describes the fight against Hamas as unprecedentedly difficult due to Hamas embedding itself in civilian infrastructure (hospitals, schools, ambulances), hostage-taking and psychological warfare (e.g., propaganda videos), and a dense, urban battlefield with a highly committed and extremist enemy. The IDF's stated goal is twofold: bring hostages home and eliminate Hamas rule in Gaza. Defrin calls accusations of deliberate starvation or war crimes propaganda, accusing Hamas of hoarding and selling humanitarian aid for profit. Defrin speaks at length about the "media battlefield", describing Hamas’ manipulation of Western media with staged images and weaponizing civilian deaths. Western expectations of Israeli morality has been exploited by Hamas. He shares an anecdote about a photo of a starving child used by international media, which was later proven to be a sick child in an Italian hospital — used falsely to accuse Israel. Defrin highlights deep strategic cooperation with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), describing it as bipartisan and personal, transcending political changes. This relationship is sssential in building regional alliances under the Abraham Accords and integrating Israel into a broader Middle Eastern defense architecture, and crucial for emergency resupply and logistics during wartime. Without it, successful joint efforts such as the recent 12-day Iran war would not be possible..Defrin pledges to uphold the IDF’s values of truth and ethical warfare, even under immense pressure.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Shiri Yanay, Senior Manager, Delegation Content and Speakers, is joined by Jonathan Schanzer, Exec. Dir., Found. for Defense of Democracies (FDD) to discuss what’s been occurring over the last week, focusing primarily on Gaza but also touching on other key threats: Hezbollah in the north, Iran’s regional influence, and U.S.-Israel relations. Schanzer addresses international claims that Israel is starving Gaza, calling such narratives misleading and emphasizing the complexity of the war zone. Schanzer explains that Hamas embeds itself in civilian infrastructure, making IDF operations slow and difficult, and that the absence of a clear post-war governance plan for Gaza is becoming a strategic liability. He warns that Hezbollah in the north poses a far greater threat than Hamas, with daily attacks forcing tens of thousands of Israelis to evacuate. Iran, he argues, is the central actor behind these threats, funding and arming its proxies across the region. Schanzer criticizes U.S. policy for not doing enough to constrain Iran’s reach, though he affirms that military cooperation between the U.S. and Israel remains strong. He also stresses the importance of fighting misinformation in the media, which he believes Hamas exploits effectively. Finally, he urges continued support for the IDF and warns of the growing global antisemitism tied to the war's narrative battlefield.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by FIDF National Director Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan to discuss what’s been occurring over the last week in Syria. Nadav first explains what is happening in Iran, who are is a state of recovery from the 12-day war. The Iranian regime is filled with internal friction, with checkpoints being set up around the country, and Europe not yet lifting their sanctions until they get the go ahead from the US to do so. To explain what’s happening in Syria, Nadav goes back to the destabilization of the region from French and British colonizers years ago, which led to the creation of Syria. It was set up as an Arab-speaking Arab country, until figures like al-Jolani usurped power to turn the country into a Muslim country. Israel launched attacks to destroy much of Syria’s navy and military equipment, weapons and outposts as the Assad regime was falling. 13,000 Druze have crossed the border from Syria into Israel, and IDF troops have entered Syria to defend the innocent Druze population and enforce stability, while ceasefire talks are underway. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the fighting continues. The IDF is losing soldiers from sniper, IED and rocket launcher attacks as they clear out what remains of Gaza, weathering guerrilla-style attacks from Hamas. Regarding the ceasefire negotiations, Israel has been very flexible with the terms. However, it has been challenging to budge the other side. The main goal is to get back the hostages, both those who are alive and deceased,  without having to release too many Hamas terrorists and without allowing Hamas too much time to regroups during the span of the ceasefire.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Israeli Druze leader Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh. Gadeer is the first Druze woman to have served in the Knesset, and has an incredible resume, building a remarkable career as one of the most impactful Israelis - Jewish or non-Jewish - in Israel. Gadeer explains her upbringing as an Israeli Druze woman, her father having told her to view herself as not a Druze living in the Jewish state, but as an Israeli. Most Druze lived in Lebanon, but left due to dissension. Many Druze residing in Syria, but the Israeli-Druze population is considered to be the most influential, and have provided a shining example to Druze people of how to integrate into a Democratic society while maintaining your identity. Druze have been viewed by Israelis, even during the early days of establishing the state of Israel, as a trusted and strong stabilizing force in the region. Having embraced modernization and a strong patriotism to the state of Israeli, with Druze serving passionately in the IDF and the Knesset, and contributing in other economic, social and political ways, the Druze have emerged as an invaluable minority of Israeli citizens, whose impact on Israel far exceeds their population. 12 Druze soldiers fell in the war and Gaza, and, being a small minority in the state, the losses have been felt deeply by the community. Gadeer discusses the tragedy of the Majdal-Shams terror attack in July of 2024. However, Gadeer points out how much stronger the ties between the Druze and wider Israeli community after witnessing the outpouring of support from other Israelis, and the massive attendance of Israelis at the victims’ funerals. Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Nadav Padan to discuss the current state of the war, and what is happening geopolitically with Iran. Nadav explains that the primary objective is the safety of the land and people of Israel. The agreement that the US negotiation group proposed demands that Iran opens their economy to the west, limit its uranium enrichment program and not pursue the development of a WMD, all in order to stabilize the region to create a lasting and sustainable peace in the long term. Meanwhile, in Syria, there is a process of stabilization happening, led by new leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Israel’s goal is to facilitate some kind of Abraham Accord-like deal that will stabilize the relationship, while Israel would remain cautious by their still-radical Islamic regime that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. The reason why they are willing to come to the negotiating table, explains Nadav, is because Jolani knows that he is out of his league militaristically. Perhaps paramount to Israel’s security concerns is to ensure that Hamas no longer has control in Gaza, which would retroactively limit the power of the Muslim Brotherhood in Judea and Samaria as well. As far as the return of the remaining hostages, Nadav explains that Israel is working on a potential 60-day ceasefire agreement. The humanitarian aspect of this would be dramatic and monumental. However, strategically, in that 60-day span, Hamas could reorganize itself and catch its breath, which could spell further disaster for Israel’s security. The hostage situation thus remains complex.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Eitan Amsalem, Director of Visitor Experience, Delegations, and Public Relations at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. Eitan is the curator that created the exhibit on October 7th at the Museum, and he has taken world leaders and ambassadors through this exhibit. Eitan discusses with Steven in detail about the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood and  elucidates on how the  October 7th attack was planned. Eitan and his team uncovered notes found on the bodies of Hamas terrorists. They created a collection of these notes and translated them. He explains that Hamas gave their officers the title of Sheikhs so that they have the authority to give fatwahs (ordinances) that certain acts that are typically impermissible in Islam are permissible, such as killing women and babies. Eitan also explains that many of the terrorists had a list of Hebrew phrases and words for the operation, including “take off your pants,” which they needed to know how to say in order to rape the women they found on the kibbutzim. They also uncovered documents that elucidate the extent to UNRWA’S involvement in the attack, and on the educational material they provide to Gaza’s and Arab villagers which all teach how they are victims of Israeli oppression and must hate Jews. There’s a phenomena that was uncovered about the October 7th massacre that is entirely unique, which is that Hamas attempted to eliminate, and in many cases successfully, entire families in one shot, sometimes tying together a married couple with their children and torturing and killing them. Eitan has also consulted with and was given evidence by forensics teams that were onsite following the 10.7 massacre, but didn’t go into detail about what the examiners describe and found on the sites. Eitan has also spoken with many survivors of the massacre, and he explains the unimaginable PTSD that they are experiencing.   Eitan closes by stating that the Islam of Hamas, which was distorted and changed in disturbing ways, does not represent the whole of Islam.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Lt. Col. (Res.) Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Israeli Scholar of Arab Culture, Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, and Vice President of NEWSRAEL, who provides an expert analysis on the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Mordechai discusses how the conflict has weakened the Iranian regime and emboldened opposition groups within Iran, who are now more active in trying to undermine the regime. He also highlights the growing rift between Hezbollah and how this is shaping dynamics in the region. Steve and Mordechai then discuss how the weakening of Iran has created opportunities for Gulf states to put pressure on Iranian ally Qatar to change its behavior in supporting Iran's regional proxies.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.