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Retired general says US policy must stick to its guns against Iran and Hezbollah
Retired General Charles Wald has provided an in-depth analysis of the intricate dynamics in the Middle East, particularly focusing on the roles of Iran, Israel, and Hezbollah. Wald clearly identifies Hezbollah as a proxy for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and emphasizes the imperative for the United States to support Israel’s right to self-defense. He commends the current administration for its robust policies in the region and stresses the importance of maintaining such a stance.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that they have successfully targeted and eliminated a Hamas operative responsible for the abduction of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli hostage who was ultimately killed in the Gaza Strip.
According to the IDF, Yousef Ayesh Awad Ramadan, who held the position of deputy commander within a Hamas Nukhba terrorist cell, was killed on Monday in the central Gaza Strip. The Nukhba unit, which translates to ‘elite’ in Arabic, represents the special forces branch of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
The IDF stated that “Ramadan infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7th massacre and was involved in the kidnapping of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eliya Cohen, Alon Ohel, and Or Levy from a bomb shelter at the Re’im Junction.” They further noted, “Throughout the conflict and in recent weeks, the terrorist continued to develop plans to attack IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians, posing an immediate threat to our troops operating in the Gaza Strip.”
“In addition, throughout the war, and in recent weeks, the terrorist advanced attack plans against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. As such, he posed an immediate threat to IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip,” it continued.
Yousef Ayesh Awad Ramadan, a deputy commander of a Hamas Nukhba terrorist cell, was killed on Monday, June 1, 2026, the Israel Defense Forces said. (IDF)
Goldberg-Polin survived almost 11 months in underground tunnels following his capture but was killed alongside other hostages in August 2024, while still in captivity. He was 23 at the time of his death.Â
“According to our initial assessment, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them,” then- IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.Â
Goldberg-Polin was abducted at a music festival in southern Israel during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack against the Jewish State.
He lost part of his left arm to a grenade in the attack. Â
Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, holds a photo of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a hostage killed by Hamas, during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Israel-Hamas conflict in New York City on Sept. 4, 2024. (David ‘Dee’ Delgado/Reuters)
Eliya Cohen survived 505 days in captivity. He faced extreme starvation, was kept chained in tunnels, and had surgery for a gunshot wound without anesthesia. He was released in February 2025 as part of a negotiated deal.
Or Levy survived 491 days in captivity. He endured harsh conditions and only learned after his release that his wife, Einav, had been killed in the Oct. 7 attack. He has since reunited with his young son.
Alon Ohel spent more than two years as a hostage in Gaza until his release in October last year.Â
Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin attended the funeral of their son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a murdered U.S.-Israeli hostage, in Jerusalem in September 2024. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images)
A talented pianist, he endured starvation, torture and serious eye injuries from a grenade. He was freed on Oct. 13, 2025, through a U.S.-brokered deal and returned home to recover. He now performs with Israeli artists.
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