4A TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2024 THE NEWS LEADER Joyce Elizabeth Hammer, 88, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024, at Augusta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville. She was born on May 18, 1935, in Washington, to the late Theodore Wayne and Hazel Eliz- abeth Simmers Joyce will be remembered for her love of music, passion for and unwavering love for her family. For three decades she shared her gift of music as an organist. Beyond her talents came her love of and gardening. She was a beacon of love and strength for her family and all those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by a daughter, Teresa Ann Ham- mer Robson, and husband Bill; a son, Michael Bruce Hammer and wife Gwen; her grandsons, William Thurman Robson, III and Al- lan Michael Hammer; a granddaughter, Danielle Elizabeth Hammer and a great granddaughter, Eleanor R. Eastman. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her loving husband, Bruce Simmons Hammer. A memorial service will be held at on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Saint United Methodist Church in Staunton with the Reverend Chuck Cole The family will receive friends following the service. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Johns United Methodist Church (1716 Augusta Staunton, VA. 24401) Arrangements are being handled by Henry Fu- neral Home. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.henryfuneralhome.net. Joyce S.
Hammer Joyce S. Henry Funeral Home Cremation Center Kathy B. Apr 27 Kyger Funeral Home Kyger Funeral Home Apr 16 Staunton 71 DEATH NOTICES information in display obituaries Obituaries appear in print and online at newsleader.com/obituaries Name Age Town, State Passed Arrangements Service Time Service Location Interment Obituaries STAUNTON Kathy B. Neil, 71, of Staunton, Virginia passed away on April 16, 2024, at Sentara RMH Medical Center. She was born on September 6, 1952, in Robbinsville, NC to the late Alonzo Bullman and Anna Lou D.
Bullman. Kathy is survived by her children, Christo- pher Neil and wife, Dawn Neil of Harrisonburg, and Travis Neil and other, Sheree Val- entine of Chambersburg, PA; sister, Anita Bullman Spangler and husband John; brother, Steven Alonzo Bullman; her grandchildren, Kiele, Warrick, and Josie; 6 nephews and 1 niece, as well as numerous extended family members. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:00 A.M at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, VA. Friends and family are welcome to come and share their memories of Kathy. In lieu of memorial contributions can be made to the Autism Society of America or James Madison Empowerment3.
Condolences may be shared at kygers.com. Kathy B. Neil 37 OBS IN LOVING Memory Israel has provided no evidence that hundreds of U.N. aid workers in Gaza are with Hamas, but the aid agency needs more screening to ensure neutrality among its work- force, an independent review released Monday has found. U.N.
Secretary-General Antonio Gu- terres ordered the review after Israel ac- cused workers with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of providing support for the attack on Israel that ignited the Hamas- Israeli war. More than a dozen nations, including the U.S., halted funding for the agency when the allegations were released to the public. The review, led by the former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, calls for stronger safeguards to ensure neutrality but says the agency already has a system to ensure com- pliance with The review was prompted by Israeli allegations that at least 12 UNRWA em- ployees were directly involved in the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7, another 30 supported the attack in some way, and as many as of the were with the militant group.
UNRWA has over 13,000 aid workers in Gaza. forward, the Secretary-Gen- eral appeals to all stakeholders to ac- tively support UNRWA, as it is a lifeline for Palestine refugees in the his said in a statement. The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Hamas is tied in so closely to UNRWA that is impossible to say where UNRWA ends and Hamas problem with UNRWA-Gaza is not a problem of a few bad the statement said. is a poisoned and rot- ten tree whose roots are Rafah invasion, reportedly expected to last at least 6 weeks In Gaza, Israel is preparing to begin an assault on the crowded southern city of Rafah that is expected to last at least six weeks, the Wall Street Journal re- ported Monday, citing Egyptian cials. The who the Journal said were briefed on plan, said Israel is preparing to move civilians from Ra- fah to Khan Younis, a city less than 10 miles to the northeast.
Israel plans to set up shelters with tents, food-distribu- tion centers and medical facilities such as hospitals there, the Journal re- ported. Rafah is serving as home to more than one million people, most of them refugees from the elsewhere in Gaza. The global community has urged Israel to abandon invasion plans, and the U.S. has lobbied for a more targeted attack on Hamas leaders and in the city on the Egyptian border. The evacuation operation would last two to three weeks and be done in coor- dination with the U.S., Egypt and other Arab countries, the Journal reported.
The Egyptian said Israel plans to move troops into Rafah gradually, tar- geting areas where Israel believes Ha- mas leaders and are hiding. The Israeli military said it was on high alert for the Passover holiday, con- tinuing activity and full readiness in all the ma- jor Jewish holiday since the festival of Simchat Torah on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas attack that ignited the current war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Net- anyahu issued a Passover address on Monday, saying Israelis are remember- ing hostages still held by militants cannot join their families at the Seder table. Their absence strengthens our re- solve and reminds us of the urgency of our mission.
We will not rest until each one is He once again pledged increased mil- itary and diplomatic to free them. He accused Hamas of hardening its stance at the bargaining table and promised to Israeli military intel chief resigns, citing role in Oct. 7 attack The head of military intelli- gence resigned Monday and said he would retire, citing his own role in con- tributing to the failure to stop since, day and night. I will live with the horrible pain every Haliva said he would retire once a successor was found. Israeli media has been reporting for months that the military and intelligence completely missed or ignored multiple warnings that Ha- mas was planning an operation on Isra- border with Gaza.
Netanyahu has not acknowledged di- rect responsibility for Oct. 7, and has signaled he has no intention of resign- ing despite growing protests over his handling of the war, particularly over the issue of hostages. Negotia- tions with Hamas aimed at their return have stalled and military cam- paign in Gaza, now in its seventh month, have not freed them either. the coming days, we will increase the political and military pressure on Netanyahu said Sunday. is the only way to bring back our hos- tages and achieve victory.
We will land more and painful blows on Hamas Contributing: Reuters attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Major General Aharon Haliva ap- pears to be the senior from military or political establish- ment to resign over surprise at- tack, which killed an estimated 1,200 people. It was the largest loss of life in a single day in history. Militants also took 253 hostages back to Gaza, where Israel believes more than 130 may remain.
Haliva, who made the announce- ment in a letter shared by the Israeli mil- itary, was on vacation in the Israeli re- sort town of Eilat on Oct. 7. He was alert- ed of suspicious militant activity hours before the attack but was not involved in ensuing deliberations that incorrectly determined the activity was likely a drill. Haliva previously accepted responsi- bility for the intelligence failures that led to the worst security failure in Isra- 76-year history. military intelligence directorate under my command did not live up to our Haliva wrote in the letter.
have been carrying that black day ever Israel plans gradual invasion of Rafah expected to take 6 weeks Kim Hjelmgaard and John Bacon USA TODAY Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that he has no intention of resigning despite growing protests over his handling of the war, particularly over the issue of hostages. SHIR VIA REUTERS No proof Hamas UN aid agency.
