LIVE DEVELOPMENTS — updated Saturday, June 14, 2025
Russia Denounces Israel’s Attack On Iran As ‘Unacceptable,’ Accuses West Of Provoking ‘Anti-Iran Hysteria’
WAR IN ISRAEL
TRUSTED ANALYSIS
Day 609 — Friday, June 6
The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that it imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, marking the first time that the United States has used that punitive tool against justices at the independent tribunal.
The department stated that judges Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia would be sanctioned for their role in investigating Israel and the United States.
“As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, stated. “The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies.”
“This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel,” Rubio stated. “The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel and any other U.S. ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC.”
According to the State Department, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza ruled to authorize the ICC’s investigation into the conduct of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, while Alapini-Gansou and Hohler ruled to authorize ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, then the defense minister.
In February, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on any ICC official attempting to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute U.S. citizens or the citizens of any U.S. ally that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction, or signed onto the court’s Rome Statute, including Israel.
The White House named Karim Khan, the court’s prosecutor and a British national, as the first target of those sanctions for his role in investigating Netanyahu, Gallant and Israel’s alleged commission of “war crimes” in Gaza.
Khan took indefinite leave in May amid an investigation into whether he committed sexual misconduct.
Day 609 — Friday, June 6
Defense Minister Israel Katz responded on Friday to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s condemnation of Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s Dahiya neighborhood, asserting that peace in Beirut is contingent upon Israel’s security.
“Mr. President, there will be no peace in Beirut and no stability in Lebanon without security for the State of Israel,” Katz stated. “Agreements must be honored. If you do not take the necessary actions, we will continue to act with great force.”
Katz emphasized that the Lebanese government bears responsibility for activities within its territory, urging it to disarm the Hezbollah terrorist organization and prevent it from producing drones that threaten northern Israeli communities and civilians.
Regarding the Lebanese army’s conduct, Katz remarked, “You must ensure that the Lebanese army genuinely enforces the ceasefire agreement—not through coordinated performances as attempted yesterday.”
He added, “We are committed to the safety of northern residents and will not allow a return to the pre-October 7 reality. If you do not take the necessary actions, we will continue to act with great force.”
The Israeli Air Force conducted targeted strikes on Thursday night against Hezbollah’s drone manufacturing sites and warehouses used by the organization’s aerial unit in Beirut’s Dahiya neighborhood and southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s aerial unit has launched over 1,000 explosive and reconnaissance drones toward Israeli territory during the ongoing conflict.
Additionally, the IDF targeted a drone production workshop in southern Lebanon, used for attacks, intelligence gathering, and enhancing Hezbollah’s surveillance capabilities.
Day 608 — Thursday, June 5
The U.S. rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, standing by Jerusalem. France, the U.K., Russia and China all supported the resolution, which received 14 votes in favor and one vote against, meaning it was not adopted by the council.
“It is inexplicable that many members of this council still refuse to acknowledge that Hamas could end this conflict tomorrow by surrendering and laying down its arms. It is unconscionable that the U.N. still has not labeled and sanctioned Hamas as a terrorist organization,” U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Dorothy Shea said.
In her remarks, Shea also stated that the Security Council could not “reward Hamas’ intransigence” after the terror group rejected multiple ceasefire proposals.
Hamas was not condemned in the draft resolution, which only included a demand that terror organizations in Gaza release the remaining 58 hostages.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon thanked the U.S. for voting against the resolution.
“We thank the United States for standing on the right side. For standing on the side of truth, justice, and moral clarity. Thank you for refusing to abandon the hostages and for refusing to legitimize the lies of this resolution,” Danon said in a statement.
Shea also had a warning for the world body. “Engaging in this performative process at a time when serious questions are being asked about the utility of the U.N., its funding and use of resources is shameful. This council should not be used in this way. This council must hold itself to a higher standard.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Danon issued a statement against the resolution, saying it “undermines” humanitarian aid efforts and “ignores the reality on the ground.”
“It ignores the one party still endangering civilians in Gaza: Hamas. The group that hijacks trucks and stockpiles the aid to their benefit,” Danon said. “If you care about the people of Gaza, then stop protecting those who started this war and continue to prolong it. If you care about aid, then help ensure it reaches civilians and not terrorists.”
Ultimately, Danon said that the resolution “betrays the very people it claims to protect.”
Day 608 — Thursday, June 5
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the bodies of two Israeli hostages have been returned from Gaza in a special operation.
Judy Weinstein-Hagai and Gadi Hagai, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, were named as the two deceased captives. The married couple was murdered during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and their bodies were taken to the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed their deaths in December.
“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache over this most terrible loss. May their memory be a blessing,” the premier stated.
“I wish to thank and express my appreciation to the soldiers and commanders for their determined and successful operation. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we bring all our hostages home—both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu continued.
The IDF said that their bodies were retrieved from the Khan Yunis area on Wednesday night in a joint operation with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
They were murdered and kidnapped by the terrorist organization Kataeb al-Mujahideen, according to the military.
“The couple, Judy and Gad, are parents of four, Judy was 70 years old at the time of her death and Gad was 72 years old at the time of his death,” the statement added.
The number of hostages—both living and deceased—held in Gaza now stands at 56.
Day 607 — Wednesday, June 4
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment, rejecting a key US demand aimed at resolving a decades-long nuclear dispute, that he said was against the Islamic Republic’s interests.
The US proposal for a new nuclear deal was presented to Iran on Saturday by Oman, which has mediated talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
After five rounds of talks, several hard-to-bridge issues remain, including Iran’s insistence on maintaining uranium enrichment on its soil and Tehran’s refusal to ship abroad its entire existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium – possible raw material for nuclear bombs.
“Uranium enrichment is the key to our nuclear program, and the enemies have focused on the enrichment,” Khamenei said in a televised speech. The US proposal “contradicts our nation’s belief in self-reliance and the principle of ‘We Can,'” he said.
“The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have an enrichment?” he added.
Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology for “peaceful purposes” and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
On Monday, Reuters reported Tehran was poised to reject the US proposal on the grounds that it was a “non-starter” that failed to soften Washington’s stance on uranium enrichment or to address Tehran’s interests.
Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran since his return to the White House in January, which included tightening sanctions and threatening to bomb Iran if the negotiations yield no deal.
During his first term in 2018, Trump ditched Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
Iran’s arch-foe Israel, which sees Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, has repeatedly threatened to bomb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Day 607 — Wednesday, June 4
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Jerusalem would mount a “full response” against the regime of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa after two rockets were fired from Syria at the Golan Heights for the first time in over a year, minutes before a Houthi missile triggered sirens across central Israel.
No injuries were reported from either attack. The IDF said it had responded to the attack from Syria with artillery fire on the source of the rockets, some 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the border with Israel.
The IDF also carried out a series of airstrikes throughout southern Syria that it said targeted weapons belonging to the regime.
“The Syrian regime is responsible for what is happening in Syria and will continue to bear the consequences as long as hostile activity continues from its territory,” the IDF said in a statement.
Katz issued his own statement asserting that Israel views Sharaa himself as “directly responsible for every threat and [rocket] fire toward the State of Israel.”
“The full response will come soon,” said Katz, adding that Israel “will not allow a return to a pre-October 7 reality.”
Day 606 — Tuesday, June 3
The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday rejected claims its troops had fired at civilians in Khan Yunis, and released footage showing Palestinian gunmen shooting at least one person.
A preliminary IDF investigation found no gunfire by Israeli forces in the area, south of Gaza City, at the time of the incident on Sunday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.
The statement came in response to reports accusing Israel of killing dozens of civilians near a U.S. aid distribution site. The IDF released drone footage showing masked gunmen firing at civilians in Khan Yunis.
The Red Cross reported 21 deaths and 179 injuries from what it called a “mass casualty incident,” saying most of the victims suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. However, the organization did not specify who was responsible for the shooting.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry set the death toll at 31, claiming all victims had been shot in the head or chest. Hamas called the incident a “massacre,” accusing Israel of luring civilians to a pre-announced aid point before opening fire.
In a video message issued after the international media picked up the initial reports, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said: “The IDF did not fire at civilians in or near the humanitarian aid distribution area.”
The Red Cross reported 21 deaths and 179 injuries from what it called a “mass casualty incident,” saying most of the victims suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. However, the organization did not specify who was responsible for the shooting.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry set the death toll at 31, claiming all victims had been shot in the head or chest. Hamas called the incident a “massacre,” accusing Israel of luring civilians to a pre-announced aid point before opening fire.
In a video message issued after the international media picked up the initial reports, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said: “The IDF did not fire at civilians in or near the humanitarian aid distribution area.”
The IDF blamed Hamas for spreading false claims and accused the group of deliberately targeting Gaza civilians to obstruct aid delivery.
The IDF emphasized it is cooperating with the American NGO Global Humanitarian Foundation and other international agencies to ensure food reaches civilians, not Hamas.
“The continued misinformation, mischaracterization and unfortunately completely false reports by some major media outlets [are] very disheartening to our aid workers and their vital efforts to feed the hungry people of Gaza,” said GHF interim executive director John Acree.
The group, which is not connected to the United Nations, began operations on May 27. The aid facilities are secured by U.S. military contractors and remotely monitored by the Israel Defense Forces. International humanitarian NGOs reportedly manage the delivery of food and other supplies.
Day 606 — Tuesday, June 3
The IDF announced that three soldiers, St.-Sgt. Lior Steinberg (20), St.-Sgt. Ofek Barhana (20), and St.-Sgt. Omer Van Gelder (22), were killed in battle in northern Gaza on Tuesday.
The three served in the 9th Battalion in the Givati Brigade.
The three were killed when the Hummer vehicle, on which the soldiers were riding, was damaged after it hit an explosive device.
In the same incident, two soldiers were seriously wounded, and nine others were moderately and lightly wounded. All three of the killed soldiers were posthumously promoted from the ranks of Sergeant to Staff Sergeant.
The Givati Brigade is currently operating in Jabalya, where they are destroying terrorist infrastructure above and below ground, eliminating terrorists.
Day 606 — Tuesday, June 3
US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) issued a caustic remark directed at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her fellow campaigners aboard a vessel attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
“Hope Greta and her friends can swim!” the South Carolina senator quipped, referring to the Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen, which departed the Sicilian port of Catania on Sunday. The ship is carrying Thunberg and 11 other activists as part of a mission to “break Israel’s siege” of Gaza, according to organizers cited by The Associated Press.
The activists, including “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham and French MEP Rima Hassan, are aiming to deliver aid and draw international attention to what they describe as a humanitarian crisis in the Hamas-controlled enclave. Hassan has previously been barred from entering Israel due to her anti-Israel activism.
Before departure, Thunberg claimed the mission was a stand against what she termed the “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza. “We have to keep trying. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” she told reporters. “And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world.”
The voyage comes weeks after another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the “Conscience,” was reportedly damaged by drones in international waters off Malta. The group accused Israel of being behind the attack.
The attempt also echoes the 2010 “Freedom Flotilla” incident, when the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara was intercepted by Israeli forces after refusing to dock at Ashdod Port. Israeli soldiers who boarded the ship were attacked with clubs and knives by the Islamists on board, prompting a violent clash that left 10 of the activists dead. A subsequent inspection revealed that no humanitarian aid was found aboard the ship.
Thunberg has intensified her criticism of Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that ignited the current conflict. Despite that event, she has repeatedly voiced support for Gaza and participated in anti-Israel demonstrations, including a January rally in Leipzig where she called to “crush Zionism.”
Her controversial stance drew public backlash during a November 2023 rally in Amsterdam when a protester interrupted her speech, expressing frustration over what he described as political posturing at a climate event.
The current voyage is expected to take seven days, barring any interception.
Arutz Sheva
Day 605 — Monday, June 2
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized the French government’s increasingly hostile diplomatic stance toward Israel, particularly its efforts to form an international coalition aimed at imposing a “Palestinian state” during the ongoing war.
“It’s incredibly inappropriate in the midst of a war that Israel is dealing with to go out and present something that I think increasingly Israelis are steadfast against,” Huckabee said during an interview with Fox News on Sunday.
Huckabee suggested that the French government establish a “Palestinian state” on the French Riviera.
“Oct. 7 changed a lot of things. If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I have a suggestion for them – carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation. And I find it revolting that they think they have the right to do such a thing,” Huckabee argued.
The Israeli government and much of the Israeli public currently oppose the establishment of a state that they view as a serious threat to the Jewish state’s national security. Furthermore, following the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people, Israelis generally view such unilateral diplomatic move as a major reward for anti-Israel terrorism.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in April that France plans to recognize a “Palestinian state” in the near future.
“We must move toward recognition [of a Palestinian state], and so, in the coming months, we will,” Macron stated.
The French leader claimed that such diplomatic move would facilitate peace in the Middle East.
“I will do it because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in turn, which many of them do not do,” Macron stated.
However, the French president failed to address the fact that both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority oppose Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state within any boundaries. France has also demanded an end of Israel’s self-defense military operations against Hamas, an Iranian terrorist proxy which openly calls for the Jewish state’s destruction.
France and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to co-hosting an international conference in June with the goal of unilaterally implementing the two-state solution while ignoring Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
Huckabee addressed the French-Saudi unilateral international plan.
“I hope they will reconsider but the U.S. will not participate. It simply will not be a part of such a ruse,” the U.S. envoy said.
Day 605 — Monday, June 2
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday condemned what the “vicious” terrorist attack in Boulder, Colo., that left eight people wounded during a rally in support of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“My wife and I, and the entire State of Israel, pray for the full recovery of the wounded in the vicious terror attack,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews.”
Netanyahu expressed confidence that U.S. authorities would bring the perpetrator to justice.
“I trust the United States authorities to prosecute the cold blood perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law and do everything possible to prevent future attacks against innocent civilians,” he said.
He linked the incident to a broader trend of rising antisemitism.
“The antisemitic attacks around the world are a direct result of blood libels against the Jewish state and people,” Netanyahu said. “This must be stopped.”
Mohamed Sabry Soliman is in federal custody after the 45-year-old allegedly attacked Jews with a “makeshift flame thrower” and threw an “incendiary device” at them.
Witnesses said that the attacker said, “Free Palestine,” Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI Denver field office, told a press conference on Sunday.
Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six.
Day 604 — Sunday, June 1
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a confidential report on Saturday stating that Iran had conducted covert nuclear activity at three undeclared sites as part of a structured nuclear program that operated until the early 2000s. This included the use of undeclared nuclear material.
The report further reveals that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium jumped by 953 kilograms in the last quarter, reaching a total of 9,247 kilograms, including a significant amount enriched up to 60% a level which, according to the agency, is theoretically sufficient to produce a nuclear bomb.
The agency emphasized that despite the lack of evidence of an active nuclear weapons program today, Iran’s conduct – such as destroying evidence and refusing to cooperate – continues to raise serious concerns. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi once again urged Iran to cooperate fully and immediately.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office responded: “The IAEA has reported a grave and unequivocal report on Iran’s nuclear program. The agency presents a stark picture that serves as a clear warning sign: despite countless warnings by the international community, Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program.
The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years – the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran’s uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever.
The report clearly indicates that Iran remains in non-compliance of its fundamental commitments and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and continues to withhold cooperation from IAEA inspectors.
Iranian political sources claimed that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are exerting “intense pressure” on the IAEA to act against Iran, despite ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. These Iranian officials told the pro-Iranian Axis outlet Al-Mayadeen that the “European troika’s” pressure began before negotiations resumed and continues even as Iran claims to be sending “positive signals.”
In talks held in Istanbul between Iranian representatives and those European states, Iran warned that any escalation would negatively impact negotiations with the U.S., however, the European countries reportedly did not change their stance. Additionally, Iranian officials reiterated via diplomatic channels that Iran would respond to any escalation with “appropriate” nuclear measures.
Day 603 — Saturday, May 31
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have a common enemy, according to Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife.
“You have a deep state in the United States that went after President Trump and his family, and we have the same kind of deep state in Israel that went after my husband, me and my sons, my family,” Sara Netanyahu told the Fox News Channel program “My View with Lara Trump” in an interview slated to air on May 31.
“These are fairly small, radical left-wing elites founded by foreign countries and others, and they hold influence positions within key institutions,” Netanyahu said. “They use other means, especially abusing the justice system to try to get rid of a government which was elected in a democratic way. They don’t care if they are undermining democracy and public trust.”
Lara Trump is married to Eric Trump, one of the U.S. president’s sons. Fox News shared clips from the interview exclusively with JNS.
The “deep state” in Israel collaborates with the “deep state” in the United States, Sara Netanyahu told Lara Trump.
“Look at what they put President Trump and his family [through]. They did the same similar things to my husband and my family and my sons, bringing ridiculous investigations and charges full with lies,” she said. “The cases are now collapsing in court because there are no truth in them at all.”
The Israeli prime minister asked that the entire trial against him be televised, “so everybody can see for themselves how absurd the cases are,” Netanyahu said of her husband. “The request was denied, but people are still watching the cases fall apart despite the deep state attempts. We already see a different, a new Middle East, thanks to the mutual work of President Trump and the prime minister.”
Day 603 — Saturday, May 31
A federal district judge on Wednesday said that the Trump administration’s effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil may be unconstitutional, but some conservative legal experts are not buying it.
Khalil is a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activist who led protests at Columbia University. An immigration judge recently said he could be deported, but U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz for the District of New Jersey said that the order is likely to be dismissed as “unconstitutionally vague.“ Still, Khalil will remain in custody.
“The district court held what we already knew: Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio’s weaponization of immigration law to punish Mahmoud and others like him is likely unconstitutional,” lawyers for Khalil said after the judge’s ruling.
However, various conservative legal experts disagree with the judge.
“A judge just handed Hamas a win on American soil. Mahmoud Khalil lied his way into our country, concealed ties to a foreign regime, and then led a pro-Hamas takeover at Columbia University. Now, a judicial activist wants to block his deportation? That’s not justice — it’s national suicide. President Trump has both the constitutional authority and the moral obligation to remove threats like Khalil,” Republican attorney Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“The Supreme Court has made this power crystal clear. In Kleindienst v. Mandel (1972), the Court upheld the executive’s broad discretion in immigration matters. That authority was reaffirmed in Trump v. Hawaii (2018), where the Court ruled that the President has sweeping power to exclude noncitizens deemed detrimental to U.S. interests,” she continued.
“By declaring the Immigration and Nationality Act ‘unconstitutionally vague,‘ Judge Farbiarz isn’t interpreting the law — he’s rewriting it. That violates the separation of powers and dangerously ties the hands of our Commander in Chief. Citizenship is a privilege — not a sanctuary for liars and Hamas sympathizers. I am confident this will be overturned on appeal,” Cooke added.
Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said it is a “ridiculous, meritless claim by a rogue federal judge,” and said that even though Kahlil is a legal resident of the U.S., he can still face consequences.
“Aliens have no constitutional right to be in the U.S. Moreover, under federal immigration law, 8 U.S.C. 1227, aliens like Khalil, including permanent resident aliens, can be removed if the alien ‘endorses or espouses terrorist activity‘ or support ‘a terrorist organization.‘ Khalil’s blatant support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, makes him immediately deportable. This is another biased, partisan judge refusing to abide by federal immigration law and interfering in the president’s constitutional and statutory authority,” he told Fox News Digital in a statement.
The White House also condemned the ruling, continuing its frequent clashes with federal judges over immigration policy.
“Mahmoud Khalil was given the privilege of coming to America to study, but he squandered that opportunity by siding with Hamas terrorists and organizing protests that disrupted college classes and harassed Jewish-American students. Secretary of State Rubio has the right to revoke green cards or visas for any individuals who are adversarial to United States foreign policy and national security interests,” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement.
Day 602 — Friday, May 30
A new poll by Rasmussen Reports released Thursday reveals that 57% of likely U.S. voters favor military action to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Only 30% would oppose military action to stop Iran.
Rasmussen reported (emphasis added):
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 77% of Likely U.S. Voters are concerned that Iran may be developing a nuclear weapon, including 44% who are Very Concerned. Only 18% are not concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
While negotiating with Iran over the issue, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program if a deal isn’t reached Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters would support military action by the United States to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program, including 28% who would Strongly Support it. Thirty percent (30%) would oppose a U.S. strike against Iran, including 17% who Strongly Oppose such military action. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.
…
The survey of 1,107 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on May 19-21, 2025 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Influential voices within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have opposed military action against Iran. However, the debate has often conflated limited airstrikes with an invasion or all-out war.
President Trump said Wednesday that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is said to favor airstrikes, not to launch military action while the U.S. is still negotiating with the Iranian regime.
Day 602 — Friday, May 30
Ravid Chaim Gez, the infant son of terror victim Tzeela Gez, was buried on Thursday evening, hours after succumbing to his wounds sustained in the shooting attack that claimed his mother’s life two weeks ago.
Tzeela had been on the way to the hospital together with her husband, Hananel Gez, to deliver the baby when a terrorist opened fire on their vehicle in Samaria. Tzeela was fatally wounded, dying in the hospital shortly afterwards. The medical team managed to deliver the baby by emergency C-section, but he had suffered severe oxygen deprivation.
Despite the efforts by Schneider Children’s Medical Center, he stayed in critical condition and never regained consciousness. Ravid Chaim was buried next to his mother at Jerusalem’s Har HaMenuchot Cemetery.
At the funeral, Hananel demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take concrete steps to prevent Palestinian terrorist attacks.
“I ask the prime minister and the Knesset to do everything so that there will be a 100% transfer here and that this cancer that is eating us from the inside will no longer be here,” the bereaved father said, calling for the expulsion of all terrorists from the Judea and Samaria region.
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu responded to the news of Ravid Chaim’s death by expressing his “great sorrow and pain.”
“There are no words that can comfort the murder of a newborn baby along with his mother,” Netanyahu stated. “The heroism of the pioneers of settlement in Judea and Samaria, and their dedication, is what will defeat all our enemies. Earth does not cover their blood.”
About a week after the shooting, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had eliminated the killer, Nael Samara, in a counter-terrorism operation in the Palestinian village of Bruqin, just outside the Gez’s hometown.
Day 601 — Thursday, May 29
In a landmark decision led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry, Israel’s Diplomatic-Security Cabinet has approved a historic decision to establish 22 new Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria.
The move is expected to change the face of the area and shape the future of the settlements for decades to come.
Among the most significant aspects of the decision is the historic return to Homesh and Sa-Nur, effectively implementing the repeal of the Disengagement Law in northern Samaria. This clears the path for the reestablishment of Jewish communities in these locations — a move which corrects a historical injustice and reaffirming the Jewish people’s rights to their land.
The plan also includes the establishment of four new communities along the eastern border with Jordan, reinforcing Israel’s strategic presence and national security along its frontier.
The new communities are founded as part of a long-term strategic vision aimed at bolstering Israeli control on the ground, blocking the creation of a Palestinian state, and ensuring the continued growth of the settlements in the decades to come.
Defense Minister Israel Katz declared: “This historic decision to establish 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria strengthens our hold on the land, anchors our historical right to the Land of Israel, and delivers a crushing answer to Palestinian terrorism aimed at harming the settlements and weakening them.”
He added: “Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria serves as a vital security barrier for Israel’s major population centers. We must do everything in our power to expand and reinforce this protective shield. The decision we made today is not just about strengthening the settlements on the State’s eastern border — it’s also a strategic move to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel, and it serves as a buffer zone against our enemies. This is a Zionist, security, and national response — and a clear decision about the future of the Land.”
Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated: “This is a great day for the settlements and an important day for the State of Israel. Through determined leadership and intense work, we have succeeded, with God’s help, in achieving a deep strategic shift, returning the State of Israel to a path of building, Zionism, and vision. Settlement in our ancestral homeland is Israel’s shield wall; today we took a giant step toward strengthening it. The next step — sovereignty!”
Smotrich concluded with a biblical declaration: “We did not take a foreign land, but the inheritance of our forefathers.”
Day 601 — Thursday, May 29
During the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon last year, the Israeli Air Force intercepted dozens of drones launched by the terror group using a new laser interception system, the military and Defense Ministry revealed on Wednesday.
The new system used during the fighting is a lower-powered version of the Iron Beam laser interceptor, which is set to be delivered to the Israel Defense Forces later this year. Both systems are developed by Israeli defense firm Rafael.
The ministry said the development of the system was advanced in light of the Hezbollah drone threat in the north.
Hezbollah fired more than 300 explosive-laden drones at Israel amid the fighting, with many evading air defenses and causing damage and casualties.
“Throughout the current war, the IAF, including its Aerial Defense Array soldiers, studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets,” the IDF and Defense Ministry said.
Day 600 — Wednesday, May 28
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Conference chaired by Israel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday evening, delivered a message on the enduring and escalating threat of antisemitism, asserting its danger extends far beyond the Jewish people to encompass all of human society.
“The key issue that I want to address is the consequence of antisemitism, not only for the Jewish people but for human society,” Netanyahu stated, thanking Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for convening the important meeting. He characterized antisemitism as a “virulent disease that’s going on for several millennia,” noting that while the Jewish people have paid a “horrible price,” other countries have also suffered.
Netanyahu drew a stark parallel to the Holocaust, where “Six million Jews died… but 60 million died during the war that it inspired.” He recalled his historian father’s prescient warning in 1933: “What starts with the Jews will not end with the Jews.” The Prime Minister lamented that history might have been different had such warnings been heeded.
The Prime Minister then directly confronted the post-October 7 surge in antisemitism. “We have now a surge of antisemitism as we speak,” he observed, noting the disappointment of those who expected a decline after “the most savage attack on the Jews since the Holocaust.”
Instead, he highlighted “demonstrations, protests, in the capitals of the West and other countries that celebrate, celebrate these murderers, these rapists, these baby burners, these hostage takers. Celebrate.”
He emphasized the symbolic significance of these protests, observing not only the burning of Israeli flags but also “the burning of American flags, British flags, Canadian flags, French flags. That’s not an accident. Because the people who are leading this charge are basically challenging Western civilization or free societies as we understand them.”
Netanyahu declared Israel is fighting an “eight-front war,” ultimately “the war, ultimately, of civilization against barbarism.”
The Prime Minister meticulously detailed the patterns of antisemitism, particularly the preceding stages of vilification and dehumanization. He cited historical libels: “we poisoned the wells in medieval times, we take Christian children, the blood of Christian children and bake matzahs for Passover with them, we spread vermin.” He noted the chilling continuity into Nazi propaganda, which used “exactly the same thing” to “prepare them for the kill, for the butcher.”
Comparing the October 7 massacre to an attempt to recreate the Holocaust, Netanyahu quoted former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who visited the sites and remarked, “They’re just like the Nazis.” The key difference, Netanyahu pointed out, was that “The Nazis tried to hide their crimes. These people went with GoPro cameras and they publicized it for the whole world to see. They were very proud of what they were doing.”
He warned of Hamas’s genocidal intentions and Iran’s open calls for Israel’s annihilation, citing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s tweets.
The Prime Minister then addressed the lies propagated against Israel, particularly regarding its conduct in the Gaza conflict. He firmly rebutted the accusation that Israel deliberately targets civilians. “The first thing they say is you’re slaughtering people deliberately. That’s a complete destruction, a complete annihilation of the laws of war.”
Netanyahu explained the tactical challenge posed by Hamas, which uses civilians as human shields – a “double war crime.” He likened Hamas’s tactic to deliberately placing civilians in harm’s way, contrasting it with accidental civilian casualties in legitimate military operations, such as the 1944 RAF bombing of Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen.
He further elaborated on the unique challenges of warfare in Gaza, describing it as a “closed arena.” He noted that Hamas “is trying to lock the Palestinian civilian population within the place where we conduct the war. That’s what they do. How do they lock them in? They shoot them if they want to leave.”
Netanyahu defended the IDF’s actions in Rafah, where despite international warnings, Israel insisted on entering to complete the mission against Hamas. “By the time we got to Rafah, 1.4 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million people were in Rafah,” he stated. He recalled being told “don’t go into Rafah,” with dire predictions of “20,000 civilian casualties.”
“I said, of course they have a place to go. That place is on the beach. It’s two kilometers away. On the beach,” Netanyahu asserted. He revealed that “within six days… the number of civilian casualties we had in Rafah was practically zero. Practically zero. Because they all left.”
The Prime Minister stressed Israel’s extraordinary efforts to prevent civilian casualties. “We are texting civilians by the millions. Millions of text messages, millions of phone calls, cellphone calls, millions of pamphlets, ‘Please get out.’ Because we are going to come in.” He highlighted that “the ratio of non-combatants to combatants killed in the most dense urban warfare arena in modern history is the lowest in the Gaza war,” a fact corroborated by experts like John Spencer of West Point.
Finally, Netanyahu debunked the “second lie” – that Israel has a policy of starvation in Gaza. “That’s the current fad, the current lie. Well, that’s false too.” He affirmed that from the war’s early days, Israel allowed the supply of “essential requirements: food, water, medicine,” providing “1.8 million tons of food and aid.” As evidence, he pointed to the physical condition of Palestinian Arab prisoners taken by the IDF. “Thousands and thousands of prisoners taking their shirt off and you don’t see one, not one emaciated from the beginning of the war to the present.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu concluded by reiterating the critical nature of the fight against antisemitism and the broader battle for civilization.
“The last thing I want to do is to address the leaders of Jewish communities who came to us from around the world. The most important thing you have to do in fighting antisemitism is to stand up and not be a coward. People value and respect people who stand up for their own rights. Do not be afraid to speak up. Speak up, stand up for the truth, stand up for the Jewish people, stand up for civilization. And I ask that all of you do the same. Thank you,” he stated.
Day 600 — Wednesday, May 28
An Israel Defense Forces aircraft eliminated a terrorist of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in Southern Lebanon on Monday, the military confirmed on Tuesday, sharing footage of the aerial attack.
The strike was carried out in the Majdal Zoun area, approximately three miles north of the border with the Jewish state, according to the IDF.
The Radwan Force is Hezbollah’s elite unit, aimed at infiltrating Israeli territory and capturing areas around the country’s northern frontier.
https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1927372498082930919
Overnight on Thursday, the IDF struck 15 Hezbollah terrorist sites across Southern Lebanon. No details about the targets were provided.
Also on Thursday, Israel Air Force fighter jets struck a “military site in the Beqaa region in southeastern Lebanon that housed Hezbollah rocket launchers and other weapons. In separate strikes, the IAF targeted additional terrorist infrastructure across the region.
The same day, an Israeli aircraft killed a Radwan Force operative in the Rab Thalathin area, which is less than a mile from Israel’s security fence.
On May 21, the IAF killed a senior Hezbollah weapons engineer in a strike in the Tyre area of southwestern Lebanon. Hussein Nazih Barji operated within the Iranian-backed terrorist organization’s Research, Development and Production Directorate, according to the IDF.
On May 20, the IDF confirmed the killing of another top Hezbollah leader in the village of Al-Mansouri, also in the Tyre District. He had been responsible for planning attacks and facilitating arms transfers.
Defense Minister Israel Katz repeatedly warned that the Nov. 26 ceasefire deal with Beirut would be void if Hezbollah refuses to withdraw from Southern Lebanon as required by the agreement.
The situation in Lebanon remains volatile following the expiration of the ceasefire on Feb. 18. The deal ended over a year of war, after Hezbollah began attacking Israel the day after the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
Although Jerusalem has withdrawn most of its ground forces since the war ended, it still controls five strategic positions in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials have stated that the IDF will retain control of these areas until the Lebanese army demonstrates it can maintain security there.
Day 599 — Tuesday, May 27
Israel accused the UN’s Tom Fletcher of “libel” for a second time, after the relief chief claimed there are “10,000 [aid] trucks on the [Gaza] border right now, cleared and ready to go,” in a CNN interview on Monday.
“We’ve got 10,000 trucks on the border right now, cleared, ready to go, and we’ll do everything to get them in and save lives,” Fletcher told CNN’s Christine Amanpour.
When Amanpour repeated the number back to him incredulously, Fletcher nodded and replied, “full of food.”
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) retweeted the video, saying, “Look, it’s @UNReliefChief with another libelous lie.”
“There are no 10 thousand trucks waiting to go into Gaza. What there are, are hundreds of trucks’ worth of aid the UN hasn’t picked up from the Gazan side over the last few days, after we gave you plenty of routes you can use to safely distribute the aid throughout the entire Gaza.”
This comes less than a week after Fletcher told the BBC that 14,000 Gazan babies would die within the next 48 hours unless aid reached them.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) later retracted the claim when asked to verify by the BBC.
Day 599 — Tuesday, May 27
NBC reported on Sunday that Joseph Neumayer, a dual citizen of the United States and Germany, was arrested at JFK International Airport after allegedly attempting to bomb the U.S. Embassy Office in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 19. On the day of the attack, Neumayer posted an anti-American and anti-Western message online.
“Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f— the west,” Neumayer wrote. He reportedly left a backpack containing three Molotov cocktails outside the U.S. diplomatic mission close to the Tel Aviv seafront. Israeli authorities later arrested him in his Tel Aviv hotel room and deported him from the country. He was eventually rearrested upon his return to the United States on Sunday. If convicted, Neumayer could potentially face 20 years in U.S. prison.
Furthermore, Neumayer reportedly also planned to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump.
US Attorney-General Pam Bondi responded by emphasizing her office would not “tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting US interests abroad.”
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,” Bondi said in an official statement. “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned Neumayer’s “despicable and violent behavior,” vowing that this conduct would not be accepted “at home or abroad.”
Israeli authorities have so far refrained from commenting in public on the NBC report.
In December 2017, Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the de facto capital of the State of Israel. In May 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Israel officially moved its headquarter from Tel Aviv to its current location in Jerusalem. However, Washington has simultaneously maintained its former embassy office in Tel Aviv.
Israeli security tends to be tight around sensitive sites such as the U.S. diplomatic mission. It is therefore currently unclear how the perpetrator succeeded in placing the backpack with the Molotov cocktails outside the U.S. diplomatic mission, which is located close to Tel Aviv’s popular beachfront.
In July 2024, one person was killed and eight were injured when the Iranian-backed Yemen-based Houthi terrorist militia launched a drone attack against Tel Aviv. The suicide drone somehow evaded Israel’s advanced aerial defenses and exploded into a residential apartment building close to the former U.S. embassy.
Meanwhile, threats against Israeli embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide have increased dramatically since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attended on Monday a memorial service honoring the murdered Israeli Embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The couple, who were about to get engaged, were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked Noem for showing solidarity with the Jewish state.
“I want to thank Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem for her important visit to Israel,” Sa’ar stated.
“This visit – after the horrific murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim in Washington – shows solidarity and demonstrates the close relations between our people,” the foreign minister continued. “Our hearts break for this loss of young, promising lives.”
Day 598 — Monday, May 26
Preparations were underway in Israel on Sunday as the Jewish state was set to celebrate Jerusalem Day, marking 58 years since the June 1967 reunification of the holy city and liberation of Judea and Samaria.
The festivities were set to kick off at sundown with a public prayer service and the unfurling of a giant Israeli flag at the Western Wall Plaza in the Old City, attended by religious and public officials.
Jerusalem Day celebrations are scheduled to continue throughout the day on Monday with a festive morning prayer at the Western Wall and a special broadcast for elementary-school students, followed by the iconic Flag March with tens of thousands of participants expected to join.
Despite the ongoing war with Hamas, the parade received approval to march its usual route from the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, continuing into the Old City via Damascus Gate and ending at the Western Wall.
Thousands of police officers will be deployed in the nation’s capital.
Also during the day on Monday, two state memorial ceremonies are set to be held at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl: one at 11 a.m. for Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel, and one at 2 p.m. for the fallen of the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1967-70 War of Attrition.
Jerusalem Day, celebrated on 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, marks the city’s reunification, an event of profound historical and [Biblical] significance, bringing the city under sole Jewish rule after almost 2,000 years of foreign occupation.
As a result of the 1967 military victory, the Jewish state also captured the Golan Heights from Syria, the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, and Judea and Samaria from Jordan.
In a video message on Sunday afternoon, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that the United States is “proud to join our close ally Israel in celebrating the 58th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.”
U.S. President Donald Trump “reaffirmed the historic connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem that goes back over 3,500 years when he had the moral clarity to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital and then move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem,” the ambassador said.
“On this Jerusalem Day, as thousands of Israeli soldiers are away from their families, courageously fighting terrorists in Gaza, and 58 hostages are still being held captive in the dungeons of Gaza, I want the people of Israel to know that America stands with you,” Huckabee said. “Your fight is our fight. Your enemies are our enemies. Israel’s victory is our victory, and together, we will prevail, and we will pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Day 598 — Monday, May 26
An IDF spokesperson has revealed updated data and details about the ongoing fighting in Gaza under Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” a direct continuation of military activity over the past year and a half.
According to the data, the IDF is expected to achieve full operational control over approximately 75% of the Gaza Strip within two months. As of now, the IDF controls over 40% of the territory.
Since the end of the ceasefire, the IDF has struck 2,900 targets and eliminated more than 800 terrorists. Among those killed are over 50 key operatives and knowledge sources, including 11 senior Hamas officials, 10 battalion and deputy battalion commanders, 18 company commanders, and 12 figures tied to Hamas’ military buildup. Two knowledge sources within Hamas’ military intelligence were also eliminated.
“Gideon’s Chariots” is a direct continuation of Operation “Firm Hand,” launched two months ago. During that operation, IDF forces eliminated hundreds of terrorists, bisected Gaza, and took control of the Morag corridor. The IDF cleared the Rafah area, expanded security zones, and destroyed enemy compounds in both southern and northern Gaza. The campaign is based on “studying the enemy and developing new methods to destroy and defeat Hamas.”
“We are moving toward decisive victory. The lives of the hostages are constantly on the minds of IDF soldiers and commanders. The IDF is doing everything possible to avoid harming them. Continued military pressure is a key factor in toppling Hamas and bringing the hostages home. The two goals are interconnected. Defeating Hamas supports hostage recovery,” said a senior military official.
The IDF assesses that Hamas is now “severely weakened,” facing immense pressure in Gaza and at a dead end. Most of its senior leadership has been eliminated, and its governing capacity is significantly impaired, with many of its key figures killed and severe internal governance challenges.
This, the IDF notes, is creating “cracks in the identity, reverence, and dependence of the Palestinian population on Hamas.” However, Hamas still maintains functionality within its core brigades.
The IDF is now operating with a new territorial control strategy “creating new opportunities, adapting tactics, and examining the shifting reality.’ Under this doctrine, the IDF aims to clear and destroy all terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and retain control of the area to prevent Hamas from regrouping or rebuilding its capabilities.
This approach, according to the IDF, is “collapsing Hamas from within,” undermining its military strength, destabilizing its control on the ground, and eroding public trust.
Day 597 — Sunday, May 25
The Israeli military announced on Friday that it is preparing for a potential multi-front war with Iran and its regional terror proxies amid stalled nuclear negotiations for a hostage release-ceasefire deal.
A recent Israeli military drill, “Barak Tamir,” reportedly simulated preparedness for a multifront regional conflict. The exercise tested emergency coordination between civilian and military agencies, with a focus on protecting critical infrastructure and the home front, as the Iranian regime continues to openly call for Israel’s destruction.
“This exercise was designed to refine coordination and improve the speed and quality of response during escalating scenarios,” an IDF spokesperson stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump has emphasized that he will not allow the ayatollah regime to acquire a nuclear bomb. Washington is currently attempting to reach a diplomatic agreement with Iran concerning its nuclear program. However, both the U.S. and Iran have expressed concerns about the possibility of reaching a deal due to significant differences between the two sides. The Trump administration demands an end of Iranian uranium enrichment, while the Iranian regime insists it will continue enriching uranium close to weapons-grade level, which would make Iran a nuclear threshold state.
Last month, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) reportedly conducted drills for a potential strike on Iran’s covert nuclear should diplomatic efforts fail. The IAF has been preparing for such a high-stake scenario for many years. Some Israeli and U.S. military officials have warned that a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would likely lead to a multi-front war in the Middle East.
It remains unclear how a potential future multifront war would differ from previous conflicts involving Iran and its proxies – the terrorist organizations Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
In February, U.S. intelligence predicted that Israel would “likely” strike Iran’s nuclear facilities within the next six months as Tehran approached the threshold for developing nuclear weapons.
Iran responded by warning that Israel will receive a “devastating and decisive response” if it were to strike.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to defend Iran’s nuclear facilities against an Israeli or U.S. military strike.
“They are trying to frighten us with war but are miscalculating, as they are unaware of the powerful popular and military support the Islamic Republic can muster in war conditions,” IRGC Spokesperson Alimohammad Naini warned.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is currently representing Iran in the nuclear talks with Washington, warned that Iran might take “special measures” to defend its nuclear assets and its accumulated enriched uranium.
Earlier this week, Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. and European demands to halt Tehran’s uranium enrichment, calling them as “excessive and outrageous.”
“No one in Iran is waiting for American approval to enrich uranium. We will not accept such demands,” Khamenei said in a defiant speech in Tehran.
Day 596 — Saturday, May 24
An anti-Israel activist group linked to the library takeover at Columbia University put out a statement Friday praising alleged Capital Jewish Museum shooter Elias Rodriguez’s shocking crime as “an act of solidarity and love.”
“What Elias Rodriguez did was an act of solidarity and love for the Palestinian people,” Unity of Fields wrote on X. “If this seems crazy and unhinged to you, ask yourself why you are so well adjusted to a constant stream of disemboweled and starving children—made possible by the country in which you reside.”
In a separate post, the group also touted Rodriguez’s reported manifesto titled, “ESCALATE FOR GAZA, BRING THE WAR HOME,” and provided a link for it.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, Unity of Fields is a “radical far-left, anti-Zionist ‘direct action network’ that engages in and/or promotes aggressive, targeted protests and the defacement of property belonging to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and individuals it considers supportive of Israel or Zionism or ‘complicit’ in Israel’s alleged actions.”
Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, is accused of fatally shooting Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, late Wednesday night as they were leaving the American Jewish Committee’s Young Diplomats Reception. Lischinsky and Milgrim were reportedly just days away from getting engaged when they were gunned down.
After allegedly slaying the young Jewish couple, Rodriguez entered the museum and was detained by authorities before he began shouting “Free, free Palestine!”
On Thursday, Unity of Fields described Rodriguez as “a political prisoner” and said “the people defending him the hardest, like us, are people also facing repression.”
“We don’t condemn armed resistance,” the group said in another post. “We don’t condemn direct action. We back the left and want this energy to be more organized as opposed to shunned and isolated.”
According to the New York Post, Unity of Fields is the same group that distributed leaflets celebrating a Palestinian terrorist during the takeover of Columbia’s Butler Library by anti-Israel protesters on May 7. NYPD officers were ultimately called in to clear the library’s vandalized reading room.
The Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students X account accused Unity of Fields of being “intimately involved in the planning and execution of antisemitic protest and propaganda activities at @Columbia.”
“Now they’re actively cheering on yesterday’s tragic DC murder of 2 Israeli embassy staffers,” it wrote. “This is what their ultimate goal is, and why we keep saying that these protests make the Jewish campus community unsafe.”
In a reply, the Israel War Room X account said that Unity of Fields’ account “is inciting domestic terrorism,” and tagged Justice Department Civil Rights Division Senior Counsel Leo Terrell, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Day 596 — Saturday, May 24
A Jewish protester was arrested by London’s Metropolitan police for a placard he held mocking the eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Telegraph revealed on Friday.
The anonymous man was detained and charged last September for the cartoon, which featured Nasrallah and the words “beep, beep, beep” – a reference to Israel’s majorly successful pager operation.
The pagers killed dozens of Hezbollah agents and wounded thousands of terrorists. While Nasrallah survived the small explosions, he was killed a week later in an airstrike.
The terror group entered a war with Israel after it began launching attacks on the Jewish state a day after its Palestinian ally, Hamas, invaded southern Israel on October 7 and murdered some 1,200 people.
Police were reported to have repeatedly questioned the man if he thought the placard would offend “clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel” activists.
Hezbollah is a recognized terrorist organization in the United Kingdom; thus, supporting the group publicly is a criminal offense.
In recordings of the police interrogation seen by the Telegraph, officers asked the man: “Do you think that showing this image to persons protesting who are clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel that by doing so would stir up racial hatred further than it is already?”
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said it was an example of “two-tier policing in action”.
“In recent times, the police have failed to act when confronted with protesters calling for jihad and intifada in London. Yet this man was apparently arrested because he might have offended supporters of a banned terrorist organisation,” Philip told the Telegraph.
“This is two-tier policing in action. The law is rightly clear that supporting banned terrorist groups, inciting violence, inciting racial hatred or harassing people is illegal. Beyond that, free speech applies to everyone.
“The police sometimes turn a blind eye when applying the law might be difficult, yet over-police at other times. The law should be applied equally to all, robustly and without fear or favour. That is not what happened here.”
Carl Woolf, specialist criminal solicitor advocate at Woolf Law LLP representing the Jewish man, countered to the officers: “Are you saying that there were pro-Hezbollah people there? Because it is a proscribed terrorist organisation.”
“I am aware of that,” the officer reportedly affirmed while continuing the line of questioning.
Despite the placard not belonging to the Jewish protester, and him only holding it for three minutes, officers raided the man’s house in search of the cardboard sign, according to the Telegraph.
“Two police vans and six officers turned up at our house to search for ‘offensive material’, which was quite invasive. It was a horrible experience,” he said. “They put me in the lounge and asked my partner to go with them around the house. They weren’t very pleasant to her and even went through her knicker drawer. It was totally ridiculous.”
The Jewish man was charged under the Public Order Act for causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm, or distress by words or writing. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case earlier this month, citing a lack of evidence.
“The Met Police are still completely out of their depth when it comes to policing the anti-Israel hate marches we’ve seen on our streets week in, week out since the October 7 attacks,” the protester told the British newspaper.
“It beggars belief that police could think that this placard may be offensive to supporters of Hezbollah. If there are Hezbollah supporters at these marches, then why weren’t charges brought against them for terrorist offences, rather than me being charged for holding a sign that can only be construed as political satire?
“I didn’t realise how relieved I was until I heard I wasn’t going to court.”
Day 595 — Friday, May 23
Tehran will hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a letter to the United Nations published on Thursday.
“We believe that in the event of any attack on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime, the U.S. government will also be involved and bear legal responsibility,” Araghchi said, according to the Saudi outlet Al Arabiya.
In addition, the foreign minister posted on X that if the international community did not take “preventive measures” against Israel, Iran would be compelled to take “special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities and materials.”
Iranian officials on Wednesday dismissed as “psychological warfare,” reports that Israel is preparing a military strike on its nuclear facilities.
The reports cited fresh U.S. intelligence assessments indicating that Israel is doing just that, to be ready if negotiations between Washington and the Islamic Republic collapse.
The Islamic Republic’s economic troubles are already deep, with American sanctions biting hard and water and energy infrastructure faltering, sparking repeated public protests in recent years. On the regional front, Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” has crumbled, with Bashar Assad no longer in power in Syria and Hezbollah devastated in Lebanon.
Since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, his administration has reinitiated its maximum pressure campaign, which is marked by strong sanctions.
Negotiations resumed on April 12 after weeks of Trump-era threats to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. Four rounds of indirect talks have been held so far, mediated by Oman, with Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff even meeting directly—an unusual occurrence since Trump unilaterally pulled out of the original 2015 deal during his first term.
Last week, Trump struck an optimistic tone, claiming Iran had “more or less agreed” to the terms of a new deal. But Iranian officials have since issued a series of furious statements, especially in response to Trump’s continued threats of military action and his warning that Iran must “act fast or something bad will happen.”
Khamenei rejected out of hand Washington’s demand that Iran stop enriching uranium altogether, calling it “outrageous and insulting,” and predicted the talks were likely to fail.
Day 595 — Friday, May 23
A group of keffiyeh-wearing anti-Israel protesters ripped up and burned diplomas outside Columbia University on Wednesday shortly after a graduation ceremony at the Ivy League institution, while unruly demonstrators also tangled with police.
Chaos erupted outside the university when the protesters – many of whom had their faces covered with masks – torched diplomas in food trays next to a sign that read “Free Mahmoud Khalil,” the former student who was arrested by immigration agents in March and whom the Trump administration is trying to deport.
“Free, free Palestine,” and “You’re committing genocide,” the protesters yelled in the rain to the sound of drums.
At least three people could be seen ripping up diplomas, although only one of them was wearing a Columbia blue robe. The group was surrounded by older demonstrators who didn’t appear to be students and others holding signs indicating they were alumni of the university.
Police moved in and put out the flames, making one arrest, the NYPD said.
Later, protesters clashed with police across the street from the entrance to Columbia. They attempted to push through barriers, but a heavy police force stopped them in their tracks.
The protest group then left and headed down 116th Street toward the Hudson River with the NYPD following.
The Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) group, which Khalil helped lead, encouraged students to protest beforehand, taking issue with the university celebrating Prof. Zvi Galil, who has served as the dean of Columbia and as president of Tel Aviv University.
It was the latest in a long line of protests to rock the Manhattan college since the onset of the war in Gaza. Last year, the university’s encampment protests ignited a wave of campus protests throughout the country.
The chaos at Columbia culminated in students taking control of Hamilton Hall and violently clashing with police in riot gear. The ugly scenes saw more than 200 people arrested.
Two weeks ago, students protested inside a library at Columbia, which led to dozens more arrests as the university leadership said it would take a harder approach to illegal behavior on campus.
Day 594 — Thursday, May 22
Netanyahu: Security To Be Upped In Israeli Embassies After 'Horrifying' Targeted Killing Of Staffers
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says security will be stepped up at Israeli embassies around the world, after two Israeli embassy staff members were killed in a shooting outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.
In a statement by his office, Netanyahu says he’s “shocked by the horrifying antisemitic murder,” adding that he was updated on the details by the Israeli ambassador to the US and by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, the latter of whom said America will bring the murderer to justice.
Netanyahu thanks Bondi and US President Donald Trump “for standing clearly against antisemitism.”
“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel,” Netanyahu says. “The blood libels against Israel are costing us blood and must be fought relentlessly.”
He adds: “My heart aches with the families of the young couple, whose lives were cut short by a despicable antisemitic murderer. I have ordered security arrangements to be boosted in Israeli diplomatic missions around the world and around representatives of the state.”
Day 594 — Thursday, May 22
Two Israeli embassy staffers were shot and killed in an anti-Semitic shooting attack in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening around 9 PM. According to a spokesperson for the embassy, the diplomats were shot “at close range” while attending an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Israel’s Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, confirmed in a post on X that one of the victims of the attack was Yaron Lischinsky (28), who worked in the political department of the Israeli Embassy. The second victim was confirmed to be a young woman named Sarah Milgrim.
“Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues,” the Embassy said in a statement. “They were in the prime of their lives. This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”
The gunman, Elias Rodriguez (30), was arrested by police and can be seen in footage chanting “Free, Free Palestine!” as he was taken into custody.
Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith stated that the shooter “was observed pacing outside” the event, hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), before opening fire on a group of four individuals exiting the museum. Two victims were unconscious when police arrived on the scene and later succumbed to their wounds.
President Donald Trump emphasized the antisemitic nature of the attack, writing on Truth Social: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, called the shooting “a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism.”
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he warned. “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.”
The Jewish museum where the diplomats were murdered is located in close proximity to the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the US Attorney’s Office. AG Pam Bondi reportedly visited the scene where the shooting occurred, stating that she is “praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more.”
ZAKA, a Jewish rescue and recovery organization, lamented the tragedy, writing: “Sadly, many countries still turn a blind eye to Israel’s just struggle and the challenges faced by the Jewish people. Today, just after the March of Support in New York, we were once again reminded of how vital it is to stand united against terror.”
Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, speaking of the victims, stated that the two young diplomats were a couple who were planning to become engaged in Jerusalem the following week.
Day 593 — Wednesday, May 21
The United Kingdom has suspended trade negotiations with Israel and summoned their ambassador over what the Prime Minister called Israel’s “intolerable“ military operation in Gaza.
The “level of suffering, innocent children being bombed again, is utterly intolerable”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the UK Parliament on Tuesday, as he told the speaker: “I want to put on record today that we’re horrified by the escalation from Israel. We repeat out demand for a ceasefire”.
He said: “We repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank, and repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza“.
These comments came hours after a joint statement by the leaders of the UK, Canada, and France threatened “concrete actions“ if Israel does not cease military offensive and lift restrictions on aid deliveries. That military offensive was launched after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack that killed nearly 1,200 people.
Later on Tuesday, the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also addressed Parliament on Israel, announcing the United Kingdom had suspended trade talks with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador. He told the house: “We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict… We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
The Times newspaper notes that as Lammy spoke, other members of Parliament shouted “genocide“ from the benches.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile warned the United Kingdom, France, and Canada they were handing Hamas a “huge prize“ and “inviting more atrocities“ by trying to end the war before the destruction of Hamas.
Telling the UK its turning from Israel was dangerous, Netanyahu said, reports the Daily Telegraph: “Israel accepts President Trump’s vision and urges all European leaders to do the same… the war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled and Gaza is demilitarised. No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won’t.”
The hardening of sentiment by the British government towards Israel is just the latest such development since the left-wing Labour government took power last year. Under the previous Conservative government, Israel had received support including weapons contracts and tacit defence at the International Criminal Court as it attempted to arrest Netanyahu.
Yet those legal opinions were withdrawn after that government fell, the British have now accused Israel of breaching international law, and may be on the path to recognising a Palestinian state. Activists in the UK also target companies providing military equipment to Israel, breaking into weapons factories and smashing the equipment.
Day 593 — Wednesday, May 21
In the face of recent condemnation from U.S. President Donald Trump over Iran’s support for the Hamas terrorist organization, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Hamas officials in Tehran.
The Hamas delegation on Monday included Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas political bureau, and Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official in Tehran, according to a report in Iran’s Mehr News Agency. The news agency offered no details on the content of the discussions, stating only that the two Hamas leaders were in Tehran to attend the Tehran Dialogue Forum, an event hosted by the Iranian Foreign Ministry intended to promote regional cooperation and diplomacy.
Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ “Politburo,“ currently resides in Qatar, along with Khaled Meshaal and Khalil al-Hayya. Osama Hamdan reportedly lives in Lebanon.
Araghchi met several times with Hamas leaders earlier this year, including with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. During that visit to Qatar, Araghchi joined a meeting of the Hamas Politburo in which the group discussed ongoing hostage-ceasefire negotiations and the conditions in Gaza.
Documents discovered by Israel Defense Forces in Gaza revealed that Hamas and the Iranian regime were in regular communication regarding the Iranian plans to invade Israel. Hamas requested financial assistance and attempted to coordinate a collaborative attack, however, it was not able to convince Iran to actively participate in the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion and massacre.
The Iranian regime has long provided funding to Hamas, though support was briefly reduced during the previous Trump administration due to stringent sanctions on Iran.
Meanwhile, Turkey has also continued to host Hamas leaders, including hosting a delegation of leaders for a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in April. The Turkish government has refused to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in the Jewish state and, instead, has increasingly condemned Israel.
Day 592 — Tuesday, May 20
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday criticized the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada after they warned of “concrete actions” unless Jerusalem halts its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed, and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa, and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, while inviting more such atrocities,” he said according to a statement from his office.
The statement reiterated that the war began when “Palestinian terrorists stormed our borders, murdered 1,200 innocent people and abducted over 250 more innocents to the dungeons of Gaza.”
Netanyahu noted that Israel backs U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace vision and urged European leaders to do the same.
“The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled, and Gaza is demilitarized. No nation can be expected to accept anything less, and Israel certainly won’t,” the statement continued.
“This is a war of civilization over barbarism. Israel will continue to defend itself by just means until total victory is achieved,” it concluded.
Earlier on Monday, the three countries issued a joint communiqué expressing strong opposition to expanded Israel Defense Forces operations in Gaza and calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter,” the statement read.
While reaffirming support for the Jewish state’s right to self-defense, the countries said the current military escalation was unjustified.
“Israel suffered a heinous attack on Oct. 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate,” they said. “We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”
The statement also reiterated support for a two-state solution, pointing to an upcoming international conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, scheduled to take place next month in New York.
“These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve and ensure long-term stability in the region,” the countries said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar strongly criticized Hamas’s praise for the countries’ statement, which the terrorist group called “a step in the right direction.” Sa’ar wrote on X: “What a disgrace.”
Day 592 — Tuesday, May 20
Firefighting teams have halted the spread of a fire that erupted in a valley near Jerusalem, the Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed on Friday morning.
Staff-Sergeant-Major Benjamin Schindler, fire investigator at the Samaria Regional Station, said that he found several ignition points near Nablus, indicating that an arsonist sparked the fires.
“After completing firefighting operations, I began an investigation at the scene, during which, I found several ignition points at some distance from each other in the direction of Kafr Kallil toward Mount Gerizim.
“Due to the topography and wind conditions, the flames climbed up the mountain, and two fire centers developed. Firefighters succeeded in gaining control of the fire in both areas.”
Earlier, the Fire and Rescue Authority said that the fire was “advancing rapidly and endangering nearby houses, as well as the walking and biking trails in the area.”
At least 10 fire and rescue teams were dispatched, with four firefighting aircraft in assistance to get the fire under control.
Day 591 — Monday, May 19
At the Jerusalem Conference in New York City, Ayelet Samerano, the mother of hostage Yonatan Mordechai Samerano, gave an emotional and powerful speech calling for the return of her son and all hostages still held in Gaza.
“Hello, my name is Ayelet and I’m the mother of Yonatan Mordechai Samerano who was shot at the entrance of Kibbutz Be’eri and was abducted by a social worker from UNRWA,” she began.
Noting her participation in the Celebrate Israel Parade in Manhattan alongside other hostage families earlier in the day, Ayelet said, “I chose today to see you, to hear you, all of you and I want to tell you, the people of Israel live, the people of Israel always live… all Jews are brothers and they do not let their brothers fall.”
Her words turned to fierce criticism of the United Nations. “We marched today in New York… in a city where ambassadors and people who have taken upon themselves a mission of peace and not of war. But the United Nations kidnapped my son.”
“The United Nations ignores everything related to the rights of the people of Israel and the United Nations does not do what it was established for,” she charged. “I hope those people who have taken upon themselves the most important mission will wake up in time and understand that there is no place for terrorists in the world.”
She warned against the normalization of terror: “October 7 is only terrorism… Whoever chooses to see the events of October 7 as if it were part of a regional conflict… is deliberately turning a blind eye. I’m here to tell and to warn them: don’t be surprised if it will knock on your door one day.”
Calling on the global community to reject excuses for terror and to stand with Israel, she emphasized: “The hostages are people, they are our children, they are our parents, they are our brothers. They had happy experiences and funny stories. They had achievements and dreams for a lifetime. And they need to return to their families.”
In a final, heart-wrenching moment, Ayelet recited the names of all 58 hostages still in captivity and then added, “We are waiting for you at home. Just a little more. We will not rest and will not stop until everyone returns.”
Day 591 — Monday, May 19
Israel’s foreign intelligence service Mossad has recovered the official Syrian intelligence archive on Israeli spy Eli Cohen in a covert operation, the agency and the Prime Minister’s Office announced in a joint statement on Sunday.
The archive includes some 2,500 original documents, photographs and personal items which were recently recovered as part of a decades-long effort to shed light on the fate and place of burial of the legendary spy.
In the early 60s, Cohen infiltrated the top levels of Syria’s political leadership by posing as a wealthy patriotic Arab businessman, developing close relationships with both political and military leaders.
After his discovery and arrest, Cohen was tried by a military tribunal and was eventually executed on May 18, 1965. His body was never returned to Israel.
This Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea presented Cohen’s widow, Nadia, with several original documents and personal items, including the original will written by Cohen himself only hours before his execution, of which only a copy had been known.
The archive was recovered in a “covert and complex” operation, “in cooperation with an allied foreign intelligence service,” according to the statement. It held “thousands of findings that were held for decades by the Syrian security forces in a highly compartmentalized manner.”
“Eli Cohen was a legend. In the test of time, he has been revealed as the greatest intelligence agent in the annals of the state; his heroism and his activity contributed to our historic victory in the Six Day War,” Netanyahu said.
“The Eli Cohen archive, which was brought in a special effort, will educate generations, and expresses the unwavering commitment to bring back home all of our missing, captives and hostages.”
The items were collected by Syrian intelligence after Cohen’s capture in January 1965 and include recordings from investigations of him and his contacts, letters sent to his family in Israel, photographs of his spy activities in Syria and personal objects taken from his Damascus home after his capture.
The Mossad managed to recover the keys to Cohen’s apartment, various passports and documentation used to fake his identity, and many photographs of Eli Cohen with senior Syrian government and military officials.
The intelligence agency also found documentation of the espionage missions Cohen was given by the Mossad, including a request to surveil a target and a mission to gather intelligence on Syrian military bases in Quneitra, a town on the Israeli border.
Other documents included the original execution sentence which indicated that the head of the Jewish community in Damascus, Rabbi Nissim Indibo was to be allowed to minister to Eli Cohen according to Jewish tradition before his death.
The Syrian intelligence service also maintained a file on Nadia Cohen, following her efforts to secure her husband’s release from prison before he was killed, including many letters sent to world leaders and the President of Syria.
“Over the years, the Mossad has worked together with partners in the intelligence and security communities in Israel and around the world, and has carried out dozens of actions and operations, including in enemy countries,” according to the statement.
After the fall of the Assad regime in December, Israel intensified its efforts to locate the burial sites of several soldiers who went missing in Syria over the decades-long rule of the regime.
Earlier this month, the Mossad recovered the remains of IDF soldier Tzvi Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in the First Lebanon War, from Syria.
Mossad Director Barnea stated: “Bringing the archive here is an achievement of the highest moral order and is an additional step in advancing the investigation to locate the place of burial of our man in Damascus. This important mission stands before us and we are committed to continue and do our utmost to realize it.”
“We will continue to act to locate and return all of our missing, fallen and hostages – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for eternal rest after a proper Jewish burial.”
Day 590 — Sunday, May 18
Iran's Khamenei Launches Tirade Against America And Israel After Trump's Return From The Middle East
Just hours after President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East visit, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday launched a tirade against America and Israel, charging that Trump is a liar and calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.
“Trump said he wants to use power for peace. He’s lying,” wrote Khamenei on X, adding, “Some of the remarks made during the US President’s trip to the region aren’t even worth a response at all. The level of those remarks is so low that they are a source of shame for the American nation.”
Washington has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism since the 1980s. The rabidly anti-Western and antisemitic ayatollah called the Jewish state—America’s key ally in the Middle East — a “cancerous tumor” that must be uprooted.
According to the Trump administration, Khamenei’s regime is the world’s leading state-sponsor of antisemitism.
Khamenei also took aim at the Sunni Arab countries that are allied with the U.S. in the Mideast, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
“This failed model, where Arab states are told they can’t survive ten days without US support, is being imposed again. But it will collapse, and America will leave this region.”
The wily 86-year-old revolutionary Islamist said that Washington aimed to promote Sunni Arab dependency on Washington. “The US wants these countries unable to function without it — that’s the message in their behavior and their proposals.”
Khamenei also accused America of using its resources to attack the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
“The US has used its power to massacre in Gaza, to stoke war wherever possible, and to arm its mercenaries,” said Khamenei. The U.S.-designated terrorist movement, Hamas, is a strategic partner of Iran’s regime. Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, and slaughtered over 1,200 people, including many Americans.
During his trip to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Trump called Iran’s regime the main force of instability in the Middle East.
“The biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond, “said Trump in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alireza Nader, a Washington, D.C., expert on Iran’s regime, told Fox News Digital that Iran “has been dealt a severe military setback by Israel, and the Iranian public desires the regime’s overthrow. President Trump has an overwhelming advantage in the negotiations and could severely restrict and limit the regime’s nuclear program.”
Trump said he wants a deal with Iran to stop its illegal nuclear weapons program. In his speech, Trump told Iran that it must abandon its drive to build an atomic bomb.
“While you have been constructing the world’s tallest skyscrapers in Jeddah and Dubai, Tehran’s 1979 landmarks are collapsing into rubble,” Trump said. “[Iran’s] corrupt water mafia . . . causes droughts and empty riverbeds. They get rich.”
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon condemned a United Nations official over remarks that he said “shattered any notion of neutrality.”
On Tuesday, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher accused Israel of committing genocide in his remarks before the U.N. Security Council.
“Israel is deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” Fletcher told the Security Council on Tuesday. He went on to say that most of Gaza “is either within Israeli-militarized zones or under displacement orders.”
“Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead that ‘we did all we could?’,” Fletcher said.
In his response, Danon said Fletcher’s remarks “shocked and disturbed” him, accusing the U.N. official of making an “utterly inappropriate and deeply irresponsible” statement that “shattered any notion of neutrality.”
“You had the audacity, in your capacity as a senior U.N. official, to stand before the Security Council and invoke the charge of genocide without evidence, mandate, or restraint,” Danon wrote in his response. “As a senior representative of the United Nations, you are obligated to refrain from prejudging complex international matters. Yet, this is precisely what you did before the Council. You did not brief the Council; you delivered a political sermon.”
Danon questioned under whose authority Fletcher issued the accusation and said the U.N. official’s use of the word “genocide” was a “desecration and subversion of a term with unique force and weight.” He went on to say that what made Fletcher’s remarks “far worse” was the fact that Israel had “engaged with you and your office in good faith at the highest levels.”
The Israeli ambassador concluded his letter by turning the questions around on Fletcher, telling the OCHA chief to ask himself whether he had done enough to prevent Oct. 7, accelerate the release of the hostages and hold Hamas accountable.
Day 589 — Saturday, May 17
The IDF announced on Friday evening that it is working to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip as part of the preparations to expand the military campaign against Hamas.
“Over the past 24 hours, the IDF has begun extensive strikes and deployed forces to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip, as part of the initial stages of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ and the expansion of the campaign in Gaza, to achieve all objectives of the war, including the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in a statement.
“IDF forces under the Southern Command will continue to operate to protect Israeli citizens and fulfill the war’s objectives,” it added.
A senior defense official recently provided more details about “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” and stated that the goal will be “to defeat and subdue Hamas in Gaza and release all hostages.”
“A central component of the plan is the broad evacuation of the entire Gazan population from the fighting zones, including northern Gaza, to areas in southern Gaza, while creating a separation between them and Hamas terrorists – in order to allow the IDF operational freedom of action. Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any area that is conquered, in order to prevent the return of terrorism, and will handle any area that is cleared in accordance with the Rafah model, where all threats were eliminated and it became part of the security zone.”
Addressing the issue of humanitarian aid, he stated, “A humanitarian plan will be implemented, as presented yesterday by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, that distinguishes between the aid and Hamas by using civilian companies and designating areas that will be secured by the IDF. This includes a sterile zone in the Rafah area beyond the Morag route, where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access.”
Day 588 — Friday, May 16
Twenty Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are known to be alive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
In a video message posted to his X account, Netanyahu said, “We will not break. We will fight,” while reaffirming that intelligence assessments verify the status of 20 captives as alive.
The announcement comes amid efforts to negotiate a hostage release deal through mediators in Egypt and Qatar, with another round of talks beginning in Doha on Wednesday.
Fifty-eight hostages, living and dead, are believed to remain in Gaza.
Netanyahu said this past Wednesday night that Israel was not giving up “on a single one” of its war aims. He said that he had spoken earlier in the day with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and would discuss the hostage crisis with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee later that night.
“We’re making all efforts, including today, to bring about the release of all our hostages and to achieve our war aims. We’re not giving up on a single one,” Netanyahu said in a video post on X, contradicting claims of critics, such as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
On Tuesday, the mother of Edan Alexander, 21, the IDF soldier released by Hamas on Monday, pointedly omitted the prime minister from the list of those she thanked for her son’s freedom.
However, Witkoff relayed to the family that Netanyahu’s efforts were critical to her son’s release.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a series of extended meetings with Witkoff and members of the negotiating team regarding the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The discussions coincided with Trump’s arrival in Qatar, which has served as a key mediator in the talks, alongside Egypt and the United States.
Day 588 — Friday, May 16
Every time I say anything critical about Donald Trump I can be assured of one thing, I am going to lose subscribers. It’s like clockwork. So, I will begin this news item saying that Donald Trump on his worst day is light years better than Kamala Harris on her best day. I like Donald Trump. Had I been an American citizen, he would have received my vote. However, just because I support someone, it doesn’t mean that I can’t disagree with them and call them out when I believe they deserve it. And on this Middle East trip, I think he deserves to be called out in a few areas.
It didn’t begin with this trip. Even before he left for my neighborhood, his administration signed a ceasefire deal with the Houthis. Somehow in the hoopla of it all, he neglected to tell Israel about it, allowing us to learn about the agreement through the media. Essentially, he said that as long as the Yemenite terrorists don’t attack any American ships, he will refrain from dropping thousands of pounds of explosives on their cities and ports. Nowhere in that treaty does it mention desisting from firing cruise missiles at Israel. In fact, while Trump was in Saudi Arabia making a speech, a Houthi-fired missile flew over that country on its way to mine. The president also made statements about possibly allowing Saudi Arabia to develop its own nuclear program, a decision that Israel would like to have been a part of, considering the kingdom of Saud is our neighbor.
Let me say ahead of time that I understand that this is a business tour and the president is an America-first businessman. I don’t fault him for that. That is who he was elected to be, and for me to expect him to put Bible before business is unfair. Not only is he a businessman, but he is a New York businessman. That means he has had to deal with every type of person, no matter their character, in the unions, in construction, in government, in zoning, in the legal system, wherever. It seems evident to me that the truism that you catch more bees with honey than vinegar guides much of his philosophy. I try to keep that in mind when I see him hobnobbing with the Emir of Qatar and hear him calling the new Syrian president, who until four months ago had a $10 million bounty on his head, “a young, attractive guy.” Despite the fake news media, there are no indications that President Trump has thrown Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu under the bus. The United States is still our greatest ally, and I don’t see that changing under this administration.
Day 587 — Thursday, May 15
During an exchange in Spain’s Congress on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Israel a “genocidal state”—an escalation in his already harsh rhetoric about the Jewish State.
Sánchez made his remark, which drew strong condemnations from Israel and Jewish groups, in response to a question about trade with Israel from a lawmaker, Gabriel Rufiá, who is to the left of Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party.
“I’ll clarify one thing, Mr. Rufián. We don’t trade with a genocidal state. We don’t. I believe I explained from this platform the other day what we’re talking about, when some statements were made that weren’t true,“ Sánchez said.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it condemns and rejects the allegation, and that it will summon Spain’s ambassador to Israel for a dressing down.
Spain is on record as accusing Israel of genocide-related actions since it joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Criminal Court, along with Ireland, a fellow EU member state, and other countries. Sánchez, however, had not repeated the allegation in his own voice before Wednesday, Elías Levy Benarroch, editor-in-chief of Enfoque Judío, told JNS.
Levy Benarroch, a former executive at Spain’s leading news agency, EFE, accused Sánchez of being a “chief promoter of an antisemitic narrative“ that is taking root in Spain.
Day 587 — Thursday, May 15
A Palestinian terrorist opened fire on Israeli vehicles on Wednesday night in the northern [Judea and Samaria], striking a pregnant woman who was en route to a hospital to deliver her baby, along with her husband, the military and medics said.
The woman, identified as Tzeela Gez, 30, was rushed to Petah Tikva’s Rabin Medical Center in critical condition.
During efforts to save her life, doctors performed an emergency C-section, the medical center said. The newborn was listed in serious condition and was transferred to Schneider Children’s Hospital within the compound, where doctors were working to save his life.
Shortly after dawn on Thursday, the hospital announced the woman’s death.
Gez, a mother of three, was in her ninth month of pregnancy and was heading to a hospital to give birth to her fourth child, local authorities said.
Her husband, Hananel, who was driving the car, was only lightly hurt, the hospital said after his condition was initially listed as serious.
The Israel Defense Forces said it launched a manhunt for the terrorist who fired at several vehicles on Route 446 outside the Bruchin settlement, where the wounded couple is from.
The military said it dispatched troops and an Israeli Air Force drone for the manhunt, and that soldiers encircled and blocked the entrances to the adjacent Palestinian town of Bruqin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “deeply shocked by the horrific terrorist attack.”
“This abhorrent incident precisely reflects the difference between us, who desire and bring life, and the reprehensible terrorists, whose goal is to kill us and destroy life,” he said in the statement released by his office.
The [Judea and Samaria] has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip ignited the war there.
Since then troops have arrested some 6,000 wanted Palestinians across [Judea and Samaria], including more than 2,350 affiliated with Hamas. According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 950 [Judea and Samaria] Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.
There has also been a significant uptick in settler violence against Palestinians since the start of the war.
During the same period, 52 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and [Judea and Samaria]. Another eight members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.
Day 586 — Wednesday, May 14
Israeli forces conducted a precise strike on Tuesday, targeting members of the Hamas terror organization operating from a command and control center located in an underground facility beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
The target of the strike was Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of the dead Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who launched the Oct. 7 attack and was later killed by IDF troops. Muhammed Sinwar has effectively taken over his dead brother’s role as the leader of Hamas’ military wing for the past several months.
A joint statement from the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, revealed that Hamas continues to exploit hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terrorist activities, callously using the civilian population within and around the hospital as a shield.
The statement noted that prior to and during the operation, steps were taken to minimize the risk of harm to civilians and hostages. These measures included the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence information.
The IDF and Shin Bet vowed to maintain intense operations against Hamas, working to eliminate any threat to the citizens of Israel, according to the statement.
Day 586 — Wednesday, May 14
Israeli air defenses early on Wednesday morning intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen, according to the Israel Defense Forces. It was the third such attack since Tuesday night.
The attack triggered air-raid sirens in Jerusalem, Modi’in, Ma’ale Adumim, Gush Etzion, Mount Hebron and parts of the Dead Sea region. The warning system operated as planned, with sirens activated in accordance with standard protocol and push alerts sent in advance to residents’ mobile phones. No casualties or damage were reported.
IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning on Wednesday morning to residents of Yemen shortly after the missile fire at Israel.
“An urgent and important repeated warning to all those present in the sea ports controlled by the Houthi regime,“ the statement read.
“Due to the Houthi regime’s use of the sea ports for terrorist activity, we call on everyone in those ports to evacuate and distance themselves—until further notice.”
Following the interception, incoming flights to Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily delayed.
No injuries were reported according to Magen David Adom, aside from a woman who was hurt while making her way to a protected shelter. MDA said further updates would follow if necessary.
On Tuesday, a missile was launched at Israel from Yemen during U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia. The missile was intercepted, but triggered alarms in Jerusalem and central Israel. This was followed shortly after by another missile that fell on the way to Israel. Alarms did not sound.
Since March 18, when the IDF resumed major operations against Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have fired 33 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones toward Israel, most of which were intercepted or fell short.
Separately, the IDF reported that on Tuesday night sirens sounded in communities near the Gaza Strip and Western Lachish. Two projectiles were intercepted after crossing into Israeli territory from Gaza, while a third fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.
Day 585 — Tuesday, May 13
Former hostage Edan Alexander, who was released Monday night, has decided not to travel to Qatar to meet with US President Donald Trump, who played a role in advancing his release.
The Alexander family stated: “His medical condition requires rest. Edan will meet with Trump later in the United States.”
“The Alexander family confirms that as of now, Edan will not fly to Qatar,“ the Hostages Families Forum stated. “The family remains in continuous contact with the Trump administration.”
On Monday, it was reported that Trump had expressed interest in meeting Alexander during his visit to the Middle East, pending Alexander’s health, and there was even talk of a potential meeting with both Trump and the Emir of Qatar in Doha.
In response, Alexander’s family clarified: “President Trump and the Emir of Qatar want Edan to come meet them in their country, but everything depends solely on Edan’s will and his medical condition.”
Edan Alexander arrived Monday at Ichilov Hospital, where he reunited with his extended family after 584 days in captivity. He walked toward them holding Israeli and American flags, wearing a Golani Brigade cap — the unit in which he served before being kidnapped on the morning of October 7.
Edan told his grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, that he had seen her on TV during his time in captivity. She was emotional and asked, “Edan, you’re a hero. I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”
Earlier, he met his parents at the Re’im reception facility near the Gaza border. They had flown in from abroad to be with him.
After an emotional hug, Edan was surprised to see how much his younger brother had grown, exclaiming: “This kid is huge — who is this?”
During his helicopter flight to Ichilov Hospital for further medical evaluation, Edan wrote “Am Yisrael Chai,“ and sent a message of thanks to President Trump, as well as a note to his unit: “Go Golani!“
Alexander has described being shackled by his hands and feet and held in a cage during captivity, suffering from food deprivation, and being held with other hostages in a tunnel with no daylight.
Day 585 — Tuesday, May 13
Reports from Gaza indicate that “journalist“ Hassan Eslaiah, who broadcasted from Israeli territory during the October 7 attacks, was killed in a strike on the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Yunis, according to an announcement from the IDF spokesperson.
Eslaiah had been hospitalized at the facility following injuries sustained approximately a month ago in a previous IDF strike.
There is photographic evidence showing Eslaiah with Yahya Sinwar, according to Arab networks.
The “journalist“ worked as a freelancer for the news agencies AP and CNN. When questioned about their relationship with Eslaiah, representatives from CNN stated that he was not employed by the network on the day of the massacre but was only hired afterward. Evidence shows that on October 7, Eslaiah entered multiple kibbutzim and was documented near an IDF tank that had been attacked at the border fence – the same location from which IDF soldiers were kidnapped.
An investigation conducted following the October 7 attacks raised serious questions about the presence of journalists at the Gaza-Israel border during that devastating morning, specifically questioning whether their arrival had been coordinated with Hamas fighters. The horrific massacre images distributed by the AP news agency were produced by four individuals – among them Eslaiah. A comprehensive investigation by the HonestReporting organization, published in October 2024, uncovered evidence that journalists operating in Gaza for prominent foreign media outlets had participated in events organized by the communications ministry of the Hamas government.
Day 585 — Tuesday, May 13
The fake news media machine is working overtime to manufacture a rift between Israel and President Trump—and they concocted this tale right before the American leader was headed to Saudi Arabia. This isn’t journalism, it’s propaganda designed to tear President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu apart.
Let me guide you through how the fake news media machine works. The Jerusalem Post published a story from a “Gulf diplomatic source” that claimed: “President Donald Trump will issue a declaration regarding the State of Palestine and American recognition of it, and that there will be the establishment of a Palestinian state without the presence of Hamas.”
That’s a loaded statement from one unnamed source—no corroboration, no verification, just one “Gulf diplomat.”
Ambassador Huckabee’s response was perfect.
“Jerusalem Post needs better sources than this unidentified ‘source,’” Huckabee stated on X. “My 4-year-old grandson Teddy is more reliable. And take it from Teddy. This report is nonsense. Israel doesn’t have a better friend than President Trump!”
Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia today, eyeing a huge Saudi investment. The Crown Prince has already committed $600 billion to the United States. President Trump is pushing for one trillion and working to bring the Saudi Kingdom into a mammoth Abraham Accords peace deal between the Saudis and Israel.
Forget the rumors. Look at the evidence.
Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, despite warnings from “experts” that it would set the Middle East on fire. He recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He brokered the Abraham Accords and eliminated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who at the time was the number one terrorist in the world. Does this sound like someone who is about to abandon Israel?
Day 584 — Monday, May 12
The Israeli Cabinet voted on Sunday to back a series of “revolutionary” measures aimed at stopping what it said was the Palestinian Authority-led takeover of lands in Judea and Samaria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced.
Sunday night’s vote “nullifies the P.A.’s attempts to seize land in Area C and, under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, will lead to an arrangement for registering land in Judea and Samaria,” stated Katz.
The move “will lead to the strengthening, consolidation and expansion” of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, he continued, adding that the current war proves that “settlement in Judea and Samaria is a defensive shield for population centers in the center of Israel.”
Jerusalem “must do everything to protect and strengthen those who defend Israel’s communities and citizens,” said Katz.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the government’s latest decision was part of his “normalization and de facto sovereignty revolution.”
“For the first time, the State of Israel is taking responsibility for the territory as a permanent sovereign, and is beginning the implementation of land registration in Judea and Samaria,” he said.
“Land registration will create legal certainty, enable land reserves for the development of settlements, and prevent P.A. efforts to take control of open areas,” concluded Smotrich, who also holds a post in the Defense Ministry with responsibility for civilian matters in Judea and Samaria.
The Cabinet resolution declares that Ramallah’s attempts to create a land registry in Area C, which according to the Oslo Accords is under Jerusalem’s exclusive control, will no longer hold any legal standing.
Accordingly, P.A. documents—including maps and approvals—will no longer be used in any Israeli legal or administrative processes.
The Jewish state’s defense establishment will also be instructed to take other measures to prevent the continuation of the P.A. land registration campaign, including by blocking Ramallah’s staff from accessing areas, obstructing European Union and other foreign support and issuing a direct demand that Ramallah halt its activities in this regard.
Israel’s Regavim movement, co-founded by Smotrich and which has been at the forefront of the fight against illegal construction in Judea and Samaria, hailed the move as “a pivotal advancement in addressing a longstanding challenge.”
“For years, Israel stood idle while the Palestinian Authority aggressively pursued land registration, deploying hundreds of workers and funneling millions of dollars from international sources,” it charged in a statement.
On April 1, Katz and Smotrich vowed to put an end to what they said was the Palestinians’ scheme to seize land across Judea and Samaria.
“The State of Israel will not abandon the security of the residents and will not allow Abu Mazen and the Palestinian Authority to use illegal construction as a tool to create a strategic threat to the communities,” declared Katz, referring to P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas.
Smotrich noted that in the past year, a record number of illegal structures put up by the P.A. were demolished.
“However, we understand that in order to win this battle, additional strategic measures must be employed to bring about the desired transformation,” added the Religious Zionism Party leader.
Smotrich during his tenure has sought to foil the realization of the P.A.’s Fayyad Plan—named after former P.A. prime minister Salam Fayyad—that seeks to establish a de facto Palestinian state.
A report published by Regavim in December, two years after the finance minister took control of the Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration, showed an unprecedented decline in illegal construction in Area C.
This marked the first time in a decade that illegal construction had dropped, accompanied by increased enforcement by the Civil Administration, according to the Israeli NGO.
Day 584 — Monday, May 12
President Donald Trump revealed that Edan Alexander, 21, who is believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas, was released and “coming home to his family.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratefulness “to all those involved” in making Alexander’s release happen. Trump added that Alexander’s release by Hamas terrorists was “a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators” in order to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” Trump said. “I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
Trump expressed hope that Alexander’s release was “the first of those final steps necessary” to end the ongoing war conflict.
Trump’s post comes after Hamas issued a statement on Sunday evening that Alexander would be released.
Edan, described by his mom, Yael Alexander, as a “happy young man with a great sense of humor,” was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and went on to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after graduating high school, Haaretz News reported.
Yael told the outlet that on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, Edan was stationed at a “small outpost on the Gaza border.” Around 6:30 a.m., Yael woke up and “immediately sent a message to Edan,” and the two spoke on the phone. Yael added that the phone call was the “last” she heard from Edan.
The Alexander family issued a statement describing the news of Edan’s release as “the greatest gift imaginable,” and they expressed gratitude to Trump and Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser and assistant to the president, Northjersey.com reported.
“Today, on Mother’s Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable—news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza,” the Alexander family said in a statement. “We express our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the US administration for their tireless work to make this happen.”
The family added that they are urging Israeli officials and negotiating team to not stop, and they hope Edan’s release “begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare” for the hostages and their families.
Day 583 — Sunday, May 11
The Israeli government is reportedly preparing to launch more forceful and wider strikes on the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen in retaliation for repeated missile and drone attacks.
Israel’s pledge comes shortly after the United States and the Houthis reached a ceasefire deal. However, an unnamed Israeli official stressed that the deal would not limit Israel’s military actions against the terror group.
“We will keep hitting the Houthis. That deal doesn’t bind us – they’ll pay the price,” an Israeli security official told Ynet News.
The Houthis have fired hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel since November 2023. Israel has responded by striking Houthi targets in Yemen on several occasions. Last week, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s multilayered aerial defense system, landing close to Ben-Gurion International Airport in the central part of the country.
While the attack resulted in minimal damage, it prompted many foreign airline companies to suspend their flights to and from Israel due to security concerns.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) responded within 24 hours by striking the Houthi-held Hodeidah port, which plays a crucial role in the transfer of Iranian arms to the Houthis. The following day, the IAF launched an attack to damage the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Airport, Yemen’s primary air transportation hub.
Houthi leadership acknowledged the ceasefire with Washington but the terror group emphasized it would continue attacks against the Jewish state. On Friday, the Houthis fired yet another missile at Israel, which was successfully intercepted by the country’s aerial defense systems.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed that the latest missile was aimed at Ben-Gurion Airport. While flights were briefly halted, the airport continues to be fully operational.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the latest Houthi attack by vowing to intensify strikes on the Houthis – and potentially target their patron, the Iranian ayatollah regime.
“The Houthis continue to fire Iranian-made missiles at Israel. As promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary,” Katz warned.
Officials also told Ynet that the IDF is preparing for potentially striking the Iranian regime, warning that “Iran won’t get off easy.”
Meanwhile, large anti-Israel rallies were held in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Footage from the protests showed banners that stated, “We defeated America, we will defeat Israel.”
By contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that the Houthis begged for a ceasefire after the U.S. military struck over 800 Houthi sites and eliminated hundreds of Houthi terrorists.
Another anti-Israel slogan read, “Jaffa will chase you to your grave” – a reference to historic Jaffa – now part of Tel Aviv – whose Arab residents fought against Tel Aviv during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948.
“America failed and abandoned its defense of Zionist ships,” the protesters claimed. “We reaffirm our commitment to defend Gaza and support the resistance. We will not leave them alone.”
Hezam al-Asad, a senior Houthi official who often threatens Israel in his posts on 𝕏, wrote: “The temporary entity is under fire.”
Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti vowed to continue attacks against Israel as long as the war in Gaza continues.
“Any Israeli escalation will justify an air and naval blockade. Our operations will continue until the war of extermination in Gaza ends,” he said in an interview with Qatar’s news outlet, Al-Araby.
Day 582 — Saturday, May 10
Israeli hostage Emily Damari slammed the Pulitzer Prize board’s decision to grant their prestigious award to a New Yorker writer who viciously attacked her and another female Israeli captive on social media, saying the organization failed on a “question of humanity.”
“You claim to honor journalism that upholds truth, democracy, and human dignity. And yet you have chosen to elevate a voice that denies truth, erases victims, and desecrates the memory of the murdered,” Damari posted on X.
Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha was granted the Pulitzer Prize for his “essays on the physical and emotional carnage in Gaza,” the board announced Monday. The award came with a $15,000 prize.
Toha has frequently disparaged Israeli hostages in numerous posts on social media, including Damari.
“How on earth is this girl called a hostage? (And this is the case of most ‘hostages’). This is Emily Damari, a 28 UK-Israeli soldier that Hamas detailed on 10/7… So this girl is called a ‘hostage?’ This soldier who was close to the border with a city that she and her country have been occupying is called a ‘hostage?’“ Toha posted about Damari on January 24, 2025.
Damari, 29, who lost two fingers in her left hand when she was dragged out of her home by Hamas terrorists during their Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, detailed her excruciating ordeal in her response addressed to members of the Pulitzer Prizes board.
“On the morning of October 7, I was at home in my small studio apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas terrorists burst in, shot me and dragged me across the border into Gaza. I was one of 251 men, women, children, and elderly people kidnapped that day from their beds, their homes, and a music festival,” she wrote.
“For almost 500 days I lived in terror. I was starved, abused, and treated like I was less than human. I watched friends suffer. I watched hope dim. And even now, after returning home, I carry that darkness with me – because my best friends, Gali and Ziv Berman are still being held in the Hamas terror tunnels.”
Damari, who was freed from captivity on Jan. 19, wrote that the Pulitzer board’s decision to grant the award to Toha caused her “shock and pain.” She accused the Palestinian poet of “outright denials of documented atrocities” for his inflammatory posts which denied the murder of the Bibas family and that she and fellow Israeli captive Agam Berger were true hostages.
“The Israeli ‘hostage’ Agam Berger, who was released days ago participates in her sister’s graduation from an Israeli Air Force officers’ course. These are the ones the world wants to share sympathy for, killers who join the army and have family in the army! These are the ones whom CNN, BBC and the likes humanize in articles and TV programs and news bulletins,” Toha posted on Feb. 3, 2025.
Berger, 28, is an Israeli violinist and former Gaza border scout at base Nahal Oz who was held captive in Gaza for 482 days. She revealed how she found ways to observe the Jewish Sabbath and Passover even as her captors tried to force her to convert her to Islam and how she and a fellow scout, Liri Albag, were kept in a “small room with no natural light.” She was released from captivity on Jan. 30.
Damari and Berger declined to comment.
Toha has also denied evidence that showed the two Bibas children, 9-month-old Kfir and Ariel, 4, were killed by their captors “bare hands.” He also spread the disproven claim that Israel was behind the bombing of the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza in Oct. 2023 and appeared to deny that Israeli hostages had been tortured. Numerous Israeli hostages have testified that they were victims of or witnessed torture, including sexual assault.
“Mosab Abu Toha is not a courageous writer. He is the modern-day equivalent of a Holocaust denier. And by honoring him, you have joined him in the shadows of denial,” Damari told the Pulitzer board.
“This is not a question of politics. This is a question of humanity. And today, you have failed it,” she concluded.
A Pulitzer Prize representative did not directly address Toha’s award when reached for comment.
“The Pulitzer Prizes for reporting, commentary, literature, and the arts are based on a review of works that have been formally submitted for consideration,” a Pulitzer Prize representative told Fox News Digital.
Day 582 — Saturday, May 10
Since the launch of “Operation Iron Wall” on Jan. 21, Israeli forces have killed more than 100 terrorists, arrested approximately 320 wanted individuals and seized around 450 weapons in Judea and Samaria, the military announced on Wednesday.
Security forces have also dismantled hundreds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and pipe bombs, along with dozens of homes used as bomb-making laboratories and weapons storage facilities.
Since Hamas’s massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces have eliminated over 700 terrorists in Judea and Samaria, including 36 senior operatives from various organizations.
The military intensified its raids in the area following the Feb. 20 failed bus bombings near Tel Aviv. Three empty buses exploded, and bombs were found on two others in what is being investigated as a coordinated terror attack. At least one of the bombs reportedly bore a note, in Arabic and Hebrew, which stated: “Revenge from the Tulkarem refugee camp.”
Tulkarem—a city that borders the Samaria security barrier— and the nearby Nur Shams camp abut Israel’s densely populated coastal plain east of Netanya and is some eight miles from the Mediterranean Sea.
Israeli security officials are aware that a “more intense front” could open in Judea and Samaria amid the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 19.
The same month, it was reported that the Israeli army was putting together a bank of targets to be attacked by the Israeli Air Force in the case of an Oct. 7, 2023-style terrorist attack in Judea and Samaria.
On Feb. 23, Israeli tanks were spotted near the terrorist hotspot of Jenin for the first time since “Operation Defensive Shield,” that lasted from March to May 2002.
Palestinian terrorists targeted Israeli Jews in Judea and Samaria at least 6,343 times in 2024, according to figures published earlier this year by the Rescuers Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria) NGO.
Day 581 — Friday, May 9
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas on Thursday, declaring that the “rules are about to change” as the IDF prepares to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
“To Hamas, I say one thing: The rules are about to change very soon,” Netanyahu said during a visit to reservists of the IDF’s 5th “HaSharon” Infantry Brigade at the Tze’elim training base in the Negev.
“I came to see firsthand the quality of our soldiers—our heroes—in preparation for the intense action we are about to undertake in Gaza,” he said in remarks released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s two key objectives: “First—to defeat Hamas, to be victorious over Hamas, to eliminate Hamas. The second, of course, simultaneously—is to release our hostages.”
The prime minister also marked the anniversary of the 1972 rescue of hostages from Sabena Flight 571—a mission in which he participated, as a member of the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Matkal), and was wounded. “The spirit has not changed—it is the exact same spirit I see here, pulsing among the soldiers and commanders, uniting everyone with one goal—to achieve a great victory.”
That victory at Lod Airport (today Ben-Gurion International Airport) over the Black September Organization, a Palestinian terrorist group, he added, extended beyond the battlefield: “It reverberates throughout the entire region.”
Under his leadership, Netanyahu said, Israel has changed the face of the Middle East by confronting threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria. He also pointed to Israel’s recent actions against Iran, which he labeled a key sponsor of regional terrorism. “We still face challenges, but we have strong spirit, and that spirit is embodied by our military.”
The remarks came as the IDF continues operations throughout Gaza, targeting terrorist groups ahead of the expected launch of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” The campaign aims to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of 59 remaining hostages held since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist invasion.
The IDF reported striking more than 150 terrorist targets across Gaza over the past 72 hours, including cells, underground infrastructure and command posts. Troops also dismantled Hamas infrastructure and killed gunmen in several areas.
Day 581 — Friday, May 9
Kanye West, the controversial American rapper now known as “Ye,” has released a new music video called “Heil Hitler,” adding to his record of antisemitic behavior.
The video, titled “HEIL HITLER (HOOLIGAN VERSION),” was published on West’s X account and has already accumulated approximately 27,000 likes and over a million views. This release continues his track record of antisemitic behavior, including selling a T-shirt featuring a swastika through his fashion brand Yeezy.
In the video, men appear draped in animal skins, and the artist declares, “So I became a Nazi, I’m the villain.” In the song, the artist addresses the backlash he faced after making controversial statements, including previously stating on his X account that he “loves Hitler,” that he is a Nazi, and to “Call me Yadolph Hitler” – a play on his current name, Ye.
“Is this kind of posting allowed??” a user commented on X, while comments supporting the artist’s latest release were quick to appear: “I hate to say it but it’s a hit,” one user said, “he still makes bangers,” said another. The video comes at a time when antisemitic incidents are increasing worldwide, with particularly sharp rises in the United States.
Day 581 — Friday, May 9
The Indian government announced on Thursday that its military had killed an Islamist terrorist who was involved in the murder Jewish-American journalist Daniel Pearl.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s governing party, said that the Indian army killed Pakistani terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar in “Operation Sindhoor.”
A group of Islamist terrorists, including Azhar, kidnapped and murdered Pearl in 2002. The terrorist was affiliated with al-Qaeda and Jaish-e-Mohammed, an Islamist terror group that aims to separate Kashmir from India and fully incorporate it into Pakistan.
Pearl was working as the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal and was originally stationed in New Delhi. He moved to Karachi, Pakistan, to investigate terror after the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City.
On January 23, 2002, Pearl was abducted by Islamist terrorists at a hotel in Karachi. His abductors, who called themselves the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty, accused him of being an Israeli spy and sent the US a list of demands if they wanted Pearl freed.
The US government failed to meet the demands. In a video, Pearl stated he was Jewish and had visited Israel multiple times, moments before he was executed.
“My father’s Jewish, my mother’s Jewish, I’m Jewish. My family follows Judaism. Back in the town of Bnei Brak, there is a street named after my great grandfather, Chaim Pearl, who was one of the founders of the town.” he said in the video.
India launched “Operation Sindoor“ on Wednesday, which it claimed targeted “terrorist infrastructure.” The operation was launched after Pakistani terrorists killed 26 Hindu tourists in Kashmir last month.
In the BJP announcement, the party said that Azhar was involved in a number of terror activities, including the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, the 2016 Pathankot Air Force base attack, and a 2001 terror attack on the Indian parliament.
Azhar’s involvement in the 1999 hijacking freed Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-born al-Qaeda member who formerly served in Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The Jerusalem Post previously reported that the operation is targeting two main terror groups in Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, of which Azhar was a member.
Day 580 — Thursday, May 8
What Israel did to Hezbollah in Beirut, it will do to the Iranian regime in Tehran, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Thursday morning.
“The Houthis will suffer heavy blows from Israel if they continue to fire at us,” Katz added.
He warned the “Iranian leadership that funds, arms, and operates the Houthi terrorist organization: the era of proxies is over, and the axis of evil has collapsed.
“You bear direct responsibility. What we did to Hezbollah in Beirut, to Hamas in Gaza, to Assad in Damascus, and to the Houthis in Yemen—we will do to you in Tehran.”
Day 580 — Thursday, May 8
Hours after more than 100 masked anti-Israel agitators stormed the Butler Library at Columbia University in New York City, pushing past campus security as students prepared for finals Wednesday afternoon, college officials summoned the New York Police Department (NYPD) in an effort to subdue the unruly mob.
More than 80 people have been arrested, all students at the university, NYPD sources told Fox News.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also monitoring the situation. If arrests were made, the suspects were to be fingerprinted to determine if any are non-citizens, Fox News has learned.
“Time to make a point,” one ICE source told Fox News.
Non-protesting students told Fox News that they were forced to stop studying for finals and leave the library.
Amid the chaos, the State Department warned foreign students about the consequences of breaking the law.
“Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa. This administration will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his agency was “reviewng the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”
The protesters are reportedly rallying in support of Mahmoud Khalil, the accused ringleader of pro-Palestinian protests at the elite Ivy League institution, as well as other students.
Khalil, a Columbia graduate, was arrested last month at his university-owned NYC apartment, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is part of ICE, telling him they were revoking his green card and student visa, according to Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer. He was then taken to a Louisiana detention center.
Flyers posted show protesters have renamed the Butler Library “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” as well as the liberation zone.
Students at Columbia said the protesters climbed on desks and chanted “Free Palestine,” while demanding the Ivy League school divest from Israel.
Day 579 — Wednesday, May 7
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered the State Department to close its Office of Palestinian Affairs and fold it into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
“This decision will restore the first Trump term framework of a unified U.S. diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the U.S. ambassador to Israel,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in Tuesday’s press briefing. “Ambassador [Mike] Huckabee will take the steps necessary to implement the merger over the coming weeks.
“The United States remains committed to its historic relationship with Israel, bolstering Israel’s security and securing peace to create a better life for the entire region.”
The Biden administration created the Office of Palestinian Affairs in June 2022 against Israel’s wishes, giving it with the power to operate independently of the U.S. Embassy, the Washington Free Beacon reported Tuesday.
As a senator representing Florida, Rubio helped rally opposition to the office and the Biden administration’s efforts to increase diplomacy with Palestinian leaders before Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The office was highly criticized for its potential violation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which required that a single U.S. Embassy be established in the Israeli capital.
Rubio will also eliminate the position of special envoy to the Palestinians along with the Office of Palestinian Affairs, the Free Beacon reported.
“This was something, actually, that had been established in Trump’s first term,” Bruce said. “So, this is not a new decision. It’s not a new idea. It, in fact, restores his first-term framework of a unified U.S. diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the ambassador to Israel.
“So, this is something that was reversed by the previous administration that had already been established. Ambassador Huckabee, of course, is in charge, [and] will be taking steps to do this.
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., who worked with Rubio in 2022 to shutter the Office of Palestinian Affairs, told the Free Beacon the move is crucial to enforcing President Donald Trump’s vision of a unified Jerusalem.
“I welcome Secretary Rubio’s efforts in the second Trump administration to reinforce President Trump’s historic first-term decision to fully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s eternal and indivisible capital of Jerusalem,” Hagerty said.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., also told the Free Beacon he supported the decision.
“I was a strong supporter of President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and was outraged when the Biden administration sought to undermine President Trump’s historic move,” he said. “I am glad to hear that the Trump administration plans to reverse course and restore the vital role of Ambassador Huckabee and important policy coordination in Jerusalem.
“I am grateful to Secretary Rubio for taking this step to support our great ally and friend Israel. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is once again a nation that promotes democratic values, stands up for our allies, and projects strength on the world stage.”
Day 579 — Wednesday, May 7
Israeli forces apprehended Hamas terrorists who surrendered in the Shaboura neighborhood of Rafah, according to military footage released Tuesday.
Among those captured were a Hamas platoon commander who participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and was involved in the holding of Israeli hostages, as well as a sniper unit commander. Several knives were reportedly found in their possession.
The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) obtained significant intelligence during the subsequent interrogations, including the location of a major Hamas terror site in the area.
The arrests came after the IDF completed its encirclement of Rafah several weeks ago. Military operations in the city are ongoing and are expected to expand into additional neighborhoods.
To date, the 188th Brigade’s combat team has eliminated dozens of terrorists and uncovered and destroyed multiple Hamas weapons caches and other infrastructure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that the IDF operation in Gaza will intensify, and Israeli forces will remain in every area they capture.
“We decided on intensified action in Gaza,” the premier said. “That was the IDF chief of staff’s recommendation—to move, as he said, toward the defeat of Hamas. He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages. I agree with him.
“We are not letting up on this effort and will not give up on anyone,” he continued.
He added that, unlike in past wars, the military would station reserve forces in territories seized during fighting. “There will be movement of the population in order to protect them,” Netanyahu said.
Day 579 — Wednesday, May 7
Sanaa International Airport, at least for the foreseeable future, is no longer able to be used after massive Israeli air strikes crippled a terminal and everything on the ground, including planes.
It came on the heels of yesterday’s major attacks by the Israeli Air Force, which struck Hudaydah Port, the main port on the Red Sea coast in Yemen.
If you’re wondering why Israel would shut down the airport and Hudaydah Port—surprise, surprise—both were being used as transit points for smuggling in Iranian-supplied weapons. The weapons being transferred included ballistic missile components, the very same weapons the Houthis used to spark the retaliatory Israeli strikes by targeting the Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday.
I have traveled the access road many times that the Houthis struck, coming in and out of Ben-Gurion airport in my travels to Israel. For the Jewish State, this was rightfully considered to be a “red line” that was crossed.
Israel responded with overwhelming force on Monday, striking the port as well as a concrete factory, which was used by the Houthis to build military infrastructure, tunnels, etc. Israel was not finished responding. Today, they not only completely crippled Yemen’s airport, they also struck two power plants.
A message has been sent clearly to the Houthis. Unfortunately, no matter how many times they have been struck over the past several months, the Houthis do not seem to get the memo.
The Houthis’ main slogan reads, “Allah is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse be upon the Jews, Victory to Islam.” This is a genocidal, suicidal death cult, and it appears that they are determined to go out in a “blaze of glory” (in their view), continually firing missiles at Israel. They are already threatening new attacks against Ben-Gurion as well as Haifa, which sits north of the airport on the Mediterranean coast. It doesn’t seem like the Houthis are going to let up—and they’re signing their own death warrant as they do this.
The United States continues to carry out major airstrikes, pounding Yemen for over 50 days straight. President Trump said today that if the Houthis were to stop attacking US shipping in the Red Sea, then they would stop attacking them. I think Israel’s philosophy has pretty much been the same regarding the Houthis. Yet, the terrorist group doesn’t seem to want to play ball.
Day 578 — Tuesday, May 6
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the military will stay stationed in whatever areas of the Gaza Strip are captured until all the goals of the war are reached, a day after the cabinet voted to intensify combat operations against the Hamas terror group.
In a video posted on his personal X account, Netanyahu said that “last night we sat late into the night in the cabinet and decided on an intensified operation in Gaza.”
“This was the recommendation of [IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir] — to move, as he put it, toward the defeat of Hamas,” he continued.
“He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages along the way. I agree with him. We are not letting up on this effort, and we will not give up on a single one. That is what we are doing,” he said.
“We won’t talk about the details because we’ve already spoken in detail about both of these matters: what we’re doing for the hostages, and what we’re doing for the defeat [of Hamas],” Netanyahu added.
“One thing will be clear — we’re not going in and out [of Gaza] just to call up reserves so they’ll come and seize territory, we withdraw from territory, and carry out raids on what remains… That’s not the intention. What’s our intention? The opposite,” he concluded.
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Monday evening that the goal of the “new and intensified phase” of the war, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, “is the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas’s rule.”
“These two goals are combined with each other,” he said, adding that the offensive “will include a wide-scale attack and the movement of the majority of the Strip’s population — this is to protect them in an area sterile of Hamas. And continued airstrikes, elimination of terrorists, and dismantling of infrastructure.”
Defrin said the IDF will implement the “Rafah model,” whereby all Hamas infrastructure is razed and the area is declared part of Israel’s buffer zone, in other parts of the Strip.
Times Of Israel
Day 578 — Tuesday, May 6
Approximately 800 new digital recordings and transcripts of Nazi criminals from after World War II were revealed Saturday, including dramatic and disturbing testimonies that shed light both on Nazi methods during the war and Holocaust and on their escape routes.
Among the recordings, published on the Hoover Institution website, is one from SS officer Bruno Streckenbach in which he admits that Adolf Hitler indeed gave explicit instructions for implementing the Final Solution and the mass murder of Jews – a significant revelation, as until now there has been limited concrete evidence of this direct order.
Streckenbach was responsible for some of the worst atrocities of the Third Reich – from managing SS death squads that slaughtered thousands across Poland in 1939 to deploying the “Einsatzgruppen,” which murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews. Prosecutors attempted to charge him with responsibility for the murder of at least one million people, but Streckenbach evaded all attempts to bring him to trial and didn’t spend a single day in a German prison after the war.
For almost 80 years, historians have debated whether the Holocaust stemmed directly from Hitler’s explicit orders or evolved through initiatives taken by German subordinates and field commanders implementing broader directives.
According to Streckenbach’s account, the first time he heard about the plan was when he received a hint from an old friend named Erwin Schulz, a volunteer officer in the “Einsatzgruppen” who until that point had supervised executions of up to a hundred people in western Ukraine, but apparently felt uncomfortable witnessing the mass murders of Jews.
Streckenbach admitted, “Schulz trembled, trembled like I’m trembling now. He said, ‘What are we doing?‘ and I said, ‘We can’t do anything, we can’t leave everything. There was an order.‘”
Streckenbach went directly to his immediate commander, Reinhard Heydrich, one of the main architects of the Holocaust. “Heydrich was very quiet, very businesslike. He sat at the edge of his large conference table and said, ‘Be quiet now, Streckenbach. Now listen to me. Shut your mouth, don’t interfere. We can’t do anything about it. This is the order from the Führer. He chose the SS to carry out this order. Neither the Reichsführer [Heinrich Himmler, SS leader] nor I can do anything about it,’“ Streckenbach recounted.
Thomas Weber, Professor of History at the University of Aberdeen, who discovered the recordings, said Streckenbach’s claim that the first order came directly from Hitler is of historical significance.
Weber emphasized that this recording directly addresses a decades-long historical debate about the development of the “Holocaust by bullets” in Soviet territories and the chain of command behind these mass killings. He noted that while historians have long suspected Nazi defendants misrepresented their personal responsibility during post-war trials, Streckenbach’s recording provides unprecedented first-person evidence confirming these deliberate misrepresentations of authority and responsibility.
Day 577 — Monday, May 5
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to retaliate against the Houthis in Yemen and to act against “their patron” Iran, hours after the rebel group struck Ben Gurion Airport with a ballistic missile.
“We, along with the entire world, are under threat from the Houthis. We will not tolerate it and will take very strong retaliatory action against them,” the premier told Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who is in Israel on an official visit, according to a readout from his office.
“We will always remember that they acted under the orders and with the support of their patron — Iran,” the premier added. “We will do what needs to be done to deliver a proper warning to Iran that we cannot tolerate such acts.”
Netanyahu on Sunday also endorsed a message by US President Donald Trump, in which the American leader vowed to hold Iran responsible for the Houthis’ actions.
“Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!” wrote the US president in a post on his Truth Social Platform.
“President Trump is absolutely right!” wrote Netanyahu on X. “Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”
In his post, Trump also asserted that “Iran has played ‘the innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control.
“They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, ‘Intelligence,’” the US president wrote.
Later Sunday, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said that Tehran will strike back if the United States or Israel attack.
“If this war is initiated by the US or the Zionist regime, Iran will target their interests, bases and forces — wherever they may be and whenever deemed necessary,” Nasirzadeh told Iranian state TV.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed they were imposing a complete “aerial blockade” on Israel by continuing to launch rockets at Ben Gurion Airport.
Times Of Israel
Day 577 — Monday, May 5
A leading archaeology journal has effectively barred submissions by Israelis on Judea and Samaria unless they “have cooperated with the relevant Palestinian authorities,” in what analysts say is a microcosm of the harm caused by a global campaign to whitewash the Jewish people’s history in the Land of Israel.
According to a report recently published by The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL), the Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ)—a peer-reviewed journal of the London-based Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF)—is refusing to accept submissions from researchers affiliated with institutions operating in what it refers to as “occupied territory,” citing concerns over alleged Israeli violations of international law.
The journal’s website states that it “does not collaborate with institutions founded by an occupying power based in any occupied territory, and will not support, encourage, fund, or publish research by any academic associated with such institutions.”
Israeli archaeologists told TPS-IL that any cooperation with Palestinian authorities or colleagues was practically impossible, because they “would be treated as traitors for this.” They also said that their work is in many instances shunned by the broader academic world and, as such, researchers are forgoing focus on the biblically significant areas of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) to protect their careers.
“What we’re seeing is a deliberate attempt to undermine Jewish historical ties to the land,” Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for Hebron, the cradle of Jewish civilization located in Judea, told Fox News Digital. “There are three strategies at play: the Palestinians either acknowledge Jews were once here but argue they no longer belong, deny any Jewish connection at all, or destroy the evidence outright.”
Fleisher noted ongoing efforts by Palestinian authorities and others to rename historical Jewish sites. “They call Hebron ‘Al-Khalil,’ and the Cave of the Patriarchs becomes the ‘Ibrahimi Mosque.’ The Temple Mount is now the ‘Al-Aqsa complex,’ and Rachel’s Tomb has been rebranded as the ‘Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque,’“ he said.
To counter this, he says Israeli advocates are working to mark and preserve ancient Jewish landmarks. “We added an Israeli flag and a menorah to a building originally constructed by King Herod 2,000 years ago—which itself stands atop a tomb dating back 3,500 years—to make it unmistakably clear it’s a Jewish site, despite the later addition of three minarets by Muslim conquerors.”
The Palestinian Authority, which gained non-member observer state status at the United Nations in 2012, has been spearheading the campaign to rewrite history in global forums that contain automatic anti-Israel majorities.
Among them is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which in 2016 registered the Cave of the Patriarchs—the resting place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah located in Hebron—in the name of the “State of Palestine” on its “List of World Heritage in Danger.”
In December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution referring to the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site—located in Jerusalem but beyond the 1967 borders—only by its Muslim name, “Haram al-Sharif.”
Naomi Kahn, director of the international division at Regavim, a think tank focused on Israeli sovereignty, said the P.A. is actively building over key archaeological sites as part of this initiative.
“In Solomon’s Pools, which is under P.A. jurisdiction in accordance with the Oslo Accords, they’re constructing condominiums directly on top of ancient Jewish infrastructure,” Kahn told Fox News Digital. “These are internationally recognized heritage sites, but the agreements are being violated.
She cited the Hasmonean fortresses near Jericho as a major example. “The burial grounds of Hasmonean kings—the largest necropolis in the Middle East from the Second Temple period—have been plowed and used for farming and construction. In one case, we found human bones scattered in the fields. The Israeli Civil Administration had to collect and rebury them.”
Day 576 — Sunday, May 4
In a first-of-its-kind incident since the beginning of the war, after several attempts to intercept an incoming Houthi missile, the IDF confirmed that the projectile stuck an area adjacent to Ben Gurion Airport.
Prior to the impact, the airport had halted air traffic in response to sirens warning the area about an incoming missile from Yemen.
“An investigation is underway regarding the impact at the Ben Gurion Airport area,” the Israel Airport Authority stated. “As per normal procedure, there is a freeze and no landings or takeoffs are taking place.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, “Three people were mildly wounded on Sunday as a result of the Houthi missile that crashed in the area of Ben-Gurion Airport’s Terminal 3, Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom said. MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment to a 50-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman who were lightly wounded due to the blast, and a 32-year-old woman who was wounded on the way to the shelter.”
Surveillance footage showed the moment of impact:
Surveillance camera footage shows the moment of the Houthi missile impact at Ben Gurion Airport.
The missile struck a grove adjacent to an access road, within the airport’s perimeter. pic.twitter.com/AUyQwKrEOy
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 4, 2025
Harbinger’s Press
Day 576 — Sunday, May 4
At approximately 9 pm, residents in Iran took to social media to report hearing a large explosion, experiencing power outages, and witnessing a powerplant engulfed in flames in the city of Karaj, near Tehran. It remains unclear what caused the explosion, with news agencies highlighting the reported explosion’s proximity to a 4.0 earthquake that occurred in the area.
“It was unclear whether [the earthquake] was triggered by the explosion or vice versa,” Jerusalem Post reported, adding that Iranian officials “claimed the power outages reported in the area were due to bad weather.”
Israel Hayom further detailed information coming out of the region, which appears to corroborate the unverified reports from social media.
“The opposition outlet ‘Iran International,’ which operates outside of Iran, reported receiving numerous accounts from residents in Alborz province, west of Tehran, who said they heard an explosion around 9 p.m., shortly before the earthquake was felt,” Israel Hayom noted. “According to these witnesses, power outages have affected large parts of the region.”
“At the same time, a large fire broke out at a cardboard factory in Nazarabad, west of Tehran province, on Friday night. Videos received by ‘Iran International’ show large flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. As of now, no casualties have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains unknown,” they wrote. “Iranian authorities have yet to issue any official statements linking the various incidents that occurred in the region overnight.”
Harbinger’s Press
Day 576 — Sunday, May 4
Two IDF soldiers, named by the military as Captain Noam Ravid (23) and Staff Sergeant Yaly Seror (23), were killed in Gaza on Saturday in a blast caused by a booby-trapped tunnel in Rafah. Two others were also wounded in the explosion, with one listed in serious condition.
According to the Times of Israel, the soldiers “were scanning the entrance to a tunnel inside a building when they were suddenly hit by an explosion.”
The fallen soldiers bring the total death toll of IDF soldiers since the beginning of the war to 853.
Harbinger’s Press
Day 575 — Saturday, May 3
A city in Texas could lose its state funding over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wrote a letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson admonishing the City Council, which voted to bring the resolution to a formal vote on May 6.
In his letter, Abbott pointed out that while the council was considering a resolution for a “permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine,” it had not done the same to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7 massacre.
“Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas. I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies,” Abbott wrote.
The governor said he was “proud” to have signed a law banning Texas government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from and sanction (BDS) Israel.
Texas law, specifically Code § 2271.002, states that government entities are prohibited from entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more without a written guarantee that the contracting entity does not boycott Israel. Under the law, “boycott Israel” is defined as “refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel…” Government entities that violate the law put their funding at risk.
Abbott wrote in his letter that his office had already begun “reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the city has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law.” Additionally, he said that if the city moves to pass the resolution, his office would not enter into future grant agreements with the city and would terminate active grants.
Day 575 — Saturday, May 3
President Donald Trump warned on his social media platform, Truth Social, that any country purchasing oil or petrochemical products from Iran would be subject to secondary sanctions.
Although this directive has not yet been formalized through an executive order or a Treasury Department sanctions notice, it signals a significant escalation in the US’s “maximum pressure” policy on Iran.
The primary buyer of Iranian oil is China, and the move could deal a serious blow to its economy and further exacerbate the trade war with the US.
Since Trump took office, Iranian oil exports have dropped. This latest move could deliver a final blow to the struggling Iranian economy, which is already buckling under the weight of existing sanctions.
Day 574 — Friday, May 2
The Houthi rebels in Yemen claim responsibility for launching a missile this morning at what they say was a military base in northern Israel.
The military spokesperson for the Houthis says they launched a ballistic missile toward the Ramat David Airbase, southeast of Haifa.
Sirens were activated in Haifa and other communities in northern Israel around 5:30 a.m., and the IDF reported that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted.
Day 574 — Friday, May 2
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced early Friday morning that Israel had struck a target close to the presidential palace in Damascus.
“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not permit Syrian troops to move south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,” they said in a joint statement.
Later, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed, “A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus.”
The strike came hours after members of the Druze community in Israel, furious over the attacks on their brethren in Syria by the regime of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, launched a wave of intense protests across northern Israel.
Druze reservists sent a letter to Netanyahu titled: “Immediate IDF intervention to stop the massacre against the Druze community in Syria.”
“Hundreds of Druze fighters are ready to immediately volunteer and fight alongside our brothers to save them, even at the cost of taking responsibility for ourselves, including all the risks involved to our safety and lives,” the reservists wrote to the Prime Minister.
Earlier, Katz issued a warning to the Syrian regime and said, “I reiterate my warning to the head of the Syrian regime, Julani – if the attacks on the Druze in Syria do not stop, we will respond with great severity.” Katz emphasized that Israel is “committed to their protection and is closely monitoring the situation.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also addressed the issue during a reception for diplomatic staff at the President’s Residence, calling on the international community to actively intervene in the situation in Syria.
“Fulfill your role in protecting the minorities in Syria, and specifically the Druze, from the regime and its terrorist gangs,” Sa’ar urged.
Day 574 — Friday, May 2
Wildfires that began on Wednesday morning and that have burned more than 5,000 acres in Israel have “miraculously” left homes untouched, according to Israeli firefighting authorities.
As Breitbart News reported on Wednesday, several brush fires broke out in central Israel, near Jerusalem, on Wednesday morning. High winds and dry conditions caused the blazes to spread, prompting evacuations.
As of Thursday afternoon, the fire had burned more than 5,000 acres, making it one of the largest wildfires in Israeli history. Israeli authorities noted that despite the extent of the blaze, and the large number of separate fires, there had been no damage to structures.
Several people have been arrested for arson subsequent to the start of the blazes, though the cause of the initial fires is unclear.
Day 573 — Thursday, May 1
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday warned Iran that it would pay the consequences for its continued support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X.
“You know very well what the US Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing,” he added.
The US Army launched a military campaign against the Houthi rebels in mid-March.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that the United States has conducted over a thousand airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the start of the campaign.
According to a statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, “USCENTCOM strikes have hit over 1,000 targets, killing Houthi fighters and leaders… and degrading their capabilities.”
It has long been believed that Iran is planning to use the Houthis to take over Yemen and seize the key strategic port of Aden, which controls the entrance to the Red Sea and ultimately to the Israeli resort city of Eilat.
Iran has denied accusations that it provided the Houthi rebels with ballistic capabilities, even after the US Navy seized an Iranian weapons shipment bound for Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Arutz Sheva
Day 573 — Thursday, May 1
A week after fires spread in the Jerusalem hills, a massive fire broke out Wednesday morning in several areas west of Jerusalem, including Beit Shemesh, Latrun, Neve Shalom, Beko’a, Ta’oz, and Nachshon.
Initially, the Israel Fire and Rescue Service reported fires in at least five areas in the area west of Jerusalem, while the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said it was evacuating hikers from parks in the area of the fires.
As the fires continued to spread due to high winds, Route 1, the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, was closed, with police calling on people to avoid driving on the road to allow fire and rescue services to quickly reach the affected areas, and to allow residents in the areas to flee, if necessary.
As the fires spread rapidly, many motorists abandoned their vehicles on the jammed road, fleeing on foot to escape the encroaching fires.
Later in the day, Defense Minister Israel Katz called on the military to help fight the fires raging in the Jerusalem hills area, saying, “We are in a national emergency and we have to concentrate all available forces to save lives and take control of the flames.”
Fires were later reported in several other areas of the county, including Lachish in the south and Afula in the Galilee area.
The government also announced, following a special situational assessment, that all Independence Day activities which would require fire or rescue services would be canceled as the nation battles the outbreak of fires in multiple locations across the country.
Additionally, the Jerusalem Municipality announced the decision to cancel all Independence Day events in the capital city. Tel Aviv also canceled its planned events for the evening, due to the fires.
Later, other municipalities, such as Ashkelon, Modiin, Beersheba, Mevasseret Zion, Lod, Ariel, and Ma’aleh Adumim, also canceled their planned Wednesday evening Independence Day activities.
While the Israeli Air Force did not initially engage in any firefighting efforts, saying it had not been asked to do so, later in the day, as the fire raged even larger, and other fires were reported, it deployed C-130J Super Hercules heavy transport planes to help in the firefighting efforts in the Jerusalem area.
The Air Force also deployed several helicopters to aid in rescue efforts and spotting planes to help monitor fires.
The Israeli government also reached out to other nations in the Mediterranean area, asking for assistance.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with his counterparts in several countries asking for assistance with the fires.
According to his office, Sa’ar spoke with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Argentina, Spain, North Macedonia, and Azerbaijan.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement on Wednesday evening saying, “Pursuant to a directive from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the National Security Council has held a situation assessment to advance the international assistance.”
“Led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it has been agreed that three Canadair firefighting aircraft from Italy and Macedonia will come to Israel as soon as possible,” the statement continued.
Fire and Rescue Service’s Jerusalem District commander Shmulik Friedman said the blazes could be the largest fires in Israel’s history.
“We are amidst a very large wildfire, maybe the largest there has ever been in this country,” Friedman said at a press conference in Eshtaol on Wednesday evening. He also said that fire-fighting activities “will continue for a very long time. We are far from having control.”
Amid reports of possible arson, Friedman said the Fire and Rescue Services “have absolutely no clue.”
“”We do not currently know what caused the fire, we have absolutely no clue, and we are not yet dealing with this.”
Friedman also warned that winds, which are expected to intensify over the evening, could cause the fires to spread even more.
While Israel Police announced the arrest of several suspects who were detained with fire-starting paraphernalia, the government has not formally announced whether the fires are the result of possible nationalist arson or negligence.
One of the suspects arrested was a 50-year-old resident of East Jerusalem’s Umm Tuba neighborhood, who was suspected of helping light fires after the police received reports of a person trying to light fires in the southern Jerusalem area.
The Shin Bet announced that it is investigating the fires for possible nationalistic arson, after receiving reports that several of the blazes were manmade.
Day 572 — Wednesday, April 30
The UK joined the US in airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Tuesday night, according to a statement by the military.
The Royal Air Force action was in response to the Houthis “threatening freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, striking international ships, and killing innocent merchant mariners,” the statement said.
The attack targeted buildings used to produce drones that have targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The statement added that steps had been taken to reduce the risk of civilian casualties, including careful planning and launching the strikes after nightfall, “when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further.”
Day 572 — Wednesday, April 30
The United States Justice Department accused the Wikimedia Foundation of being influenced by “foreign actors” seeking “to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public.”
The Wikimedia Foundation, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, is a nonprofit organization that supports the widely used online encyclopedia Wikipedia and other Wiki-affiliated projects.
However, the Trump administration has warned that the organization’s nonprofit status could be at risk due to its alleged conduct.
Last week, Ed Martin, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, accused Wikimedia in an official letter of “subverting the interests of American taxpayers.” Martin warned that this “masked propaganda” is incompatible with Wikimedia’s official education mission profile.
The senior attorney assessed that the organization’s current board is “composed primarily of foreign nationals,” which he believes threatens the interests of American taxpayers. Martin further argued that Wikimedia is involved in “a series of activities” that potentially violate U.S. nonprofit legislation. Conservative pundits have accused Wikimedia of embracing liberal and left-wing bias.
In a June 2024 report, the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute reported it had identified “suggestive evidence” of “slight to moderate” left-leaning bias in Wikimedia’s content.
The Trump administration has previously cut funding to various universities, including Harvard and Columbia, in an effort to combat antisemitism and anti-American radical left-wing agendas on campus.
Wikimedia responded on Friday by claiming that its Wikipedia platform’s over 65 million articles are designed “to inform, not persuade.”
“Our vision is a world where every person can freely share in the sum of all knowledge,” Wikimedia claimed in its official statement.
However, critics dispute Wikimedia’s official claim of neutrality.
Last month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish-American watchdog that combats antisemitism, accused some 30 Wikipedia editors of cooperating to promote anti-Israel online content. The ADL report argued that anti-Israel Wikipedia editors “coordinate to change pages related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, downplaying Palestinian antisemitism, violence, and calls to destroy Israel while promoting criticism of Israel.”
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt claimed that Wikipedia’s biased content undermines the online platform’s credibility.
“Most readers assume Wikipedia is a reliable online encyclopedia, but in reality, it has become a biased platform manipulated by agenda-driven editors on many topics,” Greenblatt stated.
Wikipedia’s Arabic language content, in particular, has escalated its propaganda against the Jewish state since the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre in 2023.
The Arabic language Wikipedia has falsely accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza as the Jewish state defends itself against Hamas terrorists who do not believe in Israel’s right to exist.
Furthermore, Arabic Wikipedia has denied the many well-documented cases of Hamas terrorists raping Israeli women, claiming that it is an “Israeli propaganda lie.”
“Each phrase… ‘genocide in Gaza,’ ‘killing civilians,’ ‘targeting hospitals and schools,’ and ‘mislead and double standards,’ leads to its own Arabic-language article,” the American magazine National Review pointed out in March 2024.
“There is not even a pretense of objectivity there. It is pure incitement against Israel aimed at the Arabic-speaking audience,” the Jewish blogger Elder of Ziyon stated regarding Arab Wikipedia’s banner.
Day 571 — Tuesday, April 29
The notion that a Palestinian state will produce peace is “folly, nothing more than folly,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on Sunday evening.
“I’m saying this for the ambassadors who are here—all of you know this,” he said. “We just tried a Palestinian state in Gaza,” he continued. “You saw what that brought, right?”
The Jewish state had been “attacked savagely, horribly” on Oct. 7, 2023, said Netanyahu. When German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, who visited Israel early in the war, “saw the film of the horrors and visited the sites, he said there: they’re exactly like the Nazis,” the Israeli premier recalled.
“And I said, well, they’re different. Not in intent, not in savagery—but the Nazis tried to hide their crimes. And these people carry GoPro cameras, live, you know, they’re ecstatic about the blood they shed, the people they butcher, the women they rape, the men they beheaded, the babies they burned,” he continued.
“You cannot build peace and security on lies. If you do so, sooner or later, these lies will crash on the realities of the Middle East,” he said.
The premier spoke for some 30 minutes about the ongoing seven-front war, which he said was “really a one-front war with Iran and its proxies.”
With regard to the Gaza Strip, he said, “There’s still more to be done.” Israel must finish the war in Gaza, “get our hostages back and destroy Hamas. Hamas will not be there and we’re not going to put the P.A. there,” he said, referring to the Palestinian Authority.
“Why replace one regime that is sworn to our destruction with another regime that is sworn to our destruction?” asked the longtime leader.
Israel will “in any case” control Gaza militarily, according to Netanyahu.
“So what’s left? Well, quite a few things and many opportunities, but obviously they’ll all go down the tube if Iran gets nuclear weapons,” he added, vowing to work with Washington to ensure that Tehran will not be able to enrich uranium under a possible deal.
Turning to Lebanon, Netanyahu said that the Sept. 27 Israel Defense Forces operation that killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah terrorist army, “really broke” the axis of evil headed by Tehran.
“It was a terrific blow. Some people are irreplaceable. And so far, he’s been irreplaceable,” he said. “And so having delivered that blow to Hezbollah, we also delivered a blow to [former Syrian dictator Bashar] Assad, because Assad was relying heavily on Nasrallah,” he continued.
With regard to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who on Sunday launched yet another ballistic missile attack on Israel, Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for U.S. efforts to combat the threat.
“We appreciate the fact that the United States is taking action against the Houthis,” he said. “We appreciate the help that we’re getting from the United States. Arms are flowing in. It’s important we share the same goals, but we have to make sure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons.”
Israel needs support rather than U.S. boots on the ground, he emphasized. “That support means that the U.N. Security Council does not make binding resolutions against Israel. It means that Israel is not sanctioned, is not choked by the international community—and that support is being threatened by the systemic public opinion campaign,” he continued.
“And if there’s one thing that has to be done it is to fight back,” the prime minister concluded. “So I ask you to continue to fight for the truth.”
Day 571 — Tuesday, April 29
BBC Contributor Called for Jews to Be Burned ‘Like Hitler Did,’ Praised Hamas as ‘Resistance Fighters’
A supposed journalist often featured on the BBC’s Arabic channel reportedly praised Hamas terrorists and called for Jewish people to be burned “like Hitler did”.
Samer Elzaenen, 33, a regular contributor who reports from the Gaza Strip for BBC Arabic, has been found to have a long history of anti-semitic posts online, according to The Telegraph.
In a post from 2011, Elzaenen reportedly wrote on Facebook: “My message to the Zionist Jews: We are going to take our land back, we love death for Allah’s sake, the same way you love life. We shall burn you as Hitler did, but this time we won’t have a single one of you left.”
More recently, in 2022, he is said to have written: “When things go awry for us, shoot the Jews, it fixes everything.”
The broadsheet said that across his various social media platforms, the BBC contributor praised over 30 terror attacks on Israeli civilians, and branded the terrorists as “heroes” and “martyrs” who would ascend to “heaven”, while revelling in the deaths of innocent Jews.
Following the October 7th terror attacks, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds more taken as hostages, Elzaenen allegedly praised Hamas Islamists, including those who attacked young people at the Nova music festival, as “resistance fighters”.
BBC Arabic has frequently faced accusations of propping up anti-semitic voices, including when another contributor branded the October 7th attacks as an example of “taking an initiative” and hailed footage of Israeli hostages as a “proud scene”.
However, anti-semitism scandals at the British public broadcaster have not only come from BBC Arabic. Last year, a top staffer at BBC3 was sacked after she reportedly wrote on social media that Isrealis were a “subcontinental Caucasian invader coloniser species with zero indigenous/blood” and that Jewish people were “Nazi apartheid parasites”.
Last month, the BBC faced calls for an anti-terror investigation after it emerged that it had paid a family member of a high-ranking Hamas official to appear in its documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.
Day 570 — Monday, April 28
Iranian MP Accuses Israel Of Involvement In Port Blast, As Fires Continue To Smolder
The death toll from the powerful explosion that rocked Iran’s biggest port of Bandar Abbas has risen to at least 40, with over 1,000 injured, state media reported on Sunday.
Though authorities are still working to determine the cause of the blast, an Iranian parliament member claimed that Israel was responsible, saying that explosive devices were planted in the shipping containers that caused it.
“Israel was involved in the explosion,” MP Mohammad Siraj told the Rokna news agency on Sunday. “It was not accidental. Clear evidence points to Israeli involvement.”
“There were explosives planted in the container, either in their country of origin or along the transportation route,” Siraj claimed. “We do not rule out the involvement of internal factors in planting the explosives in the containers. The explosion occurred at four different locations.”
Siraj did nor provide evidence to back up his claim. An Israeli official was quoted by Hebrew media Saturday as saying Israel had no part in the blast at the port. Israel’s leadership has not commented on the blast.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian visited injured and circled the site in his airplane on Sunday.
Fire crews had still not fully extinguished the fire, which continued to smolder as of Sunday afternoon, and rescue teams were still working to retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
Authorities described the fire as being under control, saying emergency workers hoped that it would be fully extinguished later in the day. Overnight, helicopters and heavy cargo aircraft flew repeated sorties over the burning port, dumping seawater on the site.
The port’s customs office said in a statement carried by state television on Saturday that the explosion probably resulted from a fire that broke out at the hazardous and chemical materials storage depot. A regional emergency official said several containers had exploded.
The New York Times quoted an individual with ties to Iran’s IRGC, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, who said that sodium perchlorate had exploded. The compound is a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.
The port had taken in a shipment of the chemical in March, the private security firm Ambrey said a day earlier. The fuel was part of a shipment from China by two vessels to Iran, first reported in January by the Financial Times.
Social media footage of the explosion on Saturday at Shahid Rajaei saw reddish-hued smoke rising from the fire just before the detonation. That suggested a chemical compound being involved in the blast, as in the Beirut explosion.
Israel has targeted missile sites where Iran uses industrial mixers to create solid fuel, including during its response to a massive Iranian missile barrage launched at Israel last October.
Day 570 — Monday, April 28
Israeli Forces Arrest 75, Foil Terror Plots In Judea And Samaria
Israeli security forces arrested approximately 75 wanted suspects and confiscated more than 40 weapons in a series of operations across Judea and Samaria over the past week, according to a joint statement released Sunday by the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police.
In the village of A-Ram, located in the Binyamin Division north of Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the home of a terrorist who had carried out previous attacks. Additionally, the IDF and Shin Bet arrested the leader of a terror cell operating in the Balata refugee camp in the Samaria Division.
A separate arrest in the Ephraim Division prevented an imminent terrorist attack planned for the city of Qalqilya.
In Hebron, security forces uncovered a weapons cache concealed inside a women’s clothing store. The cache included firearms intended for use in future terrorist attacks, according to security officials.
“Security forces will continue their intensive operations throughout Judea and Samaria to proactively thwart terrorism and ensure the safety of Israeli citizens,” the statement added.
Day 569 — Sunday, April 27
ICC Appeals Court Orders Re-Examination Of Criminal Court's Jurisdiction For Arrest Warrants Against Israeli Officials
In a rare victory for Israel in the international arena, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Appeals Chamber unanimously ordered a lower chamber to re-examine Israel’s arguments disputing the court’s jurisdiction over the country.
Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant “for crimes against humanity and war crimes” allegedly committed during the Gaza War.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the ICC’s decision saying, “We said it from the start: The International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC) doesn’t have, and never had jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and its former Minister of Defense.”
“Israel is not a member of the ICC and is not party to the ‘Rome Statute‘. The ICC Appeals Court instructed the Court today to do what it should have done from the start: to make a determination with respect to jurisdiction. On this topic, there is only one correct answer: the Court has no jurisdiction over Israel. The warrants were issued unlawfully. They are null and void,” Sa’ar stated.
The five judges didn’t rule over the jurisdiction itself but criticized the Pre-Trial Chamber for not properly considering Israel’s arguments in the case and ordered the reassessment.
While welcoming the decision to reconsider Israel’s arguments, a senior aide to the prime minister criticized the ICC for not suspending the arrest warrants, stating, “Israel expects the [ICC] to cancel the warrants immediately.”
The aide told The Times of Israel that the ICC’s decision “highlights the injustice done to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the former defense minister, when the Court issued absurd warrants without having the authority to do so.”
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said the decision to reconsider Israel’s case “exposes the lack of legitimacy behind the political arrest warrants.”
“When international institutions punish democracies and ignore terrorism, they harm not only Israel but the very values on which the free world is built,“ Danon added.
Day 568 — Saturday, April 26
Trump Says He'll Be 'Leading The Pack' To War With Iran If Deal Prospects Whither Away
President Donald Trump may prefer a diplomatic solution to stop Iran’s creep toward a nuclear weapon, but claimed he’ll be “leading the pack” to war with the regime if talks falter.
“I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” he told Time Magazine in an interview published Friday, while claiming that President Joe Biden had allowed Iran to “become rich.”
Asked whether he was worried Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might drag him into a war with Iran, Trump said no. “By the way, he may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in.”
“You asked if he’d drag me in, like I’d go in unwillingly. No, I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack,” the president explained.
Trump was asked about reports that he’d stopped Netanyahu from striking Iran after an Oval Office meeting earlier this month.
“That’s not right,” he said.
“I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack, because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped.”
A team of U.S. officials will meet with Iranian counterparts in Oman on Saturday to continue negotiations aimed at stopping Tehran’s nuclear advancement.
Trump has said that his red line is Iran having a nuclear weapon. Enriching uranium well beyond civilian-use levels to 60%, Iran is just shy of the 90% levels needed for a weapon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week Iran could use a specified amount of low-level enriched uranium for civil nuclear programs, but it would have to be imported.
During a phone call on Tuesday, Netanyahu told Trump he “does not rule out” a diplomatic approach to Iran, but only one that would “leave no trace” of Iran’s nuclear program, according to Israeli media.
Day 567 — Friday, April 25
In a reversal of a previous opinion, the US Department of Justice says that the contentious US agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is not entitled to immunity from lawsuits in the US, according to a court document circulated online by lawyers, and subsequently, pro-Israel activists.
The Justice Department’s opinion was submitted as part of an ongoing lawsuit in which the families of more than 100 victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror assault are claiming $1 billion in damages from UNRWA, asserting that the UN agency aided and abetted the terror group’s attack.
The lawsuit was filed last June in the Southern District of New York.
In September, the US Department of Justice, then under the administration of former president Joe Biden, asserted that the UN had not waived its immunity in US courts, and as such UNRWA was exempt from prosecution and the lawsuit could not proceed.
Now, in the latest court filing, the DoJ acknowledges that “previously, the Government expressed the view that certain immunities shielded UNRWA from having to answer” to allegations regarding its role in the “heinous offenses” of October 7, but says it has “since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation.”
Presenting its position, the DoJ states that while the UN in and of itself enjoys immunity in US courts, its “subsidiary organs,” such as UNRWA, do not.
“The UN Charter provides that the UN ‘shall enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such privileges and immunities as necessary for the fulfillment of its purposes,’” the document states. “But the Charter does not specify whether ‘The Organization’ that ‘shall enjoy’ immunity includes the system’s principal bodies, its subsidiary bodies, its specialized agencies, or all three.”
As such, it says the Charter “does not create any binding obligations under federal law.”
Furthermore, the document argues that UNRWA cannot even be considered a “subsidiary organ” of the UN, as it was not designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act.
“It is the present view of the United States that UNRWA is not” part of the United Nations, and “instead, it is a mere ‘affiliate or instrumentality’ of the UN, analogous to the specialized agencies referenced in the UN Charter.”
“As a result, UNRWA is not subject to the General Convention, and is not immune from suit and that treaty or current US law,” the court filing states.
Day 567 — Friday, April 25
At the close of the 37th annual March of the Living on Thursday, survivors of the Holocaust and the Oct. 7. 2023 massacre – along with their loved ones and thousands of others – gathered to honor the six million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime and to reflect on the enduring trauma faced by the Jewish people.
Survivors of Hamas captivity and relatives of hostages were joined by delegations from 40 countries, as they marched from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) to mark the 80th anniversary since the liberation of the Nazi death camps.
The march, led by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda, and included 80 Holocaust survivors, among them 98-year-old Bella Eisenmann, the older participant.
Eli Sharabi, who was released from Hamas captivity earlier this year – after his wife, daughters, and one brother were murdered in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack – stood beside his brother Sharon and spoke with a trembling voice.
“The Holocaust was unlike anything else – we will never forget and never forgive,” he said. “Our presence here is the triumph of the Jewish spirit. The Jewish people will live forever.”
“The Jewish people sanctify life, not death. The unwritten contract between the state and its citizens must not be broken – all the hostages must come home,” he continued. “I lost my wife and daughters on October 7. I endured horrors in enemy captivity, but I chose life. That gives me hope to get up each morning and begin rebuilding.”
Sharabi’s other brother, Yossi, was killed during Hamas captivity and his body remains in Gaza.
Referring to the group of people standing at the memorial together, Sharon Sharabi declared, “This human wall is stronger than any wall that stood in the ghetto. It’s not only physical – it carries all the necessary strength, the Jewish spirit. This wall cannot be broken. As a people, we will hold accountable those responsible for the blood spilled on October 7 and in the Holocaust our grandparents endured. We will not give up. We will not raise our hands in surrender. As one nation, we will stand tall.”
The grandfather of hostage Bar Kupershtein, cried out near the entrance to the crematorium at Auschwitz, “In this cursed place, the embodiment of evil, I cry out – bring back my grandson! Bring back all 59 hostages!”
Bar’s grandmother, Faina, added, “The entire Jewish people are with us. I thank everyone, but I need my grandson back. We can’t wait any longer.”
The mother of former hostage Omer Shem Tov, Shelly, spoke through tears, “My Omer came back, but we must bring all 59 hostages home. There’s no more time. This is my first time on the soil of Auschwitz – and perhaps the most fitting moment to raise this cry to the heavens and the world.”
Former hostage Keith Siegel sent a message to fellow hostage Omri Miran, who appeared in a Hamas video the day before.
“I’m here in Poland at the March of the Living – the place meant to represent ‘Never Again’ – and yet 59 hostages remain in Gaza’s tunnels,” said Siegel. “I saw the footage of Omri Miran calling to be rescued. I was held with him for months. I met a strong, unbreakable person. Omri – don’t break. I know how terrible the conditions are, the pain, the loneliness.”
“We must bring Omri back now. We must bring all 59 hostages back now. That is our duty – as Jews, as Israelis. This is why we established a state. Omri, if you’re seeing me now, know that Lishay, Danny, the whole family, all your friends and this amazing nation – people fighting every day – won’t give up on you or the others. Stay strong. I love you.”
Day 566 — Thursday, April 24
Israel came to a standstill on Thursday morning as a two-minute siren sounded nationwide at 10 a.m., marking Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah).
Pedestrians stood still, drivers exited vehicles and public transportation halted in a powerful display of collective memory for the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.
Established in 1951, Yom HaShoah is observed annually on the 27th of Nissan. The siren tradition began in the 1960s and has become one of Israel’s most solemn national rituals, uniting the country in remembrance and reflection.
Day 566 — Thursday, April 24
Wildfires have been burning since Wednesday morning in several locations in the coastal plain and the Beit Shemesh area.
The blaze in the Beit Shemesh area burned at three main points in the Tzoraa and Eshta’ol forests, and due to wind, spread toward the villages of Tarum, Taoz, Mesilat Zion, and Khan Sha’ar Hagai.
Residents of Beit Meir, Mesilat Zion, and Eshtaol were evacuated from their homes due to the fire, but were permitted to return to their homes shortly before 11:00 p.m on Wednesday evening.
110 firefighting crews, together with eight firefighting planes, a firefighting helicopter, the Lehava Unit, JNF-KKL crews, and additional bodies have been deployed.
A Border Police officer was moderately injured from smoke inhalation in Moshav Tarum, near Beit Shemesh. She was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment. Three firefighters were also injured during the firefighting efforts.
Fire Commissioner Eyal Caspi has issued a general enlistment order for all firefighters. In addition, police have ordered the evacuation of Eshta’ol, Misilat Tzion, Beit Meir, and Khan Sha’ar Haguy.
“The fire is spreading quickly and the firefighters are working to stop it and to prevent it from spreading to populated areas,” a statement read.
At the same time, a large fire broke out near Moshav Petahia in central Israel, leading to the abandonment of vehicles on Highway 6 after drivers fled for their lives. The highway is closed to traffic from the Nesharim Interchange to the Sorek Interchange in both directions. Sixteen firefighting teams, two firefighting planes, and a helicopter are working to stop the spread of the fire.
“The firefighters are working in parallel from the ground and air,” the Fire and Rescue Service stressed. “The fire is spreading in the direction of the wind, and effort is being focused on limiting the spread.”
Day 565 — Wednesday, April 23
On Thursday, April 24th, the State of Israel and Jews around the world mark Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. At the very same time, to paraphrase U.S. U.N. Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the United Nations has unleashed a great evil upon the world: Holocaust revisionism.
To begin with, there is a concerted campaign to sever any connection between the Holocaust and Israel.
Yom HaShoah was created by the State of Israel in April 1955. But on April 21, 2025, the United Nations commemorated Yom HaShoah by holding an event at United Nations headquarters in New York City without any input or invitation to participate by anyone from Israel. Organized and hosted by the U.N. Department of Global Communications, Israel was never mentioned.
Moreover, now hanging on the wall of U.N. Headquarters outside the Security Council chamber is a “Holocaust” exhibit that has wiped any reference to Israel, even in sections on “after the Holocaust,” “the Aftermath,” and “remembrance.”
The Holocaust was the fate of the Jews in the absence of Israel. The majority of survivors returned to their ancient homeland. As the embodiment of Jewish self-determination, Israel is the ultimate hope and commitment to “never again.”
The U.N.’s omission of Israel is not an oversight. It is part of a much broader, and insidious, agenda.
The U.N. has strategically placed its Holocaust exhibit in consecutive sequence to an exhibit entitled “The United Nations and the Question of Palestine.” Onlookers are encouraged to make the obscene analogy of the experience of the Jews in the Holocaust to the experience of Palestinian Arabs. The message is that the creation of the Jewish state was a great wrong (“violated the provisions of the U.N. Charter”), and was foisted upon peaceful Arabs without agency.
The current U.N. Holocaust exhibit has also eliminated key features of the original display from 2008. It no longer includes the infamous photograph of naked skeletal Jewish men crammed into wooden barracks in the Buchenwald concentration camp – one of whom was Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel.
Also gone is the notorious photograph of a terrified little boy with his hands up in the air, as a Nazi points a rifle at him for the crime of being Jewish.
They have been replaced by slide shows that include dozens of happy faces doing ordinary things before, during and after the war. No crematoria, open pits of the dead, humans cataloged by numbered tattoos, or emaciated Jews in striped uniforms behind barbed wire.
Even the title of the current exhibit now reads, generically: “A warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.” In the same vein in 2024, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres opened the U.N.’s “International Day” to commemorate the Holocaust by talking about “antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry around the world.”
Perhaps most important, is the U.N. exhibit’s audacious redefinition of the word “Holocaust.” The move marks the culmination of a long public campaign at the U.N. to deny Jews recognition even in death, and to impede our understanding of the Holocaust and antisemitism then and now.
A Roma speaker invited to address the General Assembly in 2020 on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, put it this way: “It is time now, 75 years since the ending of the Second World War…that the very definition of the Holocaust is corrected.”
“Corrected” for the one million visitors – including tens of thousands of American students – who visit U.N. headquarters every year.
Thus, according to the U.N. permanent exhibit: “the Holocaust was the state-sponsored, ideologically-driven persecution and murder of six million Jews across Europe and half a million Romas and Sinti by Nazi Germany (1933-1945) and other racist states. Nazi ideology built upon preexisting antisemitism and antigypsyism.”
By contrast, according to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center located in Jerusalem, Israel, “the Holocaust was unprecedented genocide, total and systematic, perpetrated by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, with the aim of annihilating the Jewish people.”
Beyond U.N. exhibits are decades of U.N. authority figures who have equated Israelis to Nazis, likened Hamas to Second World War resistance fighters, and boasted talk of a “Palestinian Holocaust” on their resumé. Twenty years ago, U.N. sources alleged “Gaza is a huge concentration camp.” After October 7, 2023, U.N. officials claimed Israel was conducting “a new holocaust,” “extermination fields,” and “death marches.”
As the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) rightly points out: “comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is not only a lie, but also antisemitism. Indeed, the very same U.N. actors defend or deny Palestinian terrorism.
We are witnessing a calculated effort by the United Nations to thwart the essential conditions of “never again,” namely: comprehending the depravity of Nazi treatment of the Jews, the unique evil of Jew hatred, and the devastation that antisemitism wreaks on human civilization.
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is painfully clear that the institution built on the ashes of the Jewish people deserves to be relegated to the ash heap of history.
Day 565 — Wednesday, April 23
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a “very good” phone call on Tuesday evening, according to officials from both sides.
The talk came against the background of several potentially challenging issues for the close relations between the government, including the Iran nuclear talks, the stalled Gaza hostage deal negotiations, and U.S. tariffs on Israel.
“I‘ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue,” Trump stated after the call.
On the Israeli side, Netanyahu only replied by writing on X: “Thank you, President Trump!” There was no official Israeli statement about details of the call.
U.S. news outlets reported that Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington to discuss the continuation of the hostage deal negotiations.
The U.S. has been pushing for a new deal, but Hamas rejected the latest offer last week and is now insisting on a broad, years-long agreement that would end the war without completely disarming the group, which has been a non-starter for Israel.
Over the past days, Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with Republican Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio, who visited Israel. Netanyahu “expressed his appreciation for the deep ties between Israel and the United States,” according to his office, which added that “ways for strengthening them were discussed.”
Sa’ar stated he and Moreno spoke “about the assault by so-called ‘international legal institutions’ on the right to self-defense of the most attacked country in the world—Israel.”
“I thanked him for President Trump’s executive order against the International Criminal Court and for the senator’s support for legislation on the issue,” he added.
Day 564 — Tuesday, April 22
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee pushed back on a call from the World Health Organization to pressure Israel on Gaza aid, calling instead for international focus on Hamas to “sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it.”
In a Monday post on X, Huckabee shared a video message responding to a request from Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, who had urged him to press Israel to increase humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
“How about we put the pressure where it really belongs — on Hamas,” Huckabee wrote in the post.
“This past weekend, Dr. Hanan Balkhy… called upon me to put more pressure on Israel to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” he states in the video. “I appreciate the message… and today what I would like to suggest is that we work together on putting the pressure where it really belongs, on Hamas.”
Huckabee called for the terror group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, to sign an agreement that would allow safe and unrestricted delivery of aid, while also demanding the release of Israeli hostages abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attacks.
“When that happens… we hope that humanitarian aid will flow, and flow freely, knowing that it will be done without Hamas being able to confiscate and abuse their own people,” he said.
The ambassador’s statement comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel to allow greater aid access into Gaza. Israeli officials maintain that Hamas routinely diverts or seizes humanitarian shipments for its own use, a concern echoed by U.S. lawmakers and aid groups on the ground.
A recent Wall Street Journal investigation confirmed that Hamas stole humanitarian aid intended for civilians in Gaza and resold it to fund its war efforts — undermining international law claims and exposing the terror group’s exploitation of relief efforts.
“It was outrageous that the Biden Administration forced deliveries of aid to Hamas in the first place,” responded Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.
Last month, Eli Sharabi, a recently released Israeli hostage and survivor of Hamas captivity, delivered powerful testimony before the UN Security Council exposing Hamas’s theft of foreign aid and abuse of civilians.
Huckabee’s remarks reinforce the view that humanitarian suffering in Gaza is inseparable from Hamas’s continued control, and that pressuring Israel without demanding accountability from Hamas risks further emboldening the terror group.
Day 564 — Tuesday, April 22
U.S. military strikes in Yemen in recent weeks have killed at least 500 Houthi fighters, including senior commanders, a Saudi newspaper reported on Tuesday, based on interviews with U.S. officials and Yemen’s information minister.
Speaking to Al Arabiya, Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed that American strikes had “targeted significant elements of Houthi military infrastructure, including command and control centers, training camps, weapons depots, and communication facilities.” He described the results as “a clear indicator of the campaign’s effectiveness,” noting that among the dead were high-ranking leaders responsible for maritime attacks and arms smuggling.
“This is not just Yemen’s war. It is a battle for the international order, for freedom of navigation, and to protect the region from the expansion of the Iranian regime and its terrorist militias,” said al-Eryani, stressing the broader regional implications of the ongoing conflict.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government has verified the deaths of senior Houthi figures in what it described as a strategic shift in dealing with the militia. Al-Eryani praised the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict, characterizing the airstrikes as “precise” and “justified” in the face of continued Houthi aggression.
U.S. President Donald Trump launched the operation against the Houthi militia, a proxy of Iran, as a response to Houthi attacks on international shipping and Israel. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently confirmed the destruction of a fuel facility in western Yemen, part of an effort to cut off the group’s funding and logistics.
Day 563 — Monday, April 21
Israel announced the cancellation of entry visas for 27 parliament members and left-wing activists from France, just two days before their scheduled visit to Israel and territories of the Palestinian Authority, according to a French news agency.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that “it was decided to deny their entry under Section 40 of the Entry Law (Activities against the State), after the reason for their visit became clear.” Israeli officials added that the delegation’s entry was initially approved, but once it became apparent that they intended to cause provocation in Judea and Samaria, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel ordered the cancellation of the approval.
In recent days, diplomatic tensions have heightened between France and Israel, after President Emmanuel Macron declared that his country is likely to recognize a Palestinian state in the near future. He also criticized the fighting against Hamas.
A few days ago, Israel also denied entry to two British Labour Party parliament members for a similar reason.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the action as “unacceptable.” Last February, Israel prevented the entry of two left-wing representatives from the European Parliament, Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan, an Irish Sinn Féin politician.
Day 563 — Monday, April 21
Antisemitism in Canada has exploded in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, reaching record numbers last year and becoming a central issue for the country’s Jewish community ahead of an April 28 federal election.
Last week, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, the main challenger to Prime Minister Mark Carney accused pro-Hamas protesters of staging “hate marches” and vowing to deport antisemitic foreigners from Canada.
“The rampaging chaos that we see in our streets, the targeting of synagogues and Jewish schools with hate, vandalism, violence, fire bombings … these things were unheard of 10 years ago,” Poilievre said.
He also had a warning for foreign agitators. “Anyone who is here on a visitor visa who carries out lawbreaking will be deported from this country,” Poilievre said.
“To Canada’s Jewish community,” Poilievre added, “you are not alone, you have friends. Canadians stand with you. You have the right to wear your Star of David, your kippah, and have your mezuzah on your door. You should feel proud to be Jewish and should never have to hide your Jewishness in order to stay safe.”
Carney has also used social media to condemn antisemitism. Yet despite his words against antisemitism, Carney recently faced criticism following a campaign rally in Calgary, where someone yelled at the Liberal Party leader, “There’s a genocide happening in Palestine.”
“I’m aware,” Carney replied. “That’s why we have an arms embargo [on Israel].”
The next day, Carney, who in March replaced longtime Premier Justin Trudeau, claimed he had not heard the anti-Israel demonstrator correctly.
His backtracking did not stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from entering the fray. He posted on X that “Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney.
“But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state,” Netanyahu posted.
According to an annual audit released this month by B’nai Brith Canada, the total number of reported cases of Jew hatred in the country hit 6,219 in 2024, a 7.4% increase over 2023 and the highest number since the survey’s inception in 1982.
Antisemitic incidents in Canada have skyrocketed by 124.6% since 2022.
Day 562 — Sunday, April 20
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a special statement on Saturday evening, forcefully addressing mounting criticism over the continued war effort in the absence of a hostage deal. He stressed, “This war comes at a very high price, but as a nation that values life, we have no choice but to carry on. I will not surrender to murderers. Such a surrender would endanger the security of the state.” Netanyahu added, “We are at a decisive stage, patience is required. If we surrender now, all our achievements will be lost.”
In a direct attack on his critics, Netanyahu declared, “We will not end the war before we defeat Hamas and bring back all the hostages. Those calling for an end to the fighting are echoing Hamas’ position and pushing the release of hostages further out of reach.” He continued accusingly, “What responsible leader could accept Hamas’ demands after October 7?”
The prime minister also referred to what he described as Hamas’ “deception,” saying, “Hamas isn’t stupid. They want binding international guarantees to prevent a resumption of the war. That would strip us of legitimacy to return to the fight. If we commit not to resume fighting, we won’t be able to go back into Gaza.”
Addressing his critics again, Netanyahu pointed to military achievements: “From the very start of the war, we heard calls to end it in surrender. These calls have only grown louder. If I had surrendered to them, we would never have entered Rafah, we wouldn’t have brought down the Assad regime, and we wouldn’t have eliminated Deif and Sinwar.” He concluded by reiterating a key strategic priority: “I am committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
Day 561 — Saturday, April 19
In First Public Act as Ambassador, Huckabee Visits Western Wall, Prays for Israel, Hostages' Release
On the last weekend of the Passover holiday in Israel, also Good Friday for Christians, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee traveled to the Western Wall to place a note in the Wall from President Donald Trump.
Just a week after the U.S. Senate confirmed him as ambassador, he arrived in Israel, and the Wall visit was his first public appearance since he was sworn in.
The former Arkansas governor was accompanied by Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. He said the president personally handed him the message that it is Trump’s prayer that all of the hostages be released immediately.
“My first act as ambassador was to take his prayer – praying for the peace of Jerusalem – and to bring it to the Wall, and to pray that there would in fact be peace in the land,” Huckabee stated.
He added, “I also come with a prayer that all of the hostages will come home now, and that we will bring them home, and that is the prayer of the president as well.”
Day 561 — Saturday, April 19
Two U.S. House committees are investigating the former Biden administration for allegedly funding protests aimed at ousting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and more investigations may be coming soon.
As Breitbart News noted in 2023, the U.S. State Department had been “funding a left-wing organization in Israel that is helping to promote anti-government protest aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his judicial reforms.” That report, in turn, cited the Washington Free Beacon, which reported that U.S. taxpayer funds had been granted to the Movement for Quality Government (MQG), which had helped lead the fight against Netanyahu in the courts and in the streets, with the clear goal of ousting him.
Now, Liel Leibovitz writes in the Wall Street Journal, two separate House committees are probing further:
As the Journal’s editorial board reports, the Biden State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development transferred tens of millions of dollars, directly and indirectly, to Israeli nongovernmental organizations working to topple the Netanyahu government. Two House committees are investigating how U.S. funding to six of these groups was used. Which is just as well, as federal funding of foreign organizations can be a thorny thicket to navigate, requiring investigators to try to ascertain precisely what the funds were designated for and whether they were properly applied. But publicly available records tell a suspicious story: Many of the organizations that received funding from the Biden administration also played a key role in the movement to unseat Mr. Netanyahu.
Take Itach Ma’aki, or Women Lawyers for Social Justice. The group received more than $8,000 from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in 2023, designated for a development project in the Negev, a desert in the south of Israel. That same year, the group helped replicate America’s “Handmaid’s Tale” protests in Israel. Photo Israel, an organization dedicated to “the promotion of the art of photography in Israel and abroad,” received nearly $80,000 from USAID in 2024 for a photography program it says motivates young Israelis to “social and community activism.” Photo Israel’s recent activities include “The Protest From Heaven,” an exhibition celebrating the anti-Netanyahu movement.
Sikkuy-Aufoq, a nonprofit working for “equality and partnership” between Jews and Arabs, received more than $1 million in State Department funds between 2021 and 2024. Tax documents claimed the organization used these funds to strengthen local authorities and reduce crime in Arab communities. Sikkuy-Aufoq has organized demonstrations and lawsuits targeting Mr. Netanyahu’s government and its policies.
This was not the first attempt by a Democrat administration to interfere in Israel’s politics. As Breitbart News has noted, in 2015 “the State Department spent $465,000 on a group called OneVoice, which then joined a group called Victory 15 (V15) and worked to defeat Netanyahu and his Likud Party in Israel’s elections.”
Breitbart News has reached out to staffers in the Senate to determine if the upper house will also be conducting its own investigations and oversight of Biden administration spending on ousting Netanyahu.
Day 560 — Friday, April 18
A missile launched toward Israel from Yemen was successfully intercepted on Friday, with no injuries or damage reported. Air raid sirens were activated in central Israel and around the Jerusalem area.
In line with the IDF’s new protocol, a warning was issued several minutes before the missile approached and alarm sirens were triggered.
The launch came in the wake of a series of intense overnight airstrikes carried out by the United States in Yemen.
Among the primary targets was the Ras Isa fuel port, which is under Houthi control. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the port, located near the Hodeidah harbor in northwestern Yemen, was destroyed.
According to the U.S. military, the objective of the strike was to “disrupt a key economic power source for the Houthis.”
Day 560 — Friday, April 18
Vladimir Putin met with freed Russian-Israeli hostage Sasha Troufanov, who spent nearly 500 days in captivity in Gaza, and urged him to thank his Hamas captors for the “humanitarian act” of releasing him.
“The fact that you managed to go free is the result of the fact that Russia has stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people, with its representatives, and with a wide variety of organizations,” the Russian president told Troufanov at the Kremlin, where he was joined by his mother, Elena Trufanova, and partner, Sapir Cohen, who were also both abducted by Hamas.
“I think we need to express words of gratitude to the political wing of Hamas for cooperating with us and carrying out this humanitarian act,” the Russian president said in a clip posted by Russian state-funded network RT.
Putin added that he would continue to work with Hamas to ensure that other hostages are released and shook his head in disbelief after Troufanov told him he was held for 498 days, according to the video.
Troufanov, 29, was released in February from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad custody along with American father Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36; and Yair Horn, who were all paraded on stage in a propaganda ceremony in Khan Younis before handed over to the Red Cross.
Upon his release, Putin praised Hamas leadership’s “goodwill” and emphasized Moscow’s diplomatic role in the Middle East during a meeting with Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Putin, who’s been busy waging war in Ukraine, has commended the terrorist group despite 16 Russian citizens being killed at their hands during the Oct. 7 attack, not including those taken hostage, according to the paper.
Rather than condemn Hamas, the Russian strongman blamed US policies for conflict and has compared Israel’s military actions in Gaza to that of Nazi Germany.
Troufanov was kidnapped during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, alongside his mother, grandmother and girlfriend. His father, Vitaly, was among those massacred in the attack. The women were released in November 2023 during a short-lived pause in the fighting.
When he was freed, Troufanov embraced his mother and Cohen aboard a helicopter, and later sprinted through a hospital corridor to hold his grandmother, photos and video footage showed.
Day 560 — Friday, April 18
The Muslim-majority island nation Maldives announced on Tuesday that it would ban Israeli tourists from visiting the country due to its “resolute solidarity” with Gaza amid the war with the Iranian-backed terrorist militia Hamas.
The Maldivian parliament approved the anti-Israel legislation on Tuesday and the country’s President Mohamed Muizzu ratified it on the same day.
“The ratification underscores the government’s strong stance in response to the ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people,” the presidential office said in an official statement.
“The Maldives reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian cause,” it added.
The resolution barring Israeli tourists is reportedly set to take immediate effect.
The Jewish state has firmly rejected the widespread international accusation of “genocide” and has stated that the terrorist organization Hamas demonstrated genocidal intent when it slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.
The large majority of the Israeli victims of the Hamas massacre were civilians including women children and elderly. Hamas’s charter openly calls for Israel’s destruction and the murder of all Jews worldwide.
Tiny Maldives, which has a population of around half a million people, is located in the Indian Ocean south of India. The Maldives gained its independence in 1965 from the United Kingdom.
Israel and the Maldives had diplomatic relations until 1974 when the Maldives decided to suspend ties with the Jewish state following the Arab-initiated Yom Kippur War in 1973. The Maldives reportedly considered restoring relations with Israel in 2010, but the effort ended in 2014.
Known for its pristine beaches, the Maldives has grown into a highly sought-after tourist destination.
Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, approximately 11,000 Israeli tourists reportedly visited the country in 2024.
Israel urged its citizens in December 2023 to avoid traveling to the Maldives “due to the heightened anti-Israel atmosphere, including public comments by officials,” which was merely two months after the Hamas Oct. 7 atrocities against Israelis.
The widespread international claims of “genocide” and “war crimes” in Gaza are largely based on the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry’s highly disputable casualty statistics, which has not been verified by any independent source. Furthermore, Hamas’s statistics do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
In March 2024, the renowned U.S. statistics professor Abraham Wyner explained in an article how Hamas deliberately exaggerates and distorts civilian casualties in Gaza.
Day 559 — Thursday, April 17
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, warning that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be “a major reward for terrorism” and a strategic threat to the Jewish state.
Netanyahu told Macron that a Palestinian state established minutes from Israeli population centers would become “an Iranian terror stronghold,” and “an overwhelming majority of the Israeli public is firmly opposed to such a move,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also noted that “no Palestinian entity—including the Palestinian Authority—has condemned the Oct. 7, [2023], massacre,” adding that the P.A. “educates its children to seek Israel’s destruction and financially rewards murderers of Jews.”
On Monday, Macron said on X that it is time to reform the P.A., five days after he suggested he would soon recognize it as an independent state.
“It is essential to set a framework for the day after: Disarm and sideline Hamas, define credible governance and reform the Palestinian Authority,” Macron wrote after a phone call with Mahmud Abbas, who heads the PLO, the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah terrorist organization.
“This should allow progress toward a two-state political solution, with a view to the peace conference in June, in the service of peace and security for all,” read the text by Macron, which he posted in French, Arabic and Hebrew.
“France is fully mobilized to secure the release of all hostages, the return of a lasting ceasefire and immediate access for humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he continued.
The statement Monday echoes a call last year by Macron to “implement necessary reforms” within the Palestinian Authority, offering the “prospect of recognition of the state of Palestine” as he said during a phone call with Abbas in May 2024.
Abbas, 89, has held power since 2005, shortly after the death of Yasser Arafat in November 2004. The following year he was elected to a four-year term as head of the P.A., with no presidential vote since. In the 2006 legislative elections, Hamas obtained the largest share of the votes. In 2007, it ousted the P.A., where Fatah is the dominant force, from power in Gaza, staging a bloody coup.
Fatah has urged its rival Hamas to cede power in Gaza in the aftermath of Israel’s current war against Hamas. The war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, as about 6,000 Hamas-led terrorists murdered some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted another 251. Israel says it has killed 17,000 Hamas terrorists in its ongoing military campaign to dismantle it and retrieve the hostages.
Abbas “briefed President Macron on the comprehensive Palestinian reform agenda,” the Palestinian Authority-run news agency Wafa reported about Monday’s telephone conversation.
Macron’s remarks last week that France may recognize the Palestinian Authority as an independent state prompted criticism by Israel’s government. In July, the Knesset passed a resolution, in a 68-9 vote, rejecting Palestinian statehood as “an existential threat” to Israel.
“President Macron is gravely mistaken in continuing to promote the idea of a Palestinian state in the heart of our country, whose sole aspiration is the destruction of the State of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on X on Sunday.
Day 559 — Thursday, April 17
US President Donald Trump called Harvard a “joke” Wednesday and said it should lose its government research contracts after the top university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision.
Trump’s administration had also formally asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke the famed seat of learning’s tax-exempt status, US media reported, just a day after the president first made the threat.
“Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”
Day 558 — Wednesday, April 16
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening responded to Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s promise that Israel will be eliminated from the Middle East.
“Today, the dictator of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted this,” Netanyahu began, holding up a paper. “The title is, ‘Why must the Zionist regime (that’s Israel) be eliminated from the region.'”
“So here you have the ruler of Iran openly declaring – again – that his goal is to destroy the State of Israel. And the most brazen thing about this is that he issues this while he’s negotiating – supposedly negotiating – peace with the United States.
“Well, Israel will NOT be eliminated. What must be eliminated is Iran’s axis of terror and its nuclear weapons program. Not only for the sake of Israel, but for the sake of our entire region, and for the sake of peace in our world,” he concluded.
Day 558 — Wednesday, April 16
The Trump administration criticized the controversial extension of the tenure of an antisemitic United Nations official.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations “continues to strongly denounce” the tenure of Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for Palestinian rights, whose term was extended by three years in an opaque process earlier this month under the auspices of the U.N. Human Rights Council, Washington said on Tuesday.
A vocal critic of Israel with a documented history of antisemitic remarks, Albanese will remain in her position through 2028.
Her reappointment was confirmed during a council session in Geneva on April 4.
“The Human Rights Council’s support for Ms. Albanese offers yet another example of why President Trump ordered the United States to cease all participation in the HRC,” the U.S. mission stated.
“Ms. Albanese’s actions also make clear the United Nations tolerates antisemitic hatred, bias against Israel and the legitimization of terrorism,” it added.
Albanese has repeatedly made inflammatory statements about Israel and the Jewish people, drawing widespread condemnation. She has referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and has called for Israel’s suspension from the United Nations.
She has also been accused of echoing Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Governments, including those of the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Israel, have expressed serious concerns over her rhetoric and conduct.
In a previous letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations stated that Albanese “demonizes Israel and supports Hamas” and that she was “unfit for her role.”
The council declined to take up the complaints, allowing her to remain in office.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department censured the Human Rights Council for a series of anti-Israel actions.
The council passed its annual Israel-focused Agenda Item 7 resolution, along with a resolution calling for an Israeli arms embargo, plus the Albanese extension, all within a matter of days.
The council “consistently demonstrates virulently antisemitic bias against Israel, targeting it unfairly and disproportionately in council proceedings, through the Commission of Inquiry, and by its appointment of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese,” a State Department spokesperson told JNS.
Day 557 — Tuesday, April 15
US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to “solve” the issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, even if it means taking “very harsh” actions to thwart them, amid escalating threats that have accompanied efforts at diplomacy between the countries on the matter.
“We’ve got a problem with Iran. I’ll solve that problem. It’s almost an easy one,” Trump declared, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador.
“Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “I want them to be a rich, great nation. The only thing is, one thing, simple, it’s really simple: They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And they’ve gotta go fast. Because they’re fairly close to having one. And they’re not going to have one.”
“And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it,” he added. “And I’m not doing it for us. I’m doing it for the world. These are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
He was asked, regarding his reference to something harsh, “Does that include a potential strike on Iranian nuclear facilities?” And he answered: “Of course it does.”
Trump also said of Iran: “I think they’re tapping us along because they were so used to dealing with stupid people in this country.”
Day 557 — Tuesday, April 15
The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) killed Hamas terrorist Hamza Wael Muhammad Asafah in a precision airstrike in central Gaza two weeks ago, the agencies said on Tuesday.
Asafah, a senior member of the Nukhba Force in Hamas’s Deir al-Balah Battalion, infiltrated Israeli territory during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and subsequently participated in hostage release ceremonies used by Hamas for propaganda purposes. The IDF said he was involved in the return of hostages Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben-Ami and Or Levy.
The joint IDF-Shin Bet operation was carried out after extensive intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance to minimize harm to civilians.
“The Hamas terrorist organization systematically violates international law, using civilian infrastructure and populations as human shields,” the statement read. “The IDF and Shin Bet will continue operating to protect the State of Israel.”
Day 556 — Monday, April 14
Just as the first Passover weekend came to an end on Sunday evening, red alert sirens began blaring across central Israel following a ballistic missile launch by the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.
Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the missile was successfully intercepted. There were no reports of injuries or damage caused directly or indirectly by the attack.
Alarms were triggered in the region between Jerusalem and the greater Tel Aviv, including Ben Gurion International Airport.
Israeli media reported that several flights were forced to delay their landings, circling above the airport for some time. A Jordanian plane en route to Amman also experienced delays.
The first of two weekends during the week-long Passover holiday concluded on Sunday evening, as many Israelis continued visiting friends and family.
The attack from Yemen was the first successful missile launch by the Houthis in more than two weeks. The terror group, in the meantime, attempted five additional attacks, but those missiles either broke apart midair or fell short in Saudi territory without triggering alarms in Israel.
The Houthis have now launched 20 ballistic missiles toward Israel since fighting resumed between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.
Following the failure of several missile launches, the Houthis also resumed attempts to launch drones toward Israel, however, these efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
On Friday, the IDF reported intercepting a Houthi drone before it entered Israeli airspace near the Dead Sea. This marked the third attempted drone attack by the Houthis in the past week.
According to the Jordanian Army, “An unidentified drone entered Jordanian airspace and crashed in the Ma’in area. Fires broke out from the falling parts of the drone, no casualties.”
The Houthi attacks have continued unabated despite ongoing American airstrikes to counter them. In addition, the internationally recognized Yemeni government appears to be gearing up for a new offensive against the Islamist rebels, according to the Emirati news outlet The National.
The report stated that the government is mobilizing around 80,000 troops for an offensive aimed at retaking the port of Hodeidah, which fell to the Houthis in 2021.
This is intended as a first step in a broader operation, with the ultimate goal of seizing control of the capital, Sana’a.
Gen. Mike Kurilla of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently met with the commander of the Yemeni government-controlled forces.
According to CENTCOM, they discussed “ongoing efforts against the Iran-backed Houthis, including the current operation designed to restore freedom of navigation.”
Day 556 — Monday, April 14
Hamas published on Saturday night a propaganda video showing signs of life from Israeli-American hostage soldier Edan Alexander.
In the three-minute video, Alexander says he has been held captive for 551 days, suggesting it was filmed on Wednesday.
“Our Edan, a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to defend the country and its citizens, is still being held captive by Hamas,” Alexander’s family said in a statement on Saturday.
“So, when you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not home,” it added.
Alexander’s family did not authorize the broadcasting or distribution of the video.
Alexander was kidnapped in uniform from a post near Kibbutz Nirim during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist invasion.
Originally from Tenafly, N.J., he is the only one of the five remaining American hostages believed to still be alive.
Former captives told Alexander’s family that he had been held in a tunnel for more than 500 days, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on March 6. He appeared severely malnourished and had been tortured and kept in chains for a long time, they said.
In November, Hamas released a video of Alexander that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “cruel psychological warfare.”
Day 556 — Monday, April 14
The family of Sergeant Itay Chen, an armored combat soldier who fell in battle on October 7th and was kidnapped to Gaza, received an alert from the Pazam App.
“Itay Chen is being released today – have you congratulated him yet?”
The alert was first reported on X by Bar Shem-Or.
The Pazam App commented: “Over the years, we have received requests from bereaved families who asked us to continue counting the days of IDF service for their loved ones, in addition to other requests to stop the counting. We consider it of utmost importance to respect the wishes of the families and relatives, and respond sensitively to their requests. It is not our responsibility to make any decisions or change anything – this is solely up to the families. In these difficult and complex days, our hearts are with the families of the hostages. We send our prayers for their speedy and safe return.”
Day 555 — Sunday, April 13
Nearly a month into Israel’s renewed ground operation, U.S. backing appears to be shaping the conflict on multiple levels—militarily, diplomatically and politically. Israeli officials have suggested the chances of a hostage deal have significantly increased, with some anticipating developments within the next two weeks.
On Monday, sitting beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump told reporters, “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We’re looking at another ceasefire. We’ll see what happens.” The remarks highlighted Trump’s dual-track approach: continued diplomatic pressure on Iran and direct support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
With what Israeli officials describe as a “free hand” to operate, Israel has expanded its offensive into Rafah and the strategically significant Morag Corridor. The stated aim is to increase pressure on Hamas and help secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages.
A senior Israeli security official told Fox News Digital that the campaign is being carried out in close coordination with the United States. “Everything is coordinated with the Americans — both the negotiations and the operational activity. The goal is to bring the hostages home. We now have a free hand to act, and no longer facing the threat of a veto at the UN Security Council, unlike during the previous administration.”
The same official pointed to a shift in humanitarian policy that, in their view, has enhanced Israeli leverage. “Unlike the previous administration, the U.S. is not forcing 350 aid trucks into Gaza every day. That gives us leverage,” the official said, adding that limiting aid reduces Hamas’s ability to control the population.
On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the IDF had completed the takeover of the Morag Axis. The Morag Corridor — which separates Rafah from Khan Younis — is part of an effort to establish a new buffer zone and degrade Hamas’s operational capabilities. “The logic is that the more territory Hamas loses, the more likely it will be to compromise on a hostage deal,” the official said.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reinforced that strategy during a visit to front-line units this week. “I expect you to defeat the Rafah Brigade and lead to victory wherever you are fighting,” he told troops. The IDF had previously declared the Rafah Brigade dismantled in September, but forces have returned to key strongholds, where tunnel networks remain.
In the same statement on Saturday, Katz warned Gazans, “Hamas is unable to protect the residents or the territory. Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families or living in luxury hotels abroad, with billions in bank accounts, using you as human shields. Now is the time to rise up, to get rid of Hamas, and to release all the Israeli hostages — that is the only way to stop the war.”
Day 554 — Saturday, April 12
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday condemned Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for appearing to support a protester’s claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza during its ongoing war against the Hamas terror group.
“Instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, [Carney] attacks the one and only Jewish state,” wrote Netanyahu on X, urging his Canadian counterpart to “backtrack [his] irresponsible statement!”
The post replied to a video showing Carney at a Tuesday night rally in Calgary, where he responded to a protester in the crowd who yelled, “Mr. Carney, there is a genocide happening in Palestine,” by pausing and saying: “Thank you… I’m aware. Which is why we have an arms embargo.”
At a campaign stop in Calgary on Wednesday, Carney clarified his remarks, saying that he had not heard the word “genocide,” and was only “stating a fact in terms of the arms restrictions,” according to CBC.
In September, Canada suspended some 30 permits for arms shipments to Israel.
Carney, a former central banker and the new leader of the Liberal Party, was sworn in as Canada’s new prime minister in March. He replaced Justin Trudeau, first elected as premier in 2015, who Jewish leaders heavily criticized for his stances on the Gaza war and handling of the surging antisemitism in Canada following the Hamas-led atrocities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Day 553 — Friday, April 11
The International Court of Justice, a U.N. agency in The Hague, set five days of public hearings, starting late this month, in the U.N. General Assembly’s case against Israel for banning the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.
The General Assembly passed a resolution in December by a 137-12 vote seeking an advisory opinion from the court about Israel’s anti-UNRWA laws, which the Knesset passed in October and which took effect in January. (There were 22 abstentions in the General Assembly vote.)
The court is to assess Israel’s responsibility, as a U.N. member state, to provide and facilitate essential services and humanitarian assistance for the population in what the United Nations calls the “occupied territories,” according to the resolution.
One of the Israeli laws banned UNRWA, whose ties to Gazan terror groups Israel has documented, from operating in the Jewish state, including throughout Jerusalem. The United Nations considers part of the Jewish capital to be Palestinian territory.
The Israeli law mandated that all UNRWA facilities, including administrative offices, schools and health clinics, be shuttered.
Earlier this week, Israeli authorities gave six UNRWA educational institutions in Jerusalem notice that they will be closed in 30 days.
The other Israeli law forbids officials of the Jewish state from communicating with UNRWA officials. The United Nations has said that these developments will make it very hard, if not impossible, for UNRWA to carry out its work in Gaza. UNRWA operates under a mandate from the U.N. General Assembly.
The hearing is slated to run from April 28 to May 2, with 44 states and four international organizations scheduled to present statements. Israel does not plan to participate. The United States does.
Almost all of the first day of hearings is reserved for testimony by the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority.
The court has previously provided non-binding opinions on issues regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including a ruling last year declaring Israeli presence in eastern Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria to be illegal.
A pending case brought by South Africa accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Day 553 — Friday, April 11
ברכת ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו לחג הפסח:
״אחיי ואחיותיי,
אזרחי ישראל.בליל הסדר כולנו מתאספים עם היקרים לנו, וכולנו מספרים את סיפור עמנו שיצא מעבדות לחירות. pic.twitter.com/KGR80OD7DO
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) April 11, 2025
“On this Passover, many families will have empty chairs,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s told the Israeli public in a video address prior to the start of the eight-day Jewish holiday.
“On Seder night, we all gather with our loved ones, and we all tell the story of our people who came out of slavery and into freedom.”
“But on this holiday, many families will have empty chairs: chairs for our kidnapped loved ones who are still being held captive by Hamas, chairs for those who fell heroically on the battlefield, and chairs for our wounded loved ones who are struggling to come back to life in the rehabilitation wards.”
“Together we will return our captives, together we will defeat our enemies, together we will embrace our wounded, and together we will bow our heads in memory of our fallen.”
He added that on October 7, some thought Israel would “drown in the sea in front of the enemy armies.”
“But not only did we not drown – we rose as one man, and with a strong hand and an outstretched arm we broke the axis of evil,” he said.
“The entire world looks with wonder at our ancient people, who time and again prevail over those who seek our lives.”
He then quoted the Jewish liturgical poem Vehi Sheamda – found in the Haggadah of the Passover Seder – “in every generation they rise up to destroy us. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, delivers us from their hands.”
Day 552 — Thursday, April 10
President Donald Trump commented on Mike Huckabee’s confirmation to serve as United States Ambassador to Israel, saying that Huckabee is “going to be fantastic.”
In the Oval Office on Wednesday Trump signed Huckabee’s commission as U.S. Ambassador to Israel and a transmittal letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, “requesting that he accept” Huckabee’s credentials.
In a post on X, the Office of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Huckabee, stating that it was “a great day for the Israeli-American alliance.”
“Congratulations to my dear friend @GovMikeHuckabee upon being confirmed as the next ambassador of the United States to Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This is a great day for the Israeli-American alliance.”
Breitbart News’s Joel Pollak reported in December 2024, that Huckabee issued a message to Israel that they would “never be alone again” in their “fight for freedom and to preserve the country and land and the heritage” that God gave them. His message came during “the annual gala dinner of the One Israel Fund.”
Pollak wrote: “Huckabee, who would be the first evangelical Christian ambassador to Israel, has long argued that Israel should annex Judea and Samaria. Though he has cautioned that he will be bound by the incoming Trump administration’s own policy, he is seen by the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria as a powerful advocate for their cause.”
In response to Netanyahu’s statement congratulating him on his confirmation, the new ambassador expressed that he was looking “forward to working” with Netanyahu.
“Thank you @IsraeliPM and I look forward to working with you as we pray for the ‘Peace of Jerusalem!‘” Huckabee said in a post on X.
Day 552 — Thursday, April 10
The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill in the state House and Senate on Monday addressing and prohibiting antisemitic discrimination in the state’s public schools, colleges and universities, the Combat Antisemitism Movement announced.
The CAM-supported bill—sponsored by Rusty Grills, a Republican state representative, and Paul Rose, a Republican state senator—passed by 79-11 and 29-1 margins in the state House and Senate, respectively. It now heads to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for further action.
The legislation would “send a powerful message that Tennessee is taking proactive steps to protect its Jewish community,” said David Soffer, CAM director of state engagement, at a recent legislative hearing at the state capitol in Nashville.
“It will also demonstrate to the rest of the nation that Tennessee is committed to combating hatred in all its forms and ensuring the safety and dignity of all students, faculty members and staff members,” he said.
The legislation, which defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, “requires the integration of the definition into student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct or anti-discrimination policies,” according to CAM. It also allows the Tennessee Department of Education to use the IHRA definition to determine discrimination in Title VI cases.
Tennessee adopted the IHRA definition in May 2022. In January, Mark Pody, a Republican state senator, introduced a bill requiring the use of the IHRA definition when determining state bias.
A total of 37 U.S. states have adopted the definition.
Day 551 — Wednesday, April 9
Hamas has revised its casualty figures from the Gaza war, removing hundreds of names from its official list of war fatalities, and revealing that 72% of those killed between ages 13 and 55 were males – a demographic largely composed of combatants. The updated figures contradict Hamas’ earlier claims that most casualties were women and children.
Salo Aizenberg, from the U.S.-based nonprofit HonestReporting, uncovered the changes through a detailed analysis of Hamas’ casualty lists. The investigation revealed that 3,400 names, including over 1,080 children, were removed from the group’s March 2025 report after being listed in 2024.
Aizenberg pointed out that the original reports, published by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, were widely cited by major international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC). “These ‘deaths’ never happened. The numbers were falsified – again,” he wrote.
The United Nations did not respond to a Fox News Digital request asking if the world body regretted disseminating those numbers in light of the revised figures.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating Israel for war crimes, told Fox News Digital, “We cannot provide comments on matters related to ongoing investigations. This approach is essential to protect the integrity of investigations, and to ensure the safety and security of victims, witnesses, and all those with whom the Office interacts.”
“David Adesnik, vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who has also been tracking the figures, reached a similar conclusion. According to his analysis, “72% of the fatalities between the ages of 13 and 55 are male.”
“Even at age 13, there’s a major excess of male over female deaths, and the disparity grows with age,” Adesnik told Fox News Digital. “If you calculate from age 13 to 59, there’s a little more than 15,000 excess men. That gives you an idea of how many are actually fighters.”
Adesnik also highlighted issues with how deaths were recorded. “Significant numbers of names disappear from the list over time. It’s like 2,000 names are removed and new ones added,” he said.
“He explained that during the first months of the war, Hamas divided deaths into two basic categories: those confirmed by hospitals and those reported by so-called ‘reliable media sources.’ “The Hamas-controlled ministry never identified these sources, and now denies it ever relied on them,” Adesnik said. Later, the Hamas-controlled began to replace the deaths reported by media sources with those reported by families, “replacing one set of data with another to cover up their original manipulation,” he added.
Day 551 — Wednesday, April 9
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against Iran has crippled its global terror funding.
She made the comments ahead of upcoming talks between the US and Iran on Iran’s nuclear program. Leavitt told reporters that Iran will be boxed in when they enter the talks in Oman on Saturday.
“The president has reimposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian regime, and he’s made it very clear to Iran they have a choice to make. You can strike a deal with the president. You can negotiate, or there will be hell to pay,” stated Leavitt.
“As the president said yesterday, if they don’t choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences.”
Day 550 — Tuesday, April 8
Hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza rallied against Hamas for the third consecutive week, according to local reports, chanting slogans labeling the group a “terrorist organization” and demanding an end to its rule.
In the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza, hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Sunday to protest the leadership of Hamas, echoing similar calls made over the past two weekends. Videos shared online show residents chanting, “The message is clear: Hamas is garbage,” and “Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
Hamas is a designated terrorist organization by the United States, EU, and Israel.
The Iran-backed terror group, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, responded by attempting to suppress the growing unrest. According to Palestinian sources, operatives from the group reportedly executed protesters involved in the rallies.
Following the recent torture and murder of Odai al-Rabei, a young Gazan targeted for protesting the terrorist group, Gaza residents were seen chanting against Hamas in public.
The 22-year-old Gazan was reportedly abducted, tortured, and murdered by Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades for his participation in anti-Hamas protests, according to statements from his family, who condemned the terrorist group as a “sinful, rogue” faction.
The victim’s family issued a scathing video statement, blaming members of the military wing of Hamas for torturing Rabei with “hard tools” and dragging his body before returning it to the family home.
The matter comes as the IDF expands its military campaign and as Gazans continue to demonstrate throughout the coastal enclave carrying white flags and chanting anti-Hamas slogans.
Day 550 — Tuesday, April 8
YouTube’s top toddler whisperer, Ms. Rachel, should be investigated over whether she’s being paid to spread Hamas-aligned propaganda for her posts about the deaths of kids in Gaza, a major antisemitism group tells Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Ms. Rachel, real name Rachel Griffin Accurso, has become the modern equivalent of Mister Rogers, educating and entertaining millions of young kids with her “Songs for Littles” streaming shows — which have been viewed more than 10 billion times.
But the Jewish civil rights watchdog group StopAntisemitism said Ms. Rachel is not so sweet.
The group says the posts are anti-Israel and are meant to inspire pro-Hamas sympathies among young kids.
“Given the vast sums of foreign funds that have been directed toward propagandizing our young people on college campuses, we suspect there is a similar dynamic in the online influencer space,” StopAntisemitism director Liora Rez said in a letter sent Monday to Bondi.
“We urge you and your office to investigate whether or not Ms. Rachel is being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers, as this may violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA),” Rez said.
In the letter to Bondi, the group said Ms. Rachel, who once focused solely on catering to children has been “incorporating Hamas-like propagated images and stories into her content.”
“Her posts have largely ignored the suffering of Israeli victims, hostages, and Jewish children, while she consistently amplifies misinformation from Hamas and other anti-Israel sources,” Rez told Bondi, in the letter obtained by The Post.
Day 549 — Monday, April 7
Defense Minister Reveals Intercepted Documents Showing Iranian Funding Hamas' Plan To Destroy Israel
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has unveiled for the first time direct evidence of Iran’s support for Hamas’ plan to destroy Israel.
During a visit to the intelligence unit on Sunday, Katz presented transcripts of conversations obtained from the tunnels of senior Hamas leaders in Gaza, showing a clear connection between Iran and key Hamas figures Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif.
The intercepted documents reveal that Sinwar and Deif demanded $500 million from the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The funds were requested to further Hamas’ campaign against Israel and its struggle against the United States. Despite Iran’s difficult economic situation, the head of the Palestinian branch of the Revolutionary Guards, Izadi, agreed to the request, emphasizing that Iran would continue to provide financial support to Hamas because the fight against Israel and the US is Tehran’s top priority.
In his remarks, Katz asserted that this new intelligence provides unequivocal proof that Iran remains the primary sponsor of Hamas and continues to fund terrorism across the region. He emphasized that Iran’s commitment to its goals, even in the face of domestic economic hardships, underscores its dedication to destabilizing the region and pushing forward its agenda of confronting Israel and the West.
“This is clear evidence that Iran is the head of the snake, continuing its support for terrorism and its proxies across the Middle East,” Katz stated. “From Gaza and Lebanon to Syria, Judea and Samaria, and even Yemen, Iran’s destructive influence is being felt. Despite their denials, these documents prove that Iran remains heavily involved in financing and supporting terror groups.”
Katz reiterated Israel’s commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and vowed that Israel would continue its operations to strike Iran’s proxies and dismantle its axis of evil in the region.
Day 549 — Monday, April 7
Israel struck back on Sunday after Hamas terrorists launched several rockets towards towns in the Southern District of Israel on Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it hit the rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip from which the projectiles were launched earlier Sunday toward Israel.
The rockets were fired from central Gaza towards Ashdod and Ashkelon on Sunday evening. There were reports of damage and debris in several locations.
“Approximately five projectiles were successfully intercepted by the IAF [Israeli Air Force],” the military explained. “Falls were identified in several areas.”
“IDF Home Front Command soldiers are dispatched to the scenes and are operating in cooperation with Israeli security forces.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was later briefed on the attack and commanded “a forceful response and approved the continued intensified IDF operations in Gaza against Hamas.”
“I instructed the IDF to extend the military operation and deal Hamas a heavy blow in response to the launches,” Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said in a statement. “For every shrapnel that harms a resident of Ashkelon, the Hamas murderers must pay a heavy price.”
Later on X, the IDF shared on-the-ground footage of a neighborhood that was struck by a rocket. The video showed multiple emergency vehicles blaring lights at night as first responders tended to a residential neighborhood.
“This is just one neighborhood in Israel hit by Hamas rocket fire tonight,” the post read. “Hamas continues to hide behind Gazan civilians while firing at Israeli civilians.”
“We will continue to defend Israelis from the threat of terrorism,” the IDF added.
Day 548 — Sunday, April 6
President Donald Trump on Friday shared a video that appeared to be of a preemptive U.S. airstrike on Houthi terrorists in Yemen, suggesting in a Truth Social post that the Iranian proxy group attacking commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea didn’t know what was coming.
“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump wrote in the post. “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”
The 25-second video Trump shared showed an aerial view, likely taken by a drone, of a group of 60 to 70 people gathered in an oval in an open area before an explosion is seen. As the smoke clears, a huge crater appears where the people were standing.
Trump did not provide details of when the video was taken. The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen since March 15, and an airstrike Wednesday reportedly targeted what the Houthis described as a “water project” in the Hodeida governorate’s Mansuriyah District.
Other strikes Wednesday also targeted the Hajjah, Saada and Sanaa governorates. On Wednesday night, the Houthis said about 17 strikes hit Saada, and a telecommunications site on Jebel Namah Mountain in the Ibb governorate was also hit.
The Houthis have continued to launch attacks against U.S. warships in the Red Sea, namely the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which is conducting the majority of the strikes on the Houthis. No warship has been struck yet, but the U.S. Navy has described the Houthi fire as the most intense combat it has faced since World War II.
The Houthis’ assault on commercial shipping in the Red Sea began after Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip.
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, now in Asia, is on its way to the Middle East to back up the Truman. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Wednesday that “additional squadrons and other air assets” would be deployed to the region.
Day 547 — Saturday, April 5
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said it had killed the terrorist leader responsible for the abduction of, and “likely personally involved” in the murder of, Shiri Bibas and her young sons, Kfir, 10-months old, and Ariel, four years old.
Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Awad, a senior commander in the Palestinian Mujahideen terrorist organization and who helped lead “several” attacks on the Nir Oz kibbutz on Oct. 7, 2023, has been “eliminated,” the IDF said Friday.
He was also responsible for the abductions and burial of Americans Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai, as well as the capture of Thai hostages.
“As part of his role in the terrorist organization, Mohammad Awad was actively involved until his death in recruiting terror operatives in Judea and Samaria and within Israel, through whom he used to plan and carry out attacks against Israelis,” the IDF said in a statement alongside the Israel Securities Authority.
Nir Oz was one of the communities hardest hit in the Oct.7, 2023 attacks, and news of the Bibas family abduction caught global attention after brutal images surfaced of Shiri clutching her sons during their capture by the terrorists.
Shiri’s husband Yarden was also captured, though by Hamas terrorists, while trying to defend his family, and they were not held together.
Yarden was released after 15 months in captivity in January, and the bodies of his wife and children were released in February.
Hamas forced Yarden to be filmed while a fellow Israeli captive was coerced into telling him that his wife and sons had been killed by an Israeli air strike.
Israel repeatedly denied the accusation, noting there was no intelligence to confirm it, and after receiving the bodies, conducted forensic analysis that showed they were killed “in cold blood” no later than November 2023.
Day 547 — Saturday, April 5
Israeli airstrikes this week struck multiple military sites in Syria that Turkish teams had reportedly inspected in recent weeks as part of Ankara’s strategic evaluation for a potential defense initiative in the war-torn country, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter who spoke to the Reuters news agency.
The targeted locations included the T4 and Palmyra air bases in Homs province, as well as the main airport in Hama province—sites Turkey had considered using under a proposed joint defense framework aimed at increasing its presence in central Syria, said the report.
The developments highlight escalating friction between Israel and Turkey as they navigate a complex post-Assad landscape in Syria. Islamist factions, long opposed to the previous regime, assumed control after Bashar Al-Assad was removed from power in December, raising concerns in Jerusalem over the potential implications for its security.
Despite Turkish assurances to the United States that its increased involvement in Syria does not threaten Israel, Israel views Turkey’s deeper role with skepticism—particularly over fears of advanced military assets being positioned within striking distance.
Turkey has upped its criticism of Israel’s counterterrorism operations. Earlier this week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon.
“These attacks have once again exposed Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law and its ongoing threat to the region’s security and stability. The international community must stand united against Israel’s efforts to create a perpetual state of conflict in the region,” it said.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement of its own, “While violently suppressing his own citizens and carrying out mass arrests of political opponents, [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan presumes to preach lofty values to the international community.”
“In Erdogan’s Turkey, there is no justice, no law, and no freedom. Israel does not need Erdogan’s ridiculous moral sermons. Israel acts to defend itself and its citizens against real threats and actual attacks — and it will continue to do so,” it added.
Day 546 — Friday, April 4
The United Nations Security Council convened Thursday night for an emergency session on the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
In his speech, Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, directly rebuked the UN Security Council ambassadors: “Hamas is taking advantage of the fact that you have lost your moral compass and is building on its war plan based on the UN’s moral confusion. Your shameful silence strengthens Hamas. You are desecrating the UN Charter and its values.”
Danon played the recordings of the anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza at the Security Council and said: “The Gazans have the courage you don’t have – hear their cry: Hamas – go out— out, out out, ‘Hamas Itla Barra – Barra Barra!‘”
Responding to the rushed condemnation of the IDF after the injury of aid workers, Ambassador Danon revealed a photo of a UN worker who was treated in Israel and who has tattoos supporting the Nazis and said: “We will investigate our activities, but why don’t you demand the same from yourselves? – How do you allow something like this to happen under your roof?”
Ambassador Danon added: “We will not apologize for harming terrorist commanders who hid in UN buildings. We will continue to dismantle Hamas’ terror machine, piece by piece, neighborhood by neighborhood, until the threat is removed and our hostages return home. Only then will the war end.”
Day 546 — Friday, April 4
The U.S. Senate voted down a pair of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday that would have blocked nearly $9 billion in arms sales to Israel.
Just 15 senators, all Democrats, voted in favor of the measures—fewer than voted for similar resolutions that Sanders put forward in November.
Speaking on the Senate floor before the vote, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said that the resolutions were “misguided” and would “reinstate the failed policies of the Biden administration.”
“Worse, they would abandon Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, during a pivotal moment for global security,” Risch said. “No one in the world is coming to the support of Hamas. No one with the exception of some misguided people in this organization.”
The resolutions targeted $8.8 billion in arms sales for bomb guidance kits, penetrators and 2,000-pound, 500-pound and small-diameter bombs. Sanders alleged that these systems have been “linked to dozens of illegal airstrikes.”
The two resolutions failed by votes of 15-82 and 15-83.
Day 545 — Thursday, April 3
Hungary’s government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, it said on Thursday, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in the country for a state visit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited his Israeli counterpart to Budapest in November, a day after the ICC issued its arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where Israel launched its offensive following an attack by Hamas-led terrorists on southern Israel.
Israel has rejected the accusations, which it says are politically motivated and fuelled by antisemitism. It says the International Criminal Court has lost all legitimacy by issuing the warrants against a democratically elected leader of a country exercising the right of self-defense.
As a founding member of the ICC, Hungary is theoretically obliged to arrest and hand over anyone subject to a warrant from the court but Orban made clear that Hungary would not respect the ruling which he called “brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable.”
Day 545 — Thursday, April 3
The military said Thursday several gunmen opened fire on Israeli troops operating in the southern Syrian town of Tasil overnight, as they were working to “confiscate weapons and destroy terror infrastructure.”
The Israel Defense Forces said the troops of the 474th Golan Regional Brigade returned fire and “eliminated” several gunmen “on the ground and from the air.”
No soldiers were injured in the exchange, and the operation in the area was completed, the IDF added.
Tasil is located some 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Israel’s border, outside of a demilitarized buffer zone along the Israel-Syrian border which the Israeli military moved into last December following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to Islamist-led rebels.
It marked only the second incident in which IDF troops operating in southern Syria have come under fire since deploying to the buffer zone.
Day 544 — Wednesday, April 2
Senior US lawmakers have issued a stark warning to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over efforts to establish yet another investigatory mechanism targeting Israel, cautioning that such actions could lead to sanctions.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) sent a letter to Guterres on Monday, condemning the UN’s bias against Israel and urging him to block any new probe.
The warning comes ahead of a scheduled UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) vote this week on a resolution that could create an open-ended investigative mechanism focusing solely on Israel.
“This is part of a concerning and insidious anti-Israel trend within the United Nations, specifically as relates to the HRC, and appears to be little more than a bare-faced attempt to prop up other anti-Israel action at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ),” Mast and Risch wrote.
The lawmakers made it clear that any attempt to push forward such a mechanism would not go unanswered by the US government.
“Make no mistake, any HRC member state or UN entity that supports an Israel-specific international investigative mechanism in any form will face the same consequences as the ICC faced for its blatant overreach and disregard for sovereign prerogatives,” they warned.
The letter highlights longstanding concerns over the UN Human Rights Council’s disproportionate focus on Israel. The lawmakers pointed to Agenda Item 7, which permanently singles out Israel for scrutiny, making it the only country with a dedicated agenda item at the Council.
“Already, Israel is the only country for which the HRC has established an entire agenda item dedicated solely to its existence,” the letter stated.
The lawmakers also criticized the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) established by the UN to investigate alleged human rights violations by Israel. They noted that this body has expanded its mandate to include examining military support to Israel, which they claim is a blatant attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state.
“This one-sided focus on Israel undermines the legitimate and genuine threat posed by real human rights abusers,” the letter argued. “This includes the Hamas terrorists who continue to hold dozens of hostages like American Edan Alexander.”
Both lawmakers emphasized that any effort to establish another investigative mechanism would further erode the credibility of the UN in the eyes of the American people.
“It is imperative that the Council act judiciously given its credibility in the eyes of the American people is quickly declining,” they cautioned.
Day 544 — Wednesday, April 2
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed an order approving the elimination of the last remaining tariffs on import of goods from the United States.
The order, which would remove about $11.3 million in annual tariffs primarily in agriculture, requires approval from lawmakers of the Knesset Finance Committee.
Hebrew media reported that the move, said to have been coordinated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came in anticipation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” on Wednesday, during which he reportedly will unveil a “country-based” tariff plan.
Since Israel and the United States signed a free trade deal in 1985—Washington’s first-ever such agreement—some 98% of goods were already tax free.“Most U.S. products imported into Israel are already exempt from tariffs and today, we approved the removal of the remaining tariffs on all American goods entering Israel,” Smotrich stated.
“The current U.S. administration presents a real opportunity to reshape the strategic economic relationship between our countries,” he stated. “This move will deepen our ties, reinforce the United States as a key economic partner and pave the way for stronger cooperation.”
“Eliminating these tariffs supports Israel’s efforts to lower the cost of living and will help drive more competition, especially in the food sector, for the benefit of Israeli consumers,” the minister added.
Day 543 — Tuesday, April 1
President Trump’s antisemitism task force is probing more than $8.7 billion worth of multi-year federal grant commitments with Harvard University and its affiliates to ensure that it is complying with civil rights laws.
That review will also extend to $255 million in contracts that Harvard has locked down with the federal government, according to a Monday announcement from Education Department, which is part of the task force.
“Harvard has served as a symbol of the American Dream for generations – the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.
“Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic discrimination – all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry – has put its reputation in serious jeopardy. Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus.”
The Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and General Services Administration are conducting the comprehensive review as part of the Trump administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.
Monday’s announcement comes after fellow Ivy League school Columbia University effectively caved earlier this month to the Trump administration’s demands to crack down on antisemitism on campus.
Earlier this month, the Department of Education’s civil rights arm put 60 colleges and universities, including Harvard, on notice that they could have their federal funds yanked away if they fail to properly address antisemitism on campus.
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, institutions of higher education are prohibited from getting federal funds if they participate in or enable discrimination based on race, national origin, religion or other characteristics.
Not long after returning to the White House, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Education Department and other key federal agencies to crack down on antisemitism in colleges and universities across the country.
Trump also formed the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism to explore all possible avenues of rooting out hatred against Jews in America.
“Hate in any form goes against the foundational principles of America,” said Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Commissioner and Task Force Member, Josh Gruenbaum said in a statement.
“While Harvard’s recent actions to curb institutionalized anti-Semitism — though long overdue — are welcome, there is much more that the university must do to retain the privilege of receiving federal taxpayer’s hard earned dollars.”
Harvard University was among the institutions that became a hotbed of anti-Israel protests and antisemitic incidents in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel.
New York Post
Day 543 — Tuesday, April 1
Israel carried out a precision airstrike in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh south of Beirut, Lebanon in the predawn hours of Tuesday.
According to Israeli officials, the target of the strike was a member of Hezbollah who had been collaborating with Hamas affiliates to organize an imminent attack on Israeli civilians.
Authorities stated that the individual posed a direct threat, prompting immediate action to neutralize him. Both the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) reaffirmed their ongoing efforts to thwart potential dangers to Israeli citizens.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least three people were killed and seven wounded in the strike. The incident occurred just days after another Israeli airstrike in the same area—the first such operation since a ceasefire concluded hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in November. That earlier attack reportedly targeted a Hezbollah facility used for storing drones, following Israeli accusations that the group had launched rockets into northern Israel.
Day 542 — Monday, March 31
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the US would receive a strong blow if it acts on President Donald Trump’s threat of bombing if the country does not reach a new nuclear deal with Washington.
“The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow,” Khamenei said.
“And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them,” he added.
This refers to Trump’s first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, in which he told NBC News that US and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump said in the telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
“There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he added.
Iran sent a response through Oman to a letter from Trump urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the United States while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran’s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday.
Day 541 — Sunday, March 30
Israel’s Foreign Ministry fired back at Turkey on Saturday, after its Foreign Ministry criticized Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon.
“We condemn Israel’s airstrikes against Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement. We stand firmly by the people of Lebanon,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
“These attacks have once again exposed Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law and its ongoing threat to the region’s security and stability. The international community must stand united against Israel’s efforts to create a perpetual state of conflict in the region,” it added.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement of its own, “While violently suppressing his own citizens and carrying out mass arrests of political opponents, [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan presumes to preach lofty values to the international community.”
“In Erdogan’s Turkey, there is no justice, no law, and no freedom. Israel does not need Erdogan’s ridiculous moral sermons. Israel acts to defend itself and its citizens against real threats and actual attacks — and it will continue to do so,” it added.
Earlier this month, the Turkish President described Israel as a “terror state” after it launched surprise strikes on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.
“The Zionist regime has once again shown that it is a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives and tears of the innocent with its brutal attacks on Gaza last night,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish President has also openly expressed support for Hamas. Last April, he met then-Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul, who was later eliminated by Israel in Tehran.
Weeks after meeting Haniyeh, Erdogan boasted of the fact that more than 1,000 members of Hamas were being treated in hospitals across Turkey and also took issue with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ reference to Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Erdogan also met with senior Hamas members in Ankara in late January.
Day 540 — Saturday, March 29
US President Donald Trump warned on Friday that “bad things” would happen to Iran if it does not agree to a deal on its nuclear program.
“Iran is very high on my list of things to watch, and as you probably know, I sent them a letter just recently, and I said, ‘You’re going to have to make a decision one way or the other,’” Trump said at the White House.
“And we’re going to either have to talk and talk it out, or very bad things are going to happen to Iran, and I don’t want that to happen,” he added.
“My big preference, and I don’t say this through strength or weakness, is we work it out with Iran. But if we don’t work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran,” stressed the President.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, swiftly dismissed the US offer, calling it “a deception” and arguing that engaging in talks with the Trump administration would “tighten the knot of sanctions and increase pressure on Iran.”
Despite Khamenei’s rejection of the offer, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that Iran has sent a response to Trump’s letter via Oman.
“Our policy is still to not engage in direct negotiations while under maximum pressure and military threats, however, as it was the case in the past, indirect negotiations can continue,” Araqchi said, according to the IRNA news agency.
Day 540 — Saturday, March 29
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday announced it has disrupted a Hamas terrorism financing scheme and seized about $201,400 in cryptocurrency.
The scheme laundered over $1.5 million for the Palestinian terrorist organization, beginning in October 2024.
The money-laundering operation was allegedly coordinated through a group chat on an encrypted communications platform, which offered Hamas supporters an ever-changing list of at least 17 cryptocurrency “wallets” they could dump their donations into.
The cryptocurrency was then “sent into an operational wallet and laundered through a series of virtual currency exchanges and transactions by leveraging suspected financiers and over-the-counter brokers,” according to the DOJ press release on Thursday.
“Included among the assets seized were cryptocurrency addresses valued at approximately $89,900 and three additional accounts containing cryptocurrency valued at approximately $111,500. These accounts were registered in the names of Palestinian individuals living in Turkey and elsewhere,” the statement said.
Hamas has allegedly been using cryptocurrency wallets to launder money and finance terrorist activity since at least 2020, in addition to using corrupt financial exchanges to bring foreign cash into Gaza and the West Bank.
Contrary to the eternal cries of poverty and deprivation from Palestinian officials, Hamas is fantastically wealthy, with hundreds of millions of dollars floating through its numbered accounts and crypto wallets. Of course, none of that money ever reaches the Palestinian people – the funds are spent on weapons, bribes, and terrorist operations, not food and medicine. Foreign supporters pumping huge donations into Hamas crypto wallets know perfectly well the terrorist organization will not use a dime of that money for the betterment of the Palestinian public.
The U.S. Treasury department is currently investigating over $165 million dollars’ worth of Hamas crypto, a treasure hoard orders of magnitude larger than the $201,400 seizure announced on Thursday.
“These seizures show that this office will search high and low for every cent of money going to fund Hamas, wherever it is found, and in whatever form of currency,” U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. of the District of Columbia said on Thursday.
“Hamas is responsible for the death of many U.S. and Israeli nationals, and we will stop at nothing to stop their campaign of terror and murder,” he said.
Day 539 — Friday, March 28
Air-raid sirens pealed across central Israel on Thursday following missiles launched at the Jewish state by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group, sending millions of civilians running for bomb shelters.
“Following alerts that were activated a short time ago in several areas of the country, two missiles launched from Yemen were intercepted,” the Israeli army said. “Both missiles were intercepted before they crossed into the country’s territory, alerts were activated according to policy.”
Sirens were activated as far north of Kfar Saba, some 15 miles from Tel Aviv, and as far south as the Hebron area in southern Judea, the Israel Defense Forces said. Alerts also sounded in Jerusalem.
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster, missile shrapnel was discovered in the Western Samaria community of Mevo Horon, which is located right next to Modi’in, a city of around 100,000.
The attack was the second from Yemen this week. On Monday night, the IDF intercepted a Houthi missile heading for Israel’s densely-populated central region. Local media aired footage of the missile being intercepted over Jerusalem. Shrapnel fell in the city of Beit Shemesh, some 12 miles west of Jerusalem in the Judean foothills.
That attack followed another on Sunday morning, which likewise triggered air-raid sirens, including in Tel Aviv. The missile was successfully shot down.
Since Hamas initiated the war on Oct. 7, 2023, by murdering some 1,200 people in Israel, the Houthis have fired over 350 drones and missiles at the Jewish state in support of the Palestinian terror group, in addition to carrying out numerous attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis resumed their attacks on Israel on March 18, marking the first time that the country’s air defenses were activated against a threat from Yemen since mid-January, when a Gaza truce went into effect.
Day 539 — Friday, March 28
As rare dissent spreads across the coastal enclave, Gaza terrorist factions are warning against undermining the “resistance.”
Hamas and allied terrorist factions have downplayed the significance of ongoing anti-war protests in Gaza, stating that political rivals are seeking to exploit public frustration.
“Protests in Gaza are expected, and there are parties trying to divert the course of the demonstrations,” said Hamas official Basem Naim in an interview with Qatar’s Al-Araby TV. He accused unnamed factions of steering popular anger toward “narrow partisan agendas.”
The demonstrations — described by local observers as the most widespread since the conflict began — have taken hold in key areas like Beit Lahia, Jabaliya, Shujaiya, and Khan Yunis, traditionally known for their support of Hamas. Protesters have called for an immediate end to the war and are demanding political accountability, chanting slogans such as “Hamas out” and “We want to live in peace.”
Public anger has intensified amid deteriorating living conditions and reports Hamas has halted the distribution of humanitarian aid. Many Gazans also accuse Hamas leaders of seeking shelter in fortified underground bunkers while civilians bear the brunt of airstrikes above ground.
In an apparent attempt to quell the unrest, Hamas has deployed plainclothes operatives to monitor and intimidate demonstrators, according to eyewitnesses, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported Wednesday night. Community elders have allegedly been enlisted to steer public frustration away from Hamas and toward Israel.
One significant incident unfolded at the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, according to Channel 12, where a standoff between medical staff and Hamas members reportedly escalated into a physical altercation. The confrontation is seen as indicative of the deepening rift between the group and a civilian population increasingly weary of war.
Day 538 — Thursday, March 27
Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Gazans to continue opposing Hamas in protests on Wednesday, saying it is the only way to “stop the war.”
“The IDF will soon operate in force in additional areas of Gaza and you will be required to evacuate for your protection from the combat zones,” Katz said. The plans have already been approved, and the Israeli military will continue to destroy more and more Gazan territory, he said.
Katz noted that Yahya Sinwar, “the first Sinwar,” has already “destroyed Gaza,” while his brother Mohammed, now in charge of Hamas in Gaza, “is ready to burn half of Gaza with his own hands, just to try and preserve the corrupt rule of him and his colleagues.”
Hamas murderers, Katz said, “are sitting protected in tunnels or luxury hotels with accounts worth billions,” while everyday Gazans are suffering and being “used as hostages” by the group.
He urged them to “learn from the residents of Beit Lahiya,” referring to the protests that broke out there on Tuesday. “Just as they did, demand that Hamas be expelled from Gaza and the immediate release of all the Israeli hostages.”
Day 538 — Thursday, March 27
The Israel Defense Forces overnight Monday killed top Hezbollah terrorist Hassan Kamal Halawi near Nabatieh in Southern Lebanon, the military announced on Tuesday.
Halawi, the commander of Hezbollah’s “southern front” anti-tank unit, was responsible for numerous attacks against Israel, and facilitated the movement of operatives and weapons into Southern Lebanon during the war, according to the IDF.
On Saturday, the Israeli Air Force intercepted three rockets fired from Lebanon at the Galilee town of Metula. Three additional rockets fell short and did not cross into Israeli territory.
The IDF responded with artillery fire toward the site of the launches and later struck dozens of Hezbollah assets in Southern Lebanon. The Iranian-backed proxy issued a statement denying its involvement in the rocket fire.
It was the first such attack from Lebanon since a Nov. 27 ceasefire ended more than a year of war with Hezbollah, which opened a front against Israel in support of Hamas the day after the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated on Saturday that the “Government of Lebanon is the party responsible for everything taking place within its territory. Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens and its sovereignty—and will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of the citizens of Israel and the communities of the north.”
On Thursday, the military struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in Southern Lebanon and underground infrastructure belonging to the terror group in the Beqaa Valley.
Day 537 — Wednesday, March 26
Though he was interrupted some half a dozen times by anti-Israel protesters, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee appeared to emerge from a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, during which Republicans embraced him and Democrats challenged him on some of his controversial positions, with few hiccups.
“I am not here to articulate or defend my own views or policies but to present myself as one who will respect and represent the president, whose overwhelming election by the people will hopefully give me the honor of serving as ambassador to the state of Israel,” Huckabee said in his opening statement on Tuesday.
A strident supporter of Israel who has routinely said that the Palestinians are not entitled to a state and who has voiced approval for wide-ranging Israeli settlement in, and sovereignty over, Judea and Samaria, Huckabee told the committee that it wouldn’t be his “prerogative” to carry out his views.
“If confirmed, it will be my responsibility to carry out the president’s priorities, not mine,” he said, in response to a question from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
Huckabee appeared to correct the senator after Merkley referred to annexing the “West Bank.”
“I have previously supported it, yes sir, Judea and Samaria,” Huckabee said, referring to the region by its biblical and historical name.
Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), told JNS outside the committee hearing room that Huckabee should meet any harsh questioning head on during the confirmation.
“I think he just needs to be honest and talk through whatever the concerns are,” Boozman said. “He has a very strong track record supporting Israel. He was a great governor in Arkansas. He’s very well respected in our state, and I think he will be a tremendous representative for the United States as ambassador to Israel.”
The former presidential hopeful laid out his case for the U.S.-Israel relationship, [pointing to] of what he said was a 50-year affinity for Israel.
“There is no country across the globe that more mirrors our own struggle and our own level of democracy than does the State of Israel,” Huckabee said.
“We are ultimately people of the book. We believe the Bible,” added Huckabee, one of more prominent U.S. evangelical Christians. “That connection is not geopolitical. It is also spiritual.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) asked Huckabee during the hearing why U.S. defense of Israel is so critical. Huckabee discussed the overarching threat from Tehran.
“As expressed by the Iranian government, Israel is the appetizer and we are the entrée,” he said. “This is not just about Israel. It is about us, and if we don’t stand with them, they stand alone. And if they fall alone, we fall next.”
Huckabee challenged the belief that it is up to the United States to continue pushing for a two-state solution. He noted the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to commit to living side-by-side with Israel peacefully and its pay-for-slay policy.
“Compensation is given to those who murder Jews, parks and streets are named for those who do it, pensions are given to families of those who are killed in the line of killing Jews,” Huckabee said. “That’s a difficult pathway to peace.”
He dismissed the “the notion that everyone is going to live together, toast marshmallows around the campfire singing kumbaya and it’s going to happen in our lifetime.”
Huckabee is widely expected to be approved by the Republican-led panel.
The committee has not yet set a date for a vote. Should it approve Huckabee’s nomination, the full Senate would then meet to vote on his confirmation.
Day 537 — Wednesday, March 26
Hundreds of Palestinian Arabs took to the streets in northern Gaza on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to the Hamas terror group and calling for an end to the ongoing war with Israel, reported The Guardian.
The demonstration was reportedly the largest of its kind in the Strip since Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters—mostly men—gathered in Beit Lahia, chanting “Hamas out” and “Hamas terrorists.”
The protest erupted near the Indonesian hospital, just days after the IDF resumed its operations against Hamas following a temporary ceasefire.
Some demonstrators carried banners with messages such as “Stop the war” and “We want to live in peace.” Calls for the protest had reportedly been circulating on Telegram, encouraging civilians to take a stand.
“I don’t know who organized the protest,” one participant told AFP. “I took part to send a message on behalf of the people: Enough with the war,” he said, further claiming that “members of the Hamas security forces in civilian clothing [were] breaking up the protest.”
Another protester, identified only as Majdi, said the suffering of Gaza’s residents has reached a breaking point.
Additional footage showed demonstrators burning tires in Jabalia, with crowds chanting, “We want to eat.”
Past demonstrations against Hamas have been violently suppressed by the terror group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.
Day 536 — Tuesday, March 25
The United Nations is once again under the microscope for blaming Israel for an attack on a compound as it opts to curb its footprint in Gaza, according to the world body.
The spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement noting the U.N. had “taken the difficult decision to reduce the Organization’s footprint in Gaza” even as “humanitarian needs soar.”
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric claimed that “information currently available” indicated that a strike on the U.N.’s Deir al Balah compound on March 19 was “caused by an Israeli tank.” One U.N. employee was killed in the incident, and six others were wounded, Dujarric said.
On the date of the incident, the Israel Defense Forces Tweeted that “contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a U.N. compound in Deir el Balah.” The IDF asked media outlets “to act with caution regarding unverified reports.”
The IDF told Fox News Digital Monday that the U.N.’s claim was “absolutely not accurate.”
While his statement named Israel, it stopped short in naming the terrorist group Hamas or other extremist groups operating in Gaza. “The location of this U.N. compound was well known to the parties to the conflict,” Dujarric continued. “I reiterate that all parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of U.N. premises. Without this, our colleagues face intolerable risks as they work to save the lives of civilians.” Dujarric added that the “Secretary-General strongly condemns these strikes and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation on this incident.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oren Marmorstein blasted the U.N. statement, saying in part, “The U.N. inquiry team itself hasn’t even arrived at the scene. Yet the U.N. is quick to publish another baseless slander against Israel. No standards, no professionalism – nothing stands in the way of the U.N. Secretary General in another attempt to smear Israel.”
Foundation for Defense of Democracies research analyst Joe Truzman told Fox News Digital that Dujarric’s statement gave the “impression… that the United Nations has deliberately avoided criticizing Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza for fear of creating friction with the armed groups. This failed strategy has only emboldened Hamas and its allies, allowing them to exploit UNRWA facilities in Gaza with impunity. Time and again, authorities have uncovered terrorist infrastructure connected to UNRWA facilities, including agency employees who were members of terrorist groups and committed atrocities on October 7.”
Day 536 — Tuesday, March 25
The Hamas terrorist group released video footage on Monday showing signs of life of Israeli hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana, 535 days after they were taken captive during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Bohbot, 35, an Israeli-Colombian dual national from Mevaseret Zion near Jerusalem, and Ohana, 24, from Kiryat Malachi in southern Israel, were taken to Gaza as hostages by Hamas terrorists during their cross-border onslaught on the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im on Oct. 7.
Bohbot was last seen in video footage of the terror attacks, in which he lay crumpled on a floor with his face bloodied and eyes wide with fear.
His nephew, Menashe Harush, told JNS last April that he had been living and sleeping in Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” since Oct. 8, 2023, to raise awareness for Bohbot’s plight at the hands of Palestinian terrorists.
“The video shows he is in poor condition, having lost a significant amount of weight due to persistent starvation,” his relatives said in a response published by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Monday. “He suffers from skin and breathing problems in addition to being asthmatic, and has not seen daylight for almost a year and a half!
“This video is further proof that Elkana must return home to his family, to his wife Rivka and his son Ra’am David. Elkana is crying out for help, begging us not to forget him in the tunnel hell,” added the family.
Ohana was kidnapped from the festival as he and a friend attempted to provide aid to wounded fellow partygoers amid Hamas’s massacre. Last month, his family told Hebrew media they received a “clear indication” that their loved one was still alive after more than 500 days in captivity.
Fifty-nine abductees remain captive in Gaza, according to official Israel Defense Forces figures. At least 35 of them are believed to have died.
Day 535 — Monday, March 24
An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital killed a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau Sunday night as the military moved to expand its renewed offensive across the Strip.
Israel said it used precision weaponry to target and kill Ismail Barhoum at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, referring to him as a “key Hamas terrorist,” as the Palestinian terror group confirmed his death and said he had been undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in a previous strike.
The strike was one of dozens reported across the territory Sunday and into the early morning hours of Monday, with a separate strike in the Khan Younis area reportedly killing a senior Hamas education official. The Israel Defense Forces also indicated it was preparing to expand ground operations, redeploying an armored division that had been stationed on the border with Lebanon.
Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the widening of the offensive in a statement hailing the killing of Barhoum.
He described the Hamas official, a member of the terror group’s political bureau previously involved in financing its activities, as “the new Hamas prime minister in Gaza, who replaced Issam Da’alis, the previous prime minister who was eliminated a few days ago.”
He was at least the fourth member of Hamas’s political bureau killed since Tuesday, when Israel resumed airstrikes in the territory after an impasse over continuing a ceasefire. Earlier Sunday, an Israeli airstrike near Khan Younis killed Salah al-Bardawil, another senior member of its political bureau.
Out of the 20 members of Hamas’s political bureau elected in 2021, 11 have been assassinated during the war in Gaza. Seven are either certain or highly likely to be outside the Gaza Strip.
The IDF said the strike was carried out following “an extensive intelligence-gathering process,” and that a “precision munition” was used to mitigate harm to civilians.
Day 535 — Monday, March 24
A man of about 70 was murdered Monday morning and a second man was injured in a terror attack at Hatishbi Junction near Yokne’am in northern Israel.
A Magen David Adom (MDA) spokesperson said first responders are providing medical treatment to a man of about 20 who is in moderate condition and conscious. A second man, aged about 70, was critically injured and unconscious, and was soon declared dead at the scene.
The terror attack took place at a bust stop, when the terrorist attempted to ram civilians and then exited his vehicle with a rifle and opened fire at civilians.
According to the police, the terrorist opened fire at civilians and was immediately neutralized by police officers at the scene.
Security forces are searching the area for others potentially involved in the attack.
MDA paramedic Moshiko Amsalem said: “This was a difficult incident. We were called to the scene of a bus stop terror attack at Hatishbi Junction. When we arrived at the scene, we immediately saw two injured victims, one aged 75 in critical condition with penetrative wounds, and another victim aged 20 in moderate condition and also suffering penetrative wounds. We immediately began providing them with medical treatment, which included stopping the bleeding and bandaging them.”
Day 534 — Sunday, March 23
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is beefing up the U.S. Navy’s presence in the Middle East, ordering a second aircraft carrier to the region to bolster efforts against Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists targeting shipping in the Red Sea.
A U.S. official told U.S. Naval Institute News that Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which was in the Pacific participating in drills with South Korea, to the region to join the USS Harry S. Truman, which has been there since September 2024. Hegseth also signed orders Thursday to keep the Truman in the Middle East for at least another month.
It will be the second time in six months that the U.S. has kept two carrier strike groups in the region. The push for two aircraft carriers came amid the Trump administration’s recent airstrikes against Houthis operating in Yemen. It will take the Carl Vinson two to three weeks to reach the region, meaning the carriers will overlap for a period of time, USNI News reported.
The Houthis have been targeting commercial shipping and U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip. But the Houthis had not attacked any ships since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began Jan. 19.
The Houthis, though, began to target the Truman and its escort ships following the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen.
In a post Wednesday on Truth Social, President Donald Trump warned that Iran must stop arming the Houthis “IMMEDIATELY” and vowed that the Houthis “will be completely annihilated!”
The Truman left Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia at the end of September and was nearing the end of its planned deployment when Hegseth extended its mission, USNI News reported. After operating in the North Sea for NATO exercises at the beginning of its deployment, the Truman sailed to the eastern Mediterranean and has spent much of its time since then operating in the Red Sea. The carrier briefly stopped in Souda Bay, Crete, last month for emergency repairs following a collision with a merchant ship near Port Said, Egypt.
The Carl Vinson deployed in mid-November from Naval Station North Island in San Diego and has been operating in the Indo-Pacific for the past few months, according to USNI News. The carrier, which has F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter jets on board, drilled last week with U.S. Air Force and South Korea Air Force F-35s.
The next West Coast-based carrier expected to deploy to the Indo-Pacific is the USS Nimitz, which has been doing pre-deployed work off the coast of California, according to USNI News.
Day 533 — Saturday, March 22
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages. Earlier this week, the IDF resumed the war in Gaza after a nearly two-month-long ceasefire that saw the release of 33 hostages.
“If the terrorist organization Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages, I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the benefit of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, through permanent Israeli control of the territory,” Katz said in a statement. “As Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more territory that will be annexed to Israel.”
If Israel follows through on Katz’s threat of partial annexation, it would be the biggest shift to the status quo in Gaza in almost 20 years. In 2005, Israel evacuated Gaza and even sent in the IDF to physically take Israelis out of their homes. A year later, Hamas took control and has ruled over the Strip ever since.
Katz also said that Israel will continue Operation “Strength and Sword” with increasing intensity until Hamas releases the hostages. Additionally, he affirmed Israel’s adherence to the proposal put forth by U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, which involves getting all hostages, alive and dead, out of Gaza in two phases.
The Trump administration is standing by Israel’s military decisions. This is a very different approach than the one taken by the Biden administration.
Day 533 — Saturday, March 22
Three rockets were fired from Lebanon a short while ago at the northern border community of Metula.
According to the IDF, all three rockets were intercepted by air defenses. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Sirens had sounded in Metula amid the rocket attack, the first from Lebanon since December.
Three rockets were fired from Lebanon a short while ago at the northern border community of Metula.
According to the IDF, all three rockets were intercepted by air defenses. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Sirens had sounded in Metula amid the rocket attack, the first from Lebanon since December.
“The Lebanese government bears responsibility for any fire from its territory. I have instructed the IDF to respond accordingly,” he adds.
Quick Facts
- Since Oct. 7, Over 1,600 Israelis (866 soldiers) have been killed, and over 13,000 have been injured.
- 5,937 IDF soldiers wounded since the start of the war.
- On Sept. 17-18, Hezbollah pagers and other devices implanted with explosives simultaneously detonated in two waves, leaving thousands wounded and dozens of terrorists dead, in a highly sophisticated attack widely attributed to the Mossad.
- On Aug. 25, the IDF launched a large-scale preemptive strike targeting thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers, thwarting a significant attack the terror group planned to immediately launch.
- On July 30-31, an Israeli strike killed a Hezbollah Commander and Hamas’ top leader was assassinated in Tehran.
- On April 13, Iran launched 200+ missiles and drones toward Israel from Iranian soil.
- On April 8, the IDF withdrew ground troops from southern Gaza, maintaining that a operation in Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold, remains imminent.
- On April 1, Israel allegedly carried out an airstrike in Damascus, killing 7 IRGC members, including the top Iranian commander in Syria.
- On Dec. 3, the IDF’s ground operation moved into southern Gaza after Israel dropped leaflets to inform civilians to evacuate key areas.
- On Dec. 1, after Hamas violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the pause in fighting ended. Israel resumed their operations in the north of Gaza.
- On Nov. 24, in accordance with a ceasefire agreement for the release of hostages by Hamas, the IDF paused their operations.
- On Oct. 27, the IDF began its Ground Operation in Northern Gaza
- On Oct. 8, the Israel Security Cabinet voted to officially declare war for the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
- On Oct. 7, one day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, thousands of Hamas gunmen invaded southern Israel, kidnapping, raping, torturing, and killing hundreds of Israelis.
- For Video Updates — Click Here
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Day 609 — Friday, June 6
The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that it imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, marking the first time that the United States has used that punitive tool against justices at the independent tribunal.
The department stated that judges Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia would be sanctioned for their role in investigating Israel and the United States.
“As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, stated. “The ICC is politicized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies.”
“This dangerous assertion and abuse of power infringes upon the sovereignty and national security of the United States and our allies, including Israel,” Rubio stated. “The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel and any other U.S. ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC.”
According to the State Department, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza ruled to authorize the ICC’s investigation into the conduct of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, while Alapini-Gansou and Hohler ruled to authorize ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, then the defense minister.
In February, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on any ICC official attempting to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute U.S. citizens or the citizens of any U.S. ally that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction, or signed onto the court’s Rome Statute, including Israel.
The White House named Karim Khan, the court’s prosecutor and a British national, as the first target of those sanctions for his role in investigating Netanyahu, Gallant and Israel’s alleged commission of “war crimes” in Gaza.
Khan took indefinite leave in May amid an investigation into whether he committed sexual misconduct.
Day 609 — Friday, June 6
Defense Minister Israel Katz responded on Friday to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s condemnation of Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s Dahiya neighborhood, asserting that peace in Beirut is contingent upon Israel’s security.
“Mr. President, there will be no peace in Beirut and no stability in Lebanon without security for the State of Israel,” Katz stated. “Agreements must be honored. If you do not take the necessary actions, we will continue to act with great force.”
Katz emphasized that the Lebanese government bears responsibility for activities within its territory, urging it to disarm the Hezbollah terrorist organization and prevent it from producing drones that threaten northern Israeli communities and civilians.
Regarding the Lebanese army’s conduct, Katz remarked, “You must ensure that the Lebanese army genuinely enforces the ceasefire agreement—not through coordinated performances as attempted yesterday.”
He added, “We are committed to the safety of northern residents and will not allow a return to the pre-October 7 reality. If you do not take the necessary actions, we will continue to act with great force.”
The Israeli Air Force conducted targeted strikes on Thursday night against Hezbollah’s drone manufacturing sites and warehouses used by the organization’s aerial unit in Beirut’s Dahiya neighborhood and southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s aerial unit has launched over 1,000 explosive and reconnaissance drones toward Israeli territory during the ongoing conflict.
Additionally, the IDF targeted a drone production workshop in southern Lebanon, used for attacks, intelligence gathering, and enhancing Hezbollah’s surveillance capabilities.
Day 608 — Thursday, June 5
The U.S. rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, standing by Jerusalem. France, the U.K., Russia and China all supported the resolution, which received 14 votes in favor and one vote against, meaning it was not adopted by the council.
“It is inexplicable that many members of this council still refuse to acknowledge that Hamas could end this conflict tomorrow by surrendering and laying down its arms. It is unconscionable that the U.N. still has not labeled and sanctioned Hamas as a terrorist organization,” U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Dorothy Shea said.
In her remarks, Shea also stated that the Security Council could not “reward Hamas’ intransigence” after the terror group rejected multiple ceasefire proposals.
Hamas was not condemned in the draft resolution, which only included a demand that terror organizations in Gaza release the remaining 58 hostages.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon thanked the U.S. for voting against the resolution.
“We thank the United States for standing on the right side. For standing on the side of truth, justice, and moral clarity. Thank you for refusing to abandon the hostages and for refusing to legitimize the lies of this resolution,” Danon said in a statement.
Shea also had a warning for the world body. “Engaging in this performative process at a time when serious questions are being asked about the utility of the U.N., its funding and use of resources is shameful. This council should not be used in this way. This council must hold itself to a higher standard.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Danon issued a statement against the resolution, saying it “undermines” humanitarian aid efforts and “ignores the reality on the ground.”
“It ignores the one party still endangering civilians in Gaza: Hamas. The group that hijacks trucks and stockpiles the aid to their benefit,” Danon said. “If you care about the people of Gaza, then stop protecting those who started this war and continue to prolong it. If you care about aid, then help ensure it reaches civilians and not terrorists.”
Ultimately, Danon said that the resolution “betrays the very people it claims to protect.”
Day 608 — Thursday, June 5
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the bodies of two Israeli hostages have been returned from Gaza in a special operation.
Judy Weinstein-Hagai and Gadi Hagai, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, were named as the two deceased captives. The married couple was murdered during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and their bodies were taken to the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed their deaths in December.
“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache over this most terrible loss. May their memory be a blessing,” the premier stated.
“I wish to thank and express my appreciation to the soldiers and commanders for their determined and successful operation. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we bring all our hostages home—both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu continued.
The IDF said that their bodies were retrieved from the Khan Yunis area on Wednesday night in a joint operation with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
They were murdered and kidnapped by the terrorist organization Kataeb al-Mujahideen, according to the military.
“The couple, Judy and Gad, are parents of four, Judy was 70 years old at the time of her death and Gad was 72 years old at the time of his death,” the statement added.
The number of hostages—both living and deceased—held in Gaza now stands at 56.
Day 607 — Wednesday, June 4
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment, rejecting a key US demand aimed at resolving a decades-long nuclear dispute, that he said was against the Islamic Republic’s interests.
The US proposal for a new nuclear deal was presented to Iran on Saturday by Oman, which has mediated talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
After five rounds of talks, several hard-to-bridge issues remain, including Iran’s insistence on maintaining uranium enrichment on its soil and Tehran’s refusal to ship abroad its entire existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium – possible raw material for nuclear bombs.
“Uranium enrichment is the key to our nuclear program, and the enemies have focused on the enrichment,” Khamenei said in a televised speech. The US proposal “contradicts our nation’s belief in self-reliance and the principle of ‘We Can,'” he said.
“The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have an enrichment?” he added.
Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology for “peaceful purposes” and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
On Monday, Reuters reported Tehran was poised to reject the US proposal on the grounds that it was a “non-starter” that failed to soften Washington’s stance on uranium enrichment or to address Tehran’s interests.
Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran since his return to the White House in January, which included tightening sanctions and threatening to bomb Iran if the negotiations yield no deal.
During his first term in 2018, Trump ditched Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
Iran’s arch-foe Israel, which sees Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, has repeatedly threatened to bomb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Day 607 — Wednesday, June 4
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Jerusalem would mount a “full response” against the regime of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa after two rockets were fired from Syria at the Golan Heights for the first time in over a year, minutes before a Houthi missile triggered sirens across central Israel.
No injuries were reported from either attack. The IDF said it had responded to the attack from Syria with artillery fire on the source of the rockets, some 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the border with Israel.
The IDF also carried out a series of airstrikes throughout southern Syria that it said targeted weapons belonging to the regime.
“The Syrian regime is responsible for what is happening in Syria and will continue to bear the consequences as long as hostile activity continues from its territory,” the IDF said in a statement.
Katz issued his own statement asserting that Israel views Sharaa himself as “directly responsible for every threat and [rocket] fire toward the State of Israel.”
“The full response will come soon,” said Katz, adding that Israel “will not allow a return to a pre-October 7 reality.”
Day 606 — Tuesday, June 3
The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday rejected claims its troops had fired at civilians in Khan Yunis, and released footage showing Palestinian gunmen shooting at least one person.
A preliminary IDF investigation found no gunfire by Israeli forces in the area, south of Gaza City, at the time of the incident on Sunday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.
The statement came in response to reports accusing Israel of killing dozens of civilians near a U.S. aid distribution site. The IDF released drone footage showing masked gunmen firing at civilians in Khan Yunis.
The Red Cross reported 21 deaths and 179 injuries from what it called a “mass casualty incident,” saying most of the victims suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. However, the organization did not specify who was responsible for the shooting.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry set the death toll at 31, claiming all victims had been shot in the head or chest. Hamas called the incident a “massacre,” accusing Israel of luring civilians to a pre-announced aid point before opening fire.
In a video message issued after the international media picked up the initial reports, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said: “The IDF did not fire at civilians in or near the humanitarian aid distribution area.”
The Red Cross reported 21 deaths and 179 injuries from what it called a “mass casualty incident,” saying most of the victims suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. However, the organization did not specify who was responsible for the shooting.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry set the death toll at 31, claiming all victims had been shot in the head or chest. Hamas called the incident a “massacre,” accusing Israel of luring civilians to a pre-announced aid point before opening fire.
In a video message issued after the international media picked up the initial reports, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said: “The IDF did not fire at civilians in or near the humanitarian aid distribution area.”
The IDF blamed Hamas for spreading false claims and accused the group of deliberately targeting Gaza civilians to obstruct aid delivery.
The IDF emphasized it is cooperating with the American NGO Global Humanitarian Foundation and other international agencies to ensure food reaches civilians, not Hamas.
“The continued misinformation, mischaracterization and unfortunately completely false reports by some major media outlets [are] very disheartening to our aid workers and their vital efforts to feed the hungry people of Gaza,” said GHF interim executive director John Acree.
The group, which is not connected to the United Nations, began operations on May 27. The aid facilities are secured by U.S. military contractors and remotely monitored by the Israel Defense Forces. International humanitarian NGOs reportedly manage the delivery of food and other supplies.
Day 606 — Tuesday, June 3
The IDF announced that three soldiers, St.-Sgt. Lior Steinberg (20), St.-Sgt. Ofek Barhana (20), and St.-Sgt. Omer Van Gelder (22), were killed in battle in northern Gaza on Tuesday.
The three served in the 9th Battalion in the Givati Brigade.
The three were killed when the Hummer vehicle, on which the soldiers were riding, was damaged after it hit an explosive device.
In the same incident, two soldiers were seriously wounded, and nine others were moderately and lightly wounded. All three of the killed soldiers were posthumously promoted from the ranks of Sergeant to Staff Sergeant.
The Givati Brigade is currently operating in Jabalya, where they are destroying terrorist infrastructure above and below ground, eliminating terrorists.
Day 606 — Tuesday, June 3
US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) issued a caustic remark directed at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her fellow campaigners aboard a vessel attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
“Hope Greta and her friends can swim!” the South Carolina senator quipped, referring to the Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen, which departed the Sicilian port of Catania on Sunday. The ship is carrying Thunberg and 11 other activists as part of a mission to “break Israel’s siege” of Gaza, according to organizers cited by The Associated Press.
The activists, including “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham and French MEP Rima Hassan, are aiming to deliver aid and draw international attention to what they describe as a humanitarian crisis in the Hamas-controlled enclave. Hassan has previously been barred from entering Israel due to her anti-Israel activism.
Before departure, Thunberg claimed the mission was a stand against what she termed the “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza. “We have to keep trying. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” she told reporters. “And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world.”
The voyage comes weeks after another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the “Conscience,” was reportedly damaged by drones in international waters off Malta. The group accused Israel of being behind the attack.
The attempt also echoes the 2010 “Freedom Flotilla” incident, when the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara was intercepted by Israeli forces after refusing to dock at Ashdod Port. Israeli soldiers who boarded the ship were attacked with clubs and knives by the Islamists on board, prompting a violent clash that left 10 of the activists dead. A subsequent inspection revealed that no humanitarian aid was found aboard the ship.
Thunberg has intensified her criticism of Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that ignited the current conflict. Despite that event, she has repeatedly voiced support for Gaza and participated in anti-Israel demonstrations, including a January rally in Leipzig where she called to “crush Zionism.”
Her controversial stance drew public backlash during a November 2023 rally in Amsterdam when a protester interrupted her speech, expressing frustration over what he described as political posturing at a climate event.
The current voyage is expected to take seven days, barring any interception.
Arutz Sheva
Day 605 — Monday, June 2
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized the French government’s increasingly hostile diplomatic stance toward Israel, particularly its efforts to form an international coalition aimed at imposing a “Palestinian state” during the ongoing war.
“It’s incredibly inappropriate in the midst of a war that Israel is dealing with to go out and present something that I think increasingly Israelis are steadfast against,” Huckabee said during an interview with Fox News on Sunday.
Huckabee suggested that the French government establish a “Palestinian state” on the French Riviera.
“Oct. 7 changed a lot of things. If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I have a suggestion for them – carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation. And I find it revolting that they think they have the right to do such a thing,” Huckabee argued.
The Israeli government and much of the Israeli public currently oppose the establishment of a state that they view as a serious threat to the Jewish state’s national security. Furthermore, following the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people, Israelis generally view such unilateral diplomatic move as a major reward for anti-Israel terrorism.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in April that France plans to recognize a “Palestinian state” in the near future.
“We must move toward recognition [of a Palestinian state], and so, in the coming months, we will,” Macron stated.
The French leader claimed that such diplomatic move would facilitate peace in the Middle East.
“I will do it because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in turn, which many of them do not do,” Macron stated.
However, the French president failed to address the fact that both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority oppose Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state within any boundaries. France has also demanded an end of Israel’s self-defense military operations against Hamas, an Iranian terrorist proxy which openly calls for the Jewish state’s destruction.
France and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to co-hosting an international conference in June with the goal of unilaterally implementing the two-state solution while ignoring Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
Huckabee addressed the French-Saudi unilateral international plan.
“I hope they will reconsider but the U.S. will not participate. It simply will not be a part of such a ruse,” the U.S. envoy said.
Day 605 — Monday, June 2
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday condemned what the “vicious” terrorist attack in Boulder, Colo., that left eight people wounded during a rally in support of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“My wife and I, and the entire State of Israel, pray for the full recovery of the wounded in the vicious terror attack,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews.”
Netanyahu expressed confidence that U.S. authorities would bring the perpetrator to justice.
“I trust the United States authorities to prosecute the cold blood perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law and do everything possible to prevent future attacks against innocent civilians,” he said.
He linked the incident to a broader trend of rising antisemitism.
“The antisemitic attacks around the world are a direct result of blood libels against the Jewish state and people,” Netanyahu said. “This must be stopped.”
Mohamed Sabry Soliman is in federal custody after the 45-year-old allegedly attacked Jews with a “makeshift flame thrower” and threw an “incendiary device” at them.
Witnesses said that the attacker said, “Free Palestine,” Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI Denver field office, told a press conference on Sunday.
Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six.
Day 604 — Sunday, June 1
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a confidential report on Saturday stating that Iran had conducted covert nuclear activity at three undeclared sites as part of a structured nuclear program that operated until the early 2000s. This included the use of undeclared nuclear material.
The report further reveals that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium jumped by 953 kilograms in the last quarter, reaching a total of 9,247 kilograms, including a significant amount enriched up to 60% a level which, according to the agency, is theoretically sufficient to produce a nuclear bomb.
The agency emphasized that despite the lack of evidence of an active nuclear weapons program today, Iran’s conduct – such as destroying evidence and refusing to cooperate – continues to raise serious concerns. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi once again urged Iran to cooperate fully and immediately.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office responded: “The IAEA has reported a grave and unequivocal report on Iran’s nuclear program. The agency presents a stark picture that serves as a clear warning sign: despite countless warnings by the international community, Iran is totally determined to complete its nuclear weapons program.
The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years – the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran’s uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever.
The report clearly indicates that Iran remains in non-compliance of its fundamental commitments and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and continues to withhold cooperation from IAEA inspectors.
Iranian political sources claimed that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are exerting “intense pressure” on the IAEA to act against Iran, despite ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. These Iranian officials told the pro-Iranian Axis outlet Al-Mayadeen that the “European troika’s” pressure began before negotiations resumed and continues even as Iran claims to be sending “positive signals.”
In talks held in Istanbul between Iranian representatives and those European states, Iran warned that any escalation would negatively impact negotiations with the U.S., however, the European countries reportedly did not change their stance. Additionally, Iranian officials reiterated via diplomatic channels that Iran would respond to any escalation with “appropriate” nuclear measures.
Day 603 — Saturday, May 31
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have a common enemy, according to Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife.
“You have a deep state in the United States that went after President Trump and his family, and we have the same kind of deep state in Israel that went after my husband, me and my sons, my family,” Sara Netanyahu told the Fox News Channel program “My View with Lara Trump” in an interview slated to air on May 31.
“These are fairly small, radical left-wing elites founded by foreign countries and others, and they hold influence positions within key institutions,” Netanyahu said. “They use other means, especially abusing the justice system to try to get rid of a government which was elected in a democratic way. They don’t care if they are undermining democracy and public trust.”
Lara Trump is married to Eric Trump, one of the U.S. president’s sons. Fox News shared clips from the interview exclusively with JNS.
The “deep state” in Israel collaborates with the “deep state” in the United States, Sara Netanyahu told Lara Trump.
“Look at what they put President Trump and his family [through]. They did the same similar things to my husband and my family and my sons, bringing ridiculous investigations and charges full with lies,” she said. “The cases are now collapsing in court because there are no truth in them at all.”
The Israeli prime minister asked that the entire trial against him be televised, “so everybody can see for themselves how absurd the cases are,” Netanyahu said of her husband. “The request was denied, but people are still watching the cases fall apart despite the deep state attempts. We already see a different, a new Middle East, thanks to the mutual work of President Trump and the prime minister.”
Day 603 — Saturday, May 31
A federal district judge on Wednesday said that the Trump administration’s effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil may be unconstitutional, but some conservative legal experts are not buying it.
Khalil is a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activist who led protests at Columbia University. An immigration judge recently said he could be deported, but U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz for the District of New Jersey said that the order is likely to be dismissed as “unconstitutionally vague.“ Still, Khalil will remain in custody.
“The district court held what we already knew: Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio’s weaponization of immigration law to punish Mahmoud and others like him is likely unconstitutional,” lawyers for Khalil said after the judge’s ruling.
However, various conservative legal experts disagree with the judge.
“A judge just handed Hamas a win on American soil. Mahmoud Khalil lied his way into our country, concealed ties to a foreign regime, and then led a pro-Hamas takeover at Columbia University. Now, a judicial activist wants to block his deportation? That’s not justice — it’s national suicide. President Trump has both the constitutional authority and the moral obligation to remove threats like Khalil,” Republican attorney Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“The Supreme Court has made this power crystal clear. In Kleindienst v. Mandel (1972), the Court upheld the executive’s broad discretion in immigration matters. That authority was reaffirmed in Trump v. Hawaii (2018), where the Court ruled that the President has sweeping power to exclude noncitizens deemed detrimental to U.S. interests,” she continued.
“By declaring the Immigration and Nationality Act ‘unconstitutionally vague,‘ Judge Farbiarz isn’t interpreting the law — he’s rewriting it. That violates the separation of powers and dangerously ties the hands of our Commander in Chief. Citizenship is a privilege — not a sanctuary for liars and Hamas sympathizers. I am confident this will be overturned on appeal,” Cooke added.
Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said it is a “ridiculous, meritless claim by a rogue federal judge,” and said that even though Kahlil is a legal resident of the U.S., he can still face consequences.
“Aliens have no constitutional right to be in the U.S. Moreover, under federal immigration law, 8 U.S.C. 1227, aliens like Khalil, including permanent resident aliens, can be removed if the alien ‘endorses or espouses terrorist activity‘ or support ‘a terrorist organization.‘ Khalil’s blatant support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, makes him immediately deportable. This is another biased, partisan judge refusing to abide by federal immigration law and interfering in the president’s constitutional and statutory authority,” he told Fox News Digital in a statement.
The White House also condemned the ruling, continuing its frequent clashes with federal judges over immigration policy.
“Mahmoud Khalil was given the privilege of coming to America to study, but he squandered that opportunity by siding with Hamas terrorists and organizing protests that disrupted college classes and harassed Jewish-American students. Secretary of State Rubio has the right to revoke green cards or visas for any individuals who are adversarial to United States foreign policy and national security interests,” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement.
Day 602 — Friday, May 30
A new poll by Rasmussen Reports released Thursday reveals that 57% of likely U.S. voters favor military action to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Only 30% would oppose military action to stop Iran.
Rasmussen reported (emphasis added):
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 77% of Likely U.S. Voters are concerned that Iran may be developing a nuclear weapon, including 44% who are Very Concerned. Only 18% are not concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
While negotiating with Iran over the issue, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program if a deal isn’t reached Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters would support military action by the United States to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program, including 28% who would Strongly Support it. Thirty percent (30%) would oppose a U.S. strike against Iran, including 17% who Strongly Oppose such military action. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.
…
The survey of 1,107 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on May 19-21, 2025 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Influential voices within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have opposed military action against Iran. However, the debate has often conflated limited airstrikes with an invasion or all-out war.
President Trump said Wednesday that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is said to favor airstrikes, not to launch military action while the U.S. is still negotiating with the Iranian regime.
Day 602 — Friday, May 30
Ravid Chaim Gez, the infant son of terror victim Tzeela Gez, was buried on Thursday evening, hours after succumbing to his wounds sustained in the shooting attack that claimed his mother’s life two weeks ago.
Tzeela had been on the way to the hospital together with her husband, Hananel Gez, to deliver the baby when a terrorist opened fire on their vehicle in Samaria. Tzeela was fatally wounded, dying in the hospital shortly afterwards. The medical team managed to deliver the baby by emergency C-section, but he had suffered severe oxygen deprivation.
Despite the efforts by Schneider Children’s Medical Center, he stayed in critical condition and never regained consciousness. Ravid Chaim was buried next to his mother at Jerusalem’s Har HaMenuchot Cemetery.
At the funeral, Hananel demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take concrete steps to prevent Palestinian terrorist attacks.
“I ask the prime minister and the Knesset to do everything so that there will be a 100% transfer here and that this cancer that is eating us from the inside will no longer be here,” the bereaved father said, calling for the expulsion of all terrorists from the Judea and Samaria region.
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu responded to the news of Ravid Chaim’s death by expressing his “great sorrow and pain.”
“There are no words that can comfort the murder of a newborn baby along with his mother,” Netanyahu stated. “The heroism of the pioneers of settlement in Judea and Samaria, and their dedication, is what will defeat all our enemies. Earth does not cover their blood.”
About a week after the shooting, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had eliminated the killer, Nael Samara, in a counter-terrorism operation in the Palestinian village of Bruqin, just outside the Gez’s hometown.
Day 601 — Thursday, May 29
In a landmark decision led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry, Israel’s Diplomatic-Security Cabinet has approved a historic decision to establish 22 new Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria.
The move is expected to change the face of the area and shape the future of the settlements for decades to come.
Among the most significant aspects of the decision is the historic return to Homesh and Sa-Nur, effectively implementing the repeal of the Disengagement Law in northern Samaria. This clears the path for the reestablishment of Jewish communities in these locations — a move which corrects a historical injustice and reaffirming the Jewish people’s rights to their land.
The plan also includes the establishment of four new communities along the eastern border with Jordan, reinforcing Israel’s strategic presence and national security along its frontier.
The new communities are founded as part of a long-term strategic vision aimed at bolstering Israeli control on the ground, blocking the creation of a Palestinian state, and ensuring the continued growth of the settlements in the decades to come.
Defense Minister Israel Katz declared: “This historic decision to establish 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria strengthens our hold on the land, anchors our historical right to the Land of Israel, and delivers a crushing answer to Palestinian terrorism aimed at harming the settlements and weakening them.”
He added: “Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria serves as a vital security barrier for Israel’s major population centers. We must do everything in our power to expand and reinforce this protective shield. The decision we made today is not just about strengthening the settlements on the State’s eastern border — it’s also a strategic move to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel, and it serves as a buffer zone against our enemies. This is a Zionist, security, and national response — and a clear decision about the future of the Land.”
Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated: “This is a great day for the settlements and an important day for the State of Israel. Through determined leadership and intense work, we have succeeded, with God’s help, in achieving a deep strategic shift, returning the State of Israel to a path of building, Zionism, and vision. Settlement in our ancestral homeland is Israel’s shield wall; today we took a giant step toward strengthening it. The next step — sovereignty!”
Smotrich concluded with a biblical declaration: “We did not take a foreign land, but the inheritance of our forefathers.”
Day 601 — Thursday, May 29
During the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon last year, the Israeli Air Force intercepted dozens of drones launched by the terror group using a new laser interception system, the military and Defense Ministry revealed on Wednesday.
The new system used during the fighting is a lower-powered version of the Iron Beam laser interceptor, which is set to be delivered to the Israel Defense Forces later this year. Both systems are developed by Israeli defense firm Rafael.
The ministry said the development of the system was advanced in light of the Hezbollah drone threat in the north.
Hezbollah fired more than 300 explosive-laden drones at Israel amid the fighting, with many evading air defenses and causing damage and casualties.
“Throughout the current war, the IAF, including its Aerial Defense Array soldiers, studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets,” the IDF and Defense Ministry said.
Day 600 — Wednesday, May 28
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Conference chaired by Israel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday evening, delivered a message on the enduring and escalating threat of antisemitism, asserting its danger extends far beyond the Jewish people to encompass all of human society.
“The key issue that I want to address is the consequence of antisemitism, not only for the Jewish people but for human society,” Netanyahu stated, thanking Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for convening the important meeting. He characterized antisemitism as a “virulent disease that’s going on for several millennia,” noting that while the Jewish people have paid a “horrible price,” other countries have also suffered.
Netanyahu drew a stark parallel to the Holocaust, where “Six million Jews died… but 60 million died during the war that it inspired.” He recalled his historian father’s prescient warning in 1933: “What starts with the Jews will not end with the Jews.” The Prime Minister lamented that history might have been different had such warnings been heeded.
The Prime Minister then directly confronted the post-October 7 surge in antisemitism. “We have now a surge of antisemitism as we speak,” he observed, noting the disappointment of those who expected a decline after “the most savage attack on the Jews since the Holocaust.”
Instead, he highlighted “demonstrations, protests, in the capitals of the West and other countries that celebrate, celebrate these murderers, these rapists, these baby burners, these hostage takers. Celebrate.”
He emphasized the symbolic significance of these protests, observing not only the burning of Israeli flags but also “the burning of American flags, British flags, Canadian flags, French flags. That’s not an accident. Because the people who are leading this charge are basically challenging Western civilization or free societies as we understand them.”
Netanyahu declared Israel is fighting an “eight-front war,” ultimately “the war, ultimately, of civilization against barbarism.”
The Prime Minister meticulously detailed the patterns of antisemitism, particularly the preceding stages of vilification and dehumanization. He cited historical libels: “we poisoned the wells in medieval times, we take Christian children, the blood of Christian children and bake matzahs for Passover with them, we spread vermin.” He noted the chilling continuity into Nazi propaganda, which used “exactly the same thing” to “prepare them for the kill, for the butcher.”
Comparing the October 7 massacre to an attempt to recreate the Holocaust, Netanyahu quoted former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who visited the sites and remarked, “They’re just like the Nazis.” The key difference, Netanyahu pointed out, was that “The Nazis tried to hide their crimes. These people went with GoPro cameras and they publicized it for the whole world to see. They were very proud of what they were doing.”
He warned of Hamas’s genocidal intentions and Iran’s open calls for Israel’s annihilation, citing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s tweets.
The Prime Minister then addressed the lies propagated against Israel, particularly regarding its conduct in the Gaza conflict. He firmly rebutted the accusation that Israel deliberately targets civilians. “The first thing they say is you’re slaughtering people deliberately. That’s a complete destruction, a complete annihilation of the laws of war.”
Netanyahu explained the tactical challenge posed by Hamas, which uses civilians as human shields – a “double war crime.” He likened Hamas’s tactic to deliberately placing civilians in harm’s way, contrasting it with accidental civilian casualties in legitimate military operations, such as the 1944 RAF bombing of Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen.
He further elaborated on the unique challenges of warfare in Gaza, describing it as a “closed arena.” He noted that Hamas “is trying to lock the Palestinian civilian population within the place where we conduct the war. That’s what they do. How do they lock them in? They shoot them if they want to leave.”
Netanyahu defended the IDF’s actions in Rafah, where despite international warnings, Israel insisted on entering to complete the mission against Hamas. “By the time we got to Rafah, 1.4 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million people were in Rafah,” he stated. He recalled being told “don’t go into Rafah,” with dire predictions of “20,000 civilian casualties.”
“I said, of course they have a place to go. That place is on the beach. It’s two kilometers away. On the beach,” Netanyahu asserted. He revealed that “within six days… the number of civilian casualties we had in Rafah was practically zero. Practically zero. Because they all left.”
The Prime Minister stressed Israel’s extraordinary efforts to prevent civilian casualties. “We are texting civilians by the millions. Millions of text messages, millions of phone calls, cellphone calls, millions of pamphlets, ‘Please get out.’ Because we are going to come in.” He highlighted that “the ratio of non-combatants to combatants killed in the most dense urban warfare arena in modern history is the lowest in the Gaza war,” a fact corroborated by experts like John Spencer of West Point.
Finally, Netanyahu debunked the “second lie” – that Israel has a policy of starvation in Gaza. “That’s the current fad, the current lie. Well, that’s false too.” He affirmed that from the war’s early days, Israel allowed the supply of “essential requirements: food, water, medicine,” providing “1.8 million tons of food and aid.” As evidence, he pointed to the physical condition of Palestinian Arab prisoners taken by the IDF. “Thousands and thousands of prisoners taking their shirt off and you don’t see one, not one emaciated from the beginning of the war to the present.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu concluded by reiterating the critical nature of the fight against antisemitism and the broader battle for civilization.
“The last thing I want to do is to address the leaders of Jewish communities who came to us from around the world. The most important thing you have to do in fighting antisemitism is to stand up and not be a coward. People value and respect people who stand up for their own rights. Do not be afraid to speak up. Speak up, stand up for the truth, stand up for the Jewish people, stand up for civilization. And I ask that all of you do the same. Thank you,” he stated.
Day 600 — Wednesday, May 28
An Israel Defense Forces aircraft eliminated a terrorist of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in Southern Lebanon on Monday, the military confirmed on Tuesday, sharing footage of the aerial attack.
The strike was carried out in the Majdal Zoun area, approximately three miles north of the border with the Jewish state, according to the IDF.
The Radwan Force is Hezbollah’s elite unit, aimed at infiltrating Israeli territory and capturing areas around the country’s northern frontier.
https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1927372498082930919
Overnight on Thursday, the IDF struck 15 Hezbollah terrorist sites across Southern Lebanon. No details about the targets were provided.
Also on Thursday, Israel Air Force fighter jets struck a “military site in the Beqaa region in southeastern Lebanon that housed Hezbollah rocket launchers and other weapons. In separate strikes, the IAF targeted additional terrorist infrastructure across the region.
The same day, an Israeli aircraft killed a Radwan Force operative in the Rab Thalathin area, which is less than a mile from Israel’s security fence.
On May 21, the IAF killed a senior Hezbollah weapons engineer in a strike in the Tyre area of southwestern Lebanon. Hussein Nazih Barji operated within the Iranian-backed terrorist organization’s Research, Development and Production Directorate, according to the IDF.
On May 20, the IDF confirmed the killing of another top Hezbollah leader in the village of Al-Mansouri, also in the Tyre District. He had been responsible for planning attacks and facilitating arms transfers.
Defense Minister Israel Katz repeatedly warned that the Nov. 26 ceasefire deal with Beirut would be void if Hezbollah refuses to withdraw from Southern Lebanon as required by the agreement.
The situation in Lebanon remains volatile following the expiration of the ceasefire on Feb. 18. The deal ended over a year of war, after Hezbollah began attacking Israel the day after the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
Although Jerusalem has withdrawn most of its ground forces since the war ended, it still controls five strategic positions in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials have stated that the IDF will retain control of these areas until the Lebanese army demonstrates it can maintain security there.
Day 599 — Tuesday, May 27
Israel accused the UN’s Tom Fletcher of “libel” for a second time, after the relief chief claimed there are “10,000 [aid] trucks on the [Gaza] border right now, cleared and ready to go,” in a CNN interview on Monday.
“We’ve got 10,000 trucks on the border right now, cleared, ready to go, and we’ll do everything to get them in and save lives,” Fletcher told CNN’s Christine Amanpour.
When Amanpour repeated the number back to him incredulously, Fletcher nodded and replied, “full of food.”
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) retweeted the video, saying, “Look, it’s @UNReliefChief with another libelous lie.”
“There are no 10 thousand trucks waiting to go into Gaza. What there are, are hundreds of trucks’ worth of aid the UN hasn’t picked up from the Gazan side over the last few days, after we gave you plenty of routes you can use to safely distribute the aid throughout the entire Gaza.”
This comes less than a week after Fletcher told the BBC that 14,000 Gazan babies would die within the next 48 hours unless aid reached them.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) later retracted the claim when asked to verify by the BBC.
Day 599 — Tuesday, May 27
NBC reported on Sunday that Joseph Neumayer, a dual citizen of the United States and Germany, was arrested at JFK International Airport after allegedly attempting to bomb the U.S. Embassy Office in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 19. On the day of the attack, Neumayer posted an anti-American and anti-Western message online.
“Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f— the west,” Neumayer wrote. He reportedly left a backpack containing three Molotov cocktails outside the U.S. diplomatic mission close to the Tel Aviv seafront. Israeli authorities later arrested him in his Tel Aviv hotel room and deported him from the country. He was eventually rearrested upon his return to the United States on Sunday. If convicted, Neumayer could potentially face 20 years in U.S. prison.
Furthermore, Neumayer reportedly also planned to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump.
US Attorney-General Pam Bondi responded by emphasizing her office would not “tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting US interests abroad.”
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,” Bondi said in an official statement. “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned Neumayer’s “despicable and violent behavior,” vowing that this conduct would not be accepted “at home or abroad.”
Israeli authorities have so far refrained from commenting in public on the NBC report.
In December 2017, Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the de facto capital of the State of Israel. In May 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Israel officially moved its headquarter from Tel Aviv to its current location in Jerusalem. However, Washington has simultaneously maintained its former embassy office in Tel Aviv.
Israeli security tends to be tight around sensitive sites such as the U.S. diplomatic mission. It is therefore currently unclear how the perpetrator succeeded in placing the backpack with the Molotov cocktails outside the U.S. diplomatic mission, which is located close to Tel Aviv’s popular beachfront.
In July 2024, one person was killed and eight were injured when the Iranian-backed Yemen-based Houthi terrorist militia launched a drone attack against Tel Aviv. The suicide drone somehow evaded Israel’s advanced aerial defenses and exploded into a residential apartment building close to the former U.S. embassy.
Meanwhile, threats against Israeli embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide have increased dramatically since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attended on Monday a memorial service honoring the murdered Israeli Embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The couple, who were about to get engaged, were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked Noem for showing solidarity with the Jewish state.
“I want to thank Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem for her important visit to Israel,” Sa’ar stated.
“This visit – after the horrific murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim in Washington – shows solidarity and demonstrates the close relations between our people,” the foreign minister continued. “Our hearts break for this loss of young, promising lives.”
Day 598 — Monday, May 26
Preparations were underway in Israel on Sunday as the Jewish state was set to celebrate Jerusalem Day, marking 58 years since the June 1967 reunification of the holy city and liberation of Judea and Samaria.
The festivities were set to kick off at sundown with a public prayer service and the unfurling of a giant Israeli flag at the Western Wall Plaza in the Old City, attended by religious and public officials.
Jerusalem Day celebrations are scheduled to continue throughout the day on Monday with a festive morning prayer at the Western Wall and a special broadcast for elementary-school students, followed by the iconic Flag March with tens of thousands of participants expected to join.
Despite the ongoing war with Hamas, the parade received approval to march its usual route from the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, continuing into the Old City via Damascus Gate and ending at the Western Wall.
Thousands of police officers will be deployed in the nation’s capital.
Also during the day on Monday, two state memorial ceremonies are set to be held at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl: one at 11 a.m. for Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel, and one at 2 p.m. for the fallen of the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1967-70 War of Attrition.
Jerusalem Day, celebrated on 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, marks the city’s reunification, an event of profound historical and [Biblical] significance, bringing the city under sole Jewish rule after almost 2,000 years of foreign occupation.
As a result of the 1967 military victory, the Jewish state also captured the Golan Heights from Syria, the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, and Judea and Samaria from Jordan.
In a video message on Sunday afternoon, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that the United States is “proud to join our close ally Israel in celebrating the 58th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.”
U.S. President Donald Trump “reaffirmed the historic connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem that goes back over 3,500 years when he had the moral clarity to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital and then move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem,” the ambassador said.
“On this Jerusalem Day, as thousands of Israeli soldiers are away from their families, courageously fighting terrorists in Gaza, and 58 hostages are still being held captive in the dungeons of Gaza, I want the people of Israel to know that America stands with you,” Huckabee said. “Your fight is our fight. Your enemies are our enemies. Israel’s victory is our victory, and together, we will prevail, and we will pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Day 598 — Monday, May 26
An IDF spokesperson has revealed updated data and details about the ongoing fighting in Gaza under Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” a direct continuation of military activity over the past year and a half.
According to the data, the IDF is expected to achieve full operational control over approximately 75% of the Gaza Strip within two months. As of now, the IDF controls over 40% of the territory.
Since the end of the ceasefire, the IDF has struck 2,900 targets and eliminated more than 800 terrorists. Among those killed are over 50 key operatives and knowledge sources, including 11 senior Hamas officials, 10 battalion and deputy battalion commanders, 18 company commanders, and 12 figures tied to Hamas’ military buildup. Two knowledge sources within Hamas’ military intelligence were also eliminated.
“Gideon’s Chariots” is a direct continuation of Operation “Firm Hand,” launched two months ago. During that operation, IDF forces eliminated hundreds of terrorists, bisected Gaza, and took control of the Morag corridor. The IDF cleared the Rafah area, expanded security zones, and destroyed enemy compounds in both southern and northern Gaza. The campaign is based on “studying the enemy and developing new methods to destroy and defeat Hamas.”
“We are moving toward decisive victory. The lives of the hostages are constantly on the minds of IDF soldiers and commanders. The IDF is doing everything possible to avoid harming them. Continued military pressure is a key factor in toppling Hamas and bringing the hostages home. The two goals are interconnected. Defeating Hamas supports hostage recovery,” said a senior military official.
The IDF assesses that Hamas is now “severely weakened,” facing immense pressure in Gaza and at a dead end. Most of its senior leadership has been eliminated, and its governing capacity is significantly impaired, with many of its key figures killed and severe internal governance challenges.
This, the IDF notes, is creating “cracks in the identity, reverence, and dependence of the Palestinian population on Hamas.” However, Hamas still maintains functionality within its core brigades.
The IDF is now operating with a new territorial control strategy “creating new opportunities, adapting tactics, and examining the shifting reality.’ Under this doctrine, the IDF aims to clear and destroy all terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and retain control of the area to prevent Hamas from regrouping or rebuilding its capabilities.
This approach, according to the IDF, is “collapsing Hamas from within,” undermining its military strength, destabilizing its control on the ground, and eroding public trust.
Day 597 — Sunday, May 25
The Israeli military announced on Friday that it is preparing for a potential multi-front war with Iran and its regional terror proxies amid stalled nuclear negotiations for a hostage release-ceasefire deal.
A recent Israeli military drill, “Barak Tamir,” reportedly simulated preparedness for a multifront regional conflict. The exercise tested emergency coordination between civilian and military agencies, with a focus on protecting critical infrastructure and the home front, as the Iranian regime continues to openly call for Israel’s destruction.
“This exercise was designed to refine coordination and improve the speed and quality of response during escalating scenarios,” an IDF spokesperson stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump has emphasized that he will not allow the ayatollah regime to acquire a nuclear bomb. Washington is currently attempting to reach a diplomatic agreement with Iran concerning its nuclear program. However, both the U.S. and Iran have expressed concerns about the possibility of reaching a deal due to significant differences between the two sides. The Trump administration demands an end of Iranian uranium enrichment, while the Iranian regime insists it will continue enriching uranium close to weapons-grade level, which would make Iran a nuclear threshold state.
Last month, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) reportedly conducted drills for a potential strike on Iran’s covert nuclear should diplomatic efforts fail. The IAF has been preparing for such a high-stake scenario for many years. Some Israeli and U.S. military officials have warned that a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would likely lead to a multi-front war in the Middle East.
It remains unclear how a potential future multifront war would differ from previous conflicts involving Iran and its proxies – the terrorist organizations Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
In February, U.S. intelligence predicted that Israel would “likely” strike Iran’s nuclear facilities within the next six months as Tehran approached the threshold for developing nuclear weapons.
Iran responded by warning that Israel will receive a “devastating and decisive response” if it were to strike.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to defend Iran’s nuclear facilities against an Israeli or U.S. military strike.
“They are trying to frighten us with war but are miscalculating, as they are unaware of the powerful popular and military support the Islamic Republic can muster in war conditions,” IRGC Spokesperson Alimohammad Naini warned.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is currently representing Iran in the nuclear talks with Washington, warned that Iran might take “special measures” to defend its nuclear assets and its accumulated enriched uranium.
Earlier this week, Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. and European demands to halt Tehran’s uranium enrichment, calling them as “excessive and outrageous.”
“No one in Iran is waiting for American approval to enrich uranium. We will not accept such demands,” Khamenei said in a defiant speech in Tehran.
Day 596 — Saturday, May 24
An anti-Israel activist group linked to the library takeover at Columbia University put out a statement Friday praising alleged Capital Jewish Museum shooter Elias Rodriguez’s shocking crime as “an act of solidarity and love.”
“What Elias Rodriguez did was an act of solidarity and love for the Palestinian people,” Unity of Fields wrote on X. “If this seems crazy and unhinged to you, ask yourself why you are so well adjusted to a constant stream of disemboweled and starving children—made possible by the country in which you reside.”
In a separate post, the group also touted Rodriguez’s reported manifesto titled, “ESCALATE FOR GAZA, BRING THE WAR HOME,” and provided a link for it.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, Unity of Fields is a “radical far-left, anti-Zionist ‘direct action network’ that engages in and/or promotes aggressive, targeted protests and the defacement of property belonging to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and individuals it considers supportive of Israel or Zionism or ‘complicit’ in Israel’s alleged actions.”
Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, is accused of fatally shooting Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, late Wednesday night as they were leaving the American Jewish Committee’s Young Diplomats Reception. Lischinsky and Milgrim were reportedly just days away from getting engaged when they were gunned down.
After allegedly slaying the young Jewish couple, Rodriguez entered the museum and was detained by authorities before he began shouting “Free, free Palestine!”
On Thursday, Unity of Fields described Rodriguez as “a political prisoner” and said “the people defending him the hardest, like us, are people also facing repression.”
“We don’t condemn armed resistance,” the group said in another post. “We don’t condemn direct action. We back the left and want this energy to be more organized as opposed to shunned and isolated.”
According to the New York Post, Unity of Fields is the same group that distributed leaflets celebrating a Palestinian terrorist during the takeover of Columbia’s Butler Library by anti-Israel protesters on May 7. NYPD officers were ultimately called in to clear the library’s vandalized reading room.
The Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students X account accused Unity of Fields of being “intimately involved in the planning and execution of antisemitic protest and propaganda activities at @Columbia.”
“Now they’re actively cheering on yesterday’s tragic DC murder of 2 Israeli embassy staffers,” it wrote. “This is what their ultimate goal is, and why we keep saying that these protests make the Jewish campus community unsafe.”
In a reply, the Israel War Room X account said that Unity of Fields’ account “is inciting domestic terrorism,” and tagged Justice Department Civil Rights Division Senior Counsel Leo Terrell, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Day 596 — Saturday, May 24
A Jewish protester was arrested by London’s Metropolitan police for a placard he held mocking the eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Telegraph revealed on Friday.
The anonymous man was detained and charged last September for the cartoon, which featured Nasrallah and the words “beep, beep, beep” – a reference to Israel’s majorly successful pager operation.
The pagers killed dozens of Hezbollah agents and wounded thousands of terrorists. While Nasrallah survived the small explosions, he was killed a week later in an airstrike.
The terror group entered a war with Israel after it began launching attacks on the Jewish state a day after its Palestinian ally, Hamas, invaded southern Israel on October 7 and murdered some 1,200 people.
Police were reported to have repeatedly questioned the man if he thought the placard would offend “clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel” activists.
Hezbollah is a recognized terrorist organization in the United Kingdom; thus, supporting the group publicly is a criminal offense.
In recordings of the police interrogation seen by the Telegraph, officers asked the man: “Do you think that showing this image to persons protesting who are clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel that by doing so would stir up racial hatred further than it is already?”
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said it was an example of “two-tier policing in action”.
“In recent times, the police have failed to act when confronted with protesters calling for jihad and intifada in London. Yet this man was apparently arrested because he might have offended supporters of a banned terrorist organisation,” Philip told the Telegraph.
“This is two-tier policing in action. The law is rightly clear that supporting banned terrorist groups, inciting violence, inciting racial hatred or harassing people is illegal. Beyond that, free speech applies to everyone.
“The police sometimes turn a blind eye when applying the law might be difficult, yet over-police at other times. The law should be applied equally to all, robustly and without fear or favour. That is not what happened here.”
Carl Woolf, specialist criminal solicitor advocate at Woolf Law LLP representing the Jewish man, countered to the officers: “Are you saying that there were pro-Hezbollah people there? Because it is a proscribed terrorist organisation.”
“I am aware of that,” the officer reportedly affirmed while continuing the line of questioning.
Despite the placard not belonging to the Jewish protester, and him only holding it for three minutes, officers raided the man’s house in search of the cardboard sign, according to the Telegraph.
“Two police vans and six officers turned up at our house to search for ‘offensive material’, which was quite invasive. It was a horrible experience,” he said. “They put me in the lounge and asked my partner to go with them around the house. They weren’t very pleasant to her and even went through her knicker drawer. It was totally ridiculous.”
The Jewish man was charged under the Public Order Act for causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm, or distress by words or writing. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case earlier this month, citing a lack of evidence.
“The Met Police are still completely out of their depth when it comes to policing the anti-Israel hate marches we’ve seen on our streets week in, week out since the October 7 attacks,” the protester told the British newspaper.
“It beggars belief that police could think that this placard may be offensive to supporters of Hezbollah. If there are Hezbollah supporters at these marches, then why weren’t charges brought against them for terrorist offences, rather than me being charged for holding a sign that can only be construed as political satire?
“I didn’t realise how relieved I was until I heard I wasn’t going to court.”
Day 595 — Friday, May 23
Tehran will hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a letter to the United Nations published on Thursday.
“We believe that in the event of any attack on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime, the U.S. government will also be involved and bear legal responsibility,” Araghchi said, according to the Saudi outlet Al Arabiya.
In addition, the foreign minister posted on X that if the international community did not take “preventive measures” against Israel, Iran would be compelled to take “special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities and materials.”
Iranian officials on Wednesday dismissed as “psychological warfare,” reports that Israel is preparing a military strike on its nuclear facilities.
The reports cited fresh U.S. intelligence assessments indicating that Israel is doing just that, to be ready if negotiations between Washington and the Islamic Republic collapse.
The Islamic Republic’s economic troubles are already deep, with American sanctions biting hard and water and energy infrastructure faltering, sparking repeated public protests in recent years. On the regional front, Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” has crumbled, with Bashar Assad no longer in power in Syria and Hezbollah devastated in Lebanon.
Since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, his administration has reinitiated its maximum pressure campaign, which is marked by strong sanctions.
Negotiations resumed on April 12 after weeks of Trump-era threats to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. Four rounds of indirect talks have been held so far, mediated by Oman, with Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff even meeting directly—an unusual occurrence since Trump unilaterally pulled out of the original 2015 deal during his first term.
Last week, Trump struck an optimistic tone, claiming Iran had “more or less agreed” to the terms of a new deal. But Iranian officials have since issued a series of furious statements, especially in response to Trump’s continued threats of military action and his warning that Iran must “act fast or something bad will happen.”
Khamenei rejected out of hand Washington’s demand that Iran stop enriching uranium altogether, calling it “outrageous and insulting,” and predicted the talks were likely to fail.
Day 595 — Friday, May 23
A group of keffiyeh-wearing anti-Israel protesters ripped up and burned diplomas outside Columbia University on Wednesday shortly after a graduation ceremony at the Ivy League institution, while unruly demonstrators also tangled with police.
Chaos erupted outside the university when the protesters – many of whom had their faces covered with masks – torched diplomas in food trays next to a sign that read “Free Mahmoud Khalil,” the former student who was arrested by immigration agents in March and whom the Trump administration is trying to deport.
“Free, free Palestine,” and “You’re committing genocide,” the protesters yelled in the rain to the sound of drums.
At least three people could be seen ripping up diplomas, although only one of them was wearing a Columbia blue robe. The group was surrounded by older demonstrators who didn’t appear to be students and others holding signs indicating they were alumni of the university.
Police moved in and put out the flames, making one arrest, the NYPD said.
Later, protesters clashed with police across the street from the entrance to Columbia. They attempted to push through barriers, but a heavy police force stopped them in their tracks.
The protest group then left and headed down 116th Street toward the Hudson River with the NYPD following.
The Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) group, which Khalil helped lead, encouraged students to protest beforehand, taking issue with the university celebrating Prof. Zvi Galil, who has served as the dean of Columbia and as president of Tel Aviv University.
It was the latest in a long line of protests to rock the Manhattan college since the onset of the war in Gaza. Last year, the university’s encampment protests ignited a wave of campus protests throughout the country.
The chaos at Columbia culminated in students taking control of Hamilton Hall and violently clashing with police in riot gear. The ugly scenes saw more than 200 people arrested.
Two weeks ago, students protested inside a library at Columbia, which led to dozens more arrests as the university leadership said it would take a harder approach to illegal behavior on campus.
Day 594 — Thursday, May 22
Netanyahu: Security To Be Upped In Israeli Embassies After 'Horrifying' Targeted Killing Of Staffers
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says security will be stepped up at Israeli embassies around the world, after two Israeli embassy staff members were killed in a shooting outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.
In a statement by his office, Netanyahu says he’s “shocked by the horrifying antisemitic murder,” adding that he was updated on the details by the Israeli ambassador to the US and by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, the latter of whom said America will bring the murderer to justice.
Netanyahu thanks Bondi and US President Donald Trump “for standing clearly against antisemitism.”
“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel,” Netanyahu says. “The blood libels against Israel are costing us blood and must be fought relentlessly.”
He adds: “My heart aches with the families of the young couple, whose lives were cut short by a despicable antisemitic murderer. I have ordered security arrangements to be boosted in Israeli diplomatic missions around the world and around representatives of the state.”
Day 594 — Thursday, May 22
Two Israeli embassy staffers were shot and killed in an anti-Semitic shooting attack in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening around 9 PM. According to a spokesperson for the embassy, the diplomats were shot “at close range” while attending an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Israel’s Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, confirmed in a post on X that one of the victims of the attack was Yaron Lischinsky (28), who worked in the political department of the Israeli Embassy. The second victim was confirmed to be a young woman named Sarah Milgrim.
“Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues,” the Embassy said in a statement. “They were in the prime of their lives. This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”
The gunman, Elias Rodriguez (30), was arrested by police and can be seen in footage chanting “Free, Free Palestine!” as he was taken into custody.
Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith stated that the shooter “was observed pacing outside” the event, hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), before opening fire on a group of four individuals exiting the museum. Two victims were unconscious when police arrived on the scene and later succumbed to their wounds.
President Donald Trump emphasized the antisemitic nature of the attack, writing on Truth Social: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, called the shooting “a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism.”
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he warned. “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.”
The Jewish museum where the diplomats were murdered is located in close proximity to the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the US Attorney’s Office. AG Pam Bondi reportedly visited the scene where the shooting occurred, stating that she is “praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more.”
ZAKA, a Jewish rescue and recovery organization, lamented the tragedy, writing: “Sadly, many countries still turn a blind eye to Israel’s just struggle and the challenges faced by the Jewish people. Today, just after the March of Support in New York, we were once again reminded of how vital it is to stand united against terror.”
Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, speaking of the victims, stated that the two young diplomats were a couple who were planning to become engaged in Jerusalem the following week.
Day 593 — Wednesday, May 21
The United Kingdom has suspended trade negotiations with Israel and summoned their ambassador over what the Prime Minister called Israel’s “intolerable“ military operation in Gaza.
The “level of suffering, innocent children being bombed again, is utterly intolerable”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the UK Parliament on Tuesday, as he told the speaker: “I want to put on record today that we’re horrified by the escalation from Israel. We repeat out demand for a ceasefire”.
He said: “We repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank, and repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza“.
These comments came hours after a joint statement by the leaders of the UK, Canada, and France threatened “concrete actions“ if Israel does not cease military offensive and lift restrictions on aid deliveries. That military offensive was launched after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack that killed nearly 1,200 people.
Later on Tuesday, the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also addressed Parliament on Israel, announcing the United Kingdom had suspended trade talks with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador. He told the house: “We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict… We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
The Times newspaper notes that as Lammy spoke, other members of Parliament shouted “genocide“ from the benches.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile warned the United Kingdom, France, and Canada they were handing Hamas a “huge prize“ and “inviting more atrocities“ by trying to end the war before the destruction of Hamas.
Telling the UK its turning from Israel was dangerous, Netanyahu said, reports the Daily Telegraph: “Israel accepts President Trump’s vision and urges all European leaders to do the same… the war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled and Gaza is demilitarised. No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won’t.”
The hardening of sentiment by the British government towards Israel is just the latest such development since the left-wing Labour government took power last year. Under the previous Conservative government, Israel had received support including weapons contracts and tacit defence at the International Criminal Court as it attempted to arrest Netanyahu.
Yet those legal opinions were withdrawn after that government fell, the British have now accused Israel of breaching international law, and may be on the path to recognising a Palestinian state. Activists in the UK also target companies providing military equipment to Israel, breaking into weapons factories and smashing the equipment.
Day 593 — Wednesday, May 21
In the face of recent condemnation from U.S. President Donald Trump over Iran’s support for the Hamas terrorist organization, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Hamas officials in Tehran.
The Hamas delegation on Monday included Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas political bureau, and Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official in Tehran, according to a report in Iran’s Mehr News Agency. The news agency offered no details on the content of the discussions, stating only that the two Hamas leaders were in Tehran to attend the Tehran Dialogue Forum, an event hosted by the Iranian Foreign Ministry intended to promote regional cooperation and diplomacy.
Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ “Politburo,“ currently resides in Qatar, along with Khaled Meshaal and Khalil al-Hayya. Osama Hamdan reportedly lives in Lebanon.
Araghchi met several times with Hamas leaders earlier this year, including with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. During that visit to Qatar, Araghchi joined a meeting of the Hamas Politburo in which the group discussed ongoing hostage-ceasefire negotiations and the conditions in Gaza.
Documents discovered by Israel Defense Forces in Gaza revealed that Hamas and the Iranian regime were in regular communication regarding the Iranian plans to invade Israel. Hamas requested financial assistance and attempted to coordinate a collaborative attack, however, it was not able to convince Iran to actively participate in the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion and massacre.
The Iranian regime has long provided funding to Hamas, though support was briefly reduced during the previous Trump administration due to stringent sanctions on Iran.
Meanwhile, Turkey has also continued to host Hamas leaders, including hosting a delegation of leaders for a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in April. The Turkish government has refused to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in the Jewish state and, instead, has increasingly condemned Israel.
Day 592 — Tuesday, May 20
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday criticized the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada after they warned of “concrete actions” unless Jerusalem halts its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed, and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa, and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, while inviting more such atrocities,” he said according to a statement from his office.
The statement reiterated that the war began when “Palestinian terrorists stormed our borders, murdered 1,200 innocent people and abducted over 250 more innocents to the dungeons of Gaza.”
Netanyahu noted that Israel backs U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace vision and urged European leaders to do the same.
“The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled, and Gaza is demilitarized. No nation can be expected to accept anything less, and Israel certainly won’t,” the statement continued.
“This is a war of civilization over barbarism. Israel will continue to defend itself by just means until total victory is achieved,” it concluded.
Earlier on Monday, the three countries issued a joint communiqué expressing strong opposition to expanded Israel Defense Forces operations in Gaza and calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter,” the statement read.
While reaffirming support for the Jewish state’s right to self-defense, the countries said the current military escalation was unjustified.
“Israel suffered a heinous attack on Oct. 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate,” they said. “We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”
The statement also reiterated support for a two-state solution, pointing to an upcoming international conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, scheduled to take place next month in New York.
“These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve and ensure long-term stability in the region,” the countries said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar strongly criticized Hamas’s praise for the countries’ statement, which the terrorist group called “a step in the right direction.” Sa’ar wrote on X: “What a disgrace.”
Day 592 — Tuesday, May 20
Firefighting teams have halted the spread of a fire that erupted in a valley near Jerusalem, the Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed on Friday morning.
Staff-Sergeant-Major Benjamin Schindler, fire investigator at the Samaria Regional Station, said that he found several ignition points near Nablus, indicating that an arsonist sparked the fires.
“After completing firefighting operations, I began an investigation at the scene, during which, I found several ignition points at some distance from each other in the direction of Kafr Kallil toward Mount Gerizim.
“Due to the topography and wind conditions, the flames climbed up the mountain, and two fire centers developed. Firefighters succeeded in gaining control of the fire in both areas.”
Earlier, the Fire and Rescue Authority said that the fire was “advancing rapidly and endangering nearby houses, as well as the walking and biking trails in the area.”
At least 10 fire and rescue teams were dispatched, with four firefighting aircraft in assistance to get the fire under control.
Day 591 — Monday, May 19
At the Jerusalem Conference in New York City, Ayelet Samerano, the mother of hostage Yonatan Mordechai Samerano, gave an emotional and powerful speech calling for the return of her son and all hostages still held in Gaza.
“Hello, my name is Ayelet and I’m the mother of Yonatan Mordechai Samerano who was shot at the entrance of Kibbutz Be’eri and was abducted by a social worker from UNRWA,” she began.
Noting her participation in the Celebrate Israel Parade in Manhattan alongside other hostage families earlier in the day, Ayelet said, “I chose today to see you, to hear you, all of you and I want to tell you, the people of Israel live, the people of Israel always live… all Jews are brothers and they do not let their brothers fall.”
Her words turned to fierce criticism of the United Nations. “We marched today in New York… in a city where ambassadors and people who have taken upon themselves a mission of peace and not of war. But the United Nations kidnapped my son.”
“The United Nations ignores everything related to the rights of the people of Israel and the United Nations does not do what it was established for,” she charged. “I hope those people who have taken upon themselves the most important mission will wake up in time and understand that there is no place for terrorists in the world.”
She warned against the normalization of terror: “October 7 is only terrorism… Whoever chooses to see the events of October 7 as if it were part of a regional conflict… is deliberately turning a blind eye. I’m here to tell and to warn them: don’t be surprised if it will knock on your door one day.”
Calling on the global community to reject excuses for terror and to stand with Israel, she emphasized: “The hostages are people, they are our children, they are our parents, they are our brothers. They had happy experiences and funny stories. They had achievements and dreams for a lifetime. And they need to return to their families.”
In a final, heart-wrenching moment, Ayelet recited the names of all 58 hostages still in captivity and then added, “We are waiting for you at home. Just a little more. We will not rest and will not stop until everyone returns.”
Day 591 — Monday, May 19
Israel’s foreign intelligence service Mossad has recovered the official Syrian intelligence archive on Israeli spy Eli Cohen in a covert operation, the agency and the Prime Minister’s Office announced in a joint statement on Sunday.
The archive includes some 2,500 original documents, photographs and personal items which were recently recovered as part of a decades-long effort to shed light on the fate and place of burial of the legendary spy.
In the early 60s, Cohen infiltrated the top levels of Syria’s political leadership by posing as a wealthy patriotic Arab businessman, developing close relationships with both political and military leaders.
After his discovery and arrest, Cohen was tried by a military tribunal and was eventually executed on May 18, 1965. His body was never returned to Israel.
This Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea presented Cohen’s widow, Nadia, with several original documents and personal items, including the original will written by Cohen himself only hours before his execution, of which only a copy had been known.
The archive was recovered in a “covert and complex” operation, “in cooperation with an allied foreign intelligence service,” according to the statement. It held “thousands of findings that were held for decades by the Syrian security forces in a highly compartmentalized manner.”
“Eli Cohen was a legend. In the test of time, he has been revealed as the greatest intelligence agent in the annals of the state; his heroism and his activity contributed to our historic victory in the Six Day War,” Netanyahu said.
“The Eli Cohen archive, which was brought in a special effort, will educate generations, and expresses the unwavering commitment to bring back home all of our missing, captives and hostages.”
The items were collected by Syrian intelligence after Cohen’s capture in January 1965 and include recordings from investigations of him and his contacts, letters sent to his family in Israel, photographs of his spy activities in Syria and personal objects taken from his Damascus home after his capture.
The Mossad managed to recover the keys to Cohen’s apartment, various passports and documentation used to fake his identity, and many photographs of Eli Cohen with senior Syrian government and military officials.
The intelligence agency also found documentation of the espionage missions Cohen was given by the Mossad, including a request to surveil a target and a mission to gather intelligence on Syrian military bases in Quneitra, a town on the Israeli border.
Other documents included the original execution sentence which indicated that the head of the Jewish community in Damascus, Rabbi Nissim Indibo was to be allowed to minister to Eli Cohen according to Jewish tradition before his death.
The Syrian intelligence service also maintained a file on Nadia Cohen, following her efforts to secure her husband’s release from prison before he was killed, including many letters sent to world leaders and the President of Syria.
“Over the years, the Mossad has worked together with partners in the intelligence and security communities in Israel and around the world, and has carried out dozens of actions and operations, including in enemy countries,” according to the statement.
After the fall of the Assad regime in December, Israel intensified its efforts to locate the burial sites of several soldiers who went missing in Syria over the decades-long rule of the regime.
Earlier this month, the Mossad recovered the remains of IDF soldier Tzvi Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in the First Lebanon War, from Syria.
Mossad Director Barnea stated: “Bringing the archive here is an achievement of the highest moral order and is an additional step in advancing the investigation to locate the place of burial of our man in Damascus. This important mission stands before us and we are committed to continue and do our utmost to realize it.”
“We will continue to act to locate and return all of our missing, fallen and hostages – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for eternal rest after a proper Jewish burial.”
Day 590 — Sunday, May 18
Iran's Khamenei Launches Tirade Against America And Israel After Trump's Return From The Middle East
Just hours after President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East visit, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday launched a tirade against America and Israel, charging that Trump is a liar and calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.
“Trump said he wants to use power for peace. He’s lying,” wrote Khamenei on X, adding, “Some of the remarks made during the US President’s trip to the region aren’t even worth a response at all. The level of those remarks is so low that they are a source of shame for the American nation.”
Washington has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism since the 1980s. The rabidly anti-Western and antisemitic ayatollah called the Jewish state—America’s key ally in the Middle East — a “cancerous tumor” that must be uprooted.
According to the Trump administration, Khamenei’s regime is the world’s leading state-sponsor of antisemitism.
Khamenei also took aim at the Sunni Arab countries that are allied with the U.S. in the Mideast, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
“This failed model, where Arab states are told they can’t survive ten days without US support, is being imposed again. But it will collapse, and America will leave this region.”
The wily 86-year-old revolutionary Islamist said that Washington aimed to promote Sunni Arab dependency on Washington. “The US wants these countries unable to function without it — that’s the message in their behavior and their proposals.”
Khamenei also accused America of using its resources to attack the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
“The US has used its power to massacre in Gaza, to stoke war wherever possible, and to arm its mercenaries,” said Khamenei. The U.S.-designated terrorist movement, Hamas, is a strategic partner of Iran’s regime. Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, and slaughtered over 1,200 people, including many Americans.
During his trip to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Trump called Iran’s regime the main force of instability in the Middle East.
“The biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond, “said Trump in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alireza Nader, a Washington, D.C., expert on Iran’s regime, told Fox News Digital that Iran “has been dealt a severe military setback by Israel, and the Iranian public desires the regime’s overthrow. President Trump has an overwhelming advantage in the negotiations and could severely restrict and limit the regime’s nuclear program.”
Trump said he wants a deal with Iran to stop its illegal nuclear weapons program. In his speech, Trump told Iran that it must abandon its drive to build an atomic bomb.
“While you have been constructing the world’s tallest skyscrapers in Jeddah and Dubai, Tehran’s 1979 landmarks are collapsing into rubble,” Trump said. “[Iran’s] corrupt water mafia . . . causes droughts and empty riverbeds. They get rich.”
Day 589 — Saturday, May 17
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon condemned a United Nations official over remarks that he said “shattered any notion of neutrality.”
On Tuesday, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher accused Israel of committing genocide in his remarks before the U.N. Security Council.
“Israel is deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” Fletcher told the Security Council on Tuesday. He went on to say that most of Gaza “is either within Israeli-militarized zones or under displacement orders.”
“Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead that ‘we did all we could?’,” Fletcher said.
In his response, Danon said Fletcher’s remarks “shocked and disturbed” him, accusing the U.N. official of making an “utterly inappropriate and deeply irresponsible” statement that “shattered any notion of neutrality.”
“You had the audacity, in your capacity as a senior U.N. official, to stand before the Security Council and invoke the charge of genocide without evidence, mandate, or restraint,” Danon wrote in his response. “As a senior representative of the United Nations, you are obligated to refrain from prejudging complex international matters. Yet, this is precisely what you did before the Council. You did not brief the Council; you delivered a political sermon.”
Danon questioned under whose authority Fletcher issued the accusation and said the U.N. official’s use of the word “genocide” was a “desecration and subversion of a term with unique force and weight.” He went on to say that what made Fletcher’s remarks “far worse” was the fact that Israel had “engaged with you and your office in good faith at the highest levels.”
The Israeli ambassador concluded his letter by turning the questions around on Fletcher, telling the OCHA chief to ask himself whether he had done enough to prevent Oct. 7, accelerate the release of the hostages and hold Hamas accountable.
Day 589 — Saturday, May 17
The IDF announced on Friday evening that it is working to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip as part of the preparations to expand the military campaign against Hamas.
“Over the past 24 hours, the IDF has begun extensive strikes and deployed forces to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip, as part of the initial stages of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ and the expansion of the campaign in Gaza, to achieve all objectives of the war, including the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in a statement.
“IDF forces under the Southern Command will continue to operate to protect Israeli citizens and fulfill the war’s objectives,” it added.
A senior defense official recently provided more details about “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” and stated that the goal will be “to defeat and subdue Hamas in Gaza and release all hostages.”
“A central component of the plan is the broad evacuation of the entire Gazan population from the fighting zones, including northern Gaza, to areas in southern Gaza, while creating a separation between them and Hamas terrorists – in order to allow the IDF operational freedom of action. Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any area that is conquered, in order to prevent the return of terrorism, and will handle any area that is cleared in accordance with the Rafah model, where all threats were eliminated and it became part of the security zone.”
Addressing the issue of humanitarian aid, he stated, “A humanitarian plan will be implemented, as presented yesterday by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, that distinguishes between the aid and Hamas by using civilian companies and designating areas that will be secured by the IDF. This includes a sterile zone in the Rafah area beyond the Morag route, where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access.”
Day 588 — Friday, May 16
Twenty Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are known to be alive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
In a video message posted to his X account, Netanyahu said, “We will not break. We will fight,” while reaffirming that intelligence assessments verify the status of 20 captives as alive.
The announcement comes amid efforts to negotiate a hostage release deal through mediators in Egypt and Qatar, with another round of talks beginning in Doha on Wednesday.
Fifty-eight hostages, living and dead, are believed to remain in Gaza.
Netanyahu said this past Wednesday night that Israel was not giving up “on a single one” of its war aims. He said that he had spoken earlier in the day with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and would discuss the hostage crisis with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee later that night.
“We’re making all efforts, including today, to bring about the release of all our hostages and to achieve our war aims. We’re not giving up on a single one,” Netanyahu said in a video post on X, contradicting claims of critics, such as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
On Tuesday, the mother of Edan Alexander, 21, the IDF soldier released by Hamas on Monday, pointedly omitted the prime minister from the list of those she thanked for her son’s freedom.
However, Witkoff relayed to the family that Netanyahu’s efforts were critical to her son’s release.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a series of extended meetings with Witkoff and members of the negotiating team regarding the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The discussions coincided with Trump’s arrival in Qatar, which has served as a key mediator in the talks, alongside Egypt and the United States.
Day 588 — Friday, May 16
Every time I say anything critical about Donald Trump I can be assured of one thing, I am going to lose subscribers. It’s like clockwork. So, I will begin this news item saying that Donald Trump on his worst day is light years better than Kamala Harris on her best day. I like Donald Trump. Had I been an American citizen, he would have received my vote. However, just because I support someone, it doesn’t mean that I can’t disagree with them and call them out when I believe they deserve it. And on this Middle East trip, I think he deserves to be called out in a few areas.
It didn’t begin with this trip. Even before he left for my neighborhood, his administration signed a ceasefire deal with the Houthis. Somehow in the hoopla of it all, he neglected to tell Israel about it, allowing us to learn about the agreement through the media. Essentially, he said that as long as the Yemenite terrorists don’t attack any American ships, he will refrain from dropping thousands of pounds of explosives on their cities and ports. Nowhere in that treaty does it mention desisting from firing cruise missiles at Israel. In fact, while Trump was in Saudi Arabia making a speech, a Houthi-fired missile flew over that country on its way to mine. The president also made statements about possibly allowing Saudi Arabia to develop its own nuclear program, a decision that Israel would like to have been a part of, considering the kingdom of Saud is our neighbor.
Let me say ahead of time that I understand that this is a business tour and the president is an America-first businessman. I don’t fault him for that. That is who he was elected to be, and for me to expect him to put Bible before business is unfair. Not only is he a businessman, but he is a New York businessman. That means he has had to deal with every type of person, no matter their character, in the unions, in construction, in government, in zoning, in the legal system, wherever. It seems evident to me that the truism that you catch more bees with honey than vinegar guides much of his philosophy. I try to keep that in mind when I see him hobnobbing with the Emir of Qatar and hear him calling the new Syrian president, who until four months ago had a $10 million bounty on his head, “a young, attractive guy.” Despite the fake news media, there are no indications that President Trump has thrown Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu under the bus. The United States is still our greatest ally, and I don’t see that changing under this administration.
Day 587 — Thursday, May 15
During an exchange in Spain’s Congress on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Israel a “genocidal state”—an escalation in his already harsh rhetoric about the Jewish State.
Sánchez made his remark, which drew strong condemnations from Israel and Jewish groups, in response to a question about trade with Israel from a lawmaker, Gabriel Rufiá, who is to the left of Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party.
“I’ll clarify one thing, Mr. Rufián. We don’t trade with a genocidal state. We don’t. I believe I explained from this platform the other day what we’re talking about, when some statements were made that weren’t true,“ Sánchez said.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it condemns and rejects the allegation, and that it will summon Spain’s ambassador to Israel for a dressing down.
Spain is on record as accusing Israel of genocide-related actions since it joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Criminal Court, along with Ireland, a fellow EU member state, and other countries. Sánchez, however, had not repeated the allegation in his own voice before Wednesday, Elías Levy Benarroch, editor-in-chief of Enfoque Judío, told JNS.
Levy Benarroch, a former executive at Spain’s leading news agency, EFE, accused Sánchez of being a “chief promoter of an antisemitic narrative“ that is taking root in Spain.
Day 587 — Thursday, May 15
A Palestinian terrorist opened fire on Israeli vehicles on Wednesday night in the northern [Judea and Samaria], striking a pregnant woman who was en route to a hospital to deliver her baby, along with her husband, the military and medics said.
The woman, identified as Tzeela Gez, 30, was rushed to Petah Tikva’s Rabin Medical Center in critical condition.
During efforts to save her life, doctors performed an emergency C-section, the medical center said. The newborn was listed in serious condition and was transferred to Schneider Children’s Hospital within the compound, where doctors were working to save his life.
Shortly after dawn on Thursday, the hospital announced the woman’s death.
Gez, a mother of three, was in her ninth month of pregnancy and was heading to a hospital to give birth to her fourth child, local authorities said.
Her husband, Hananel, who was driving the car, was only lightly hurt, the hospital said after his condition was initially listed as serious.
The Israel Defense Forces said it launched a manhunt for the terrorist who fired at several vehicles on Route 446 outside the Bruchin settlement, where the wounded couple is from.
The military said it dispatched troops and an Israeli Air Force drone for the manhunt, and that soldiers encircled and blocked the entrances to the adjacent Palestinian town of Bruqin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “deeply shocked by the horrific terrorist attack.”
“This abhorrent incident precisely reflects the difference between us, who desire and bring life, and the reprehensible terrorists, whose goal is to kill us and destroy life,” he said in the statement released by his office.
The [Judea and Samaria] has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip ignited the war there.
Since then troops have arrested some 6,000 wanted Palestinians across [Judea and Samaria], including more than 2,350 affiliated with Hamas. According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 950 [Judea and Samaria] Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.
There has also been a significant uptick in settler violence against Palestinians since the start of the war.
During the same period, 52 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and [Judea and Samaria]. Another eight members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.
Day 586 — Wednesday, May 14
Israeli forces conducted a precise strike on Tuesday, targeting members of the Hamas terror organization operating from a command and control center located in an underground facility beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
The target of the strike was Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of the dead Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who launched the Oct. 7 attack and was later killed by IDF troops. Muhammed Sinwar has effectively taken over his dead brother’s role as the leader of Hamas’ military wing for the past several months.
A joint statement from the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, revealed that Hamas continues to exploit hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terrorist activities, callously using the civilian population within and around the hospital as a shield.
The statement noted that prior to and during the operation, steps were taken to minimize the risk of harm to civilians and hostages. These measures included the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence information.
The IDF and Shin Bet vowed to maintain intense operations against Hamas, working to eliminate any threat to the citizens of Israel, according to the statement.
Day 586 — Wednesday, May 14
Israeli air defenses early on Wednesday morning intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen, according to the Israel Defense Forces. It was the third such attack since Tuesday night.
The attack triggered air-raid sirens in Jerusalem, Modi’in, Ma’ale Adumim, Gush Etzion, Mount Hebron and parts of the Dead Sea region. The warning system operated as planned, with sirens activated in accordance with standard protocol and push alerts sent in advance to residents’ mobile phones. No casualties or damage were reported.
IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning on Wednesday morning to residents of Yemen shortly after the missile fire at Israel.
“An urgent and important repeated warning to all those present in the sea ports controlled by the Houthi regime,“ the statement read.
“Due to the Houthi regime’s use of the sea ports for terrorist activity, we call on everyone in those ports to evacuate and distance themselves—until further notice.”
Following the interception, incoming flights to Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily delayed.
No injuries were reported according to Magen David Adom, aside from a woman who was hurt while making her way to a protected shelter. MDA said further updates would follow if necessary.
On Tuesday, a missile was launched at Israel from Yemen during U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia. The missile was intercepted, but triggered alarms in Jerusalem and central Israel. This was followed shortly after by another missile that fell on the way to Israel. Alarms did not sound.
Since March 18, when the IDF resumed major operations against Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have fired 33 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones toward Israel, most of which were intercepted or fell short.
Separately, the IDF reported that on Tuesday night sirens sounded in communities near the Gaza Strip and Western Lachish. Two projectiles were intercepted after crossing into Israeli territory from Gaza, while a third fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.
Day 585 — Tuesday, May 13
Former hostage Edan Alexander, who was released Monday night, has decided not to travel to Qatar to meet with US President Donald Trump, who played a role in advancing his release.
The Alexander family stated: “His medical condition requires rest. Edan will meet with Trump later in the United States.”
“The Alexander family confirms that as of now, Edan will not fly to Qatar,“ the Hostages Families Forum stated. “The family remains in continuous contact with the Trump administration.”
On Monday, it was reported that Trump had expressed interest in meeting Alexander during his visit to the Middle East, pending Alexander’s health, and there was even talk of a potential meeting with both Trump and the Emir of Qatar in Doha.
In response, Alexander’s family clarified: “President Trump and the Emir of Qatar want Edan to come meet them in their country, but everything depends solely on Edan’s will and his medical condition.”
Edan Alexander arrived Monday at Ichilov Hospital, where he reunited with his extended family after 584 days in captivity. He walked toward them holding Israeli and American flags, wearing a Golani Brigade cap — the unit in which he served before being kidnapped on the morning of October 7.
Edan told his grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, that he had seen her on TV during his time in captivity. She was emotional and asked, “Edan, you’re a hero. I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”
Earlier, he met his parents at the Re’im reception facility near the Gaza border. They had flown in from abroad to be with him.
After an emotional hug, Edan was surprised to see how much his younger brother had grown, exclaiming: “This kid is huge — who is this?”
During his helicopter flight to Ichilov Hospital for further medical evaluation, Edan wrote “Am Yisrael Chai,“ and sent a message of thanks to President Trump, as well as a note to his unit: “Go Golani!“
Alexander has described being shackled by his hands and feet and held in a cage during captivity, suffering from food deprivation, and being held with other hostages in a tunnel with no daylight.
Day 585 — Tuesday, May 13
Reports from Gaza indicate that “journalist“ Hassan Eslaiah, who broadcasted from Israeli territory during the October 7 attacks, was killed in a strike on the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Yunis, according to an announcement from the IDF spokesperson.
Eslaiah had been hospitalized at the facility following injuries sustained approximately a month ago in a previous IDF strike.
There is photographic evidence showing Eslaiah with Yahya Sinwar, according to Arab networks.
The “journalist“ worked as a freelancer for the news agencies AP and CNN. When questioned about their relationship with Eslaiah, representatives from CNN stated that he was not employed by the network on the day of the massacre but was only hired afterward. Evidence shows that on October 7, Eslaiah entered multiple kibbutzim and was documented near an IDF tank that had been attacked at the border fence – the same location from which IDF soldiers were kidnapped.
An investigation conducted following the October 7 attacks raised serious questions about the presence of journalists at the Gaza-Israel border during that devastating morning, specifically questioning whether their arrival had been coordinated with Hamas fighters. The horrific massacre images distributed by the AP news agency were produced by four individuals – among them Eslaiah. A comprehensive investigation by the HonestReporting organization, published in October 2024, uncovered evidence that journalists operating in Gaza for prominent foreign media outlets had participated in events organized by the communications ministry of the Hamas government.
Day 585 — Tuesday, May 13
The fake news media machine is working overtime to manufacture a rift between Israel and President Trump—and they concocted this tale right before the American leader was headed to Saudi Arabia. This isn’t journalism, it’s propaganda designed to tear President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu apart.
Let me guide you through how the fake news media machine works. The Jerusalem Post published a story from a “Gulf diplomatic source” that claimed: “President Donald Trump will issue a declaration regarding the State of Palestine and American recognition of it, and that there will be the establishment of a Palestinian state without the presence of Hamas.”
That’s a loaded statement from one unnamed source—no corroboration, no verification, just one “Gulf diplomat.”
Ambassador Huckabee’s response was perfect.
“Jerusalem Post needs better sources than this unidentified ‘source,’” Huckabee stated on X. “My 4-year-old grandson Teddy is more reliable. And take it from Teddy. This report is nonsense. Israel doesn’t have a better friend than President Trump!”
Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia today, eyeing a huge Saudi investment. The Crown Prince has already committed $600 billion to the United States. President Trump is pushing for one trillion and working to bring the Saudi Kingdom into a mammoth Abraham Accords peace deal between the Saudis and Israel.
Forget the rumors. Look at the evidence.
Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, despite warnings from “experts” that it would set the Middle East on fire. He recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He brokered the Abraham Accords and eliminated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who at the time was the number one terrorist in the world. Does this sound like someone who is about to abandon Israel?
Day 584 — Monday, May 12
The Israeli Cabinet voted on Sunday to back a series of “revolutionary” measures aimed at stopping what it said was the Palestinian Authority-led takeover of lands in Judea and Samaria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced.
Sunday night’s vote “nullifies the P.A.’s attempts to seize land in Area C and, under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, will lead to an arrangement for registering land in Judea and Samaria,” stated Katz.
The move “will lead to the strengthening, consolidation and expansion” of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, he continued, adding that the current war proves that “settlement in Judea and Samaria is a defensive shield for population centers in the center of Israel.”
Jerusalem “must do everything to protect and strengthen those who defend Israel’s communities and citizens,” said Katz.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the government’s latest decision was part of his “normalization and de facto sovereignty revolution.”
“For the first time, the State of Israel is taking responsibility for the territory as a permanent sovereign, and is beginning the implementation of land registration in Judea and Samaria,” he said.
“Land registration will create legal certainty, enable land reserves for the development of settlements, and prevent P.A. efforts to take control of open areas,” concluded Smotrich, who also holds a post in the Defense Ministry with responsibility for civilian matters in Judea and Samaria.
The Cabinet resolution declares that Ramallah’s attempts to create a land registry in Area C, which according to the Oslo Accords is under Jerusalem’s exclusive control, will no longer hold any legal standing.
Accordingly, P.A. documents—including maps and approvals—will no longer be used in any Israeli legal or administrative processes.
The Jewish state’s defense establishment will also be instructed to take other measures to prevent the continuation of the P.A. land registration campaign, including by blocking Ramallah’s staff from accessing areas, obstructing European Union and other foreign support and issuing a direct demand that Ramallah halt its activities in this regard.
Israel’s Regavim movement, co-founded by Smotrich and which has been at the forefront of the fight against illegal construction in Judea and Samaria, hailed the move as “a pivotal advancement in addressing a longstanding challenge.”
“For years, Israel stood idle while the Palestinian Authority aggressively pursued land registration, deploying hundreds of workers and funneling millions of dollars from international sources,” it charged in a statement.
On April 1, Katz and Smotrich vowed to put an end to what they said was the Palestinians’ scheme to seize land across Judea and Samaria.
“The State of Israel will not abandon the security of the residents and will not allow Abu Mazen and the Palestinian Authority to use illegal construction as a tool to create a strategic threat to the communities,” declared Katz, referring to P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas.
Smotrich noted that in the past year, a record number of illegal structures put up by the P.A. were demolished.
“However, we understand that in order to win this battle, additional strategic measures must be employed to bring about the desired transformation,” added the Religious Zionism Party leader.
Smotrich during his tenure has sought to foil the realization of the P.A.’s Fayyad Plan—named after former P.A. prime minister Salam Fayyad—that seeks to establish a de facto Palestinian state.
A report published by Regavim in December, two years after the finance minister took control of the Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration, showed an unprecedented decline in illegal construction in Area C.
This marked the first time in a decade that illegal construction had dropped, accompanied by increased enforcement by the Civil Administration, according to the Israeli NGO.
Day 584 — Monday, May 12
President Donald Trump revealed that Edan Alexander, 21, who is believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas, was released and “coming home to his family.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratefulness “to all those involved” in making Alexander’s release happen. Trump added that Alexander’s release by Hamas terrorists was “a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators” in order to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” Trump said. “I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.”
Trump expressed hope that Alexander’s release was “the first of those final steps necessary” to end the ongoing war conflict.
Trump’s post comes after Hamas issued a statement on Sunday evening that Alexander would be released.
Edan, described by his mom, Yael Alexander, as a “happy young man with a great sense of humor,” was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and went on to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after graduating high school, Haaretz News reported.
Yael told the outlet that on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, Edan was stationed at a “small outpost on the Gaza border.” Around 6:30 a.m., Yael woke up and “immediately sent a message to Edan,” and the two spoke on the phone. Yael added that the phone call was the “last” she heard from Edan.
The Alexander family issued a statement describing the news of Edan’s release as “the greatest gift imaginable,” and they expressed gratitude to Trump and Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser and assistant to the president, Northjersey.com reported.
“Today, on Mother’s Day, we received the greatest gift imaginable—news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza,” the Alexander family said in a statement. “We express our deepest gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the US administration for their tireless work to make this happen.”
The family added that they are urging Israeli officials and negotiating team to not stop, and they hope Edan’s release “begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare” for the hostages and their families.
Day 583 — Sunday, May 11
The Israeli government is reportedly preparing to launch more forceful and wider strikes on the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen in retaliation for repeated missile and drone attacks.
Israel’s pledge comes shortly after the United States and the Houthis reached a ceasefire deal. However, an unnamed Israeli official stressed that the deal would not limit Israel’s military actions against the terror group.
“We will keep hitting the Houthis. That deal doesn’t bind us – they’ll pay the price,” an Israeli security official told Ynet News.
The Houthis have fired hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel since November 2023. Israel has responded by striking Houthi targets in Yemen on several occasions. Last week, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s multilayered aerial defense system, landing close to Ben-Gurion International Airport in the central part of the country.
While the attack resulted in minimal damage, it prompted many foreign airline companies to suspend their flights to and from Israel due to security concerns.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) responded within 24 hours by striking the Houthi-held Hodeidah port, which plays a crucial role in the transfer of Iranian arms to the Houthis. The following day, the IAF launched an attack to damage the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Airport, Yemen’s primary air transportation hub.
Houthi leadership acknowledged the ceasefire with Washington but the terror group emphasized it would continue attacks against the Jewish state. On Friday, the Houthis fired yet another missile at Israel, which was successfully intercepted by the country’s aerial defense systems.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed that the latest missile was aimed at Ben-Gurion Airport. While flights were briefly halted, the airport continues to be fully operational.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the latest Houthi attack by vowing to intensify strikes on the Houthis – and potentially target their patron, the Iranian ayatollah regime.
“The Houthis continue to fire Iranian-made missiles at Israel. As promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary,” Katz warned.
Officials also told Ynet that the IDF is preparing for potentially striking the Iranian regime, warning that “Iran won’t get off easy.”
Meanwhile, large anti-Israel rallies were held in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Footage from the protests showed banners that stated, “We defeated America, we will defeat Israel.”
By contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that the Houthis begged for a ceasefire after the U.S. military struck over 800 Houthi sites and eliminated hundreds of Houthi terrorists.
Another anti-Israel slogan read, “Jaffa will chase you to your grave” – a reference to historic Jaffa – now part of Tel Aviv – whose Arab residents fought against Tel Aviv during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948.
“America failed and abandoned its defense of Zionist ships,” the protesters claimed. “We reaffirm our commitment to defend Gaza and support the resistance. We will not leave them alone.”
Hezam al-Asad, a senior Houthi official who often threatens Israel in his posts on 𝕏, wrote: “The temporary entity is under fire.”
Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti vowed to continue attacks against Israel as long as the war in Gaza continues.
“Any Israeli escalation will justify an air and naval blockade. Our operations will continue until the war of extermination in Gaza ends,” he said in an interview with Qatar’s news outlet, Al-Araby.
Day 582 — Saturday, May 10
Israeli hostage Emily Damari slammed the Pulitzer Prize board’s decision to grant their prestigious award to a New Yorker writer who viciously attacked her and another female Israeli captive on social media, saying the organization failed on a “question of humanity.”
“You claim to honor journalism that upholds truth, democracy, and human dignity. And yet you have chosen to elevate a voice that denies truth, erases victims, and desecrates the memory of the murdered,” Damari posted on X.
Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha was granted the Pulitzer Prize for his “essays on the physical and emotional carnage in Gaza,” the board announced Monday. The award came with a $15,000 prize.
Toha has frequently disparaged Israeli hostages in numerous posts on social media, including Damari.
“How on earth is this girl called a hostage? (And this is the case of most ‘hostages’). This is Emily Damari, a 28 UK-Israeli soldier that Hamas detailed on 10/7… So this girl is called a ‘hostage?’ This soldier who was close to the border with a city that she and her country have been occupying is called a ‘hostage?’“ Toha posted about Damari on January 24, 2025.
Damari, 29, who lost two fingers in her left hand when she was dragged out of her home by Hamas terrorists during their Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, detailed her excruciating ordeal in her response addressed to members of the Pulitzer Prizes board.
“On the morning of October 7, I was at home in my small studio apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas terrorists burst in, shot me and dragged me across the border into Gaza. I was one of 251 men, women, children, and elderly people kidnapped that day from their beds, their homes, and a music festival,” she wrote.
“For almost 500 days I lived in terror. I was starved, abused, and treated like I was less than human. I watched friends suffer. I watched hope dim. And even now, after returning home, I carry that darkness with me – because my best friends, Gali and Ziv Berman are still being held in the Hamas terror tunnels.”
Damari, who was freed from captivity on Jan. 19, wrote that the Pulitzer board’s decision to grant the award to Toha caused her “shock and pain.” She accused the Palestinian poet of “outright denials of documented atrocities” for his inflammatory posts which denied the murder of the Bibas family and that she and fellow Israeli captive Agam Berger were true hostages.
“The Israeli ‘hostage’ Agam Berger, who was released days ago participates in her sister’s graduation from an Israeli Air Force officers’ course. These are the ones the world wants to share sympathy for, killers who join the army and have family in the army! These are the ones whom CNN, BBC and the likes humanize in articles and TV programs and news bulletins,” Toha posted on Feb. 3, 2025.
Berger, 28, is an Israeli violinist and former Gaza border scout at base Nahal Oz who was held captive in Gaza for 482 days. She revealed how she found ways to observe the Jewish Sabbath and Passover even as her captors tried to force her to convert her to Islam and how she and a fellow scout, Liri Albag, were kept in a “small room with no natural light.” She was released from captivity on Jan. 30.
Damari and Berger declined to comment.
Toha has also denied evidence that showed the two Bibas children, 9-month-old Kfir and Ariel, 4, were killed by their captors “bare hands.” He also spread the disproven claim that Israel was behind the bombing of the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza in Oct. 2023 and appeared to deny that Israeli hostages had been tortured. Numerous Israeli hostages have testified that they were victims of or witnessed torture, including sexual assault.
“Mosab Abu Toha is not a courageous writer. He is the modern-day equivalent of a Holocaust denier. And by honoring him, you have joined him in the shadows of denial,” Damari told the Pulitzer board.
“This is not a question of politics. This is a question of humanity. And today, you have failed it,” she concluded.
A Pulitzer Prize representative did not directly address Toha’s award when reached for comment.
“The Pulitzer Prizes for reporting, commentary, literature, and the arts are based on a review of works that have been formally submitted for consideration,” a Pulitzer Prize representative told Fox News Digital.
Day 582 — Saturday, May 10
Since the launch of “Operation Iron Wall” on Jan. 21, Israeli forces have killed more than 100 terrorists, arrested approximately 320 wanted individuals and seized around 450 weapons in Judea and Samaria, the military announced on Wednesday.
Security forces have also dismantled hundreds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and pipe bombs, along with dozens of homes used as bomb-making laboratories and weapons storage facilities.
Since Hamas’s massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces have eliminated over 700 terrorists in Judea and Samaria, including 36 senior operatives from various organizations.
The military intensified its raids in the area following the Feb. 20 failed bus bombings near Tel Aviv. Three empty buses exploded, and bombs were found on two others in what is being investigated as a coordinated terror attack. At least one of the bombs reportedly bore a note, in Arabic and Hebrew, which stated: “Revenge from the Tulkarem refugee camp.”
Tulkarem—a city that borders the Samaria security barrier— and the nearby Nur Shams camp abut Israel’s densely populated coastal plain east of Netanya and is some eight miles from the Mediterranean Sea.
Israeli security officials are aware that a “more intense front” could open in Judea and Samaria amid the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 19.
The same month, it was reported that the Israeli army was putting together a bank of targets to be attacked by the Israeli Air Force in the case of an Oct. 7, 2023-style terrorist attack in Judea and Samaria.
On Feb. 23, Israeli tanks were spotted near the terrorist hotspot of Jenin for the first time since “Operation Defensive Shield,” that lasted from March to May 2002.
Palestinian terrorists targeted Israeli Jews in Judea and Samaria at least 6,343 times in 2024, according to figures published earlier this year by the Rescuers Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria) NGO.
Day 581 — Friday, May 9
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas on Thursday, declaring that the “rules are about to change” as the IDF prepares to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
“To Hamas, I say one thing: The rules are about to change very soon,” Netanyahu said during a visit to reservists of the IDF’s 5th “HaSharon” Infantry Brigade at the Tze’elim training base in the Negev.
“I came to see firsthand the quality of our soldiers—our heroes—in preparation for the intense action we are about to undertake in Gaza,” he said in remarks released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s two key objectives: “First—to defeat Hamas, to be victorious over Hamas, to eliminate Hamas. The second, of course, simultaneously—is to release our hostages.”
The prime minister also marked the anniversary of the 1972 rescue of hostages from Sabena Flight 571—a mission in which he participated, as a member of the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Matkal), and was wounded. “The spirit has not changed—it is the exact same spirit I see here, pulsing among the soldiers and commanders, uniting everyone with one goal—to achieve a great victory.”
That victory at Lod Airport (today Ben-Gurion International Airport) over the Black September Organization, a Palestinian terrorist group, he added, extended beyond the battlefield: “It reverberates throughout the entire region.”
Under his leadership, Netanyahu said, Israel has changed the face of the Middle East by confronting threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria. He also pointed to Israel’s recent actions against Iran, which he labeled a key sponsor of regional terrorism. “We still face challenges, but we have strong spirit, and that spirit is embodied by our military.”
The remarks came as the IDF continues operations throughout Gaza, targeting terrorist groups ahead of the expected launch of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” The campaign aims to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of 59 remaining hostages held since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist invasion.
The IDF reported striking more than 150 terrorist targets across Gaza over the past 72 hours, including cells, underground infrastructure and command posts. Troops also dismantled Hamas infrastructure and killed gunmen in several areas.
Day 581 — Friday, May 9
Kanye West, the controversial American rapper now known as “Ye,” has released a new music video called “Heil Hitler,” adding to his record of antisemitic behavior.
The video, titled “HEIL HITLER (HOOLIGAN VERSION),” was published on West’s X account and has already accumulated approximately 27,000 likes and over a million views. This release continues his track record of antisemitic behavior, including selling a T-shirt featuring a swastika through his fashion brand Yeezy.
In the video, men appear draped in animal skins, and the artist declares, “So I became a Nazi, I’m the villain.” In the song, the artist addresses the backlash he faced after making controversial statements, including previously stating on his X account that he “loves Hitler,” that he is a Nazi, and to “Call me Yadolph Hitler” – a play on his current name, Ye.
“Is this kind of posting allowed??” a user commented on X, while comments supporting the artist’s latest release were quick to appear: “I hate to say it but it’s a hit,” one user said, “he still makes bangers,” said another. The video comes at a time when antisemitic incidents are increasing worldwide, with particularly sharp rises in the United States.
Day 581 — Friday, May 9
The Indian government announced on Thursday that its military had killed an Islamist terrorist who was involved in the murder Jewish-American journalist Daniel Pearl.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s governing party, said that the Indian army killed Pakistani terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar in “Operation Sindhoor.”
A group of Islamist terrorists, including Azhar, kidnapped and murdered Pearl in 2002. The terrorist was affiliated with al-Qaeda and Jaish-e-Mohammed, an Islamist terror group that aims to separate Kashmir from India and fully incorporate it into Pakistan.
Pearl was working as the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal and was originally stationed in New Delhi. He moved to Karachi, Pakistan, to investigate terror after the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City.
On January 23, 2002, Pearl was abducted by Islamist terrorists at a hotel in Karachi. His abductors, who called themselves the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty, accused him of being an Israeli spy and sent the US a list of demands if they wanted Pearl freed.
The US government failed to meet the demands. In a video, Pearl stated he was Jewish and had visited Israel multiple times, moments before he was executed [by beheading].
“My father’s Jewish, my mother’s Jewish, I’m Jewish. My family follows Judaism. Back in the town of Bnei Brak, there is a street named after my great grandfather, Chaim Pearl, who was one of the founders of the town.” he said in the video.
India launched “Operation Sindoor“ on Wednesday, which it claimed targeted “terrorist infrastructure.” The operation was launched after Pakistani terrorists killed 26 Hindu tourists in Kashmir last month.
In the BJP announcement, the party said that Azhar was involved in a number of terror activities, including the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, the 2016 Pathankot Air Force base attack, and a 2001 terror attack on the Indian parliament.
Azhar’s involvement in the 1999 hijacking freed Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-born al-Qaeda member who formerly served in Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The Jerusalem Post previously reported that the operation is targeting two main terror groups in Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, of which Azhar was a member.
Day 580 — Thursday, May 8
What Israel did to Hezbollah in Beirut, it will do to the Iranian regime in Tehran, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Thursday morning.
“The Houthis will suffer heavy blows from Israel if they continue to fire at us,” Katz added.
He warned the “Iranian leadership that funds, arms, and operates the Houthi terrorist organization: the era of proxies is over, and the axis of evil has collapsed.
“You bear direct responsibility. What we did to Hezbollah in Beirut, to Hamas in Gaza, to Assad in Damascus, and to the Houthis in Yemen—we will do to you in Tehran.”
Day 580 — Thursday, May 8
Hours after more than 100 masked anti-Israel agitators stormed the Butler Library at Columbia University in New York City, pushing past campus security as students prepared for finals Wednesday afternoon, college officials summoned the New York Police Department (NYPD) in an effort to subdue the unruly mob.
More than 80 people have been arrested, all students at the university, NYPD sources told Fox News.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also monitoring the situation. If arrests were made, the suspects were to be fingerprinted to determine if any are non-citizens, Fox News has learned.
“Time to make a point,” one ICE source told Fox News.
Non-protesting students told Fox News that they were forced to stop studying for finals and leave the library.
Amid the chaos, the State Department warned foreign students about the consequences of breaking the law.
“Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa. This administration will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his agency was “reviewng the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”
The protesters are reportedly rallying in support of Mahmoud Khalil, the accused ringleader of pro-Palestinian protests at the elite Ivy League institution, as well as other students.
Khalil, a Columbia graduate, was arrested last month at his university-owned NYC apartment, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is part of ICE, telling him they were revoking his green card and student visa, according to Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer. He was then taken to a Louisiana detention center.
Flyers posted show protesters have renamed the Butler Library “Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” as well as the liberation zone.
Students at Columbia said the protesters climbed on desks and chanted “Free Palestine,” while demanding the Ivy League school divest from Israel.
Day 579 — Wednesday, May 7
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered the State Department to close its Office of Palestinian Affairs and fold it into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
“This decision will restore the first Trump term framework of a unified U.S. diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the U.S. ambassador to Israel,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in Tuesday’s press briefing. “Ambassador [Mike] Huckabee will take the steps necessary to implement the merger over the coming weeks.
“The United States remains committed to its historic relationship with Israel, bolstering Israel’s security and securing peace to create a better life for the entire region.”
The Biden administration created the Office of Palestinian Affairs in June 2022 against Israel’s wishes, giving it with the power to operate independently of the U.S. Embassy, the Washington Free Beacon reported Tuesday.
As a senator representing Florida, Rubio helped rally opposition to the office and the Biden administration’s efforts to increase diplomacy with Palestinian leaders before Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The office was highly criticized for its potential violation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which required that a single U.S. Embassy be established in the Israeli capital.
Rubio will also eliminate the position of special envoy to the Palestinians along with the Office of Palestinian Affairs, the Free Beacon reported.
“This was something, actually, that had been established in Trump’s first term,” Bruce said. “So, this is not a new decision. It’s not a new idea. It, in fact, restores his first-term framework of a unified U.S. diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the ambassador to Israel.
“So, this is something that was reversed by the previous administration that had already been established. Ambassador Huckabee, of course, is in charge, [and] will be taking steps to do this.
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., who worked with Rubio in 2022 to shutter the Office of Palestinian Affairs, told the Free Beacon the move is crucial to enforcing President Donald Trump’s vision of a unified Jerusalem.
“I welcome Secretary Rubio’s efforts in the second Trump administration to reinforce President Trump’s historic first-term decision to fully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s eternal and indivisible capital of Jerusalem,” Hagerty said.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., also told the Free Beacon he supported the decision.
“I was a strong supporter of President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and was outraged when the Biden administration sought to undermine President Trump’s historic move,” he said. “I am glad to hear that the Trump administration plans to reverse course and restore the vital role of Ambassador Huckabee and important policy coordination in Jerusalem.
“I am grateful to Secretary Rubio for taking this step to support our great ally and friend Israel. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is once again a nation that promotes democratic values, stands up for our allies, and projects strength on the world stage.”
Day 579 — Wednesday, May 7
Israeli forces apprehended Hamas terrorists who surrendered in the Shaboura neighborhood of Rafah, according to military footage released Tuesday.
Among those captured were a Hamas platoon commander who participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and was involved in the holding of Israeli hostages, as well as a sniper unit commander. Several knives were reportedly found in their possession.
The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) obtained significant intelligence during the subsequent interrogations, including the location of a major Hamas terror site in the area.
The arrests came after the IDF completed its encirclement of Rafah several weeks ago. Military operations in the city are ongoing and are expected to expand into additional neighborhoods.
To date, the 188th Brigade’s combat team has eliminated dozens of terrorists and uncovered and destroyed multiple Hamas weapons caches and other infrastructure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that the IDF operation in Gaza will intensify, and Israeli forces will remain in every area they capture.
“We decided on intensified action in Gaza,” the premier said. “That was the IDF chief of staff’s recommendation—to move, as he said, toward the defeat of Hamas. He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages. I agree with him.
“We are not letting up on this effort and will not give up on anyone,” he continued.
He added that, unlike in past wars, the military would station reserve forces in territories seized during fighting. “There will be movement of the population in order to protect them,” Netanyahu said.
Day 579 — Wednesday, May 7
Sanaa International Airport, at least for the foreseeable future, is no longer able to be used after massive Israeli air strikes crippled a terminal and everything on the ground, including planes.
It came on the heels of yesterday’s major attacks by the Israeli Air Force, which struck Hudaydah Port, the main port on the Red Sea coast in Yemen.
If you’re wondering why Israel would shut down the airport and Hudaydah Port—surprise, surprise—both were being used as transit points for smuggling in Iranian-supplied weapons. The weapons being transferred included ballistic missile components, the very same weapons the Houthis used to spark the retaliatory Israeli strikes by targeting the Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday.
I have traveled the access road many times that the Houthis struck, coming in and out of Ben-Gurion airport in my travels to Israel. For the Jewish State, this was rightfully considered to be a “red line” that was crossed.
Israel responded with overwhelming force on Monday, striking the port as well as a concrete factory, which was used by the Houthis to build military infrastructure, tunnels, etc. Israel was not finished responding. Today, they not only completely crippled Yemen’s airport, they also struck two power plants.
A message has been sent clearly to the Houthis. Unfortunately, no matter how many times they have been struck over the past several months, the Houthis do not seem to get the memo.
The Houthis’ main slogan reads, “Allah is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse be upon the Jews, Victory to Islam.” This is a genocidal, suicidal death cult, and it appears that they are determined to go out in a “blaze of glory” (in their view), continually firing missiles at Israel. They are already threatening new attacks against Ben-Gurion as well as Haifa, which sits north of the airport on the Mediterranean coast. It doesn’t seem like the Houthis are going to let up—and they’re signing their own death warrant as they do this.
The United States continues to carry out major airstrikes, pounding Yemen for over 50 days straight. President Trump said today that if the Houthis were to stop attacking US shipping in the Red Sea, then they would stop attacking them. I think Israel’s philosophy has pretty much been the same regarding the Houthis. Yet, the terrorist group doesn’t seem to want to play ball.
Day 578 — Tuesday, May 6
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the military will stay stationed in whatever areas of the Gaza Strip are captured until all the goals of the war are reached, a day after the cabinet voted to intensify combat operations against the Hamas terror group.
In a video posted on his personal X account, Netanyahu said that “last night we sat late into the night in the cabinet and decided on an intensified operation in Gaza.”
“This was the recommendation of [IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir] — to move, as he put it, toward the defeat of Hamas,” he continued.
“He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages along the way. I agree with him. We are not letting up on this effort, and we will not give up on a single one. That is what we are doing,” he said.
“We won’t talk about the details because we’ve already spoken in detail about both of these matters: what we’re doing for the hostages, and what we’re doing for the defeat [of Hamas],” Netanyahu added.
“One thing will be clear — we’re not going in and out [of Gaza] just to call up reserves so they’ll come and seize territory, we withdraw from territory, and carry out raids on what remains… That’s not the intention. What’s our intention? The opposite,” he concluded.
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Monday evening that the goal of the “new and intensified phase” of the war, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, “is the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas’s rule.”
“These two goals are combined with each other,” he said, adding that the offensive “will include a wide-scale attack and the movement of the majority of the Strip’s population — this is to protect them in an area sterile of Hamas. And continued airstrikes, elimination of terrorists, and dismantling of infrastructure.”
Defrin said the IDF will implement the “Rafah model,” whereby all Hamas infrastructure is razed and the area is declared part of Israel’s buffer zone, in other parts of the Strip.
Times Of Israel
Day 578 — Tuesday, May 6
Approximately 800 new digital recordings and transcripts of Nazi criminals from after World War II were revealed Saturday, including dramatic and disturbing testimonies that shed light both on Nazi methods during the war and Holocaust and on their escape routes.
Among the recordings, published on the Hoover Institution website, is one from SS officer Bruno Streckenbach in which he admits that Adolf Hitler indeed gave explicit instructions for implementing the Final Solution and the mass murder of Jews – a significant revelation, as until now there has been limited concrete evidence of this direct order.
Streckenbach was responsible for some of the worst atrocities of the Third Reich – from managing SS death squads that slaughtered thousands across Poland in 1939 to deploying the “Einsatzgruppen,” which murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews. Prosecutors attempted to charge him with responsibility for the murder of at least one million people, but Streckenbach evaded all attempts to bring him to trial and didn’t spend a single day in a German prison after the war.
For almost 80 years, historians have debated whether the Holocaust stemmed directly from Hitler’s explicit orders or evolved through initiatives taken by German subordinates and field commanders implementing broader directives.
According to Streckenbach’s account, the first time he heard about the plan was when he received a hint from an old friend named Erwin Schulz, a volunteer officer in the “Einsatzgruppen” who until that point had supervised executions of up to a hundred people in western Ukraine, but apparently felt uncomfortable witnessing the mass murders of Jews.
Streckenbach admitted, “Schulz trembled, trembled like I’m trembling now. He said, ‘What are we doing?‘ and I said, ‘We can’t do anything, we can’t leave everything. There was an order.‘”
Streckenbach went directly to his immediate commander, Reinhard Heydrich, one of the main architects of the Holocaust. “Heydrich was very quiet, very businesslike. He sat at the edge of his large conference table and said, ‘Be quiet now, Streckenbach. Now listen to me. Shut your mouth, don’t interfere. We can’t do anything about it. This is the order from the Führer. He chose the SS to carry out this order. Neither the Reichsführer [Heinrich Himmler, SS leader] nor I can do anything about it,’“ Streckenbach recounted.
Thomas Weber, Professor of History at the University of Aberdeen, who discovered the recordings, said Streckenbach’s claim that the first order came directly from Hitler is of historical significance.
Weber emphasized that this recording directly addresses a decades-long historical debate about the development of the “Holocaust by bullets” in Soviet territories and the chain of command behind these mass killings. He noted that while historians have long suspected Nazi defendants misrepresented their personal responsibility during post-war trials, Streckenbach’s recording provides unprecedented first-person evidence confirming these deliberate misrepresentations of authority and responsibility.
Day 577 — Monday, May 5
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to retaliate against the Houthis in Yemen and to act against “their patron” Iran, hours after the rebel group struck Ben Gurion Airport with a ballistic missile.
“We, along with the entire world, are under threat from the Houthis. We will not tolerate it and will take very strong retaliatory action against them,” the premier told Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who is in Israel on an official visit, according to a readout from his office.
“We will always remember that they acted under the orders and with the support of their patron — Iran,” the premier added. “We will do what needs to be done to deliver a proper warning to Iran that we cannot tolerate such acts.”
Netanyahu on Sunday also endorsed a message by US President Donald Trump, in which the American leader vowed to hold Iran responsible for the Houthis’ actions.
“Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!” wrote the US president in a post on his Truth Social Platform.
“President Trump is absolutely right!” wrote Netanyahu on X. “Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”
In his post, Trump also asserted that “Iran has played ‘the innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control.
“They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, ‘Intelligence,’” the US president wrote.
Later Sunday, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said that Tehran will strike back if the United States or Israel attack.
“If this war is initiated by the US or the Zionist regime, Iran will target their interests, bases and forces — wherever they may be and whenever deemed necessary,” Nasirzadeh told Iranian state TV.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed they were imposing a complete “aerial blockade” on Israel by continuing to launch rockets at Ben Gurion Airport.
Times Of Israel
Day 577 — Monday, May 5
A leading archaeology journal has effectively barred submissions by Israelis on Judea and Samaria unless they “have cooperated with the relevant Palestinian authorities,” in what analysts say is a microcosm of the harm caused by a global campaign to whitewash the Jewish people’s history in the Land of Israel.
According to a report recently published by The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL), the Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ)—a peer-reviewed journal of the London-based Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF)—is refusing to accept submissions from researchers affiliated with institutions operating in what it refers to as “occupied territory,” citing concerns over alleged Israeli violations of international law.
The journal’s website states that it “does not collaborate with institutions founded by an occupying power based in any occupied territory, and will not support, encourage, fund, or publish research by any academic associated with such institutions.”
Israeli archaeologists told TPS-IL that any cooperation with Palestinian authorities or colleagues was practically impossible, because they “would be treated as traitors for this.” They also said that their work is in many instances shunned by the broader academic world and, as such, researchers are forgoing focus on the biblically significant areas of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) to protect their careers.
“What we’re seeing is a deliberate attempt to undermine Jewish historical ties to the land,” Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for Hebron, the cradle of Jewish civilization located in Judea, told Fox News Digital. “There are three strategies at play: the Palestinians either acknowledge Jews were once here but argue they no longer belong, deny any Jewish connection at all, or destroy the evidence outright.”
Fleisher noted ongoing efforts by Palestinian authorities and others to rename historical Jewish sites. “They call Hebron ‘Al-Khalil,’ and the Cave of the Patriarchs becomes the ‘Ibrahimi Mosque.’ The Temple Mount is now the ‘Al-Aqsa complex,’ and Rachel’s Tomb has been rebranded as the ‘Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque,’“ he said.
To counter this, he says Israeli advocates are working to mark and preserve ancient Jewish landmarks. “We added an Israeli flag and a menorah to a building originally constructed by King Herod 2,000 years ago—which itself stands atop a tomb dating back 3,500 years—to make it unmistakably clear it’s a Jewish site, despite the later addition of three minarets by Muslim conquerors.”
The Palestinian Authority, which gained non-member observer state status at the United Nations in 2012, has been spearheading the campaign to rewrite history in global forums that contain automatic anti-Israel majorities.
Among them is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which in 2016 registered the Cave of the Patriarchs—the resting place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah located in Hebron—in the name of the “State of Palestine” on its “List of World Heritage in Danger.”
In December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution referring to the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site—located in Jerusalem but beyond the 1967 borders—only by its Muslim name, “Haram al-Sharif.”
Naomi Kahn, director of the international division at Regavim, a think tank focused on Israeli sovereignty, said the P.A. is actively building over key archaeological sites as part of this initiative.
“In Solomon’s Pools, which is under P.A. jurisdiction in accordance with the Oslo Accords, they’re constructing condominiums directly on top of ancient Jewish infrastructure,” Kahn told Fox News Digital. “These are internationally recognized heritage sites, but the agreements are being violated.
She cited the Hasmonean fortresses near Jericho as a major example. “The burial grounds of Hasmonean kings—the largest necropolis in the Middle East from the Second Temple period—have been plowed and used for farming and construction. In one case, we found human bones scattered in the fields. The Israeli Civil Administration had to collect and rebury them.”
Day 576 — Sunday, May 4
In a first-of-its-kind incident since the beginning of the war, after several attempts to intercept an incoming Houthi missile, the IDF confirmed that the projectile stuck an area adjacent to Ben Gurion Airport.
Prior to the impact, the airport had halted air traffic in response to sirens warning the area about an incoming missile from Yemen.
“An investigation is underway regarding the impact at the Ben Gurion Airport area,” the Israel Airport Authority stated. “As per normal procedure, there is a freeze and no landings or takeoffs are taking place.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, “Three people were mildly wounded on Sunday as a result of the Houthi missile that crashed in the area of Ben-Gurion Airport’s Terminal 3, Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom said. MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment to a 50-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman who were lightly wounded due to the blast, and a 32-year-old woman who was wounded on the way to the shelter.”
Surveillance footage showed the moment of impact:
Surveillance camera footage shows the moment of the Houthi missile impact at Ben Gurion Airport.
The missile struck a grove adjacent to an access road, within the airport’s perimeter. pic.twitter.com/AUyQwKrEOy
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 4, 2025
Harbinger’s Press
Day 576 — Sunday, May 4
At approximately 9 pm, residents in Iran took to social media to report hearing a large explosion, experiencing power outages, and witnessing a powerplant engulfed in flames in the city of Karaj, near Tehran. It remains unclear what caused the explosion, with news agencies highlighting the reported explosion’s proximity to a 4.0 earthquake that occurred in the area.
“It was unclear whether [the earthquake] was triggered by the explosion or vice versa,” Jerusalem Post reported, adding that Iranian officials “claimed the power outages reported in the area were due to bad weather.”
Israel Hayom further detailed information coming out of the region, which appears to corroborate the unverified reports from social media.
“The opposition outlet ‘Iran International,’ which operates outside of Iran, reported receiving numerous accounts from residents in Alborz province, west of Tehran, who said they heard an explosion around 9 p.m., shortly before the earthquake was felt,” Israel Hayom noted. “According to these witnesses, power outages have affected large parts of the region.”
“At the same time, a large fire broke out at a cardboard factory in Nazarabad, west of Tehran province, on Friday night. Videos received by ‘Iran International’ show large flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. As of now, no casualties have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains unknown,” they wrote. “Iranian authorities have yet to issue any official statements linking the various incidents that occurred in the region overnight.”
Harbinger’s Press
Day 576 — Sunday, May 4
Two IDF soldiers, named by the military as Captain Noam Ravid (23) and Staff Sergeant Yaly Seror (23), were killed in Gaza on Saturday in a blast caused by a booby-trapped tunnel in Rafah. Two others were also wounded in the explosion, with one listed in serious condition.
According to the Times of Israel, the soldiers “were scanning the entrance to a tunnel inside a building when they were suddenly hit by an explosion.”
The fallen soldiers bring the total death toll of IDF soldiers since the beginning of the war to 853.
Harbinger’s Press
Day 575 — Saturday, May 3
A city in Texas could lose its state funding over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wrote a letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson admonishing the City Council, which voted to bring the resolution to a formal vote on May 6.
In his letter, Abbott pointed out that while the council was considering a resolution for a “permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine,” it had not done the same to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7 massacre.
“Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas. I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies,” Abbott wrote.
The governor said he was “proud” to have signed a law banning Texas government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from and sanction (BDS) Israel.
Texas law, specifically Code § 2271.002, states that government entities are prohibited from entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more without a written guarantee that the contracting entity does not boycott Israel. Under the law, “boycott Israel” is defined as “refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel…” Government entities that violate the law put their funding at risk.
Abbott wrote in his letter that his office had already begun “reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the city has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law.” Additionally, he said that if the city moves to pass the resolution, his office would not enter into future grant agreements with the city and would terminate active grants.
Day 575 — Saturday, May 3
President Donald Trump warned on his social media platform, Truth Social, that any country purchasing oil or petrochemical products from Iran would be subject to secondary sanctions.
Although this directive has not yet been formalized through an executive order or a Treasury Department sanctions notice, it signals a significant escalation in the US’s “maximum pressure” policy on Iran.
The primary buyer of Iranian oil is China, and the move could deal a serious blow to its economy and further exacerbate the trade war with the US.
Since Trump took office, Iranian oil exports have dropped. This latest move could deliver a final blow to the struggling Iranian economy, which is already buckling under the weight of existing sanctions.
Day 574 — Friday, May 2
The Houthi rebels in Yemen claim responsibility for launching a missile this morning at what they say was a military base in northern Israel.
The military spokesperson for the Houthis says they launched a ballistic missile toward the Ramat David Airbase, southeast of Haifa.
Sirens were activated in Haifa and other communities in northern Israel around 5:30 a.m., and the IDF reported that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted.
Day 574 — Friday, May 2
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced early Friday morning that Israel had struck a target close to the presidential palace in Damascus.
“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not permit Syrian troops to move south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,” they said in a joint statement.
Later, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed, “A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus.”
The strike came hours after members of the Druze community in Israel, furious over the attacks on their brethren in Syria by the regime of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, launched a wave of intense protests across northern Israel.
Druze reservists sent a letter to Netanyahu titled: “Immediate IDF intervention to stop the massacre against the Druze community in Syria.”
“Hundreds of Druze fighters are ready to immediately volunteer and fight alongside our brothers to save them, even at the cost of taking responsibility for ourselves, including all the risks involved to our safety and lives,” the reservists wrote to the Prime Minister.
Earlier, Katz issued a warning to the Syrian regime and said, “I reiterate my warning to the head of the Syrian regime, Julani – if the attacks on the Druze in Syria do not stop, we will respond with great severity.” Katz emphasized that Israel is “committed to their protection and is closely monitoring the situation.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also addressed the issue during a reception for diplomatic staff at the President’s Residence, calling on the international community to actively intervene in the situation in Syria.
“Fulfill your role in protecting the minorities in Syria, and specifically the Druze, from the regime and its terrorist gangs,” Sa’ar urged.
Day 574 — Friday, May 2
Wildfires that began on Wednesday morning and that have burned more than 5,000 acres in Israel have “miraculously” left homes untouched, according to Israeli firefighting authorities.
As Breitbart News reported on Wednesday, several brush fires broke out in central Israel, near Jerusalem, on Wednesday morning. High winds and dry conditions caused the blazes to spread, prompting evacuations.
As of Thursday afternoon, the fire had burned more than 5,000 acres, making it one of the largest wildfires in Israeli history. Israeli authorities noted that despite the extent of the blaze, and the large number of separate fires, there had been no damage to structures.
Several people have been arrested for arson subsequent to the start of the blazes, though the cause of the initial fires is unclear.
Day 573 — Thursday, May 1
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday warned Iran that it would pay the consequences for its continued support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X.
“You know very well what the US Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing,” he added.
The US Army launched a military campaign against the Houthi rebels in mid-March.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that the United States has conducted over a thousand airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the start of the campaign.
According to a statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, “USCENTCOM strikes have hit over 1,000 targets, killing Houthi fighters and leaders… and degrading their capabilities.”
It has long been believed that Iran is planning to use the Houthis to take over Yemen and seize the key strategic port of Aden, which controls the entrance to the Red Sea and ultimately to the Israeli resort city of Eilat.
Iran has denied accusations that it provided the Houthi rebels with ballistic capabilities, even after the US Navy seized an Iranian weapons shipment bound for Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Arutz Sheva
Day 573 — Thursday, May 1
A week after fires spread in the Jerusalem hills, a massive fire broke out Wednesday morning in several areas west of Jerusalem, including Beit Shemesh, Latrun, Neve Shalom, Beko’a, Ta’oz, and Nachshon.
Initially, the Israel Fire and Rescue Service reported fires in at least five areas in the area west of Jerusalem, while the Israel Nature and Parks Authority said it was evacuating hikers from parks in the area of the fires.
As the fires continued to spread due to high winds, Route 1, the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, was closed, with police calling on people to avoid driving on the road to allow fire and rescue services to quickly reach the affected areas, and to allow residents in the areas to flee, if necessary.
As the fires spread rapidly, many motorists abandoned their vehicles on the jammed road, fleeing on foot to escape the encroaching fires.
Later in the day, Defense Minister Israel Katz called on the military to help fight the fires raging in the Jerusalem hills area, saying, “We are in a national emergency and we have to concentrate all available forces to save lives and take control of the flames.”
Fires were later reported in several other areas of the county, including Lachish in the south and Afula in the Galilee area.
The government also announced, following a special situational assessment, that all Independence Day activities which would require fire or rescue services would be canceled as the nation battles the outbreak of fires in multiple locations across the country.
Additionally, the Jerusalem Municipality announced the decision to cancel all Independence Day events in the capital city. Tel Aviv also canceled its planned events for the evening, due to the fires.
Later, other municipalities, such as Ashkelon, Modiin, Beersheba, Mevasseret Zion, Lod, Ariel, and Ma’aleh Adumim, also canceled their planned Wednesday evening Independence Day activities.
While the Israeli Air Force did not initially engage in any firefighting efforts, saying it had not been asked to do so, later in the day, as the fire raged even larger, and other fires were reported, it deployed C-130J Super Hercules heavy transport planes to help in the firefighting efforts in the Jerusalem area.
The Air Force also deployed several helicopters to aid in rescue efforts and spotting planes to help monitor fires.
The Israeli government also reached out to other nations in the Mediterranean area, asking for assistance.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with his counterparts in several countries asking for assistance with the fires.
According to his office, Sa’ar spoke with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Argentina, Spain, North Macedonia, and Azerbaijan.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement on Wednesday evening saying, “Pursuant to a directive from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the National Security Council has held a situation assessment to advance the international assistance.”
“Led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it has been agreed that three Canadair firefighting aircraft from Italy and Macedonia will come to Israel as soon as possible,” the statement continued.
Fire and Rescue Service’s Jerusalem District commander Shmulik Friedman said the blazes could be the largest fires in Israel’s history.
“We are amidst a very large wildfire, maybe the largest there has ever been in this country,” Friedman said at a press conference in Eshtaol on Wednesday evening. He also said that fire-fighting activities “will continue for a very long time. We are far from having control.”
Amid reports of possible arson, Friedman said the Fire and Rescue Services “have absolutely no clue.”
“”We do not currently know what caused the fire, we have absolutely no clue, and we are not yet dealing with this.”
Friedman also warned that winds, which are expected to intensify over the evening, could cause the fires to spread even more.
While Israel Police announced the arrest of several suspects who were detained with fire-starting paraphernalia, the government has not formally announced whether the fires are the result of possible nationalist arson or negligence.
One of the suspects arrested was a 50-year-old resident of East Jerusalem’s Umm Tuba neighborhood, who was suspected of helping light fires after the police received reports of a person trying to light fires in the southern Jerusalem area.
The Shin Bet announced that it is investigating the fires for possible nationalistic arson, after receiving reports that several of the blazes were manmade.
Day 572 — Wednesday, April 30
The UK joined the US in airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Tuesday night, according to a statement by the military.
The Royal Air Force action was in response to the Houthis “threatening freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, striking international ships, and killing innocent merchant mariners,” the statement said.
The attack targeted buildings used to produce drones that have targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The statement added that steps had been taken to reduce the risk of civilian casualties, including careful planning and launching the strikes after nightfall, “when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further.”
Day 572 — Wednesday, April 30
The United States Justice Department accused the Wikimedia Foundation of being influenced by “foreign actors” seeking “to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public.”
The Wikimedia Foundation, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, is a nonprofit organization that supports the widely used online encyclopedia Wikipedia and other Wiki-affiliated projects.
However, the Trump administration has warned that the organization’s nonprofit status could be at risk due to its alleged conduct.
Last week, Ed Martin, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, accused Wikimedia in an official letter of “subverting the interests of American taxpayers.” Martin warned that this “masked propaganda” is incompatible with Wikimedia’s official education mission profile.
The senior attorney assessed that the organization’s current board is “composed primarily of foreign nationals,” which he believes threatens the interests of American taxpayers. Martin further argued that Wikimedia is involved in “a series of activities” that potentially violate U.S. nonprofit legislation. Conservative pundits have accused Wikimedia of embracing liberal and left-wing bias.
In a June 2024 report, the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute reported it had identified “suggestive evidence” of “slight to moderate” left-leaning bias in Wikimedia’s content.
The Trump administration has previously cut funding to various universities, including Harvard and Columbia, in an effort to combat antisemitism and anti-American radical left-wing agendas on campus.
Wikimedia responded on Friday by claiming that its Wikipedia platform’s over 65 million articles are designed “to inform, not persuade.”
“Our vision is a world where every person can freely share in the sum of all knowledge,” Wikimedia claimed in its official statement.
However, critics dispute Wikimedia’s official claim of neutrality.
Last month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish-American watchdog that combats antisemitism, accused some 30 Wikipedia editors of cooperating to promote anti-Israel online content. The ADL report argued that anti-Israel Wikipedia editors “coordinate to change pages related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, downplaying Palestinian antisemitism, violence, and calls to destroy Israel while promoting criticism of Israel.”
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt claimed that Wikipedia’s biased content undermines the online platform’s credibility.
“Most readers assume Wikipedia is a reliable online encyclopedia, but in reality, it has become a biased platform manipulated by agenda-driven editors on many topics,” Greenblatt stated.
Wikipedia’s Arabic language content, in particular, has escalated its propaganda against the Jewish state since the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre in 2023.
The Arabic language Wikipedia has falsely accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza as the Jewish state defends itself against Hamas terrorists who do not believe in Israel’s right to exist.
Furthermore, Arabic Wikipedia has denied the many well-documented cases of Hamas terrorists raping Israeli women, claiming that it is an “Israeli propaganda lie.”
“Each phrase… ‘genocide in Gaza,’ ‘killing civilians,’ ‘targeting hospitals and schools,’ and ‘mislead and double standards,’ leads to its own Arabic-language article,” the American magazine National Review pointed out in March 2024.
“There is not even a pretense of objectivity there. It is pure incitement against Israel aimed at the Arabic-speaking audience,” the Jewish blogger Elder of Ziyon stated regarding Arab Wikipedia’s banner.
Day 571 — Tuesday, April 29
The notion that a Palestinian state will produce peace is “folly, nothing more than folly,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on Sunday evening.
“I’m saying this for the ambassadors who are here—all of you know this,” he said. “We just tried a Palestinian state in Gaza,” he continued. “You saw what that brought, right?”
The Jewish state had been “attacked savagely, horribly” on Oct. 7, 2023, said Netanyahu. When German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, who visited Israel early in the war, “saw the film of the horrors and visited the sites, he said there: they’re exactly like the Nazis,” the Israeli premier recalled.
“And I said, well, they’re different. Not in intent, not in savagery—but the Nazis tried to hide their crimes. And these people carry GoPro cameras, live, you know, they’re ecstatic about the blood they shed, the people they butcher, the women they rape, the men they beheaded, the babies they burned,” he continued.
“You cannot build peace and security on lies. If you do so, sooner or later, these lies will crash on the realities of the Middle East,” he said.
The premier spoke for some 30 minutes about the ongoing seven-front war, which he said was “really a one-front war with Iran and its proxies.”
With regard to the Gaza Strip, he said, “There’s still more to be done.” Israel must finish the war in Gaza, “get our hostages back and destroy Hamas. Hamas will not be there and we’re not going to put the P.A. there,” he said, referring to the Palestinian Authority.
“Why replace one regime that is sworn to our destruction with another regime that is sworn to our destruction?” asked the longtime leader.
Israel will “in any case” control Gaza militarily, according to Netanyahu.
“So what’s left? Well, quite a few things and many opportunities, but obviously they’ll all go down the tube if Iran gets nuclear weapons,” he added, vowing to work with Washington to ensure that Tehran will not be able to enrich uranium under a possible deal.
Turning to Lebanon, Netanyahu said that the Sept. 27 Israel Defense Forces operation that killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah terrorist army, “really broke” the axis of evil headed by Tehran.
“It was a terrific blow. Some people are irreplaceable. And so far, he’s been irreplaceable,” he said. “And so having delivered that blow to Hezbollah, we also delivered a blow to [former Syrian dictator Bashar] Assad, because Assad was relying heavily on Nasrallah,” he continued.
With regard to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who on Sunday launched yet another ballistic missile attack on Israel, Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for U.S. efforts to combat the threat.
“We appreciate the fact that the United States is taking action against the Houthis,” he said. “We appreciate the help that we’re getting from the United States. Arms are flowing in. It’s important we share the same goals, but we have to make sure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons.”
Israel needs support rather than U.S. boots on the ground, he emphasized. “That support means that the U.N. Security Council does not make binding resolutions against Israel. It means that Israel is not sanctioned, is not choked by the international community—and that support is being threatened by the systemic public opinion campaign,” he continued.
“And if there’s one thing that has to be done it is to fight back,” the prime minister concluded. “So I ask you to continue to fight for the truth.”
Day 571 — Tuesday, April 29
BBC Contributor Called for Jews to Be Burned ‘Like Hitler Did,’ Praised Hamas as ‘Resistance Fighters’
A supposed journalist often featured on the BBC’s Arabic channel reportedly praised Hamas terrorists and called for Jewish people to be burned “like Hitler did”.
Samer Elzaenen, 33, a regular contributor who reports from the Gaza Strip for BBC Arabic, has been found to have a long history of anti-semitic posts online, according to The Telegraph.
In a post from 2011, Elzaenen reportedly wrote on Facebook: “My message to the Zionist Jews: We are going to take our land back, we love death for Allah’s sake, the same way you love life. We shall burn you as Hitler did, but this time we won’t have a single one of you left.”
More recently, in 2022, he is said to have written: “When things go awry for us, shoot the Jews, it fixes everything.”
The broadsheet said that across his various social media platforms, the BBC contributor praised over 30 terror attacks on Israeli civilians, and branded the terrorists as “heroes” and “martyrs” who would ascend to “heaven”, while revelling in the deaths of innocent Jews.
Following the October 7th terror attacks, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds more taken as hostages, Elzaenen allegedly praised Hamas Islamists, including those who attacked young people at the Nova music festival, as “resistance fighters”.
BBC Arabic has frequently faced accusations of propping up anti-semitic voices, including when another contributor branded the October 7th attacks as an example of “taking an initiative” and hailed footage of Israeli hostages as a “proud scene”.
However, anti-semitism scandals at the British public broadcaster have not only come from BBC Arabic. Last year, a top staffer at BBC3 was sacked after she reportedly wrote on social media that Isrealis were a “subcontinental Caucasian invader coloniser species with zero indigenous/blood” and that Jewish people were “Nazi apartheid parasites”.
Last month, the BBC faced calls for an anti-terror investigation after it emerged that it had paid a family member of a high-ranking Hamas official to appear in its documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.
Day 570 — Monday, April 28
Iranian MP Accuses Israel Of Involvement In Port Blast, As Fires Continue To Smolder
The death toll from the powerful explosion that rocked Iran’s biggest port of Bandar Abbas has risen to at least 40, with over 1,000 injured, state media reported on Sunday.
Though authorities are still working to determine the cause of the blast, an Iranian parliament member claimed that Israel was responsible, saying that explosive devices were planted in the shipping containers that caused it.
“Israel was involved in the explosion,” MP Mohammad Siraj told the Rokna news agency on Sunday. “It was not accidental. Clear evidence points to Israeli involvement.”
“There were explosives planted in the container, either in their country of origin or along the transportation route,” Siraj claimed. “We do not rule out the involvement of internal factors in planting the explosives in the containers. The explosion occurred at four different locations.”
Siraj did nor provide evidence to back up his claim. An Israeli official was quoted by Hebrew media Saturday as saying Israel had no part in the blast at the port. Israel’s leadership has not commented on the blast.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian visited injured and circled the site in his airplane on Sunday.
Fire crews had still not fully extinguished the fire, which continued to smolder as of Sunday afternoon, and rescue teams were still working to retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
Authorities described the fire as being under control, saying emergency workers hoped that it would be fully extinguished later in the day. Overnight, helicopters and heavy cargo aircraft flew repeated sorties over the burning port, dumping seawater on the site.
The port’s customs office said in a statement carried by state television on Saturday that the explosion probably resulted from a fire that broke out at the hazardous and chemical materials storage depot. A regional emergency official said several containers had exploded.
The New York Times quoted an individual with ties to Iran’s IRGC, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, who said that sodium perchlorate had exploded. The compound is a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.
The port had taken in a shipment of the chemical in March, the private security firm Ambrey said a day earlier. The fuel was part of a shipment from China by two vessels to Iran, first reported in January by the Financial Times.
Social media footage of the explosion on Saturday at Shahid Rajaei saw reddish-hued smoke rising from the fire just before the detonation. That suggested a chemical compound being involved in the blast, as in the Beirut explosion.
Israel has targeted missile sites where Iran uses industrial mixers to create solid fuel, including during its response to a massive Iranian missile barrage launched at Israel last October.
Day 570 — Monday, April 28
Israeli Forces Arrest 75, Foil Terror Plots In Judea And Samaria
Israeli security forces arrested approximately 75 wanted suspects and confiscated more than 40 weapons in a series of operations across Judea and Samaria over the past week, according to a joint statement released Sunday by the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police.
In the village of A-Ram, located in the Binyamin Division north of Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished the home of a terrorist who had carried out previous attacks. Additionally, the IDF and Shin Bet arrested the leader of a terror cell operating in the Balata refugee camp in the Samaria Division.
A separate arrest in the Ephraim Division prevented an imminent terrorist attack planned for the city of Qalqilya.
In Hebron, security forces uncovered a weapons cache concealed inside a women’s clothing store. The cache included firearms intended for use in future terrorist attacks, according to security officials.
“Security forces will continue their intensive operations throughout Judea and Samaria to proactively thwart terrorism and ensure the safety of Israeli citizens,” the statement added.
Day 569 — Sunday, April 27
ICC Appeals Court Orders Re-Examination Of Criminal Court's Jurisdiction For Arrest Warrants Against Israeli Officials
In a rare victory for Israel in the international arena, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Appeals Chamber unanimously ordered a lower chamber to re-examine Israel’s arguments disputing the court’s jurisdiction over the country.
Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant “for crimes against humanity and war crimes” allegedly committed during the Gaza War.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the ICC’s decision saying, “We said it from the start: The International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC) doesn’t have, and never had jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and its former Minister of Defense.”
“Israel is not a member of the ICC and is not party to the ‘Rome Statute‘. The ICC Appeals Court instructed the Court today to do what it should have done from the start: to make a determination with respect to jurisdiction. On this topic, there is only one correct answer: the Court has no jurisdiction over Israel. The warrants were issued unlawfully. They are null and void,” Sa’ar stated.
The five judges didn’t rule over the jurisdiction itself but criticized the Pre-Trial Chamber for not properly considering Israel’s arguments in the case and ordered the reassessment.
While welcoming the decision to reconsider Israel’s arguments, a senior aide to the prime minister criticized the ICC for not suspending the arrest warrants, stating, “Israel expects the [ICC] to cancel the warrants immediately.”
The aide told The Times of Israel that the ICC’s decision “highlights the injustice done to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the former defense minister, when the Court issued absurd warrants without having the authority to do so.”
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said the decision to reconsider Israel’s case “exposes the lack of legitimacy behind the political arrest warrants.”
“When international institutions punish democracies and ignore terrorism, they harm not only Israel but the very values on which the free world is built,“ Danon added.
Day 568 — Saturday, April 26
Trump Says He'll Be 'Leading The Pack' To War With Iran If Deal Prospects Whither Away
President Donald Trump may prefer a diplomatic solution to stop Iran’s creep toward a nuclear weapon, but claimed he’ll be “leading the pack” to war with the regime if talks falter.
“I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” he told Time Magazine in an interview published Friday, while claiming that President Joe Biden had allowed Iran to “become rich.”
Asked whether he was worried Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might drag him into a war with Iran, Trump said no. “By the way, he may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in.”
“You asked if he’d drag me in, like I’d go in unwillingly. No, I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack,” the president explained.
Trump was asked about reports that he’d stopped Netanyahu from striking Iran after an Oval Office meeting earlier this month.
“That’s not right,” he said.
“I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack, because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped.”
A team of U.S. officials will meet with Iranian counterparts in Oman on Saturday to continue negotiations aimed at stopping Tehran’s nuclear advancement.
Trump has said that his red line is Iran having a nuclear weapon. Enriching uranium well beyond civilian-use levels to 60%, Iran is just shy of the 90% levels needed for a weapon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week Iran could use a specified amount of low-level enriched uranium for civil nuclear programs, but it would have to be imported.
During a phone call on Tuesday, Netanyahu told Trump he “does not rule out” a diplomatic approach to Iran, but only one that would “leave no trace” of Iran’s nuclear program, according to Israeli media.
Day 567 — Friday, April 25
In a reversal of a previous opinion, the US Department of Justice says that the contentious US agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is not entitled to immunity from lawsuits in the US, according to a court document circulated online by lawyers, and subsequently, pro-Israel activists.
The Justice Department’s opinion was submitted as part of an ongoing lawsuit in which the families of more than 100 victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror assault are claiming $1 billion in damages from UNRWA, asserting that the UN agency aided and abetted the terror group’s attack.
The lawsuit was filed last June in the Southern District of New York.
In September, the US Department of Justice, then under the administration of former president Joe Biden, asserted that the UN had not waived its immunity in US courts, and as such UNRWA was exempt from prosecution and the lawsuit could not proceed.
Now, in the latest court filing, the DoJ acknowledges that “previously, the Government expressed the view that certain immunities shielded UNRWA from having to answer” to allegations regarding its role in the “heinous offenses” of October 7, but says it has “since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation.”
Presenting its position, the DoJ states that while the UN in and of itself enjoys immunity in US courts, its “subsidiary organs,” such as UNRWA, do not.
“The UN Charter provides that the UN ‘shall enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such privileges and immunities as necessary for the fulfillment of its purposes,’” the document states. “But the Charter does not specify whether ‘The Organization’ that ‘shall enjoy’ immunity includes the system’s principal bodies, its subsidiary bodies, its specialized agencies, or all three.”
As such, it says the Charter “does not create any binding obligations under federal law.”
Furthermore, the document argues that UNRWA cannot even be considered a “subsidiary organ” of the UN, as it was not designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act.
“It is the present view of the United States that UNRWA is not” part of the United Nations, and “instead, it is a mere ‘affiliate or instrumentality’ of the UN, analogous to the specialized agencies referenced in the UN Charter.”
“As a result, UNRWA is not subject to the General Convention, and is not immune from suit and that treaty or current US law,” the court filing states.
Day 567 — Friday, April 25
At the close of the 37th annual March of the Living on Thursday, survivors of the Holocaust and the Oct. 7. 2023 massacre – along with their loved ones and thousands of others – gathered to honor the six million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime and to reflect on the enduring trauma faced by the Jewish people.
Survivors of Hamas captivity and relatives of hostages were joined by delegations from 40 countries, as they marched from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) to mark the 80th anniversary since the liberation of the Nazi death camps.
The march, led by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda, and included 80 Holocaust survivors, among them 98-year-old Bella Eisenmann, the older participant.
Eli Sharabi, who was released from Hamas captivity earlier this year – after his wife, daughters, and one brother were murdered in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack – stood beside his brother Sharon and spoke with a trembling voice.
“The Holocaust was unlike anything else – we will never forget and never forgive,” he said. “Our presence here is the triumph of the Jewish spirit. The Jewish people will live forever.”
“The Jewish people sanctify life, not death. The unwritten contract between the state and its citizens must not be broken – all the hostages must come home,” he continued. “I lost my wife and daughters on October 7. I endured horrors in enemy captivity, but I chose life. That gives me hope to get up each morning and begin rebuilding.”
Sharabi’s other brother, Yossi, was killed during Hamas captivity and his body remains in Gaza.
Referring to the group of people standing at the memorial together, Sharon Sharabi declared, “This human wall is stronger than any wall that stood in the ghetto. It’s not only physical – it carries all the necessary strength, the Jewish spirit. This wall cannot be broken. As a people, we will hold accountable those responsible for the blood spilled on October 7 and in the Holocaust our grandparents endured. We will not give up. We will not raise our hands in surrender. As one nation, we will stand tall.”
The grandfather of hostage Bar Kupershtein, cried out near the entrance to the crematorium at Auschwitz, “In this cursed place, the embodiment of evil, I cry out – bring back my grandson! Bring back all 59 hostages!”
Bar’s grandmother, Faina, added, “The entire Jewish people are with us. I thank everyone, but I need my grandson back. We can’t wait any longer.”
The mother of former hostage Omer Shem Tov, Shelly, spoke through tears, “My Omer came back, but we must bring all 59 hostages home. There’s no more time. This is my first time on the soil of Auschwitz – and perhaps the most fitting moment to raise this cry to the heavens and the world.”
Former hostage Keith Siegel sent a message to fellow hostage Omri Miran, who appeared in a Hamas video the day before.
“I’m here in Poland at the March of the Living – the place meant to represent ‘Never Again’ – and yet 59 hostages remain in Gaza’s tunnels,” said Siegel. “I saw the footage of Omri Miran calling to be rescued. I was held with him for months. I met a strong, unbreakable person. Omri – don’t break. I know how terrible the conditions are, the pain, the loneliness.”
“We must bring Omri back now. We must bring all 59 hostages back now. That is our duty – as Jews, as Israelis. This is why we established a state. Omri, if you’re seeing me now, know that Lishay, Danny, the whole family, all your friends and this amazing nation – people fighting every day – won’t give up on you or the others. Stay strong. I love you.”
Day 566 — Thursday, April 24
Israel came to a standstill on Thursday morning as a two-minute siren sounded nationwide at 10 a.m., marking Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah).
Pedestrians stood still, drivers exited vehicles and public transportation halted in a powerful display of collective memory for the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.
Established in 1951, Yom HaShoah is observed annually on the 27th of Nissan. The siren tradition began in the 1960s and has become one of Israel’s most solemn national rituals, uniting the country in remembrance and reflection.
Day 566 — Thursday, April 24
Wildfires have been burning since Wednesday morning in several locations in the coastal plain and the Beit Shemesh area.
The blaze in the Beit Shemesh area burned at three main points in the Tzoraa and Eshta’ol forests, and due to wind, spread toward the villages of Tarum, Taoz, Mesilat Zion, and Khan Sha’ar Hagai.
Residents of Beit Meir, Mesilat Zion, and Eshtaol were evacuated from their homes due to the fire, but were permitted to return to their homes shortly before 11:00 p.m on Wednesday evening.
110 firefighting crews, together with eight firefighting planes, a firefighting helicopter, the Lehava Unit, JNF-KKL crews, and additional bodies have been deployed.
A Border Police officer was moderately injured from smoke inhalation in Moshav Tarum, near Beit Shemesh. She was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment. Three firefighters were also injured during the firefighting efforts.
Fire Commissioner Eyal Caspi has issued a general enlistment order for all firefighters. In addition, police have ordered the evacuation of Eshta’ol, Misilat Tzion, Beit Meir, and Khan Sha’ar Haguy.
“The fire is spreading quickly and the firefighters are working to stop it and to prevent it from spreading to populated areas,” a statement read.
At the same time, a large fire broke out near Moshav Petahia in central Israel, leading to the abandonment of vehicles on Highway 6 after drivers fled for their lives. The highway is closed to traffic from the Nesharim Interchange to the Sorek Interchange in both directions. Sixteen firefighting teams, two firefighting planes, and a helicopter are working to stop the spread of the fire.
“The firefighters are working in parallel from the ground and air,” the Fire and Rescue Service stressed. “The fire is spreading in the direction of the wind, and effort is being focused on limiting the spread.”
Day 565 — Wednesday, April 23
On Thursday, April 24th, the State of Israel and Jews around the world mark Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. At the very same time, to paraphrase U.S. U.N. Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the United Nations has unleashed a great evil upon the world: Holocaust revisionism.
To begin with, there is a concerted campaign to sever any connection between the Holocaust and Israel.
Yom HaShoah was created by the State of Israel in April 1955. But on April 21, 2025, the United Nations commemorated Yom HaShoah by holding an event at United Nations headquarters in New York City without any input or invitation to participate by anyone from Israel. Organized and hosted by the U.N. Department of Global Communications, Israel was never mentioned.
Moreover, now hanging on the wall of U.N. Headquarters outside the Security Council chamber is a “Holocaust” exhibit that has wiped any reference to Israel, even in sections on “after the Holocaust,” “the Aftermath,” and “remembrance.”
The Holocaust was the fate of the Jews in the absence of Israel. The majority of survivors returned to their ancient homeland. As the embodiment of Jewish self-determination, Israel is the ultimate hope and commitment to “never again.”
The U.N.’s omission of Israel is not an oversight. It is part of a much broader, and insidious, agenda.
The U.N. has strategically placed its Holocaust exhibit in consecutive sequence to an exhibit entitled “The United Nations and the Question of Palestine.” Onlookers are encouraged to make the obscene analogy of the experience of the Jews in the Holocaust to the experience of Palestinian Arabs. The message is that the creation of the Jewish state was a great wrong (“violated the provisions of the U.N. Charter”), and was foisted upon peaceful Arabs without agency.
The current U.N. Holocaust exhibit has also eliminated key features of the original display from 2008. It no longer includes the infamous photograph of naked skeletal Jewish men crammed into wooden barracks in the Buchenwald concentration camp – one of whom was Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel.
Also gone is the notorious photograph of a terrified little boy with his hands up in the air, as a Nazi points a rifle at him for the crime of being Jewish.
They have been replaced by slide shows that include dozens of happy faces doing ordinary things before, during and after the war. No crematoria, open pits of the dead, humans cataloged by numbered tattoos, or emaciated Jews in striped uniforms behind barbed wire.
Even the title of the current exhibit now reads, generically: “A warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.” In the same vein in 2024, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres opened the U.N.’s “International Day” to commemorate the Holocaust by talking about “antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry around the world.”
Perhaps most important, is the U.N. exhibit’s audacious redefinition of the word “Holocaust.” The move marks the culmination of a long public campaign at the U.N. to deny Jews recognition even in death, and to impede our understanding of the Holocaust and antisemitism then and now.
A Roma speaker invited to address the General Assembly in 2020 on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, put it this way: “It is time now, 75 years since the ending of the Second World War…that the very definition of the Holocaust is corrected.”
“Corrected” for the one million visitors – including tens of thousands of American students – who visit U.N. headquarters every year.
Thus, according to the U.N. permanent exhibit: “the Holocaust was the state-sponsored, ideologically-driven persecution and murder of six million Jews across Europe and half a million Romas and Sinti by Nazi Germany (1933-1945) and other racist states. Nazi ideology built upon preexisting antisemitism and antigypsyism.”
By contrast, according to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center located in Jerusalem, Israel, “the Holocaust was unprecedented genocide, total and systematic, perpetrated by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, with the aim of annihilating the Jewish people.”
Beyond U.N. exhibits are decades of U.N. authority figures who have equated Israelis to Nazis, likened Hamas to Second World War resistance fighters, and boasted talk of a “Palestinian Holocaust” on their resumé. Twenty years ago, U.N. sources alleged “Gaza is a huge concentration camp.” After October 7, 2023, U.N. officials claimed Israel was conducting “a new holocaust,” “extermination fields,” and “death marches.”
As the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) rightly points out: “comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is not only a lie, but also antisemitism. Indeed, the very same U.N. actors defend or deny Palestinian terrorism.
We are witnessing a calculated effort by the United Nations to thwart the essential conditions of “never again,” namely: comprehending the depravity of Nazi treatment of the Jews, the unique evil of Jew hatred, and the devastation that antisemitism wreaks on human civilization.
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is painfully clear that the institution built on the ashes of the Jewish people deserves to be relegated to the ash heap of history.
Day 565 — Wednesday, April 23
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a “very good” phone call on Tuesday evening, according to officials from both sides.
The talk came against the background of several potentially challenging issues for the close relations between the government, including the Iran nuclear talks, the stalled Gaza hostage deal negotiations, and U.S. tariffs on Israel.
“I‘ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue,” Trump stated after the call.
On the Israeli side, Netanyahu only replied by writing on X: “Thank you, President Trump!” There was no official Israeli statement about details of the call.
U.S. news outlets reported that Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington to discuss the continuation of the hostage deal negotiations.
The U.S. has been pushing for a new deal, but Hamas rejected the latest offer last week and is now insisting on a broad, years-long agreement that would end the war without completely disarming the group, which has been a non-starter for Israel.
Over the past days, Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with Republican Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio, who visited Israel. Netanyahu “expressed his appreciation for the deep ties between Israel and the United States,” according to his office, which added that “ways for strengthening them were discussed.”
Sa’ar stated he and Moreno spoke “about the assault by so-called ‘international legal institutions’ on the right to self-defense of the most attacked country in the world—Israel.”
“I thanked him for President Trump’s executive order against the International Criminal Court and for the senator’s support for legislation on the issue,” he added.
Day 564 — Tuesday, April 22
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee pushed back on a call from the World Health Organization to pressure Israel on Gaza aid, calling instead for international focus on Hamas to “sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it.”
In a Monday post on X, Huckabee shared a video message responding to a request from Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, who had urged him to press Israel to increase humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
“How about we put the pressure where it really belongs — on Hamas,” Huckabee wrote in the post.
“This past weekend, Dr. Hanan Balkhy… called upon me to put more pressure on Israel to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” he states in the video. “I appreciate the message… and today what I would like to suggest is that we work together on putting the pressure where it really belongs, on Hamas.”
Huckabee called for the terror group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, to sign an agreement that would allow safe and unrestricted delivery of aid, while also demanding the release of Israeli hostages abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attacks.
“When that happens… we hope that humanitarian aid will flow, and flow freely, knowing that it will be done without Hamas being able to confiscate and abuse their own people,” he said.
The ambassador’s statement comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel to allow greater aid access into Gaza. Israeli officials maintain that Hamas routinely diverts or seizes humanitarian shipments for its own use, a concern echoed by U.S. lawmakers and aid groups on the ground.
A recent Wall Street Journal investigation confirmed that Hamas stole humanitarian aid intended for civilians in Gaza and resold it to fund its war efforts — undermining international law claims and exposing the terror group’s exploitation of relief efforts.
“It was outrageous that the Biden Administration forced deliveries of aid to Hamas in the first place,” responded Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.
Last month, Eli Sharabi, a recently released Israeli hostage and survivor of Hamas captivity, delivered powerful testimony before the UN Security Council exposing Hamas’s theft of foreign aid and abuse of civilians.
Huckabee’s remarks reinforce the view that humanitarian suffering in Gaza is inseparable from Hamas’s continued control, and that pressuring Israel without demanding accountability from Hamas risks further emboldening the terror group.
Day 564 — Tuesday, April 22
U.S. military strikes in Yemen in recent weeks have killed at least 500 Houthi fighters, including senior commanders, a Saudi newspaper reported on Tuesday, based on interviews with U.S. officials and Yemen’s information minister.
Speaking to Al Arabiya, Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed that American strikes had “targeted significant elements of Houthi military infrastructure, including command and control centers, training camps, weapons depots, and communication facilities.” He described the results as “a clear indicator of the campaign’s effectiveness,” noting that among the dead were high-ranking leaders responsible for maritime attacks and arms smuggling.
“This is not just Yemen’s war. It is a battle for the international order, for freedom of navigation, and to protect the region from the expansion of the Iranian regime and its terrorist militias,” said al-Eryani, stressing the broader regional implications of the ongoing conflict.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government has verified the deaths of senior Houthi figures in what it described as a strategic shift in dealing with the militia. Al-Eryani praised the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict, characterizing the airstrikes as “precise” and “justified” in the face of continued Houthi aggression.
U.S. President Donald Trump launched the operation against the Houthi militia, a proxy of Iran, as a response to Houthi attacks on international shipping and Israel. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently confirmed the destruction of a fuel facility in western Yemen, part of an effort to cut off the group’s funding and logistics.
Day 563 — Monday, April 21
Israel announced the cancellation of entry visas for 27 parliament members and left-wing activists from France, just two days before their scheduled visit to Israel and territories of the Palestinian Authority, according to a French news agency.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that “it was decided to deny their entry under Section 40 of the Entry Law (Activities against the State), after the reason for their visit became clear.” Israeli officials added that the delegation’s entry was initially approved, but once it became apparent that they intended to cause provocation in Judea and Samaria, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel ordered the cancellation of the approval.
In recent days, diplomatic tensions have heightened between France and Israel, after President Emmanuel Macron declared that his country is likely to recognize a Palestinian state in the near future. He also criticized the fighting against Hamas.
A few days ago, Israel also denied entry to two British Labour Party parliament members for a similar reason.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the action as “unacceptable.” Last February, Israel prevented the entry of two left-wing representatives from the European Parliament, Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan, an Irish Sinn Féin politician.
Day 563 — Monday, April 21
Antisemitism in Canada has exploded in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, reaching record numbers last year and becoming a central issue for the country’s Jewish community ahead of an April 28 federal election.
Last week, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, the main challenger to Prime Minister Mark Carney accused pro-Hamas protesters of staging “hate marches” and vowing to deport antisemitic foreigners from Canada.
“The rampaging chaos that we see in our streets, the targeting of synagogues and Jewish schools with hate, vandalism, violence, fire bombings … these things were unheard of 10 years ago,” Poilievre said.
He also had a warning for foreign agitators. “Anyone who is here on a visitor visa who carries out lawbreaking will be deported from this country,” Poilievre said.
“To Canada’s Jewish community,” Poilievre added, “you are not alone, you have friends. Canadians stand with you. You have the right to wear your Star of David, your kippah, and have your mezuzah on your door. You should feel proud to be Jewish and should never have to hide your Jewishness in order to stay safe.”
Carney has also used social media to condemn antisemitism. Yet despite his words against antisemitism, Carney recently faced criticism following a campaign rally in Calgary, where someone yelled at the Liberal Party leader, “There’s a genocide happening in Palestine.”
“I’m aware,” Carney replied. “That’s why we have an arms embargo [on Israel].”
The next day, Carney, who in March replaced longtime Premier Justin Trudeau, claimed he had not heard the anti-Israel demonstrator correctly.
His backtracking did not stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from entering the fray. He posted on X that “Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney.
“But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state,” Netanyahu posted.
According to an annual audit released this month by B’nai Brith Canada, the total number of reported cases of Jew hatred in the country hit 6,219 in 2024, a 7.4% increase over 2023 and the highest number since the survey’s inception in 1982.
Antisemitic incidents in Canada have skyrocketed by 124.6% since 2022.
Day 562 — Sunday, April 20
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a special statement on Saturday evening, forcefully addressing mounting criticism over the continued war effort in the absence of a hostage deal. He stressed, “This war comes at a very high price, but as a nation that values life, we have no choice but to carry on. I will not surrender to murderers. Such a surrender would endanger the security of the state.” Netanyahu added, “We are at a decisive stage, patience is required. If we surrender now, all our achievements will be lost.”
In a direct attack on his critics, Netanyahu declared, “We will not end the war before we defeat Hamas and bring back all the hostages. Those calling for an end to the fighting are echoing Hamas’ position and pushing the release of hostages further out of reach.” He continued accusingly, “What responsible leader could accept Hamas’ demands after October 7?”
The prime minister also referred to what he described as Hamas’ “deception,” saying, “Hamas isn’t stupid. They want binding international guarantees to prevent a resumption of the war. That would strip us of legitimacy to return to the fight. If we commit not to resume fighting, we won’t be able to go back into Gaza.”
Addressing his critics again, Netanyahu pointed to military achievements: “From the very start of the war, we heard calls to end it in surrender. These calls have only grown louder. If I had surrendered to them, we would never have entered Rafah, we wouldn’t have brought down the Assad regime, and we wouldn’t have eliminated Deif and Sinwar.” He concluded by reiterating a key strategic priority: “I am committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
Day 561 — Saturday, April 19
In First Public Act as Ambassador, Huckabee Visits Western Wall, Prays for Israel, Hostages' Release
On the last weekend of the Passover holiday in Israel, also Good Friday for Christians, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee traveled to the Western Wall to place a note in the Wall from President Donald Trump.
Just a week after the U.S. Senate confirmed him as ambassador, he arrived in Israel, and the Wall visit was his first public appearance since he was sworn in.
The former Arkansas governor was accompanied by Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. He said the president personally handed him the message that it is Trump’s prayer that all of the hostages be released immediately.
“My first act as ambassador was to take his prayer – praying for the peace of Jerusalem – and to bring it to the Wall, and to pray that there would in fact be peace in the land,” Huckabee stated.
He added, “I also come with a prayer that all of the hostages will come home now, and that we will bring them home, and that is the prayer of the president as well.”
Day 561 — Saturday, April 19
Two U.S. House committees are investigating the former Biden administration for allegedly funding protests aimed at ousting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and more investigations may be coming soon.
As Breitbart News noted in 2023, the U.S. State Department had been “funding a left-wing organization in Israel that is helping to promote anti-government protest aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his judicial reforms.” That report, in turn, cited the Washington Free Beacon, which reported that U.S. taxpayer funds had been granted to the Movement for Quality Government (MQG), which had helped lead the fight against Netanyahu in the courts and in the streets, with the clear goal of ousting him.
Now, Liel Leibovitz writes in the Wall Street Journal, two separate House committees are probing further:
As the Journal’s editorial board reports, the Biden State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development transferred tens of millions of dollars, directly and indirectly, to Israeli nongovernmental organizations working to topple the Netanyahu government. Two House committees are investigating how U.S. funding to six of these groups was used. Which is just as well, as federal funding of foreign organizations can be a thorny thicket to navigate, requiring investigators to try to ascertain precisely what the funds were designated for and whether they were properly applied. But publicly available records tell a suspicious story: Many of the organizations that received funding from the Biden administration also played a key role in the movement to unseat Mr. Netanyahu.
Take Itach Ma’aki, or Women Lawyers for Social Justice. The group received more than $8,000 from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in 2023, designated for a development project in the Negev, a desert in the south of Israel. That same year, the group helped replicate America’s “Handmaid’s Tale” protests in Israel. Photo Israel, an organization dedicated to “the promotion of the art of photography in Israel and abroad,” received nearly $80,000 from USAID in 2024 for a photography program it says motivates young Israelis to “social and community activism.” Photo Israel’s recent activities include “The Protest From Heaven,” an exhibition celebrating the anti-Netanyahu movement.
Sikkuy-Aufoq, a nonprofit working for “equality and partnership” between Jews and Arabs, received more than $1 million in State Department funds between 2021 and 2024. Tax documents claimed the organization used these funds to strengthen local authorities and reduce crime in Arab communities. Sikkuy-Aufoq has organized demonstrations and lawsuits targeting Mr. Netanyahu’s government and its policies.
This was not the first attempt by a Democrat administration to interfere in Israel’s politics. As Breitbart News has noted, in 2015 “the State Department spent $465,000 on a group called OneVoice, which then joined a group called Victory 15 (V15) and worked to defeat Netanyahu and his Likud Party in Israel’s elections.”
Breitbart News has reached out to staffers in the Senate to determine if the upper house will also be conducting its own investigations and oversight of Biden administration spending on ousting Netanyahu.
Day 560 — Friday, April 18
A missile launched toward Israel from Yemen was successfully intercepted on Friday, with no injuries or damage reported. Air raid sirens were activated in central Israel and around the Jerusalem area.
In line with the IDF’s new protocol, a warning was issued several minutes before the missile approached and alarm sirens were triggered.
The launch came in the wake of a series of intense overnight airstrikes carried out by the United States in Yemen.
Among the primary targets was the Ras Isa fuel port, which is under Houthi control. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the port, located near the Hodeidah harbor in northwestern Yemen, was destroyed.
According to the U.S. military, the objective of the strike was to “disrupt a key economic power source for the Houthis.”
Day 560 — Friday, April 18
Vladimir Putin met with freed Russian-Israeli hostage Sasha Troufanov, who spent nearly 500 days in captivity in Gaza, and urged him to thank his Hamas captors for the “humanitarian act” of releasing him.
“The fact that you managed to go free is the result of the fact that Russia has stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people, with its representatives, and with a wide variety of organizations,” the Russian president told Troufanov at the Kremlin, where he was joined by his mother, Elena Trufanova, and partner, Sapir Cohen, who were also both abducted by Hamas.
“I think we need to express words of gratitude to the political wing of Hamas for cooperating with us and carrying out this humanitarian act,” the Russian president said in a clip posted by Russian state-funded network RT.
Putin added that he would continue to work with Hamas to ensure that other hostages are released and shook his head in disbelief after Troufanov told him he was held for 498 days, according to the video.
Troufanov, 29, was released in February from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad custody along with American father Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36; and Yair Horn, who were all paraded on stage in a propaganda ceremony in Khan Younis before handed over to the Red Cross.
Upon his release, Putin praised Hamas leadership’s “goodwill” and emphasized Moscow’s diplomatic role in the Middle East during a meeting with Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Putin, who’s been busy waging war in Ukraine, has commended the terrorist group despite 16 Russian citizens being killed at their hands during the Oct. 7 attack, not including those taken hostage, according to the paper.
Rather than condemn Hamas, the Russian strongman blamed US policies for conflict and has compared Israel’s military actions in Gaza to that of Nazi Germany.
Troufanov was kidnapped during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, alongside his mother, grandmother and girlfriend. His father, Vitaly, was among those massacred in the attack. The women were released in November 2023 during a short-lived pause in the fighting.
When he was freed, Troufanov embraced his mother and Cohen aboard a helicopter, and later sprinted through a hospital corridor to hold his grandmother, photos and video footage showed.
Day 560 — Friday, April 18
The Muslim-majority island nation Maldives announced on Tuesday that it would ban Israeli tourists from visiting the country due to its “resolute solidarity” with Gaza amid the war with the Iranian-backed terrorist militia Hamas.
The Maldivian parliament approved the anti-Israel legislation on Tuesday and the country’s President Mohamed Muizzu ratified it on the same day.
“The ratification underscores the government’s strong stance in response to the ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people,” the presidential office said in an official statement.
“The Maldives reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian cause,” it added.
The resolution barring Israeli tourists is reportedly set to take immediate effect.
The Jewish state has firmly rejected the widespread international accusation of “genocide” and has stated that the terrorist organization Hamas demonstrated genocidal intent when it slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.
The large majority of the Israeli victims of the Hamas massacre were civilians including women children and elderly. Hamas’s charter openly calls for Israel’s destruction and the murder of all Jews worldwide.
Tiny Maldives, which has a population of around half a million people, is located in the Indian Ocean south of India. The Maldives gained its independence in 1965 from the United Kingdom.
Israel and the Maldives had diplomatic relations until 1974 when the Maldives decided to suspend ties with the Jewish state following the Arab-initiated Yom Kippur War in 1973. The Maldives reportedly considered restoring relations with Israel in 2010, but the effort ended in 2014.
Known for its pristine beaches, the Maldives has grown into a highly sought-after tourist destination.
Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, approximately 11,000 Israeli tourists reportedly visited the country in 2024.
Israel urged its citizens in December 2023 to avoid traveling to the Maldives “due to the heightened anti-Israel atmosphere, including public comments by officials,” which was merely two months after the Hamas Oct. 7 atrocities against Israelis.
The widespread international claims of “genocide” and “war crimes” in Gaza are largely based on the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry’s highly disputable casualty statistics, which has not been verified by any independent source. Furthermore, Hamas’s statistics do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
In March 2024, the renowned U.S. statistics professor Abraham Wyner explained in an article how Hamas deliberately exaggerates and distorts civilian casualties in Gaza.
Day 559 — Thursday, April 17
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, warning that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be “a major reward for terrorism” and a strategic threat to the Jewish state.
Netanyahu told Macron that a Palestinian state established minutes from Israeli population centers would become “an Iranian terror stronghold,” and “an overwhelming majority of the Israeli public is firmly opposed to such a move,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also noted that “no Palestinian entity—including the Palestinian Authority—has condemned the Oct. 7, [2023], massacre,” adding that the P.A. “educates its children to seek Israel’s destruction and financially rewards murderers of Jews.”
On Monday, Macron said on X that it is time to reform the P.A., five days after he suggested he would soon recognize it as an independent state.
“It is essential to set a framework for the day after: Disarm and sideline Hamas, define credible governance and reform the Palestinian Authority,” Macron wrote after a phone call with Mahmud Abbas, who heads the PLO, the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah terrorist organization.
“This should allow progress toward a two-state political solution, with a view to the peace conference in June, in the service of peace and security for all,” read the text by Macron, which he posted in French, Arabic and Hebrew.
“France is fully mobilized to secure the release of all hostages, the return of a lasting ceasefire and immediate access for humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he continued.
The statement Monday echoes a call last year by Macron to “implement necessary reforms” within the Palestinian Authority, offering the “prospect of recognition of the state of Palestine” as he said during a phone call with Abbas in May 2024.
Abbas, 89, has held power since 2005, shortly after the death of Yasser Arafat in November 2004. The following year he was elected to a four-year term as head of the P.A., with no presidential vote since. In the 2006 legislative elections, Hamas obtained the largest share of the votes. In 2007, it ousted the P.A., where Fatah is the dominant force, from power in Gaza, staging a bloody coup.
Fatah has urged its rival Hamas to cede power in Gaza in the aftermath of Israel’s current war against Hamas. The war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, as about 6,000 Hamas-led terrorists murdered some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted another 251. Israel says it has killed 17,000 Hamas terrorists in its ongoing military campaign to dismantle it and retrieve the hostages.
Abbas “briefed President Macron on the comprehensive Palestinian reform agenda,” the Palestinian Authority-run news agency Wafa reported about Monday’s telephone conversation.
Macron’s remarks last week that France may recognize the Palestinian Authority as an independent state prompted criticism by Israel’s government. In July, the Knesset passed a resolution, in a 68-9 vote, rejecting Palestinian statehood as “an existential threat” to Israel.
“President Macron is gravely mistaken in continuing to promote the idea of a Palestinian state in the heart of our country, whose sole aspiration is the destruction of the State of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on X on Sunday.
Day 559 — Thursday, April 17
US President Donald Trump called Harvard a “joke” Wednesday and said it should lose its government research contracts after the top university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision.
Trump’s administration had also formally asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke the famed seat of learning’s tax-exempt status, US media reported, just a day after the president first made the threat.
“Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”
Day 558 — Wednesday, April 16
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening responded to Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s promise that Israel will be eliminated from the Middle East.
“Today, the dictator of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted this,” Netanyahu began, holding up a paper. “The title is, ‘Why must the Zionist regime (that’s Israel) be eliminated from the region.'”
“So here you have the ruler of Iran openly declaring – again – that his goal is to destroy the State of Israel. And the most brazen thing about this is that he issues this while he’s negotiating – supposedly negotiating – peace with the United States.
“Well, Israel will NOT be eliminated. What must be eliminated is Iran’s axis of terror and its nuclear weapons program. Not only for the sake of Israel, but for the sake of our entire region, and for the sake of peace in our world,” he concluded.
Day 558 — Wednesday, April 16
The Trump administration criticized the controversial extension of the tenure of an antisemitic United Nations official.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations “continues to strongly denounce” the tenure of Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for Palestinian rights, whose term was extended by three years in an opaque process earlier this month under the auspices of the U.N. Human Rights Council, Washington said on Tuesday.
A vocal critic of Israel with a documented history of antisemitic remarks, Albanese will remain in her position through 2028.
Her reappointment was confirmed during a council session in Geneva on April 4.
“The Human Rights Council’s support for Ms. Albanese offers yet another example of why President Trump ordered the United States to cease all participation in the HRC,” the U.S. mission stated.
“Ms. Albanese’s actions also make clear the United Nations tolerates antisemitic hatred, bias against Israel and the legitimization of terrorism,” it added.
Albanese has repeatedly made inflammatory statements about Israel and the Jewish people, drawing widespread condemnation. She has referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and has called for Israel’s suspension from the United Nations.
She has also been accused of echoing Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Governments, including those of the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Israel, have expressed serious concerns over her rhetoric and conduct.
In a previous letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations stated that Albanese “demonizes Israel and supports Hamas” and that she was “unfit for her role.”
The council declined to take up the complaints, allowing her to remain in office.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department censured the Human Rights Council for a series of anti-Israel actions.
The council passed its annual Israel-focused Agenda Item 7 resolution, along with a resolution calling for an Israeli arms embargo, plus the Albanese extension, all within a matter of days.
The council “consistently demonstrates virulently antisemitic bias against Israel, targeting it unfairly and disproportionately in council proceedings, through the Commission of Inquiry, and by its appointment of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese,” a State Department spokesperson told JNS.
Day 557 — Tuesday, April 15
US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to “solve” the issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, even if it means taking “very harsh” actions to thwart them, amid escalating threats that have accompanied efforts at diplomacy between the countries on the matter.
“We’ve got a problem with Iran. I’ll solve that problem. It’s almost an easy one,” Trump declared, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador.
“Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “I want them to be a rich, great nation. The only thing is, one thing, simple, it’s really simple: They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And they’ve gotta go fast. Because they’re fairly close to having one. And they’re not going to have one.”
“And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it,” he added. “And I’m not doing it for us. I’m doing it for the world. These are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
He was asked, regarding his reference to something harsh, “Does that include a potential strike on Iranian nuclear facilities?” And he answered: “Of course it does.”
Trump also said of Iran: “I think they’re tapping us along because they were so used to dealing with stupid people in this country.”
Day 557 — Tuesday, April 15
The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) killed Hamas terrorist Hamza Wael Muhammad Asafah in a precision airstrike in central Gaza two weeks ago, the agencies said on Tuesday.
Asafah, a senior member of the Nukhba Force in Hamas’s Deir al-Balah Battalion, infiltrated Israeli territory during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and subsequently participated in hostage release ceremonies used by Hamas for propaganda purposes. The IDF said he was involved in the return of hostages Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben-Ami and Or Levy.
The joint IDF-Shin Bet operation was carried out after extensive intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance to minimize harm to civilians.
“The Hamas terrorist organization systematically violates international law, using civilian infrastructure and populations as human shields,” the statement read. “The IDF and Shin Bet will continue operating to protect the State of Israel.”
Day 556 — Monday, April 14
Just as the first Passover weekend came to an end on Sunday evening, red alert sirens began blaring across central Israel following a ballistic missile launch by the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.
Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the missile was successfully intercepted. There were no reports of injuries or damage caused directly or indirectly by the attack.
Alarms were triggered in the region between Jerusalem and the greater Tel Aviv, including Ben Gurion International Airport.
Israeli media reported that several flights were forced to delay their landings, circling above the airport for some time. A Jordanian plane en route to Amman also experienced delays.
The first of two weekends during the week-long Passover holiday concluded on Sunday evening, as many Israelis continued visiting friends and family.
The attack from Yemen was the first successful missile launch by the Houthis in more than two weeks. The terror group, in the meantime, attempted five additional attacks, but those missiles either broke apart midair or fell short in Saudi territory without triggering alarms in Israel.
The Houthis have now launched 20 ballistic missiles toward Israel since fighting resumed between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.
Following the failure of several missile launches, the Houthis also resumed attempts to launch drones toward Israel, however, these efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
On Friday, the IDF reported intercepting a Houthi drone before it entered Israeli airspace near the Dead Sea. This marked the third attempted drone attack by the Houthis in the past week.
According to the Jordanian Army, “An unidentified drone entered Jordanian airspace and crashed in the Ma’in area. Fires broke out from the falling parts of the drone, no casualties.”
The Houthi attacks have continued unabated despite ongoing American airstrikes to counter them. In addition, the internationally recognized Yemeni government appears to be gearing up for a new offensive against the Islamist rebels, according to the Emirati news outlet The National.
The report stated that the government is mobilizing around 80,000 troops for an offensive aimed at retaking the port of Hodeidah, which fell to the Houthis in 2021.
This is intended as a first step in a broader operation, with the ultimate goal of seizing control of the capital, Sana’a.
Gen. Mike Kurilla of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently met with the commander of the Yemeni government-controlled forces.
According to CENTCOM, they discussed “ongoing efforts against the Iran-backed Houthis, including the current operation designed to restore freedom of navigation.”
Day 556 — Monday, April 14
Hamas published on Saturday night a propaganda video showing signs of life from Israeli-American hostage soldier Edan Alexander.
In the three-minute video, Alexander says he has been held captive for 551 days, suggesting it was filmed on Wednesday.
“Our Edan, a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to defend the country and its citizens, is still being held captive by Hamas,” Alexander’s family said in a statement on Saturday.
“So, when you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not home,” it added.
Alexander’s family did not authorize the broadcasting or distribution of the video.
Alexander was kidnapped in uniform from a post near Kibbutz Nirim during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist invasion.
Originally from Tenafly, N.J., he is the only one of the five remaining American hostages believed to still be alive.
Former captives told Alexander’s family that he had been held in a tunnel for more than 500 days, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on March 6. He appeared severely malnourished and had been tortured and kept in chains for a long time, they said.
In November, Hamas released a video of Alexander that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “cruel psychological warfare.”
Day 556 — Monday, April 14
The family of Sergeant Itay Chen, an armored combat soldier who fell in battle on October 7th and was kidnapped to Gaza, received an alert from the Pazam App.
“Itay Chen is being released today – have you congratulated him yet?”
The alert was first reported on X by Bar Shem-Or.
The Pazam App commented: “Over the years, we have received requests from bereaved families who asked us to continue counting the days of IDF service for their loved ones, in addition to other requests to stop the counting. We consider it of utmost importance to respect the wishes of the families and relatives, and respond sensitively to their requests. It is not our responsibility to make any decisions or change anything – this is solely up to the families. In these difficult and complex days, our hearts are with the families of the hostages. We send our prayers for their speedy and safe return.”
Day 555 — Sunday, April 13
Nearly a month into Israel’s renewed ground operation, U.S. backing appears to be shaping the conflict on multiple levels—militarily, diplomatically and politically. Israeli officials have suggested the chances of a hostage deal have significantly increased, with some anticipating developments within the next two weeks.
On Monday, sitting beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump told reporters, “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We’re looking at another ceasefire. We’ll see what happens.” The remarks highlighted Trump’s dual-track approach: continued diplomatic pressure on Iran and direct support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
With what Israeli officials describe as a “free hand” to operate, Israel has expanded its offensive into Rafah and the strategically significant Morag Corridor. The stated aim is to increase pressure on Hamas and help secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages.
A senior Israeli security official told Fox News Digital that the campaign is being carried out in close coordination with the United States. “Everything is coordinated with the Americans — both the negotiations and the operational activity. The goal is to bring the hostages home. We now have a free hand to act, and no longer facing the threat of a veto at the UN Security Council, unlike during the previous administration.”
The same official pointed to a shift in humanitarian policy that, in their view, has enhanced Israeli leverage. “Unlike the previous administration, the U.S. is not forcing 350 aid trucks into Gaza every day. That gives us leverage,” the official said, adding that limiting aid reduces Hamas’s ability to control the population.
On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the IDF had completed the takeover of the Morag Axis. The Morag Corridor — which separates Rafah from Khan Younis — is part of an effort to establish a new buffer zone and degrade Hamas’s operational capabilities. “The logic is that the more territory Hamas loses, the more likely it will be to compromise on a hostage deal,” the official said.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reinforced that strategy during a visit to front-line units this week. “I expect you to defeat the Rafah Brigade and lead to victory wherever you are fighting,” he told troops. The IDF had previously declared the Rafah Brigade dismantled in September, but forces have returned to key strongholds, where tunnel networks remain.
In the same statement on Saturday, Katz warned Gazans, “Hamas is unable to protect the residents or the territory. Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families or living in luxury hotels abroad, with billions in bank accounts, using you as human shields. Now is the time to rise up, to get rid of Hamas, and to release all the Israeli hostages — that is the only way to stop the war.”
Day 554 — Saturday, April 12
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday condemned Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for appearing to support a protester’s claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza during its ongoing war against the Hamas terror group.
“Instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, [Carney] attacks the one and only Jewish state,” wrote Netanyahu on X, urging his Canadian counterpart to “backtrack [his] irresponsible statement!”
The post replied to a video showing Carney at a Tuesday night rally in Calgary, where he responded to a protester in the crowd who yelled, “Mr. Carney, there is a genocide happening in Palestine,” by pausing and saying: “Thank you… I’m aware. Which is why we have an arms embargo.”
At a campaign stop in Calgary on Wednesday, Carney clarified his remarks, saying that he had not heard the word “genocide,” and was only “stating a fact in terms of the arms restrictions,” according to CBC.
In September, Canada suspended some 30 permits for arms shipments to Israel.
Carney, a former central banker and the new leader of the Liberal Party, was sworn in as Canada’s new prime minister in March. He replaced Justin Trudeau, first elected as premier in 2015, who Jewish leaders heavily criticized for his stances on the Gaza war and handling of the surging antisemitism in Canada following the Hamas-led atrocities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Day 553 — Friday, April 11
The International Court of Justice, a U.N. agency in The Hague, set five days of public hearings, starting late this month, in the U.N. General Assembly’s case against Israel for banning the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.
The General Assembly passed a resolution in December by a 137-12 vote seeking an advisory opinion from the court about Israel’s anti-UNRWA laws, which the Knesset passed in October and which took effect in January. (There were 22 abstentions in the General Assembly vote.)
The court is to assess Israel’s responsibility, as a U.N. member state, to provide and facilitate essential services and humanitarian assistance for the population in what the United Nations calls the “occupied territories,” according to the resolution.
One of the Israeli laws banned UNRWA, whose ties to Gazan terror groups Israel has documented, from operating in the Jewish state, including throughout Jerusalem. The United Nations considers part of the Jewish capital to be Palestinian territory.
The Israeli law mandated that all UNRWA facilities, including administrative offices, schools and health clinics, be shuttered.
Earlier this week, Israeli authorities gave six UNRWA educational institutions in Jerusalem notice that they will be closed in 30 days.
The other Israeli law forbids officials of the Jewish state from communicating with UNRWA officials. The United Nations has said that these developments will make it very hard, if not impossible, for UNRWA to carry out its work in Gaza. UNRWA operates under a mandate from the U.N. General Assembly.
The hearing is slated to run from April 28 to May 2, with 44 states and four international organizations scheduled to present statements. Israel does not plan to participate. The United States does.
Almost all of the first day of hearings is reserved for testimony by the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority.
The court has previously provided non-binding opinions on issues regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including a ruling last year declaring Israeli presence in eastern Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria to be illegal.
A pending case brought by South Africa accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Day 553 — Friday, April 11
ברכת ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו לחג הפסח:
״אחיי ואחיותיי,
אזרחי ישראל.בליל הסדר כולנו מתאספים עם היקרים לנו, וכולנו מספרים את סיפור עמנו שיצא מעבדות לחירות. pic.twitter.com/KGR80OD7DO
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) April 11, 2025
“On this Passover, many families will have empty chairs,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s told the Israeli public in a video address prior to the start of the eight-day Jewish holiday.
“On Seder night, we all gather with our loved ones, and we all tell the story of our people who came out of slavery and into freedom.”
“But on this holiday, many families will have empty chairs: chairs for our kidnapped loved ones who are still being held captive by Hamas, chairs for those who fell heroically on the battlefield, and chairs for our wounded loved ones who are struggling to come back to life in the rehabilitation wards.”
“Together we will return our captives, together we will defeat our enemies, together we will embrace our wounded, and together we will bow our heads in memory of our fallen.”
He added that on October 7, some thought Israel would “drown in the sea in front of the enemy armies.”
“But not only did we not drown – we rose as one man, and with a strong hand and an outstretched arm we broke the axis of evil,” he said.
“The entire world looks with wonder at our ancient people, who time and again prevail over those who seek our lives.”
He then quoted the Jewish liturgical poem Vehi Sheamda – found in the Haggadah of the Passover Seder – “in every generation they rise up to destroy us. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, delivers us from their hands.”
Day 552 — Thursday, April 10
President Donald Trump commented on Mike Huckabee’s confirmation to serve as United States Ambassador to Israel, saying that Huckabee is “going to be fantastic.”
In the Oval Office on Wednesday Trump signed Huckabee’s commission as U.S. Ambassador to Israel and a transmittal letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, “requesting that he accept” Huckabee’s credentials.
In a post on X, the Office of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Huckabee, stating that it was “a great day for the Israeli-American alliance.”
“Congratulations to my dear friend @GovMikeHuckabee upon being confirmed as the next ambassador of the United States to Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This is a great day for the Israeli-American alliance.”
Breitbart News’s Joel Pollak reported in December 2024, that Huckabee issued a message to Israel that they would “never be alone again” in their “fight for freedom and to preserve the country and land and the heritage” that God gave them. His message came during “the annual gala dinner of the One Israel Fund.”
Pollak wrote: “Huckabee, who would be the first evangelical Christian ambassador to Israel, has long argued that Israel should annex Judea and Samaria. Though he has cautioned that he will be bound by the incoming Trump administration’s own policy, he is seen by the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria as a powerful advocate for their cause.”
In response to Netanyahu’s statement congratulating him on his confirmation, the new ambassador expressed that he was looking “forward to working” with Netanyahu.
“Thank you @IsraeliPM and I look forward to working with you as we pray for the ‘Peace of Jerusalem!‘” Huckabee said in a post on X.
Day 552 — Thursday, April 10
The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill in the state House and Senate on Monday addressing and prohibiting antisemitic discrimination in the state’s public schools, colleges and universities, the Combat Antisemitism Movement announced.
The CAM-supported bill—sponsored by Rusty Grills, a Republican state representative, and Paul Rose, a Republican state senator—passed by 79-11 and 29-1 margins in the state House and Senate, respectively. It now heads to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for further action.
The legislation would “send a powerful message that Tennessee is taking proactive steps to protect its Jewish community,” said David Soffer, CAM director of state engagement, at a recent legislative hearing at the state capitol in Nashville.
“It will also demonstrate to the rest of the nation that Tennessee is committed to combating hatred in all its forms and ensuring the safety and dignity of all students, faculty members and staff members,” he said.
The legislation, which defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, “requires the integration of the definition into student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct or anti-discrimination policies,” according to CAM. It also allows the Tennessee Department of Education to use the IHRA definition to determine discrimination in Title VI cases.
Tennessee adopted the IHRA definition in May 2022. In January, Mark Pody, a Republican state senator, introduced a bill requiring the use of the IHRA definition when determining state bias.
A total of 37 U.S. states have adopted the definition.
Day 551 — Wednesday, April 9
Hamas has revised its casualty figures from the Gaza war, removing hundreds of names from its official list of war fatalities, and revealing that 72% of those killed between ages 13 and 55 were males – a demographic largely composed of combatants. The updated figures contradict Hamas’ earlier claims that most casualties were women and children.
Salo Aizenberg, from the U.S.-based nonprofit HonestReporting, uncovered the changes through a detailed analysis of Hamas’ casualty lists. The investigation revealed that 3,400 names, including over 1,080 children, were removed from the group’s March 2025 report after being listed in 2024.
Aizenberg pointed out that the original reports, published by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, were widely cited by major international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC). “These ‘deaths’ never happened. The numbers were falsified – again,” he wrote.
The United Nations did not respond to a Fox News Digital request asking if the world body regretted disseminating those numbers in light of the revised figures.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating Israel for war crimes, told Fox News Digital, “We cannot provide comments on matters related to ongoing investigations. This approach is essential to protect the integrity of investigations, and to ensure the safety and security of victims, witnesses, and all those with whom the Office interacts.”
“David Adesnik, vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who has also been tracking the figures, reached a similar conclusion. According to his analysis, “72% of the fatalities between the ages of 13 and 55 are male.”
“Even at age 13, there’s a major excess of male over female deaths, and the disparity grows with age,” Adesnik told Fox News Digital. “If you calculate from age 13 to 59, there’s a little more than 15,000 excess men. That gives you an idea of how many are actually fighters.”
Adesnik also highlighted issues with how deaths were recorded. “Significant numbers of names disappear from the list over time. It’s like 2,000 names are removed and new ones added,” he said.
“He explained that during the first months of the war, Hamas divided deaths into two basic categories: those confirmed by hospitals and those reported by so-called ‘reliable media sources.’ “The Hamas-controlled ministry never identified these sources, and now denies it ever relied on them,” Adesnik said. Later, the Hamas-controlled began to replace the deaths reported by media sources with those reported by families, “replacing one set of data with another to cover up their original manipulation,” he added.
Day 551 — Wednesday, April 9
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against Iran has crippled its global terror funding.
She made the comments ahead of upcoming talks between the US and Iran on Iran’s nuclear program. Leavitt told reporters that Iran will be boxed in when they enter the talks in Oman on Saturday.
“The president has reimposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian regime, and he’s made it very clear to Iran they have a choice to make. You can strike a deal with the president. You can negotiate, or there will be hell to pay,” stated Leavitt.
“As the president said yesterday, if they don’t choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences.”
Day 550 — Tuesday, April 8
Hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza rallied against Hamas for the third consecutive week, according to local reports, chanting slogans labeling the group a “terrorist organization” and demanding an end to its rule.
In the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza, hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Sunday to protest the leadership of Hamas, echoing similar calls made over the past two weekends. Videos shared online show residents chanting, “The message is clear: Hamas is garbage,” and “Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
Hamas is a designated terrorist organization by the United States, EU, and Israel.
The Iran-backed terror group, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, responded by attempting to suppress the growing unrest. According to Palestinian sources, operatives from the group reportedly executed protesters involved in the rallies.
Following the recent torture and murder of Odai al-Rabei, a young Gazan targeted for protesting the terrorist group, Gaza residents were seen chanting against Hamas in public.
The 22-year-old Gazan was reportedly abducted, tortured, and murdered by Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades for his participation in anti-Hamas protests, according to statements from his family, who condemned the terrorist group as a “sinful, rogue” faction.
The victim’s family issued a scathing video statement, blaming members of the military wing of Hamas for torturing Rabei with “hard tools” and dragging his body before returning it to the family home.
The matter comes as the IDF expands its military campaign and as Gazans continue to demonstrate throughout the coastal enclave carrying white flags and chanting anti-Hamas slogans.
Day 550 — Tuesday, April 8
YouTube’s top toddler whisperer, Ms. Rachel, should be investigated over whether she’s being paid to spread Hamas-aligned propaganda for her posts about the deaths of kids in Gaza, a major antisemitism group tells Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Ms. Rachel, real name Rachel Griffin Accurso, has become the modern equivalent of Mister Rogers, educating and entertaining millions of young kids with her “Songs for Littles” streaming shows — which have been viewed more than 10 billion times.
But the Jewish civil rights watchdog group StopAntisemitism said Ms. Rachel is not so sweet.
The group says the posts are anti-Israel and are meant to inspire pro-Hamas sympathies among young kids.
“Given the vast sums of foreign funds that have been directed toward propagandizing our young people on college campuses, we suspect there is a similar dynamic in the online influencer space,” StopAntisemitism director Liora Rez said in a letter sent Monday to Bondi.
“We urge you and your office to investigate whether or not Ms. Rachel is being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers, as this may violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA),” Rez said.
In the letter to Bondi, the group said Ms. Rachel, who once focused solely on catering to children has been “incorporating Hamas-like propagated images and stories into her content.”
“Her posts have largely ignored the suffering of Israeli victims, hostages, and Jewish children, while she consistently amplifies misinformation from Hamas and other anti-Israel sources,” Rez told Bondi, in the letter obtained by The Post.
Day 549 — Monday, April 7
Defense Minister Reveals Intercepted Documents Showing Iranian Funding Hamas' Plan To Destroy Israel
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has unveiled for the first time direct evidence of Iran’s support for Hamas’ plan to destroy Israel.
During a visit to the intelligence unit on Sunday, Katz presented transcripts of conversations obtained from the tunnels of senior Hamas leaders in Gaza, showing a clear connection between Iran and key Hamas figures Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif.
The intercepted documents reveal that Sinwar and Deif demanded $500 million from the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The funds were requested to further Hamas’ campaign against Israel and its struggle against the United States. Despite Iran’s difficult economic situation, the head of the Palestinian branch of the Revolutionary Guards, Izadi, agreed to the request, emphasizing that Iran would continue to provide financial support to Hamas because the fight against Israel and the US is Tehran’s top priority.
In his remarks, Katz asserted that this new intelligence provides unequivocal proof that Iran remains the primary sponsor of Hamas and continues to fund terrorism across the region. He emphasized that Iran’s commitment to its goals, even in the face of domestic economic hardships, underscores its dedication to destabilizing the region and pushing forward its agenda of confronting Israel and the West.
“This is clear evidence that Iran is the head of the snake, continuing its support for terrorism and its proxies across the Middle East,” Katz stated. “From Gaza and Lebanon to Syria, Judea and Samaria, and even Yemen, Iran’s destructive influence is being felt. Despite their denials, these documents prove that Iran remains heavily involved in financing and supporting terror groups.”
Katz reiterated Israel’s commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and vowed that Israel would continue its operations to strike Iran’s proxies and dismantle its axis of evil in the region.
Day 549 — Monday, April 7
Israel struck back on Sunday after Hamas terrorists launched several rockets towards towns in the Southern District of Israel on Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it hit the rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip from which the projectiles were launched earlier Sunday toward Israel.
The rockets were fired from central Gaza towards Ashdod and Ashkelon on Sunday evening. There were reports of damage and debris in several locations.
“Approximately five projectiles were successfully intercepted by the IAF [Israeli Air Force],” the military explained. “Falls were identified in several areas.”
“IDF Home Front Command soldiers are dispatched to the scenes and are operating in cooperation with Israeli security forces.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was later briefed on the attack and commanded “a forceful response and approved the continued intensified IDF operations in Gaza against Hamas.”
“I instructed the IDF to extend the military operation and deal Hamas a heavy blow in response to the launches,” Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said in a statement. “For every shrapnel that harms a resident of Ashkelon, the Hamas murderers must pay a heavy price.”
Later on X, the IDF shared on-the-ground footage of a neighborhood that was struck by a rocket. The video showed multiple emergency vehicles blaring lights at night as first responders tended to a residential neighborhood.
“This is just one neighborhood in Israel hit by Hamas rocket fire tonight,” the post read. “Hamas continues to hide behind Gazan civilians while firing at Israeli civilians.”
“We will continue to defend Israelis from the threat of terrorism,” the IDF added.
Day 548 — Sunday, April 6
President Donald Trump on Friday shared a video that appeared to be of a preemptive U.S. airstrike on Houthi terrorists in Yemen, suggesting in a Truth Social post that the Iranian proxy group attacking commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea didn’t know what was coming.
“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump wrote in the post. “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”
The 25-second video Trump shared showed an aerial view, likely taken by a drone, of a group of 60 to 70 people gathered in an oval in an open area before an explosion is seen. As the smoke clears, a huge crater appears where the people were standing.
Trump did not provide details of when the video was taken. The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen since March 15, and an airstrike Wednesday reportedly targeted what the Houthis described as a “water project” in the Hodeida governorate’s Mansuriyah District.
Other strikes Wednesday also targeted the Hajjah, Saada and Sanaa governorates. On Wednesday night, the Houthis said about 17 strikes hit Saada, and a telecommunications site on Jebel Namah Mountain in the Ibb governorate was also hit.
The Houthis have continued to launch attacks against U.S. warships in the Red Sea, namely the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which is conducting the majority of the strikes on the Houthis. No warship has been struck yet, but the U.S. Navy has described the Houthi fire as the most intense combat it has faced since World War II.
The Houthis’ assault on commercial shipping in the Red Sea began after Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip.
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, now in Asia, is on its way to the Middle East to back up the Truman. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Wednesday that “additional squadrons and other air assets” would be deployed to the region.
Day 547 — Saturday, April 5
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said it had killed the terrorist leader responsible for the abduction of, and “likely personally involved” in the murder of, Shiri Bibas and her young sons, Kfir, 10-months old, and Ariel, four years old.
Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Awad, a senior commander in the Palestinian Mujahideen terrorist organization and who helped lead “several” attacks on the Nir Oz kibbutz on Oct. 7, 2023, has been “eliminated,” the IDF said Friday.
He was also responsible for the abductions and burial of Americans Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai, as well as the capture of Thai hostages.
“As part of his role in the terrorist organization, Mohammad Awad was actively involved until his death in recruiting terror operatives in Judea and Samaria and within Israel, through whom he used to plan and carry out attacks against Israelis,” the IDF said in a statement alongside the Israel Securities Authority.
Nir Oz was one of the communities hardest hit in the Oct.7, 2023 attacks, and news of the Bibas family abduction caught global attention after brutal images surfaced of Shiri clutching her sons during their capture by the terrorists.
Shiri’s husband Yarden was also captured, though by Hamas terrorists, while trying to defend his family, and they were not held together.
Yarden was released after 15 months in captivity in January, and the bodies of his wife and children were released in February.
Hamas forced Yarden to be filmed while a fellow Israeli captive was coerced into telling him that his wife and sons had been killed by an Israeli air strike.
Israel repeatedly denied the accusation, noting there was no intelligence to confirm it, and after receiving the bodies, conducted forensic analysis that showed they were killed “in cold blood” no later than November 2023.
Day 547 — Saturday, April 5
Israeli airstrikes this week struck multiple military sites in Syria that Turkish teams had reportedly inspected in recent weeks as part of Ankara’s strategic evaluation for a potential defense initiative in the war-torn country, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter who spoke to the Reuters news agency.
The targeted locations included the T4 and Palmyra air bases in Homs province, as well as the main airport in Hama province—sites Turkey had considered using under a proposed joint defense framework aimed at increasing its presence in central Syria, said the report.
The developments highlight escalating friction between Israel and Turkey as they navigate a complex post-Assad landscape in Syria. Islamist factions, long opposed to the previous regime, assumed control after Bashar Al-Assad was removed from power in December, raising concerns in Jerusalem over the potential implications for its security.
Despite Turkish assurances to the United States that its increased involvement in Syria does not threaten Israel, Israel views Turkey’s deeper role with skepticism—particularly over fears of advanced military assets being positioned within striking distance.
Turkey has upped its criticism of Israel’s counterterrorism operations. Earlier this week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon.
“These attacks have once again exposed Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law and its ongoing threat to the region’s security and stability. The international community must stand united against Israel’s efforts to create a perpetual state of conflict in the region,” it said.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement of its own, “While violently suppressing his own citizens and carrying out mass arrests of political opponents, [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan presumes to preach lofty values to the international community.”
“In Erdogan’s Turkey, there is no justice, no law, and no freedom. Israel does not need Erdogan’s ridiculous moral sermons. Israel acts to defend itself and its citizens against real threats and actual attacks — and it will continue to do so,” it added.
Day 546 — Friday, April 4
The United Nations Security Council convened Thursday night for an emergency session on the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
In his speech, Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, directly rebuked the UN Security Council ambassadors: “Hamas is taking advantage of the fact that you have lost your moral compass and is building on its war plan based on the UN’s moral confusion. Your shameful silence strengthens Hamas. You are desecrating the UN Charter and its values.”
Danon played the recordings of the anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza at the Security Council and said: “The Gazans have the courage you don’t have – hear their cry: Hamas – go out— out, out out, ‘Hamas Itla Barra – Barra Barra!‘”
Responding to the rushed condemnation of the IDF after the injury of aid workers, Ambassador Danon revealed a photo of a UN worker who was treated in Israel and who has tattoos supporting the Nazis and said: “We will investigate our activities, but why don’t you demand the same from yourselves? – How do you allow something like this to happen under your roof?”
Ambassador Danon added: “We will not apologize for harming terrorist commanders who hid in UN buildings. We will continue to dismantle Hamas’ terror machine, piece by piece, neighborhood by neighborhood, until the threat is removed and our hostages return home. Only then will the war end.”
Day 546 — Friday, April 4
The U.S. Senate voted down a pair of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday that would have blocked nearly $9 billion in arms sales to Israel.
Just 15 senators, all Democrats, voted in favor of the measures—fewer than voted for similar resolutions that Sanders put forward in November.
Speaking on the Senate floor before the vote, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said that the resolutions were “misguided” and would “reinstate the failed policies of the Biden administration.”
“Worse, they would abandon Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, during a pivotal moment for global security,” Risch said. “No one in the world is coming to the support of Hamas. No one with the exception of some misguided people in this organization.”
The resolutions targeted $8.8 billion in arms sales for bomb guidance kits, penetrators and 2,000-pound, 500-pound and small-diameter bombs. Sanders alleged that these systems have been “linked to dozens of illegal airstrikes.”
The two resolutions failed by votes of 15-82 and 15-83.
Day 545 — Thursday, April 3
Hungary’s government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, it said on Thursday, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in the country for a state visit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited his Israeli counterpart to Budapest in November, a day after the ICC issued its arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where Israel launched its offensive following an attack by Hamas-led terrorists on southern Israel.
Israel has rejected the accusations, which it says are politically motivated and fuelled by antisemitism. It says the International Criminal Court has lost all legitimacy by issuing the warrants against a democratically elected leader of a country exercising the right of self-defense.
As a founding member of the ICC, Hungary is theoretically obliged to arrest and hand over anyone subject to a warrant from the court but Orban made clear that Hungary would not respect the ruling which he called “brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable.”
Day 545 — Thursday, April 3
The military said Thursday several gunmen opened fire on Israeli troops operating in the southern Syrian town of Tasil overnight, as they were working to “confiscate weapons and destroy terror infrastructure.”
The Israel Defense Forces said the troops of the 474th Golan Regional Brigade returned fire and “eliminated” several gunmen “on the ground and from the air.”
No soldiers were injured in the exchange, and the operation in the area was completed, the IDF added.
Tasil is located some 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Israel’s border, outside of a demilitarized buffer zone along the Israel-Syrian border which the Israeli military moved into last December following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to Islamist-led rebels.
It marked only the second incident in which IDF troops operating in southern Syria have come under fire since deploying to the buffer zone.
Day 544 — Wednesday, April 2
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed an order approving the elimination of the last remaining tariffs on import of goods from the United States.
The order, which would remove about $11.3 million in annual tariffs primarily in agriculture, requires approval from lawmakers of the Knesset Finance Committee.
Hebrew media reported that the move, said to have been coordinated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came in anticipation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” on Wednesday, during which he reportedly will unveil a “country-based” tariff plan.
Since Israel and the United States signed a free trade deal in 1985—Washington’s first-ever such agreement—some 98% of goods were already tax free.“Most U.S. products imported into Israel are already exempt from tariffs and today, we approved the removal of the remaining tariffs on all American goods entering Israel,” Smotrich stated.
“The current U.S. administration presents a real opportunity to reshape the strategic economic relationship between our countries,” he stated. “This move will deepen our ties, reinforce the United States as a key economic partner and pave the way for stronger cooperation.”
“Eliminating these tariffs supports Israel’s efforts to lower the cost of living and will help drive more competition, especially in the food sector, for the benefit of Israeli consumers,” the minister added.
Day 543 — Tuesday, April 1
President Trump’s antisemitism task force is probing more than $8.7 billion worth of multi-year federal grant commitments with Harvard University and its affiliates to ensure that it is complying with civil rights laws.
That review will also extend to $255 million in contracts that Harvard has locked down with the federal government, according to a Monday announcement from Education Department, which is part of the task force.
“Harvard has served as a symbol of the American Dream for generations – the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.
“Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic discrimination – all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry – has put its reputation in serious jeopardy. Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus.”
The Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and General Services Administration are conducting the comprehensive review as part of the Trump administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.
Monday’s announcement comes after fellow Ivy League school Columbia University effectively caved earlier this month to the Trump administration’s demands to crack down on antisemitism on campus.
Earlier this month, the Department of Education’s civil rights arm put 60 colleges and universities, including Harvard, on notice that they could have their federal funds yanked away if they fail to properly address antisemitism on campus.
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, institutions of higher education are prohibited from getting federal funds if they participate in or enable discrimination based on race, national origin, religion or other characteristics.
Not long after returning to the White House, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Education Department and other key federal agencies to crack down on antisemitism in colleges and universities across the country.
Trump also formed the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism to explore all possible avenues of rooting out hatred against Jews in America.
“Hate in any form goes against the foundational principles of America,” said Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Commissioner and Task Force Member, Josh Gruenbaum said in a statement.
“While Harvard’s recent actions to curb institutionalized anti-Semitism — though long overdue — are welcome, there is much more that the university must do to retain the privilege of receiving federal taxpayer’s hard earned dollars.”
Harvard University was among the institutions that became a hotbed of anti-Israel protests and antisemitic incidents in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel.
New York Post
Day 543 — Tuesday, April 1
Israel carried out a precision airstrike in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh south of Beirut, Lebanon in the predawn hours of Tuesday.
According to Israeli officials, the target of the strike was a member of Hezbollah who had been collaborating with Hamas affiliates to organize an imminent attack on Israeli civilians.
Authorities stated that the individual posed a direct threat, prompting immediate action to neutralize him. Both the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) reaffirmed their ongoing efforts to thwart potential dangers to Israeli citizens.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least three people were killed and seven wounded in the strike. The incident occurred just days after another Israeli airstrike in the same area—the first such operation since a ceasefire concluded hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in November. That earlier attack reportedly targeted a Hezbollah facility used for storing drones, following Israeli accusations that the group had launched rockets into northern Israel.
Day 542 — Monday, March 31
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the US would receive a strong blow if it acts on President Donald Trump’s threat of bombing if the country does not reach a new nuclear deal with Washington.
“The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow,” Khamenei said.
“And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them,” he added.
This refers to Trump’s first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, in which he told NBC News that US and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump said in the telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
“There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he added.
Iran sent a response through Oman to a letter from Trump urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the United States while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran’s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday.
Day 541 — Sunday, March 30
Israel’s Foreign Ministry fired back at Turkey on Saturday, after its Foreign Ministry criticized Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon.
“We condemn Israel’s airstrikes against Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement. We stand firmly by the people of Lebanon,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
“These attacks have once again exposed Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law and its ongoing threat to the region’s security and stability. The international community must stand united against Israel’s efforts to create a perpetual state of conflict in the region,” it added.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement of its own, “While violently suppressing his own citizens and carrying out mass arrests of political opponents, [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan presumes to preach lofty values to the international community.”
“In Erdogan’s Turkey, there is no justice, no law, and no freedom. Israel does not need Erdogan’s ridiculous moral sermons. Israel acts to defend itself and its citizens against real threats and actual attacks — and it will continue to do so,” it added.
Earlier this month, the Turkish President described Israel as a “terror state” after it launched surprise strikes on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.
“The Zionist regime has once again shown that it is a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives and tears of the innocent with its brutal attacks on Gaza last night,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish President has also openly expressed support for Hamas. Last April, he met then-Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul, who was later eliminated by Israel in Tehran.
Weeks after meeting Haniyeh, Erdogan boasted of the fact that more than 1,000 members of Hamas were being treated in hospitals across Turkey and also took issue with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ reference to Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Erdogan also met with senior Hamas members in Ankara in late January.
Day 540 — Saturday, March 29
US President Donald Trump warned on Friday that “bad things” would happen to Iran if it does not agree to a deal on its nuclear program.
“Iran is very high on my list of things to watch, and as you probably know, I sent them a letter just recently, and I said, ‘You’re going to have to make a decision one way or the other,’” Trump said at the White House.
“And we’re going to either have to talk and talk it out, or very bad things are going to happen to Iran, and I don’t want that to happen,” he added.
“My big preference, and I don’t say this through strength or weakness, is we work it out with Iran. But if we don’t work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran,” stressed the President.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, swiftly dismissed the US offer, calling it “a deception” and arguing that engaging in talks with the Trump administration would “tighten the knot of sanctions and increase pressure on Iran.”
Despite Khamenei’s rejection of the offer, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that Iran has sent a response to Trump’s letter via Oman.
“Our policy is still to not engage in direct negotiations while under maximum pressure and military threats, however, as it was the case in the past, indirect negotiations can continue,” Araqchi said, according to the IRNA news agency.
Day 540 — Saturday, March 29
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday announced it has disrupted a Hamas terrorism financing scheme and seized about $201,400 in cryptocurrency.
The scheme laundered over $1.5 million for the Palestinian terrorist organization, beginning in October 2024.
The money-laundering operation was allegedly coordinated through a group chat on an encrypted communications platform, which offered Hamas supporters an ever-changing list of at least 17 cryptocurrency “wallets” they could dump their donations into.
The cryptocurrency was then “sent into an operational wallet and laundered through a series of virtual currency exchanges and transactions by leveraging suspected financiers and over-the-counter brokers,” according to the DOJ press release on Thursday.
“Included among the assets seized were cryptocurrency addresses valued at approximately $89,900 and three additional accounts containing cryptocurrency valued at approximately $111,500. These accounts were registered in the names of Palestinian individuals living in Turkey and elsewhere,” the statement said.
Hamas has allegedly been using cryptocurrency wallets to launder money and finance terrorist activity since at least 2020, in addition to using corrupt financial exchanges to bring foreign cash into Gaza and the West Bank.
Contrary to the eternal cries of poverty and deprivation from Palestinian officials, Hamas is fantastically wealthy, with hundreds of millions of dollars floating through its numbered accounts and crypto wallets. Of course, none of that money ever reaches the Palestinian people – the funds are spent on weapons, bribes, and terrorist operations, not food and medicine. Foreign supporters pumping huge donations into Hamas crypto wallets know perfectly well the terrorist organization will not use a dime of that money for the betterment of the Palestinian public.
The U.S. Treasury department is currently investigating over $165 million dollars’ worth of Hamas crypto, a treasure hoard orders of magnitude larger than the $201,400 seizure announced on Thursday.
“These seizures show that this office will search high and low for every cent of money going to fund Hamas, wherever it is found, and in whatever form of currency,” U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. of the District of Columbia said on Thursday.
“Hamas is responsible for the death of many U.S. and Israeli nationals, and we will stop at nothing to stop their campaign of terror and murder,” he said.
Day 539 — Friday, March 28
Air-raid sirens pealed across central Israel on Thursday following missiles launched at the Jewish state by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group, sending millions of civilians running for bomb shelters.
“Following alerts that were activated a short time ago in several areas of the country, two missiles launched from Yemen were intercepted,” the Israeli army said. “Both missiles were intercepted before they crossed into the country’s territory, alerts were activated according to policy.”
Sirens were activated as far north of Kfar Saba, some 15 miles from Tel Aviv, and as far south as the Hebron area in southern Judea, the Israel Defense Forces said. Alerts also sounded in Jerusalem.
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster, missile shrapnel was discovered in the Western Samaria community of Mevo Horon, which is located right next to Modi’in, a city of around 100,000.
The attack was the second from Yemen this week. On Monday night, the IDF intercepted a Houthi missile heading for Israel’s densely-populated central region. Local media aired footage of the missile being intercepted over Jerusalem. Shrapnel fell in the city of Beit Shemesh, some 12 miles west of Jerusalem in the Judean foothills.
That attack followed another on Sunday morning, which likewise triggered air-raid sirens, including in Tel Aviv. The missile was successfully shot down.
Since Hamas initiated the war on Oct. 7, 2023, by murdering some 1,200 people in Israel, the Houthis have fired over 350 drones and missiles at the Jewish state in support of the Palestinian terror group, in addition to carrying out numerous attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis resumed their attacks on Israel on March 18, marking the first time that the country’s air defenses were activated against a threat from Yemen since mid-January, when a Gaza truce went into effect.
Day 539 — Friday, March 28
As rare dissent spreads across the coastal enclave, Gaza terrorist factions are warning against undermining the “resistance.”
Hamas and allied terrorist factions have downplayed the significance of ongoing anti-war protests in Gaza, stating that political rivals are seeking to exploit public frustration.
“Protests in Gaza are expected, and there are parties trying to divert the course of the demonstrations,” said Hamas official Basem Naim in an interview with Qatar’s Al-Araby TV. He accused unnamed factions of steering popular anger toward “narrow partisan agendas.”
The demonstrations — described by local observers as the most widespread since the conflict began — have taken hold in key areas like Beit Lahia, Jabaliya, Shujaiya, and Khan Yunis, traditionally known for their support of Hamas. Protesters have called for an immediate end to the war and are demanding political accountability, chanting slogans such as “Hamas out” and “We want to live in peace.”
Public anger has intensified amid deteriorating living conditions and reports Hamas has halted the distribution of humanitarian aid. Many Gazans also accuse Hamas leaders of seeking shelter in fortified underground bunkers while civilians bear the brunt of airstrikes above ground.
In an apparent attempt to quell the unrest, Hamas has deployed plainclothes operatives to monitor and intimidate demonstrators, according to eyewitnesses, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported Wednesday night. Community elders have allegedly been enlisted to steer public frustration away from Hamas and toward Israel.
One significant incident unfolded at the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, according to Channel 12, where a standoff between medical staff and Hamas members reportedly escalated into a physical altercation. The confrontation is seen as indicative of the deepening rift between the group and a civilian population increasingly weary of war.
Day 538 — Thursday, March 27
Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Gazans to continue opposing Hamas in protests on Wednesday, saying it is the only way to “stop the war.”
“The IDF will soon operate in force in additional areas of Gaza and you will be required to evacuate for your protection from the combat zones,” Katz said. The plans have already been approved, and the Israeli military will continue to destroy more and more Gazan territory, he said.
Katz noted that Yahya Sinwar, “the first Sinwar,” has already “destroyed Gaza,” while his brother Mohammed, now in charge of Hamas in Gaza, “is ready to burn half of Gaza with his own hands, just to try and preserve the corrupt rule of him and his colleagues.”
Hamas murderers, Katz said, “are sitting protected in tunnels or luxury hotels with accounts worth billions,” while everyday Gazans are suffering and being “used as hostages” by the group.
He urged them to “learn from the residents of Beit Lahiya,” referring to the protests that broke out there on Tuesday. “Just as they did, demand that Hamas be expelled from Gaza and the immediate release of all the Israeli hostages.”
Day 538 — Thursday, March 27
The Israel Defense Forces overnight Monday killed top Hezbollah terrorist Hassan Kamal Halawi near Nabatieh in Southern Lebanon, the military announced on Tuesday.
Halawi, the commander of Hezbollah’s “southern front” anti-tank unit, was responsible for numerous attacks against Israel, and facilitated the movement of operatives and weapons into Southern Lebanon during the war, according to the IDF.
On Saturday, the Israeli Air Force intercepted three rockets fired from Lebanon at the Galilee town of Metula. Three additional rockets fell short and did not cross into Israeli territory.
The IDF responded with artillery fire toward the site of the launches and later struck dozens of Hezbollah assets in Southern Lebanon. The Iranian-backed proxy issued a statement denying its involvement in the rocket fire.
It was the first such attack from Lebanon since a Nov. 27 ceasefire ended more than a year of war with Hezbollah, which opened a front against Israel in support of Hamas the day after the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated on Saturday that the “Government of Lebanon is the party responsible for everything taking place within its territory. Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens and its sovereignty—and will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of the citizens of Israel and the communities of the north.”
On Thursday, the military struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in Southern Lebanon and underground infrastructure belonging to the terror group in the Beqaa Valley.
Day 537 — Wednesday, March 26
Though he was interrupted some half a dozen times by anti-Israel protesters, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee appeared to emerge from a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, during which Republicans embraced him and Democrats challenged him on some of his controversial positions, with few hiccups.
“I am not here to articulate or defend my own views or policies but to present myself as one who will respect and represent the president, whose overwhelming election by the people will hopefully give me the honor of serving as ambassador to the state of Israel,” Huckabee said in his opening statement on Tuesday.
A strident supporter of Israel who has routinely said that the Palestinians are not entitled to a state and who has voiced approval for wide-ranging Israeli settlement in, and sovereignty over, Judea and Samaria, Huckabee told the committee that it wouldn’t be his “prerogative” to carry out his views.
“If confirmed, it will be my responsibility to carry out the president’s priorities, not mine,” he said, in response to a question from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
Huckabee appeared to correct the senator after Merkley referred to annexing the “West Bank.”
“I have previously supported it, yes sir, Judea and Samaria,” Huckabee said, referring to the region by its biblical and historical name.
Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), told JNS outside the committee hearing room that Huckabee should meet any harsh questioning head on during the confirmation.
“I think he just needs to be honest and talk through whatever the concerns are,” Boozman said. “He has a very strong track record supporting Israel. He was a great governor in Arkansas. He’s very well respected in our state, and I think he will be a tremendous representative for the United States as ambassador to Israel.”
The former presidential hopeful laid out his case for the U.S.-Israel relationship, [pointing to] of what he said was a 50-year affinity for Israel.
“There is no country across the globe that more mirrors our own struggle and our own level of democracy than does the State of Israel,” Huckabee said.
“We are ultimately people of the book. We believe the Bible,” added Huckabee, one of more prominent U.S. evangelical Christians. “That connection is not geopolitical. It is also spiritual.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) asked Huckabee during the hearing why U.S. defense of Israel is so critical. Huckabee discussed the overarching threat from Tehran.
“As expressed by the Iranian government, Israel is the appetizer and we are the entrée,” he said. “This is not just about Israel. It is about us, and if we don’t stand with them, they stand alone. And if they fall alone, we fall next.”
Huckabee challenged the belief that it is up to the United States to continue pushing for a two-state solution. He noted the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to commit to living side-by-side with Israel peacefully and its pay-for-slay policy.
“Compensation is given to those who murder Jews, parks and streets are named for those who do it, pensions are given to families of those who are killed in the line of killing Jews,” Huckabee said. “That’s a difficult pathway to peace.”
He dismissed the “the notion that everyone is going to live together, toast marshmallows around the campfire singing kumbaya and it’s going to happen in our lifetime.”
Huckabee is widely expected to be approved by the Republican-led panel.
The committee has not yet set a date for a vote. Should it approve Huckabee’s nomination, the full Senate would then meet to vote on his confirmation.
Day 537 — Wednesday, March 26
Hundreds of Palestinian Arabs took to the streets in northern Gaza on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to the Hamas terror group and calling for an end to the ongoing war with Israel, reported The Guardian.
The demonstration was reportedly the largest of its kind in the Strip since Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters—mostly men—gathered in Beit Lahia, chanting “Hamas out” and “Hamas terrorists.”
The protest erupted near the Indonesian hospital, just days after the IDF resumed its operations against Hamas following a temporary ceasefire.
Some demonstrators carried banners with messages such as “Stop the war” and “We want to live in peace.” Calls for the protest had reportedly been circulating on Telegram, encouraging civilians to take a stand.
“I don’t know who organized the protest,” one participant told AFP. “I took part to send a message on behalf of the people: Enough with the war,” he said, further claiming that “members of the Hamas security forces in civilian clothing [were] breaking up the protest.”
Another protester, identified only as Majdi, said the suffering of Gaza’s residents has reached a breaking point.
Additional footage showed demonstrators burning tires in Jabalia, with crowds chanting, “We want to eat.”
Past demonstrations against Hamas have been violently suppressed by the terror group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.
Day 536 — Tuesday, March 25
The United Nations is once again under the microscope for blaming Israel for an attack on a compound as it opts to curb its footprint in Gaza, according to the world body.
The spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement noting the U.N. had “taken the difficult decision to reduce the Organization’s footprint in Gaza” even as “humanitarian needs soar.”
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric claimed that “information currently available” indicated that a strike on the U.N.’s Deir al Balah compound on March 19 was “caused by an Israeli tank.” One U.N. employee was killed in the incident, and six others were wounded, Dujarric said.
On the date of the incident, the Israel Defense Forces Tweeted that “contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a U.N. compound in Deir el Balah.” The IDF asked media outlets “to act with caution regarding unverified reports.”
The IDF told Fox News Digital Monday that the U.N.’s claim was “absolutely not accurate.”
While his statement named Israel, it stopped short in naming the terrorist group Hamas or other extremist groups operating in Gaza. “The location of this U.N. compound was well known to the parties to the conflict,” Dujarric continued. “I reiterate that all parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of U.N. premises. Without this, our colleagues face intolerable risks as they work to save the lives of civilians.” Dujarric added that the “Secretary-General strongly condemns these strikes and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation on this incident.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oren Marmorstein blasted the U.N. statement, saying in part, “The U.N. inquiry team itself hasn’t even arrived at the scene. Yet the U.N. is quick to publish another baseless slander against Israel. No standards, no professionalism – nothing stands in the way of the U.N. Secretary General in another attempt to smear Israel.”
Foundation for Defense of Democracies research analyst Joe Truzman told Fox News Digital that Dujarric’s statement gave the “impression… that the United Nations has deliberately avoided criticizing Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza for fear of creating friction with the armed groups. This failed strategy has only emboldened Hamas and its allies, allowing them to exploit UNRWA facilities in Gaza with impunity. Time and again, authorities have uncovered terrorist infrastructure connected to UNRWA facilities, including agency employees who were members of terrorist groups and committed atrocities on October 7.”
Day 536 — Tuesday, March 25
The Hamas terrorist group released video footage on Monday showing signs of life of Israeli hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana, 535 days after they were taken captive during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Bohbot, 35, an Israeli-Colombian dual national from Mevaseret Zion near Jerusalem, and Ohana, 24, from Kiryat Malachi in southern Israel, were taken to Gaza as hostages by Hamas terrorists during their cross-border onslaught on the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im on Oct. 7.
Bohbot was last seen in video footage of the terror attacks, in which he lay crumpled on a floor with his face bloodied and eyes wide with fear.
His nephew, Menashe Harush, told JNS last April that he had been living and sleeping in Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” since Oct. 8, 2023, to raise awareness for Bohbot’s plight at the hands of Palestinian terrorists.
“The video shows he is in poor condition, having lost a significant amount of weight due to persistent starvation,” his relatives said in a response published by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Monday. “He suffers from skin and breathing problems in addition to being asthmatic, and has not seen daylight for almost a year and a half!
“This video is further proof that Elkana must return home to his family, to his wife Rivka and his son Ra’am David. Elkana is crying out for help, begging us not to forget him in the tunnel hell,” added the family.
Ohana was kidnapped from the festival as he and a friend attempted to provide aid to wounded fellow partygoers amid Hamas’s massacre. Last month, his family told Hebrew media they received a “clear indication” that their loved one was still alive after more than 500 days in captivity.
Fifty-nine abductees remain captive in Gaza, according to official Israel Defense Forces figures. At least 35 of them are believed to have died.
Day 535 — Monday, March 24
An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital killed a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau Sunday night as the military moved to expand its renewed offensive across the Strip.
Israel said it used precision weaponry to target and kill Ismail Barhoum at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, referring to him as a “key Hamas terrorist,” as the Palestinian terror group confirmed his death and said he had been undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in a previous strike.
The strike was one of dozens reported across the territory Sunday and into the early morning hours of Monday, with a separate strike in the Khan Younis area reportedly killing a senior Hamas education official. The Israel Defense Forces also indicated it was preparing to expand ground operations, redeploying an armored division that had been stationed on the border with Lebanon.
Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the widening of the offensive in a statement hailing the killing of Barhoum.
He described the Hamas official, a member of the terror group’s political bureau previously involved in financing its activities, as “the new Hamas prime minister in Gaza, who replaced Issam Da’alis, the previous prime minister who was eliminated a few days ago.”
He was at least the fourth member of Hamas’s political bureau killed since Tuesday, when Israel resumed airstrikes in the territory after an impasse over continuing a ceasefire. Earlier Sunday, an Israeli airstrike near Khan Younis killed Salah al-Bardawil, another senior member of its political bureau.
Out of the 20 members of Hamas’s political bureau elected in 2021, 11 have been assassinated during the war in Gaza. Seven are either certain or highly likely to be outside the Gaza Strip.
The IDF said the strike was carried out following “an extensive intelligence-gathering process,” and that a “precision munition” was used to mitigate harm to civilians.
Day 535 — Monday, March 24
A man of about 70 was murdered Monday morning and a second man was injured in a terror attack at Hatishbi Junction near Yokne’am in northern Israel.
A Magen David Adom (MDA) spokesperson said first responders are providing medical treatment to a man of about 20 who is in moderate condition and conscious. A second man, aged about 70, was critically injured and unconscious, and was soon declared dead at the scene.
The terror attack took place at a bust stop, when the terrorist attempted to ram civilians and then exited his vehicle with a rifle and opened fire at civilians.
According to the police, the terrorist opened fire at civilians and was immediately neutralized by police officers at the scene.
Security forces are searching the area for others potentially involved in the attack.
MDA paramedic Moshiko Amsalem said: “This was a difficult incident. We were called to the scene of a bus stop terror attack at Hatishbi Junction. When we arrived at the scene, we immediately saw two injured victims, one aged 75 in critical condition with penetrative wounds, and another victim aged 20 in moderate condition and also suffering penetrative wounds. We immediately began providing them with medical treatment, which included stopping the bleeding and bandaging them.”
Day 534 — Sunday, March 23
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is beefing up the U.S. Navy’s presence in the Middle East, ordering a second aircraft carrier to the region to bolster efforts against Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists targeting shipping in the Red Sea.
A U.S. official told U.S. Naval Institute News that Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which was in the Pacific participating in drills with South Korea, to the region to join the USS Harry S. Truman, which has been there since September 2024. Hegseth also signed orders Thursday to keep the Truman in the Middle East for at least another month.
It will be the second time in six months that the U.S. has kept two carrier strike groups in the region. The push for two aircraft carriers came amid the Trump administration’s recent airstrikes against Houthis operating in Yemen. It will take the Carl Vinson two to three weeks to reach the region, meaning the carriers will overlap for a period of time, USNI News reported.
The Houthis have been targeting commercial shipping and U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip. But the Houthis had not attacked any ships since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began Jan. 19.
The Houthis, though, began to target the Truman and its escort ships following the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen.
In a post Wednesday on Truth Social, President Donald Trump warned that Iran must stop arming the Houthis “IMMEDIATELY” and vowed that the Houthis “will be completely annihilated!”
The Truman left Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia at the end of September and was nearing the end of its planned deployment when Hegseth extended its mission, USNI News reported. After operating in the North Sea for NATO exercises at the beginning of its deployment, the Truman sailed to the eastern Mediterranean and has spent much of its time since then operating in the Red Sea. The carrier briefly stopped in Souda Bay, Crete, last month for emergency repairs following a collision with a merchant ship near Port Said, Egypt.
The Carl Vinson deployed in mid-November from Naval Station North Island in San Diego and has been operating in the Indo-Pacific for the past few months, according to USNI News. The carrier, which has F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter jets on board, drilled last week with U.S. Air Force and South Korea Air Force F-35s.
The next West Coast-based carrier expected to deploy to the Indo-Pacific is the USS Nimitz, which has been doing pre-deployed work off the coast of California, according to USNI News.
Day 533 — Saturday, March 22
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages. Earlier this week, the IDF resumed the war in Gaza after a nearly two-month-long ceasefire that saw the release of 33 hostages.
“If the terrorist organization Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages, I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the benefit of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, through permanent Israeli control of the territory,” Katz said in a statement. “As Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more territory that will be annexed to Israel.”
If Israel follows through on Katz’s threat of partial annexation, it would be the biggest shift to the status quo in Gaza in almost 20 years. In 2005, Israel evacuated Gaza and even sent in the IDF to physically take Israelis out of their homes. A year later, Hamas took control and has ruled over the Strip ever since.
Katz also said that Israel will continue Operation “Strength and Sword” with increasing intensity until Hamas releases the hostages. Additionally, he affirmed Israel’s adherence to the proposal put forth by U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, which involves getting all hostages, alive and dead, out of Gaza in two phases.
The Trump administration is standing by Israel’s military decisions. This is a very different approach than the one taken by the Biden administration.
Day 533 — Saturday, March 22
Three rockets were fired from Lebanon a short while ago at the northern border community of Metula.
According to the IDF, all three rockets were intercepted by air defenses. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Sirens had sounded in Metula amid the rocket attack, the first from Lebanon since December.
Three rockets were fired from Lebanon a short while ago at the northern border community of Metula.
According to the IDF, all three rockets were intercepted by air defenses. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Sirens had sounded in Metula amid the rocket attack, the first from Lebanon since December.
“The Lebanese government bears responsibility for any fire from its territory. I have instructed the IDF to respond accordingly,” he adds.
