דרור הגיע לראשונה למקום שבו נרצח בנו

Three years have passed since that horrific morning, but for Dror Tzfati, father of the late Chai Tzfati, time seems to have stopped at a single moment: when his son promised he would call him back, but never did.

On the third anniversary of the massacre, Dror found the strength to make his first visit to the Nova festival site near the Gaza border, confronting the place forever linked to the greatest loss of his life.

“I have been suffering from post-trauma for these past three years," Dror told Arutz-Sheva Israel National News. “I was afraid to come here, both because of the war and because I was afraid to confront what I needed to face."

He said the images etched into his memory when he identified his son’s body continue to haunt him to this day. But amid the pain, one final message remains engraved in his mind.

“His last message to me came after I called him and he couldn’t answer. He texted me, ‘Dad, I’ll get back to you.’"

Dror reflected on the promise that was never fulfilled: “I’ve been waiting three years for him to get back to me, and he hasn’t."

That morning, Chai managed to speak with his mother. When the rocket sirens sounded, she urged him to flee. He escaped to a roadside shelter near the Re’im Junction - across from the shelter where hero Aner Shapira took cover - but the structure became a death trap.

As the gunfire drew closer, Chai realized the gravity of the situation. He ended his call with his mother with words no parent should ever hear: “I love you. I’m sorry. Forgive me. Don’t be angry with me."

At 8:02 a.m., Dror tried to reach his son, but his phone was disconnected. Only later did the family learn what had transpired inside the shelter.

Chai’s body was found two days later, and he was laid to rest on October 10. Alongside his overwhelming grief, Dror expressed gratitude that his family did not have to endure months of excruciating uncertainty before receiving the news.

The family’s story also bears a miracle of survival: Dror’s daughter had planned to attend the festival with her brother, but decided at the last minute to stay home and meet friends instead.

“I’m grateful that God pulled my daughter away from that place, without her even realizing at the time what the consequences of that decision would be," he said.

Remembering his son, Dror focused on the smile that defined him. “He was a truly exceptional kid. There are probably 1,500 photos of him, and in every single one, you see him smiling. Always smiling, always helping others."

He shared that Chai loved music, worked in the culinary industry, and was a passionate supporter of Beitar Jerusalem - a tradition passed down through three generations. “My father got me hooked, and I got him hooked," he recalled.

Despite the trauma and pain, Dror draws strength from his faith. He recalled that before Chai was born, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef blessed his wife, creating an enduring spiritual bond with the revered rabbi.

“Faith is what keeps me going," he said. “I know with certainty that my son is up there studying with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef."

Three years later, Dror has finally stood on the ground he was once so afraid to visit. The son who promised to call him back will never return, but his voice, his smile, and that final promise remain with his father every day.

Hakeem JeffriesREUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday condemned the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel while also criticizing the devastation in Gaza and calling for a dramatic change in American policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian Arab conflict.

In a statement marking the third anniversary of the massacre, Jeffries denounced Hamas's atrocities against Israeli civilians and American citizens and expressed solidarity with the victims and former hostages.

"Three years ago today, Hamas terrorists intent on destroying Israel launched an unthinkable massacre, murdering, kidnapping and sexually assaulting innocent Israeli civilians, as well as American citizens. We continue to mourn with the loved ones of those who were killed on that tragic day and stand with all still healing, including former hostages recovering from unimaginable horror," he wrote.

Jeffries also addressed the rise in antisemitism worldwide, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Jewish people and maintaining American support for Israel's existence and security.

"As we solemnly commemorate October 7 and antisemitic attacks around the world surge, we are reminded of the painful reality that the Jewish people are in a constant struggle for survival, as has been the case for thousands of years. America must remain committed to Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, living in safety and security with its neighbors. We must permanently remove Hamas from power, eradicate terror and strive for a just and lasting peace in the region."

However, the Democratic leader also used his October 7 anniversary statement to criticize the consequences of the war in Gaza, describing the suffering of civilians and the destruction in the territory as unacceptable.

"Throughout the past three years, considerable suffering has plagued the Middle East. The horrific death of Palestinian civilians, destruction of civil society and devastation in Gaza is reprehensible and can never be allowed to happen again."

Jeffries went further, arguing that Washington must fundamentally revise its approach to the region by supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

He also called for new Palestinian leadership and an end to what he described as violence by Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria.

"In order to end the vicious cycle of bloodshed, for the good of the Israeli and Palestinian people, American policy in the region must change dramatically. We must commit to the creation of an independent Palestinian state to provide dignity, respect and self-determination for the Palestinian people. We must also support a new generation of Palestinian leaders and put an end to the egregious settler violence in the West Bank. Nothing short of a future that involves Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and prosperity is acceptable."

Jeffries’ statement followed an earlier October 7 statement by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who similarly condemned the massacre while criticizing Israel. Mamdani went even further than Jeffries, accusing Israel of “genocide" in Gaza.

Jeffries formally endorsed Mamdani during his mayoral campaign last year, though he had also called on Mamdani to address concerns by the Jewish community over his longstanding anti-Israel views.

Nicolas MaduroREUTERS

Federal prosecutors in New York are preparing additional charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, connected to the alleged torture of Americans detained in Venezuela, CNN reported Wednesday, citing multiple people familiar with the investigation.

The new charges could be announced as early as Thursday, according to the report.

The case centers on more than a dozen US citizens whom the US government has said were wrongfully detained in Venezuelan prisons while Maduro headed what Washington described as a repressive regime.

Investigators have also considered bringing charges against several other individuals accused of involvement in the alleged torture of the detained Americans, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN.

Maduro and Flores were captured during a US military raid on the presidential palace in Caracas in January and subsequently brought to New York.

Both have pleaded not guilty to charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy and are currently being held without bail in New York.

Leiter and MamdaniREUTERS, Liri Agami/Flash 90

Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, strongly condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday after the mayor used a statement marking the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre to accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Mamdani's message acknowledged the Israelis murdered and abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack, but devoted much of its attention to allegations against Israel over its subsequent military campaign in Gaza.

“This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7," Mamdani wrote on social media.

“On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss."

The mayor then shifted his focus to Gaza, asserting that the suffering “did not begin nor end that day" and accusing Israel of an “ongoing genocide."

Mamdani alleged that Israeli military operations had killed more than 74,000 Palestinian Arabs, including over 21,000 children. He further claimed that more than 1,400 Palestinian Arabs had been killed since the beginning of what he described as the “so-called ceasefire."

Leiter responded later Wednesday with a lengthy post on social media, accusing Mamdani of exploiting the anniversary of the Hamas massacre to spread false accusations against Israel.

"It’s actually hard to find a sentence in Mamdani’s post that isn’t a lie," the ambassador wrote.

"Paying lip service to the victims of October 7 just to spread blood libels about Israel might play nicely to the red-green/communist-Islamist alliance that he promotes in the U.S, but those of us who know better see his perverted language for what it is. This man is a defender of Palestinian terrorism, a promoter of antisemitism, and an advocate of anti-Americanism," continued Leiter.

"Even today, October 7, he can’t help but attack the Jewish state with absurd accusations and outright propaganda."

The ambassador rejected Mamdani's characterization of Israel's actions in Gaza, arguing that Hamas was responsible for the atrocities that initiated the war.

"Let’s be clear: the only attempted genocide in this conflict was perpetrated by the barbarians he supports, Hamas, who butchered, raped, and murdered in the most horrific ways imaginable," stressed Leiter.

Leiter also disputed allegations concerning Israel's treatment of Gaza's civilian population, accusing Hamas of deliberately operating among civilians and diverting humanitarian assistance.

"There is no genocide, ethnic cleansing, or famine in Gaza. Hamas embeds itself among, behind, and beneath the people of Gaza, knowing that the IDF will not, ever, intentionally target civilians. It robs its own people of the humanitarian aid that Israel has facilitated into Gaza since the war began."

The ambassador went on to accuse Mamdani of amplifying Hamas's claims and contributing to hostility toward Jews internationally.

"Hamas knows that its allies, including Zohran Mamdani, will regurgitate its lies, demonizing Israel and endangering Jews everywhere," continued Leiter.

Concluding his response, Leiter pledged that Israel would continue confronting terrorism while pursuing a peaceful future for the region.

"Israel and its allies will not be deterred from defending civilization against terrorist savagery. Those of us who envision a peaceful and prosperous Middle East, will root out the evil that is Islamic terrorism and build a better future for all, Jew and Arab alike."

עמרי שפרוני בטקס הזיכרון: "חייבים לדעת מה קרה. ללא חקירת האמת לא נוכל לתקן"

Omri Shifroni, a co-founder of the Kumu movement, spoke at the national memorial ceremony organized by Kumu and the October 7 Families, addressing the systemic collapse on the morning of the massacre, the loss of public trust in the state, and the imperative to uncover the truth to repair what failed and prevent a future disaster.

Shifroni, whose niece Liel, nephew Yanai, and aunt and uncle Avia and Ayala Hetzroni were murdered at Kibbutz Be’eri, opened his remarks with a poignant tribute to his fallen family members.

“My beloved family, you should not have been murdered. None of you," he said. “You were alone, defenseless, and I could not help you either."

He went on to describe the profound sense of collapse he experienced that morning and the deep breach of trust it caused. “That morning, the systems collapsed, and the state failed to function. During those long hours in the safe room, the trust that had been our anchor was shattered."

Despite his painful words, Shifroni also highlighted the courage of the soldiers and civilians who answered the call. “Yet there was something else as well. Soldiers charged forward, fought their way through, and eventually arrived. Civilians stepped up wholeheartedly, and we felt the full strength of Israeli mutual responsibility."

Shifroni then stressed the critical need for a comprehensive investigation into the events of October 7, directly linking the pursuit of truth to the restoration of lost trust.

“Mutual responsibility alone is not enough. To rebuild trust, we also need the truth. We need to know what happened. Without investigating the truth, we will not be able to fix what went wrong, nor can we ensure that it never happens again."

Following his address, many in the audience rose to give him a standing ovation.

Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Molly Riley

US President Donald published a statement on his Truth Social account on Wednesday, marking three years since the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.

"Three years ago today, on October 7th, the World witnessed one of the darkest and most evil days in the history of Israel. Innocent men, women, and children were murdered, kidnapped, and subjected to unimaginable horrors at the hands of Hamas TERRORISTS," Trump stated.

"Today, we remember every innocent life taken, honor the survivors and their families, and remember the hostages who endured the unthinkable. I fought relentlessly to bring the hostages home, and reunite them with their loved ones, and I did, both the living and the dead!"

"We will NEVER forget October 7th. We will NEVER forget the victims. And we will always stand against the forces of Terror and Evil," concluded the President.

Earlier, Trump said that he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the occasion of the third anniversary of the massacre.

"I spoke with Bibi Netanyahu and I wished him well and I wished the people of Israel well. That was a horrible day, a horrible tragedy - and the other side is paying a very big price for what they did on October 7th, believe me," said Trump.

FBI officersReuters

An 18-year-old Minnesota man accused of supporting ISIS the Islamic State (ISIS) and planning a mass shooting at the Mall of America allegedly told an informant that he selected the shopping center as a target "because it’s owned by Jewish," according to federal charges.

Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was arrested after purchasing an AK-47-style rifle, magazines and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee. He is federally charged with one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing or having reason to believe they would be used in a felony or federal crime of terrorism.

Court documents detail months of communications over messaging applications and TikTok between Mohamud and an informant. Authorities say that during those exchanges, Mohamud pledged his support for ISIS, discussed his desire to attack the Mall of America and expressed an interest in traveling to Somalia to join a terrorist organization.

According to the charges, Mohamud explained his alleged choice of target in one message, writing that he wanted to attack the mall "because its [sic] owned by Jewish so if I kill even 30 people no one would go there anymore. I want to harm the jew [sic] just like brothers in Australia Bondi Beach harmed the Jews. I'll just go grab assault rifle, bomb too complicated, kill maybe 30-60 people insha Allah and have 260 ammo."

The charges also detail messages in which Mohamud allegedly expressed a desire to kill "kuffar," a term referring to non-Muslim "disbelievers."

"I can’t wait until I kill kuffar man. October 24 is the day insha Allah," Mohamud allegedly told an FBI confidential source in September, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Minnesota.

When the source later asked why he had selected October 24, Mohamud allegedly pointed to a "Hmong Arts Celebration" taking place at the Mall of America that day, saying the event would have "a lot of people."

Authorities say Mohamud ultimately met with a person he believed was a loyal ISIS member to purchase an AK-47-style rifle. The person was actually working undercover for the FBI.

Mohamud was born in the United States and is an American citizen, authorities said. His parents are from Somalia and later became naturalized US citizens, according to multiple federal law enforcement sources who spoke to Fox News Digital.

The sources said Mohamud's parents arrived in the United States through a New York City airport in 2000, although it remains unclear whether they entered as refugees or on visas. His mother became a naturalized US citizen in 2010 and his father in 2017.

Federal authorities also allege that Mohamud discussed wanting to travel to Somalia to join a terrorist organization.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the suspect "allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans."

"Once again, this FBI is moving more effectively than we ever have before at stopping terrorists before they can attack Americans - with over 1,100 individuals prevented from conducting attacks, over 4,000 foreign terrorist organization related disruptions and arrests, a 38% increase, and more," Patel said. "We will continue to use every resource we have to detect and prevent acts of terrorism and wipe out their networks all over the country. Thank you to FBI Minneapolis, who did an outstanding job in the investigation and likely saved lives."

President Donald Trump also praised the FBI's handling of the case when speaking to reporters Wednesday.

"I did hear about it. And they did a great job. The FBI did a great job," Trump said.

Mohamud appeared before a federal judge in Minnesota on Wednesday for an eight-minute initial hearing, according to federal court records.

US Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright ordered him temporarily detained. Mohamud is scheduled to return to court on October 19 for a preliminary and detention hearing.

Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Abe McNatt

The White House has directed the Pentagon to prepare options for possible new military strikes against Iran that could be carried out before the November midterm elections, The Atlantic reported Wednesday, citing two administration officials.

According to the report, the request comes as President Donald Trump seeks to demonstrate progress in the conflict with Iran and bring down gas prices ahead of the vote.

No final decision has been made on whether to launch an operation, and administration officials are still discussing the potential scope and targets. US Central Command, which is overseeing the American war effort, has been tasked with developing the military options, a US official told The Atlantic.

Supporters of the proposal acknowledge that limited strikes alone would be unlikely to force Iran back to negotiations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to safe passage or produce lower gasoline prices before Election Day. However, proponents reportedly believe renewed military action following months of uneasy peace could allow Trump to project strength and potentially claim a victory before voters head to the polls, providing Republicans with momentum ahead of the elections.

“It would make the president look like he got a win and that gas prices would start going down," a Republican familiar with the deliberations told The Atlantic.

According to the report, a limited operation before the midterms could be followed by a larger military campaign afterward. Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility that the conflict, now in its eighth month, could intensify following the elections.

Addressing the United Nations last month, Trump threatened to “annihilate the Islamic Republic" unless Tehran agreed to a deal. He again raised the possibility of post-election military action in an interview with Time magazine published earlier this month, saying “we’ve been stocking up for the last six months."

Last week, Trump predicted that the United States would win the war “right after the election," while leaving open the possibility of an earlier outcome, adding, “Maybe before the election."

The report comes as the Trump administration continues to demand concrete concessions from Iran over its nuclear program. Vice President JD Vance told Reuters this week that Tehran would have to meaningfully reduce its nuclear enrichment capabilities before Washington would agree to end the war.

Vance said the administration would not accept promises of future reductions as a substitute for an actual decrease in Iran's enrichment capacity.

"If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear ⁠weapon, don't build highly enriched fuel. That's a very basic threshold issue," Vance said.

"I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity."

Washington and Tehran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the fighting and restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies.

Trump rejected Iran's latest proposal, although Tehran subsequently maintained that it had received a response from Washington.

Shalom Wasserteil, esq.Shalom Wasserteil.

“And Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the ground" (Genesis 4:2). The Sforno comments: “‘And Abel was a keeper of sheep’ - for it was a more skilled occupation than working the soil." In light of the growth in the number of farms in our country today, many of them raising abundant flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, it is fitting that we take a closer look at this important profession, which began with Abel, and perhaps even with Adam, or more precisely, with Eve - Eve, whose name means “mother of all living."

Interestingly, in the hierarchy of professions taught by the school of thought of the Chatam Sofer, agriculture appears, at first glance, to hold the highest place in importance among the various occupations. Thus, commenting on the verse, “And the profit of the earth is in all things; the king himself is subject to the field" (Ecclesiastes 5:8), he writes: “Know that the advantage of the earth is in everything, and the field mentioned here refers to the world as a whole, the earth and everything upon it, the seas and everything within them, and man rules over all - he is the master of the land and the field, sowing, plowing, harvesting, planting, raising, and so forth. This is the earth and its settlement." The Sages likewise said in the chapter of Rabbi Akiva (Shabbat 85a): “‘The sons of Seir the Horite, inhabitants of the land’ (Genesis 36:20) - they were knowledgeable in settling the land, and they were the foundation of the land; without them, there would be no world" (Derashot Chatam Sofer, Vol. II, Jerusalem, 1974, Passover sermon of 1836, p. 276).

Moreover, the Mishnah in Tractate Bava Kamma (7:7) is well known: “One may not raise small livestock in the Land of Israel, but one may raise them in Syria and in the wildernesses of the Land of Israel." Rashi explains that the reason is concern for settling the Land of Israel, since sheep and goats “destroy the fields, and presumably all the fields of the Land of Israel belong to Jews" (Bava Kamma 79b). This was also codified in the Shulchan Aruch, with an additional reason: such animals customarily graze in other people’s fields, and the damage they cause is common. Yet the Shulchan Aruch adds that, in his time in the 16th century, since it was uncommon for Jews to own fields in the Land of Israel, raising such animals appeared to be permitted (Choshen Mishpat 409:1). The Chatam Sofer likewise maintains that in his time, when the majority of Jews did not live on their land, the prohibition did not apply with the same severity, because most of the fields were not Jewish-owned. Therefore, raising sheep did not cause the direct harm to the settlement of the Land of Israel that it had caused during the Temple era (Chiddushei Chatam Sofer on Bava Kamma 82).

Yet this seems perplexing. Today, we recognize the enormous contribution of farms to settling the Land of Israel, both by preventing our enemies from seizing and taking control of land and by preventing smuggling across the Jordan River. To understand the deeper dimensions of this issue, it is worth examining the debates that took place exactly one hundred years ago, in 1927, when the Shepherds’ Association was established in the Land of Israel, receiving the blessing of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. In his letter to them, he wrote that shepherding was the second profession completing the great vision expressed by the prophet Jeremiah: “Upon this I awoke, and looked, and my sleep was sweet to me" (Jeremiah 31:25). This was part of the settlement of the land through grazing, so that alongside farmers we would also have shepherds traveling with their flocks (Igrot HaRa'ayah, letter dated the eve of 14 Adar I, 1927). Moreover, Rabbi Kook served as the organization’s honorary president, and one of its board members was Rabbi Moshe Segal, whom we know as one of the pioneers who renewed the Jewish presence in Jerusalem’s Old City following the Six-Day War.

Rabbi Moshe later became famous for blowing the shofar at the Western Wall at the conclusion of Yom Kippur in 1930, in defiance of the prohibition imposed by the British. He was consequently arrested and imprisoned in the Kishle fortress. The incident so distressed Rabbi Kook that he called the British police headquarters and announced that if Rabbi Moshe Segal was not released immediately, he would continue fasting even though the holiday had ended. The gesture made a deep impression, and Rabbi Segal was released.

Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun - only the motivations for developing this branch of shepherding were different. During those years, Baron Rothschild, the “well-known philanthropist," redeemed large tracts of land, where the settlers engaged in agriculture, including the lands of Be'er Tuvia, on which we established the Karmei HaNadiv neighborhood. Agricultural work did not always succeed, to put it mildly. It depended largely on funds provided by the Baron through his officials, and it was not suitable for everyone - particularly the many immigrants who arrived in the Land of Israel without agricultural training, among them shoemakers, milkmen, tailors, builders, carpenters, metalworkers, shopkeepers, and others. Shepherding therefore served as a complement to agriculture, just as the Ministry of Agriculture today is responsible for both branches - the animal and the plant alike.

It is no coincidence that the Shepherds’ Association received the blessing of Rabbi Kook. I would add that it was also no coincidence that the organization was named after Moses - “the faithful shepherd," who tended the flocks of Jethro before becoming the shepherd of Israel. This profession was also practiced by his great-grandfather Jacob, and before him by our forefathers Abraham and Isaac, and later by King David. According to the Midrash (Exodus Rabbah 2:2), while Moses was tending Jethro’s flock, one kid escaped and ran into a ravine, where it found a pool of water. Moses ran after it and found it drinking. He showed compassion toward the animal, and when he saw that it was exhausted, he carried it back to the pasture on his shoulders. This was a clear indication of his ability to lead Israel.

We decorate the sukkah with the Ushpizin, the seven guests, in an expression of love and fellowship. Indeed, raising sheep requires great love and sensitivity toward every individual sheep in the flock and toward the flock as a whole. The only one of the great leaders who is not said to have been a shepherd was Aaron the High Priest, who instead offered the sheep in the Temple service. Yet Aaron knew how to see every individual within the people of God. He was a lover and pursuer of peace, bringing peace among his flock.

We are therefore left with the question: How is shepherding permitted when the Mishnah explicitly states that small livestock may not be raised in the Land of Israel? The prohibition was so serious that shepherds were even disqualified from testifying in court, since they were presumed likely to engage in theft (Sanhedrin 25b). Moreover, Rabbi Kook himself, in a letter written more than a decade earlier, explicitly criticized the settlement committee of Rehovot for raising small livestock that damaged the orchards (Igrot HaRa'ayah, Vol. I, 33).

My late friend Rabbi Shmuel Emanuel, one of the founders of Kibbutz Sha'alvim - whose sheep-milking facilities, incidentally, served my brothers and me as an excellent amusement during our vacations - answered this question by pointing out that, unlike the approach of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank held that once a decree has been nullified for a period of time, it cannot simply return without a new enactment. Since the decree had been nullified during the long exile, it had lost its force (Har Tzvi, Choshen Mishpat 409). Rabbi Weinberg likewise ruled in Tzitz Eliezer (Vol. VII, 24-25), adding that farmers had cultivated their crops on the understanding that sheep would also be raised in the Land of Israel (Birkat Asher, Leviticus 3:6).

As for the Chatam Sofer, it appears that shepherding was included within agriculture and falls under his description of the virtues of agricultural work: “sowing, plowing, harvesting, planting, raising, shearing, spinning, and weaving" - all of which are associated with the work of shepherds. As for the prohibition against raising small livestock, it seems to be a wrong that can be remedied - and the remedy is to prevent the damage. It appears that even in 1927, shepherding was permitted not merely because the members of the organization were honest, like Abraham’s shepherds, who were careful to avoid theft, but because the Shepherds’ Association had strict regulations governing the obligations of its members. Among these was an absolute requirement to exercise caution and graze livestock only in permitted areas, such as ownerless fields or fields for which permission had been granted. They were warned that they must never cause even the slightest suspicion of theft or damage to crops.

In addition, we all hope for the rebuilding of the Temple speedily in our days. If so, how will there be animals available for sacrifices if raising small livestock in the Land of Israel is prohibited? Are we to depend on importing animals from abroad? Yet the Gemara in Bava Kamma (79b) already identifies exceptions: although one may not raise small livestock in the Land of Israel, one may raise them in the forests of the Land of Israel, in Syria, and in the wildernesses of the Land of Israel. This was likewise codified in the Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 409:1).

Today, in addition to all of the above, the screening process for the men and women who establish and operate these farms is extremely rigorous. Almost all of them are God-fearing people who devote themselves wholeheartedly to the Land of Israel, the people of Israel, and no less importantly, the Torah of Israel. The concern over theft is therefore as distant as east from west. Furthermore, today the farm communities serve a genuine security need and are part of the security system, with its blessing and in full cooperation with it. The security establishment is responsible for guarding our land against those who seek our harm and the seizure of our territory. The farms, with God's help, settle the land while simultaneously preventing our enemies from taking control of more than 1200 square kilometers, in addition to preventing the smuggling of weapons and drugs.

As the statement attributed to Joseph Trumpeldor puts it: “Our land ends wherever Jews stop plowing." In keeping with our times, we can add: “Where the Jewish cow or sheep grazes, there the boundaries of our land will be established."

The prophet Isaiah (2:4) tells us that in the future we will be blessed with a world in which “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." But today, there are those for whom the plowshares and pruning hooks - the sheep and the cows - also serve as spears.

We began with the Shepherds’ Association of a century ago. It is therefore fitting to mention the “Tractor War" that took place about sixty years ago, in 1965. It happened at Kibbutz Sha'alvim on the Shabbat of Parashat Bereishit, when kibbutz members were asked to go out and plow, in the midst of Shabbat, the lands of the no-man’s-land near the kibbutz, in order to secure our hold on the area and prevent the Jordanians from encroaching on it with their tractors.

When the commander, Central Command chief Major General Yosef Geva, ordered that the plowing take place on Shabbat, Kibbutz Sha'alvim - then a frontier settlement - faced a serious halachic question. The question was referred to the kibbutz rabbi, Rabbi Meir Shlesinger, and concerned whether it was permissible to go out and plow under the exceptional circumstances of that Shabbat.

The rabbi ruled that it was permitted, and he also received the agreement of the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, of blessed memory. This was based on the principle that one may go to war on Shabbat even over matters involving straw and hay when the settlement is near the frontier. The ruling follows the Gemara in Eruvin (45a), which states that in a city near the frontier, even if an enemy comes not to take lives but merely to seize straw and hay, the residents go out against them with weapons and desecrate the Sabbath. Rashi adds that a city separating the border of Israel from the border of the nations must defend itself on Shabbat, lest it be captured, for through its capture the land would become easier for the enemy to conquer.

Let us return, then, to Cain and Abel in this week's Torah portion. It seems that had Cain not been jealous of Abel, Abel's shepherding would have complemented Cain's work as a farmer - providing both food and clothing produced from sheep and cattle. Cain, who needed clothing, murdered his brother Abel instead of making him his partner, thereby cutting down the very tree under which he himself was meant to sit. The Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 22:7) elaborates on their quarrel:

“What were they arguing about? They said: Come, let us divide the world between us. One took the land and the other took the movable property. Cain said: The land on which you stand belongs to me, and Abel said: What you are wearing belongs to me. One said: Strip off your clothes! The other said: Fly in the air! And from this, ‘Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.’"

Cain was disappointed that his offering was not accepted, and he was jealous that Abel's offering was accepted. Yet it appears that their quarrel began even before the offerings were brought, when they rejected the obvious possibility of partnership - a partnership in which the animal would complement the plant, the plant would complement the animal, and the land would complement the living creature walking upon it.

Instead, the brothers wanted to divide the world between themselves and separate from one another. Cain and Abel did not want to be joint owners of the world. Each wanted to be his own master and the sole owner of a particular portion of the world. Once all the real estate belonged to one brother and all the movable property in the world belonged to the other, neither could live in the world without the other's consent. Each had a veto over the other.

Thus, instead of creating the obvious partnership, Cain chose an extreme solution: he rose against his brother and killed him. Of course, the final “hammer blow" - literally - was the rejection of Cain's offering.

Today, it seems that we have learned the lesson. It is widely understood and accepted that the integration of disciplines and resources, spare parts and supplies, and the combination of different enterprises toward a common goal - while each partner restrains his own ego - are fundamental building blocks for the success of any enterprise.

Advanced industries in Israel and around the world depend on close integration between different production technologies, because the proper combination of disciplines makes it possible to produce complex systems with high mechanical strength, maximum geometric precision, and durability under extreme working conditions.

The same is true of the Jewish people's hold on the Land of Israel. It requires the integration of different forms of settlement: farms, rural communities, and urban communities, alongside a diverse industrial base encompassing both high-tech and low-tech industries. And in light of the lessons of the most recent war, we must also ensure independence in the supply of spare parts for military equipment, as we make our way toward the complete redemption.

The Torah portion therefore deals, following the creation of the world, with the question of the dichotomy and complementarity between shepherding and working the land, as embodied in the story of Cain and Abel. This issue continues to occupy humanity and the people of Israel, all the way to settlement and security in the State of Israel today.

We have raised the economic and halachic tension between the prohibition against raising small livestock in the Land of Israel - because of the potential damage to fields and the settlement of the land - and the development of shepherding farms in modern times as a strategic and organic tool for maintaining a Jewish presence on the land.

As with Rabbi Kook's approach and the establishment of the Shepherds’ Association a century ago, we should adopt a systemic and integrated approach that combines crop agriculture, sheep grazing and cattle raising, security, and industry as complementary tools for advancing the redemption of Israel in its inheritance.

And to the men and women of the farms, we say: Be strong, and may God be with you.

The author is the CEO of Tzifha International Real Estate.

Bereaved father, Rabbi Benny Kalmanson, recites Kaddish at October 7th Memorial

Otniel Yeshiva President Rabbi Benny Kalmanson recited the Kaddish prayer on Wednesday at the National October 7th Families Memorial Ceremony in Park Hayarkon in Tel Aviv. Rabbi Kalmanson lost his son, Elhanan, who, on the day of the massacre, rushed to save lives with his brother and cousin and fell in battle in Kibbutz Be'eri.

Before reciting the prayer, Rabbi Kalmanson stated: "I stand here on behalf of my son Elhanan, who rushed, fought, and fell for his people and to sanctify G-d's name. For the sake of unity in the nation, for the sake of overcoming differences and mutual responsibility between us, for the sake of the war for what is good and proper in the word."

He quoted the author Shmuel Yosef Agnon: "The Jewish people's mission is to correct the world; therefore, losing one Jew is like losing an entire battalion in the army."

"Therefore, we recite the Kaddish for those who are slain for the Land of Israel, so what is missing is corrected, and the damage is minimized. And despite the great loss and with the help of our energy, we, the warriors of light and holiness who remain alive, will exalt and sanctify G-d's name," Rabbi Kalmanson concluded before proceeding with the prayer.

בנימין נתניהוצילום: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

A poll published on Wednesday by Channel 13 found that if the elections were held today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc would receive a total of 55 seats, a record high compared to past polls. At the same time, the anti-Netanyahu bloc, without the Arab parties, would drop to a record low of 50 seats.

The poll resulted in a tie between Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party and Netanyahu's Likud, with 20 seats each.

They were followed by Together (12 seats), the Democrats (10), the Joint List (nine), Yisrael Beytenu (eight), Otzma Yehudit (eight), United Torah Judaism (eight), Shas (seven), Religious Zionists-Zhut (seven), United Arab List (Ra'am) (six), and Amcha Yisrael (five).

Yoav Hendel and Yaron Zelekha Reservists-Economic party (2.9%), Hatzibur Haharedi (1.1%) and Benny Gantz's Blue and White (0.8%) do not pass the electoral threshold.

A separate poll, published by the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, paints an even brighter picture for the Prime Minister's bloc. In the Channel 14 poll, the Likud won 31 seats, and Yashar won 23. Shas received 10 seats, the Democrats nine, both Otzma Yehudit, Together, and UTJ eight, the Joint List seven, the Religious Zionists-Zehut six, Yisrael Beytenu five, and Ra'am five.

Not making the cut: Amcha Yisrael (2.2%), the Reservists-Economic Party (1.8%), Blue and White (1.3), Noam L'Yisrael (0.9%), and Hatzibur Haharedi (0.4%)

The Channel 14 poll grants the Netanyahu bloc a total of 63 seats, with the anti-Netanyahu bloc, without the Arab parties, receiving 45 seats.

Hezbollah terrorists surrender to paratroopersIDF spokesperson

Hezbollah has begun establishing itself in the pilot areas of southern Lebanon from which the IDF is expected to withdraw under the agreements between Israel and Lebanon, Kan News reported Wednesday evening.

According to the report, Hezbollah activity has recently been identified in these areas on a limited scale and under civilian cover.

Israel and Lebanon, under US auspices, reached a framework agreement that includes pilot areas in southern Lebanon. Under the understandings, the IDF is expected to withdraw from those areas and transfer control to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Hezbollah activity was identified in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zotar al-Gharbiya. According to the report, the organization is attempting to gather intelligence and conduct damage assessments in these areas through local operatives, while operating under the radar and taking advantage of the Lebanese Armed Forces’ avoidance of confrontation.

A Lebanese political official opposed to Hezbollah criticized the conduct of the state.

“The Lebanese state is not doing what is required of it. If Hezbollah moves into every place Israel withdraws from, it only demonstrates how critical the issue of disarming Hezbollah is even before the Israeli withdrawal."

Earlier, it was reported that Hezbollah had received $200 million from Iran intended to provide assistance to displaced Lebanese residents. According to sources cited in the report, this is the first significant aid the organization has provided to its Shiite supporters, who constitute the majority of the displaced.

The money was transferred in cash last month amid growing difficulties in transferring funds from Iran to its proxies and US economic pressure.

National Memorial Ceremony Families of October 7

Anti-Israel protesters in New YorkREUTERS/David Dee Delgado

Three years since October 7, Israel is stronger than ever relative to its enemies. Hamas is a shadow of its former self, its old leadership destroyed, its current leadership being picked off one by one, tens of thousands of its fighters dead. It has now been over a year since a rocket was fired from Gaza, a period of quiet which southern Israel has not seen in the 21 years since the foolish Disengagement. Hezbollah has likewise been decimated, with its leadership killed, most of its weapons destroyed, and its forces expelled from southern Lebanon.

Their Iranian masters have been unable to help this time. With their leaders also killed, their nuclear weapons program in ruins, their own military might substantially degraded, their economy being squeezed to the breaking point by the American blockade, and traditional supply routes disrupted, Iran has been unable to support its terrorist servants to the same extent it has in the past.

However, while Israel’s enemies are the weakest they’ve ever been, the enemies of the Jewish people in Western countries are the strongest they’ve ever been. In Europe, Australia, and even the US, antisemites are ascendant in a manner not seen since World War Two. In Australia, doctors openly brag about their intention to harm Jewish patients, and a growing number of Jewish patients have reported deliberate mistreatment at hospitals. Mobs openly call for Jewish blood on the streets of Sydney, while a mass shooting at a Hanukkah party in Bondi Beach is dismissed by cultural elites to whom the lives of Jewish children do not matter.

In England, the ruling Labor Party has gone full Islamist appeaser, more concerned with winning and keeping the votes of Jew-haters than with the truth or with preventing terrorist attacks on its own soil. And the Green Party, in an effort to keep its title as the most antisemitic party in the country intact, has declared all but the most radical anti-Jewish Jews to be racists and that Jews are unworthy of protection from antisemites. The Green Party’s votes to declare “Zionism is racism" and to deny protection to the vast majority of synagogues are votes to legalize violence against Jewish citizens for the crime of being Jews.

In America, the Democratic Party is well on its way to becoming a more dangerous version of the British Green Party. By elevating antisemites and Hamas supporters like Abdul El Sayed and Zohran Mamdani, by embracing every antisemitic lie about Israel, by catering to the Nazi and Islamist vote, the Democrats inch closer and closer to becoming the brownshirt party. New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, has become unsafe for Jews, in large part thanks to its Jew-hating mayor, whose “plan" to combat antisemitism doesn’t include any protection against “anti-Zionist" violence, but does include financing Arab American Association of New York, a group formerly led by for notorious antisemite Linda Sarsour, according to the New York Post. This is like pledging to fight racism by sending money to the Ku Klux Klan.

In Michigan, voters are poised to elect a man who made excuses for the attempted mass murder of Jewish preschoolers, a man who, like Mamdani, is closely associated with Jew-hater, America hater, and terror supporter Hassan Piker, a man who has been called the “most antisemitic US Senate candidate in America" by the Republican Jewish Coalition.

The rise of antisemitism in the West is not the result of Israel’s actions in Gaza. It is the result of the October 7 massacre. The celebrations that erupted the moment reports of the spilling of Jewish blood began to emerge from southern Israel preceded any Israeli response. The refusal to see even Jewish babies as human, the outpouring of love for butchers like Yahya Sinwar, Hassan Nasrallah, and Ali Khamenei, had nothing to do with human rights, but a love of violence and death. The campus protests were never aimed at ending conflict or saving lives; they were aimed at giving Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran the freedom to do to all Jewish babies what they did to Ariel and Kfir Bibas.

The blood spilt three years ago fed a perverse bloodlust throughout the West that has led to violence being normalized. Jew-haters have felt justified in targeting synagogues, children, holiday parties, Jewish museums, marches in support of civilian hostages, and every aspect of Jewish life.

The people who came out today to celebrate October 7 and praise Hamas for the Jewish blood it has spilled do not confine their hatred to the Jews who live in their historic homeland. They feel the same hate for the Jews who are citizens of their countries.

The targeting of Jews throughout the increasingly unenlightened West has made the existence of Israel more important than ever before. In a world where Jews are increasingly unsafe in places governed by the left, in a world where governments are more concerned with pandering to the Islamist and Nazi vote than with the right of Jewish citizens to live, the safe haven provided by Israel- the existence of one country that will actually defend its Jewish citizens, has become relevant again in a way that has not been seen since the end of the Cold War. Every victory by a Mamdani or an El Sayed, every attack on a synagogue or a Jewish gathering, every justification for murder by political parties like the Green Party, proves why Israel and Zionism are needed.

The attempted hijacking of a Flydubai plane with hundreds of Israelis on board proves that Israel does not provide perfect protection from the Islamists and Nazis of the world. The failures of the government in allowing the terrorist to fly to Israel despite policies against allowing pilots from non-Abraham Accords nations are serious and nearly led to a disaster on a scale not seen since October 7. And yet, policy will change for the better after this failure, unlike in the West, where no amount of anti-Jewish violence will cause any left-wing politician to pander to the ideological brothers of the hijacker any less or to take antisemitism any more seriously. And the miraculous rescue of the plane by passengers who not only overpowered the hijacker, but prevented the aircraft from crashing and brought it to a safe landing, demonstrated the essence of Zionism. Jews refused to be passive victims and performed acts of superhuman courage to save lives. It is this courage which the world needs now, as leaders sink deeper and deeper into cowardice in the face of Jihadist and Nazi violence.

This is the state of the world, three years after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. It is a world which needs Israel now more than ever.

VIP tour to Judea and SamariaPhoto: Ezra Yogovitz

Farley Weiss is the co-author, with Leonard Grunstein, of Because It’s Just and Right: The Untold Backstory of the U.S. Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel and Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and a past president of the National Council of Young Israel.

European countries led by Britain, Spain and Norway are sanctioning Israel while proclaiming their support for a Palestinian Arab state. Think about the unbelievable irrationality of this behavior because we saw when Israel disengaged from Gaza and gave it to the Palestinian Authority in 2005, that this led to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack from Gaza on Israel.

It is obvious that a Palestinian Arab state will be a terrorist state aligned with Iran and would be antithetical to all western interests. It would be pretty much identical for the European countries to be advocating for an Al Qaeda or ISIS state, since the Palestinian Authority has a “Pay to Slay" law that financially rewards mass murderers of Jews and Americans and those who murder the most people get the most money. It is hard to imagine supporting the creation of a state that has such a law and yet this does not stop the European countries or, for that matter, virtually the entire Democratic party in America, to continue advocating for such a state.

When asked why they advocate for this state they attempt to [falsely] claim that the so called "West Bank" (Judea and Samaria) is Palestinian Arab land under international law. The problem for them is that they are wrong. In 1920 at San Remo the British, French Italians and Spanish were four of the world powers that heard arguments on claims to Israel from both Jews and Arabs and unanimously decided that the historical Jewish claim was right. In July 24, 1922 the League of Nations established the Mandate for Palestine in which it stated in the third paragraph of the preamble that “Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the ground for reconstituting their national home in that country..."

The British then decided to obligate the United States to this decision in which the terms became binding in the Anglo American Treaty of 1924 which was ratified by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Coolidge. That treaty is still in force under the laws of treaties. Under Article 80 in the establishment of the UN it adopted all of the decisions of the League of Nations which includes the decision supporting Jewish sovereignty over all of what the UN at the time referred to the land as Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem. The term the "West Bank" was coined by Jordan after it illegally took this land from the Jews after trying to destroy the Jewish state in 1948. Jordan renamed the land the "West to include all of Judea and Samaria as well as eastern Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Arabs started terrorist attacks against Jews in April 1920 after the Ottoman Empire lost sovereignty of the area after WW1 and gave the land to the Allied Powers. The April 1920 Palestinian Arab attacks led to 5 Jews being murdered and hundreds wounded in the Nebi Musa riots. In 1922 Jaffa riots Palestinian Arab attacks on Jews resulted in 47 Jews being murdered. In 1929 the Hebron riots led to 67 Jewish deaths in Hebron and the ethnic cleansing by the Palestinian Arabs of the Jews of Hebron as the remainder of the Jews in Hebron had to flee for their lives and end over a thousand year Jewish presence in Hebron.

It should be noted that the British policy today is to advocate for ethnic cleansing again for the Jewish presence in Hebron.

133 Jews around the country were murdered in total in 1929 by Palestinian Arab terrorists. “The Arab Revolt" from 1936 to 1939 led to over 400 Jewish deaths. The Palestinian Arabs saw the success of their resorting to terrorism because on May 17, 1939 the Neville Chamberlain British Government issued the White Paper restricting Jewish immigration to what would become Israel. A bipartisan group of 15 members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee led by Congressman Hamilton Fish wrote a public letter that this British White Paper violated the Anglo American Treaty.

In the end, the British violation of international law by limiting Jewish immigration with the White Paper at the encouragement of the Palestinian Arabs led to 6 million Jews dying in the Holocaust, because at first Hitler was in favor of expelling the Jews, but when countries would not take the Jews in ,or in the case of Britain, they would not let the Jews come to what would later be Israel, Hitler switched to murdering what became 6,000,000 Jewish dead.

The precursor to the Palestinian Authority, the PLO, made it clear in its founding Covenant in 1964 in Article 24 that it made no claim to the "West Bank" (which in that terminology included eastern Jerusalem) and Gaza. Its goal from the beginning was and is to destroy Israel. This is why the Arabs have rejected all compromise offers made by Israel and it is why the Israel electorate overwhelmingly opposes a Palestinian Arab state as they saw what one looked like in Gaza, which instead of leading to peace led to war. The creation of a Palestinian Arab state in the "West Bank" would lead to war and not peace as the Palestinian Arabs have made clear that they overwhelmingly support the destruction of Israel.

The Europeans claim their support for Palestinian Arab statehood and opposition to Israeli "settlements" are moral and just policies. However, the history and international law actually show the opposite. The British policies are against international law and the creation of a Palestinian Arab state as the Gaza war has shown would only lead to more wars and not peace. It would also be giving away Jewish land to the Palestinian Arabs who gave up the right to that land in its founding document, while the Jews never gave up this land which includes the burial sites of the forefathers and foremothers of the Jewish people. Hebron is where David created his first kingdom in the year 1010-1003 which was over 3,000 years ago.

History and international law says what is right and just is Israel’s right to Judea and Samaria and it declares their being able to settle the land. The British violated that right in the White Paper in 1939 and the British government is violating that right once again -- right now -- with its new sanctions policy.

מנחם קלמנזוןצילום: ערוץ 7

Israel Prize laureate Menachem Kalmanson could not hold back tears in the Channel 12 studio on Wednesday when he recounted the moment his brother, Elhanan Kalmanson, was shot and killed while rescuing residents in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 8th, 2023.

The Kalmanson brothers left their home in Otniel on the morning of October 7th and reached the Gaza envelope independently. That evening, they entered Kibbutz Be'eri, where they were later joined by their nephew, Itiel. For 16 hours, the three moved from house to house on the kibbutz, rescuing residents besieged in their safe rooms.

Kalmanson shared that in the morning, after a night of rescues and combat, he had difficulty continuing due to exhaustion.

He said that he asked his brother to complete one more rescue. "I told him, let's finish this house, number 611, the Levy family's home. In that house, Elhanan went in first; there, in the dark house, we no longer had battery left on our weapon flashlights."

At this point, Kalmanson choked up and had difficulty continuing. "In the dark house there, a terrorist waited, and my brother stepped inside, and the terrorist got up and fired a burst. I stood right next to him, and together with Itiel, we just saw Elhanan get hit and fall."

Kalmanson revealed that he was also wounded in the incident: "I couldn't pull him out myself. I was wounded very quickly after him; I was hit in my right arm and got shrapnel in my face. Blood was flowing into my eyes, and I just couldn't see properly. We were stuck there for hours; we weren't able to extract Elhanan, even though he was in my arms."

Only once IDF forces passed through the area did they manage to extract Elhanan. Kalmanson recounted that he ran toward a military jeep to call the soldiers, and he later learned that they nearly shot him because they didn't know who he was.

The brothers were evacuated to the entrance of the kibbutz and lay side by side on stretchers. “When they evacuated me, I said, 'Evacuate him. They told me, a helicopter will get to Soroka before you. But when I arrived at Soroka, I realized that he had already been pronounced dead."

Kalmanson said he did not have the chance to say goodbye to his brother, but the final moments by his side remain etched in his memory. “I had the privilege of being with my brother in his final moments. Moments that, despite the immense pain, I would not trade for anything. He was in my arms, I was looking at him, and he knew I was trying."

He said that when he left Be’eri, he still believed his brother might survive. “When I left Be’eri, I still thought there was a chance. I saw the injury, the amount of blood he had lost, but I hoped. Only at Soroka did I learn that he had already been pronounced dead there."

Toward the end, Kalmanson stressed that the story of “Elhanan’s Team" was only one of many stories of heroism from that day. He mentioned soldiers and civilians who fought for hours, including brothers Noam and Yishai Slotki and Capt. Uri Shani.

“Not only the heroism of the fighters, and I want to emphasize that," he said. “I saw the heroism of a father holding the safe-room door for 17, 19, 20 hours. I saw a mother under fire calming her children, telling them everything would be okay, stroking them, and that is no less an act of heroism."

He concluded with a message to the residents of Be’eri: “When we saw you, we saw angels. We did not see helpless people. We saw a great deal of pain, but we saw angels protecting their families."

In March 2024, it was decided to award the Israel Prize for National Revival and Civilian Heroism to “Elhanan’s Team" - Menachem, his late brother Elhanan, and their nephew Itiel Zohar - for their actions in rescuing residents of Be’eri during the massacre.

President Herzog Addresses Memorial Ceremony at the Site of the Nova Festival

President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday attended and addressed the memorial ceremony at the site of the Nova music festival near Re’im, where hundreds of festival-goers were murdered and abducted during the Hamas-led October 7 massacre three years ago.

Prior to the ceremony, Herzog delivered a statement to the international media from the site, recalling the thousands of young people who had gathered there to celebrate before the attack.

“Here at the Nova Musical Festival, thousands of young people came to sing and to dance, to celebrate life. People of 36 nationalities, from all over the world and from Israel. They were horrifically butchered, killed, tortured, raped, and abducted into Gaza," Herzog said.

The President said that three years after the massacre, Israel remains determined to commemorate the victims while demonstrating its resilience and rebuilding the communities devastated in the attack.

“We are here to tell their stories, and to remember, and reflect, and reminisce, and say to the world: we will dance again, we will live again," he declared.

“We are a nation in agony, but we are showing immense resilience. This whole region, which was attacked barbarically on October 7th, is now rebuilding."

Herzog stressed Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism while emphasizing its desire for peace with its neighbors.

“We are a nation like all nations. We have the inherent right to defend ourselves and fight terror. But we yearn for peace, and we want our neighbors to live in peace as well," he said.

The President said that a path toward that goal exists through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2301, which he said calls for Hamas to be disarmed.

“And there is a pathway to that by implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2301, which calls for the disarming of Hamas. This should be the international goal, as well as combating the empire of evil from Tehran," Herzog stated.

Concluding his remarks, Herzog thanked those around the world who had expressed solidarity with Israel and shared in the grief of the victims’ families.

“I want to thank everybody who came here, and all those who have sent messages of condolences and share in our pain," he said.

“Let the memory of those who were killed be a blessing to all of us."

Zohran MamdaniReuters

Israeli, American, and Jewish officials condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s statement marking the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, slamming him for spreading lies and using the anniversary of the massacre to attack Israel rather than remember the victims.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply condemned Mamdani's statement calling it an “outrageous & disgusting rant" issued on a day that “ought to honor the over 1200 civilians butchered by Hamas including 46 Americans."

Huckabee compared Mamdani’s remarks to using the anniversary of the September 11 attacks to mourn the victims while “condemn[ing] the response of the United States equally."

“There is NO genocide in Gaza," Huckabee stated, blaming the death toll on Hamas and its continued holding and abuse of hostages. He added that an apology for Mamdani’s “obtuse and utterly ignorant remarks" would not be enough, concluding: “God help the people of New York for electing a jihadist sympathizer!"

Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis sharply condemned n Mamdani, saying: “Anyone with a human heart should be ashamed today of the New York City Mayor's response to the October 7th massacre," Akunis stated.

“A day when human monsters invaded the State of Israel on a holiday, murdering, kidnapping, beheading hundreds, and raping hundreds of women."

Akunis accused Mamdani of showing a lack of sensitivity toward the victims of the massacre and of continuing to level antisemitic accusations against Israel.

“Mamdani is displaying a complete lack of human sensitivity and continues to spread his antisemitic blood libels against the Jewish state," he said.

“It is a disgrace to New York City that such a man stands at its helm, and that, on this day, he chooses to disparage the memory of the murdered victims."

Akunis concluded by inviting Mamdani to attend a screening of footage documenting the atrocities committed during the Hamas-led October 7 attack.

“It is not too late for him to attend the screening of the horror film we are hosting this evening, and to witness with his own eyes, for the first time, the kind of human monsters he supports," Akunis stated.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also blasted Mamdani's statement and accused him of attempting to hijack October 7: “'Mamdani-ism' - an attempt to hijack the anniversary of October 7 and turn it into yet another propaganda attack against Israel. It is like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists. We will not let this happen. We will remember those who were murdered, and we will never forget who was behind this massacre."

The Israeli-American Council (IAC) stated: "For the Jewish and Israeli community, October 7 is, first and foremost, a day of mourning, remembrance, and trauma. On the third anniversary of Hamas' mass murder, mass rape, mass torture, and mass hostage taking of over 1,200 Israelis, Mayor Mamdani chose, once again, to use the day to accuse Israel of "genocide." That claim is demonstrably false. The IDF has taken extraordinary steps to minimize civilian casualties, far beyond what the law of armed conflict requires, while fighting an enemy that systematically hides beyond women and children and uses civilians as human shields."

"This is not a one-time lapse. Every year, on the anniversary of the day our community buries its dead, the mayor reaches for the same blood libel against the Jewish state. Rhetoric like this doesn't stay online - it is exactly the kind of messaging that has fueled a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across New York City," the IAC said. "The mayor's job is to keep New Yorkers safe and ensure Jewish and Israeli residents can mourn without their grief being hijacked for a political attack. The mayor today has betrayed his duty and continued to fuel anti Jewish hatred."

In his statement, Mamdani claimed to mourn the Israelis murdered and abducted by Hamas, while devoting most of his message to making accusations against Israel over its conduct in Gaza rather than the atrocities committed on October 7.

“This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7," Mamdani wrote on X.

“On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss."

Mamdani then turned to the war in Gaza, arguing that the suffering “did not begin nor end that day" and accusing the Israeli government of carrying out an “ongoing genocide."

He claimed that Israel has killed more than 74,000 Palestinian Arabs, including more than 21,000 children, and that more than 1,400 Palestinian Arabs have been killed since what he termed the “so-called ceasefire."

Yechiel LeiterChaim Goldberg/Flash90

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, provided an update on the condition of his son Neria, who was critically wounded in a ramming attack.

“Neria has severe head injuries, but in recent days he has begun breathing on his own. He is still unconscious."

Leiter later clarified that despite several encouraging signs, Neria remains in very serious condition and is not yet out of danger.

Leiter noted that "the medical treatment he is receiving in the intensive care unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center is of the highest standard."

The Leiter family thanked the medical staff and the public for their prayers and support, and asked that people continue to pray for the recovery of Neria Dov ben Chana.

Last Friday, Leiter wrote an emotional message from his son's bedside ahead of the Simchat Torah holiday, thanking those who have prayed for his recovery and reflecting on Jewish resilience.

Leiter opened his message by describing the difficult circumstances facing his family as Neria remains hospitalized on life support.

“As I sit here at my son Neria’s bedside, I am thinking about what the most appropriate message would be as we enter the Simchat Torah holiday. Neria is still on life support and my first thought is one of immense gratitude for the support and all the prayers on his behalf. Your prayers have given my family and me tremendous strength in the knowledge that prayers matter. Prime Minister Netanyahu visited us in the hospital today to share a much-needed sense of comfort and support."

The Ambassador then turned to the significance of Simchat Torah in the shadow of the October 7 massacre, arguing that the attacks against Israel are rooted in an ideology that must be confronted.

"My second thought is of the importance of reminding ourselves, and anyone still willing to listen, that the October 7 attack on Simchat Torah three years ago was cultivated in an ideology that believes killing Jews is admirable and that there is no place for an Israel, any Israel. It is the same ideology that murdered Nathaniel Shukrun just before Yom Kippur, tried to murder my second son right after Yom Kippur, and tried to crash a passenger jet on its way to Tel Aviv two days before the anniversary of Israel’s own September 11. Until we defeat this ideology, we are all like Neria, on life support."

Leiter’s third reflection focused on what he described as the enduring resilience of the Jewish people, connecting it to the meaning of his son’s name.

"And thought #3: People don’t understand Israeli resilience. Neria is Hebrew for “G-d’s candle." We gave him that name because he was born just before the Sabbath when the Biblical portion that begins with Numbers 8:2 is read in synagogues. In the verse, G-d instructs Moses to tell Aharon to set up seven lamps in a way that they face forward and give light in front of the Temple’s golden lamp stand. Aaron’s merit in this task was greater than all the other leaders who participated in the consecration of the holy Temple. Greater why? Because the consecration was a one-time occurrence, while illuminating the Temple, Jerusalem, was a permanent and ongoing duty."

From the image of the Temple lamps, Leiter moved to the broader story of Jewish survival through generations of persecution and upheaval.

"History has proven the light’s eternity. Mark Twain perhaps put it best: “If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of."

Continuing the quotation, Leiter highlighted Twain’s observations on the Jewish people’s influence despite their small numbers.

"He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers."

Twain then reflected on the Jewish people’s survival throughout history.

"He has made a marvellous fight in the world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished."

Leiter concluded the quotation with Twain’s contrast between the disappearance of ancient civilizations and the continued existence of the Jewish people.

"The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"

Concluding his message, Leiter returned to his son and expressed hope that by next Simchat Torah, Neria will once again be able to celebrate with his family.

"Please continue to pray for Neria’s recovery, perhaps next Simchat Torah he will be able to rejoice together with his darling wife and children."

Terrorists in prison (illustrative)Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

The Knesset's Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee convened on Wednesday, three years after the October 7 massacre, to discuss implementation of the law for prosecuting Hamas' Nukhba terrorists.

Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman opened the meeting with a minute of silence in memory of those murdered and fallen, and then read Psalm 79.

Rothman explained that the decision to hold the discussion specifically on the third anniversary of the massacre was intentional, beyond the reporting requirement established by the law, which was approved with the support of 110 Knesset members.

"On this day, October 7, three years after the event, this is an important point in time to understand where the State of Israel stands in light of the verse we just read - ‘Avenge the spilled blood of Your servants,’" he said.

According to Rothman, bringing the terrorists to justice is part of the government’s obligation to the victims of the massacre.

"The very important mission demanded by the blood of our murdered brothers and sisters is for the State to make sure that it does not allow this to pass," he said.

Rothman also emphasized, "We are all working on this as one, coalition and opposition. The Knesset is united in the need, in the oversight and examination, and three years later, also in the urgency that this happen and be carried out."

MK Moshe Saada stressed during the discussion that the legal process is also important in the battle over how the October 7 massacre is presented around the world.

"The blood of our brothers cries out from the ground, the images cry out, and what lies before us is the need to do justice and, through the legal process, also tell the world," Saada said.

"Today we see other narratives around the world, and the time has come to hold up a mirror and tell the clear truth. There is a moral obligation to do this, and we all need to join hands together to ensure that justice is done."

MK Yulia Malinovsky demanded that implementation of the law move forward, emphasizing, "If there are problems, we will solve them, and if necessary, we will bang on the table, but we want results. The people of Israel deserve answers."

"We did what we needed to do, we passed the law, and now every official must put personal whims and disagreements aside and rise to the occasion."

Malinovsky also promised that parliamentary oversight of the issue would continue after the elections as well, saying, "Regardless of the election results and the person who will sit in this chair, we will not let up. We owe this to the families."

Golani Brigade in southern LebanonIDF spokesperson

A change has been made ahead of the ceremony to be held Wednesday evening in memory of those who fell in the October 7 war. After soldiers were informed in the morning that they would not be permitted to be absent from the ceremony because of women’s singing, the commander of the Golani Training Base instructed in the afternoon that soldiers from the Hesder platoons would sit at the edge of the stands and would be permitted to leave in an orderly manner before the women’s singing begins.

The decision was made following efforts by the training base rabbi, Capt. Rabbi Uri Levy. As part of the changes made ahead of the ceremony, it was also decided that the Hesder platoon would not participate in the honor guard and that a planned solo by female members of the band would not be performed.

Under the updated instructions, female and male performers will appear together on stage only during the singing of “Hatikva" at the conclusion of the ceremony, as part of a general performance involving all participants.

The change comes after the training base rabbi sent a message to the soldiers Wednesday morning explaining that, under the IDF’s Joint Service regulations, soldiers could not be absent from a state ceremony because of women’s singing or their religious way of life.

“Dear soldiers, this evening we will hold the ceremony in memory of those who fell in the War of Revival. The ceremony is also expected to include women’s singing. Nevertheless, in accordance with the Joint Service regulations, at state ceremonies there is no possibility of being absent from the ceremony because of women’s singing or one’s way of life," Rabbi Levy wrote.

He added: “Therefore, I ask everyone to respect the ceremony and remember that ‘proper conduct precedes Torah.’ Anyone who finds this difficult may lower his head and refrain from looking toward the stage during the singing."

“This is an important ceremony of remembrance, respect, and unity, and particularly in these days, it is important that we stand together, side by side, with mutual respect," he said.

Rabbi Levy concluded his message: “With God’s help, may we merit days of unity among the people of Israel, joy, and good news, and may we always remember those who gave their lives for the people of Israel."

Following the change, the Women of Soldiers for the Sanctity of the Camp group, part of the Hotam organization, stated: “The beginning of a correction. It is important to allow every soldier to maintain his way of life, and not only Hesder soldiers."

The organization added: “The IDF is a Jewish army, and the sanctity of the camp is a fundamental value for which the Military Rabbinate and commanders are responsible."

Hezbollah funeralReuters

Hezbollah received $200 million from Iran last month, earmarked to assist Lebanese displaced by the war with Israel, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the transfer.

According to the report, the money marks the first significant assistance provided by Hezbollah to supporters who were displaced during the conflict. The transfer was made despite increased US economic pressure on Iran and growing difficulties in moving funds to Hezbollah.

The sources said intermediaries who transferred the money charged Hezbollah a 20% fee because of the risks involved. One of the sources said the fee was four times higher than the usual rate.

A Hezbollah official told Reuters that funds had been secured and that a plan for distributing them would be announced in the coming days, but did not specify where the money originated.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iran's permanent mission in Geneva, the US Treasury Department, and the Lebanese government did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

According to the sources, Hezbollah plans to provide an initial payment of $3,000 to each family, with priority given to residents whose villages were destroyed or cannot be accessed due to Israeli control. One source estimated that approximately 50,000 families fall into those categories.

Reuters noted that Iran has continued supporting Hezbollah financially despite years of US sanctions. According to the US Treasury Department, Iran transferred $1 billion to Hezbollah during the first 10 months of 2025.

Iran has not publicly acknowledged financing Hezbollah.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said last month that the organization would soon contribute to a project aimed at providing housing for thousands of people displaced by the war, using what he described as "available resources and donations."

The sources did not explain how the $200 million reached Lebanon. One said Hezbollah was finding it increasingly difficult to transfer money through financial companies that previously handled such transactions, adding that companies in Iraq and Dubai were no longer an option and that similar channels in Turkey were also facing pressure.

Despite the difficulties, the source said Hezbollah had continued paying its fighters and the families of members killed in combat.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said last month that reconstruction following the two wars since 2024 could cost more than $27 billion.

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Hezbollah has not published figures for the number of its fighters killed.

IDF soldiers in GazaIDF Spokesperson

More than 75 senior retired US generals, admirals, and military lawyers have signed an open letter rejecting claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, saying that the facts and applicable legal standard do not support such a finding.

The signatories, including retired officers who commanded US armed forces in combat, wrote in the October 7 letter: “As retired senior military leaders and legal experts, on this, the third anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 brutal attack on Israel, we reject claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza."

The letter states that a finding of genocide requires evidence of acts intended to destroy a protected national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, in whole or in part. The signatories said Israel “has neither intended to, nor destroyed, Palestinians as a group in Gaza," and argued that the evidence points to the contrary.

They also rejected claims based primarily on the number of civilians killed during the war. “Civilian deaths occurring during combat, however tragic, are insufficient, by themselves, to support a finding of genocidal intent," the letter states.

The signatories said many of them had commanded US forces against enemies who hide behind civilians, and said they understood the difficulty of fighting under such circumstances. They wrote that there is no perfect attack, but that commanders are required to use available information, exercise judgment, comply with legal obligations, and protect civilians.

The letter says assessments of Israeli combat operations by some of its signatories found extensive precautions aimed at avoiding civilian casualties, including leaflets, phone calls, text messages, radio and television broadcasts, social media notices, evacuation instructions, protected corridors, and tactical pauses. It also says stringent legal review of targets is standard IDF procedure.

The signatories further cited Israeli assistance to civilians in Gaza, including food, medical supplies, baby food, desalinated water, vaccinations for children, and medical evacuations, as evidence that Israel remained legally committed to civilian protection.

The letter also addresses statements by Israeli political officials that critics have cited as evidence of genocidal intent. It says inflammatory statements are “disgraceful" and may deserve condemnation, but argues that rhetoric from politicians who are not involved in military decision-making does not reflect actual IDF operations.

Concluding the letter, the signatories wrote: “The precedent established today regarding Israel will shape the conditions under which American forces fight tomorrow. Protecting civilians and preserving the ability of our nation to defend itself requires us to defend the truth when the laws of war are being distorted to make false charges of genocide."

US Ambassador Huckabee commented on the letter: “You can believe ppl who actually know things or listen to the uninformed nonsense from Toxic Tucker & the UN sources who despite hard evidence accuse Israel of ‘genocide.’"

אלפים הפגינו בלונדון - חדאד התייצב מולםללא קרדיט

Israel advocate Yoseph Haddad, a candidate on the Amcha Yisrael party list, attended the pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking place in London on Wednesday, the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

Haddad confronted the demonstrators and attempted to speak about the Hamas attack and the victims of the massacre.

“On the 7th of October, the day when 1,200 Israelis, both Arabs and Jews, were murdered," Haddad said, "they're raising the Palestinian flag. Hamas entered from Gaza ... on their shoulders and on their chests, they put that flag with which they murdered Israelis, Arabs and Jews."

He questioned why they chose October 7 specifically to waive that flag instead of the other 364 days of the year.

"We're not going to be silent," he declared.

Haddad added: “I will continue to fight for the State of Israel, for our soldiers, and for the truth everywhere in the world - in the face of every demonstration and every lie."

The confrontation comes on the day Israel marks three years since the October 7 attack, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered and 251 were abducted to the Gaza Strip.

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, the mother and daughter duo who made headlines during the summer after they went missing and were later found in Argentina, arrived on Wednesday afternoon at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. This comes just hours after reports of the two being arrested in Namibia were debunked.

Earlier Wednesday, Israel Police were informed through the police representative in Africa that Mali and Liel had been arrested in Namibia on suspicion of possessing forged passports. Israeli police are not involved in the local investigation.

However, the Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in the country, Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, helped the truth come to light when he went to the police station to assist the two after hearing they were Mali and Liel.

"I brought food and water for the mother and daughter, thinking they were Liel and Mali," he said. "I arrived at the police station, and it turned out they weren’t them. I saw them in person. It’s not them."

"It turned out that they are two Iranian citizens, a 14-year-old girl and a mother around 40 years old. They did not know a single word of Hebrew. They spoke with me a little in English and Persian, and they are not Mali and Liel Yahalomi," he told Mako.

According to Rahimi, the two women were classified by local police as Israeli citizens because they were carrying forged Israeli passports.

At this stage, authorities in Namibia or Israel have not officially confirmed Rabbi Rahimi’s account, and the circumstances that led to the initial report identifying the detainees as Mali and Liel Yahalomi are still being examined.

Mali and Liel made headlines about two months ago after contact with them was lost during a stay in Vienna and they were declared missing. About a week later, they were located by an Israel Police representative in Argentina, questioned, and released after no suspicion of criminal activity arose against them at the time.

IDF eliminates Hamas operative who left hospital with explosives

IDF troops identified two Hamas terrorists overnight on Tuesday who had exited Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.

One of the terrorists planted explosives that he had brought from inside the hospital in the area of the Yellow Line with the intention of harming IDF troops.

Following the identification, the IDF struck and eliminated the terrorists in order to remove the threat.

Muhammad Tammous, a sniper in Hamas’ military wing who was eliminated in the strike, simultaneously operated as a civil defense worker in the Gaza Strip.

In recent days, the terrorists advanced attacks from within the hospital and operated to restore Hamas’ capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire agreement.

The IDF reiterated that Hamas continues to "cynically exploit hospitals and medical infrastructure in the Gaza Strip for terrorist purposes, in violation of international law, turning spaces intended to provide care to the civilian population into areas used to advance terrorist activity and restore the terrorist organization’s military capabilities. This activity endangers the civilian population."

Zohran MamdaniZUMA Press Wire via Reuters Connect

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre on Wednesday with a statement in which he claimed to mourn the Israelis murdered and abducted by Hamas, while leveling harsh accusations against Israel over its conduct in Gaza.

“This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7," Mamdani wrote on X.

“On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss."

Mamdani then turned to the war in Gaza, arguing that the suffering “did not begin nor end that day" and accusing the Israeli government of carrying out an “ongoing genocide."

He claimed that Israel has killed more than 74,000 Palestinian Arabs, including more than 21,000 children, and that more than 1,400 Palestinian Arabs have been killed since what he termed the “so-called ceasefire."

Mamdani further accused Israel of bombing ambulances outside hospitals, targeting residential buildings and journalists with drone strikes, and preventing shipments of food aid from entering Gaza.

“Many New Yorkers are reckoning with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them - all while knowing that our tax dollars fund these war crimes," he wrote.

The mayor also invoked accusations of “occupation" and “apartheid" and criticized the US government for continuing to provide Israel with weapons.

“Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment," Mamdani stated.

He concluded by calling for a future in which “every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity."

“To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity," he wrote.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon blasted Mamdani's statement and accused him of attempting to hijack October 7: “'Mamdani-ism' - an attempt to hijack the anniversary of October 7 and turn it into yet another propaganda attack against Israel. It is like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists. We will not let this happen. We will remember those who were murdered, and we will never forget who was behind this massacre."

Simcha RothmanYonatan Sindel/Flash90

The Knesset Constitution Committee held a follow-up discussion on Wednesday on the progress of preparations that will enable the Nukhba terrorists to be put on trial. In an interview with Arutz Sheva, committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman explained how, three years after October 7, not a single Nukhba terrorist has yet been brought to trial.

Rothman, who together with MK Yulia Malinovsky, led the legislation enabling the trials, noted that the law was passed only five months ago. He said Wednesday’s meeting demonstrated that significant and extremely rapid progress is indeed being made compared with the procedural steps that would have been required had the Nukhba trials been conducted as ordinary criminal proceedings.

“In theory, some of the indictments could have been filed two or two and a half years ago, but there was a problem. First, as long as negotiations concerning the hostages were underway, a decision was made at a high level that this issue would not be dealt with while the hostages remained in Hamas captivity, and the reasons for that are understandable. There was also a gag order concerning the number of people we were holding, and proceedings could not be initiated. So during the first two years, the issue was not relevant because of the hostages."

Asked whether the relevant legislation could have been advanced during those two years so that everything would be ready immediately, Rothman answered in the affirmative. He said that both he and Malinovsky were extremely angry when they realized that no government legislation was being advanced alongside the discussions over freeing the hostages, which could have allowed a bill to be placed before the Knesset immediately following their release after the necessary preparatory work had already been completed.

“Unfortunately, that did not happen, even though we warned about it and demanded it from the very first day. We saw that nothing was moving, so we advanced our own private member’s bill, including preparatory work that is normally carried out by the government rather than the Knesset. There was cooperation between the opposition and coalition, and we passed the law in a relatively short period of time. Once the law was passed, it became possible to move forward."

“This is groundbreaking and extremely complex legislation," Rothman said, “because the State of Israel has never dealt with cases this complicated, with evidence from so many different scenes, such an enormous amount of material, and so many terrorists. Under the rules of evidence of the ordinary judicial system, if we filed an indictment, four years would pass in preliminary procedural stages before the trial even began. Then the trial itself would begin, and with appeals and so forth, it could last another 15 years. We concluded that the timetable had to be realistic so that we would actually see justice being done rather than it remaining merely theoretical. That is why we built a system through the military, which has its own procedures for conducting such proceedings."

Referring to the figures presented at Wednesday’s meeting, Rothman said: “The current estimates are that the first indictment will be filed in the first half of 2027, and the trial will begin six months later rather than four years later. In doing so, we have dramatically shortened the timetable. The proceedings themselves will also be conducted more quickly. I estimate that we will begin seeing verdicts and sentences during 2028. Under the ordinary alternative, the trial would not even have begun by 2028."

Elaborating on the progress reviewed by the committee, Rothman cited the various requirements necessary to conduct the trials.

“Because of the security complexities, buildings have to be constructed. There was a requirement that the court be located in Jerusalem, in Atarot. That involves locating a site, a planning process, and a budgeting process. With an ordinary courthouse, this would have taken much longer. In addition, personnel have to be recruited and funding allocated. Normally, this involves many years of bureaucracy. Here, things that would ordinarily take two, three, or four years have happened within five months. They are working on this at full speed, and within the next two weeks, the head of the apparatus responsible for prosecuting the Nukhba terrorists will be appointed. He will take up his position, and the expectation is that the first indictment will be filed during the first half of 2027."

Asked what that first indictment would include, whether it would target a specific individual or a group, and, if an individual, who that person would be, Rothman said those decisions would depend on whoever heads the prosecution. He added that public diplomacy considerations would naturally also factor into the issue.

“We need to establish a system for victims of crime on a scale that has never existed before, one that will provide assistance to the families and victims, and this must be handled sensitively. We cannot have a situation in which we move forward and then discover that we disclosed details through which a family learned for the first time, from the media, what was done to their loved one. There are many extremely complex aspects here, and considering all of that, the pace of progress is astounding. The people working on this are deeply committed to it and regard it as a national mission of the highest order."

Nevertheless, Rothman said he understands the public criticism, which he himself shares, over the fact that the legislation was not advanced during the two years in which the hostages were being held by Hamas, “but the echelon that made that decision was a senior one."

Addressing the question of legal representation for the terrorists, Rothman said: “The most important rule we established is that the murdered cannot be made to pay for the murderers. Therefore, the attorneys’ fees will be paid from Palestinian Authority funds, under legislation that I passed. Beyond that, there may be defense attorneys from Israel and from the Palestinian Authority, and they will represent the terrorists."

In his view, it would not be appropriate for attorneys from around the world to come to Israel to represent the terrorists.

Concluding his remarks, Rothman said: “I told the members of the administration at the beginning of the meeting that anyone familiar with these processes understands the tremendous speed and dedication with which you are working, but the public is rightly demanding that the pace be accelerated. They understand that and are committed to moving this forward - and those who aren’t, we straighten them out."

מיגונית בגזרת הנובהיואב דודקביץ/TPS

The Nova Festival memorial site near Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israel filled up on Wednesday with bereaved families and other visitors who came to mark three years since the October 7th Massacre and remember the victims.

Tazpit Press Service (TPS) photojournalist Yoav Dudkevitch walked among the monuments at the site and filmed the visitors, the families, and the moments of remembrance at the site where a joyous party turned into a Hamas murder fest.

Hundreds of civilians and members of the security forces were murdered at the festival massacre and while attempting to flee it. 44 partygoers were abducted to the Gaza Strip.

An IDF investigation found that approxamatly 3,5000 where at the Nova Music Festival on the morning of October 7th, 2023, including 400 production staff members, 31 armed police officers, and 75 unarmed security guards and ushers.

With the start of the rocket barrages from the Gaza Strip, a decision was made to disperse the event and evacuate the participants. According to the investigation, the decision to evacuate saved thousands of lives. Still, many of those fleeing encountered terrorists who had infiltrated Israel and set up ambushes along Route 232 and at intersections in the area.

At around 8:30 a.m., the terrorists managed to overwhelm the police and security forces at the northern roadblock and gain control of part of Route 232. About an hour later, the terrorists reached the festival grounds themselves.

According to the IDF investigation, the main massacre inside the Nova Festival compound took place between 9:15 and 10:10 a.m. At that time, around 200 people remained at the site, including wounded people, staff members, and police officers, and approximately 171 Israelis were murdered inside the compound itself.

Only toward 11:30 a.m. did a small force of soldiers, dispatched from Judea and Samaria under the command of the Shaked Battalion commander of the Givati Brigade, arrive at the site, joined by two members of the Metzada Unit. The force fought the terrorists, treated the wounded, and rescued survivors. By 3:00 p.m., the festival area had been cleared of terrorists.

Three years later, the area where the festival was held has become a large memorial site. In the place where stages once stood, and thousands of young people danced, there are now photographs of those murdered and memorial projects established by their families and friends.

On the anniversary of the massacre, thousands came to the site, walked among the memorials, and stopped to honor the memory of those who were murdered there and along the escape routes.

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Haredi demonstrationFLASH90

Yitzchak Freeman is a former school principal from Britain who made Aliya with his family in 2022. A musmach of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, he lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh. He supports and plans to vote for Hatzibbur HaCharedi in the coming election.

There is something deeply wrong with the way Israel is now dealing with the Haredi draft crisis.

It is wrong that young men who deliberately evade a lawful military obligation should be treated as heroes, “prisoners of Torah," and welcomed home with celebrations, financial gifts, and children carrying signs celebrating their supposed “sin" of preserving Judaism by their community.

But it is also wrong to imagine that putting young haredi men in military prison is, by itself, a solution.

Indeed, I fear that the present policy is achieving precisely the opposite of what its proponents claim to want. It is hardening attitudes, deepening the divide between haredim and the rest of Israeli society, strengthening the most extreme voices within the haredi world and turning a difficult question of national responsibility into a battle over Jewish identity itself.

Israel needs a fundamental reset.

The legal position is actually rather straightforward. In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that, in the absence of a valid statutory exemption, the government could not simply decide that the Defence Service Law would not apply to yeshiva students. In April this year, the Court went further, ordering the government to take meaningful enforcement measures against draft evasion. In September, it struck down legislation that would have prevented the arrest and investigation of qualifying haredi draft evaders.

That is the law. It cannot simply be wished away.

There is also a compelling argument behind it. Israel is fighting a prolonged existential war. Reservists have served repeated tours. The IDF has itself warned of serious manpower shortages. It is hardly surprising that a soldier who has spent hundreds of days in uniform, while his children have spent long periods without their father, finds it difficult to understand why another young Israeli man should be entitled to opt out altogether.

The frustration is not confined to the political left. Polling by the Israel Democracy Institute has repeatedly found very broad support among non-haredi Israelis for some form of haredi enlistment or meaningful sanctions against those who evade service.

So there is a real problem here. It should not be denied or minimised.

But there is another question, which is increasingly being ignored: does the way we are enforcing the law actually make Israel stronger?

I am not convinced that it does.

The arrest of a draft evader is one thing. Turning him into a folk hero is another. And this is exactly what is happening.

We have now seen processions welcoming hundreds of released haredi "prisoners", rallies in which they are publicly celebrated, and gifts funded by donors abroad. We have seen the language of imprisonment for law-breaking transformed into the language of martyrdom. We have seen men who knowingly defied a military order portrayed not merely as innocent victims but as heroes who have suffered for the sake of Torah.

This is not an argument for abandoning enforcement. It is an argument for recognising the consequences of the particular kind of enforcement we have chosen.

If the purpose of enforcement is to increase enlistment and strengthen Israel's capacity to defend itself, then an enforcement policy which turns a few hundred young men into celebrated martyrs may be remarkably inefficient.

Worse, it risks producing precisely the opposite political and cultural effect. A young haredi man who might otherwise have considered some form of national service can now be told that the State of Israel imprisoned him because he chose Torah over the army. His community then welcomes him home as a hero. The arrest has not brought him closer to Israeli society. It has provided him with a powerful reason to retreat further from it.

There is an uncomfortable truth here which both sides need to face.

The Haredi leadership cannot simultaneously insist that every young man who avoids military service is engaged in indispensable, full-time Torah study and then celebrate men who apparently have sufficient time and inclination to travel abroad for extended recreational and religious pilgrimages.

To be clear, travelling to Uman is not, in itself, proof that a man is not a serious Torah learner. Jewish religious life has always included holidays, travel and pilgrimage, and even the current legislative definition of a yeshiva student expressly makes provision for recognised vacation periods.

But the spectacle of draft evaders being arrested while attempting to leave the country for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman inevitably raises a reasonable question.

What exactly do we mean when we say that a particular individual cannot possibly contribute several months or years of national service because “Torah is his vocation"?

If Torah study is genuinely his vocation, then let us treat that claim seriously. Identify the genuinely exceptional or genuinely dedicated Torah students. Establish transparent criteria. Require genuine full-time study. Verify attendance. Distinguish between the outstanding minority for whom Torah study really is an all-consuming vocation and the much larger number for whom it is simply the preferred way of avoiding military service.

The haredi world should not be afraid of that distinction. On the contrary, it would restore dignity to the very concept of Torato Omanuto.

Nor should the rest of Israeli society be afraid of it.

There is a perfectly respectable position which says that the Jewish state should protect a small cadre of truly full-time Torah scholars from military service. There is an equally respectable position which says that, in the extraordinary circumstances in which Israel finds itself, even that exemption should be reconsidered.

What is much harder to defend is a system in which “Torah study" becomes a blanket category covering tens of thousands of young men, many of whom are not steadfast learners, while those who evade the law are publicly celebrated for doing so.

And that brings us to the other side of the equation.

The current campaign of arrests and imprisonment is not morally neutral simply because the underlying obligation is lawful.

A state has to think about the consequences of how it exercises coercive power. Israel is not merely administering a parking fine. It is dealing with a community whose relationship with the State and the army is extraordinarily complicated, and in which many genuinely believe that military service poses a profound spiritual threat.

That belief may be mistaken. It may also be based partly on decades of communal isolation and fear. But it is real.

The IDF has made considerable efforts in recent years to create haredi frameworks that accommodate religious requirements, including dedicated units and new service arrangements. Those efforts should be expanded, improved, and communicated far more effectively. The objective should be to make meaningful service possible without demanding that a haredi soldier cease being haredi.The IDF claims it is doing just that.

The army should also be extremely careful about humiliation, unnecessary confrontation and collective punishment.

And the government must stop playing games with the law.

The saga of legislation designed to suspend arrests, followed by judicial intervention, followed by renewed enforcement, followed by apparent reluctance to enforce, has created an almost perfect recipe for contempt on all sides. The Supreme Court has insisted that the law must be enforced. Haredi politicians have tried to prevent enforcement. The government has oscillated between the two. And the public is left watching the entire machinery of government grind itself into dysfunction.

Most recently, reports that the IDF and police have halted proactive arrests because of the scale of haredi protests illustrate the absurdity into which we have descended. If the law is to be enforced, it should be enforced consistently, proportionately and transparently. If the government believes that the law is wrong, it should change the law through the Knesset. What cannot work is a system in which everyone understands that the law exists but nobody knows whether, when or against whom it will actually be applied.

There is a way out.

It begins with both sides giving up something.

The haredi leadership should stop pretending that blanket exemption for virtually every young haredi man is a sustainable long-term position. It should explicitly acknowledge that the defence of the Jewish people is a legitimate Jewish value, that those who genuinely do not learn full-time cannot simply declare themselves Torah scholars, and that national service of some kind must become normal for the great majority of haredi young men.

The secular and religious Zionist leadership, for its part, should stop pretending that coercion is a substitute for strategy. The objective should not be to punish haredim. It should be to increase their contribution to the country while preserving what can legitimately be preserved of their religious way of life.

And perhaps most importantly, both sides should stop treating the other as an enemy.

The haredi community is not a foreign population living in Israel. It is part of the Jewish people and part of the Israeli people. The young haredi man is not the enemy of the reservist who is angry that he has served hundreds of days. Equally, the reservist is not the enemy of the yeshiva student who genuinely believes that Torah learning is his contribution to the Jewish people.

The present system encourages both to see the other as a moral outrage.

That is unsustainable.

There is an irony here that should not be lost on anyone.

The demonstrations, the arrests, the prison celebrations, the Supreme Court petitions, the political manoeuvring and the increasingly poisonous rhetoric are all taking place in the name of preserving the Jewish character and security of the State of Israel.

Yet they are steadily corroding something that is at least as important: the sense that we are one society with a shared stake in the country's future.

The haredi draft crisis will not be solved by pretending that the law does not apply.

Nor will it be solved by filling military prisons with young men and congratulating ourselves that justice has been done.

It will be solved when we distinguish between genuine Torah scholarship and mass avoidance of civic responsibility, between legitimate religious accommodation and political privilege, and between enforcing the law and deliberately humiliating those who have broken it.

Above all, it will be solved when both sides understand that the goal is not to defeat the haredim, or to defeat the secular, or to defeat the Supreme Court.

The goal is to rebuild a society in which people who disagree profoundly about Torah, army service and the nature of the Jewish state can nevertheless recognise that they belong to the same country.

That requires law.

It requires responsibility.

And, above all, it requires a reset.

Bar Ilan UniversityAvshalom Sassoni/Flash90

It has been cleared for publication that Prof. Shahar Nevo is the Bar-Ilan University mathematics lecturer accused of planning a large-scale terrorist attack against Arabs in Israel, eastern Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria.

The indictment against Nevo, a Petah Tikva resident in his 60s, was filed earlier this week by the Central District Prosecutor’s Office, but a gag order was imposed on his identity when the indictment was filed. His name has now been cleared for publication.

According to the indictment, for more than three years Nevo developed a plan that he called “AIT - Am Ya’aseh Transfer" (“The People Will Carry Out Transfer"), through which he allegedly sought to cause the deaths of hundreds of Arab civilians and drive Arabs from Israel, eastern Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria to Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip.

Prosecutors have charged him with preparing to commit an act of terrorism under the Counter-Terrorism Law, extortion by threats, and obstruction of justice, and have requested that he remain in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

According to the indictment, the plan began taking shape in February 2023 and intensified following the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War. Prosecutors allege that Nevo conducted reconnaissance trips, wrote detailed documents, and spent approximately a year and a half attempting to recruit people to participate in the plan, without success.

The plan allegedly included recruiting 72 Jewish attackers who would be divided into 12 cells of six people each, armed with weapons, and would operate simultaneously in mixed Jewish-Arab cities and Arab communities. He is also alleged to have sought to recruit individuals from within the IDF to assist with the plan.

Another section of the indictment concerns Nevo’s attempt to contact Zehut Party chairman Moshe Feiglin and recruit him to the plan. According to prosecutors, after Feiglin did not respond to his approaches, Nevo resorted to threats and attempted to pressure him into helping advance the plan.

Following the filing of the indictment, the Zehut Party and Feiglin said that immediately upon receiving the letters, they contacted the police and filed a complaint.

Bar-Ilan University said following the filing of the indictment that it “condemns and is shocked by the acts attributed to the lecturer," and announced that he would be suspended immediately pending the conclusion of the proceedings.

Medical care, illustrationIstock

The morning of October 7th remains deeply etched in the collective memory as a day that changed everything. For one dedicated responder, it was the moment he was directly summoned to Camp Shura, the national center for the identification and care of the fallen.

Click here to offer your support and help save her life>>>

For days on end, under unimaginable emotional and physical strain, teams worked around the clock as continuous trucks arrived carrying soldiers and civilians killed in the attacks. Working with barely a few hours of sleep over nearly five days, they performed the heartbreaking, holy task of conducting 70 to 80 funerals every single day, ensuring every individual received their final honor.

From National Duty to a Personal Crisis

His sacred commitment to the nation’s fallen did not stop after those initial weeks, continuing through hundreds of days of service. Yet today, the man who spent months caring for others faces a critical battle at home: saving the life of his wife.

She is currently battling a severe illness that requires complex medical care. The overwhelming financial burden of ongoing treatments has brought the family to the absolute brink, threatening their ability to continue her life-saving care.

"After hundreds of days of sacred duty caring for our nation's fallen, I am now fighting the most critical battle of my life: saving my wife," he shares.

Time to Step Up and Help

A man who stood on the front lines for the nation during its darkest hour now urgently needs us to stand by him. This is our moment to step up, lend a hand, and help save her life.

Click here to offer your support and help save her life>>>

Eitan Mor during the programKan 11

Captivity survivor Eitan Mor appeared on Kan 11’s "Taboo" program, where host Hanoch Daum spoke with former hostages about captivity, returning to life, and the position taken by Mor’s father, Tzvika Mor, during the campaign to bring the hostages home.

During the program, Daum asked Mor whether Hamas terrorists had filmed him while he was held captive.

"Dozens of times, but they didn’t publish anything," Mor replied.

Asked why he thought Hamas had not released the footage, Mor said: "Because my father didn’t go to the protests. What for? They saw that my father was against that decision, against ending the war at any cost, so why waste a video of me? They released every video before a protest."

Daum referred to the public debate in Israel over how to secure the hostages’ release and told Mor: "There was a lot of discussion in Israel about releasing the hostages. Some people said to your father, 'Your son is in captivity and you’re saying not to make a deal. How can you oppose a deal?'"

Mor replied: "First of all, in my opinion, my father did the bravest thing possible and the nationally correct thing. Because my father was also thinking about the future. The people who said, 'Bring the hostages home now' - they were thinking only about the moment. And then what happens afterward?"

Demolishing the terrorist's homeArutz Sheva

IDF forces on Wednesday demolished the home of terrorist Qadri Samara, who murdered Netanel "Nati" Shakron at the Ein Raya spring in Binyamin.

During the demolition, a powerful explosion was heard during the demolition in Givat Ze’ev and other communities in the area.

Shakron, a 48-year-old resident of Alei Zahav, arrived at the spring near Neve Tzuf on the morning before Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) together with his eldest son in order to immerse ahead of the holy day. The terrorist opened fire on them, killing Shakron.

Security forces immediately launched a manhunt for the terrorist. During his escape, a soldier fired at him and wounded him, and he fled to a hospital in Ramallah. About three hours after the attack, soldiers from the Duvdevan Unit arrived at the hospital and apprehended him.

Shakron is survived by his wife, Merav, and six children: Yoav, Talya, Yael, Tamar, Noa, and Uri. His eldest son is in 11th grade, and his youngest is four years old.

He worked as an information systems analyst at Hachshara Insurance Company. His wife, Dr. Merav Shakron, is a lecturer at Ariel University.

Shortly after the attack at the spring, before Samara was apprehended, soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade’s 890th Battalion thwarted another attempted attack near the community of Ganim in the Menashe Brigade sector. The troops eliminated a terrorist who attempted a ramming attack and arrested another terrorist who was in the vehicle.

הלביאות של 7 באוקטובר | The Lionesses of October 7

One of the sheltersTPS

On the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, Israel’s Ministry of Heritage is taking steps to formally protect bomb shelters in the Gaza border communities where scenes of massacre and heroism unfolded.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu contacted the heads of regional councils in the Gaza border area and the deputy director of the Israel Antiquities Authority on Thursday, announcing plans to designate the shelters, including the shelter where Aner Shapira was killed, as antiquities and national heritage sites.

The move is intended to provide the shelters with legal protection and prevent alterations that could erase physical evidence of the events of October 7. The Heritage Ministry said the decision followed internal staff work and concerns over local initiatives to remove structures, repaint them or conceal signs of damage as part of efforts to “clean up the area."

Eliyahu is invoking authority granted to him under Israel’s Antiquities Law. While the law primarily protects archaeological findings dating from before 1700, it also allows the minister to designate a later structure as an “antiquity" based on its historical significance.

The designation will not involve expropriating the shelters or transferring ownership to the state. The ministry emphasized that ownership will remain unchanged. However, the shelters will be placed under a preservation regime, meaning any physical alterations will require prior approval and professional coordination with conservation officials from the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Heritage Ministry.

“The events of October 7 burned a deep wound into our flesh, but they also revealed the depths of the human spirit, heroism and mutual responsibility that will be remembered for generations to come," Eliyahu said. “In the midst of the inferno, the bomb shelters scattered throughout the Gaza border communities became scenes of a struggle for survival, bloodshed and heroism that cannot be measured."

“Our duty to future generations is to ensure that the stories of heroism and loss are told from within these spaces themselves, rather than disappearing because of bureaucratic considerations or a quick desire to ‘clean up the area,’" he added.

The directive has been passed to the relevant field and implementation teams, with the goal of preserving the shelters as evidence of the October 7 massacre and as memorial and commemoration sites for the families of those who were killed and for the wider public.

ב-6:29 בדיוק: שב"ס פתח במבצע נרחב באגפים הביטחוניים

The Israel Prison Service launched a wide-ranging security operation Thursday morning at five security detention facilities across the country, marking the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre. The operation began at exactly 6:29 a.m., the time Hamas terrorists launched their attack on Israel three years ago.

Prison personnel conducted extensive searches of cells and wings housing security prisoners, inspecting the facilities for prohibited items and other potential security threats. The operation involved prison personnel from the all regional districts, as well as elite personnel from the Masada and Nahshon units.

The Israel Prison Service said the operation was intended to strengthen control and security inside the facilities, prevent disruptions to prison order and preempt attempts to endanger prison staff or compromise the security of the facilities.

The Prison Service said that, under the policy of Prisons Commissioner Maj. Gen. Kobi Yaakobi, efforts to strengthen security and control are carried out throughout the year, with heightened preventive and deterrence measures during periods of increased security sensitivity.

"The Israel Prison Service will continue to act with determination to maintain order, control and security in correctional facilities and to thwart any threat emanating from them," the service said.

Mia SchemAvshalom Sassoni/Flash90

Captivity survivor Mia Schem, who was abducted from the Nova music festival and held in Hamas captivity for 54 days, published a personal message Wednesday morning marking three years since the massacre and her abduction.

In a story posted to her Instagram account, Schem thanked IDF soldiers and security forces, saying that she is in Israel today because of them.

"Amid all the pain of this day, I do not forget for a moment to whom I owe the merit of being here," she wrote.

"To the IDF soldiers, the security forces, everyone who fought, risked their lives, left their homes and families behind so that we could return home. I do not have enough words to say thank you."

Alongside her gratitude, Schem noted those who fell and the families who lost their loved ones, writing, "There is pain that has no end. For those who did not get to return. For those who went out to save others and did not come back themselves. For the families left with an empty chair, with longing that has no answer, and with lives divided into 'before' and 'after.'"

"I came back," she continued. "But I carry with me, every day, those who did not. I am sorry that we were not able to bring everyone back. I ask forgiveness from everyone who fell along the way. And thank you to those because of whom I can stand today on the soil of my country and say: I am home."

"We must never forget the price that was paid so that we could be here. Never."

Schem was abducted from the Nova music festival on the morning of October 7 after being shot in the arm. During her 54 days in captivity, she underwent surgery on her arm under difficult conditions and without sufficient anesthesia.

In November 2023, she was released as part of a hostage deal and returned to Israel. After her return, she underwent additional treatments and surgeries and began a lengthy rehabilitation process in an effort to restore function to her arm.

Military police (illustrative)Flash90

A student at Hebron Yeshiva, a young man from a well-known and prominent haredi family, was arrested Tuesday in Eilat on suspicion of draft evasion after being unexpectedly found in the hideout apartment of a known drug offender.

According to a report by Israel Hayom, the arrest took place during a routine inspection conducted by detectives from the Eilat police district at the apartment in question. Officers checking everyone present at the location were surprised to discover the wanted yeshiva student among those there.

Once his status as a draft-evader became clear, the young man was detained at the scene, and police detectives urgently summoned Military Police forces, who arrived and took the yeshiva student for formal questioning.

News of the arrest, and particularly the questionable circumstances in which he was found in the apartment of a drug offender, caused considerable embarrassment both among the leadership of Hebron Yeshiva and among members of his family.

Separately, the "Notnim Gav" organization, which accompanies detainees and represents them through a dedicated legal team, reported a wave of arrests and surrenders of yeshiva students to the Military Police over the past 24 hours.

Mali and Liel Yahalomiצילום: ללא

A new twist has emerged in the case of Mali and Liel Yahalomi, who were reported to have been arrested in Namibia: The country’s Chabad-Lubavitch emissary, Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, claims that the two women in custody are not the Israeli mother and daughter, but rather two Iranian citizens who were carrying forged Israeli passports.

Earlier Wednesday, Israel Police were informed through the police representative in Africa that Mali and Liel had been arrested in Namibia on suspicion of possessing forged passports. Israeli police are not involved in the local investigation.

Later, however, Rabbi Rahimi went to the police station to assist the two detainees, whom he had been told were Mali and Liel, and said he discovered that they were different women.

"I brought food and water for the mother and daughter, thinking they were Liel and Mali," he said. "I arrived at the police station and it turned out they weren’t them. I saw them in person. It’s not them."

Speaking to Mako, Rahimi said he visited the two women in their detention cell.

"It turned out that they are two Iranian citizens, a 14-year-old girl and a mother around 40 years old. They did not know a single word of Hebrew. They spoke with me a little in English and Persian, and they are not Mali and Liel Yahalomi," he said.

According to Rahimi, the two were the only women classified by local police as Israeli citizens, because they were carrying forged Israeli passports.

At this stage, authorities in Namibia or Israel have not officially confirmed Rabbi Rahimi’s account, and the circumstances that led to the initial report identifying the detainees as Mali and Liel Yahalomi are still being examined.

Mali and Liel made headlines about two months ago after contact with them was lost during a stay in Vienna and they were declared missing. About a week later, they were located by an Israel Police representative in Argentina, questioned, and released after no suspicion of criminal activity arose against them at the time.

The message received by usersIsrael Police

Israel Police issued a public warning Wednesday over fraudulent emails and text messages impersonating the Cyber Unit of Lahav 433.

According to police, citizens have reported receiving emails and text messages stating: “We have been informed that you viewed materials depicting minors involved in explicit sexual activity."

The fraudulent messages instruct recipients to respond by email while threatening that legal action will be taken if they fail to do so. Police stressed that the messages are not official communications and are part of a scam or phishing attempt. “We clarify that this is a fake message and that it was not sent by the Israel Police," police said.

The public is urged not to respond to such messages, click on any links they contain, or download files to a computer. Police also recommend blocking the email address or phone number from which the message was sent.

Ben Gurion International Airport (illustrative)Yossi Aloni/Flash90

Dozens of young men classified as draft-evaders succeeded in slipping through the control systems, flying to Uman, and returning to Israel without interference, raising serious questions about the level of security at Israel’s international airport.

Kan News revealed that according to the police investigations, the cases came to light when no fewer than 64 draft-evaders were caught at Ben Gurion Airport border control upon returning to Israel.

An initial probe revealed a troubling and seemingly absurd situation: their names did not appear in the system as having left the country at all, leading investigators to conclude that they had managed to depart Israel without passing through official passport control.

Following the findings, all of the deserters who were caught were transferred to the Ben Gurion Airport police district for further handling. Many have already been questioned under caution on direct suspicion of violating the Entry into Israel Law, while the remaining suspects are expected to undergo similar questioning in the coming days.

Their questioning, together with a detailed review of security camera footage from the terminal, revealed the method they allegedly used: a simple technique known as "tailgating."

According to the suspicions, the individuals took advantage of congestion and busy moments at the airport by following closely behind another passenger as that person passed through the control gate, allowing them to enter the airside area without being detected by either the electronic system or inspectors.

Their success demonstrated how citizens subject to a legal travel ban, whether because of criminal proceedings, debt enforcement proceedings, or any other reason, could potentially exploit the same vulnerability and bypass the supervision mechanisms with relative ease.

Following the exposure of the security failure, the Population and Immigration Authority was forced to take a series of urgent steps at Ben Gurion Airport, including significantly increasing the number of inspectors on the ground in an effort to close the loopholes and prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Mike HuckabeeUS Embassy

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee released a statement on the anniversary of the October 7th massacre.

"This year we mark the third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks, when Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and Shabbat. These terrorist savages proudly perpetrated the deadliest and most horrific crimes against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas massacred over 1,200 innocent men, women, and children-including dozens of Americans-and dragged 250 more into Gaza’s dungeons with a barbaric cruelty that shocked the world."

"As President Trump rightly noted, that day reminded many of us of September 11, 2001, when radical Islamist terrorists driven by similar hatred murdered more than 3,000 Americans. May this anniversary serve as a stark reminder of why we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. We share Judeo-Christian values that unite us-and the same terrorist enemies that seek to destroy us. They will not prevail."

"The Jewish people have faced a significant surge in antisemitism. This irrational Jew-hatred targets not only Jews around the world but also obsessively slanders the one and only Jewish state with libelous and baseless accusations."

"We strongly stand with Israel and the Jewish people. We pray for the victims, their families, and the survivors. May their memories be a blessing."

Flydubai plane lands in IsraelAntony Hershko/TPS

Police have opened a criminal review following the Flydubai flight security failure, focusing on the conduct of two senior Transportation Ministry officials who simultaneously held additional positions connected to the aviation industry.

The first official under review is Dvir Rubinstein, an outsourced employee who works in aviation safety while also providing consulting services to foreign airlines.

According to an investigation by Kan News, Rubinstein was responsible, as part of his role, for overseeing on behalf of the Transportation Ministry the security arrangements of foreign airlines flying to Israel.

At the same time, through Smart Security, a company he owns, Rubinstein provided paid lectures and training to foreign airlines, including Flydubai and Emirates.

According to the report, the training he provided was intended, among other things, to authorize the airlines to carry out themselves the inspections that he was supposed to supervise as part of his work for the Transportation Ministry.

The second senior official under review is Avri Cohen, head of the Security Division, who is also employed as an overseas security officer in the Ofek security apparatus, without approval from the Civil Service Commission.

The review was opened amid serious questions raised following the attempted terror attack aboard the Flydubai flight to Israel and over how the Omani pilot, Hammam al-Hamami, was able to serve as co-pilot on a flight to Israel.

On Sunday, it was reported that senior security officials placed responsibility on the Transportation Ministry’s Security Division and claimed its conduct enabled al-Hamami to reach Israel as a member of an aircrew.

"The responsibility lies entirely with the Aviation Security Operations Center. They were supposed to fulfill their responsibility. Any reasonable person understands that an Omani pilot should not be arriving here," the officials told Kan News.

IDF soldiers, illustrationIDF Spokesperson's Unit

A controversy has erupted after religious Golani Brigade soldiers were informed that they would not be permitted to skip a memorial ceremony because women would be singing during the event.

The ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday evening to commemorate soldiers who fell during the war, is expected to include female singing. In a message sent to the soldiers, the rabbi of the Golani training base, Maj. Rabbi Uri Levi, explained that under the IDF’s joint-service regulations, soldiers may not absent themselves from state ceremonies because of women’s singing or their religious lifestyle.

“Dear soldiers, this evening we will hold a ceremony in memory of those who fell in the war," Rabbi Levi wrote. “Women’s singing is also expected at the ceremony. However, according to the joint-service regulations, there is no option to be absent from state ceremonies because of women’s singing or religious lifestyle."

He called on the soldiers to respect the ceremony, adding that proper conduct and respect for others take precedence over biblical precepts.

Rabbi Levi offered an alternative to soldiers who would find the singing difficult. “Those who find this difficult may lower their heads and avoid looking toward the stage during the singing," he wrote.

He stressed the importance of attending the ceremony together, describing it as an important event of remembrance, honor and unity. “Especially in these days, it is important that we stand together, side by side, with mutual respect," he wrote. "We pray for unity, happiness and good news, while calling on the soldiers to remember those who gave their lives for the Jewish people."

The message drew sharp criticism from the Wives of Soldiers for the Sanctity of the Camp, an organization affiliated with the Hotam movement. The group accused the military rabbinate of harming the religious lifestyle of observant soldiers.

“There are no limits to our shock," the group said. “On the day marking the October 7th massacre, when Golani soldiers fought with extraordinary bravery and gave their lives, an official from the military rabbinate who was supposed to assist the soldiers and preserve the sanctity of the military is participating in anti-religious coercion against them and seriously harming their way of life, while lecturing them about ‘proper conduct’?"

The group also questioned the IDF’s commitment to maintaining a Jewish character, asking where the basic respect for observant Jewish soldiers and the sanctity of the military had gone.

The soldiers’ wives called on senior defense officials and the military rabbinate to intervene. They specifically urged Defense Minister Israel Katz to protect the soldiers and called on the IDF’s Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Rabbi Eyal Krim, to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.

MDA ambulance (illustrative)Arutz Sheva

Five people were injured Wednesday morning in a rock attack near Sebastia in Samaria.

During the attack, Palestinian Arabs from the village of Ramin threw stones at Jews in the grazing areas of Brit Avraham in Samaria.

Magen David Adom (MDA) evacuated a man of around 25 to Beilinson Hospital in moderate condition and suffering a head injury.

Four additional victims were treated at the scene for light injuries.

Later, on Wednesday afternoon, the IDF stated: "Earlier today (Wednesday), IDF soldiers and Israel Border Police forces were dispatched to the Bazariya area following a report of rock hurling toward an Israeli civilian, who was injured."

"A confrontation subsequently developed, involving a gathering of dozens of Palestinians and Israeli civilians. During the confrontation and the evacuation of the injured Israeli civilian for medical treatment, a security personnel member and an additional Israeli civilian opened fire at the site of the confrontation.

"At the same time, security forces operated to disperse the gathering. A commander operating in the area identified a terrorist running toward him while carrying a suspicious object and neutralized him.

"In addition, several suspects in the hurling of rocks were apprehended and are currently being questioned by security forces.

"The incident is under review."

During the mapping operationCourtesy

Three years after the October 7 massacre, IDF forces launched a large-scale operation overnight and Wednesday morning to demolish monuments erected in memory of terrorists across Judea and Samaria.

As part of the operation, troops entered a number of Palestinian villages and cities and began demolishing dozens of monuments honoring terrorists and glorifying acts of terrorism. One of the operation’s main focal points was Nablus, where forces demolished a prominent monument. Troops also operated in the town of Ya'bad, southwest of Jenin, destroying a monument erected in memory of Yasser al-Hamadouni.

The operation followed a mapping effort led in recent weeks by Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich and MK Tzvi Sukkot. The two mapped dozens of monuments across Judea and Samaria and submitted their details with a demand that they be demolished. The effort moved from the mapping stage to large-scale field operations overnight.

Alongside the demolitions, IDF soldiers left a message for local residents warning against glorifying terrorists and inciting terrorism.

“Israeli security forces are operating in the area to demolish monuments glorifying terrorists, praising them and their acts of terror against Israel," the message stated. “The security forces will not allow incitement to terrorism or the glorification and praise of terrorists."

The message also warned that the campaign would not be a one-time operation. “Anyone who glorifies or supports terrorism will be arrested on charges of incitement, and every monument erected to glorify terrorists will be demolished," the soldiers wrote. “Terrorism has not brought, and will not bring, anything but destruction and devastation, just as Hamas brought devastation upon the Gaza Strip for years."

The operation drew attention in the Palestinian and Arab media, with its execution receiving coverage across Arab-language outlets and social media.

Smotrich and Sukkot welcomed the operation, linking the demolition of the monuments to efforts to combat incitement in the public sphere.

“The State of Israel is cutting off the infrastructure of incitement to terrorism and sending a clear message: There is no place for platforms supporting terrorism in the State of Israel," they said. “For years, we have been shouting the simple truth: Terrorism begins with incitement in the public sphere, and now the change has been put into effect."

Mali and Liel Yahalomiצילום: ללא

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter who were declared missing about two months ago after disappearing during a stay in Vienna, have been arrested in Namibia on suspicion of possessing forged passports.

Israel Police were informed of their arrest on Wednesday through the police representative in Africa, due to the fact that the two are Israeli citizens.

Israeli police are not involved in the investigation being conducted against them in Namibia.

Mali and Liel made headlines about two months ago after contact with them was lost during their stay in Vienna and their whereabouts became unknown. They were subsequently declared missing, prompting concern among their family members and security officials.

About a week after they were declared missing, the two were located by an Israel Police representative in Argentina. They were not suspected of criminal activity at the time, and were therefore questioned and then released.

Fruit Treesצילום: .istock

There is a word in Tanach that describes a person’s ability to think ahead, make plans and find a way to achieve what he wants: tachbulot.

A tachbulah is more than a good idea. It means thinking a few steps ahead, seeing what might help, and figuring out how to get where you want to go.

We find this idea already at the very beginning of the Torah, in Gan Eden.

There were two special trees in Gan Eden: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Eitz HaDaas) and the Tree of Life (Eitz HaChaim). Hashem commanded Adam HaRishon HaRishon not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. He was not forbidden to eat from the Tree of Life.

The Torah tells us:

"וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹת תָּמוּת׃"

"But from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil you shall not eat from it, for on the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die."(Bereishis 2:17)

After Adam HaRishon ate from the Tree of Knowledge, the Torah says:

"וְעַתָּה פֶּן־יִשְׁלַח יָדוֹ וְלָקַח גַּם מֵעֵץ הַחַיִּים וְאָכַל וָחַי לְעֹלָם"

"And now, lest he stretch out his hand and take also from the Tree of Life, and eat and live forever."(Bereishis 3:22)

The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh asks a basic question: If Adam HaRishon was allowed to eat from the Tree of Life, why didn't he do so before? Why did the concern that he might take from it arise only after the sin?

The Ohr HaChaim explains that before the sin, Adam HaRishon did not yet have the awareness that would lead him to think about how to improve his situation and look for ways to achieve it:

"כי הוא מושלל מההכרה והידיעה לבקש תחבולות לעלות ברומי הצלחות גופיות"
Before the sin, he did not yet have the awareness to think of ways to attain greater material success.

After the sin, something changed. He now had a new awareness. He could think about what might benefit him and how he could get it. That raised the possibility that he might also think of taking from the Tree of Life so that he could live forever.

This is the point the Ohr HaChaim is making. He is not only explaining why Adam HaRishon did not eat from the Tree of Life. He is explaining why the thought did not occur to him in the first place. Before the sin, he did not yet have this way of thinking - looking at a situation, figuring out what might help, and then looking for a way to achieve it.

After the sin, the Torah tells us:

"וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ ה' אֱלֹקִים מִגַּן־עֵדֶן... וְאֵת לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת לִשְׁמֹר אֶת־דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ הַחַיִּים"

"And He drove out the man... and the flaming sword that turns in every direction, to guard the way to the Tree of Life." (Bereishis 3:24)

Adam HaRishon left Gan Eden with a new ability: to think ahead, make plans and find ways to accomplish things. But the way to the Tree of Life was now blocked.

The Tree of Knowledge gave man the ability to think about how to get what he wanted. The Tree of Life reminds him that there are things he cannot achieve on his own.

We are expected to use the intelligence Hashem gave us. We have to think, plan and make an effort. But we also have to remember that our abilities, our success and the final outcome are all in Hashem's hands.

And this brings us to war.

Shlomo HaMelech says:

"כִּי בְתַחְבֻּלוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ מִלְחָמָה וּתְשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ"

"For with plans you wage war, and salvation comes through much counsel."
(Mishlei 24:6)

War makes this especially clear.

One side makes a plan. The other side tries to figure it out. One side comes up with a new idea; the other looks for a way to counter it. Every move leads to another move.

In the war we are fighting today, we have seen extraordinary examples of this: intelligence, technology, deception, long-term planning and operations that depended on thinking several steps ahead.

One striking example was the pager operation against Hezbollah in September 2024, followed by the explosions involving its walkie-talkies. Thousands of devices used by Hezbollah exploded in two waves. The operation was widely attributed to Israel, although Israel never officially claimed responsibility.

The details of the operation are not the point here. The point is to see what can be accomplished when intelligence, technology and careful planning are brought together.

But the enemy also plans. It digs tunnels, hides weapons, changes its methods and looks for new ways to surprise us.

That is the reality of war. One move leads to another.

The Torah tells us:"כִּי בְתַחְבֻּלוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ מִלְחָמָה""For with plans you wage war."

We are supposed to think, plan, seek advice, gather information and prepare. Hashem gave us intelligence and ability, and we are meant to use them. That is hishtadlus.

But hishtadlus does not take away from emunah. We do what we can, while remembering that even the ability to make the effort comes from Hashem. The Torah warns us :

"וְאָמַרְתָּ בִּלְבָבֶךָ כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי עָשָׂה לִי אֶת־הַחַיִל הַזֶּה. וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת־ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל."

"And you may say in your heart: My strength and the might of my hand have made me this wealth. But you shall remember Hashem your G-D, for He is the One who gives you the strength to accomplish."(Devarim 8:17-18)

The Torah is not telling us that we have no strength. It is telling us where that strength comes from.

There is no contradiction between bitachon in Hashem and hishtadlus. We think, plan and act - but we never forget Who gives us the ability to do so.

Shlomo HaMelech says:"רַבּוֹת מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּלֶב־אִישׁ וַעֲצַת ה' הִיא תָקוּם"

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but Hashem's plan will prevail."
(Mishlei 19:21)

We make plans. We think ahead. We try to work out what will happen next.

But ultimately, Hashem's plan will prevail.

We saw this in a striking way in the recent Flydubai incident. A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 passengers, was suddenly thrown into danger when an attacker on board became violent. The captain was injured, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, and passengers and crew had to act quickly to restrain the attacker. The plane was diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

There was extraordinary human effort and quick thinking. People did what they could. But an event like this also reminds us of the limits of human control. We can plan, react and make every effort - but ultimately, the outcome is in Hashem's hands.

That is how Klal Yisrael has to live as well.

We cannot rely on miracles and use that as an excuse not to make an effort. We have to build, plan, defend, research, develop, think and act. We have to use every ability Hashem has given us.

But we must never forget where those abilities come from.

We make our plans and do our hishtadlus. But ultimately, Hashem's plan always prevails.

This brings us back to the two trees in Gan Eden: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Eitz HaDaas) and the Tree of Life (Eitz HaChaim).

Eitz HaDaas gave man the ability to think, plan and look for ways to achieve what he wanted. That ability is part of our responsibility in this world. We are not meant to sit back. We are meant to use our minds and make the effort.

But Eitz HaChaim teaches us something deeper: knowing how to find a way is not the same as knowing where life comes from.

Life itself is a gift from Hashem. Our intelligence, our strength, our resourcefulness and everything we accomplish are also gifts from Him.

The way to Eitz HaChaim was blocked, but its message remains.

We make our plans. We make our hishtadlus. But Hashem's plan always prevails.

The ability to find a way is our hishtadlus.
The ability to make the effort comes from Hashem.
And success is through siyata diShmaya.

Friedrich MerzReuters/DPA/Picture Alliance

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a statement overnight marking the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, reaffirming Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security and pledging to combat antisemitism and efforts to undermine Israel’s right to exist.

“On this anniversary of Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, our thoughts are with the victims and their families, the survivors and the former hostages," Merz wrote. “We honor the memory of those who were killed, and we hope that the deep pain and wounds left by this day, these monstrous and barbaric acts, can heal."

“Germany stands firmly by Israel. Our Israeli friends can rely on our commitment to ensuring that such a crime never happens again," the chancellor said. “We stand up for Israel’s security and its right to exist. This is a lesson learned from the Holocaust and part of Germany’s identity."

At the same time, Merz called for laying the foundations for a reality in which Israelis, Palestinians and their neighbors can live in peace and security. He reiterated the German government’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The chancellor also addressed the rise of antisemitism in Germany, describing it as a phenomenon that “too often remains unanswered" and pledging that the federal government would fight it “in all its forms, both new and old."

“Jews must be able to live without fear anywhere in Germany," Merz said. “Jewish life must continue to flourish in our society. That is why we are acting decisively against antisemitic incidents and attacks. We stand up to those who diminish or even challenge Israel’s right to exist, not only on October 7, but every day," he said.

Itamar Ben GvirSpokesperson

National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir arrived Wednesday morning, at exactly 6:29 a.m., at the security fence near the Nitzanei Oz interchange, warning that the October 7 massacre could repeat itself.

"We are here on October 7, at 6:29 a.m., at the fence near Nitzanei Oz," he said. "Three years ago, on October 7, the State of Israel was caught by surprise. We must not repeat the same mistake."

Ben Gvir also warned that the proximity of the security fence line to Highway 6 and communities in central Israel posed a danger: "We are just meters from Highway 6, not far from Netanya and Emek Hefer. I am saying this in the simplest and clearest way: The Palestinian Authority must be dismantled. Their weapons must be taken away. They must be demilitarized. Palestinian Authority personnel must be arrested. We must not make the same mistake twice."

At the same time, Otzma Yehudit launched what it called “Operation Bridges," a billboard campaign under which large signs will be placed on bridges along Highway 6 in the Sharon region and near the seam line, warning of a possible infiltration into nearby communities.

Ben Gvir linked the lessons of the October 7 massacre to the threat emanating from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, urging, "Three years later, we must not repeat the same mistake. October 7 must not happen in Netanya, Kfar Saba, and the Sharon."

The footage shared by Yosef Haim Ohanascreenshot

Freed hostage Yosef Haim Ohana, who was released from Hamas captivity after 738 days, on Wednesday published footage of his abduction, in a post marking three years since he was kidnapped during the October 7 massacre.

Alongside the footage, Ohana shared a personal post on Instagram in which he reflected on the moment he was kidnapped, the two years he spent in captivity, and his struggle to rebuild his life since returning home.

"Today I look, for dozens and perhaps hundreds of times, at the expression on that frightened child’s face," Ohana wrote. “At that curious look asking: What will happen to my life? What happens now? What will happen in the future? And where am I going?"

"I try to understand where that curious child disappeared to. The child who believed there was only good in the world. Who believed there was no evil and no hatred. Who believed that just as he loved everyone, everyone loved him."

In the post, Ohana addressed the person he had been that day and tried to put into words what he would have wanted to tell himself in the first moments after his abduction: "Yosef, maybe someone else is kidnapping you now, but the day will come when your life will be in your own hands. The day will come when you will have the opportunity to take yourself to the place where you want to be."

But, he wrote, wrote, "There was a year when I was free from the people who kidnapped me, but I was not free from myself."

"Maybe this moment, this day, is the moment when you need to take yourself and your life into your own hands. Because my life is in my hands."

Ohana also addressed the changes he underwent as a result of his abduction and captivity, stressing that he does not seek to ignore what happened or act as though nothing had occurred.

"Because it happened," he wrote. "It was real. And it is part of what brought me here."

"Precisely because I saw that hatred exists, and that evil exists, it made me choose a place without hatred. To choose love again, because I saw what hatred is. To choose good, because I saw what evil is."

Ohana wrote that today he is "in my strongest place, without fear, without hatred, without anger. In a clean place," and thanked G-d for leaving him, as he described it, with "a clean heart" that he can shape anew.

"So yes, Yosef, today you are being kidnapped again, October 7, 2026, only today the kidnapper is the one who loves you most," he wrote.

Concluding his post, Ohana wrote, "I know this is who I am, and it will not change. And when I choose to give to someone else, I am actually choosing myself again and again. I love you, child. I simply love you!"

Three years since October 7: President Herzog lights memorial candle at 6:29 a.m.

President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, opened the commemorations marking the October 7, 2023, massacre on Wednesday morning, at exactly 6:29 a.m., by lighting a memorial candle at the President’s Residence.

The lighting of the candle symbolizes the shared national grief and pain of the State of Israel and its citizens. It is dedicated to the memory of the men and women, infants, children, elderly people, civilians, and male and female soldiers who were murdered or fell in the October 7 terrorist attack and the Swords of Iron War.

Alongside the remembrance of those murdered and fallen, the ceremony is also dedicated to embracing the bereaved families, honoring those wounded physically and emotionally who continue to bear the scars of October 7 and the war, and strengthening the returned hostages and their families as they continue their journey of rehabilitation and recovery.

IDF soldiers operating in GazaIDF Spokesperson's Unit

The IDF has struck approximately 100,000 terrorist targets across multiple arenas since the outbreak of the war, while carrying out sweeping changes to its intelligence, border defense, force deployment and reserve systems as part of lessons learned from the October 7 massacre, according to data released by the military.

The figures, covering three years of IDF activity, show that approximately 65,000 targets were struck in Gaza, about 28,000 in Lebanon and Syria, approximately 4,500 in Iran and around 80 in Yemen. During the same period, Israel faced approximately 10,200 projectiles launched from Gaza, 20,000 from Lebanon, 1,200 from Iran, 50 from Syria and 90 from Yemen.

The IDF said 970 personnel have fallen in operational circumstances since the beginning of the war. More than 70% of soldiers wounded during the war have returned to service.

In Judea and Samaria, security forces located and confiscated more than 3,800 weapons and apprehended approximately 45,000 wanted individuals for questioning. Those detained included weapons traffickers, people possessing weapons, suspects planning imminent attacks, individuals involved in terrorist activity, stone and Molotov cocktail throwers, terrorist operatives and facilitators. More than 46 million shekels intended to finance terrorism were also confiscated.

Intelligence overhaul after October 7

Alongside the operational figures, the IDF detailed extensive reforms implemented across its branches, commands, corps and directorates following investigations and lessons learned from October 7.

The Intelligence Directorate has placed providing warning of war, hostile activity and threats to Israel and its citizens at the top of its priorities, defining it as the Directorate's central responsibility. It also adopted four guiding values: responsibility, professionalism, humility and truth.

Over the past two years, the Directorate has updated its warning concept, validated existing warning models and developed new ones, strengthened warning operations rooms across all arenas, developed advanced training programs and established a multi-arena, multidisciplinary warning operations room designed to create a unified intelligence picture connected to developments in the field.

The military said the intelligence culture is also being changed to place the possibility of surprise and uncertainty at the center of daily thinking. Personnel are being encouraged to question assumptions, debate assessments and identify information that contradicts expectations. The updated warning concept places greater weight on changes in an enemy's level of readiness and less on assessments of its intentions or apparent "reassuring signs."

Intelligence collection is being broadened to combine technological capabilities with intelligence gathered from the field, while professional training now includes greater emphasis on the limitations of intelligence and on understanding cultural and religious differences between Israel and its enemies. Dedicated training in Islamic studies and intelligence research has been established, with outside academics and intelligence experts involved in the Islamic studies program.

New oversight bodies have also been established or expanded, including the Foundational Intelligence Department, the Doctrine and Training Department and the Control Department, while a new school trains intelligence commanders from team-leader level through lieutenant colonel. The Intelligence Directorate is also establishing a Data Division to centralize and process information and make greater use of computing infrastructure, data and artificial intelligence.

Gaza border defenses rebuilt

In Southern Command, the IDF said that during the war it eliminated four heads of Hamas military branches, 17 brigade commanders, approximately 60 battalion commanders and around 300 company commanders, in cooperation with the Air Force, Intelligence Directorate and Operations Directorate.

The defense system for Gaza border communities has undergone major changes. Fences, security roads, protected positions, gates, lighting, radars and observation systems have been upgraded. Community defense units and civilian security coordinators received additional weapons, protective equipment, communications systems and drones, while the encrypted "Netz" local defense application was introduced.

Armored ambulances have been deployed in communities maintaining regional readiness, and the "Magen 46" program increased training from two exercises annually to eight complex exercises. Each community now has a dedicated defense file, and brigade-level regional defense command-and-control centers have been established.

Approximately 40 military posts have been established on commanding terrain based on anticipated Hamas attack routes, while dozens of kilometers of routes were prepared to improve operational mobility. The Gaza border barrier was also reinforced with advanced above- and below-ground capabilities following the investigation into its breaching on October 7.

Hundreds of terrorist sites, launch pits, weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure have been dismantled. The IDF has also refined systematic drilling to locate underground infrastructure, carrying out more than 4,000 drillings since the ceasefire last October, while destroying underground infrastructure along the Yellow Line, including tunnels in Beit Hanoun and the "Dror Lavan" tunnel.

Air Force multiplies forces on alert

The Israeli Air Force has revised its preparations for a large-scale surprise war across multiple arenas. The number of forces kept at readiness has increased by as much as fourfold compared with the eve of the war, and by as much as sixfold in certain arrays. Authority delegated to field echelons has also been expanded, while command-and-control and operational-picture-building capabilities have been strengthened.

Cooperation with ground forces and regional commands has been expanded through the new Cooperation and Borders Group, while preplanned target banks and fire plans have been developed for all of Israel's borders. Squadron 190, the "Magic Touch" attack-helicopter squadron, was relocated to Ramat David Airbase to shorten response times in border sectors.

Hundreds of radars and other systems have been deployed or expanded to detect drones and other near-ground threats. Dedicated defense battalions have been established to protect Air Force bases, along with the "Arad" Unit in Wing 7, composed of female combat soldiers tasked with providing intervention teams against ground and aerial threats and collecting intelligence to defend strategic assets.

The Air Force also established a dedicated directorate, headed by a reserve brigadier general who participated in the October 7 inquiry, to oversee implementation of the investigation's lessons in work plans, exercises, training and force-building.

IDF more than doubles readiness frameworks

At the General Staff level, the Operations Directorate has increased exercises focusing on defense and surprise multi-arena scenarios and drafted a new order changing the principles governing defense and the response to a large-scale surprise attack.

The number of readiness frameworks and force reserves across all sectors has more than doubled, encompassing air, ground and naval forces. Commanders in the field have also been granted broader authority, particularly regarding the employment of fire during a surprise attack.

Northern Command, meanwhile, has adopted a concept dubbed "The IDF in Front of Civilians," under which forces deploy forward to prevent threats from developing close to Israeli communities.

The 91st and 36th Divisions carried out extensive activity along the first line in southern Lebanon to create a security area and prevent terrorist organizations from reestablishing themselves. Following the fall of the Assad regime, troops from the 210th "Bashan" Division entered Syrian territory within approximately 12 hours and established a forward security area containing ten military posts.

Defense units in northern communities have tripled in size and received drones and additional observation, combat and communications equipment. The "Pere" and "Dvora" rapid-response units were also established, staffed by combat soldiers who live in the Golan Heights, Galilee, valleys and communities along the confrontation line.

New defenses in Judea and Samaria and along eastern border

Central Command is implementing a "Community as a Fortress" program to reinforce observation, collection, weapons and other security components in communities, while changing the deployment of troops and military posts in Judea and Samaria. The IDF also decided to convert all military camps into military posts as a lesson from the attack on the Nahal Oz base.

Operational plans have been tested through exercises and "red teams" intended to challenge assumptions. Following the establishment of terrorist organizations in Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams, Operation Iron Wall was launched to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prevent its reestablishment. Israeli forces continue to maintain an operational presence in those areas.

The IDF has also established the 96th "Gilad" Division to confront threats from Israel's east. The "Water Line" military posts along the eastern border were restored, the Dead Sea command-and-control center was established to defend hotels, industrial facilities and residents, and female mobility combat soldiers were trained on "Jaguar" vehicles as a mobile reserve force.

Five David Brigades were also established and trained as territorial rapid-response forces intended to provide an armed and readily available response to rapidly developing incidents along Israel's borders.

Ground Forces expand

The Ground Forces have redefined community classifications and force standards under the "Meshiv Haruach" program, with every community receiving new weapons and conducting training under a common combat doctrine.

A new Intelligence Collection Branch was established at the National Center for Ground Training, while training for visual intelligence interpreters has been strengthened. The border-defense concept itself has been changed to place communities and residents at its center, with greater defensive depth, security areas and IDF forces positioned forward to identify and thwart threats before they reach civilians.

The Ground Forces have also expanded their structure with the establishment of the Hasmonean Brigade, 96th Division, David Brigades, 607th Battalion, 38th Division, robotics companies, 11th Battalion and 935th Battalion. New technologies include remotely operated armored fighting vehicles, while new training facilities have been designed to recreate battlefield conditions, including a "Lebanon" training facility and urban warfare facilities.

The Combat Engineering Corps has meanwhile expanded the remote operation of engineering platforms, established Battalion 607 and increased the use of technology in underground warfare.

Home Front Command and logistics

The Home Front Command said it has improved warning and civil-defense capabilities, including adjusting the amount of time civilians have to seek protection according to the threat and location. Its ability to deploy forces rapidly across several arenas has also been strengthened, with new formations including a district in the Besor region, the Ya'ara Headquarters, Atzmon Battalion, a mobility unit, Ari Battalion and a National Home Front Training Center.

Joint exercises with local authorities, Magen David Adom, Israel Fire and Rescue Services and Israel Police have expanded. Hundreds of public shelters have been renovated and thousands of protective structures deployed nationwide, while protection projects have been accelerated in northern communities and educational, healthcare and welfare institutions.

Communications infrastructure has been reinforced to maintain operations even if infrastructure is damaged, including redundant communications cores, an alternate command headquarters and satellite capabilities for cellular coverage. The Home Front Command has also developed responses to emerging threats including cluster-munition and hazardous-material incidents.

The Technology and Logistics Directorate has adapted the combat service support system to operate alongside combat troops under extreme conditions. A School for Combat Service Support was established at Training Base 6, while the "Acceleration" program is intended to speed troops' return to operational readiness through changes to emergency storage, maintenance and equipment preparation.

Navy adopts layered coastal defense

The Israeli Navy has reorganized maritime security and defense areas to create multiple defensive layers, improved detection and communications systems and deployed reinforced forces at response points near combat zones.

Patrol vessels have been integrated more closely with ground forces, including through advanced command-and-control systems aboard Dvora-class and other vessels. The Navy has also established the "Netz" forward combat-intelligence unit to rapidly identify threats and close operational cycles against them.

New naval platforms include the "Saifan," an interception platform operated by the Snapir Unit and equipped with a precision-fire system, and the "Shaldag Mark V," which provides improved observation and fire capabilities as well as greater endurance and operational range.

Reserve forces expanded by 36%

The changes have also transformed the IDF reserve system. Since the war began, the reserve force has grown by approximately 36%, with new frameworks including the Hashomer Brigade, David Brigades as part of the establishment of the Gilad Division, the 38th Division, armored formations, intelligence collection units, community defense forces, air-defense frameworks, policing and detention units and Home Front Command formations.

In August 2024, approximately 22,000 personnel who had previously been released from service were returned to the reserves. During three personnel-utilization events comprising eight General Staff-level days in 2025, 14,016 reservists were assigned to active units on the day they were interviewed, with another 1,655 assigned later. Four additional utilization days in 2026 resulted in 7,575 reservists being assigned immediately and another 484 later. Four more such days are planned for December, when thousands more personnel are expected to be assigned to combat and combat-support roles.

The number of personnel assigned to reserve units immediately after completing mandatory service has increased by approximately 38%. Combat formations are serving an average of approximately 80 to 100 reserve days this year, compared with a planned annual average of approximately 55 days, due to changing operational needs.

At the same time, support for reservists and their families has expanded through grants, an assistance fund, emotional and couples counseling, tuition subsidies, vacation vouchers, housing benefits, student assistance, a digital wallet and other benefits.

The "Service Circle" program was also developed to provide continuous assistance before, during and after operational deployments, covering individual and family needs, resilience and welfare while strengthening the connection between reservists, their commanders and their units.

The IDF said it will continue expanding its personnel base and maximizing available manpower to meet its operational missions, while working to reduce the burden on reservists and strengthen support for them and their families.

Senior terrorists eliminated during the warIDF Spokesperson's Unit

NYPDMendy Hechtman/Flash90

Jewish New Yorkers accounted for 245 of the 463 confirmed hate crimes recorded in New York City during the first nine months of 2026, according to NYPD statistics released Tuesday. The figure represents 53% of all confirmed hate crimes and is 1.2% higher than the 242 anti-Jewish incidents recorded during the same period in 2025.

The NYPD estimates that Jews comprise roughly 10% of New York City’s population, meaning they have been targeted in hate crimes at a rate approximately 10 times higher than their share of the city’s population.

“The most striking trend continues to be antisemitic hate crimes," New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Tuesday press conference, as quoted by JNS.

“So far this year, 53% of all confirmed hate crimes have targeted Jewish New Yorkers, despite Jews making up only roughly 10% of the city’s population," she said. “Those numbers are deeply concerning."

“On the eve of the third anniversary of Oct. 7, we renew our pledge to Jewish institutions that they will not be left to protect themselves without a strong partner in the NYPD," she added.

During the third quarter, from July through September, 59 of the 125 confirmed hate crimes targeted Jews, accounting for approximately 47% of the total. That marked a decline from the 68 anti-Jewish hate crimes recorded during the third quarter of 2025.

While the NYPD did not publish a separate September breakdown, the available figures indicate that 16 of the 38 confirmed hate crimes recorded in the city that month involved Jewish victims, or roughly 42%. By comparison, 30 of the 47 hate crimes recorded in September 2025 targeted Jews, representing 64%.

The figures also indicate that Jewish New Yorkers were the targets of 31 of 69 hate crimes reported during the final month of the third quarter, or approximately 45%, based on comparisons with previously released NYPD data covering July and August.

“Our Hate Crime Task Force continues to aggressively investigate these incidents, while we deploy additional resources to protect Jewish communities," Tisch said.

“This year, during the High Holy Days, we deployed an unprecedented number of officers to cover virtually every synagogue across the city," she said.

The statistics come amid a series of antisemitic incidents across New York City. In September, a 48-year-old Bronx man was arrested and charged with a hate crime after allegedly pursuing a Jewish man in Brooklyn with a knife while shouting, “Heil f---ing Hitler."

In August, a worshipper was injured and property was damaged during an attack at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue while Shabbat services were underway. That same month, six local youths allegedly attacked a haredi Jewish man in Borough Park and threw eggs at him.

In July, a Jewish man was stabbed outside a synagogue on Tisha B’Av.

Smotrich and NetanyahuYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are expected to meet with rabbis at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to prepare for the upcoming elections and consolidate the right-wing bloc.

Arutz Sheva-Israel National News has learned that an initial attempt was made to arrange a meeting between Netanyahu and the rabbis alone, but the rabbis requested a joint gathering that would also include Smotrich.

Sources familiar with the details told Arutz Sheva-Israel National News that after Netanyahu was unable to secure the meeting on his own, he turned to Smotrich, who agreed to join Thursday's gathering.

Meanwhile, a separate effort is underway within the Religious Zionist camp. Arutz Sheva-Israel National News has learned that a prominent yeshiva dean is working to arrange a meeting between Netanyahu and Rabbi Zvi Tau, the spiritual leader of the Noam party.

The initiative aims to persuade Noam to withdraw from the race before the elections, preventing thousands of right-wing votes from being wasted on a party that might fall short of the electoral threshold.

These moves are part of a broader push within the right-wing bloc to minimize vote fragmentation ahead of the elections and foster unified action among aligned parties and factions.

Zohran Mamdani and Ofir AkunisLiri Agami/Flash 90, Arutz Sheva

Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, has invited Mayor Zohran Mamdani to attend a screening of an Israel Defense Forces film documenting Hamas's October 7, 2023, massacre.

Akunis first announced the invitation during a ceremony on Monday commemorating the attack's third anniversary. He said the screening would give Mamdani an opportunity to see “for the first time, what the people he supports really did" by attending the event.

“My friends, in less than 48 hours, we will honor October 7, the exact day of the brutal massacre against our people," Akunis said at Monday's commemoration. “We will screen here in New York City the 47-minute horror movie that was produced by the IDF."

Akunis said he had formally invited the mayor and urged him to take part in the screening.

“Maybe, maybe, if he will come, he will stop spreading his hate and blood libels against the State of Israel," Akunis said.

On Tuesday, the Israeli diplomat published the letter he had sent to Mamdani on social media. In it, he invited the mayor to watch a 47-minute film compiled by the IDF from footage recorded by Hamas terrorists on their GoPro cameras during the attack.

"Mayor Mamdani,

On the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, I would like to invite you to join us for a screening of a 47-minute film produced by the Israel Defence Forces documenting the events of that terrible day through footage captured by the Hamas terrorists themselves on their GoPro cameras," the letter reads.

Akunis also accused Mamdani's rhetoric against Israel of contributing to rising antisemitism in New York and argued that viewing the footage could help the mayor understand the importance of the Jewish state and its right to defend itself.

"With your rhetoric against the State of Israel being the fundamental reason for the rise of antisemitism in New York City, it is even more crucial now for the safety and continued existence of the Jewish homeland. Perhaps after watching this film, you will truly understand why the Jewish State is so important and why we will continue to defend ourselves, no matter against whom, and no matter when," Akunis wrote to the mayor.

He concluded by urging Mamdani to approach the screening with an open mind.

"I hope you will come with an open heart and that seeing the footage for yourself will help convey the reality of what happened on October 7th in a way that words alone cannot," wrote Akunis.

Mamdani has faced sustained criticism over his positions on Israel, dating back to his mayoral campaign. His remarks on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas's assault on southern Israel, and his refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada" have been among the main points of contention.

The dispute has continued since he took office. On his first day as mayor, Mamdani rescinded several Israel-related executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams. He also became the first New York City mayor to boycott the city's annual Israel Day Parade.

During his campaign, Mamdani pledged that the New York Police Department would arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him. After his administration reviewed the issue, Mamdani acknowledged that New York City lacks independent legal authority to enforce the warrant.

Nevertheless, he has continued to criticize Netanyahu. In an interview last week with podcaster Theo Von, Mamdani said he would support US membership in the ICC and compliance with its arrest warrants, including the warrant issued against Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

“If I had my say, the US government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they've issued. I believe that the US government should join the ICC. It should enforce its warrants for everyone," Mamdani told Von.

He subsequently referred to Netanyahu as “the architect of a horrific genocide."

Mamdani was also asked about Netanyahu's criticism of him during the prime minister's address to the United Nations General Assembly last month. Netanyahu said that “Jews no longer feel safe" in New York under Mamdani and criticized the mayor's description of Israel's military actions in Gaza, as well as social media activity by Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji.

Mamdani described his reaction to the remarks as unusual, recounting that he had been meeting with the prime minister of the Netherlands at an LGBTQ center in Manhattan when Netanyahu spoke at the UN.

“It was strange," Mamdani said of Netanyahu’s comments. “I was having a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands at the LGBTQ center in downtown Manhattan … and then I get back from that meeting, and it’s like, ‘Oh, by the way, here’s what he was saying at the UN.’"

He argued that Netanyahu's criticism was intended to divert attention from the allegations against him.

“All of this is an attempt to distract from responsibility - name as many people as possible, try and make it into a back-and-forth. It's not about me and him."

“It's about the fact that he's the architect of a genocide. And it's like, yeah, if I was the architect of a genocide, I would probably talk about anything but that," charged Mamdani.

Sydney SweeneyIMAGO/Ball Raw Images via Reuters Connect

American actress Sydney Sweeney is seriously considering converting to Judaism and starting a family with her partner, Jewish music producer Scooter Braun, according to a report by Page Six.

The report indicates that the couple’s relationship is growing stronger and that they have already begun discussing marriage and children. “The couple is discussing having their own family and Scooter feels strongly on the subject," a source told the outlet.

Sweeney, who recently celebrated her 29th birthday, has reportedly taken initial steps toward conversion. According to the report, she has met with two rabbis and joined Braun for Rosh Hashanah services at Temple Sholom, a Conservative synagogue in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Reports indicate that Sweeney and Braun began dating in the summer of 2025. Braun, 45, was previously married to Yael Cohen, with whom he shares three children. The couple divorced in 2022.

Last month, Braun publicly posted a birthday tribute to Sweeney. “You make me smile harder, laugh louder, adventure more, and dream bigger," he wrote. “You’ve made the ordinary feel exciting and the future feel like something I can’t wait to get to."

Hamam al-HammamiCourtesy

The Omani pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai passenger flight bound for Israel received professional pilot training in Britain, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

Hamam al-Hammami, 29, is being held in Abu Dhabi following last Wednesday’s incident, which authorities have described as an attempted jihadist terror attack. He is accused of attacking the aircraft’s pilot with an axe before crew members and passengers intervened.

According to The Telegraph, Hammami trained between 2018 and 2019 with L3 Airline Academy, one of Britain’s largest flight schools at the time.

The company, which operated training facilities in England, has since become part of Acron Aviation. Its British locations included major centers in Southampton and Bournemouth, along with a simulator facility near Gatwick.

There is no allegation of wrongdoing against L3 Airline Academy, Acron Aviation or their affiliated companies, noted The Telegraph. Acron has said it would cooperate with authorities investigating the incident.

Hammami's aviation training also included time in New Zealand. New Zealand police confirmed Tuesday that he received a six-month student visa to undergo flight training from November 2018 through May 2019 “for a UK-based company no longer operating in New Zealand".

At the time, L3 Airline Academy operated a program that combined training in Britain with flight instruction at a school in Hamilton, New Zealand. Cadets could complete their theoretical ground training in Southampton, travel to New Zealand for core flight training and then return to Britain for more advanced instruction.

L3 also had ties to Oman Air, where Hammami worked until February 2025, according to The Telegraph. The airline had previously listed the aviation school among five internationally recognized institutions whose graduates could be considered for its pilot recruitment program.

Acron Aviation declined to confirm whether Hammami had been among its students, citing a policy against publicly identifying current or former students.

A spokesman said: “We were saddened to hear of this incident, and our thoughts are with everyone affected. As a matter of policy, we do not publicly comment on whether any individual is or has been a student with us."

“We will, of course, assist the relevant authorities, if necessary, in any way we can as they investigate this incident."

Channel 12 News reported on Monday that al-Hamami linked his alleged attempt to bring down the aircraft to the war in the Gaza Strip.

“I did it as revenge for Gaza. I wanted to die as a shahid," al-Hammami told investigators.

The Israeli defense establishment is continuing to investigate whether he acted alone and out of a personal motive, or whether another party was behind the alleged attack. The military censor cleared for publication on Monday evening that the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is also participating in the investigation.

Meanwhile, two Israeli sources told CBS News that Israel was prepared to shoot down the Flydubai plane if it continued toward the country after al-Hammami attacked the pilot in the cockpit.

Vice President JD VanceOfficial White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins

US Vice President JD Vance told the Reuters news agency that Iran would have to take concrete steps to reduce its nuclear enrichment capabilities before Washington would agree to end the seven-month war between the two countries.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters following a campaign trip to Alaska on Monday, Vance said the United States was seeking an actual reduction in Iran’s enrichment capacity rather than promises that Tehran would limit its nuclear program in the future.

"If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear ⁠weapon, don't build highly enriched fuel. That's a very basic threshold issue," Vance said.

"I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity."

The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks seeking to end the fighting and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran's most recent proposal, even though Tehran later insisted it had received a response from Washington.

"We're not going to trade words for actions," Vance told Reuters, while emphasizing that Washington remained willing to reach an agreement if Iran makes substantive nuclear concessions.

Vance also said the United States faces uncertainty over how decisions are made within Iran's leadership. He said Washington has been negotiating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but questioned how much influence they have over the country's broader power structure following US-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"One of the things we picked up on is it's not totally clear how their country makes decisions," Vance said.

The vice president said he has spoken directly with field commanders to assess conditions on the battlefield. He rejected concerns about critical US munitions shortages and said Iranian forces, while periodically capable of attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, have largely failed to stop energy exports through the waterway.

Vance's comments came after Trump said Tuesday in Baltimore that his "biggest problem" is that no one knows who is running Iran.

At the same event, Trump stated that the war against Iran could conclude “pretty soon," while suggesting Washington would decide whether to pursue a diplomatic outcome or take a harsher approach.

“We're doing extremely well in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Very well. The whole place is shot. They were the bully of the Middle East. They're not so much the bully anymore. But we have to finish up, and it's only a question of which way we want to do it: the nice way or the not-so-nice way. And pretty soon you'll find out," Trump said.

Last week, Trump described Iran as “ready to fold up" and suggested the war could be won shortly after the midterm elections, or potentially before they take place.

Speaking at an event in Texas, he said, “We have a war going on with a country that will never have a nuclear weapon and is ready to fold up. We'll win very easily right now. I believe right after the election we'll win, but maybe before the election."

Trump has also maintained that Iran was “three to four weeks away, maybe sooner" from obtaining a nuclear weapon when the war began in late February. “And if they have a nuclear weapon, the whole game is over.." he said. He warned that the conflict would end “one way or the other...either they'll do something very proper and smart or they won't be around very long, which is, you know, frankly, I hate to see that, but they won't be around very long."

Greg AbbottREUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday ordered the United States and Texas flags at all state buildings lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in solidarity with the State of Israel and in honor of the men, women, and children murdered in the brutal October 7th terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, on the third anniversary of the attack.

“Three years ago, Hamas carried out a brutal terrorist attack on the State of Israel and murdered more than 1,200 men, women, and children," said Governor Abbott. “Texas stands with Israel and with the Jewish community. We will always honor the lives lost that day."

Flags should return to full-staff at sunset on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Abbott encouraged individuals, businesses, municipalities, and other political subdivisions to lower their flags for the same period.

Abbott has shown support for Israel in the past. During his time in office, Texas introduced legislation prohibiting state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel.

In November of 2025, Abbott designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations.

This designation authorizes heightened enforcement against both organizations and their affiliates and prohibits them from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas.

Oct. 7 event at UN: "Today we honor the resilience of Am Yisrael"

Israel’s Mission to the United Nations held an event at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday to mark three years since the October 7 massacre. Hundreds of participants, ambassadors, and senior diplomats from numerous countries attended, including the United States, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Tanzania, and others.

The story of Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud was at the center of the event. The two arrived together at the Nova music festival and sought shelter in a bomb shelter in Re’im that became the scene of a massacre. Eliya was abducted to Gaza and held captive by Hamas for 505 days, while Ziv survived the massacre and worked throughout his captivity to secure his release. Only after he returned from captivity did Eliya learn that Ziv had survived.

During the event, Dr. Phil held a special conversation with the two about their story, their struggles, and their journey toward recovery.

Captive survivor Eliya Cohen: I told myself - continue to be strong

Speeches were delivered by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, and US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz. Staff Sergeant (Res.) Oriya Berlin shared her personal account of serving as an IDF lookout at the Re’im base on October 7, while singer Idan Raichel performed several songs.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated, “Three years later, we stand at the heart of the United Nations to deliver a simple message: October 7 can never be erased, rewritten, or forgotten. The pain remains with us, but it has not broken us. Eliya and Ziv are living proof of the resilience of the people of Israel: even from the depths of hell, we rise, we recover, and we choose life. We will continue to build, thrive, and fight for our future. Am Yisrael Chai."

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz: "October 7 can never, ever happen again, and it will not ever happen again, and certainly not under this President's watch. October 7 completely, and I think irreversibly, has backfired on Iran and all of their terrorist proxies. Meanwhile, the Abraham Accords are actually expanding. today, right now, as we speak, Iron Dome technology is protecting cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. that just was completely unthinkable - the terrorists are on their back foot. America will always stand with the Jewish people".

El Al airplanesFlash 90

Amine Ayoub, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, is a policy analyst and writer based in Morocco. Follow him on X: @amineayoubx

The cockpit attack raises a harder question about October 7: can violent Islamist ideology penetrate trusted professional systems from within?

A cockpit confrontation aboard a commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv exposes a major aviation security blind spot that conventional airport scanners cannot fix.

Israel is exceptionally gifted at finding external threats, intercepting weapons, tracking suspicious packages, and analyzing foreign conspiracies before they reach national borders. Yet a far more difficult challenge is the threat that enters the system legitimately with authorized professional access.

That is the central lesson of the incident involving Flydubai Flight FZ1073. When an Omani first officer launched a knife attack, Israeli officials quickly framed the episode as a possible Islamist-motivated terror attack. Netanyahu said the copilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination, while the UAE investigation examines the motive. The aircraft experienced a rapid loss of altitude, transmitted emergency distress signals, and forced the scrambling of Israeli fighter jets. The plane diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where local authorities arrested the suspect.

The incident cannot be dismissed simply as an inexplicable act by an individual in crisis. Israeli officials have pointed to Islamist radicalization, raising a far more serious security question: whether violent Islamist ideology can penetrate trusted professional institutions from within. While the investigation proceeds, the case highlights the potential security risk posed by violent Islamist radicalization inside critical aviation infrastructure.

Regional emergency cooperation across borders remains critically essential for stability.

October 7 did not create violent Islamism. It demonstrated what happens when Islamist ideology, operational capability and access converge. Flydubai presents a different problem: what happens when access exists first, and ideology becomes the danger from within?

Security analysts must understand that once radicalization takes hold in digital spaces, physical distance no longer provides immunity against extremist intent. Violent Islamism offers adherents an ideological framework in which political conflict becomes a religious struggle, civilians can be recast as legitimate targets, and personal grievances can be absorbed into a larger narrative of confrontation. Relying on grievance narratives and digital networks, this ideology can potentially reach individuals who have already passed professional vetting and obtained legitimate access to sensitive aviation systems.

This ideological threat can bypass conventional perimeter security because the individual may enter the system lawfully and acquire privileged access before authorities have any indication of violent intent. Modern security systems should therefore focus on concrete behavioral indicators of violent intent rather than nationality, religion or unverified assumptions about aviation personnel, recognizing that effective oversight requires balancing institutional protection with fairness across all operational sectors while maintaining rigorous standards of safety throughout the entire civil aviation network.

Ensuring safety requires proactive vigilance without compromising the fundamental professional trust that underpins global commercial aviation travel networks operating safely across the world.

The most revealing part of the incident is not simply how close the aircraft came to disaster, but how the existing safety architecture responded once the threat emerged from inside the cockpit. Despite severe injuries, Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. Additional pilots aboard the aircraft then helped regain control and land safely in Tabuk. Relying on passenger and crew intervention during a midair crisis is an emergency response of last resort, not a permanent security doctrine.

Passengers and reserve pilots can never become an adequate substitute for professional institutional safeguards. Yet the incident demonstrates an uncomfortable reality when preventive layers fail entirely. Human beings may become the ultimate barrier between a violent attacker and mass civilian casualties. Israel should learn from this event without romanticizing civilian intervention.

The next operational step is not to build an impossible system that tries to predict any dangerous individual. No intelligence service possesses that omniscient capability. The objective must remain narrower and realistic: make it significantly harder for an individual showing credible warning signs of violent intent to reach a position where one violent decision produces catastrophic consequences. That requires advanced information fusion across regional security agencies operating within complex environments designed to protect civil aviation routes while maintaining high professional safety standards.

Israel has spent decades building a security system designed to detect threats approaching from outside. The Flydubai incident exposes a harder problem. The potential attacker did not need to cross an Israeli border, smuggle a weapon through Ben Gurion Airport, or build a terrorist cell. He allegedly entered a trusted profession through ordinary channels and reached the cockpit from inside the system.

If violent Islamist ideology can exploit that access, Israeli security thinking must adapt accordingly. This reality does not mean that aviation authorities should respond by treating the entire workforce with blind paranoia. It means security planners need to better identify behavioral changes, credible warning signs, and dangerous pathways from personal crisis to violent intent. Security agencies must remain vigilant against unseen radicalization vectors that bypass traditional vetting protocols.

Someone can consume extremist propaganda online, develop a deep personal grievance, and eventually decide to strike without ever joining a formal terrorist cell. That possibility is precisely why insider-threat systems cannot depend exclusively on identifying members of organized terrorist networks. At the same time, abstract ideology must never become a cheap substitute for concrete evidence. Intelligence services should focus on observable behavior and on the point where dangerous beliefs become violent intent. The principle should apply across aviation and other critical transport systems, ensuring robust oversight throughout all sensitive sectors.

Security information remains divided among government agencies, regulators, airlines and national jurisdictions. Individual threats respect neither of those bureaucratic boundaries. Israel therefore possesses a vital direct national interest in significantly improving security cooperation with commercial airlines, aviation regulators, and intelligence partners across the Middle East region.

The answer is not collective suspicion of Muslims, Omanis, or other nationalities. The target of security scrutiny must be violent ideology and demonstrable indicators of intent, not identity. Ordinary religious practices such as prayer, religious dress, or dietary habits are never reliable indicators of security concern. Instead, security systems should focus on credible threats, explicit support for terrorist violence, threats against civilians, attempts to circumvent security procedures, serious operational violations, threatening communications, and credible reports from colleagues.

Key operational measures include establishing proactive internal systems for identifying significant behavioral changes among personnel who possess sensitive access, creating confidential and secure reporting channels for concerned colleagues to voice credible concerns without fear of triggering indiscriminate professional suspicion, and ensuring effective cross-agency coordination to ensure early warning signs are never ignored across international aviation networks operating within shared airspace connecting partner nations across the region while maintaining strong clarity in threat evaluation and protective operational protocols across all participating jurisdictions to safeguard civil aviation networks against potential insider threats operating within vulnerable commercial transport flight routes.

As stated above,October 7 demonstrated what violent Islamist ideology can become when belief, operational capability and access converge. However, the Flydubai incident raises a different warning: the same ideological threat may seek access not from outside the security perimeter, but from within trusted institutions. The lesson is not that every Muslim employee represents a security threat. It is that violent Islamist ideology must be treated as a genuine insider-security risk when credible evidence shows that ideology is moving toward violence.

Israel should not wait for the next warning to become a catastrophe in the cockpit. Beyond immediate operational adjustments, regional leadership must remain alert to extremist narratives circulating online, protecting sensitive aviation transport corridors through unwavering resolve and transparent reporting standards. Strengthening national security requires recognizing that the battlefield of modern extremism has expanded far beyond physical borders and external terrorist cells. Trusted professionals holding sensitive credentials represent an attractive target for violent ideological exploitation.

By establishing robust internal reporting mechanisms, enforcing strict behavioral monitoring, and fostering deep cross-border intelligence cooperation, regional authorities can effectively neutralize these hidden risks before tragedy strikes shared skies. Protecting national aviation infrastructure is an urgent priority that demands unwavering commitment from every security agency operating in the Middle East today. Only through steadfast vigilance can we safeguard future commercial flights across the globe safely.

David ZiniChaim Goldberg/Flash90

Shin Bet Director David Zini warned at the latest Cabinet meeting of attempts to establish military-style infrastructure in the Bedouin sector, describing the phenomenon as “very concerning."

According to a report by i24NEWS on Tuesday evening, Zini told ministers that security forces have identified military-style infrastructure in parts of the Bedouin sector and are working routinely to thwart its development.

He specifically warned of attempts to establish frameworks resembling military battalions, calling the phenomenon “very concerning."

The comments were made during a Cabinet meeting focused on security threats from the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria. During the discussion, Zini also raised concerns about developments in the Bedouin sector.

Zini also addressed violence in Judea and Samaria and the possibility of renewing administrative detention against Jews, clashing with Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock over the issue.

During the meeting, Zini told ministers that he may seek to renew the use of administrative detention against Jews in Judea and Samaria if efforts to address violent incidents through other measures prove unsuccessful.

Administrative detention against Jews was halted on the orders of Defense Minister Israel Katz shortly after he took office. Zini had opposed renewing the measure despite calls to do so, but told the Cabinet that the option could return to the table if other measures fail to provide an adequate response.

A heated confrontation also erupted between Zini and Strock, who accused the security establishment of presenting a partial picture of violence in Judea and Samaria and failing to give sufficient weight to Palestinian attacks against Jews.

“There are daily incidents in which Palestinians attack shepherds, injure them, endanger their lives, and attack young teenagers who are doing nothing but shepherding," Strock said. “You present it as though the Arabs are all sweetness and light and only the Jewish residents are problematic. Bring these attacks to light as well, deal with them and talk about them."

Zini responded: “The Palestinians are not burning Jewish homes here. You are disconnected. We need to see condemnations and denunciations from the entire leadership. This harms the settlement enterprise and harms security."

Strock said that she and officials in the settlement leadership condemn violent incidents and work against them.

“I condemn [them] all the time. I also go to farms and speak with the youth," she said.

Zini asked her, “Where have you condemned it?"

“On Reshet Bet, on Galatz [IDF Radio], in every media outlet. Just listen," Strock replied.

King Ogiame Atuwatse III visits BinyaminBinyamin Regional Council

An extraordinary royal visit took place in Binyamin today as His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, King of the Warri Kingdom of Nigeria, arrived in the region as part of efforts to strengthen international ties with influential leaders across Africa.

Israel Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, hosted the Nigerian king and his delegation at Psagot Winery. The delegation then continued to Ancient Shiloh.

King Ogiame Atuwatse III is the 21st Olu of Warri and King of the Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria. The kingdom has a history spanning more than 500 years and is home to the Itsekiri people.

Located in the heart of the Niger Delta, the Warri Kingdom is a major center of oil and gas activity. Alongside his royal role, King Atuwatse has extensive experience in the energy sector and leads companies involved in infrastructure and maritime services. He also works to promote investment and economic development and maintains international ties aimed at strengthening his kingdom’s position on the global stage.

The visit to Binyamin was held as a gesture of friendship and as part of ongoing efforts to expand international partnerships and build relationships with influential leaders across Africa. The visit also provided an opportunity to deepen the king’s familiarity with Binyamin and explore potential areas of future cooperation and engagement.

King Atuwatse arrived in Israel as part of a large international Christian delegation. His visit to Binyamin is part of a broader effort led by Ganz to expand the circle of friends of the communities of Judea and Samaria and establish relationships with leaders and public figures from around the world, including Africa.

During their visit to Psagot Winery, Ganz presented the king and members of his delegation with the significance of the Binyamin region, the Jewish people’s historic connection to the area, and the region’s remarkable growth and development.

The delegation toured the winery, sampled local wines, and learned about Binyamin’s wine industry and agricultural sector.

The Binyamin Regional Council is also advancing plans for a power station in the future Rantis Industrial Zone, with the goal of making Binyamin one of Israel’s key energy hubs. The initiative is part of the region’s continued economic growth and the development of infrastructure projects of national importance.

Following the winery visit, the king and his delegation traveled to Ancient Shiloh. Eliana Passentin, Director of the International Desk of the Binyamin Regional Council, presented the history of the site where the Tabernacle stood for centuries, the archaeological discoveries uncovered there, and Shiloh’s central place in the biblical story of the Jewish people.

Ganz said he was pleased to host the Nigerian king and introduce him to the developing Binyamin region.

"The Land of the Bible draws leaders from around the world," Ganz said. "Those who come here, meet our residents, and visit Ancient Shiloh see firsthand the depth of the Jewish people’s connection to their land.

"We are building partnerships and opening Binyamin to the world. We will continue expanding our circle of friends and translating these relationships into partnership and support for Israel and for the communities of Judea and Samaria."

Yaniv AsorIDF spokesperson

Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor issued a warning to Hamas on Tuesday evening, making clear that any attempt to harm IDF soldiers or residents of the Negev would be met with a powerful response.

Speaking at a ceremony in the Eshkol Regional Council marking the events of October 7, Asor addressed the military’s failure on the day of the massacre and the resulting breakdown in public trust.

“Three years have passed since that terrible morning, since our great failure as an army," he said. “On October 7, we failed in our mission to defend the country, to protect our home. The trust you placed in us was shattered. And from those shattered pieces, we rose. As one people, in pain but determined."

Asor addressed residents of the area and praised their actions on the day of the massacre and in the years since.

“You, the residents of this region, fought with courage and heroism to save lives, to protect your families and your homes. You, my brothers and sisters who made the desert bloom, were a source of strength and inspiration for us. A wellspring of strength and hope, of planting and growth."

He went on to make clear that, in his view, the campaign is not yet over.

“The work is not finished; the journey of revival is not complete. We are determined not to rest until we break their strength and their spirit."

He concluded with a direct message to Hamas:

“I would like to use this sacred platform to send an unequivocal warning to Hamas: Any attempt to attack IDF soldiers or residents of the Negev will be met with a sharp and powerful response from us."

הכבשים שמתוללא קרדיט

Nine sheep and a shepherding dog died Tuesday, while more than 40 additional sheep were affected in a poisoning incident in grazing areas on a hill near Alon Road in the Binyamin region.

According to local residents, a terrorist cell from the village of al-Mughayyir entered the grazing area and poured a toxic substance into a water trough used by local flocks.

The flock reached the trough in the afternoon. Shepherds said that shortly after drinking from the contaminated water, dozens of sheep began convulsing and showing severe symptoms of poisoning.

Residents rushed to the scene with veterinary medications in an attempt to save the animals. Nine sheep have died so far, while more than 40 are being treated at the site.

The shepherding dog accompanying the flock also drank from the trough. It soon developed severe symptoms and died.

Security forces arrived at the scene and launched searches for the suspects.

Residents said this was not the first such incident. According to them, it was the 13th poisoning incident in the grazing areas near Alon Road over the past year, and they attribute the attacks to a cell operating from al-Mughayyir.

In previous incidents, they said, only a few sheep died each time. This time, however, the number of animals affected was unusually high.

ZAKA team at the site of the plane crash, archiveZaka Spokesperson

An Israeli man who was traveling with his wife in Namibia died last Wednesday, during the Sukkot holiday, after suffering cardiac arrest. His coffin is expected to be flown to Israel tomorrow for burial.

Following his death, ZAKA’s international unit worked with the Foreign Ministry and Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, the Chabad emissary in Namibia, to secure the release of his body and arrange its transfer to Israel while ensuring that his dignity was respected.

At one point, local authorities announced that they intended to perform an autopsy. In an effort to prevent it, Rabbi Rahimi arranged a video call with Yossi Landau, ZAKA’s Lachish district operations officer, so he could explain the halachic sensitivity and ask the pathologist to limit the procedure as much as possible.

But the call took an unexpected turn. The pathologist looked at Landau on the screen and said, “You look familiar. I know you from somewhere."

It soon emerged that the two had met about 19 years ago following a plane crash in Namibia that killed five Israelis. ZAKA volunteers traveled to the country at the time, worked at the crash site, helped identify the victims and assisted in bringing them to Israel for burial.

According to ZAKA, the pathologist remembered Landau and the organization’s work at the time, particularly its efforts to ensure the dignity of the dead.

Landau explained the halachic significance of the autopsy and asked that it be avoided. Following their conversation and their previous acquaintance, the doctor agreed and decided not to perform the autopsy.

“When the doctor saw me on the screen, he immediately said, ‘You look familiar,’" Landau recalled. “We remembered that we had met 19 years ago, after the plane crash in which five Israelis were killed. He remembered our work and our efforts to preserve the dignity of the dead.

“He was very moved by our reunion, understood the significance and agreed to release the deceased without an autopsy at all. It was an emotional encounter to see how ZAKA’s work nearly two decades ago helped us once again preserve the dignity of the dead."

John Cleese poses for a pictureDave J Hogan/Getty Images

British comedian John Cleese has been reported to the UK government's Prevent counter-terrorism program over allegations that his criticism of Islam and Muslims “demonises, dehumanises, and collectively attributes violence and criminality" to the religious group.

According to The Blaze, a September 22 complaint alleged that several of Cleese's social media posts met “indicators used in PREVENT risk assessments for anti-Muslim hate and counter-extremism concerns." The complaint claimed his comments could contribute to “radicalisation, communal tension, and hate incidents."

Among the posts cited was an April comment in which Cleese described halal food as “a barbaric custom" and argued that English law should not permit it. Another post criticized a culture whose holy book, Cleese wrote, “advocates the killing" of those who disagree with it.

The complaint's author, whose identity has not been disclosed, argued that Cleese's statements went beyond criticism of ideas and instead attributed “intrinsic criminality, violence, and moral depravity" to Muslims and Islam.

Cleese, 86, appeared to welcome the prospect of official scrutiny.

“I can't wait to be arrested," the Monty Python co-creator wrote Monday. “This is a real life sitcom! Please tell the police to contact my agent."

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman criticized the referral, saying Prevent was intended to identify potential terrorism threats, not suppress debate about Islam.

The Free Speech Union said the government's assurances that its official definition of “Islamophobia" would not threaten freedom of speech had proven hollow, warning that “Mr Cleese is not alone in being targeted by those who wish to silence legitimate criticism of Islam, its history, or its practices."

Rima HassanNicolas Guyonnet / Hans Lucas via Reuters

The controversy surrounding European Parliament member Rima Hassan is escalating. France’s Foreign Minister on Tuesday addressed an incident in which Hassan removed an Israeli flag from an exhibition commemorating the victims of the October 7 massacre, calling for serious disciplinary measures to be considered against her.

The minister said that if allegations that Hassan knocked over Israeli and European Union flags during the incident are confirmed, they would “justify severe and deterrent sanctions by the European Parliament."

“I hope the commemorations can take place under the best possible conditions, while remembering that 51 of our fellow citizens lost their lives during that tragedy," he said.

Earlier, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addressed the incident, saying she viewed the allegations against Hassan “very seriously."

security leadersIDF Spokesperson

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy, and Shin Bet chief David Zini held a joint, multi-front situation assessment on Tuesday as part of preparations for the sensitive period in the coming weeks and for the elections.

During the discussion, the heads of the three organizations were presented with the latest intelligence picture regarding Israel’s borders and the domestic arena, alongside efforts to strengthen defenses on several fronts simultaneously.

The situation assessment also addressed operations against terrorist organizations and efforts to combat nationalist crime.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Zamir, Levy, and Zini agreed on a series of joint measures utilizing the capabilities and advantages of the IDF, Israel Police, and Shin Bet, with the aim of ensuring that the upcoming elections are conducted properly and safely.

The discussion came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned earlier Tuesday that, in his assessment, Hamas would attempt to act against Israel ahead of the elections in an effort to influence them.

“Precisely because Hamas is so weak, it will try to challenge us with the remnants of its forces ahead of the elections in an attempt to influence them," Netanyahu said at the opening of the Cabinet meeting. “We are prepared for this. First and foremost, we will thwart such attempts, and in any event, we will respond with tremendous force if they make that mistake."

The Prime Minister began his remarks by addressing the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

“On the eve of October 7, we remember with sorrow and pain our heroes who fell in the War of Revival and our brothers and sisters who fell in the horrific massacre in the Gaza border communities," he said.

Netanyahu noted that during the three years of war, 4,000 of the 6,000 terrorists who he said participated in the October 7 attack have been eliminated.

“None of them has immunity. We will reach them all, and Hamas rule in Gaza will be eradicated," he declared.

The Prime Minister went on to argue that the regional balance of power has changed over the past three years.

“We have turned the tables. The State of Israel is the strongest country in the Middle East, and our enemies are weaker than ever," he said.

He also addressed the rehabilitation of the Gaza border communities, saying that 90% of residents have returned to their homes and that additional residents have moved to the area. He cited construction and reconstruction in cities, kibbutzim, and moshavim, as well as young couples moving to the region.

“This is the victory of the spirit over evil, the victory of Israel over its enemies," he said, adding that a similar process is taking place in northern Israel.

Netanyahu concluded his remarks with a broader warning to Israel’s enemies: “Look at what we did to you on seven fronts during the War of Revival. Don’t mess with us."

Flydubai planeAnthony Hershko / TPS

This number takes on an entirely different meaning after the attempted hijacking: More than 1,200 airline crew members from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel have entered the country since the beginning of the year - including crew from Syria, Lebanon and Oman.

The figure, reported Tuesday by Kan News, emerged days after the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv - and particularly after it was revealed that the Omani pilot at the center of the affair had previously raised concerns in his home country.

Imam Al-Hamami was not a pilot who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. According to reports, authorities in Oman had already noticed his online activity and concluded that he was showing excessive interest in radical ideology. The concern was serious enough that he was not allowed to continue working as a pilot for the national carrier, Oman Air.

He was sent to an anti-extremism program and transferred to an office position. But according to a Wall Street Journal report, the chain of information was broken at that point: the concerns about him were not passed on to the relevant authorities. Al-Hamami was subsequently hired by Flydubai. According to the published details, the airline did not contact Omani authorities to investigate his background and instead relied on a criminal-record check.

Sources familiar with the matter said he had already flown to Israel several times. Only after the attempted hijacking did the full picture begin to emerge. According to Reuters, Al-Hamami told investigators in the UAE that he had planned the attack before being hired by the airline.

UAE authorities are now investigating Flydubai officials involved in hiring him, while authorities in Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem are seeking to determine whether signs of his radicalization first emerged while he was living in Australia.

In Israel, meanwhile, questions are being raised over who was responsible for identifying the potential threat. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said over the weekend that responsibility for screening intelligence and vetting foreign flight crews does not lie with her ministry, but with security authorities.

The Wall Street Journal, however, has also attributed failures to Israeli authorities and the Transportation Ministry over the screening of foreign airline crews entering Israel.

GIVAT HAMATOSPublic Relations

For 17 years, Rabbi Kalman Topp was the Senior Rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. This week, he is landing in Israel to start something new: Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael, an Anglo community in Givat HaMatos, Jerusalem's new neighborhood.

Rabbi Topp describes the community he hopes to build as one that is "serious about Torah and avodat Hashem, and at the same time warm, friendly, welcoming and non-judgmental," where "every individual matters, is valued and can make a difference in their own unique way."

RSVP NOW >>>

Givat HaMatos is a green neighborhood of low- and mid-rise buildings, with some 100 dunams (25 acres) of open space, easy access to Begin Highway, and the Blue Line light rail planned along Derech Chevron. According to the developers, more than 70 Anglo families have already chosen to join.

Rabbi Kalman Toppצילום: באדיבות המצולם

What happens on Friday

• Hear the vision for Ahavat Yisrael directly from Rabbi Topp.
• Tour the site and see how the neighborhood is taking shape.
• Enjoy brunch with other English-speaking families who are asking the same questions you are.

RSVP NOW >>>

GIVAT HAMATOSצילום: ללא

Whether you are renting in Jerusalem and wondering where to put down roots, or thinking about buying a home in Israel, this is the easiest way to see it for yourself.

Exclusive Brunch & Site Tour with Rabbi Kalman Topp Friday, October 9 | 10:00 | Givat HaMatos, Jerusalem

RSVP NOW >>>

Isaac Herzogשלו שלום

President Isaac Herzog will present the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism on Thursday to six civilians who acted during the attempted terrorist attack on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and prevented a major disaster.

The recipients are Or Bardilov, Yaniv Hayun, Dr. Shota Musayev, Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, and Assaf Rajuan. The ceremony will be held at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

The incident occurred aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel after one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and the aircraft began losing altitude.

Indian Captain Smit Machchhar struggled with the attacker and managed to open the cockpit door. Tali Mans, who heard the violence and commotion coming from the cockpit, was the first to alert the passengers to what was happening and call for help.

In response to her call, passengers rushed to help overpower the attacker. Yaniv Hayun, Tzvika Manes, and Assaf Raguan entered the cockpit and helped neutralize him, risking their lives in the process. Hayun also stabilized the aircraft’s controls during the dramatic moments.

Even after the attacker had been neutralized, Tali Mans continued to act. According to the President’s Residence, she called for pilots who were in the rear section of the aircraft to come to the cockpit and help regain control of the plane.

Dr. Shota Musayev provided medical treatment to the pilot who was seriously wounded and helped stabilize his condition until the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Last week, Herzog informed four of the passengers that he intended to recommend to the advisory committee that they receive the award. He subsequently also spoke with Tali Mans after her significant role in the incident became clear.

“Tali, the more we learn about what happened during those dramatic moments, the clearer it becomes just how significant a role you played in saving the lives of the passengers on the plane," Herzog told her. “You heard that something terrible was happening, immediately understood the magnitude of the danger, raised the alarm, called for help, and did not stop taking action even after the attacker had been neutralized."

Herzog added: “The resourcefulness, sense of responsibility, and composure you displayed in moments of life-threatening danger are civilian heroism in the fullest sense of the word. You are a hero, Tali, and I am proud of you and thank you on behalf of the State of Israel."

The “President’s Award for Civilian Heroism" is Israel’s highest civilian award for heroism. It was established by Herzog following the October 7 massacre and is intended to honor civilians who displayed extraordinary heroism while putting their own lives at genuine risk in order to save others.

The award is presented following a review of the cases and upon the recommendation of an advisory committee appointed by the President. Since its establishment, the award has been presented to civilians who acted to save lives during the events of October 7 and in other incidents.

Ronen BarChaim Goldberg/Flash90

Three years after the October 7 massacre, former Nova security chief Elkana Federman is taking former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to court, accusing him of failing to pass on critical intelligence that could have prevented the massacre.

Federman filed a personal lawsuit Tuesday seeking 2.5 million shekels in damages, arguing that Bar's handling of the intelligence warnings in the hours before the attack led to him and the Nova festivalgoers being abandoned.

“Three years have passed and he has not been questioned," Federman told Arutz Sheva - Israel National News. “Since the system is not dealing with him, as a citizen I want to achieve a little justice and have him investigated through a court case."

Federman, who has previously filed a complaint seeking Bar's investigation, called on other Nova survivors and bereaved families to pursue legal action as well.

The Alter RebbeChabad

Tanya/ Iggeres Ha’Kodesh - The Holy Epistle, Epistle 24, Class 2

tanyaonline.com

President Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Abe McNatt

President Donald Trump has approved the execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan, the terrorist who murdered 13 people in a 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas.

The decision followed a recommendation by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon said the date and location of the execution will be determined at a later time. “Hasan’s day of reckoning has finally arrived," the Pentagon said in a statement.

If carried out, the execution would mark the first time since 1961 that the US military has carried out a death sentence itself.

Hasan, now 56, was a US Army officer and psychiatrist. He was born in the US to a Palestinian family that had immigrated from Samaria and maintained ties with relatives in the region over the years.

On November 5, 2009, Hasan arrived at a medical clinic at Fort Hood that served, among others, soldiers preparing for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Armed with two handguns and ammunition he had prepared in advance, he opened fire on those inside while shouting “Allahu Akbar."

Thirteen people were killed, including 12 soldiers, and 32 others were wounded. The shooting ended when a civilian police officer shot and subdued Hasan, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

In 2013, a military jury convicted Hasan and sentenced him to death. He represented himself during the trial, made no attempt to deny his actions and declined to call witnesses in his defense.

Trump’s approval now removes a major obstacle to carrying out the sentence, after Hasan spent more than a decade on death row within the military justice system.

Bar Kuperstein wears tefililnno credit

Captivity survivor Bar Kuperstein returned on Tuesday to the site of the Nova music festival, from which he was abducted to the Gaza Strip three years ago, and put on tefillin in memory of those murdered in the massacre.

Kuperstein, who served as deputy security officer at the Nova festival and was responsible for security at the site, arrived on the eve of the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre and sought to dedicate the mitzvah of putting on tefillin to the memory of those murdered that morning.

“I ask myself, what do you do on a day like this? How can I come and do something for all those who were murdered?" Kuperstein said.

“I said, I’m coming to Nova today and putting on tefillin in memory of all those who were murdered and never had the chance to truly go on living."

Kuperstein appealed to the public to join the gesture in memory of the victims.

“I invite all of you: Stop for a moment, put on tefillin today, and dedicate it to them."

שורד השבי בר קופרשטיין חזר למתחם הנובה והניח תפילין לעילוי נשמת הנרצחים

Memorial ceremonyArutz Sheva

Rabbi Yosef Zini of Ashdod, father of Shin Bet chief David Zini, has issued a strongly worded letter three years after the Simchat Torah massacre, criticizing the government's decision to establish a national day of remembrance for the October 7 events.

Writing under the title “A Faithful Perspective - For Your Miracles and Wonders," Rabbi Zini responded to an educator who asked how he should address the memorial day with his students.

“In my humble opinion, as believing Jews, there is no value whatsoever in this unfortunate decision," Rabbi Zini wrote, offering several reasons for his position.

He first criticized the way the decision was made, arguing that establishing a day of mourning should have been done in consultation with Israel's rabbinic leadership. “They did not consult with the leading rabbis of the generation, headed by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, which is certainly the supreme authority regarding the establishment of days of celebration-or, God forbid, days of mourning," he wrote.

Rabbi Zini also objected to the date chosen, noting that it falls on a day when Tachanun is not recited and which, in his view, cannot be transformed into a day of mourning.

He then turned to what he described as a need to balance remembrance of the disaster with gratitude for the miracles and salvation experienced by the Jewish people since Simchat Torah 5784. “Unfortunately, we have not seen the authorities seeking to establish days of thanksgiving for all the millions of miracles we have been privileged to experience, especially over the past three years," he wrote.

Rabbi Zini further argued that the decision was driven by “pressure from unequivocally faithless circles" on the government.

To illustrate his approach to mourning and remembrance, he invoked the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The Maccabean victory, he noted, came at the cost of thousands of lives, yet Jewish sages did not establish a separate day of mourning for those who fell. “Not because of disregard for the holy victims, may God avenge their blood, but because we remember them at every opportunity," he wrote.

He similarly pointed to Israel's wars, noting that despite the many casualties, successive governments did not establish a separate national day of mourning for each conflict. At the same time, he praised the IDF's memorial ceremonies at military cemeteries as “the most proper conduct."

Rabbi Zini also argued that Jewish history contains so many tragedies that establishing a separate memorial day for each would leave little room on the calendar. “If our people had established memorial days for our many tragedies throughout history, apart from the days of mourning for the destruction of our Temple, we would not have enough days in the year," he wrote.

Toward the end of the letter, Rabbi Zini stressed that his position does not diminish the pain over the events of Simchat Torah 5784. “We all mourn our various tragedies, including Simchat Torah 5784," he wrote. But he added that the Jewish people traditionally focus on how they overcame their failures and tragedies: “We are not a self-destructive people!!"

“We will leave this trait to dying - or dead - Europe," he added.

Returning to the educator's original question, Rabbi Zini called on him to emphasize faith, hope and anticipation of redemption when speaking to his students.

“Explain to your students, to the best of your ability, what is said in all our prayers: ‘And You, in Your great mercy, will desire us and favor us, and our eyes will behold Your return to Zion in mercy,’" he wrote.

“This will bring assured and eternal comfort to all the holy victims of Simchat Torah 5784, may God avenge their blood," Rabbi Zini concluded, signing off with a declaration: “Fortunate are you, Israel, who lives!"

Anti-Israel demonstrationArutz Sheva

The National Security Council (NSC) issued a public advisory on Tuesday ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, calling on Israelis traveling or staying abroad to exercise heightened vigilance due to concerns over attempted attacks against Israelis and Jews.

The NSC noted that alongside demonstrations and disturbances expected in various countries, there is an increased risk of terrorist activity surrounding the anniversary of the massacre.

According to the NSC, terrorist organizations, foremost among them Iran and its proxies, Hamas, and global jihad organizations, view October 7 as a significant date and may seek to exploit it to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad.

As part of its guidelines to the public, the NSC recommends avoiding advance publication on social media of details about travel plans and movements abroad, as well as refraining from posting content indicating service in the security forces.

The NSC urged Israelis to avoid traveling to countries subject to a Level 4 travel warning, including Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland, and Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula.

In countries and regions subject to a Level 3 travel warning, Israelis are advised to minimize speaking Hebrew in crowded public places as much as possible.

In addition, the NSC recommends staying away from demonstrations and large gatherings and maintaining heightened awareness in public spaces. In the event of an emergency abroad, Israelis are instructed to contact local security forces first.

3 שנים למלחמה - הצהרת משפחות הנופלים והנרצחים ליום 7.10 - פורום הגבורה ופורום דין וצדק

Dozens of bereaved families from the Gevurah Forum and Din V’Tzedek Forum gathered Tuesday afternoon at the Gevurah Tent in Jerusalem to issue a statement to the media, marking three years since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War and the October 7 massacre.

The families, who lost loved ones in the Nova festival massacre and during the fighting, addressed the events of October 7 and the three years that have passed since the war began. They presented a series of demands calling for an investigation into the failures, accountability for those responsible, and lessons to be learned.

The statement was delivered alongside memorial ceremonies for those murdered and fallen in the war. The families sought to place the memory of their loved ones at the center while also raising questions about the government's conduct since the war began and the current security situation.

The families stressed that even three years after the outbreak of the war, questions of responsibility, investigation and lessons learned remain unresolved.

Minister Bezalel SmotrichSpokesperson

Religious Zionism Party chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich petitioned the High Court of Justice on Tuesday against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s directive to delay the opening of bids and announcement of the winners in the construction tender for the E1 area.

In the urgent petition, Smotrich is asking the court to overturn the directive and allow the tender process to proceed. The tender is intended to market land for the construction of 1,234 housing units in seven complexes in Mevaseret Adumim, in Ma’ale Adumim.

According to the petition, political approval to advance the tender was granted as early as October 2025, before the election period. Smotrich argues that since the approval was granted, the various stages of the tender have been advanced by professional officials according to a predetermined timetable, without political intervention by elected officials.

The Finance Minister sharply criticized Baharav-Miara’s decision.

“The Attorney General has officially, improperly and illegally decided to join Gadi Eisenkot’s campaign, after he announced that he would cancel construction in the E1 area."

Smotrich described the area as being of strategic importance and argued that construction there would connect Jerusalem with Ma’ale Adumim.

“This is an area of paramount strategic importance that, after decades, will for the first time connect Jerusalem with Ma’ale Adumim and determine whether there will be Israeli-Jewish territorial continuity or an opening for a Palestinian state."

He added: “With this move, Gali Baharav-Miara is turning herself into a tool of the Israeli left, which will establish a Palestinian state that will endanger the lives of Israeli citizens. There is no other explanation for this."

The minister further claimed that he was forced to write the petition himself and pay the filing fee out of his own pocket in order for his position to be heard by the court.

“She is abusing the power of her office and even forced me, as the responsible minister, to write the petition myself and pay the fee out of my own pocket so that my position can be heard in court."

Smotrich also linked the dispute to changes his party seeks to advance in the judicial system. He referred to the initiative to split the position of Attorney General and regulate the office’s powers, declaring that his party intends to continue pursuing the plan in the next Knesset term.

“When an elected minister cannot present his position through the state, and the Attorney General is both the one blocking the move and the one deciding who will represent him, something in the system has to change."

Israeli flag deliberately knocked down by Rima HassanScreenshot

An uproar erupted in the European Parliament on Tuesday after French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan removed an Israeli flag displayed as part of an exhibition commemorating the victims of the October 7 massacre. The European Union flag, which was attached to the same stand, also fell to the floor.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addressed the incident in the chamber, saying she was treating the allegations against Hassan “with the utmost seriousness."

“A Member of this House has been filmed allegedly vandalizing an exhibition commemorating the victims of the terrorist attack carried out in Israel on October 7," Metsola said. “We take this matter extremely seriously, and all appropriate measures provided for under our rules are already being taken, while safeguarding the right of the person concerned to be heard."

A parliamentary official said Hassan would be required to provide an explanation to Metsola, who will decide whether disciplinary measures should be taken against her. A Parliament spokesperson said the incident was documented and is currently being reviewed by parliamentary services.

Hassan’s office confirmed that she removed the Israeli flag but rejected claims that she trampled on it or damaged either flag.

“Rima Hassan removed the Israeli flag from its stand. The European flag, which was attached to the same structure, subsequently fell accidentally as a result of the loss of balance. No flag was trampled on or damaged," her office said.

Hassan’s aides said the action was part of her protest against the Israeli government’s policies and insisted that it “was in no way directed at the people whom the event was intended to honor, nor at their memory."

Last year, Israel barred Hassan from entering the country after she arrived with a European Union delegation and she was returned from Ben Gurion Airport. Several months later, she also took part in the Sumud flotilla to Gaza and was deported from Israel again.

In recent months, Hassan was also detained in Paris on suspicion of supporting terrorism.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded to the incident, writing: “Shameful, brazen, but unfortunately not surprising. The vandalism of the exhibition commemorating the victims of October 7 at the European Parliament by MEP Rima Hassan of the radical left says, above all, how little respect she has for the institution in which she serves. I commend the members of the European Parliament who immediately condemned this shameful act, and I thank Roberta Metsola for her determination and for making clear that such an offense will be treated with the utmost seriousness."

שליח ביידן: לא הייתה אזהרה לפני הטבחבאדיבות i24NEWS

Brett McGurk, the Biden administration’s Middle East envoy, says that neither the United States nor Israel had an intelligence warning ahead of the October 7 attack.

According to McGurk, a review of the intelligence conducted after the attack found no advance indications that it was about to take place.

In an interview with i24NEWS, McGurk said that following October 7, the intelligence available before the attack was reexamined, and that even then, no evidence was found indicating that there had been advance intelligence regarding the attack.

Bashar al-MasriHadas Parush/Flash 90

A US court has allowed a lawsuit against Palestinian-American businessman Bashar Masri and companies under his control to proceed. The lawsuit was filed by more than 300 American victims of the October 7 attack and their family members, who accuse the defendants of providing assistance and material support to Hamas.

According to the plaintiffs, properties and business projects linked to companies controlled by Masri were allegedly used by Hamas for terrorist infrastructure. Among other claims, the lawsuit alleges that properties in the Gaza Strip were used to conceal tunnels and facilitate activities connected to the terrorist organization.

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Masri and four companies associated with him. The victims' families are seeking to hold the defendants liable under US law, arguing that the alleged support aided Hamas and its infrastructure.

Masri has rejected the allegations. His attorneys argued in court that the claims are speculative and baseless and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

The case has previously been reported by Reuters, which reported in April 2025 on the filing of the lawsuit against Masri. At this stage, the allegations remain claims made in a civil proceeding and have not been established as facts in a court ruling.

German policeiStock

August Hanning knows the world of espionage well. For seven years, he headed Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, the BND, and in that capacity was exposed to some of the country’s most sensitive secrets.

On Tuesday morning, more than two decades after leaving the post, he was himself arrested on suspicion of espionage.

The affair rocking Germany involves thousands of classified documents, suspected payments, contacts with foreign intelligence officials and a surprising connection to Israel: The investigation that led to its exposure actually began with the case involving the abduction of millionaire heiress Christina Block’s children, in which Israelis were also implicated.

Hanning, 80, was arrested at his home in Nordwalde in western Germany. At the same time, Manfred D., who formerly served as his chief of staff and later continued in a senior position at the BND, was arrested in Bavaria.

According to Germany’s federal prosecutors, Hanning is suspected, among other things, of espionage amounting to treason, obtaining state secrets and acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. At this stage, authorities have not disclosed which intelligence service is involved.

A joint investigation by WDR, NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung provides a glimpse into how the alleged operation was conducted over the course of several years.

According to the allegations, as early as the spring of 2010, about five years after Hanning stepped down as head of the BND, he reached an arrangement with his former aide: Manfred D. would continue supplying him with information from inside the intelligence service in exchange for money.

D. had extraordinary access to classified material. After serving as Hanning’s chief of staff, he remained with the agency, and between 2012 and March 2026 held a position that gave him access to sensitive information during the tenures of subsequent BND chiefs as well.

As a result, investigators suspect that Hanning obtained approximately 2,000 documents over the years.

The material allegedly went far beyond internal paperwork. According to the German investigation, it included documents prepared for intelligence meetings at the Chancellor’s Office, as well as reports on particularly sensitive subjects, including Iran’s nuclear program and the Russian military.

Some of the material - perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of the affair for Berlin - also included intelligence provided to Germany by the intelligence services of partner countries. For an intelligence agency, such a leak is not merely an internal problem: It could cause foreign partners to think twice before sharing sensitive intelligence with Germany.

According to prosecutors, Hanning used the information in his business activities as a consultant following his retirement. Investigators are also examining suspicions that, in one case, the material was used to prepare a security analysis for an official from a foreign intelligence service.

The identity of that service has not been disclosed. German media have also focused on Hanning’s contacts over the years with figures in Russia and China. However, the investigation by WDR, NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung stressed that the case in which the analysis was allegedly prepared for a foreign intelligence official was not connected to Russia.

There is another detail that makes the story unusual: Investigators stumbled upon the alleged espionage almost by accident.

Hanning had already come under scrutiny by authorities as part of an entirely separate case - the case of Christina Block, heiress to a German restaurant empire, who is standing trial over the abduction of two of her children from Denmark to Germany amid a bitter custody dispute with her former husband.

That case also attracted attention in Israel. The investigation implicated Israelis, including security personnel, and reports about the affair also mentioned former members of Israel’s security establishment.

Hanning’s name was linked to allegations concerning an earlier attempt to return the children to Germany, claims that he denied. As part of that investigation, investigators searched his home and office in September of last year and seized equipment for examination.

That, according to the German investigation, is where the case took a dramatic turn. Secret BND documents were discovered on an electronic storage device seized from Hanning. The problem was obvious: Hanning had left the intelligence service in November 2005 and therefore should not have had access to current intelligence material.

Investigators began pulling at the thread, and the scope of their suspicions expanded. According to German sources, the most recent documents discovered dated from 2022. By May of this year, federal prosecutors had opened a covert investigation into Hanning and the individual suspected of being his source inside the intelligence service.

It is important to emphasize that the Israeli connection does not mean that the foreign intelligence service for which Hanning allegedly acted was Israeli. The German sources do not suggest that. The Israeli connection lies in the chain of events that led to the affair being uncovered: The investigation into the Block case, in which Israelis were implicated, led to the search of Hanning’s property; the search led to the documents; and the documents triggered an espionage investigation at the heart of Germany’s intelligence establishment.

Hanning now finds himself in a very different position from the one he occupied for years. The man who was once responsible for gathering intelligence on behalf of Germany must now confront allegations that he himself used the agency’s secret information after leaving office - and that some of that information was even used in connection with a foreign intelligence official.

Jonathan PollardArutz Sheva

Writing in Canada's National Post on October 3, Jesse Kline stripped away the polite fiction surrounding Western legacy media. "It has long been apparent that the CBC's coverage of the Middle East has had a clear anti-Israel bias," Klein observed. "But recent events hint at something much darker: an institutional willingness to downplay or minimize harms caused to Jews, including those living right here in Canada."

Klein's indictment exposes a systematic, malignant rot. We saw it laid bare when the CBC issued a cowardly directive forbidding its journalists from calling the Hamas monsters who slaughtered, raped, and decapitated Israelis on October 7 "terrorists." We saw it again in the media's disgraceful handling of the Natania Hospital case, where institutional reflexes consistently scrambled to minimize Jewish blood and twist the facts.

But while Kline correctly diagnoses the malice of legacy media operating safely from their comfortable Western bureaus, his observation forces us to confront a far more urgent, existential question for Israel's survival: Why on earth are we still allowing journalists from these blatantly hostile, antisemitic networks to operate inside our borders?

Israel took a necessary and correct step when it banned Al Jazeera- a state-sponsored bullhorn for terrorist propaganda. But it is flatly absurd to stop there. Outlets like Turkey's TRT World, a direct mouthpiece for an overtly antisemitic government, have no business operating here. The same hammer must fall on Western legacy giants like the CBC, the New York Times, and the BBC. These institutions do not practice journalism; they manufacture weaponized narratives that fuel global anti-Semitism and actively delegitimize the Jewish state.

Expelling these hostile organizations is not just justified - it is a national security imperative based on two undeniable realities.

First, reporting from Israel is a privilege, not an inherent right. Sovereignty means a nation has the absolute authority to decide who crosses its borders and who gets official state accreditation. For decades, Israel's Government Press Office ( GPO) has suffered from an elite inferiority complex, coddling hostile reporters and only delaying or revoking credentials in the most extreme domestic security cases. This pathetic policy of appeasement must end.

A news organization's behavior at its home headquarters--whether it peddles antisemitic tropes, launders terrorist talking points, or minimizes atrocities, must dictate its access to Israel. If an institution is fundamentally compromised in London, New York, or Toronto, it should be barred from Jerusalem.

Stop rewarding our enemies with front-row seats.

Second, information warfare is an active front in this multi-front war. Israel is fighting for its life against physical terrorists on its borders, but it is simultaneously fighting a war for its very legitimacy on the global stage. Outlets like the BBC and the New York Times routinely treat unverified data from genocidal terrorist groups as gospel, cook up grotesque false equivalencies, and print inflammatory headlines that directly spark violent antisemitic riots in Paris, London, and Toronto. By granting these activists press credentials, Israel is effectively hosting the scouts of an information army dedicated to its destruction. It is operational madness.

We cannot afford to be naive about history. During the Second World War, the New York Times intentionally and systematically buried news of the Holocaust, relegating the mass murder of Europe's Jews to back-page fragments to avoid drawing attention to Jewish suffering. Today, the modern press corps follows the exact same script. They minimize the genocidal ambitions of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran while hyper-focusing on and demonizing Israel's right to self-defense.

For too long, Israel's decisionmakers have cowered in fear of a public relations backlash if they restrict foreign press access. This is a loser's strategy. The backlash exists no matter what we do.

It is time to stop subsidizing and hosting, our own defamation. Foreign media networks that traffic in antisemitic framing and minimize the slaughter of Jews must face real consequences. Their global coverage must be weaponized against them by the GPO. Their credentials must be revoked and their bureaus must be permanently shut down. In a war for survival, you do not let the enemy camp inside your gates

PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the government meetingMiriam Alster/Flash90

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that he believes the Hamas terror group may try to act against Israel ahead of the elections in an effort to influence them, while at the same time reiterating his promise to eradicate Hamas.

In his remarks, made at the start of Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, "On the eve of October 7th, we remember with grief and pain our heroes who fell in the War of Redemption and our brothers and sisters who fell in the terrible massacre in the Gaza border communities: Women, men, children, babies who were murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters."

"Over the past three years, we have eliminated 4,000 out of 6,000 of these monsters. None of them have immunity. We will reach all of them, and Hamas rule in Gaza will be eradicated."

He added, "Over these past three years, two things have happened: First - we have turned the tables. The State of Israel is the strongest country in the Middle East, and our enemies are weaker than ever."

"Second, during these three years, the Tekuma region has been revived. Ninety percent of the residents have returned to their homes, joined by many others. There is tremendous momentum in construction and rehabilitation in the Western Negev - in the cities, kibbutzim, and moshavim. Young couples are coming there to start new lives. This is the victory of the spirit over evil, the victory of Israel over its enemies. The exact same thing is happening in the north as well."

At the same time, Netanyahu threatening a severe response if Hamas attempts to attack Israel ahead of the elections.

"Precisely because Hamas is so weak, it will try to challenge us with the remainder of its forces ahead of the elections to try to influence them," he said. "We are prepared for this; first and foremost, we will thwart such attempts, and in any case, we will respond with overwhelming force if they make this mistake."

"I say to all our enemies: Look at what we did to you across seven fronts in the War of Redemption. Do not mess with us.""

Gideon Sa'arChaim Goldberg/Flash90

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Tuesday criticized international pressure on Israel, warning that it is intended to bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Speaking at a Foreign Ministry memorial ceremony marking October 7 and honoring those murdered and fallen, he said, "We are facing an attempt to push Israel to indefensible borders, precisely after it has been proven beyond any doubt that we need a minimum degree of geographic depth."

"The entire purpose of the international political, legal and economic pressure is to force Israel to establish a Palestinian terror state in the heart of our land."

Sa'ar added that such a state would, in his view, serve as "a springboard in the ongoing campaign to destroy Israel according to the 'stages theory.'"

Addressing Israel's diplomatic activity, Sa'ar said: "We are fighting defensive battles every day, but we are also breaking new ground. We are taking advantage of opportunities, creating new ties, renewing relations and expanding Israel's diplomatic network. We do not have the privilege of surrendering, and we must ensure that those who act against us do not benefit from it, but rather the opposite."

Ahead of the elections, Sa'ar also addressed political divisions within Israel and urged Israelis not to turn political rivals into enemies.

"We are in an election period, which is always challenging for any democratic society," he said. "Let us remember that we are brothers surrounded by enemies. Someone who thinks differently from us is not an enemy."

Houthis in Bab el-Mandeb StraitReuters

Yemen’s Defense Ministry said Saudi-backed government forces had captured the strategic port city of Mokha as their offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis continued around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Reuters reported that the government forces also retook territory around the strait during the rapid offensive, pushing back Houthi forces from positions along Yemen’s western coast.

The development comes after the Houthis seized Mokha during their recent offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.

At the same time, fighting has spilled across the border into Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities said the airports in Jazan and Najran were struck in attacks Monday evening, leaving three people injured and causing damage to airport facilities. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi airports and other targets using missiles and drones.

The Houthis have also claimed attacks on Saudi oil facilities and military sites, though not all of those claims have been independently verified.

The existing Saudi-led operation, dubbed "Dawn of Yemen," includes air support for Yemeni government forces as they advance against Houthi positions.

The message received by usersCourtesy

Thousands of ASOS users, including customers in Israel, received an unusual push notification through the company's official app on Tuesday claiming that its information systems had been compromised and threatening to leak data. There has been no official confirmation at this stage that ASOS systems or databases were actually breached.

The message appeared as a notification from the official ASOS app and displayed the company's name and logo. It was reportedly addressed to the company's data protection officer and IT team. Numerous users who received the notification shared screenshots on Twitter.

The senders claimed they had gained access to ASOS's Snowflake system and threatened to release information unless the company contacted them. The notification also included a link to a Telegram channel.

Snowflake is a cloud-based data platform used by companies and organizations to store, process, and analyze information. The alleged attackers claimed they had accessed a system containing ASOS data, but it remains unclear whether the claim is genuine or what information, if any, may have been accessed.

One of the main questions surrounding the incident is how the individuals behind the message were able to use the notification mechanism of the official ASOS app. No official explanation has yet been provided.

Users who received the notification are advised not to click on the message or any attached links and to delete it from their devices. As a precaution, users may also want to change their ASOS passwords, particularly if they use the same password for other accounts.

Customers should also remain alert in the coming days for emails or text messages impersonating ASOS and should not provide personal information or login credentials through suspicious links.

The incident comes after reports earlier this year of unauthorized access to ASOS customer accounts in the United States. According to those reports, the accounts were accessed using passwords stolen from other services rather than through a direct breach of ASOS's systems.

According to the U.S. law firm Srourian, whose comments were cited by CyberInsider, approximately 138,000 customers were affected in that incident. There is currently no evidence indicating a connection between that incident and Tuesday's unusual notification.

Yaakov AsherYonatan Sindel/Flash90

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher has expressed concern in closed-door conversations over a possible decline in voter turnout among the haredi public in the upcoming elections, amid the "Draft Law" crisis and internal criticism of the haredi political leadership.

In recordings published Tuesday morning by Kan News, Asher can be heard urging activists to work to bring voters to the polls.

Asher referred to demographic growth within the haredi community over the past four years, which he said should translate into a significant increase in votes for the haredi parties. He warned against a situation in which the growth in the number of eligible voters is not reflected in the election results.

"Anything can happen in these elections, but there is one thing that must not happen," he told activists. "Four years have passed, and in our community that means a significant addition of tens of thousands of votes. If that is not reflected at the ballot box, they will say it is a ‘desecration of G-d’s Name.’"

Recently, there has been criticism within the haredi public due to the haredi parties' failure to pass a law exempting haredi yeshiva students from military service. At the same time, new haredi parties, including Hatzibur Haharedi, are posing an additional challenge to the established parties.

In the recordings, Asher also sought to show activists with what United Torah Judaism had achieved during the current Knesset term. According to him, the party succeeded in blocking a series of bills that would have harmed the Jewish character of the state.

"There are dozens of bills from Yesh Atid and the Labor Party, what is today called the Democrats, that deal with the very essence of how to turn this country into just another country in Europe," he warned.

תיעוד: עלילה נגד גבעה התגלתה כהצתה ערבית שכשלה

Palestinian Arabs from the village of Ein Yabrud in the Binyamin region went up earlier this week to the Kfar Ana settlement point, located between Beit El and Ofra, where they allegedly attempted to start a fire and blocked the access road using tires and flammable objects.

However, just minutes after setting the tire barricade on fire, the Arabs discovered that the flames had spread to a nearby Arab car lot.

Residents of the nearby village then chose to blame the hilltop residents for the fire, claiming that "the car lot was set on fire by settlers."

Residents of the hilltop reported the incident to security forces, but the arsonists managed to flee.

Kfar Ana residents responded: "Today we are witnessing another blood libel as part of the ‘settler violence’ campaign that has been disproven. This is a systematic, deliberate, and false attempt to smear the hilltop residents - something that, unfortunately, sometimes succeeds and even receives cooperation from Israeli media outlets."

"This time, by a miracle, we managed to document the incident from beginning to end and refute the disgraceful accusations, but this is not always possible because of the terrain and the complexity of such incidents.

"This is the time to remind the people of Israel: If you encounter a report about ‘settler violence,’ take it with a grain of salt and check carefully that you are not falling prey to a malicious and antisemitic campaign."

Naftali Bennett (L) and Michael Malkieli (R)Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90

The Sephardic-haredi Shas party hit back after "Together" party chairman Naftali Bennett declared that he would only join the next government if the "Deri Law" is passed.

The "Deri Law" would prevent anyone who evades IDF service or encourages draft evasion from serving in Israel's security cabinet.

Bennett presented his demand during Reichman University’s International Institute for Counter-Terrorism conference.

Shas quickly responded, with MK Michael Malchieli sharply criticizing Bennett and announcing that his party would promote a personal law targeting him.

"In the next government, we will legislate the ‘Bennett Law’: A political fraudster who steals the premiership with six seats, and against the wishes of his voters, will not be allowed to run for the Knesset again," Malchieli said.

flydubai planeReuters

Israel was prepared to shoot down a Flydubai passenger plane carrying more than 150 Israelis if it continued toward the country after the captain was attacked in the cockpit, according to two Israeli sources with direct knowledge of the incident who spoke to CBS News.

According to the sources, Israel has a longstanding protocol for responding to a passenger aircraft suspected of being hijacked and potentially being used in a large-scale attack. After the aircraft suddenly lost approximately 14,000 feet of altitude, the Israeli Air Force attempted to establish contact with the cockpit but received no response. A pre-established command committee was activated. A command center was established as fighter jets were scrambled and Israeli airspace was closed.

The Israeli fighters were later recalled after authorities determined that the aircraft had turned toward Saudi Arabia, roughly 400 miles from Israel. Saudi Arabia subsequently scrambled its own fighter jets.

The Israeli sources said that had Flight 1073 continued toward Israel and entered a predetermined range, Israeli fighter jets would have been prepared to enter Jordanian airspace to investigate.

The pilots would have approached the aircraft as closely as possible to visually inspect the cockpit and attempt to establish contact with the pilot. They would then have inspected the passenger cabin to assess the situation on board. If they observed signs of panic or other indications of a hijacking, they would have relayed their findings to the Air Force and the pre-established committee.

If the aircraft were determined to have been hijacked, remained unresponsive by radio, and made no demands, the committee would have connected Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu, according to the sources.

Under the protocol, the prime minister would have the authority to order the aircraft shot down if it were determined to pose an imminent threat to a major target in Israel.

The sources said such an order could be considered if authorities believed the aircraft was being deliberately flown toward a populated area or strategic target, such as the Azrieli Towers or Ben Gurion Airport. The rationale would be to prevent a potential mass-casualty attack on the ground.

An Israeli official also told CBS News that the co-pilot allegedly admitted during questioning in the United Arab Emirates that he had planned the attack before being hired by Flydubai.

The suspect was identified by sources familiar with the investigation as Omani national Hamam al Hamami. According to the Israeli official, he intended to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport and had previously traveled to Israel.

The early Israeli investigation indicates that the attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, according to sources familiar with the case. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to examine all possible lines of inquiry.

Dismantling of underground tunnel route in the northern Gaza Strip

Troops from the IDF's Northern Brigade, operating under the command of the 99th Division, are continuing to clear terrorist infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip area, east of the Yellow Line, alongside IDF engineering troops under the Southern Command.

During their activity, the brigade’s troops, in cooperation with the division’s engineering troops, dismantled a 1.5-kilometer-long underground terror tunnel route.

The IDF stressed, "IDF troops under the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat."

The demarcation line has recently been expanded for operational reasons, and as part of that expansion, underground infrastructure was located and addressed. Some of it was already known to the IDF and was physically exposed as operational control was expanded, allowing the forces to destroy it.

The prevailing assessment within the defense establishment is that Hamas will continue to use terror tunnels as an operational tool, and efforts are therefore underway to locate and destroy them.

Sec. Rubio meets PM NetanyahuDavid Azagury/U.S. Embassy Jerusalem

For nearly half a century, Washington has made one fundamental mistake about Iran: too often, it has confused an ancient nation with the revolutionary regime that seized it in 1979. Marco Rubio understands the difference.

After Henry Kissinger and Condoleezza Rice, few names in contemporary American diplomacy command as much respect among Iranians as Rubio. From my student years in security studies through my field research on Islamic terrorism in the Middle East, I have followed his words and speeches and had the privilege of attending several. He understands both the “book of the Shiite mullah" and Iran’s history-an uncommon combination that matters profoundly when dealing with Tehran.

The Islamic Republic is not Iran. It neither represents nor resembles Iran’s culture, literature and civilization. It is, in my view, an Islamic caliphate built around Velayat-e Faqih, a system of clerical rule that elevates one religious authority above a nation. This distinction is not academic; it is a matter of American national security.

For decades, Western policymakers have searched for moderates inside the regime, but reformists, the Islamic Left, self-described moderates and hard-liners, whatever their differences in language and tactics, have operated within the same political structure. Elections exist, but the decisive institutions of power remain beyond meaningful popular control. Washington should therefore ask a fundamental question: Is America negotiating with Iran, or with a revolutionary system whose overriding purpose is its own survival?

Rubio appears to understand that question, as well as the fact that instability radiating from Tehran does not stop at Iran’s borders. The regime built regional influence through the Revolutionary Guards and allied armed groups, turning revolutionary ideology into an instrument of foreign policy. American diplomacy cannot afford to confuse tactical negotiation with strategic understanding. To understand the system across the table, however, one must understand what was constructed in 1979-and what its founders themselves said they intended to build.

On Aug. 30, 1979, the Palestinian Hizb ut-Tahrir told Khomeini plainly: “The Islamic system is not, in principle, a republican system. It is a caliphate." Khomeini’s own language was hardly ambiguous. He described his envisioned order as a “compulsory order" and spoke of drawing the sword “until corruption no longer remains," “exporting the revolution to the world," raising “the banner of Islam," and establishing “Islamic justice with the sword of Islam." These were not stray theological flourishes. They articulated a conception of political power in which revolutionary religion stood above individual liberty, national identity and political pluralism.

Yet much of Iran’s intellectual class failed to confront what was taking shape. Islamic propaganda and the revolutionary fever of 1979 wrapped clerical power in a false mantle of sanctity, while followers of Mossadegh who collaborated with Khomeini helped legitimize his Islamic project as liberation. Abolhassan Banisadr captured the spirit of the period when he declared: “Do not say Iranian first and Muslim second. Iranian identity finds its meaning within Islam."

Almost nobody asked the obvious question: By what authority could a political movement subordinate an ancient national identity to its own ideology? Soon, even invoking Iran’s pre-Islamic identity could verge on heresy, while the heirs of an ancient civilization were instructed that their identity acquired meaning only through a political interpretation of religion.

Khomeini was equally explicit about dissent. “Those who did not vote for the Islamic Republic and boycotted the vote are hypocrites," he declared in 1979, adding that they would be suppressed. On another occasion he thundered: “Do not gather so much. Do not speak. Do not issue statements. Do not publish." These were declarations about power, not obscure theological disputes. They revealed something American policymakers should never forget: revolutionary language was not ornamental rhetoric surrounding the Islamic Republic; it helped define the political order being constructed. The regime’s ideology was not an accidental excess of the revolution. It was embedded in its architecture.

That history helps explain why many Iranians remain skeptical when Western policymakers or media organizations portray factions within the Islamic Republic as substitutes for fundamental political change. This does not mean that every official or faction is identical; it means that factional competition has occurred within a system whose essential architecture has endured. Iran, meanwhile, is something vastly larger than that system. Iran is a civilization; the Islamic Republic is a political regime. Iran has endured for millennia, while the present order has existed for less than half a century. To treat the two as synonymous grants Tehran’s rulers something they have always coveted: ownership of Iranian identity itself.

The distinction also matters whenever regime officials claim to speak for “Iran." A government may control ministries, borders, prisons, television stations and armed forces; it does not thereby own a civilization. Governments are temporary. Nations can outlive them. This is where Rubio’s instinct is important for American policy. Diplomacy has value when it advances national interests, but it becomes dangerous when the act of negotiating is mistaken for a strategy. Understanding an adversary does not require accepting that adversary’s description of itself, just as refusing illusions does not require abandoning diplomacy. Serious diplomacy begins instead with clarity about who sits across the table, what that government wants, what it has done and what interests America is there to defend.

For Iranians, the stakes are no less profound. A young generation has spent decades searching for a history revolutionary ideology tried to bury. The clerical state promised justice and independence; in my view, it instead delivered repression, ideological isolation and a political order increasingly detached from the civilization it claims to govern. Iran does not live in the seventh century, nor should its people remain prisoners of a medieval political imagination. They know their history, are rediscovering their identity and increasingly understand the price their country has paid for a revolution that sought to subordinate Iranian nationhood to revolutionary ideology.

America does not need to choose Iran’s future; Iranians must do that themselves. But Washington must understand the country before designing policy toward it. It must distinguish the Iranian nation from the Islamic Republic, Iranian interests from clerical interests, and diplomacy from illusion. Rubio has an opportunity to make that clarity central to American policy-not by deciding Iran’s destiny, but by refusing to confuse those who rule Iran with Iran itself.

Nearly half a century after 1979, the United States and Iran remain trapped in the consequences of a revolution that transformed the relationship between the two countries. History offers no guarantee of how that chapter will end, but it leaves open another possibility: that the regime which turned the American Embassy in Tehran into a symbol of revolutionary hostility will one day be gone, and that the United States and a different Iran may again speak as nations rather than permanent enemies. Perhaps, after nearly half a century, we will see the doors of the American Embassy in Tehran open again.

Avinatan Or reveals: Abu Hassan promised another October 7

Moments before he was released from captivity and returned home, Avinatan Or heard a chilling message from the terrorist who had held him captive: an explicit threat that the October 7 massacre would happen again.

In an interview with Ilana Dayan on Channel 12's "Uvda" program, Or recounted the conversation with the terrorist, Abu Hassan, who came to tell him about the agreement under which he was to be released.

Alongside the news of his release, however, the terrorist chose to deliver a threatening message.

"He tells me: 'Go home, say hello to your father, hello to your mother, meet your friends, two days, three, four, a week - and then take a bag, pack it, and go to Europe,'" Or recalled.

"'You know why? Because we're going to do October 7 again. And so long as there is one Jew in the Land of Israel, we will massacre you again and again and again,'" Or recounted.

Or, however, was not deterred by the threat, adding, "I looked at him and told him: 'I'm not leaving.'"

When Abu Hassan asked why, Or pointed to the reality around them and responded with a question of his own.

"I tell him: 'Look at the Gaza Strip. Everything here is destruction, everything here is death. When the war ends and the crossings open, will you leave for Egypt?'"

"He tells me, 'No.' I say to him, 'Why not?' He tells me: 'Because this is my home.'"

Or heard his answer and responded with the same words, in a sentence that, for him, summed up their confrontation:

"Excellent. This is my home, too."

Israel KatzYonatan Sindel/Flash90

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF on Tuesday to heighten its alert level in the Gaza Strip and prepare for any possible scenario ahead of October 7, which falls on Wednesday, following intelligence indicating that Hamas may attempt to carry out attacks against IDF forces in the Strip.

Katz instructed the military to prepare for the most severe scenarios and to act forcefully in response to any intelligence or warnings received, with the aim of thwarting threats. The directive was issued in addition the IDF's ongoing routine operations in Gaza.

He also warned Hamas, "If, G-d forbid, our forces are harmed, Hamas and the population of Gaza will pay a very heavy price, beyond all proportion."

Katz noted that a similar message was conveyed this week during a visit he made together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Kissufim outpost on the Gaza border.

On Monday, the Defense Minister addressed the military's efforts to eliminate terrorists who participated in the deadly attack on the Gaza border communities.

According to Katz, approximately 4,000 of the 6,000 terrorists who crossed the border into Israel during the October 7 attack have been eliminated thus far.

Katz said that beyond the goal of destroyung Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he had instructed the defense establishment "to pursue and eliminate all of them without limitation and under any circumstances, from the most senior to the most junior."

Antonio GuterresREUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the anniversary of the October 7 massacre by condemning the attack and calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

In a message released Monday, Guterres described the massacre as an "abhorrent, large-scale terror attack." Guterres said hostages suffered horrific abuse in captivity, including torture, sexual violence and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Some were killed by their captors or during the fighting that followed.

"Nothing can justify these atrocities," Guterres said.

The UN chief said he had met Israeli families whose lives were shattered by the October 7 attack and survivors who continue to suffer from "deep physical and emotional scars."

He also highlighted the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza during the war that followed, presenting the UN's claims on the conflict. According to the UN, Israeli military operations have killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza, including 20,000 children, and wounded more than 100,000. Nearly all of Gaza's approximately 2.1 million residents have been displaced, while large parts of the territory have been devastated. Guterres further said Gaza now has the world's highest proportion of child amputees.

"Civilians continue to endure intolerable conditions," he said. "Their suffering, too, demands an end - now."

Guterres said the ceasefire reached in October 2025 had brought some relief but had not yet provided lasting security, sufficient humanitarian assistance or a credible path toward recovery and peace. He urged all parties to fully implement their commitments and move to the next phase of the ceasefire under UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

The UN humanitarian office, OCHA, reported that Israeli authorities suspended the entry of cargo into Gaza on Monday and announced another suspension for Wednesday, citing security concerns surrounding the anniversary. Guterres called for humanitarian assistance to be allowed into Gaza "at scale" and urged the parties to turn the existing ceasefire into a permanent one.

"Let this anniversary mark not only another year of mourning, but also a renewed determination to build a different future," Guterres said, calling for a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live together with their "rights, dignity and aspirations fulfilled."