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As his long tenure at City Hall comes to an end, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has moved to lock in policies he believes will help safeguard the city’s Jewish residents, issuing executive actions intended to outlast his administration, JTA reports.

After nearly 13 years as mayor, Fulop signed two executive orders on December 22. One bars Jersey City from taking part in initiatives that seek to “boycott, divest from, and sanction the State of Israel,” while the other establishes protections for houses of worship and those attending them against protests.

In explaining the move, Fulop said the goal was to ensure continuity after his departure and to prevent policy shifts he believes could harm certain communities. He said the measures were designed so that the “next administration doesn’t go in a direction that I think is adverse to some of the communities in Jersey City.”

James Solomon, who won the mayoral election in November and is scheduled to be sworn in on Wednesday, has not publicly staked out positions on Israel or the Gaza war. Fulop said, however, that he expects the incoming mayor will soon encounter “pressures from a lot of different people, including the city council.”

Those pressures could be amplified by the makeup of the new city council. Among the members elected last month are Jake Ephros and Joel Brooks, both affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization that has been sharply critical of Israel. Ephros, who is Jewish, has been an outspoken pro-Palestinian activist and helped organize an October 2023 letter titled “Not in Our Name! Jewish Socialists Say No to Apartheid and Genocide,” which drew attention for likening Israel to Nazi Germany.

Fulop said his intent was to set a clear direction regardless of shifting political dynamics. “For me, it was important to set Jersey City in a place that, even with a new council coming in, that it was set on a path to protect a large and growing Jewish community in Jersey City so that they do not feel that there’s any discrimination,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The executive orders mirror steps taken in New York City by then-Mayor Eric Adams, who issued similar directives banning BDS activity and regulating protests near synagogues shortly before leaving office, anticipating that his successor, Zohran Mamdani, would take a more adversarial stance toward Israel. Mamdani overturned Adams’ orders within hours of assuming office earlier this month.

Fulop said he remains unsure where Solomon stands on the issue. “There isn’t a lot that he said on it, so how he views this, and if he views it as something that he’s going to engage in in Jersey City, is unclear,” he said. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you see a trend nationally that definitely is leaning more into antisemitic rhetoric, and I think we need to be conscious of that.”

Solomon did not reply to requests for comment. In a 2021 interview, he described his background as being raised “half-Catholic, half-Jewish, and mostly confused,” noting that his family observes Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Passover.

Fulop opted not to seek a fourth term as mayor last year. Earlier this year, he pursued the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey but was defeated in June by Mikie Sherrill, who went on to win the general election in November.

Jersey City, which has a population of roughly 300,000 and sits just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, is home to an estimated 6,000 Jewish residents, according to a 2018 study by the Berman Jewish DataBank. The city includes about seven synagogues and several kosher restaurants, and its Jewish population has expanded over the past decade, partly as Orthodox families look for more affordable housing options outside New York City.

Fulop gained national prominence in 2019 when he was among the first state and local officials to publicly characterize a fatal shooting at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City as an antisemitic attack.

“The governor and attorney general were reluctant to call it an antisemitic attack, and I pushed publicly,” Fulop said. “I got criticized for it, but I thought it was important at the time to recognize what it was while the world and the country was watching how we respond to make sure that it is clear that it was an antisemitic attack because we can’t be dismissive of these sort of things.”

That period also coincided with rising tensions tied to demographic changes in the city, as an increasing Jewish presence fueled debates over gentrification. Fulop said his administration focused on outreach to ease friction among communities.

“There was a lot of strain between the African American community and the Jewish community, a lot of misunderstanding between the two communities,” he said. “We did our best to facilitate conversations between leadership in both those communities in order to build bridges. I think we did a good job.”

Fulop’s approach to combating antisemitism has sometimes diverged from the views of other Jewish leaders in New Jersey. Last year, he announced his opposition to adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism at the state level, arguing that New Jersey already has robust hate-crime laws and that safeguarding free expression is essential. Critics of the IHRA definition have objected to its inclusion of certain forms of criticism of Israel.

“I think that specific definition is counter productive,” Fulop said at the time, as lawmakers debated whether to adopt it statewide. He added, “I say this in the context of someone who is Jewish, as someone who has a Jewish education, as someone who is a descendent of Holocaust survivors. as someone who is continued supporter of the NJ-Israel Commission and someone that opposes BDS legislation.”

The New Jersey Legislature declined last week to move forward with a bill adopting the IHRA definition, prompting criticism from the state’s five Jewish federations, including the federation that serves Jersey City.

While Fulop said Jersey City has not seen the same level of synagogue protests or BDS-related activity that has occurred recently in New York, he believes proactive steps are still warranted and described the executive orders as protective “guardrails.”

“Historically, antisemitism kind of creeps up in a lot of different places when it’s unexpected, and from my standpoint, even when you’ve seen it in other cities across the country, even though it hasn’t been in Jersey City, putting those guardrails in place and those protections were important,” he said.

As he prepares to take on his next role as president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, Fulop said he hopes the measures will ultimately assist the incoming administration rather than constrain it.

“I view this as helpful for him, ultimately, that it sets up principles that protect everybody, and you’re not going to discriminate against anybody,” he said. “That was how we looked at it.”

{Matzav.com}

As Verizon grappled with a sweeping nationwide service outage on Wednesday, rival carrier T-Mobile seized the moment to reassure its own customers that its network was functioning normally, while openly attributing connectivity issues to Verizon’s problems.

“T-Mobile’s network is keeping our customers connected, and we’ve confirmed that our network is operating normally and as expected. However due to Verizon’s reported outage, our customers may not be able to reach someone with Verizon service at this time,” the company posted on X as Verizon’s network melted down.

At the same time, Verizon subscribers across the country turned to Downdetector in droves, registering a surge of complaints describing prolonged service disruptions. Many reported their phones stuck in SOS mode for hours, with calls failing to connect and mobile data entirely unavailable.

“I have been in and out of SOS mode for 3 hours now…my family was all fine but now they are getting outages/SOS mode too,” one Maryland customer wrote.

Anger and frustration mounted among affected users, with at least one Verizon customer in Mobile, Alabama, declaring that the situation was “getting ridiculous” and saying the outage had pushed them to consider switching carriers.

Reports also poured in from major population centers and smaller cities alike, pointing to the broad scope of the disruption.

“Down in Dallas TX. Almost 2 hours now. Ugh!!!!” one user posted, while another in Waco, Texas, put it more simply: “Waco TX down.”

Several customers said the outage was intermittent, with brief flashes of restored service followed by another collapse.

“Still down (2 hrs now). Came on for a few mins and then back to SOS,” a user in Chesapeake, Virginia, wrote, while a customer in Southern New Hampshire complained their phone was “going in and out of SOS every few mins” without allowing calls to go through.

The problems were not confined to any single region, with users reporting outages in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas, Maine, New Jersey, and Colorado. One customer in South Texas contrasted the situation by noting, “My AT&T mobile is working fine,” as Verizon service remained unavailable.

At the height of the outage, Downdetector logged more than 175,000 reports nationwide. The disruption was serious enough to trigger emergency alerts in New York City and Washington, DC, cautioning that some Verizon customers might have difficulty contacting 911.

Verizon acknowledged the ongoing service failure but stopped short of providing specific details about the cause or a timeline for full restoration.

“Verizon engineering teams are continuing to address today’s service interruptions,” a company rep told The Post.

“Our teams remain fully deployed and are focused on the issue. We understand the impact this has on your day and remain committed to resolving this as quickly as possible.”

While isolated reports suggested that service was beginning to return for some customers, many others continued to report outages as the situation remained unresolved.

{Matzav.com}

A 45-minute meeting took place this evening at the Slabodka Yeshiva complex, where rebbes met with the roshei yeshiva to discuss a united response to Israel’s proposed draft law.

Participating in the discussion were the Sanzer Rebbe and the Modzitzer Rebbe, who met with Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

The talks followed a recent session of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael, which ended without a definitive decision on how to proceed regarding the draft legislation. In the aftermath, it was decided to coordinate positions with the leading Litvishe gedolim, a move first reported by Matzav.com.

To that end, the Sanzer and Modzitzer Rebbes were selected to conduct the consultations. The two had already held a preliminary meeting earlier in the week, and the Modzitzer Rebbe also met separately with the Gerrer Rebbe. Tonight, the rebbes arrived at Slabodka to continue those efforts.

The meeting was described as focused and substantive. During the 45-minute discussion, the gedolim addressed the need for a unified front in confronting the draft law and aligning approaches across the chareidi spectrum.

Matzav.com will continue to follow developments and provide updates as they emerge.

{Matzav.com}

A widespread outage has disrupted Verizon’s wireless network this afternoon, leaving tens of thousands of customers without voice, text, or data service and causing many phones to display an “SOS” indicator instead of normal signal bars.

Reports of service failures began climbing shortly before 12:30 p.m. ET, according to outage tracking site Down Detector, with complaints quickly surging into the tens of thousands. Affected users across multiple states reported losing cellular connectivity entirely, with iPhones and other devices defaulting to emergency or satellite-based modes.

Verizon confirmed the issue shortly after 1 p.m. ET, acknowledging that its network was experiencing a significant disruption. In a statement, the company said, “We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience.” The carrier did not provide an estimated time for full service restoration or disclose the cause of the outage.

The disruption appeared to affect major regions including New York and New Jersey, the Carolinas, Texas, Florida, Nevada, and parts of the Midwest and Southeast. Customers reported that phones showed an SOS icon even in areas with normally strong coverage, indicating an inability to connect to Verizon’s core network despite being within range of cell towers.

New York City officials warned that the outage could interfere with emergency calls for customers on Verizon. The city’s emergency notification system advised residents experiencing difficulties dialing 911 to use a landline, another mobile carrier, or go directly to a police precinct if urgent assistance is needed.

Some customers reported brief signs of recovery, with service intermittently returning before dropping again. In New York City, a small number of users saw limited bars and 5G service after restarting their phones, though connections were described as unstable and short-lived.

The outage did not appear to impact other major carriers. T-Mobile said its network was operating normally but cautioned that customers might have trouble reaching Verizon subscribers. In a post on social media, the carrier said its systems were functioning as expected despite the reported Verizon disruption.

Verizon-owned Visible, a mobile virtual network operator that uses Verizon’s infrastructure, continued to show service for some users, adding to confusion about the scope and technical nature of the outage.

Down Detector reports peaked at nearly 180,000 complaints before gradually declining, though numbers remained far above normal levels as of mid-afternoon. Verizon’s own network status checker did not initially reflect widespread issues, and some users reported difficulty accessing the tool.

As of the latest update, Verizon said its engineers were still investigating and working to restore full service. Customers continued to report inconsistent connectivity, with many phones remaining stuck in SOS mode hours after the outage began.

{Matzav.com}

With just days remaining before leaving office, the Murphy administration is moving to place the troubled Lakewood, NJ public school district under state control, a sweeping intervention that would remove authority from the elected local school board and place the system under a state-appointed Superintendent with broad governing powers, according to a report in the New Jersey Globe.

State officials point to long-standing financial instability as the driving force behind the action, citing persistent budget shortfalls, soaring transportation and special-education expenses, and a cycle of state financial assistance that the district has been unable to pay back. They argue that the district’s underlying financial structure has deteriorated to the point where the existing leadership framework can no longer function.

Lakewood’s political makeup contrasts sharply with the statewide picture. In the 2024 general election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli won roughly 90% of the vote in the township, carrying it by nearly 33,000 votes. That overwhelming local support, however, did little to affect Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill’s decisive fourteen-point victory across New Jersey.

The formal process is expected to begin today, when New Jersey Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer is anticipated to file an Order to Show Cause. With only six days remaining in Governor Phil Murphy’s term, the timing appears designed to spare Sherrill from having to initiate the takeover herself once she assumes office.

Lakewood’s educational landscape is unique within the state. More than 40,000 students attend over 180 private schools, the vast majority of them frum institutions, while the public school system serves approximately 5,000 students. No other district in New Jersey comes close to that imbalance, as the statewide average for private-school enrollment is about 14%.

The local Board of Education allocates more funding to transporting private-school students than it does to instruction within public school classrooms. Critics argue that this arrangement has left public school students—largely from communities of color—at a disadvantage, pointing to overcrowded classrooms and weaker academic performance as symptoms of a system misaligned with their needs.

For more than ten years, Lakewood’s district has posted annual deficits running into the millions. Each year, continued operation depends on repeated state “loan” bailouts, many of which officials acknowledge are unlikely ever to be repaid.

Opponents of the current structure describe the district as effectively insolvent, contending that there is no viable long-term solution under existing governance and that the financial model is destined to fail under the burden of legally mandated private-school transportation.

Compounding the problem, Lakewood places a significant number of special-education students in private programs, including many outside the district and at substantial expense. A state investigation conducted in 2014 flagged concerns over weak oversight of special-education contractors, questionable approval practices for private providers, and possible conflicts of interest. At that time, Governor Chris Christie opted against a state takeover.

Governor-elect Sherrill has previously expressed support for state oversight measures, including the appointment of a state monitor in Montclair, her hometown, where officials are dealing with severe fiscal challenges.

New Jersey has a history of state takeovers of school districts. Camden was placed under state control in 2013 during Christie’s administration, while Newark and Paterson underwent similar interventions in the 1990s, and Jersey City did so in 1989. In each case, restoring full local governance took more than a decade.

Should the Murphy administration’s effort succeed, Lakewood could be headed for a similarly extended period of state supervision.

{Matzav.com}

Six United States Air Force Stratotanker aircraft have departed from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Border Czar Tom Homan on leftist groups that obstruct ICE: I just left a meeting about 20 minutes ago here at the White House… We are aware of this coordinated effort. We are aware that this is being financed…

The Sanzer Rebbe and the Modzitzer Rebbe at the residence of HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, where HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch was also present to discuss the crisis surrounding the drafting of Yeshiva Bochrim.

DAY THREE: New York City’s largest-ever nurses’ strike entered its third day Wednesday, with negotiations appearing at a standstill and nearly 15,000 nurses continuing to walk picket lines at three major private hospital systems. The strike involves nurses at Mount Sinai Health System, Montefiore Health System, and NewYork-Presbyterian, and has centered largely on staffing levels, […]

Some personnel stationed at a major U.S. military installation in Qatar have been told to leave the base by Wednesday evening, according to a U.S. official, as tensions rise following renewed Iranian threats referencing a past missile strike on the facility.

Speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the official said the guidance issued at Al Udeid Air Base was meant as a precaution.

The official declined to provide specifics, including whether the departure was mandatory or voluntary, whether it applied to military members or civilian staff, or how many people were affected, citing operational security concerns.

Qatar acknowledged the development later Wednesday, saying the steps were being taken “undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.”

“The IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,” Qatar’s media office said in a post on X.

U.S. Central Command declined to answer questions about the situation or the advisory at the base.

The move comes as anti-government demonstrations continue across Iran and as President Donald Trump has publicly warned that he is prepared to carry out military action if Iranian authorities persist in violently suppressing protesters.

Al Udeid Air Base, which houses thousands of U.S. troops, was struck by Iranian missiles in June in response to U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Referencing that strike, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X, “the #US President, who repeatedly talks about the futile aggression against #Iran’s nuclear facilities, would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in #Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles.”

“It would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran’s will and ability to respond to any aggression,” he added.

Against this backdrop, Iranian and Qatari officials were in contact Tuesday as Tehran’s crackdown intensified and U.S. warnings of possible intervention escalated.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, spoke by phone with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister.

Following the call, Al Thani said in a statement on X that he “reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.”

Iran’s decision in June to retaliate against U.S. strikes by launching missiles at the large desert base outside Doha briefly strained relations between Iran and Qatar, rare friction between the two neighboring states. Qatari officials said at the time that the attack caught them off guard.

No U.S. or Qatari personnel were injured in the strike, according to U.S. Central Command, which said American and Qatari forces jointly defended the installation. A Qatari military official said one of the 19 missiles fired by Iran was not intercepted and struck the base, though Trump wrote in a social media post at the time that “hardly any damage was done.”

{Matzav.com}

FBI agents searched a Washington Post reporter’s home on Wednesday as part of a leak investigation involving a Pentagon contractor accused of sharing classified information, the Justice Department said. Hannah Natanson, who has been covering President Donald Trump’s transformation of the federal government, had a phone and a Garmin watch seized in the search of […]

An investigative report claims that the Dar Al-Salam Center, based in the village of Kafr Qara, pursued a coordinated effort to promote Islamic proselytizing among Jews and shape Israeli public perception by presenting a façade of Muslim moderation, including through organized activity on Wikipedia. The findings were published by Hakol Hayehudi.

According to the investigation, a substantial portion of the funding behind Dar Al-Salam’s initiatives originated with the Zakat Al-Quds Foundation, an organization identified in a 2022 indictment as Hamas’ financial arm in Yerushalayim. Additional financial backing reportedly came from Muslim Hands, an entity that has been banned over alleged links to Hamas.

The report further alleges that the group organized a training program for converts in Turkey, where participants were instructed by internationally known antisemites on how to conduct dawah—Islamic missionary outreach—specifically aimed at Jews.

As part of these activities, members of the Muslim center took part in a 2018 course organized by Wikimedia Israel. During three workshops held at the Dar Al-Salam facility in Kafr Qara, participants created 42 new Wikipedia entries dealing with Islamic subjects.

The Wikipedia page describing the course highlights the scope of the project, noting the volume of articles produced in a single month and stating that participants also made edits to more than 100 existing entries.

On the course page itself, the “Dar Al-Salam Center” is presented in benign terms, described as “a center for understanding the religion of Islam, for Muslims and members of other religions. Its purpose is to teach the scriptures of Islam and its true principles, according to the understanding of the local people, which include: tolerance, moderation, openness, modest and spiritual living, exploring the surrounding world, developing curiosity and intellectual talent. Another goal is mutual acquaintance among the various cultures living in Israel, to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for each other’s culture.”

The investigation, however, points to internal correspondence that paints a different picture. In a document sent by Dar Al-Salam to Ali Arbash, head of Turkey’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and a figure known for anti-Israel positions, the organization explicitly labeled its online efforts as “electronic dawah.”

The letter, which details the group’s activities and seeks Arbash’s assistance in establishing a dawah center in the Old City of Yerushalayim, states: “Electronic dawah via Facebook and Hebrew Wikipedia: Praise and thanks to God, a contract was signed with the Israeli Wikipedia in Hebrew to add and edit content on Islam in this encyclopedia, which serves as the main source of information on Islam in Hebrew. 58 new entries were added, and 500 entries were edited. The views of the new and edited entries exceed 82,000.”

Wikimedia Israel responded to the findings by clarifying its role, saying: “In the past, Wikimedia Israel held editing workshops upon request by various organizations, but currently, the organization focuses on initiatives for training editors in educational and academic settings. It is important to emphasize that the training activities of the organization are entirely separate from Wikipedia’s content control mechanisms: every article is reviewed by the editing community according to uniform standards, regardless of whether the writer is a volunteer or a graduate of the organization’s training. The organization’s training has no effect on editorial judgment or preferential treatment in the community.”

{Matzav.com}

Itzik Bonzel, whose son Sgt. Amit Bonzel Hy”d was killed in combat, spoke at the Arutz Sheva studio inside the Knesset during the “Gaza – The Day After” conference, where he voiced grave concern about Israel’s current security posture, Arutz Sheva reports.

Bonzel said the present reality echoes the period preceding the IDF’s entry into Rafah, warning that Hamas is regaining strength. “Hamas is strengthening, recruiting masses into its ranks, rebuilding the tunnels, preparing for the days ahead. We will pay a very heavy price in human lives for this,” he said, adding that Israel has no alternative but to resume fighting “in order to disarm Hamas.”

Responding to claims that the Israeli public is growing weary of the war, Bonzel dismissed the idea, saying, “You don’t want another October 7. I am not threatening or intimidating anyone. We know there will be another war someday. The Gaza issue must be resolved militarily. There is no other way.”

Turning to the situation in Gaza’s education system, he warned of long-term consequences. “Every child growing up today in Gaza is part of a generation that is still being brainwashed with the idea that Israel is the enemy and that Israelis are occupiers who want to kill us,” he said.

Asked about US President Donald Trump, Bonzel cautioned against overreliance on external leadership. “I do not see him as a great savior. We need to rely only on ourselves,” he said, while noting that coordination may still be possible. “The message is that we must rely on ourselves, only on ourselves.”

Bonzel was also asked whether Prime Minister Netanyahu has lived up to expectations. “Unequivocally. The Prime Minister has stood by all the commitments he made to us as the ‘Gvura Forum.’ We need patience. I absolutely trust him as the leader of the state,” he said, stressing that Netanyahu remains committed to the war’s goals. “He has not started wavering, he is not telling stories.”

On the question of establishing a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks, Bonzel said the structure of such a body is secondary to accountability. “The debate is not about which committee will be established. My mission is to bring to criminal justice anyone who is found responsible and guilty in this failed event of October 7,” he said.

He emphasized that his primary focus is on the military leadership. “There was a failure here in the IDF and Shin Bet, first and foremost,” Bonzel said. Addressing the public directly, he added, “I say to the people of Israel: I am not acting out of revenge, but if there are no personal conclusions and punishment for those responsible – you are next.”

Bonzel closed with a blunt warning, saying, “If they are not punished – you are next. You will lose your loved ones just as I lost my son Amit. There is no way this will not happen.”

{Matzav.com}

A massive network outage is disrupting wireless service for Verizon customers nationwide on Wednesday, knocking countless phones into SOS mode and leaving users unable to make calls, send text messages, or access mobile data. The disruption began shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern time and remained unresolved as of Wednesday afternoon. Outage-tracking site Downdetector logged more […]

Win a $43,500 Hublot Watch For As Low As $1 — and Change a Life! Spin to reveal your ticket price — your ticket can be as low as $1! ($1–$399) Only 399 tickets available. In memory of R’ Mendy Rosenberg z”l, a devoted Hatzolah member who inspired Klal Yisrael through years of ALS. Proceeds […]

Iran delivered a stark and disturbing warning aimed at President Trump on Wednesday, airing an image of the commander in chief taken during the 2024 assassination attempt at the Butler campaign rally, accompanied by the message, “This time it will not miss the target.”

According to a report by Agence France Presse, the broadcast appeared on Iran’s state-controlled television network, underscoring the seriousness of the message and the regime’s willingness to publicly escalate its rhetoric.

The broadcast represents Tehran’s most explicit threat to date against President Trump and comes amid heightened tensions after his repeated warnings that the United States would take military action if Iran continues its violent suppression of anti-government protests.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: Lufthansa Group has cancelled overnight crew stays in Israel and all night flights. Austrian Airlines has also cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv tonight and tomorrow.

The U.S. is freezing visa processing for 75 countries – including Somalia, Iran and Russia – starting Jan. 21.

The United States announced on Wednesday that it is proceeding with the next stage of the Trump Administration’s Gaza peace initiative, formally launching the plan’s second phase, according to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” Witkoff said in a public statement.

He explained that the new phase calls for the establishment of an interim governing body and a comprehensive security overhaul. “Phase Two establishes a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel. The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences,” Witkoff warned.

Reflecting on the achievements of the earlier stage of the agreement, Witkoff said the initial phase produced unprecedented humanitarian and diplomatic outcomes. “Importantly, Phase One delivered historic humanitarian aid, maintained the ceasefire, returned all living hostages and the remains of twenty-seven of the twenty-eight deceased hostages. We are deeply grateful to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar for their indispensable mediation efforts that made all progress to date possible,” he said.

The announcement comes as the remains of Ran Gvili, the final hostage, are still being held in Gaza, despite provisions in the agreement requiring that all hostages be returned during the first phase. Israeli officials have continued to object to advancing to the second phase before Hamas fulfills every obligation from the initial stage, including the return of Gvili.

{Matzav.com}